滨海围垦区几种耐盐乔灌木的光合特性比较

为探讨几种耐盐乔木和灌木对滨海围垦区盐碱化土壤的适应能力,采用LI-6400光合作用测定仪在植物生长旺季对崇明东滩围垦区同期栽种的9种耐盐碱陆生植物物种的叶片光合特性进行测定。结果表明,在刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)、石楠(Photinia serrulata var.serrulata)、女贞(Ligustrum lucidum)和蜀桧柏(Sabina komarovii)4种乔木物种中,刺槐的最大光合速率、表观量子效率和光饱和点最高,分别为21.28μmol·m-2·s-1、0.049μmol·μmol-1和2 031μmol·m-2·s-1,但光补偿点却较低(13.60μmol·m-2·s-1)。在紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa)、伞房决明(Cassia sophera)、木芙蓉(Hibiscus mutabilis)、海滨木槿(Hibiscus syriacus)和慈孝竹(Bambusa multiplex)5种灌木物种中,紫穗槐的最大光合速率、表观量子效率和光饱和点最高,分别为20.92μmol·m-2·s-1、0.048μmol·μmol-1和1 980.67μmol·m-2·s-1,但光补偿点却最低(2.95μmol·m-2·s-1)。在这些灌木物种中,紫穗槐具有最高的水分利用率(10.58μmol·mol-1)和较低的蒸腾速率(1.86 mmol·m-2·s-1)。因此,就叶片光合特性而言,刺槐和紫穗槐分别是对滨海围垦区盐碱化土壤具有良好适应性的乔木和灌木树种。     

三种木质藤本植物光合特性比较研究

随着城市化进程的加快,园林绿化面积愈来愈少,因此充分利用藤本植物进行垂直绿化,成为了拓展城市绿化空间、改善城市生态环境的重要途径。光合作用是植物体内最重要的代谢过程,不同植物的光合能力对其生长、产量及抗逆性都具有十分重要的影响,但目前对城市园林常用木质藤本植物光合特性方面的研究甚少。本研究采用LI-6400便携式光合作用分析系统,针对城市园林常用的3种木质藤本植物——忍冬(Lonicera japonica Thunb.)、五叶地锦(Parthenocissus quinquefolia Planch.)和地锦(Parthenocissus tricuspidata),开展其光合特性的比较研究,探讨这3种木质藤本植物对环境的适应性及其光合能力的差异,旨在为藤本植物在城市园林绿化中的合理应用提供理论依据。结果表明:3种木质藤本植物在净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、水分利用效率(WUE)和羧化效率(CE)之间有较为明显的差异。在相同的自然条件下,忍冬的净光合速率(Pn,平均值为13.55μmol·m-2·s-1)、气孔导度(Gs,平均值为5.94×10-2μmol·m-2·s-1)、胞间CO2浓度(Ci,平均值为345.00μmol·mol-1)、水分利用效率(WUE,其值为10.27 mmol·mol-1)和羧化效率(CE,其值为3.93×10-2 mmol·mol-1)等光合参数均高于五叶地锦和地锦。五叶地锦的净光合速率(Pn)、水分利用效率(WUE)和羧化效率(CE)均高于地锦。蒸腾速率(Tr)最大的为地锦,其平均值为1.68 mmol·m-2·s-1,而忍冬和五叶地锦的平均值分别为1.35和1.10 mmol·m-2·s-1。     

广州南沙海岸防护林群落的生态效应初步研究

采用群落生态学和植物化学监测的研究方法,对广州市南沙海岸滩头近6 a生防护林群落的生物量、高温胁迫光合特征、NPP及吸储C、N、S、Pb、Cd、Cu、Hg的生态效应进行了定位观测研究,结果表明：海岸6种防护林群落的生物量的平均达到10.7 t.hm-2、NPP达到2.5 t·hm-2·a-1、生长要素表现为速生性生长特征。各种海防林群落的年均吸储空间CO2、NO2、SO2质量分别为4.2 t.hm-2、27.1 kg·hm-2和3.4 kg·hm-2,吸储Pb、Cd、Cu分别为13.2、4.4、0.1 g·hm-2,其生态环境功能已经初步凸显,可有效地减少这些元素在地表和土壤积累、迁移或随地表径流输出至生活环境的危害,对于海岸环境区域是非常有益的。雨季高温（气温t≥35.5℃）胁迫下,海岸路网林群落的优势种群净光合速率日均达到9.8μmol·m-2·s-1且乡土树种高于引进树种,高山榕（Ficus altissima）的日最高净光合速率达到14.3μmol·m-2·s-1,较羊蹄甲（Bauhinia blakeana）高0.4μmol·m-2·s-1、较塞楝（Kaya senegaiensis）高2.2μmol·m-2·s-1,优势树种适宜海岸滩头立地、高温胁迫的光合生理特点,是其速生长的原因之一。     

三叶爬山虎叶片解剖结构和光合生理特性对3种生境的响应

藤本植物生活环境的时空变化较为剧烈,为适应异质性生境常表现出较大的可塑性,其形态解剖结构及光合生理特征被认为能很好地体现对异质生境的适应。为了明确藤本植物叶片结构和光合作用对不同生境光强的响应策略,以木质藤本三叶爬山虎（Parthenocissus himalayana）为对象,采用光合仪测定和解剖显微观察的方法研究了哀牢山亚热带湿性常绿阔叶林的林外（全光照）、林缘（遮荫）和林内（荫生）3种自然生境中三叶爬山虎的叶片解剖结构和光合生理特征的变化,以期阐述三叶爬山虎对不同光环境的生态适应能力及策略,为森林生态系统的管理和物种多样性的保护及群落优化配置提供理论依据。结果表明：从林内到林外随着生境光强增加,叶片厚度（157.77～299.17μm）、上表皮厚度（21.30～28.40μm）、栅栏组织厚度（30.83～124.65μm）、栅栏组织细胞面积（430.95～652.97μm2）显著增大（P〈0.01）,栅栏组织细胞长度（29.23～49.54μm）和周长（86.58～155.17μm）、下表皮厚度（16.14～19.01μm）、气孔长度（24.13～27.10μm）和气孔密度（86.20～129.41个·mm-2）呈显著上升趋势（P〈0.05）。栅栏组织细胞宽度（19.67～22.81μm）在3种生境中无显著差异。叶片解剖结构性状的平均可塑性值为0.37,其中最大值是栅栏组织细胞长度（0.67）,最小值是气孔长度（0.11）。光饱和点（201.27～1299.17μmol·m-2·s-1）、光补偿点（3.86～29.88μmol·m-2·s-1）、饱和光强最大光合速率（2.20～12.03μmol·m-2·s-1）、暗呼吸速率（0.17～2.19μmol·m-2·s-1）、CO2补偿点（83.01～237.26μmol·m-2·s-1）、饱和CO2最大净光合速率（2.07～25.49μmol·m-2·s-1）、光呼吸速率（0.36～7.57μmol·m-2·s-1）、初始羧化效率（0.006～0.035μmol·μmol-1）随着生境光强的增高呈上升趋势,而表观量子效率（0.067～0.031μmol·?     

圆齿野鸦椿 Euscaphic konishii Hayata的生态生物学特性

圆齿野鸦椿 Euscaphis konishii Hayata是中国特有的常绿小乔木,为潜在的优良园林绿化、观果树种.文章对其树形与冠幅、叶片的形态解剖结构、光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔传导率、叶绿素含量、叶面积、生物量和生产力、植物营养元素等进行了系统的研究,研究表明:它属中性树种,种子较小,其光合曲线为单峰型,光合速率平均值为5.62μmol·m-2·s-1,蒸腾速率为3.6 mmol·m-2·s-1,其气孔导度较大,水分利用效率低,苗期需荫蔽,长大后则需一定光照.圆齿野鸦椿生物量较低,其一年生苗平均生物量是(42.35±8.93)g,为中等生长速度,其苗期根系不深,可用一般营养袋育苗.圆齿野鸦椿体内加权平均养分含量较低,需要生于土壤肥沃、酸性、疏松、排水透气好、营养条件较好的地方或进行施肥.若要大量开发圆齿野鸦椿资源,需要考虑它的这些生态生物学特征,在其苗期与生长期采取不同的栽培管理措施.     

濒危植物长序榆（Ulmus elongata）幼苗光合特性的初步研究

用Li-6400XT便携式光合作用仪对一年生和当年生濒危植物长序榆幼苗的光合日变化进行了观测,为科学保护提供理论依据和技术途径。结果发现,一年生和当年生长序榆幼苗的光合日变化均为单峰曲线,无＂午休＂现象。当年生的平均净光合累积量（5.64μmol.m-2.s-1）大于一年生的净光合累计量（5.05μmol.m-2.s-1）。胞间二氧化碳（Ci）浓度与光合日变化基本上是相反的。气孔导度（Gs）和蒸腾速率（Tr）没有明显的变化规律。光能利用率（LUE）中午12？00最低,水分利用率（WUE）13？00最高。一年生和当年生的光饱和点（LSP）分别为1 620.75μmol.m-2.s-1和1 123.07μmol.m-2.s-1,二者的光补偿点（LCP）均较低,分别为8.33μmol.m-2.s-1和8.89μmol.m-2.s-1,即长序榆幼苗是一光适应幅度较大的植物。偏相关分析表明光合有效辐射（PAR）和大气温度（Ta）是决定其净光合速率的主要环境因子。     

红壤丘陵区晚稻生长期间CO2的排放与固定规律

采用静态箱法对红壤丘陵区稻田生态系统CO2排放与固定进行定位观测.结果表明,晚稻生长期间稻田生态系统CO2通量的日变化随天气条件(晴天、雨天、阴天)的变化而变化,CO2日净固定量在晚稻生长期间波动性很大,最高达10.35 g·m-2·d-1,在晚稻成熟期表现为CO2负固定,为-0.92 g·m-2·d-1;整个晚稻生育期,稻田生态系统CO2累积排放量和土壤呼吸CO2排放量分别为20.4和6.3 t·hm-2,稻田生态系统CO2累积排放量与水稻生物量之间存在极显著幂函数关系.在整个晚稻生育期,稻田生态系统从大气中吸收碳量为3.85 ～4.00 t·hm-2.     

施肥及环境因子对海南热带橡胶林土壤呼吸的影响

以海南热带成熟橡胶林(Hevea brasiliensis)土壤为研究对象,设置了3个实验处理,分别为施用有机肥(T1)、无机肥(T2)和不施肥(CK),通过采用红外气体分析法,结合对实验胶园环境要素的定位观测和人工施肥措施,研究土壤呼吸与环境要素和施肥措施间的关系,试图揭示热带橡胶园土壤呼吸的形成机制与过程机理,为未来精确模拟热带土壤碳循环过程,及实现通过土壤管理措施和环境要素调控来调节橡胶园土壤的CO2排放和土壤碳吸收提供科学依据。研究结果表明,(1)3种处理的橡胶林土壤呼吸速率日变化均呈单峰曲线,最高峰出现在13:00左右,T1、T2和CK值分别为:2.63μmol·m-2·s-1、3.74μmol·m-2·s-1和2.98μmol·m-2·s-1;最低点在凌晨4:00左右,值分别为:0.43μmol·m-2·s-1、0.89μmol·m-2·s-1和0.51μmol·m-2·s-1。(2)在周期变化中,3种处理的橡胶林土壤呼吸速率均随温度升高而加快,与温度的变化趋势同步;土壤呼吸与温度存在显著的指数关系,其中5 cm地温同土壤呼吸相关性最好(0.572R20.737),该结果能较好地解释土壤呼吸的变化。(3)土壤呼吸与土壤水分的相关关系较弱(0.189R20.367),P值没有达到显著水平(P0.05),未表现出明显的规律性。(4)在不同施肥处理的橡胶林土壤呼吸速率变化中,施有机肥处理的土壤呼吸速率最高(2.07μmol·m-2·s-1),其次是施无机肥处理的(1.59μmol·m-2·s-1),最低的是不施肥处理的(1.16μmol·m-2·s-1)。     

干旱胁迫过程中外源钙对忍冬光合生理的影响

以不同浓度Ca2＋对干旱胁迫处理下的忍冬进行化学调控,研究外源Ca2＋对干旱胁迫处理下忍冬叶片中叶绿素含量、可溶性糖含量、游离脯氨酸含量、过氧化氢酶活性以及光合速率的影响,以探讨外源Ca2＋对缓解干旱胁迫下忍冬光合作用下降的作用机制。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,忍冬的正常生理代谢明显受到抑制,叶绿素质量分数、可溶性糖质量分数、游离脯氨酸质量分数、过氧化氢酶活性以及光合速率分别降低到0.4 mg·g-1、0.06~0.1 mg·g-1、0.8 mg·g-1、0.25 u.mg-1和12~14μmol·m-2.s-1;当施入钙离子后,干旱胁迫对忍冬的伤害得到不同程度的缓解,并在最大程度上稳定叶绿素含量和CAT活性;并能使脯氨酸和可溶性糖的积累显著减少。说明外源Ca2＋能够在一定程度上弥补干旱胁迫导致的Ca2＋亏缺,使植物维持较正常的生理活动,稳定细胞膜结构,维持体内离子吸收平衡,维持较高的光合速率并保护光合结构。     

蔗糖浓度和光强对姜试管苗生长和光合的影响

研究了0%、1%、3%三个蔗糖浓度和60、120、180 μmol m-2 s-1三个光强梯度对河南张良姜和四川竹根姜试管苗生长和光合作用的影响.结果表明,随着蔗糖浓度的降低,两个品种试管苗的生长受到明显抑制,叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量也随之下降,但总光合速率(Pg)、净光合速率(Pn)和暗呼吸速率(Rd)却随之升高, Fv/Fm均以3%蔗糖处理最低.将光强从60 μmol m-2 s-1提高到120 μmol m-2 s-1,对试管苗生长有一定促进作用,但180 μmol m-2 s-1光强下其生长受到抑制.两个品种的叶绿素含量随光强增加均呈下降趋势.张良姜Pn以120 μmol m-2 s-1光强处理最高,竹根姜Pn随培养光强升高而升高, 180 μmol m-2 s-1光强下达到最大值,为0.88 μmol m-2 s-1. 180 μmol m-2 s-1光强下培养的张良姜试管苗Fv/Fm明显降低,发生了光抑制.竹根姜各光强处理间Fv/Fm无显著差异.张良姜试管苗的Rd随培养光强升高而增大,而竹根姜各光强处理间Rd差异不显著.表6参22     

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.