气态有机物组成对生物过滤及菌体密度的影响

以堆肥-火山灰为填料的生物过滤器连续处理含甲苯、乙酸乙酯和异丙醇的气体,观测生物过滤效果和填料的菌系状态变化.结果表明:在甲苯和乙酸乙酯共存的条件下,生物过滤器优先去除乙酸乙酯;当进气中同时存在甲苯、乙酸乙酯和异丙醇时,优先去除乙酸乙酯和异丙醇.填料中各种微生物的菌体密度与过滤去除的有机物组成和浓度有关.霉菌和酵母菌竞争利用乙酸乙酯和异丙醇的能力较强,放线菌和细菌对甲苯的竞争利用能力较强.进气中高浓度的有机物会使填料中的菌体密度增大.在处理甲苯、乙酸乙酯和异丙醇的生物过滤器的各段填料中,菌体密度按细菌、霉菌、酵母菌、放线菌的顺序而降低. 图 1表 3参 17     

不同生物脱臭填料生物膜成长特性

用活性炭、浮石、陶粒和瓷环分别作为生物滴滤填料进行去除N2S恶臭气体的对比研究。活性炭和浮石对高效脱臭菌有强的吸附和固定作用，挂膜时间短，生物含量高而陶粒和瓷环固定期长，成膜较晚。在循环液流量为24L／h，气流量为0．5m^3／h，进气浓度在500mg／m^3的条件下，活性炭、浮石、陶粒和瓷环的成熟生物膜对H2S的去除率分别为99％、98％、95％和93％，从成膜到发生严重堵塞的生物增量的最大值分别是19．7、70．5、68．9、90．3mg／cm^3。试验对比结果表明，多孔浮石是优质的生物滴滤填料。     

曝气生物滤池处理H2S恶臭气体的试验

利用污水处理中曝气生物滤池进行脱除H2 S恶臭气体的试验研究,为以后进行工业放大实现水、气污染同时处理提供理论基础及优化的参数。研究表明,生物滤池具有较强的抗冲击负荷能力,能够在较宽的容积负荷范围内运行,滤池的最佳停留时间在4 6～70s的范围内,进水量和pH值的变化对生物滤池的脱臭效能影响不大,在整个运行期间生物滤池处理H2 S的最大容积负荷为14 6 2g/ (m3 ·d) ,此时H2 S的去除率可达94 %以上     

一种新型微生物除臭剂的垃圾除臭实验

从广州市李坑垃圾填埋场附近的土壤样品中分离到具明显除臭效果的4株菌，根据垃圾恶臭的主要成分研制了微生物除臭菌剂。该微生物除臭剂对氨气、硫化氢、总烃、臭气浓度、细菌总数的去除率分别可达到83．3％、80．7％、62．5％、86．8％、87．0％，应用在广州的棠下、员村环卫站的垃圾转运、压缩的处理过程中，取得了满意的除臭效果。     

应用生物强化活性滤池的滤料选择及效果

生物强化活性滤池是一种经济有效的给水处理工艺,可去除约90％的AOC,保证出水的生物稳定性。滤料的选择应用是构建生物强化活性滤池的基础,直接影响了生物活性滤池内富集的生物量和出水水质。本文着重从滤料的角度,探讨了在构建和运行生物强化活性滤池过程中应予以注意的问题。     

DG-DGGE分析除臭生物滤池微生物多样性及富集后的种群结构差异

以细菌的通用引物PCR扩增16SrRNA基因的V3可变区,结合应用双梯度变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGDGGE)技术分析除臭生物滤池中不同空间层次的微生物种群的基因多样性,以及富集前后的微生物种群结构变化,初步了解可培养细菌的情况,并回收主要的DNA片段进行序列分析.结果表明,在滤池的不同层次上呈现出明显的空间分布多样性差异,并且培养前后及不同培养基富集培养的微生物种群的多样性及特异性有很大的差别.序列比对显示,硫氧化细菌在除臭过程中占有优势地位,为进一步的菌种分离提供有益的指导,也为更好地处理恶臭气体提供可靠的科学支持.图4表2参18     

木屑生物膜处理H2S气体研究

采用木屑为载体固定微生物处理含H2S废气．微生物经活性污泥驯化得到．结果表明：木屑为载体固定微生物小需要长时间的挂膜时间．生物滤池启动后的48h内进气浓度迅速提高到641mg／m^3，H2S的去除率达到了100％．实验测定了不同容积负荷下H2S的处理率，当容积负荷为360g(H2S)／(m^3d)时，H2S气体的去除率可以稳定在97．4％以上．最后采用Michaelis-Menten关系式对H2S的去除速率进行了宏观动力学分析，计算得出半饱和因子Ks为242．75mg／m^3，最大表观去除率Vm为833．33g(H2S)／(m^3d)．图5表2参8     

固定化微生物技术在大气恶臭污染物处理中应用研究进展

恶臭污染物（Odor pollutants）是指一切刺激嗅觉器官引起人们不愉快感觉以及损害生活环境的恶臭气味物质的统称。文章首先简要地介绍了大气中恶臭污染物的来源、分类以及危害等,指出大气恶臭污染物的主要来源主要包括农牧业来源、工业生产过程来源和城市垃圾处理恶臭污染来源等;其次,文章对能够处理大气恶臭污染物的反应器类型及其应用现状进行了系统的总结,提出能够应用于大气恶臭污染物处理的固定化微生物技术主要包括生物过滤池、生物滴滤塔和生物膜反应器等;同时着重综述了处理大气中恶臭污染物的影响因素,如底物、微生物、填料、微生物固定化方法、pH值和温度等因素对大气中恶臭污染物净化效率的影响,并且对固定化微生物技术生物转化与生物降解恶臭污染物的微观机理进行了一定的归纳与总结;最后还对固定化微生物技术在处理恶臭污染物方面的应用和未来发展趋势进行了展望,指出如果要真正实现固定化微生物技术在大气恶臭污染物处理中的工业化应用,今后还需要加强以下几个方面的研究工作：优势微生物菌剂的培育、固定化载体的开发与改良、固定微生物反应器的构建与优化和固定化微生物技术与其它单元技术的联用等。     

垃圾堆肥对土壤微生物的影响

施垃圾堆肥并种２季蔬菜的潮土、黄棕壤及红壤中细菌、放线菌、真菌、固氮菌、纤维分解菌、亚硝化菌数量，纤维分解强度，呼吸强度和微生物生物量Ｃ、Ｎ含量的测定结果表明：当土壤本身含有的微生物数量多于或少于垃圾堆肥含有的微生物数量时，土壤中的微生物数量会随垃圾堆肥用量的增加而增加；当土壤本身含有的微生物数量与垃圾堆肥相同时，垃圾堆肥用量大小对土壤微生物数量影响不大。微生物生物量Ｃ、Ｎ含量，土壤有机质，全Ｎ，有效Ｐ含量，呼吸强度及纤维分解强度均随垃圾堆肥施用量提高而增加，并呈显著的正相关性。     

土壤甲胺磷抗性细菌种群特征脂肪酸生物标记的分析（Characteristics of PLFA Biomarkers for Acephatemet Resistant Bacteria Isolated from the Soils）

应用高浓度甲胺磷培养基,对农药厂排污口土壤微生物进行分离,鉴定出21株细菌,分属13个细菌属.对甲胺磷抗性细菌脂肪酸的分析,共测定到38个脂肪酸生物标记(PLFA),这些生物标记分为4种类型,即1)高频次分布的生物标记,普遍存在于细菌类群,属于细菌总体类群(Bacteriaingeneral)的生物标记;2)中频次分布的生物标记,在细菌种出现概率中等,可以用于代表细菌属类群(Bacteriumgenus)识别生物标记;3)低频次分布的生物标记,在细菌中的分布概率较小,可以用于指示特定细菌种间差异的生物标记;4)微频次分布的生物标记,这种生物标记仅在一种细菌种类出现,是细菌种特征生物标记.利用脂肪酸生物标记分析同属细菌不同种的差异,可将假单胞杆菌属分为2类,第1类包括了铜绿假单胞菌、荧光假单胞菌、丁香假单胞菌,其特征为17:0CYCLO生物标记含量小于3.60%;第2类包含了伞菌假单胞菌、威隆假单胞菌、恶臭假单胞菌、温哥华假单胞菌,其特征为17:0CYCLO生物标记含量大于5.99%.利用脂肪酸生物标记的差异对甲胺磷抗性细菌种的聚类分析,能有效地将细菌类群分为3类,微生物群落中存在着稳定的生物标记和受环境影响的生物标记,论文提供了一种脂肪酸生物标记的分析方法,结合细菌的生物学特性研究,可以解释微生物在环境中的变化,对于土壤微生物群落的研究具有重要意义.     

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     

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.     

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.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

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.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.     

Parasitic wasps orient to green leaf volatiles

Summary Undamaged plants emit low levels of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), while caterpillar-damaged and artificially damaged plants emit relatively higher levels of certain GLVs. Female braconid parasitoids,Microplitis croceipes, oriented to both damaged plants and to individual GLVs in no-choice tests in a wind tunnel, but seldom oriented to undamaged plants. Female ichneumonid parasitoids,Netelia heroica, also oriented to individual GLVs in a wind tunnel. Males of both wasp species failed to orient to the GLVs. These data show that leaf-feeding caterpillars can cause the release of GLVs, and that parasitic wasps can respond to these odors by flying upwind (chemoanemotactic response), which brings the wasps to their caterpillar hosts. This supports the hypothesis that plants communicate with members of the third trophic level,i.e., plants under herbivore attack emit chemical signals that guide natural enemies of herbivores to sites of plant damage. In this interaction, the GLVs serve as tritrophic plant-to-parasitoid synomones. That parasitoids from two different wasp families oriented to GLVs suggests that the response may be widespread among the Hymenoptera.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture     

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.