International Institute for Sustainable Development

Habitat coupling – where mobile predators forage over broad spatial scales and, in doing so, link food webs from semi‐discrete habitat patches – has emerged as a major structuring force in lake ecosystems. For the cold‐water apex predator lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, food‐web structure and morphometry‐driven accessibility to nearshore areas in summer strongly determine the degree of littoral–pelagic habitat coupling across lakes. Much of the evidence for habitat coupling, however, is based on stable isotopes of carbon to estimate littoral energy acquisition, whereas spatial data directly linking fish movements and foraging behaviour in lakes – on which this theory is based – are limited. Here we estimated nearshore prey abundance at sites of different thermal accessibility and collected stomach content data, which we combined with three‐dimensional acoustic telemetry positioning and acceleration data to directly measure the spatial location of summer foraging movements and habitat coupling by lake trout in lakes with and without an offshore prey fish. Both study lakes contained higher abundances of nearshore prey fish at the most thermally accessible (i.e. steep) sites monitored. Nearshore occupancy accounted for a small proportion of lake trout positions in both lakes (<5%), although prey fish were present in most (72%) diets sampled. High acceleration events indicative of foraging were concentrated in steep, thermally accessible nearshore areas in the lake where offshore forage fish were absent, but located further offshore in the lake with offshore prey fish. We directly demonstrate that habitat coupling by a wild, apex predator is driven by habitat and prey accessibility.

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the financial factors and risk management strategies essential for optimizing disaster resilience within the Serbian defence industry's critical infrastructure. The significance of this sector is multi-faceted, impacting national security, economic stability, and technological advancement. Primarily, the Serbian defence industry ensures the preservation of vital defence interests, maintaining Serbia's independence from foreign sources for weapons and military equipment in both peacetime and wartime. Economically, it is a significant employer of the working-age population, directly affecting local employment rates, fostering economic development, and ensuring the sustainable growth of this crucial sector. This, in turn, stimulates broader economic activity and enhances social cohesion while strengthening the national balance of payments through increased export potential. From a technological perspective, the defence industry drives scientific, technological, and industrial development, reinforcing Serbia's global political and military standing within the Western Balkans and on the international stage. Consequently, the paper aims to examine the risk management and protection of the Serbian defence industry's critical infrastructure, offering concrete and actionable measures to improve and develop these systems with a particular emphasis on security. The research's utility and contribution lie in identifying similarities and differences in the operational performance of defence industry companies, a vital segment of the national economy. The presentation of these findings focuses on the protection of critical infrastructure. The results will form the basis for further investigation into the underlying causes of business performance and the effective management of critical infrastructure security.

This research investigates the alignment of soft power and institutional skills in Montenegro's journey towards accession to the European Union (EU), with a particular focus on the environmental sector. An online survey targeting individuals employed in state institutions directly engaged in negotiation processes, notably the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Agency for Nature and Environmental Protection, was conducted. The research conducted an online survey, distributed before and after the summer recess to accommodate the transition of power following parliamentary elections, aimed at assessing the effectiveness of current personnel and identifying areas for improvement in staffing and negotiation strategies within Montenegro's environmental sector. Employing diverse methodologies, the survey's analysis delved into the demographic, social, and professional backgrounds of respondents. It explored their roles within institutions, involvement in environmental negotiations, and possession of relevant skills and expertise. Furthermore, respondents' knowledge of environmental issues, legislation, and challenges facing the country was assessed to gauge institutional capacity for environmental governance. Demographic data, including gender, age, education and regional origin, were collected to understand gender-specific attitudes and regional disparities in environmental perspectives. The sample of 84 individuals, comprising executives and employees from both institutions, provided insights into the age structure and regional diversity of personnel involved in negotiation tasks for Chapter 27. The selection of the Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism and the Agency for Nature and Environmental Protection reflects their pivotal roles in shaping Montenegro's environmental policies and addressing climate change challenges. This study aims to illuminate the dynamics of environmental governance within Montenegro's state administration, contributing to the country's path towards EU accession. The research findings highlight the critical need for Montenegro to prioritize strategic initiatives in personnel management, skill development, and institutional capacity-building within its environmental sector. The implications of this research extend beyond academia to inform policymaking and societal action, emphasizing the urgency for Montenegro to bolster its environmental sector capabilities, fostering both EU alignment and sustainable governance practices for the benefit of present and future generations.

The overall impact of a crude oil spill into a pristine freshwater environment in Canada is largely unknown. To evaluate the impact on the native microbial community, a large-scale in situ model experimental spill was conducted to assess the potential role of the natural community to attenuate hydrocarbons. A small volume of conventional heavy crude oil (CHV) was introduced within contained mesocosm enclosures deployed on the shoreline of a freshwater lake. The oil was left to interact with the shoreline for 72h and then free-floating oil was recovered using common oil spill response methods (i.e. freshwater flushing and capture on oleophilic absorptive media). Residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations returned to near preoiling concentrations within 2 months, while the microbial community composition across the water, soil, and sediment matrices of the enclosed oligotrophic freshwater ecosystems did not shift significantly over this period. Metagenomic analysis revealed key polycyclic aromatic and alkane degradation mechanisms also did not change in their relative abundance over the monitoring period. These trends suggest that for small spills (<2l of oil per 15 m2 of surface freshwater), physical oil recovery reduces polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations to levels tolerated by the native microbial community. Additionally, the native microbial community present in the monitored pristine freshwater ecosystem possesses the appropriate hydrocarbon degradation mechanisms without prior challenge by hydrocarbon substrates. This study corroborated trends found previously (Kharey et al. 2024) toward freshwater hydrocarbon degradation in an environmentally relevant scale and conditions on the tolerance of residual hydrocarbons in situ.

Abstract One of the most eloquent statements from CCICED in recent times is the introduction to the September 2021 AGM recommendations.

Subject. This article discusses Russia's policy in the field of ecology. Objectives. The article aims to justify the need for a transition to cyclical patterns of resource use. Methods. For the study, I used the methods of content and comparative analyses. Results. The article finds that most of the principles of the basic cycle economy are enshrined in Russian legislation, which indicates Russia's readiness to implement sustainable development models. Conclusions and Relevance. The results of the study can be used in the development of federal and regional laws regulating environmental protection relations. The problem of transition to a circular economy is relevant in the context of an increase in the volume of production and consumption waste, as well as a decrease in the availability of natural resources.

How can thinking about justice improve the lens through which we consider global existential risks? This chapter considers global injustice and inequality in the study of risk, and analyses the roles of individuals and institutions in causing or dealing with catastrophes. It also proposes a case study for this new perspective, using the example of climate change.