外源钒胁迫下甜玉米植物可溶性蛋白含量的动态变化

采用盆栽试验,研究了不同浓度的钒(V)胁迫对甜玉米植株根、茎和叶蛋白含量的影响.结果表明,随着V胁迫浓度增加,玉米植株各器官蛋白含量呈现先上升后下降的变化趋势,当V浓度达200 mg·kg~(-1),根、茎和叶蛋白含量达最大,分别为63.63 mg·g~(-1)、42.74 mg·g~(-1)和120.08 mg·g~(-1),相比于对照增加52.1%、80.1%和165.7%(34 d),随着V浓度继续增加,植物中蛋白含量下降,但始终高于对照.当V浓度为500 mg·kg~(-1),根、茎和叶中蛋白含量分别降低为55.52 mg·g~(-1)、31.08 mg·g~(-1)和102.2 mg·g~(-1)(34 d).V胁迫时间不同,玉米植株各器官蛋白含量变化趋势不同,在相同V浓度胁迫下,随着胁迫时间的增加,叶蛋白含量先降低后增大,玉米茎蛋白含量变化不大,根蛋白含量则显著下降,当V浓度为500 mg·kg~(-1)时,玉米根蛋白含量分别为27.86 mg·g~(-1)(61 d)和20.63 mg·g~(-1)(91 d),比对照下降了31.4%和43.5%.在低浓度V和短时间胁迫下,玉米植物被诱导作出应激反应,使体内一些参与缓解氧化胁迫的酶活性上升,从而产生相关具有解毒作用的蛋白,使植物蛋白含量增加;当V浓度超过了植物耐受限度,打破了植物新陈代谢平衡,对细胞产生毒性,蛋白合成机制受到破坏,表现为随着V浓度和胁迫时间增加植物蛋白含量下降显著.     

复合污染下Cu、Cr、Ni和Cd在水稻植株中的富集特征

掌握水稻对污染土壤中重金属的吸收和富集特征,为科学认识水稻中重金属的残留问题、健康风险提供理论依据。采用田间试验,研究了4个不同处理量Cu、Cr、Ni、Cd复合污染下水稻的富集特征及其随生育期的变化规律。结果表明,重金属在水稻植株各部位中吸收富集系数的大小依次为：Cd〉Cu〉Ni〉Cr,根部重金属吸收富集系数是地上各部位的吸收富集系数的2~100倍。各重金属在水稻植株不同部位的积累分布明显不同,成熟期水稻植株中Cu在水稻不同部位的质量分数为根〉茎≥叶〉米粒〉谷壳,Ni的分布规律为根〉叶〉茎〉米粒〉谷壳,Cr的分布规律为根〉叶〉谷壳≥茎〉米粒,Cd的分布规律为根〉茎〉叶〉米粒〉谷壳;且随着重金属处理量的增加,水稻植株不同部位的重金属质量分数也呈上升趋势。成熟期米粒中Cu、Ni、Cr和Cd的质量分数范围分别为：4.50~6.19、1.86~4.63、0.72~0.76和0.08~0.39 mg·kg-1,与无公害食品标准（GB15199-94、GBT2762-2005）相比,米粒中Cu和Cr的质量分数均未超标,而Ni和Cd（Cd高剂量处理时）的质量分数均超标,存在食用安全风险。重金属在水稻植株不同部位的质量分数随生育期均呈现先升后降的趋势,灌浆中期达到最大,而到成熟期又明显降低。不同重金属在水稻植株中的富集能力和分布规律均呈现明显差异,不同生育期水稻植株中重金属的质量分数明显不同但其质量分数变化呈明显规律性。     

臭氧胁迫对大豆氮磷化学计量特征的影响

研究臭氧浓度升高对大豆(Glycine max)器官生态化学计量特征的影响,对预测未来生态过程和生物地球化学循环有重要作用。以大豆为试验材料,利用开顶室气室(OTCs)探讨臭氧胁迫对大豆不同器官氮磷化学计量特征的影响。试验设置3个处理:CK处理(对照,O3浓度为45 nmol·mol~(-1))、T1处理(O3浓度为(80±10) nmol·mol~(-1))、T2处理(O_3浓度为(110±10)nmol·mol~(-1))。结果表明,随着生育期的延长,大豆根系和茎秆N含量呈升高趋势,叶片N含量呈先升高后降低的趋势。与对照相比,臭氧浓度升高使根N含量在分枝期和结荚期显著升高(P0.05),开花期T1处理下显著降低7.13%(P0.05),T2处理下显著升高17.37%(P0.05);茎N含量均显著升高,叶片N含量在开花期显著升高,结荚期显著降低。臭氧浓度升高使大豆根、茎、叶P含量表现出不同程度的增加趋势,仅有根系P含量在开花期T1处理下显著降低15.96%(P0.05),叶片P含量分别在分枝期和结荚期T2处理下显著降低25.10%和11.37%(P0.05)。茎和根P含量间呈显著正相关(P0.05),根和茎中N和P含量之间呈显著正相关(P0.05);N含量和N/P在各器官中表现为叶根茎;P含量在各器官中无显著差异。各器官N含量变异系数表现为茎根叶;P含量在各器官中变异系数相似;N/P变异系数表现为叶根茎。随着臭氧浓度升高和生育期的延长,大豆各器官N/P均小于14,说明大豆生长主要受N素限制。     

北京市场大米和小麦面粉中砷的含量及其形态分析

以湖南省某污染区大米为对照,分析了北京市场大米、小麦面粉中总砷的含量水平和部分米中砷的形态.北京市场大米总砷的含量范围从未检出至0.218μg·g-1,算术平均值为0.097μg·g-1.湖南省某污染区大米总砷的含量范围为0.157-2.885μg·g-1,算术平均值为0.415μg·g-1,4例湖南省某污染区大米以无机砷为主,平均含量为0.341μg·g-1.北京市场面粉总砷的含量范围从未检出至0.057μg·g-1,算术平均值为0.006μg·g-1.有17例面粉样品未检出砷,占总样品的45%.与《食品中砷限量指标》(GB2762-2005)的限量值(大米无机砷0.15μg·g-1,面粉无机砷0.1μg·g-1)相比,北京市场的大米和面粉均未超标.湖南省某污染区4例大米无机砷含量全部超过限量标准,为标准的1.2-4.8倍.以WHO最大日允许无机砷摄入量2.1μg·kg-1 bw·d-1为参照标准,普通成人每日通过北京市场大米和面粉摄入的无机砷相当于WHO最大日允许摄入无机砷量(MTDI)的13%和0.5%,通过湖南省某污染区大米摄入的无机砷则相当于MTDI的57%.     

不同浓度胺鲜酯对籽粒苋富集重金属镉锌的影响

植物生长调节剂具有提高植物富集土壤重金属的能力,从而提高植物修复污染农田土壤的效率。采用盆栽方式,比较叶面喷施不同质量浓度(0、5、10、15 mg·L~(-1))胺鲜酯(DA-6)对籽粒苋(Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.)生长、富集镉(Cd)和锌(Zn)及土壤有效态Cd和Zn的影响。结果表明,10 mg·L~(-1)处理显著提高籽粒苋植株的生物量;DA-6对籽粒苋根系分布层土壤和根际土pH无显著影响,但能显著提高籽粒苋根际土有效态Cd和Zn含量;DA-6处理的籽粒苋叶、茎和根中Cd含量均呈增加趋势,但仅15 mg·L~(-1)处理能显著提高籽粒苋叶、茎中Cd含量,DA-6处理对籽粒苋根中Cd含量无显著影响;DA-6对籽粒苋叶、茎、根中Zn含量均无显著影响;10 mg·L~(-1)处理能显著强化籽粒苋叶、茎对Cd和Zn的累积量,DA-6处理对籽粒苋根中Cd和Zn的累积量无显著影响;DA-6处理籽粒苋后,除籽粒苋叶中5 mg·L~(-1)处理和10 mg·L~(-1)处理的Zn富集系数显著低于对照外,其它处理的籽粒苋叶、茎、根中Cd和Zn富集系数及运转系数均无显著差异。因此,叶面喷施10 mg·L~(-1)DA-6能显著强化籽粒苋地上部对Cd、Zn的累积量,但DA-6处理对Cd和Zn的富集和运转并无显著促进作用。     

镉锌联合诱导金属硫蛋白在鲫鱼肝脏和肾脏中的表达

以鲫鱼Carassius auratus为试验材料,研究了在一定环境条件下重金属镉(Cd)锌(Zn)联合胁迫对鲫鱼肝脏和肾脏组织中金属硫蛋白(MT)质量分数的影响.结果表明,Cd2+与Zn2+联合胁迫下,鲫鱼的肝脏和肾脏组织中MT质量分数的总体变化趋势较为一致,都是呈先升高后降低再升高,MT的质量分数在12 h时达到峰值,肝脏MT质量分数达(4.84±0.28)(10.63±0.72)μg·g-1,肾脏MT质量分数达(6.34±0.39)(12.99±0.52)μg·g-1.从诱导的数量来看,Cd2+与Zn2+联合胁迫下肝脏和肾脏中MT质量分数均高于单独Cd2+试验组中的结果,这表明Zn2+的存在可以增强Cd2+诱导鲫鱼组织中MT合成的能力;肝脏在试验后的12 h内的增加速率最大为0.16～0.64μg·g-1·h-1,肾脏在试验后的6 h内的增加速率最大为0.41～1.70 μg·g-1·h-1,表明水体中的Cd2+与Zn2+联合可诱导鲫鱼组织中MT的合成与表达,且诱导时间主要在12 h之内.     

湘西地区土壤-牧草-山羊钙镁含量的季节性动态特征研究

研究采用食管瘘、体外消化实验,于2006年4月、8月和11月分别测定湘西地区土壤、牧草和养殖于湖南省湘西地区湖南群博公司的200只波尔山羊（boergoat）血液钙镁含量,以期揭示湘西地区不同季节钙镁在土壤-牧草-山羊体内含量及动态变化。结果表明：（1）土壤全镁、全钙在11月份最低,分别为197.21±3.14μg·g-1和3607.8±39.41μg·g-1;（2）牧草中钙含量在8月份最高,为8927.5±127.21μg·g-1;牧草三季节镁含量差异不显著;（3）山羊体内钙在4月份和11月份出现负沉积,分别为-6.03±3.17g·d-1,-7.08±3.35g·d-1;4月份,8月份山羊血浆镁含量分别为8.83±0.45μg·g-1和8.56±1.07μg·g-1,低于动物低镁血症最低限27.1μg·g-1。     

黔中喀斯特10种优势树种根茎叶化学计量特征及其关联性

以黔中喀斯特地区10种优势树种为研究对象,对其根、茎、叶中的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征及其器官性状之间的关联进行了分析,旨在探明喀斯特地区主要优势树种养分利用特征及其对贫瘠环境的适应能力。主要结果如下:研究区植物叶片的N/P平均值为(9.75±0.55),主要受N的限制,但固氮植物桤木和马桑因其自身具有较强的固氮能力,未因贫瘠环境中N的缺乏而受到N的制约,叶片N/P(13.76)比值接近于14。C含量、C/N、C/P在各生长型间表现为:常绿树种落叶树种,针叶树种阔叶树种,非固氮固氮植物;N、P含量则为:常绿树种落叶树种,针叶树种阔叶树种,非固氮固氮植物。各器官的养分分配方式:全C含量为叶(438.93 mg·g~(-1))茎(393.83 mg·g~(-1))根(355.95 mg·g~(-1));全N含量为叶(16.26 mg·g~(-1))根(5.1 mg·g~(-1))茎(3.73 mg·g~(-1));全P含量为叶(1.73 mg·g~(-1))根(0.52 mg·g~(-1))茎(0.29 mg·g~(-1))。植物各器官N与P均呈显著正相关关系(P0.05),体现了植物吸收N、P养分元素的协同性。植物叶与根,茎与根以及茎与叶的相同元素之间均呈正相关关系(P0.05),说明环境供应植物体各器官的养分元素具有共变性。叶、根、茎中C与C/N、C/P均呈显著正相关,说明N、P对植物的生长及有机物的积累有着极其重要的作用。     

广西阳朔铅锌矿周边土壤和白菜汞含量及污染评价

阳朔铅锌矿是广西境内一个较大型的铅锌老矿山。对阳朔铅锌周边耕作区、居民区土壤和白菜(Brassica rapa L.Chinensis Group)汞含量分布及污染进行调查和研究,可以为汞污染防治与修复提供科学依据。在铅锌矿下游耕作区、对照耕作区分别采集土壤样各66、38个,白菜样各35、20个;居民区采集土壤样17个。全部土壤和白菜样品采用MDS-2003F型压力自控密闭微波溶样系统进行消解,并用原子荧光测汞仪进行分析测定。结果表明,阳朔铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞质量分数为(0.567 4±0.268 3)mg·kg-1,对照耕作区土壤汞质量分数为(0.147 1±0.039 5)mg·kg-1,居民区土壤汞质量分数为(0.188 0±0.097 2)mg·kg-1,分别为中国一些地区土壤汞的自然含量(0.071 mg·kg-1)的7.99、2.07、2.65倍。在铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞含量随着远离矿区方向依次降低。阳朔铅锌矿下游耕作区白菜根汞平均质量分数为27 600 ng·kg-1,茎汞平均质量分数为7 100 ng·kg-1,叶汞平均质量分数为19 300 ng·kg-1;对照耕作区白菜根汞平均质量分数为12 500 ng·kg-1,茎汞平均质量分数为4 800 ng·kg-1,叶汞平均质量分数为10 000 ng·kg-1,白菜汞含量分布特征与土壤汞含量分布相似。白菜植株各部位汞含量与土壤有效态(水溶态、交换态)汞含量显著相关,且根汞与之相关性最为显著,白菜植株不同部位汞含量表现为:根叶茎,上述特点表明土壤汞是白菜汞的主要来源。所采土样中有61.2%的土壤样汞含量超过了中国《土壤环境质量标准(GB 15618─2008)》二级标准的最低限值(0.2 mg·kg-1)。铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞污染最为严重,中等-严重污染以上占53.0%,中等污染占36.4%;居民区次之,中等污染占35.3%;对照耕作区污染最轻,均在中等污染以下。阳朔铅锌矿耕作区白菜植株各部位汞平均含量均未超过国家相关标准,这表明尽管耕作区土壤总汞严重超标,但由于土壤中有效态汞并不高,土壤汞污染并未对白菜汞含量造成显著影响。     

珠江入海口海产品中总汞与甲基汞含量特征及食用风险

为了解珠江入海口不同种类海产品中汞和甲基汞的分布特征,并评估此区域内海产品的食用人群的暴露风险,于2015年春季在珠江入海口海域捕捞11种不同种类的海产品,利用直接燃烧-原子吸收法和KOH/H2O消解-气相色谱(GC)-冷原子荧光(CVAFS)法分别分析其肌肉中总汞(THg)和甲基汞(Me Hg)含量。结果表明,THg质量分数范围为27.1~231.4μg·kg-1(干质量,下同),Me Hg质量分数范围为21.7~197.0μg·kg-1(干质量,下同),不同种类的海产品THg和Me Hg质量分数均值排序为:鱼类(152±75.1μg·kg-1,127±58.0μg·kg-1)甲壳类(87.7±44.2μg·kg-1,63.4±34.1μg·kg-1)贝类(29.7±7.2μg·kg-1,24.3±3.2μg·kg-1),处于食物链不同营养层级解释了这种含量差异。与国内其它地区海产品相比,珠江入海口鱼类THg和Me Hg明显高于其它地区野生捕捞或市售鱼,贝类THg和Me Hg含量与其它地区相差较大,而甲壳类相差甚微。海产品中汞绝大多数以Me Hg形式存在,Me Hg占THg的比例范围为70.2%~92.9%。同种类不同生物体内Me Hg和THg的含量与其捕食水层有关,以中下层或底层生物为食的鱼类体内Me Hg和THg含量明显高于以中上层生物为食的枪乌贼(Loligo chinensis)。所有海产品中Me Hg含量均低于国内外相关标准限值。通过对人群食用暴露风险评估表明,人群食用该区域内海产品Me Hg最大摄入量为0.20μg·g-1·d-1远低于美国EPA颁布的Me Hg摄入量参考限值(1.1μg·g-1·d-1)和WHO/FAO制定的临时性周可承受摄入量(0.23μg·g-1·d-1),食用人群的暴露风险在安全范围内。     

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.