应用流式细胞技术研究铜对藻细胞膜完整性及脂酶活性的影响

应用流式细胞技术(FCM)及PI/FDA染色方法,在不同Cu2浓度处理后,从细胞膜完整性、脂酶活性两方面同时研究了Cu2 处理对微囊藻细胞的急性毒性作用.检测结果表明,在不同浓度Cu2 处理M.aeruginousa1h时,PI荧光检测显示藻细胞膜的完整性几乎没有受到影响,而FDA荧光检测则表明藻细胞的脂酶活性在一定浓度受到刺激.在Cu2 处理24h时,随着Cu2 浓度的增高,PI和FDA荧光强度变化的概率均呈明显的浓度抑制型变化,说明在此时Cu2 作用下FDA荧光的下降,不仅与细胞内脂酶活性受到抑制有关,而且也是高浓度Cu2 作用下细胞膜受损而导致细胞内含物外流的结果.图3参16     

赖氨酸对铜绿微囊藻细胞的抑制机理

在光照条件下赖氨酸可以有效地抑制铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)的生长,为了探讨其抑制机理,研究了不同含量赖氨酸对铜绿微囊藻细胞的毒理效应.结果表明:赖氨酸对不同品系铜绿微囊藻生长的抑制效果为无毒藻株＞低毒藻株＞高毒藻株,抑制率为95.52%～49.69%.在抑制前期.赖氨酸对铜绿微囊藻细胞抗氧化系统(SOD、MDA)和细胞膜完整性都没有显著影响,但对细胞色素(叶绿素a和藻胆蛋白)以及细胞酯酶活性具有显著影响;在抑制后期,铜绿微囊藻细胞破碎死亡,各种指标都发生显著性变化.铜绿微囊藻对赖氨酸的响应并不产生细胞脂质过氧化等一般的毒理效应,它可能是一种有序变化的死亡过程.     

应用流式细胞技术研究种群初始状态对藻类毒性效应的影响

应用流式细胞技术研究种群初始状态的变化及外源种群介入对藻类毒性效应的影响.结果表明:初始细胞密度的增加可以降低Cu2 的毒性效应.当微囊藻初始细胞密度从103上升到105cells·ml-1时,24h Cu2 处理后微囊藻酯酶活性的EC50值从4.4μg·l-1上升到37μg·l-1.而外源种群(栅藻、小球藻)的介入也可降低Cu2 对微囊藻的毒性效应.     

对叔丁基邻苯二酚对铜绿微囊藻的化感抑制作用

利用藻种群竞争机制和藻间化感作用,筛选化感物质作为除藻功能材料是藻华控制技术近年来的研究热点.研究利用课题组前期工作成果,从藻滤液中甄别出化感物质对叔丁基邻苯二酚(TBC),在此基础上针对典型蓝藻铜绿微囊藻,进行了系列药剂抑藻实验.通过研究发现,与邻苯二酚及龙胆酸相比,TBC抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的效果更好.在初始藻密度为1×10~6cell·mL~(-1)条件下,TBC投加浓度为0.05 mg·L~(-1)时,短时间内可对铜绿微囊藻起到显著的抑制作用,0.1 mg·L~(-1)的投加浓度则可维持15 d不复发.当初始藻密度为5×105—5×106cell·mL~(-1)时,投加0.1 mg·L~(-1)TBC能在15 d达到90%以上的抑制率,且藻生物量9 d内不反弹.在pH 6.5—8.5范围,TBC具有较好且持久的抑藻效果.在25—35℃下,TBC对铜绿微囊藻都具有较好的抑制效果,其中25℃抑制效果好于35℃.     

微生物溶藻进程与机制的三维荧光分析方法

以铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)为实验对象,利用三维荧光谱解析微生物溶藻进程与溶藻机制.构建了藻细胞数量-荧光光强、叶绿素a-荧光光强关系模型,验证荧光法测定藻液的准确性.通过Em656 nm下荧光激发光谱,考察了溶藻菌R1菌(Lysinibacillus macroides)的溶藻能力.根据菌藻混合液三维荧光光谱图,解析了藻细胞分泌物和溶藻(降解)产物.结果表明,荧光光强可以用来表征藻细胞浓度,在低浓度下(浓度阈值为细胞数量120 cell·mL-1或chl-a含量0.2 mg·L~(-1)),其与藻细胞及其叶绿素a呈正相关(R20.95,P0.01);采用荧光强度表征溶藻菌R1溶藻率,10 d溶藻率可达89.8%,与chl-a表征的溶藻率(82.64%)基本一致.菌藻混合液三维荧光光谱图解析表明,溶藻菌R1对铜绿微囊藻的溶藻产物中含有藻细胞溶解生成的可溶性物质、芳香族蛋白质;混合液中类腐殖酸大量减少,推测其为细菌分泌的溶藻活性物质.溶藻机理为细胞分泌胞外物质(酸性物质)作用于藻细胞!细胞结构被破坏!胞内物质(蛋白质物质等)释放出来.     

强电离放电对铜绿微囊藻的杀灭效果

研究了不同曝气量、初始藻密度、放置培养时间、pH值和温度条件下强电场电离放电对铜绿微囊藻的杀灭效果.结果表明,在一定范围内,微囊藻灭活率随曝气量、初始藻密度、放置培养时间、pH值和温度的增加而增大.当曝气量为500 mL·min-1,初始藻密度为9×106mL-1,pH值为9.18,温度为317 K,放置培养时间为4 d,处理时间为10 min时,铜绿微囊藻的灭活率接近100.0%.     

蓝藻水华优势藻高效防控铜制剂的筛选

在对比络合铜、有机铜和无机铜3类5种典型铜制剂对蓝藻水华优势藻--铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和2种非靶标藻种--普通小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)和斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)的96 h生长抑制效果的基础上,进一步开展了3类铜制剂抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的15 d延长效应研究.试验结果表明,质量分数为25%的络氨铜水剂、30%琥胶肥酸铜可湿性粉剂和20%乙酸铜可湿性粉剂对蓝藻水华优势种有较好的生长抑制效果,其对初始密度为2×105～4×105mL-1铜绿微囊藻的96 h半抑制浓度(以下均以有效成分的质量计)分别为0.03、0.06和0.05 mg·L-1,且初始藻密度对抑藻效果并无明显影响.试验质量浓度为0.25 mg·L-1的25%络氨铜水剂、0.30 mg·L-1的30%琥胶肥酸铜可湿性粉剂或0.20 mg·L-1的20%乙酸铜可湿性粉剂均能抑制铜绿微囊藻增长,且在0～15 d内都不会出现藻细胞再次复苏和增长.此外,由于铜制剂对铜绿微囊藻的96 h半抑制浓度远低于其对普通小球藻和斜生栅藻的96 h半抑制浓度,因此可在有效控制靶标藻种的同时不对非靶标藻种的生长造成严重威胁.络氨铜、琥胶肥酸铜、乙酸铜有望被开发成为高效、绿色的蓝藻水华控制剂.     

荇菜(Nymphoides peltatum)对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)生长的抑制效应及其机制

构建了荇菜(Nymphoides peltatum)与以铜绿微囊藻为优势种的自然藻体共培养系统,分析系统中各藻种藻细胞密度、藻体叶绿素a含量、荇菜生长指标及水下[光]照度的变化;同时以荇菜种植水配置培养基,在适宜光照条件下培养铜绿微囊藻,分析藻类生长生理指标随时间的变化.结果表明:共培养系统中藻类总藻细胞密度显著下降(P<0.05),其中铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)藻细胞密度下降最为明显,40 d时比初始藻细胞密度减少了94.68%,而三角四角藻(Tetraedron minimum)数量逐渐增多,成为优势藻种,表明荇菜对铜绿微囊藻生长具有明显抑制作用.共培养系统中荇菜鲜重、水下20 cm深处光衰减率均与藻类叶绿素a含量呈显著负相关(P<0.05),表明藻细胞光合能力的大小与荇菜植株的生长及其产生的遮光作用密切相关.随培养时间延长,添加荇菜种植水的培养基中铜绿微囊藻藻细胞光密度值(D650)下降明显;叶绿素a、藻胆蛋白(包括藻蓝蛋白、别藻蓝蛋白、藻红蛋白)相对含量均有不同程度的下降,培养9 d后4者相对含量分别降至5.27%、15.53%、21.11%和48.48%;藻细胞Ca2+Mg2+-ATP酶活性下降明显,表明荇菜种植水中存在着某种对铜绿微囊藻产生抑制作用的活性物质,通过对铜绿微囊藻光反应系统(PS Ⅰ和PS Ⅱ)的作用来阻碍藻细胞光合作用进程,抑制藻类生长,说明除了遮光效应外,分泌抑藻活性物质也是荇菜抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的重要机制.     

一株放线菌对铜绿微囊藻的溶藻活性

从庐山土样中分离得到一株放线菌JXJ 0071,研究了该菌的孢子、菌丝体和代谢产物对铜绿微囊藻(Micro-cystis aeruginosa)的溶藻活性以及溶藻活性成分的稳定性,并对其分类地位进行鉴定。结果表明,放线菌JXJ 0071的孢子和菌丝体均能使铜绿微囊藻细胞密度显著降低。该菌代谢产物对铜绿微囊藻具有很强的溶藻活性,在藻密度为1.0×107 mL-1的藻液中加入体积分数φ为2%的该菌发酵上清液3,d后溶藻效率达98%。溶藻活性成分主要来自水溶性胞外产物,其对高温、pH和紫外线处理均具有较好的稳定性。以60℃以下的温度处理发酵液2h,溶藻活性成分的溶藻效率基本不变,保持在95%以上;pH 7.0～9.0条件下,其溶藻效率仍很高,在93.8%以上;经波长为254 nm的紫外线照射2 h,其溶藻效率仍达85.7%。基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析表明,该菌株属链霉菌属,与Streptomyces rectiviolaceus的序列相似性达99%,但JXJ0071与S.rectiviolaceus的部分生理生化特性有所不同,需要进一步的实验数据确定其种一级分类学单元。     

加拿大一枝黄花化感抑藻效应的初步研究

利用植物化感作用,可抑制有害藻类的生长,改善富营养化水体水质。文章选择我国重要的陆生入侵植物加拿大一枝黄花（Solidago canadensis L.）,系统研究了其根部、茎部和叶部水浸液对5种常见藻类：铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）、斜生栅藻（Scenedesmus obliquu）、蛋白核小球藻（Chlorella pyrenoidosa）、水华鱼腥藻（Anabaena flos-aguae）和羊角月牙藻（Selenastrum capricornutum）生长的化感效应。研究结果表明：（1）加拿大一枝黄花水浸液对铜绿微囊藻的生长有强烈的化感抑制效应,7 d抑制率为90%左右,根、茎、叶部水浸液的72 h-EC50由高到低依次为34.84、12.54和9.57 g.L^-1,叶部对铜绿微囊藻的抑制作用最强;（2）加拿大一枝黄花叶部水浸液除了对水华鱼腥藻的生长无显著影响外,对其余4种受试藻均有明显的抑制作用,即加拿大一枝黄花叶部的化感抑藻效应较具广谱性;（3）相同质量浓度、同一部位的加拿大一枝黄花水浸液对不同藻种的化感作用类型和作用强度有所不同,即化感抑藻效应存在选择性,且这种选择性与藻类的分类学特征无关;（4）对同一种藻,加拿大一枝黄花根、茎、叶等不同部位水浸液的化感效应也有所差异。     

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.