矿区周围稻米重金属积累及健康风险分析

选用杂交稻、常规稻和糯稻3个水稻品系共21个水稻品种在广东大宝山矿区周围重金属污染土壤中进行大田试验,研究Cu、Zn、Pb、As和Cd 5种重金属元素在不同水稻品种(品系)稻米中的积累状况,并进行健康风险评价分析。结果表明,供试水稻稻米中Cd和Pb超标率很高,分别为100%和71.43%;Cu和As超标现象不严重,超标率分别为4.76%和14.29%;Zn含量均不超标。供试水稻品系中常规稻和糯稻稻米对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd的积累能力较高,杂交稻则较低;但杂交稻稻米对As的积累能力高于其他2个品系。稻米中Cu、Zn、Pb、As和Cd含量与稻谷生物量均呈负相关关系,其中Pb含量与稻谷生物量呈显著负相关。供试水稻稻米对5种重金属的富集能力由高到低排序为Cd>Zn>Cu>As>Pb。本研究表明供试土壤中Cd和Pb对人体健康存在比较严重的潜在威胁,Cu、Zn和As对人体健康的潜在危害较小,应重点关注大宝山矿区稻米Cd和Pb的重金属污染问题及其对人体健康的潜在危害。     

电子废物不当处置的重金属污染及其环境风险评价 Ⅱ．分布于人居环境（村镇）内的电子废物拆解作坊及其附近农田的土壤重金属污染

电子废物拆解活动一般集中于村镇内靠近人居环境的区域,其污染对当地居民身体健康的影响最为直接.为了了解电子废物拆解活动所造成的重金属污染,对广东省清远市龙塘镇、石角镇内电子废物拆解作坊共29个表土样本以及附近农田33个土壤样本进行了取样,并分析了重金属Zn、Cu、Pb和Cd含量.结果表明,龙塘镇电子废物拆解作坊表土中4种重金属的总含量平均值高达11086mg·kg-1,远高于电子废物焚烧迹地,其中Zn、Cu、Pb和Cd平均含量分别为3039.6、6371.5、1635.4和39.3mg·kg-1.从事电子废物拆解业历史较短的石角镇的拆解作坊表土中,4种重金属总含量和各金属平均含量均低于龙塘镇,显示出拆解历史越长,污染越严重的倾向.与焚烧工序相比,拆解工序中的Zn、Cd污染更为严重,Cu污染相近,Pb污染相对较低.在拆解作坊附近33个农田土壤样本中,Zn含量不超标,Cd含量超标最严重,超标率为78.8%,最大超标倍数达25.7倍,其次是Cu,超标率为63.7%,最大超标倍数达6.3倍,再次为Pb,超标率为48.5%,最大超标倍数为2.1倍.4种重金属的综合超标率达到81.8%.农田土壤中4种重金属与拆解作坊表土中重金属具有一定的同源性,并表现出共迁移特征.由此可见,研究地区大规模的电子废物拆解活动已对当地居民造成了严重的健康风险。     

贵阳市郊菜园土-辣椒体系中重金属的迁移特征

选择贵阳市郊二戈寨、马铃乡和永乐乡的辣椒地,研究重金属在菜园土-辣椒体系中的迁移过程.结果表明,二戈寨、马铃乡和永乐乡3处采样地点菜园土中存在不同程度的重金属污染,综合污染指数分别为1.17、1.23和2.18,主要污染元素为Zn、Cu、Cd.但辣椒果实中仅有Cd超标.在土壤-辣椒体系各界面间,重金属元素迁移能力大小顺序发生了变化:在土壤-根部间为CdCu＞Zn＞Pb,在根部-茎叶间为Zn＞Cd＞Pb＞Cu,在茎叶-果实间为Cu(＞＞)Zn＞Cd＞Pb.对于Cu、Pb和Zn元素来说,辣椒根-土界面是重金属进入辣椒果实的主要障碍,其生物富集系数BCF值(蔬菜根中重金属含量/土壤中重金属含量)分别在0.21～0.44、0.04～0.24和0.033～0.08之间,而Cd的BCF值却达1.06～4.23,表现为富集作用.Cd的迁移系数TF1值(蔬菜茎叶中重金属含量/根部重金属含量)表明,其在根部-茎叶间的迁移几乎不受阻碍,但在果实-茎叶界面再次受阻,其TF2值(蔬菜果实中重金属含量/茎叶中重金属含量)在0.42～0.51之间.     

电子废弃物拆解区周边农田土壤重金属污染评价及成因解析

深入了解电子废弃物拆解、倾倒及扩散引发的土壤环境问题,有助于根据土壤重金属污染程度及其潜在生态风险实现拆解区周边农田土壤的分类分级管理和科学合理利用。在浙江台州(国内电子废弃物三大拆解基地之一)某典型电子废弃物拆解区的拆解点、倾倒点及周边农田随机采集12个土壤样本,测定了土壤重金属(Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn)质量分数与污染指数,并开展了生态风险评估与成因推测研究。从研究区土壤重金属单项污染指数(以所有样点的平均值计)来看,Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn为重度污染,Cr与Ni分别为中度与轻微污染,其中Cd、Pb与Cu分别具有极强、强和中等生态危害,而Ni、Cr、Zn具有轻微生态危害。从具体样点来看,电子废弃物拆解点和倾倒点土壤重金属污染指数最高分别达164.2和152.9(均为重度污染),其潜在生态风险指数最高分别达2 685和6 914(均为很强生态危害);57.14%的农田样点土壤重金属已达中度至重度污染水平,28.57%的农田样点土壤重金属生态危害达中等级别。主成分分析与相关性分析结果显示,研究区土壤重金属污染存在两条主要扩散途经,首要的是电子废弃物拆解产生的粉尘与焚烧产生的飞灰随大气沉降而产生的污染,次要的是拆解点与废渣倾倒点经雨水冲刷、淋溶下渗、地表径流所造成的污染。结果表明,研究区土壤重金属污染较为普遍,且以Cd、Pb、Cu为主,Zn、Cr、Ni次之;电子废弃物拆解与处置过程中重金属的扩散途径以空气传输为主、雨水迁移为辅。     

矿冶区周边水稻对不同来源重金属污染的指示作用

有色金属开采与冶炼可对周边环境造成严重的重金属污染,查明重金属污染来源对于矿冶周边重金属污染管理与控制具有重要意义.为探索利用矿冶周边水稻对As、Cd、Pb、Zn和Cu的富集与水稻体内元素的含量平衡特征指示重金属污染来源的可行性,选择了我国著名的水口山Pb-Zn矿山开采与冶炼周边区,根据重金属污染排放和迁移扩散特征,结合当地气象和地貌条件,确定了3个典型采样区,其中两个采样区分别邻近冶炼厂和尾砂库,另一处为位于两者之间的过渡区.采用蛇形采样法在稻田内采集33个成熟水稻及土壤样品,分析水稻不同部位(包括根、茎叶、籽粒)及土壤中As、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu5种重金属和其他16种元素的含量.结果表明,3个采样区之间土壤中的As、Cd、Pb、Zn和Cu含量均存在显著性差异;各采样区水稻中除根际和籽粒中Cd含量外,各部位重金属含量也均有显著差异.靠近冶炼厂的水稻茎叶中As、Pb含量高于离冶炼厂较远的采样区水稻茎叶.尽管As、Pb在靠近尾砂库采样区土壤中含量最高,但在该区水稻茎叶中的含量却最低;在除As、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu5种重金属以外的其他16种元素中,水稻根部仅有5种元素含量在各采样区之间存在差异,指示相同的土地利用类型及土壤母质条件;而在茎叶和籽粒中则分别有多达11和10种元素含量出现采样区差异,指示重金属污染来源影响水稻茎叶及籽粒中元素的含量平衡.多元统计分析结果显示,3个采样区水稻茎叶中元素含量平衡存在显著的分异,显示出明显的采样区属性.结合采样区域空间位置、污染物来源、水稻对重金属的富集与转运特征分析,3个采样区重金属主要污染特征可分别确定为水-气混合来源型、大气来源型和尾砂来源型.论文结果证明利用水稻茎叶指示矿冶周边重金属污染来源是可行的.     

贵州煤矿区成熟期水稻中重金属的分布特征及风险评价

污水灌溉已经成为解决缺水地区农业用水的重要途径,也是导致土壤重金属污染的重要因素,甚至威胁着农产品的安全。为了研究重金属在植物体内的分布特征及对人体的安全性,以贵州兴仁长期受污水(即酸性矿坑废水)灌溉影响的水稻为研究对象,分析成熟期水稻样品不同部位中Fe、Mn、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr和Ni等重金属的含量变化及分布规律,同时以《食品安全国家标准食品中污染物限量》(GB 2762—2017)评价了糙米的安全性,并应用USEPA推荐的RfD值评估经食物链暴露的糙米重金属对成人和儿童所产生的健康风险。结果表明,除Mn、Zn和Ni外,水稻各器官(根、茎、叶、糙米)对Fe、Cu、Pb、Cd和Cr的积累能力为根茎或叶糙米,污灌区水稻根部富集的重金属高于对照区。采样区糙米中Pb、Cd、Cr的含量均超过食品安全标准的2~8倍,尤其Cr表现更为突出。以R_fD作为参考值的风险评价结果表明,污灌稻田供试糙米中重金属的日摄入量对成人及儿童均具有潜在的危害,且成人平均日摄入的Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Ni的量是相应元素R_fD值的2、1.3、5、31及6.2倍,表现出Cr的食物暴露风险最大,而Pb、Cd、Ni的暴露风险中度。为了研究区的食品安全及人体健康,除了需对灌溉用水进行处理外,还需采用适当的方法去除土壤中的Cr和Cd等重金属。     

有色矿业区耕作土壤、蔬菜和大米中重金属污染

有色金属矿业区周边土壤重金属污染严重,对我国生态环境质量、食品安全和人体健康构成了一定威胁,研究典型矿业区周边复合污染地带的土壤环境质量及其食物安全对促进其可持续发展具有深远的意义。从湖南省的长沙、株洲、衡阳、郴州等有色金属矿业区收集耕作土壤、蔬菜和大米样品,结合主成分分析、聚类分析和相关分析,研究其中重金属元素的累积和迁移特征,评估蔬菜和大米中重金属元素对人体健康的潜在危害程度。研究结果表明,耕作土壤中主要重金属污染元素为Cd、As、Pb、Cu、Zn等;主成分分析表明,菜地土中第一主成分主要反映了Pb、Zn、Cd、As的复合污染信息以及与土壤pH的相关关系;水稻土中第一主成分主要反映了Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd的复合污染信息;聚类分析进一步阐明耕作土壤以Cd、Pb、As、Cu、Zn为主的复合污染特征。研究区蔬菜中Cd、Pb、As、Cu、Zn、Cr含量,大米中Cd、Pb和Zn含量均明显超过我国食品卫生标准;蔬菜中Cd、Pb、As和大米中Cd、Pb对人体健康的潜在危害较大。     

龙塘镇电子垃圾拆解区土壤和河流底泥重金属赋存形态及生态风险

龙塘镇是珠三角电子垃圾拆解区之一,采用AAS方法对该地土壤和河流底泥沉积物中5种重金属(Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb)含量进行测定分析,结果显示周围农田土壤中Cd含量是《国家土壤质量标准》二级标准的3倍左右,是广东省土壤背景值的20倍左右;拆解区土壤Cd超标最为严重,最高达5.67倍,超过广东省土壤背景值达36.17倍;拆解区下游0—1500 m河流底泥中Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb含量大幅增加且部分金属超标,Cd在0—40 cm深度内含量总体逐渐降低,仍远超背景值,Cu含量采样深度内递减规律最显著且在0—10 cm内含量超标,Cr、Zn和Pb除部分点位在表层积累较多外,其余与背景值相差不大且未超标.采用BCR(the Community Bureau of Reference)法提取重金属不同形态可知,底泥中Cd主要以弱酸溶态和可还原态为主,Cu主要以可氧化态存在,Cr主要以残渣态存在,而Zn和Pb则以可还原态为主;其中Cd的可提取态比例较高(60%),容易释放出来形成"二次污染".潜在生态风险结果表明,河流底泥中Cd生态危害程度属于极强(Ei320);其他金属Cr、Cu、Zn和Pb危害风险程度属于轻微(Ei40);金属Cd对整个RI值贡献最大(88%),应重点加强对Cd污染的防控.     

湛江沿海盐渍田土壤-稻米系统重金属含量与土壤酶活性的特征及其相关分析

沿海盐渍田中耐盐水稻的种植可以有效利用土地资源,增加中国粮食总产量。探究湛江沿海盐渍田土壤-稻米重金属含量与土壤酶活性的特征及其相关关系,对评估湛江沿海盐渍田环境、农产品安全风险具有重大意义。以湛江5个区域沿海盐渍田种植耐盐水稻海红11的土壤-稻米系统为研究对象,采集了土壤样品及相应稻米,测定了脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶等3种土壤酶活性及土壤和稻米中Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Zn等5种重金属含量,采用单因子污染指数及内梅罗综合指数对重金属含量进行评价,对土壤、稻米重金属含量之间的关系作了生物富集系数与简单相关性分析,并对土壤重金属与酶活性进行了一元线性及非线性回归分析。结果表明,5个研究区域土壤及其稻米的5种重金属含量均未超过国家标准,但与1996年雷州半岛砖红壤背景值比较,研究区域盐渍田土壤存在着重金属富集的趋势,受人为活动影响较大,其中Cd的单因子污染指数最高,那么其为影响研究区土壤重金属污染的主要因子。研究区稻米重金属含量均未超过限量值,5种重金属富集能力大小的顺序为ZnCdCuCr=Pb。土壤与稻米重金属含量的相关性分析结果表明,土壤、稻米中重金属含量关系紧密,土壤中重金属含量直接影响稻米重金属含量。通过土壤重金属与酶活性的回归分析统计发现,过氧化氢酶活性与土壤Cu、Zn含量达到显著性负相关,脲酶活性与土壤Cu含量之间的回归关系也均达到了极显著负相关水平,因此,在湛江沿海盐渍田中,将过氧化氢酶作为评估Cu、Zn污染程度,脲酶作为评估Cu污染程度的生化指标是可行的。这些结果可为沿海盐渍田的修复、环境与农产品安全风险管控提供科学依据。     

废弃铅锌冶炼厂重金属污染场地的健康风险评价

通过对广西某废弃铅锌冶炼厂区进行布点采样、监测分析,选取Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、As六种重金属元素作为评价因子,对污染场地进行健康风险评价.结果显示,指数评价法表明厂区污染状况为废渣＞＞建筑垃圾＞土壤,Cd ＞Zn ＞As ＞Pb ＞Cu＞ Cr,土壤受到中度污染,废渣和建筑垃圾受到重度污染.健康风险评价法表明土壤、废渣和建筑垃圾的危害商分别为2.032、13.891、2.975,非致癌危害废渣＞＞建筑垃圾＞土壤;Cu、Zn、Cr、Cd、As的危害商分别为0.053、0.118、0.184、7.001、11.542,非致癌危害As ＞Cd ＞Cr＞Zn ＞Cu.土壤、废渣和建筑垃圾的致癌风险分别为5.387E-04、7.954E-04、2.455E-04,致癌危害废渣＞土壤＞建筑垃圾;As、Cd、Cr的致癌风险分别为5233E-04、2.400E-05、1.032E-03,致癌危害Cr＞As ＞Cd.综上,人体健康危害废渣＞建筑垃圾＞土壤,主要危害元素为As、Cd、Cr.     

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.