太湖地区侧渗水稻土连续施磷处理下稻田磷的径流损失

太湖地区侧渗水稻土稻田磷素动态特征及其潜在环境效应的田间测试结果表明,水稻地上部收获带走的磷量平均为47.5kg·hm-2;土壤表层0—10cm富集的磷、整个稻季径流流失的溶解态磷、颗粒态磷和总磷与施磷量呈线性相关关系。水稻生长季由径流损失的总磷量约在1.3～5.1kg·hm-2,损失量随施磷量的增加而增加。过量施肥会增加磷素径流流失风险,在当地施磷量30kg·hm-2条件下,水田磷素流失量相对很小。太湖地区侧渗水稻土稻季建议施磷量为50kg·hm-2。     

太湖地区稻田氮素损失特征及环境效应分析

通过氮肥减量小区试验,研究了太湖地区稻田氮素径流损失、渗漏损失、氨挥发损失以及氨挥发通量的动态变化特征,阐述了氮素损失量、水稻产量与施氮量之间的关系。结果表明：稻季氮素径流损失和氨挥发损失均随施氮量的增加不断增加,而渗漏损失与施氮量没有显著相关性。综合整个稻季,氨挥发损失以分蘖肥期最高,基肥期次之,穗肥期最低。稻季氮素总损失为13.7～59.8 kg·hm-2,占总施氮量的16.5%～22.2%,且随施氮量的增加而不断增加,其中氨挥发损失占42.2%～72.0%,径流损失占22.2%～38.4%,渗漏损失占5.8%～22.7%。稻季181 kg·hm-2的氮肥用量,较常规施氮量减少了33%的氮肥,增加了10.3%的产量,降低了48.5%的氮素损失,较好地兼顾了粮食产量和环境效应;而对于重要环境区域或高污染区域,还可以尝试更低的氮肥投入,以达到更好的环境效益。     

上海郊区旱作农田氮素流失研究

通过测坑和大田小区试验,研究了上海郊区旱作农田氮素降雨径流和降雨渗漏流失的特征、相关因素和流失负荷。结果表明:平水年重质土麦地总氮流失负荷为18. 38 kg·hm-2,其中降雨径流总氮流失负荷为4. 4kg·hm-2,渗漏为13. 98kg·hm-2;菜地总氮流失量为55. 65kg·hm-2,其中降雨径流总氮流失负荷为21. 6kg·hm-2,渗漏为34. 05kg·hm-2;旱田氮素流失以硝态氮为主,占总氮90%左右。施用有机肥可较大幅度地减少旱田的氮素渗漏流失。     

太湖流域典型稻-麦轮作农田区氮素流失过程研究

太湖地区经济高度发达,劳动力紧缺,种植小麦(Triticum aestivum)经济效益不高,而且小麦-水稻(Oryza sativa)轮作中,麦季氮素淋洗损失高于稻季,为探讨和揭示太湖流域典型稻-麦轮作农田区氮素流失过程及平衡特征,选取典型太湖流域农田系统为研究对象,采用径流小区的研究方法,在太湖流域典型稻-麦轮作种植模式下,对太湖流域典型稻-麦轮作区进行连续3年(2007─2010年)原位监测,阐明了太湖流域典型稻麦轮作区氮素流失过程及其影响因素,分析了该区域氮素平衡特征,结果表明:大气氮干沉降量冬春季较多且分布较均匀;总氮(P0.001***)及铵态氮(P=0.02*)的大气湿沉降量和降雨量呈现极显著的相关性。地表径流中氮素的主要流失形态为可溶性氮素,同时,径流水量是引起氮素径流流失的主要驱动因子(P0.01)。雨水是驱动小麦季氮素下渗的唯一动力。铵态氮是氮素淋失的主要形态,在稻作期,铵态氮渗漏流失量约占总渗漏流失量的70%。太湖流域稻麦轮作区,各项氮素年平均流失去向分别为:作物收割290 kg·hm-2,占总输入量55.98%;反硝化流失130 kg·hm-2,占总输入量25.10%;径流流失59.5 kg·hm-2,占总输入量11.49%;氨气挥发22.28kg·hm-2,占总输入量4.30%;渗漏流失16.1 kg·hm-2,占总输入量3.11%。全年平均氮素流失总量为518 kg·hm-2,氮素的盈余量为91.9 kg·hm-2。该研究结果对于指导太湖农流域农田水肥管理,控制农业面源污染具有积极意义。     

麦季施用不同尿素的氮排水和渗漏损失

在太湖地区乌栅土的稻麦轮作条件下,利用大型原状土柱渗漏液采集器(monolithlysimeter),比较不同尿素品种和施肥量(普通尿素150、300kg·hm-2和包膜尿素100、150kg·hm-2)处理对麦季土壤氮随径流和渗漏损失的影响。结果表明:施用的包膜尿素当季氮不易随排水流失,但可能增加下季氮流失的风险。两麦季排水溶解氮均以NO-3 N为主,达76.7%以上,NH+4 N比例很小;麦季排水氮输出量年际差异明显,降雨产生排水与施肥时间间隔的不同是造成排水氮输出量差异的关键因素;施肥后20d内发生排水易产生较多的氮排放。渗漏液硝态氮浓度(最高为8.12mg·L-1)均未超过饮用水NO-3 N含量标准,但均已超过水体富营养化标准;对照处理麦季渗漏液量显著高于施肥处理;在150kg·hm-2的施N量水平下,普通尿素或包膜尿素均未显著增加氮的渗漏,但过量施用普通尿素则加大氮渗漏的风险。     

太湖流域坡地茶园径流流失规律

在太湖流域坡地茶园进行小区试验,研究自然降雨条件下坡地茶园径流流失的基本规律.结果表明,在常规种植条件下,茶园的平均年径流水量为98.29 L·m-2,随径流流失的氮素量为11.685 kg·hm-2,其中硝态氮(N03--N)流失量为8.918 kg·hm-2,占总氮的76.320%;可溶性总磷(TDP)流失量为0.128 kg·hm-2,磷酸根(PO3-4)流失量为0.104 kg·hm-2,占磷总流失量的65.823%;径流携带泥沙量为181.13 kg.hm-2,其中泥沙携带氮为0.272 kg·hm-2,泥沙携带磷为0.030 kg·hm-2;氮、磷流失系数分别为1.008%和-0.087%,氮、磷肥流失率分别为5.686%和0.190%.说明试验区域坡地茶园径流量少,氮、磷流失较少,产生农业面源污染的风险较小.     

应用HYDRUS-1D模型模拟农田土壤水渗漏及硝态氮淋失特征

在定位试验基础上,应用HYDRUS-1D模型对黄淮海平原典型土壤(黄潮土)中土壤水渗漏及硝态氮淋失动态进行了模拟分析。结果表明:在传统水氮管理模式下,黄潮土2m土体深处的土壤水渗漏和硝态氮淋失非常严重,2个轮作期内,土壤水渗漏总量占地表总入水量的23.7%,硝态氮淋失总量占总输入N量的15.9%,冬小麦生长季的硝态氮淋失量大于夏玉米生长季;改良灌溉和改良施肥模式下产生的硝态氮淋失量比传统灌溉和传统施肥模式减少74.7%,节约灌溉水211.5mm、节省施N423.5kg·hm-2。     

有机-无机肥不同配施比例对稻季CH_4和N_2O排放的影响

2015年通过大田小区试验,以粳稻品种武运粳29号为供试材料,在等氮量有机肥替代化肥条件下,设置5个不同有机-无机肥配施比例处理,采用静态箱暗箱-气相色谱法,对水稻生长季稻田CH_4和N_2O排放通量进行观测,并运用全球增温潜势(global warming potentials,GWP)对稻田CH_4和N_2O排放的温室效应进行测算。结果表明:(1)不同处理稻季CH_4排放的季节性变化趋势基本一致,但排放量大小差异显著,单施化肥(M1)、25%有机肥(M2)、50%有机肥(M3)、75%有机肥(M4)、100%有机肥(M5)替代化肥处理稻季CH_4累积排放量分别为203.37、242.06、255.04、288.06、334.46 kg·hm-2;不同处理稻季N_2O排放的季节性变化趋势也基本一致,但排放量大小差异显著,M1、M2、M3、M4、M5处理稻季N_2O累积排放量分别为3.96、3.43、3.27、2.97、2.60 kg·hm-2;(2)不同处理稻季排放CH_4和N_2O产生的增温潜势高低顺序为:M5M4M3M2M1,M5处理的增温潜势为9 136.8 kg·hm-2;(3)有机肥替代化肥与单施化肥比较,增加了太湖地区的稻田温室效应,但是,50%有机肥替代化肥的M3处理在获得较高水稻产量的同时,其单位产量的全球增温潜势在配施有机肥的各处理中表现为最低,是相对适宜的有机肥替代化肥的替代比例。     

大气CO_2浓度升高对稻田土壤Ca、Mg含量的影响

为了研究稻田生态系统中土壤钙、镁元素生物地球化学循环对大气CO2浓度升高的响应。利用中国稻/麦轮作FACE（Free Air Carbon-dioxide Enrichment）试验平台,研究大气CO2浓度升高（比周围大气高200μmol mol-1）对2007年稻季各生育期不同深度土壤溶液ρ（Ca）、ρ（Mg）的影响。结果表明,大气CO2浓度升高降低了5 cm处土壤溶液ρ（Ca）、ρ（Mg）,有增加稻季30、60和90 cm处土壤溶液ρ（Ca）的趋势,其增幅分别为18.3%、12.4%和15.3%;大气CO2浓度升高会增加稻季Ca淋溶损失风险;稻季不同深度土壤溶液ρ（Ca）、ρ（Mg）对大气CO2浓度升高的响应有所不同。稻田生态系统不同深度土壤Ca、Mg循环对大气CO2浓度升高的响应值得深入研究。     

稻麦两熟农田稻季养分径流流失特征

采用田间小区定位试验研究了自然降雨条件下江苏稻麦两熟农田稻季养分径流流失规律。结果表明：稻季径流水量可达5705.55m3·hm-2;常规施肥（T0）条件下,稻田径流流失全N（TN）、全P（TP）和速效K（AK）的总量分别为11.29、0.19和13.22kg·hm^-2,流失率分别为3.8%、0.21%和9.8%;径流水中全N和速效K质量浓度随距施肥时间的延长而呈逐渐下降趋势;较常规施肥处理而言,秸秆还田（T1）和还田减肥（T2）处理不仅能够有效降低径流水中TN、TP和AK质量浓度,而且能够减少稻季养分径流流失总量,分别减少13.48%、17.55%,25.00%、31.25%和22.69%、53.48%,并降低养分流失率,分别达13.16%、-2.63%,23.81%、14.29%和22.45%、41.84%。     

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     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

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.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.