孕激素左炔诺孕酮长期低剂量暴露对雄性斑马鱼的生殖毒性

孕激素是广泛使用的高生物活性药物,其残留广泛存在于水环境中,对水生生物造成潜在威胁。本论文研究孕激素左炔诺孕酮(LNG)长期暴露对雄性斑马鱼的生殖毒性。将斑马鱼胚胎暴露于环境相关浓度的LNG(10, 33, 100 ng·L~(-1))至性成熟(受精后142 d),得到100%的雄性斑马鱼。将得到的雄鱼与未暴露的雌鱼配对,结果发现100 ng·L~(-1) LNG处理组雄鱼使得未暴露雌鱼产卵的数量较对照组雄鱼使得未暴露雌鱼产卵的数量显著减少。33和100 ng·L~(-1)处理组雄鱼与未暴露雌鱼配对所得子代在受精后7 d内的存活率较对照组雄鱼与未暴露雌鱼配对所得子代的存活率显著降低。33 ng·L~(-1) LNG显著升高总活力、活跃精子活力、平均路径速度、直线运动速度、曲线运动速度等精子活力参数,但其他浓度的LNG并不影响精子的活力。LNG在33和100 ng·L~(-1)的浓度下显著降低雄鱼血浆中11-酮基睾酮(11-KT)的含量,且在3个浓度下均显著降低雄鱼血浆中雌二醇(E2)的含量,但对睾酮(T)无明显影响。此外,LNG暴露可干扰雄鱼大脑和精巢中孕激素受体(npr, mprα, mprβ)、雌激素受体(erα, erβ)以及雄激素受体(ar)的转录,可能通过这些受体途径参与生殖调控。研究结果表明环境相关浓度的左炔诺孕酮长期暴露可导致雄性斑马鱼的生殖内分泌干扰效应,并提示:仅雄鱼单独受孕激素暴露影响,也可能对鱼类种群的生殖产生深远影响。     

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。     

双酚A对斑马鱼精巢性激素生成酶基因表达的影响

为了解环境雌激素对鱼类精巢发育的影响,将成年雄性斑马鱼(Danio rerio)暴露于不同浓度双酚A(0、500、1 000、2 000、4 000μg·L-1)下21 d,并在此基础上,进一步研究了暴露在相同浓度(BPA2 000μg·L-1)不同暴露时间下各基因表达的动力学模式。用荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)方法检测试验鱼精巢性激素合成相关细胞色素P450酶类基因(CYP17、CYP11B和CYP19A)以及雌、雄激素受体和促卵泡激素受体(ERα、ERβ、AR和FSHR)基因的表达,用常规组织学方法研究试验鱼精巢结构的变化。结果表明,BPA促进了精巢内源雌激素合成相关酶类基因CYP19A和雌激素受体ERαmRNA、ERβmRNA的表达,且BPA浓度为2 000μg·L-1时3者的表达量显著上调,同时随着暴露时间的延长,具有明显的时间累积效应。1 000μg·L-1BPA可导致斑马鱼精巢CYP17 mRNA的表达量显著下调,BPA2 000μg·L-1暴露12 d引起了CYP11B mRNA表达下调,而随着暴露时间的延长有所回升,但它对精巢AR mRNA的表达却无明显影响。同时,BPA 500μg·L-1引起了FSHR基因的显著上调,在时间动态学上,呈上升趋势。在组织学上,2 000μg·L-1BPA引起斑马鱼精巢生精小管内精子浓缩严重,精原细胞(Sg)和精母细胞(PS和SS)数目都有所减少,BPA 4 000μg·L-1组斑马鱼精巢退化。因此,BPA可诱导精巢内源雌激素合成和雌激素受体的表达,提高雌激素效应,通过抑制CYP17基因的表达,一定程度上抑制雄激素的合成,从而引起斑马鱼精巢组织的破坏。同时,据实验数据推测,雄激素的下调可能启动了下丘脑-垂体-性腺(HPG)轴的负反馈调节机制,而此作用机制还有待进一步研究。     

17α-甲基睾酮对稀有鮈鲫肝脏脂质代谢的影响

环境内分泌干扰物对环境影响十分严重,绝大部分进入水环境,危害水生生物健康,进而影响人类健康.17α-甲基睾酮(17α-methyltestosterone,MT)是一种常见的环境雄激素,但在鱼体内的作用机制尚不明确.为了探究MT对鱼类肝脏脂质代谢的影响,采用不同浓度的MT(0、25、50和100 ng·L-1)处理864尾稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus),分别在7、14和21 d取肝脏样品.用石蜡组织切片(H-E染色)研究MT对稀有鮈鲫肝脏组织的影响;用RT-qPCR检测4个内参基因的稳定性及5个脂质代谢相关基因(acaca、acacb、fasn、gpat1和cpt1α)的mRNA表达;用ELISA法测定肝脏中甘油三酯的含量.结果 表明,MT会对稀有鮈鲫肝脏造成一定程度的影响,50 ng·L-1 MT处理14 d,肝脏组织损伤最明显.25 ng·L-1和50 ng·L-1 MT处理14 d,相关基因的表达均显著变化(P＜0.05).mRNA表达与组织学结果均表明50 ng·L-1 MT对稀有鮈鲫肝脏影响最为显著.100ng·L-1 MT处理21 d,acaca、cpt1α和gpat1基因表达量显著下降(P＜0.05).MT对雌鱼肝脏甘油三酯影响较雄鱼大.综上,MT通过影响肝脏脂质代谢相关基因mRNA的表达,干扰了稀有鮈鲫肝脏脂质代谢过程,进而对肝脏产生不同程度的损伤.由于MT在不同性别鱼体内的代谢途径不同,推测MT在稀有觞鲫体内可能被芳香化为雌激素(ME),从而发挥部分雌激素作用.     

2,4'-DDT对斑马鱼生长、繁殖力及卵黄蛋白原的影响

以斑马鱼体内卵黄蛋白原(Vtg)作为雌激素污染物的生物标志物,比较研究了不同浓度2,4'- DDT对成年斑马鱼生长、发育、繁殖以及体内Vtg含量的影响.结果表明,当水环境中ρ(2,4'- DDT)为2和10 μg·L-1时,斑马鱼产卵量和受精率与空白和溶剂对照组相比均显著下降(P＜0.05).当水环境中p(2,4'- DDT)为0.2、2和10μg·L-1时,斑马鱼肝脏指数与空白和溶剂对照组相比显著升高(P＜0.05);10 μg·L-12,4'- DDT处理组雄性斑马鱼体内Vtg含量显著高于空白和溶剂对照组(P＜0.05),而0.2、2和10 μg·L-1 2,4'-DDT处理组雌性斑马鱼体内Vtg含量均显著高于空白和溶剂对照组(P＜0.05),且随暴露浓度的增加而增大.SDS - PAGE检测及免疫印迹分析均显示雄鱼血液内出现Vtg特异条带,表明2,4'- DDT对斑马鱼具有雌激素效应.     

林丹短期暴露对斑马鱼生长发育和繁殖的影响

以斑马鱼为受试生物,研究在低浓度(0.005、0.05、0.5峭μg·L-1)林丹暴露条件下,林丹对斑马鱼体长、体质量、肝脏指数、性腺指数、产卵量和受精率的影响.结果显示,经14 d暴露后,处理组斑马鱼体长和体质量与空白对照组或溶剂对照组之间差异不显著;与空白对照组和溶剂对照组相比,0.5μg·L-1处理组雄性和雌性斑马鱼肝脏指数均显著增加(P＜0.05),雄性斑马鱼性腺指数显著降低(P＜0.05),其他处理组无明显变化;林丹对斑马鱼产卵量和受精率表现出明显的抑制作用,与空白对照组相比,0.05和0.5μg·L-1处理组斑马鱼平均产卵量和受精率均极显著降低(P＜0.01).该研究表明林丹具有环境内分泌干扰物特性,在低浓度暴露条件下可对斑马鱼的生长发育和繁殖产生一定抑制影响.     

苯并(a)芘对罗非鱼肝脏CYP1A1和GST活性的影响

以罗非鱼为试验动物,研究不同浓度(0.1、1、10和50μg·L-1)苯并(a)芘(BaP)暴露下,罗非鱼肝脏细胞色素P450亚酶1A1(CYP1A1)和谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶(GST)活性的变化。结果表明,0.1、1和10μg·L-13个浓度组罗非鱼肝脏CYP1A1活性与空白和丙酮溶剂对照组相比没有显著差异(P0.05),50μg·L-1浓度组CYP1A1活性在6和168 h时受到显著诱导(P0.05);0.1和1μg·L-1浓度组肝脏GST活性与空白和丙酮溶剂对照组相比无显著差异(P0.05),10和50μg·L-1浓度组GST活性在336 h时与空白和丙酮溶剂对照组相比差异显著(P0.05)。研究CYP1A1活性与GST活性之间的关系发现,两者的变化趋势相近,尤其是1和50μg·L-12个浓度组,表明这两者之间可能存在一定的对应关系。     

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。     

17β-雌二醇与1-萘酚对雄性罗非鱼（GIFT Oreochromis niloticus）雌激素效应的比较

在实验室条件下,研究了暴露于不同质量浓度1-萘酚（0.064、0.8、2 mg.L-1）与17β-雌二醇（1、10、100μg.L-1）下,对雄性罗非鱼（GIFT Oreochromis niloticus）性腺系数、血清雌二醇质量浓度的影响及血清中卵黄蛋白原的诱导效应,以期对它们的环境雌激素效应有所了解。研究结果显示：暴露于1-萘酚环境下30 d后,雄性罗非鱼的性腺系数有所降低,当质量浓度为2 mg.L-1时,与对照组相比,差异显著（p〈0.05）,雄性罗非鱼血清中雌二醇的量,此时亦达到最大值,为209.3 pg.mL-1,与对照组相比,差异显著（p〈0.05）;但是,血清中卵黄蛋白原并无变化。暴露于17β-雌二醇环境中的雄性罗非鱼,30 d后,其性腺系数有所降低,当质量浓度为10、100μg.L-1时,与对照组相比,差异显著（p〈0.05）;血清中的雌二醇也随着暴露质量浓度的增多,逐渐增多,当质量浓度为100μg.L-1时,差异极显著（p〈0.01）;血清中卵黄蛋白原的质量浓度明显高于对照组,与暴露质量浓度之间呈剂量效应关系。结果显示,17β-雌二醇具有很强的雌激素效应,会使罗非鱼性腺系数下降,诱导血清中雌二醇、卵黄蛋白原的生成;而1-萘酚会使罗非鱼性腺系数下降,诱导血清雌二醇的生成,但是并不诱导卵黄蛋白原的生成,所以推测其雌激素效应可能较弱,需要进一步研究。     

Cr(VI)对脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)幼虾暴露和恢复期肝胰脏的SOD活性、MDA及MTs含量的影响

为了探索水体中Cr(VI)对脊尾白虾(Exopalaemon carinicauda)的毒性效应,通过Cr(VI)的暴露(15 d)和清水恢复实验(15 d),研究了Cr(VI)对脊尾白虾肝胰脏的SOD活性、MDA及MTs含量的影响。结果表明,通过15 d的暴露,5 mg·L-1(高浓度)、0.5 mg·L-1(低浓度)实验组肝胰脏的SOD均显著高于对照组水平(p0.05),15 d的清水恢复后,两个浓度实验组均能够恢复到对照组水平(p0.05)。MDA在暴露阶段呈现持续上升的趋势,且在15 d后两个浓度实验组MDA的含量均显著高于对照组水平(p0.05),15 d的清水恢复后,5 mg·L-1实验组的MDA含量依然显著高于对照组水平(p0.05),0.5mg·L-1实验组的MDA含量基本恢复到对照组水平(p0.05)。通过15 d的暴露,两个浓度实验组MTs的含量均显著高于对照组水平(p0.05),15 d的清水恢复后,两个浓度实验组MTs的含量均能够恢复到对照组水平(p0.05)。     

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.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.