镉胁迫下外源壳聚糖对小麦幼苗生理特性、抗氧化能力及镉吸收的影响

为探究壳聚糖（CTS）缓解小麦幼苗镉（Cd）毒害的机制,通过水培试验,以百农207小麦为试验材料,研究外源壳聚糖对Cd胁迫下小麦幼苗的生理特性、抗氧化能力和Cd积累的影响,并利用偏最小二乘（PLS）回归模型定量分析幼苗各理化指标与镉积累量间的关系.结果表明,相较于CK,10 μmol·L^-1和25 μmol·L^-1 Cd胁迫显著抑制了小麦幼苗的叶绿素含量（叶绿素a、叶绿素b、类胡萝卜素和总叶绿素）、光合作用和生物量的积累,使得幼苗根系变短变粗且侧根减少,同时改变了超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）和过氧化物酶（POD）活性,增加了H₂ O₂ 和丙二醛（MDA）的积累.镉胁迫下,外源壳聚糖使小麦幼苗茎叶和根系镉含量分别降低13.22 %~21.63 %和7.92 %~28.32 %,镉积累量分别降低5.37 %~6.71 %和1.91 %~4.09 %.不同镉水平下,外源壳聚糖使小麦根系和茎叶中H₂ O₂ 含量显著降低了38.21 %~47.46 %和45.81 %~55.73 %,MDA 含量显著降低了37.65 %~48.12 %和29.87 %~32.51 %;根系中SOD和POD 含量分别提高2.78 %~5.61 %和13.81 %~18.33 %.外源壳聚糖可通过提高Cd胁迫下小麦幼苗的光合特征和抗氧化酶活性的方式,降低小麦地上部和根部的Cd含量与积累量,减轻细胞膜脂质的过氧化程度,进而缓解Cd胁迫对小麦幼苗生长的毒害作用.     

A mixed methodology for evaluating use of evidence in conservation planning

Conservation practitioners widely recognize the importance of making decisions based on the best available evidence. However, the effectiveness of evidence use in conservation planning is rarely assessed, which limits opportunities to improve evidence-based practice. We devised a mixed methodology for empirically evaluating use of evidence that applies social science tools to systematically appraise what kinds of evidence are used in conservation planning, to what effect, and under what limitations. We applied our approach in a case study of the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC), a leading land conservation organization. We conducted qualitative and quantitative analyses of 65 NCC planning documents (n = 13 in-depth) to identify patterns in evidence use, and surveyed 35 conservation planners to examine experiences of and barriers to using evidence. Although claims in plans contained a wide range of evidence types, 26% of claims were not referenced or associated with an identifiable source. Lack of evidence use was particularly apparent in claims associated with direct threats, particularly those identified as low (71% coded as insufficient or lacking evidence) or medium (45%) threats. Survey participants described relying heavily on practitioner experience and highlighted capacity limitations and disciplinary gaps in expertise among planning teams as barriers to using evidence effectively. We found that although time-intensive, this approach yielded actionable recommendations for improving evidence use in NCC conservation plans. Similar mixed-method assessments may streamline the process by including interviews and refining the document analysis frames to target issues or sections of concern. We suggest our method provides an accessible and robust point of departure for conservation practitioners to evaluate whether the use of conservation planning reflects in-house standards and more broadly recognized best practices.     

Ecological responses to variation in seasonal snow cover

Seasonal snow is among the most important factors governing the ecology of many terrestrial ecosystems, but rising global temperatures are changing snow regimes and driving widespread declines in the depth and duration of snow cover. Loss of the insulating snow layer will fundamentally change the environment. Understanding how individuals, populations, and communities respond to different snow conditions is thus essential for predicting and managing future ecosystem change. We synthesized 365 studies that examined ecological responses to variation in winter snow conditions. This research encompasses a broad range of methods (experimental manipulations, measurement of natural snow gradients, and long-term monitoring), locations (35 countries), study organisms (plants, mammals, arthropods, birds, fish, lichen, and fungi), and response measures. Earlier snowmelt was consistently associated with advanced spring phenology in plants, mammals, and arthropods. Reduced snow depth often increased mortality or physical injury in plants, although there were few clear effects on animals. Neither snow depth nor snowmelt timing had clear or consistent directional effects on body size of animals or biomass of plants. However, because 96% of studies were from the northern hemisphere, the generality of these trends across ecosystems and localities is also unclear. We identified substantial research gaps for several taxonomic groups and response types; research on wintertime responses was notably scarce. Future research should prioritize examination of the mechanisms underlying responses to changing snow conditions and the consequences of those responses for seasonally snow-covered ecosystems.     

The wild ancestors of domestic animals as a neglected and threatened component of biodiversity

Domestic animals have immense economic, cultural, and practical value and have played pivotal roles in the development of human civilization. Many domesticates have, among their wild relatives, undomesticated forms representative of their ancestors. Resurgent interest in these ancestral forms has highlighted the unclear genetic status of many, and some are threatened with extinction by hybridization with domestic conspecifics. We considered the contemporary status of these ancestral forms relative to their scientific, practical, and ecological importance; the varied impacts of wild–domestic hybridization; and the challenges and potential resolutions involved in conservation efforts. Identifying and conserving ancestral forms, particularly with respect to disentangling patterns of gene flow from domesticates, is complex because of the lack of available genomic and phenotypic baselines. Comparative behavioral, ecological, and genetic studies of ancestral-type, feral, and domestic animals should be prioritized to establish the contemporary status of the former. Such baseline information will be fundamental in ensuring successful conservation efforts.     

三峡库区典型消落带冬季多环芳烃大气-植物/土壤交换过程与通量

三峡大坝每年周期性“蓄水-放水”，形成水位落差巨大的消落带，库区内污染物环境地球化学行为随之发生变化.以冬季淹没期消落带多环芳烃为研究对象，采集成对大气（n=16）、植物（n=12）和土壤样品（n=12），采用气相色谱/质谱法（GC/MS），分析USEPA 16PAHs浓度水平，解析来源，估算大气-地表、大气-植物等多介质交换通量.结果表明：大气、土壤和植物中PAHs浓度为5.65~13.47ng/m³、70.86~135.44ng/g和78.23~1084.72ng/g，平均值分别为（8.58±2.78） ng/m³、（90.10±22.18） ng/g和（360.36±309.54） ng/g.大气中PAHs以2~3环为主（62.3%），植物中PAHs以3~4环为主（73.7%），土壤中PAHs以3环和5环为主（52.1%）.特征分子比值法揭示煤、生物质燃烧是植物PAHs的主要来源，以石油为主的化石燃料燃烧是大气和土壤PAHs主要来源.“一室模型”表明，植物吸收PAHs的主要途径为植物-气相之间动态平衡限制下的气沉降.“逸度模型”表明，3环和4环PAHs气-土交换通量分别为-19.20和-0.14，主要是从土壤向大气挥发，5~6环PAHs气-土交换通量为0.89，主要是由大气向土壤沉降.大气中颗粒态PAHs干沉降通量为293.35~833.61ng/m²·d，平均值为517.82ng/（m²·d），以5~6环（59.02%）为主.本研究探讨了冬季PAH多介质交换过程，揭示了植物和土壤对于不同单体的吸收和沉降角色，为进一步研究库区不同季节PAH环境地球化学循环提供基础数据.     

上海市浦东城区冬季颗粒物数浓度及其谱分布特征

采用APS-3321空气动力学粒径谱仪对上海市浦东城区2012年12月至2013年2月0.5~20μm大气颗粒物浓度及其谱分布进行了实时监测。结果发现,上海市浦东城区冬季大气颗粒物数浓度为360个/cm3,其中0.5~1.0μm颗粒物数为345个/cm3,占总颗粒物的95.7%;1.0~2.5μm颗粒物数为15个/cm3,占颗粒物总数的4.1%;2.5~20.0μm颗粒物数为0.6个/cm3,占颗粒物总数的0.2%。当空气质量为AQI≤50、50AQI≤100、100AQI≤200、AQI200时,颗粒物数浓度分别为77.5、243.2、522.6、868.5个/m3。随着空气污染的加重,小于PM2.5颗粒物数浓度增加显著且对总的颗粒物数浓度的贡献也有所增加,且AQI200时,PM2.5中1.0~2.5μm颗粒物数浓度贡献增幅最大;此外,不同空气质量条件下,颗粒物数浓度的日变化存在一定差异,这对于空气污染防治具有重要意义。     

Mitigation translocation as a management tool

Mitigation translocation is a subgroup of conservation translocation, categorized by a crisis-responsive time frame and the immediate goal of relocating individuals threatened with death. However, the relative successes of conservation translocations with longer time frames and broader metapopulation- and ecosystem-level considerations have been used to justify the continued implementation of mitigation translocations without adequate post hoc monitoring to confirm their effectiveness as a conservation tool. Mitigation translocations now outnumber other conservation translocations, and understanding the effectiveness of mitigation translocations is critical given limited global conservation funding especially if the mitigation translocations undermine biodiversity conservation by failing to save individuals. We assessed the effectiveness of mitigation translocations by conducting a quantitative review of the global literature. A total of 59 mitigation translocations were reviewed for their adherence to the adaptive scientific approach expected of other conservation translocations and for the testing of management options to continue improving techniques for the future. We found that mitigation translocations have not achieved their potential as an effective applied science. Most translocations focused predominantly on population establishment- and persistence-level questions, as is often seen in translocations more broadly, and less on metapopulation and ecosystem outcomes. Questions regarding the long-term impacts to the recipient ecosystem (12% of articles) and the carrying capacity of translocation sites (24% of articles) were addressed least often, despite these factors being more likely to influence ultimate success. Less than half (47%) of studies included comparison of different management techniques to facilitate practitioners selecting the most effective management actions for the future. To align mitigation translocations with the relative success of other conservation translocations, it is critical that future mitigation translocations conform to an established experimental approach to improve their effectiveness. Effective mitigation translocations will require significantly greater investment of time, expertise, and resources in the future.     

Socioeconomic development and ecological traits as predictors of human–bird conflicts

Because of the significant impacts on both human interests and bird conservation, it is imperative to identify patterns and anticipate drivers of human–bird conflicts (HBCs) worldwide. Through a global systematic review, following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we analyzed the socioeconomic factors and bird ecological traits driving the degree of knowledge and extent of HBCs. We included 166 articles published from 1971 to 2020 in our analyses through which we built a profile of the socioeconomic conditions of 52 countries with reported conflicts and the ecological traits of the 161 bird species involved in HBCs. Although HBC expanded worldwide, it had the greatest impact in less-developed countries (estimate 0. 66 [SE 0.13], p< 0.05), where agriculture is critical for rural livelihoods. Species with a relatively greater conflict extent had a relatively broader diet (estimate 0.80 [SE 0.22], p<0.05) and an increasing population trend (estimate 0.58 [SE 0.15], p<0.05) and affected human interests, such as agriculture and livestock raising. In countries with greater biodiversity, HBCs caused greater socioeconomic impacts than in more developed countries. Our results highlight the importance of understanding and addressing HBCs from multiple perspectives (ecological, sociocultural, and political) to effectively protect both biodiversity and local livelihoods.     

Rainfall conditions and rainwater harvesting potential in the urban area of Khartoum

Runoff water management is among the inherent challenges which face the sustainability of the development of arid urban centers. These areas are particularly at risk from flooding due to rainfall concentration in few heavy showers. On the other hand, they are susceptible to drought. The capital of Sudan (Khartoum) stands as exemplary for these issues. Hence, this research study aims at investigating the potential of applying rainwater harvesting (RWH) in Khartoum City Center as a potential urban runoff management tool. Rapid urbanization coupled with the extension of impervious surfaces has intensified the heat island in Khartoum. Consequently, increased frequency of heat waves and dust storms during the dry summer and streets flooding during the rainy season have led to environmental, economical, and health problems. The study starts with exposing the rainfall behavior in Khartoum by investigating rainfall variability, number of raindays, distribution of rain over the season, probability of daily rainfall, maximum daily rainfall and deficit/surplus of rain through time. The daily rainfall data show that very strong falls of >30 mm occur almost once every wet season. Decreased intra- and inter-annual rainfall surpluses as well as increased rainfall concentration in the month of August have been taking place. The 30-year rainfall variability is calculated at decade interval since 1941. Increasing variability is revealed with 1981–2010 having coefficients of variation of 66.6% for the annual values and 108.8–118.0% for the wettest months (July–September). Under the aforementioned rainfall conditions, this paper then explores the potential of RWH in Khartoum City Center as an option for storm water management since the drainage system covers only 40% of the study area. The potential runoff from the 6.5 km² center area is computed using the United States Natural Resources Conservation Services method (US-NRCS), where a weighted Curve Number (CN) of 94% is found, confirming dominant imperviousness. Rainfall threshold for runoff generation is found to be 3.3 mm. A 24,000 m³ runoff generated from a 13.1 mm rainfall (with 80% probability and one year return period) equals the drainage system capacity. An extreme rainfall of 30 mm produces a runoff equivalent to fourfold the drainage capacity. It is suggested that the former and latter volumes mentioned above could be harvested by applying the rational method from 18% and 80% rooftops of the commercial and business district area, respectively. Based on the above results, six potential sites can be chosen for RWH with a total roof catchment area of 39,558 m² and potential rooftop RWH per unit area of 0.033 m³. These results reflect the RWH potential for effective urban runoff management and better water resources utilization. RWH would provide an alternative source of water to tackle the drought phenomenon.