复杂网络用于取代苯类内分泌干扰物的毒性通路

内分泌干扰物可干扰机体的信号途径,影响动物和人体正常的激素平衡,其信号转导途径非常复杂,涉及多条信号通路的激活.本文通过复杂网络技术构建了乙草胺、地散磷等20个取代苯类内分泌干扰物与71个有效靶标的相互作用网络,分析其网络的拓扑系数后获得6个基因作为网络的中心节点基因并带入KEGG信号通路数据库.通过复杂网络预测取代苯类化合物可通过与靶标基因ESR2和MMP9的作用影响雌激素信号通路;通过与靶标基因HIST3H3和MMP9的作用影响前列腺癌及多发性骨髓癌的误转录调节通路,其中,多发性骨髓癌误转录通路可能是取代苯类内分泌干扰物毒性作用的一条新的信号通路.“复杂网络”技术的应用有助于从基因/基因的角度出发,将化合物和机体信号通路相互联系,探讨取代苯类内分泌干扰物对机体的毒性机制,基于整体评价内分泌干扰物对机体的毒性作用,为环境污染物的研究提供了一种新的手段.     

多氯联苯羟基化代谢物及其雌激素效应研究进展

多氯联苯作为一种环境内分泌干扰物,具有一定的雌激素干扰效应,导致动物雌激素水平紊乱或功能异常,从而影响生殖、发育或行为。羟基多氯联苯是多氯联苯最主要的活性代谢产物,已经在动物和人体组织中被检出。羟基多氯联苯的化学性质和分子空间构象使其雌激素干扰效应可能较母体化合物更强。因此,它们对人类和动物机体的潜在影响以及由此带来的新的毒理学问题成为内分泌干扰研究领域的热点之一,相关的毒性作用机制需要进一步探索。本文对多氯联苯的代谢途径、羟基多氯联苯在生物体内的暴露水平、雌激素干扰效应及作用机制进行综述。     

类二噁英多氯联苯生殖毒性的研究进展

类二噁英多氯联苯(DlPCBs)作为典型的环境内分泌干扰物,会干扰接触个体或其后代的内分泌功能,破坏机体的神经系统、免疫系统,尤其对生殖系统的影响最为明显,比如对生殖器官的形态与功能、生殖内分泌、原始生殖细胞及其受精和早期胚胎发育等产生严重影响,最终导致各种生殖系统疾病的发生。DlPCBs的蓄积性及半挥发性使其在环境中分布广泛,半衰期长的特点使其将对动物及人类的生存和健康造成难以想象的影响。本文综述了DlPCBs的分类与构成、一般性质、生殖毒性以及其可能的致病机理,并对DlPCBs生殖毒性机理研究的重点方向进行了展望。     

多溴二苯醚及其代谢物的内分泌干扰活性和构效关系研究进展

多溴二苯醚(Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)作为一种良好的防火溴系阻燃剂(Brominated flame retardants,BFRs)广泛应用于各种家用和工业产品.研究表明,PBDEs容易从产品中溢出而进入环境.近年来,PBDEs及其代谢物已在各种环境介质和生物体中被广泛检出.毒理学研究发现,PBDEs及其代谢物具有生殖毒性、免疫毒性、神经毒性和内分泌干扰作用.在总结国内外相关研究基础上,论文综述了PBDEs及其代谢物的内分泌干扰活性,重点集中在对甲状腺激素活性、雌激素活性、雄激素活性及影响性激素转化和代谢的芳香化酶、CYP17酶、雌二醇磺基转移酶(E2SULT)活性的影响;分析了具有不同测试终点内分泌干扰活性的化合物的结构特征.研究发现,在内分泌干扰活性方面,PBDEs母体化合物的影响较小,主要是PBDEs代谢物产生的影响,特别是羟基化代谢物引起了较严重的内分泌干扰作用,即PBDEs化合物是一类通过代谢而被活化的内分泌干扰前趋物.为评价PBDEs及其代谢物对人和其他生物的健康危害,应加强其内分泌干扰活性机制的研究,以及具有同类型作用模式的PBDEs及其代谢物定量结构-活性关系的研究.     

类固醇雌激素环境行为研究进展

类固醇雌激素是一类亲脂、低分子量、高生物活性的有机化合物,易在生物体内蓄积,相对其他环境内分泌干扰物,具有更强的内分泌干扰作用,对生态环境的影响尤为显著.人类和动物排泄产生的类固醇雌激素不能被城市污水处理厂和养殖废水处理系统完全去除,进入环境中后,它们便会在不同的环境介质中进行迁移转化,因而深入研究其环境行为尤为重要.本文针对4种典型的类固醇雌激素(雌激素酮、17β-雌二醇、雌三醇和17α-乙炔基雌二醇),综述了其在污水处理厂、集中式养殖场、土壤和天然水体等介质中的环境行为.     

环境雌激素生物效应的作用机制研究进展

环境雌激素(environmental estrogens,EEs)种类繁多,来源多样且分布广泛,大量工业添加剂、食品添加剂和农药类物质已被证实具有雌激素活性。EEs对人体生殖、神经、免疫等系统的生物毒性已经引起了公众的普遍关注。近年来的研究表明,EEs不仅结合雌激素核受体(nuclear estrogen receptor,n ER),还可以活化雌激素膜受体(membrane estrogen receptor,m ER),干扰正常的雌激素信号通路。本文总结了EEs通过n ER、m ER介导的多种雌激素基因组和非基因组信号途径及其产生的生物学效应,综述了在其毒理学作用机理基础上发展的环境样品的雌激素活性评估和EEs混合物的联合作用研究,以期为该类污染物的筛查、风险评估和进一步的机制研究提供参考。     

环境雌激素生物效应的作用机制研究进展

环境雌激素(Environmental Estrogens, EEs)种类繁多、来源多样且分布广泛,大量工业添加剂、食品添加剂和农药类物质已被证实具有雌激素活性。EEs对人体生殖、神经、免疫等系统生物毒性,已经引起了公众的普遍关注。近年来的研究表明,EEs不仅可以结合雌激素核受体(nuclear Estrogen Receptor, nER)干扰正常的雌激素基因组信号通路,还能活化雌激素膜受体(membrane Estrogen Receptor, mER)引发快速的雌激素非基因组信号转导途径。本文总结了EEs通过nER、mER介导的多种雌激素基因组和非基因组信号途径及其产生的生物学效应,综述了在其毒理学作用机理基础上发展的环境样品的雌激素活性评估和EEs混合物的联合作用研究,以期为该类污染物的筛查、风险评估和进一步的机制研究提供参考。     

二噁英对免疫系统影响的研究进展

二噁英是持久性有机污染物的一种,它对人体健康的影响是多方面的,包括引起氯痤疮、诱发肿瘤、导致畸形、内分泌干扰、免疫毒性和肝毒性等等.本文着重总结了在二噁英对免疫系统的影响方面最近的研究进展.研究表明,二噁英可以从多方面干扰免疫系统的功能,它可以影响机体的体液和细胞免疫、超敏反应、自身免疫以及影响免疫细胞本身的活性,同时...     

环境内分泌干扰化合物干扰胰岛素分泌潜在作用机理

不断升高的糖尿病发病率在全球范围内引起广泛关注,流行病学调查显示糖尿病发病率的增加与环境内分泌干扰化合物使用量增大之间存在显著相关,环境内分泌干扰化合物可能增加糖尿病发病风险,是影响糖尿病的危险因素。在此背景下,综述了环境内分泌干扰化合物暴露与糖尿病发病之间的流行病学关系;环境内分泌干扰化合物暴露对胰岛β细胞胰岛素分泌的调节、高胰岛素效应及其潜在的作用机理,表明影响胰岛素分泌是环境内分泌干扰化合物调节代谢,诱发糖尿病的重要作用机制。     

受体功能区结构与环境内分泌干扰效应生物差异的关系

环境中存在的多种内分泌干扰物能够与生物体内的天然激素受体选择性结合并产生多种生物效应,由于受体功能区三维结构的不同,其内分泌干扰活性存在着种间、种内、组织间等的种种差异,限制了不同物种间毒性效应的外推研究,增加了环境内分泌干扰物筛选和风险评价的难度.论文综述了基于受体介导的环境内分泌干扰物生物活性与相应受体选择性及受体功能区结构关系的研究进展,并利用分子模拟方法分析探讨了雌激素受体与部分化合物结合作用模式,讨论了目前存在的问题,对以后有关方面的研究提出了建议.     

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.