重污染天气期间济南市城区和清洁对照点PM_(2.5)及其组分污染特征

为探究重污染天气期间济南市城区和清洁对照点PM_(2.5)及其组分污染特征,于2016年12月31日-2017年1月7日在市监测站和跑马岭进行连续PM_(2.5)样品采集,并对两个点位的PM_(2.5)及其组分(水溶性离子和碳质组分)污染特征进行分析。结果表明,重污染天气期间市监测站PM_(2.5)质量浓度(260±77)μg·m~(-3)是跑马岭(85±17)μg·m~(-3)的3倍,表明该重污染天气过程对济南市城区影响程度明显大于清洁对照点跑马岭。市监测站水溶性离子浓度高低顺序为SO_4~(2-)NO_3~-NH_4~+Cl~-K~+Na~+Ca~(2+)F~-,跑马岭水溶性离子浓度高低顺序为NO_3~-SO_4~(2-)NH_4~+Cl~-K~+Na~+Ca~(2+)F~-。市监测站和跑马岭二次无机离子(SNA)质量浓度分别为(134.7±49.5)μg·m~(-3)和(46.2±19.0)μg·m~(-3),在PM_(2.5)中占比分别是51.8%和54.4%,两个点位PM_(2.5)浓度差别很大,但SNA在PM_(2.5)中占比相差不大。通过NH_4~+计算值与实测值相关性分析可知,市监测站和跑马岭PM_(2.5)中NH_4~+均主要以(NH_4)_2SO_4和NH_4NO_3形式存在。市监测站SOR和NOR分别为0.44和0.32,跑马岭SOR和NOR分别为0.32和0.44,SOR和NOR的值均大于0.1,表明大气中SO_2和NO_2的二次氧化程度较高。采用OC/EC最小比值法估算得到市监测站和跑马岭SOC分别为8.3μg·m~(-3)和1.8μg·m~(-3),分别占OC的38.2%和20.9%,这表明市监测站OC二次反应程度明显高于跑马岭。市监测站有机碳(OC)和元素碳(EC)相关性(R~2=0.57)明显弱于跑马岭(R~2=0.92),表明市监测站OC和EC来源比较复杂,更有利于SOC的生成。     

长治市秋冬季PM2.5组分特征及来源解析

采集了2017—2018年秋冬季长治市审计局站、监测站、清华站等3个监测站点的大气PM_(2.5)样品,分析了其元素、水溶性离子及碳质组分特征,并利用化学质量平衡模型(CMB)对PM_(2.5)进行来源解析.结果表明,采样期间长治市PM_(2.5)浓度为67.9μg·m~(-3),其中审计局站PM_(2.5)浓度最高(70.6μg·m~(-3)),其次为监测站(70.0μg·m~(-3))和清华站(63.0μg·m~(-3));二次无机离子(SO_4~(2-)、NO~-_3、NH~+_4)平均浓度(20.7μg·m~(-3))占PM_(2.5)浓度的30.5%,与大量排放到大气中的SO_2、NO_2二次生成有关;OC(12.6μg·m~(-3))和EC(6.6μg·m~(-3))分别占PM_(2.5)的18.6%和9.7%;OC/EC为2.06,且SOC(5.9μg·m~(-3))在OC中占比高达63.1%,表明长治市秋冬季二次污染较重;典型地壳元素Si和Ca占元素组分平均浓度的29.8%和22.8%,说明扬尘污染对长治市PM_(2.5)的有一定影响;源解析结果表明,长治市秋冬季PM_(2.5)主要来源为:机动车源17.0%、燃煤源16.5%、扬尘源14.6%、二次硝酸盐13.9%、二次硫酸盐11.0%、二次有机气溶胶10.8%、工艺过程源9.3%、生物质燃烧源1.9%、其他源5.0%.因此,为进一步降低长治市环境空气中PM_(2.5)的污染,需在加强管控机动车,燃煤和扬尘等一次排放源的基础上,降低一次污染物SO_2、NO_2等的排放,从而实现对二次污染源前体物的控制.     

北京城区夏季PM_(2.5)中碳组分和二次水溶性无机离子浓度特征

为探索北京城区大气细颗粒物浓度水平及其碳组分和二次水溶性无机离子的浓度特征,于2014年6月1日至7月15日在车公庄地区使用微量振荡天平(TEOM+FDMS)、EC/OC在线分析仪以及水溶性离子在线分析仪对PM_(2.5)质量浓度及其主要化学组分(OC、EC、SO_4~(2-)、NO_3~-和NH_4~+)进行了实时监测.研究结果表明,北京市城区夏季PM_(2.5)质量浓度平均值为69.0±47.9μg·m-3,PM_(2.5)中OC、EC、SO_4~(2-)、NO_3~-和NH_4~+所占的比例分别为15.8%、2.4%、23.0%、15.7%和19.2%,SNA(SO_4~(2-)、NO_3~-和NH_4~+)合计达到了PM_(2.5)质量浓度的57.9%.研究各组分的日变化特征发现,OC和SO_4~(2-)白天浓度变化较小,夜晚浓度稍高;NO_3~-和NH_4~+则随着光照和温度的增加而逐渐降低;EC呈现出夜晚浓度高白天浓度低的特点.研究各组分的相关性及比值发现,OC和EC的相关系数为0.62,OC/EC大于2.0,说明北京城区夏季存在着较为严重的二次污染;此外,NO_3~-/SO_4~(2-)平均比值为0.68,SOR和NOR的变化趋势基本一致,两者的平均值分别为0.55和0.14.通过分析北京市城区夏季不同浓度级别各组分的变化发现,随着PM_(2.5)质量浓度的增加,OC和EC所占的比例不断降低,而SNA比例则不断升高,其中NO_3~-浓度水平的增加最为显著.     

宜宾市PM_(2.5)中碳组分的污染特性及来源分析

2017年1月—12月期间在四川省宜宾市布置4个点位,共采集360个PM_(2.5)样品膜,采用美国沙漠研究所DRI Model 2001型热光分析仪测定PM_(2.5)样品中OC、EC的浓度值,应用OC/EC比值法对SOC进行了估算.结果表明,宜宾市PM_(2.5)年均浓度为75.2μg·m~(-3).OC、EC年均浓度分别为14.3μg·m~(-3)和4.30μg·m~(-3),季节变化趋势为冬季秋季春季夏季,OC占PM_(2.5)比例为19.0%,为PM_(2.5)重要组成部分.SOC年均浓度为4.70μg·m~(-3),对OC贡献较大,在OC中占比为29.3%;SOC在OC中的占比春季冬季≈秋季夏季.进一步对OC1、OC2、OC3、OC4、EC1、EC2、EC3、和OPC进行主成分分析,结果表明机动车尾气、燃煤排放和生物质燃烧是宜宾市PM_(2.5)中OC和EC的主要贡献源,可贡献PM_(2.5)中碳组分的54.0%—69.0%.     

广州大气PM_(2.5)中含碳组分的污染特征及来源解析

于2015年1月至11月在广州利用大流量大气颗粒物采样器采集细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))样品,并利用热光反射法(TOR)测定大气颗粒物中有机碳(OC)和元素碳(EC)浓度。结果表明,广州ρ(PM_(2.5))年均值为(69.5±35.6)μg·m~(-3),是GB 3095—2012《环境空气质量标准》中PM_(2.5)年均质量浓度二级标准限值(35μg·m~(-3))的2.0倍,表明广州大气细颗粒物污染严重。OC、EC和总碳气溶胶(TCA)的年均质量浓度分别为(8.31±4.53)、(3.56±2.72)和(16.85±9.60)μg·m~(-3),分别占PM_(2.5)质量浓度的13.2%、5.9%和27.0%,表明含碳组分是PM_(2.5)的重要组成部分。OC和EC浓度季节变化规律存在差异性,OC浓度在冬季最高,而EC浓度在秋季最高。OC和EC的相关性弱和比值高的特征结果表明冬季二次有机碳(SOC)污染最严重,其平均质量浓度为6.9μg·m~(-3),占OC质量浓度的62.4%。主成分分析结果表明,冬季和春季广州PM_(2.5)中碳组分来源较复杂,主要包括机动车尾气、燃煤和生物质燃烧,夏季碳组分的主导污染来源是燃煤和机动车尾气,而秋季碳组分主要来源于机动车尾气。     

太原市PM_(2.5)中含碳气溶胶特征分析

为研究太原市环境空气中含碳组分的时空分布变化规律,于2014年3月、5月、8月、12月采集了太原市3个点位春、夏、秋、冬等4个季节的PM_(2.5)样品,利用碳分析仪(DRI 2001A)测定了样品中OC1、OC2、OC3、OC4、EC1、EC2、EC3、OPC共8种碳组分含量,计算了有机碳(OC)、元素碳(EC)二者浓度,分析了OC和EC的时空分布特征.结果显示,太原市PM_(2.5)中OC和EC的平均质量浓度分别是13.5±14μg·m~(-3)和6.5±6.1μg·m~(-3),其中OC浓度随季节变化顺序为冬季春季夏季秋季,EC浓度季节变化与OC一致.春、夏、秋、冬4个季节总含碳气溶胶(TCA)占PM_(2.5)比例分别为17.6%、9.5%、8.8%、42.3%,其中冬季最高,表明冬季含碳气溶胶污染较为严重.夏季中OC和EC相关性较弱(R~2=0.4054),而春季(R~2=0.7659)、秋季(R~2=0.8253)、冬季(R~2=0.8184)OC和EC相关性较强,表明夏季碳气溶胶来源不同.通过(OC/EC)min最小比值法估算二次有机碳(SOC)浓度,春、夏、秋、冬季SOC浓度分别为2.8±2.9μg·m~(-3)、1.0±0.8μg·m~(-3)、 0.5±0.4μg·m~(-3)、 3.6±3.5μg·m~(-3),冬季SOC浓度最高. 8种碳组分分析结果显示,不同季节一次排放源中生物质燃烧、机动车尾气排放及煤炭燃烧对太原市含碳气溶胶贡献不同,其中,冬季燃煤和机动车排放使太原市含碳气溶胶污染严重,应加强燃煤和机动车排放源管控,来减轻碳组分污染.     

北京城区PM_(2.5)有机碳和元素碳的污染特征及来源分析

为研究北京城区PM_(2.5)中有机碳(OC)和元素碳(EC)的浓度水平、季节变化特征与主要来源,于2015年4月至2016年3月在北京西三环交通带附近采集4个季节PM_(2.5)有效样品95组,利用热光反射法测定了PM_(2.5)中OC和EC的质量浓度,并对OC/EC值、OC与EC相关性、二次有机碳(SOC)等特征及污染来源进行了分析.结果表明,采样期间PM_(2.5)平均质量浓度为(109.9±7.99)μg·m~(-3). PM_(2.5)中OC的年平均质量浓度为(13.49±4.32)μg·m~(-3),占PM_(2.5)的13.13%; EC的年平均质量浓度为(5.41±1.83)μg·m~(-3),占PM_(2.5)的5.2%.OC和EC平均浓度及OC和EC在PM_(2.5)中所占比例的季节变化特征均为冬季最高,秋季大于春季,夏季最低.4个季节PM_(2.5)中OC/EC比值均大于2.0,表明各季节存在二次有机碳(SOC)的生成,采用OC/EC最小比值法对SOC含量进行了估算,SOC年平均浓度为(6.88±1.10)μg·m~(-3),占OC含量的50.86%,冬秋季节的SOC浓度水平高于春夏季节.夏季SOC对OC的贡献率为62.22%,高于其他季节.相关性分析表明,OC与EC的相关性在春季(R2=0.9046)和秋季(R2=0.8886)高于夏季(R2=0.4472)和冬季(R2=0.6018),表明春秋两季OC与EC来源相似且相对简单.进一步对PM_(2.5)中8个碳组分质量浓度进行分析显示,北京城区大气碳质气溶胶主要来自汽油车排放和燃煤.     

济南市秋冬季大气细粒子污染特征及来源

快速的经济发展和城市化进程造成我国城市大气污染日益显著,并受到更为广泛的关注.为了解济南市大气细粒子及其化学成分的污染特征,于2013.10.15—2013.11.16和2013.12.24—2014.1.27(总观测天数为62天)利用中流量颗粒物采样器采集了济南市大气PM_(2.5)样品,分析了其中的化学成分,包括水溶性离子、无机金属元素、元素碳(EC)和有机碳(OC),并结合颗粒物质量重构法和主成分分析法探讨了济南市大气细粒子的来源.结果表明,监测期内济南市PM_(2.5)质量浓度严重超标,日均值均高于我国国家环境空气质量标准(GB3095—2012)中的一级标准,最高日均值达到了335μg·m~(-3).水溶性离子、有机碳、元素碳和金属元素分别占总PM_(2.5)浓度的45.3%、34.7%、2.3%、5.6%(秋季),42.8%、32.9%、3.6%、12.5%(冬季).二次水溶性离子NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)和NH_4~+为主要的水溶性离子,分别占总离子浓度的34.1%、35.6%、9.2%(秋季)和35.2%、30.4%、15.9%(冬季).OC和EC的平均质量浓度分别为33.8μg·m~(-3)和4.3μg·m~(-3),OC/EC比值表明秋季汽车尾气与生物质燃烧对有机气溶胶的贡献较大,而冬季燃煤排放对有机气溶胶的贡献较大.化学质量重构结果表明,秋季济南市细粒子中二次无机盐、海盐、重金属、矿物尘、建筑尘、有机物和元素碳的质量百分比分别为38.6%、1.2%、0.2%、5.4%、1.4%、34.7%和2.3%,冬季分别为34.8%、1.5%、3.5%、7.5%、3.2%、33.0%和3.6%.主成分分析结果表明,汽车尾气及二次转化、燃煤以及冶炼工业排放是济南市大气细粒子的主要来源.     

贵阳秋季PM_(2.5)水溶性离子组成特征及来源解析

水溶性无机离子是PM_(2.5)的主要组分之一,对研究PM_(2.5)的物理化学性质,来源及其形成机理具有重要意义.本研究于2017年9月—2017年11月期间在贵阳城区采集了80个PM_(2.5)样品,并测定了8种水溶性离子浓度,探讨贵阳秋季PM_(2.5)水溶性离子组成特征及来源.结果表明贵阳秋季PM_(2.5)中无机离子的平均质量浓度为15.99μg·m~(-3),阴离子和阳离子的平均质量浓度分别为10. 90μg·m~(-3)、5. 09μg·m~(-3); SO_4~(2-)(8. 53±4.63μg·m~(-3))平均质量浓度最高,其次是NH_4~+(2.56±1.62μg·m~(-3))、NO_3~-(2.21±2.96μg·m~(-3))、Ca~(2+)(1.98±0.88μg·m~(-3)),最后依次是K~+(0.37±0.24μg·m~(-3))、Cl-(0.16±0.11μg·m~(-3))、Mg~(2+)(0.11±0.03μg·m~(-3))、Na~+(0.07±0.06μg·m~(-3)); NH_4~+、SO_4~(2-)、NO_3~-是主要水溶性离子,所占比例为83%; NO_3~-/SO_4~(2-)值平均为0.21±0.12,远小于1,说明贵阳秋季PM_(2.5)以固定源污染为主.相关性分析表明,PM_(2.5)中NH_4~+主要以(NH_4)_2SO_4、NH_4HSO_4、NH_4NO_3的形式存在,Ca~(2+)与Mg~(2+)来源可能相同.结合富集系数分析NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)、Ca~(2+)、K~+、Mg~(2+)基本都是来源于陆源贡献,NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)是人为源,Ca~(2+)、K~+、Mg~(2+)是地壳源,此外Mg~(2+)还有一部分海源贡献.     

菏泽市夏季PM10和PM25中水溶性离子组分污染特征

为分析菏泽市大气颗粒物及其水溶性离子组分特征,本研究于2015年8月期间在菏泽市6个监测点位采集环境受体PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)样品共120个,利用离子色谱法测定颗粒物中水溶性无机离子(SO■、NO~-_3、NH~+_4、Cl~-、Ca~(2+)、K~+、Na~+、Mg~(2+)、F~-),并同步收集气象参数及气态污染物质量浓度等资料.结果表明,菏泽市夏季环境受体中颗粒物质量浓度ρ(PM_(10))和ρ(PM_(2.5))分别为94.5μg·m~(-3)、55.2μg·m~(-3),稍低于国内其他城市,这与各城市经济发展、产业能源结构、气象条件等因素有关.PM_(2.5)/PM_(10)值在0.5—0.8之间,表明菏泽市夏季细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))污染较为严重.但PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中水溶性离子质量总浓度ρ(WSIs)分别为30.5μg·m~(-3)、17.0μg·m~(-3);质量分数w(WSIs)分别为32.4%、29.6%.其中SO■、NO~-_3、NH~+_4为PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中主要水溶性离子,3种离子浓度和分别占PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中总离子浓度的84.3%、88.3%.SO■、NO~-_3、NH~+_4、K~+主要集中在细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))中,Ca~(2+)、Mg~(2+)则广泛存在于粗颗粒物(PM_(10))中.各采样点的PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中,SO■、NO~-_3、NH~+_4、Ca~(2+)和Mg~(2+)浓度分布具有空间差异.离子相关性表明,NH~+_4与SO■、NO~-_3相关性均较强,3种离子主要以NH_4HSO_4、NH_4NO_3形式存在.PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中NO~-_3/SO■值分别在0.41—0.49和0.36—0.47之间,平均值分别为0.46、0.42,表明固定源是菏泽市夏季颗粒物污染的主要污染贡献源.     

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.