生活垃圾生物炭源溶解性有机质分馏和络合重金属的作用

为揭示生活垃圾衍生的溶解性有机质的成分及其与重金属的相互作用机制,利用固相萃取与分馏技术,将生活垃圾衍生的溶解性有机质进行分馏,并采用荧光猝灭滴定与光谱分析探究各馏分与Cu的络合作用.结果表明,分馏共得到4种组分,分别为疏水酸性组分、疏水中性组分、疏水碱性组分和亲水性组分,按C含量分别占5.64%、64.37%和11.66%和18.33%.在这4个组分的三维荧光光谱中观察到5个荧光峰：A(Ex/Em=240/425 nm,类富里酸物质)、C1和C2(Ex/Em=270/425 nm和Ex/Em=315/412 nm,类腐殖酸物质)、T1(Ex/Em=240/354 nm,类色氨酸物质)和T2(Ex/Em=275/358 nm,微生物代谢产物);其中在疏水中性组分中观察到3个荧光峰A、C1和C2. Cu对疏水中性组分的络合顺序为：405—450 nm>383 nm>397 nm>323—340 nm;Ryan-Weber模型拟合表明络合稳定常数（lg K）:C2(4.10)>A(3.97)>C1(3.91);这表明与Cu络合时类腐殖酸物质优先于类富里酸物质....     

臭氧深度处理垃圾焚烧厂沥滤液时溶解性有机质（DOM）特性分析

采用荧光光谱、红外光谱和紫外-可见光谱技术分析了臭氧氧化深度处理沥滤液生化处理水过程中废水中DOM组成及结构变化.同步荧光光谱显示,反应过程中340—370 nm处的特征峰强度明显下降,小于270 nm的短波长范围内荧光强度有一个从高到低再升高的变化过程.三维荧光光谱表明,沥滤液生化处理水中含有两个类富里酸荧光峰（UV-FA：Ex/Em=250—255/410—450 nm;Vis-FA：Ex/Em=315—320/400—405 nm）,反应过程中荧光峰强度不断降低,其中UV-FA荧光峰的发射波长存在明显的蓝移现象,最大蓝移量40 nm.红外光谱表明,沥滤液生化处理水中含有多种芳香性特征峰,臭氧氧化过程中峰强度逐渐降低,部分特征峰消失,并有过氧化合物的CO伸缩振动峰生成.沥滤液生化处理水经臭氧氧化深度处理60 min后,其SUVA254值由3.01 L.mg-.1m-1降低到1.16 L.mg-.1m-1,A3/A4值由4.06上升到8.43.综合分析表明,臭氧氧化能够有效将沥滤液生化处理水中结构复杂的大分子芳香族化合物降解为芳构化程度较低、分子量较小的有机物.     

藻菌生物膜胞外聚合物(EPS)与Al3+的配位作用机理

利用三维荧光光谱(3DEEM)和傅立叶转换红外光谱(FTIR)研究了藻菌生物膜EPS与Al3+的相互作用机理.3DEEM结果表明,生物膜EPS含有3个荧光峰.其中,峰A(Ex/Em=225～235 nm/300～330 nm)和峰B(Ex/Em=275～280nm/325～330 nm)荧光较强,属类蛋白峰,峰C(Ex/Em=335 nm/432～434 nm)荧光较弱,属类腐殖酸峰.峰A和峰B都能不同程度地被Al3+猝灭,它们的条件稳定常数(logK)分别为5.89和6.95.Al3+-EPS体系的峰A和峰B荧光强度明显受溶液pH值的影响.在pH为2～4之间时,荧光强度随pH的增大而增大,在4～7之间随pH的增大而减小,在7～11之间随pH增大而增大.FTIR光谱网分析表明,Al3+主要与EPS中所含的-NH-、C=O等发生强的配位作用.     

pH对洱海沉积物-上覆水溶解性有机质荧光特征影响

不同pH条件下(pH=2、4、6、8、10、12)培养洱海沉积物,利用三维荧光光谱(3DEEM)技术研究了其溶解性有机质(DOM)在培养前后荧光光谱特征变化.结果表明:①培养前,洱海沉积物DOM类富里酸荧光峰在pH(2—8)发生"红移",pH(8—12)时发生"蓝移",紫外区类富里酸(A峰)荧光强度可见区类富里酸(C峰)荧光强度,类富里酸荧光物质受pH影响不大,这与其结构复杂且不易降解有关.②培养前,洱海沉积物DOM类酪氨酸物质受pH影响较大,可见光区类酪氨酸(B1峰)荧光强度紫外区类酪氨酸(B2峰)荧光强度,这与其结构不稳定、易降解及其酚羟基解离pH范围有关.③培养后,洱海沉积物DOM可见区与紫外区类富里酸荧光强度比培养前分别降低了34.1%、32.2%,可见区与紫外区类酪氨酸荧光强度较培养前升高了57.06%、86.65%,即洱海沉积物DOM在培养后部分类富里酸物质逐渐降解为易被微生物利用的类酪氨酸物质,且在偏碱性(pH=8)环境条件下转化最为明显,沉积物DOM组成结构的转化对湖泊水污染与富营养化具有重要指示意义.     

模拟酸雨对泉州市区大气降尘重金属的淋溶

以泉州市区受污染的大气降尘为研究对象,开展大气降尘中重金属(Cu,Pb,Cr,Cd,Zn,Mn,Fe,Ni,V,As,Co)在不同酸度(pH=2.5、3.5、4.5、5.6)酸雨淋溶下的溶出行为研究.结果表明:由于降尘样品本身的中和作用,淋出液的pH呈现出先升后降的趋势,并最终接近淋溶液原始pH.在模拟酸雨作用下,污染降尘中不同重金属呈现不同的溶出规律,金属Cu、Pb、Fe、Ni、Mn、Cd的淋出量随pH的升高而降低,各重金属的溶出基本可分为快速溶出阶段、缓慢溶出阶段或稳定阶段,重金属的溶出不仅与总量有关,还与模拟酸雨pH、环境温度、淋溶时间等因素有关.在pH2.5的酸雨下,累积释放量由大到小的顺序为交通区降尘:FeZnMnCoCuCrNiPbAsVCd,工业区降尘:MnFeZnPbCrCuNiAsVCoCd.     

长江重庆段溶解性有机物的荧光特性分析

利用三维荧光光谱(EEMs),并结合平行因子分析(PARAFAC)及主成分分析(PCA),研究了长江重庆段溶解有机物(DOM)的荧光组分特征及其污染来源,并探讨了荧光强度同溶解性有机碳(DOC)及溶解氧(DO)的相关性.结果表明,PARAFAC模型识别出长江重庆段DOM由2类6个荧光组分组成,即类腐殖质荧光组分C1(350/422 nm)、C4(245,305/395 nm)、C5(260,340/420 nm)、C6(260/480 nm)及类蛋白荧光组分C2(275/300 nm)、C3(227,278/329 nm).在DOM来源组成中,陆源的类腐殖质含量占62.56%,类蛋白物质含量占31.31%.类腐殖质组分的荧光强度同DOC的含量存在明显的线性正相关(r=0.73),类蛋白组分的荧光强度同DO的含量呈明显的线性负相关(r=0.80).EEMs-PARAFAC不仅可以表征长江重庆段DOM的光谱特征,示踪长江重庆段的有机污染程度,还可以为三峡库区水体保护提供依据.     

新疆匹里青河小流域DOM荧光特征及与汞的相互作用

以匹里青河小流域土壤溶解性有机质(DOM)作为研究对象,利用平行因子技术(PARAFAC)结合荧光淬灭滴定技术,分析和讨论流域内不同土地利用类型(包括林地、田地、草地)对DOM的荧光特征及与Hg~(2+)的配位作用。结果表明,不同土地利用类型土壤DOM特征差异显著,土壤DOM含量大小顺序表现为草地林地农田,而有色溶解性有机质(CDOM)含量则表现为草地农田林地。不同土地利用下土壤DOM均包含3种荧光峰:紫外区类腐殖荧光峰A、可见区类富里酸荧光峰C及海洋或陆源类腐殖质荧光峰M。PARAFAC共识别出2种组分:C1为胡敏酸物质,C2为富里酸物质。另外,3种不同土地利用类型中DOM组分荧光强度均随Hg~(2+)浓度的增强出现不同程度的荧光淬灭现象,DOM中各类荧光组分与Hg~(2+)络合常数存在差异,说明由于不同土地利用污染源的不同,DOM参与反应的官能团种类及数量的大小不同,影响了与Hg~(2+)的络合能力,导致络合常数不同。     

大宝山排土场植物稳定修复对模拟酸雨重金属淋溶的响应

以广东省韶关市大宝山排土场多金属重度污染土壤为研究对象,通过模拟酸雨淋溶实验,探究淋溶对植物稳定修复(土壤改良+种植红麻/苎麻)后土壤重金属迁移的影响.结果表明,在土柱上层(0-10 cm)土壤中施加0.4%石灰+0.2%有机肥,能显著提高淋出液pH值,并大幅度降低0-10 cm土壤中的重金属有效态含量;种植红麻和苎麻处理后,淋出液pH值较空白组显著提高,淋溶液淋失量相较于空白处理分别减少了32.5%和12.4%,淋出液中铅、锌、铜、镉重金属含量分别降低了65.2%和71.3%、81.6%和78.5%、79.4%和71.7%以及86.7%和85.3%;且种植红麻、苎麻后,土柱下层(21-30 cm)的土壤铅、锌、铜、镉重金属有效态含量相较于空白处理分别降低了16.3%和22.9%、30.5%和17.9%、18.8%和32.5%以及38.1%和29.7%.因此,种植红麻、苎麻不仅能显著降低径流淋溶失量,而且降低了淋出液中重金属含量,减轻了淋出液对地下水造成的污染;在模拟酸性降雨条件下,种植红麻、苎麻并施用改良剂处理重金属污染土壤的模式在植物稳定修复方面具有较好的应用潜力.(图7表6参42)     

太湖水体有机质荧光特征及其来源解析

水体颗粒态(POM)和溶解态有机物(DOM)的形成、转化、归宿及其相伴随的营养盐再生过程在湖泊蓝藻水华暴发过程中扮演着非常重要的营养盐供给者的角色。为了检验POM和DOM荧光特征及其来源的差异性,分别于2014年8月和2015年2月在太湖采集了68(34×2)个样品,利用POM-DOM PARAFAC三维荧光模型及地统计学法对夏、冬季节POM和DOM的荧光特征及其来源进行解析,以期为湖泊富营养化的治理和蓝藻水华的控制提供基础资料。结果表明,夏、冬季节DOM均发现了4类荧光峰(T、D、A和C峰),而夏、冬季节POM荧光峰类型存在明显季节差异,夏季POM出现6类荧光峰(B、D、M、C、A和未知荧光峰U峰),冬季POM出现5类荧光峰(T、D、M、C和A峰);夏季POM类酪氨酸荧光峰D峰激发波长为300 nm,出现明显的"蓝移"现象,说明夏季POM类酪氨酸荧光物质的分子量、缩聚度和芳香度小于其他季节有机质。POM(C1p~C5p)和DOM(C1d~C5d)均存在5种荧光组分,分别是类色氨酸(C1和C2)、类腐殖质(C3和C4)及类酪氨酸(C5)。POM和DOM荧光组分特征存在明显的时空差异;夏季POM以组分C5为主,各荧光组分高值区均分布在竺山湾区域;冬季POM以组分C3为主,各荧光组分高值区均集中在湖心区;而夏、冬季节DOM均以类蛋白组分C2、C1和C5为主(相对含量C2dC1dC5d),各荧光组分高值区均分布在竺山湾区域;夏、冬季节太湖藻型湖区POM类色氨酸组分(C1和C2)较草型湖区多(t=2.003,P=0.040;t=3.465,P=0.002),而DOM类色氨酸组分在不同类型湖区所占比重并无显著差异(P0.05)。综合POM和DOM的块金系数和荧光指数可知,冬季DOM整体表现出较强的自生源特征,夏季DOM、冬季POM、夏季POM均同时受内源和外源的双重影响,其中夏季POM受外源影响相对强烈。     

模拟酸雨对微米和纳米羟基磷灰石稳定化污染土壤的铜和镉淋溶效应

采用室内土柱淋溶试验,以1%的质量比向铜、镉复合污染土壤中添加微米羟基磷灰石(MHA)和纳米羟基磷灰石(NHA)稳定化培养72 h,并探讨模拟酸雨对稳定化修复土壤中Cu和Cd的释放影响,包括淋溶液的pH值、电导率(EC)、Cu和Cd浓度,以及Cu和Cd生物有效性的变化。结果表明,MHA处理淋溶液pH值最高,达7.78,其后依次为NHA和对照(CK)处理,且3种处理的pH值均高于模拟酸雨。MHA和NHA处理均增加了淋溶液EC值,MHA处理EC最高值是CK处理的10.41倍。与CK处理相比,MHA处理显著增加淋溶液Cu浓度,而NHA处理则降低Cu浓度;MHA和NHA处理均降低淋溶液Cd浓度。淋溶前MHA处理Cu和Cd的生物有效性降幅分别为75.0%和90.7%,NHA处理Cu和Cd生物有效性降幅分别为59.6%和52.2%,说明MHA处理稳定化效果比NHA处理更好。但是在模拟酸雨淋溶下,MHA处理Cu释放量更多,表明经MHA处理稳定的Cu和Cd在酸雨淋溶下易再次被活化。     

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.