海南省农业能值分析

应用ＯｄｕｍＨＴ创立的能值分析理论和方法,对海南省农业进行了分析和评价,结果表明：由于自然条件得天独厚,环境资源对农业的贡献很大,环境资源能值占能值利用率的３０％,高于全国平均值（１３％）;净能值产出率为１．２７,高于日本和意大利,可以作为一种能值来源;农牧渔业产品的宏观经济价值远大于市场价值,农业生产中有相当大一部分环境资源无偿投入;环境承载指标为２．４４,远低于日本和意大利,环境压力较小,发展潜力很大。进而提出促进农业持续发展的有关建议与设想。     

农业科技发展态势与面向2020年的战略选择

1.至2020年农业领域科技发展新趋势新特点。世界农业科技发展新趋势将体现在如下5个方面：（1）植物种质资源与现代育种科技,如大规模植物种质资源发掘,光合作用研究的突破将加快现代育种大变革速度,系统生物学将为大规模基因资源发掘和利用提供系统的理论与技术基础,分子设计育种将产生突破性品种并催生智能品种诞生,第二代生物质原料生产将成为大农业的重要组成部分;（2）动物种质资源与现代育种科技,如大规模动物种质资源发掘,传统育种和基因工程相结合培育新品系是动物遗传育种发展方向,动物克隆技术和转基因动物将进一步取得突破,良种化和健康养殖科技发展迅速;（3）源节约型农业科技,如耕地资源集约利用与耕地质量定向培育科技发展,农田生态系统节水技术体系和建设流域水资源保障体系,高效新肥料研制和集成农田生态系统养分技术,低碳农业技术将成为未来的重要技术;（4）农业生产与食品安全科技,如支撑食品安全的生产技术发展迅速,更加关注营养保健功能食品的科技和食品安全监控技术,危险性快速评估技术体系技术得到广泛应用;（5）农业信息化和精准农业科技,如农业信息服务网络化科技和种养业管理信息化科技将加速发展,精准农业科技进入新的发展阶段,农业装备制造技术向大型和复式作业等方向发展。2.中国农业发展和粮食安全面临的挑战和对科技的重大需求。（1）农业发展面临新的挑战。在生产上,小规模经营与大市场和现代化的矛盾更加突出;耕地刚性下降和水资源短缺对农业形成的威胁越来越严峻;科技体系不能适应市场发展和农民对技术的需求;许多农业资源的利用和管理与农业食物系统的可持续性相悖。在市场上,对食品质量和安全将提出更高要求;整个农产品供应链系统正经历着历史性变化;贸易自由化使农产品进口压力进一步加大。（2）国家粮食安全面临的挑战：我国粮食安全于2008年已经突破了95%自给率目标,2010年更下降到90.6%;我们预测,我国粮食需求在2020年将达到6.7亿t,在现有政策下需求增长将高于生产增长,粮食自给率到2020年将下降到87%左右。（3）农业科技创新是发展农业和保障国家粮食安全的重大需求：面对农业发展和粮食安全的挑战,我国急需在植物种质资源利用与现代育种、动物种质资源利用与现代育种、资源节约型农业、农业生产与食品安全、农业信息化和精准农业等五大科技领域实现突破。为此,国家最近对农业科技发展提出了新的要求,特别是构建＂生态高值农业＂技术体系。中国科学院的优势在于多学科联合,能够在科技综合研究和集成基础上实现重大突破。如果把以上五大科技领域联合起来,在＂生态高值农业＂科技发展上将能起到国家科技发展的引领作用。3.面向2020的农业科技战略选择：构建我国生态高值农业产业体系。生态高值农业含义：所谓＂生态＂,就是要体现农业既能为社会提供安全、优质的农产品,又能实现农业资源的永续利用;所谓＂高值＂,就是要体现农业有很高的土地产出率、投入产出率、劳动生产率。因此,＂生态高值农业＂是集约化经营与生态化生产有机结合的现代农业。它以健康消费需求为导向,以提高农业市场竞争力和可持续发展能力为核心,是转变农业增长方式、提高农业综合生产能力的集中体现。生态高值农业科技的发展目标：到2020年,通过重点农业科技领域的重大创新突破,为不断满足日益增长的农产品总量、质量、安全和多功能的需求以及改善农业生产结构、生态环境和农业资源永续利用等生态高值农业体系提供科技支撑。生态高值农业研发内容：（1）提升＂中国至2050年农业科技发展路线图＂的理念与五大科技领域的研究水平;（2）建立生态高值农业的综合技术体系;（3）研发六大城市圈（如北京、上海、重庆、武汉、沈阳、南京等）、十大典型区域生态高值农业发展模式及其技术支撑体系（长三角城市群郊区生态高值农业模式,华中种养加一体化农业圈层模式,西南山地立体农业生态高值农业模式,南方亚热带特种农林果综合开发模式,滨海滩涂农业综合开发利用模式,黄土高原水土保持及农林果流域开发模式,黄淮海平原粮养加农业综合模式,东北平原粮食基地综合开发利用模式,西北寒旱区农牧综合开发模式,北部漠境盐湖综合整理开发模式）;（4）建设农产品产业化、加工产业化和综合产业化三大体系。最后在上述4个层次研发基础上,全面建立我国生态高值农业产业化网络体系。我国生态高值农业技术体系的构建：根据我国的现状,目前应主要从以下几个方面进行技术创新,（1）无公害农产品种养殖技术;（2）农产品加工技术;（3）我国传统农业精华技术;（4）标准化生产技术;（5）高新农业技术。对中国科学院提出的建议：（1）将＂生态高值农业＂列为中国科学院＂十二五＂的重大研发项目;（2）组织＂农业领域战略研究组＂和中国科学院有关单位提出生态高值农业建设的项目规划,并通过院部将此项目向国家有关部委推荐;（3）组织全院农业科研力量,联合全国的有关力量,首先在城市郊区农业与经济相对发达的地区,建立我国＂生态高值农业＂模式及其配套技术体系。     

长三角地区农田化肥投入快速增长的经济学诱因分析

农田化肥大量投入是引起农业面源污染的重要原因.根据长三角地区1980-2005年种植业生产以及农产品市场的统计数据,从投入要素机会成本变化和农产品价格变化角度,探讨长三角地区农业生产中化肥投入快速增长的经济学诱因.研究结果表明,长三角地区土地密集型作物上化肥投入快速增长是由于土地机会成本增长远远高于化肥价格增长而产生的化肥对土地的替代;相对劳动密集型作物上化肥投入快速增长是由于劳动机会成本高速增长引发的化肥对劳动的替代,并且相对劳动密集型农产品市场价格波动对化肥投入量的影响也较为显著.     

湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济关系研究

基于化肥、农药、农膜、灌溉、翻耕和柴油6类农地利用碳排放源,测算了1999—2014年湖南省农地利用碳排放量和碳排放强度。在此基础上,分析得出1999—2014年湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济间的脱钩弹性关系,进一步利用环境库兹涅茨(environmental Kuznets curve,EKC)模型对农地利用碳排放与农业经济关系进行验证。结果表明:(1) 1999—2014年,湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济的脱钩关系表现为扩张负脱钩、弱脱钩和弱负脱钩3种状态,农地利用碳排放与农业经济的脱钩弹性指数变化呈现"快速增长—快速下降—平稳增长"的阶段性演进特征;(2)湖南省农地利用碳排放与农业经济的关系呈对数函数曲线,农地利用碳排放量、碳排放强度均随着农业经济增长而连续增长,在研究期内未出现下降拐点;(3)湖南省现阶段农业经济增长方式仍然以粗放型为主,存在着农业生产要素投入未能充分有效利用、农业生产对环境影响较大的问题。     

至2050年中国生态高值农业体系建设特征与目标

2010年6月7日,国家主席胡锦涛在两院（中国科学院、中国工程院）院士大会上针对农业科技明确指出：构建我国生态高值农业和生物产业体系,建成农业高值转化的产业体系。本文对＂生态高值农业＂进行论述。所谓生态,就是要体现农业既能为社会提供安全优质的农产品又能实现农业资源的永续利用,将农业纳入可持续发展的道路;所谓高值,就是要体现农业有很高的土地产出率、投入产出率、劳动生产率。因此,＂生态高值农业＂是集约化经营与生态化生产有机结合的现代农业。它以健康消费需求为导向,以提高农业市场竞争力和可持续发展能力为核心,兼有高投入、高产出、高效益与可持续发展的双重特性,是转变农业增长方式、提高农业综合生产能力的集中体现。     

河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率的空间特征

农业绿色全要素生产率的提升是生态文明建设的关键。以河北省142个县域作为研究对象,运用非径向非角度、基于松弛的(slacks-based measures,SBM)方向性距离函数和全局参比曼奎斯特卢恩伯格(global MalmquistLuenberger,GML)生产率指数测算2000—2016年河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率,并采用空间自相关方法分析河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率的全局和局部空间特征。结果表明:(1)2000—2016年河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率年均增长5. 42%,主要依靠绿色前沿技术进步驱动,如考虑环境因素,或可实现农业"波特‘双赢’假说";(2)从地区分布来看,河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率增长存在地区不平衡的现象,其中冀北地区增长水平高于全省平均水平,而冀中与冀南地区增长水平落后于全省平均水平;(3)河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率增长存在显著空间相关性,但空间相关性呈减弱趋势;(4)河北省县域农业绿色全要素生产率增长呈明显地理集聚特征,热点区向冀中、冀东南地区扩张,冷点区由冀北"一翼"向冀北"两翼"转移。     

基于GIS和能值分析的黑龙江省农业生态经济格局综合评价

采用能值分析方法和GIS空间分析技术,基于黑龙江省77个县(市、区)的社会经济统计数据,从时空动态视角评价了黑龙江省域及各县域的农业生态经济格局及其综合发展水平。结果表明,1996—2012年间,黑龙江省农业生态经济系统的能值投入与产出均呈明显的增长趋势,林产品产出能值增长幅度较大。1996—2012年研究区的环境承受压力增大,环境负载率由6.61增加到10.21,净能值产出率由5.37减少到4.79,可持续发展指数由7.47下降到5.43,说明该系统的可持续发展性能正在逐年弱化。在空间格局上,黑龙江省南部地区经济发展水平显著优于北部地区,但其农业生态环境水平和系统可持续能力低于北部地区。为了增加黑龙江省农业生态系统的可持续发展能力,未来需进一步调整农业结构,优化资源配置的投入,提高资源利用效率,降低环境负载率,使农业生态经济系统逐渐步入健康可持续发展轨道。     

基于投入视角的黄淮海平原农业碳排放与经济发展脱钩研究

农业增长对资源依赖的变化趋势以及农业发展与环境的互动关系日益引起学术界的关注.运用脱钩理论,以2000-2005和2005-2010年为时间尺度,以县域为空间尺度,探讨黄淮海平原农业碳排放与经济增长之间的脱钩关系,揭示两者脱钩发展的时间和空间演变趋势及转移特征,并尝试分析脱钩的内在机理.结果表明:(1)脱钩类型的数量结构和空间格局均发生明显变化,黄淮海平原农业正处于由资源依赖向技术依赖的过渡时期.2000-2005年农业碳排放与经济增长以强复钩和扩张性复钩为主,脱钩空间格局较为分散;2005-2010年以强脱钩和弱脱钩为主,脱钩区域呈现空间集聚态势;若考虑因技术进步带来的碳排放系数变化因素,脱钩趋势将会更加明显.造成这种空间格局的原因主要是经济增长与环境的关系较为复杂,经济发展、技术进步和制度创新等因素通过互动机制共同作用于农业生产经营主体.(2)脱钩类型的转换呈跳跃性,转换方式以强复钩、扩张性复钩转换为强脱钩、弱脱钩为主,且脱钩状态不稳定,持续脱钩难度较大.脱钩状况受到经济效应、技术效应和政策效应等因素的共同作用,3者作用的两面性是持续脱钩难的重要原因.     

依靠科技进步 发展低碳农业

在全球携手应对气候变暖、减少温室气体排放的背景下,发展低碳经济是解决气候变化与经济发展矛盾的有效途径。通过描述气候变化、固碳减排对粮食安全、土壤碳汇、森林固碳、资源循环利用等影响和促进作用,深入分析发展低碳经济与可持续发展的关系,探讨如何在农业领域内开发高效循环生产体系,从而实现农业生产过程的固碳减排目的。由此,提出发展低碳农业是实现低碳经济的目标之一,它是一个复合技术体系,涉及了绿色农业、循环农业、生态文明、可持续发展理念。必须通过科学技术的突破,改造、提升低碳农业技术,改变农业现有的＂高能耗、高污染＂的生产状况,实现低碳生产、生活方式的转变。最后提出发展现代的低碳农业产业经济的对策和思考。     

海南省农业能值分析

应用ＯｄｕｍＨＴ创立的能值分析理论和方法,对海南省农业进行了分析和评价,结果表明：由于自然条件得天独厚,环境资源对农业的贡献很大,环境资源能值占能和率的３０％,高于全国平均值;     

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.