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.     

Progress and challenges in consolidating the management of Amazonian protected areas and indigenous territories

Effective management refers to the ability of a protected area or indigenous territory to meet its objectives, particularly as they relate to the protection of biodiversity and forest cover. Effective management is achieved through a process of consolidation, which among other things requires legally protecting sites, integrating sites into land‐use planning, developing and implementing management and resource‐use plans, and securing long‐term funding to pay for recurrent costs. Effectively managing all protected areas and indigenous territories in the Amazon may be needed to avoid a deforestation tipping point beyond which regional climatic feedbacks and global climate change interact to catalyze irreversible drying and savannization of large areas. At present, protected areas and indigenous territories cover 45.5% (3.55 million km²) of the Amazon, most of the 60–70% forest cover required to maintain hydrologic and climatic function. Three independent evaluations of a long‐term large‐scale philanthropic initiative in the Amazon yielded insights into the challenges and advances toward achieving effective management of protected areas and indigenous territories. Over the life of the initiative, management of sites has improved considerably, particularly with respect to management planning and capacity building, but few sites are effectively managed and many lack sufficient long‐term financing, adequate governance, support of nongovernmental organizations, and the means to withstand economic pressures. The time and money required to complete consolidation is still poorly understood, but it is clear that philanthropic funding is critical so long as essential funding needs are not met by governments and other sources, which could be on the order of decades. Despite challenges, it is encouraging that legal protection has expanded greatly and management of sites is improving steadily. Management of protected areas in other developing countries could be informed by improvements that have occurred in Amazonian countries.     

Mitochondrial toxicity and in vitro biological effects of ambient PM2.5 from an urban site in China

Abstract

The roles of PM_2.5-induced mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress on mast cell degranulation were examined in vitro. Mast cells were treated with suspensions of PM_2.5 in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium at concentrations from 25 to 200?mg/L in the absence or presence of 10?mmol/L N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Biological effects and mitochondrial function were assessed by determining cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release, interleukin-4 secretion, reactive oxygen species generation, adenosine triphosphate production, potential alteration of mitochondrial membrane, and activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I and III. Exposure of mast cells to PM_2.5 induced reduction of adenosine triphosphate production, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibition of the activity of complex III. Co-treatment of mast cells exposed to PM_2.5 with N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species, and decreased the release of β-hexosaminidase and interleukin-4. Evidently, PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress plays an essential role in mitochondrial toxicity and mast cell activation.     

K_2Cr_2O_7法和紫外分光光度法测定污水COD的对比研究

分别利用重铬酸钾法、重铬酸钾紫外分光光度法和紫外分光光度法测定污水的COD极差分别为2.43mg/L、1.19 mg/L和4.72 mg/L,RE%分别为0.84%、0.53%和1.36%,重铬酸钾紫外分光光度法和紫外分光光度法的线性范围分别在0~280 mg/L和0~400 mg/L.结果表明:重铬酸钾紫外分光光度法测定的准确度和精密度最高,简化了用标准溶液进行标定的步骤,缩短了实验时间;紫外分光光度法测定的结果准确度和精密度相对差一些,但是快速、操作简单、节省试剂,为广大环境工作者提供借鉴参考的实例。     

检测细胞DNA断裂损伤效应的彗星实验法的改良

为了解决彗星实验过程中常出现的脱胶、细胞核分离操作繁琐、重复性低等问题,对彗星实验方法进行了改良,初步建立了彗星实验的快速操作流程。结果显示,通过对载玻片进行预处理,可确保凝胶悬挂均匀;采用改良机械法分离的细胞核浓度适中;以0.5%(w/v)涂层琼脂糖作为基层、以1.5%(w/v)低熔点包埋琼脂糖作为叠加层的"双层凝胶法",辅以"推片法"铺胶,操作便捷且不发生脱胶现象;细胞核膜经裂解处理后再进行电泳和荧光观察,彗星图像清晰,杂质少。应用改良后的彗星实验方法,操作简便,耗时更短,实验效果良好,可快速检测出细胞DNA损伤效应。     

α7nAChR在氯化甲基汞神经毒性中的作用

为探讨环境染污染物氯化甲基汞(methylmercury chloride,Me Hg Cl)的神经毒性作用机制,采用MTT、免疫细胞荧光、dot Blot、qRT-PCR等实验技术检测Me Hg Cl对PC12细胞活性及其α7亚型烟碱型胆碱能受体(α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,α7n AChR)蛋白和mRNA表达水平的影响。结果显示Me Hg Cl抑制PC12细胞活性,显著降低α7n AChR的蛋白和mRNA的表达水平,呈浓度依赖性。上述结果表明,Me Hg Cl对神经细胞毒性作用可能与抑制α7n AChR表达有关。     

鄱阳湖悬浮颗粒物絮凝沉降典型藻类的动力学研究

为了探讨鄱阳湖水动力条件改变引起的悬浮颗粒物浓度变化可能导致的鄱阳湖浮游植物群落结构的变化,本文研究了鄱阳湖悬浮颗粒物絮凝沉降3种典型藻类的动力学过程.以铜绿微囊藻(蓝藻)、四尾栅藻(绿藻)和菱形藻(硅藻)为研究对象、鄱阳湖采集沉积物为悬浮颗粒物,使用混凝试验搅拌仪模拟动力学条件,在颗粒物投加量为20 mg·L-1时分别研究了静置沉降时间、扰动强度和扰动时间对颗粒物絮凝沉降藻细胞的影响.结果表明,絮凝沉降效率:蓝藻绿藻硅藻.在扰动强度为20 s-1、扰动时间为30 min时,0.5~4 h静置沉降时间均促进3种藻类的絮凝沉降.绿藻和硅藻的絮凝沉降效率随着静置沉降时间的延长而降低,前0.5 h的絮凝沉降效率最大;而蓝藻的絮凝沉降效率变化无明显规律.扰动时间和静置沉降时间均为30 min时,随着扰动强度在2~40 s-1增加时,3种藻的絮凝沉降效率逐渐增大.扰动强度为20 s-1、静置沉降时间为30 min时,5~60 min扰动时间均促进藻细胞的絮凝沉降,并且随着扰动时间的增加,絮凝沉降效率呈先增大后降低的趋势.30 min为蓝藻絮凝沉降的最佳扰动时间,絮凝沉降效率为12.56%;45 min为绿藻和硅藻絮凝沉降的最佳扰动时间,絮凝沉降效率分别为11.93%和7.54%.因此,水动力条件的改变可以引起悬浮颗粒物与藻类的絮凝沉降效率发生变化,从而对藻类的群落结构以及水华发生规律产生影响.     

3种增塑剂单独和联合暴露对MCF-7细胞增殖的影响

为了探究结构差异较大、应用较为广泛的几类增塑剂雌激素活性的联合效应,选择邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)、双酚A(BPA)和壬基酚(NP)作为邻苯二甲酸酯、双酚A类和烷基酚类增塑剂的代表物进行试验.用DBP、BPA和NP单独及两两混合处理MCF-7细胞.采用MTT法检测培养24h、48 h、72 h和96h时的细胞增殖情况.采用流式细胞术检测药物培养48h后的细胞生长周期分布,并计算细胞增殖指数(PI).运用效应叠加模型(ES)判定联合效应类型.结果表明,在单独暴露试验中,DBP、BPA和NP组PI均大于1,且均能提高S期(DNA合成期)细胞比例.因此,DBP、BPA和NP均能显著促进MCF-7细胞增殖.混合暴露试验中,1)DBP和BPA在MTT试验中24h、48h、72 h和96h时的效应叠加指数(ESI)分别为1.013 9、1.023 8、0.9999、1.010 8,在流式细胞仪试验中ESI为1.014 1.因此,DBP和BPA的雌激素活性联合效应为加和作用.2)DBP和NP在MTT试验中24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h时的ESI分别为1.004 0、1.008 6、1.011 5、1.010 3,流式细胞仪试验中ESI为0.997 0.因此,DBP和NP的雌激素活性联合效应为加和作用.3)BAP和NP在MTT试验中24h、48 h、72 h和96h时的ESI分别为0.980 6、0.981 8、0.977 7、0.973 3,流式细胞仪试验的ESI为0.912 8.由此可知,BPA和NP的雌激素活性联合效应为拮抗作用.因此,可以采用MCF-7细胞增殖试验研究环境污染物雌激素活性联合效应.     

Factors influencing property selection for conservation revolving funds

Finding sustainable ways to increase the amount of private land protected for biodiversity is challenging for many conservation organizations. In some countries, organizations use revolving‐fund programs, whereby land is purchased and then sold to conservation‐minded owners under condition they enter into a conservation covenant or easement. The sale proceeds are used to purchase, protect, and sell additional properties, incrementally increasing the amount of protected private land. Because the effectiveness of this approach relies on selecting appropriate properties, we explored factors currently considered by practitioners and how these are integrated into decision making. We conducted exploratory, semistructured interviews with managers from each of the 5 major revolving funds in Australia. Responses indicated although conservation factors are important, financial and social factors are also highly influential. A major determinant was whether the property could be resold within a reasonable period at a price that replenishes the fund. To facilitate resale, often selected properties include the potential for the construction of a dwelling. Practitioners face with clear trade‐offs between conservation, financial, amenity, and other factors in selecting properties and 3 main challenges: recovering the costs of acquisition, protection, and resale; reselling the property; and meeting conservation goals. Our findings suggest the complexity of these decisions may constrain revolving‐fund effectiveness. Drawing from participant responses, we identified potential strategies to mitigate these risks, such as providing adequate recreational space without jeopardizing ecological assets. We suggest managers could benefit from a shared‐learning and adaptive approach to property selection given the commonalities between programs. Understanding how practitioners deal with complex decisions in the implementation of revolving funds helps identify future research to improve the performance of this conservation tool.     

Conservation mycology in Australia and the potential role of citizen science

Fungi are undoubtedly important for ecosystem functioning; however, they have been omitted or given scant attention in most biodiversity policy documents, management plans, and formal conservation schedules throughout the world. This oversight may be due to a general lack of awareness in the scientific community and compounded by a scarcity of mycology‐associated curricula at the tertiary level and a lack of mycologists in research institutions. Although molecular techniques advance the systematic cataloging of fungi and facilitate insights into fungal communities, the scarcity of professional mycologists in the environmental sciences hampers conservation efforts. Conversely, citizen science initiatives are making significant contributions to the mycology discipline by increasing awareness and extending the scope of fungal surveys. Future research by professional and amateur mycologists into the distribution of fungi and their function in ecosystems will help identify wider and more effective conservation goals.