高锰酸盐复合药剂强化预氯化控制THMs生成量

通过小试和中试实验研究了高锰酸盐复合药剂(PPC)与氯联合预氧化工艺对三卤甲烷(THMs)的控制效果.小试的研究结果表明,适当投加PPC(1.0 mg·l-1)可使预氯化的THMs生成量降低14.1%,预加氯量是联合预氧化工艺THMs生成量的决定因素,pH值降低,THMs生成量减少,并且在pH6.0的条件下,PPC显著降低了预氯化工艺的THMs生成量;中试的研究结果表明,与单独预氯化(3.0mg·l-1)相比,联合预氧化工艺(PPC 1.0 mg·l-1 Cl22.0 mg·l-1)过滤后水中的THMs减少了47.9%;模拟管网系统试验的研究结果表明,联合预氧化工艺的THMs生成量与单独预氯化相比降低了17.2%.因此,PPC和氯联合预氧化工艺可降低饮用水的THMs生成量,提高饮用水的化学物安全性.     

辽宁省西部和沈阳地区河水及地下水中溴的分布与污染特征

利用HPLC-ICP-MS方法分析辽宁省西部河水及其沿岸地下水中溴化物、溴酸盐的含量,调查了溴化物、溴酸盐的污染现状.结果表明,大凌河和小凌河河水中总溴浓度范围20.5-364μg·l~(-1),和总氯浓度呈良好相关关系,由回归方程得到的Br/Cl比值分别为2.91和0.83μg·mg~(-1).大凌河该比值在雨水的范围之内,而小凌河该比值则町能受到岩盐溶解的部分影响.大凌河和小凌河河水中溴与氯浓度的相关性与自然界观察到的天然比值范围足相符合的,表明河水未受到溴的污染.细河河水和地下水总溴浓度范围26.6-4070μg·l~(-1),平均浓度1584μg·l~(-1),Br/Cl比值范围2.73-25.2 μg·mg~(-1).细河河水和地下水中的溴浓度明显高于浑河、蒲河和沈抚灌渠,平均Br/Cl比值高达12μg·mg~(-1),远非降水来源所能解释.细河浅层地下水中溴酸盐被检出的浓度存在两处超标情况,分别为31和15μg·l~(-1).浅层地下水中高溴离子浓度和具有强烈毒理效应的溴酸盐的存在对该地区生态系统和人类健康具有潜在负面影响.     

不同种类氨基酸在氯化后形成三卤甲烷和卤乙酸潜能特性

水体中的氨基酸作为饮用水消毒副产物(DBPs)的重要前驱体之一,已成为环境毒理学研究的焦点问题.本文对典型的20种氨基酸进行模拟氯化消毒实验,确定其耗氯量,以甲基叔丁基醚(MTBE)萃取消毒副产物三卤甲烷(THMs)、卤乙酸(HAAs)和三氯硝基甲烷(TCNM),并用气相色谱仪测试分析THMs、HAAs和TCNM的生成势,同时通过数理统计方法分析不同氨基酸的化学结构与生成消毒副产物浓度的关系.结果表明:(1)各氨基酸的耗氯能力与其结构密切相关,侧链上具有芳香性环状结构的氨基酸的耗氯量较大,其中芳香环上有羟基和氮取代基的酪氨酸和色氨酸分别表现出较高的耗氯量(13.58、14.10 mg·mg~(-1)),而没有官能团的苯丙氨酸耗氯量低(4.24 mg·mg~(-1)).(2)20种氨基酸氯化过程中DBPs生成能力的差异与氨基酸侧链官能团的结构与性质有一定关系,其中侧链上具有芳香性环状结构、羟基、氨基和硫自由基等官能团结构的氨基酸可形成较高浓度DBPs;氯化色氨酸生成THMs能力最强,其生成三卤甲烷量达338.5μg·L~(-1).天冬氨酸生成HAAs(390.61μg·L~(-1))能力最强,酪氨酸生成TCNM(56.38μg·L~(-1))能力最强.(3)通过回归分析得出20种氨基酸在氯化消毒过程中HAAs生成能力大小与耗氯量大小具有较明显的相关性,耗氯量较大的氨基酸生成的HAAs也较高.     

广州市饮用水中挥发性有机物的研究

饮用水中的挥发性有机化合物（VOCs）来源于水源水受到的环境污染或是在净化消毒工艺处理工程中反应产生的副产物,可对人体健康造成极大的危害。改革开放以来,广州人口和经济得到突飞猛进的发展,也带来了包括饮用水安全在内的诸多严重的社会和环境问题。虽然饮用水中VOCs的研究已经得到越来越多的重视,但是目前对广州市饮用水中挥发性有机物的研究还鲜有报道。本文在广州市中心城区选取15个不同位置的采样点进行了自来水水样采集,并利用吹扫-捕集-气相色谱-质谱（GC-MS）联用系统分析技术测定水中 VOCs 的种类和三卤甲烷的质量浓度。结果表明,广州市中心城区的自来水中VOCs有20种,以三卤甲烷（THMs）和芳香烃类为主,占了所检出的物质总量的78%以上。THMs中四种化合物（氯仿、一溴二氯甲烷、二溴一氯甲烷、溴仿）的检出率达100%,总三卤甲烷的平均质量浓度为46.46μg· L-1,最大值为53.31μg· L-1,最小值39.91μg· L-1。根据2006版国家饮用水标准,四种三卤甲烷质量浓度均低于标准限值,符合标准要求。对市面上一般的瓶装水的研究发现,瓶装水中三卤甲烷的质量浓度非常低,总三卤甲烷平均质量浓度仅为1.47μg·L-1,约是自来水中质量浓度的1/30。为了解温度及煮沸对自来水中 THMs 质量浓度的影响,本研究设计了实验进行探究。结果发现加热至沸腾过程中,THMs质量浓度随温度升高而升高,而沸腾后THMs骤降,煮沸5 min可降低水中约95%的THMs,接近瓶装水中THMs质量浓度。     

鱼油氯胺消毒过程中溴代和碘代含氮消毒副产物的生成

本研究采用鱼油作为模拟化合物，模拟微污染原水中广泛存在的生物源有机物的脂肪类组成成分，考察氯胺消毒过程中溴代和碘代含氮消毒副产物(nitrogenous disinfection by-products,N-DBPs)的生成情况.结果表明，鱼油经氯胺消毒后，生成的溴代和碘代N-DBPs主要包括一溴乙腈(bromoacetonitrile, BAN)、二溴乙腈(dibromoacetonitrile, DBAN)、一溴硝基甲烷(bromonitromethane,BNM)、一碘乙腈(iodoacetonitrile,IAN).其中，在本研究考察范围内，BAN、DBAN与BNM的生成量会随溴离子和总有机碳(Total Organic Carbon,TOC)浓度的增加而增加；当溴离子浓度为5 mg·L^-1,TOC为20 mg·L^-1时，BAN、DBAN与BNM的最大生成量分别为71.15、192.36、27.52μg·L^-1. IAN的生成量则随碘离子和TOC浓度的增加而增加；当碘离子浓度为0.5 mg·L^-1     

天然水中离子对消毒过程中挥发性卤代烃生成的影响

以天然水中的腐殖酸为研究对象,用其活性片段苯二酚和天然水做对比,研究了氯化过程中挥发性卤代烃的生成机理,并分析了天然水体中常见离子对氯化反应的影响．结果表明,氯化过程中三卤甲烷和三卤乙烷是稳定产物,随着反应时间和加氯量的增加产生量增加;烯烃为不稳定的中间产物,实验过程中偶尔有检出;1,1,2,2-四氯乙烷为相对稳定的中间产物。随着反应时间和加氯量的增加先增加而后减少．天然水中的溴离子对挥发性卤代烃的生成有一定的促进作用;铵离子和镁离子对氯化产物有不同程度的抑制作用;碳酸根离子对不同的挥发性卤代烃产物有不同的影响．     

环境水样中卤代甲基磺酸的高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用分析方法研究

利用高效液相色谱三重四极杆串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS),建立了环境水样中卤代甲基磺酸的分析方法.通过对固相萃取、色谱柱、流动相和质谱条件的优化,确定了最佳萃取和分析条件.选用WAX固相萃取柱对卤代甲基磺酸进行富集,再依次用2 m L的5%氨水甲醇溶液、2%甲酸甲醇溶液和20%二氯甲烷甲醇溶液(均为体积比)进行洗脱.选用Acclaim HILIC-10为色谱分离柱,以乙腈和100 mmol·L~(-1)甲酸铵水溶液为流动相,分离目标化合物,采用串联质谱负离子扫描和多反应监测模式进行检测.方法对5种卤代甲基磺酸(三氟甲基磺酸、一氯甲基磺酸、二氯甲基磺酸、三氯甲基磺酸和一溴甲基磺酸)的线性范围为0.05—50μg·L~(-1),线性相关系数r0.99,各化合物的检出限(S/N=3)在0.005—0.039μg·L~(-1)之间.将建立的分析方法应用于实际样品中卤代甲基磺酸的测定,所得加标回收率在67.5%—95.4%之间,峰面积相对标准偏差(n=5)在8.5%—13.0%之间,可满足饮用水环境样品中痕量卤代甲基磺酸的分析.     

饮用水中九种卤乙酰胺的高效液相色谱-三重四极杆质谱测定方法

本文应用固相萃取前处理方法和高效液相色谱-三重四极杆电喷雾质谱(HPLC-ESI/tq MS),优化并建立了9种氯代和溴代乙酰胺的同时测定方法.结果显示,在流动相甲醇/水(5/95,V/V)、流速0.3 m L·min-1、正离子模式条件下,9种卤乙酰胺的线性范围是5—200μg·L~(-1)或10—500μg·L~(-1)(R20.99),9种卤乙酰胺检出限为0.5—9.2μg·L~(-1).经过比较HLB是最优的固相萃取柱.在0.02、0.2、0.5μg·L~(-1)的3个加标水平下,9种卤乙酰胺的回收率分别为61%—84%、60%—93%和70%—104%,相对标准偏差为1.7%—4.4%、1.1%—4.1%和0.8%—4.1%.     

草浆漂白过程中二噁英类生成机理探讨

本文以氯苯、氯酚、二苯并二噁英（DBD）和二苯并呋喃（DBF）为PCDD/Fs前生体,模拟工业草浆漂白条件,探讨了次氯酸盐和氯气漂白苇浆过程中二噁英类的生成机制,研究表明,在苇浆中加入二噁英类前生体如DBD/F,其氯化产物与在木浆中有所区别,在实验条件下,二噁英类的生成量分别为:15μg PCDDs·mg~（-1）DBD。1.5μg PCDFs·mg~（-1）DBF。     

利用离子色谱法检测臭氧处理的饮用水中痕量BrO^—3

70年代,研究发现饮用水处理过程中使用的Cl_2容易产生致癌物,例如三卤甲烷等.因此,环境保护部门和饮用水处理部门开始进行多种尝试,改变消毒方法,力争将危害身体的消毒副产物降至最低.臭氧消毒最有可能代替氯化消毒,然而臭氧消毒会将Br~-氧化成Bro_3~-,这使源水中Br~-的存在成为一个潜在的问题.即使浓度低至μg·1~(-1)级,世界卫生组织和美国国家环保局(U.S.A.EPA)将BrO_3~-列为潜在致癌物.许多有关的法规制订部门都将潜在致癌物危害人体健康的标准定在10~(-5)g·1~(-1)甚至更低,美国国家环保局认为臭氧处理的饮用水中BrO_3~-的浓度应控制在1μg·1~(-1)以下.因此,分析方法必须能够对此浓度级的BrO_3~-定量,以便在设计臭氧处理工艺时将此污染物的浓度降至最低.     

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.     

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.