南方冬季覆盖作物的碳蓄积及其对水稻产量的影响

冬季覆盖作物为在冬闲季节以减少土壤裸露、增加生物产量、抑制硝态氮淋溶等为目的而种植的作物。南方水稻种植区地处热带、亚热带湿润地区有利于冬闲覆盖作物生产。冬季覆盖作物在增加生物产量的同时,可以增加稻田生态系统碳蓄积效应。本研究在南方水稻种植区选择冬闲季覆盖作物黑麦草、紫云英、油菜,以冬闲田为照进行生产比较试验,考察不同覆盖作物碳蓄积能力及对后茬作物产量的影响。结果表明,黑麦草地上部碳蓄积为4044.9kg·hm-2,地下部碳蓄积为1533.7kg·hm-2,紫云英地上部、地下部碳蓄积分别为1799.6kg·hm-2,1023.8kg·hm-2,油菜的分别为1023.8kg·hm-2,339.0kg·hm-2;黑麦草的碳蓄积量显著高于紫云英和油菜,各覆盖作物处理碳蓄积量均显著高于冬闲田。黑麦草地下根系表现强大的碳蓄积能力,可以提高土壤碳汇效应。不同覆盖作物-双季稻稻田生态系统,冬季覆盖作物残茬短期内对主作物的产量因素均没有显著的影响。     

华北地区几种冬闲覆盖作物碳氮蓄积及其对土壤理化性质的影响

充分利用华北地区冬季空闲耕地及光热资源,以冬闲耕地为对照,研究二月兰（Orychophragmus violaceus）、毛苕（Vicia uillosa Roth.）、黑麦草（Secale cereale L.）、草木樨（Melilotus officinalis）、紫花苜蓿（Medicago satiua L.）5种不同冬闲覆盖作物地上部、地下部以及总碳、氮的蓄积量及其对土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明：5种覆盖作物总干物质质量在4.6-8.82 t.hm-2之间,是冬闲田干物质质量的1.6-3.1倍。5种覆盖作物全碳蓄积量在1.80-3.14 t.hm-2之间,是冬闲田碳蓄积量的1.9-3.3倍。与对照相比,各覆盖处理均明显提高氮素蓄积,尤以苜蓿最佳,达到了202.8 kg.hm-2,差异显著。试验选择5种肥覆盖均可提高土壤有机质质量分数（0.90-2.86 g.kg）;黑麦草覆盖可明显降低土壤容重（0.08 g.cm3）;毛苕和苜蓿栽培均可显著降低土壤pH,但同时土壤盐分有所增加;二月兰和黑麦草栽培在提高土壤水分含量方面表现最好。     

冬季覆盖作物对潮褐土土壤肥力和微生物学性状的影响

冬季覆盖作物能够提高农田土壤肥力和改善生态环境,通过研究其种植后对华北平原农田土壤理化和微生物学性质的影响,可为该地区推广种植冬季覆盖作物提供数据支持。以冬闲地为对照(CK),选取毛叶苕子(Vicia villosa,Vr)、二月兰(Orychophragmus violaceus,Ov)和冬油菜(Brassica campestris,Bc)3种覆盖作物,通过盆栽试验研究了种植冬季覆盖作物对华北平原典型潮褐土土壤理化性质、微生物生物量和酶活性的影响。结果表明:3种冬季覆盖作物处理生物量由小到大依次为Vr、Bc和Ov。与CK相比,3种冬季覆盖作物均能显著提高土壤含水量,有效磷含量,土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和磷含量(P0.05),且不同程度提高土壤碱性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性。其中,Ov处理土壤有效磷含量提高幅度最大,为33.3%(P0.05);Bc处理土壤含水量显著提高16.7%,土壤容重显著降低16.8%,土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物生物量氮、微生物生物量磷含量及碱性磷酸酶、蔗糖酶和脲酶活性分别提高30.5%、32.3%、85.4%、11.4%、17.7%和21.7%(P0.05)。综合覆盖作物生物量及覆盖作物对华北平原潮褐土土壤理化性质、微生物生物量含量和酶活性的影响,以冬油菜作为华北平原冬季覆盖作物效果为最佳,二月兰和毛叶苕子次之。     

水旱轮作稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH_4和N_2O排放的影响

甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)是仅次于二氧化碳(CO2)的重要温室气体,农田是大气CH4和N2O的重要来源,但目前农业措施对CH4和N2O排放的影响尚不明确。以水旱轮作稻田旱作季休闲为对照,采用静态箱-气相色谱法研究了种植紫云英、黑麦草、冬小麦以及油菜等4种作物对稻田旱作季CH4和N2O排放及其温室效应的影响。结果表明:水旱轮作稻田旱作季CH4排放通量较低,而N2O排放较为明显。稻田旱作季CH4平均排放通量表现为油菜黑麦草冬小麦紫云英休闲,依次为8.96、7.19、6.94、6.52和6.02μg·m-2·h-1,季节N2O平均排放通量的顺序是油菜(61.1μg·m-2·h-1)冬小麦(52.5μg·m-2·h-1)黑麦草(34.0μg·m-2·h-1)休闲(15.3μg·m-2·h-1)紫云英(13.6μg·m-2·h-1)。稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH4和N2O季节总排放量的影响达到极显著水平(P0.01),CH4和N2O季节总排放量均以种植油菜为最大,分别达到43.2和294.7 mg·m-2,比对照休闲增加49%和299%。种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草较对照休闲显著增加稻田旱作季总增温潜势(P0.05),紫云英和休闲处理间总增温潜势无显著差异(P0.05)。研究表明,种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草等作物由于氮肥的施用增加了水旱轮作稻田旱作季温室效应。     

种植不同冬季作物对稻田甲烷、氧化亚氮排放和土壤微生物的影响

研究双季稻收获后填闲种植不同冬季作物在其生长季节内甲烷（CH4）和氧化亚氮（N2O）的排放特征,对合理利用冬闲稻田、发展冬季作物生产及合理评价不同种植模式具有重要意义。采用静态箱-气相色谱法对冬季免耕直播黑麦草、紫云英和冬闲的双季稻田中CH4和N2O排放及其相关微生物数量变化进行了分析。在冬季作物生长期,不同冬季作物稻田CH4和N2O排放通量均显著高于对照（冬闲）,CH4和N2O排放通量均表现为免耕直播黑麦草〉免耕直播紫云英〉冬闲;免耕直播黑麦草和紫云英处理稻田CH4排放量分别为2.28和1.07 g·m^-2,分别比对照增加241.92%和60.63%;N2O排放量分别为0.59和0.48 g·m^-2,分别比对照增加71.93%和40.06%;各处理稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌、硝化细菌及反硝化细菌的数量变化范围分别为0.33×10^2 163.37×10^2 cfu·g^-1、11.05×10^3~245.68×10^3 cfu·g^-1、3.21×10^3~178.26×10^3 cfu·g^-1和10.47×10^5~198.88×10^5 cfu·g-1,免耕直播黑麦草和紫云英处理稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌的数量均显著高于冬闲,其中免耕直播黑麦草处理稻田土壤的产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌和硝化细菌数量显著高于免耕直播紫云英处理,而免耕直播紫云英处理稻田土壤反硝化细菌的数量则显著高于免耕直播黑麦草处理。研究结果显示,种植不同冬季作物能促进稻田生态系统中CH4和N2O的排放,而这两种气体的排放量与稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量变化密切相关。     

不同耕作和秸秆还田模式对紫云英-双季稻土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量的影响

土壤微生物能够灵敏、准确地反映土壤质量变化,可综合反映土壤肥力和环境质量状况。为探明南方双季稻区不同耕作和秸秆还田模式对水稻(Oryza sativa L.)根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量的影响,以紫云英(Astragalus sinicus L.)-双季稻种植模式大田定位试验为平台,设双季水稻翻耕+秸秆还田(CT)、双季水稻旋耕+秸秆还田(RT)、双季水稻免耕+秸秆还田(NT)、双季水稻旋耕+秸秆不还田(对照,RTO)4种土壤耕作处理,于2017年和2018年系统分析了不同土壤耕作处理对双季稻各个主要生育时期根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量和微生物熵及水稻产量的影响。研究结果表明,早、晚稻各个主要生育时期,各处理根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量和微生物熵均表现为先增加再降低的变化趋势,均于齐穗期达到最大值;2个年份早、晚稻各个主要生育时期,各处理根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳平均含量变化范围分别为317.2-822.4、276.9-616.8 mg·kg~(-1)和286.8-792.0、281.1-617.8 mg·kg~(-1);根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量氮平均含量变化范围分别为38.6-64.5、33.1-50.6 mg·kg~(-1)和37.8-64.6、33.2-50.6 mg·kg~(-1);根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量大小顺序均表现为:CTRTNTRTO。早、晚稻各个主要生育时期,CT处理根际土壤微生物生物量碳氮比和微生物熵均显著高于NT处理(P0.05)。秸秆还田处理(CT、RT和NT)根际与非根际土壤微生物熵均显著高于RTO处理(P0.05)。CT和RT处理早稻和晚稻产量均显著高于RTO处理(P0.05)。总的来说,耕作方式和秸秆还田对南方双季稻区稻田根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量均具有明显的影响,采用土壤翻耕、旋耕和秸秆还田模式对于增加水稻根际与非根际土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量、微生物熵和水稻产量的效果为最佳。     

种植模式对冀西北坝上土壤活性有机质和碳库管理指数的影响

冀西北坝上地区是京津冀重要的生态源保护区域,土壤碳库是反映其生态功能的重要指标,农田种植模式是影响土壤碳库的主要人为因素。为了研究冀西北坝上沙化农田土壤有机质组分特征及增碳种植模式,以草地为参照,选择有机无机配施充分灌溉保护性栽培种植模式——大棚蔬菜田(DS)、有机无机配施充分灌溉种植模式——露地蔬菜田(LS)、大量施用化肥充分灌溉种植模式——马铃薯田(MT)、少量施用化肥雨养种植模式——青贮玉米田(QY)、不施肥雨养种植模式——燕麦田(YT)和多年人工林地(RL)等多种不同种植模式,采集0—20 cm土壤,分析土壤活性有机质(ASOM)和碳库管理指数(CPMI)。结果表明:不同种植模式下土壤有机质(SOM)含量在8.97—31.97 g·kg-1之间,ASOM在7.63—13.44 g·kg-1之间,其中DS显著高于草地,QY、YT和RL均显著低于草地;在土壤活性有机质的组分特征中,土壤非活性有机质(NLOM)占比最高,其次为低活性有机质(L-LOM);土壤ASOM的CPMI在64.78—184.02之间,ASOM与SOM、微生物量碳(MBC)、pH均呈极显著正相关,CPMI与总氮(TN)、pH及无机磷(IP)呈显著性负相关。有机无机配施充分灌溉保护性栽培种植模式能提高沙壤土SOM和ASOM含量降低CPMI,少量施用化肥或不施肥的雨养种植模式会降低沙壤土SOM和ASOM含量增加CPMI,不利于沙壤土保水保肥。为增强冀西北坝上地区农田保水保肥能力,应增施有机肥,提高水分管理,部分农田可建造保护性栽培设施,种植归还率较高作物,以减缓土壤退化且保障土壤的有效利用。     

不同作物对土壤中Ni的富集特征及低累积品种筛选

为探究镍(Ni)污染土壤中农作物食用安全性并筛选出低累积作物品种,以青椒(Capsicum annuum L.)、黄瓜(Cucumis sativus L.)、豇豆(Vigna unguiculata L.)、菠菜(Spinacia oleracea L.)、花菜(Brassica oleracea L.)、青菜(Brassica chinensis L.)、水稻(Oryza glaberrima L.)、小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)为试验材料,采用温室盆栽土培试验方法研究了土壤中不同质量分数(126、200、350、500、650、800mg·kg~(-1))Ni作用下不同作物生物量变化及可食部分Ni富集特征,建立不同种类作物与土壤Ni含量相关关系,探讨不同作物对应的土壤Ni安全限量值,筛选Ni低累积作物品种。结果表明:(1)随着土壤中Ni含量增加,作物地上部分生物量表现为先增加后减少,黄瓜、青菜耐受性最强,花菜耐受性最差;(2)不同作物可食部分Ni富集系数表现为:小麦(0.032)花菜(0.026)青菜(0.021)水稻(0.020)豇豆(0.014)菠菜(0.006 5)青椒(0.005 4)黄瓜(0.004 2);(3)作物可食部分Ni含量与土壤中Ni含量都呈极显著正相关(P0.01),相关系数大小表现为:豇豆(0.972)花菜(0.965)青椒(0.948)菠菜(0.938)黄瓜(0.926)小麦(0.728)青菜(0.721)水稻(0.700);(4)不同作物对应的土壤Ni安全限量值大小为:黄瓜(561 mg·kg~(-1))菠菜(513 mg·kg~(-1))青椒(439 mg·kg~(-1))花菜(203 mg·kg~(-1))豇豆(196 mg·kg~(-1))青菜(190 mg·kg~(-1))水稻(147 mg·kg~(-1))小麦(105 mg·kg~(-1))。依据作物对土壤中Ni的耐受性、富集能力及土壤安全限量值,筛选出黄瓜、青椒、菠菜为Ni低累积品种。该研究为通过农艺技术措施调控作物Ni积累提供依据,对上海轻中度Ni污染复垦土地实施作物替代种植,保障作物食用安全具有重要意义。     

有机氯农药六六六污染土壤的植物修复研究

我国20世纪六七十年代大量施用的有机氯农药,由于其性质极其稳定,在土壤至今仍有残留。植物修复有机农药污染土壤并不多见,但具有广阔的应用前景。此项研究对提高土壤环境质量、保证农产品的安全、实现农业可持续发展等有着重要的理论和现实意义。文章以多花黑麦草(Lolium multiforum Lan.)、紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L.)和籽粒苋(Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.)作为供试植物,在有机氯农药六六六(HCH)质量分数为1.09 mg.kg-1的污染土壤中种植3个月,研究了种植不同植物条件下土壤中HCH的消解情况。研究结果表明,与对照相比,种植植物大大提高了土壤中微生物数量和酶的活性,并且微生物的数量和酶的活性与土壤中HCH的消解密切相关。试验结束后,不同处理中HCH及其4种异构体的总含量降低幅度为43.87%~65.79%,其中种植紫花苜蓿和多花黑麦草的处理中HCH消解较快,对HCH污染土壤修复的效果较好。可见,植物修复技术是一种可行的环境友好的修复六六六污染土壤的技术。     

施氮水平对河套灌区套作小麦-玉米土壤微生物量碳、氮的影响研究

通过田间试验研究了河套灌区套作小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)-玉米(Zea mays L.)在不同施氮水平下(小麦N0 0 kg·hm~(-2)、N1 90 kg·hm~(-2)、N2 180 kg·hm~(-2)、N3 270 kg·hm~(-2);玉米N0 0 kg·hm~(-2)、N1 135 kg·hm~(-2)、N2 270 kg·hm~(-2)、N3 405 kg·hm~(-2))土壤微生物量碳、氮的变化规律,为农业生产中定量施氮提供有益的生物参数和指标。结果表明:小麦全生育期内土壤微生物量氮、碳含量呈现出"升-降-升"趋势,抽穗期土壤微生物量氮达到最大值,灌浆期的下降幅度最大,土壤中的养分被小麦大量吸收消耗,此时微生物矿化出一部分微生物量氮以供作物吸收利用,土壤微生物量含量大幅下降。玉米土壤微生物量氮、碳含量随生育期进程推进而先增加后降低,在抽雄期出现峰值,土壤中的有效养分充足,同时,根系代谢活动旺盛,分泌物增多,使微生物代谢加快,为微生物的生长和繁殖提供了充足的营养环境。套作小麦-玉米土壤微生物量碳、氮含量均随着施氮水平的升高呈现出先增加后降低的趋势,在N2(小麦180 kg·hm~(-2)、玉米270 kg·hm~(-2))水平下,土壤微生物量碳、氮含量最高。N2处理的小麦微生物量碳较N0增加了53.7%,微生物量氮则是N0的3.29倍;N2处理的玉米微生物量碳、氮分别是N0的2.61、5.38倍。回归分析表明,土壤微生物量与施氮量之间表现为显著的二次型回归关系,适宜的氮肥施用量对微生物量碳、氮的负效应较低;根据边际分析及综合土壤微生物量碳、氮,推荐小麦最佳施肥量为165.9~187.5 kg·hm~(-2),玉米最佳施肥量为227.5~287.9 kg·hm~(-2)。     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.