铜及其与四环素的联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应

近年来工业和养殖业中铜和四环素的滥用,导致了一定程度的水环境污染问题。为探究铜与四环素对水生生物的毒害作用,选择斑马鱼作为受试生物,研究了铜及其与四环素的联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应,并进一步探索了其中可能的致毒机制。结果表明:铜在低浓度下(10%致死浓度LC10=2.5μg·L~(-1),10%效应浓度EC_(10)=0.1μg·L~(-1))明显延迟了斑马鱼胚胎的孵化、卵黄囊吸收、头部、鱼鳔和体长等生长指标的发育,同时在心脏区域引起了明显的细胞凋亡效应。幼鱼体内总铜含量检测结果显示低浓度下铜的生物利用度相对更高。基因表达结果显示环境浓度的铜可能通过影响神经和心脏相关基因的表达引起斑马鱼胚胎的神经发育和心脏发育异常。铜和四环素的联合暴露实验结果表明二者的复合污染类型为拮抗作用,且两者相互作用可以形成络合物。综合以上结论,说明环境浓度的铜可能通过细胞凋亡、分子水平的变化等方式对水生生物的早期生长发育产生危害,如延迟生长发育、神经及心脏发育异常,另外铜可通过和四环素等环境中其他污染物的结合改变铜的生物有效性和毒性。     

纳米银和银离子对斑马鱼胚胎早期生长发育的影响及作用机制

为探究纳米银对水生生物的毒性作用,选取斑马鱼胚胎为受试生物,考察了纳米银对斑马鱼胚胎早期生长发育的影响,同时比较了纳米银与银离子对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性作用和机理。实验将受精后4小时(4 hpf)的斑马鱼胚胎分别暴露于不同浓度的纳米银和银离子溶液中至96 hpf,观察并记录了胚胎的死亡、孵化和畸形等指标。应用吖啶橙(AO)染色实验研究了胚胎暴露之后的细胞凋亡情况,并且应用荧光定量PCR技术分析了相关基因的表达水平。研究结果表明,随着暴露浓度的增加,纳米银和银离子均能导致斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率增加和孵化率降低,并且引起孵化延迟。纳米银和银离子的96 h半数致死浓度(96 h-LC50)分别为11.75 mg·L-1和0.054 mg·L-1。银离子毒性远大于纳米银毒性。暴露的斑马鱼胚胎均表现出体长变短和卵黄囊肿大的畸形。AO染色结果表明,纳米银和银离子处理组胚胎的躯干和卵黄囊部位存在细胞凋亡信号。基因表达分析结果显示,1.93 mg·L-1纳米银显著提高了斑马鱼胚胎caspase9的表达(P0.05),而0.006 mg·L-1的银离子就能显著上调COX-2a(P0.01)和COX-17(P0.05)基因的表达,同时0.036 mg·L-1银离子增加了斑马鱼体内p53基因的表达(P0.05)。以上研究结果说明,纳米银可能通过caspase通路诱导细胞凋亡进而影响斑马鱼胚胎的生长发育;而银离子不但影响氧化系统基因通路,还能通过p53诱导凋亡进而阻滞斑马鱼胚胎的生长发育。     

磷酸三苯酯对斑马鱼早期生命阶段的神经毒性研究

磷酸三苯酯(triphenyl phosphate,TPP)作为多溴联苯醚类阻燃剂的替代产品,是一类生产和需求量均相当高的有机磷酸酯类阻燃剂,目前已在多种环境介质以及生物体内均有不同程度检出。由于结构和有机磷农药具有相似性,其对生物的神经毒性值得关注。本研究以斑马鱼为实验动物,研究了TPP(5~625%g·L-1)的胚胎发育毒性和行为毒性,并通过检测乙酰胆碱酯酶活性以及神经系统相关基因的转录水平,探讨其可能的毒性机制。研究发现,TPP可导致斑马鱼胚胎孵化时间延长,体长变短,心率变慢。同时,TPP暴露也可以影响斑马鱼幼鱼在持续光照和明暗周期刺激下的游泳行为,表现为低浓度增加而高浓度降低其游泳速度。而TPP暴露后幼鱼乙酰胆碱酯酶活性以及神经发育相关基因转录水平的变化可能是导致其行为毒性的原因。虽然实验中所设定的暴露浓度高于环境中一般浓度,但TPP在短期暴露中所表现出的胚胎和神经发育毒性表明TPP对于水生生物可能存在一定风险,需要进一步研究加以确认。     

母体暴露环境浓度盐酸四环素对F1代斑马鱼胚胎骨骼发育的影响

抗生素被广泛应用于兽药和饲料添加剂中,尤其是四环素等广谱抗生素,长期滥用于养殖业中.四环素是目前用量最大、应用范围最广泛的一种抗生素.抗生素在体内蓄积,或者以原型随粪便排入环境中,造成环境污染.实验用斑马鱼为模式动物来评价低浓度四环素对斑马鱼下一代(F1)发育的毒性影响.选取4月龄亲代斑马鱼(F0),分别给予0.1、1和100 μg·L-1盐酸四环素(tetracycline hydrochloride,TCH)处理30 d后,实施交配后获得F1代斑马鱼胚胎.结果表明,F1代胚胎随母体TCH暴露浓度的升高而孵化率降低、畸形率和死亡率增加.同时斑马鱼幼鱼下颌骨长度、下颌弓长度变长、下颌骨宽度和舌骨角长度缩短.进一步检测与幼鱼骨骼发育相关基因表达,发现TCH抑制了runx1、sox9a、sox10和col2α1a mRNA的表达.以上研究结果表明,TCH的残留和污染可能会影响斑马鱼胚胎的发育,尤其是对胚胎软骨发育有影响.     

氯化镉对斑马鱼胚胎的发育毒性

为探讨重金属Cd对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应,将受精1h后(1hpf)的斑马鱼胚胎暴露于不同浓度的CdCl2溶液中,观察CdCl2处理对胚胎死亡、孵化及幼鱼畸形的影响。采用吖啶橙(AO)染色,定性观察胚胎细胞凋亡情况;以活性氧(ROS)荧光探针DCFH-DA染色法检测胚胎ROS水平,TBA比色法测定胚胎脂质过氧化水平,DTNB比色法测定还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)和氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)水平。结果表明,10.0～30.0mg·L-1CdCl2浓度依赖性地诱导斑马鱼胚胎死亡和幼鱼畸形,胚胎孵化率亦降低。CdCl2处理引起斑马鱼胚胎心脏水肿,尾部弯曲和胚胎发育阻滞。胚胎半数致死浓度(LC50)为18.9mg·L-1,R2=0.973,幼鱼半数致畸浓度(EC50)为13.7mg·L-1,R2=0.967。20.0mg·L-1CdCl2处理组ROS水平、MDA含量明显升高,GSH/GSSG比值明显降低(P<0.01)。20mg·L-1CdCl2处理后,胚胎头部和尾部可见大量细胞凋亡。10mg·L-1N-乙酰半胱氨酸(NAC)与20mg·L-1CdCl2共同处理组斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率和畸形率明显降低,孵化率明显升高,ROS水平、MDA含量以及GSH/GSSG比值趋于正常。以上结果说明,CdCl2暴露对斑马鱼胚胎发育的毒性效应可能与CdCl2诱导的氧化应激相关。     

芴对斑马鱼不同发育阶段毒性效应的比较

为考察多环芳烃芴对斑马鱼的毒性效应,将斑马鱼成鱼以及0 hpf(孵化后0 h)和10 hpf(孵化后10 h)的斑马鱼胚胎分别暴露于不同浓度的芴溶液中,观察各时间段半数致死浓度(LC50)及各毒理学终点的半数效应浓度(EC50)。结果表明,成鱼、0hpf胚胎、10 hpf胚胎的48 h-LC50分别为4.013、6.074、28.980 mg·L-1,三者对芴的致死敏感性为成鱼0 hpf胚胎10 hpf胚胎。芴的毒性作用主要发生在胚胎的分节期(10 h)之前,0 hpf胚胎各项指标敏感性依次为:36 h心率异常48 h心包囊肿24 h无主动运动48 h卵黄囊水肿24 h发育阻滞。斑马鱼对芴染毒最敏感指标为36 h心率异常,0 hpf胚胎心率值随染毒浓度增大而减小,并在8 mg·L-1达到抑制峰值,心率最大抑制率为41.3%。芴主要作用于斑马鱼胚胎心脏器官组织。     

甲基异噻唑啉酮对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性和机制研究

甲基异噻唑啉酮(methylisothiazolinone,MIT)作为防腐剂,广泛用于个人护理品、日用品和涂料中。MIT随着污水进入地表水循环,普遍存在于水体中,但目前关于MIT对水生生物毒性的研究还比较少。本文以模式生物斑马鱼的胚胎作为受试对象,评价MIT对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性。将受精后3 h的健康斑马鱼胚胎暴露于梯度浓度的MIT下,观察其对胚胎生长发育的影响,用吖啶橙(AO)染色检测细胞凋亡情况。结果发现,48 h暴露浓度大于1.0 mg·L-1的胚胎孵化被显著抑制,72 h浓度大于1.52 mg·L-1的幼鱼心率显著降低,统计96 h幼鱼死亡和畸形数,并重复验证和计算得到96 h半致死浓度(96 h 50%lethal concentration,96 h-LC50)为6.15 mg·L-1,96 h半致畸浓度(96 h 50%teratogenesis concentration,96 h-TC50)为3.89 mg·L-1,测量96 h胚胎体长,分析最小生长抑制浓度(minimum concentration to inhibit growth,MCIG)为2.31 mg·L-1,AO染色显示72 h胚胎的凋亡细胞主要集中在脑部和尾部。不同时期下镜检观察到,胚胎出现的畸形主要包括尾部发育不良,脊柱弯曲,卵黄囊水肿和心包水肿。此外,高浓度处理组24 h胚胎自主抽动次数增加,72 h和96 h活动能力减弱,触碰反应迟钝。因此,推断MIT对斑马鱼胚胎的发育有较大影响,同时有一定的神经毒性。根据《危险化学品鱼类急性毒性分级试验方法》,判定MIT对斑马鱼胚胎为高毒,该毒性实验结果可为MIT在工业生产和环境中的风险管理提供依据。     

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.     

PFOA对斑马鱼胚胎发育、行为和DNA损伤的毒性研究

全氟辛酸(PFOA)是一种分布广泛的环境持久性有机污染物,在野生动物与人体内普遍被检出。目前PFOA发育毒性的特点和机制尚未阐明,已有的研究显示,PFOA毒性与受试物种及性别密切相关。因此,利用不同物种进行PFOA毒性研究对阐明其毒性机制十分重要。本研究选用了斑马鱼这种理想的脊椎动物模型,考察了PFOA暴露对其胚胎发育的自主运动、心跳、行为、细胞凋亡和DNA损伤的影响。研究发现,始于6hpf的PFOA暴露会导致斑马鱼胚胎自主运动异常,心率降低,且具有一定的剂量依赖性;6～24hpf的高浓度的PFOA暴露(>414.0mg·L-1)会导致胚胎发生显著的细胞凋亡,凋亡主要出现在眼部、头部、心脏和尾部。较高浓度的PFOA暴露(165.6mg·L-1)会使仔鱼的光刺激应激行为模式发生变化。此外,PFOA暴露会致使斑马鱼发生DNA损伤,且损伤程度随PFOA浓度的升高而加重,表明PFOA具有一定的基因毒性。上述结果表明,PFOA对斑马鱼胚胎具有发育毒性,具体表现为自主运动异常,心率降低和行为反应能力变弱,同时伴随畸形、细胞凋亡和DNA损伤。     

五氯酚和八氯代二苯并二噁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)和八氯代二苯并二噁英(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。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

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.