海南省农业能值分析

应用ＯｄｕｍＨＴ创立的能值分析理论和方法,对海南省农业进行了分析和评价,结果表明：由于自然条件得天独厚,环境资源对农业的贡献很大,环境资源能值占能值利用率的３０％,高于全国平均值（１３％）;净能值产出率为１．２７,高于日本和意大利,可以作为一种能值来源;农牧渔业产品的宏观经济价值远大于市场价值,农业生产中有相当大一部分环境资源无偿投入;环境承载指标为２．４４,远低于日本和意大利,环境压力较小,发展潜力很大。进而提出促进农业持续发展的有关建议与设想。     

农业科技发展态势与面向2020年的战略选择

1.至2020年农业领域科技发展新趋势新特点。世界农业科技发展新趋势将体现在如下5个方面：（1）植物种质资源与现代育种科技,如大规模植物种质资源发掘,光合作用研究的突破将加快现代育种大变革速度,系统生物学将为大规模基因资源发掘和利用提供系统的理论与技术基础,分子设计育种将产生突破性品种并催生智能品种诞生,第二代生物质原料生产将成为大农业的重要组成部分;（2）动物种质资源与现代育种科技,如大规模动物种质资源发掘,传统育种和基因工程相结合培育新品系是动物遗传育种发展方向,动物克隆技术和转基因动物将进一步取得突破,良种化和健康养殖科技发展迅速;（3）源节约型农业科技,如耕地资源集约利用与耕地质量定向培育科技发展,农田生态系统节水技术体系和建设流域水资源保障体系,高效新肥料研制和集成农田生态系统养分技术,低碳农业技术将成为未来的重要技术;（4）农业生产与食品安全科技,如支撑食品安全的生产技术发展迅速,更加关注营养保健功能食品的科技和食品安全监控技术,危险性快速评估技术体系技术得到广泛应用;（5）农业信息化和精准农业科技,如农业信息服务网络化科技和种养业管理信息化科技将加速发展,精准农业科技进入新的发展阶段,农业装备制造技术向大型和复式作业等方向发展。2.中国农业发展和粮食安全面临的挑战和对科技的重大需求。（1）农业发展面临新的挑战。在生产上,小规模经营与大市场和现代化的矛盾更加突出;耕地刚性下降和水资源短缺对农业形成的威胁越来越严峻;科技体系不能适应市场发展和农民对技术的需求;许多农业资源的利用和管理与农业食物系统的可持续性相悖。在市场上,对食品质量和安全将提出更高要求;整个农产品供应链系统正经历着历史性变化;贸易自由化使农产品进口压力进一步加大。（2）国家粮食安全面临的挑战：我国粮食安全于2008年已经突破了95%自给率目标,2010年更下降到90.6%;我们预测,我国粮食需求在2020年将达到6.7亿t,在现有政策下需求增长将高于生产增长,粮食自给率到2020年将下降到87%左右。（3）农业科技创新是发展农业和保障国家粮食安全的重大需求：面对农业发展和粮食安全的挑战,我国急需在植物种质资源利用与现代育种、动物种质资源利用与现代育种、资源节约型农业、农业生产与食品安全、农业信息化和精准农业等五大科技领域实现突破。为此,国家最近对农业科技发展提出了新的要求,特别是构建＂生态高值农业＂技术体系。中国科学院的优势在于多学科联合,能够在科技综合研究和集成基础上实现重大突破。如果把以上五大科技领域联合起来,在＂生态高值农业＂科技发展上将能起到国家科技发展的引领作用。3.面向2020的农业科技战略选择：构建我国生态高值农业产业体系。生态高值农业含义：所谓＂生态＂,就是要体现农业既能为社会提供安全、优质的农产品,又能实现农业资源的永续利用;所谓＂高值＂,就是要体现农业有很高的土地产出率、投入产出率、劳动生产率。因此,＂生态高值农业＂是集约化经营与生态化生产有机结合的现代农业。它以健康消费需求为导向,以提高农业市场竞争力和可持续发展能力为核心,是转变农业增长方式、提高农业综合生产能力的集中体现。生态高值农业科技的发展目标：到2020年,通过重点农业科技领域的重大创新突破,为不断满足日益增长的农产品总量、质量、安全和多功能的需求以及改善农业生产结构、生态环境和农业资源永续利用等生态高值农业体系提供科技支撑。生态高值农业研发内容：（1）提升＂中国至2050年农业科技发展路线图＂的理念与五大科技领域的研究水平;（2）建立生态高值农业的综合技术体系;（3）研发六大城市圈（如北京、上海、重庆、武汉、沈阳、南京等）、十大典型区域生态高值农业发展模式及其技术支撑体系（长三角城市群郊区生态高值农业模式,华中种养加一体化农业圈层模式,西南山地立体农业生态高值农业模式,南方亚热带特种农林果综合开发模式,滨海滩涂农业综合开发利用模式,黄土高原水土保持及农林果流域开发模式,黄淮海平原粮养加农业综合模式,东北平原粮食基地综合开发利用模式,西北寒旱区农牧综合开发模式,北部漠境盐湖综合整理开发模式）;（4）建设农产品产业化、加工产业化和综合产业化三大体系。最后在上述4个层次研发基础上,全面建立我国生态高值农业产业化网络体系。我国生态高值农业技术体系的构建：根据我国的现状,目前应主要从以下几个方面进行技术创新,（1）无公害农产品种养殖技术;（2）农产品加工技术;（3）我国传统农业精华技术;（4）标准化生产技术;（5）高新农业技术。对中国科学院提出的建议：（1）将＂生态高值农业＂列为中国科学院＂十二五＂的重大研发项目;（2）组织＂农业领域战略研究组＂和中国科学院有关单位提出生态高值农业建设的项目规划,并通过院部将此项目向国家有关部委推荐;（3）组织全院农业科研力量,联合全国的有关力量,首先在城市郊区农业与经济相对发达的地区,建立我国＂生态高值农业＂模式及其配套技术体系。     

长三角地区农田化肥投入快速增长的经济学诱因分析

农田化肥大量投入是引起农业面源污染的重要原因.根据长三角地区1980-2005年种植业生产以及农产品市场的统计数据,从投入要素机会成本变化和农产品价格变化角度,探讨长三角地区农业生产中化肥投入快速增长的经济学诱因.研究结果表明,长三角地区土地密集型作物上化肥投入快速增长是由于土地机会成本增长远远高于化肥价格增长而产生的化肥对土地的替代;相对劳动密集型作物上化肥投入快速增长是由于劳动机会成本高速增长引发的化肥对劳动的替代,并且相对劳动密集型农产品市场价格波动对化肥投入量的影响也较为显著.     

湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济关系研究

基于化肥、农药、农膜、灌溉、翻耕和柴油6类农地利用碳排放源,测算了1999—2014年湖南省农地利用碳排放量和碳排放强度。在此基础上,分析得出1999—2014年湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济间的脱钩弹性关系,进一步利用环境库兹涅茨(environmental Kuznets curve,EKC)模型对农地利用碳排放与农业经济关系进行验证。结果表明:(1) 1999—2014年,湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济的脱钩关系表现为扩张负脱钩、弱脱钩和弱负脱钩3种状态,农地利用碳排放与农业经济的脱钩弹性指数变化呈现"快速增长—快速下降—平稳增长"的阶段性演进特征;(2)湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济的关系呈对数函数曲线,农地利用碳排放量、碳排放强度均随着农业经济增长而连续增长,在研究期内未出现下降拐点;(3)湖南省现阶段农业经济增长方式仍然以粗放型为主,存在着农业生产要素投入未能充分有效利用、农业生产对环境影响较大的问题。     

至2050年中国生态高值农业体系建设特征与目标

2010年6月7日,国家主席胡锦涛在两院（中国科学院、中国工程院）院士大会上针对农业科技明确指出：构建我国生态高值农业和生物产业体系,建成农业高值转化的产业体系。本文对＂生态高值农业＂进行论述。所谓生态,就是要体现农业既能为社会提供安全优质的农产品又能实现农业资源的永续利用,将农业纳入可持续发展的道路;所谓高值,就是要体现农业有很高的土地产出率、投入产出率、劳动生产率。因此,＂生态高值农业＂是集约化经营与生态化生产有机结合的现代农业。它以健康消费需求为导向,以提高农业市场竞争力和可持续发展能力为核心,兼有高投入、高产出、高效益与可持续发展的双重特性,是转变农业增长方式、提高农业综合生产能力的集中体现。     

河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率的空间特征

农业绿色全要素生产率的提升是生态文明建设的关键。以河北省142个县域作为研究对象,运用非径向非角度、基于松弛的(slacks-based measures,SBM)方向性距离函数和全局参比曼奎斯特卢恩伯格(global MalmquistLuenberger,GML)生产率指数测算2000—2016年河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率,并采用空间自相关方法分析河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率的全局和局部空间特征。结果表明:(1)2000—2016年河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率年均增长5. 42%,主要依靠绿色前沿技术进步驱动,如考虑环境因素,或可实现农业"波特‘双赢’假说";(2)从地区分布来看,河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率增长存在地区不平衡的现象,其中冀北地区增长水平高于全省平均水平,而冀中与冀南地区增长水平落后于全省平均水平;(3)河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率增长存在显著空间相关性,但空间相关性呈减弱趋势;(4)河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率增长呈明显地理集聚特征,热点区向冀中、冀东南地区扩张,冷点区由冀北"一翼"向冀北"两翼"转移。     

基于GIS和能值分析的黑龙江省农业生态经济格局综合评价

采用能值分析方法和GIS空间分析技术,基于黑龙江省77个县(市、区)的社会经济统计数据,从时空动态视角评价了黑龙江省域及各县域的农业生态经济格局及其综合发展水平。结果表明,1996—2012年间,黑龙江省农业生态经济系统的能值投入与产出均呈明显的增长趋势,林产品产出能值增长幅度较大。1996—2012年研究区的环境承受压力增大,环境负载率由6.61增加到10.21,净能值产出率由5.37减少到4.79,可持续发展指数由7.47下降到5.43,说明该系统的可持续发展性能正在逐年弱化。在空间格局上,黑龙江省南部地区经济发展水平显著优于北部地区,但其农业生态环境水平和系统可持续能力低于北部地区。为了增加黑龙江省农业生态系统的可持续发展能力,未来需进一步调整农业结构,优化资源配置的投入,提高资源利用效率,降低环境负载率,使农业生态经济系统逐渐步入健康可持续发展轨道。     

基于投入视角的黄淮海平原农业碳排放与经济发展脱钩研究

农业增长对资源依赖的变化趋势以及农业发展与环境的互动关系日益引起学术界的关注.运用脱钩理论,以2000-2005和2005-2010年为时间尺度,以县域为空间尺度,探讨黄淮海平原农业碳排放与经济增长之间的脱钩关系,揭示两者脱钩发展的时间和空间演变趋势及转移特征,并尝试分析脱钩的内在机理.结果表明:(1)脱钩类型的数量结构和空间格局均发生明显变化,黄淮海平原农业正处于由资源依赖向技术依赖的过渡时期.2000-2005年农业碳排放与经济增长以强复钩和扩张性复钩为主,脱钩空间格局较为分散;2005-2010年以强脱钩和弱脱钩为主,脱钩区域呈现空间集聚态势;若考虑因技术进步带来的碳排放系数变化因素,脱钩趋势将会更加明显.造成这种空间格局的原因主要是经济增长与环境的关系较为复杂,经济发展、技术进步和制度创新等因素通过互动机制共同作用于农业生产经营主体.(2)脱钩类型的转换呈跳跃性,转换方式以强复钩、扩张性复钩转换为强脱钩、弱脱钩为主,且脱钩状态不稳定,持续脱钩难度较大.脱钩状况受到经济效应、技术效应和政策效应等因素的共同作用,3者作用的两面性是持续脱钩难的重要原因.     

依靠科技进步 发展低碳农业

在全球携手应对气候变暖、减少温室气体排放的背景下,发展低碳经济是解决气候变化与经济发展矛盾的有效途径。通过描述气候变化、固碳减排对粮食安全、土壤碳汇、森林固碳、资源循环利用等影响和促进作用,深入分析发展低碳经济与可持续发展的关系,探讨如何在农业领域内开发高效循环生产体系,从而实现农业生产过程的固碳减排目的。由此,提出发展低碳农业是实现低碳经济的目标之一,它是一个复合技术体系,涉及了绿色农业、循环农业、生态文明、可持续发展理念。必须通过科学技术的突破,改造、提升低碳农业技术,改变农业现有的＂高能耗、高污染＂的生产状况,实现低碳生产、生活方式的转变。最后提出发展现代的低碳农业产业经济的对策和思考。     

海南省农业能值分析

应用ＯｄｕｍＨＴ创立的能值分析理论和方法,对海南省农业进行了分析和评价,结果表明：由于自然条件得天独厚,环境资源对农业的贡献很大,环境资源能值占能和率的３０％,高于全国平均值;     

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.