壬基酚在蛋白核小球藻和大型溞体内的富集与传递

为探究壬基酚(nonylphenol,NP)在水生生物中的富集传递效应,选择以蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)和大型溞(Daphnia magna)为研究对象,开展蛋白核小球藻对NP的富集效应实验,及NP在蛋白核小球藻和大型溞体内的传递效应实验。研究结果表明,NP对蛋白核小球藻的96 h半数效应浓度(96 h-EC50)为3.13 mg·L~(-1),对蛋白核小球藻的生长和叶绿素含量的影响呈现明显的剂量-时间效应。NP对大型溞的48 h半数效应浓度(48 h-LC50)为37.41μg·L~(-1),属于高毒类化合物。蛋白核小球藻暴露于0.05 mg·L-1NP 4 h后,其生物富集系数(BCF)为5 144.93,富集量为252.2μg·g~(-1),在12 h内对NP的生物富集系数(BCF)最高达12 053.64,富集量为1 181.73μg·g~(-1)。以0.05 mg·L-1NP中暴露4 h后的蛋白核小球藻为饵料投喂大型溞7 d后,大型溞体内NP富集量最高达3.6μg·g~(-1)。0.05 mg·L~(-1)NP直接暴露组大型溞暴露10 d后,大型溞体内NP富集量最高达4.02μg·g~(-1)。蛋白核小球藻对NP具有较强的富集能力,能够通过摄食过程将NP传递到大型溞,经传递的NP能够显著抑制大型溞的生长、繁殖、摄食等生命活动。论文为评估NP在水生生态系统中的污染风险和富集传递效应提供了一定的参考依据。     

氧化石墨烯存在下铜离子对大型溞的毒性研究

氧化石墨烯(graphene oxide,GO)作为一种具有独特物理化学性质的新型纳米材料被广泛应用,其进入环境后可能对传统污染物的毒性造成影响。选取大型溞为受试生物,研究了GO的存在对Cu在大型溞体内的富集、毒性和抗氧化系统的影响。结果表明,GO对Cu~(2+)具有良好的吸附效果,大幅降低了试验液中Cu~(2+)浓度。1 mg·L~(-1)和2 mg·L~(-1)GO存在下,大型溞暴露于19.2μg·L~(-1)Cu~(2+)溶液72 h后,体内的金属Cu富集量由360μg·g-1干重分别降低为308μg·g-1和215μg·g-1干重。GO的存在降低了Cu~(2+)对大型溞的毒性,Cu~(2+)对大型溞的72 h-LC50值由19.2μg·L~(-1)升高至56μg·L~(-1)。Cu~(2+)单独作用时,大型溞体内SOD活性和GSH含量表现为先诱导后抑制,而MDA含量逐渐升高;当GO存在时,大型溞体内酶活性的变化趋势与上述现象类似,但含量总体低于Cu~(2+)单独暴露时的活性和含量。研究表明GO的加入减少了大型溞体内Cu的富集量,降低了Cu~(2+)对大型溞的氧化损害,对Cu~(2+)的毒性存在一定的减轻效果。     

红霉素对连续3个世代多刺裸腹溞存活和生殖的影响

红霉素是一种常用的大环内酯类抗生素,其对多刺裸腹溞连续世代生活史参数的影响尚不得而知。本文以连续3个世代的多刺裸腹溞为对象,研究了不同浓度(0.02、0.2、2、20、200和2 000μg·L~(-1))的红霉素对其平均寿命、首次生殖年龄、生殖窝数、窝卵数和总后代数等的影响。结果表明,红霉素浓度对多刺裸腹溞的平均寿命、首次生殖年龄、生殖窝数、窝卵数和总后代数的影响在多刺裸腹溞世代间均存在着明显的差异。与空白对照组相比,红霉素浓度对多刺裸腹溞F0代平均寿命的影响表现出"低(0.02μg·L~(-1))促高(2~2 000μg·L~(-1))抑"的剂量-效应关系,暴露于20μg·L~(-1)红霉素溶液中的多刺裸腹溞F0代的生殖窝数显著减小了55.76%,但暴露于各浓度红霉素溶液中的多刺裸腹溞F1和F2代的平均寿命和生殖窝数均未出现显著性差异;暴露于各浓度红霉素溶液中的多刺裸腹溞F0代的首次生殖年龄也未出现显著性差异,但暴露于0.2、20~2 000μg·L~(-1)红霉素溶液中的F1代的首次生殖年龄显著减小了4.90%~15.69%,暴露于0.2~2 000μg·L~(-1)红霉素溶液中的F2代的首次生殖年龄显著减小了5.00%~16.00%;暴露于20和200μg·L~(-1)红霉素溶液中的多刺裸腹溞F1代的窝卵数分别显著增加了28.87%和10.18%,但暴露于各浓度红霉素溶液中的F0和F2代的窝卵数未出现显著性差异;暴露于2~200μg·L~(-1)的红霉素溶液中的多刺裸腹溞F0代的总后代数显著减少了43.99%~62.21%,而暴露于20和200μg·L~(-1)红霉素溶液中的F1代的总后代数分别增加28.56%和37.17%,红霉素浓度对多刺裸腹溞总后代数的显著性影响在F2代中消失。本研究结果表明,多刺裸腹溞对不同剂量红霉素多代暴露表现出适应性或耐受性。     

2,2’,4,4’-四溴二苯醚(BDE-47)对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的毒性效应

2,2’,4,4’-四溴二苯醚(BDE-47)在水体及各种水生生物(鱼类、海洋哺乳动物以及水生无脊椎动物)中被广泛检出,但BDE-47对水生无脊椎动物毒性效应的研究还处于起步阶段。以大型溞(Daphnia magna)为受试生物,通过急性(48h)和慢性(21d)毒性暴露实验,考察了BDE-47对大型溞活动抑制率、心率、产仔情况和酶活性等指标的影响。结果显示,BDE-47对大型溞活动抑制率的48h-EC50为112.5μg.L-1;高浓度(>100μg.L-1)BDE-47显著诱导提高大型溞的心率。21d慢性暴露实验中,8μg.L-1处理组中大型溞全部死亡;其他各浓度处理组(0.5、1、2、4μg.L-1)中,母溞第1胎产仔时间延后,第1胎子代数量减少,总产仔数量大幅减少,这表明大型溞的繁殖能力受到抑制。BDE-47在一定程度上抑制了母溞胆碱酯酶(ChE)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的活性,大型溞体内的代谢机制没有被诱导,神经活性虽被抑制,但抑制率不高。BDE-47大幅诱导过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,并呈现一定的剂量效应关系,相对于ChE和GST,CAT对BDE-47暴露更为敏感,可作为BDE-47对大型溞慢性暴露毒性效应的潜在生物标志物。     

浑河沈阳河段重金属镉的水质基准阈值探讨

研究镉对浑河沈阳河段的水质基准,采用当地水源和实验室自来水及当地物种蛇鮈、麦穗鱼和多刺裸腹溞进行毒性试验,利用"水效应比值法(WER)"和辽河流域常规基准值推导该河段镉的基准最大浓度(CMC)和基准连续浓度(CCC).结果表明,在原水中镉对蛇鮈和麦穗鱼的96 h半数死亡浓度(96 h-LC50)和镉对多刺裸腹溞的48 h半数效应浓度(48 h-EC50)分别为1.98 mg·L~(-1)、1.13 mg·~(-1)、0.17 mg·~(-1),在实验室配制水中分别为2.19 mg·~(-1)、1.16 mg·~(-1)、0.60 mg·~(-1);镉对蛇鮈、麦穗鱼和多刺裸腹溞的WER分别为0.9041、0.9741、0.2833,其几何平均值为0.6295.该河段镉的CMC为1.86μg·~(-1),CCC为0.025μg·~(-1).浑河沈阳河段镉的急慢性基准值均小于流域及国家的急慢性基准值.     

超高压工程电缆绝缘油对海洋生物的生态毒性效应

随着超高压联网工程建设项目不断增多,取得巨大经济效益的同时,其电缆安全性日益受到关注。采用标准实验方法,研究电缆绝缘油对8种占据不同生态位的海洋生物(费氏弧菌(Vibrio fischeri)、牟氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros mueleri)、卤虫(Artemia sp.)、蒙古裸腹溞(Moina mongolica)、凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)、裸项栉鰕虎鱼(Ctenogobius gymnauchen)、双齿围沙蚕(Perinereis aibuhitensis)、菲律宾蛤仔(Ruditapes philippinarum))的急性毒性,同时进行了电缆绝缘油对裸项栉鰕虎鱼14 d延长毒性实验和电缆绝缘油对蒙古裸腹溞的慢性毒性。结果表明,电缆绝缘油在50%饱和溶解浓度下未对费氏弧菌产生明显的发光抑制作用;对牟氏角毛藻、凡纳滨对虾、裸项栉鰕虎鱼、双齿围沙蚕和菲律宾蛤仔等5种生物未表现出急性毒性影响,其LC50均大于饱和浓度;对卤虫的96 h-LC50为17.07%,LOEC为12.5%,NOEC为6.25%;对蒙古裸腹溞96 h-LC50为29.75%,LOEC为25.0%,NOEC为12.5%;电缆绝缘油对卤虫和蒙古裸腹溞有剧毒。对裸项栉鰕虎鱼成鱼14 d延长毒性LC50大于500 000 mg·L~(-1);对蒙古裸腹溞母溞存活数的NOEC为625μg·L~(-1),LOEC为1 250μg·L~(-1);对母溞存活期的NOEC为312μg·L~(-1),LOEC为625μg·L~(-1);对产胎数的NOEC为625μg·L~(-1),LOEC为1 250μg·L~(-1);对产幼溞数的NOEC为625μg·L~(-1),LOEC为1 250μg·L~(-1)。     

氯霉素对大型溞的急性和慢性毒性效应研究

氯霉素是一种具有广谱杀菌作用的抗生素,曾在水产养殖中广泛使用,虽然目前已被列入我国渔药禁用清单,但在水环境中仍被大量检出。为探究氯霉素对水生生物的毒性作用,选择大型溞(Daphnia magna)作为受试生物,研究氯霉素对其急性毒性和慢性毒性效应,同时建立了氯霉素的高效液相色谱(HPLC)分析方法,通过实测浓度分析确保实验过程中氯霉素浓度保持在可接受范围内。结果表明:氯霉素对大型溞的48 h半数抑制浓度(EC50)为129.5 mg·L~(-1),95%置信区间为124.4!150.9mg·L~(-1),对溞类的急性毒性为低毒;长期暴露能抑制大型溞的产溞数量,以繁殖量为毒性指标,21 d无可观察效应浓度(NOEC)为1.25 mg·L~(-1),最低可观测效应浓度(LOEC)为2.50 mg·L~(-1);各暴露组实测浓度范围在配制浓度的80%～110%,保证了实验的有效性。同时,利用实验获得的急慢性毒性数据,计算氯霉素对大型溞的急慢性毒性比(ACR),发现利用慢性毒性求得的ACR值比利用急性毒性EC10求得的ACR值更接近推荐值。研究表明氯霉素对大型溞的急性毒性低,但具有慢性毒性效应,其环境风险不容忽视。     

纳米二氧化硅与汞(Hg~(2+))对中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)的联合毒性效应

随着纳米材料在日常生产生活中的广泛应用,部分纳米颗粒物不可避免地会通过废弃物排放等途径进入海洋.当纳米颗粒物与海洋中的污染物(如与重金属)共存时,因其独特的物化特性往往会成为污染物的良好载体并在生物体内累积,从而增加已有污染物和生物的相互作用,对海洋环境构成潜在的生态风险.已有的研究更多关注单一纳米材料的生态毒性效应,有关纳米颗粒物与污染物的复合生物效应的研究较少.因此,本文研究了已广泛应用的纳米Si O2与常见的重金属污染物Hg~(2+)对东海常见海洋微藻-中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)的联合毒性效应.结果表明,Hg~(2+)会抑制中肋骨条藻的生长,24 h-EC50、48 h-EC50和72 h-EC50值分别为56.3μg·L~(-1)、58.6μg·L~(-1)和36.8μg·L~(-1);低浓度的纳米Si O2(1 mg·L~(-1)和5 mg·L~(-1))未对中肋骨条藻的生长产生抑制作用,而较高浓度的纳米Si O2(≥10 mg·L~(-1))会显著(P0.05)抑制中肋骨条藻的生长,并且提升微藻超氧化物歧化酶SOD的活性,影响微藻的抗氧化系统.添加1 mg·L~(-1)纳米Si O2会增强Hg~(2+)对中肋骨条藻的生长抑制作用,Hg~(2+)的24 h-EC50和48 h-EC50分别下降至41μg·L~(-1)和43μg·L~(-1),虽然1 mg·L~(-1)纳米Si O2本身没有对中肋骨条藻产生生长抑制作用,但是能够明显增强Hg~(2+)对中肋骨条藻的毒性.纳米Si O2对Hg~(2+)有着较强的吸附能力,在60 min时,100 mg·L~(-1)纳米Si O2对100μg·L~(-1)的Hg~(2+)的吸附率为90.08%,最大吸附量为5.92 mg·g~(-1).吸附了Hg~(2+)的纳米Si O2在中肋骨条藻内的累积可能是造成这种协同毒性的主要原因.     

三唑酮对大型溞代际影响的转录组学分析

三唑酮是一种普遍使用的唑类杀菌剂,其对水生生物的危害已经引起广泛关注。为探讨三唑酮对无脊椎动物的毒性效应和致毒机理,以大型溞为模式生物,开展多代试验,评估不同浓度(5、12.5、25、50、100和200μg·L^(-1))的三唑酮对大型溞生长和繁殖以及每代时间间隔的影响。结果表明,暴露21 d后,200μg·L(-1))的三唑酮对大型溞生长和繁殖以及每代时间间隔的影响。结果表明,暴露21 d后,200μg·L^(-1)的三唑酮显著降低了大型溞的体长和繁殖能力。转录组分析发现,三唑酮暴露后,F1代和F2代的处理组与对照组的差异表达基因分别为376个和422个,而两代间的差异表达基因共2 604个。通过对差异表达基因的功能富集发现,三唑酮对大型溞F1代影响的主要通路有蛋白质吸收消化、视黄醇新陈代谢、氧化应激和甾类激素生物合成等,对F2代影响的主要通路有抗原处理和呈递、类固醇生物合成和谷胱甘肽代谢等。三唑酮对大型溞可能的毒性作用有氧化应激、内分泌干扰效应、神经毒性和免疫毒性,且可能会存在传代效应。     

布洛芬对活性污泥中功能酶活性的影响

布洛芬是常用非甾体抗炎药,使用量大、去除率低,且药品的存在会诱发水生生物发生不同应激变化。研究对比了在不同浓度梯度布洛芬暴露下活性污泥中脲酶、转化酶活性的动态变化率、总变化率的不同响应。结果表明,在布洛芬浓度为35~40μg·L~(-1)时,对脲酶活性的抑制程度超过了40%,布洛芬浓度达28μg·L~(-1)后,脲酶活性总变化率单调增加,在布洛芬浓度达到40μg·L~(-1)时,脲酶活性总变化率超过了70%。而转化酶活性动态变化率低于±20%,总变化率低于±30%。上述研究结果表明,脲酶活性在布洛芬较低浓度暴露下变化幅度大、响应快。因此推荐使用较为敏感的脲酶活性生物指标,评价布洛芬等新型有机污染物对复杂污泥机制中活性污泥微生物活性影响。相关实验数据可以对污水处理系统的潜在风险进行早期预警。     

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.     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.