嗜热脂肪土芽孢杆菌木聚糖酶基因的合成及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

来自嗜热脂肪土芽孢杆菌的木聚糖内切酶XT6在工业上有着重要的应用,已经成功应用于工业规模的生产试验.本文作者在合成XT6基因全序列的同时对其密码子进行了优化,且构建重组质粒在大肠杆菌中高表达.通过优化表达条件,功能正常的XT6基因在大肠杆菌中成功过量表达,蛋白表达量占细胞中总蛋白的65%.重组表达的木聚糖内切酶XT6特性和天然酶相似,以桦木木聚糖为底物测定细胞提取物中木聚糖酶活性,最大活性高达3 030 U/mL.本文首次报道了来自嗜热脂肪土芽孢杆菌中木聚糖酶基因全序列的合成和在大肠杆菌中成功过量表达.图6表1参19     

地衣芽孢杆菌2709和 6816碱性蛋白酶基因在大肠杆菌中的克隆、表达及序列分析

用PCR方法从地衣芽孢杆菌 2 70 9和 6 816中扩增了碱性蛋白酶基因 (apr1和apr2 ) ,扩增的DNA片段插入到大肠杆菌载体 pET -2 8a中 ,构建成重组分泌型表达载体pAPR1、pAPR2 .pAPR1、pAPR2中碱性蛋白酶基因在大肠杆菌宿主JM 10 9(DE3)中得到表达 .SDS -PAGE分析显示融合表达产物的分子量均为 30 .5× 10 3 ,同核酸序列测定所推导的值相符 .表达产物分别占细胞总蛋白的 8.0 %和 7.5 % .2 70 9重组菌所得酶活为 12 10u/mL ,6 816重组菌所得酶活为 1175u/mL .研究发现 ,重组的碱性蛋白酶在进入大肠杆菌周质空间时可能存在前肽自动脱落的现象 .同时 ,对地衣芽孢杆菌 2 70 9碱性蛋白酶基因序列进行了测定和比较分析 ,发现与地衣芽孢杆菌 6 816碱性蛋白酶基因的同源性为 98% .图 5参 11     

耐高温α-淀粉酶在溶源性枯草杆菌表达系统中的高效表达

构建了高效表达耐高温α-淀粉酶的枯草芽孢杆菌表达系统,并研究了该表达系统的主要特点.通过PCR扩增由地衣芽孢杆菌的基因组DNA分离高温淀粉酶基因后,将其克隆到质粒pSG703中.然后用pSG703质粒转化含温和性噬菌体φ105MU331的枯草芽孢杆菌,通过同源重组使高温淀粉酶基因插入到溶源性枯草芽孢杆菌的染色体上,并处于φ105MU331的强启动子下游.由于高温淀粉酶基因处于噬菌体的强启动子下游,在热诱导后可以实现高温淀粉酶的高效表达,诱导后8h内分泌到培养液中的高温淀粉酶活性可以达到9.58×103u/mL.本文构建的重组高温淀粉酶表达系统具有稳定、高效和杂蛋白分泌少的特点.图5参16     

大肠杆菌磷酸果糖激酶基因在氧化硫硫杆菌Tt-7中的表达

专性自养极端嗜酸性氧化硫硫杆菌缺乏EMP、ED途径以及三羧酸循环的关键酶 (如磷酸果糖激酶等 ) ,不能氧化有机物获得能量 .本文利用PCR技术扩增E .coliK 12磷酸果糖激酶 1基因 (pfkA) ,将该基因与广泛寄主的IncQ质粒pJRD2 15连接构建重组质粒pSDK 1,该质粒可与pfk基因缺陷株E .coliDF10 10互补 .通过接合转移的方式将其导入氧化硫硫杆菌Tt 7中并得到表达 .pSDK 1在宿主Tt 7中有较好的稳定性 ,在无选择压力条件下连续传 5 0代仍可保留 75 % .酶活性测定表明 ,pSDK 1的pfkA基因在缺陷株E .coliDF10 10中表达水平〔(96 .6± 0 .6 6 )U/g蛋白〕略高于原始菌株E .coliK 12〔(85 .9± 1.12 )U/g蛋白〕 ;而在氧化硫硫杆菌中则以较低水平进行表达〔(12 .4± 0 .73)U/g蛋白〕 ,并且其表达水平不受培养基中葡萄糖的影响 .实验表明 ,在无机盐培养基中加入葡萄糖时 ,含质粒pSDK 1的氧化硫硫杆菌Tt 7可利用培养基中的葡萄糖而加快生长 ,而对照菌株的生长则未受明显影响 ;但是重组菌利用葡萄糖的速度较缓慢 .图 5表 2参 16     

乳酸片球菌L-乳酸脱氢酶基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中的表达

与其它微生物相比,用大肠杆菌进行发酵生产乳酸有许多优势,但大肠杆菌没有L乳酸脱氢酶基因,不能利用糖发酵生产L乳酸.本文采用PCR技术,以乳酸片球菌(Pediococcusacidilactici)基因组DNA为模板,克隆得到L乳酸脱氢酶(Llactatedehydrogenase)基因,将该基因的ORF连接到表达质粒pET22b( ),获得重组质粒pETldhL.将pETldhL质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21株,实现了ldhL基因的表达;对含有ldhL基因的重组菌株进行表达研究,在30℃以IPTG诱导8h后,SDSPAGE分析可见明显特异性条带,酶活力达到6.49u/mL,是野生菌酶活力(2.82u/mL)的2.3倍.对重组表达的L乳酸脱氢酶生物学特性研究显示,它们的最适反应温度为27～30℃,最适反应pH为5.0～5.3.图5参15     

一种新型抗性质粒的构建及其在核黄素生产菌中的运用

枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis RF1是课题组前期通过基因工程改造得到的一株核黄素高产菌,为了进一步提高核黄素的产量,需要对该菌株进行进一步的基因工程改造.本研究首先将编码的链丝菌素乙酰基转移酶基因sat克隆到p MA5质粒上,构建具有诺瓦丝菌素Norseothricin(NTC)抗性的重组质粒p MA5-sat,实验证实该重组质粒能够用于B.subtilis RF1的抗性筛选.随后将核黄素合成相关的关键酶葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶编码基因zwf克隆到重组质粒p MA5-sat上,获得重组质粒p MA5-sat-zwf,并成功构建重组菌B.subtilis RF1/p MA5-sat-zwf.结果显示,重组菌胞内葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶活力比原始菌提高了近50倍,说明葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶在重组菌中成功过量表达;根据发酵特性分析,重组菌B.subtilis RF1/p MA5-sat-zwf最终核黄素产量达到12.01 g/L,比原始菌B.subtilis RF1提高了30.3%.综上,本研究构建的新型抗性质粒能够成功运用于核黄素生产菌枯草芽孢杆菌的基因工程改造.     

嗜热子囊菌光孢变种内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基因在毕赤酵母中的表达及部分酶学性质

嗜热子囊菌是一种嗜热真菌,可以产生具有很高工业价值的内切葡聚糖酶.本研究成功表达了嗜热子囊菌内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ基凶,并获得热稳定的重组内切葡聚糖酶.提取嗜热子囊菌光孢变种(Thermoascus aurantiacus var.levisporus)总RNA,通过RT-PCR方法克隆出内切-β-葡聚糖酶eg1基因的成熟肽编码序列.采用基因重组的方法构建该基因的巴斯德毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris分泌型表达载体pPIC9K-eg1,经线性化后采用电穿孔法将其导入毕赤酵母GS115中,大量筛选后获得高效表达内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ的毕赤酵母工程菌株GpN24.该菌株采用甲醇诱导120 h后,内切葡聚糖酶Ⅰ的活力可达570.7 U/mL,最适温度为55℃,在90℃的条件下保温30 min后仍具有60%的酶活力;最适pH为5.0,在pH 3.0～5.0的条件下酶活力保持稳定.图6表2参16     

杂合抗菌肽LPCB在毕赤酵母中的表达条件优化

为获取能表达具有天然活性的杂合抗菌肽的重组酵母菌,确定其最佳表达条件,将构建好的重组酵母表达载体pPICZα-A-CecropinB(1～10)-Magainin2(1～12)(简称pPICZα-A-CBMA)和pPICZα-A-Lfcin-Pro-CecropinB(简称pPICZα-A-LPCB)经SacⅠ线性化处理,分别电转入巴斯德毕赤酵母Pichia pastoris X-33,利用抗生素Zeocin筛选阳性克隆,PCR扩增验证,甲醇诱导表达.采用抑菌圈法初步测定产物活性,优化杂合肽LPCB诱导时间、诱导剂浓度、诱导温度、培养基pH等表达条件,传代检测其质粒稳定性.结果显示,基因工程菌P.pastoris X-33/pPICZα-A-CBMA和P.pastoris X-33/pPICZα-A-LPCB成功构建.表达产物前者抑菌活性微弱,后者抑菌活性良好.杂合肽LPCB的最佳表达条件为:25℃,pH中性培养,每24 h添加0.5%(V/V,φ)甲醇,诱导表达72 h.重组酵母菌pPICZα-A-LPCB在培养超过100代后,未发生质粒丢失.     

β-甘露聚糖酶基因在枯草芽孢杆菌中的克隆及表达

从Bacillus subtilis JNA 3-10中克隆出β-甘露聚糖酶基因成熟肽链编码序列manA1和含信号肽的β-甘露聚糖酶基因manA2,在B.subtilis 168中克隆表达,分别筛选获得高效分泌表达β-甘露聚糖酶的重组菌株BPM1001(pMA5-manA1/B.subtilis 168)和BPM1002(pMA5-manA2/B.subtilis 168),结果表明菌株BPM1002总酶活力是菌株BPM1001的9.65倍,是原始菌株的13.1倍.在基因manA2下游引入His序列克隆出β-甘露聚糖酶基因manA3,获得枯草芽孢杆菌168重组菌株BPM1003.采用Ni-NTA柱纯化重组菌株BPM1003分泌表达的β-甘露聚糖酶,并研究其酶学性质,该酶促反应的最适pH为6.5,最适温度为65℃,在37℃条件下保存一个月酶活力依然保留有77.8%.5 L发酵罐放大实验结果表明魔芋粉对于产β-甘露聚糖酶具有明显的诱导作用,酶活力最高可达2 748.82 U/mL.图9表3参19     

解淀粉芽孢杆菌DC-4豆豉溶栓酶成熟肽编码序列的克隆及表达

利用PCR方法从解淀粉芽孢杆菌DC 4总DNA中扩增出豆豉溶栓酶 (DFE)成熟肽编码区片段 .测序结果表明 :DFE成熟肽编码区长 82 5bp,编码 2 75个氨基酸残基 ,分子量为 2 7.7× 10 3 ,推导的N’ -端氨基酸序列与豆豉溶栓酶N’ -端氨基酸测序结果完全一致 ,说明克隆到的基因确实是豆豉溶栓酶基因 .同源性分析表明 ,DFE成熟肽编码区的核苷酸和氨基酸序列与日本纳豆激酶的同源性分别为 80 .0 %和 86 .5 % ,这提示豆豉溶栓酶可能是一种新型的溶栓酶 .将表达质粒pET Nde转化E .coliBL2 1(DE3)中 ,IPTG可诱导表达大量的DFE融合蛋白 ,占菌体可溶性蛋白的 4 0 % ,主要以包涵体的形式存在 .图 3表 1参 19     

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.