固定化微生物脱氮技术进展

:氮污染已日益严重 ,但现有的生物脱氮技术存在许多问题。因此世界各国研究者纷纷研究改进技术 ,硝化细菌和反硝化细菌固定化生物脱氮是其中一个主要的研究方向。文章综述了固定化微生物脱氮技术的研究进展 ,包括固定介质、主要的固定化方法和技术以及固定化微生物在废水生物脱氮方面的应用。     

沣河水系脱氮微生物群落结构研究

河流水体氮素的超负荷不仅破坏了水体生态环境,也严重威胁着人类的生存和发展.水体中有机氮、无机氮（氨氮、亚硝氮、硝氮）和分子氮之间的转化（氮循环）有赖于水体中大量的氮循环微生物（固氮细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌）,然而这些氮循环微生物的生长繁殖也受到包括氮素的形态和浓度在内的多种环境因子的影响,这些因素也通过影响氮循环微生物的生长繁殖进而使得水体中氮素的转化速率发生变化,对水体氮污染的防治有不可忽视的作用.本研究通过在沣河设置不同的研究断面,采集水体样品,进行水质分析,并通过现代分子生物学技术（PCR-DGGE）方法对研究断面水体中氮循环微生物（固氮细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌）的群落结构进行分析.再通过统计学软件对所得分子生物学信息与水质环境因子的相关性进行统计学分析,发现沣河水体中氮循环微生物群落结构受到多种环境因子共同影响,且在枯水期和丰水期表现出不同的特征.在丰水期沣河水体中,硝化细菌群落在中游表现出较高的多样性和丰富性,这与沣河中上游农业COD（化学需氧量）、BOD（生化需氧量）氨氮及有机氮污染物排放量较大,沣河水体DO（溶解氧）高有关.水体中的氨氮、亚硝氮、温度的增加是促进水体中硝化细菌的均匀性和丰富度的增高的主要因子,而pH 值的升高,使得水体中硝化细菌的均匀性和丰富度降低.反硝化微生物在中游和下游的多样性和丰富度较高,与有机物及硝酸盐含量相关.水体中的BOD、COD、TP（总磷）、硝氮的增加是促进水体中反硝化细菌的均匀性和丰富度的增高主要相关因子,而DO 的增多则会对部分反硝化细菌产生不利影响,使得水体中反硝化细菌的均匀性和丰富度降低.本研究结果为沣河以及其他河流的污染控制以及基于微生物的生态修复提供了科?     

养殖水体复合功能菌的分离及其性能

针对养殖水体中因氨态氮、硫化氢和小分子有机酸富营养化引起的污染问题,分离筛选出硝化细菌、反硝化细菌、光合细菌、硫化细菌和生物絮凝菌等具有不同生理功能的污染物治理菌株,经优化配伍制备出性能优良的复合功能菌,结果表明:硝化细菌对氨态氮的去除率达97.8%,亚硝态氮的去除率达95.7%,反硝化细菌对硝态氮的去除率为96.4%,光合细菌和硫化细菌对硫化氢的去除率为55%,微生物絮凝菌的絮凝效率为83%;复合功能菌对CODCr、NH4+-N,总氮、硫化物的去除率分别可达94.3%,89.6%,88.7%和71.3%。     

水生植物微生物强化系统对日本沼虾养殖水体的生物净化

通过在池塘水体中栽种以轮叶黑藻(Hydrilla verticillata)为主的水生植物,并添加活菌含量>108 g-1的复合微生物制剂,构建了水生植物-微生物强化系统,研究该系统对日本沼虾(Macrobrachium nipponense)养殖水体的生物净化效果。结果表明,试验40 d时,所添加的1.0 mg.L-1活性微生物可充分依赖水体中水生植物的巨大表面积而形成固定化的生物膜,使得植物区及相邻水体中细菌和真菌数量提高25%～69%,强化水体的净化功能。水生植物-微生物强化系统可通过相互的协同作用,提高对氮、磷和有机物等的利用能力,在促进自身生长的同时,可大幅降低水体中NH4+-N、NO2--N、NO3--N、TP、PO43--P含量,抑制TN、高锰酸盐指数的快速升高,提高水体中溶解氧,竞争藻类生长的资源,使得水体中藻类的丰度有所下降,pH也趋于稳定。研究表明,水生植物-微生物强化系统是一种良好的日本沼虾养殖水体生物净化系统,当水体中添加的微生物质量浓度为1.0 mg.L-1时,适宜的水生植物覆盖率为40%。     

种植不同冬季作物对稻田甲烷、氧化亚氮排放和土壤微生物的影响

研究双季稻收获后填闲种植不同冬季作物在其生长季节内甲烷（CH4）和氧化亚氮（N2O）的排放特征,对合理利用冬闲稻田、发展冬季作物生产及合理评价不同种植模式具有重要意义。采用静态箱-气相色谱法对冬季免耕直播黑麦草、紫云英和冬闲的双季稻田中CH4和N2O排放及其相关微生物数量变化进行了分析。在冬季作物生长期,不同冬季作物稻田CH4和N2O排放通量均显著高于对照（冬闲）,CH4和N2O排放通量均表现为免耕直播黑麦草〉免耕直播紫云英〉冬闲;免耕直播黑麦草和紫云英处理稻田CH4排放量分别为2.28和1.07 g·m^-2,分别比对照增加241.92%和60.63%;N2O排放量分别为0.59和0.48 g·m^-2,分别比对照增加71.93%和40.06%;各处理稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌、硝化细菌及反硝化细菌的数量变化范围分别为0.33×10^2 163.37×10^2 cfu·g^-1、11.05×10^3~245.68×10^3 cfu·g^-1、3.21×10^3~178.26×10^3 cfu·g^-1和10.47×10^5~198.88×10^5 cfu·g-1,免耕直播黑麦草和紫云英处理稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌的数量均显著高于冬闲,其中免耕直播黑麦草处理稻田土壤的产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌和硝化细菌数量显著高于免耕直播紫云英处理,而免耕直播紫云英处理稻田土壤反硝化细菌的数量则显著高于免耕直播黑麦草处理。研究结果显示,种植不同冬季作物能促进稻田生态系统中CH4和N2O的排放,而这两种气体的排放量与稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量变化密切相关。     

乙酸钙不动杆菌对富营养化景观水体的净化作用

利用乙酸钙不动杆菌(Acinetobacter calcoaceticus),在室内采用投菌法对富营养化景观水体进行预处理试验研究.通过不同的投菌量ф=0.05×10-3、0.1×10-3、0.2×10-3,对水体进行处理,结果表明,乙酸钙不动杆菌对富营养化水体中的总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、CODcr,均有一定的去除效果,其中在投菌量为O.1×10-3时处理效果最好.通过进一步的连续投菌净化试验,水体中的TN、TP、CODcr显著降低,处理后,水体中叶绿素a的质量浓度为19.1 mg·m-3,去除率为83.7%,藻类基本得到控制.由此可见,乙酸钙不动杆菌能够有效性地去除水体中的有机物、氮、磷,因此具有净化富营养化水体的作用.     

固定化反硝化菌在低污染水处理中脱氮性能研究

在面源低污染水的原位修复领域,人工湿地生物脱氮过程受温度、p H波动影响以及NO2--N积累抑制反硝化脱氮效果等问题,因此强化系统脱氮性能在实际工程应用中具有重要意义。固定化微生物技术具有环境变化适应能力以及耐毒害能力强等优点。该研究通过分离筛选高效反硝化菌,对其进行DNA序列分析鉴定及其种属和系统发育地位分析,并以包埋法加以固定,考察固定化反硝化菌在不同温度、p H、DO和C/N下的反硝化性能,分析各因素变化对固定化反硝化菌脱氮效果的影响,探究各影响因素对固定化反硝化菌脱氮性能的作用机理,以期为固定化反硝化菌强化人工湿地脱氮性能提供参考。经反硝化能力测定,筛选得到的高效反硝化菌株对NO3--N、TN的去除率分别为98.83%、98.36%,NO2--N积累量仅为0.28mg·L~(-1),24 h内脱氮效率为8.59 mg·L~(-1)·h~(-1),经16S r RNA测序结果表明该菌株与Pseudomonas stutzeri A1501的最大相似度为99.7%。采用PVA、SA为材料包埋固定该菌株,固定化反硝化菌的生物量为15.67 g·L~(-1),颗粒密度为0.93 g·m L~(-1)。通过对固定化反硝化菌处理低污染水的性能研究得知,p H、T、DO的波动对固定化反硝化菌的脱氮效果影响均小于游离反硝化菌,固定化反硝化菌在p H为7,θ为30℃,DO为0.87~1.54 mg·L~(-1),C/N为5时的脱氮效果最好。     

巨大芽孢杆菌对富营养化景观水体的净化效果

利用巨大芽孢杆菌(Bacillus megaterium),在室内采用投菌法对富营养化景观水体进行预处理试验研究.通过不同的菌液投放量ψ=0.05×10-3、0.1×10-3、0.2×10-3,对水体进行处理,结果表明,巨大芽孢杆菌对富营养化水体中的总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、CODcr均有一定的去除效果,其中在投菌量为0.1×10-3时处理效果最好.通过进一步的连续投菌净化试验,水体中的TN、TP、CODcr显著降低,处理后,藻类基本得到控制.由此可见,巨大芽孢杆菌能够有效地去除水体中的有机物、氮、磷,因此,具有净化富营养化水体的作用.     

长期施肥对大麦生育期双季稻田土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物商的影响

长期有机无机肥配施定位试验条件下,关于不同施肥处理对稻田土壤微生物特性方面的研究目前还较少。为探明大麦(Hordaum vulgare L.)各个生育时期不同施肥处理对大麦-双季稻三熟制种植模式中稻田土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物商的影响,以湖南宁乡长期定位试验为平台,应用氯仿熏蒸-K2SO4提取法和化学分析法系统分析了长达28年5种施肥处理之间(化肥、秸秆还田+化肥、30%有机肥+70%化肥、60%有机肥+40%化肥和无肥)稻田土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物商及大麦产量的差异。结果表明,大麦各主要生育时期,长期施肥均能提高土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量和微生物商,各施肥处理土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量和微生物商均随生育期推进呈增加的变化趋势,均于齐穗期达到最大值;其中,化肥、秸秆还田、30%有机肥和60%有机肥处理土壤微生物生物量碳含量分别比无肥增加20.04%、26.47%、45.94%和51.42%,土壤微生物生物量氮含量分别比无肥增加12.87%、18.42%、32.16%和36.55%。60%有机肥和30%有机肥处理土壤微生物生物量碳、氮含量和微生物商均为最高,均显著高于其他处理,其大小顺序表现为60%有机肥30%有机肥秸秆还田化肥无肥。各施肥处理大麦产量分别比无肥增产357.6、683.0、721.2和782.1 kg·hm-2。长期有机无机肥配施可以提高土壤微生物生物量碳、氮和微生物商,有机肥与化肥配施对提高土壤肥力和增产效果最好。微生物生物量碳、氮及微生物商可以反映土壤质量的变化,作为评价土壤肥力的生物学指标。     

人工湿地循环处理的养殖水体中浮游动物动态变化

2004年3月～11月对人工湿地循环处理的养殖水体中浮游动物的动态变化进行了研究,探讨不同的处理方式和放养类型对水体中浮游动物的影响及生物多样性指数的变化.结果表明,养殖水体经人工湿地处理后,水质改善,对浮游动物去除率在60%以上,几乎没有影响到浮游动物的群落结构,循环水量最大的1号塘浮游甲壳动物隆腺溞占优势,密度较其他塘低,而生物量则高;放养类型相同的循环塘3号塘和静态塘4号塘,浮游动物种类基本相同,但种类数3号塘明显多于4号塘;辛普森多样性指数显示:1号塘>2号塘>3号塘>4号塘,说明循环塘水质好于静态塘.图4表5参21     

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.