铁锰矿类Fenton异相光催化降解有毒有机染料

选取6种天然铁锰矿石为光催化剂,以可见光(λ420nm)照射下活化H2O2降解有机染料罗丹明B(RhodamineB,RhB)为探针反应,筛选出活性较高的天然矿石(磁赤铁矿)催化降解RhB及2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-Dichlorophenol,DCP).实验表明,可见光下磁赤铁矿在pH=7.0的介质体系,H2O2浓度为3×10-3mol·l-1条件下可有效降解RhB.通过反射紫外光谱、原子吸收分光光度法、XRD初步表征了磁赤铁矿组成结构;采用紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-vis)、红外光谱(IR)、总有机碳(TOC)测定等方法,研究了其可见光照射下对RhB光催化降解特性.结果表明,在实验条件下RhB矿化率达60%,DCP矿化率达到63.93%.利用电子自旋捕捉技术(ESR)跟踪测定RhB降解过程中氧化物种,表明催化降解过程涉及羟基自由基(·OH)氧化过程.拟定异相矿石类Fenton体系与传统均相Fenton体系相比,具有反应介质pH范围宽(3.0—7.0)、可见光激发及催化剂易得廉价等优势。     

Fe_3O_4@Graphite电极中性条件下电Fenton降解有机污染物

制备了Fe3O4复合石墨电极(Fe3O4@graphite),通过循环伏安测定,对自制电极的电化学特性进行了表征.在外加电压无隔膜反应池中,基于Fe3O4@graphite为阴极,铂网为阳极,在pH7.0中性条件下,探讨了降解有机染料罗丹明B(Rhodamine B,RhB)及无色小分子2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-dichlorophenol,DCP)的电Fenton反应特性,结果表明,对1.0×10-5mol.l-1RhB在外加电压6 V和支持电解质Na2SO410 g.l-1条件下,电Fenton反应120 min,RhB降解率达100%.采用过氧化物酶催化反应吸光光度法和苯甲酸荧光分析法跟踪测定RhB降解反应过程中H2O2和羟基自由基(.OH)的变化,表明RhB降解过程涉及.OH历程.采用红外光谱分析和TOC测定RhB降解过程中深度氧化变化,表明电Fenton反应条件下,RhB反应过程中其分子结构被破坏,生成羧酸或者胺类小分子化合物,同时180 min矿化率达59.2%,对2,4-DCP而言,240 min降解率为98.6%,14h矿化率为86.8%.     

FeVO4可见光光催化降解有毒有机污染物

采用液相沉淀法制备了FeVO4光催化剂,以X射线衍射法(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、紫外可见漫反射(UV-Vis DRS)对其进行了表征.在可见光(λ≥420 nm)照射下,研究了FeVO4活化H2O2降解染料OrangeⅡ及无色小分子2,4-二氯苯酚(DCP)的光催化活性.同时优化了光催化剂FeVO4的制备条件、探讨了光催化降解OrangeⅡ体系中H2O2浓度、FeVO4用量及pH对其降解作用的影响.结果表明,在可见光照射下,H2O2浓度为1.50×10-3 mol.L-1,FeVO4量为0.17 g.L-1,pH值为6.4时,FeVO4对OrangeⅡ光催化降解活性最好,14 h后对OrangeⅡ的矿化率达到51.6%.在光催化反应条件下,12 h后对DCP的降解率达到64.3%,表明FeVO4具有可见光催化特性.运用ESR技术跟踪测定光催化降解过程中氧化物种的变化,发现FeVO4活化H2O2产生羟基自由基(.OH),表明FeVO4的光催化降解过程主要涉及.OH的氧化历程.     

TiO_2纳米管的制备和光催化降解有毒有机污染物

采用水热法制备TiO2纳米管,利用透射电子显微镜(TEM)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线衍射仪(XRD)对TiO2纳米管进行表征.并以有机染料罗丹明B(RhB)和2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-DCP)进行光催化反应,结果表明,TiO2纳米管催化剂对RhB和2,4-DCP有很好的降解效果.通过紫外-可见光谱(UV-Vis)、红外光谱(FTIR)分析和总有机碳(TOC)测定,发现TiO2纳米管/UV体系能使RhB和2,4-DCP发生有效的降解,反应12h后,RhB和2,4-DCP的矿化率分别达到100%和97.12%.同时,采用辣根过氧化物酶(POD)、N,N-二乙基对苯二胺(DPD)分光光度法和苯甲酸荧光光度法分别测定了降解过程中H202和羟基自由基(·OH)的变化,表明TiO2纳米管光催化机理涉及到·OH历程.     

钼酸铋光催化剂的制备及其光催化活性

以表面活性剂聚乙二醇(PEG6000)为模板剂,调节其用量(0、10、20、30、40 g·L-1)通过水热法制备得到Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55/Bi2MoO6纳米光催化剂,分别命名为(BMO-0、BMO-1、BMO-2、BMO-3,BMO-4).采用X-射线衍射仪(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM),紫外可见漫反射(DRS UV-Vis)和比表面仪(BET)对其进行表征,结果表明,制备得到的钼酸铋为立方相Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55和单斜相Bi2MoO6的混合物,形貌为纳米片和纳米颗粒的混合体.在可见光(≥420 nm)照射下,研究了Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55/Bi2MoO6光催化降解罗丹明B(Rhodamine B,RhB)和苯酚(phenol)的催化特性,探讨了在光催化剂制备过程中PEG6000用量对其可见光活性的影响,发现当PEG6000用量为20g·L-1时其光催化活性最好.可见光下照射2.5 h即可使RhB(1.37×10-5mol·L-1)100%脱色,光照12 h后对苯酚(1.48×10-3mol·L-1)的降解率达到35.15%.采用DPD分光光度法测定了体系中产生的双氧水(H2O2),并结合外加叔丁醇(t-butanol)、碘化钾(KI)等捕获剂试验,推测其催化机理主要为空穴氧化和超氧自由基(O·-2)协同氧化历程.     

可见光照射下α-FeOOH光催化降解有机污染物的研究

以α-FeOOH为光催化剂,酸性桃红(SRB)为目标化合物,研究了可见光照射下光催化剂对SRB的降解,结果表明:在可见光(λ＞420nm)照射下, SRB 浓度为1.2×10-5 mol·l-1,H2O2浓度为1.5×10-3 mol·l-1,α-FeOOH 为0.16 g·l-1,pH=7.05时,SRB的降解效果最好,红外光谱分析表明,SRB降解产物为羧酸及胺类化合物.另外,采用苯甲酸荧光分析法间接测定体系中自由基的含量,表明此光催化降解过程主要涉及·OH历程.     

FeVO_4/BiVO_4光-Fenton复合催化剂的制备与催化性能

采用一步水热法制备了FeVO_4/BiVO_4光-Fenton复合催化剂,采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和紫外可见漫反射(UV-Vis)对样品进行了表征,并以氙灯为照射光源,亚甲基蓝为目标污染物,对该催化剂的催化活性进行了评价.结果表明,与纯FeVO_4和纯BiVO_4比较,FeVO_4/BiVO_4光吸收峰明显向可见光区扩展,光催化活性显著提高.同时作为类Fenton固相催化剂也显现出较高的催化活性,在氙灯照射和H2O2下,亚甲基蓝在p H 3—9范围内均可降解,在p H 3.0时,反应40 min降解率达到90%以上.     

氧化亚钴复合材料催化降解三溴苯酚

本论文利用具有可见光催化性能的氧化亚钴/石墨烯(CoO/石墨烯)复合材料降解2,4,6-三溴苯酚(2,4,6-tribromophenol, TBP),探究其光催化降解效能与反应机理.研究发现,在光催化降解阶段,CoO/石墨烯复合材料光照120 min后,日光比可见光具有更强的降解效率,将TBP总去除率从21.8%提升至51.4%,日光中的紫外部分容易被材料利用来降解TBP.将光催化与高级氧化技术联用,构建CoO/石墨烯复合材料活化两种过硫酸盐PS与PMS的光芬顿体系.研究可知,单独光照活化过硫酸盐效果不佳,CoO/石墨烯-过硫酸盐类芬顿体系较Co~(2+)-过硫酸盐均相体系TBP降解效率更高,反应更彻底.加入光照后,光照-CoO/石墨烯-过硫酸盐光芬顿体系具有较高的污染物降解率和TOC矿化度,反应速率常数进一步提高,在日光照射下,TOC去除率达到98.9%.     

酞菁锌改性介孔分子筛催化降解孔雀石绿

以介孔分子筛MCM-41为载体,采用浸渍法将1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-八环戊氧基酞菁锌(α-CyOPcZn)负载到分子筛上得到了一种新型的催化剂CyOPcZn/MCM-41.并通过氮气吸附、红外光谱扫描及电镜扫描对催化剂的结构进行表征.考察了该催化剂的用量、H2O2浓度对孔雀石绿降解作用的影响.实验结果表明,在模拟可见光照射下,当催化剂用量0.6 g.L-1、H2O2浓度为0.1 mmol.L-1时,60 min后使0.1 mmol.L-1的孔雀石绿水溶液的脱色率达到98.6%,并呈现出一级反应的动力学特征,速率常数k为0.0891 min-1.催化剂重复使用3次后,脱色率可达96%以上.     

半胱氨酸强化针铁矿类芬顿反应降解2,4-二氯苯酚及影响因素

2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-dichlorophenol,DCP)是一种高毒性有机污染物,可对生态环境和人类健康构成严重威胁,因此,DCP降解是水环境研究关注的重点。以针铁矿为原料,在有氧避光条件下,研究了半胱氨酸强化针铁矿类芬顿反应降解DCP的反应机制,以及体系中半胱氨酸浓度、过氧化氢浓度、不同p H值和有机配体等因素对半胱氨酸强化针铁矿类芬顿反应降解2,4-二氯苯酚的影响。结果表明,半胱氨酸的加入通过促进Fe(Ⅲ)还原为Fe(Ⅱ),强化针铁矿类芬顿反应降解DCP。在半胱氨酸(1 mmol·L~(-1))存在时,针铁矿/过氧化氢体系对DCP的降解率提高了1.9倍,但随着半胱氨酸浓度的增加到5 mmol·L~(-1),过量半胱氨酸与体系中过氧化氢发生反应,导致DCP降解率随着半胱氨酸浓度增加而先升高后下降,其中羟基自由基是氧化降解DCP的主要活性物种。过氧化氢浓度的增加(1—10 mmol·L~(-1))能够促进类芬顿反应,提高DCP降解率,但过量的过氧化氢会消耗体系中的半胱氨酸,使DCP降解率下降。在不同p H(3、4、5、7)条件下,DCP降解率随p H值升高而下降,在p H=3时DCP降解率最大,为80.3%。另外考察了水体中不同有机配体对DCP降解的影响,结果表明腐殖酸和草酸对DCP的降解均起到了促进作用,而柠檬酸则表现出对DCP降解的抑制作用。该研究结果对实现水体高效降解DCP污染具有重要的理论指导意义。     

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     

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.     

Importance of greater interdisciplinarity and geographic scope when tackling the driving forces behind biological invasions

Invasive non-native species are important drivers of ecosystem change, yet the driving forces of biological invasions themselves are poorly understood. Such information is essential to ensure policies focus on the most relevant drivers, and that future scenarios capture the full range of potential outcomes for invasive non-native species. I carried out a bibliometric analysis of articles published from 2000 to 2020 that address either invasive non-native species or biodiversity and ecosystem services and that also mention 1 or more drivers of ecosystem change. I examined 5 indirect drivers (demographic, economic, governance, sociocultural, and technological) and 6 direct drivers (climate change, invasive non-native species, land-use or sea-use change, natural hazards, pollution, and resource extraction). Using the Web of Science core collection of citation indexes, I undertook searches of article titles and keywords and retrieved 27,462 articles addressing invasive non-native species and 110,087 articles dealing with biodiversity or ecosystem services. Most research to date on biological invasions as well as on biodiversity and ecosystem services has focused on anthropogenic direct drivers of ecosystem change rather than indirect drivers. Yet currently, less than 18% of articles addressing biological invasions examined drivers of ecosystem change, a similar level to that found over 20 years ago for biodiversity or ecosystem services. Knowledge of the drivers of biological invasions is limited, emphasizes tractable drivers over those that require an interdisciplinary approach, and is biased toward developed economies. Drivers generally deemed important for biological invasions, such as governance and resource extraction, accounted for less than 2% of research effort. The absence of a systematic understanding of the forces that drive invasive non-native species and how they interact means that attempts to mitigate or forecast biological invasions are likely to fail. To address biological invasions requires a much better orientation of national and international research on drivers in relation to both their actual importance as well as their policy relevance.     

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.     

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.     

Mitigating the effects of climate change on the nests of sea turtles with artificial irrigation

For sea turtles, like many oviparous species, increasing temperatures during development threaten to increase embryonic mortality, alter offspring quality, and potentially create suboptimal primary sex ratios. Various methods are being implemented to mitigate the effects of climate change on reproductive success, but these methods, such as breeding programs, translocations, and shading, are often invasive and expensive. Irrigation is an alternative strategy for cooling nests that, depending on location, can be implemented relatively quickly and cheaply. However, multiple factors, including ambient conditions, nest substrate, and species characteristics, can influence irrigation success. Additionally, irrigation can vary in duration, frequency, and the volume of water applied to nests, which influences the cooling achieved and embryonic survival. Thus, it is critical to understand how to maximize cooling and manage risks before implementing irrigation as a nest-cooling strategy. We reviewed the literature on nest irrigation to examine whether artificial irrigation is feasible as a population management tool. Key factors that affected cooling were the volume of water applied and the frequency of applications. Embryonic responses varied with species, ambient conditions, and the timing of irrigation during development. Nest inundation was the key risk to a successful irrigation regime. Future irrigation regimes must identify clear targets, either primary or adult sex ratios, that maximize population viability. Monitoring population responses and adjusting the irrigation regime in response to population characteristics will be critical. Most studies reported on the manipulation of only one or two variables, further research is required to understand how altering multiple factors in an irrigation regime influences the cooling achieved and embryonic responses.     

Positive and Negative Effects of a Threatened Parrotfish on Reef Ecosystems

Species that are strong interactors play disproportionately important roles in the dynamics of natural ecosystems. It has been proposed that their presence is necessary for positively shaping the structure and functioning of ecosystems. We evaluated this hypothesis using the case of the world's largest parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), a globally imperiled species. We used direct observation, animal tracking, and computer simulations to examine the diverse routes through which B. muricatum affects the diversity, dispersal, relative abundance, and survival of the corals that comprise the foundation of reef ecosystems. Our results suggest that this species can influence reef building corals in both positive and negative ways. Field observation and simulation outputs indicated that B. muricatum reduced the abundance of macroalgae that can outcompete corals, but they also feed directly on corals, decreasing coral abundance, diversity, and colony size. B. muricatum appeared to facilitate coral advancement by mechanically dispersing coral fragments and opening up bare space for coral settlement, but they also damaged adult corals and remobilized a large volume of potentially stressful carbonate sediment. The impacts this species has on reefs appears to be regulated in part by its abundance—the effects of B. muricatum were more intense in simulation scenarios populated with high densities of these fish. Observations conducted in regions with high and low predator (e.g., sharks) abundance generated results that are consistent with the hypothesis that these predators of B. muricatum may play a role in governing their abundance; thus, predation may modulate the intensity of the effects they have on reef dynamics. Overall our results illustrate that functionally unique and threatened species may not have universally positive impacts on ecosystems and that it may be necessary for environmental managers to consider the diverse effects of such species and the forces that mediate the strength of their influence. Efectos Positivos y Negativos de un Pez Loro Amenazado Sobre Ecosistemas Arrecifales     

Form-specific fragances fromOphrys insectifera L. (Orchidaceae) attract species of different pollinator genera. Evidence of sympatric speciation?

Two closely related forms ofOphrys insectifera were observed in the field to attract different pollinator species selectively.O. i. ssp.insectifera attracted males of two species ofArgogorytes (Sphecidae, Hymenoptera Aculeata) andO. i. ssp.aymoninii attractedAndrena combinata males (Andrenidae, Apoidea, Hymenoptera Aculeata). A third form,O. aff.i. ssp.insectifera, attracted none of these three species. Volatile compounds from flowers and inflorescences of the three forms (originating from Öland, Sweden, and Aveyron, France) were collected, using entrainment, enfleurage, and solvent extraction techniques, and identified by gas chromatography — mass spectrometry. Scent differences between the three forms were confirmed in the amounts of aliphatic hydrocarbons (C₁₁–C₁₉), methyl esters (C₁₄–C₁₈), short chain aliphatic 1-alcohols (C₆–C₁₂), and monoterpene alcohols (C₁₀).     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.