黄精多糖乳膏治疗单纯疱疹性豚鼠阴道炎的疗效研究

三种浓度(0．5％，1．5％，5％)的黄精多糖乳膏能明显治疗单纯疱疹病毒性豚鼠阴道炎，用药组豚鼠的外阴病变积分值显著低于模型对照组，这三种浓度的黄精多糖乳膏能治疗单纯疱疹病毒引发的豚鼠外阴红肿、溃破等病变，并能降低患病豚鼠的死亡率，其中以1．5％浓度乳膏的疗效相对较好．各浓度试验组黄精多糖乳膏并能显著降低感染HSV—2 Sav strain病毒的豚鼠阴道分泌物中病毒的毒力．临床预试验表明，1．5％黄精多糖乳膏与3％无环鸟苷乳膏疗效相近．图1表3参19     

红花石蒜球茎凝集素的纯化及部分性质

石蒜科植物红花石蒜(Lycorisradiata)球茎经生理盐水浸取、硫酸铵分级沉淀、DEAE-Sepharose和SephacrylS-100分子筛层析得到石蒜凝集素(L. radiataagglutinin, LRA).经SDS-PAGE检测为单一蛋白带,亚基相对分子量Mr为12×103,SephacrylS-100凝胶过滤测定Mr约为45×103,表明LRA是由4个相同亚基组成的蛋白.LRA能凝集兔红细胞和大肠杆菌,最低凝集浓度分别为0. 95μg/mL和1. 9μg/mL;LRA还能凝集啤酒酵母细胞.糖抑制实验显示,甘露聚糖和甲状腺球蛋白能有效抑制LRA的凝血活性.促淋巴细胞有丝分裂试验结果表明,LRA对外周血淋巴细胞具有很强的促有丝分裂能力;同时,LRA能有效地降低II型人类单纯疱疹病毒(HSV-II)对Vero细胞(非洲绿猴肾细胞)的感染,ρ(IC50 ) =5~10μg/mL之间,并且在500μg/mL时对正常Vero细胞无细胞毒性. 图1表6参15     

川牛膝多糖硫酸酯的体外抗单纯疱疹病毒2型活性

从传统的川产道地中药材川牛膝中提取多糖RCP，用氯磺酸-吡啶法制备了它的硫酸酯衍生物s—RCP,产物经红外鉴定，证实RCP硫酸酯化后羟基部分被硫酸基取代，在1250cm^-1和810cm^-1处显示了硫酸基的特征吸收峰值,ω(S)=8．27％，取代度Ds=0．569．体外实验研究了RCP和S—RCP对非洲绿猴肾细胞(Vero cell line)的细胞毒性和抗单纯疱疹病毒2型(HSV-2)的活性．细胞病变效应法(CPE)和MTT法结果表明RCP在6．0mg／mL以下，S-RCP在4．0mg／mL以下均无细胞毒性，RCP本身无抗病毒活性，经硫酸酯衍生后的S—RCP获得抗病毒活性，0．25—4．0mg／，mL的S—RCP能很好地抑制HSV-2引起的细胞病变,以0．5mg／mL的无环鸟苷(ACV)作为阳性对照，结果显示当S-RCP浓度为2．0mg／mL和4．0mg／mL时有显著的抗病毒作用，效果与阳性ACV相当．图1表8参20     

香叶醇联合柠檬醛体外抗MRSA的优化配比

通过体外抑菌实验研究香叶醇与柠檬醛联合使用抗耐甲氧西林金黄色葡萄球菌(Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus,MRSA)的体外抑菌活性,并采用单纯形格子混料设计优化二者比例.采用微量稀释法测定香叶醇和柠檬醛对43株MRSA的最低抑菌浓度(Minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(Minimum bactericidal concentration,MBC),采用棋盘法测定香叶醇和柠檬醛联合用药时的分级抑菌浓度(Fractional inhibitory concentration,FIC),采用单纯形格子设计优化香叶醇和柠檬醛联合用药时的比例,并采用微量稀释法对最佳配比混合液的抗MRSA活性进行测定.结果显示:香叶醇的MIC值为0.34-0.67 mg/mL,柠檬醛的MIC值为0.66-42.23 mg/mL.二者联合使用时,以协同作用为主,占46.51%;其次为相加作用,占41.86%.单纯形格子设计优化的香叶醇和柠檬醛联合使用的最佳比例为香叶醇84.50%、柠檬醛15.50%.采用此配比测定香叶醇和柠檬醛混合液对43株MRSA的MIC值,发现混合液MIC_(50)、MIC_(90)分别为0.25 mg/mL和0.44 mg/mL;与香叶醇单独使用相比,MIC_(50)和MIC_(90)分别约为单独使用时的1/2和2/3;与柠檬醛单独使用相比,MIC_(50)和MIC_(90)分别约为单独使用时的1/3和1/4.上述结果表明香叶醇与柠檬醛联合使用时可起到增敏的效果,且降低彼此的用量.(图2表5参31)     

铁皮石斛多酚和黄酮含量及与抗氧化活性的相关性

通过测试ABTS、DPPH和羟自由基的清除活性和还原能力,研究铁皮石斛不同极性提取物的体外抗氧化活性及其与多酚和黄酮含量的相关性.采用溶剂提取法制备4个不同极性铁皮石斛提取物(EE、CE、EAE、NBE),以Vc为阳性对照.结果显示,样品CE中总酚含量为40.96 mg/g,黄酮含量为104.48 mg/g,在各样品中含量最高.体外抗氧化实验显示,样品CE浓度为375μg/mL时对ABTS自由基的清除率达到100%,其IC50为88.82μg/mL;CE浓度为1 500μg/mL时对DPPH自由基的清除率达到78.45%,IC50为394.62μg/mL;CE浓度为1 500μg/mL时还原能力为62.29%,随浓度增大到3000μg/mL时还原能力达100%,其IC50为905.06μg/mL.相关性研究显示各提取物对ABTS、DPPH清除能力以及还原性与黄酮含量相关性较强,相关系数分别为0.845、0.902和0.994.而各提取物的还原能力及对羟自由基的清除能力与样品中的多酚含量明显相关,其相关系数为0.521.研究表明,铁皮石斛4个不同极性提取物均具有较强的体外抗氧化活性,且各提取物抗氧化活性与总酚含量和总黄酮含量之间有明显的相关性,表明铁皮石斛抗氧化活性的物质基础可能就是酚类或黄酮类成分.     

4种中药单体对IncX4型质粒pSD11稳定性的影响

以携带多重耐药基因cfr的IncX4型质粒pSD11为试验材料，研究小檗碱、黄芩苷、芦荟大黄素、姜黄素4种中药单体对耐药质粒稳定性的影响，为中药单体消除病原菌耐药性提供理论依据.通过测定最小抑菌浓度（MIC）及药物作用下携带质粒pSD11的大肠杆菌的生长曲线和生长动力学参数，分析中药单体的抑菌效果.结合实时荧光定量PCR(RTPCR)及平板计数研究药物对质粒稳定性的影响，同时检测胞外乳酸脱氢酶和碱性磷酸酶的含量分析中药单体对细胞壁、细胞膜的影响.结果显示，小檗碱、黄芩苷、芦荟大黄素对大肠杆菌MG1655/pSD11(Escherichia coli MG1655/pSD11)的MIC均为1 280μg/mL，姜黄素> 160μg/mL.4种中药单体对E. coli MG1655/pSD11具有一定的抑菌效果，生长动力学参数结果表明1/2 MIC小檗碱和黄芩苷显著延长E. coli MG1655/pSD11的滞后期；1/2 MIC姜黄素和1/2、1/4MIC芦荟大黄素极显著降低E. coli MG1655/pSD11的最大生长速率、延长时代时间.经1/2和1/4 MIC的小檗碱和黄...     

水中主要阳离子对铜绿微囊藻生长及多糖的影响

通过室内培养试验,在65μmol·m-2·s-1光照度和12 h∶12 h光暗比下,模拟野外水体中铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa）的生长,研究了水中主要阳离子Ca、Mg、K、Na质量浓度的变化对铜绿微囊藻生长以及多糖的影响。依据自然水体中Ca、Mg、K、Na的实际浓度水平结合已有研究得到的抑制浓度,试验分别设定了5个质量浓度梯度的培养基,其中Ca质量浓度梯度为0、10、20、50、100 mg·L-1,Mg质量浓度梯度为0、2、5、10、20 mg·L-1,K质量浓度梯度为5、10、20、50、100 mg·L-1,Na质量浓度梯度为18、30、50、100、200 mg·L-1。试验测定的生理生化指标包括培养周期内每天铜绿微囊藻的藻细胞密度和对数生长期内铜绿微囊藻溶解性胞外多糖（sEPS）、固着性胞外多糖（bEPS）和胞内多糖（IPS）的含量。试验结果表明：低质量浓度的Ca对微囊藻的生长没有明显影响,高质量浓度的Ca（〉50 mg·L-1）会抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长但同时铜绿微囊藻合成多糖总量（TPS）会增加,Ca质量浓度的增大对铜绿微囊藻胞外多糖的分泌呈现先促进后抑制的趋势,并在刺激铜绿微囊藻细胞分泌多糖的同时会促进其溶解。Mg缺失时,铜绿微囊藻的生长会受到显著的抑制,较高质量浓度的Mg（〉5 mg·L-1）也会抑制铜绿微囊藻的生长但同时铜绿微囊藻合成多糖总量（TPS）会增加,Mg在适宜质量浓度（5 mg·L-1）会抑制多糖分泌、防止多糖溶解。K离子质量浓度的变化对微囊藻的生长无明显影响但铜绿微囊藻TPS的量呈现先增加后减少的趋势,K对多糖的分泌并没有显著影响,但对多糖的溶解呈现先促进后抑制的作用。Na离子质量浓度的变化对铜绿微囊藻的生长以及合成TPS的量均无明显影响,Na质量浓度增大对多糖的分泌的影响与Ca的一致,但影响的程度明显小于Ca的影响,其质量浓度的增加对多糖的溶解过程有轻微的促进作用。     

齐墩果酸对卵巢癌细胞IGROV1和乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231生长的抑制作用

通过细胞增殖抑制实验、MTT法检测肿瘤细胞的活性,研究了齐墩果酸(OA)对卵巢癌细胞株IGROV1和人乳腺癌细胞株MDA-MB-231的抑制作用.结果显示,齐墩果酸可降低IGROV1和MDA-MB-231的细胞增殖能力并呈剂量依赖性,半数有效抑制浓度IC50分别为36.58μg/mL和38.8μg/mL(P0.01).表明齐墩果酸对这两株恶性肿瘤细胞具有抑制活性,且对IGROV1的抑制活性高于对MDA-MB-231的抑制活性.图2表4参15     

Vero细胞对2,4,6-三氯苯酚的毒性响应特征和敏感性分析

以2,4,6-三氯苯酚(2,4,6-trichlorophenol,TCP)为例,采用MTT比色实验和ANNEXIN V-FITC/PI双染色-流式细胞技术研究了Vero细胞对有机化学污染物的毒性响应特征和敏感性,以期发现一种灵敏、可靠的表征微量化学物质综合毒性的方法.研究结果表明:1)TCP浓度对Vero细胞的毒性响应特征有决定作用.低浓度TCP(≤0.5mg·L-1)即可使部分细胞从原有的刚性不规则三角形结构变为圆形或椭圆形,但细胞的生长未受明显抑制.TCP浓度在1~5mg·L-1时,细胞生长开始受到抑制,表现为细胞增殖受到抑制及部分细胞凋亡或死亡,但增殖抑制率和TCP浓度之间的关系不明显.当TCP浓度大于5mg·L-1时,细胞增殖明显受到抑制,且随TCP浓度的增加,细胞增殖抑制率逐渐升高.2)TCP作用时间对Vero细胞的毒性响应特征有显著影响.ANNEXIN V-FITC/PI双染色-流式细胞仪检测结果表明,TCP作用24h内Vero细胞毒性表现为以细胞膜的完整性受到损伤为主,凋亡或坏死细胞比例较小;而48h后,凋亡细胞的比例明显增加.细胞复壮实验结果进一步证实24h内形态发生变化的细胞并未完全坏死或凋亡.以上结果表明细胞形态变化和细胞膜损伤均为细胞毒性的早期表现特征,两者之间可能存在某种相关性,以此表征化学污染物的生物毒性具有较高的灵敏度,值得进一步研究.     

中药三黄汤、小檗碱对E.coli生长抑制作用与庆大霉素的比较

庆大霉素对E．coli的抑菌作用强，试管稀释法、琼脂稀释法和平板抑菌圈法抑菌试验得到一致的MIC(3-5μg／mL)；三黄汤、小檗碱抑菌作用弱而稳定，试管稀释法测得的MIC分别为500mg／mL和2．5mg/mL，而用平板抑菌圈法得不到明显的抑菌圈．在亚MIC药物液体分批培养时，庆大霉素抑菌曲线起初2h迅速下降，而后回升到初始浓度，而三黄汤抑菌曲线平缓稳定，说明中药和抗生素的抑菌机制明显不同．庆大霉素与小檗碱混合使用时，与庆大霉素单独使用相近，而与三黄混合使用时，则主要表现三黄汤的抑菌作用．因此中西药结合时需要慎用．在接近MIC药物培养基中连续传代20次后，庆大霉素MIC提高8倍多，而三黄汤和小檗碱MIC无显著变化，无抗药性产生，也不产生对庆大霉素的交叉抗药性．研究结果还表明，在1／4MIC三黄汤中连续传代20次，能消除E.coli已形成的庆大霉素抗性，这为解决抗生素抗药性提供了线索．图4参23     

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.     

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.     

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.