A time trend between 1986 and 2003 was found for brominated flame retardants in peregrine falcon eggs from South Greenland, with significantly increasing concentrations of the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) 99, 100, 153, 154, and 209. For BDE-99 and -100, the concentration increased approximately 10% per year. The concentrations of PBDEs were among the highest detected in wildlife so far and ranged from 300 to 12,900 ng/g lipid weight (lw) for sigmaPBDE. While tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) was below the limit of detection in all eggs, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), dimethyl-TBBPA, and brominated biphenyl BB-153 were detected in a majority of eggs, with median concentrations of 2.4, 230, and 550 ng/g lw, respectively. Analyses of eggs of the same bird showed no significant intra-clutch variation for PBDEs, BB-153, and HBCD but larger variations for dimethyl-TBBPA. Inter-clutch variations with increasing time trends exist for the BDEs 99, 100, 153, 154, and 209, while a decreasing contamination with the BDEs 183, 49, 47, 66 and 153 was indicated in a subset of eggs.

This paper continues the series of publications about applications of partial ordering. The focus of this publication is the derivation of approximate analytical expressions for the averaged rank and the ranking probabilities. To derive such combinatorial formulas a local partial order is suggested as an approximation. The performance of the approximation is rather high; we therefore conclude that three very simple descriptors of the local partial order seem to be sufficient to get a rough impression of the linear order, induced by the averaged ranks and the ranking probabilities of empirical partially ordered sets. Linear order derived from the partial order, ranking probabilities, and other characteristics are considered as parts of a so-called "General Ranking Model" (GRM). Following the local partial order, the averaged rank of an object x can be estimated applying the following simple formula: Rk(av) = (S+1)*(N+1)/(N+1-U). S is the number of successors of the object x, N is the total number of objects (of the quotient set), and U is the number of objects incomparable with x. More complex formulas for the ranking probabilities are given in the text. A list of abbreviations and symbols can be found in Tables 3 and 4.

SummaryPollinating insects form a key component of European biodiversity, and provide a vital ecosystem service to crops and wild plants. There is growing evidence of declines in both wild and domesticated pollinators, and parallel declines in plants relying upon them. The STEP project (Status and Trends of European Pollinators, 2010-2015, www.step-project.net) is documenting critical elements in the nature and extent of these declines, examining key functional traits associated with pollination deficits, and developing a Red List for some European pollinator groups. Together these activities are laying the groundwork for future pollinator monitoring programmes. STEP is also assessing the relative importance of potential drivers of pollinator declines, including climate change, habitat loss and fragmentation, agrochemicals, pathogens, alien species, light pollution, and their interactions. We are measuring the ecological and economic impacts of declining pollinator services and floral resources, including effects on wild plant populations, crop production and human nutrition. STEP is reviewing existing and potential mitigation options, and providing novel tests of their effectiveness across Europe. Our work is building upon existing and newly developed datasets and models, complemented by spatially-replicated campaigns of field research to fill gaps in current knowledge. Findings are being integrated into a policy-relevant framework to create evidence-based decision support tools. STEP is establishing communication links to a Journal of Apicultural Research 50(2): 152-164 (2011)

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