种植不同冬季作物对稻田甲烷、氧化亚氮排放和土壤微生物的影响

研究双季稻收获后填闲种植不同冬季作物在其生长季节内甲烷（CH4）和氧化亚氮（N2O）的排放特征,对合理利用冬闲稻田、发展冬季作物生产及合理评价不同种植模式具有重要意义。采用静态箱-气相色谱法对冬季免耕直播黑麦草、紫云英和冬闲的双季稻田中CH4和N2O排放及其相关微生物数量变化进行了分析。在冬季作物生长期,不同冬季作物稻田CH4和N2O排放通量均显著高于对照（冬闲）,CH4和N2O排放通量均表现为免耕直播黑麦草〉免耕直播紫云英〉冬闲;免耕直播黑麦草和紫云英处理稻田CH4排放量分别为2.28和1.07 g·m^-2,分别比对照增加241.92%和60.63%;N2O排放量分别为0.59和0.48 g·m^-2,分别比对照增加71.93%和40.06%;各处理稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌、硝化细菌及反硝化细菌的数量变化范围分别为0.33×10^2 163.37×10^2 cfu·g^-1、11.05×10^3~245.68×10^3 cfu·g^-1、3.21×10^3~178.26×10^3 cfu·g^-1和10.47×10^5~198.88×10^5 cfu·g-1,免耕直播黑麦草和紫云英处理稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌的数量均显著高于冬闲,其中免耕直播黑麦草处理稻田土壤的产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化细菌和硝化细菌数量显著高于免耕直播紫云英处理,而免耕直播紫云英处理稻田土壤反硝化细菌的数量则显著高于免耕直播黑麦草处理。研究结果显示,种植不同冬季作物能促进稻田生态系统中CH4和N2O的排放,而这两种气体的排放量与稻田土壤产甲烷细菌、甲烷氧化菌、硝化细菌和反硝化细菌数量变化密切相关。     

水旱轮作稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH_4和N_2O排放的影响

甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)是仅次于二氧化碳(CO2)的重要温室气体,农田是大气CH4和N2O的重要来源,但目前农业措施对CH4和N2O排放的影响尚不明确。以水旱轮作稻田旱作季休闲为对照,采用静态箱-气相色谱法研究了种植紫云英、黑麦草、冬小麦以及油菜等4种作物对稻田旱作季CH4和N2O排放及其温室效应的影响。结果表明:水旱轮作稻田旱作季CH4排放通量较低,而N2O排放较为明显。稻田旱作季CH4平均排放通量表现为油菜黑麦草冬小麦紫云英休闲,依次为8.96、7.19、6.94、6.52和6.02μg·m-2·h-1,季节N2O平均排放通量的顺序是油菜(61.1μg·m-2·h-1)冬小麦(52.5μg·m-2·h-1)黑麦草(34.0μg·m-2·h-1)休闲(15.3μg·m-2·h-1)紫云英(13.6μg·m-2·h-1)。稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH4和N2O季节总排放量的影响达到极显著水平(P0.01),CH4和N2O季节总排放量均以种植油菜为最大,分别达到43.2和294.7 mg·m-2,比对照休闲增加49%和299%。种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草较对照休闲显著增加稻田旱作季总增温潜势(P0.05),紫云英和休闲处理间总增温潜势无显著差异(P0.05)。研究表明,种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草等作物由于氮肥的施用增加了水旱轮作稻田旱作季温室效应。     

南方冬季种养结合模式对双季稻田CH_4和CO_2排放的影响

以不同冬季种养结合模式下双季稻田系统为研究对象,采用静态箱-便携式温室气体自动分析仪法研究了冬闲田不同种养制度下双季稻田CH_4和CO_2排放特征,同时分析了CH_4和CO_2排放与主要环境和植株因子的相关性。结果表明:与冬季休闲-双季稻相比,冬季种植绿肥或绿肥结合养鸡对稻田CH_4和CO_2排放的季节变化模式无明显影响,但对排放通量有影响。2个稻季,冬季种植紫云英(Astragalus sinicus)结合养鸡处理CO_2累积排放量较冬闲、冬季种植黑麦草(Lolium perenne)、冬季种植紫云英、冬季种植黑麦草结合养鸡处理分别提高150.23%、2 034.43%、102.08%和98.68%(P0.05)。与冬闲-双季稻相比,冬季种植紫云英结合养鸡显著降低2个稻季CH_4累积排放量的42.67%(P0.05),冬季种植黑麦草结合养鸡和冬季种植紫云英处理分别提高21.40%和48.55%(P0.05)。CH_4排放通量与气温呈极显著正相关,与植株地上部干物重和体积呈极显著负相关。CO_2排放通量与植株地上部干物重和体积呈极显著正相关,与土温呈极显著负相关,与光合有效辐射(PAR)呈显著负相关。     

水旱轮作稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH4和N2O排放的影响

甲烷（CH4）和氧化亚氮（N2O）是仅次于二氧化碳（CO2）的重要温室气体,农田是大气CH4和N20的重要来源,但目前农业措施对CH4和N2O排放的影响尚不明确。以水旱轮作稻田旱作季休闲为对照,采用静态箱．气相色谱法研究了种植紫云英、黑麦草、冬小麦以及油菜等4种作物对稻田旱作季CH4和N2O排放及其温室效应的影响。结果表明：水旱轮作稻田旱作季CH4排放通量较低,而N2O排放较为明显。稻田旱作季CH4平均排放通量表现为油菜〉黑麦草〉冬小麦〉紫云英〉休闲,依次为8．96、7．19、6．94、6．52和6．02μg·m-2·h-1,季节N20平均排放通量的顺序是油菜（61．1lμg·m-2·h-1）〉冬小麦（52．5lag·m-2·h-1）〉黑麦草（34．0μg·m-2·h。）〉休闲（15.3lμg·m-2·h-1）〉紫云英（13．6lμg·m-2·h-1）。稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH4和N2O季节总排放量的影响达到极显著水平（P〈0．01）,C144和N2O季节总排放量均以种植油菜为最大,分别达到43．2和294．7mg·m-2,比对照休闲增加49％和299％。种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草较对照休闲显著增加稻田旱作季总增温潜势（P〈0．05）,紫云英和休闲处理间总增温潜势无显著差异（P〉0．05）。研究表明,种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草等作物由于氮肥的施用增加了水旱轮作稻田旱作季温室效应。     

冬季土地管理对稻季CH_4产生、氧化和排放的影响

通过室内培养和田间试验测定了冬季休闲、种麦和淹水处理水稻生长期CH4的产生潜力、氧化潜力及其排放通量,以探讨冬季土地管理对后续稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响。结果表明:休闲与种麦处理间CH4产生潜力无显著差异(P>0.05),但2者均显著低于淹水处理(P<0.05);各处理间CH4氧化潜力无显著差异(P>0.05),土壤中NH4+-N含量可能是较冬季土地管理更为重要的影响CH4氧化潜力的因素;休闲处理CH4平均排放通量显著高于种麦处理(P<0.05),但2者均显著低于淹水处理(P<0.05)。冬季持续淹水稻田CH4产生潜力显著高于冬季排水稻田是其CH4排放量远高于冬季排水稻田的原因。冬季土地管理对稻季CH4排放的影响主要受CH4产生潜力而非CH4氧化潜力的限制。     

冬季土地管理对稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响

通过室内培养和田间试验测定了冬季休闲、种麦和淹水处理水稻生长期CH4的产生潜力、氧化潜力及其排放通量,以探讨冬季土地管理对后续稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响。结果表明：休闲与种麦处理间CH4产生潜力无显著差异（P〉0．05）,但2者均显著低于淹水处理（P〈0．05）;各处理间CH4氧化潜力无显著差异（P〉0．05）,土壤中NH4^＋-N含量可能是较冬季土地管理更为重要的影响CH4氧化潜力的因素;休闲处理CH4平均排放通量显著高于种麦处理（P〈0．05）,但2者均显著低于淹水处理（P〈0．05）。冬季持续淹水稻田CH4产生潜力显著高于冬季排水稻田是其CH4排放量远高于冬季排水稻田的原因。冬季土地管理对稻季CH4排放的影响主要受CH4产生潜力而非CH4氧化潜力的限制。     

稻田施用沼渣对甲烷排放通量的影响

通过网室小区试验，观测得出：（１）４种沼渣处理和单施化肥处理的一季稻田平均甲烷排放通量为０．５６９～２．１８８ｍｇ０￣２·ｈ，两者无显著差异；农家肥处理稻田的平均甲烷排放通量为４４．１８ｍｇ／ｍ￣２·ｈ显著高于前两种处理，表明施用沼渣和化肥比施用农家肥能显著减少稻田甲烷排放量；（２）各处理稻田甲烷排放通量峰值期部出现在水稻蘖期至拔节初期，表明这一时期是控制稻田甲烷排放总量的关键时间；（３）各处理甲烷排放通量分别与淹水前各处理土壤及供试有机肥的易矿化碳含量、ＣＨ＿４－Ｃ含量呈显著正相关关系，这表明土壤易矿化碳含量是形成稻田甲烷的重要条件；（４）各处理之间水稻产量没有明显差异。     

免耕稻-鸭复合系统减少甲烷排放及其机理研究

以免耕不养鸭和翻耕不养鸭稻田为参照,研究了免耕稻-鸭复合系统中甲烷排放的日变化和季节变化以及稻-鸭复合系统中土壤氧化还原特性对甲烷排放的影响。结果表明:稻田甲烷排放通量日变化与日气温变化基本趋于一致。在水稻分蘖盛期和孕穗期,免耕养鸭稻田甲烷排放通量明显低于免耕不养鸭和翻耕不养鸭稻田, 3者之间甲烷排放通量大小差异白天明显,夜间较小。在水稻分蘖盛期、孕穗期和齐穗期,免耕养鸭稻田水中溶解氧含量比免耕不养鸭和翻耕不养鸭稻田提高38. 4% ~44. 7%。由于鸭子的活动,免耕养鸭稻田的氧化还原电位分别比免耕不养鸭和翻耕不养鸭稻田高11和18mV。而翻耕不养鸭稻田的还原物质总量分别是免耕养鸭稻田和免耕不养鸭稻田的4. 17~12. 34倍和3. 26~7. 02倍,其亚铁离子含量也明显高于后2者,表明翻耕使土壤还原程度增强,进而促进了稻田甲烷的排放。相关分析表明,免耕养鸭稻田氧化还原电位与还原物质总量、活性还原物质总量和亚铁离子含量呈极显著负相关,也与稻田甲烷排放通量呈负相关,但未达显著水平。     

稻鸭鱼共栖生态系统CH4排放规律研究

首次对稻-鸭-鱼共栖生态系统中的甲烷排放通量进行了系统研究。结果表明:甲烷排放通量日变化呈现一定的规律,排放高峰出现在下午14:00~16:00,晚上0:00~4:00达到最低值。稻-鸭-鱼共栖生态系统生态种养期间甲烷排放通量表现出一定的规律,甲烷排放出现2个峰值分别出现在水稻生长返青期、幼穗分化期,第1个峰值为15.813mg/(m2·h),第2个峰值为9.485mg/(m2·h)。其次在水稻分蘖盛期,甲烷的排放通量最高可达8.227mg/(m2·h)。稻-鸭-鱼共栖生态系统中,土壤氧化还原电位增加10.98mV,还原物质总量、活性还原物质总量分别降低1.46cmol/kg、1.25cmol/kg。稻田甲烷排放与土壤氧化还原电位呈极显著负相关,与还原物质总量、活性还原物质总量呈极显著正相关。     

太湖地区典型轮作与休耕方式对稻田水稻季N2O和CH4排放量的影响

轮作休耕是实现"藏粮于地、藏粮于技"的重要途径之一,目前在太湖稻田区域主要推广紫云英(Astragalus sinicus L.)-水稻(Oryza sativa L.)、油菜(Brassica napus L.)-水稻和休耕-水稻典型轮作与休耕方式。在太湖地区典型稻田水稻生长季设置了6个处理:(1)紫云英-水稻轮作,不施N肥处理,MRN0;(2)紫云英-水稻轮作,当地常规施肥量(300 kg·hm^-2,以纯氮计,下同),MRN300;(3)油菜-水稻轮作,不施N肥处理,RRN0;(4)油菜-水稻轮作,当地常规施肥量(300 kg·hm^-2),RRN300;(5)休耕-水稻轮作,不施N肥处理,FRN0;(6)休耕-水稻轮作,当地常规施肥量(300 kg·hm^-2),FRN300。通过田间试验,研究了不同轮作与休耕方式对水稻产量、氮肥利用率及稻田温室气体CH₄和N₂O排放的影响,从而为综合评价轮作休耕方式提供科学依据。田间试验结果显示,与不施氮肥处理相比,在不同轮作休耕方式下施氮300 kg·hm^-2,可增加53.7%—60.0%的水稻产量,以MRN300处理水稻产量最高,与RRN300和FRN300处理相比,水稻产量分别提高了1.6%和6.0%。在不施氮水平下,MRN0、RRN0和FRN0各轮作处理间N₂O排放通量和累积排放量均值差异不显著(P>0.05)。而在施氮300 kg·hm^-2下,紫云英-水稻轮作可降低N₂O排放通量和累积排放量,与RRN300和FRN300处理相比,N₂O排放通量分别降低了36.0%(P<0.05)和2.1%(P>0.05)。在同一施氮水平下,紫云英-水稻轮作CH₄排放通量和累积排放量最小,与RRN300和FRN300处理相比,MRN300处理CH₄排放通量分别降低了1.1%和6.7%,CH₄和N₂O的全球增温潜势(GWP)分别降低了3.3%和6.5%,单位水稻产量温室气体排放强度(GHGI)分别降低了4.6%和11.6%。综上,紫云英-水稻轮作对提高水稻产量,降低温室气体排放效果最好。     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.