贵州省务川汞矿区汞污染的初步研究

对贵州省务川汞矿区的大气、地表水和土壤中汞污染的调查表明,务川汞矿区大气汞浓度为7-40000 ng·m-3,超出正常大气汞浓度1-4个数量级.地表水总汞为43-2100 ng·l-1,远高于对照区(15-29 ng·l-1);活性汞、溶解态汞和颗粒态汞含量也显著高于对照区,颗粒态汞是地表水汞迁移的主要方式.土壤总汞含量为1.3-360 mg·kg-1,远高于对照区土壤总汞含量(O.22-0.39 mg·kg-1),土壤剖面汞含量的垂向递减反映了大气汞的沉降是土壤汞的重要来源之一;同一地点不同土地利用类型的土壤,一般为稻田总汞含量高于菜地和玉米地;土壤pH值和有机质影响着土壤中汞的迁移和富集.     

九龙江河口潮间带表层沉积物汞污染分布、赋存形态与生态风险

研究九龙江河口汞污染情况可为该地区汞污染防治提供科学依据,测定九龙江河口潮间带表层沉积物中总汞含量及不同形态汞的含量,分析了汞的分布特征、赋存形态及生物有效性和潜在生态风险。结果表明:九龙江河口潮间带表层沉积物中总汞含量范围0.112~0.259 mg·kg-1,平均值0.172 mg·kg-1,部分采样点汞含量超过中国海洋沉积物质量第一类标准限值(0.20 mg·kg-1);沉积物中各形态汞平均比例顺序:残渣态(61.8%)可氧化态(27.8%)弱酸溶态(7.8%)可还原态(2.6%),可提取态占有相当的比例,对水体汞污染具有一定贡献。潜在生态风险指数法评价结果可知,该河口区潮间带沉积物中汞污染程度和生态风险程度均为中等~较高水平,需对汞污染进行综合防治。     

土壤汞污染对油菜的氧化胁迫效应

为了明确土壤汞污染的植物毒性效应,利用盆栽模拟试验研究了汞污染土壤对油菜的氧化损伤.结果表明,低浓度的汞污染轻微促进油菜的生长,汞浓度超过1.0 mg·kg-1就显著抑制植物生长,引起叶片面积变小、失绿变黄甚至枯萎等生理现象.随着汞浓度的增加,丙二醛(MDA)含量增加,当汞的浓度增加到8.0 mg·kg-1时,MDA的含量是对照组的4.17倍.随着汞浓度的增加,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性升高,过氧化物酶(POD),过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性先升高后下降,其中SOD和POD在8.0 mg·kg-1汞处理下,活性达到最大,CAT在0.5 mg·kg-1汞处理下活性最大.土壤汞含量为超过1.0 mg·kg-1时,油菜可食部分汞浓度大于食品安全国家标准《食品中污染物限量》(GB 2762—2012)的规定.油菜吸收的汞主要累积在根部,因此在利用此类植物进行土壤修复时,需要清除植物的地下部,才能实现植物修复的目的.     

陕西省潼关采金地区汞污染的初步研究

对采金地区水样、沉积物、土壤及部分水藻和苔藓的分析表明 :潼关采金地区已经受到严重的汞污染 .水体总汞浓度最高达 2 5 8 62 μg·l- 1 ,且水样中的汞以颗粒态为主 ,大都占 5 0 %以上 ,而活性汞和溶解态汞的平均浓度分别为 0 1 82± 0 2 4 2 μg·l- 1 和 0 72± 0 79μg·l- 1 ;沉积物中平均汞浓度为 34 98± 2 5 39μg·g- 1 ,最高达 1 1 96μg·g- 1 ;而土壤中汞的浓度最高也只有 1 9 5 0 μg·g- 1 .     

硫代硫酸铵添加对黄平大黄油菜富集土壤汞的影响-田间试验

在田间条件下,研究添加硫代硫酸铵对黄平大黄油菜(Brassica juncea var.HPDH)富集土壤汞(总汞含量13.7mg·kg-1)及土壤汞形态转化影响。试验设置2个处理,对照小区(无硫代硫酸铵)和处理小区(每公斤土壤加入8 g硫代硫酸铵),硫代硫酸铵溶液在植物收获前7 d添加到土壤。试验结束后,分析植物生物量和组织内汞含量。结果表明,硫代硫酸铵处理小区植物生物量(干重)要略高于对照区。硫代硫酸铵处理小区植物根系和地上部分汞含量分别是对照区的600和250倍。利用连续化学浸提法分析了修复前后土壤汞形态变化特征,发现硫代硫酸铵辅助植物修复后能显著降低土壤有机结合态汞含量,大幅度提高残渣态汞含量,溶解态与可交换态汞含量略有增加,特殊吸附态和铁锰氧化态汞含量无显著变化。     

广西阳朔铅锌矿周边土壤和白菜汞含量及污染评价

阳朔铅锌矿是广西境内一个较大型的铅锌老矿山。对阳朔铅锌周边耕作区、居民区土壤和白菜(Brassica rapa L.Chinensis Group)汞含量分布及污染进行调查和研究,可以为汞污染防治与修复提供科学依据。在铅锌矿下游耕作区、对照耕作区分别采集土壤样各66、38个,白菜样各35、20个;居民区采集土壤样17个。全部土壤和白菜样品采用MDS-2003F型压力自控密闭微波溶样系统进行消解,并用原子荧光测汞仪进行分析测定。结果表明,阳朔铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞质量分数为(0.567 4±0.268 3)mg·kg-1,对照耕作区土壤汞质量分数为(0.147 1±0.039 5)mg·kg-1,居民区土壤汞质量分数为(0.188 0±0.097 2)mg·kg-1,分别为中国一些地区土壤汞的自然含量(0.071 mg·kg-1)的7.99、2.07、2.65倍。在铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞含量随着远离矿区方向依次降低。阳朔铅锌矿下游耕作区白菜根汞平均质量分数为27 600 ng·kg-1,茎汞平均质量分数为7 100 ng·kg-1,叶汞平均质量分数为19 300 ng·kg-1;对照耕作区白菜根汞平均质量分数为12 500 ng·kg-1,茎汞平均质量分数为4 800 ng·kg-1,叶汞平均质量分数为10 000 ng·kg-1,白菜汞含量分布特征与土壤汞含量分布相似。白菜植株各部位汞含量与土壤有效态(水溶态、交换态)汞含量显著相关,且根汞与之相关性最为显著,白菜植株不同部位汞含量表现为:根叶茎,上述特点表明土壤汞是白菜汞的主要来源。所采土样中有61.2%的土壤样汞含量超过了中国《土壤环境质量标准(GB 15618─2008)》二级标准的最低限值(0.2 mg·kg-1)。铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞污染最为严重,中等-严重污染以上占53.0%,中等污染占36.4%;居民区次之,中等污染占35.3%;对照耕作区污染最轻,均在中等污染以下。阳朔铅锌矿耕作区白菜植株各部位汞平均含量均未超过国家相关标准,这表明尽管耕作区土壤总汞严重超标,但由于土壤中有效态汞并不高,土壤汞污染并未对白菜汞含量造成显著影响。     

葫芦岛市有色冶金-化工区土壤与植物汞污染

通过对有色冶金-化工区土壤汞、植物汞空间特征的分析,确定不同源对土壤、植物的影响。土壤表层汞含量以锌冶炼厂和氯碱厂及其附近为中心,向外围辐散降低,呈双中心分布,其含量为0.055～14.575mg·kg-1,平均值为1.435mg·kg-1;植物叶汞含量为柳树(Salix)>榆树(Ulmus)>槐树(Sophora)>丁香(Cytisus)>杨树(Populus)>松树(Pinus)>柏树(Cyparissus),其汞含量为0.029～2.700mg·kg-1,平均为0.182mg·kg-1。植物汞的空间分布特征是以锌冶炼厂及其附近为中心,表明大气沉降作用对植物汞的含量有显著的影响,锌冶炼厂是植物汞含量的主要来源,有色冶金-化工区是我国汞污染最重的地区之一,其生态风险应引起重视。     

贵州万山汞矿地区耐汞野生植物研究

在贵州万山地区废弃汞矿堆和矿山附近,受长期高剂量汞暴露的影响经过的自然选择,该地区出现了一些能耐受汞毒性的生态型植物。对汞耐受及汞富集植物的筛选对于汞污染土壤的植物修复具有一定的现实意义。通过对万山梅子溪地区汞污染土壤及汞耐受植物采样调查发现,该区域采样土壤中汞的含量均在50 mg·kg-1以上,达到重度汞污染水平。对该地区野生植物的采样分析发现,蔷薇科植物悬钩子不仅数量较多,单株植物生物量较大,表现出很强的耐汞毒性的能力,而且植株内可以很大程度地富集汞,在其植株中汞的含量可达20 mg·kg-1左右,属于汞富集植物,另外发现野蒿对汞也具有较强的富集能力,其植株中汞的含量可达10 mg·kg-1以上。该类型植物的发现将为植物的汞耐受以及汞富集机理研究提供新的素材,为汞污染土壤的植物修复技术提供新的植物类型,也为进一步开发汞污染土壤处理技术提供了一种可能。     

松花江沉积物中总汞及汞形态的演化

为进一步掌握松花江汞污染的动态,通过2005年的样品采集与分析,结合有关历史数据,研究了松花江表层沉积物中汞的分布与变化.结果表明,在切断汞的主要污染源之后,第二松花江和松花江干流沉积物中汞含量均呈明显下降趋势;松花江18个断面沉积物中总汞质量含量较低,平均为0.172 mg·kg-1,除哈达湾、哨口和白旗江段外,大部分江段已处于背景水平.各江段沉积物中汞的形态分布差别较大,第二松花江沉积物中汞以过氧化氢溶态和王水溶态为主,而干流江段则以酸溶态和过氧化氢溶态为主;与20世纪80年代相比,除了王水溶态汞以外,2005年哈达湾、哨口和白旗3个代表性断面酸溶态、碱溶态及过氧化氢溶态汞含量均大幅下降.说明经过多年的环境治理以及水体的自然净化作用,松花江的汞污染已经得到了有效控制.     

招远市区土壤及常见绿化植物汞污染特征

为查明长期黄金开采冶炼对城市汞污染的影响,以"金都"招远为研究对象,于2011年4月,采集了招远市区常见绿化植物柏树、落叶松、冬青的茎叶样品30份,并同步采集相应表层土壤样品34份。采用冷原子吸收法测定样品总汞含量,分析了土壤的理化性质。结果表明,招远市区表层土壤中汞含量范围为0.002~0.815 mg·kg-1,平均值为0.149 mg·kg-1。土壤汞含量与有机质呈极显著正相关,与p H、粗颗粒比例呈显著正相关关系,而与阳离子交换量、黏粒比例呈显著负相关。不同城市区域相比,处于金矿区污染源下风向、且与矿区距离较近的梦芝区土壤汞含量要显著高于其它区域。常见绿化植物茎叶汞含量范围为0.021~0.782 mg·kg-1,不同植物中的汞含量没有显著差异,但同种植物中茎、叶中汞含量存在极显著正相关。植物中的汞在各城市区域没有显著差异,与土壤汞含量也不存在显著相关性。研究结果显示,招远市区土壤和植物受周边金矿开采和黄金冶炼的影响,存在一定程度汞污染。     

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.     

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.