不同虫压下转Bt基因水稻与非转基因水稻生态适合度差异

为了解转基因水稻的基因扩散效率和潜在生态风险,以转Bt抗虫水稻Bt63、R1、R2和非转基因常规水稻Ⅱ优838为试材,采用高、低两个不同虫害胁迫水平和转基因与非转基因水稻相间种植方式,通过观察水稻植株营养生长、结实以及对螟虫危害的抗性表现等差异,研究比较了Bt外源基因插入后对水稻植株适合度的影响.结果表明:在低虫害胁迫条件下,转Bt基因水稻在植株分蘖数、生物量鲜重等营养生长指标方面与非转基因对照品系间无明显差异,但株高、穗长、穗重等指标不及对照,且R2和Bt63与对照间差异显著;在高虫害胁迫条件下,3个转Bt基因水稻品系的分蘖数、穗长、穗重等指标明显高于对照.而不同转基因品系株高适合度效应不同,这可能与受体本身的特性相关.3种转基因水稻的单株结实粒数、千粒重与对照在两种虫害胁迫条件下均无显著性差异,Bt基因对受体植株的结实影响不明显.在高虫害胁迫条件下,3种转Bt基因水稻的抗虫能力均显著优于非转基因水稻,表明Bt基因对受体植株的抗虫性影响显著.同时,本研究结果还表明转Bt基因水稻的适合度代价较小,预示了抗虫转基因水稻外源Bt基因在一定环境条件下具有逃逸的可能,但这种风险比较小.     

多年连续种植转基因Bt汕优63稻田水体和土壤中Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留调查

以湖北武汉、随州、武穴和孝感以及山东德州5个多年转基因水稻种植区为试验地,在水稻生育期采集转cry1 Ab/c基因水稻Bt汕优63(Bt-SY63)和对照非转基因汕优63(SY63)稻田水体和土壤,使用酶联免疫吸附测定(ELISA)方法对稻田水体和土壤Cry1 Ab/c蛋白残留量进行动态监测.结果显示,与SY63稻田相比,连续种植2～4 a后,不同生育期Bt-SY63稻田水体Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留量大多与同一生育期SY63样品间差异未达显著水平(P＞0.05),最高残留量为0.373 ng· mL-1.与水体Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留情况相似,不同生育期Bt-SY63稻田土壤Cry 1Ab/c蛋白残留量大都低于试剂盒检测限(0.25 ng·g-1),仅随州苗期、德州拔节期和开花期样品有微量残留,鲜土残留量分别为0.261、0.540和0.361 ng·g-1,并分别与SY63样品间差异显著(P＜0.05).另外,多年连续种植Bt-SY63水稻后,2、3和4a种植年限的Bt-SY63稻田水体和土壤中Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留量之间大都没有显著差异(P＞0.05).认为连续种植2、3和4a的Bt-SY63水稻稻田水体和土壤仅存在微量Cry1Ab/c蛋白残留,不会造成Cry1Ab/c蛋白在稻田水体和土壤中的累积.     

转Osepsps抗草甘膦水稻不同生境适合度及对稻田杂草的影响北大核心CSCD

携带适合度优势基因的转基因作物如果长期存活于栽培系统之外,抗性基因可能转移到野生近缘种并带来生态问题.以转Osepsps基因水稻EP为材料,以非转基因受体"明恢86"为对照,通过田间定位试验,研究半野生生境下转Osepsps基因水稻的营养生长、繁殖能力以及稻田杂草的种类、频度和密度等指标变化,分析转Osepsps基因在半野生生境中的生态适合度以及对稻田杂草群落的影响.连续2年试验的结果显示:在常规栽培和半野生生境下,转基因稻与非转基因稻的株高、分蘖数、单株穗数、单株总粒数、单株实粒重和千粒重等指标没有显著差异;但结实率显著受环境影响,半野生生境下转基因水稻2年结实率为50.33%和17.72%,相比对照的68.82%和30.27%均显著下降(P<0.05);2012年转基因稻单株实粒数为335粒,显著少于非转基因对照的548粒(P<0.05).转基因稻与非转基因稻稻田的杂草种类均为9科9属9种;栽培稻田杂草密度和频度显著低于半野生稻田;相同生境下转基因稻与非转基因稻稻田杂草频度、密度总体上没有差异.本研究表明,与非转基因对照相比,转epsps基因稻生态适合度没有显著提高,在半野生生境下有所下降,其生态风险不高于栽培稻.     

基于环介导等温扩增法可视化检测玉米转基因成分

快速准确的转基因检测技术是严格监管转基因作物及其产品的重要支撑;不同转基因作物由于导入不同外源目的基因从而表现出不同性状,因此外源目的基因序列可作为基于核酸检测技术进行转基因筛选的标志物.基于环介导等温扩增(Loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP)技术,以中性红染料作为比色试剂,建立玉米内源基因和玉米转基因成分的基因特异性的可视化快速检测方法.针对玉米内源基因IVR基因,抗虫外源bar、pat基因,和Bt176中的抗除草剂外源cry1Ab基因分别设计了LAMP引物.结果表明,在Real-time LAMP体系下,能够实现对玉米内源IVR基因、转基因玉米品系Bt176中的bar基因和转基因玉米品系TC1507和59122中的pat基因的检测.对转基因玉米品系Bt176中的cry1Ab基因设计的引物能特异性扩增Bt176,而对Bt11和MON810两种转基因玉米品系无效.通过优化Tris-HCl和中性红浓度,在5 mmol/L Tris-HCl和100μmol/L中性红浓度条件下建立了可视化检测体系,反应1 h即可分别实现对玉米内源基因IVR基因,抗虫外源bar、pat基因,和抗除草剂外源cry1Ab基因的检测.中性红可视化检测结果与Real-time LAMP荧光扩增曲线结果一致,体现了该可视化检测方法具有较高的准确性.本研究建立了一种对玉米转基因相关成分的可视化检测体系,该方法既快速又简便且尤其适用于现场检测.(图6表1参17)     

转sck单价基因和cry1Ac/sck双价基因水稻对二化螟的致死效应及中肠组织病理变化观察

室内采用离体叶片法研究了转sck单价基因抗虫水稻86AS1和转cry1Ac/sck双价基因抗虫水稻MSB不同生育期主茎顶叶对二化螟幼虫的杀虫效果.结果发现,不同生育期的MSB对二化螟初孵幼虫表现出了很强的毒杀效果,二化螟幼虫校正死亡率在扬花期前均达到90%以上;扬花期和灌浆期抗虫性有所下降,校正死亡率高于80%;成熟期校正死亡率在60%以上.在整个生育期,二化螟幼虫取食86AS1主茎顶叶的校正死亡率均未超过50%.MSB对二化螟幼虫的毒杀效果明显高于86AS1.采用透射电镜观察二化螟幼虫取食转cry1Ac/sck双价基因抗虫水稻和转sck单价基因抗虫水稻主茎顶叶后中肠组织的病理变化.结果发现,两种转基因水稻都能够引起二化螟幼虫中肠组织发生病理变化,但病变程度有明显差异.二化螟幼虫取食转cry1Ac/sck双价基因抗虫水稻3d,中肠组织受到严重破坏且病理变化明显;取食转sck单价基因抗虫水稻3d,幼虫中肠组织的病理变化却较缓慢.图2参10     

中华圆田螺抗氧化-代谢酶系统对转cry1Ab/Ac基因抗虫水稻的响应

对生长在不施农药转Bt基因抗虫水稻华恢1号(HH1)、非Bt稻明恢63(MH63)及施药的明恢63(MH63C)3种稻田生境中的中华圆田螺抗氧化系统物质(SOD、CAT、GSH-PX、GSH)及代谢酶(GST、ACP)差异进行了研究.结果表明:HH1稻田生境田螺肝脏和鳃SOD、CAT、GSH-PX活性均高于MH63稻田,其中SOD和CAT活性差异极显著(p＜0.01);肝脏GSH含量和GST活性在HH1和MH63稻田生境中差异不显著;HH1稻田生境中田螺肝脏ACP活性显著高于MH63稻田生境组(p＜0.01).对于MH63C和MH63组,MH63C稻田生境田螺肝脏中SOD、CAT和GST活性均显著提高,而鳃GSH-PX、GST活性和GSH含量在MH63C生境组表现为明显提高.由此可见,转Bt水稻生境可提高田螺抗氧化能力,对解毒酶系统活性没有明显影响,即对田螺未产生明显的毒副作用;而施用农药明显激活田螺抗氧化系统和解毒代谢酶活性.     

转Bt基因抗虫玉米植株叶腋处花粉中Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的田间降解动态

以表达Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的两种转Bt基因抗虫玉米MON810和Bt11为材料,采用ELISA方法研究了玉米散粉时沉积在植株叶腋处Bt玉米花粉中Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的田间降解动态,比较了两种Bt玉米花粉中Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白的降解速度.结果表明, Bt玉米花粉中Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白是逐渐降解的,且降解速度逐渐加快.但两种Bt玉米花粉中Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白降解速度不同, MON810中的Bt杀虫蛋白降解较快,而Bt11中的降解较慢. D 15时在MON810叶腋处的花粉中已经检测不到Bt杀虫蛋白,而在Bt11花粉中Bt杀虫蛋白到d 18才完全降解.两种Bt玉米花粉中杀虫蛋白的初始含量差异显著,且在各个取样时间内Bt杀虫蛋白的残留量存在显著差异.玉米散粉时留在田间的Bt玉米花粉中的Cry1Ab杀虫蛋白不会在自然界累积.     

水稻H14早熟性的遗传分析及基因定位

品种生育期是水稻最重要的农艺性状之一,对水稻生育期基因进行定位具有重要意义.水稻籼粳中间型材料H14具有显性早熟特性,它与多个不同类型的中、迟熟品种杂交,F1抽穗期均与早熟亲本H14相近或更早.H14与明恢63和蜀恢881等杂交F2和B1F1抽穗期呈双峰分布,从峰谷处进行分组,早熟植株与迟熟植株分离比经χ2测验分别符合3:1和1:1,表明该早熟特性主要受一对显性基因控制.以H14/明恢63 F2作定位群体,采用微卫星标记将H14所携带的显性早熟基因定位于水稻第6染色体短臂,位于微卫星标记RM314和RM276的一侧,与RM314的遗传距离为8.2 cM.认为该基因是一个新的水稻显性早熟基因,暂命名为Ef-h(t).图3表2参22     

转Cry1Ie基因玉米和转CP4-剧SPS基因大豆对斑马鱼的生态毒性

为评估转Cry1Ie基因抗虫玉米和转CP4-EPSPS基因耐除草剂大豆对鱼类的生态毒理效应,以斑马鱼(Danio rerro)为受试动物,配制4种分别含有转基因玉米、转基因大豆以及相应非转基因亲本的试验饲料,并以商业饲料为对照,通过98 d喂养实验,调查斑马鱼的摄食、生长、繁殖和抗氧化酶活性,分析不同喂养阶段斑马鱼的组织病理和敏感蛋白mRNA表达水平.结果 表明:抗虫转基因玉米和耐除草剂转基因大豆对斑马鱼的生长表现、肝脏、肠道和性腺的组织病理、产卵量和受精卵孵化率均无显著影响.转基因大豆组斑马鱼肝脏中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性显著高于非转基因大豆组和商业饲料组,且雄鱼显著高于雌鱼(P＜0.05).斑马鱼脏器组织中敏感蛋白mRNA的表达水平,没有随时间呈现明显的规律性变化,喂养时间与组别和性别之间存在显著的交互作用.试验饲料组斑马鱼的生长表现、肝脏中SOD活性以及mRNA表达量与商业饲料组相比有显著差异,可能与饲料的适口性和营养成分上的差异有关.总体上看,转Cry1Ie基因抗虫玉米和转CP4-EPSPS基因耐除草剂大豆对斑马鱼没有明显的生态毒性效应.     

转Bt-cry1Ac棉花花粉对意大利蜜蜂生长发育的影响

研究了取食转Bt-cry1Ac棉花花粉对意大利蜜蜂的影响,主要包括意大利蜜蜂的生长发育、体内酶活性的变化.结果发现,取食转Bt-cry1Ac基因棉花花粉的意大利蜜蜂与取食非转基因亲本棉花花粉的蜜蜂(CK)相比,4、5、6日龄幼虫体重差异不显著,幼虫及蛹的历期也没有明显差异.取食转Bt-cry1Ac基因棉花花粉的意大利蜜蜂6日龄幼虫体内的谷胱甘肽-S-转移酶、总蛋白酶活力与CK相比,没有显著差异.取食转Bt-cry1Ac基因棉花花粉的意大利蜜蜂幼虫体内的α-乙酸萘酯酶、乙酰胆碱酯酶活力极显著高于CK,强碱性、弱碱性类胰蛋白酶活力极显著低于CK,类胰凝乳蛋白酶活力显著低于CK.另外,采用酶联免疫(ELISA)方法在取食转Bt-cry1Ac基因棉花花粉的蜜蜂6日龄幼虫体内能够检测到Bt杀虫蛋白.表4参12     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

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.