Description: The west Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) region has undergone significant changes in temperature and seasonal ice dynamics since the mid-twentieth century, with strong impacts on the regional ecosystem, ocean chemistry and hydrographic properties. Changes to these long-term trends of warming and sea ice decline have been observed in the 21st century, but their consequences for ocean physics, chemistry and the ecology of the high-productivity shelf ecosystem are yet to be fully established. The WAP shelf is important for regional krill stocks and higher trophic levels, whilst the degree of variability and change in the physical environment and documented biological and biogeochemical responses make this a model system for how climate and sea ice changes might restructure high-latitude ecosystems. Although this region is arguably the best-measured and best-understood shelf region around Antarctica, significant gaps remain in spatial and temporal data capable of resolving the atmosphere-ice-ocean-ecosystem feedbacks that control the dynamics and evolution of this complex polar system. Here we summarise the current state of knowledge regarding the key mechanisms and interactions regulating the physical, biogeochemical and biological processes at work, the ways in which the shelf environment is changing, and the ecosystem response to the changes underway. We outline the overarching cross-disciplinary priorities for future research, as well as the most important discipline-specific objectives. Underpinning these priorities and objectives is the need to better-define the causes, magnitude and timescales of variability and change at all levels of the system. A combination of traditional and innovative approaches will be critical to addressing these priorities and developing a co-ordinated observing system for the WAP shelf, which is required to detect and elucidate change into the future.

Description: This paper contains a taxonomic revision of the Bulbophyllinae, with the genera Bulbophyllum (including Cirrhopetalum and Megaclinium) and Chaseella, from continental Africa (including Bioko (Fernando Poo), Sao Tome, Principe, Annobon and Zanzibar). Keys are given to the genera and species. For each species full synonymy, descriptions, notes on distribution, habitat etc. and a line drawing are presented. Many species are also illustrated by colour photographs. Three new taxa are described: Bulbophyllum subligaculiferum, B. bidenticulatum ssp. joyceae and B. scaberulum var. crotalicaudatum. Some new combinations are made. The botanical terminology used is clarified.

Description: Sulawesi comprises of about 182,870 km\xc2\xb2 of land and fewer botanical specimens (about 23 specimens per 100 km\xc2\xb2, Whitten et al., 1987) have been collected here than in any other major island in Indonesia. This island is up to date botanically poorly explored and according to Van Steenis (1950) about 32,500 specimens of plants were recorded, the number is probably only a rough estimation and certainly in the precomputer era not based on real specimens. Within the framework of STORMA (Stability of Rainforest Margins) we analyzed the vegetation in several plots of one hectare of different land use systems at the Lore Lindu National Park, Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. Rapidly we were faced with the problem that the identification of the mostly sterile trees would be almost impossible without a sound basic checklist. Because previous hardcopies (Hildebrand, 1950; Soewanda & Tantra, 1973; Whitmore et al., 1989) were either outdated or incomplete (especially for the small diameter trees) we decided to create a new one using data of actual plant specimens housed at the National Herbarium of the Netherlands, Universiteit Leiden branch (with duplicate specimens in several other herbaria like BO, E, K and others), and enter them in the BRAHMS (Botanical Research and Herbarium Management Systems) database developed by Denis Filer, University of Oxford.\nMore than 120 woody families have been screened and the label information of all specimens (c. 13,000) checked and partly analysed. The density index calculated from our figures is very low (7) but for the first time underpinned by hard, retrievable data. As we did not include species \xe2\x80\x94 and specimens rich herbaceous families in our calculations (Orchidaceae, Poaceae, Zingiberaceae, ferns, etc.) the much lower collection index can be at least partially explained.

Description: A revision is made of the genera Hypnodendron and Braithwaitea. Mniodendron and Sciadocladus are reduced to Hypnodendron, Limbella is excluded from the Hypnodendraceae, and Dendro-Hypnum is considered to be not validly published. Hypnodendron rigidum Mitt. is transferred to Pterobryella. The species of Hypnodendron are grouped into nine sections. Five of these are monotypic, viz. Leiocarpos Dix. and four new ones: Lindbergiodendron (including H. arcuatum), Tristichophyllum (H. diversifolium), Mniodendropsis (H. milnei), and Pseudomniodendron (H. fusco-mucronatum). The circumscription of the family also needs revision, but has been maintained unchanged for the time being in the absence of information regarding assumedly related families.\nA number of morphological and other characters are discussed. Hypnodendron is thought to be of pleurocarpous descent; Meusel\xe2\x80\x99s derivation of the growth-form of Hypnodendron from that of the acrocarpous genera Mnium and Philonotis is rejected. Rejuvenation takes place by means of basal innovations, and in a number of erect species also by distal ones. The umbellate and palmate fronds are assumed to have been derived from a pinnate type. The Hypnodendraceae are distributed in the Indo-Pacific and Australasian regions and in southern South America. Hypnodendron is centred in Melanesia and New Zealand. 26 species are recognized, 9 of which are divided into subspecies or varieties; 5 taxa are reinstated (H. colensoi, H. comatum, H. comosum var. sieberi, H. spininervium ssp. spininervium and ssp. archeri) and 1 is described as new (H. vitiense ssp. australe). Identification keys are provided, and for each taxon are given: synonymy together with pertinent literature and typification, misinterpretations and misidentifications, description, geographical distribution, ecology, and notes on various subjects. Each species is illustrated, and a list is given of specimens examined, mostly accompanied by a distribution map.

Description: Against the background of EnMAP preparation analyses have been carried out on the status of research in various areas of hyperspectral remote sensing for the use of existing algorithms in the EnMAP application box. The aim was to compose the status of research in Germany and internationally. Therefore, in various fields of expertise applied and accordingly available algorithms and products based on hyperspectral data has been evaluated and documented. The intention has been to demonstrate and to evaluate the added value of hyperspectral remote sensing to multispectral methods for each product. For this purpose analyses have been carried out by different research groups which were based on the specialty and the experience of each group. Hereby a summary was created of each major application perspective and the relevant remote sensing derived variables and significant processing algorithms (state-of-the-art) belonging to this context. Based on this, the research delivers, as a result, a recommendation which of the algorithms should be implemented into the Applikationsbox of EnMAP. Tests of the algorithms or their implementation were not part of the analyses. However, notes have been given on what algorithms should be tested in the context of a detailed preparation phase. An assessment to the further R & D requirements in the development of algorithms has been made on this basis.