硝基苯对3种中国土著水生生物的毒性

以中国林蛙(Rana chensinensis)蝌蚪、中华圆田螺(Cipangopaludina cahayensis)和日本沼虾(Macrobrachiumnipponense)3种我国代表性土著生物为对象,通过半静态试验研究了硝基苯暴露对这3种生物的急性毒性.采用美国环境保护局(USEPA)的Trimmed Spearman-Karver(TSK)法得到硝基苯的急性毒性p(96 h,LC50分别为:林蛙蝌蚪,117.04 mg·L-1;中华圆田螺,104.23 mg·L-1;日本沼虾,0.033 7 mg·L-1.基于p(96 h,LC50)值,取0.01为安全系数,安全浓度ps,分别为:林蛙蝌蚪,1.17 mg·L-1;中华圆田螺,1.04 mg·L-1;日本沼虾,0.34 μg·L-1.3种受试生物对硝基苯毒性反应的敏感性大小依次为:日本沼虾＞中华圆田螺＞林蛙蝌蚪.对照鱼类急性毒性实验的毒性分级标准,硝基苯对日本沼虾属于剧毒物质,而对林蛙蝌蚪和中华圆田螺则属于中等毒性物质.     

溴氯海因在水环境中的降解及其对4种水生生物的急性毒性

研究了新型消毒剂溴氯海因(BCDMH)在水环境中的降解规律及其影响因素以及BCDMH对4种不同生态位水生生物(发光菌、小球藻、大型溞和斑马鱼)的急性毒性.结果表明:1)BCDMH的正辛醇/水分配系数(Kow)为3.74(25℃),在水环境中的降解符合一级动力学方程C=C0×e-k·t,其一级反应速率常数k随温度升高而增大,25℃时k值为0.3577,半衰期为1.72d.2)pH6～9时,pH值越低BCDMH降解越快,碱性条件对其降解有显著抑制;自然光照和曝气有利于BCDMH的降解.3)BCDMH对斑马鱼的96hLC50=3.68mg·L-1,属高毒;对大型溞的24hLC50=1.44mg·L-1,属高毒;对小球藻的96hEC50=4.15mg·L-1,属高毒;对发光菌的1hEC50=0.62mg·L-1,属极高毒.     

Cu2+和Cd2+对日本青鳉（Oryzias latipes）早期发育阶段的急性毒性效应研究

为探究并比较淡水鱼种日本青鳉早期发育阶段对Cu2和Cd2等重金属胁迫的响应,在实验室通过半静态方式,对日本青鳉受精卵和仔稚鱼分别进行了48 h和96 h急性毒性实验.结果表明:Cu2对日本青鳉胚胎24、48 h-LC50分别为8.164 mg·L-1和6.965 mg·L-1;Cd2+对日本青鳝胚胎24、48 h-LC50分别为63.084 mg· L-1和53.093 mg ·L-1;较低浓度组Cu2+(≤1.97 mg ·L-1)时日本青鳉胚胎的发育速率快于对照组,而较高浓度组(≥3.87 mg·L-1)胚胎的发育速率则慢于对照组;与Cu2略有不同,无论浓度高低Cd2对胚胎的孵化速率均产生抑制作用;Cu2+和Cd2质量浓度分别高于1.97 mg·Lq和19.68 mg· L-1时,两种重金属离子均显著降低胚胎的孵化率(P＜0.05).Cu2对日本青鳉初孵仔鱼24、48、72和96 h-LC50分别为5361 mg·L-1、2.844 mg·L-1、2.020 mg·L-1和1352 mg·L-1;Cd2+对日本青鳉初孵仔鱼24、48、72和96 h-LC50分别为15.907 mg·L-1、10550 mg·L-1、7.986 mg· L-1和6346 mg·L-1;Cu2+对日本青鳉稚鱼24、48、72和96 h-LC50分别为5.732 mg·L-1、4.037 mg· L-1、2A98 mg·L-1和1.955 mg·L-1;Cd2+对日本青鳉稚鱼的24、48、72和96 h-LC50分别为16A19 mg·L、11.745 mg· L-1、8516 mg·L-1和6.776 mg· L-1.与其它淡水水生生物相比,日本青鳉仔稚鱼对铜和镉离子较为敏感.     

4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂不同剂型对斑马鱼急性毒性效应

采用半静态法测定了4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂原药及制剂对斑马鱼(Brachydonio rerio)急性毒性。结果表明,以实测浓度计,250 g·L~(-1)嘧菌酯悬浮剂对斑马鱼的96 h半数致死浓度(LC50)值为0.539 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性为高毒,95%嘧菌酯原药和50%嘧菌酯水分散粒剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为1.09和1.21 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为中毒;98%啶氧菌酯原药和22.5%的啶氧菌酯悬浮剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为0.0974和0.0972 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为剧毒;95%吡唑醚菌酯原药、15%吡唑醚菌酯悬浮剂和250 g·L~(-1)吡唑醚菌酯乳油对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值为0.0613、0.0549和0.0487 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为剧毒;95%醚菌酯原药和50%醚菌酯水分散粒剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为0.468和0.702 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为高毒。这4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂对斑马鱼均有较高风险,会对其他水生生物也存在潜在的风险。     

茚虫威对斑马鱼的急性毒性及遗传毒性

茚虫威属噁二嗪类新型广谱高效杀虫剂,在农业生产中有着重要作用,近年来随着用量的增加,由此产生的对水生生物的影响越来越受到重视。使用斑马鱼进行茚虫威的急性毒性作用实验,并采用微核试验、彗星试验、Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色检测观察染毒后的斑马鱼是否被诱导产生遗传毒性。结果表明:在24 h、48 h、72 h、96 h,茚虫威LC50值分别为2.263mg·L-1、2.184 mg·L-1、2.184 mg·L-1、2.133 mg·L-1。茚虫威对斑马鱼急性毒性属中等毒性。96 h茚虫威浓度为1.98 mg·L-1和2.16 mg·L-1时,斑马鱼的微核率与对照组相比达差异极显著水平(P0.01)。采用彗星试验检测斑马鱼肝脏DNA损伤,结果显示斑马鱼暴露于高浓度1.98 mg·L-1和2.16 mg·L-1茚虫威后,与对照组相比,斑马鱼的DNA损伤均表现为极显著差异(P0.01)。采用Annexin V-FITC/PI双染色流式细胞仪法检测,结果表明染毒后24 h斑马鱼肝细胞出现细胞凋亡现象。实验结果进一步表明,茚虫威对斑马鱼短期染毒后诱导细胞凋亡,表现出遗传毒性。     

双酚A与其替代品对黑斑蛙急性毒性的比较

双酚F(BPF)和双酚S(BPS)作为双酚A(BPA)替代品广泛使用,然而有关BPF和BPS的毒性数据非常有限。采用系列浓度的BPA、BPF、BPS溶液,暴露黑斑蛙胚胎和蝌蚪96 h,通过半致死浓度(LC50)、最小生长抑制浓度(MCIG)和致畸率等指标比较3种化合物的急性毒性。结果显示:100 mg·L-1BPS未导致黑斑蛙胚胎及蝌蚪畸形和死亡。BPA和BPF对黑斑蛙胚胎的96h-LC50分别为7.68 mg·L-1和7.99 mg·L-1,MCIG分别为4.47 mg·L-1和4.77 mg·L-1,最大致畸率为33.33%;对蝌蚪的96 h-LC50分别为9.00 mg·L-1和9.52 mg·L-1。依据《化学农药环境安全评价准则》的毒性分级标准,判定BPA和BPF的毒性等级为中毒,BPS的毒性等级为低毒。表明BPF急性毒性与BPA相当,BPS急性毒性低于BPA。本研究数据可为BPF、BPS作为BPA替代品的生产和使用以及相应的环境管理提供毒理学参考。     

6种硝基苯化合物对海洋生物的急性毒性研究（Study on the Acute Toxicity of Six Nitrobenzenes to Marine Organisms）

为研究硝基苯化合物对海洋生物的毒性,选择了6种代表性硝基苯化合物对小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)、黑鲷(Sparus macrocep)幼鱼和螠蛏(Siliqua minima)幼体进行了急性毒性实验,获得了这些化合物对这些生物体的急性毒性数据及环境安全浓度.实验结果表明:2,4-二硝基甲苯、2,4-二硝基氯苯、2,4-二氯硝基苯和邻二硝基苯对小球藻48h半数抑制浓度(EC50)分别为0.50、0.21、2.44和0.10mg·L-1,毒性顺序为邻二硝基苯(剧毒)>2,4-二硝基氯苯(剧毒)>2,4-二硝基甲苯(剧毒)>2,4-二氯硝基苯(高毒).2,4-二硝基氯苯、邻二硝基苯、2,4-二硝基甲苯、2,4-二氯硝基苯、对硝基苯胺和硝基苯对黑鲷幼鱼的96h半数致死浓度(LC50)分别为0.14、0.15、4.45、1.37、11.52和5.71mg·L-1,其安全浓度分别为:0.001、0.002、0.04、0.01、0.12、0.06mg·L-1,毒性顺序为2,4-二硝基氯苯(剧毒)>邻二硝基苯(剧毒)>2,4-二氯硝基苯(高毒)>2,4-二硝基甲苯(高毒)>硝基苯(高毒)>对硝基苯胺(中毒).2,4-二硝基氯苯、2,4-二硝基甲苯、2,4-二氯硝基苯、邻二硝基苯、硝基苯和对硝基苯胺对幼蛏的96h LC50分别为0.39、13.20、3.45、15.56、86.90和148.87mg·L-1,安全浓度分别为:0.004、0.13、0.03、0.16、0.87、1.49mg·L-1,毒性顺序为2,4-二硝基氯苯(剧毒)>2,4-二氯硝基苯(高毒)>2,4-二硝基甲苯(中毒)>邻二硝基苯(中毒)>硝基苯(中毒)>对硝基苯胺(低毒).     

安乃近代谢产物4-乙酰氨基安替比林的水生急性毒性研究

在地表水中检出高浓度的安乃近代谢产物4-乙酰氨基安替比林(4-AAA),但目前缺乏对4-AAA的生态毒性研究,故无法评价其生态风险。采用经济合作与发展组织(OECD)标准测试方法,研究4-AAA对藻、大型溞和鱼的急性毒性效应。结果表明,在1 500 mg·L-1(配制浓度) 4-AAA的暴露条件下,近头状伪蹄形藻(Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata)的生长并没有受到明显抑制效应;稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)没有发现死亡现象。这表明,藻类生长量和生长率的72 h无可观察效应浓度(NOEC)均≥1 502 mg·L-1(实测浓度),96 h鱼类急性毒性的半致死浓度(LC50)≥1 532 mg·L-1(实测浓度)。当大型溞(Daphnia magna)暴露于一系列不同浓度4-AAA(188、375、750、1 500和3 000 mg·L-1),24 h后发现750 mg·L-1的暴露组开始出现运动抑制现象;最高浓度组中,80%大型溞的运动能力明显受到抑制。48 h后抑制效应增加,750 mg·L-1暴露组中,40%的大型溞活动能力受到抑制;最高浓度组仅20%大型溞活动能力保持正常。这表明,高浓度4-AAA对大型溞的活动能力具有一定的抑制作用。统计分析结果表明,24 h和48 h大型溞活动能力的抑制效应达一半的浓度(EC50)分别为1 538 mg·L-1(1217～2 017 mg·L-1)和1 041 mg·L-1(834～1 304 mg·L-1)。根据全球化学品统一分类和标签制度(GHS)分类,4-AAA的水生急性毒性不归类。尽管地表水中检出高浓度(3 675 ng·L-1)的4-AAA,但最高风险商值仅为3.53×10-3,风险较低。     

甲基异噻唑啉酮对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性和机制研究

甲基异噻唑啉酮(methylisothiazolinone,MIT)作为防腐剂,广泛用于个人护理品、日用品和涂料中。MIT随着污水进入地表水循环,普遍存在于水体中,但目前关于MIT对水生生物毒性的研究还比较少。本文以模式生物斑马鱼的胚胎作为受试对象,评价MIT对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性。将受精后3 h的健康斑马鱼胚胎暴露于梯度浓度的MIT下,观察其对胚胎生长发育的影响,用吖啶橙(AO)染色检测细胞凋亡情况。结果发现,48 h暴露浓度大于1.0 mg·L-1的胚胎孵化被显著抑制,72 h浓度大于1.52 mg·L-1的幼鱼心率显著降低,统计96 h幼鱼死亡和畸形数,并重复验证和计算得到96 h半致死浓度(96 h 50%lethal concentration,96 h-LC50)为6.15 mg·L-1,96 h半致畸浓度(96 h 50%teratogenesis concentration,96 h-TC50)为3.89 mg·L-1,测量96 h胚胎体长,分析最小生长抑制浓度(minimum concentration to inhibit growth,MCIG)为2.31 mg·L-1,AO染色显示72 h胚胎的凋亡细胞主要集中在脑部和尾部。不同时期下镜检观察到,胚胎出现的畸形主要包括尾部发育不良,脊柱弯曲,卵黄囊水肿和心包水肿。此外,高浓度处理组24 h胚胎自主抽动次数增加,72 h和96 h活动能力减弱,触碰反应迟钝。因此,推断MIT对斑马鱼胚胎的发育有较大影响,同时有一定的神经毒性。根据《危险化学品鱼类急性毒性分级试验方法》,判定MIT对斑马鱼胚胎为高毒,该毒性实验结果可为MIT在工业生产和环境中的风险管理提供依据。     

硫氰酸钠对斑马鱼毒性的评价

为了研究植物性饲料代谢产生的中间产物硫氰酸钠(NaSCN)对水生生物的毒性效应,首先将斑马鱼(Brachy danio rerio)暴露于NaSCN的8个浓度组中进行96 h-LC50急性毒性试验,测得其半致死浓度(96 h-LC50)为403 mg·L-1.再以安全浓度(1/10LC50.)为基准,等对数设置3个质量...     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.