铜及其与四环素的联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应

近年来工业和养殖业中铜和四环素的滥用,导致了一定的水环境污染问题。为探究铜与四环素对水生生物的毒害作用,选择斑马鱼作为受试生物,研究了铜及其与四环素的联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应,并进一步探索了其可能的致毒机制。结果表明：铜在低浓度下（10%致死浓度LC10=2.5 μg?L-1,10%效应浓度EC10=0.1 μg?L-1）明显延迟了斑马鱼胚胎的孵化、卵黄囊吸收、头部、鱼鳔和体长等生长指标的发育,同时在心脏区域引起明显细胞凋亡效应。幼鱼体内总铜含量检测结果显示低浓度下铜的生物利用度相对更高。基因表达结果显示环境浓度的铜可能通过影响神经和心脏相关基因的表达引起斑马鱼胚胎的神经发育和心脏发育异常。铜和四环素的联合暴露实验结果表明二者的复合污染类型为拮抗作用,且两者相互作用可以形成络合物。综合以上结论,说明环境浓度的铜可能通过细胞凋亡、分子水平的变化等方式对水生生物的早期生长发育产生危害,如延迟生长发育、神经及心脏发育异常,另外铜可通过和四环素等环境中其他污染物的结合改变铜的生物有效性和毒性。     

环境相关浓度铅暴露诱导斑马鱼仔鱼神经行为毒性

铅是公认的神经毒物,它的神经毒性是全世界备受关注的重要公共健康问题,特别是发育早期阶段铅暴露与神经行为变化之间的关联.斑马鱼被认为是研究发育早期阶段低浓度铅暴露诱导神经行为毒性的优良模式生物.因此,本研究以斑马鱼胚胎/仔鱼为研究对象,利用Zebrabox建立的行为学效应测试方法,包括运动行为、转动行为和社交行为,系统评价发育早期阶段环境相关浓度(以电子废弃物拆解场地为例)铅暴露的神经行为毒性效应.发育正常的斑马鱼胚胎暴露在浓度为0、5、10、20μg·L~(-1)铅暴露液中直至6 dpf.铅暴露对斑马鱼胚胎/仔鱼具有发育毒性作用,包括孵化率和存活率下降,卵黄囊肿、心包囊肿和脊柱弯曲等畸形现象.在光照条件下,铅暴露对斑马鱼仔鱼的运行行为和转向行为并未产生显著影响;但是在黑暗条件下,20μg·L~(-1)铅暴露后斑马鱼仔鱼运动距离和总转向次数均显著下降,但是其行进路径角度和偏转偏好却无变化.与运动行为和转向行为不同,在黑暗条件下,铅暴露对斑马鱼仔鱼的社交行为并未产生显著影响;但在光照条件下20μg·L~(-1)铅暴露却显著改变了仔鱼的社交次数.本研究结果表明,行为学指标不仅具备足够的灵敏度可用于指示电子废弃物拆解场地铅污染的潜在风险,还能更好地服务于人类健康早期预警的需求.     

基于代谢组学技术分析磷酸三苯酯诱导斑马鱼胚胎发育毒性的分子机制

磷酸三苯酯(TPhP)是广泛存在于环境介质和生物体内的一种典型有机磷阻燃剂。为探求TPhP诱发水生动物发育毒性的分子机制,本研究以斑马鱼为模式动物,将发育至2.5 hpf (hours post fertilization)的斑马鱼胚胎暴露于0.0025、0.1、1、10、100和1 000μg·L~(-1)TPhP溶液至7 dpf (days post fertilization),考察斑马鱼胚胎生长发育指标和线粒体功能的变化,通过代谢组学分析揭示相关分子机制。结果表明,环境相关浓度(0.0025、0.1和1μg·L~(-1)) TPhP对斑马鱼胚胎发育无显著影响,但是轻微干扰了斑马鱼的代谢过程。100和1 000μg·L~(-1)TPhP暴露引起斑马鱼心跳速率、孵化率和线粒体膜电位明显下调,畸形率分别增加6.8倍和12.5倍,死亡率分别增加7.2倍和16.5倍。代谢组学分析发现,10、100和1 000μg·L~(-1)TPhP显著抑制斑马鱼氨基酸代谢,降低缬氨酸、亮氨酸和异亮氨酸水平,抑制氨酰-tRNA生物合成过程;同时引起葡萄糖糖酵解过程和三羧酸循环发生障碍。氨基酸和糖代谢异常可能是TPhP引起斑马鱼发育畸形的主要原因,线粒体功能紊乱可能是TPhP诱发三羧酸循环障碍的原因。上述研究结果为TPhP发育毒性机制分析提供了新思路。     

磷酸三苯酯对斑马鱼早期生命阶段的神经毒性研究

磷酸三苯酯(triphenyl phosphate,TPP)作为多溴联苯醚类阻燃剂的替代产品,是一类生产和需求量均相当高的有机磷酸酯类阻燃剂,目前已在多种环境介质以及生物体内均有不同程度检出。由于结构和有机磷农药具有相似性,其对生物的神经毒性值得关注。本研究以斑马鱼为实验动物,研究了TPP(5~625%g·L-1)的胚胎发育毒性和行为毒性,并通过检测乙酰胆碱酯酶活性以及神经系统相关基因的转录水平,探讨其可能的毒性机制。研究发现,TPP可导致斑马鱼胚胎孵化时间延长,体长变短,心率变慢。同时,TPP暴露也可以影响斑马鱼幼鱼在持续光照和明暗周期刺激下的游泳行为,表现为低浓度增加而高浓度降低其游泳速度。而TPP暴露后幼鱼乙酰胆碱酯酶活性以及神经发育相关基因转录水平的变化可能是导致其行为毒性的原因。虽然实验中所设定的暴露浓度高于环境中一般浓度,但TPP在短期暴露中所表现出的胚胎和神经发育毒性表明TPP对于水生生物可能存在一定风险,需要进一步研究加以确认。     

纳米银和银离子对斑马鱼胚胎早期生长发育的影响及作用机制

为探究纳米银对水生生物的毒性作用,选取斑马鱼胚胎为受试生物,考察了纳米银对斑马鱼胚胎早期生长发育的影响,同时比较了纳米银与银离子对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性作用和机理。实验将受精后4小时(4 hpf)的斑马鱼胚胎分别暴露于不同浓度的纳米银和银离子溶液中至96 hpf,观察并记录了胚胎的死亡、孵化和畸形等指标。应用吖啶橙(AO)染色实验研究了胚胎暴露之后的细胞凋亡情况,并且应用荧光定量PCR技术分析了相关基因的表达水平。研究结果表明,随着暴露浓度的增加,纳米银和银离子均能导致斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率增加和孵化率降低,并且引起孵化延迟。纳米银和银离子的96 h半数致死浓度(96 h-LC50)分别为11.75 mg·L-1和0.054 mg·L-1。银离子毒性远大于纳米银毒性。暴露的斑马鱼胚胎均表现出体长变短和卵黄囊肿大的畸形。AO染色结果表明,纳米银和银离子处理组胚胎的躯干和卵黄囊部位存在细胞凋亡信号。基因表达分析结果显示,1.93 mg·L-1纳米银显著提高了斑马鱼胚胎caspase9的表达(P0.05),而0.006 mg·L-1的银离子就能显著上调COX-2a(P0.01)和COX-17(P0.05)基因的表达,同时0.036 mg·L-1银离子增加了斑马鱼体内p53基因的表达(P0.05)。以上研究结果说明,纳米银可能通过caspase通路诱导细胞凋亡进而影响斑马鱼胚胎的生长发育;而银离子不但影响氧化系统基因通路,还能通过p53诱导凋亡进而阻滞斑马鱼胚胎的生长发育。     

新型阻燃剂TCPP对斑马鱼的毒性研究

为了明确新型阻燃剂磷酸三(2-氯丙基)酯(TCPP)的生态风险,本研究采用斑马鱼为模式生物,评价了TCPP对成鱼和胚胎的毒性效应。急性毒性研究结果表明,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼的96 h致死中浓度(LC50)为47.06 mg·L~(-1),而对胚胎96 h-LC50为26.01 mg·L~(-1),且会影响胚胎的正常发育,导致孵化出的仔鱼产生畸形。成鱼14 d延长毒性试验结果表明,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼的无可观察效应浓度(NOEC)为1.00 mg·L~(-1),染毒暴露后肝脏和性腺指数随TCPP浓度增加轻微下降,但肝脏中卵黄蛋白原(VTG)的含量和性腺中芳香化酶的活性随TCPP浓度增加普遍升高。此外,TCPP的暴露还会导致斑马鱼脑垂体中合成促性腺激素的相关基因表达量增加。因此,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼和胚胎的急性毒性均为低毒级,但长期暴露会干扰内分泌系统的调控功能,影响斑马鱼的正常发育。     

母体暴露环境浓度盐酸四环素对F1代斑马鱼胚胎骨骼发育的影响

抗生素被广泛应用于兽药和饲料添加剂中,尤其是四环素等广谱抗生素,长期滥用于养殖业中.四环素是目前用量最大、应用范围最广泛的一种抗生素.抗生素在体内蓄积,或者以原型随粪便排入环境中,造成环境污染.实验用斑马鱼为模式动物来评价低浓度四环素对斑马鱼下一代(F1)发育的毒性影响.选取4月龄亲代斑马鱼(F0),分别给予0.1、1和100 μg·L-1盐酸四环素(tetracycline hydrochloride,TCH)处理30 d后,实施交配后获得F1代斑马鱼胚胎.结果表明,F1代胚胎随母体TCH暴露浓度的升高而孵化率降低、畸形率和死亡率增加.同时斑马鱼幼鱼下颌骨长度、下颌弓长度变长、下颌骨宽度和舌骨角长度缩短.进一步检测与幼鱼骨骼发育相关基因表达,发现TCH抑制了runx1、sox9a、sox10和col2α1a mRNA的表达.以上研究结果表明,TCH的残留和污染可能会影响斑马鱼胚胎的发育,尤其是对胚胎软骨发育有影响.     

五氯酚和八氯代二苯并二嗯英复合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应

为了评价环境中五氯酚(PCP)和八氯代二苯并二嚼英(OCDD)对水环境以及鱼类的影响,以斑马鱼为模式生物,研究了PCP和OCDD对其胚胎发育的单一及复合毒性效应.结果表明,PCP单独暴露(浓度25μg·L-1～5mg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎发育具有较强的毒性效应,可导致胚胎孵化率显著下降,死亡率、畸形率显著上升,而OCDD单独暴露(200、500μg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎发育没有明显的毒性效应;OCDD与环境浓度的PCP复合暴露(OCDD PCP1:250μg·L-1 25μg·L-1;OCDD PCP2:250μg·L-1 50μg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎的存活与发育等没有显著影响,对斑马鱼胚胎内CYP1A基因表达以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的酶活力也没有显著影响,在实验浓度下二者共存没有明显的复合毒性效应.     

4-壬基酚对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎/仔鱼的毒性效应

4-壬基酚(4-NP)作为一种稳定的环境内分泌干扰物,会对生物体的生长发育造成影响。以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎为供试体,研究4-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎生长发育的毒性效应。斑马鱼胚胎被暴露在一系列浓度的4-壬基酚溶液中(2.0、5.0、10.0、25.0、50.0和125.0μg·L-1),暴露120 h后空白组初孵仔鱼因饥饿出现死亡即停止实验。记录暴露120 h内斑马鱼胚胎的死亡数、孵化数,畸形数、仔鱼体长及30 s心跳数。结果表明,4-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎48、72和96 h的半致死浓度(LC50)分别为131.4、47.2和26.8μg·L-1;125.0μg·L-1的4-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎的高致死效应使其孵化率显著降低;与空白对照组相比,4-壬基酚的暴露可显著提高斑马鱼胚胎尾部畸形率和仔鱼的心包囊肿率,其中斑马鱼胚胎尾部畸形率随处理浓度的增加而增加,呈正剂量-效应关系;经4-壬基酚暴露处理的斑马鱼仔鱼的体长及30 s心跳数较空白对照组均显著下降。2.0μg·L-14-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎及仔鱼即具有致畸和致死效应,对其胚胎的发育有不利影响。     

五氯酚和八氯代二苯并二噁英复合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应

为了评价环境中五氯酚(PCP)和八氯代二苯并二噁英(OCDD)对水环境以及鱼类的影响,以斑马鱼为模式生物,研究了PCP和OCDD对其胚胎发育的单一及复合毒性效应.结果表明,PCP单独暴露(浓度25μg·L-1～5mg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎发育具有较强的毒性效应,可导致胚胎孵化率显著下降,死亡率、畸形率显著上升,而OCDD单独暴露(200、500μg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎发育没有明显的毒性效应;OCDD与环境浓度的PCP复合暴露(OCDD+PCP1:250μg·L-1+25μg·L-1;OCDD+PCP2:250μg·L-1+50μg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎的存活与发育等没有显著影响,对斑马鱼胚胎内CYP1A基因表达以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的酶活力也没有显著影响,在实验浓度下二者共存没有明显的复合毒性效应。     

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.