北加利福尼亚州猫类血清中的全氟和多氟化合物浓度：时间尺度上的对比以及与甲状腺机能亢进的关联性

室内环境暴露和膳食摄入是公认的全氟和多氟化合物(per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, PFAS)的人类主要暴露途径。猫类因为与人类共处一室而有着与人类相似的暴露途径，不过，它们有着不同于人类的膳食结构、体型和室内活动特征。我们分别于2008至2010年(n=21)和2012至2013年(n=22)采集了2组大于10岁的北加利福尼亚州猫(Northern California cats)的血清，并测定了血清中的PFAS浓度。第二阶段(2012–2013)总PFAS浓度(∑PFAS)的几何平均数(GM)为8.10 ng/mL低于第一阶段(2008–2010)的15.8 ng/mL，而两阶段的PFAS种类和组成相似。同时，我们也于2008–2010在相同地理区域采集了人类血清，并分析得到血清中的∑PFAS的GM为14.3 ng/mL。猫类血清中长链全氟羧酸(特别是PFNA和PFUnDA)的浓度显著高于人类血清中的。第二阶段采集的样品测定结果表明甲状腺机能亢进(hyperthyroid, HT)的猫类血清∑PFAS的GM(9.50 ng/mL)高于非HT的猫类(7.24 ng/mL)。其中HT猫类血清PFOA浓度显著增高(P<0.05)。研究表明PFAS浓度与猫类HT有可能的相关性，确切的结果需要进一步研究。 精选自Miaomiao Wang, Weihong Guo, Steve Gardner, Myrto Petreas,June‐Soo Park. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Northern California Cats: Temporal Comparison and a Possible Link to Cat Hyperthyroidism. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,2018,37:2523–2529.
详情请见 https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.4239
     

长三角地区水体中全氟化合物的污染特征及风险评价

为探究长三角地区水环境中全氟化合物(PFASs)的污染分布特征及风险水平，对长三角地区水环境中11种PFASs进行了研究.通过固相萃取结合液相色谱-三重四极杆串联质谱的方法对该地区水环境中PFASs污染水平进行分析，并运用环境风险熵值法对该地区水环境中PFASs污染进行了风险评估.结果表明PFASs在长三角地区广泛存在，Σ8PFASs浓度为8.64—736.74 ng·L^-1，其中主要污染物为全氟辛酸(PFOA)、全氟己酸(PFHxA)和全氟己烷磺酸盐(PFHxS)，其浓度范围分别为4.49—517 ng·L^-1、0.92—688 ng·L^-1和0.51—260 ng·L^-1.源解析结果表明长三角大部分地区水环境中PFASs污染来源于前体化合物降解所形成的面污染源，少部分地区水环境PFASs污染来源于部分行业直接排放形成的点污染源.风险评估结果显示该地区水环境中PFASs的生态风险值和健康风险熵值均低于参考值，对生态环境和人体健康的风险水平较低.     

常熟氟化学工业园水环境和生物样品中全氟化合物的分布

采用Oasis-WAX-SPE柱富集,高效液相色谱/电喷雾负离子源串联质谱(HPLC/negative ESI/MS/MS)对常熟氟化学工业园区地表河水样品和水生动物样品(乙腈萃取物)中的全氟及多氟化合物(PFASs)进行了测定,分别检测出8种和14种PFASs.园区河水中总PFASs浓度范围为91.0—9374.9 ng.L-1,为国内已有报道中最高;PFOA和PFPrA是河水样品中含量最高的两种PFASs,且在不同水样中均可占到总PFASs的73%以上,未检出PFOS;生物样品中总PFASs浓度范围为12.93—394.77 ng.g-1ww(湿重),PFOA、PFOS和PFPrA为主要PFASs;与园区所在城市的鱼类等样品相比较,采自氟化学工业园区的鱼类体内富集了更多的PFAS.研究结果表明,常熟氟化学工业园区地表水环境PFOA和PFPrA污染较重,为目前国内最高水平;在园区河水和生物体内检测出高浓度的PFPrA,说明氟化学工业园区内部分工厂可能已使用短链氟化物替代PFOA和PFOS,在今后的研究中对PFPrA等短链全氟化合物的监测应给予更多关注.     

美国和五大湖双边共同关注区域的白肚燕(双色树燕)雏鸟的有机污染状况

白肚燕，又名双色树燕，栖居于五大湖流域中27个双边共同关注区域(AOCs)，从2010年到2014年对其进行了污染物暴露风险评估，以协助管理者和监管者评估五大湖AOCs的污染状况。本文比较了AOCs和附近非AOCs雏鸟体内污染物浓度的差异。AOCs白肚燕雏鸟尸体中多氯联苯(PCB)和多溴联苯醚的含量分别为30%和33%，低于非AOCs的平均浓度。AOCs白肚燕雏鸟胃含物中多环芳烃(PAH)浓度和血浆中全氟化合物浓度分别为67%和64%，也低于非AOCs的平均浓度。但是与已有生殖效应记载的高PCB污染区相比，有些AOCs雏鸟尸体内的PCBs浓度只是存在小幅升高。一些AOCs食物中PAHs的浓度足够高以致引起可测量的生理响应。在AOCs中，全氟化合物全氟辛烷磺酸在血浆中的最高浓度出现在Raisin河(密歇根州，美国；几何平均数330 ng/mL)，但远低于预估毒性的参考值(1 700 ng/mL)。之前有研究报道雏鸟胃含物中PAH和PCB的浓度以及尸体中PCBs的含量与沉积物中污染物的含量显著相关，从而可加强白肚燕在评估沉积物污染生物有效性方面的应用。
精选自Thomas W. Custer, Christine M. Custer, Paul M. Dummer, Diana Goldberg, J. Christian Franson, Richard A. Erickson. Organic contamination in tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) nestlings at United States and binational Great Lakes areas of concern. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 36, Issue 3, pages 735–748, July 2017. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3598
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/wol1/doi/10.1002/etc.3598/full
     

全氟烷基化合物在人体肝脏中的富集特征及其与肝损伤的关系

全氟烷基化合物(polyfluoroalkyl substances,PFASs,F(CF_2)_n-R)是广泛用于生产生活中的有机污染物,研究发现PFASs的暴露会对人体造成危害.为分析人体肝脏中PFASs的富集特征,本研究采用高效液相色谱串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)的方法,对天津市31例肝癌患者肝脏中10种PFASs(全氟己烷磺酸PFHxS、全氟辛烷磺酸PFOS、全氟十二酸PFDoDA、全氟己酸PFHxA、全氟庚酸PFHpA、全氟十一酸PFUnDA、全氟壬酸PFNA、全氟癸酸PFDA、全氟辛酸PFOA、全氟戊酸PFPeA)进行检测分析.结果表明,PFOS、PFOA、PFNA、PFUnDA和PFHxS具有较高的检出率(80%);∑PFASs浓度范围为8.97—181.87 ng·g~(-1),其中PFOS的平均浓度最高(40.87 ng·g~(-1)),占∑PFASs的77%;∑PFASs的平均浓度在男性肝脏样品中(64.04 ng·g~(-1))与女性样品中(36.82 ng·g~(-1))存在显著性差异,PFHxS、PFOS和PFDA的浓度在性别上也均呈显著差异,PFOA的浓度与年龄呈显著负相关性.此外,PFOA和PFHpA的浓度分别与肝细胞损伤标志物ALT和GGT之间存在显著正相关性.本研究是国内首次对人体肝脏中PFASs的暴露分析,PFOS是肝脏的主要暴露物;PFASs对男性的暴露风险高于女性,且青年人群PFASs的暴露风险相对较高;另外,浓度水平进行分析,PFASs的暴露与人体肝脏损伤存在统计学关联.     

北京市典型垃圾填埋场渗滤液中PFASs污染水平研究

全氟及多氟类化合物(Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances)作为一类新型污染物近年来已开始受到人们的广泛关注.本研究应用高效液相色谱-质谱联用的方法对北京市4个典型垃圾填埋场垃圾渗滤液中全氟化合物(PFASs)的含量进行研究分析,并着重对六里屯垃圾填埋场产生的垃圾渗滤液及其周边河流、底泥以及土壤进行监测取样,分析PFASs污染程度.结果显示,北京市垃圾渗滤液的PFASs总浓度在407.10—2982.25 ng·L~(-1)之间,主要的污染物为PFPeA(Perfluoropentanoic acid,全氟戊酸)、PFOA(Perfluorooctanoic acid,全氟辛酸)和PFOS(Perfluorooctane sulphonate,全氟辛烷磺酸盐),另对六里屯垃圾填埋场渗滤液中PFASs进行为期两年的分析,PFASs检出率为100%,总浓度为407.10—4275.53 ng·L~(-1),主要的污染因子为PFOA,浓度范围在132.87—431.00 ng·L~(-1).六里屯垃圾填埋场周围环境介质均检出PFASs,受纳河流与土壤污染程度较高,河流PFASs总浓度在5.33—176.05 ng·L~(-1)之间,土壤PFASs总浓度在0.10—169.05 ng·g~(-1)之间,河水底泥污染程度较低,平均PFASs浓度为1.91 ng·g~(-1),表明经处理的垃圾填埋场渗滤液排放会对周围环境造成PFASs污染.     

评估可离子化有机化合物的生物累积潜力：当前的认知和研究的重点

本研究的目的是回顾目前关于可离子化有机化合物(IOCs)的生物累积潜力的认知，重点讨论鱼类经验数据的有效性。IOCs在鱼体内的生物积累潜力可以很好地表征为：依赖pH的鳃摄取和排泄，肠道吸收和磷脂吸附(膜-水分区)。关键的挑战包括缺乏关于IOCs生物转化和血浆结合的经验数据。鱼拥有多种蛋白质，可以在细胞膜上传输IOCs。然而，除了少数情况下，这种传输对环境污染物的吸收和积累的意义是未知的。本文提出了2个研究案例。第一个描述了pH值和生物转化对有机酸和碱的生物富集的建模作用，而第二个则采用了一个更新的模型来研究导致全氟烷基酸积累的因素。全氟化烷基酸个案研究是值得关注的，因为它说明了膜转运蛋白在肾脏中可能具有的重要性，并强调了交叉比对方法(read-across approaches)的潜在价值。认识到当前需要对IOCs进行生物累积危害评估和生态风险评估，作者提供了一个分层策略，从保守的假设(模型和相关数据)到需要化学特定信息的更复杂的模型。
精选自Armitage, J. M., Erickson, R. J., Luckenbach, T., Ng, C. A., Prosser, R. S., Arnot, J. A., Schirmer, K. and Nichols, J. W. (2017), Assessing the bioaccumulation potential of ionizable organic compounds: Current knowledge and research priorities. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 36: 882–897. doi: 10.1002/etc.3680
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3680/full
     

河岸蜘蛛——多样水生生态系统中PCB污染的指示生物

栖息在河岸的蜘蛛越来越多地被用来追踪水生生态系统中存在和流出污染物的空间格局。然而，我们对蜘蛛在何种情况下可有效标志水生污染的认识有限。本研究力证在具有高生境异质性的水生生态系统中，能够有效地利用河岸蜘蛛来追踪沉积物中多氯联苯(PCBs)污染的空间格局。2011年到2013年，在五大湖共同关注区(AOC)的Manistique河流域，对2类常见科属的河岸蜘蛛进行采样，结果表明生物体内的ΣPCB浓度的空间格局能够普遍地追踪采样点范围内沉积物中ΣPCBs的空间变化。该研究区域位于密歇根北部半岛南岸(Manistique，MI，US)，是一个河口生态系统，包括港口、河流、回水和湖泊等栖息地。沉积物ΣPCB浓度用总有机碳浓度进行归一，解释了11个采样点中41%的以脂类归一的蜘蛛ΣPCB浓度变异。此外，2类常见河岸蜘蛛类群(园蛛科Araneidae和长脚蛛科Tetragnathidae)的ΣPCB浓度高度相关(r² > 0.78)，并且按全年计算其平均ΣPCB浓度两者相似。结果表明，在异质性的水生生态系统中，例如在河流入海口，会因为栖息地和污染物变化在水生生物分类中的差别不明显，河岸蜘蛛就可能成为水生和河岸食物网中PCB有效性的标记物。此外，对于为不同种群大型结网蜘蛛提供生存条件的海岸线开发和沿岸植被的生境异质性，目前的方法具有很强的适用性。
精选自Kraus, J. M., Gibson, P. P., Walters, D. M. and Mills, M. A. (2017), Riparian spiders as sentinels of polychlorinated biphenyl contamination across heterogeneous aquatic ecosystems. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 36: 1278–1286. doi: 10.1002/etc.3658
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3658/full
     

全氟和多氟烷基化合物异构体的分析方法、环境行为和生物效应研究进展

全氟和多氟烷基化合物(Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,PFASs)是一类人为源的有机污染物,普遍具有环境持久性、生物富集性和潜在毒性.环境中的PFASs存在直链和多种支链异构体,各种异构体的环境界面行为以及生物富集、代谢和毒性效应存在显著差异.只有从单个异构体的角度进行分析,才能准确评估PFASs潜在的生态和健康风险.本文对PFAS异构体的来源、命名和分析方法进行了介绍,总结了PFAS异构体在不同介质中的环境行为和生物效应研究的最新进展,有助于全面认识环境中PFASs的迁移转化规律及最终归趋.     

湖鲟(Acipenser fulvescens)早期生命阶段对2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并-p-二恶英和3,3''4,4''5-五氯联苯的敏感性研究

自20世纪中叶以来，五大湖区的水生食物网就已受到多氯联苯化合物(PCBs)的污染。对于长寿命鱼类，如湖鲟(Acipenser fulvescens)，由于缺乏该物种的相对敏感性信息，一直无法确定其PCB暴露的风险。本文的研究目标就是评估湖鲟早期生命阶段对3,3''4,4''5-五氯联苯(PCB-126)或2,3,7,8-四氯二苯并-p-二恶英(TCDD)暴露的敏感性。死亡率、生长、形态和组织病理学、游泳能力和活动水平都被用作评估终点。心包和卵黄囊水肿、管状心脏、卵黄囊出血和体长较小是TCDD和PCB-126暴露中最常见的病理症状，早在受精4 d后就开始出现，其中许多的病理都以一种剂量依赖的方式发生。湖鲟体内PCB-126和TCDD的半致死剂量分别为5.4 ng/g egg(95%置信区间，3.9-7.4 ng/g egg)和0.61 ng/g egg (0.47-0.82 ng/g egg)。由此产生的PCB-126的相对强度因子(0.11)远大于世界卫生组织对鱼的估计值(毒性当量因子=0.005)，这表明目前的风险评估可能低估了PCB对湖鲟的毒性。在受精60 d后，从半致死剂量中幸存的湖鲟的游泳活性和耐力均有所下降。阈值和半数效应毒性值表明，与在北美发现的另一种鲟鱼属Scaphirhynchu相比，湖鲟对PCB和TCDD更为敏感。事实上，在大湖区和其他地方的湖鲟种群都容易受到PCB/ TCDD诱导,使胚胎发育受到影响，游泳能力下降。
精选自Tillitt, D. E., Buckler, J. A., Nicks, D. K., Candrl, J. S., Claunch, R. A., Gale, R. W., Puglis, H. J., Little, E. E., Linbo, T. L. and Baker, M. (2017), Sensitivity of lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) early life stages to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 36: 988–998. doi: 10.1002/etc.3614
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3614/full
     

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.