Both semi-natural and ruderal habitats matter for supporting insect functional diversity in an abandoned quarry in the city of Kraków (S Poland)

Urban areas are beginning to be recognized as having potential for biodiversity conservation because of the relatively high richness of some taxa. However, little is known about what functional groups of organisms constitute this richness. We investigated biodiversity patterns in an abandoned quarry using the Rapid Biodiversity Assessment method based on insect groups according to their trophic guilds. We assessed the value of semi-natural and ruderal habitats. The ruderal sites were characterized by a higher diversity and abundance of phytophagous beetles and, unexpectedly, of parasitoids and predatory beetles, whereas the reverse was true for Hemiptera and Aculeata. Patterns of α-diversity were impacted by different factors than β-diversity: these primarily acted in opposite directions, depending on the habitat type. Species richness was positively related to the woody surroundings of habitat patches on semi-natural sites, but negatively related on ruderal sites. The Dominance index was negatively affected by human impact. Insect assemblages were diversified by taller vegetation, higher nutrient content, lesser human impact and a lower level of insolation in the grasslands with ruderal vegetation than in the semi-natural grasslands. A particular habitat type may constitute a source for some insect groups but a sink for others. Ruderal habitats utilized as a substitute for loss of the semi-natural vegetation are essential for the preservation of insect functional diversity and are suitable for vulnerable groups such as Parasitica. Post-industrial areas with a habitat mosaic of semi-natural and ruderal sites may enrich biodiversity in the urban landscape.

     

Spillover effects of taxes on government debt: a spatial panel approach

It is claimed that tax policy is neither time- nor space-independent due to cross-border tax base mobility, which induces spillovers. Specifically, fiscal shocks in one country are supposed to have an impact on fiscal policies in other countries. Different types of taxes influence economies differently. This paper addresses the question of their impact on government debt. Within a framework of spatial econometric modeling, we evaluate the impact of capital, labor and consumption taxes on public debt in 34 European countries in 2002–2011, and find strong spatial spillovers. We show that a consumption tax and, to a lesser degree, a capital tax significantly affect the sovereign debt, and that the global relations play a leading role (i.e. dominate the local ones) in shaping fiscal policy.     

On some stepdown procedures with application to consistent variable selection in linear regression

The paper considers the problem of consistent variable selection with the use of stepdown procedures in the classical linear regression model and for the model with dependent errors. The stated results complete the results obtained by Bunea et al. [Consistent variable selection in high dimensional regression via multiple testing. J Stat Plann Inference. 2006;136(12):4349–4364].     

TO DETER OR TO MODERATE? ALLIANCE FORMATION IN CONTESTS WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION

We consider two players' choice about the formation of an alliance ahead of conflict in a framework with incomplete information about the strength of the potential ally. When deciding on alliance formation, players anticipate the self‐selection of other players and the informational value of own and other players' choices. In the absence of these signaling effects, strong players have an incentive to stand alone, which leads to a separating equilibrium. This separating equilibrium can be destabilized by deception incentives if beliefs are updated on the basis of endogenous alliance formation choices. Weak players may find it attractive to appear strong in order to deter competitors from positive effort choices. Strong players may find it attractive to appear weak in order to give their competitors a false sense of security and then beat them with little effort. Moreover, appearing weak allows players to free‐ride when alliances are formed. (JEL D72, D74)     

驯鹿鄂温克人的萨满教文化

驯鹿鄂温克人信奉的萨满教,集自然崇拜、图腾崇拜、祖先崇拜之大成,以万物有灵的信仰为其思想意识的基础。萨满教文化作为驯鹿鄂温克人传统文化的核心,渗透于他们社会生活的方方面面。     

The Effects of Gender Role Congruence and Statistical Discrimination on Managerial Advancement

This paper makes the argument that themanagerial advancement process is different for womenand men. Men in management who choose to participatemore fully in family labor experience gender rolecongruence pressures and are penalized in the workplace.Women in management experience statisticaldiscrimination, meaning that they are viewed withsuspicion and that their commitment and competence isover-tested. Findings from data collected in two large firmssupported the gender role congruence and statisticaldiscrimination perspectives. Specifically, effortexpended on paid work was more strongly positively associated with advancement for men than forwomen. Participating in household labor hurt men sadvancement more than it did women s. Demonstratingcompetence in a series of internal organizationalexperiences was more strongly associated with advancementfor women than for men. Implications for theory,management, and future research are discussed.