雌激素受体在环境雌激素评估中的研究进展（Review on Estrogen Receptor to Estimate Environmental Estrogen）

水环境是环境雌激素最大的储存库,环境雌激素可通过水体传递,对水生动物产生严重危害.雌激素的生理功能通过雌激素受体(ER)介导.ER是一种配体依赖性转录因子,通过雌激素应答元件调节靶基因的转录.大量研究证实,在环境雌激素类化合物污染的评价中,ER可作为检测环境雌激素效应的生物标记物之一.但不同亚型的ER具有组织特异性且对配体的结合存在差异,因此在环境雌激素效应的检测中,应注意化学污染物的类型以及受检动物的物种及组织的特异性.检测ER的方法包括ER蛋白直接定量检测和ERmRNA定量分析,检测技术的选择要依据实验设计而定.论文对环境雌激素效应检测中ER的研究进展进行了综述,为环境雌激素污染检测工作提供了理论依据和基本方法.     

指示水生生态系统环境雌激素暴露的多种生物标志物的选择

废水中复杂的成分及其复杂的作用机制和外界的种种不确定性因素为水生生态系统中环境雌激素的风险研究造成了困难.文章介绍了用于指示环境雌激素污染的主要生物标志物以及与不同环境雌激素相应的生物转化酶,阐述了卵黄蛋白原、精子DNA损伤、细胞色素P450、谷胱甘酞S-转移酶及黄素单加氧酶等的生物化学响应原理、应用范围以及国内外最新研究进展.针对真实环境的雌激素复合污染现状,筛选一系列互补、敏感、准确、高效的生物标志物,研究它们的变化规律及其相互关系将有利于揭示环境雌激素的致毒机理,并在污染环境早期诊断和生态风险评价中发挥重要作用.     

中国天然雌激素排放清单和风险评价

环境雌激素由于其较强的内分泌干扰特性,越来越受到普遍关注。环境雌激素中,人和动物排放的天然类固醇雌激素（E1、E2、EE2、E3）干扰性最强。建立天然雌激素排放清单,对于了解中国环境雌激素的排放状况,以及进一步的污染风险分析与控制,具有重要意义。本研究将天然雌激素的主要排放源按人、猪、牛和家禽分为10种不同类型,根据各...     

畜禽养殖排放的雌激素对周边水体环境的影响

环境雌激素是一大类化学物质,它们能够干扰生物体内激素的合成、分泌、转运、活性等,或与生物体内激素结构相似而发挥激素作用,对生物体的生长、繁殖及行为产生不利影响。环境雌激素包括天然雌激素及人工合成类雌激素。随着国内畜禽养殖的规模与数量的不断扩大,养殖场成为了一个很大的环境雌激素的产生源,其环境风险应得到相应的重视。目前对畜禽养殖过程中环境雌激素的产生量以及雌激素进入环境后的迁移转化行为已有很多的研究,包括野外的调查与实验室内机理研究。畜禽养殖过程产生的大量雌激素进入环境后能够被土壤吸附及微生物降解。室内的静态平衡吸附实验、土柱迁移试验及降解研究均表明雌激素进入环境后绝大部分迅速被吸附到土壤颗粒或悬浮胶体、沉积物颗粒上,同时发生转化与生物降解,由此推断其对周边环境中的雌激素贡献很小。然而,野外调查结果却表明实际情况下雌激素的迁移性高于理论期望值。因此,畜禽养殖对周边环境中雌激素的贡献量的大小尚未明确。本论文综述了畜禽养殖过程中环境雌激素的排放情况,结合国内外的调查研究,阐述了畜禽养殖产生的环境雌激素在土壤及水体中的迁移与降解行为,探讨了影响准确评估畜禽养殖排泄物对周边水体中雌激素贡献大小的因子,并提出了今后应开展原位吸附与迁移的实验,重点考虑天然有机质及抗生素等共存物质对雌激素环境行为的影响,建立综合模型来估算不同时期养殖场对周围水环境雌激素的贡献量的建议。     

典型类雌激素的降解方法及其影响因素研究进展

类雌激素是一类新兴污染物,目前在环境中普遍存在,且在极低浓度下可对生物体和环境产生重大威胁.本文重点介绍了酚类、天然类固醇类和邻苯二甲酸酯等3种典型类雌激素的来源、环境分布特征及其生物毒性,综述了典型类雌激素的最新化学降解法(直接光解法和高级氧化法)和生物降解法(菌类降解法和藻类降解法)及其特点.直接光解法操作简便,但降解效果不佳;高级氧化法能快速高效地去除类雌激素,但操作相对复杂、影响因素较多;生物降解法的应用性强,但处理周期长、受环境因素影响大.此外还阐述了类雌激素的降解机理及其影响因素,最后对典型类雌激素的多种高效联合降解技术提出了展望.     

内蒙古半干旱草原某铅锌矿区土壤性质及重金属污染生态风险评价

半干旱草原地区是我国重要的生态脆弱区,频繁的矿业活动会对草原土壤造成一定程度的污染.本文以位于内蒙古半干旱草原的某铅锌多金属矿区土壤为研究对象,对其土壤性质和重金属含量及赋存形态进行了调查研究,并利用单因子指数法、潜在生态风险指数法和RAC风险评价法对土壤受污染程度进行了评价.结果显示,研究区土壤偏中碱性,矿物组成以石英、长石和粘土矿物为主.矿区土壤中Pb、Zn含量(分别为51.2 mg·kg~(-1)和226.4 mg·kg~(-1))远高于背景土壤,分别为内蒙古土壤几何均值的3.4和4.7倍;矿区土壤Cu含量和背景区土壤含量相当.元素赋存形态分析表明,Cu主要以残渣态和有机质结合态形式存在,Pb和Zn则以残渣态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机质结合态为主,3种元素可交换态和碳酸盐结合态含量均较低.单因子指数法评价结果表明,矿区41%和35%土壤受到严重的Pb、Zn污染;潜在生态风险评价结果表明,矿区土壤重金属的综合潜在生态风险指数RI为29.40,属于轻微生态危害,Pb是综合潜在生态风险主要的贡献因子;RAC风险评价表明,矿区土壤中生态风险系数由大到小为ZnCuPb,Zn的生态风险相对较大.综合来看,Pb、Zn的污染控制是该矿区需要关注的重点.     

类固醇雌激素环境行为研究进展

类固醇雌激素是一类亲脂、低分子量、高生物活性的有机化合物,易在生物体内蓄积,相对其他环境内分泌干扰物,具有更强的内分泌干扰作用,对生态环境的影响尤为显著.人类和动物排泄产生的类固醇雌激素不能被城市污水处理厂和养殖废水处理系统完全去除,进入环境中后,它们便会在不同的环境介质中进行迁移转化,因而深入研究其环境行为尤为重要.本文针对4种典型的类固醇雌激素(雌激素酮、17β-雌二醇、雌三醇和17α-乙炔基雌二醇),综述了其在污水处理厂、集中式养殖场、土壤和天然水体等介质中的环境行为.     

生物样品中含PBDEs在内的复合污染组分的抗雌激素效应

为初步探讨电子废物拆解导致的多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)及其类似物构成的复合污染的潜在生态/健康风险,从电子废物拆解区的三黄鸡血液和肝脏样品中提取了包含PBDEs在内的复合污染组分,分别体外暴露乳腺癌MCF-7细胞和MDA-MB-231细胞6d,检测细胞增殖和雌激素靶基因pS2的mRNA表达.结果表明,包含多种PBDEs在内的复合污染组分在不产生细胞毒性的前提下,可显著抑制MCF-7细胞增殖和雌激素靶基因pS2的mRNA表达,表现出抗雌激素活性.此结果提示由电子废物拆解造成的复合污染对生物体和人体可能存在潜在的生态/健康风险.     

微生物砷代谢机制的研究进展（Progress in Study of Mechanisms of Microbial Arsenic Transformation in Environment）

环境砷污染是一个全球性问题.研究砷的生物地球化学循环可以明确环境中砷的来源及其转化特征,为探索砷污染治理的方法提供参考.越来越多的研究表明,自然界中的微生物在砷的迁移转化过程中发挥了重要作用.根据微生物对砷的代谢机制不同将其分为:砷氧化微生物、砷还原微生物和砷甲基化微生物.砷氧化微生物可以将环境中的As(Ⅲ)氧化为毒性较弱并且容易被铁铝矿物吸附固定的As(Ⅴ),因此对降低环境中的砷毒性具有重要作用;微生物对砷的甲基化作用的产物通常为毒性较低的有机砷,因此也被认为是理想的修复环境砷污染的生物手段之一;然而在还原环境中,砷还原微生物却可以将游离态和结合态的As(Ⅴ)还原为毒性更强的As(Ⅲ),从而加重环境中的砷污染状况.由此可见,明确微生物的砷代谢机制及其对砷污染环境中砷迁移转化的影响,是实现生物修复砷污染环境的必要前提.论文总结了近年来国内外微生物砷代谢机制的研究进展,以期为深入研究微生物代谢砷的机理及其在砷污染治理中的应用提供参考.     

胶州湾贝类养殖区沉积物中汞分布与无机汞不同结合态的初步探究

为了研究贝类养殖对沉积物中汞的分布与不同结合态的影响,2012年5月至2013年5月在胶州湾的红岛、黄岛、胶南以及营海贝类养殖区采集55份沉积物样品,分别用冷原子吸收法和连续提取法测定其总汞及不同结合态汞的含量.研究结果表明,胶州湾贝类养殖区沉积物中总汞含量范围为0.037—0.228 mg·kg~(-1),其中红岛养殖区汞含量最高,超过环境背景值3.2倍.总汞含量在垂直方向上呈从底部到表层增加的趋势,且在沉积物表层富集.通过对比不同区域及不同年代胶州湾表层沉积物总汞含量,发现贝类养殖使得胶州湾养殖区沉积物汞污染程度加重.此外,沉积物中汞主要以残渣态为主,占总汞含量的31.46%,交换态与可溶态所占比例最少,仅占总汞含量的9.06%.几个养殖区域的汞污染程度依次为:红岛营海黄岛胶南,汞的潜在生态风险因子计算结果表明,胶州湾养殖区沉积物存在中等以上的生态风险.     

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     

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.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.