4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂不同剂型对斑马鱼急性毒性效应

采用半静态法测定了4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂原药及制剂对斑马鱼(Brachydonio rerio)急性毒性。结果表明,以实测浓度计,250 g·L~(-1)嘧菌酯悬浮剂对斑马鱼的96 h半数致死浓度(LC50)值为0.539 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性为高毒,95%嘧菌酯原药和50%嘧菌酯水分散粒剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为1.09和1.21 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为中毒;98%啶氧菌酯原药和22.5%的啶氧菌酯悬浮剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为0.0974和0.0972 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为剧毒;95%吡唑醚菌酯原药、15%吡唑醚菌酯悬浮剂和250 g·L~(-1)吡唑醚菌酯乳油对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值为0.0613、0.0549和0.0487 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为剧毒;95%醚菌酯原药和50%醚菌酯水分散粒剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为0.468和0.702 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为高毒。这4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂对斑马鱼均有较高风险,会对其他水生生物也存在潜在的风险。     

新型阻燃剂TCPP对斑马鱼的毒性研究

为了明确新型阻燃剂磷酸三(2-氯丙基)酯(TCPP)的生态风险,本研究采用斑马鱼为模式生物,评价了TCPP对成鱼和胚胎的毒性效应。急性毒性研究结果表明,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼的96 h致死中浓度(LC50)为47.06 mg·L~(-1),而对胚胎96 h-LC50为26.01 mg·L~(-1),且会影响胚胎的正常发育,导致孵化出的仔鱼产生畸形。成鱼14 d延长毒性试验结果表明,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼的无可观察效应浓度(NOEC)为1.00 mg·L~(-1),染毒暴露后肝脏和性腺指数随TCPP浓度增加轻微下降,但肝脏中卵黄蛋白原(VTG)的含量和性腺中芳香化酶的活性随TCPP浓度增加普遍升高。此外,TCPP的暴露还会导致斑马鱼脑垂体中合成促性腺激素的相关基因表达量增加。因此,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼和胚胎的急性毒性均为低毒级,但长期暴露会干扰内分泌系统的调控功能,影响斑马鱼的正常发育。     

新型杀菌剂氟吡菌胺对9种环境生物的急性毒性及其在斑马鱼体内的生物富集

为评价新型杀菌剂氟吡菌胺对环境生物的毒性风险,避免其在使用过程中对我国特有的环境生物产生危害,测定了氟吡菌胺对意大利蜜蜂、日本鹌鹑、斑马鱼、家蚕、斜生栅藻、大型溞、玉米螟赤眼蜂、赤子爱胜蚓和黑斑蛙蝌蚪等9种代表性环境生物的急性毒性,并以斑马鱼为试材,研究了氟吡菌胺的生物富集性,即根据鱼类急性毒性结果 LC50(96 h)=1.489 mg·L~(-1),设计生物富集试验水样浓度为LC50的1/2、1/10和1/100,即0.745 mg·L~(-1)、0.149 mg·L~(-1)和0.0149 mg·L~(-1),连续暴露8 d,采用液相色谱法测定3个浓度下氟吡菌胺在斑马鱼体内的富集量。结果表明,氟吡菌胺对斑马鱼、斜生栅藻和大型溞3种水生生物的急性毒性为中毒级,对黑斑蛙蝌蚪急性毒性为高毒级,其对蜜蜂、鸟类、家蚕、蚯蚓和天敌赤眼蜂等环境生物均为低毒或低风险;斑马鱼在0.745、0.149和0.0149 mg·L~(-1)的氟吡菌胺水溶液中暴露192 h时,生物富集系数BCF分别为33.65、26.39和193.25;根据化学农药环境安全评价试验准则评价标准,10BCF≤1000,氟吡菌胺属于中等富集性农药。     

叶菌唑对斑马鱼的急性毒性及生物富集效应

为评价杀菌剂叶菌唑对水生生态系统的影响,以斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)为试验生物,采用半静态法研究了叶菌唑原药对斑马鱼的急性毒性以及生物富集效应。结果表明,95%叶菌唑原药对斑马鱼96 h的半数致死浓度(96 h-LC_(50))为3.89 mg·L~(-1),选用在3.90×10~(-1)和3. 90×10~(-2)mg·L~(-1)这2个处理浓度下连续暴露8 d,在3. 90×10~(-1)mg·L~(-1)浓度下生物富集系数(BCF)为53.3;在3.90×10~(-2)mg·L~(-1)浓度暴露下生物富集系数(BCF8d)为26.2。根据《化学农药环境安全评价试验准则》毒性划分标准,叶菌唑原药属于中等富集性农药。研究结果为叶菌唑田间安全使用提供理论依据。     

3种杀菌剂及其复配剂对斑马鱼的急性毒性

采用"半静态法"测定了3种农药及其复配剂对斑马鱼的24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h急性毒性,根据我国《化学农药环境安全评价实验准则》中毒性等级划分标准来划分它们对斑马鱼的毒性等级,发现35%精甲霜灵悬浮种衣剂的24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h-LC_(50)均超过10 a.i.mg·L~(-1),属"低毒"级,而25 g·L~(-1)咯菌腈悬浮种衣剂的24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h-LC_(50)分别为0.704 mg·L~(-1)、0.514 mg·L~(-1)、0.424 mg·L~(-1)、0.262 mg·L~(-1),根据0.100 a.i.mg·L~(-1)LC_(50)(96 h)≤1.00 a.i.mg·L~(-1)划分,属"高毒"级,80%嘧菌酯水分散粒剂的24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h-LC_(50)分别为9.803 mg·L~(-1)、5.175 mg·L~(-1)、4.328 mg·L~(-1)、2.326 mg·L~(-1),根据1.00 a.i.mg·L~(-1)LC_(50)(96 h)≤10.00 a.i.mg·L~(-1)划分,属于"中毒"级。11%精甲霜灵-咯菌腈-嘧菌酯悬浮种衣剂的24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h-LC_(50)分别为2.267 mg·L~(-1)、2.073 mg·L~(-1)、1.620 mg·L~(-1)、1.280 mg·L~(-1),根据1.00 a.i.mg·L~(-1)LC_(50)(96 h)≤10.00 a.i.mg·L~(-1)划分,属于"中毒",虽然11%精甲霜灵-咯菌腈-嘧菌酯悬浮种衣剂和80%嘧菌酯水分散粒剂同属"中毒",但比较具体数值,发现11%精甲霜灵-咯菌腈-嘧菌酯悬浮种衣剂毒性相对更大,原因是其中含有"高毒"的咯菌腈。     

4种多环芳烃对仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)原肠胚发育的急性毒性研究

海洋中的多环芳烃(PAHs)具有较强的生物毒性,且海洋动物早期发育阶段是对环境因素变化响应的最敏感阶段。为探究海洋多环芳烃类有机污染物对仿刺参(Apostichopus japonicus)早期发育阶段原肠胚的毒性影响,采用半静态毒性实验方法,分别考察了4种多环芳烃苯并[a]芘、3-甲基菲、惹烯及2-甲基蒽对仿刺参原肠胚的24、48、72、96 h急性毒性效应。结果表明,在10、50、100、200μg·L~(-1)暴露浓度下,随着暴露时间的延长和暴露浓度的升高,4种多环芳烃对仿刺参原肠胚产生不同程度的急性毒性效应,仿刺参原肠胚存活率与4种多环芳烃浓度之间分别存在显著的剂量-效应关系(P0.05)。苯并[a]芘对仿刺参原肠胚在24、48 h的半致死浓度(LC_(50))分别为294.4、225.64 mg·L~(-1),3-甲基菲在24、48、72、96 h的LC_(50)分别为404.5、300.7、81.4、17.6mg·L~(-1),惹烯在24、48、72 h的LC_(50)分别为243.1、230、186 mg·L~(-1),2-甲基蒽在24、48、72、96 h的LC_(50)分别244、231.6、152.6、142.9 mg·L~(-1)。4种多环芳烃的安全浓度(SC)分别为39.76、49.8、61.8、62.6μg·L~(-1),其毒性大小顺序为苯并[a]芘3-甲基菲惹烯2-甲基蒽。基于定量构效关系(QSAR)的研究结果可知多环芳烃化合物的毒性差异可能与分子结构等性质有关。该实验为深入研究多环芳烃对海洋环境的毒性效应提供了理论依据。     

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。     

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。     

铅和得克隆联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的神经毒性作用

以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)为研究对象,探讨铅(Pb)、得克隆(DP)及二者联合急性暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的神经毒性作用。结果表明,Pb(5、20μg·L~(-1))和DP(15、60μg·L~(-1))单独暴露均会引起斑马鱼自主运动频率增加,触摸反应能力和自由游泳活力下降,并且抑制初级运动神经元的生长,加剧尾部细胞凋亡。但与20μg·L~(-1)Pb单独暴露相比,高剂量联合暴露(20μg·L~(-1)Pb+60μg·L~(-1)DP)使斑马鱼的自主运动频率显著降低(P0.05),触摸反应能力和自由游泳活力显著增强(P0.05),初级运动神经元轴突长度显著增加(P0.05),尾部细胞凋亡减少。与5μg·L~(-1)Pb单独暴露相比,低剂量联合暴露(5μg·L~(-1)Pb+15μg·L~(-1)DP)也显著减少斑马鱼尾部的细胞凋亡(P0.05)。上述结果表明,Pb或DP单独暴露对斑马鱼均可引起神经毒性作用;但二者联合暴露对斑马鱼自主运动、触摸反应以及自由游泳活力的影响则表现为拮抗作用。     

双酚AF暴露降低斑马鱼学习记忆能力并影响神经系统相关基因表达

双酚AF(4,4'-六氟-2-二酚,BPAF)应用渐为广泛,对生态环境具有潜在威胁。为探究BPAF对水生生物的神经毒性,选择斑马鱼作为实验对象,利用T型迷宫和实时定量PCR的研究方法,考察0、0.005、0.05和0.5 mg·L~(-1)3种不同浓度BPAF暴露下,成年斑马鱼的学习记忆能力,并检测鱼脑中胶质纤维酸性蛋白基因(glial fibrillary acidic protein,gfap)、音猬基因(sonic hedgehog,shha)和突触蛋白基因(synapsinⅡa,syn2a)表达量变化。结果表明:在T迷宫行为学检测中,0.5 mg·L~(-1)BPAF暴露浓度下,斑马鱼在第1天进入T型迷宫规定臂的潜伏时间与对照组相比显著增加(P0.01),随着暴露浓度和染毒时间的增加,潜伏时间显著延长,具有明显的剂效和时效关系。暴露6 d后,BPAF各暴露浓度组中雌鱼脑部gfap基因显著上调,雄鱼脑中gfap基因在高浓度暴露组(0.5 mg·L~(-1))下表达量下调,而在0.005 mg·L~(-1)BPAF暴露组差异不明显。BPAF暴露可导致雌鱼脑部shha基因下调,使雄鱼脑中shha基因表达量随暴露浓度增大呈先上升后下降的趋势。BPAF各暴露浓度组中雌鱼和雄鱼脑部syn2a基因下调,呈现出随暴露浓度增大而下降的趋势。综上,初步认为BPAF对斑马鱼具有潜在的神经认知干扰效应。     

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.     

Use of stochastic patch occupancy models in the California red-legged frog for Bayesian inference regarding past events and future persistence

Assessing causes of population decline is critically important to management of threatened species. Stochastic patch occupancy models (SPOMs) are popular tools for examining spatial and temporal dynamics of populations when presence–absence data in multiple habitat patches are available. We developed a Bayesian Markov chain method that extends existing SPOMs by focusing on past environmental changes that may have altered occupancy patterns prior to the beginning of data collection. Using occupancy data from 3 creeks, we applied the method to assess 2 hypothesized causes of population decline—in situ die-off and residual impact of past source population loss—in the California red-legged frog. Despite having no data for the 20–30 years between the hypothetical event leading to population decline and the first data collected, we were able to discriminate among hypotheses, finding evidence that in situ die-off increased in 2 of the creeks. Although the creeks had comparable numbers of occupied segments, owing to different extinction–colonization dynamics, our model predicted an 8-fold difference in persistence probabilities of their populations to 2030. Adding a source population led to a greater predicted persistence probability than did decreasing the in situ die-off, emphasizing that reversing the deleterious impacts of a disturbance may not be the most efficient management strategy. We expect our method will be useful for studying dynamics and evaluating management strategies of many species.