Understanding implications of consumer behavior for wildlife farming and sustainable wildlife trade

Unsustainable wildlife trade affects biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent upon those resources. Wildlife farming has been proposed to promote sustainable trade, but characterizing markets and understanding consumer behavior remain neglected but essential steps in the design and evaluation of such operations. We used sea turtle trade in the Cayman Islands, where turtles have been farm raised for human consumption for almost 50 years, as a case study to explore consumer preferences toward wild‐sourced (illegal) and farmed (legal) products and potential conservation implications. Combining methods innovatively (including indirect questioning and choice experiments), we conducted a nationwide trade assessment through in‐person interviews from September to December 2014. Households were randomly selected using disproportionate stratified sampling, and responses were weighted based on district population size. We approached 597 individuals, of which 37 (6.2%) refused to participate. Although 30% of households had consumed turtle in the previous 12 months, the purchase and consumption of wild products was rare (e.g., 64–742 resident households consumed wild turtle meat [i.e., 0.3–3.5% of households] but represented a large threat to wild turtles in the area due to their reduced populations). Differences among groups of consumers were marked, as identified through choice experiments, and price and source of product played important roles in their decisions. Despite the long‐term practice of farming turtles, 13.5% of consumers showed a strong preference for wild products, which demonstrates the limitations of wildlife farming as a single tool for sustainable wildlife trade. By using a combination of indirect questioning, choice experiments, and sales data to investigate demand for wildlife products, we obtained insights about consumer behavior that can be used to develop conservation‐demand‐focused initiatives. Lack of data from long‐term social–ecological assessments hinders the evaluation of and learning from wildlife farming. This information is key to understanding under which conditions different interventions (e.g., bans, wildlife farming, social marketing) are likely to succeed.     

苏丹红I对小鼠卵巢的损伤作用及对Caspase-3和Ki-67表达的影响

苏丹红是一种人工合成偶氮染料,可引起肝脏及泌尿系统等多个脏器的肿瘤,但苏丹红对生殖系统的毒性研究较少。本研究以昆明小鼠为受试对象,探讨苏丹红I对小鼠卵巢组织Caspase-3和Ki-67表达的影响。将24只昆明小鼠随机分为:对照组、低剂量(60 mg·kg~(-1))、中剂量(120 mg·kg~(-1))、高剂量(240 mg·kg~(-1))4组,6只/组。胃灌4周,4周末处死。HE染色观察各组卵巢组织病理变化,免疫组化法检测卵巢组织Caspase-3和Ki-67表达,Real time PCR检测卵巢组织Caspase-3和Ki-67 m RNA表达,Western blotting检测卵巢组织中Ki-67及Caspase-3蛋白表达。与对照组比较,实验组卵巢中Caspase-3阳性细胞率显著升高(P0.05),而Ki-67阳性细胞率显著降低(P0.05),Real time PCR及Western blotting结果与免疫组化法结果一致。本实验发现苏丹红染毒后颗粒细胞的Caspase-3表达增加,且Caspase-3表达呈剂量依赖性,但Ki-67表达受到抑制。     

3种氨基糖苷类抗生素对水生生物的时间依赖联合毒性作用比较

以3种氨基糖苷类(AG)抗生素:硫酸安普霉素(APR)、双氢链霉素(DIH)和硫酸链霉素(STS)为研究对象,以生态系统中2类重要的水生生物分解者如青海弧菌(Vibrio qinghaiensis sp.-Q67,Q67)和生产者蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa,CP)为受试生物,运用均匀设计射线法设计抗生素三元混合物体系,共5条具有不同浓度配比的射线,应用已建立的分别基于Q67和CP的时间毒性微板分析法系统测试抗生素及其三元混合物射线对Q67和CP在不同暴露时间的毒性。对于Q67和CP,暴露时间分别为0.25、2、4、8、12 h和12、24、48、72、96 h。应用浓度加和(CA)模型分析混合物在不同暴露时间的毒性相互作用。结果表明:APR、DIH和STS及其5条混合物射线对2种指示生物的毒性均具有明显的时间依赖性,且Q67对AG抗生素及其混合物射线的响应比CP的灵敏;以半数效应浓度的负对数p EC50值为毒性大小指标,3种抗生素对2种指示生物的毒性大小顺序随暴露时间的变化而变化,3种AG抗生素对Q67和CP分别在12 h和96 h的毒性大小顺序均为STSDIHAPR;5条具有不同浓度配比的混合物射线对Q67在不同暴露时间的毒性均呈加和作用,但对CP的毒性既有加和作用也有拮抗作用,且拮抗作用随暴露时间和组分浓度配比的变化而变化,表明AG抗生素毒性的联合毒性作用与暴露生物、暴露时间以及混合物组分的浓度配比等有关。     

低浓度下4个取代苯污染物与硝酸铅的混合对发光菌的联合毒性

多种污染物混合特别是低浓度下的混合对生物的联合毒性是生态毒理学研究的热点之一。选择了3类污染物苯酚、间甲基苯酚、苯胺、对硝基苯胺、硝酸铅,采用美国微板光度计测定了它们对发光菌青海弧菌-Q67(Vibrio-qinghaiensis sp.-Q67)的单一及联合毒性。应用非线性拟合技术模拟了这5种物质及其混合物的剂量-效应曲线,硝酸铅可用Logit模型模拟,其它4个物质能用Weibull模型准确描述,所有拟合相关系数在0.98以上,均方根误差在0.02以下。根据纯物质的EC50值,获得这5个物质的毒性强弱顺序:硝酸铅〉对硝基苯胺间甲基苯酚苯酚苯胺。混合实验设计了各物质在EC50、EC1、无观察效应浓度(no observed effect concentration,NOEC)比例的混合。用浓度加和(dose addition,DA)和独立作用模型(independent action,IA)对混合物毒性进行预测。IA基本准确预测了这5个物质在各自EC50混合的毒性。DA与IA模型都稍微过高地预测了以EC1及NOEC浓度比例混合的联合毒性,但都在毒理学实验容许的范围之内。这5个物质以NOEC混合时对测试生物Q67没有产生明显毒性,但是还不能判定这些物质在此浓度下混合是安全的。污染物在各自的NOEC浓度下混合是否对其它生物有潜在的威胁还需更多毒理学实验支持。     

Carbon isotope ratios in logged and unlogged boreal forests: Examination of the potential for determining wildlife habitat use

Due to assimilation of recycled CO₂ from litter decomposition and photosynthetic changes in carbon fractionation at low light levels, the foliage at the base of a forest is often more depleted in¹³C compared to that exposed to the atmosphere in either the canopy or in open clearings. This is referred to as the canopy effect. African research has indicated that these habitat differences in foliar ¹³C can be substantial enough to affect the carbon isotope ratios of resident fauna. Previous work documenting a 30-year chronology on moose teeth from Isle Royale National Park indicated a progressive depletion in¹³C and suggested that this could be due to forest regrowth following extensive burning. The present study examined the assumption implicit in this hypothesis that foliar ¹³C varies between open and closed boreal forest sites. I found a marginal canopy effect of 2 ¹³C difference between upper canopy and ground flora for a forest in northwestern Ontario and an average difference of 1.2 in under- and mid-story vegetation between closed forests and open clear-cuts. Because of these small differences, the utility of carbon isotope analysis in quantifying temporally integrated exploitation of deforested habitats will be low for northern boreal locations. In denser forests, such as those in the tropics or western North American where the canopy effect can be expected to be much greater, ¹³C analysis may still offer some promise for determining selection by wildlife of disturbed habitats.     

拓展等效线图法评估离子液体与杀菌剂多果定之间的拮抗作用

等效线图法(isobologram)是评估化学混合物毒性相互作用的经典方法之一,然而该方法仅能评估混合物在某一特殊浓度效应水平(通常为50%的浓度效应水平,即EC50)的联合毒性作用情况。因此,拓展等效线图法并用于不同效应水平下混合物毒性的评估显得尤为必要。以杀菌剂多果定(Dod)和3种离子液体(ILs)包括溴化丁基吡啶([bpy]Br)、溴化己基吡啶([hpy]Br)和溴化辛基吡啶([opy]Br)为混合物组分,采用直线均分射线法设计3组二元混合物体系(Dod-[bpy]Br、Dod-[hpy]Br和Dod-[opy]Br)共15条射线,应用微板毒性分析法系统测定各污染物及其混合物射线对青海弧菌Q67(Vibro qinghaisiense sp. Q67,Q67)的毒性,应用拓展等效线图法分析15条混合物射线在5个不同效应水平(EC20、EC30、EC40、EC50和EC60)的毒性相互作用,并与经典等效线图法和浓度加和模型(CA)评估的结果进行比较。结果表明:以p EC50为毒性指标,3种吡啶ILs对Q67的毒性具有烷基链效应,即毒性大小顺序为Dod-[opy]BrDod-[hpy]BrDod-[bpy]Br; 3组二元混合物体系的15条射线的毒性,随农药Dod浓度比的减少而减弱;拓展等效线图法可以比较直观地表征3组Dod-ILs混合物体系在5个不同效应水平的拮抗作用,且拮抗作用强度随Dod浓度比的增加而变化,即先增强后减弱;拓展等效线图法可以有效地评估二元混合物在多个效应水平的联合毒性相互作用。     

Considering connections between Hollywood and biodiversity conservation

Cinema offers a substantial opportunity to share messages with a wide audience. However, there is little research or evidence about the potential benefits and risks of cinema for conservation. Given their global reach, cinematic representations could be important in raising awareness of conservation issues and species of concern, as well as encouraging greater audience engagement due to their heightened emotional impact on viewers. Yet there are also risks associated with increased exposure, including heightened visitor pressure to environmentally sensitive areas or changes to consumer demand for endangered species. Conservationists can better understand and engage with the film industry by studying the impact of movies on audience awareness and behavior, identifying measurable impacts on conservation outcomes, and engaging directly with the movie industry, for example, in an advisory capacity. This improved understanding and engagement can harness the industry's potential to enhance the positive impacts of movies featuring species, sites, and issues of conservation concern and to mitigate any negative effects. A robust evidence base for evaluating and planning these engagements, and for informing related policy and management decisions, needs to be built.     

氯酚类化合物对淡水发光菌Q67的联合毒性

以淡水发光菌Q67--青海弧菌Q67(Vibrio qingthaiensis sp.-Q67)为生物材料,分别研究了2-氯酚,2,4-二氯酚和2,3,4-三氯酚及其等剂量、等毒性单位配比混合物的发光抑制毒性,并采用相加指数法和相似性参数法评价了混合物的联合毒性效应.结果表明:3种氯酚对Q67菌的EC50值分别为99.57,25.19和3.42 mg/L,说明氯酚类化合物对发光菌的急性毒性随着氯原子数目的增加而增大,氯酚的二元和三元混合物的毒性作用明显高于化合物的单一毒性.2种评价指数均采用评价标准的95%置信区间,避免了由实验误差引起的不准确性.氯酚混合物对Q67菌的联合毒性效应主要表现为简单的相加作用,只有2-氯酚与2,3,4-三氯酚的组合为弱的协同作用.氯酚的等剂量和等毒性配比混合物毒性作用的评价结果相一致.     

苏丹红Ⅰ对小鼠卵巢的损伤作用及对Caspase-3和Ki-67表达的影响

苏丹红是一种人工合成偶氮染料,可引起肝脏及泌尿系统等多个脏器的肿瘤,但苏丹红对生殖系统的毒性研究较少.本研究以昆明小鼠为受试对象,探讨苏丹红Ⅰ对小鼠卵巢组织Caspase-3和Ki-67表达的影响.将24只昆明小鼠随机分为:对照组、低剂量(60 mg· kg-1)、中剂量(120 mg·kg-1)、高剂量(240 mg· kg-1)4组,6只/组.胃灌4周,4周末处死.HE染色观察各组卵巢组织病理变化,免疫组化法检测卵巢组织Caspase-3和Ki-67表达,Real time PCR检测卵巢组织Caspase-3和Ki-67 mRNA表达,Western blotting检测卵巢组织中Ki-67及Caspase-3蛋白表达.与对照组比较,实验组卵巢中Caspase-3阳性细胞率显著升高(Jp＜O.05),而Ki-67阳性细胞率显著降低(P＜0.05),Real time PCR及Western blotting结果与免疫组化法结果一致.本实验发现苏丹红染毒后颗粒细胞的Caspase-3表达增加,且Caspase-3表达呈剂量依赖性,但Ki-67表达受到抑制.     

滏阳河河流水体中重金属污染特征及其对青海弧菌和斜生栅藻的毒性效应

为调查滏阳河水系的重金属污染状况，研究河流重金属污染对水生生物的毒性，根据河流结构、水文条件、排污口分布并考虑空间分布的均匀性，选取66个采样位点，采集河水及对应的表层沉积物样品，分析了样品中的重金属含量。用斜生栅藻和青海弧菌Q67作为模式生物，根据滏阳河水重金属污染较严重的邯郸近郊2号采样点采集水样的重金属含量配制系列重金属浓度的模拟河水进行重金属污染河水的生态毒性测试。结果表明，在全部66个采样点中，29个采样点河水重金属含量超过国家地表水III类水体重金属含量标准，主要污染元素是Hg、Pb、Cr、Zn。几乎所有采样点河水Mn和Fe含量都大大高于国家集中式生活饮用水地表水源地补充项目规定的标准限值。根据2号采样点河水样品中的重金属含量配成的模拟河水对青海弧菌Q67的EC₅₀值为6.65%，为毒性极强的污染物。模拟河水样品对斜生栅藻的抑制作用较小，在实验的最高浓度下(1000倍河水重金属含量)暴露4 d尚未引起半数藻细胞死亡。随河水重金属浓度上升，斜生栅藻超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性总体上呈现先升高后降低的趋势，丙二醛(MDA)含量变化则与此相反，反映河水重金属污染可引起藻细胞的氧化损伤。叶绿素a和b含量则随暴露浓度的提高逐渐降低。在重金属浓度达到2号采样点河水的10%时，斜生栅藻叶绿素a含量已有显著降低，MDA含量显著升高，海河流域重金属污染对生态系统的影响应予以重视。河水发光菌Q67的生长抑制率、斜生栅藻的叶绿素a和MDA含量可以作为评估河流重金属污染生态危害的指标。