北京地区植物源挥发性有机物(BVOCs)排放清单

利用现场连续监测的方法获取或采用专业气象部门资料以及林业资源二类清查数据的植被资料,运用Gl OBEIS模型,对北京地区2011年度植物源挥发性有机物(BVOCs)排放总量进行了估算,同时,也对所研究树种异戊二烯、单萜烯排放量进行了估算.结果表明,BVOCs的排放量分布情况与北京地区植被的分布情况有一定的相关性,并且VOCs的排放情况具有明显的季节依赖性.研究树种类型分为常绿乔木、落叶乔木、灌木、草本花卉,BVOCs排放量最大的依次为油松、苹果树、大叶黄杨和竹.其中,异戊二烯排放量最高为法桐,排放年通量可达313.92μg·(g·h)~(-1);单萜烯排放量最高为苹果树,排放年通量可达726.68μg·(g·h)~(-1).估算过程中的误差主要来自于植物标准排放因子的获取、叶生物量的计算,气象参数的变化也会给排放清单带来较大的不确定性.     

秋季羰基硫在植物与大气间的交换

利用静态箱法研究了秋季羰基硫(COS)在六种北京常见树种与大气间的交换．结果表明：法国梧桐、槐树、龙爪槐、玉兰、柳树对COS有吸收,油松没有吸收,树木与大气间COS的交换通量受树种、环境温度、光照、COS初始浓度等因素的影响．一般来说．温度高、光照强时,以上树种与大气间COS的交换强;空气中COS初始浓度高时,植物对COS的吸收通量高,植物对COS的吸收达到饱和较植物对CO2的吸收以及异戊二烯的排放持续时间长．     

杨树排放碳氢化合物的相关因素

采用封闭式气袋采样和气相色谱法，对杨树排放碳氢化合物（ＨＣｓ）的情况进行了调查，结果发现，与油松排放情况不同，杨树主要排放异戊二烯，约占其ＨＣｓ排放总量的９５％以上，且与温度，光强正相关，排放的日变化表明，杨树在正午有一排放高峰，夜间基本不排放，在春季和夏季日均气温分别为１９．２℃和２８．８℃，杨树的异戊二烯平均总排放速率分别为４．４和３９．８μｇ／ｇ．ｈ。     

亚热带竹林挥发性有机物排放的模拟

2012年7月至2013年1月,采用松弛涡度积累(Relaxed Eddy Accumulation)技术在我国浙江省亚热带竹林测量了挥发性有机物(BVOC)冠层尺度的排放通量,同步测量了气象参数、太阳辐射(总辐射、直接辐射、光合有效辐射PAR)。利用PAR能量平衡原理,建立了冠层尺度异戊二烯和单萜烯排放的经验模式,经验模式对于日变化、季节变化有较好的模拟。采用不同方法对经验模式进行检验,一般而言,BVOC的模拟值高于测量值。经验模式与MEGANv2.1全球生物排放模式对BVOC排放有比较一致的模拟结果,标准状况下(温度t=30℃、PAR=1 500μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1)排放因子较接近(异戊二烯分别为4.00和3.60 mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1),单萜烯分别为0.12和0.16 mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1))。经验模式的计算结果表明:竹林BVOC排放主要集中于夏季(7-9月)且以异戊二烯为主(占BVOC排放的87.3%~95.8%)。利用经验模式计算了BVOC排放对各个因子(PAR、水汽、S/Q-散射因子,散射辐射/总辐射)变化的敏感性:当各个因子增加率大于40%时,异戊二烯对PAR的变化最敏感,其次是水汽因子,再次是S/Q;单萜烯对S/Q的变化最敏感,其次是水汽因子,再次是PAR;单萜烯比异戊二烯对S/Q的变化更敏感;异戊二烯和单萜烯对各因子变化的响应是非线性的。冠层尺度上BVOC的排放量与卫星测量的HCHO柱浓度(molec·cm~(-1))之间有良好的线性关系:异戊二烯排放量(mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1))=3.93×10~(-16)HCHO-2.81,单萜烯排放量(mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1))=1.24×10~(-17)HCHO-0.05。对比我国不同生态系统实测的排放通量、排放因子,异戊二烯排放以亚热带竹林最高,其次为温带森林,草地最低;单萜烯排放以温带森林最高,亚热带竹林次之,草地最低。     

基于动态模型的四川盆地植物挥发性有机物排放

本文在Guenther提出的经典天然源模型的基础上,结合WRF-CHEM简单天然源算法,针对气象变化和CMAQ模型数据格式特点,对BVOCs的算法进行了适当修正和改良,开发了可直接用于空气质量模型的BVOCs动态排放模型.研究结果表明,四川盆地2015年异戊二烯和单萜烯的年排放量分别为5.79×10~(-5)Tg C和3.05×10~(-5)Tg C,月排放具有显著差异;四川盆地植物异戊二烯、萜烯的排放量空间分布很好地反映了四川盆地的植被分布情况,异戊二烯、萜烯排放主要集中在盆地边缘的高山地区,两个物种的高浓度排放主要集中在气温较高、日照较强的夏季和初秋季节,且均在7月达到月均排放量的最大值.本研究建立的动态排放模型能够为空气质量模型提供一种快速衡算BVOCs排放的方法,具备一定的实用性.     

亚热带森林植物挥发性有机物(BVOCs)排放通量与大气甲醛之间的关系

陆地植物是大气中挥发性有机物的主要来源,准确获得中国典型生态系统,特别是亚热带森林植物挥发性有机物的排放通量,对碳循环、空气质量、大气化学和光化学等方面的研究都是一项具有重要意义的工作。2013年5月—2016年1月,采用松弛涡度积累(Relaxed Eddy Accumulation)和梯度技术在江西省亚热带人工林冠层上测量了植物挥发性有机物(BVOCs,包括异戊二烯和单萜烯)的排放通量,同步测量了气象参数、太阳辐射(总辐射、直接辐射、光合有效辐射PAR)等。基于冠层尺度BVOCs排放经验模式和测量数据,计算了2013年1月—2016年12月亚热带人工林BVOCs的排放通量。2013—2016年,通量塔100 km内异戊二烯的年排放量分别为1.2×10~5、2.4×10~5、2.1×10~5、1.6×10~5 kg,单萜烯的年排放量分别为2.1×10~5、2.1×10~5、1.9×10~5、2.0×10~5 kg。4年间,亚热带森林甲醛柱浓度表现出显著的季节变化,夏季高、冬季低,与BVOCs的排放特征基本一致。结合分析卫星测量的甲醛HCHO(molec·cm-2)柱浓度月平均数据,发现亚热带人工林BVOCs排放通量(mg·m~(-2)·h~(-1))与HCHO柱浓度(c_(HCHO))月均值之间存在良好的线性关系:异戊二烯排放通量F_1=1.29×10~(-16)c_(HCHO)-0.77、单萜烯排放通量F_2=1.02×10~(-16)c_(HCHO)-0.21、BVOCs排放通量F=2.31×10~(-16)c_(HCHO)-0.98。因此,基于卫星测量的HCHO数据,可以估算BVOCs排放通量,异戊二烯、单萜烯和BVOCs的计算偏差低于30%。该研究可为获取大范围BVOCs排放通量提供一种新方法,也为卫星数据的广泛应用提供了借鉴。     

我国几种典型树种非甲烷烃类的排放特征

采用封闭式采样法和带有预浓缩及程序升温装置的熔融毛细管柱气相色谱仪，对我国的松、柏、杨、槐等几种典型树种排放非甲烷烃类（ＮＭＨＣ）的组成和排放速率进行了定性和定量测定，初步确定了不同树种和的特征物种和排放规律，结果表明，针叶树种和阔叶树种排放的ＮＭＨＣ组成差别很大，各树种的排放规律除了与自身的结构和生理活动等在内在因素有关外，还在不同程度上受到外界因素（主要是温度和光强）的影响，一般温度越高，光强     

亚热带森林BVOCs排放和其影响因子之间的相互关系

利用植物挥发性有机物(BVOCs)排放经验模式以及太阳辐射、气象参数测量数据,计算了2013年5月—2016年12月年江西省亚热带人工林BVOCs的排放通量。为了深入研究BVOCs排放与其控制因子之间的相互作用,将大气中物质含量(以S/Q表示,S、Q分别为水平面散射辐射和总辐射)在0.0—1.0区间以0.05间隔分区,同时将BVOCs排放通量、其他参数一同分区,计算了所有参数在每个分区的平均值。进一步研究了对应于所有S/Q分区的BVOCs排放通量与其影响因子(PAR、气温、水汽含量、S/Q)之间的相互关系。研究发现,异戊二烯、单萜烯、BVOCs排放通量,(1)在PAR1 180μmol·m-2·s-1的条件下,均随PAR增加线性增加,单萜烯排放比异戊二烯排放对于PAR的响应更加敏感。(2)随气温的升高而增加,当气温达到26℃时达到峰值;然后随气温的升高而下降。(3)随水汽含量的增加而增加,当水汽含量为24 hPa时达到峰值,之后随水汽含量的增加而下降。(4)当S/Q≤0.55之时,随S/Q的增加而增加;当S/Q≥0.55后,随S/Q的增加而下降。PAR、气温、水汽含量、S/Q共同影响着BVOCs的排放,其中大气中的物质含量S/Q是一个关键参数,它控制着BVOCs随其主要影响因子(PAR、气温、水汽含量、S/Q)变化的正负作用及其转折点。将大气中物质含量分区,研究各个分区内BVOCs排放通量和其他各个参数之间的相互关系,有助于深入了解与BVOCs排放有关的物理化学生物过程及其相互作用、化学和光化学机制。建议将这一方法用于未来研究。BVOCs排放模型揭示出异戊二烯和单萜烯在生成二次有机气溶胶方面存在竞争或相互抑制的机制。     

北京城区夏冬两季VOCs时间变化和光化学特征的质子转移反应飞行时间质谱(PTR-TOF-MS)观测

为增进对北京地区不同季节大气挥发性有机物(VOCs)变化特征的认识,利用高时间分辨率质子迁移反应-飞行时间质谱(PTR-TOF-MS)于2016年在北京城区开展了VOCs(甲醛、乙醛、丙酮、异戊二烯、苯、甲苯和8碳芳香烃)夏季(6月8日—20日)和冬季(11月22日—12月10日)的连续观测.VOCs体积分数(浓度)的均值为(夏季/冬季,×10~(-9)):甲醛(8.56/24.58)、乙醛(3.95/7.57)、丙酮(5.06/3.50)、异戊二烯(0.66/0.52)、苯(0.53/1.78)、甲苯(1.03/2.54)、8碳芳香烃(1.34/3.42).受大气扩散条件的影响,夏冬两季大部分VOCs浓度波动趋势相近,仅异戊二烯在夏季拥有明显的白天浓度高于夜间的时间序列,其白天的高浓度与植被排放较强有关.由日变化可见:冬季,所有VOCs在中午浓度处于全天较低水平,在早高峰期间VOCs浓度上升明显;夏季,甲醛、乙醛和丙酮等3种含氧VOCs(OVOCs)在中午有短暂的浓度峰值,这与它们光化学二次生成加快有关.由VOC与苯浓度比值的日变化可知:冬季与夏季类似,中午前后3种OVOCs(甲醛、乙醛和丙酮)的光化学生成以及甲苯和8碳芳香烃的光化学消耗都会增强,只是冬季增强的程度明显弱于夏季;在夏冬两季,甲醛中午的光化学生成速率均强于乙醛和丙酮.8碳芳香烃光化学消耗速率大于甲苯的速率仅出现在夏季;异戊二烯在冬季白天不存在植被排放增强的现象,但有光化学消耗加快的特征;夏季北京城区VOCs以机动车排放影响为主,而冬季VOCs还可能来自于燃煤排放.     

盐胁迫对欧美杂交杨异戊二烯释放和光合参数的影响

为揭示2种欧美杨(Populus deltoides×Populus nigra)光合速率、异戊二烯释放速率、生长形态对盐胁迫的响应,以欧美杨895、欧美杨1388为试验材料,用浓度为0、0.18 mol/L的NaCl溶液对其进行处理,测定不同处理下2种欧美杨气体交换指标、异戊二烯释放的相关参数以及生物量相关的生长指标.结果显示:盐胁迫显著降低了2种欧美杨的净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)及蒸腾速率(T_r),但其胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)并未受到影响;盐胁迫下,2种欧美杨的异戊二烯释放速率和异戊二烯合酶反应系数明显降低,但异戊二烯的直接前体物二甲基烯丙基二磷酸酯(DMADP)库容在统计学上并没受到显著的影响,这说明盐胁迫下异戊二烯释放速率的降低主要是由异戊二烯合成酶活性的降低所导致;2种欧美杨的相对生长速率和总干物质量在盐胁迫下均显著下降,其中1388品种的根和茎干重占总干物质量的比例显著高于895品种,而其叶干重刚好相反,说明2个品种不同器官的生物量分配在盐胁迫下存在差异.综上所述,2种欧美杨对盐胁迫的响应相似,抗逆性也没有表现出显著差异,但其异戊二烯释放速率以及光合速率下降的调控机制有所差异,这很可能是2个品种不同器官的生物量分配产生差异的原因.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.