人为干扰对江油地区马尾松人工林群落结构和物种多样性的影响

物种多样性是群落功能复杂性和稳定性的重要量度指标,人为干扰对森林群落的影响可以通过群落结构和物种多样性的变化而直接显现,不同干扰强度下的森林群落结构和物种多样性特征不同。采用典型样地法,对比研究两种人为干扰强度（干扰强和弱）对江油地区的马尾松（Pinus massoniana）人工林群落的物种组成、群落结构和物种多样性的影响,采用物种丰富度指数D值、Shannon-wienner指数H值、Simpson优势度指数H′值和均匀度指数Jsw值来综合衡量群落的物种多样性水平。结果表明,（1）在总面积3200 m2的8个样地中记录到124个物种,隶属于105属56科,干扰强的群落各层次物种数均低于干扰弱的群落。（2）不同强度人为干扰下马尾松人工林的群落结构不同,干扰弱的群落径级结构呈近正态分布,在径级Ⅵ（7 cm≤d〈9 cm）处出现数量的峰值26株,群落结构较稳定;干扰强的群落径级结构不呈正态分布,在径级Ⅶ（13 cm≤d〈15 cm）处出现峰值43株。干扰弱和干扰强的群落高度级结构与其径级结构具有相似性,干扰弱的群落的个体主要集中在低中高度级（3≤H〈17）;干扰强的群落的个体数在各高度级分布不均匀,主要分布在中高高度级（H≥13）;干扰强的群落的个体数在各径级和高度级分布相对不均匀,群落结构趋于不稳定。（3）人为干扰对马尾松人工林群落造成负面影响,随着人为干扰强度的增加,物种丰富度指数D值、Shannon-wiener多样性指数H值、均匀度多样性指数Jsw值降低,Simpson优势度指数H′值增大,物种多样性呈下降趋势。     

元宝山两类森林群落的乔木物种多样性

对元宝山保存的广西最古老、最原始、最完整的常绿落叶阔叶混交林和针阔混交林进行了乔木层物种多样性研究．结果表明：1)两类群落的物种多样性特征和群落各物种的重要值变化以及群落优势度反映出来的特征相一致；2)物种重要值和个体数作为测度指标所得结果相近；3)随着面积由500～3000m^2的变化，物种多样性指数差异不大，标准差和变异系数均较小，在不受面积大小影响，正确反映群落多样性方面，Shannon—Wiener指数优于Simpson指数；4)常绿落叶阔叶混交林和针阔混交林的多样性指数均较高，Shannon—Wiener指数分别为5．3507和4．5395，与北热带季节性热带雨林、南亚热带季风常绿阔叶林和中亚热带典型常绿阔叶林物种多样性比较，未表现出明显的纬度梯度特征．图4表4参20     

扁刺栲-华木荷群系次生林林下物种多样性分析

对四川中亚热带扁刺栲(Castanopsis platyacantha)—华木荷(Schima sinensis)群系人工杉木林、水杉林、日本落叶松林和天然次生林林下植物进行了群落调查和物种多样性分析。结果表明：(1)杉木林、水杉林、日本落叶松林和次生扁刺栲—华木荷林(20a)的物种丰富度分别为62，59，53和32；Simpson多样性指数分别为7．95，7．08，9．24和5．38；Shannon—Wiener多样性指数分别为3．67，3．3l，3．64和2．46。(2)人工林林下植物群落之间的群落系数和相似度系数分别为0．45～0．60和0．62～0．82；人工林林下植物群落与次生阔叶林林下植物群落之间的群落系数和相似度系数分别为0．19～0．53和0．55～0．77。(3)人工林林下物种多样性比次生林高的主要原因可能是风倒木和站干死木导致人工林乔木层郁闭度减小，增加了林下的光照，从而改蛮了林下的微生境。表6参19。     

太行山中段植物群落物种多样性与环境的关系

通过丰富度指数、物种多样性指数和均匀度指数,结合TWINSPAN、DCCA排序及相关分析,研究了物种多样性及其变化机制,把植物群落分为8个群落类型;物种多样性指数变化的总体趋势是随着海拔的降低(从群落Ⅰ到群落Ⅷ)而降低(Simpson指数除外),对于某一个群落,这些指数都反映出基本一致的趋势;物种多样性指数的DCCA第一轴基本上反映了海拔变化引起的土壤水分的变化,第二轴基本上反映了人类对群落的干扰程度,物种多样性指数随土壤水分的增加而增大,随人类干扰程度的增加而减小.环境因子中,氮、有机质、海拔与第一轴呈负相关,其余因子与第一轴呈正相关,而铜、pH值与第一轴夹角很小,说明它们和水分梯度有显著的正相关,而锰、电导率与第二轴夹角小,说明它们与第二轴相关性大,而磷和第二轴却呈显著负相关.图3表1参12     

重庆四面山杉木群落物种多样性研究

通过对重庆四面山杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)林样地的调查,运用丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数,分析了该地区杉木群落物种多样性特征,将该地区现存杉木群落划分为2个群系组(杉木林和杉木针阔混交林),8个群系,10个群丛。结果表明,杉木群落可分为乔木层、灌木层和草本层。在杉木林群系组中,丰富度指数、多样性指数和均匀度指数均表现为灌木层>草本层>乔木层。在杉木针阔混交林群系组中,丰富度指数表现为灌木层>乔木层>草本层;多样性指数多数表现为灌木层>乔木层>草本层;均匀度指数变化较为复杂,没有统一规律。杉木群落各层的丰富度指数随海拔高度的升高总体上呈下降趋势。群落各层的多样性指数随海拔高度的升高在特定区间内表现出一定规律性:在海拔1180m以下低海拔区域,随海拔高度的升高呈下降趋势;在海拔1180～1351m范围内,随海拔高度的升高呈波动状态;而在海拔1351m以上高海拔区域,又呈下降趋势。群落各层的均匀度指数随海拔梯度变化较为复杂,未表现出明显规律。     

三江平原典型环型湿地生物多样性

以三江平原典型环型湿地为研究对象，在前人研究的基础上，结合野外调查，研究环型湿地生境多样性和物种多样性的现状及其形成原因，并探讨2者之间的关系。研究表明，三江平原环型湿地生境较为复杂，生境多样性高，生境多样性主要是由水文和地貌在不同层次的时空尺度上相互作用而形成和维持的；由环型湿地中心向边缘，湿地植物的丰富度指数和多样性指数呈先增加后减少的趋势，在塔头苔草(Carex casiocaepa)群落处达到最大值，而漂筏苔草(Carex pseudocuraica)群落和沼柳一越菊柳(Salix brachypoda—Salix myrtilloides)群落较低。湿地动物物种多样性丰富，大型土壤动物多样性与均匀性以芦苇-苔草群落为最高而其优势度最低，中小型土壤动物的均匀度和多样性以小叶章(Calamagrostics angustifolia)沼泽化草甸最高而其优势度最低；三江平原环型湿地物种多样性和生境多样性关系密切。     

南亚热带森林群落演替过程中结构多样性与碳储量的变化

选择鼎湖山处于演替初期的马尾松林(Pine massoniana forest,PF)、演替中期的针阔混交林(Pine massoniana and broadleaved mixed forest,MF)及演替顶级的南亚热带常绿阔叶林(Evergreen broad-leaved forest in South China,BF)为研究对象,以样地每木调查为基础,分析群落演替过程中物种、结构多样性及碳储量的动态变化规律,旨在全面评估南亚热带森林演替过程中群落结构及碳汇功能的协同变化,指导区域低质马尾松人工林近自然改造。结果表明,(1)物种丰富度、群落结构多样性指数及碳储量随群落正向演替而增加,物种丰富度较碳储量的增加幅度大。(2)3种不同胸径(diameter at breast height,DBH)等级:小(1 cm≤DBH10 cm)、中(10 cm≤DBH30 cm)和大(DBH≥30 cm)径级个体的碳储量随群落演替的变化:从PF演替至MF过程中的共有种,各径级的个体数比例和碳储量比例均呈下降趋势;从MF演替至BF过程中的共有种,小径级个体数比例下降,而大径级个体数比例(由MF的2.1%上升至BF的33.4%)与碳储量比例均上升(由MF的7.3%上升至BF的64.4%)。(3)南亚热带森林演替过程中共有种的重要值、个体数量及占群落碳储量的比例均呈现由前一个演替阶段向后一个演替阶段下降的趋势;而新增种呈相反的变化趋势,随演替的正向进行,重要值、个体数量及占群落碳储量的比例呈增加的趋势。锥栗(Castanopsis chinensis)、荷木(Schima superba)是MF发展至BF过程中主要的共有种,二者对MF及BF碳储量的贡献之和分别为MF的76.3%,BF的50.5%,远大于其他种群,表明在马尾松低质人工林改造中可以引入区域常见阔叶树种锥栗、荷木,以达到提高群落的物种多样性、优化群落结构、提升植被碳储量的目的。     

海拔对藏北高寒草地物种多样性和生物量的影响

高寒草地是青藏高原生态系统的主体,高寒草地物种多样性和生物量沿海拔梯度的空间分布格局在气候变化及人为干扰的双重影响下已发生重大变化。为明晰海拔对物种多样性和生物量的影响,以藏北地区那曲市罗玛镇高寒草地为研究对象,于2018年8月采用样方调查法对不同海拔梯度高寒草地植物高度、盖度、地上生物量及物种多样性沿海拔变化进行调查和统计分析,探讨藏北高寒草地物种多样性和地上生物量在海拔上的变化规律及二者的关系。研究表明:(1)植物盖度和地上生物量分别由海拔4 600 m的89.0%和64.7 g·m~(-2)降至4 800 m的67.3%和41.8 g·m~(-2),即植物盖度和地上生物量随海拔的升高呈线性降低的趋势;(2)不同海拔梯度间植物物种组成存在较大差异,高海拔段中旱生禾本科植物逐渐被耐寒喜湿植物取代;(3)物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数沿海拔呈单峰分布格局,而E.Pielou均匀度指数则呈U型分布格局;(4)物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数与地上生物量呈负二次函数关系;地上生物量与土壤温度呈指数增长趋势,与土壤湿度呈指数降低的趋势。研究结果初步揭示了藏北高原高寒草地不同海拔梯度物种多样性及其生物量的垂直分布差异,以及不同海拔梯度间水热组合差异对物种多样性及其生物量的影响。     

岷山北坡高海拔区草本植物群落特征及主要植物功能群C、N、P含量分析

海拔是影响物种多样性格局的决定性因素之一,对生态系统格局与过程起着重要作用。运用回归分析、相关分析、Duncan多重比较和Pearson相关系数检验对岷山北坡高海拔2300—2900 m草本群落特征、群落初级生产力及不同植物功能群进行分析。结果表明:样地共调查出草本植物20科35属44种,菊科、百合科和蔷薇科的物种数分别占总物种数的比例为25%,14%和11%,表现出明显的优势性。草本群落的生物量均与海拔梯度的相关性不显著(P>0.05),且随海拔升高均表现出先增后减的总体趋势;植物盖度、物种丰富度、密度均与海拔表现出极显著负相关关系(P<0.001),而植物高度与海拔表现出极显著正相关关系(P<0.01)。从功能群的角度分析,随着海拔梯度的不断升高,禾本科、菊科以及杂类草3个植物功能群的叶碳含量(LCC)和根碳含量(RCC)整体呈上升趋势;叶磷含量(LPC)整体都呈下降趋势,而禾本科的根磷含量(RPC)呈上升趋势,菊科和杂类草表现出先升后降的趋势;叶氮含量(LNC)禾本科呈下降趋势,菊科呈上升趋势,杂类草呈先上升后下降的变化趋势,根氮含量(RNC)禾本科和杂类草的呈上升趋势,而菊科表现出先上升后下降的趋势。研究结果初步揭示了岷山北坡不同海拔梯度草本植物群落特征及其生物量的变化特征,以及物种多样性和主要植物功能群碳、氮、磷元素在海拔梯度上的分布差异,为今后岷山北坡草本群落分布格局和生物地球化学循环的研究提供科学依据。     

彭州白水河国家级自然保护区植物群落α多样性的海拔梯度变化

白水河国家级自然保护区位于四川省彭州市境内,地处龙门山脉东南部,从海拔1400～4800 m依次覆盖着常绿阔叶林、常绿落叶混交林、落叶阔叶林、亚高山针叶林、高山亚高山灌丛、高山草甸和流石滩植被.通过对白水河保护区山地东南坡不同海拔高度的样方调查,研究了该区域植物群落α多样性及其沿海拔梯度的变化规律.结果表明,乔木层物种的丰富度及Shannon指数随海拔上升呈明显的线性下降趋势;灌木层和草本层物种丰富度及Shannon指数随海拔上升呈抛物线下降趋势.乔木物种从海拔1400 m的12种至林线下降为2种;灌木和草本植物分别从35种和38种至山顶下降为5种和20种.乔木层物种的均匀度在2800～2900 m由于出现单一的冷杉群落而突然降低;灌木层和草本层物种的均匀度则较为一致,波动不大.乔木层物种的优势度随海拔升高而逐渐上升,并在2900m急速升高;灌木层和草本层的优势度呈浅波状变化.乔木层物种随海拔升高在不同群落类型间出现明显的物种替代现象,表明海拔梯度包含了多种环境因子的梯度效应,影响着植物群落的分布、结构及物种多样性.图4表1参20     

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.