云南稻核心种质F2主要形态性状变异及地理生态研究

种质资源是水稻育种的重要基因来源.掌握育种材料遗传背景信息,可为发掘优异种质,选育优良性状新品种提供依据.以548份云南稻核心种和云南主栽籼稻品利慎屯502(Oryza satica)、粳稻品种合系35(Oryzasatica)配制的杂种F2(498份)为材料,采用群体遗传学的方法,研究云南稻核心种质杂种F2代的11个形态性状的综合变异系数、遗传多样性指数(Shannon指数)及其地理分布.结果表明:(1)F2存在明显的性状分化和遗传变异,以有效穗、穗颈长、穗下节长、每穗实粒数、秕粒数、总粒数和结实率的综合变异系数高,遗传多样性丰富;(2)滇西南(临沧、思茅、德宏、西双版纳)和滇东南(文山、红河)的材料在表型性状上存在更大的分化,综合变异系数高,遗传多样性丰富;保山、昭通、曲靖次之;怒江、丽江、迪庆、大理最低.     

云南粳稻核心种质杂种后代孕穗期耐冷性研究

以236份云南地方粳稻核心种质和云南主栽梗稻Oryza satica品种合系35配制的杂种F5、BC1F4、BC2F3和BC3F2为材料,在昆明自然低温平均17.8℃(冷害)条件下,对亲本及其后代进行孕穗期耐冷性研究.结果表明:①亲本耐冷性状间的相关性明显高于其杂种后代,不同世代间总体趋势为随着回交世代增加其性状间相关性减弱.在亲本及其杂种后代间耐冷指标性状穗颈长、穗下节长、每穗实粒数、每穗秕粒数与结实率均呈较高的(≥0.370)极显著(n=236,R0.01=0.181)相关.②株高、穗颈长、穗下节长等耐冷性状在亲本强弱耐冷系统群间的差异明显,表现为亲本耐冷性强的材料秆和穗较长、穗粒数较多,同一性状变异程度减小.但随着回交代数的增加,这些性状的平均值逐渐趋同于轮回亲本,差异减小.③穗颈长、穗下节长、每穗实粒数、每穗秕粒数与结实率在5个稻作区间的变化规律呈现一致性,亲本和F5的差异较大,而BC2F4、BC2F3和BC3F2的差异较小,且趋同于轮回亲本.通过连续回交,在BC3F1即可获得耐冷性状表现良好的材料.     

云南籼稻核心种质回交后代苗期耐冷性研究

早春低温和连续阴雨是导致籼稻烂秧的主要因素之一,筛选耐冷的种质资源,将耐冷性基因导入高产的籼稻品种之中是防止低温冷害最为经济有效的方法。加强籼籼稻杂交后代的苗期耐冷性研究,可为籼稻耐冷性育种提供条件。以235份云南籼稻核心种质和云南主栽籼稻品种滇屯502(Oryzasatica)配制的杂种F5、BC1F4、BC2F3和BC3F2代为材料,在昆明自然条件下,对亲本及其后代进行苗期(三叶)耐冷性研究。结果表明,(1)不同回交世代与杂种与亲本间的苗期耐冷强弱差异较大,总体趋势为回交供体亲本>F5>BC1F4>BC2F3>BC3F2;揭示了随着回交世代的增加,其回交杂种苗期耐冷性减弱,越来越趋于轮回亲本,在耐冷育种上对回交供体亲本及其早世代材料进行选择更易获得苗期强耐冷材料。(2)同一稻作区,回交供体亲本的苗期耐冷强于杂种后代;稻作区划间,回交供体亲本及杂种F5总趋势相近,滇中一季籼稻粳稻区和滇东北高原粳稻区材料耐冷最强,而BC1F4、BC2F3和BC3F23个回交世代存在一定差异。     

水稻磷高效重组自交系群体的筛选鉴定

水稻耐低磷RILs群体培育可为磷高效育种和基因定位提供材料.该试验利用强耐低磷杂交组合合系41×大白稻产生的永久性重组自交系(RILs)群体,设低磷(有效磷6.26 mg·kg-1)胁迫和非低磷(有效磷40 mg·kg-1)胁迫两种处理,全生育期测定了相关的耐低磷形态性状,利用相关分析和多元逐步回归分析等方法探索RILs群体耐低磷筛选指标以筛选优良株系.结果表明:(1)12个主要农艺性状均呈连续性变异, 耐低磷性状发生了明显的重组和分离,说明利用重组近交系可以筛选并培育出强耐低磷的水稻品系.重组近交系是水稻耐低磷特性进行遗传研究的良好材料;(2)6个相对性状:株穗产量、地上干物质量、实粒数、有效穗、剑叶长、穗长,综合评价RIL 群体各株系的耐低磷强弱;(3)在RILs群体选出综合性状表现优良的5个大穗、大粒的耐低磷株系,具有良好的推广前景.     

云南稻核心种质耐低磷性状与籼粳亚种间的关系

在土壤有效磷含量6．26mg／kg和40mg／kg条件下对548份云南地方稻核心种质进行形态性状与籼粳亚种鉴别性状间的耐低磷特性研究．以明确籼粳亚种及其中间型耐低磷特性有无明显差异以及耐低磷特性和籼粳分化相互关系。结果表明：（1）相对分蘖力、相对有效穗、相对总干物质量和相对地下干物质量4个耐低磷指标性状可作为水稻耐低磷能力强弱评价的理想指标；低磷胁迫下耐低磷指标性状可作为水稻磷高效基因型筛选指标。（2）云南稻核心种质由95份籼、178份偏籼、85份偏粳和190份粳稻组成．籼粳亚种间平均耐低磷能力存在明显差异：相对分蘖力、有效穗、地下干物质量、总干物质量平均值由大到小依次为籼、偏籼、偏粳、粳．耐低磷能力随程氏指数的增大，呈现递减趋势。（3）云南稻核心种质6个籼粳分类性状和耐低磷指标性状多数呈显著负相关．耐低磷特性和籼粳分化密切相关。     

不同生态下云南稻核心种质孕穗期耐冷性状的表型多样性差异

以504份云南地方稻核心种质为材料,在昆明自然低温平均18℃(冷害)和新平27℃(正常)条件下进行孕穗期耐冷性状的表犁多样性生态差异分析.结果表明:(1)在3种生态环境下,云南稻核心种质11个耐冷性状的平均值、标准差、变异系数等参数存在一定差异,总趋势呈现籼稻(Indica)不同环境间这3个特征值差异较粳稻(Japonica)明显;弱耐冷系统群差异较强耐冷系统群明显.(2)不同环境间11个耐冷性状Shannon-weaver遗传多样性指数存在明显差异,体现为正常环境高于冷害环境,粳稻(Japonica)高于籼稻(Indica),强耐冷材料高于弱耐冷材料.这种差异主要由剑叶长、穗颈长、穗下节长、1～2节长、穗长、主穗实粒数和结实率等7个耐冷性状差异所致.     

云南稻种磷高效特性相关性状的生态差异

云南不仅是世界稻种(Oryza sativa L.)最大的遗传和生态多样性中心之一,也是中国土壤类型最丰富的地区;中国南方和云南耕地65%以上缺乏有效磷,土壤缺磷已成为稻作生产的主要限制因子.该文中,缺磷(速效磷6.26 mg·kg-1)与适磷(速效磷40 mg·kg-1)酸性红壤进行比较,以相对茎蘖数(RTA)、相对总质量(RTB)、相对地上质量(RDWU)和相对地下质量(RDWG)为参数,研究了来自云南省16个州市5个稻作区577份水稻核心种质的磷高效基因型及其生态差异,结果表明:低磷胁迫下云南稻核心种质的相对茎蘖数、相对总质量、相对地上质量和相对地下质量密切相关,这4个性状是水稻磷高效鉴定较可靠和方便的指标,并筛选出10个磷高效品种;磷高效基因型在籼粳间存在较大差异,但丁颖分类性状中的水陆、粘糯间差异较小;水稻磷高效品种广泛分布于5个稻作区和绝大多数州市,特别是磷高效极强品种主要来自云南稻种的遗传多样性中心(思茅、临沧、西双版纳、德宏和文山州)和基因多样性中心(南部边缘水陆兼作区).这些结果有力地支持了水稻磷高效特性与酸性红壤和遗传多样性中心有关,更好地理解水稻磷高效特性的地理生态和遗传多样性机制.     

云南稻核心种质苗期与孕穗期耐冷性特点及关系分析

以544份云南地方稻核心种质为材料,在昆明自然低温(苗期平均5.5～12.3℃,孕穗期平均17.8℃)冷害下,按籼粳、稻作区进行云南稻核心种质苗期耐冷性与孕穗期耐冷性的特点及关系研究.结果表明:(1)苗期耐冷性与孕穗期耐冷性密切相关,苗期耐冷性强的材料表现为孕穗期株高、剑叶长和宽、穗颈长、穗下节长、1～2节长、穗长较长、穗粒数较多,耐冷性较强.通过对苗期耐冷性的严格选择,可以间接获得孕穗期耐冷性较强的材料.(2)苗期和孕穗期耐冷性在籼粳间、稻作区间差异明显.籼粳间均表现为粳稻强于籼稻;稻作区间苗期耐冷性为滇中一季籼粳稻区和滇南单双季籼稻区最强,滇中一季籼粳稻区和滇西北高寒粳稻区孕穗期耐冷性较强,揭示了水稻苗期与穗期耐冷性的形成演化机制存在一致性和差异性.     

低磷胁迫下云南稻形态性状的氮肥反应

采用盆栽试验每份材料栽2桶,每盆装4 kg低磷酸性红壤(速效磷2.53 mg·kg-1、速效氮156.7 mg·kg-1和pH=6.03),设置不施氮肥(速效氮156.7 mg·kg-1)和施氮肥(速效氮490.0 mg·kg-1)两种处理对539份云南稻核心种质17个形态性状及其相对指标,研究低磷胁迫下云南稻形态性状的氮肥效应结果表明:总体上低磷胁迫下云南稻核心种质籼稻氮效反应明显比粳稻敏感;按氮反应相对指标将云南稻种17形态性状划分为氮反应的强敏感、中敏感、弱敏感和不敏感型四种类型;揭示了低磷胁迫下云南稻种氮高效鉴定指标以相对穗干质量和相对总干质量为主,相对穗长、秆干质量、地上干质量、根干质量和茎蘖数可作为参考指标,其中穗干质量为氮反应的强敏感型,总干质量、地上干质量、秆干质量和茎蘖数属中敏感型,根干质量属弱敏感型和穗长属不敏感型.另外,低磷胁迫下云南稻种8个对氮反应敏感相对性状无论是在539份云南稻核心种质及其籼粳亚种间,还是在五个稻作区间总趋势是一致的;既证实了该文提出的低磷胁迫下8个氮反应敏感指标性状是十分可靠的,又揭示了低磷胁迫下5大稻作区氮反应的生态差异和土攘类型多样性是云南成为亚洲栽培稻籼粳分化中心之一的驱动力.     

水稻花药特异表达启动子的克隆与活性检测

植物雄性器官特异表达启动子的克隆是作物杂种优势利用分子育种的基础.根据水稻花药特异表达RA8基因序列设计引物,从水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种日本晴中克隆得到水稻花药特异表达基因RA8启动子Tsp2,该启动子为RA8基因翻译起始位点上游828 bp的片段,具有启动子特征序列TATA盒TATAAATA和真核生物启动子特征序列CAAT框,与RA8启动子的核苷酸序列同源性为97%.利用该启动子与报告基因GFP构建植物表达载体p1304-rap,采用基因枪法转化烟草花药,通过GFP的瞬时表达证明该启动子具有花药特异启动子活性. 图5 参9     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.