亚砷酸钠对酵母细胞抗氧化酶活性和脂质过氧化的影响

以模式生物酿酒酵母为材料,研究亚砷酸钠对细胞生长、抗氧化酶活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量及胞内活性氧(ROS)水平的影响。结果显示,加入亚砷酸钠(终浓度0.1~0.6 mmol·L~(-1))后,培养液在600 nm处的光密度值(OD600值)低于对照组,并呈浓度依赖性降低。经亚砷酸钠处理12 h后,酵母细胞中过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)活性均增高,但胞内ROS水平和MDA含量与对照组无显著差异。砷处理24 h后,POD在0.2 mmol·L~(-1)砷处理组中活性最高,而CAT、SOD和T-AOC活性呈浓度依赖性增高;胞内ROS水平和MDA含量在高浓度砷组(0.4和0.6 mmol·L~(-1))显著增高。结果表明,亚砷酸钠可抑制酵母细胞生长,改变细胞内抗氧化酶活性,较高浓度时可引起细胞氧化损伤。     

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。     

镉致蟾蜍肝、肾脂质过氧化损伤

以腹腔注射法对蟾蜍(Bufo gargarizans)给镉(按动物体重的质量分数分别给0．1mg kg^-1，0．2mg kg^-1，0．4mg kg^-1，0．8mg kg^-1的Cd)，处理7d后，测定其肝、肾丙二醛(MDA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH—PX)、谷胱甘肽-S转移酶(GSH—ST)的活性．结果显示，一定浓度的镉能引起肝、肾MDA含量明显增加，而GSH含量及SOD、CAT、GSH—ST酶的活性则显著下降．提示一定浓度的镉能引起蟾蜍肝、肾组织脂质过氧化损伤，使蟾蜍肝、肾抗氧化能力、抗诱变能力降低；脂质过氧化损伤可能与GSH的耗竭、抗氧化酶SOD、CAT等酶活性的降低有关．图6参16     

全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)胁迫对翡翠贻贝抗氧化酶的影响

为了解全氟辛烷磺酸盐(PFOS)对海洋贝类抗氧化防御系统的毒性效应及致毒机理,在实验室条件下研究了PFOS对翡翠贻贝的96h急性毒性,同时探讨PFOS胁迫和净水恢复过程中翡翠贻贝外套膜和内脏团组织中抗氧化指标(SOD活性、GSH和MDA含量)的变化。结果显示,PFOS对翡翠贻贝的96h半致死浓度(LC50)为68.3mg·L-1,安全浓度为6.83mg·L-1。在PFOS胁迫阶段,1mg·L-1浓度组外套膜SOD活性显著性升高(p<0.05),内脏团SOD酶活性显著降低(p<0.05);而PFOS浓度高于1mg·L-1时,外套膜SOD活性显著性降低(p<0.05),内脏团SOD活性显著升高(p<0.05)。PFOS胁迫对翡翠贻贝外套膜和内脏团中GSH含量均有显著的诱导作用(p<0.05),PFOS胁迫15d后各浓度组GSH含量均受到显著的抑制(p<0.05)。翡翠贻贝外套膜MDA含量受PFOS胁迫后显著升高(p<0.05),内脏团MDA含量的变化呈先降低、后升高的规律。净水释放阶段,翡翠贻贝两组织中SOD活性在释放7d后均恢复至对照组水平,GSH含量和MDA含量呈显著升高的趋势(p<0.05)。研究结果表明,PFOS暴露能够引起翡翠贻贝外套膜和内脏团氧化胁迫,但这种损伤的效果不明显,释放短时间后即可自我恢复。     

汞、硒暴露对紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis)抗氧化酶系统的影响

为了研究重金属汞及微量元素硒对海洋贝类的毒性效应,揭示汞、硒在生物体内的相互作用机制,用汞和硒对指示生物紫贻贝(Mytilus edulis)进行单一及联合亚慢性暴露实验。设置对照组(0μg·L-1)、汞暴露组(25μg·L-1Hg2+)、硒暴露组(4μg·L-1Se4+)以及硒汞联合暴露组(25μg·L-1Hg2++4μg·L-1Se4+)4个实验组,并分别在暴露期间的第0、2、4和6天定时采集样本,测定紫贻贝鳃SOD、GPx及CAT3种抗氧化酶活性。将实验数据进行ANOVA分析处理后,结果表明:与对照组相比,汞暴露组SOD和GPx均呈现先显著升高(p<0.05或p<0.01)后降低(p<0.01或p<0.001)的趋势,CAT则从第4天开始显著降低(p<0.05);硒暴露组中SOD活性始终高于对照组(p<0.001),GPx活性在第2天也显著升高(p<0.001),CAT活性始终与对照组相近;硒汞联合作用与汞暴露组相比,SOD、GPx和CAT活性在不同时间点均有显著升高(p<0.05),而与硒暴露组相比,3种酶活性均低于硒单独暴露的水平。说明汞在短期能够诱导抗氧化酶活性,随着暴露时间的延长,则表现出明显的抑制作用;微量硒能够增强抗氧化酶系统活性,对汞导致的氧化损伤具有拮抗作用。     

臭氧胁迫下外源喷施亚精胺和EDU对小麦生理指标的影响

采用开顶式气室模拟研究外源喷施亚精胺(Spd)和EDU对O3胁迫下小麦生理指标变化的影响,测定的生理指标包括丙二醛含量(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶活性(SOD)、过氧化物酶活性(POD)、过氧化氢酶活性(CAT)、可溶性蛋白质含量、还原型谷胱甘肽含量(GSH)、谷胱甘肽还原酶活性(GR)、抗坏血酸含量(ASA)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性(APX)。结果表明,外源喷施Spd和EDU可不同程度地提高小麦叶片的SOD、POD、CAT、APX和GR活性,降低MDA和ASA含量,提高GSH和可溶性蛋白含量。当Spd的浓度为0.25、0.50和0.75mmol·L-1时,小麦叶片POD活性比对照处理提高90.0%～226.7%,CAT活性提高21.4%～40.6%,APX活性提高164.2%～191.0%,MDA含量降低9.7%～42.5%。喷施300mg·L-1EDU可导致小麦叶片POD、CAT和APX活性分别比对照处理提高76.8%、27.4%和128.1%,MDA和ASA含量降低,GSH含量提高25.6%。以上结果说明Spd和EDU是2种比较有效的缓解小麦O3胁迫的抗氧化剂,可用来防护O3对小麦的毒害。     

两种有机酸存在下铜对中华圆田螺肝脏的氧化应激效应

为探讨不同水平EDTA和柠檬酸(CA)作用下沉积物中铜对底栖无脊椎动物生态毒理学效应,以中华圆田螺为受试生物,研究了肝脏中活性氧(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)以及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性的变化规律。研究结果表明:有机酸存在下,铜污染底泥可诱导中华圆田螺肝脏产生ROS。电子顺磁共振(EPR)技术得出的3组双重峰分裂谱线为典型的α-苯基-N-叔丁基甲亚胺-N-氧化物(PBN)捕获羟自由基(·OH)形成PBN/·OH的EPR波谱。有机酸存在下,低剂量铜(≤100 mg·kg-1)对MDA产量影响不显著。较高剂量铜暴露下,EDTA的存在抑制MDA产生,CA的添加则均使MDA含量增加。EDTA存在下铜可显著抑制中华圆田螺肝脏中SOD和CAT活性。相对而言,CA的加入可减缓高剂量铜暴露下中华圆田螺肝脏SOD与CAT酶活性的剧烈变化。     

溶藻细菌HSY-03对赤潮异弯藻抗氧化系统的影响

为研究溶藻细菌HSY-03(Bacillus sp.)对赤潮异弯藻的溶藻机制,采用不同浓度HSY-03无菌上清液处理赤潮异弯藻藻细胞,测定藻细胞光合色素含量、叶绿素荧光效率、细胞内部活性氧(ROS)水平和抗氧化系统活性变化.结果表明,HSY-03无菌上清液作用24 h之后,赤潮异弯藻叶绿素a含量、类胡萝卜素含量和最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm值)均快速下降,表明藻细胞光合作用受到抑制;处理2 h后ROS含量即上升,至6 h后逐渐下降;处理12 h膜脂化过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)含量上升,至48 h达到峰值,表明藻细胞内部氧化损伤严重;藻细胞内抗氧化系统响应被激发,抗氧化酶系统超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)和过氧化物酶(POD)活性不同程度上升,以清除细胞内部ROS.非酶促抗氧化系统谷胱甘肽(GSH)和抗坏血酸(AsA)含量上升,二者协同作用清除ROS.这表明,HSY-03上清液可能通过影响光合作用和作用于藻体的膜结构,引起细胞氧化损伤,最终导致藻细胞死亡.研究结果表明,HSY-03可以作为一种长期环境友好型生物因子有效防治赤潮异弯藻.     

中华圆田螺抗氧化-代谢酶系统对转cry1Ab/Ac基因抗虫水稻的响应

对生长在不施农药转Bt基因抗虫水稻华恢1号(HH1)、非Bt稻明恢63(MH63)及施药的明恢63(MH63C)3种稻田生境中的中华圆田螺抗氧化系统物质(SOD、CAT、GSH-PX、GSH)及代谢酶(GST、ACP)差异进行了研究.结果表明:HH1稻田生境田螺肝脏和鳃SOD、CAT、GSH-PX活性均高于MH63稻田,其中SOD和CAT活性差异极显著(p＜0.01);肝脏GSH含量和GST活性在HH1和MH63稻田生境中差异不显著;HH1稻田生境中田螺肝脏ACP活性显著高于MH63稻田生境组(p＜0.01).对于MH63C和MH63组,MH63C稻田生境田螺肝脏中SOD、CAT和GST活性均显著提高,而鳃GSH-PX、GST活性和GSH含量在MH63C生境组表现为明显提高.由此可见,转Bt水稻生境可提高田螺抗氧化能力,对解毒酶系统活性没有明显影响,即对田螺未产生明显的毒副作用;而施用农药明显激活田螺抗氧化系统和解毒代谢酶活性.     

低浓度铅暴露对鲫鱼肝脏抗氧化系统的影响

研究了鲫鱼幼体 (Carassiusauratus)在低浓度铅的长期 ( 4 0d)暴露实验中 ,鲫鱼抗氧化系统所产生的生理生化反应 .结果表明 ,在本实验的剂量范围内 ,铅对鲫鱼肝脏内过氧化氢酶 (CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶 (SOD)的活性 (在暴露浓度达到 0 2mg·l- 1时 )表现为诱导作用 ;而铅对谷胱甘肽硫转移酶 (GST)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶 (GSH Px)的活性在低浓度时 ( 0 0 1mg·l- 1)被抑制 ,其中暴露浓度在 0 2mg·l- 1时GSH Px被进一步抑制 .在实验范围内 ,GSH含量无明显变化 .另外 ,对于低浓度铅的长期暴露 ,鲫鱼肝脏中的GST和GSH Px较CAT和SOD敏感 ,可考虑作为水生生态系统中铅低浓度长期暴露的一种生物检测指标 .     

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.