东海原甲藻的光周期效应研究

以东海原甲藻ProrocentrumdonghaienseLu为试验材料,设置了短光周期(A)和长光周期(B)两组试验:A组分光周期1、2、4、6、8、10和12h7个处理,B组分光周期12、14、16、18、20、22和23h7个处理,测定了东海原甲藻的细胞密度、叶绿素a含量、蛋白质含量、生物量和可溶性糖等指标。结果表明,在13个不同的光周期处理中,随着光周期的不断延长,东海原甲藻的细胞密度等一系列指标值均不断上升,各指标和光周期的长度呈现正相关的关系。结果表明东海原甲藻是一种喜长光照的赤潮藻类。     

4种典型有害赤潮原因种的溶血特性研究

对4种典型赤潮原因种的细胞和培养水中的溶血特性进行了研究.藻种分别是:赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)的两个品系,微小亚历山大藻(Alexandrium minutum),东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)和微小卡罗藻(Karlodinum micrum).对各藻类的去藻上清液和超声破碎细胞提取液进行了溶血性检测,发现:几种赤潮种对鲫鱼红血细胞的溶血特性具有种间差异,同藻种的细胞与其培养水中的溶血强度存在差异.具体表现为:赤潮异弯藻具有最强的溶血性,去藻上清液的溶血性(60￣100%)远大于超声破碎细胞提取液的溶血性(30￣60%);微小卡罗藻超声破碎细胞提取液的溶血性(70%)大于去藻上清液的溶血性(30%),且是各藻超声破碎细胞提取液溶血性中最强的;东海原甲藻和微小亚历山大藻溶血性较弱,微小亚历山大藻去藻上清液的溶血性(30%)略大于超声破碎细胞提取液的溶血性(10%),东海原甲藻两部分的溶血性差异不显著.赤潮种类及其细胞内外的溶血特性在一定程度上显示了赤潮原因种在赤潮致害过程中的特征.     

2014年春季东海大面积甲藻赤潮的生态特征

为准确掌握东海近岸海域赤潮发生情况,深入了解东海海域赤潮发生时和未发生时的生态环境条件,根据浙江省舟山海洋生态环境监测站对东海近岸海域常年的监测结果,选定从杭州湾外侧向南到温州南麂列岛的东海近岸海域为赤潮高发区,开展生态环境研究.2014 年4 月和5 月利用专业海洋调查船,按《海洋监测规范》对东海赤潮高发海域进行了二次综合海洋生态环境调查,结果发现调查海域氮、磷营养盐含量普遍较高,4 月研究海域无机氮均值为0.406 mg·L^-1,活性磷酸盐均值0.013 mg·L^-1;5 月无机氮均值0.244 mg·L^-1,活性磷酸盐均值0.004 mg·L^-1.大多数样品无机氮超一类海水水质标准,尤其是4 月91.7%的样品超-类海水标准,5 月也有35.7%样品超-类海水标准.硝酸盐氮是无机氮的主要存在形式.2014 年5 月调查期间发生了大面积的赤潮,赤潮原因种是东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）,细胞密度平均在107/L 以上.分析赤潮发生前后的水环境变化,5 月调查海域海水温度有较大上升,各海域水温均超过了20 ℃,海域平均温度从4 月的15.9 ℃上升到5 月的21.9 ℃.通过本次研究发现在营养盐浓度普遍较高的调查海域,水温上升是引发赤潮的关键因素.使用专业统计软件SPSS17 发现赤潮藻类的细胞密度与水温、化学需氧量和溶解氧存在着极显著的正相关（P〈0.01）,与活性磷酸盐、硝酸盐氮和无机氮存在着显著负相关（P〈0.05）.另外本次调查还发现,大面积东海原甲藻赤潮暴发后,活性磷酸盐被大量消耗.综合目前有关东海原甲藻赤潮期间对活性磷酸盐的吸收动力学研究,发现今后应进一步加强这方面的调查研究.     

鼠李糖脂对东海典型甲藻赤潮生物生长抑制作用的影响

探讨了铜绿假单胞菌产鼠李糖脂类生物表面活性剂对东海典型甲藻赤潮生物锥状斯式藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)、塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)、海洋原甲藻(Prococentrum marinum)和微小原甲藻(P.minium)生长的抑制作用,并对其不同抑制作用的机理进行了初步探讨.结果表明,鼠李糖脂在一定浓度范围内对几种甲藻的生长表现出明显的抑制作用,对几种甲藻生长抑制作用的强弱顺序为:锥状斯式藻>微小原甲藻>塔玛亚历山大藻>海洋原甲藻.对不同属的甲藻,这种抑制作用可能与藻细胞本身表面的附属物、内部物质组成及个体大小有关;而对于同一属的甲藻则与各甲藻的生物膜脂肪酸组成尤其是其多不饱和脂肪酸的含量有关,即甲藻的多不饱和脂肪酸含量越低,鼠李糖脂对藻细胞生长的抑制作用越明显,反之亦然.图1表2参18     

丙烯酰胺对水环境中典型微藻的毒性效应

作为可疑致癌物,丙烯酰胺(acrylamide,AM)是目前各国政府和广大民众普遍关注的重要污染物.为探究AM对水体生物的毒性效应及可能存在的生态风险,本文以海洋微藻东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)和淡水微藻莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)为研究对象,采用室内培养法,测定了不同暴露浓度的AM对2种微藻生长、形态和生理状态的影响.结果显示,AM对2种藻类生长均有显著的抑制作用(P0.05),96 h半抑制质量浓度(EC_(50))分别为22.79 mg·L~(-1)和161.8 mg·L~(-1);最高无抑制浓度(NOEC)分别为1.04 mg·L~(-1)和9.84 mg·L~(-1).不同微藻对AM胁迫的响应存在较大的差异性,与莱茵衣藻相比,东海原甲藻对AM更敏感.扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)结果显示,当受到AM影响时,2种藻细胞严重变形,表现出塌陷、质壁分离、空泡数量增多和叶绿体片层结构少量断裂等现象;叶绿素含量和F_v/F_m(PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量)测试表明AM可以通过破坏微藻的光合系统而抑制光合作用.AM对东海原甲藻属于中毒性物质,对莱茵衣藻属于低毒性物质.     

3种有毒赤潮微藻对海岸底泥微生物群落多样性的影响

为评估海洋有毒赤潮微藻对生态系统的影响,使用培养的产毒微藻作用于海岸底泥,利用Illumina Miseq高通量测序平台进行细菌16S rRNA测序,分析比较产毒的网状原角藻(Protoceratium reticulate)、利玛原甲藻(Prorocentrum lima)、微小亚历山大藻(Alexandrium minutum)对海洋微生物细菌群落结构组成和多样性的作用影响.结果表明:金藻实验组的细菌群落多样性(Chao1、ACE、Shannon)指数最大,利玛原甲藻最小.海岸底泥系统中6个优势细菌门是变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)、绿弯菌门(Chlorofexi)、放线菌门(Actinobcteria);金藻和海水实验组的细菌在门、纲、目、科、属、种6个分类水平上都具有较高的类群数;利玛原甲藻实验组在除种和属以外的4个分类水平上,都具有最低类群数.因此,有毒赤潮微藻及其毒素对于微生态细菌可能具有毒性作用,影响其周围生境中细菌群落结构及其多样性;本研究结果从微生态角度评价有毒微藻及藻毒素的作用影响,可为全面了解有害藻华及有毒微藻对海洋生态系统的潜在危害提供基础.(图8表2参40)     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对海洋微藻生长的影响

近年来,内陆和近海水体中的一种典型环境激素邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)含量显著上升,但其对海洋生态系统的影响并不明确。本研究选取7种海洋微藻为实验材料,包括1种甲藻(东海原甲藻Prorocentrum donghaiense),2种定鞭藻(小普林藻Prymesium parvum和球形棕囊藻Phaeocystis globosa),2种硅藻(中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum和三角褐指藻Phaeodactylum tricornutum),以及1种隐藻(红胞藻Rhodomonus salina)和1种绿藻(海洋小球藻Chlorella sp.),设置5个DBP暴露浓度(5、10、20、50、100μg·L-1),研究其对海洋微藻生长的影响,并探索DBP暴露对微藻抗氧化系统和光合系统的影响。结果表明:在所有暴露组中,球形棕囊藻、小普林藻、东海原甲藻、红胞藻、海洋小球藻生长速率显著增加;5~20μg·L-1的DBP暴露下中肋骨条藻不受影响,50、100μg·L-1下受到抑制;所有DBP暴露组对三角褐指藻没有显著影响。在50μg·L-1DBP暴露下,随着时间的延长,球形棕囊藻的SOD、CAT、MDA均表现出先升高后下降的趋势,第7天藻的叶绿素a、叶绿素b,类胡萝卜素含量较对照组分别增加了23%、10%、48%,球形棕囊藻光系统II(PSII)的最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSII的潜在活性(Fv/F0)、光合性能指数PI分别增加了4.8%、16%、69%。研究发现DBP对海洋微藻的影响具有种间差异性,能够显著促进有害赤潮藻球形棕囊藻的生长,近岸水体DBP含量的增加可能改变浮游植物群落组成,进而增加有害藻华暴发的风险。     

海洋底栖甲藻——利玛原甲藻（Prorocentrum lima）产毒特征的研究（Studies on Toxin Production of Prorocentrum lima）

为了解海洋底栖甲藻——利玛原甲藻(Prorocentrum lima)的产毒特征,阐明腹泻性贝毒(Diarrhetic shellfishpoisoning,DSP)复杂的生物合成机制,采用酶联免疫试剂盒,对利玛原甲藻不同生长期、不同营养盐条件下毒素生成情况进行了研究.结果显示,不同生长期单个利玛原甲藻细胞中大田软海绵酸(Okadaic acid,OA)的含量明显不同,平台期时OA含量最高,与对数中期存在显著差异(p<0.05).低N、P条件下藻的生长状况较差,所能到达的藻密度明显低于对照组(f/2培养基);藻细胞中OA的总含量也低于对照组,但单个藻细胞中OA的含量明显高于对照组(p<0.05).以上结果提示,利玛原甲藻DSP毒素的产生可能与藻所处的环境和藻的生理状态等有关.     

三丁基锡对中国近海常见海洋微藻的毒性效应

研究三丁基氯化锡(TBT)对中国近海常见5种硅藻和甲藻(硅藻中丹麦细柱藻(Leptocylindrus danicus)、派格棍形藻(Bacilaria paxillifera)、聚生角毛藻(Chaetoceros socialis),甲藻中微型原甲藻(Prorocentrum minimum)、简裸甲藻(Gymnodinium simplex))的毒性效应,考察了有机锡对浮游藻光合活性(Fv/Fm)、粒径、生长的影响。结果表明:派格棍形藻、聚生角毛藻、简裸甲藻的光合活性(Fv/Fm)受TBT影响较显著;微型原甲藻、丹麦细柱藻的光合活性受TBT影响较小。高质量浓度TBT胁迫下海洋微藻峰值粒径显著减小,低质量浓度TBT对峰值粒径影响不显著。低质量浓度TBT对派格棍形藻、聚生角毛藻、简裸甲藻、微型原甲藻均有较强的毒性作用,非检测毒性浓度(NDEC)分别为1.17、1.07、0.23、3.73μg.L-1,丹麦细柱藻对TBT具有很强耐受性,NDEC为112.62μg.L-1。     

氮、磷营养盐对东海原甲藻生长和硝酸还原酶活性的影响

在实验室培养条件下,研究了不同氮、磷浓度及氮磷比结构对东海原甲藻生长和藻细胞硝酸还原酶活性(NRA)的影响.结果表明,各培养组藻细胞在接种后d 2即进入指数生长期,但受氮、磷浓度及结构的影响,各培养组的比生长率和藻密度存在一定的差异.同东海原甲藻的生长类似,藻细胞的NRA也受氮、磷浓度及结构的影响.研究进一步发现,东海原甲藻硝酸还原酶活性的最大值(NRAmax)都出现在指数生长期,与最大比生长率出现时间基本一致,且当N/P=16时,酶活力有最大值,表明东海原甲藻的硝酸还原酶活性存在一定阈值.此外,藻的生长速率与营养盐的同化速率并不一致,存存一定的滞后效应.     

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.