上海城市污泥中有机磷酸酯阻燃剂/增塑剂分布的初步研究

采用超声提取、固相萃取和气相色谱质谱联用(GC-MS)分析技术,测定了12个上海市政污水处理厂外排污泥中的8种常见有机磷酸酯(OPs)的浓度水平与分布特征.所有污泥样品中检出多种OPs分布,OPs总含量范围为138—778 ng·g~(-1).主要污染物为三(1-氯-2-丙基)磷酸酯、三苯基磷酸酯、三-(2-氯乙基)磷酸酯(TCEP),浓度范围分别为LOD—206 ng·g~(-1)、8.82—52.9 ng·g~(-1)和7.12—65.7 ng·g~(-1).研究结果表明,生活污水和工业废水是OPs重要释放来源.因其显著毒性效应和持久性,TCEP被欧美等国禁用,但本研究污泥中广泛检出且含量水平较高(7.12—65.7 ng·g~(-1)),结果折射其高历史残留或持续使用.     

五氯酚和八氯代二苯并二嗯英复合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应

为了评价环境中五氯酚(PCP)和八氯代二苯并二嚼英(OCDD)对水环境以及鱼类的影响,以斑马鱼为模式生物,研究了PCP和OCDD对其胚胎发育的单一及复合毒性效应.结果表明,PCP单独暴露(浓度25μg·L-1～5mg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎发育具有较强的毒性效应,可导致胚胎孵化率显著下降,死亡率、畸形率显著上升,而OCDD单独暴露(200、500μg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎发育没有明显的毒性效应;OCDD与环境浓度的PCP复合暴露(OCDD PCP1:250μg·L-1 25μg·L-1;OCDD PCP2:250μg·L-1 50μg·L-1)对斑马鱼胚胎的存活与发育等没有显著影响,对斑马鱼胚胎内CYP1A基因表达以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的酶活力也没有显著影响,在实验浓度下二者共存没有明显的复合毒性效应.     

煤矿型城市城区居民人发中汞的空间分布特征及影响因素分析

为了解淮南市不同城区居民人发中Hg分布特征和影响当地居民人体Hg富集的因素。在淮南市市区选择68名正常状态下的居民头发,用氢化物发生-原子荧光法测定人发中总汞含量。结果显示:淮南市市区居民人发中Hg的平均浓度为(0.390±0.173)μg·g~(-1),Hg浓度主要分布于0~0.5μg·g~(-1)较低浓度区间内,占总样品数的77.94%;市区内人发中Hg平均浓度呈现出谢家集(0.468±0.144μg·g~(-1))>潘集(0.384±0.199μg·g~(-1))>田家庵(0.377±0.176μg·g~(-1))>大通(0.373±0.116μg·g~(-1));不同性别上,当地男性头发中Hg的平均含量为(0.436±0.188)μg·g~(-1),显著高于女性的(0.343±0.146)μg·g~(-1)(P=0.021<0.05);不同年龄段内,40~60岁年龄段居民头发中Hg平均含量最高,达0.445μg·g~(-1);不同工作、生活环境上,淮南市居民头发中Hg平均含量呈现出矿区>过渡区>对照城区,其Hg平均含量分别达(0.466±0.174)、(0.380±0.167)、(0.304±0.151)μg·g~(-1),矿区居民人发中Hg含量分别高出过渡区与对照城区居民人发Hg含量达22.6%和53.3%。相比较美国国家环境保护局提出的人发中Hg的参考剂量1μg·g~(-1),淮南市城区居民人发中Hg含量较低。但是对比非矿业活动区,矿区居民人发中Hg含量显著高于对照城区居民(P=0.0098<0.01),过渡区居民人发中Hg含量与矿区和对照城区差异性均不明显。     

基于傅里叶变换红外光谱技术分析壬基酚和双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎的影响

壬基酚(4-NP)和双酚A(BPA)是2种在环境中普遍检出的雌激素物质,已经在地表水中广泛检出,且浓度很高。壬基酚和双酚A在地表水中检测浓度最高分别达到了644μg·L^(-1)和12μg·L(-1)和12μg·L^(-1)。目前有大量研究表明壬基酚和双酚A具有环境内分泌干扰效应,但是较少研究利用傅里叶变换红外光谱技术分析这2种物质对斑马鱼胚胎生理生化的影响。傅里叶变换红外光谱作为一种基于官能团和极性键振动结构分析技术,已广泛用于大分子化合物结构分析以及蛋白质的二级结构解析,是获取分子结构信息的有力工具,经常用于毒理学领域。本研究基于傅里叶变换红外光谱技术,分析了壬基酚和双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性。结果表明,当壬基酚≥322μg·L(-1)。目前有大量研究表明壬基酚和双酚A具有环境内分泌干扰效应,但是较少研究利用傅里叶变换红外光谱技术分析这2种物质对斑马鱼胚胎生理生化的影响。傅里叶变换红外光谱作为一种基于官能团和极性键振动结构分析技术,已广泛用于大分子化合物结构分析以及蛋白质的二级结构解析,是获取分子结构信息的有力工具,经常用于毒理学领域。本研究基于傅里叶变换红外光谱技术,分析了壬基酚和双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性。结果表明,当壬基酚≥322μg·L^(-1)时,斑马鱼胚胎72 hpf孵化率分别只有33%、5%、0%、0%和0%;同时,暴露96 h时,可显著降低斑马鱼胚胎的存活率和增加致畸指数,且呈浓度依赖特征。特别是849.5μg·L(-1)时,斑马鱼胚胎72 hpf孵化率分别只有33%、5%、0%、0%和0%;同时,暴露96 h时,可显著降低斑马鱼胚胎的存活率和增加致畸指数,且呈浓度依赖特征。特别是849.5μg·L^(-1)和1 038.5μg·L(-1)和1 038.5μg·L^(-1)壬基酚暴露后,斑马鱼胚胎全部死亡。类似地,当双酚A≥5.55 mg·L(-1)壬基酚暴露后,斑马鱼胚胎全部死亡。类似地,当双酚A≥5.55 mg·L^(-1)时,斑马鱼胚胎72 hpf孵化率分别只有30%、0%、0%和0%;暴露96 h时,双酚A≥7.5 mg·L(-1)时,斑马鱼胚胎72 hpf孵化率分别只有30%、0%、0%和0%;暴露96 h时,双酚A≥7.5 mg·L^(-1)也导致斑马鱼胚胎的存活率显著下降和增加致畸指数,并随着浓度升高毒性增大。以胚胎死亡率和致畸形指数作为效应终点,壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎的96 h-LC_(50)和EC_(50)分别为481.7μg·L(-1)也导致斑马鱼胚胎的存活率显著下降和增加致畸指数,并随着浓度升高毒性增大。以胚胎死亡率和致畸形指数作为效应终点,壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎的96 h-LC_(50)和EC_(50)分别为481.7μg·L^(-1)和362.6μg·L(-1)和362.6μg·L^(-1);双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎的96 h-LC_(50)和EC_(50)为8.8 mg·L(-1);双酚A对斑马鱼胚胎的96 h-LC_(50)和EC_(50)为8.8 mg·L^(-1)和7.9 mg·L(-1)和7.9 mg·L^(-1)。红外光谱分析显示,当壬基酚≥158.5μg·L(-1)。红外光谱分析显示,当壬基酚≥158.5μg·L^(-1)时,对酰胺Ⅱ、脂质、蛋白磷酸化等波数有显著影响;当双酚A≥1.75 mg·L(-1)时,对酰胺Ⅱ、脂质、蛋白磷酸化等波数有显著影响;当双酚A≥1.75 mg·L^(-1)时,对酰胺Ⅰ、酰胺Ⅱ、脂质和碳水化合物等波数有显著影响。上述研究结果显示壬基酚和双酚A对斑马鱼存活率、畸形率以及生理生化均有显著的影响。     

麻醉剂依托咪酯诱导斑马鱼幼鱼神经发育毒性

依托咪酯(etomidate, ET)在临床上常被用作麻醉剂。ET长期高剂量地使用会导致人类意识下降和认知障碍等负面效应。但ET对鱼类的神经毒性机制尚不清楚。在本文中,2 hpf (hours post-fertilization)的斑马鱼胚胎暴露于不同浓度ET (0.010、0.091、0.501、9.400、84.31和664.4μg·L^-1)至168 hpf。通过分析ET对斑马鱼胚胎生理发育、早期行为、细胞凋亡以及多巴胺(dopamine, DA)和γ氨基丁酸(gamma aminobutyric acid, GABA)通路相关基因转录表达水平的影响,评估其对斑马鱼幼鱼神经发育毒性。结果表明,664.4μg·L^-1 ET显著增大48 hpf和60 hpf斑马鱼胚胎孵化率。0.091μg·L^-1和0.501μg·L^-1 ET诱导168 hpf幼鱼体长减少。0.010、0.091、0.501、9.400、84.31和664.4μg·L^-1 ET增大48 hpf胚胎畸形评分。0...     

山东某污水处理厂中环型和线型甲基硅氧烷的行为归趋

本文研究了山东某污水处理厂污水及污泥中3种环型甲基硅氧烷(D4—D6,CMS)和12种线型甲基硅氧烷(L5—L16,LMS)的行为归趋.进水中总甲基硅氧烷(∑MS)的浓度为15.7—65.7μg·L~(-1)(平均值:39.2μg·L~(-1)),其中∑LMS占比为98. 2%.进水中∑MS浓度夏季最高(65. 7μg·L~(-1)),其次分别是秋季(41.7μg·L~(-1))、冬季(33.7μg·L~(-1))和春季(15.7μg·L~(-1)).出水中∑MS浓度为6.24—14.3μg·L~(-1)(平均值:10.6μg·L~(-1)),平均去除率为73.0%.污泥中∑MS的浓度为14.1—48.4μg·g~(-1)(平均值:20.3μg·g~(-1)),D4—D6的泥水分配系数(lg Kd)为3.84—4.44,L6—L16的lg Kd为2.24—4.30.此外,通过计算甲基硅氧烷的危险商数(hazard quotients,HQ)评估了其对水生生物的危害,发现污水处理厂出水中目标化合物的潜在危害较低.     

中国七大水系淡水沉积物中林丹(γ-HCH)的生态风险评估

林丹(γ-HCH)作为曾广泛应用的有机氯农药,自2000年在中国停止生产以来,全国范围内环境介质中仍广泛检出,对生物体及自然环境存在潜在危害。在收集γ-HCH的沉积物毒性数据基础上,通过物种敏感度分布(Species Sensitivity Distributions,SSD)曲线拟合的方法获得其沉积物质量基准。选取7种常用模型进行拟合,通过比较,最终采用S-Logistic模型拟合γ-HCH急性毒性曲线,得到急性基准值CMCsed=0.00530μg·g~(-1);采用S-Gompertz模型拟合γ-HCH慢性毒性曲线,得到慢性基准值CCCsed=0.00106μg·g~(-1)。我国七大水系68.2%的水体沉积物中γ-HCH的残留浓度均低于其CCCsed,说明其风险较低。但是,在海河和辽河流域某些点位的残留超标,需要引起足够的重视。所获得的沉积物基准值对评估沉积物中γ-HCH的生态风险和环境修复具有重要指导意义。     

毒死蜱和吡虫啉对意大利工蜂(Apis mellifera L.)的慢性经口毒性

文章以毒死蜱和吡虫啉为受试农药,以4日龄内的意大利工蜂(Apis melifera L.)为受试生物,研究2种农药对意大利工蜂的10 d经口慢性毒性。结果显示:参比物质乐果对意大利工蜂的10 d半致死浓度(10 d-LC50)为0.550μg a.i.·g~(-1)食物,平均每天半致死剂量(LDD50)为0.019μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)·天~(-1);在有效试验条件下,毒死蜱对意大利工蜂的10 d LC50为0.582μg a.i.·g~(-1)食物,LDD50为0.021μg a.i.·蜂~(-1)·天~(-1);吡虫啉对意大利工蜂的10 d LC50为0.055μg a.i.·g~(-1)食物,LDD50为1.542 ng a.i.·蜂~(-1)·天~(-1)。试验结果可为毒死蜱和吡虫啉的安全使用提供科学参考,同时可促进我国农药对蜜蜂的安全性评价体系的完善。     

4-壬基酚对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎/仔鱼的毒性效应

4-壬基酚(4-NP)作为一种稳定的环境内分泌干扰物,会对生物体的生长发育造成影响。以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)胚胎为供试体,研究4-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎生长发育的毒性效应。斑马鱼胚胎被暴露在一系列浓度的4-壬基酚溶液中(2.0、5.0、10.0、25.0、50.0和125.0μg·L-1),暴露120 h后空白组初孵仔鱼因饥饿出现死亡即停止实验。记录暴露120 h内斑马鱼胚胎的死亡数、孵化数,畸形数、仔鱼体长及30 s心跳数。结果表明,4-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎48、72和96 h的半致死浓度(LC50)分别为131.4、47.2和26.8μg·L-1;125.0μg·L-1的4-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎的高致死效应使其孵化率显著降低;与空白对照组相比,4-壬基酚的暴露可显著提高斑马鱼胚胎尾部畸形率和仔鱼的心包囊肿率,其中斑马鱼胚胎尾部畸形率随处理浓度的增加而增加,呈正剂量-效应关系;经4-壬基酚暴露处理的斑马鱼仔鱼的体长及30 s心跳数较空白对照组均显著下降。2.0μg·L-14-壬基酚对斑马鱼胚胎及仔鱼即具有致畸和致死效应,对其胚胎的发育有不利影响。     

基于PBPK模型的大鼠体内镉分布的比较:联合暴露及单独暴露

环境中同时存在着多种重金属元素,联合暴露与单独暴露时,重金属在体内的蓄积分布情况也可能有所差异。为探究重金属元素(汞、铬、砷、铅)对镉(Cd)在体内分布的影响,建立了大鼠在Cd暴露下的药代动力学(PBPK)模型,并进行了包括Cd在内5种重金属的联合毒性实验,比较了Cd单独给药与重金属混合物给药2种方式下大鼠肝脏、肾脏中的Cd浓度水平。结果表明,联合暴露高(Hg Cl23.67 mg·kg~(-1),NaAsO_2 3.67 mg·kg~(-1),CdCl_2 10.55 mg·kg~(-1),K_2Cr_2O_7 6.40 mg·kg~(-1),Pb(OOCCH_3)_2·3H_2O 133.33 mg·kg~(-1))、中(HgCl_20.367 mg·kg~(-1),NaAsO_2 0.367 mg·kg~(-1),CdCl_2 1.055 mg·kg~(-1),K2Cr2O70.640 mg·kg~(-1),Pb(OOCCH_3)_2·3H_2O 13.333 mg·kg~(-1))、低(HgCl_2 0.0367 mg·kg~(-1),Na As O20.0367 mg·kg~(-1),Cd Cl20.1055 mg·kg~(-1),K_2Cr_2O_7 0.0640 mg·kg~(-1),Pb(OOCCH3)2·3H2O 1.3333 mg·kg~(-1))剂量组大鼠肝脏中Cd浓度分别为13.37、0.78和0.06μg·g~(-1);肾脏中Cd浓度分别为14.41、1.64和0.15μg·g~(-1)。与对照组相比,暴露组中Cd浓度有显著升高,且不同剂量组之间均有显著性差异。同剂量Cd单独暴露的PBPK模拟结果显示,肝脏及肾脏中的Cd浓度水平落在联合毒性实验结果的浓度范围内,初步推断其他4种重金属的联合暴露并没有影响Cd在大鼠肾脏和肝脏中的浓度分布。     

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.