2,2’,4,4’-四溴二苯醚(BDE-47)对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的毒性效应

2,2’,4,4’-四溴二苯醚(BDE-47)在水体及各种水生生物(鱼类、海洋哺乳动物以及水生无脊椎动物)中被广泛检出,但BDE-47对水生无脊椎动物毒性效应的研究还处于起步阶段。以大型溞(Daphnia magna)为受试生物,通过急性(48h)和慢性(21d)毒性暴露实验,考察了BDE-47对大型溞活动抑制率、心率、产仔情况和酶活性等指标的影响。结果显示,BDE-47对大型溞活动抑制率的48h-EC50为112.5μg.L-1;高浓度(>100μg.L-1)BDE-47显著诱导提高大型溞的心率。21d慢性暴露实验中,8μg.L-1处理组中大型溞全部死亡;其他各浓度处理组(0.5、1、2、4μg.L-1)中,母溞第1胎产仔时间延后,第1胎子代数量减少,总产仔数量大幅减少,这表明大型溞的繁殖能力受到抑制。BDE-47在一定程度上抑制了母溞胆碱酯酶(ChE)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的活性,大型溞体内的代谢机制没有被诱导,神经活性虽被抑制,但抑制率不高。BDE-47大幅诱导过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,并呈现一定的剂量效应关系,相对于ChE和GST,CAT对BDE-47暴露更为敏感,可作为BDE-47对大型溞慢性暴露毒性效应的潜在生物标志物。     

基于IBR模型研究BDE-47和BDE-153对半滑舌鳎的毒性效应

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是应用广泛的溴代阻燃剂。选择2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)和2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-六溴联苯醚(BDE-153)对半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis Gunther)进行15 d的暴露实验,测定了不同暴露浓度下半滑舌鳎肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)、7-乙氧基-3-异吩恶唑酮-脱乙基酶(7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase,EROD)的活性、雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)和丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量,并运用综合生物标志物响应(integrated biomarker response,IBR)模型研究BDE-47和BDE-153对半滑舌鳎的毒性效应。结果表明,环境浓度BDE-47和BDE-153暴露下半滑舌鳎的抗氧化酶活性、ER含量和EROD活性无显著变化;中高浓度组(500 ng·L~(-1)和50 000 ng·L~(-1))与对照组基本上都有显著差异。运用IBR方法进行计算发现,BDE-47和BDE-153对半滑舌鳎的毒性效应呈现出显著的剂量效应。将2种污染物暴露组IBR值进行比较,发现BDE-47各浓度组的IBR值均大于BDE-153组,这表明BDE-47的毒性要高于BDE-153。IBR指数能够有效地对PBDEs的海洋环境风险进行科学评价。     

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚对大型溞的毒性效应

以实验室培养的大型溞为受试生物,进行了2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)对大型溞的48h急性毒性实验和21d慢性毒性实验,并研究了暴露在不同质量浓度和处理时间的BDE-47中,大型溞的抗氧化酶系中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的酶活性变化。结果表明,BDE-47对大型溞的48h的半致死浓度为1.04mg·L-1,属于高毒物质;在BDE-47慢性毒性实验低浓度处理组中,大型溞的体长及繁殖能力受到了抑制,而高浓度处理组中大型溞的体长及繁殖能力上升,其中第一次产仔数和产卵总数是表征BDE-47慢性毒性的最灵敏参数。随着BDE-47浓度的增加,大型溞SOD和GST活性均呈现出低浓度诱导高浓度抑制的现象。SOD和GST均表现出一定的敏感性,但相对SOD,GST对BDE-47暴露更为敏感。     

内质网应激介导的凋亡在PBDE-47致大鼠海马损伤中的作用

为了明确内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS)介导的凋亡在2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(2,2’,4,4’-tetrabromodiphenylether,PBDE-47)致大鼠神经毒性中的作用,在脑发育的突增期(出生第10天),分别用0 mg·kg~(-1)、1 mg·kg~(-1)、5 mg·kg~(-1)和10mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47进行单次灌胃染毒,并从出生第8天开始每天给予150 mg·kg~(-1)ERS抑制剂4-苯基丁酸(phenylbutyric acid,PBA),持续3周。仔鼠出生第8周末,从对照组、10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理组、150 mg·kg~(-1)PBA处理组和150 mg·kg~(-1)PBA+10mg·kg~(-1)PBDE处理组中随机选取8只大鼠进行水迷宫实验。然后将所有动物断头处死,分离大鼠海马组织,观察其海马组织形态学改变、测定ERS标志分子(GRP78、IRE1和CHOP)和凋亡相关蛋白Cyt c的表达水平。结果显示,10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理可导致雌性大鼠海马CA4区细胞排列紊乱、锥形神经细胞数量减少甚至消失,尼氏小体数量减少,大鼠逃避潜伏期延长(P0.05)。5和10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理可显著上调ERS相关蛋白IRE1和CHOP的表达水平(P0.05),并明显增强海马组织凋亡相关蛋白Cyt c的表达。PBA干预可明显降低PBDE-47诱导的IRE1和CHOP以及Cyt c蛋白的表达水平,提示PBDE-47可通过ERS介导凋亡,导致大鼠海马组织损伤,从而影响大鼠学习记忆功能。     

BDE-47和BDE-209对乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)活性的抑制特性及分子作用力研究

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是应用广泛的溴代阻燃剂,其中2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)和2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)广泛存在于环境中。PBDEs具有神经毒性,但其致毒机制尚不明确。本文通过研究BDE-47与BDE-209对乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)活性的影响及二者与AChE相互作用的光谱分析,揭示BDE-47与BDE-209导致神经毒性的致毒机制。BDE-47和BDE-209在一定浓度范围内均能够抑制AChE分解乙酰胆碱;随着浓度的增加,两者的抑制率均呈现出先增加后降低的规律。BDE-47浓度为400μmol·L-1时抑制率达到最大,为22.3%;BDE-209浓度为200μmol·L-1时抑制率达到最大,为11.2%。相同浓度下,BDE-47对AChE的抑制率始终大于BDE-209,表明AChE对BDE-47更加敏感。荧光光谱分析结果表明BDE-47和BDE-209与AChE之间的相互作用均主要为疏水作用,同时不存在范德华引力作用;BDE-47与AChE的结合常数大于BDE-209与AChE的结合常数,表明BDE-47更易与AChE相互作用。此外,温度的升高不利于BDE-47和BDE-209与AChE之间相互作用。BDE-47和BDE-209抑制AChE活性很可能是导致神经毒性通路之一。     

BDE-47对人胚肾细胞HEK293的毒理效应及作用机制

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)是生物体中含量最高且毒性最强的PBDEs之一,有关BDE-47对肾细胞的毒性及其作用机制的研究仍有待补充。选取3个剂量组(低:10-6mol·L-1、中:10-5mol·L-1、高:10-4mol·L-1)及溶剂对照组,研究了BDE-47对人胚肾细胞(HEK293)的细胞凋亡率及活性氧(ROS)水平的影响;并从分子水平对细胞氧化损伤、凋亡相关蛋白(APE1及p53)及凋亡相关基因m RNA(p53、Bax、Caspase 3、Caspase 8)的表达量进行测定。实验结果显示:与对照组相比,中、高剂量组细胞凋亡率显著增加(P0.05);ROS水平在中剂量组显著上升(P0.01);随BDE-47浓度的变化,APE1蛋白表达量与细胞ROS水平存在一致性;p53、Bax、Caspase 8 m RNA表达量与BDE-47的浓度间存在剂量-效应关系。结果表明,BDE-47可诱导HEK293细胞凋亡及氧化应激,APE1可能是细胞ROS升高与细胞凋亡间重要的中介因子;BDE-47可以通过影响Caspase 8及线粒体途径中p53及Bax的表达诱导细胞凋亡。     

多溴联苯醚对鲫鱼离体肝脏组织中CAT和GSH-Px的影响

以鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)为试验材料,研究了在离体条件下经不同质量浓度的2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)和2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)暴露后,鲫鱼肝脏组织中过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性的动态变化.结果表明,采用质量浓度为0.10～10.00 mg·L-1的BDE-47和5.6～100.00mg·L-1的BDE-209分别处理鲫鱼肝脏组织30 min,0.10 mg·L-1 BDE-47和5.6 mg·L-1BDE-209试验组鲫鱼肝脏组织中CAT和GSH-Px活性与对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05),其余各试验组的CAT和GSH-Px活性随BDE-47及BDE-209质量浓度的增加而逐渐下降,均与BDE-47及BDE-209的质量浓度呈明显的相关关系(P<0.01).这说明BDE-47和BDE-209对鲫鱼肝脏产生了氧化损伤,具有生化毒性影响.     

BDE-47对斑马鱼胚胎-幼鱼的急性毒性及氧化应激作用

为研究2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)对斑马鱼胚胎-幼鱼急性毒性、氧化应激及细胞凋亡的影响,以受精后3 h的斑马鱼胚胎为染毒对象,用概率单位法计算BDE-47对斑马鱼胚胎-幼鱼的96 h-LC₅₀;再参照96 h-LC₅₀按一定比例级差设置0.25、0.5、1.0、2.0 mg·L^-1 4个浓度组和1个对照组(0 mg·L^-1)进行96 h半静水式毒性试验,检测斑马鱼超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞凋亡情况。结果表明,BDE-47对斑马鱼96 h的急性毒性LC₅₀为3.77 mg·L^-1(95%可信区间1.93～10.27 mg·L^-1);2.0 mg·L^-1剂量组与对照组相比,SOD活性和MDA含量显著增加,且CAT活性与BDE-47染毒浓度之间存在明显的剂量-效应关系;0.5 mg·L^-1 BDE-47染毒96 h后,即观察到斑马鱼幼鱼出现明显细胞凋亡,主要集中于神经管和脑部。研究表明,BDE-47可以影响斑马鱼体内抗氧化防御系统,并能诱导细胞凋亡;BDE-47导致神经组织的氧化损伤可能在动物神经毒性中起重要作用。     

BDE-28及BDE-99对斑马鱼早期生命阶段HPT、HPG和HPA轴功能基因表达水平的影响

2,4,4'-三溴联苯醚(2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl,BDE-28)和2,2',4,4',5-五溴联苯醚(2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-99)在水环境中广泛存在,并且发现在我国长江下游鱼体内和底泥中检出含量较高。目前针对2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-47)的水生生物内分泌干扰效应和机制报道较多,而对于检出水平较高的BDE-28和BDE-99的相关方面研究还比较缺乏。本文将斑马鱼鱼卵分别暴露于2、20和200μg·L~(-1)的BDE-28和BDE-99溶液中,借助q-RT-PCR的方法研究它们对斑马鱼幼鱼的下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺(hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroidal,HPT)、下丘脑-垂体-性腺(hypothalamuspituitary-gonadal,HPG)和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal,HPA)轴上50个基因的影响。结果发现,在受精后120 h(hours post fertilization,hpf)时,暴露于2、20和200μg·L~(-1)的BDE-28和BDE-99的实验组中斑马鱼HPT、HPG和HPA轴上相关基因的表达均受到影响,其中BDE-28主要导致三轴相关基因显著上调,而BDE-99导致三轴相关基因显著下调。BDE-28和BDE-99对斑马鱼早期阶段3个主要内分泌分子通路的影响将导致内分泌功能的改变,从而可能会对斑马鱼的后期生长发育产生影响。另外,主成分分析发现2种不同溴取代个数的PBDE类物质(BDE-28和BDE-99)通过不同的毒性机制对斑马鱼产生不良影响。     

沉积物中2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)在铜锈环棱螺体内的毒代动力学及其繁殖毒性

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一种全球性的新型持久性有毒污染物,沉积物中高浓度的PBDEs是水生态系统的巨大风险源,2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)在PBDEs同系物中,目前分布最广,生物毒性最强。为评价沉积物中BDE-47向底栖动物体内转移的潜力及其对底栖动物的潜在繁殖毒性,将实验室培养的铜锈环棱螺(Bellamya aeruginosa)暴露于BDE-47加标沉积物中,研究了BDE-47在铜锈环棱螺体内的毒代动力学特性及其对铜锈环棱螺潜在繁殖力的影响。结果表明,铜锈环棱螺对沉积物中BDE-47吸收较快,代谢速度相对较慢,BDE-47在铜锈环棱螺体内具有较强的生物积累性。生物积累达理论平衡时,铜锈环棱螺体内BDE-47浓度为1440.67ng·g-1(以样品干质量计)。BDE-47在铜锈环棱螺体内的生物积累和生物净化过程较好地符合一级动力学模型,摄入速率常数、清除速率常数和生物-沉积物累积因子分别为0.10、0.038和2.75,生物半衰期为18d。铜锈环棱螺体内BDE-47达到90%稳定状态所需的理论时间约为60d。低浓度BDE-47(160ng·g-1)暴露对铜锈环棱螺的潜在繁殖力没有影响,但当浓度≥640ng·g-1时,铜锈环棱螺的繁殖力下降50%,这表明BDE-47对铜锈环棱螺具有繁殖毒性。铜锈环棱螺可作为指示沉积物中底栖生物长期暴露于BDE-47的良好检测模型。     

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.