BDE47对Neuro-2a细胞毒性效应及作用机制

探讨2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenylether,BDE 47)对神经细胞Neuro-2a的毒性影响及机制。将Neuro-2a细胞暴露于浓度为6.25、12.5、25、50、100μmol·L-1的BDE 47,采用MTT法检测细胞存活率、荧光探针DCFH-DA检测细胞活性氧生成量、吖啶橙检测溶酶体膜通透性、罗丹明123检测细胞线粒体膜电位、Annexin V-FITC检测细胞凋亡、Western blot检测组织蛋白酶B(Cathespin B)表达。结果显示,与对照组相比,12.5、25、50、100μmol·L~(-1)BDE 47显著降低Neuro-2a细胞存活率和细胞线粒体膜电位(P0.05);6.25、12.5、25、50、100μmol·L~(-1)BDE 47显著诱导活性氧含量升高(P0.05),增加Neuro-2a细胞溶酶体膜通透性(P0.05),诱导Neuro-2a细胞凋亡(P0.05),升高Cathespin B蛋白表达(P0.05)。结果表明,BDE 47可能通过介导溶酶体-活性氧-线粒体环路,诱导Neuro-2a细胞凋亡。     

PFOS对星形胶质细胞表观遗传调控作用初探

脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)甲基化在全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)神经毒性中的作用已证实,但表观遗传修饰中其他调控因子在PFOS对星形胶质细胞毒性中的影响仍有待探索。本文以大鼠原代星形胶质细胞为体外生物体系,建立24 h PFOS(0、25、50和100μmol·L~(-1))暴露模型,通过观察PFOS暴露对星形胶质细胞表观遗传调控主要分子DNA甲基化酶(DNMTs)、组蛋白去乙酰化酶(HDACs)和小泛素化修饰物(SUMOs)的影响,初步明确表观遗传调控机制参与PFOS神经毒性作用。采用Hoechst 33258检测细胞凋亡,利用ELISA试剂盒检测HDACs含量,以实时荧光定量PCR考察DNMTs、HDACs和SUMOs基因表达。结果显示,星形胶质细胞暴露于一定浓度PFOS(≥25μmol·L~(-1))时产生凋亡现象(P0.05),HDACs含量升高(P0.05),且DNMT1、HDAC1/2/4与SUMO-1的基因表达显著升高(P0.05);而当PFOS浓度高于50μmol·L~(-1)时,可显著诱导DNMT3A、SUMO-2的基因表达(P0.05); DNMT3B在PFOS≥25μmol·L~(-1)时,其基因表达具有升高趋势,但不具统计学显著性(P0.05)。结果表明,PFOS可以影响星形胶质细胞的表观遗传修饰;表观遗传修饰可能是PFOS神经毒性作用机制之一。     

微囊藻毒素-LR通过线粒体途径诱导人支气管上皮细胞凋亡

探讨线粒体Caspase依赖性途径是否参与微囊藻毒素-LR(microcystin-LR,MC-LR)诱导人支气管上皮细胞(human bronchial epithelial cells,16HBE)凋亡过程。将处于对数生长期的16HBE分别暴露于终浓度为0(对照组)、2.5、5、10μg·m L-1的微囊藻毒素-LR和10μg·m L-1MC-LR+50μmol·L-1Caspase广谱抑制剂Z-VAD-FMK,持续24 h和48 h。检测细胞凋亡率,线粒体跨膜电位(ΔΨm),Caspase-3和Caspase-9相对表达量。结果显示,与对照组相比,各浓度染毒组细胞凋亡率和Caspase-3、Caspase-9相对表达量均升高,10μg·m L-1MC-LR染毒组线粒体膜电位降低;与10μg·m L-1MC-LR组相比,10μg·m L-1MCLR+50μmol·L-1Z-VAD-FMK组细胞凋亡率明显降低,Caspase-3和Caspase-9相对表达量降低,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。且随着MC-LR染毒浓度的升高或染毒时间的延长,16HBE细胞凋亡率和Caspase-3、Caspase-9相对表达量呈升高趋势。研究表明,MC-LR可以通过线粒体Caspase依赖性途径诱导16HBE细胞凋亡。     

有机磷及氨基甲酸酯类农药单独和联合作用对PC_(12)细胞DNA损伤的影响

研究有机磷类农药毒死蜱和对硫磷、氨基甲酸酯类农药克百威和残杀威单独及联合染毒大鼠嗜铬细胞瘤株(PC12细胞)所致的DNA损伤情况及联合作用模式。分别以0μmol·L~(-1)、50μmol·L~(-1)、100μmol·L~(-1)、200μmol·L~(-1)、400μmol·L~(-1)的有机磷农药毒死蜱、对硫磷与0μmol·L~(-1)、25μmol·L~(-1)、50μmol·L~(-1)、100μmol·L~(-1)、200μmol·L~(-1)的氨基甲酸酯类农药克百威、残杀威单独及两两联合染毒PC12细胞12 h后进行彗星实验,采用彗尾长度、尾部DNA百分含量、尾矩3个指标来衡量DNA损伤程度。结果表明:毒死蜱、克百威、对硫磷、残杀威染毒PC12细胞12 h后,细胞出现拖尾,呈现典型的彗星图像。染毒后PC12细胞彗尾长度、尾部DNA百分含量、尾矩较对照组显著增加,差异有统计学意义(P0.01)。析因分析表明,无论低剂量联合还是高剂量联合,毒死蜱与克百威、对硫磷与残杀威均有交互作用(P0.01),作用模式为协同作用。以上结果提示,有机磷及氨基甲酸酯类农药单独及联合作用均可引起PC12细胞DNA损伤,联合作用后损伤程度要高于单独作用,且低剂量和高剂量联合时均存在交互作用,作用模式为协同作用。     

全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)对半滑舌鳎肝脏细胞的毒性效应

为探究海洋环境中持久性有机污染物——全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)的生物毒性效应,以半滑舌鳎肝脏细胞(HTLC)为研究对象,将其暴露于含不同浓度PFOS的DMEM-F12培养基中,分别染毒24、48、72 h后,利用噻唑蓝比色法(MTT)和透射电镜实验评价PFOS的细胞毒性;同时测定活性氧自由基(ROS)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性来探讨PFOS对细胞的氧化损伤效应。结果发现,细胞活性随PFOS浓度升高呈先促进后抑制趋势,当PFOS浓度达到1 000%mol·L-1时细胞活性受到显著抑制(P0.01);电镜结果显示PFOS能引起与代谢相关的细胞器如线粒体、内质网等发生肿胀甚至破损;与对照组相比,ROS含量和SOD活性分别在20%mol·L-1、200%mol·L-1开始出现显著性差异(P0.05),证实在PFOS引起的氧化应激反应中SOD起到了清除自由基作用以维持细胞稳态。研究表明,PFOS对海洋鱼类细胞具有一定的生物毒性,能引起细胞产生氧化应激反应,并进一步破坏生物膜系统,从而导致细胞增殖和多种代谢途径受到抑制。     

BDE-47对人胚肾细胞HEK293的毒理效应及作用机制

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)是生物体中含量最高且毒性最强的PBDEs之一,有关BDE-47对肾细胞的毒性及其作用机制的研究仍有待补充。选取3个剂量组(低:10-6mol·L-1、中:10-5mol·L-1、高:10-4mol·L-1)及溶剂对照组,研究了BDE-47对人胚肾细胞(HEK293)的细胞凋亡率及活性氧(ROS)水平的影响;并从分子水平对细胞氧化损伤、凋亡相关蛋白(APE1及p53)及凋亡相关基因m RNA(p53、Bax、Caspase 3、Caspase 8)的表达量进行测定。实验结果显示:与对照组相比,中、高剂量组细胞凋亡率显著增加(P0.05);ROS水平在中剂量组显著上升(P0.01);随BDE-47浓度的变化,APE1蛋白表达量与细胞ROS水平存在一致性;p53、Bax、Caspase 8 m RNA表达量与BDE-47的浓度间存在剂量-效应关系。结果表明,BDE-47可诱导HEK293细胞凋亡及氧化应激,APE1可能是细胞ROS升高与细胞凋亡间重要的中介因子;BDE-47可以通过影响Caspase 8及线粒体途径中p53及Bax的表达诱导细胞凋亡。     

全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)和多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)复合对斑马鱼外周血红细胞DNA的损伤

为了评价全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)和多壁碳纳米管(MWCNTs)对水环境及鱼类的影响,以斑马鱼为模式生物,研究了PFOS和MWCNTs复合对斑马鱼外周血红细胞的DNA损伤。将成年斑马鱼暴露于PFOS(0.2、0.4、0.8、1.6 mg·L-1)、MWCNTs(50 mg·L-1)、PFOS+MWCNTs(0.2+50、0.4+50、0.8+50、1.6+50 mg·L-1)和对照溶液中30 d后,断尾取血进行微核试验和彗星试验。结果表明:PFOS和MWCNTs均可造成斑马鱼外周血红细胞的DNA损伤。1.6 mg·L-1PFOS处理组的微核率、Olive尾矩及尾长分别为(36.3±0.25)‰、(87.91±14.90)μm和(250.49±34.71)μm。PFOS与MWCNTs复合后,斑马鱼外周血红细胞的DNA损伤效应明显降低。复合处理组斑马鱼外周血红细胞的微核率、Olive尾矩及尾长均低于PFOS单独处理相。1.6 mg·L-1复合处理组的微核率、Olive尾矩及尾长比PFOS单独处理组分别降低了24.7%、68.9%、52.4%。因此,在实验浓度范围内,MWCNTs可以降低PFOS对斑马鱼外周血红细胞的DNA损伤。     

氮磷营养盐因子对缘管浒苔生长、叶绿素荧光特性和氮磷富集的影响

为探讨大型海藻缘管浒苔(Ulva linza)对氮、磷加富的生理响应及其机制,分析了氮、磷浓度变化对藻体相对生长速率(Rr.g),氮、磷富集,叶绿素(Chl)含量,类胡萝卜素(Car)含量,色素比值(Chl a/Chl b、Chl/Car)以及叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明,在30μmol·L-1P浓度不变条件下,随着N浓度的增加,藻体P含量持续降低,而其Rr、g、N含量、Chl含量、Car含量、色素比值(Chl a/Chl b、Chl/Car)和叶绿素荧光参数均逐渐上升,N3处理(500μmol· L-1 N)缘管浒苔Rr.g和叶绿素荧光参数均达到最大值,N4处理(1 000 μmol·L-1)缘管浒苔Chl含量、Car含量和Chl a/Chl b比值均达到最大值.在500 μmol·L-1N浓度不变条件下,依次增加P浓度,缘管浒苔Rr,g没有显著差异,N含量没有显著变化,而P含量则呈明显上升趋势,其他指标变化幅度小.综上所述,与P相比,N的变化对缘管浒苔生长、光合色素和光合作用的影响更明显,在N浓度为500 μmol·L-1、P浓度为30 μmol ·L-1、N/P比值为16.67条件下,藻体生长最佳.当水体富营养化加剧时,缘管浒苔富集氮、磷的能力持续上升.     

大气细颗粒物对CHO细胞的损伤作用及天然物质的拮抗机制

PM2.5引起的健康危害日益受到广泛关注,但其确切的损伤机理仍不完全清楚,目前也缺乏有效拮抗PM2.5损伤的天然活性物质。因此本文对北京市PM2.5造成CHO细胞的损伤作用及天然物质的拮抗作用进行研究,结果可为PM2.5污染治理和疾病的预防提供科学依据。通过CCK-8法测定细胞存活率;通过流式细胞仪测定细胞凋亡;用荧光探针DCFH-DA法测定ROS;提取细胞内总蛋白并测定其中SOD含量;以及通过Western Blot法分别测定了p-akt/akt、p65及Bad的相对表达量。结果显示:(1)10~40μg·m L-1的PM2.5可明显降低CHO细胞存活率,并呈现极显著的剂量-效应关系(r=-0.964,P0.01);15μg·m L-1PM2.5可以显著增加细胞凋亡、引起细胞内ROS增加、SOD含量下降;p-akt/akt、p65表达量增加说明Akt通路与NF-κB通路均被激活。(2)20μmol·L-1阿魏酸、50μmol·L-1绿原酸和10μmol·L-1荭草素预处理可拮抗PM2.5引起的细胞存活率下降以及细胞凋亡率增加,同时降低细胞内ROS并增加SOD含量,下调p-akt/akt、p65及Bad的相对表达量。其中20μmol·L-1阿魏酸的保护作用最佳。结果说明,PM2.5引起的CHO细胞损伤与细胞凋亡与Akt和NF-κB通路的激活有关;三种天然活性物质具有拮抗PM2.5造成的细胞损伤的能力,其保护机理是通过其降低PM2.5引起的细胞内氧化应激反应,进而降低被PM2.5激活的Akt通路与NF-κB通路和下调Bad蛋白表达量来实现的。     

全氟辛烷磺酸钾(PFOS)和纳米氧化锌(Nano-ZnO)单独与联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的氧化损伤和细胞凋亡的影响

探讨全氟辛烷磺酸钾(PFOS)和纳米氧化锌(Nano-Zn O)复合暴露对斑马鱼机体氧化损伤和细胞凋亡的影响。将斑马鱼胚胎暴露于PFOS(0、0.4、0.8和1.6 mg·L-1)、Nano-Zn O(0、12.5、25和50 mg·L-1)、PFOS+Nano-Zn O(0、0.4+12.5、0.8+25和1.6+50 mg·L-1)溶液中6天后,检测相关的酶活性变化(超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(Gpx)、脂质过氧化物(MDA)、半胱氨酸蛋白酶(Caspase-3和Caspase-9)和与细胞凋亡相关基因(Bax,p53和Bcl-2)表达情况。结果表明:PFOS和Nano-Zn O单独与复合暴露均可造成斑马鱼胚胎的氧化损伤和细胞凋亡,但复合暴露组的氧化损伤和细胞凋亡程度明显大于单独暴露组。在PFOS和Nano-Zn O单独和复合暴露组中,随着处理浓度的升高,SOD、Gpx、Caspase-3和Caspase-9酶的活性显著升高。而CAT酶活性随着处理浓度的升高抑制作用显著。PFOS与Nano-Zn O复合暴露组与单独暴露组相比,Bax和p53表达显著上调,而Bcl-2表达显著下调。因此,在实验浓度范围内,等毒性配比1:1条件下,推测NanoZn O可以增强PFOS对斑马鱼胚胎的氧化损伤和细胞凋亡毒性。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.