click here

Breeding record of Anax imperator Leach at a peat bog in Estonia (Anisoptera: Aeshnidae). - Libellula 14(1/2): 41-48 (1995).
  Summary: In June 1993, exuviae of Anax imperator were found in a bog in Estonia (58°03' N/24°11' O). This is the nothernmost breeding record of this species. The development of Anax imperator is discussed considering the uncommon bog habitat.  
     
Habitat of Somatochlora alpestris Selys (Anisoptera: Corduliidae) at the Mount Brocken in the Harz Mountains (Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany). - Libellula 15(3/4): 101-129 (1996).
  Summary: The structure of 25 breeding sites (morphology, vegetation) in bogs and fens is analysed. The results are discussed considering the habitat selection of the species. Data of the phenology and socialization are given.  
     
  Vegetation of bogs and fens of the Brocken (Harz mountains, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany) in regard to vegetation changes since the 1930s - a survey. - Ber. Naturhist. Ges. Hannover 139: 105-119 (1997).  

Summary: With a constancy table a survey of the plant communities of the moors of the Brocken are given. The most important plant communities of the fens are the Eriophorum angustifolium-community and the Caricetum nigrae, whereby the Caricetum nigrae grows on the more productive sites. Bogs are covered mainly by the Sphagnetum magellanici, whose subassociations, which are depending on different water levels, are presented with a second vegetation table. Other plant communities of the moors are the Juncetum squarrosi, the Piceo-Vaccinietum uliginosi and the Dicranella cerviculata-Eriophorum vaginatum-community. Mostly at the borders of the moors growing stands of the Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum. On the basis of the survey the recent vegetation in some of the moors is compared with describtions of the nineteen-twenties and -thirties. Results are a decrease of growing parts and lichen-rich vegetation of the bogs and the spreading of Trichophorum cespitosum. Possible causes of the changes in vegetation are discussed.

     
Vegetation of bogs and fens of the Brocken (Harz mountains, Germany). I. Plant communities of the fens. - Hercynia N.F. 30(1): 69-97 (1996).
  Summary: In the first part the vegetation of fens of the Brocken is described. The Eriophorum angustifolium-community (Scheuchzerietalia palustris) and the Caricetum nigrae cover the open fens, whereby the Caricetum nigrae grows on the more productive sites. The Eriophorum vaginatum-Polytrichum commune-community (Caricion nigrae), the Juncetum squarrosi and the Montio-Philonotidetum fontanae were found only in few stands.  
     
Vegetation of bogs and fens of the Brocken (Harz mountains, Germany). II. Plant communities of bogs, peat-cuttings and carr vegetation. - Hercynia N.F. 30(2): 241-271 (1997).
  Summary: In the second part the vegetation of bogs of the Brocken is described. Stands of the Sphagnetum magellanici screen the open bog sites. The Sphagnetum magellanici can be divided into six subassociations, which depend on different water tables and which can again be divided partly in two variants of ombrotrophic and minerotrophic sites. The Dicranella cerviculata-Eriophorum vaginatum-community grows as a pioneer-community on open, ombrogenous peat. Near the brink of the bogs and on drained areas occurs the Piceo-Vaccinietum uliginosi, which has some floristical and ecological similarities with the Pine-carr vegetation (Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum, variant of Dicranum scoparium) of the brinks of the bogs. In a different variant Pine-carr vegetation also occurs on minerotrophic sites (Calamagrostio villosae-Piceetum, variant of Sphagnum fallax).  
     
Assessment of implications within the meaning of the EU Habitats Directive: The case of mining project in a "gypsum karst near Osterode", Germany. - Natur und Landschaft 74(11): 478-484 (1999).
  Summary: The paper discusses the instrument of Habitats Directive assessment for the specific case of resource extraction in a potential Natura 2000 site - a proposed Site of Community Importance (pSCI) - located in a gypsum karst near Osterode in the German Land of Lower Saxony. Due to the occurence here, in special types on gypsum, of numerous habitats listed in Annex I to the Directive, and of several Annex II species, the pSCI is particularly important for the European Natura 2000 system of protected areas. Due to its gypsum deposits, the area is also actuely at risk of degradation through extraction. Recent German case law has established that the protection regime under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive applies also to plans and projects in such areas for which the notification procedure pursuant to the Directive has not yet been conducted or has not yet been concluded. This is based on the princeple (of European law) of loyalty to European agreements. Under that princeple, even before the deadline for transposition into national law of a Directive EU Member States have an obligation not to undermine the objectives of that Directive. The validity of several gypsum mining permits in the pSCI is thus in some doubt, as these were granted without an assessment of Habitats Directive implications. The scope of a Habitats Directive assessment is outlined for the example of gypsum strip mining. The impacts of a project need to be assessed in terms of the conservation aims of a Natura 2000 site. The paper discusses conservation aims and mining impacts for the pSCI. Plans and projects are inadmissible if they have significant negative impacts upon the conservation status of a Natura 2000 site. Projects can be permitted despite a negative outcome of the Habitats Directive assessment if there are no alternatives, if all compensatory measures necessary to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is safeguarded are taken, and if there are imperative reasons of overriding public interest to carry out the project.
 
     
The importance of the proposed site of community interest (pSCI) "Gipskarst bei Osterode" (Lower Saxony, FR Germany) for the European NATURA 2000 protected-area-system. - Göttinger Naturkundliche Schriften 5: 169-178 (1999).
  Summary: The importance of the proposed site of community interest (pSCI) "Gipskarst bei Osterode" for the European NATURA 2000 protected-area-system is presented. The preservation of biogeographic and genetic diversity of species and habitats, as well as the need for protection of large-area-biotope-complexes are used as evaluation criteria for the selection of pSCI. The occurence of numerous FFH-Annex I-habitat types including their specific variants on gypsum substrates contribute to the extraordinary importance of the "Gipskarstgebiet bei Osterode". Reference is made to the danger of gypsum mining as a major threat to the pSCI, as well as to protection measures for such areas.  
     
Wood and ecotone communities on gypsum and bituminous limestone in the western Harzfelder Holz (rural district Nordhausen, Thüringen). - An investigation with special regard to the high value of the Harzfelder Holz for nature protection. - Hercynia N.F. 31: 173-189 (1998).
  Summary: Wood and ecotone communities are investigated in the western part of the Harzfelder Holz (rural district Nordhausen, Thüringen). Main vegetation types are beech-forests: stands of the Carici-Fagetum are found on bituminous limestone- and gypsum-rendzinas on upper slopes and on plateaus. Beech-forests of acidic soils (Luzulo-Fagetum) occuring on strong weathered gypsum on steep middle slopes. Stands of the Hordelymo-Fagetum growing on the more productive soils on upper slopes. In moist and cool sink-holes and narrow valleys maple-tree-ashen-forests are found (Aceri-Fraxinetum). At sun-exposed edges of the forests thermophilous plant communities (Geranion sanguinei) are developed. A short valuation of the study area is verifying its very high value for the conservation of nature. The area is in danger because of the digging interests of the gypsum industrie. It is recommended to set the area quickly as a nature protected area.  
     
Distribution maps of the dragonfly species of Annex II and IV of the Habitats Diretive in Germany. - Abh. Ber. Naturkundemus. Görlitz 73(1): 19-21 (2001).
  Summary: The distribution of the dragonflies listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive was analysed in a project, which was carried out on behalf of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. Data about the distribution of the Annex-IV-species are lacking with the exception of Gomphus flavipes.