废弃塑料处置地典型植物多溴二苯醚污染特征

为了解土壤高污染的废弃塑料处置地植物体多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)累积水平,对废弃塑料处置地13种典型植物中21种多溴二苯醚的浓度水平、组成和污染特征进行了研究.结果表明,该区域植物中∑PBDEs含量为11.3—122 ng·g-1,平均为51.2 ng·g-1,与我国电子废物处置地植物体污染水平相似,远高于一般区域植物体PBDEs污染水平.不同植物体内PBDEs的含量差异较大,其中牵牛花中PBDEs的含量最高,牛筋草中PBDEs含量最低.废弃塑料处置地植物体中BDE 209的含量为10.8—116 ng·g-1,为最主要的PBDEs同系物单体,平均占∑PBDEs的96.9%以上.其余单体中,以BDE 47和BDE 208等含量相对较高,但占总PBDEs总含量均不到1%.废弃塑料处置地植物体较电子废物处置地和一般区域植物体表现出更明显的十溴二苯醚污染特征.     

电子废弃物拆解地水体多溴联苯醚分布特征

为了解和比较广东贵屿电子废弃物拆解地和珠三角城市地区水体中多溴联苯醚的种类、含量及分布特征,于2011年9月在广东贵屿周边地区和广州采集了20个地下水、7个地表水和4个珠江水,用反相C18萃取小柱提取净化后,利用气相色谱-质谱法测定了样品中的8种多溴联苯醚（PBDEs）。研究结果表明：贵屿地区地下水中PBDEs浓度总体上较高,总质量浓度范围为2.54~71.74 ng·L-1,平均为22.97 ng·L-1,各类PBDEs的检出率为25%~95%。三溴联苯醚（BDE28）、四溴联苯醚（BDE47）、五溴联苯醚（BDE99和BDE100之和）、六溴联苯醚（BDE153和BDE154之和）、七溴联苯醚（BDE183）和十溴联苯醚（BDE209）的质量浓度分布分别为nd~0.64、nd~18.43、nd~25.26、nd~13.92、nd~9.06和nd~15.60 ng·L-1。从物种上来看,分别源于四溴、五溴和十溴联苯醚产品的BDE47、BDE99和BDE209是贵屿地区地下水样中的优势同系物。通过比率P=（BDE47＋BDE99）/BDE209研究发现：低溴代联苯醚比高溴代联苯醚更易被地表径流迁移转换进入到地下水中。贵屿地区地表水中PBDEs的质量浓度范围为3.41~63.83 ng·L-1,平均总质量浓度为19.38 ng·L-1,稍低于当地地下水中PBDEs的平均总质量浓度,PBDEs的组成以高溴代的BDE209为特征,与世界其他水体研究结果相比,可以发现贵屿地区的地表水中PBDEs的平均总质量浓度明显偏高,说明该地区的地表水受到较严重的PBDEs污染,必须引起足够的重视。珠江水中PBDEs的总质量浓度范围为3.48~20.84 ng·L-1,平均为10.39 ng·L-1,表明近年来珠江水体中PBDEs污染有逐渐恶化的趋势。     

胶州湾沉积物中多溴联苯醚的污染特征及风险评价

2015年8月,在胶州湾及邻近海域设置11个采样点,采集表层沉积物,采用索式抽提,利用气相-质谱联用测定了样品中14种多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的含量,分析了PBDEs的分布与组成特征,探讨了含量与沉积物理化性质的关系,与世界上不同海域沉积物中PBDEs的含量进行了比较,并对其生态风险进行了评价.结果表明,胶州湾沉积物中14种PBDEs总含量的均值为7.48 ng·g~(-1),其中BDE209的均值为6.20 ng·g~(-1).胶州湾东岸海域PBDEs的含量要高于西岸海域,湾内海域的含量高于湾外.BDE209是主要的同系物,其次是BDE47、BDE71.除BDE209外的13种PBDEs的总含量和BDE209含量均与沉积物中的总有机碳含量呈显著正相关关系.与其他海域相比,胶州湾沉积物中PBDEs的含量低于污染严重的欧洲海域,高于中国部分海域.胶州湾海域的PBDEs主要是由陆源污染带来的十溴联苯醚的污染,同时存在商业五溴联苯醚产品的污染.四溴、五溴、十溴联苯醚具有潜在的低和中等生态风险.     

多溴联苯醚在典型电子垃圾污染区域水生食物链上的生物富集特征

为调查电子垃圾回收活动对当地水生生物造成的多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)污染,测定了广东某电子垃圾回收地附近水库中水生生物样品(水蛇、鱼类、草虾和田螺)和对照区样品(鲮鱼)中18种PBDEs含量,通过对样品氮同位素的测定,探讨了PBDEs在该地淡水食物链上的生物富集特征.研究结果显示,∑PBDEs(总PBDEs含量)在水蛇、鱼类、草虾和田螺中分别为39.6～186、1.82～75.7、4.60～17.1和7.26～17.0μg·g-1(脂重),比华南地区鱼体中∑PBDEs的平均含量高3个数量级,表明电子垃圾回收活动已对当地水生生物造成了PBDEs的严重污染.除BDE66、BDE99、BDE153、BDE183和BDE209外,其他13种PBDE单体在食物链上均存在着生物放大效应,但生物放大能力(B值)与正辛醇-水分配系数logKOW相关性不明显,可能是由于某些PBDE单体在生物体内存在代谢作用.以上结果表明,由电子垃圾回收活动导致的PBDEs污染存在较大的生态风险,应该引起高度关注.     

太原市某垃圾填埋场渗滤液及周边环境重金属污染及健康风险评估

探讨垃圾渗滤液、填埋场周围土壤和地下水中的重金属污染特征及其对生态环境和人体健康的影响.采集山西省太原市某垃圾填埋场和中转站冬夏季渗滤液、填埋场周边土壤和地下水样本,测定其中重金属含量;分析渗滤液中金属污染的季节性变化;利用健康风险评估模型,估计不同暴露途径下填埋场附近重金属污染对成人和儿童的健康风险.结果表明:(1)夏季填埋场渗滤液(陈年渗滤液)中重金属检出的种类较冬季多.夏季中转站渗滤液(新鲜渗滤液)中检出重金属种类比填埋场中的少,但其金属浓度(除Cr外)较高.(2)土壤重金属平均浓度的顺序为Cu>Cr>Zn>Pb>Ni>As>Hg,地下水中重金属平均含量顺序为Zn>Ni>Cu>Cr>Pb.(3)重金属污染对成人的非致癌总风险在安全阈值内,但对儿童的非致癌总风险接近安全阈值.重金属污染非致癌风险的主要暴露途径为经饮水摄入.有潜在健康风险的重金属主要是As、Pb和Cr.(4)重金属污染对人群的致癌总风险在安全阈值内,主要暴露途径为土壤口食摄入和呼吸吸入.垃圾填埋场和中转站渗滤液中重金属的种类和浓度不同;填埋场附近土壤和地下水中重金属的种类和浓度也有差异.填埋场附近环境的重金属污染对成人和儿童没有健康风险,但有潜在安全隐患.     

莱州湾东部海域多溴联苯醚的污染特征及生态风险评价

于2015年4月和11月,在莱州湾东部海域设置6个采样站点,采集海水和表层沉积物样品,采用气相色谱-质谱联用联用测定海水溶解相、颗粒相和沉积物中14种多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的含量,分析了PBDEs的组成特征,采用主成分分析了其来源,并对其生态风险进行了评价.结果表明,4月份溶解相、颗粒相和表层沉积物中14种PBDEs同系物总含量(∑14PBDEs)的范围分别为0. 29—0. 76 ng·L~(-1)、1.79—3.60 ng·L~(-1)和31.37—44. 39 ng·g-1,其中BDE209的含量范围分别为0. 21—0. 65 ng·L~(-1)、0.84—2.34 ng·L~(-1)和24. 27—36.79 ng·g-1.11月份海水溶解相和沉积相中∑14PBDEs与4月份无显著差异(P 0. 05),但颗粒相中的∑14PBDEs显著低于4月份(P0.05).4、11月颗粒相中∑14PBDEs占海水中总含量(溶解相+颗粒相)的平均比例分别为83.9%和71.2%,表明PBDEs主要分配在颗粒相上.沉积物PBDEs含量与总有机碳呈极显著正相关关系(r0.9,P0.01).14种PBDEs中,BDE209是最主要的同系物,其次是BDE47.主成分分析表明,莱州湾PBDEs主要来源于商业十溴联苯醚的地表径流输入.莱州湾东部海水中五溴联苯醚和八溴联苯醚存在低生态风险,沉积物中五溴联苯醚具有中等生态风险.     

生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染风险分级方法研究

在综合分析国内外不同行业、不同领域风险分级方法的基础上,初步建立了一种生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染风险分级方法。该方法利用由美国环保局（USEPA）开发的多介质、多路径、多受体风险评价模型（3MRA）中用于描述污染物在地下水迁移的EPACMTP模型和风险评估模型计算生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染风险指数I,利用地下水含水层脆弱性模型（DRASTIC模型）计算地下水含水层脆弱性指数DRASTIC。并以I和DRASTIC为风险分级指标,以MATLAB聚类分析为方法,对生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染风险进行分级。以北京市22个生活垃圾填埋场为例,利用建立的风险分级方法,可将这22个填埋场地下水污染风险从高到低分为4级,并且大部分填埋场属于风险级别较低的3、4级。表明该风险分级方法可行、有效,在一定程度上可以为生活垃圾填埋场地下水污染的风险管理提供依据。     

某生活垃圾填埋场周边地下水饮水途径健康风险评价

地下水受到污染会对人体健康产生危害,而垃圾填埋场产生的渗漏液对地下水具有污染风险,研究垃圾填埋场周边地下水的污染情况具有实际意义。以阜新市生活垃圾填埋场周边地下水为研究对象,在该区域设置6个采样点,于2018-2019年按不同季节对地下水样品进行了采集,分析地下水中Fe、Mn、Cu、As、Cr、NH_3-N、F、NO_2-N和NO_3-N的含量,应用US EPA推荐的健康风险评价模型和RBCA健康风险评价模型对地下水中各因子进行了评价。结果表明,除枯水期存在个别采样点完全达标外,其他季节各采样点均存在检测因子超标的情况(以Ⅲ类水质标准为依据),在枯水期,2和5号采样点达到Ⅳ类水质标准,1号采样点为Ⅴ类水质标准,在平水期和丰水期时所有采样点均达到了Ⅳ或Ⅴ类水质,研究区域水质较差。两种评价模型下,该区域地下水中总致癌风险(Cr、As)在不同时期、不同采样点均超过了最大可接受的风险水平10~(-6),最大值分别为4.96×10~(-4)和5.77×10~(-4),可能会对当地居民构成致癌风险。地下水中总非致癌危害商(Fe、Mn、Cu、NH_3-N、F、NO_2-N、NO_3-N)同样超过了最大可接受的程度,最大值分别为7.13和6.37,可能造成非致癌风险。US EPA和RBCA两种模型的评价结果变化趋势相同,总致癌风险在枯水期时达到最大,总非致癌危害在丰水期时有最大值。     

多溴联苯醚在不同粒径大气颗粒物上的分布及总有机碳的影响

利用Gc-Ms技术研究了大气不同粒径颗粒物上多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的含量和分布,通过总有机碳(TOC)和PBDE单体含量的相关性探讨了它们在大气中的转移机制.研究结果表明,总颗粒物上∑15PBDEs含量为3745.5 pg·m-3,BDE47,99,209是三种主要单体.在<0.49μm粒径上∑15PBDEs含量最高(36.4%),<1.5μm的颗粒物上∑15PBDEs占61.9%.四溴和五溴的BDE47、66、100和99单体在不同粒径上的含量分布相似,约40%-50%分布在<0.49μm粒径的颗粒物上,约19%-23%分布在0.49-0.95μm粒径的颗粒物上;九溴的BDE208、207的分布和BDE47、99等明显不同,呈马鞍型分布;而十溴的BDE209主要分布在较粗颗粒上.结果表明大气中低溴PBDE对人体健康有重要影响,同时具有强的长距离迁移能力,BDE28、47、100和99与TOC间有良好的线性关系,可能表明这些低溴PBDE在大气中转移的主要机制是从气相分配进入颗粒相;而高溴的BDE207、208和209与TOC间相关性较差,可能表明高溴PBDE进人大气中的主要机制是依附在较大颗粒上直接进入大气.     

我国桂林毛村地下河重金属健康风险评价

对桂林岩溶地区毛村地下河的重金属进行了检测,并应用水环境健康风险评价模型对其进行了健康风险的初步评价.结果表明,地下河表层水中Cr未检出,Cu、Pb、Zn及Cd的平均浓度分别为68.90μg·1-1、58.63μg·1-1、23.73μg·1-1和0.11μg·1-1,Cd、Cr、Cu和Zn未超过我国生活饮用水卫生标准(GB5749-2006)的限值,Pb严重超标.5种重金属对人体健康危害的年总风险为2.36×10-6a-1,其中致癌污染物Cd通过饮水途径所引起的平均个人年风险平均值为3.11 ×10-7 a-1;非致癌污染物Pb、Cu和Zn所引起的平均个人年风险在所有采样点均表现为Pb>Cu>Zn.在本次研究中,Cd是主要的风险污染物,其次为Pb.     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

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     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

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.