纳米碳黑与重金属对BEAS-2B细胞的联合毒性作用模式评价

通过研究空气颗粒物的代表性组分纳米碳黑(nano particle carbon black,NPCB)与重金属(Pb/Cr/Cd)联合染毒对BEAS-2B细胞存活率和LDH漏出率的影响,旨在阐明NPCB与重金属对细胞毒性的联合作用模式。检测NPCB与重金属(Pb/Cr/Cd)联合染毒24 h后BEAS-2B细胞存活率(CCK-8法)和LDH漏出率(LDH活性比色法)的变化,采用析因方差分析判断其是否存在联合毒性作用及联合作用模式。NPCB与重金属(Pb/Cr/Cd)联合染毒在细胞存活率和LDH漏出方面存在联合作用;与对照组和单独染毒组相比,低剂量Pb(125μmol·L-1)与NPCB联合染毒对细胞存活率无交互作用,对LDH漏出表现为拮抗作用;高剂量Pb(1 000μmol·L-1)与NPCB联合染毒对细胞存活率表现为协同作用,对LDH漏出无交互作用;Cr和Cd与NPCB联合染毒在细胞存活率方面均表现为协同作用;低剂量Cr和Cd与NPCB联合染毒在LDH漏出方面无交互作用,高剂量时表现为协同作用。NPCB与重金属存在联合作用,金属不同、剂量不同以及评价指标不同,其联合作用模式不尽相同。     

大气细颗粒物对CHO细胞的损伤作用及天然物质的拮抗机制

PM2.5引起的健康危害日益受到广泛关注,但其确切的损伤机理仍不完全清楚,目前也缺乏有效拮抗PM2.5损伤的天然活性物质。因此本文对北京市PM2.5造成CHO细胞的损伤作用及天然物质的拮抗作用进行研究,结果可为PM2.5污染治理和疾病的预防提供科学依据。通过CCK-8法测定细胞存活率;通过流式细胞仪测定细胞凋亡;用荧光探针DCFH-DA法测定ROS;提取细胞内总蛋白并测定其中SOD含量;以及通过Western Blot法分别测定了p-akt/akt、p65及Bad的相对表达量。结果显示:(1)10~40μg·m L-1的PM2.5可明显降低CHO细胞存活率,并呈现极显著的剂量-效应关系(r=-0.964,P0.01);15μg·m L-1PM2.5可以显著增加细胞凋亡、引起细胞内ROS增加、SOD含量下降;p-akt/akt、p65表达量增加说明Akt通路与NF-κB通路均被激活。(2)20μmol·L-1阿魏酸、50μmol·L-1绿原酸和10μmol·L-1荭草素预处理可拮抗PM2.5引起的细胞存活率下降以及细胞凋亡率增加,同时降低细胞内ROS并增加SOD含量,下调p-akt/akt、p65及Bad的相对表达量。其中20μmol·L-1阿魏酸的保护作用最佳。结果说明,PM2.5引起的CHO细胞损伤与细胞凋亡与Akt和NF-κB通路的激活有关;三种天然活性物质具有拮抗PM2.5造成的细胞损伤的能力,其保护机理是通过其降低PM2.5引起的细胞内氧化应激反应,进而降低被PM2.5激活的Akt通路与NF-κB通路和下调Bad蛋白表达量来实现的。     

微囊藻毒素-LR通过线粒体途径诱导人支气管上皮细胞凋亡

探讨线粒体Caspase依赖性途径是否参与微囊藻毒素-LR(microcystin-LR,MC-LR)诱导人支气管上皮细胞(human bronchial epithelial cells,16HBE)凋亡过程。将处于对数生长期的16HBE分别暴露于终浓度为0(对照组)、2.5、5、10μg·m L-1的微囊藻毒素-LR和10μg·m L-1MC-LR+50μmol·L-1Caspase广谱抑制剂Z-VAD-FMK,持续24 h和48 h。检测细胞凋亡率,线粒体跨膜电位(ΔΨm),Caspase-3和Caspase-9相对表达量。结果显示,与对照组相比,各浓度染毒组细胞凋亡率和Caspase-3、Caspase-9相对表达量均升高,10μg·m L-1MC-LR染毒组线粒体膜电位降低;与10μg·m L-1MC-LR组相比,10μg·m L-1MCLR+50μmol·L-1Z-VAD-FMK组细胞凋亡率明显降低,Caspase-3和Caspase-9相对表达量降低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。且随着MC-LR染毒浓度的升高或染毒时间的延长,16HBE细胞凋亡率和Caspase-3、Caspase-9相对表达量呈升高趋势。研究表明,MC-LR可以通过线粒体Caspase依赖性途径诱导16HBE细胞凋亡。     

不同Cu2+浓度处理对斜生栅藻生长及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

利用浮游植物荧光仪(phyto-PAM)研究了不同Cu2+浓度不同时间(12、24、36和48 h)处理后,斜生栅藻Scendesmus obliquus生长及叶绿素荧光特性等的变化.测定的主要参数有:PS Ⅱ最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm),PS Ⅱ实际光能转化效率(φPSⅡ=Yield),PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo),最大相对电子传递效率(rETRmax,即Pm),光能利用效率(α)和细胞密度(A650nm值),叶绿素a、叶绿素b及胡萝卜素含量.结果表明:高浓度Cu2+处理(20～010 μamolμmol·L-1)下,Fv/Fm、Yield、Fv/Fo、rETR、α以及细胞密度等参数随着胁迫时间延长,数值下降幅度显著,叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝卜素含量也明显下降,低浓度Cu2+处理(0～10 μml·L-1)时上述参数变化不显著.可见,高浓度Cu2+(40～100μmol·L-1)处理对斜生栅藻有显著的胁迫抑制作用,低浓度Cu2+处理(0～10 μmol·L-1)对其影响不明显.     

DEHP和MEHP对H295R细胞类固醇激素合成基因表达的影响

为探讨邻苯二甲酸二(2-乙基己基)酯(di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate,DEHP)及其代谢产物邻苯二甲酸单-2-乙基己酯(mono-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate,MEHP)对H295R细胞类固醇激素合成关键基因表达的影响,本实验将H295R细胞分别暴露于DEHP(0、1、10、100、1 000μmol·L-1)和MEHP(0、1、10、100、1 000μmol·L-1)24 h,用MTT法检测细胞活性,并应用荧光定量PCR法分析细胞类固醇激素合成过程中关键酶的基因表达水平。结果显示,1 000μmol·L-1DEHP和MEHP对H295R细胞染毒24 h显著降低H295R细胞活力,所以本研究采用了较低的染毒浓度(0、1、10和100μmol·L-1)对H295R细胞染毒24 h来评估DEHP和MEHP对H295R细胞类固醇激素合成通路的影响。1、10和100μmol·L-1DEHP显著增加醛固酮合成酶CYP11B2的基因表达水平。10μmol·L-1DEHP显著上调了3-β羟基类固醇脱氢酶(3β-HSD2)的基因表达水平。1、10和100μmol·L-1MEHP显著下调了3-β羟基类固醇脱氢酶(3β-HSD1和3β-HSD2)、17β羟基类固醇脱氢酶17β-HSD4、17α羟化酶/17,20裂解酶CYP17和芳香酶CYP19a的基因表达水平。10和100μmol·L-1MEHP染毒H295R 24 h显著下调了CYP21和STAR的基因表达水平,然而,10和100μmol·L-1MEHP显著上调了CYP11B2的基因表达水平。100μmol·L-1MEHP显著下调了17β-HSD1的基因表达水平。上述研究结果表明,DEHP、MEHP都可不同程度影响H295R细胞类固醇激素合成过程中关键基因的表达。MEHP可以通过抑制STAR基因的表达,从而将影响胆固醇在细胞内的转运;并能显著性抑制类固醇激素合成过程中CYP17、CYP19a、3β-HSD1、3β-HSD2、17β-HSD1、17β-HSD4、CYP21基因的表达,最终将抑制H295R细胞中类固醇激素的合成。与DEHP相比,MEHP对H295R细胞类固醇激素合成关键基因表达的影响较明显。     

铀胁迫对大豆与玉米幼苗细胞DNA损伤的彗星试验研究

以铀浓度为1000 μmol·L-1、800 μmol·L-1、600 μmol·L-1、400 μmol·L-1、200μmol·L-1和100μmol·L-1的6组铀溶液和对照组(0μmol·L-1)培养大豆和玉米幼苗,采用彗星试验研究铀胁迫对大豆和玉米幼苗细胞DNA的损伤情况.试验结果表明,铀浓度为1 000 μ...     

甲醛对大鼠肺细胞醛糖还原酶的影响及醛糖还原酶功能研究

为了研究甲醛作用后大鼠肺细胞醛糖还原酶(AR)的活性变化以及AR在肺细胞损伤中的功能,首先通过大鼠肺细胞分离培养,观察甲醛对大鼠肺细胞AR活性的影响及AR抑制剂——盐酸小檗碱对AR活性的抑制作用;其次通过流式细胞仪检测甲醛及盐酸小檗碱对大鼠肺细胞周期和凋亡的影响.结果表明:1.0mmol·L-1甲醛作用24h使大鼠肺细胞AR活性显著增加,盐酸小檗碱对AR活性具有抑制作用;甲醛能够引起大鼠肺细胞凋亡,使G0/G1和S期的细胞比例下降,G2/M期的细胞比例增加;甲醛和盐酸小檗碱共同作用使大鼠肺细胞凋亡率较单纯甲醛组更高,同时G0/G1期的细胞比例增加,S和G2/M期的细胞比例下降.结果提示甲醛能够使大鼠肺细胞AR活性增加;AR活性增加可减少细胞凋亡,对甲醛引起的大鼠肺细胞损伤具有保护作用.     

铝对豌豆根边缘细胞存活率和粘胶层厚度的影响

根边缘细胞（Root border cells）是从根冠游离并聚集在根尖周围的一群特殊细胞，铝毒的作用部位正是根尖，因此推测边缘细胞在铝毒反应中起着重要作用。作者研究了不同铝浓度（0、50、100、250、500μmol／L AlCl3（含0．1mmol／L CaCl2，pH4．5）与离体豌豆（Pisum Sativum）根边缘细胞共培养1h、2h、4h、6h、8h、24h后根边缘细胞存活率、粘胶层厚度及细胞数量的变化，以揭示铝毒胁迫边缘细胞的响应。结果为：随着处理时间的延长，边缘细胞的存活率明艰下降；在0～100μmol／L铝浓度范围，边缘细胞存活率有随铝浓度升高而降低的趋势；8h及24h边缘细胞存活率为铝浓度500μmol／L时显著高于0、50、100和250μmol／L时，6h边缘细胞存活率为250和500μmol／L铝浓度时显著高于0、50、100μmol／L AlCl3时。随处理时间延长，边缘细胞数量降低，铝浓度100，250和500μmol／L时边缘细胞数量低于0和50μmol／L时，且铝浓度越高，细胞数量越少；随处卵时间延长和铝浓度升高，粘胶层相对面积增加，铝浓度500和250μmol／L时粘胶层相对面积增加尤为明湿。通过与pH7．01水溶液及pH4．50水溶液中粘胶层变化的比较，发现粘胶层在铝处理8h后出现一个峰值，可能是粘胶物质的诱导合成和分泌。研究结果表明，铝毒对根边缘细胞具有致死效应，这种致死效应在一定浓度范围符合剂量依数性关系，高浓度时则边缘细胞存活率反而升高，这与根边缘细胞对铝毒作出的适应性响应——粘胶层的增厚和细胞降解增强有关。粘胶层起着保护和减轻边缘细胞铝毒的作用。     

甲醛所致DNA-蛋白质交联修复的研究

为了探讨机体对甲醛所致DNA-蛋白质交联的修复能力,采用KCl-SDS沉淀法检测甲醛染毒后不同时间段HepG2细胞和小鼠肝细胞中DNA-蛋白质交联的修复情况.实验结果表明,采用75μmol·L-1甲醛染毒HepG2细胞,在染毒18h和24h后,细胞内的DPC水平较染毒结束时发生了显著下降(p<0.01),且与空白对照组相比无显著差异;由3.0mg·m-3气态甲醛产生的DNA-蛋白质交联在12h内可以得到明显修复(p<0.01),并在24h内恢复到空白对照水平;经20mg·kg-1液态甲醛染毒后,18h时DPC含量与空白组相比有显著性升高(p<0.01),在24h时DPC含量与18h时相比有显著的下降(p<0.05),且与空白组相比无显著差异.以上结果显示:甲醛所致肝细胞DNA-蛋白质交联能够得到修复,且24h内能够修复完全.     

草甘膦对GC-1小鼠精原细胞的毒性作用及N-乙酰半胱氨酸的干预效应

为探讨41%草甘膦水溶液(农达)对雄性生殖细胞的毒性及其作用机制以及N-乙酰半胱氨酸(N-acetylcysteine,NAC)的干预效应。以GC-1小鼠精原细胞为受试细胞,设正常对照组、草甘膦染毒组(60、90、120、150、180 mg·L-1)、NAC干预组(10 mmol·L-1NAC+90 mg·L-1农达)。MTT法检测细胞存活率,Giemsa染色法观察细胞的形态学改变,彗星试验检测细胞DNA损伤,比色法检测细胞培养液乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)以及细胞内超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)及丙二醛(MDA)水平的变化。结果显示,随着草甘膦染毒浓度增加,细胞存活率逐渐下降(P0.01),彗星阳性率逐渐升高(P0.01);与对照组相比,草甘膦染毒组LDH活性增加(P0.05,60 mg·L-1组除外),MDA生成量增多(P0.05),GSH含量降低(P0.05)和SOD活性降低(P0.05)。抗氧化剂NAC预处理具有相应的拮抗作用。研究表明,60~180 mg·L-1浓度草甘膦对GC-1细胞有明显的损伤作用,其机制可能是草甘膦诱导氧化应激,导致细胞通透性增加和DNA损伤。抗氧化剂NAC对草甘膦的细胞毒性具有一定保护作用。     

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.