丙烯腈诱导的氧化应激对大鼠肝脏内质网应激信号通路的影响

为探讨丙烯腈(acrylonitrile,ACN)诱导的大鼠肝脏氧化损伤对内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS)信号通路的影响,我们将50只SPF级成年雄性SD大鼠按体重随机分为5组,每组10只。各组分别以12.5、25.0、50.0 mg·kg~(-1)ACN灌胃染毒,N-乙酰半胱氨酸(N-acetylcysteine,NAC)干预组先用300.0 mg·kg~(-1)NAC灌胃30 min后再灌50.0 mg·kg~(-1)ACN,对照组以0.5 mL·(100 g)~(-1)的玉米油灌胃,1次·天~(-1),6天·周~(-1),共计13周。染毒结束后,检测肝脏组织氧化还原酶活力及丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量,GRP78、CHOP及caspase-12 mRNA及蛋白表达水平。结果显示:低、中ACN组大鼠肝脏GSH含量显著低于对照组(P0.05);低ACN组大鼠肝脏GSH-Px活力、SOD活力及MDA含量均显著高于对照组(P0.05);中、高ACN组大鼠肝脏CAT活力明显低于对照组(P0.05)。NAC干预后可逆转ACN诱导的大鼠肝脏GSH含量、MDA含量及SOD活力的变化。RT-PCR结果显示,高ACN组大鼠肝脏GRP78、CHOP、caspase-12 mRNA表达水平与对照组比较均升高(P0.05)。NAC干预后,CHOP、caspase-12 mRNA表达水平与高ACN组比较均降低(P0.05)。Western Blot结果显示,高ACN组大鼠肝脏GRP78、CHOP、caspase-12蛋白表达水平与对照组比较均升高(P0.05),NAC干预后可逆转以上作用。结果表明,ACN慢性染毒对大鼠肝脏的氧化损伤可激活ERS信号通路,NAC可减轻氧化损伤的程度而阻断ERS信号通路,这可能是ACN产生肝脏毒性的机制之一。     

BDE-47对人胚肾细胞HEK293的毒理效应及作用机制

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)是生物体中含量最高且毒性最强的PBDEs之一,有关BDE-47对肾细胞的毒性及其作用机制的研究仍有待补充。选取3个剂量组(低:10-6mol·L-1、中:10-5mol·L-1、高:10-4mol·L-1)及溶剂对照组,研究了BDE-47对人胚肾细胞(HEK293)的细胞凋亡率及活性氧(ROS)水平的影响;并从分子水平对细胞氧化损伤、凋亡相关蛋白(APE1及p53)及凋亡相关基因m RNA(p53、Bax、Caspase 3、Caspase 8)的表达量进行测定。实验结果显示:与对照组相比,中、高剂量组细胞凋亡率显著增加(P0.05);ROS水平在中剂量组显著上升(P0.01);随BDE-47浓度的变化,APE1蛋白表达量与细胞ROS水平存在一致性;p53、Bax、Caspase 8 m RNA表达量与BDE-47的浓度间存在剂量-效应关系。结果表明,BDE-47可诱导HEK293细胞凋亡及氧化应激,APE1可能是细胞ROS升高与细胞凋亡间重要的中介因子;BDE-47可以通过影响Caspase 8及线粒体途径中p53及Bax的表达诱导细胞凋亡。     

淡水双壳类背角无齿蚌AwHSP70基因克隆及多溴联苯醚-47对其表达的影响

热休克蛋白(HSP)参与蛋白质折叠、细胞膜转位和错误折叠蛋白质降解等过程,提高动物对环境的应激能力和适应能力。前期研究表明,多溴联苯醚-47(PBDE-47)对背角无齿蚌具有显著的氧化应激和急性毒性效应,为探讨PBDE-47慢性毒性效应;将背角无齿蚌随机分为对照组和PBDE-47处理组,处理组用3.36μg·L~(-1)浓度的PBDE-47进行处理,对照组用相同体积的二甲亚砜进行处理;克隆出AwHSP70基因,分析PBDE-47对AwHSP70表达的影响。结果显示,AwHSP70具有HSP70家族的标签序列,广泛分布于斧足、鳃、肝胰脏、闭壳肌、心脏、血淋巴和外套膜。PBDE-47处理可导致肝胰脏、鳃和血细胞中AwHSP70 mRNA水平显著升高。与对照组相比,PBDE-47处理组肝胰脏中AwHSP70 mRNA水平在1～15 d内增加2. 79倍(P<0.01)以上;鳃中AwHSP70 mRNA水平增加3.06倍(P<0.01)以上;血淋巴中AwHSP70表达增加1.81倍(P<0.05)以上。背角无齿蚌上调AwHSP70表达有助于增强动物对PBDE-47的耐受能力。     

背角无齿蚌过氧化氢酶基因的克隆及多溴联苯醚对其转录的影响

过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)是一种广泛存在于各种原核生物和真核生物体内的活性酶,可以将H2O2分解为H2O和O2。为了探讨多溴联苯醚PBDE-47和PBDE-209对背角无齿蚌的胁迫效应,克隆出AwCAT全基因序列,分析PBDE-47和PBDE-209对AwCAT表达的影响。背角无齿蚌AwCAT cDNA全长由1 784个核苷酸组成,开放阅读框包含1 536 bp核苷酸,编码512个氨基酸。AwCAT包含CAT家族高度保守催化位点序列(61FDRERIPERVVHAKGAGA77)和血红素配体信号序列(351RLFSYSDTH358) 2个特征性标签序列。与对照组相比,在6.25、12.5、25、50和100μg·L~(-1)的PBDE-47处理组中,AwCAT mRNA水平分别增加了66.66%(P0.05)、1.35倍(P0.05)、1.54倍(P0.05)、1.97倍(P0.01)和2.39倍(P0.01)以上;在10、20、40、80和160μg·L~(-1)的PBDE-209处理组中,AwCAT mRNA水平分别增加了7.84%、35.38%、61.53%(P0.05)、1.03倍(P0.05)和1.09倍(P0.05)以上。与对照组相比,PBDE-47处理后鳃中AwCAT mRNA水平显著升高; PBDE-209处理后鳃中AwCAT mRNA水平增加了85.71%(P0.05)以上。以上结果表明,PBDE-47和PBDE-209处理对背角无齿蚌AwCAT表达具有明显的诱导作用,有助于提高机体对H_2O_2的清除能力和抗氧化能力。     

重金属Cd~(2+)对土壤跳虫Folsomia candida金属硫蛋白mRNA转录水平诱导的研究

目前国内普遍采用传统种群和群落指标特征来进行重金属污染对土壤跳虫的研究。在国内首次通过添加不同浓度重金属镉(Cd~(2+))酵母喂食土壤跳虫室内实验种群白符跳(Folsomia candida),对白符跳体内金属硫蛋白(Metallothionein,MT)进行诱导,并采用实时荧光聚合酶链式反应(real-time fluorescent polymerase chain reaction,Real-time PCR)方法,测定其体内MT信使核糖核酸(m RNA)量的变化,从而判断Cd~(2+)诱导作用下MT表达量的变化。结果表明:Cd~(2+)染毒酵母饲料喂食28 d后,处理组与对照组(0 mg·kg~(-1) Cd~(2+))白符跳体内MT基因m RNA转录水平存在差异,MT表达量随Cd~(2+)处理水平的升高而显著上升。在浓度范围探测试验中,1 000 mg·kg~(-1) Cd~(2+)处理组和100 mg·kg~(-1) Cd~(2+)处理组的MT m RNA转录水平分别是对照组的9 355.53倍和731.13倍;在浓度梯度试验中,500 mg·kg~(-1) Cd~(2+)处理组的MT m RNA水平分别是对照组、12.5 mg·kg~(-1)和250 mg·kg~(-1)处理组的456.54、296.26和7.05倍,250 mg·kg~(-1)和12.5 mg·kg~(-1)处理组的MT m RNA水平分别是对照的64.78倍和1.54倍。这些结果说明:土壤弹尾纲白符跳体内金属硫蛋白m RNA转录水平能够被环境中的Cd~(2+)所诱导,并与之呈正相关关系。以此推测,土壤弹尾虫体内金属硫蛋白m RNA转录水平可作为评价土壤Cd~(2+)污染的潜在生物标志物特征。     

内质网应激在PFOS致大鼠肝损伤中的作用

通过全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)28 d大鼠经口染毒评价PFOS肝损伤效应,探讨内质网应激在PFOS毒效应中的作用。Wistar大鼠随机分组,分别以0 mg·kg~(-1)、5 mg·kg~(-1)和10 mg·kg~(-1)PFOS灌胃染毒28 d。HE染色观察大鼠肝脏形态改变。ELISA法测定各组丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT)、天门冬氨酸转氨酶(AST)、碱性磷酸酶(ALP)和淀粉酶(AMY)含量变化。紫外分光光度法测定肝组织匀浆中丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性变化。RT-PCR检测肝脏内质网应激标志蛋白表达水平。结果表明,PFOS造成大鼠体重降低、肝重增高(P0.05),组织切片显示肝细胞出现脂质沉积。PFOS不同剂量组大鼠ALT随暴露浓度增加,分别为(50.96±10.02)U·L~(-1)、(71.73±11.55)U·L~(-1),显著高于对照组(P0.05),AST、ALP含量与对照组相比显著上升(P0.05),高剂量组AMY水平为(833.46±63.05)U·L~(-1),与对照组相比显著降低(P0.05)。GSH-Px和SOD水平随PFOS浓度增加出现了显著降低(P0.05),而MDA水平显著升高(P0.05)。内质网应激标志蛋白表达均较对照组显著上升(P0.05)。以上结果说明PFOS可导致大鼠肝细胞损伤,其机制可能与内质网应激调控有关。     

多溴联苯醚胁迫下鲫鱼肝脏微粒体CYP3A1和GST的响应

以鲫鱼Carassius auratus Linn.为试验鱼类,研究了其暴露于不同质量浓度的2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(PBDE-47)和十溴联苯醚(PBDE-209)后鱼肝微粒体中CYP3A1和GST酶活性的动态变化.结果表明,鲫鱼在0.10～5.00 mg·L-1的PBDE-47和5.00～50.0 mg·L-1的PBDE-209中暴露15 d后,除0.10 mg·L-1PBDE-47、5.00 mg·L-1和10.0 mg·L-1PBDE-209试验组外,其余各试验组的鱼肝微粒体中CYP3A1被诱导,呈显著的剂量.效应关系.CYP3A1的活性随着作用时间的延续而上升,到试验第15天时达到最高,但上升速率最快的阶段为试验的第0-5天.而GST酶则表现出不同的特点,呈先升高后降低的趋势.经过15 d试验,除0.10 mg·L-1PBDE.47和5.00 mg·L-1PBDE-209以外的各试验组鲫鱼肝脏微粒体中的GST活性仅为对照组的12.74%～85.35%,表明PBDEs已对鱼体肝脏GST产生了较为严重的影响.研究表明,鱼类肝脏微粒体中CYP3A1和GST酶可作为污染生物标志物来评价PBDEs的早期污染毒理效应.     

DEHP对小鼠精原细胞Bax和Bcl-2表达水平的影响

邻苯二甲酸(2-乙基己基)酯(di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate,DEHP)因在环境中的广泛分布而受到普遍关注。为探究DEHP对雄性生殖细胞的毒作用机制,将小鼠精原细胞(GC-1spd)分别暴露于终浓度为0(对照)、10、100、1 000 mg·L~(-1)DEHP的培养基中培养24 h,采用噻唑兰(MTT)法检测细胞相对活力,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡情况,实时荧光定量PCR法检测Bax和Bcl-2m RNA的表达情况及Western blot技术检测Bax和Bcl-2蛋白的表达水平。结果显示:在检测细胞相对活力时,1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组明显低于其他各剂量组,100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组低于对照组和10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组(P<0.05);在检测细胞凋亡时,1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组早期凋亡率高于对照组(P<0.05);晚期凋亡率1 000 mg·L~(-1)和100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组均明显高于对照组,1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组高于10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组(P<0.05);总凋亡率呈现明显上升趋势,其中1 000 mg·L~(-1)和100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组明显高于对照组,1 000mg·L~(-1)剂量组还明显高于10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组(P<0.05)。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示:Bax m RNA表达水平1 000 mg·L~(-1)和100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组明显高于对照组,1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组与10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组比较差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05);Bcl-2 m RNA表达水平1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组低于10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组和对照组(P<0.05)。此外,Bax和Bcl-2 m RNA比值1 000 mg·L~(-1)和100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组均明显高于对照组,1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组高于10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组(P<0.05)。Western blot结果显示,Bax蛋白表达水平1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组高于对照组(P<0.05);Bcl-2蛋白表达水平各剂量组与对照组相比差异均具有统计学意义,且1 000mg·L~(-1)和100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组明显低于10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组和对照组(P<0.05);此外,Bax/Bcl-2两蛋白比值1 000 mg·L~(-1)和100 mg·L~(-1)剂量组明显高于对照组,而1 000 mg·L~(-1)剂量组高于10 mg·L~(-1)剂量组(P<0.05)。结果表明:DEHP可诱导小鼠精原细胞相对活力下降,通过抑制Bcl-2 m RNA和Bcl-2蛋白表达及促进Bax m RNA和Bax蛋白表达实现诱导精原细胞凋亡。     

丙烯腈暴露对大鼠脑组织损伤及iNOS/p38 MAPK信号通路关键蛋白表达的影响

通过探究iNOS/p38 MAPK信号通路在丙烯腈(acrylonitrile,ACN)诱导脑组织损伤中的作用,为进一步研究ACN的神经毒性作用提供依据。选取50只SPF级健康成年雄性SD大鼠,随机分为5组,每组10只。适应性饲养一周后,以12.5、25.0、50.0 mg·kg~(-1)ACN对大鼠进行灌胃染毒,对照组给予玉米油,另设NAC组(300.0 mg·kg~(-1)NAC+50.0 mg·kg~(-1)ACN),1次·天~(-1),6天·周~(-1),共染毒13周。次日称重并处死大鼠,测定大鼠脑组织NO含量、总NOS水平及iNOS、p-p38和p38蛋白表达水平。结果显示,ACN各剂量组大鼠脑组织脏器系数与对照组比较均显著降低(P0.05),高剂量组大鼠脑脏器系数与NAC组比较降低(P0.05)。高剂量组NO含量和总NOS水平显著高于对照组,与NAC组比较,高剂量组NO含量降低(P0.05),总NOS水平升高(P0.05)。Western blot结果显示,ACN高剂量组大鼠脑组织iNOS、p-p38蛋白表达水平和p-p38/p38比值显著高于对照组和NAC组(P0.05)。ACN可激活iNOS/p38MAPK信号通路,这可能是ACN致大鼠脑组织损伤的机制之一。     

口服纳米银对大鼠的生物有效性及其体内分布的研究

由于独特的抗菌特性,纳米银(AgNP)在诸多领域得到广泛应用,但是其生物有效性、动物组织分布及排出尚不清楚。将聚乙烯吡咯烷酮包被的AgNP溶液按照10 mg·kg~(-1)给雌性SD大鼠灌胃,采用ICP-MS检测SD大鼠组织、粪便及尿液中总银浓度。结果表明,AgNP通过小肠吸收后,可以通过血液循环快速分布在肝、肾、脾、肺、脑等靶器官。灌胃后1 h,大鼠各组织中总银浓度达到最大值(肝、肾、脾、肺、脑中银浓度分别为(0.29±0.13)mg·kg~(-1)、(0.23±0.04)mg·kg~(-1)、(0.17±0.05)mg·kg~(-1)、(0.11±0.01)mg·kg~(-1)、(0.06±0.02)mg·kg~(-1)),之后银浓度随时间而降低,直至和对照组无显著性差异。在灌胃途径下,AgNP对SD大鼠的有效性为8.5%,且73%的AgNP是通过粪便的途径排出体外。     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.