增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯致小鼠肺组织氧化损伤作用

探究邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯(diisodecyl phthalate,DIDP)对小鼠肺组织的氧化损伤。以BALB/c小鼠为受试动物,随机分为7组,包括1个阴性对照组(生理盐水)、4个DIDP染毒组(0.15,1.5,15,150 mg·kg~(-1))、1个维生素E(100 mg·kg~(-1))组和1个高剂量DIDP(150 mg·kg~(-1))加维生素E(100 mg·kg~(-1))组,灌胃染毒14 d。处死小鼠,制备肺组织匀浆样品,以化学荧光法检测活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)含量,以分光光度试剂盒法检测还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)的含量、以硫代巴比妥酸(TBA)法检测丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)的含量、以酶联免疫吸附(EILSA)试剂盒法检测8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine,8-OHdG)的含量,同时观察肺组织的病理变化与荧光染色结果。随着DIDP染毒剂量的升高,肺组织的ROS、MDA、8-OHdG含量逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,各指标呈一定的剂量-效应关系。染毒剂量为15 mg·kg~(-1)时,ROS、GSH、8-OHdG含量差异有统计学意义(P 0.05,P 0.01);染毒剂量为150 mg·kg~(-1)时,上述指标差异均有统计学意义(P 0.05,P 0.01)。小鼠肺组织HE染色和荧光染色观察结果表明,随着DIDP染毒剂量的增加,小鼠肺细胞的病理损伤越严重。与150 mg·kg~(-1)DIDP剂量组比较,150 mg·kg~(-1)DIDP+维生素E组的ROS、MDA和8-OHdG含量均有下降,GSH含量上升(P 0.05,P 0.01);小鼠肺组织病理损伤减轻。以上结果说明,较高剂量(≥15 mg·kg~(-1))的DIDP能造成小鼠肺组织的氧化损伤,维生素E对其损伤有拮抗作用。     

增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯致小鼠肺细胞氧化损伤作用的研究

为研究增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯(diisononyl phthalate,DINP)对小鼠肺组织的氧化损伤作用,以昆明小鼠为受试动物,随机分为5组,包括1个阴性对照组(生理盐水)和4个DINP染毒组(0.2、2、20和200 mg·kg~(-1)),灌胃14 d。光镜下发现小鼠肺组织形态随染毒剂量的增加,小鼠肺细胞的病理损伤越严重。随着DINP染毒剂量的增加,肺组织匀浆活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量和肺组织细胞DNA-蛋白质交联(DNA-protein crosslink,DPC)系数逐渐上升,还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)含量逐渐降低,各指标呈一定的剂量-效应关系。染毒剂量为20 mg·kg~(-1)时,ROS和MDA含量差异有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01);染毒剂量为200 mg·kg~(-1)时,上述指标差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。结果表明,较高剂量(≥20 mg·kg~(-1))的DINP能造成小鼠肺组织的氧化损伤和病理损伤。     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对KM小鼠神经行为学的影响及芒果苷的拮抗作用

探究邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)对小鼠神经行为学影响的剂量-反应关系,以及芒果苷(MAG)的拮抗作用。36只性成熟雄性KM小鼠随机分为4组:(1)生理盐水组,(2) 5 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组,(3) 25 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组,(4)125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组,实验周期28d。应用国际通用的高架十字迷宫(EPM)和旷场实验(OFT)检测DBP暴露后KM小鼠的神经行为学变化;通过脑组织病理学切片,检测KM小鼠的靶组织脑海马CA1区病理变化;通过测定活性氧(ROS)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)、丙二醛(MDA)、DNA-蛋白质交联系数(DPC),检测KM小鼠的脑海马组织氧化损伤水平。以MAG作为抗氧化剂,36只KM小鼠随机分为4组:(1)生理盐水组,(2) 50 mg·kg~(-1)MAG组;(3) 125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组;(4) MAG+DBP组,进行神经行为测试,同时评估各组KM小鼠脑海马组织氧化损伤。与对照组比较,随着DBP暴露剂量的升高,125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组KM小鼠进入开放臂次数减少,停留时间偏短,运动距离较短,运动轨迹偏离中央区域;脑海马CA1区锥体神经细胞排列紊乱,细胞形态肿胀变形,树突缩短甚至消失;且脑系数下降,ROS、MDA含量及DPC系数逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,且差异均有统计学意义(P0.05, P0.01);加入拮抗剂MAG处理后,与125 mg·kg~(-1)DBP组比较,MAG+DBP组小鼠神经行为学出现一定程度的缓解,脑海马CA1区病理程度减轻,脑系数上升,ROS、MDA含量及DPC系数出现一定程度的下降,GSH含量出现一定程度的上升,且差异均有统计学意义(P0.05, P0.01)。DBP所致小鼠的神经行为学变化可能与脑海马组织的氧化损伤有关; MAG可通过降低小鼠脑组织氧化应激水平,对DBP暴露所致的小鼠神经行为学影响起到一定的保护作用。     

双酚A对小鼠肝脏和肾脏细胞的氧化损伤

为探究双酚A(BPA)的氧化毒性,分别以剂量为20、40和80mg·kg~(-1)·d~(-1)的BPA对雄性昆明小鼠灌胃处理1周,并测定了小鼠体内活性氧自由基(ROS)水平、还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和DNA-蛋白质交联系数(DPC)。与对照组相比,各BPA暴露组小鼠肝脏和肾脏细胞中的ROS生成量、MDA含量和DPC系数均升高,而GSH含量下降(P<0.05或P<0.01)。ROS生成量、GSH含量和DPC系数均显示出剂量-效应关系。研究表明,BPA可扰乱小鼠肝脏和肾脏细胞的氧化应激平衡,诱导细胞氧化损伤。     

邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯致小鼠肾组织氧化损伤的研究

邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯是一种新型替代增塑剂,对其毒性研究已受到广泛关注。为探究邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯对肾组织的氧化损伤作用,将昆明小鼠随机分为5组,包括1个阴性对照组、4个邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯染毒组,按0.5、5、50和500 mg·kg-1四个剂量水平灌胃染毒14天。制备小鼠肾组织切片进行病理学观察,以肾组织匀浆测定活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)和8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine,8-OHd G)的含量,以肾组织细胞悬液测定DNA-蛋白质交联(DNA-protein Crosslink,DPC)系数。随着邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯染毒剂量的升高,小鼠肾组织的损伤程度加重,ROS、MDA、8-OHd G含量和DPC系数逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,各指标均呈一定剂量-效应关系。染毒剂量为5 mg·kg-1时,ROS、DPC系数差异有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01);染毒剂量为50 mg·kg-1和500 mg·kg-1时,ROS、GSH、8-OHd G、MDA含量和DPC系数差异均有统计学意义(P0.05,P0.01)。结果表明较高剂量(≥50 mg·kg-1)邻苯二甲酸二异壬酯可造成小鼠肾组织氧化损伤。     

增塑剂DIDP对肝脏氧化应激损伤及VitE拮抗作用研究

研究增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯(didecyl phthalate, DIDP)致雄性小鼠肝损伤作用及其机理。以雄性BALB/c小鼠为受试动物,随机分为7组,包括溶剂对照组(生理盐水)、4个DIDP染毒组(0.15、1.5、15和150 mg·kg~(-1))、维生素E(vitamin E, VitE)(100 mg·kg~(-1))处理组和DIDP+维生素E处理组(150 mg·kg~(-1)DIDP+100 mg·kg~(-1)VitE),连续灌胃14 d。以肝组织匀浆测定活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione, GSH)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde, MDA)和细胞凋亡因子半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶3(cysteine aspartic proteinase 3, Caspase-3)水平。采用动物自动生化分析仪检测肝功能指标血清中丙氨酸氨基转移酶(alanine aminotransferase, ALT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(aspartate aminotransferase, AST)、白蛋白(albumin, ALB)水平,并同时观察肝组织的病理变化与荧光染色结果。随着DIDP染毒剂量的增加,小鼠肝组织ROS、MDA和Caspase-3含量逐渐上升,血清ALT和AST水平也逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,血清ALB水平也逐渐降低,差异具有统计学意义(P 0.05,P 0.01); VitE处理组ROS、MDA和Caspase-3含量相应降低,血清ALT和AST水平也相应降低,GSH含量逐渐上升,血清ALB水平也相应上升。小鼠肝组织形态观察结果表明,随着DIDP染毒剂量的增加,小鼠肝组织的病理损伤程度呈上升趋势。研究表明,较高剂量(≥15 mg·kg~(-1))的DIDP能造成小鼠的肝脏损伤与细胞凋亡,抗氧化剂VitE可使肝脏损伤与细胞凋亡减轻,对小鼠肝组织起保护作用,说明氧化应激介导了DIDP对机体的损伤。     

围生期毒死蜱暴露致子代8周雄鼠睾丸组织的氧化损伤

毒死蜱是目前全世界使用和销售量最大的有机磷杀虫剂之一。为探讨围生期毒死蜱暴露致8周雄性子鼠睾丸组织的氧化损伤,选择健康Wistar妊娠母鼠于妊娠期(gestation days,GD)第6天至子鼠出生后(postnatal days,PND)21天通过灌胃染毒0、0.75、1.35和2.70 mg·kg~(-1)剂量的毒死蜱,待雄性子鼠8周龄取左侧睾丸实施组织病理学检查,右侧睾丸用以检测丙二醛(maleic dialdehyde,MDA)的含量和谷胱甘肽S转移酶(glutathione S transferases,GST)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)、总超氧化物歧化酶(total superoxide dismutase,T-SOD)的活力。结果表明,与对照组比较,随着染毒剂量的增加子鼠体重和睾丸、附睾脏器系数有下降的趋势(P0.05);而MDA呈升高趋势(P0.05)。各组T-SOD和1.35、2.70 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组GSH-Px活力的下降及2.70 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组GST活力的升高均有统计学意义(P0.05)。睾丸组织病理学检查结果可见2.70mg·kg~(-1)剂量组睾丸组织有明显的损伤,管腔中精液量减少,生精细胞脱落增多。上述研究结果提示母鼠于围生期暴露于毒死蜱,可通过氧化损伤诱导子代雄性大鼠睾丸的毒性作用。     

过敏症状儿童室内PM_(2.5)对小鼠巨噬细胞的氧化损伤及VE的抗氧化保护作用研究

越来越多的研究提示,主要空气污染物PM_(2.5)暴露浓度的升高与儿童过敏性疾病的发病率有着密切的关系,然而PM_(2.5)暴露与过敏性疾病之间的关联尚未完全阐明。为探究患有过敏症状儿童的室内PM_(2.5)对小鼠巨噬细胞的氧化损伤作用以及维生素E(vitamin E,VE)的抗氧化保护作用,从5户患有1种或1种以上的过敏性症状(如过敏性鼻炎、哮喘)儿童的室内采集PM_(2.5),分别考察了不同剂量PM_(2.5)暴露24 h后如何影响小鼠巨噬细胞的氧化应激水平,指标包括活性氧(ROS),还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH),丙二醛(MDA),8-羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-OH-dG),以及炎症因子水平,指标包括肿瘤坏死因子ɑ(TNF-ɑ),白介素8β(IL-8β)的影响。结果表明,200μg·mL~(-1)PM_(2.5)暴露组与对照组比较,细胞内ROS积累,出现脂质过氧化以及DNA损伤,并伴有炎症反应的发生,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05或P0.01);VE(50 mg·mL~(-1))+200μg·mL~(-1)PM_(2.5)组的ROS、MDA、8-OHdG、TNF-ɑ、IL-8β含量低于200μg·mL~(-1)PM_(2.5)组,GSH含量高于200μg·mL~(-1)PM_(2.5)组。较高剂量(200μg·mL~(-1))PM_(2.5)可诱导小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞出现氧化损伤,VE在该应激过程中起着一定的保护作用。     

十溴二苯乙烷对草鱼幼鱼肝脏和肌肉组织氧化应激效应的影响

十溴二苯乙烷(DBDPE)是目前在全球范围内广泛使用的新型溴代阻燃剂,其环境风险已引起广泛关注,但目前仍缺乏针对水生生物的毒性研究数据。作者通过饲料中添加十溴二苯乙烷暴露的方式对草鱼幼鱼进行长期暴露实验,研究500、1 000和3 000 mg·kg~(-1)三个饲料添加剂量暴露组和1个对照组长期暴露对草鱼幼鱼肝脏和肌肉组织中氧化应激酶(SOD、CAT和GSH-PX)活性和抗氧化物质(GSH)含量的影响。结果显示:暴露8周后,随着DBDPE暴露水平的升高,草鱼幼鱼肝脏组织中氧化应激酶(SOD、CAT和GSH-PX)和抗氧化物质(GSH)均表现出低浓度诱导及高浓度抑制的效应。500和1 000 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组草鱼幼鱼肝脏组织中SOD、CAT和GSH-PX活性和GSH含量均显著高于对照组(P0.05),且均在500 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组达到最高。3 000 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组SOD、CAT和GSH-PX活性和GSH含量低于500和1 000 mg·kg~(-1)暴露组,但与对照组无显著性差异(P0.05)。草鱼幼鱼肌肉组织中氧化应激酶活性变化甚微,3个浓度剂量组肌肉组织中SOD、CAT活性和GSH含量以及500 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组GSH-PX活性与对照组均无显著性差异(P0.05)。研究成果表明DBDPE暴露影响草鱼幼鱼肝脏组织的抗氧化防御系统,可以诱导草鱼幼鱼产生氧化应激效应。     

PM_(2.5)和甲醛联合暴露致小鼠肺损伤及其分子机制的研究

我国城市当前普遍存在室外大气PM_(2.5)与室内甲醛(FA)联合污染状况,二者均被报道在单独暴露下可以导致肺损伤并诱导和诱发哮喘的急性发作,但其联合污染的具体效应,以及分子机制目前尚不清楚。为探究PM_(2.5)和/或甲醛暴露对小鼠的肺损伤及其可能的机制,分别将雄性Balb/c小鼠分为以下6组:对照组,AZD8055组,PM_(2.5)组,FA组,PM_(2.5)+FA组,PM_(2.5)+FA+AZD8055组。染毒结束后,观察肺组织病理学变化;检测肺组织氧化损伤,活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS),还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)和丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)的含量,DNA损伤,DNA-蛋白质交联(DNA-protein crosslink,DPC)系数和8羟基脱氧鸟苷(8-OH-d G)的含量,以及细胞凋亡、半胱氨酸天冬氨酸蛋白酶-3(Caspase-3)的含量。结果表明,当吸入气态甲醛浓度为3 mg·m-3,气道滴注PM_(2.5)浓度为2.5 mg·m L-1时,肺组织出现不同程度的支气管重塑和炎症细胞浸润。ROS显著上升,GSH显著下降,DPC、8-OH-d G以及Caspase-3都显著上升。添加AZD8055后,肺组织损伤效应更加显著。PM_(2.5)复合甲醛的暴露导致小鼠肺损伤具有协同作用,氧化应激及其下游的DNA损伤可能是甲醛联合PM_(2.5)致小鼠肺损伤的一种重要机制。     

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.