贵州省务川汞矿区汞污染的初步研究

对贵州省务川汞矿区的大气、地表水和土壤中汞污染的调查表明,务川汞矿区大气汞浓度为7-40000 ng·m-3,超出正常大气汞浓度1-4个数量级.地表水总汞为43-2100 ng·l-1,远高于对照区(15-29 ng·l-1);活性汞、溶解态汞和颗粒态汞含量也显著高于对照区,颗粒态汞是地表水汞迁移的主要方式.土壤总汞含量为1.3-360 mg·kg-1,远高于对照区土壤总汞含量(O.22-0.39 mg·kg-1),土壤剖面汞含量的垂向递减反映了大气汞的沉降是土壤汞的重要来源之一;同一地点不同土地利用类型的土壤,一般为稻田总汞含量高于菜地和玉米地;土壤pH值和有机质影响着土壤中汞的迁移和富集.     

陕西省潼关采金地区汞污染的初步研究

对采金地区水样、沉积物、土壤及部分水藻和苔藓的分析表明 :潼关采金地区已经受到严重的汞污染 .水体总汞浓度最高达 2 5 8 62 μg·l- 1 ,且水样中的汞以颗粒态为主 ,大都占 5 0 %以上 ,而活性汞和溶解态汞的平均浓度分别为 0 1 82± 0 2 4 2 μg·l- 1 和 0 72± 0 79μg·l- 1 ;沉积物中平均汞浓度为 34 98± 2 5 39μg·g- 1 ,最高达 1 1 96μg·g- 1 ;而土壤中汞的浓度最高也只有 1 9 5 0 μg·g- 1 .     

武汉市葛店地区汞污染及其分布特征

对武汉市葛店地区的土壤、水体及沉积物进行了系统取样、测试.结果表明:该地区表层和底层土壤中汞的平均含量分别为0.314mg·kg-1和0.181mg·kg-1,分别是区域土壤汞背景值的6倍和3.6倍,初步分析原因为污灌、大气汞的干、湿沉降和使用含汞农药;水体汞含量平均值为1606.77ng·1-1,远远超过了国家地表水环境质量标准(GHZB1-1999)中的Ⅲ类水质标准(≤100ng·1-1),且水体汞含量随距化工厂距离的增加而递减,形态分析表明,水体汞大部分以粒子态和溶解态存在,活性汞只占很小一部分;沉积物样品中汞的含量范围为2.450-8.630mg·kg-1,平均值4.677mg·kg-1,污染程度随距化工厂距离的增加而递减.     

淮河(江苏段)水体有机氯农药的污染水平

分别采集淮河丰水期和枯水期次表层水样 ,并用气相色谱 电子捕集检测器分析其中1 6种有机氯农药 .水体中总HCHs含量介于 1 1 1— 7 5 5ng·l- 1 ,总DDTs含量介于 4 45—78 87ng·l- 1 .水体中DDT/(DDE DDD)比值较大 ,表明此类化合物环境滞留期较长 ;六六六的两种异构体α/γ比值接近 1 ,表明近期可能有此类物质输入淮河水域 .有机氯农药的总量在 2 6 2 7— 1 2 4 39ng·l- 1 之间 .     

燃煤烟气中汞形态分析的实验研究

在一维煤粉燃烧炉台架上采用EPA推荐的Ontario Hydro方法 ,测量了燃烧不同煤种排放的烟气中汞的形态分布情况 .结果表明 ,烟气中汞以颗粒态和气态汞的形式存在 .气态汞总量在 9— 2 3 μg·Nm- 3范围内 ,主要以单质汞的形式存在 ,占气态汞总量的 5 2 %—83 % ,而二价汞占 1 7%— 48% .飞灰中汞的浓度大大超过了底灰中汞的浓度 ,表明汞在飞灰中富集 ,在底灰中分散的行为     

高效液相色谱-电感耦合等离子体质谱联用技术测定二价汞、甲基汞、乙基汞与苯基汞

建立了高效液相色谱.电感耦合等离子体质谱联用技术(HPLC-ICP-MS)测定二价汞、甲基汞、乙基汞、苯基汞等4种汞形态的分析方法.该方法采用醋酸铵/L-半胱氨酸缓冲盐及甲醇体系组成的流动相按一定比例进行梯度洗脱,并结合了ICP-MS的时间分辨采集优化程序.二价汞、甲基汞、乙基汞、苯基汞的检出限分别为0.022,0.022,0.028和0.041 ng·ml-1.对5.0 ng·ml-1的混合标准溶液连续测定6次,4种汞化合物的峰面积相对标准偏差(RSD)分别为1.40%,1.01%,0.97%和2.13%.     

北京市大气颗粒物PM2.5,PM10及降雪中的汞

研究了北京大气颗粒物PM25,PM10及降雪中的汞.结果表明,北京大气颗粒物PM25中汞的浓度为024—179ng·m-3,PM10中汞的浓度为038—302ng·m-3,冬季PM25和PM10中汞的浓度明显高于夏季;北京大气可吸入颗粒物中的汞均以细粒子(≤25μm)为主,冬季细粒子中汞的浓度高是细粒子多且其汞含量高共同作用的结果,而夏季则是细粒子中汞的含量高.降雪中汞的浓度在106—162ng·l-1之间,降雪中可溶性汞为总汞的一半左右.     

九龙江河口潮间带表层沉积物汞污染分布、赋存形态与生态风险

研究九龙江河口汞污染情况可为该地区汞污染防治提供科学依据,测定九龙江河口潮间带表层沉积物中总汞含量及不同形态汞的含量,分析了汞的分布特征、赋存形态及生物有效性和潜在生态风险。结果表明:九龙江河口潮间带表层沉积物中总汞含量范围0.112~0.259 mg·kg-1,平均值0.172 mg·kg-1,部分采样点汞含量超过中国海洋沉积物质量第一类标准限值(0.20 mg·kg-1);沉积物中各形态汞平均比例顺序:残渣态(61.8%)可氧化态(27.8%)弱酸溶态(7.8%)可还原态(2.6%),可提取态占有相当的比例,对水体汞污染具有一定贡献。潜在生态风险指数法评价结果可知,该河口区潮间带沉积物中汞污染程度和生态风险程度均为中等~较高水平,需对汞污染进行综合防治。     

汞在不同粒径大气颗粒物中的分布

采用DFG 1型五段分级采样装置及冷蒸汽原子荧光法 ,对北京市冬、春、夏和秋季不同粒径大气颗粒物 (分别为≤ 1 1μm ,1 1— 2 0 μm ,2 0— 3 3μm ,3 3— 7 0 μm和≥ 7 0 μm )中的汞进行分析 .结果表明 :北京大气颗粒物中汞的浓度在 0 6 0— 3 95ng·m-3 之间 ,冬季平均浓度为 2 85ng·m-3 ,远大于其它季节 ;大气颗粒物中的汞呈双峰分布 ,在≤ 1 1μm的细颗粒和粗粒径处各有一峰值 ;北京大气颗粒物中的汞主要分布在≤ 1 1μm的细颗粒中 ,不同粒径颗粒物中汞的分布随季节变化而变化 ,冬季各粒径颗粒物中汞的浓度比其它季节高 ;大气颗粒物中汞的质量中值粒径 (MMD )冬季为 0 71μm ,其它季节均大于1 0 μm ;北京大气颗粒物中的汞至少有 5 0 %可进入人体呼吸系统 ,且冬季最为严重     

固相萃取-LC-MS法检测水中痕量雌激素

研究了乙腈 /水、乙腈 /甲醇 /水、甲醇 /水三种不同流动相的条件下 ,LC MS分析雌酮 ,雌二醇 ,雌三醇 ,炔雌醇四种对象物质的灵敏度 ,发现流动相对灵敏度影响较大 ,不同流动相的对象物质的仪器检出限分别为 :330— 75 0ng·l- 1 ,1 0 0— 30 0ng·l- 1 ,5 0— 1 0 0ng·l- 1 .用固相萃取 LC MS检测杭州地区河水 ,在 8个采样点中 ,有 7个检测出了炔雌醇 ,其浓度范围在 1 1 7— 3 35ng·l- 1 之间 ,一个采样点检测出雌二醇 ,其浓度为 0 32ng·l- 1 .     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Use of stochastic patch occupancy models in the California red-legged frog for Bayesian inference regarding past events and future persistence

Assessing causes of population decline is critically important to management of threatened species. Stochastic patch occupancy models (SPOMs) are popular tools for examining spatial and temporal dynamics of populations when presence–absence data in multiple habitat patches are available. We developed a Bayesian Markov chain method that extends existing SPOMs by focusing on past environmental changes that may have altered occupancy patterns prior to the beginning of data collection. Using occupancy data from 3 creeks, we applied the method to assess 2 hypothesized causes of population decline—in situ die-off and residual impact of past source population loss—in the California red-legged frog. Despite having no data for the 20–30 years between the hypothetical event leading to population decline and the first data collected, we were able to discriminate among hypotheses, finding evidence that in situ die-off increased in 2 of the creeks. Although the creeks had comparable numbers of occupied segments, owing to different extinction–colonization dynamics, our model predicted an 8-fold difference in persistence probabilities of their populations to 2030. Adding a source population led to a greater predicted persistence probability than did decreasing the in situ die-off, emphasizing that reversing the deleterious impacts of a disturbance may not be the most efficient management strategy. We expect our method will be useful for studying dynamics and evaluating management strategies of many species.