氰戊菊酯生理毒物代谢动力学模型的建立

利用生理毒物代谢动力学(PBTK)对小鼠静脉注射农药氰戊菊酯后,氰戊菊酯在体内分布转化代谢过程进行模拟,为评价农药暴露风险提供依据。小鼠静脉注射氰戊菊酯的PBTK模型构建分为5个房室:肝脏、肺、肾脏、充分灌注室和不充分灌注室,各房室内氰戊菊酯的浓度变化率由质量守恒微分方程表示。根据欧拉数值计算方法,对小鼠静脉注射氰戊菊酯后的毒物代谢动力学数据进行模拟。结果模拟预测了小鼠静脉注射0.5 mg·kg-1、2.5 mg·kg-1、10 mg·kg-1氰戊菊酯后血液、肝脏和肺中氰戊菊酯浓度变化曲线。为验证该模型的准确性,对小鼠静脉注射0.77 mg·kg-1氰戊菊酯后血液、肝脏和肺中氰戊菊酯的浓度值变化模拟值与前人的实验测量值进行比较,结果显示模拟值与实验值之间不存在显著性差异。因此利用该方法可以估测小鼠静脉注射氰戊菊酯的毒物代谢动力学数据,为评估农药暴露体内剂量数据提供了便利途径。     

基于土壤气挥发通量的污染场地三氯甲烷健康风险评估

我国现行技术导则在评估VOCs呼吸暴露途径健康风险时推荐Johnson-Ettinger(J&E)模型,该模型虽然简单易用,但在实际应用中存在过于保守的问题,采用双元平衡模型(dual equilibrium desorption, DED)对J&E模型进行校正后可以在一定程度上克服该问题.为准确评估实际场地中VOCs呼吸暴露风险,探索JE-DED模型在预测实际场地中VOCs呼吸暴露途径健康风险的适用性,选取苏州某污染场地面积约314 m2 的重污染区域开展三氯甲烷土壤气挥发通量研究进行精细化风险评估,并与基于土壤中三氯甲烷浓度采用J&E模型和JE-DED模型的计算结果进行比较.多手段风险评估结果显示,评价区域三氯甲烷呼吸暴露途径的人体致癌健康风险水平超过可接受水平1.00×10-6 ;就本场地而言,相对于基于土壤浓度风险评估,以基于实测土壤气挥发通量的风险评估结果来表征研究区域整体暴露风险水平更加稳定;研究区域土壤三氯甲烷浓度整体偏高,J&E和JE-DED模型计算的风险水平无明显差异;通过数据模拟发现,针对该场地,当三氯甲烷浓度＜6 mg·kg-1时,能更好地发挥JE-DED模型的优势.该场地三氯甲烷健康风险评估结果表明,基于实测土壤气挥发通量能够一定程度上避免基于土壤浓度计算带来的偶然性结果;JE-DED模型在较低浓度时,才能发挥优势.     

烧烤场景中基于PBPK模型的人群PAHs暴露评估

为探究烧烤场景中人群多环芳烃(PAHs)的暴露特征与健康风险,使用美国环保署推荐的计算模型和基于生理的药代动力学模型(PBPK)模拟了我国人群的PAHs外暴露剂量和健康风险以及内暴露剂量变化情况。结果表明:1)普通居民和职业人群的日均苯并[a]芘等效摄入剂量为(50±3)ng·d~(-1)和(179±98)ng·d~(-1),其终生致癌风险为7.57×10~(-7)~1.28×10~(-5),均在可接受范围内;2)普通居民暴露后体内组织中PAHs内暴露标志物芘的最大浓度范围依次为肝(6.52~8.67 ng·L~(-1))肾(0.97~1.12 ng·L~(-1))静脉血(0.71~0.94 ng·L~(-1))皮肤(0.64~0.75 ng·L~(-1))脂肪(0.36~0.56 ng·L~(-1)),职业人群暴露后体内组织芘最大浓度为脂肪(2.97ng·L~(-1))皮肤(1.14 ng·L~(-1))≥肾(1.14 ng·L~(-1))肝(0.57 ng·L~(-1))静脉血(0.17 ng·L~(-1));3)膳食是普通人群的主导暴露途经,会导致肝组织浓度最大;呼吸和皮肤接触是职业人群的主导暴露途经,会导致脂肪组织浓度最大;4)暴露标志物芘的组织总富集量关系为职业人群(48 ng·d~(-1))大于普通人群(6~11 ng·d~(-1))。     

贵阳市西郊水厂所供管网末梢水重金属污染物季节性特征及潜在健康风险评价

以贵阳市西郊水厂2014年3月和7月所供管网末梢水中10种重金属污染物检测数据为基础,进行了季节性特征分析,并采用美国环保局(USEPA)推荐的健康风险评价模型进行了潜在健康风险评价。结果表明,贵阳市西郊水厂所供管网末梢水中10种重金属的浓度均符合国家饮用水卫生标准;重金属污染物的浓度随季节呈现出不同的特征,汞、锌、硒、钼和钡5种重金属的平均浓度呈现枯水期高于丰水期的特征,而铅、铜、锰和镍4种重金属正好相反,砷浓度的季节性特征不显著;成年人的年平均致癌风险显著大于儿童,但两者年平均非致癌风险接近;儿童和成年人2类人群经口暴露途径的健康风险值均大于皮肤暴露,其中致癌风险分别在2.49×10-6~9.16×10-6和3.26×10-8~9.59×10-8之间,非致癌风险在2.29×10-8~3.20×10-8和1.85×10-10~4.14×10-10之间,且致癌风险均大于非致癌风险。贵阳市西郊水厂所供管网末梢水中10种重金属污染物致癌风险和非致癌风险均未超过最大可接受水平,未对该供水区居民的健康造成威胁。     

典型石化企业排放有毒有害大气污染物人体健康风险评估

石化行业生产过程中会产生有毒有害大气污染物,并可能对人体健康产生危害。为贯彻落实《大气污染防治法》第七十八条中对有毒有害大气污染物(hazardous air pollutants,HAPs)实行风险管理,评估环境风险的要求,有必要开展石化企业排放HAPs的人体健康风险评估。本研究采用美国环境保护局(US EPA)发布的人体健康风险评估手册F部分吸入风险评估指南中的方法,推算出HAPs物质对人体健康的致癌风险值和非致癌风险值;通过CALPUFF模型模拟预测出典型石化企业HAPs物质扩散范围及空气中的浓度,并将模拟预测得到的污染物浓度与推算得到的风险值进行比较,进而表征园区内该企业排放HAPs对人体健康的风险。结果表明,基于最坏情况分析,该石化企业排放的HAPs致癌风险值为0.421μg·m-3,非致癌风险值为2.212μg·m-3,CALPUFF模拟预测空气中污染物浓度最大为0.62μg·m-3,且模型预测的月均浓度均未超过致癌和非致癌风险值,风险表征结果表明,该石化企业排放的HAPs物质对人体健康不存在致癌和非致癌风险。但本研究仅针对某石化企业开展人体健康风险评估,并不能代表石化行业排放有毒有害大气污染物对人体健康风险的整体水平。     

我国36个重点城市饮用水中多环芳烃健康风险评价

分别用2种基于不确定性的风险评价方法(蒙特卡洛法和三角模糊数法)和1种基于确定性的风险评价方法(美国EPA终身致癌风险)对我国36个重点城市饮用水中多环芳烃的终生致癌风险进行评价。所研究的98个水厂出水中多环芳烃浓度范围为17.5~408.3 ng·L-1,致癌性多环芳烃(苯并[a]蒽,屈,苯并[b]荧蒽,苯并[k]荧蒽,苯并[a]芘,茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘)的总量浓度为nd~94.7 ng·L-1。所有水厂出水中苯并[a]芘浓度均小于10 ng·L-1。假设出厂水即为最终饮用水,对16种PAHs浓度用毒性当量因子法转化为相对于苯并[a]芘等效浓度(TEQ BaP)。使用概率风险评价方法计算,结果显示在95%的概率区间我国居民通过饮水途径暴露多环芳烃的终生致癌风险小于5.45×10-6(蒙特卡洛法)和7.56×10-6(三角模糊数法)。而采用确定性风险评价方法,计算得到的最大风险为7.12×10-6。两种计算方法得到的我国饮用水中多环芳烃的终生致癌风险都处于可接受水平。比较不同的评价方法后发现,不同方法获得的信息并不完全重合,相对于通常的基于确定性的非概率健康风险评价方法,基于不确定性的概率风险评价方法获得的结果更为保守。     

常州市浅层地下水重金属污染对城区、城郊居民健康风险评价

采用美国EPA推荐的风险评价模型,同时考虑研究区人群基本情况和生活习惯等,进行推荐模型的参数优化,建立适合研究区人群的风险评价方法,并对城区、城郊不同暴露途径下地下水污染进行健康风险评价.结果表明,常州城区饮水暴露途径与皮肤暴露途径致癌风险男性分别为2.79×10-3和2.81×10-5,女性分别为1.87×10-3和2.45×10-5;非致癌风险男性分别为3.48×10-6和3.79×10-5,女性分别为2.27×10-6和3.01×10-5.城郊饮水暴露途径与皮肤暴露途径致癌风险男性分别为1.26×10-3和1.32×10-5,女性分别为9.77×10-4和1.18×10-5;非致癌风险男性分别为4.07×10-6和3.43×10-5,女性分别为2.14×10-6和9.71×10-6,风险水平均处于可接受范围内.敏感性分析表明饮水暴露途径下各因子的敏感性在-19.8%—20.1%之间,皮肤暴露途径下各因子的敏感性在-14.8%—16.1%之间,对研究区人群暴露参数进行调查实测,降低了评价结果的不确定性.研究浅层地下水的健康风险评价,对合理开发该区域地下水资源具有重要参考价值.     

利用靶器官毒性剂量法(TTD)和证据权重分析法(WOE) 评估固化飞灰中重金属非致癌健康风险

传统的健康风险评价方法未考虑重金属对多种靶器官的影响及重金属间的相互作用,不能反映重金属真实的风险情况.ATSDR的靶器官毒性剂量法(TTD)和EPA的证据权重分析法(WOE)分别将重金属能够产生效应的靶器官与重金属间的相互作用引入评价过程,对传统评价方法进行修正.基于此,本研究采用了TTD法和WOE法评估了生活垃圾焚烧厂固化飞灰中重金属的非致癌健康风险,并将其与传统的非致癌健康风险评价方法进行比较.结果表明,传统的非致癌健康风险评价方法得出的HI值为0.2084,经TTD法和WOE法修正后的HI值分别为0.5165和0.6717,修正后风险大于传统方法所预测风险,更严格的反映固化飞灰对工人健康的真实风险.     

荥阳市春秋季观测期间颗粒物中重金属健康风险评价

为研究荥阳市2017春秋两季观测期间颗粒物中重金属的浓度特征及其在不同暴露途径下对人体的健康风险,采集大气中的PM_(2.5)和PM_(10),使用电感耦合等离子质谱仪ICP-MS对颗粒物中重金属浓度(Co、Cu、Zn、As、Cr、Pb)进行测定.结果表明,春、秋季的PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)的浓度均值分别为95.01μg·m~(-3)、149.03μg·m~(-3)和61.61μg·m~(-3)、108.61μg·m~(-3). PM_(2.5)浓度最高比《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095—2012)规定的一级浓度限值高5.71倍,PM_(10)比其一级浓度限值高6.42倍,比二级浓度限值高1.47倍.健康风险评价表明,在呼吸暴露途径下,PM_(10)中Cr元素在春季对成人有一定致癌风险,在秋季则对成人和儿童均存在致癌风险,且秋季As、Cr、Co的危险指数高达4.2,存在显著非致癌风险;皮肤接触途径下,PM_(10)中Cr元素在春季对儿童和成人均有致癌风险,秋季则主要是对成人存在致癌风险;口入途径下,秋季PM_(2.5)中As元素对儿童有潜在致癌风险,PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)中重金属元素整体在两个季节对儿童均有显著非致癌风险.     

西南某矿区家庭灰尘中重金属的暴露及其健康风险评价

家庭灰尘是人群居住场所的重要环境介质,人群可通过吸入、摄食及皮肤接触等途径摄入灰尘中的污染物,对健康造成一定的损伤。为探索我国西南某矿区周边村庄室内重金属的污染对人群健康的潜在风险,采用2014年3月对我国西南某矿区周边村庄室内灰尘中重金属污染水平调查的数据,结合美国EPA健康风险评价模型对人群健康风险进行分析。结果表明:人群非致癌风险和致癌风险暴露剂量均表现为儿童>成人男性>成人女性,呈现手-口摄食途径>皮肤接触途径>吸入途径,其中儿童、成人男性和成人女性手-口摄食暴露途径占总暴露剂量的98.16%、55.61%和51.5%;儿童以Pb、Cr的暴露为主,成人以Cr的暴露为主;家庭灰尘中单种重金属元素和多途径叠加的非致癌风险在8.81E-03~1.24E-02之间,均小于1,其中儿童以Pb的非致癌风险为主,经手-口摄食暴露占总风险的40%;致癌风险在4.19E-05~3.35E-04之间;A、B、C村儿童的致癌风险均高于US EPA所推荐的可接受水平10-4,其暴露剂量和健康风险均为成人男性和成人女性的5~6倍,且以Cr通过手-口摄食暴露产生的风险最大,占总风险的93%左右。     

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.