孕激素醋酸甲地孕酮和雌激素乙炔雌二醇复合暴露对斑马鱼的生殖毒性

水生生物往往暴露于多种环境激素(如孕激素、雌激素)的混合物中,然而关于多种环境激素对鱼类的联合作用效应的研究较少.孕激素醋酸甲地孕酮(MTA)和雌激素乙炔雌二醇(EE2)是应用广泛的高活性药物,普遍存在于水环境中,二者均能引起鱼类的生殖毒性效应.本文研究了环境相关浓度的MTA和EE2复合暴露对斑马鱼的生殖毒性效应.将斑马鱼成鱼暴露于MTA(33,100 ng·L~(-1))、EE2(5,15 ng·L~(-1))以及二者的混合物(MTA+EE2:33+5 ng·L~(-1),100+15 ng·L~(-1))21 d,结果显示,EE2(15 ng·L~(-1))单独及与MTA(100 ng·L~(-1))复合暴露显著降低斑马鱼的产卵量;MTA、EE2单独及复合暴露均显著降低雌鱼血浆中雌二醇(E2)、睾酮(T)及雄鱼血浆中11-酮基睾酮(11-KT)的含量;EE2单独及与MTA复合暴露导致斑马鱼卵巢的组织学变化(抑制卵子发生,诱导卵泡闭锁),但对精巢影响较小.此外,复合暴露组中斑马鱼的产卵量、血浆性激素含量、性腺组织学变化与EE2单独暴露组相比均无显著差异.本研究表明,MTA和EE2复合暴露可引起斑马鱼的生殖毒性,其中EE2发挥主要毒性作用.本研究结果对于水环境中多种激素复合暴露的风险评估具有重要意义.     

壬基酚长期暴露对斑马鱼雄鱼第二性征、精子活力的影响(Effects of Long-Term Exposure to Nonylphenol on Secondary Sexual Characteristics and Sperm Motility of Male Zebrafish（Brachydanio rerio）)

研究了不同浓度下(0(对照)、0.1、1、10、100μg·L-1)壬基酚(NP)长期暴露对斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)雄鱼第二性征、精子活力的影响.结果表明,NP暴露对斑马鱼第二性征的影响显著,可导致雄性个体出现泄殖乳突、腹部膨大等典型雌性化特征.100μg·L-1NP暴露导致76.9%的雄鱼出现泄殖乳突.NP暴露对斑马鱼精子激活率的影响显著,随NP暴露浓度升高精子激活率下降,呈现负相关的剂量-效应关系.NP暴露对斑马鱼精子寿命和精子剧烈运动时间均有显著影响.低剂量(0.1μg·L-1)和高剂量(100μg·L-1)NP暴露下精子寿命及其剧烈运动时间显著缩短,而中等剂量(10μg·L-1)NP对上述指标影响不显著(p>0.05).斑马鱼第二性征、精子活力可作为指示水体环境雌激素毒理学效应的敏感指标.     

丙烯酰胺对斑马鱼各器官的毒性作用及生殖细胞的DNA损伤

在我国,聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)主要应用于石油开采,其长期暴露于环境中可以降解成有毒的丙烯酰胺(AM)。为探究在降解过程中AM的毒性作用,选择斑马鱼作为受试动物,进行AM长期毒性暴露40 d,考察了对斑马鱼的肝脏、脑组织、心脏、腮等器官的影响情况。结果表明:在2.04 mg·L~(-1)、6.12 mg·L~(-1)和18.36 mg·L~(-1)暴露浓度下,形态学观察斑马鱼的鳃丝,鳃小片和鳃细胞有严重的受损现象;随着浓度的升高斑马鱼肝脏、脑组织和心脏中MDA含量、LDH活力的升高,SDH和Na+-K+-ATPase活力的降低,均对其肝脏、脑组织和心脏造成氧化损伤作用,从而影响了斑马鱼体内细胞能量代谢过程。采用彗星试验检测斑马鱼的生殖腺细胞DNA损伤,结果显示暴露于浓度为2.04 mg·L~(-1)~18.36 mg·L~(-1)的AM后,斑马鱼的DNA损伤均表现为显著差异(P0.01)。上述研究结果均确定了AM对斑马鱼的毒性效应并可造成其生殖腺细胞的DNA损伤。     

壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚对斑马鱼精巢组织的影响

采用半静态水体暴露的方式研究了非离子表面活性剂对成熟雄性斑马鱼精巢组织的影响。用荧光定量PCR(qRTPCR)方法检测试验鱼精巢雌激素受体α(ERα)、雄激素受体(AR)基因以及性激素合成相关细胞色素P450酶类基因(CYP17和CYP19a)的表达,通过组织学观察研究受试鱼精巢结构的变化。结果表明,壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚(NPEO)暴露可以引起雄性斑马鱼精巢组织结构的改变,并影响成年雄性斑马鱼ERα、AR基因和性激素合成相关细胞色素P450酶类基因的表达水平,且10.0 mg·L~(-1)的NPEO暴露可以显著上调CYP19a、ERα和AR基因的表达量,可显著下调斑马鱼精巢中CYP17基因的表达量。在组织学上,0.1 mg·L~(-1)组斑马鱼生精小管内不仅生精小囊数目减少,且管腔中精子数量减少,出现非细胞区域; 1.0和10.0 mg·L~(-1)组可见部分个体精子凝聚于生精小管管腔中央,管腔内空隙明显增大,表现出严重的精子浓缩效应。由此表明,NPEO暴露通过抑制CYP17基因的表达干扰睾酮的合成;同时,NPEO暴露通过诱导CYP19a和ER基因的表达增加内源雌激素的合成,导致斑马鱼精巢中性激素紊乱,最终损伤斑马鱼精巢组织。     

双酚AF暴露降低斑马鱼学习记忆能力并影响神经系统相关基因表达

双酚AF(4,4'-六氟-2-二酚,BPAF)应用渐为广泛,对生态环境具有潜在威胁。为探究BPAF对水生生物的神经毒性,选择斑马鱼作为实验对象,利用T型迷宫和实时定量PCR的研究方法,考察0、0.005、0.05和0.5 mg·L~(-1)3种不同浓度BPAF暴露下,成年斑马鱼的学习记忆能力,并检测鱼脑中胶质纤维酸性蛋白基因(glial fibrillary acidic protein,gfap)、音猬基因(sonic hedgehog,shha)和突触蛋白基因(synapsinⅡa,syn2a)表达量变化。结果表明:在T迷宫行为学检测中,0.5 mg·L~(-1)BPAF暴露浓度下,斑马鱼在第1天进入T型迷宫规定臂的潜伏时间与对照组相比显著增加(P0.01),随着暴露浓度和染毒时间的增加,潜伏时间显著延长,具有明显的剂效和时效关系。暴露6 d后,BPAF各暴露浓度组中雌鱼脑部gfap基因显著上调,雄鱼脑中gfap基因在高浓度暴露组(0.5 mg·L~(-1))下表达量下调,而在0.005 mg·L~(-1)BPAF暴露组差异不明显。BPAF暴露可导致雌鱼脑部shha基因下调,使雄鱼脑中shha基因表达量随暴露浓度增大呈先上升后下降的趋势。BPAF各暴露浓度组中雌鱼和雄鱼脑部syn2a基因下调,呈现出随暴露浓度增大而下降的趋势。综上,初步认为BPAF对斑马鱼具有潜在的神经认知干扰效应。     

苯并芘和邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯复合暴露对稀有鮈鲫的内分泌干扰效应研究

为评价典型有机污染物共存情况下对长江上游三峡库区特有珍稀鱼类的环境风险,以稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)为对象,研究了多环芳烃和酞酸酯的代表物苯并芘(BaP)和邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(DEHP)单独及复合暴露而引起的内分泌干扰效应。将成年稀有鮈鲫暴露于不同浓度的BaP(0.1、1μg·L~(-1))、DEHP(10、100μg·L~(-1))和BaP+DEHP((0.1+10)、(1+100)μg·L~(-1))中28 d后,测定了体质系数、性激素含量、下丘脑-垂体-性腺(HPG)轴和肝脏中与生殖相关基因的表达。结果表明:在雌鱼中,单独BaP或DEHP暴露对鱼体性激素含量、基因表达量无显著影响; BaP和DEHP复合暴露时,高浓度组睾酮(T)含量升高但雌二醇(E2)含量下降,fsh、vtg、 cyp17和17β-hsd基因表达量上调,cyp19a则下调,表现出协同毒性。因而雌鱼中性激素水平的改变可能与类固醇合成相关基因表达量的改变有关。而无论在单独暴露或是复合暴露情况下,对雄鱼体内性激素无显著影响。以上检测到的激素或基因表达量的改变主要发生在高剂量的复合暴露组中,而长江上游三峡库区水体中多环芳烃和酞酸酯含量低于暴露的最低浓度,因此推测,库区存在的多环芳烃和酞酸酯同时作用时不会对三峡库区上游水体中的鱼类产生生殖内分泌干扰效应。     

铅和得克隆联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的神经毒性作用

以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)为研究对象,探讨铅(Pb)、得克隆(DP)及二者联合急性暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的神经毒性作用。结果表明,Pb(5、20μg·L~(-1))和DP(15、60μg·L~(-1))单独暴露均会引起斑马鱼自主运动频率增加,触摸反应能力和自由游泳活力下降,并且抑制初级运动神经元的生长,加剧尾部细胞凋亡。但与20μg·L~(-1)Pb单独暴露相比,高剂量联合暴露(20μg·L~(-1)Pb+60μg·L~(-1)DP)使斑马鱼的自主运动频率显著降低(P0.05),触摸反应能力和自由游泳活力显著增强(P0.05),初级运动神经元轴突长度显著增加(P0.05),尾部细胞凋亡减少。与5μg·L~(-1)Pb单独暴露相比,低剂量联合暴露(5μg·L~(-1)Pb+15μg·L~(-1)DP)也显著减少斑马鱼尾部的细胞凋亡(P0.05)。上述结果表明,Pb或DP单独暴露对斑马鱼均可引起神经毒性作用;但二者联合暴露对斑马鱼自主运动、触摸反应以及自由游泳活力的影响则表现为拮抗作用。     

全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)对斑马鱼血浆和组织匀浆中卵黄蛋白原含量的影响

为了研究低剂量的全氟辛烷磺酸(perfluorooctane sulfonate,PFOS)对水生生物的内分泌干扰效应和作用机制,考察了PFOS对斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)血浆和组织匀浆中卵黄蛋白原(vitellogenin,VTG)含量的影响。将雄性和雌性斑马鱼分别暴露于0.1、1、10和100μg·L-1的PFOS中进行21d毒性实验,染毒结束后分别检测雄鱼和雌鱼的血浆、头尾组织匀浆液和全鱼匀浆液中的VTG含量。结果显示:(1)PFOS暴露可引起斑马鱼血浆、全鱼和头尾匀浆液中VTG含量的升高,VTG含量的排序为雌鱼(血浆>>全鱼匀浆>头尾匀浆)>>雄鱼(血浆>全鱼匀浆>>头尾匀浆);(2)PFOS暴露所引起的雄鱼血浆和头尾匀浆中VTG含量的升高与剂量呈负相关关系,暴露浓度为0.1μg·L-1时与对照组相比有显著性差异(p<0.05);(3)雌鱼血浆和头尾匀浆中VTG含量的升高与剂量呈倒U型曲线关系,暴露浓度为10μg·L-1时与对照组相比有显著性差异(p<0.05);(4)雄鱼和雌鱼的全鱼匀浆液中的VTG含量与对照组相比均无显著性差异。研究结果表明,PFOS暴露对斑马鱼的内分泌干扰作用明显,其毒性作用机制可能是类雌激素效应,血液和头尾匀浆液中VTG含量能够作为PFOS内分泌干扰效应评价的敏感生物标志物,但响应曲线可能因性别和组织部位的不同有所差异。     

雄激素1,4-雄烯二酮和雄烯二酮对斑马鱼胚胎昼夜节律和下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴通路中基因转录表达的影响

雄激素1,4-雄烯二酮(androstadienedione, ADD)和雄烯二酮(androstenedione, AED)主要用于人类和牲畜疾病的预防和治疗。近年来,ADD和AED的大量使用导致其在河流中广泛检出,甚至在多种鱼类体内亦有检出,且浓度较高。ADD和AED已被证实对鱼类具有生殖毒性和发育毒性,但ADD和AED在转录水平上对鱼类的影响鲜有报道。为探究ADD和AED分子水平毒性,本研究考察了斑马鱼胚胎暴露于ADD(4.48、30.0和231 ng·L~(-1))和AED(3.64、21.7和230 ng·L~(-1))144 h后,对其昼夜节律和下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴(hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, HPG axis)通路中基因转录表达的影响。结果表明,所有浓度的ADD都显著上调了昼夜节律通路中生物钟基因(per1b)、核受体亚族1的D群基因(nr1d2b)、隐花色素基因(cry5)和si:ch211-132b12.7的转录水平,30.0和231 ng·L~(-1)的ADD下调了时钟节律调节因子基因(clocka)和芳香烃受体核转录蛋白样基因(arntl2)的转录水平。3.64 ng·L~(-1)AED显著增强了per1b和nr1d2b的转录表达。此外在HPG轴中,30.0 ng·L~(-1)ADD显著降低了促黄体生成素V亚基基因(lhb)的转录表达水平,而3.64 ng·L~(-1)AED显著上调了lhb的转录表达水平。值得注意的是,4.48ng·L~(-1)ADD和3.64 ng·L~(-1)AED均显著降低了细胞色素P450的11亚族基因(cyp11b)的转录表达水平。上述研究表明,ADD和AED对昼夜节律和HPG轴中相关基因的转录表达有显著性影响,对斑马鱼具有潜在的内分泌干扰风险。     

烧烤场景中基于PBPK模型的人群PAHs暴露评估

为探究烧烤场景中人群多环芳烃(PAHs)的暴露特征与健康风险,使用美国环保署推荐的计算模型和基于生理的药代动力学模型(PBPK)模拟了我国人群的PAHs外暴露剂量和健康风险以及内暴露剂量变化情况。结果表明:1)普通居民和职业人群的日均苯并[a]芘等效摄入剂量为(50±3)ng·d~(-1)和(179±98)ng·d~(-1),其终生致癌风险为7.57×10~(-7)~1.28×10~(-5),均在可接受范围内;2)普通居民暴露后体内组织中PAHs内暴露标志物芘的最大浓度范围依次为肝(6.52~8.67 ng·L~(-1))肾(0.97~1.12 ng·L~(-1))静脉血(0.71~0.94 ng·L~(-1))皮肤(0.64~0.75 ng·L~(-1))脂肪(0.36~0.56 ng·L~(-1)),职业人群暴露后体内组织芘最大浓度为脂肪(2.97ng·L~(-1))皮肤(1.14 ng·L~(-1))≥肾(1.14 ng·L~(-1))肝(0.57 ng·L~(-1))静脉血(0.17 ng·L~(-1));3)膳食是普通人群的主导暴露途经,会导致肝组织浓度最大;呼吸和皮肤接触是职业人群的主导暴露途经,会导致脂肪组织浓度最大;4)暴露标志物芘的组织总富集量关系为职业人群(48 ng·d~(-1))大于普通人群(6~11 ng·d~(-1))。     

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.