连云港潮滩表层沉积物中有机氯农药残留特征与风险评估

利用GC-ECD检测了连云港地区绣针河口、临洪河口、灌河口北和灌河口南等4个潮滩断面表层沉积物中DDTs和HCHs含量及组成成分.结果表明,连云港潮滩沉积物中有机氯农药的含量在2.15—24.84 ng.g-1之间,均值为9.09 ng.g-1.其中DDTs的含量在1.11—11.74 ng.g-1之间,均值为3.72 ng.g-1,HCHs的含量在0.38—20.17 ng.g-1之间,均值为5.36 ng.g-1.4个断面有机氯农药含量的顺序是临洪河口>绣针河口>灌河口北>灌河口南.连云港潮滩沉积物中HCHs主要来源于早期林丹在土壤中的残留,灌河口有新的DDT污染源输入.总有机碳是影响绣针河口和临洪河口潮滩有机氯农药分布的主要因素.以风险低值(ERL)为评价基准,沉积物中有机氯农药的最大风险商达到7.43,连云港潮滩有机氯农药存在着一定的潜在生态风险.     

南四湖沉积物中二噁英类化合物的分布

用1 3C同位素内标法 ,高分辨率气相色谱 高分辨率质谱对南四湖表层沉积物中 1 7种含 2 3 7 8 氯代二苯并二英 /呋喃 (PCDD/Fs)及 1 2种共平面多氯联苯 (Co PCBs)的含量、同系物异构体的分布特征、沉积通量、毒性当量及来源进行了初步分析 ,并与山东近海 (日照、烟台、青岛 )的测定结果进行比较 .总Co PCBs含量分别为 5 4 4pg·g- 1 dw (南阳湖 )和 41 4pg·g- 1 dw (微山湖 ) .总PCDD/Fs含量分别为 1 0 6 7pg·g- 1 dw (南阳湖 )和1 47 0pg·g- 1 dw (微山湖 ) .两湖含 2 3 7 8 PCDD/Fs异构体对总毒性当量浓度的贡献基本相同 ,即以四—五氯代异构体为主 .PCDD/Fs含量次序为青岛 >日照 >南四湖 >烟台 .南四湖、日照、烟台近海沉积物中的PCDD/Fs对总TEQ (PCDD/F TEQ PCB TEQ)的贡献为68 8%— 93 0 % .南四湖与山东近海沉积物中PCDDs/PCDFs比值和OCDD %∑百分比表明 ,山东省PCDD/Fs的来源较为一致 ,相对恒定 .除河口处外 ,大气沉降应是南四湖及山东近海PCDD/Fs的主要来源 .     

陕西省潼关采金地区汞污染的初步研究

对采金地区水样、沉积物、土壤及部分水藻和苔藓的分析表明 :潼关采金地区已经受到严重的汞污染 .水体总汞浓度最高达 2 5 8 62 μg·l- 1 ,且水样中的汞以颗粒态为主 ,大都占 5 0 %以上 ,而活性汞和溶解态汞的平均浓度分别为 0 1 82± 0 2 4 2 μg·l- 1 和 0 72± 0 79μg·l- 1 ;沉积物中平均汞浓度为 34 98± 2 5 39μg·g- 1 ,最高达 1 1 96μg·g- 1 ;而土壤中汞的浓度最高也只有 1 9 5 0 μg·g- 1 .     

南四湖沉积物中二(口恶)英类化合物的分布

用13C同位素内标法,高分辨率气相色谱-高分辨率质谱对南四湖表层沉积物中17种含2,3,7,8-氯代二苯并二NB12E英/呋喃(PCDD/Fs)及12种共平面多氯联苯(Co-PCBs)的含量、同系物异构体的分布特征、沉积通量、毒性当量及来源进行了初步分析,并与山东近海(日照、烟台、青岛)的测定结果进行比较.总Co-PCBs含量分别为54.4pg·g-1dw(南阳湖)和41.4pg·g-1dw(微山湖).总PCDD/Fs含量分别为106.7pg·g-1 dw(南阳湖)和147.0pg·g-1 dw(微山湖).两湖含2,3,7,8-PCDD/Fs异构体对总毒性当量浓度的贡献基本相同,即以四-五氯代异构体为主.PCDD/Fs含量次序为青岛＞日照＞南四湖＞烟台.南四湖、日照、烟台近海沉积物中的PCDD/Fs对总TEQ(PCDD/F-TEQ+PCB-TEQ)的贡献为68.8%-93.0%.南四湖与山东近海沉积物中PCDDs/PCDFs比值和OCDD%∑百分比表明,山东省PCDD/Fs的来源较为一致,相对恒定.除河口处外,大气沉降应是南四湖及山东近海PCDD/Fs的主要来源.     

电子垃圾拆解区氯化石蜡和多氯联苯的分布特征——以广东清远龙塘镇为例

采用GC/MS法测定了广东清远龙塘镇电子垃圾拆解区电子垃圾、电子垃圾焚烧后残渣、当地池塘沉积物和对照区沉积物24种短链氯化石蜡(SCCPs)、24种中链氯化石蜡(MCCPs)和29种多氯联苯(PCBs)的浓度水平.结果显示,氯化石蜡(CPs)和PCBs大量存在于电子垃圾中.电子垃圾、残渣和池塘沉积物SCCPs和MCCPs浓度范围(干重)分别为1.6—46.8μg·g-1和7.3—215μg·g-1,PCBs的浓度范围(干重)为0.15—370.6μg·g-1,明显高于对照区,对周边造成了极大环境风险.SCCPs、MCCPs和PCBs均呈现低碳低氯同系物的相对含量在电子垃圾、电子垃圾焚烧残渣、拆解区池塘沉积物、对照区沉积物中依次递增的现象,表明CPs和PCBs在由电子垃圾向沉积物迁移过程中可能存在脱碳脱氯的降解过程.     

沉积物中无机硒对霍甫水丝蚓的生物效应研究

硒是动物体必需微量元素之一,水体沉积物中无机硒主要以Se(Ⅳ)和Se(Ⅵ)形态存在,而目前有关无机硒对底栖动物的生物效应研究较为匮乏.本实验以典型底栖动物霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)为研究对象,通过测定抗氧化、神经和消化系统中生化指标的变化,分析了暴露浓度(2～40μg·g-1)、暴露时间(2周和2个月)和硒价态(Se(Ⅳ)和Se(Ⅵ))对其生物效应的影响.结果显示,脂质过氧化水平(以TBARS含量表示)在暴露2周和2个月后,均未受到硒价态的影响,但是暴露2周后,在5μg·g-1组有一升高峰值,而暴露2个月后,在5μg·g-1组有一降低峰值.抗氧化酶活性在暴露2周后,受到硒价态显著影响,Se(Ⅳ)导致3种抗氧化酶活性逐渐升高并在20μg·g-1达到平衡,而Se(Ⅵ)在5μg·g-1即造成抗氧化酶活性升高,并随浓度的升高恢复到对照组水平;暴露2个月后,抗氧化酶未受到硒价态影响,过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性在5μg·g-1浓度附近有一降低峰值,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性在5μg·g-1浓度附近有一升高峰值,而谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)活性没有变化.乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)活性受到硒价态影响较小,暴露2周后只有5μg·g-1 Se(Ⅳ)导致AChE酶活性升高,而暴露2个月后,随着浓度升高Se(Ⅳ)和Se(Ⅵ)均导致AChE酶活性降低.α-葡糖苷酶(α-Glu)活性仅在5μg·g-1暴露组升高,且受到暴露时间和价态差异的影响.研究表明,硒的暴露浓度、时间和硒价态显著影响硒的生物效应,这为阐明沉积物中无机硒对底栖无脊椎动物生物效应及机制提供了基础数据.     

环渤海近岸海域表层沉积物及底栖生物中PBDEs的赋存特征及富集行为

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)作为一种新型的持久性有机污染物,在海洋环境中广泛存在,研究PBDEs在不同介质中的赋存状态对于理解其环境行为及归趋具有重要的意义。通过采集不同区域沉积物及生物样品,考察了PBDEs在环渤海近岸海域表层沉积物及底栖生物中的含量及空间分布特征、污染模式及生物-沉积物富集因子。结果表明,环渤海沿岸表层沉积物中PBDEs总量(Σ10PBDEs)的浓度范围在0.446~26.8 ng·g-1(干重,dw)之间,中值为1.02 ng·g-1(dw),底栖生物中PBDEs(Σ9PBDEs)的浓度范围为0.053~9.90 ng·g-1(dw),中值为1.25 ng·g-1dw;沉积物中BDE-209为最主要的单体,平均丰度达到90.5%,生物体中主要以低溴代BDEs为主,其中单体BDE-47的含量最高,平均丰度范围为43.2%~49.7%;沉积物和生物中PBDEs的含量在空间上存在显著的差异,其中莱州湾和锦州附近区域的结果明显高于其他区域;5种不同的底栖生物对PBDEs均表现出一定的生物富集性,其中∑9PBDEs的BSAF值按从大到小的顺序为菲律宾蛤仔(0.43~4.06,mean=1.19)紫贻贝(0.34~2.86,1.03)四角蛤蜊(0.17~1.95,0.82)麻蛤(0.13~2.33,0.61)牡蛎(0.09~1.20,0.52)。辛醇水分配系数(log KOW)与不同物种BSAF值的相关性分析结果表明,除BDE-17单体外,其他单体的BSAF值表现出随log KOW的升高而下降的趋势。     

四川省部分地区土壤中六溴环十二烷的分布特征

利用高效液相色谱-串联四极杆质谱分析了我国四川省中北部地区(成都、德阳、绵阳)表层土壤中六溴环十二烷(HBCD)的浓度水平和分布特征.成都、德阳、绵阳等3个地区土壤中HBCD的平均浓度分别为77.0 pg·g-1dw(相似文献   

三种人工湿地填料对低浓度氨氮废水的吸附特性

以沸石、陶粒、火山岩为试验材料,分别考察了不同初始氨氮浓度、pH、共存金属阳离子、温度对填料吸附氨氮的影响,并采用了吸附等温线、动力学和热力学对吸附过程进行解析.结果表明,Langmuir方程与Freundlich方程均能较好地描述氨氮在3种填料上的等温吸附行为.3种填料对氨氮的最大吸附量分别为0.9625 mg·g-1(沸石)、0.8643 mg·g-1(火山岩)和0.6928 mg·g-1(陶粒).Freundlich方程中,1/n0.5,表明3种填料对氨氮的吸附属于优惠吸附.颗粒内扩散不是控制填料吸附NH+4的唯一控速步骤,吸附过程可能受到内扩散和表面吸附的共同影响.pH值介于6—9之间时,对氨氮有较好的去除效果.共存阳离子对氨氮的吸附具有抑制作用,具体表现为Al3+Mg2+Na+Ca2+.等温解吸试验表明,陶粒对氨氮的吸附以物理作用为主,而沸石和火山岩以离子交换为主.     

基于我国物种毒性数据的多溴联苯醚预测无效应浓度分析

采用多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)对我国广泛分布生物物种的生态毒性数据,根据欧盟现有化学物质风险评价技术指导文件,对不同环境介质中PBDEs预测无效应浓度(PNEC)进行了推导。结果表明:我国淡水环境PBDEs(四溴、五溴、八溴)的PNEC水分别为50μg·L~(-1)、0.53μg·L~(-1)、0.017μg·L~(-1)。沉积物环境PBDEs(四溴、五溴、八溴和十溴)的PNEC沉积物分别为823.35 mg·kg~(-1)wt、1.55 mg·kg~(-1)dw、12.72 mg·kg~(-1)dw、38.41 mg·kg~(-1)dw。土壤环境PBDEs(四溴、五溴、八溴和十溴)的PNEC土壤分别为668.3mg·kg~(-1)wt、0.38 mg·kg~(-1)dw、147 mg·kg~(-1)dw、98 mg·kg~(-1)dw。次生毒性PBDEs(五溴、八溴和十溴)的PNEC经口分别为0.3~0.7 mg·kg~(-1)、0.56 mg·kg~(-1)、2 500 mg·kg~(-1)。该数值期为我国PBDEs的环境风险评价提供科学基础。     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.