陆地生态系统含硫气体释放研究进展

由自然生态系统释放的含硫气体在全球硫循环中起着重要作用。陆地生态系统主要的自然硫释放源有湿地、土壤、植被、内陆水体和火山等，由自然源释放的含硫气体主要产生于有机硫化物的降解和硫酸盐的还原，同时受温度、光照等环境因素的影响。文章主要综述了对人类有影响的几种含硫气体(DMS、H2S、COS、CH3SH、CS2和DMDS等)从各种自然源释放的情况，同时简要介绍了环境因素如温度、光照、土壤状况、氧化还原条件等对自然源释放含硫气体的影响，最后结合中国的研究现状，指出今后应开展和加强陆地生态系统含硫气体释放通量监测、释放机理及在大气中的转化等方面的研究，以及在此基础上建立含硫气体释放模型。     

水稻土中半胱氨酸分解产生含硫气体的研究^1）

在室内培养条件下，测定了水稻土中含硫气体的释放，结果表明，该土壤中有硫化氢（H2S），羧基硫（COS），二甲基硫（DMS）三种气体释放，当土壤中加入半胱氨酸后，COS和H2S气体的浓度有了明显增加，并有CS2和CH3SH测出，而DMS的浓度变化不大，这些结果表明法胱氨酸的分解可能是COS，H2S，CS2和CH3SH的产生源之一，在好氧（正常大气）条件下，H2S，COS，CS2和CH3SH的释放量低于氧（氮气氛围）条件下的释放量，DMS则高于厌氧条件下，这表明水稻土中半胱氨酸分解产生H2S，COS，CS2和CH3SH需较强的还原条件，产生这四种气体的微生物需要严格的厌氧条件，产生DMS的微生物则比前者需要高一些的含氧量，在光照条件下，各含硫气体的释放量普遍高于无光照条件下的释放量，释放含硫气体的大多数微生物适宜的含水率为50％且对土壤的pH值有一定要求。     

水稻土中半胱氨酸分解产生含硫气体的研究

在室内培养条件下,测定了水稻土中含硫气体的释放．结果表明,该土壤中有硫化氢(Ｈ２Ｓ),羰基硫(ＣＯＳ),二甲基硫(ＤＭＳ)三种气体释放．当土壤中加入半胱氨酸后,ＣＯＳ和Ｈ２Ｓ气体的浓度有了明显增加,并有ＣＳ２和ＣＨ３ＳＨ测出,而ＤＭＳ的浓度变化不大．这些结果表明半胱氨酸的分解可能是 ＣＯＳ,Ｈ２Ｓ,ＣＳ２和 ＣＨ３ＳＨ的产生源之一．在好氧(正常大气)条件下,Ｈ２Ｓ,ＣＯＳ,ＣＳ２和ＣＨ３ＳＨ的释放量低于厌氧(氮气氛围)条件下的释放量,ＤＭＳ则高于厌氧条件下．这表明水稻土中半胱氨酸分解产生 Ｈ２Ｓ,ＣＯＳ,ＣＳ２和 ＣＨ３ＳＨ需较强的还原条件,产生这四种气体的微生物需要严格的厌氧条件．产生ＤＭＳ的微生物则比前者需要高一些的含氧量．在光照条件下,各含硫气体的释放量普遍高于无光照条件下的释放量．释放含硫气体的大多数微生物适宜的含水率为５０%且对土壤的ｐＨ值有一定要求．     

环境因素对土壤含硫气体释放的影响

研究了温度、光照条件两种环境因素对添加不同硫源（胱氨酸、硫酸二乙酯和硫酸钠）土壤含硫气体释放的影响。结果表明，随着培养温度升高，含硫气体释放量增大，而且释放气体种类增多。COS在各种不同处理的土样中均有释放。除添加硫酸二乙酯的土样外，其它各种土样COS释放量与培养温度有很好的相关性，相关系数在0．95以上。添加胱氨酸的土样，含硫气体释放明显高于其它土样，光照条件变化对各种含硫气体释放量影响不大，但在弱光和无光照条件下检出的含硫气体种类较多。     

煤热解过程中含硫气体的释放特征

利用热解炉-高分辨飞行时间质谱联用仪和热解炉-同步辐射光电离飞行时间质谱仪检测不同含硫量的煤IBC105和C22650在热解过程中释放的8种含硫气体,并对这8种含硫气体的释放规律进行了分析.实验结果表明,在200℃—400℃的热解区间内含硫气体释放相对较多,表明硫元素大部分是以有机态的形式在煤中赋存,而且芳香硫相对于脂肪硫含量较多;同时含硫量较高的煤IBC105中噻吩硫的热解释放量,较煤C22650多;由于煤中芳香性有机物的裂解多以苄基的形式出现,因此在两种煤中二苄基硫醚释放量都较噻吩或者苯并噻吩多.     

生物除硫理论与技术研究进展

现今含硫废水、废气的处理并没有得到应有的重视,使得技术发展缓慢。以往通常采用物化方法,这种处理方式不仅投资量大,而且对含硫有害物质的去除并不彻底,而生物方法与物化方法相比,在投资和环保效益方面都有相当积极的作用。文章从硫的生物循环入手,分别介绍了生物除硫的机理和影响因素;描述了下水道中的生物硫循环,提出抑制其中H2S气体释放的经验模型及具体措施。在对厌氧消化系统中硫酸盐还原菌的研究中发现:ρ(COD)/ρ(SO42-)比、碳源、pH值等各影响因素相互作用,共同决定厌氧消化系统中硫酸盐还原菌、产甲烷菌和产酸菌三者之间的抑制及共生关系;无论三者之间的关系如何变化,只要底物中含有一定量的硫酸根,它们必然共同存在于厌氧系统中,并产生硫化氢气体,造成污染。在反硫化细菌的研究中得出:当污水中同时含有硫化物和硝酸根,缺氧条件下,必然产生反硝化除硫的生物代谢过程。利用这一过程,不但能够在无需碳源的条件下有效去除硝酸根,节约的碳源可以用于消化产能;而且能够减少游离硫化氢的排放,或直接以含硫化氢的废气作为硫源。而抑制下水道中硫化氢气体释放的主要手段包括:降低水的紊流程度,增加入流污水的碱度,向下水道内充氧,改善通风环境。文章最后结合理论,介绍了部分用于含硫污水、尾气的生物除硫工艺,并提出了日后的研究方向。     

不同水生植物对富营养化水体释放气体的影响

水体反硝化脱N、温室气体排放以及O2释放过程均是水体生态系统中发生的重要生化反应过程。为了明确不同类型水生植物对这些过程的影响程度,采用自主研发的原位收集水体释放气体装置,于2012年7—8月对滇池草海中自然生长的挺水植物〔菖蒲(Acorus calamus)〕、浮叶植物〔睡莲(Nymhaea tetragona)和荷花(Nelumbo nucifera)〕、漂浮植物〔凤眼莲(Eichhornia crassipes)〕、沉水植物〔狐尾藻(Myriophyllum verticillatum)和轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)〕及对照(无植物)区域内释放的N2、CH4、O2、CO2和N2O的规律进行研究。结果表明,各种水生植物生长区及对照区释放气体主要由N2、CH4和O2组成,其余成分主要是CO2和N2O。沉水植物通过光合作用明显促进了水域内O2释放过程,进而提高了水体释放气体的速率及各气体成分通量值。而睡莲、荷花和凤眼莲由于叶片覆盖水面的影响,降低了水体藻类的光合能力,造成该区域水体释放气体的速率中值低于对照区,且各气体成分释放通量值也较低。各区域释放气体中CH4浓度无显著差异(P0.05),菖蒲区释放的气体中N2浓度显著高于对照区(P0.05)。     

甲硫氨酸和水分对土壤挥发性有机硫化物通量的影响

通过静态箱采样和Entech7100预浓缩仪-GC-MS分析了甲硫氨酸和土壤水分对羰基硫(COS)、二甲基硫醚(DMS)、二硫化碳(CS2)和二甲二硫醚(DMDS)等4种挥发性有机硫化合物(VOSCs)吸收或释放的影响.结果表明,土壤水分主要影响土壤COS和DMS通量,含水量低时,土壤吸收COS,释放DMS;接近或超过最大持水量时,土壤释放COS和DMS,且DMS释放速率显著增加,这可能主要受土壤Eh值的影响.添加甲硫氨酸后,土壤DMDS和DMS释放量显著增加,两者释放量接近所观测四种VOSCs总释放量的100%,说明甲硫氨酸是DMDS和的DMS重要前体物,DMDS与DMS释放速率峰值出现时间相同,而COS与CS2释放速率峰值出现时间基本一致,可能是不同VOSCs受不同土壤微生物和酶的影响所致.     

两种缓释肥料在海水中的养分释放特性及强化石油烃生物降解

通过沙土柱实验考察了硫包衣尿素和甲醛尿素2种缓释肥料在不同pH值和盐度的海水介质中养分的释放特性,并利用摇瓶培养实验考察了这两种肥料对SZ36-1原油生物降解作用的影响.结果表明,在实验设置的pH(7.00-8.00)和盐度(24.00-32.00)范围内,pH值对硫包衣尿素和甲醛尿素肥料氮素释放性能有较大影响,其中,近中性的海水介质有利于硫包衣尿素中氮素的释放,弱碱性环境更有利于甲醛尿素的释放;而盐度对两种肥料的氮素释放均无明显影响.两种缓释肥料都能够持续释放氮素而维持石油烃降解菌QPH-2的生长,并促进原油中各组分包括烷烃和芳烃明显降解.其中,添加硫包衣尿素体系中各烷烃组分的降解率为13.94%-59.02%,芳烃类组分降解率为9.60%-32.33%;添加甲醛尿素体系中各烷烃组分的降解率为11.56%-49.65%,芳烃类组分降解率为13.49%-41.67%.     

农田土壤温室气体产生机制及影响因素研究进展

农田土壤通过微生物呼吸、植物根系呼吸和土壤动物呼吸,释放大量温室气体,成为大气中主要温室气体(CO2、CH4和N2O)的重要来源.文章在阐述土壤温室气体产生机制的基础上,着重从土壤生物、土壤理化性质(主要包括温湿度、有机质、pH、Eh、土壤质地等)、水肥管理及耕作措施等角度对农田土壤温室气体释放的影响进行了综述,对土壤温室气体的减排措施进行了总结,并就今后农田土壤温室气体的研究重点和方向进行了展望.     

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.