锯齿新米虾对Cu2+和毒死蜱毒性响应研究

为研究水生生物对水体中重金属和有机磷农药毒性的响应,研究了锯齿新米虾暴露在Cu2、毒死蜱单一溶液和毒性1:1混合溶液下的响应状况,同时采用相加指数法对混合毒性进行了评价.单一毒性试验结果表明:毒死蜱对锯齿新米虾的毒性显著高于Cu2+p ＜0.01); Cu2+对锯齿新米虾未觉察反应浓度(NOEC)和最低觉察反应浓度(LOEC)分别为1.78 mg· L-1、2.40mg·L-1,24、48、72和96 h的LC50分别为6.41、4.75、420和3.44 mg·Lq;毒死蜱对锯齿新米虾NOEC和LOEC分别为0.04 μg·L-1、0.07 μg· Lj,24、48、72和96 h的LC50分别为035、0.17、0.11和0.06 μg· L;参考鱼类毒性分级标准,Cu2对锯齿新米虾为高毒,而毒死蜱为剧毒.混合毒性试验结果表明:采用Cu2和毒死蜱毒性1∶1进行试验时,暴露时间为24、48、72和96 h的相加指数(D分别为0.02、045、1.86和223,即混合毒性为协同作用.通过研究锯齿新米虾对Cu2、毒死蜱单一和联合毒性的响应,可为水环境污染与防治、物种多样性保护提供科学依据.     

硝基苯对3种中国土著水生生物的毒性

以中国林蛙(Rana chensinensis)蝌蚪、中华圆田螺(Cipangopaludina cahayensis)和日本沼虾(Macrobrachiumnipponense)3种我国代表性土著生物为对象,通过半静态试验研究了硝基苯暴露对这3种生物的急性毒性.采用美国环境保护局(USEPA)的Trimmed Spearman-Karver(TSK)法得到硝基苯的急性毒性p(96 h,LC50分别为:林蛙蝌蚪,117.04 mg·L-1;中华圆田螺,104.23 mg·L-1;日本沼虾,0.033 7 mg·L-1.基于p(96 h,LC50)值,取0.01为安全系数,安全浓度ps,分别为:林蛙蝌蚪,1.17 mg·L-1;中华圆田螺,1.04 mg·L-1;日本沼虾,0.34 μg·L-1.3种受试生物对硝基苯毒性反应的敏感性大小依次为:日本沼虾＞中华圆田螺＞林蛙蝌蚪.对照鱼类急性毒性实验的毒性分级标准,硝基苯对日本沼虾属于剧毒物质,而对林蛙蝌蚪和中华圆田螺则属于中等毒性物质.     

毒死蜱(CPF)对克氏原螯虾的急性毒性及组织病理观察

采用静水生物测试法研究毒死蜱(CPF)对克氏原螯虾(Procambarus clarkii)的急性毒性效应及克氏原螯虾的组织病变情况并进行安全评价。设定0、2、10、20、40和80μg·L-1 6个CPF浓度梯度进行急性暴露试验,结果表明,CPF浓度升高对克氏原螯虾产生较大毒性,24、48和96 h半致死浓度〔ρ(LC50)〕分别为(28.24±2.81)、(19.50±2.03)和(13.13±1.70)μg·L-1,ρ(LC50)随着暴露时间延长呈显著下降趋势,符合双曲线衰减模型(r=0.999 9,P<0.000 1),安全浓度为(2.79±0.31)μg·L-1。组织病理观察发现,染毒虾心脏上皮细胞增生,心肌肌束间充满血淋巴细胞;神经细胞肿大,尼氏体溶解消失,细胞由多极形状变为圆形,神经纤维坏死并解体;肝胰腺小管收缩并充血,空泡增加;鳃组织空泡化,表面出现黑色素沉积,被多量血淋巴细胞浸润;肌肉纤维萎缩并溶解。     

丘陵地区水稻田使用毒死蜱对水体的污染及其生态风险

选择丘陵地区的小规模水稻田作为试验地,调查毒死蜱在该区域水稻田中的使用时间和使用量,监测不同时期水稻田进出水中毒死蜱残留水平.结果显示,毒死蜱使用后水稻田出水中毒死蜱残留水平高于进水,最高达26.07μg.L-1.从河流引入的进水中也存在毒死蜱残留,最高达3.23μg·L-1,说明上游农田已经对河水产生了污染.毒死蜱对斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)、大型溞(Daphnia magna)和斜生栅列藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)的急性毒性测定结果分别为:斑马鱼,ρ(96h,LC50)为1.11mg·L-1;大型溞,ρ(48 h,EC50)为1.44μg·L-1;斜生栅列藻,ρ(72 h,EC50)为0.193 mg·L-1.根据欧盟急性毒性风险评价标准进行评估,结果表明毒死蜱对水稻田周边水体中鱼类和藻类为低风险,对大型溞为有风险.     

亚硝酸盐和氨对日本沼虾肝胰腺代谢的影响

通过气质联用仪和液质联用仪的非靶向检测,结合主成分分析(PCA)和正交偏最小二乘法-判别分析(OPLS-DA)等方法,对日本沼虾肝胰腺进行代谢物分析,以研究在非致死剂量的亚硝酸盐或氨胁迫下,日本沼虾肝胰腺新陈代谢的变化。经亚硝酸盐(0.5 mg·L~(-1),以N计)胁迫2 d后,鉴定到具有显著差异的代谢化合物46个,涉及氨基酸代谢、脂肪酸代谢和甘油磷脂代谢等; p H=9.0时,氨(1.0 mg·L~(-1),以N计,即非离子氨氮为0.378 mg·L~(-1))胁迫后,鉴定出显著差异性代谢化合物52个,涉及三羧酸循环、氨基酸代谢和甘油磷脂等代谢通路。选择p H=9.0氨(1.0 mg·L~(-1))胁迫组对日本沼虾肝胰腺中的三羧酸循环进行定量验证实验,结果显示,日本沼虾肝胰腺中草酰乙酸含量与对照组相比在12 h显著升高,24 h和48 h后则与对照组无显著差异。α-酮戊二酸含量与对照组相比在12 h即有显著增加,24 h含量与对照组相比显著下降,48 h后与对照组相比无明显差异。推测p H=9.0时氨氮(1.0 mg·L~(-1))胁迫12 h即会对三羧酸循环产生影响。     

氰戊菊酯对河川沙塘鳢幼鱼的毒性效应

采用静水生物测试法,研究了氰戊菊酯(fenvalerate,FEN)对河川沙塘鳢(Odontobutis potamophila)幼鱼的毒性效应.结果显示,FEN对河川沙塘鳢幼鱼的24、48、72和96 h(t)的半数致死质量浓度ρ(LC50)(95％置信区间)分别为(3.19±1.38)、(1.66±1.02)、(0.98±0.69)和(0.70±0.49) μg·L-1,变化规律符合指数衰减模型ρ(LC50) =0.915 1 +15.012 3 ×exp(-0.075 8 ×t)(r=0.996 2),安全浓度为(0.13±0.97) μg·L-1.半数致死时间t(LT50)表现出显著的剂量[ρ(FEN)]效应,可用方程t(LT50) =2 653.467 6 ×exp[-5.590 4 ×ρ(FEN)]+56.378 7 ×exp[-0.209 5×ρ(FEN)](r=0.999 4)对其进行拟合.双因素方差分析显示,肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量随FEN浓度的增加和暴露时间的延长而均呈显著变化(P＜0.05),但两个因素的交叉影响不显著(P＞0.05).暴露24 h时,4μg· L-1浓度组SOD和CAT活性达到峰值,随后开始下降,而此时各浓度组MDA含量无显著变化(P＞0.05),48和96 h时,4、6和10 μg·L-1浓度组MDA含量则表现为显著上升.暴露时间和FEN浓度的交互作用对鳃Na+ /K+-ATP酶活性影响显著(P＜0.05),暴露24、48和96 h时,高浓度(6和10 μg·L-1)组Na +/K+-ATP酶活性均呈现显著下降;上述指标可较好地用于评价FEN的毒性效应.组织病理观察发现,FEN污染对河川沙塘鳢幼鱼的鳃、肝脏均造成严重损伤:鳃丝紊乱,上皮细胞增生,柱状细胞破裂;肝细胞实质空泡化,胆管内皮细胞肥大、融合.     

9种杀虫剂对中华大刀螂幼虫的毒性

螳螂是田间控制害虫种群增加的重要捕食性天敌之一。以中华大刀螂3龄幼虫(Paratenodera sinensis Saussure)为受试生物,利用9种常用杀虫剂配制成不同浓度梯度的药剂,通过喷雾法直接暴露,分别测定了LC50和死亡率来评价不同杀虫剂对中华大刀螂毒性和危害程度的影响。结果显示,9种杀虫剂对中华大刀螂幼虫的毒性(LC50值)差异很大,用药后24h的LC50在0.7182～347.7962mg·L-1之间,LC95在8.8057～1734.5650mg·L-1之间;用药后48h的LC50在0.3564～193.6887mg·L-1之间,LC95在3.8958～1548.3258mg·L-1之间;用药后72h的LC50在0.2232～115.3391mg·L-1之间,LC95在1.7730～530.6462mg·L-1之间。不同杀虫剂对中华大刀螂幼虫的毒性差异最高达到543.46倍。毒性大小依次为,高效氯氟氰菊酯﹥啶虫脒﹥联苯菊酯﹥毒死蜱﹥噻虫嗪﹥茚虫威﹥吡虫啉﹥阿维菌素﹥苏云金杆菌原粉(Bt)。根据田间推荐浓度处理的死亡率判断,毒死蜱、联苯菊酯、啶虫脒、高效氯氟氰菊酯为有害水平,Bt为中度有害水平,吡虫啉、茚虫威、噻虫嗪为微害水平,阿维菌素接近无害水平。根据LC50与田间推荐浓度的比值判断,阿维菌素、吡虫啉对螳螂种群数量不会产生太大影响;Bt、茚虫威和噻虫嗪对螳螂种群数量会产生一定危害;而毒死蜱、啶虫脒、联苯菊酯和高效氯氟氰菊酯将严重影响螳螂种群数量的稳定性。在24～72h范围内,不同杀虫剂LC50和LC95随施药时间的延长而降低,说明暴露时间越长毒性越大,危害程度也越大。建议在中华大刀螂生活范围内减少高效氯氟氰菊酯、联苯菊酯、啶虫脒和毒死蜱的施用,推荐杀虫剂田间使用量时,除考虑对防治对象的防效,还应考虑对天敌种群的危害,提高药剂使用安全性,保护天敌种群的稳定性。     

硫化物胁迫对日本沼虾呼吸代谢和能量代谢酶的影响

研究了硫化物暴露后日本沼虾细胞色素氧化酶(CCO)、琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)、延胡索酸还原酶(FRD)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)4种呼吸代谢酶及能量代谢酶-精氨酸激酶(AK)活性的变化规律.将日本沼虾暴露于0.6 mg·L~(-1)、2mg·L~(-1)的2个硫化物质量浓度组和不含硫化物的对照组水体中,暴露后0、2、12、24、48 h和解除暴露后48 h取肝胰腺和肌肉组织进行酶活性分析.结果显示:肝胰腺和肌肉组织SDH和CCO活性随硫化物质量浓度升高或暴露时间延长而显著降低(P<0.05).FRD、LDH和AK活性随硫化物质量浓度升高或暴露时间延长而显著升高(P<0.05).解除硫化物暴露后48 h,各质量浓度组酶活性与对照组无显著差异.上述酶活性还存在组织差异,肝胰腺呼吸代谢酶活性高于肌肉中相应酶活性,而AK活性与此相反.结果表明,硫化物胁迫导致日本沼虾有氧呼吸代谢减弱,无氧呼吸代谢增强,并动用其能量贮存物质磷酸精氨酸,产生更多ATP以适应外界不良环境.     

联苯胺对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的急性和慢性毒性试验

研究了联苯胺对大型溞(Daphniamagna)的急性毒性和慢性毒性.急性毒性试验结果表明,联苯胺对大型溞的ρLC50, 24h、ρLC50, 48h值分别为 1. 73mgL-1和 0. 89mgL-1. 21d生活周期试验结果表明,大型溞的生殖是对该化合物最为敏感的慢性毒性指标.联苯胺对大型溞生殖的无可见效应浓度(NOEC/Reproduction)为 0. 004mgL-1,最低可见效应浓度(LO EC/Reproduction)为 0. 012mgL-1.并据此计算出该毒物的最大允许浓度(MATC)为 0. 008 9mgL-1. 表 3参 19     

丙烯酰胺对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的急性和慢性毒性

丙烯酰胺对大型(Daphniamagna)的急性试验表明,丙烯酰胺对大型的24h LC50、48h LC50值分别为173.21和89.59mg·L-1。21d生活周期试验结果表明,大型的生殖指标是对该种化合物最为敏感的慢性毒性参数。丙烯酰胺对大型生殖的无可见效应浓度(NOEC)为1.56mg·L-1,最低可见效应浓度(LOEC)为3.13mg·L-1,并据此计算出该毒物的最大允许浓度(MATC)为2.47mg·L-1。     

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.