太湖梅梁湾水域蓝藻水华前与水华末期细菌群落结构的变化

通过16S rRNA克隆文库研究了太湖梅梁湾2004年3月和9月表层水样中细菌组成的变化,发现在蓝藻水华前与水华末期的菌群结构存在差异,特别是最优势的细菌发生了很大变化.3月水样中的克隆子主要与Bacteroidetes(42.7%)、β-Proteobacteria(18.4%)、α-Proteobacteria(16.5%)和Actinobacteria(16.5%)相关,9月水样中的克隆子主要与Cyanobacteria(28.8%)、β-Proteobacteria(25.0%)、Actinobacteria(17.3%)和α-Proteobacteria(15.4%)相关.此外,在水华末期(9月)的细菌组成更为多样性,有11个类群;而未发生水华时(3月)的细菌组成只有7个类群.同相关研究比较发现,α、β-Proteobacteria,Actinobacteria均为太湖中的常见菌群,其分布较为广泛;而γ-Proteobacteria和Firmicutes多出现于太湖的沉积物中,在水体中较少出现;属于Bacteroidetes这一类群的浮游细菌在湖水中很丰富.所研究水域中发现的很多细菌的16SrRNA基因与出现在许多不同的淡水生境,包括国外贫营养湖、中营养湖和富营养湖中细菌的系统关系密切,还发现大量源于长江的克隆子,很少有与海洋中细菌相似的序列(除Bacteroidetes门的成员外).图2表3参21     

隐球酵母Zwy-2-3循环利用油脂发酵废弃细胞产油

为提高资源利用效率,降低微生物油脂发酵成本,解决微生物油脂发酵中废弃酵母细胞和发酵废液处理排放的问题,研究隐球酵母(Cryptococcus podzolicus)Zwy-2-3利用栎类淀粉发酵产油情况,并探讨发酵废液和废弃酵母细胞酶解液作为氮源的循环利用.结果显示,以葡萄糖60 g/L和总氮0.18 g/L的废弃酵母细胞酶解液发酵时,循环3次其油脂产量分别达到6.79 g/L、6.66 g/L、6.72 g/L,均高于对照组;而将发酵废液回收用作废弃酵母细胞酶解的缓冲液时,其生物量、油脂产量同对照组相当;将该方法应用于栎类淀粉水解液同步糖化发酵产油脂的实验,循环3次后其生物量、油脂产量分别为13.04 g/L、7.13 g/L,比对照组提高了9.85%、10.03%,且3次循环的油脂含量较为稳定.油脂组分分析结果显示,菌株Zwy-2-3利用栎类淀粉同步糖化和废弃细胞循环酶解液发酵生产的微生物油脂不饱和脂肪酸的含量达到93%以上,与植物油组成相似.综上,酶解废弃酵母细胞可有效应用于酵母产油发酵,可为非粮淀粉生产的微生物油脂应用于生物柴油生产奠定基础.     

不同C/N值下亚硝酸盐氧化菌和异养菌混合体系的微生物多样性

采用PCR-RFLP技术研究了不同C/N比下亚硝酸盐氧化菌及异养菌混合体系的微牛物多样性,并探讨了微生物菌群结构与其功能(硝化件能)的关系.C/N=0时,混合体系主要由自养菌和寡营养菌(85.1%)组成,包括亚硝酸盐氧化菌(NOB)、拟杆菌门、α-变形菌纲、浮霉菌门和绿色非硫细菌中的一些菌株.C/N=0.44时,混合体系中的自养菌减少,异养菌(主要是γ-变形菌纲的成员)大量出现.C/N=8.82时,γ-变形菌纲的菌株尤其是反硝化菌Pseudomonas sp.占主导(93.8%),与此同时,随着C/N升高,该混合体系的硝化性能也由专一的亚硝酸盐氧化过程转变为同时硝化反硝化过程.微生物菌群结构的转变较好地解释了其硝化性能的改变.本研究揭示了微生物菌群结构与其功能的内在联系,同时表明PCR-RFLP技术与化学分析相结合是研究微生物菌群结构与功能的有力工具.图3表2参13     

秦皇岛近海养殖对潮间带微生物群落多样性的影响

潮间带微生物群落在驱动海岸带生态系统物质循环和能量流动中具有重要作用,近海养殖造成的环境问题日益凸显,但其对潮间带微生物群落结构的影响还缺乏研究。采用变性梯度凝胶电泳（DGGE）和限制性片段长度多态性（RFLP）的分子生物学技术,研究秦皇岛养殖区与旅游区潮间带沉积物中微生物多样性的差异,分析养殖区微生物的16S rRNA基因文库的组成特征。结果表明：养殖区的微生物群落结构与旅游区形成较大的差异,DGGE图谱中养殖区的特有条带主要集中于γ-变形菌纲（γ-proteobacteria）,还分布于α-变形菌纲（α-proteobacteria）,拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）,放线菌门（Actinobacteria）和厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）。影响潮间带微生物的群落结构的主要环境因子包括温度、盐度、pH和NO3-浓度,影响率达55.2%。对差异最大的洋河大桥南养殖区（Q1站）的微生物样品建立克隆文库分析群落结构,变形菌门（Proteobacteria）为优势菌群,占总群落的60%,其中γ-变形菌纲是主要存在的微生物纲,其余菌群包括放线菌门、拟杆菌门、蓝藻菌门（Cyanobacteria）和疣微菌门（Verrucomicrobia）的微生物。养殖区海岸带微生物群落中出现了与环境污染和赤潮密切相关的菌群,如拟杆菌门、肠杆菌属（Enterobacteriaceae）和α-变形细菌红细菌目（Roseovarius）的微生物。     

南极中山站排污口土壤中微生物群落的DGGE分析

以南极中山站排污口土壤为研究对象,提取样品中微生物宏基因组DNA,用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)对宏基因组DNA中的16S rRNA基因V3可变区进行分析,测定了31个不同条带所代表的序列.比较结果显示,排污口土壤样品与相同生境对照样品中的微生物类群组成均以CFB (Cytophaga-Flexibacteria-Bacteroides)类群和γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria)为主,另外还有少量的α-, β-, δ-变形菌纲,和一些原核的藻类和革兰氏阳性细菌(G ). 但在排污口土壤样品中检出了传染性微生物毛球菌属(Trichococcus)和狡诈菌属(Dolosigranulum),以及丰富的小球藻(Chlorella),说明污水的排放已经对该地微生物群落造成明显的影响.     

祁连山冻土区土壤活动层与冻土层中甲烷代谢微生物群落结构特征

冻土土壤中的甲烷代谢微生物可氧化或产生甲烷,影响着甲烷所参与的碳循环过程,对于全球温室气体的释放和调节具有重要的作用.对祁连山冻土区土壤活动层与冻土层中的甲烷代谢微生物产甲烷菌(Methanogens)和甲烷氧化菌(Methanotrophs)的群落结构组成进行研究.通过对产甲烷菌的mcrA基因和甲烷氧化菌的pmoA基因进行PCR扩增,分别构建其基因克隆文库,并通过序列同源比对进行系统发育分析和多样性分析.结果显示:冻土土壤活动层中的产甲烷菌包括Rice cluster Ⅰ、Methanosarcinaceae、Methanomicrobiales、Methanosaetaceae、Methanobacteriaceae五种类型,而在土壤冻土层则包括了Rice cluster Ⅰ、Methanosarcinaceae、Methanobacteriaceae三种类型.土壤活动层的甲烷氧化菌由隶属于α-Proteobacteria(Type Ⅱ)的Methylocystis和隶属于γ-Proteobacteria(Type Ⅰ)的Methylobacter两种类型群体组成,而土壤冻土层中则只包括了Methylocystis这一种类型.由此可见,冻土土壤活动层与冻土层中的甲烷代谢微生物群落结构存在一定的差异.     

室温条件下油藏采出液微生物群落结构稳定性

获得准确的油藏微生物群落信息是开展油藏微生物工业化应用的重要前提.为了解油藏采出液脱离油藏环境后微生物群落结构的变化以及一个时间点的单次取样的代表性,利用目前最先进的高通量测序技术,对胜利油田油藏采出液室温放置5 d内的微生物群落结构以及连续5 d独立取样的同一油井水样间的微生物群落结构开展研究.结果显示,室内放置0-5 d过程中,细菌和古菌群落结构中的优势菌群没有发生明显改变,细菌的优势菌为热硫还原杆菌属(Thermodesulforhabdus)、无色杆菌属(Achromobacter)、沙雷氏菌(Serratia)以及一些未分类的细菌,古菌的优势菌为古生球菌属(Archaeoglobus)、产甲烷球菌属(Methanococcus)和甲烷鬃毛菌属(Methanosaeta).但是细菌和古菌的多样性存在逐渐降低的趋势,其中古菌多样性的变化比细菌更为明显.同时研究也证实同一口油井连续5 d独立取样的样品间,细菌和古菌群落结构中的优势菌群也没有发生较大的变化,与室内放置样品的优势菌属一致,多样性分析同样发现油藏内不同时间点古菌多样性的波动较细菌的大.本研究说明油藏采出液室温放置短期内优势菌群结构具有稳定性,一次取样的油水井样品具有阶段代表性,这可为高通量测序技术在油藏微生物群落结构解析中的应用提供重要理论支撑.     

低温纤维素降解菌的分离与鉴定

对内蒙古部分地区土壤中低温降解纤维素的微生物进行研究,以期获得一些高酶活的低温纤维素酶产生菌.采用纯培养的方法,在10℃下培养获得纯培养物.以细菌16S rDNA通用引物PCR扩增后进行序列同源性比对确定种属.以DNS法测定纤维素酶活性,并对酶活较高的菌株进行产酶条件的优化.结果共分离得到55株可低温降解纤维素的菌株,16S rDNA序列分析表明它们分别属于γ-变形菌纲(γ-Proteobacteria)、硬壁菌门(Firmicutes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)以及β-变形菌纲(β-Proteobacteria).该55株菌的纤维素酶活性均在22℃下最高.其中菌株CF11在10℃下的酶活在分离得到的55株细菌中最高.通过优化,菌株CF11产纤维素酶的最佳条件初步确定为pH值为6.5,培养时间为10 d,并且是以酵母提取物作为氮源,其纤维素酶活为58.091 IU.因此菌株CF11是一株极具开发潜力的低温纤维素酶产生菌.     

油井采出液中硝酸盐还原菌的分离培养及对硫酸盐还原的抑制

采用油井采出液培养基和加入无机盐成分的改良油井采出液培养基,对大庆油田萨北过渡带油井采出液中的细菌进行分离培养及初步鉴定,比较了两种情况下培养出的具有硝酸盐和/或亚硝酸盐还原,以及/或反硝化能力菌群结构的差异.利用采出液培养基培养出一组新的微生物菌株,并且分离的硝酸盐和/或亚硝酸盐还原菌,以及/或反硝化细菌(Nitrate/nitrite reducing bacteria,denitrifying bacteria,NRDB)比例明显高于无机盐-采出液培养基;但培养基中无机盐成分的添加,提高了可培养NRDB的群落生物多样性.仅仅向油井采出液中直接投加硝酸盐作为电子受体,对其中硝酸盐还原、亚硝酸盐还原和反硝化微生物(NRDB)的激活作用以及产抑制硫化物产生的能力有限,而同时加入分离自采出液的NRDB和硝酸盐则对硫酸盐还原菌(SRB)的生长和产硫化物活性都产生了明显的抑制.但是NRDB与硝酸盐同时投加对不同SRB的抑制效果并不相同,导致了SRB群落结构的变化.图5表2参17     

孤岛油田中一区馆3单元油藏微生物多样性分析

应用分子生态学方法,分析了孤岛油田中一区馆3单元油藏样品的微生物多样性,包括两个注入水样和4口油井产出液样,发现注入水样的微生物多样性明显高于油井产出液样,其中γ-变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria)和β-变形菌纲(Betaproteobacteria)占较高比例;同一单元相同的油藏条件下,不同油井产出液水样中微生物多样性存在明显的差异,油井产出液中的细菌类型较单一,以Gammaproteobacteria为主,但古菌类型相对较多,包含甲烷杆菌纲(Methanobacteria)、甲烷微菌纲(Methanomicrobia)、古丸菌纲(Archaeoglobi)、热球菌纲(Thermococci)等多个不同纲的微生物.相同的油井微生物多样性随时间不同而发生变化.对油藏微生物生态结构的分析可以为微生物采油技术提供基础资料.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.