利用不同植物进行DNA损伤彗星实验的方法比较

为了研究彗星实验在植物DNA损伤检测中的应用,以多种植物材料为对象,进行了植物彗星实验的比较研究.分别分离了蚕豆、菠菜、洋葱、菜豆、大蒜、水稻等植物组织的细胞核,并以彗星实验方法研究了H2O2引起的植物细胞核DNA损伤.电泳后发现H2O2处理组植物细胞核出现明显拖尾,而对照组没有出现拖尾或拖尾较小.研究结果表明彗星实验是一种可以在单细胞水平上研究植物DNA损伤程度的手段,具有灵敏、简单、快速的优点.采用合适的细胞核分离方法,能够将彗星实验应用于多种植物,研究其DNA损伤.蚕豆、菠菜、洋葱、菜豆、大蒜等植物的根尖和叶片都可以应用于植物彗星实验,但在本实验条件下利用水稻组织进行彗星试实验并没有获得明显的彗星图像,能否进行彗星实验可能受植物本身性质或实验条件等多种因素的影响.     

植物彗星实验及其在生态毒理监测中的应用

植物彗星实验(Comet assay)是近几年发展起来的一项检测DNA损伤的新技术,具有快速、简便、灵敏性高和可靠性强等特点.本文总结了近年来国内外植物彗星实验的研究成果,详细介绍了植物彗星实验方法及其在生态毒理学中的应用.     

蚯蚓体腔细胞彗星试验检测阿散酸在泥浆体系中降解前后的遗传毒性变化

配制不同浓度的阿散酸标准液,与某养猪场附近的表层土壤混合形成泥浆系统,放在摇床上连续培养30d.在第0、1、2、3、4周取出适量降解液,分别用分光光度法测定阿散酸的降解率;用彗星试验检测降解液对赤子爱胜蚓体腔细胞DNA的损伤.结果表明,阿散酸低浓度时在泥浆体系中能被较快降解,500mg/L的降解率达到了25%;蚯蚓体腔细胞彗星试验表明,所有降解液均具有遗传毒性,可导致蚯蚓体腔细胞DNA明显损伤,与对照相比具有显著性差异(P<0.05).图1表1参17     

基于彗星实验的洛克沙胂对秀丽隐杆线虫胚胎细胞DNA损伤的研究

为评价洛克沙胂的遗传毒性,采用单细胞凝胶电泳(彗星实验),研究了不同浓度的洛克沙胂对秀丽隐杆线虫胚胎细胞脱氧核醣核酸(DNA)的损伤作用。提取秀丽隐杆线虫的胚胎细胞,分别暴露于0(空白对照)、50、250、500μg·L~(-1)含洛克沙胂的溶液染毒1 h。用彗尾DNA百分比含量(TDNA%)、彗星尾长(TL)和Olive尾矩(OTM)作为DNA损伤的指标。实验结果表明,与空白对照组比较,处理组中彗尾DNA百分比含量、彗星尾长以及Olive尾矩显著增加(P0.01)。随着洛克沙胂浓度的增加,彗尾DNA百分比含量、彗星尾长以及Olive尾矩逐渐增加,其相关系数r0.99,说明在实验浓度范围内,存在极显著的浓度-效应关系。洛克沙胂对秀丽隐杆线虫胚胎细胞DNA具有损伤作用,彗星实验操作简便、快速、灵敏度高,能够反映出洛克沙胂的遗传毒性。因此,通过彗星实验建立实验室检测洛克沙胂遗传毒性的方法具有可行性。     

检测细胞DNA断裂损伤效应的彗星实验法的改良

为了解决彗星实验过程中常出现的脱胶、细胞核分离操作繁琐、重复性低等问题,对彗星实验方法进行了改良,初步建立了彗星实验的快速操作流程。结果显示,通过对载玻片进行预处理,可确保凝胶悬挂均匀;采用改良机械法分离的细胞核浓度适中;以0.5%(w/v)涂层琼脂糖作为基层、以1.5%(w/v)低熔点包埋琼脂糖作为叠加层的"双层凝胶法",辅以"推片法"铺胶,操作便捷且不发生脱胶现象;细胞核膜经裂解处理后再进行电泳和荧光观察,彗星图像清晰,杂质少。应用改良后的彗星实验方法,操作简便,耗时更短,实验效果良好,可快速检测出细胞DNA损伤效应。     

盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤

为了探讨盐酸小檗碱对小鼠的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤.随机选取30只小鼠分成对照组以及7.5,15,30,60与120mg· kg-1实验组,处理后,应用小鼠脾细胞进行彗星实验与抗氧化酶实验.测定DNA损伤情况以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性以及丙二醛(MDA)含量变化.对盐酸小檗碱的DNA损伤与氧化性损伤作用进行比较研究.研究结果表明:彗星实验中,随着盐酸小檗碱浓度的增加,尾部DNA含量、尾长与尾矩均增加,与阴性对照组相比差异有统计学意义(p ＜0.05或p＜0.01),且呈剂量-效应关系;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随盐酸小檗碱剂量增加逐渐降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量明显上升,过氧化物酶(POD)活性在7.5 mg·kg-1时上升,而后逐渐下降.在60 mg·kg-1和120 mg· kg-1时,有极显著性差异(p＜0.01)产生.由此可见,盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞有一定的损伤作用,能够引起小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤.     

nano-TiO_2与1,2,4-TCB联合作用对斑马鱼鳃组织结构及染色体损伤研究

采用组织病理切片法、微核及彗星试验研究nano-TiO_2和1,2,4-TCB联合染毒对斑马鱼鳃组织结构、细胞微核率及DNA损伤的毒性效应。结果表明,单独nano-TiO_2暴露不会导致斑马鱼鳃组织结构损伤,也不会引起明显的微核及染色体损伤。1,2,4-TCB(≥10 mg·L~(-1))会引起鳃组织和细胞染色体的损伤。nano-TiO_2与1,2,4-TCB联合作用会加重斑马鱼的鳃组织结构损伤,出现鳃小片排列严重紊乱,表皮细胞断失严重,鳃小片上皮细胞坏死脱落,鳃丝结构模糊等症状。两者联合作用会引起鳃细胞微核率增加和彗星细胞率的增加,呈现一定的剂量-效应关系,且两者间的联合作用具有协同作用。对彗星试验的尾部DNA百分比、尾长及尾距的分析发现,与对照组和单独作用相比,两者联合作用对彗星指标均有显著增强作用,这表明两者联合作用对染色体的损伤属于非特定片段损伤。     

利用彗星试验研究菲对蚕豆DNA的损伤

以蚕豆(Vicia faba)为对象、以菲为多环芳烃(PAHs)代表物开展彗星试验,用Komet Version 6.0软件进行彗星图像分析,并选择评价参数研究PAHs污染的DNA损伤效应。以Olive尾动量(OTM)作为DNA损伤的评价参数,细胞彗星试验中蚕豆根尖DNA的损伤程度随菲质量浓度(0~0.6 mg·L-1)升高而显著增大。最高浓度组(0.6 mg·L-1)OTM值比阴性对照增加132.63%,存在剂量依赖性,表明菲能诱导蚕豆根尖DNA损伤。在培养液中菲质量浓度为0.1 mg·L-1条件下培养蚕豆,0~12 h时DNA损伤程度随时间延长而增大,12 h时OTM值为38.82±4.48;12~24 h时DNA损伤程度则随时间延长而趋小。为确定菲污染导致DNA损伤的途径,进行非细胞彗星试验,结果表明,0.05 mg·L-1菲即可造成显著DNA损伤(OTM值为22.27±0.42),且DNA损伤程度随菲浓度提高而增大。菲对蚕豆根尖细胞可能存在直接的DNA损伤效应。     

纳米与微米尺度氧化锌体外遗传毒作用特征的比较研究

为揭示纳米氧化锌(ZnO)遗传毒作用特征,以便为纳米材料的安全性评价提供科学依据,利用胞质分裂阻滞微核细胞组学实验和碱性彗星实验比较了纳米和微米尺度ZnO的遗传毒性.结果显示:①微米尺度ZnO在0.02～2.5 μg·mL-1剂量下对微核、核质桥、核芽和核分裂指数(nucleus divided index,NDI)均...     

盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤研究

为了探讨盐酸小檗碱对小鼠的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤。随机选取30只小鼠分成对照组以及7.5,15,30,60与120 mg?kg^-1实验组,处理后,应用小鼠脾细胞进行彗星实验与抗氧化酶实验。测定DNA损伤情况以及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）、过氧化物酶（POD）活性以及丙二醛（MDA）含量变化。对盐酸小檗碱的DNA损伤与氧化性损伤作用进行比较研究。研究结果表明：彗星实验中,随着盐酸小檗碱浓度的增加,尾部DNA含量、尾长与尾矩均增加,与阴性对照组相比差异有统计学意义（p<0.05或p<0.01）,且呈剂量-效应关系;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随盐酸小檗碱剂量增加逐渐降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量明显下降,过氧化物酶(POD)活性在7.5 mg?kg^-1时上升,而后逐渐下降。在60 mg?kg^-1和120 mg?kg^-1时,有极显著性差异（p<0.01）产生。由此可见,盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞有一定的损伤作用,能够引起小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤。     

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.