大气CO2浓度升高对稻田土壤中微量元素的影响

利用中国的稻/麦轮作FACE(Free Air Carbon-dioxide Enrichment)平台技术,应用DTPA浸提土壤的方法,研究大气CO2浓度升高对稻田土壤微量元素有效性的影响。位于扬州的中国稻麦轮作农田生态系统FACE试验平台于2004年6月开始运行,设有FACE圈(高CO2圈)与Ambient圈(对照圈,当前周围大气CO2浓度)2个处理,FACE区CO2浓度比Ambient区高200μmol·mol-1,每个处理含低氮与常氮2个氮肥水平。经过一个稻麦轮作后,分别于水稻生长的分蘖期、抽穗期、乳熟期和成熟期在每个副区多点采集0~5cm和5~15cm的土壤样品,再使用ICP测定土壤样品的DTPA浸提液的方法,得出土壤中有效态Fe、Mn、Cu和Zn的质量分数。结果表明,大气CO2浓度升高都不同程度的增加了0~5cm和5~15cm耕层土壤中DTPA提取态Fe、Mn、Cu、Zn的有效性,尤其对土壤有效Zn质量分数的增加达显著水平。不同N肥处理对土壤DTPA提取态Fe、Mn、Cu和Zn的质量分数无显著性的影响,CO2和N肥处理也未表现出显著性的交互作用。     

土壤氨氧化细菌对大气CO2浓度增高的响应

利用FACE(free-air carbon dioxide enrichment,开放式空气CO2浓度增高)试验平台,研究大气CO2浓度增高对土壤氨氧化细菌的数量、优势菌群及其硝化活性的影响.结果表明,大气CO2浓度增高时,土壤氨氧化细菌的数量在常氮水平上趋于减少,而在高氮水平上与对照没有差异.大气CO2浓度增高对土壤氨氧化细菌的优势菌群也产生明显影响.CO2浓度增高条件下,亚硝化球菌(Nitrosococcus sp.)和亚硝化弧菌(Nitrosovibrio sp.)是优势菌属;而在对照条件下,亚硝化单胞菌(Nitrosomonas sp.)和亚硝化球菌(Nitrosococcus sp.)是优势菌属.另外,CO2浓度增高条件下优势菌株的硝化活性也有不同程度的减弱.     

土壤氨氧化细菌对大气CO2浓度增高的响应

摘要：利用FACE(free．aircarbondioxideenrichment，开放式空气CO2浓度增高)试验平台，研究大气CO2浓度增高对土壤氨氧化细菌的数量、优势菌群及其硝化活性的影响。结果表明，大气CO2浓度增高时，土壤氨氧化细菌的数量在常氮水平上趋于而在高氮水平上与对照没有差异。大气CO2浓度增高对土壤氨氧化细菌的优势菌群也产生明显影响。CO2浓度增高条件下，亚硝化球菌(Nitrosococcus sp.)和亚硝化弧菌(Nitrosovibrio sp．)是优势菌属；而在对照条件下，亚硝化单胞菌(Nitrosomonas sp．)和亚硝化球菌(Nitrosococcus sp．)是优势菌属。另外，CO2浓度增高条件下优势菌株的硝化活性也有不同程度的减弱。     

大气CO2浓度升高对农田土壤颗粒组成及其碳周转的影响

采集FACE(Free Air CO2 Enrichment)平台下运行3年的水稻(Oryza sativaL.)/小麦(Triticum aestivumL.)轮作土壤(0~15cm耕作层土壤),利用超声波分散-湿筛分法对烘干土样进行颗粒分级,分析土壤各粒级及其碳、氮的分布特征,研究大气CO2浓度升高对土壤碳周转的影响。结果表明:高浓度大气CO2条件下稻/麦轮作3年后,土壤颗粒组成较对照发生了改变,>53μm粒级的质量分数减小27%(p<0.05),约占土壤总质量20%;53~25μm粒级的质量分数增大35%(p<0.05),约占土壤总质量25%;<25μm无明显变化,约占土壤总质量55%,三种粒级之间质量分数呈显著差异(p<0.05)。FACE条件下,不同粒级土壤颗粒碳质量分数在两个氮水平下平均为:>53μm(30.60g·kg-1),<25μm(13.08g·kg-1),25~53μm(12.85g·kg-1),氮质量分数分别为2.42g·kg-1,1.33g·kg-1,1.12g·kg-1。>53μm粒级的土壤颗粒碳、氮质量分数均极显著高于其它两个粒级(p<0.001)。FACE条件下土壤总碳、氮质量分数高于对照,增幅分别为6.2%和6.7%。从各粒级土壤颗粒碳、氮质量分数变化分析,新增碳、氮主要进入>53μm粒级中,表明该粒级土壤颗粒对土壤碳氮循环(转化和保存)起着重要作用。该研究结果表明高浓度大气CO2条件下,稻/麦轮作农田土壤将成为大气CO2的汇,这将为预测我国未来农田土壤碳的变化趋势提供科学依据。     

大气CO2浓度升高对添加麦秸条件下稻田土壤酶活性的影响

利用中国扬州开放式大气CO2浓度升高(FACE)系统稻麦轮作试验平台,研究大气CO2浓度升高对稻田小麦秸秆降解过程中土壤酶活性的影响.试验平台设置FACE[(580±60)μmol·mol-1]和对照[(380±40)μmol·mol-1]2个CO2浓度,在低氮(150 kg·hm-2)和高氮(250 kg·hm-2)2种氮水平下添加小麦秸秆,分别在不同生长时期采样并分析土壤脱氢酶、脲酶、磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性.结果表明:同一氮水平下,大气CO2浓度升高显著增强土壤脱氢酶、脲酶和蔗糖酶活性,但显著降低土壤磷酸酶活性;无论是大气CO2浓度升高条件下还是对照条件下,低氮处理土壤脱氢酶与脲酶活性均高于高氮处理,而高氮处理土壤磷酸酶活性均高于低氮处理,氮水平对蔗糖酶活性并无显著影响.     

双氰胺在四川3种主要土壤上的硝化抑制作用

采用室内培养试验方法,在不同浓度双氰胺(DCD)处理条件下,对四川3种主要土壤(紫色土、黄壤、灰潮土)的N2O释放量,NH4+-N及NO3--N含量动态变化进行了研究.结果表明,DCD对3种土壤N2O释放及土壤NO3--N含量有明显抑制作用,随DCD浓度增加,其抑制效果越显著.DCD同时能推迟NO3--N含量达到高峰,使土壤NH4+-N含量在较长时间保持相对较高水平,提高氮肥利用率,减少氮素流失.DCD在3种土壤上硝化抑制效果存在差异,表现为紫色土＞灰潮土＞黄壤.同时提出DCD在3种土壤上的适宜添加量,紫色土上为普通碳铵施入量的0.5%,黄壤和灰潮土上为0.3%.     

碟形沼泽湿地水中氮的动态变化及影响因素分析

通过对三江平原碟形湿地不同植被类型沼泽水体中氮含量的研究表明,漂筏苔草、毛果苔草和乌拉苔草沼泽水体中各形态氮含量具有明显的季节变化特征.总氮(TN)含量在5-10月份的植物生长季节表现为先增加后降低的趋势,不同植被类型沼泽水体TN含量明显不同.NH4+-N是无机氮的主要存在形态,含量比例在44.81%～98.89%之间.在整个生长季,乌拉苔草沼泽水NH4+-N含量呈先增加后降低的趋势,毛果苔草沼泽水NH4+-N含量在8月份具有峰值,漂筏苔草沼泽水NH4+-N含量较低,波动不大.硝态氮(NO3--N)在生长季中期含量较低,而亚硝态氮(NO2--N)含量较高;生长季末期NO3--N含量增高,而NO2--N含量降低.沼泽水体中不同形态氮浓度与植被类型、植被生长阶段密切相关,并且受到水温、降雨、蒸发、农田排水等因素的影响.     

高温自养硝化反硝化工艺研究

利用筛选的耐高温亚硝化单胞菌结合适量的市政污水厂活性污泥,通过逐步提高温度进行曝气、驯化、挂膜,获得能够在38～47℃条件具有高氨氧化活性的硝化生物膜,在进水氨浓度120～180mg/L,氨氧化率达到90%～99.9%;将该生物膜回复常温硝化,显示其氨氧化活性较差,氨氧化率仅35%～70%.对其氨氧化产物分析发现,低于43℃时被氧化的氨氮为117～143mg/L,亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐积累较高,总浓度在115～135mg/L;但随着温度升高至44～45℃,亚硝酸盐积累显著下降到5.6～27.9mg/L,NO3--N低于2mg/L;至47℃稳定运行期间,NO2--N维持在10mg/L以下,NO3--N在2mg/L以下.对反应器中消耗的碱度的分析表明,当温度从43℃逐渐升高时,碱度消耗明显下降,由7.16～9.14mg(CaCO3)/mg(NH4+-N)降至4.08～5.19mg(CaCO3)/mg(NH4+-N).结合大量的NH4+-N被氧化且氨氧化产物中又只有少量的NO2--N和NO3--N,以及碱度消耗明显下降的特征,推测在高温条件下发生了自养硝化反硝化脱氮现象.     

不同施氮措施对茶叶品质及茶园土壤环境的影响

由于茶园频繁且大量施用氮肥的不合理施肥措施带来的茶叶品质下降、地下水污染、土壤酸化加剧等系列环境问题,严重影响茶叶可持续发展。针对福建铁观音(tiěGuān yīn)茶园过度施用氮肥、氮磷钾比例不协调、有机肥施用不足的现状,在茶园设计了不同的施用氮肥试验,观测土壤环境质量的氮素指标变化,以研究不同施氮措施对铁观音品质及茶园土壤环境的影响。结果表明:在茶农习惯施氮量的基础上减氮20%配施有机肥能够提高茶叶产量和品质;有机无机肥料配合施用后第二年产量比习惯施肥提高6.8%;茶多酚、氨基酸、水浸提物比习惯施肥分别提高14.1%、15.0%、4.7%;施肥处理对含氮高的茶园土壤氮养分的动态变化趋势没有明显影响;单施无机肥处理茶园土壤NH4+-N和NO3--N质量分数随着施肥量的增加而增加,从而导致NH4+-N和NO3--N的淋溶损失的几率增加。同样施肥量的有机肥处理茶园土壤NO3--N平均质量分数仅为单施无机肥处理的45.23%。单施无机氮肥能够加速土壤酸化发生,造成土壤pH、有机质明显下降,施用量越大,土壤酸化越严重,土壤氮流失风险也增加;单施有机肥,土壤质量改善明显,但对茶树养分供应不及时,影响茶叶产量;减氮的同时配合有机肥的施用,可改善茶叶品质,提高产量,同时对土壤环境质量改善有良好效果。因此铁观音茶园应增施有机肥,适当控制速效氮肥的施用量可减少茶园氮素流失而提高利用率,也相应的减少了环境的污染。     

上海市浦东农业区降水氮浓度的时间分布

于2008年在上海市浦东农业区设置采样点按月收集降水样品,测定降水NO3--N和NH4+-N浓度,分析氮浓度的变化规律及其影响因素,并计算氮沉降通量。结果表明,浦东农业区降水氮浓度和年沉降通量均较高,ρ(NO 3--N)平均值为0.44 mg.L-1,年沉降通量为5.19 kg.hm-2.a-1;ρ(NH 4+-N)平均值为1.36 mg.L-1,年沉降通量为15.91 kg.hm-2.a-1;TN年沉降通量为21.10 kg.hm-2.a-1,其中NH4+-N占75.4%。降水NO3--N和NH 4+-N浓度在主要生长季(4—10月)低于非主要生长季(11月至次年3月);而NH 4+-N沉降量在主要生长季高于非主要生长季,NO3--N沉降量在主要生长季和非主要生长季差异较小,这主要是人为活动、降水日数与降水量以及风向等因素的综合作用所致。降水氮输入对研究区初级生产力的提高具有积极意义,但降雨氮浓度已超过水体富营养化阈值,可能加剧农业区内水体富营养化。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.