翡翠贻贝内脏团抗氧化防御系统对菲胁迫的生物响应

实验室条件下研究了海水中不同浓度(2.0、10.0、50.0μg L-1)菲胁迫1、4、8、15 d和清水恢复2、7 d后翡翠贻贝(Perna viridis)内脏团中抗氧化酶(SOD、GSH-Px、CAT)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量的变化.结果表明,翡翠贻贝内脏团CAT活性在d 1即受到显著诱导(P<0.05),对菲胁迫的反应非常敏感;SOD活性和GSH-Px活性对菲胁迫的生物响应呈先诱导后抑制的变化规律,而MDA含量随曝露时间延长呈现上升的趋势,且浓度越高,这3种指标的变化趋势越明显.因此翡翠贻贝内脏团中SOD、GSH-Px、CAT活性及MDA含量均适合作为菲污染对水生生物毒性效应的指示指标.在清水恢复阶段,相对于对照组各指标均表现出一定程度的恢复,也表明翡翠贻贝能对一定程度的菲胁迫带来的氧化损伤进行自我修复.图2表1参19     

碲化镉量子点对小鼠睾丸组织的氧化损伤（Effects of CdTe Quantum Dots on the Antioxidant Enzymes Activity and Lipid Peroxidation in Testes of Mice）

为探讨碲化镉量子点(CdTeQDs)对小鼠睾丸的急性氧化损伤作用,将20只雄性ICR小鼠随机分成4组:对照组、1d、3d、7d(3个不同时间组),采用尾静脉注射进行一次性染毒2.5μmol·kg-1CdTeQDs,对照组注射等体积生理盐水.染毒后对睾丸的脏器系数以及组织中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性,丙二醛(MDA)含量分别进行测定,从而检测CdTeQDs对睾丸组织的急性氧化损伤作用.结果显示,与对照组相比,随染毒时间的延长,睾丸脏器系数无显著性变化(p>0.05);GSH-Px和SOD活性随染毒时间的延长呈逐渐升高趋势;而CAT活性呈逐渐降低趋势,且与对照组差异显著(p<0.01);MDA含量显著高于对照(p<0.01),且随时间变化不大.CdTeQDs染毒可导致小鼠睾丸组织氧化损伤,其损伤程度与染毒时间之间具有一定的时间-效应关系.     

五氯硝基苯对小鼠脑AChE的影响及多器官氧化损伤研究

测定五氯硝基苯(PCNB)对小鼠脑乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)的影响及多器官的氧化损伤作用.对昆明种小鼠采用灌胃法进行200,400和600 mg·kg-1三个剂量染毒,每日一次,分别于染毒4,8,12和16d测定AChE活性、过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性和脂质过氧化(LPO)产物丙二醛(MDA)的含量.结果表明:(1)小鼠脑AChE活性受到抑制,并表现为明显的时间和剂量依赖性;(2)肝、肾CAT活性变化显著,脂质过氧化作用明显;(3)高剂量毒物在染毒16d时对脾脏脂质过氧化作用明显增强;(4)脑和血清CAT活性随染毒时间延长先升高后降低,脂质过氧化作用不明显.PCNB对小鼠可能具有神经毒性,对肝、肾脏的氧化损伤作用较强.     

盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤

为了探讨盐酸小檗碱对小鼠的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤.随机选取30只小鼠分成对照组以及7.5,15,30,60与120mg· kg-1实验组,处理后,应用小鼠脾细胞进行彗星实验与抗氧化酶实验.测定DNA损伤情况以及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)活性以及丙二醛(MDA)含量变化.对盐酸小檗碱的DNA损伤与氧化性损伤作用进行比较研究.研究结果表明:彗星实验中,随着盐酸小檗碱浓度的增加,尾部DNA含量、尾长与尾矩均增加,与阴性对照组相比差异有统计学意义(p ＜0.05或p＜0.01),且呈剂量-效应关系;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)与过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随盐酸小檗碱剂量增加逐渐降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量明显上升,过氧化物酶(POD)活性在7.5 mg·kg-1时上升,而后逐渐下降.在60 mg·kg-1和120 mg· kg-1时,有极显著性差异(p＜0.01)产生.由此可见,盐酸小檗碱对小鼠脾细胞有一定的损伤作用,能够引起小鼠脾细胞的DNA损伤和氧化性损伤.     

纳米硫硒化镉对小鼠肾脏和脑组织SOD活力和MDA含量的影响

为了探讨纳米硫硒化镉(CdSeS)对小鼠肾脏和脑组织的急性氧化损伤作用,将20只雄性昆明小鼠随机分成4组,采用尾部静脉注射进行一次性染毒,3个染毒组分别注入0.1、0.2、0.4mg·mL-1的纳米CdSeS粉末(20～30nm)悬液1mL,对照组注入等体积生理盐水.染毒3d后对肾脏和脑组织匀浆中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力和丙二醛(MDA)含量分别进行测定,从而检测纳米CdSeS对肾脏和脑组织的急性氧化损伤作用.结果显示,随着纳米CdSeS染毒浓度的升高,小鼠肾脏和脑组织中SOD活力呈逐渐降低趋势,而MDA含量呈逐渐升高趋势,均显示出一定的剂量-效应关系;较高浓度组(肾:ρCdSeS≥0.2mg·mL-1;脑:ρCdSeS≥0.4mg·mL-1)SOD活力、MDA含量与对照具有显著性差异(p<0.05,p<0.01),而较低浓度组则没有显著性差异(p>0.05).以上结果提示纳米CdSeS能够对小鼠肾脏和脑组织造成氧化损伤,并且能穿过血脑屏障作用于脑部。     

典型重金属胁迫对日本沼虾的氧化损伤及交互作用

为深入探讨水体不同浓度重金属联合对水生生物的慢性毒性机制,本研究以日本沼虾(Macrobranchium nipponense)为受试生物,镉(Cd)和铅(Pb)为目标金属,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、金属硫蛋白(MT)和丙二醛(MDA)为测试终点,研究不同浓度的Cd和Pb单一及联合暴露对日本沼虾的氧化损伤及交互作用。实验结果表明:Cd对虾的致死浓度为1 mg·L-1,当其与同浓度Pb联合时,致死毒性增强;在0.01 mg·L-1和0.1 mg·L-1下联合时均表现为拮抗作用。不同处理组对标志物产生不同程度的诱导或抑制效应,其中,SOD活性均受到胁迫抑制,0.1 mg·L-1Cd暴露10 d后对肝胰腺SOD抑制率达53.38%,0.1 mg·L-1Pb暴露10 d后对肌肉SOD抑制率达70.02%;CAT活性整体受胁迫激活,肝胰腺与肌肉CAT活性在时间尺度上呈现相反的变化规律;肝胰腺中MT和MDA对重金属的敏感性要高于肌肉;综合生物标志物响应(IBR)评价表明,机体在时间尺度上可通过酶活性调节而具有一定的解毒功能,但并不能消除重金属引起的氧化损伤,且重金属单一毒性要高于联合毒性,其中Cd对肝胰腺毒性最大,Pb对肌肉毒性最大。研究结果能够为水体重金属生态风险预警、水质基准制定及流域水环境管理提供依据。     

4,4'-二氨基二苯基甲烷对浮萍(Lemna minor L.)毒性作用

以浮萍(Lemna minor L.)为受试生物,通过研究不同浓度(0、0.6、1.8、5.4、16.2和48.6 mg·L-1)的4,4'-二氨基二苯基甲烷(4,4'-methylenedianiline,MDA)对浮萍生长、叶绿素含量、PSⅡ最大光化学效应(Fv/Fm)、质膜透性及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性的影响,初步探讨MDA对水生植物浮萍的毒性作用.实验结果表明,在7d暴露时间下,MDA对浮萍叶片数、叶片数生长率、叶片干质量和叶面积都有显著的抑制作用,且抑制程度与MDA的浓度呈正相关.其对浮萍叶片数生长抑制的7d半数效应浓度(7 d-ECs0)为26.7 mg·L-1,95％置信限为22.3 ～ 32.1 mg·L-1;对浮萍叶片数产量抑制的7 d-EC50为0.62 mg-L-1,95％置信限为0.53～0.74 mg-L-1;对浮萍总叶面积及干质量产量抑制的7 d-EC50＜0.6 mg·L-1.MDA处理导致浮萍总叶绿素含量和Fv/Fm下降,而浮萍质膜透性显著增加.低浓度MDA对浮萍SOD、POD和CAT酶活性无显著影响,但随着MDA浓度的升高SOD、POD和CAT酶活性显著升高,当MDA浓度达到48.6 mg· L-1时,抑制POD和CAT酶活性.以上结果表明,MDA能够直接损伤质膜,干扰叶绿体功能并抑制光合活性,而氧化损伤是质膜损伤引起的继发性应激,继而引起膜脂质过氧化,加剧质膜损伤,从而进一步抑制浮萍的生长.     

水胺硫磷亚急性暴露对小鼠肝脏氧化应激的影响

为探讨水胺硫磷对小鼠肝脏损伤作用机制,设置0.11、1.08、2.16 mg·kg-13个低、中、高不同剂量组,以灌胃方式对昆明种小鼠进行染毒7 d后,测定小鼠肝脏组织超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)2种抗氧化酶的活性,以及抗氧化物质谷胱甘肽(GSH)和膜脂质过氧化物丙二醛(MDA)含量,同时观察肝脏的组织学变化。结果表明,除低剂量组外,中、高剂量组小鼠肝脏SOD和GSH-Px活性与对照组相比均受到显著抑制(P0.05),GSH的含量与对照组相比显著下降(P0.05),MDA含量与对照组相比却呈显著上升趋势(P0.01),同时各指标的变化均呈一定的剂量-效应关系。组织学观察显示中、高剂量组肝细胞出现明显水肿和坏死,肝窦狭窄甚至闭塞。结果表明氧化损伤可能是水胺硫磷致小鼠肝脏毒性损伤的作用机制之一。     

甲醛及苯系物混合暴露对小鼠肺脏的氧化损伤作用

为探讨甲醛、苯、甲苯及二甲苯混合气体急性暴露对小鼠肺脏的氧化损伤作用,选用雄性健康昆明种小鼠50只,随机分为对照组和4个染毒组。染毒组1到4中甲醛、苯、甲苯和二甲苯浓度依次为:1.0+1.1+2.0+2.0μg·L-1、3.0+3.3+6.0+6.0μg·L-1、5.0+5.5+10.0+10.0μg·L-1、10.0+11.0+20.0+20.0μg·L-1,各染毒组混合气体的浓度分别是我国室内空气质量标准(GB/T18883-2002)的10、30、50和100倍。用静式吸入染毒方式,每天染毒2h,共染毒10d,实验结束后,测定小鼠肺脏中的氧化损伤指标。结果表明:染毒组小鼠的体重增加幅度均低于对照组,肝脏和脾脏系数显著低于对照组,肺脏ROS、MDA含量随染毒剂量的增加而增加,T-AOC、GSH、CAT、GSH-Px及SOD活力随染毒剂量的增加而降低,并且ROS、MDA含量与混合气体的浓度呈显著的正相关关系,GSH含量与混合气体的浓度呈显著的负相关关系。研究结果显示,甲醛、苯、甲苯及二甲苯混合气体急性暴露对小鼠肺脏具有氧化损伤作用,混合气体的联合毒性效应强于单一组分,ROS、MDA和GSH可以作为评价VOCs急性暴露对机体氧化损伤作用的敏感生物学标志。     

镉致鸡血管氧化应激与金属硫蛋白含量的变化

为探讨镉(Cd)对血管抗氧化功能及金属硫蛋白(MT)的影响,将180只50日龄健康雌性海兰鸡随机分为3组(对照组、低剂量组和高剂量组),分别饲喂含0、140、210mg·kg-1(BW)CdCl2的基础日粮,在饲养20、40、60d后采集主动脉和前腔静脉,测定其MT含量,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性及丙二醛(MDA)含量.结果表明:1)Cd暴露后,与对照组相比,低剂量组血管MT含量显著升高(p<0.01),并随暴露时间的延长而逐渐增加;高剂量组血管MT含量显著降低(p<0.01),并随暴露时间的延长先升高后降低.2)随着Cd暴露剂量的加大,血管SOD、GSH-Px活性逐渐降低,而MDA含量逐渐升高,具有明显的剂量-效应关系.3)随着暴露时间的延长,血管SOD、GSH-Px活性逐渐降低,MDA含量逐渐升高,具有明显的时间-效应关系.4)Cd暴露下,主动脉与前腔静脉各指标具有相同的变化趋势.以上结果表明,Cd具有血管毒性,其毒作用机理可能与MT含量变化以及抗氧化功能失衡有关.     

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.