不同小叶章湿地H2S和COS的排放通量研究

利用静态箱/气相色谱法,观测了小叶章沼泽化草甸和小叶章典型草甸两种湿地类型中H2S和COS在生长季(5-9月)的释放动态,结果表明:在两种小叶章湿地中,H2S和COS的排放通量均具有明显的季节和日变化规律.在小叶章沼泽化草甸中H2S和COS的平均释放通量分别为0.34μg·m-2·h-1和-0.29μg·m-2·h-1;小叶章典型草甸H2S和COS的平均释放通量分别为0.14μg·m-2·h-1和-0.20μg·m-2·h-1;小叶章沼泽化草甸H2S和COS的平均释放通量均高于小叶章典型草甸.在生长季两种小叶章湿地均能向大气释放H2S,对COS则表现为从大气中吸收.小叶章的生长过程对H2S和COS的排放影响显著,在小叶章生长旺盛期,H2S出现排放峰值,COS出现吸收高峰.     

三江平原小叶章湿地系统硫的输入及输出动态

以三江平原小叶章(Calamagrostis angutifolia)湿地系统为研究对象,应用野外原位观测法研究了小叶章湿地系统硫的大气沉降输入及其输出规律.结果表明大气湿沉降中硫的月均含量变化明显,其原因主要与人类活动、降水强度及频次有关;硫沉降量具有明显的月变化特征,经估算三江平原小叶章湿地硫的年沉降总量(以S计)为113 mg·m-2·a·-1.小叶章湿地H2S、COS的排放通量均具有明显的季节和日变化规律.H2S和COS的平均释放通量(以S计)分别为O.34 μg·m-2·h-1和-0.29μg·m-2·h-1;小叶章湿地系统在生长季向大气排放H2S的量(以S计)为1.42 mg·m-2,从大气吸收COS的量(以S计)为1.83 mg·m-2.小叶章湿地系统硫的输入量远高于硫输出量,其差值为113.41 mg.m-2·a-1,这表明硫在小叶章湿地系统中处于累积状态,湿地存在潜在的酸化趋势.     

季节性人工河滨湿地甲烷排放

2008年11月—2009年10月在美国俄亥俄州哥伦布市Olentangy河河滨湿地公园中具有14年历史的补偿河流分岔季节性人工湿地中,运用静态箱-气象色谱法测定了季节性人工湿地中甲烷（CH4）时空排放通量。结果表明：1）CH4排放通量非常低,全年的平均值（以CH4-C计）仅为0.09 mg·m-2·h-1;2）CH4排放通量具有明显的季节性变化规律,年周期的CH4排放通量呈单峰型变化规律,6月份出现排放峰值,但CH4排放通量与土壤温度却无显著相关性;3）季节性人工湿地中心区和边缘区域中的CH4排放量分别为0.03（0.06）和0.03（0.12）mg·m-2·h-1,无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。因此,可见通过设计具有既长又浅形状和湿-干-湿交替水文条件的人工湿地,不仅可应用于其他的河流冲积平原的修复,也可在不同的气候和水文条件下检验其生态服务功能。     

三江平原湿地岛状林CH4和N2O排放通量的特征

利用静态箱-气相色谱法对三江平原湿地岛状林生长季N2O、CH4的排放通量进行了为期4个月的原位测定,分析了三江平原湿地岛状林CH4、N2O排放通量的季节特征,并初步探讨了CH4、N2O排放通量与温度和土壤水分的关系.湿地岛状林CH4、N2O通量均呈现出明显的正负交替的变化特征, 通量范围分别为-560.45～706.35 μg/(m2·h)和-28.87～43.59 μg/(m2·h), 季节均值分别为41.88 μg/(m2·h)和11.56 μg/(m2·h).结果表明, 湿地三江平原湿地岛状林土壤是CH4和N2O的汇.相关分析表明,CH4和N2O的排放与箱内温度具有弱相关性.土壤水分是影响湿地岛状林土壤CH4吸收、排放关系的重要因素, 而土壤的干湿交替能促进岛状林土壤N2O的排放.     

若尔盖高原泥炭沼泽湿地CO2呼吸通量特征

若尔盖高原沼泽湿地是我国最大的高原泥炭沼泽湿地。采用静止箱/气相色谱法,2004年5月至10月对若尔盖高原泥炭沼泽湿地CO2呼吸通量进行了观测。沼泽湿地CO2呼吸通量平均值为200.40mg·m-2·h-1,最大值为402.37mg·m-2·h-1,最小值为61.09mg·m-2·h-1。沼泽湿地周边的沼泽化草甸CO2呼吸通量平均值为425.50mg·m-2·h-1,最大值为891.74mg·m-2·h-1,最小值为124.23mg·m-2·h-1。二者均在7、8月出现排放峰值。沼泽湿地CO2呼吸通量日变化为单峰型,高峰出现在13时和15时。沼泽湿地CO2呼吸与温度具有相关性,其中与5cm深的土壤温度相关性最好。若尔盖高原沼泽湿地CO2呼吸通量的平均值仅为三江平原常年积水沼泽湿地的约36%,这可能是若尔盖高原沼泽湿地有泥炭积累,而三江平原沼泽湿地无泥炭积累或仅有少量积累的重要原因之一。     

不同水分条件下巴音布鲁克天鹅湖高寒湿地夏季N_2O日排放特征

在气候变暖背景下温室气体排放特征的研究已成为全球变化的研究热点之一,而湿地生态系统与温室气体排放有着密切的关系。湿地N2O排放对水分变化的响应机制研究对干旱区高寒湿地的科学管理具有重要意义。以新疆天山中部巴音布鲁克天鹅湖高寒湿地为研究区,采用静态箱-气相色谱法,对处于不同水分条件下高寒湿地生态系统N2O排放特征进行研究。结果表明:(1)常年积水区、季节性积水区、常年干燥区生态系统N2O的日平均排放通量分别为1.27、0.99、0.98μg·m-2·h-1。生态系统日N2O累积排放量分别为常年积水区30.61μg·m-2、季节性积水区23.97μg·m-2、常年干燥区23.08μg·m-2。(2)季节性积水区生态系统N2O排放日变化表现为3峰曲线,其峰值分别出现在2:00(1.30μg·m-2·h-1)、11:00(1.28μg·m-2·h-1)和21:00(1.66μg·m-2·h-1),而常年干燥区生态系统N2O排放日变化表现为双峰曲线,峰值分别出现在9:00(1.40μg·m-2·h-1)和17:00(1.42μg·m-2·h-1)。(3)环境因素显著影响着湿地生态系统N2O排放,地表植被活体生物量与生态系统N2O累积排放量呈现显著正相关性,在常年积水区地下10 cm土壤温度与生态系统N2O排放通量相关性达到显著水平(F=8.326,P=0.018),在季节性积水区土壤含水量与生态系统N2O排放通量有显著相关性(F=4.787,P=0.043)。     

水位对小叶章湿地CO2、CH4排放及土壤微生物活性的影响

湿地生态系统对全球碳平衡和气候变化起着极其重要的作用,而水位波动将影响湿地生物地球化学过程,导致温室气体通量变化,为了明确湿地生态系统温室气体通量以及土壤微生物活性对水位梯度的生态响应,通过野外盆栽培养试验,设T1:-5 cm,T2:0 cm,T3:5 cm,T4:10 cm 4种水位梯度,T1和T2模拟湿地非淹水的水分状况,T3和T4模拟淹水状况,研究了不同水位梯度下小叶章(Calamagrostis angustifolia)湿地CO2、CH4通量、土壤微生物量碳、氮及土壤酶活性的变化规律.结果表明:不同水位条件下,小叶章湿地系统CO2和CH4通量差异较大,-5 cm水位时小叶章湿地CO2通量为(643.35±61.89) mg·m-2·h -1,随着水位增加,CO2通量依次降低6.9%、12.1%、40.0%,且水位升高到10 cm时,小叶章湿地CO2排放量显著降低(P<0.05);而CH4通量则随水位增加呈显著增加趋势,通量变化为(1.52±0.12)~(5.34±0.61) mg·m-2·h-1;水位对微生物活性影响显著,非淹水条件下小叶章湿地土壤微生物量碳、氮含量以及土壤蔗糖酶、淀粉酶活性高于淹水土壤,且随着淹水位增加,微生物活性显著降低.     

植物对沼泽湿地生态系统N2O排放的影响

利用静态暗箱/气相色谱法连续3个生长季(2003-2005年)对三江平原小叶章草甸和毛果苔草沼泽N2O排放通量进行野外对比观测试验.结果表明,植物不同生长阶段对湿地生态系统N2O排放通量的影响不尽相同.植物的参与促进了湿地生态系统N2O的排放,2003-2005年生长季小叶章草甸土壤-植物系统N2O排放通量分别是土壤表观N2O排放通量的1.58倍、2.09倍和2.34倍,同期毛果苔草沼泽土壤-植物系统N2O排放通量分别是土壤表观N2O排放通量的1.86倍、1.50倍和1.33倍.3个生长季小叶章草甸N2O排放通量均大于毛果苔草沼泽,这主要是由土壤理化性质的空间变异性以及水文情况的差异造成的.     

华南丘陵区农林复合生态系统早稻田CH4和N2O排放通量的时间变异

采用静态箱-气相色谱法对典型华南农林复合生态系统早稻田CH4和N2O排放进行田间原位测定,探讨早稻田两种温室气体的排放规律。结果表明,有植株参与稻田在水稻生长季节中CH4排放昼夜变化表现为双峰模态,收割后为三峰模态,CH4排放昼夜变化幅度比无植株参与稻田大。在测定期内有植株参与稻田CH4昼夜平均排放通量大小依次为:成熟期(1.96±0.33)>孕穗期(0.13±0.01)>收割后(-0.01±0.02)(mg.m-2.h-1)。有植株参与稻田在孕穗期CH4昼夜平均排放通量显著高于无植株参与稻田(P<0.01)。在测定期内有、无植株参与稻田CH4平均排放通量分别为0.85±0.28、0.14±0.09 mg.m-2.h-1。有、无植株参与稻田N2O昼夜平均排放通量没有显著差异。在测定期内有、无植株参与稻田N2O平均排放通量分别为118.07±50.97、15.65±21.56μg.m-2.h-1。CH4和N2O的排放无论是昼夜变化还是季节变化都与温度没有明显相关关系,其排放受稻田水分和养分状况的影响。水稻作物对CH4排放影响较大,对N2O排放影响不明显。     

北亚热带红壤丘陵区3种土地利用方式下CH_4通量及其影响因素

以北亚热带红壤丘陵区林地、茶园、菜地为对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法,对3种土地利用方式下CH4通量进行了研究,同时测定了土壤温度、含水量和无机氮含量。旨在探索不同土地利用方式下CH4"源"和"汇"的功能,对评估不同土地利用方式对全球气候变化的贡献具有重要意义。结果表明,不同土地利用方式下土壤甲烷平均通量有显著差异,分别为:林地-15.44μg·m-2·h-1,茶园-1.49μg·m-2·h-1,菜地7.11μg·m-2·h-1;菜地土壤甲烷平均通量最高,茶园其次,林地最低,CH4年累积通量分别为0.52、-0.31和-1.46 kg·hm-2,菜地土壤以排放CH4为主,而茶园和林地土壤是CH4的汇。茶园和菜地土壤CH4通量呈一定的季节性变化,春、秋季CH4通量较高。林地CH4吸收通量与土壤湿度呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),且当土壤湿度(WFPS)高于70%时,林地土壤才以排放CH4为主;而茶园和菜地土壤CH4吸收通量与土壤含水量无显著相关关系。土壤CH4通量与土壤温度之间未呈显著的相关关系。不同土地利用方式下土壤CH4排放通量与铵态氮含量呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),而与硝态氮含量未呈显著的相关性。     

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.