电镀污染区植物对复合重金属的富集、转移和对污染土壤的修复潜力

采用野外采样室内分析方法,对重庆市3个电镀厂污染区自然定居的23种优势植物和相应土壤中Cu、Zn、Cr和Ni 4种重金属含量进行测定,揭示了优势植物对复合污染重金属的富集和转移特征。结果表明,电镀污染区土壤中Cu、Zn、Cr和Ni平均含量分别为560.0、722.6、1 364.3和735.7 mg·kg-1,分别为GB 15618—1995《土壤环境质量标准》中三级标准限值的1.40、1.45、3.90和3.68倍。植物对重金属的吸收、富集和转移特性因植物种类、植株部位、污染地及重金属种类的不同而不同,污染地植物吸收的重金属富集滞留在根部较多,扁穗牛鞭草(Hemarthria compressa)和野薄荷(Mentha haplocalyx)表现出超富集Cr的潜力,其地上部分Cr平均含量分别为1 559.2和1 914.6 mg.kg-1,生物转运系数分别为1.29和1.58,生物富集系数分别为1.58和1.79,其他植物地上部分Cr含量超过正常植物百倍以上的有14种,平均富集量为376.4 mg·kg-1,变化范围为121.2～694.3 mg·kg-1,地上部分Ni含量超过正常植物百倍以上的有8种,平均富集量为344.1 mg·kg-1,变化范围为220.3～532.1 mg·kg-1。它们是修复电镀重金属Cr和Ni复合污染土壤的理想植物。     

马缨丹对镉的生长响应及其富集、转运和亚细胞分布特点研究

镉是植物非必需且生物毒性最强的重金属元素之一，然而镉富集植物能通过一定的响应机制来减少镉对自身产生的毒害，且不同植物之间镉的解毒机制存在差异。马缨丹（Lantana camara L.）是四川汉源铅锌矿区镉污染土壤的修复植物，但是关于其镉的分布特征和解毒机制并不明确。因此本文采用盆栽模拟试验，分别设置0（对照，不添加镉）、30、90、150、210 mg·kg-1镉5个处理，研究马缨丹对镉的富集、转运及其亚细胞分布特点，探讨马缨丹对镉的耐性和解毒机制，以期为植物耐镉的生理和分子生物学机制提供一定的理论依据。结果表明：镉质量分数低于90 mg·kg-1时对马缨丹生长没有影响，而镉质量分数高于150 mg·kg-1时对马缨丹生长有显著的抑制作用；随着镉质量分数的增加，马缨丹各器官中镉的质量分数逐渐增加，表现为根＞茎＞叶，且其转运系数小于1，表明马缨丹对镉有较强的根部滞留能力，可限制过量的镉向地上部器官的转运，减少镉对地上部的毒害，这可能是马缨丹耐受镉胁迫的机制之一；随着镉质量分数的增加，马缨丹地下部和地上部的镉富集量总体上均呈增加趋势，在210 mg·kg-1镉处理时，均达到最大值，分别为142.8和1031.6μg·plant-1，不同质量分数镉处理下，马缨丹地上部的镉富集量较大，占全株镉富集量的94.0%~88.3%；镉在马缨丹根和叶细胞可溶性组分中的分配比例最高，分别占62.1%~54.2%和59.8%~52.6%，其次在细胞壁中，分别占23.8%~34.4%和28.7%~39.5%，在细胞器和细胞膜中的较低，表明可溶性组分和细胞壁是镉在马缨丹根和叶细胞中的主要分布位点，液泡区隔化和细胞壁固持可能是马缨丹对镉的重要解毒和耐性机制之一。     

龙葵、大叶井口边草和短萼灰叶对Pb、Cd和As污染农田的修复研究

以云南省个旧市重金属污染农田为研究对象,通过野外田间试验研究7种配置种植方式下龙葵(Solanum nigrum)、大叶井口边草(Pteris cretica var.nervosa)和短萼灰叶(Tephrosia candida)对Pb、Cd和As的吸收特征,探讨3种植物不同配置方式对Pb、Cd和As复合污染农田的修复潜力.结果表明:供试农田土壤Cd和As含量均超出GB 15618-1995《土壤环境质量标准》中的三级标准.所有不同植物配置种植方式中,龙葵地上部对Cd的吸收量最大,为(6.99±0.25) mg·kg-1,大叶井口边草地上部对As的吸收量最大,为(326.98±93.99) mg·kg-1,短萼灰叶地上部对Pb的吸收量最大,为(32.96±5.65) mg· kg-1,均低于超富集植物的临界阈值(Cd 100 mg· kg-1,As1 000 mg·kg-1,Pb 1 000mg· kg-1).比较7种种植方式对污染土壤中重金属的提取效率发现,单作龙葵条件下,龙葵地上部对Pb、Cd和As的吸收量最大,年吸收量分别为1 004.97、152.04和1 534.47g· hm-2,若将Cd和As污染农田土壤修复达到GB 15618-1995中的三级标准,提取效率分别为2.811 6％和1.413％.这说明单作龙葵对Pb、Cd和As复合污染农田具有一定修复潜力,但不适用于修复高浓度重金属污染农田.     

镉超富集植物商陆及其富集效应

超累积植物筛选是重金属污染土壤植物提取修复的基础和核心问题,同时也是污染环境植物修复的难点及前沿。对株洲市铅锌冶炼厂生产区生长的8种不同的植物进行了采样和调查。通过生物量测定和植物体内镉质量分数分析,发现商陆(Phytolaccaacinosa)体内镉质量分数较高,生物量大,且呈现地上部的质量分数大于地下部的规律。通过室外盆栽模拟试验,进一步研究商陆对土壤中镉污染的忍耐、积累能力,以检验这种植物修复Cd污染土壤的可能性及其潜力。结果表明,在Cd污染水平大于50mg·kg-1条件下,商陆茎及叶的Cd含量分别超过了100mg·kg-1这一公认Cd超积累植物应达到的临界含量标准,其地上部Cd含量大于其根部Cd含量,且地上部Cd富集系数大于1。与对照相比,植物的生长未受到抑制,商陆对Cd的富集符合Cd超积累植物的基本特征。同时,利用吸收量系数对商陆的镉去除能力和富集特征进行了评价判断,证实商陆是一种Cd超积累植物,这为镉污染土壤的植物修复提供了一种新的种质资源。     

三明铅锌矿区植物对重金属的富集特征

采用野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法,对福建三明典型矿区尤溪铅锌矿、大田铅锌矿以及尤溪铅锌矿冶炼厂等进行了调查,研究这些矿区重金属含量较高的区域如采矿区、尾砂库、洗矿排水沟以及铅锌矿冶炼厂厂区和排水沟冲积扇区域土壤中的Pb、Zn和Cd的含量,在此基础上,对在这些区域自然定居的16种优势植物体内的三种重金属元素的耐性、富集特性进行了分析。结果表明:该矿区的主要优势物种为禾本科和菊科植物,其中笔管草(Equisetum ramosissimum)、一年蓬(Erigeron annuus)和五节芒(Miscanthus floridulus)的地上部重金属富集量较大,对矿区周边污染土壤修复有潜在应用价值;乌蕨(Stenoloma chusana)、千金子(Bochloe dactyloides)、二歧飘拂草(Fimbristylis dichotoma)、柔枝莠竹(Microctegium Vimineum)、短叶水蜈蚣(Kyllinga brevifolia)、狗娃花(Heteropappus hispidus)适用于污染程度较高且植物萃取技术难以实施的重金属污染矿业废弃地。矿区植物地上部Zn含量平均值最高,为1225.74mg·kg-1,植物地上部Pb含量范围在52.78～2137.11mg·kg-1,平均为521.39mg·kg-1;一年蓬地上部Cd含量达到了119.51mg·kg-1,超过了超富集植物的临界值100mg·kg-1,转运系数为1.3,是潜在的Cd超富集植物。     

化工污染河流沿岸植物对砷、汞的累积作用比较

采集葫芦岛市五里河沿岸9种常见植物,测定植物及植物根土中的汞砷质量分数,研究了汞、砷在植物体内的分布特征,利用迁移系数、富集系数探讨了植物对砷、汞的吸收与富集作用以及可能的耐受机制.结果表明,植物对砷、汞的吸收与富集,因植物种类、部位、金属的类型以及距离污染源的远近而不同.植物根部砷、汞平均质量分数分别为2.434 mg·kg-1和0.583 mg·kg-1;植物叶部砷、汞平均质量分数分别为1.888 mg·kg-1,0.1 50 mg·kg-1.叶汞质量分数从高到低的顺序为:水蓼,芦苇,鬼针草,曼陀罗,三棱草,苍耳,稗草,滨藜,辽东蒿;根汞质量分数从高到低依次为:三棱草,曼陀罗,滨藜,稗草,辽东蒿,芦苇,鬼针草,苍耳,水蓼;叶砷质量分数从高到低的顺序为:水蓼,滨藜,鬼针草,苍耳,芦苇,三棱草,曼陀罗,稗草,辽东蒿.芦苇(Phragraites australis)、曼陀罗(Datura stramonium)、苍耳(.Xanthium sibiricum.Patr.)、鬼针草(Bidens bipinnata)、滨藜(Atriplex patens)对砷的吸收、富集效果较好;水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper)对汞的转移能力较强.芦苇、鬼针草、水蓼等植物向地上部转移As、Hg的能力较强,可选做植物提取方式的污染土壤修复.     

三明铅锌矿区植物对重金属的富集特征

采用野外调查与室内分析相结合的方法，对福建三明典型矿区尤溪铅锌矿、大田铅锌矿以及尤溪铅锌矿冶炼厂等进行了调查，研究这些矿区重金属含量较高的区域如采矿区、尾砂库、洗矿排水沟以及铅锌矿冶炼厂厂区和排水沟冲积扇区域土壤中的Pb、Zn和Cd的含量，在此基础上，对在这些区域自然定居的16种优势植物体内的三种重金属元素的耐性、富集特性进行了分析。结果表明：该矿区的主要优势物种为禾本科和菊科植物，其中笔管草（Equisetum ramosissimum）、一年蓬（Erigeron annuus）和五节芒（Miscanthus floridulus）的地上部重金属富集量较大，对矿区周边污染土壤修复有潜在应用价值；乌蕨（Stenolomachusana）、千金子（Bochloe dactyloides）、二歧飘拂草（Fimbristylis dichotoma）、柔枝莠竹（Microctegium Vimineum）、短叶水蜈蚣（Kyllingabrevifolta）、狗娃花（Heteropappushispidus）适用于污染程度较高且植物萃取技术难以实施的重金属污染矿业废弃地。矿区植物地上部zn含量平均值最高，为1225．74mg·kg-1，植物地上部Pb含量范围在52．78-2137．11mg·kg-1，平均为521．39mg·kg-1；一年蓬地上部cd含量达到了119．51mg·kg-1，超过了超富集植物的临界值100mg·kg-1，转运系数为1．3，是潜在的Cd超富集植物。     

无机硅叶面肥及土壤调理剂对水稻铅、镉吸收的影响

喷施叶面阻控剂和施用土壤调理剂是目前污染稻田治理的主要措施,针对不同污染类型、污染程度稻田研发效果较好的叶面阻控剂及土壤调理剂是研究重点。文章通过2019年的田间试验研究无机硅叶面肥及土壤调理剂对中重度铅镉复合污染稻田水稻铅镉阻控效果。共设3个处理:常规施肥处理(CK)、常规施肥+喷施无机硅叶面肥处理(L-Si)、常规施肥+施用无机硅土壤调理剂处理(S-Si)。结果表明:L-Si处理土壤中铅质量分数较对照(116.00±4.35)mg·kg-1高18.97%;S-Si处理较对照(5.51±0.06)能够显著提高稻田土壤pH值0.73,土壤中铅和镉分别较对照(116.00±4.35)、(1.89±0.03)mg·kg-1高12.07%和14.81%。L-Si处理下铅在根、叶片、稻米中富集较对照分别减少11.69%、12.40%和38.46%;镉在叶片、稻壳、稻米中较对照显著减少了18.10%、5.84%和40.84%。而S-Si处理中铅在根、茎、叶、稻壳、稻米中富集量较对照显著减少11.69%、36.93%、15.16%、23.47%和51.28%;镉在根、茎、叶、稻壳、稻米中富集量显著降低12.93%、42.28%、61.75%、59.85%和49.21%。L-Si及S-Si处理水稻产量较对照(7052.27±95.07)kg·hm^-2分别提高3.24%和4.09%。综上所述,无机硅经叶面吸收后,在减少叶片中铅富集的同时减少了根系对土壤铅的吸收,将经根系吸收的铅富集于茎和稻壳中;而在减少叶片中镉富集的同时并未减少根系对镉吸收,将经根系吸收的镉富集于根和茎中。无机硅土壤调理剂在将土壤中铅和镉固定于土壤中的同时阻隔了水稻根系对铅和镉下吸收,因此水稻根、茎、叶、稻壳、稻米中铅和镉的含量均显著降低。     

锰超积累植物——水蓼

超积累植物筛选是重金属污染土壤植物修复的基础和核心问题,同时也是重金属污染环境植物修复的难点及前沿。本文通过野外调查与营养液模拟试验相结合的方法,初次发现并证实水蓼(Polygonum hydropiper L)是一种锰超积累植物。野外调查结果表明,生长在土壤锰含量为2000mg·kg-1的水蓼,叶部锰的富集量可达3675.89mg·kg-1,且转移系数为1.37。营养液模拟培养试验证实,当营养液中锰的浓度为5000μmol·L-1时,水蓼植株生长正常,但叶中锰含量超过了10000mg·kg-1,达到了锰超积累植物应达到的临界含量标准,水蓼地上部富集系数高达19.41(大于1),转移系数为1.05(也大于1)。当营养液中锰的浓度为15000μmol·L-1时,水蓼叶、根和茎三部分的锰含量均达到最大值,分别为24447.17mg·kg-1、11574.47mg·kg-1和10343.52mg·kg-1。这一发现为锰污染土壤和水体的植物修复提供了一种新的可能的种质资源。     

冬季农田杂草繁缕对镉的积累特性研究

为进一步筛选出更多的镉超富集植物作为植物修复的材料,本文以冬季农田杂草作为研究对象,采用土壤种子库-金属筛选法进行筛选,以期从冬季农田杂草中筛选出镉超富集植物,为镉污染农田土壤的冬季植物修复提供材料。通过土壤种子库-金属筛选法初步研究发现,冬季农田杂草繁缕(Stellaria media)地上部分镉含量接近超富集植物的临界值(100 mg·kg-1),但转运系数(TF)小于1,可能是镉富集植物。为此,采用盆栽试验进行了进一步的浓度梯度鉴定。结果表明,随土壤镉含量的增加,繁缕根系生物量、地上部分生物量、主枝长度、根系长度、抗性系数及耐性系数均随土壤镉含量的增加而下降,但繁缕根系及地上部分镉含量呈显著增加的趋势。与对照相比,在土壤镉质量分数为25、50、75、100和125 mg·kg-1时,繁缕总生物量分别下降了17.31%、34.87%、44.79%、52.12%和59.32%,但各个处理均没有表现出明显毒害症状。土壤镉含量为75~125 mg·kg-1时,繁缕地上部分镉含量均大于100 mg·kg-1,最大值为135.79 mg·kg-1,地上部分富集系数(BCF)大于1,但转运系数(TF)小于1。在土壤镉含量为100 mg·kg-1时,繁缕地上部分镉提取量达到最大值,为87.42μg·plant-1。这些结果表明繁缕是一种镉富集植物。虽然繁缕的单株镉提取率较低,但繁缕具有分蘖力强、繁殖力强、生长密度大、耐荫性强等特点,因此适用于冬季农田镉污染的修复。     

The distribution of,and relation among,mercury and methylmercury,organic carbon,carbonate, nitrogen and phosphorus,in periphyton of the South Florida ecosystem

Periphyton samples from Water Conservation Areas, Big Cypress National Preserve, and Everglades National Park in south Florida were analyzed for concentrations of total mercury, methylmercury, nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and inorganic carbon. Concentrations of total mercury in periphyton decrease slightly along a gradient from north‐to‐south. Both total mercury and methylmercury are positively correlated with organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus in periphyton. In horizontal sections of periphyton mats, total mercury concentrations tend to be largest at the tops and bottoms of the mats. Methylmercury concentrations tend to be the largest near the bottom of mats. These localized elevated concentrations of methylmercury suggest that there are “hot spots”; of methylmercury in periphyton.     

Applications of chitosan in food,pharmaceuticals, medicine,cosmetics, agriculture,textiles, pulp and paper,biotechnology, and environmental chemistry

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Chitosan is a biopolymer obtained from chitin, one of the most abundant and renewable materials on Earth. Chitin is a primary component of cell walls in fungi, the...     

Fragmentation of Phragmites Habitats, Minimum Viable Population Size, Habitat Suitability, and Local Extinction of Moths, Midges, Flies, Aphids, and Birds

Results from populations of insects and birds inhabiting Phragmites habitats were used to analyze effects of fragmentation. Flush-crash cycles of the stem-boring moth Archanara geminipuncta (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) showed regionally concurrent, local extinctions despite an originally enormous population size (more than 180,000 adults), emphasizing the importance of metapopulation dynamics. Further, A. geminipuncta could be considered a keystone species, since shoot damage facilitated more than twenty species of herbivores, saprovores (of the caterpillars' feces), and their parasitoids. The gall midge Lasioptera arundinis could survive only in side shoots induced by shoot damage of A. geminipuncta .
Small Phragmites stands had thinner shoots (due to a water or nutrient deficiency) and shoots with more leaves (due to a better light supply) than large stands, thereby influencing species-specific demands for habitat suitability and nutritiousness of reed tissue. In other words significance of habitat fragmentation could not be assessed by area alone. For example, two chloropid flies depending on thin, yellowish shoots survived only in small habitats or in the unmown edges of large habitats.
Local persistence of Phragmites herbivores depended on much larger population sizes than could be expected from a population size sufficient to maintain genetic variation. At least 11,000 adults of the gall midge Giraudiella inclusa (or more than 84,000 galls) were necessary to avoid local extinction.
With regard to conservation management of reed habitats, nature reserves should consist of old and unmown reeds, have fewer disturbed (particularly, fewer mown) habitat edges, measure more than two hectares (priority should go to the largest remaining fragments), and be surrounded by nearby reed habitats providing reservoir populations and diverse shoot types.     

Lead,cadmium, copper,zinc, iron,and calcium in human hair as a function of gender,age, smoking,and hair dyeing

Hair samples were collected randomly from 110 subjects (55 male and 55 female) ranging in age from (<15–60) years. Each subject was asked to complete a personal questionnaire describing his/her sex, age, general health, smoking, use of hair dyes, occupational area, and living habits. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Ca in human hair samples were evaluated using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results indicated that concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn in the hair of smokers were higher than those in the hair of non-smokers, whereas, Fe and Ca concentrations in hair of smokers were lower than those in hair of non-smokers. Moreover, the concentrations of these elements are higher in dyed hair compared with undyed hair.     

Research progress on distribution,sources, identification,toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics in the ocean,freshwater, and soil environment

• Microplastics are widely found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. • Cleaning products and discarded plastic waste are primary sources of microplastics. • Microplastics have apparent toxic effects on the growth of fish and soil plants. • Multiple strains of biodegradable microplastics have been isolated. Microplastics (MPs) are distributed in the oceans, freshwater, and soil environment and have become major pollutants. MPs are generally referred to as plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter. They consist of primary microplastics synthesized in microscopic size manufactured production and secondary microplastics generated by physical and environmental degradation. Plastic particles are long-lived pollutants that are highly resistant to environmental degradation. In this review, the distribution and possible sources of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments are described. Moreover, the adverse effects of MPs on natural creatures due to ingestion have been discussed. We also have summarized identification methods based on MPs particle size and chemical bond. To control the pollution of MPs, the biodegradation of MPs under the action of different microbes has also been reviewed in this work. This review will contribute to a better understanding of MPs pollution in the environment, as well as their identification, toxicity, and biodegradation in the ocean, freshwater, and soil, and the assessment and control of microplastics exposure.     

Design,synthesis, antinociceptive,and anti-inflammatory properties of thiazolopyrimidine derivatives

Ten 2-(substituted benzylidene)-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(7H)-one derivatives were synthesized and evaluated. A series of heterocyclic, 2-(substituted benzylidene)-7-(4-chlorophenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(7H)-one were synthesized by reaction of 7-(4-chloro phenyl)-5-(furan-2-yl)-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-3(7H)-one with appropriately substituted aldehydes in the presence of anhydrous sodium acetate and glacial acetic acid. The antinociceptive activity was evaluated by tail-flick technique, anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by carrageenan-induced paw edema test and their ulcerogenicity index was determined. The para-substituted methyl, hydroxy, fluoro, chloro, bromo, and nitro derivatives showed significant antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities. The detailed synthesis, spectroscopic data, and pharmacological screening of the synthesized compounds were reported.     

Beijing's coordinated development of population,resources, environment,and economy

Since the Olympic Games will be held in Beijing at 2008, the urban development plan of Beijing deserves special attention. The essence of regional sustainable development is that population (P), resources (R), environment (E) and economy (E) could develop with sustenance, order and coordination during a certain period, which forms a complex system called the PREE complex system. For this system, a multi-objective integrated model is formulated and solved by a nonlinear goal programming technique. Beijing's PREE complex system is then used as an empirical study. Twelve interesting goals are carefully selected, the parameters of each goal function were estimated by using Beijing's 50-year (1949–1999) statistical data, and their ideal goal limits for 2000 and 2005 are chosen according to the 9th and 10th Five-Year Economic Development Plans of Beijing. The results showed that population size is the most sensitive element in Beijing's PREE complex system. Furthermore, some suggestions related to public policies about the urban development of Beijing are proposed.     

Trends and causes of severity, size, and number of fires in northwestern California, USA

Research in the last several years has indicated that fire size and frequency are on the rise in western U.S. forests. Although fire size and frequency are important, they do not necessarily scale with ecosystem effects of fire, as different ecosystems have different ecological and evolutionary relationships with fire. Our study assessed trends and patterns in fire size and frequency from 1910 to 2008 (all fires > 40 ha), and the percentage of high-severity in fires from 1987 to 2008 (all fires > 400 ha) on the four national forests of northwestern California. During 1910-2008, mean and maximum fire size and total annual area burned increased, but we found no temporal trend in the percentage of high-severity fire during 1987-2008. The time series of severity data was strongly influenced by four years with region-wide lightning events that burned huge areas at primarily low-moderate severity. Regional fire rotation reached a high of 974 years in 1984 and fell to 95 years by 2008. The percentage of high-severity fire in conifer-dominated forests was generally higher in areas dominated by smaller-diameter trees than in areas with larger-diameter trees. For Douglas-fir forests, the percentage of high-severity fire did not differ significantly between areas that re-burned and areas that only burned once (10% vs. 9%) when re-burned within 30 years. Percentage of high-severity fire decreased to 5% when intervals between first and second fires were > 30 years. In contrast, in both mixed-conifer and fir/high-elevation conifer forests, the percentage of high-severity fire was less when re-burned within 30 years compared to first-time burned (12% vs. 16% for mixed conifer; 11% vs. 19% for fir/high-elevation conifer). Additionally, the percentage of high-severity fire did not differ whether the re-burn interval was less than or greater than 30 years. Years with larger fires and greatest area burned were produced by region-wide lightning events, and characterized by less winter and spring precipitation than years dominated by smaller human-ignited fires. Overall percentage of high-severity fire was generally less in years characterized by these region-wide lightning events. Our results suggest that, under certain conditions, wildfires could be more extensively used to achieve ecological and management objectives in northwestern California.     

Geography of conservation spending,biodiversity, and culture

We used linear and multivariate models to examine the associations between geography, biodiversity, per capita economic output, national spending on conservation, governance, and cultural traits in 55 countries. Cultural traits and social metrics of modernization correlated positively with national spending on conservation. The global distribution of this spending culture was poorly aligned with the distribution of biodiversity. Specifically, biodiversity was greater in the tropics where cultures tended to spend relatively less on conservation and tended to have higher collectivism, formalized and hierarchical leadership, and weaker governance. Consequently, nations lacking social traits frequently associated with modernization, environmentalism, and conservation spending have the largest component of Earth's biodiversity. This has significant implications for setting policies and priorities for resource management given that biological diversity is rapidly disappearing and cultural traits change slowly. Therefore, we suggest natural resource management adapt to and use characteristics of existing social organization rather than wait for or promote social values associated with conservation spending. Supporting biocultural traditions, engaging leaders to increase conservation commitments, cross‐national efforts that complement attributes of cultures, and avoiding interference with nature may work best to conserve nature in collective and hierarchical societies. Spending in modernized nations may be a symbolic response to a symptom of economic development and environmental degradation, and here conservation actions need to ensure that biodiversity is not being lost.