蚯蚓消解后污泥的性质变化及对彩叶草生长的影响

以太平1号蚯蚓(Pheretima)消解生活污泥,并将消解后污泥与土壤按不同比例混合作为彩叶草(Coleus blumei)基质进行盆栽试验,研究了经蚯蚓消解前后污泥理化性质变化及蚯蚓消解后污泥不同配比基质对彩叶草生长的影响。结果表明,经蚯蚓消解后的污泥p H值、含水量、全氮、全磷、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾和有机质含量降低,污泥的湿容重下降38.89%,通气孔隙度升高93.91%,其作为栽培基质的性质得到改善。蚯蚓对污泥中重金属有一定的生物富集作用,消解后污泥中Pb、As、Hg和Zn含量下降,Cu和Cd含量升高,但仍符合GB 4284—84《农用污泥中污染物控制标准》中的中性和碱性土壤标准。随着污泥添加量的上升,栽培基质酶活性显著升高,且植株生长形态和生理特性明显优于未消解污泥和对照(100%土壤),表明100%消解后污泥作为栽培基质有利于彩叶草生长。     

利用餐厨和绿化垃圾提高蚯蚓堆肥效率处理剩余污泥的研究

为了显著提高蚯蚓堆肥处理剩余污泥的效率,在实验室条件下进行了掺入不同比例餐厨和绿化垃圾的剩余污泥蚯蚓堆肥试验。在保持剩余污泥占主体的情况下,试验按照剩余污泥：餐厨垃圾：绿化垃圾的质量比（干质量）顺序,共设6个不同配比处理组,分别为100/0/0、90/5/5、80/10/10、70/15/15、70/20/10和70/10/20,各组接种蚯蚓后恒温（25±1）℃暗室培养,中途适时补充基质和水分,试验为期7周。试验结束后,去除未被降解基质,分离并量测蚯蚓质量和数量以及蚓粪质量及其养分含量,并据此量化比较各组蚯蚓堆肥效率。试验结果表明,与纯污泥相比,增加餐厨和绿化垃圾的总比例可以显著加快蚯蚓的生长、成熟和繁殖速度,显著提高对应基质的降解速率和蚓粪生产速率,而且相应蚓粪的养分（总有机碳、全钾）含量也会显著增加（全氮和全磷含量无显著影响）。在保持剩余污泥占70%比例下,掺入15%餐厨垃圾和15%绿化垃圾的组别蚯蚓堆肥处理剩余污泥的效率达到最高（蚓粪的养分含量除外）,并与其他组别相比具有统计显著性。总之,餐厨和绿化垃圾的掺入能够显著提高蚯蚓堆肥处理剩余污泥的效率。     

利用化学分析和生物毒性监测方法综合评价污水污泥环境影响的研究

利用化学分析和发光细菌生物毒性联合检测方法评价了上海地区7处污水处理厂污水污泥(分别用S1～S7表示)中主要污染物水平和毒性大小.结果表明,污水污泥样品S5和S7的重金属超过CJ/T 309-2009《城镇污水处理厂污泥处置农用泥质》标准和全国平均水平,主要超标重金属为Cd、Hg和Cu;污水污泥中多氯联苯、有机氯农药和二(噁)英类含量与组成则处于安全水平;样点S1～S6的多环芳烃(PAHs)平均含量低于CJ/T 309-2009中A级标准与欧盟和美国关于污水污泥的土地倾倒标准,但样点S7的w(ΣPAHs)达到34.61 mg·kg-1,超过CJ/T 309-2009最高允许限值的6倍.污水污泥浸出液化学分析结果表明,PAHs和重金属含量低于GB 5085.3-2007《危险废物鉴别标准浸出毒性鉴别》和欧盟EN 12457.2-2002 《废弃物表征浸出颗粒废弃物和污泥浸出一致性试验》标准,但所有样点的溶解性总有机碳均超过欧盟EN 12457.2-2002标准.发光细菌综合生物毒性结果表明:样点S3的综合毒性最高,S1、S6和S7次之,S2、S4和S5较低,以生活污水为主要来源的污水污泥的综合生物毒性较高.该结果可为污水污泥的后续处理和处置提供基础数据.     

浸提剂pH值对污泥中重金属浸出的影响

为了探讨浸提剂的pH对污泥中重金属释放的影响,采集了我国四个典型城市污水厂的剩余污泥,应用固体废物浸出毒性的浸出方法(GB5086.2-1997),以不同pH值的浸提剂对污泥中重金属的浸出特性进行了实验研究.实验结果表明,污泥中的Cr和Fe的最大浸出质量浓度分别出现在6.5～7.0和5.0左右的pH值范围;Mo和Ni的浸出质量浓度则随着浸提剂pH值的升高而升高;而Zn和Mn的浸出质量浓度则随着浸提剂pH的升高而降低.这表明,浸提剂的pH 值对污泥中重金属的浸出具有显著的影响,而且pH 值对污泥中重金属浸出的影响因重金属的不同而存在较大的差异.     

蚯蚓-稻壳炭联合堆肥对工业污泥中重金属的影响研究

蚯蚓堆肥相关研究多集中在生活污泥方面,对工业污泥的探索较少。该研究以马鞍山某钢铁污水处理站污泥为例,添加不同比例稻壳炭(2%、4%、8%),设置污泥单独堆肥、稻壳炭与污泥堆肥以及蚯蚓-稻壳炭联合污泥堆肥试验,探索蚯蚓与稻壳炭联合堆肥对工业污泥中重金属形态和生物有效性的影响。研究表明,(1)相比污泥单独堆肥,稻壳炭联合污泥堆肥能增加污泥pH、EC、TP和降低TOC、TN,而蚯蚓联合稻壳炭堆肥污泥可增加TN,并进一步增加污泥EC、TP,显著降低污泥的pH、TOC。(2)稻壳炭堆肥中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd含量因浓缩效应而上升;而蚯蚓联合稻壳炭堆肥,重金属含量显著下降,添加4%稻壳炭时,重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd质量分数达到最小值,分别为856.64、137.10、158.92、15.48mg·kg-1。(3)重金属形态分析表明,随着稻壳炭比例增加,稻壳炭堆肥中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd的交换态和碳酸盐结合态转化为残渣态及铁锰氧化态的比例增大,添加8%稻壳炭时DTPA提取的有效态重金属质量分数最低,分别为705.72、47.95、50.43、4.47 mg·kg-1;蚯蚓-稻壳炭联合堆肥会使得污泥中重金属交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰结合态和有机结合态均向残渣态转化,添加4%稻壳炭与蚯蚓的协同转化能力最大,Zn、Cu、Pb、Cd有效态重金属质量分数分别为629.84、38.63、36.76、1.63mg·kg-1,说明稻壳炭添加入蚯蚓堆肥可进一步降低工业污泥中重金属有效性,使重金属钝化。本研究可为稻壳炭联合蚯蚓堆肥处理工业污泥提供参考和科学依据。     

蚯蚓处理对城市生活污泥水溶性有机物结构特性的影响

对蚯蚓处理前后污泥水溶性有机物的量及分子量比例进行了分析,同时采用傅立叶红外光谱(FTIR)和荧光光谱分析技术,研究了水溶性有机物的组成与结构特征变化.结果表明,和对照相比,污泥经蚯蚓处理后,水溶性有机物的含量和小分子有机物的比例增加,小分子物质含量增加12%.红外光谱和荧光光谱的结果表明,污泥经蚯蚓处理后,水溶性有机物中羧基和多糖类物质增加,芳香族类物质的量增多,产生了少量的蛋白质类物质.同时发现,蚯蚓处理使污泥水溶性有机物不饱和结构的多聚化或联合程度变小,水溶性有机物的结构变得更加简单,形成了更多的小分子有机物。     

Cr~(6+)对活性污泥活性及有机物去除速率的影响

通过检测活性污泥系统的电子传递活性以及COD的去除速率,研究了Cr~(6+)对污泥活性以及有机物降解速率的影响,并探讨了两者之间的关系.研究结果表明:5 mg·L~(-1)的Cr~(6+)即会对系统产生明显影响,Cr~(6+)对污泥活性和COD去除率的抑制作用随其质量浓度的增大而增强;当Cr~(6+)质量浓度达到25 mg·L~(-1)时,污泥的INT和TTC-电子传递(TTC-ETS)活性以及有机物降解速率都表现为大幅的下降,下降比例分别为46.98%、54.18%以及64.47%.Cr~(6+)抑制污泥TTC-ETS活性的IC_(50)小于抑制INT-ETS活性的IC_(50),表明TTC-ETS活性反映Cr~(6+)毒性作用的灵敏性大于INT-ETS活性.此外,INT和TTC-ETS活性与有机物降解速率之间也均存在显著的正相关性,说明两者都是表征Cr~(6+)对有机物去除速率影响的灵敏参数.     

蚯蚓体腔细胞彗星试验检测阿散酸在泥浆体系中降解前后的遗传毒性变化

配制不同浓度的阿散酸标准液,与某养猪场附近的表层土壤混合形成泥浆系统,放在摇床上连续培养30d.在第0、1、2、3、4周取出适量降解液,分别用分光光度法测定阿散酸的降解率;用彗星试验检测降解液对赤子爱胜蚓体腔细胞DNA的损伤.结果表明,阿散酸低浓度时在泥浆体系中能被较快降解,500mg/L的降解率达到了25%;蚯蚓体腔细胞彗星试验表明,所有降解液均具有遗传毒性,可导致蚯蚓体腔细胞DNA明显损伤,与对照相比具有显著性差异(P<0.05).图1表1参17     

基于EEM与PCR-DGGE技术分析温度对蚯蚓堆肥处理城镇污泥的影响

将城镇脱水污泥制成5 mm粒径颗粒分别在15、20、25℃条件下进行蚯蚓堆肥,利用三维荧光(EEM)考察了温度对蚯蚓堆肥处理城镇污泥过程腐熟程度的影响,并采用PCR-DGGE技术探究了不同温度条件下蚯蚓堆肥微生物种群结构的变化,旨在分析蚯蚓堆肥中的微生物种群结构的变化,进而验证污泥中腐殖酸类有机物熟化降解机理,并为蚯蚓堆肥处理城镇污泥实现工业化生产提供理论依据。EEM分析结果表明:在堆肥30 d时,堆肥系统中腐殖酸类物质已基本降解完全,且随着堆肥时间的延长,芳香类蛋白质一直在被蚯蚓和微生物所利用;同一时期随温度升高,蚯蚓吞食和系统内的微生物的协同增效作用能加快系统中DOM的降解效率、提高系统的矿化程度。依据PCR-DGGE技术测序结果可知:蚯蚓堆肥系统中微生物种群对于温度变化存在缓冲区间,当温度在15—20℃范围内变化时,细菌和真核微生物的种群多样性差异均较小;温度为25℃时,系统中细菌种群多样性降低,真核微生物种群多样性升高;堆肥结束时,3个温度组系统中共有细菌种群类别占系统中总细菌种群类别79%以上,共有真核微生物种群类别占系统总真核微生物种群类别75%以上,表明随着温度升高系统中主要微生物种群类别并未发生变化,仅共有微生物种群的相对数量发生了改变,且3个温度组系统中均以拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和子囊菌门(Ascomycota)为优势种群,温度越高,相对数量越多,系统中易利用有机质所占比重小,系统更加稳定。     

硝酸钙投加频次对污泥生物调理效果的影响

在接种了反硝化菌的剩余污泥中投加硝酸钙药剂,利用反硝化菌消耗NO₃^-进行反硝化作用去除污泥中易生物降解的有机物,利用Ca²⁺的中和、架桥作用,改善污泥的脱水性能.固定NO₃^-总投加浓度为100 mg·g^-1 TS,在6 d的时间内,按1次、2次、3次、6次的投加频次向污泥中投加硝酸钙.结果表明,1次投加对污泥脱水性能的提升最显著,较对照组而言,污泥CST降低了65.0%,SRF降低了73.2%,污泥脱水性能明显改善;投加硝酸钙后,污泥胞外聚合物中蛋白质含量大幅降低,S层、L层蛋白质分别从13.47 mg·L^-1、11.66 mg·L^-1降低至0.52 mg·L^-1、1.43 mg·L^-1;投加硝酸钙的污泥Zeta电位更趋于电中性.研究还发现,一次性投加硝酸钙产生了更多NO₂^-,有利于污泥结合水,即微生物细胞质的释放.释放出的有机碳被反硝化菌用作碳源,又增强了反硝化效果,从而促进了污泥EPS的破坏与降解,从而改善了污泥的脱水性能.     

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.