洞庭湖表层沉积物重金属污染状况评估

基于2010—2015年连续对洞庭湖3个主要湖区10个采样点的表层沉积物中Cd、Hg、As、Cu、Pb和Cr等重金属含量分析,对洞庭湖湖区表层沉积物中重金属的时空分布特征进行了探讨,并采用地积累指数法、潜在生态风险指数法和对数衰减模型评价洞庭湖沉积物重金属的污染状况.结果表明,洞庭湖沉积物中重金属平均含量大小顺序为CrPbCuAsCdHg,Cd、Cr和Pb的含量年际变化变幅较大,Hg、Cu和As则较小.地积累指数值(I_(geo))和单因子生态风险值(E_i~r)表明Cd和Hg是洞庭湖沉积物重金属主要污染物;从产生可以观察到毒性效果的最大可能性(P_(max))来看,Cd是洞庭湖沉积物重金属首要潜在水生生物风险毒性因子.综合地累积指数值(I_(tot))、总潜在生态风险值(RI)和预测的水生生物毒性比率(Y)的评价结果表明,在2010—2015年期间全湖重金属呈重度污染,面临重度潜在生态风险并可能具有产生水生生物毒性的风险,其各子湖区重金属的污染程度、潜在生态风险水平及潜在水生生物毒性水平排序为南洞庭湖东洞庭湖西洞庭湖;从随时间的变化趋势来看,在2014—2015年期间全湖及其东洞庭湖和南洞庭湖两个湖区的重金属污染程度、潜在生态风险水平及潜在水生生物毒性水平都要比2010—2013年降低,西洞庭湖区的重金属潜在生态风险水平及潜在水生生物毒性水平没有变化.     

南运河重金属污染状况及生态风险评价

采集南运河的水样和沉积物样品,对其重金属污染状况和生态风险进行了分析评价。利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)对水、沉积物中铅(Pb)、铬(Cr)、砷(As)、铜(Cu)和镉(Cd)浓度进行分析。结果显示南运河水样中这5种重金属浓度均低于地表水环境质量标准I类水质标准,虽然运河上游沉积物中As和Cd浓度较高,但沉积物中重金属浓度总体上均处于较低水平。地累积指数法计算显示:As和Cd在部分河段达到重度和中度污染水平,Cu、Cr、Pb均处于无污染水平。各种重金属的潜在生态风险指数(Eir)从大到小的顺序为:CdAsCuPbCr,与地累积指数法结果相似。南运河总的潜在生态风险指数(RI)均值为128.85,潜在生态风险程度为"中",沉积物中Cd和As是南运河需要优先控制的重金属污染物。     

滇池及其河口沉积物中重金属污染评价

本文对滇池及其入湖河口表层沉积物中As、Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Hg等重金属含量进行了分析,并采用地质累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法评价了其污染程度和生态危害.结果表明,滇池草海北部重金属含量最高,草海及其河口重金属污染强度明显高于外海及其河口;以"全国土壤环境质量标准"为依据,As和Cd是沉积物中主要的超标污染物.地质累积指数法评价结果表明,草海及其河口沉积物中Cd达到了"严重"污染程度,是主要重金属污染物,其他金属总体处于"中度"以下污染程度;外海及其河口所有重金属基本处于"清洁"到"偏中度"污染程度.潜在生态风险评价结果表明,草海及其河口沉积物总体上达到了"很强"的潜在生态危害程度,而外海及其河口大部分区域总体属于"低度"危害程度.Cd是最主要的潜在生态危害重金属污染物,其次是Hg、As、Pb和Cu,而Zn和Cr对潜在生态危害指数的贡献率很小,在整个研究区域产生的潜在生态风险均为"轻微".相关性和主成分分析结果表明,滇池表层沉积物中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Hg和As可能有相似的污染来源,而Cr主要受地球化学成分影响.     

太湖北部表层沉积物重金属污染及其生物毒性研究

在分析太湖北部梅梁湾、竺山湾和贡湖表层沉积物和野生铜锈环棱螺体内重金属残留水平基础上,利用潜在生态危害指数法评价了区域重金属污染的潜在生态风险,并利用综合污染指数法评价了野生铜锈环棱螺受重金属污染的状况。研究结果表明,3个区域表层沉积物孔隙水的生物综合毒性处于低毒到中毒水平,而表层沉积物重金属污染均处于较低的生态风险,但3个区域的野生铜锈环棱螺体内重金属的综合污染指数处于中度到重度的污染水平。由此可以得出太湖北部沉积物重金属污染对底栖生物仍具有一定的潜在生态风险。     

宁波市回龙河表层沉积物重金属的形态分析及风险评价

为了解回龙河表层沉积物中重金属的污染状况,采集了表层沉积物样品,测定了重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Cr、Cd和Ni的总量及其化学形态,并采用潜在生态风险指数法对重金属进行了生态风险评价。结果显示,回龙河表层沉积物中Zn、Cu、Pb、Cr、Cd和Ni均有一定程度的累积,总量分别为286.4～1277.9mg/kg、21.71～146.0mg/kg、10.33～44.20mg/kg、25.13～90.40mg/kg、0.07172～0.3901mg/kg、13.27～157.2mg/kg,其中Cu、Cr、Pb与Ni 4种重金属具有一定的同源特性;形态分析表明,Cu的形态分布以有机结合态为主,最容易迁移释放,Zn、Cr和Ni除残渣态外,铁锰氧化结合态和有机结合态占一定比例,具有潜在风险;潜在生态风险指数法分析表明,沉积物中重金属元素的单一潜在生态风险指数顺序为Cd〉Cu〉Ni〉Zn〉Pb〉Cr,潜在生态危害指数RI均小于150,总体上回龙河处于轻微的生态风险等级。     

贵州万山汞矿周边土壤重金属污染特征及风险评价

贵州矿产资源丰富,伴随着矿山的开采、冶炼等人为活动,矿区周边重金属污染问题非常突出。为了掌握贵州万山汞矿政策性关停后对周边环境的产生的不利影响,以贵州万山汞矿周边主要乡镇作为研究区域,利用随机布点的方法在汞矿周边6个乡镇采集30个土壤样品,通过湿法消解的前处理方法,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪和原子荧光仪测定所有土壤样品中的Cr、Ni、Cu、Cd、Pb、As、Hg。以贵州省土壤环境背景值作为参照标准,采用单因子污染指数法、综合污染指数法、地积累指数法和潜在生态危害指数法对贵州万山汞矿周边土壤中重金属污染特征及其生态风险进行评价。结果表明,贵州万山汞矿周边土壤中Cr、Ni、Cu、Cd、Pb、As和Hg的平均含量水平分别为353.22、33.58、41.45、0.87、59.30、14.34、14.15mg·kg-1,其中Hg污染最严重,最高超标倍数为135倍。地积累指数评价结果表明,Cr的地积累指数为1~2之间,属于偏中度污染范畴;Hg的地累积指数为4~10之间,处于严重~极重污染范畴;潜在生态危害综合指数(RI)评价结果显示:万山汞矿周边土壤中重金属污染处于较强的生态风险程度,其中汞的潜在生态危害系数(Eir)最高。主成分分析结果显示:该区域土壤中的Cr、Ni、Cu的来源可能与土壤背景值有关;Cd、Pb、As、Hg的来源与大气沉降、汞矿采选冶炼等外源性污染因素有关。     

深圳蛇口渔港沉积物重金属分布及潜在生态风险评价

沉积物重金属污染对水生生态系统具有潜在危害.渔港是海岸带水环境的重要组成部分.对取自深圳蛇口渔港的10个表层沉积物样品中的As、Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn等典型重金属元素进行了分析,探讨了其空间分布;运用地积累指数法(Igeo)和生态危害指数法(RI),评价了表层沉积物中重金属的富集程度和潜在生态风险,初步探讨了其污染来源.结果表明:(1)蛇口渔港海域沉积物重金属Cu的污染十分严重,Zn和Pb污染较严重,其浓度均为港内>港口>港外;(2)渔港内沉积物重金属的富集达重度污染程度,潜在生态危害风险强.其中,又以Cu的富集程度最高,潜在生态危害风险最强;(3)渔港内Cu的污染,可能与电子工业废水的排放,以及渔业特有的防附着生物涂料有关.     

珠江三角洲养殖鱼塘水体中重金属污染特征和评估

为了解珠江三角洲主要养殖环境中重金属含量及潜在生态危害程度,用电感藕合等离子质谱法和原子荧光法测定了肇庆、广州、惠州和茂名4市14个样点沉积物中7种元素的水体及底泥总量,并对底泥中主要重金属污染状况及潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明：养殖鱼塘水体中Cr质量浓度范围是nd-0.1011 mg·L-1,超标率为7.1%,Cu质量浓度范围为nd-0.1438 mg·L-1,超标率为64.3%,As质量浓度范围是0.0112-0.0812 mg·L-1,超标率为24.1%,Hg质量浓度范围是0.00004-0.00458 mg·L^-1,超标率为35.7%,Pb质量浓度范围为nd-0.0973 mg·L^-1,超标率为6.8%,其余Ni、Zn和Cd质量浓度范围分别为nd-0.0218、nd-0.0232和nd-0.00319 mg·L^-1,均未超渔业水质标准;底泥中重金属元素Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Hg、Cd和Pb的平均值分别为83.86、46.19、242.16、32.38、0.64、1.00和60.06 mg·kg^-1,地积累指数评价结果显示,表层沉积物重金属污染程度顺序为Cd＞Hg＞Zn＞Pb＞As＞Cu＞Cr,其中,Cd污染程度为中-强,是底泥污染最严重的元素。潜在生态风险指数分析,单项潜在生态风险指数生态风险均值排列顺序为 Hg＞As＞Cd＞Pb＞Cu＞Zn＞Cr。对区域综合潜在生态风险指数RI的贡献率最大的元素为Hg、As和Cd。4个市底泥潜在生态风险综合指数（RI）比较,惠州（290.13）＞广州（240.54）＞茂名（193.23）＞肇庆（116.40）。Hg和Cd是该水域污染和潜在生态风险最大的元素。     

鄱阳湖湖口段沉积物重金属污染特征及潜在生态风险评价

为了解鄱阳湖与长江交汇区沉积物中重金属含量以及各污染物的潜在生态危害程度,通过采样分析As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb、Zn等7种重金属含量及污染特征分布的基础上,采用地积累指数法和潜在生态风险指数法对鄱阳湖底泥中的重金属污染进行综合性的评价分析.结果表明,鄱阳湖湖口段沉积物已经受到了不同程度的重金属污染;沉积物中Cd、Cu和Hg受人为影响比较严重,Cr、Cu、Hg、Pb和Zn均存在一定程度的积累;区域重金属元素潜在生态风险主要受制于Hg和Cu,潜在生态风险贡献率大小排序为:Hg(38.4%)Cu(27.8%)Pb(10.9%)Cd(9.1%)As(8.0%)Cr(4.0%)Zn(1.8%).     

成都市河流表层沉积物重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

根据流经成都市内的三条河流（府河、南河、沙河）表层沉积物重金属数据，采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对重金属的潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明（1）重金属潜在的生态危害因子（Er^i）说明大多属于轻微生态危害范畴，产牛生态危害的主要重金属是Hg、Cd，Cu、Pb次之，As影响最小；（2）多种重金属的生态系统的潜在生态风险指数（RI）表明河流重金属污染属于轻微生态危害和接近中等生态危害，其受危害程度由强至弱的次序为：府河，南河，沙河。     

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.