小浪底水库鱼体和沉积物中汞稳定同位素组成特征

使用多接收器电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(MC-ICP-MS)测定了小浪底水库鱼体和沉积物中汞同位素的组成.结果显示,小浪底水库鱼体具有偏负的δ~(202)Hg和偏正的Δ~(199)Hg(δ~(202)Hg:-0.26‰±0.30‰;Δ~(199)Hg:0.79‰±0.08‰),而沉积物比鱼体具有更加偏负的δ~(202)Hg和趋近于0值的Δ~(199)Hg(δ~(202)Hg:-1.48‰±0.38‰;Δ~(199)Hg:0.01‰±0.02‰).与以往的研究相比,小浪底水库鱼体内汞同位素特征与淡水水库区域鱼体中类似,而Δ~(199)Hg/Δ~(201)Hg的比值为1.22,表明小浪底水库鱼体内汞的非质量分馏主要是甲基汞的光化学降解产生的;沉积物的同位素特征表明其受到了人为源排放的影响.鱼体内δ15N数据表明在营养转移的过程中会发生质量分馏,但不会发生非质量分馏.     

环境治理对红枫湖水生食物链中汞积累的影响

于2015年以贵州省贵阳市饮用水源地红枫湖的水生食物链作为研究对象,通过测定不同营养级生物的汞含量及稳定碳氮同位素,并结合2007年红枫湖的数据,对比红枫湖水体的汞含量及水生食物链中的汞含量、食物链长度及生物放大率的变化。结果发现:相比于2007年,湖水中的总汞浓度降低了40%,但鱼体总汞和甲基汞含量分别增加了140%与210%,甲基汞在总汞中占的比例平均增加了18%。食物链长度增加一级,汞的生物放大率降低。可能的原因是:2008年政府对红枫湖进行综合治理后,水体富营养化程度降低,湖中食物链结构发生改变,鱼类生长速度减慢,使得鱼体内汞的生物稀释作用减弱,鱼体的汞含量相对升高。同时,高强度捕捞,使得鱼样个体普遍偏小,导致生物放大率较低。     

上海市吴泾工业区周边土壤和树叶中汞污染调查

对上海市吴泾工业区热电厂、氯碱厂、焦化厂周边土壤和树叶中汞及甲基汞的含量作了调查.结果显示,三个厂区周边土壤中总汞含量在几十到几百ng·g-1,而甲基汞的含量则很低.树叶中总汞浓度约为十几到几十ng·g-1.三个厂中以热电厂周边土壤和树叶中的总汞含量最高,氯碱厂甲基汞含量比较大.三个厂区周边土壤和植物部分受到了汞污染.     

第二松花江鱼及蚌汞含量现状及演变规律

为了解第二松花江在彻底切断汞污染源20年后的鱼体汞污染现状，于2003—2004年共采集鱼样10种158条及蚌样28个，测定鱼和蚌中的总汞含量，并搜集20世纪70年代第二松花江鱼样和蚌样的汞污染资料，分析其演变规律。测定表明，各种鱼类的总汞平均含量未达到背景值，有部分样品超标。鱼体汞含量，从上游到中下游，呈增长趋势，之后又向下游递减。该江目前鱼类总汞污染水平主要受沉积汞影响。各种不同鱼类间，底栖鱼类的总汞含量高于生活在水层中上部的鱼类，肉食性鱼类的汞含量高于杂食性和植食性鱼类。在所测定的鱼类中，只有鲫鱼的汞含量与其体长和体质量有相关关系。所测定的鱼样中，有部分鱼样的总汞含量超过了国家食品卫生标准，这说明第二松花江的汞污染还没有完全消除。     

汞在城市污水处理厂的赋存特征及质量平衡——甲基汞

以焦作市第一污水处理厂各工艺单元的进出物料为研究对象,通过样品中甲基汞和溶解态甲基汞含量的测定,初步探讨了甲基汞在污水处理厂物料中的赋存特征和迁移过程.结果发现,污水处理厂进水中甲基汞和溶解态甲基汞的含量分别在6.73—49.53 ng·L-1和0.55—8.14 ng·L-1之间,日均值分别为21.34±13.88 ng·L-1和2.55±2.36 ng·L-1.污水厂外排水中甲基汞含量在0.42—1.15 ng·L-1之间,满足《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》(GBl8918—2002)中规定的烷基汞含量限值(10 ng·L-1)要求.污水厂对原污水中甲基汞和溶解态甲基汞的去除率分别达到了96.3%和85.1%,甲基汞的去除主要发生在二级处理工艺单元(氧化沟+二沉池).与污水厂进水相比,出水中溶解态甲基汞所占甲基汞的比率显著升高(15.4%±11.4%升至48.3%±17.9%)(P<0.001),甲基汞占总汞的比率也有显著升高(1.9%±1.2%升至3.9%±1.2%)(P<0.001).沉砂池、二沉池、浓缩池和压滤机房污泥中甲基汞含量分别为7.65±4.35、13.53±6.54、10.48±8.17、8.80±6.48 ng·g-1,占总汞的比率分别为0.9%±0.5%、0.3%±0.1%、0.2%±0.2%、0.2%±0.1%.各处理单元污泥中甲基汞含量均不稳定,日变异系数均达到了45%以上.污水处理厂进出物料中甲基汞的质量平衡计算表明,每天离开污水处理厂的甲基汞比进入污水处理厂的甲基汞减少了1889 mg,占进水中甲基汞质量的88.5%.甲基汞的损失主要发生在二级处理工艺单元,可能有两个方面的原因,一是甲基汞在氧化沟和二沉池中的吸附和沉积,二是甲基汞在污水处理过程中发生了去甲基化.     

典型城市人工湿地优势植物汞分布特征

以重庆市4个典型城市人工湿地(观音塘湿地公园、彩云湖国家湿地公园、园博园湿地公园、秀湖湿地公园)为研究对象,分别于2017年3、6、9、12月调查并采集了湿地优势植物样品,分析样品总汞、甲基汞浓度,探讨城市人工湿地中植物汞的时空分布特征.结果表明,调查区域植物汞质量浓度范围为45.29—231.01μg·kg~(-1)(平均值为33.99±8.61μg·kg~(-1)).甲基汞质量浓度范围为45.29—232.01 ng·kg~(-1)(平均值为145.45±48.72 ng·kg~(-1));其中,园博园湿地植物总汞质量浓度最低,观音塘湿地公园植物甲基汞质量浓度均较其他3个湿地公园植物高;在同一湿地中,植物总汞春秋浓度较高,夏季略有降低,冬季最低,而甲基汞浓度先逐渐升高,并在6—9月达到最大值,随后开始下降;植物根部总汞、甲基汞含量高于茎和叶.城市人工湿地植物有一定的汞富集能力,可在一定程度上减轻水体汞污染.     

莱州湾-龙口湾表层沉积物有机质特征及来源分析

通过对莱州湾-龙口湾表层沉积物样品中总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、有机碳与总氮的比值(C/N)、稳定碳氮同位素(δ13C、δ15N)生物地球化学指标的测定,分析了该区域沉积物中有机质的特征和来源.结果显示,莱州湾表层沉积物中TOC含量为0.47%±0.40%,龙口湾TOC含量为0.82%±0.37%,TN含量相差不大,因此龙口湾沉积物有机质相对含量高于莱州湾.港口的建设使龙口湾内水体流速减慢,加上龙口湾入海河流较少,使得龙口湾沉积物平均粒径(19.40μm)远低于莱州湾(43.89μm),比较容易吸附有机质.莱州湾沉积物中δ13C值为-24.96‰—21.46‰,平均值为-23.63‰;龙口湾表层沉积物中δ13C值为-23.02‰—22.39‰,平均值为-22.73‰.由此看来,莱州湾沉积物中有机质主要来源于陆生C3植物和藻类,而龙口湾有机质大部分来源于藻类,少数来自陆生C3植物.根据经典的二元模式计算,龙口湾陆源有机质的贡献比例范围为23.15%—33.67%,平均值为28.84%,莱州湾陆源贡献比例范围为7.65%—65.97%,平均值为43.75%.莱州湾沿岸有众多河流入海,尤其是含沙量最多的黄河,给湾内带来大量的陆上有机质,而龙口湾入海河流较少,沉积物中的陆上有机质较少.     

我国一些站点降雨和森林穿冠水中铵态氮的同位素丰度

在我国7个站点采集了降雨和森林穿冠水样品,分析了铵态氮的同位素丰度.结果表明,各站点降雨中铵态氮δ15N的平均值为-8.67‰至-3.66‰,其中杭州近郊梅家坞降水样品中铵态氮δ15N平均值最低,贵州雷公山降雨样品中铵态氮δ15N平均值最高.城市穿冠水中铵态氮δ15N值要明显高于降雨,而郊区和背景地区穿冠水中铵态氮δ15N值略高于降雨,这可能是由于城市地区林冠层富集有更多的大气颗粒物并通过冲刷过程进入穿冠水所致,因为大气颗粒物中铵态氮通常富集15N.     

渔业养殖区水环境中汞的形态分布

为研究渔业养殖对水生生态环境中汞形态变化的影响,采用气相色谱-冷原子荧光法对浙江省舟山市六横岛海水样品中不同形态汞含量进行测定分析.结果表明,对于总汞(THg)、溶解态汞(DHg)和颗粒态汞(PHg),养殖区上浮水体与对照区上浮水体之间无显著差异(P0.05).纵向分布看,底层水体PHg含量要显著高于中间层和表层(P0.05),主要是由于沉积物向上浮水体释放大量颗粒物,而颗粒物本身对汞的吸附能力很强.对于上浮水体甲基汞含量分布,总甲基汞(TMe Hg)主要以(PMe Hg)的形态存在,且TMe Hg和PMe Hg在颗粒物含量较高的养殖区的含量要高于在对照区.但是,底层水体中可被微生物利用的溶解态甲基汞(DMe Hg)含量在对照区(0.066±0.009 pmol·L-1)要显著高于养殖区(0.031±0.007 pmol·L-1)(P0.05),这可能是由于常年养殖活动致使沉积物中大量有机物积累,有机物与无机汞离子络合,减少了汞的生物有效性,从而抑制了甲基汞的生成.     

利用碱消解-HPLC-ICP-MS系统测定生物样品中的甲基汞与乙基汞

建立了以碱消解为萃取技术,高效液相色谱与电感耦合等离子体质谱联用系统(HPLC-ICP-MS)作为检测手段测定生物样品中甲基汞(MeHg)与乙基汞(EtHg)的分析方法.该方法选择25%(M/V)KOH/CH3OH作为萃取溶剂.在优化的检测条件下,该方法对样品中甲基汞和乙基汞的检出限分别为0.8 ng·ml-1和3ng·ml-1.对标准参考物质(DORM-2)的测定和加标回收实验的结果进一步验证了该方法的可靠性与准确性,并用该方法测定了另外4个生物样品中甲基汞与乙基汞的含量.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Use of stochastic patch occupancy models in the California red-legged frog for Bayesian inference regarding past events and future persistence

Assessing causes of population decline is critically important to management of threatened species. Stochastic patch occupancy models (SPOMs) are popular tools for examining spatial and temporal dynamics of populations when presence–absence data in multiple habitat patches are available. We developed a Bayesian Markov chain method that extends existing SPOMs by focusing on past environmental changes that may have altered occupancy patterns prior to the beginning of data collection. Using occupancy data from 3 creeks, we applied the method to assess 2 hypothesized causes of population decline—in situ die-off and residual impact of past source population loss—in the California red-legged frog. Despite having no data for the 20–30 years between the hypothetical event leading to population decline and the first data collected, we were able to discriminate among hypotheses, finding evidence that in situ die-off increased in 2 of the creeks. Although the creeks had comparable numbers of occupied segments, owing to different extinction–colonization dynamics, our model predicted an 8-fold difference in persistence probabilities of their populations to 2030. Adding a source population led to a greater predicted persistence probability than did decreasing the in situ die-off, emphasizing that reversing the deleterious impacts of a disturbance may not be the most efficient management strategy. We expect our method will be useful for studying dynamics and evaluating management strategies of many species.