4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂不同剂型对斑马鱼急性毒性效应

采用半静态法测定了4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂原药及制剂对斑马鱼(Brachydonio rerio)急性毒性。结果表明,以实测浓度计,250 g·L~(-1)嘧菌酯悬浮剂对斑马鱼的96 h半数致死浓度(LC50)值为0.539 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性为高毒,95%嘧菌酯原药和50%嘧菌酯水分散粒剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为1.09和1.21 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为中毒;98%啶氧菌酯原药和22.5%的啶氧菌酯悬浮剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为0.0974和0.0972 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为剧毒;95%吡唑醚菌酯原药、15%吡唑醚菌酯悬浮剂和250 g·L~(-1)吡唑醚菌酯乳油对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值为0.0613、0.0549和0.0487 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为剧毒;95%醚菌酯原药和50%醚菌酯水分散粒剂对斑马鱼的LC50(96 h)值分别为0.468和0.702 mg·L~(-1),急性毒性均为高毒。这4种甲氧基丙烯酸酯类杀菌剂对斑马鱼均有较高风险,会对其他水生生物也存在潜在的风险。     

新型杀菌剂氟吡菌胺对9种环境生物的急性毒性及其在斑马鱼体内的生物富集

为评价新型杀菌剂氟吡菌胺对环境生物的毒性风险,避免其在使用过程中对我国特有的环境生物产生危害,测定了氟吡菌胺对意大利蜜蜂、日本鹌鹑、斑马鱼、家蚕、斜生栅藻、大型溞、玉米螟赤眼蜂、赤子爱胜蚓和黑斑蛙蝌蚪等9种代表性环境生物的急性毒性,并以斑马鱼为试材,研究了氟吡菌胺的生物富集性,即根据鱼类急性毒性结果 LC50(96 h)=1.489 mg·L~(-1),设计生物富集试验水样浓度为LC50的1/2、1/10和1/100,即0.745 mg·L~(-1)、0.149 mg·L~(-1)和0.0149 mg·L~(-1),连续暴露8 d,采用液相色谱法测定3个浓度下氟吡菌胺在斑马鱼体内的富集量。结果表明,氟吡菌胺对斑马鱼、斜生栅藻和大型溞3种水生生物的急性毒性为中毒级,对黑斑蛙蝌蚪急性毒性为高毒级,其对蜜蜂、鸟类、家蚕、蚯蚓和天敌赤眼蜂等环境生物均为低毒或低风险;斑马鱼在0.745、0.149和0.0149 mg·L~(-1)的氟吡菌胺水溶液中暴露192 h时,生物富集系数BCF分别为33.65、26.39和193.25;根据化学农药环境安全评价试验准则评价标准,10BCF≤1000,氟吡菌胺属于中等富集性农药。     

纳米银和银离子对斑马鱼胚胎早期生长发育的影响及作用机制

为探究纳米银对水生生物的毒性作用,选取斑马鱼胚胎为受试生物,考察了纳米银对斑马鱼胚胎早期生长发育的影响,同时比较了纳米银与银离子对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性作用和机理。实验将受精后4小时(4 hpf)的斑马鱼胚胎分别暴露于不同浓度的纳米银和银离子溶液中至96 hpf,观察并记录了胚胎的死亡、孵化和畸形等指标。应用吖啶橙(AO)染色实验研究了胚胎暴露之后的细胞凋亡情况,并且应用荧光定量PCR技术分析了相关基因的表达水平。研究结果表明,随着暴露浓度的增加,纳米银和银离子均能导致斑马鱼胚胎的死亡率增加和孵化率降低,并且引起孵化延迟。纳米银和银离子的96 h半数致死浓度(96 h-LC50)分别为11.75 mg·L-1和0.054 mg·L-1。银离子毒性远大于纳米银毒性。暴露的斑马鱼胚胎均表现出体长变短和卵黄囊肿大的畸形。AO染色结果表明,纳米银和银离子处理组胚胎的躯干和卵黄囊部位存在细胞凋亡信号。基因表达分析结果显示,1.93 mg·L-1纳米银显著提高了斑马鱼胚胎caspase9的表达(P0.05),而0.006 mg·L-1的银离子就能显著上调COX-2a(P0.01)和COX-17(P0.05)基因的表达,同时0.036 mg·L-1银离子增加了斑马鱼体内p53基因的表达(P0.05)。以上研究结果说明,纳米银可能通过caspase通路诱导细胞凋亡进而影响斑马鱼胚胎的生长发育;而银离子不但影响氧化系统基因通路,还能通过p53诱导凋亡进而阻滞斑马鱼胚胎的生长发育。     

3种酰胺类除草剂对斑马鱼不同生长阶段的急性毒性效应

为探明酰胺类除草剂对鱼类不同生长阶段的毒性效应,分别以斑马鱼胚胎、8日龄仔鱼、55日龄幼鱼和3月龄成鱼为受试对象,研究3种酰胺类除草剂乙草胺、丙草胺和丁草胺对斑马鱼(Danio rerio)不同生长阶段的毒性效应。研究发现,高浓度乙草胺、丙草胺和丁草胺均可抑制斑马鱼胚胎的孵化。乙草胺对斑马鱼胚胎、仔鱼、幼鱼和成鱼的96 h-LC50值分别为5.82、1.34、3.00、1.44 mg·L-1,毒性从高到低顺序依次为:仔鱼成鱼幼鱼胚胎。丙草胺对斑马鱼胚胎、仔鱼、幼鱼和成鱼的96 hLC50值分别为2.79、2.02、2.26、2.01 mg·L-1,毒性从高到低顺序依次为:仔鱼、成鱼幼鱼胚胎。丁草胺对斑马鱼胚胎、仔鱼、幼鱼和成鱼的96 h-LC50值分别为1.73、0.919、3.37、1.19 mg·L-1,毒性从高到低顺序依次为:仔鱼成鱼胚胎幼鱼。研究结果表明,酰胺类除草剂对斑马鱼4个典型生长阶段的毒性差异较大,仔鱼阶段对酰胺类除草剂最敏感,成鱼其次。     

水体酸化条件下Cu(II)对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性效应

为评价由酸雨、酸性矿山排水等环境污染导致的水体酸化及水体重金属联合作用对水生生物的生态毒性效应,研究了不同pH值(pH=3、4、5、6、7和7.8)条件下Cu2+对斑马鱼胚胎发育的影响。结果表明,酸性水体及Cu2+单一存在时,酸对斑马鱼胚胎24h半数效应浓度值EC50为pH=3.65,Cu2+(pH=7.8)对斑马鱼胚胎24h-EC50为0.267mg·L-1;当水体酸化及水体中的Cu2+共存时,较低的pH对Cu2+的生物毒性起协同作用,表现为随溶液pH的降低,各浓度Cu2+对斑马鱼胚胎的24h凝结率显著增高(P24h致死率=0.001),而斑马鱼胚胎96h孵化率显著降低(P96h孵化率=0.002),且不同浓度的Cu2+之间的生物毒性效应存在显著性差异(P24h致死率=0.0321;P96h孵化率=0.0028)。这说明酸性水体和Cu2+都显著影响斑马鱼胚胎的发育,且Cu2+在酸性水体中对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性显著增强。因此,在受重金属Cu2+污染的地区,如同时受到酸雨或酸性矿山排水等较低pH值和Cu2+的双重胁迫,较低浓度的Cu2+就能够对水生生物的生殖发育及水生生态系统产生严重的影响和危害。     

啶酰菌胺在斑马鱼体内的富集特性及其对SDH和复合物Ⅱ活性的抑制

为进一步探索啶酰菌胺对水生生物的毒性,选择斑马鱼为供试生物,采用半静态法,研究了啶酰菌胺在斑马鱼体内的富集与消除规律及对其肝脏和鳃的毒性作用。结果表明,斑马鱼暴露于0.08、0.32 mg·L~(-1)中,14 d后均达到富集平衡,28 d生物富集系数(BCF_(28 d))分别为35.50和36.72。在0.16、0.32 mg·L~(-1)浓度下,斑马鱼的比肝重(HSI)和比鳃重(BSI)均明显高于对照组,而肝脏和鳃中琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)和线粒体呼吸链复合物II活性均明显低于对照组,浓度低于0.08 mg·L~(-1)时,对斑马鱼无明显影响。由此可知,啶酰菌胺对斑马鱼为中等富集性,并对其肝脏和鳃有一定毒性作用。     

新型阻燃剂TCPP对斑马鱼的毒性研究

为了明确新型阻燃剂磷酸三(2-氯丙基)酯(TCPP)的生态风险,本研究采用斑马鱼为模式生物,评价了TCPP对成鱼和胚胎的毒性效应。急性毒性研究结果表明,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼的96 h致死中浓度(LC50)为47.06 mg·L~(-1),而对胚胎96 h-LC50为26.01 mg·L~(-1),且会影响胚胎的正常发育,导致孵化出的仔鱼产生畸形。成鱼14 d延长毒性试验结果表明,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼的无可观察效应浓度(NOEC)为1.00 mg·L~(-1),染毒暴露后肝脏和性腺指数随TCPP浓度增加轻微下降,但肝脏中卵黄蛋白原(VTG)的含量和性腺中芳香化酶的活性随TCPP浓度增加普遍升高。此外,TCPP的暴露还会导致斑马鱼脑垂体中合成促性腺激素的相关基因表达量增加。因此,TCPP对斑马鱼成鱼和胚胎的急性毒性均为低毒级,但长期暴露会干扰内分泌系统的调控功能,影响斑马鱼的正常发育。     

12种杀菌剂制剂对半闭弯尾姬蜂的急性毒性及安全性评价

采用试管药膜法测定了12种杀菌剂制剂对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂的急性接触毒性,结合安全性系数评价了供试药剂对半闭弯尾姬蜂的安全性。急性毒性测定结果表明,氟硅唑和啶菌噁唑对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂的接触毒性最高,LC50值分别为220.022和223.115 mg·L-1;其次为多抗霉素、丙森锌和戊唑醇,LC50值分别为436.496、472.358和638.638 mg·L-1;其余7种杀菌剂制剂嘧霉胺、啶酰菌胺、苯醚甲环唑、多菌灵、嘧菌酯、嘧菌环胺和异菌脲对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂的触杀毒性都较低,LC50值均大于1 000 mg·L-1。安全性评价结果表明,丙森锌和啶菌噁唑对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂具有高风险性,安全系数分别为0.16和0.42;嘧霉胺、多抗霉素、氟硅唑和戊唑醇为中等风险性,安全系数分别为1.43、1.56、2.20和3.23;其余6种杀菌剂制剂啶酰菌胺、苯醚甲环唑、多菌灵、嘧菌酯、嘧菌环胺和异菌脲对半闭弯尾姬蜂表现为低风险性,安全系数均大于5。结果显示:甾醇脱甲基抑制剂氟硅唑、戊唑醇和啶菌噁唑以及苯胺基嘧啶类杀菌剂嘧霉胺、有机硫杀菌剂丙森锌和抗菌素多抗霉素对半闭弯尾姬蜂成蜂具有急性毒性风险,在有害生物综合治理中应谨慎使用,特别是啶菌噁唑和丙森锌,以免对半闭弯尾姬蜂造成不良影响和危害。     

咪鲜胺和多菌灵对斑马鱼联合毒性效应

水生生物经常暴露于多种化合物中,多种农药联合会产生不同的毒性作用。在目前农药管理中,仅要求开展单剂的毒性评价,没有考虑到多种混合物对水生生物的联合毒性。咪鲜胺和多菌灵是农业生产中常混用的2种农药,为评价其联合毒性,以斑马鱼为受试生物,采用静态法和实时荧光定量PCR方法,测定了其单剂及混剂对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性和对斑马鱼幼鱼甲状腺轴关键基因的影响。急性毒性试验结果显示:咪鲜胺和多菌灵对斑马鱼胚胎96 h-LC50值分别为8.41 mg·L~(-1)和0.81 mg·L~(-1),表现为中毒和高毒。二元组合时,在24～96 h暴露时间内,对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性均表现为拮抗效应。基因表达结果显示:咪鲜胺抑制斑马鱼幼鱼促甲状腺激素释放激素(CRH)、促甲状腺激素(TSH)、甲状腺激素受体(TRα)、脱碘酶(D1、D2)基因的表达,对甲状腺激素转运蛋白(TTR)基因的表达没有显著影响;多菌灵抑制CRH、TSH、D1和D2基因的表达;暴露于二元组合时,低、中剂量组抑制CRH、TSH、D1和D2基因表达;二元组合与单剂相比,高剂量组促进TSH、D1和D2基因的表达,中剂量组促进TRα基因的表达。综上所述,咪鲜胺和多菌灵联合暴露能够干扰斑马鱼幼鱼早期发育,且与单剂相比,对斑马鱼甲状腺轴上基因干扰效应存在差异。因此,在农药风险评估中,应充分考虑农药联合暴露的效应。     

甲基异噻唑啉酮对斑马鱼胚胎的急性毒性和机制研究

甲基异噻唑啉酮(methylisothiazolinone,MIT)作为防腐剂,广泛用于个人护理品、日用品和涂料中。MIT随着污水进入地表水循环,普遍存在于水体中,但目前关于MIT对水生生物毒性的研究还比较少。本文以模式生物斑马鱼的胚胎作为受试对象,评价MIT对斑马鱼胚胎的毒性。将受精后3 h的健康斑马鱼胚胎暴露于梯度浓度的MIT下,观察其对胚胎生长发育的影响,用吖啶橙(AO)染色检测细胞凋亡情况。结果发现,48 h暴露浓度大于1.0 mg·L-1的胚胎孵化被显著抑制,72 h浓度大于1.52 mg·L-1的幼鱼心率显著降低,统计96 h幼鱼死亡和畸形数,并重复验证和计算得到96 h半致死浓度(96 h 50%lethal concentration,96 h-LC50)为6.15 mg·L-1,96 h半致畸浓度(96 h 50%teratogenesis concentration,96 h-TC50)为3.89 mg·L-1,测量96 h胚胎体长,分析最小生长抑制浓度(minimum concentration to inhibit growth,MCIG)为2.31 mg·L-1,AO染色显示72 h胚胎的凋亡细胞主要集中在脑部和尾部。不同时期下镜检观察到,胚胎出现的畸形主要包括尾部发育不良,脊柱弯曲,卵黄囊水肿和心包水肿。此外,高浓度处理组24 h胚胎自主抽动次数增加,72 h和96 h活动能力减弱,触碰反应迟钝。因此,推断MIT对斑马鱼胚胎的发育有较大影响,同时有一定的神经毒性。根据《危险化学品鱼类急性毒性分级试验方法》,判定MIT对斑马鱼胚胎为高毒,该毒性实验结果可为MIT在工业生产和环境中的风险管理提供依据。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Threats to intact tropical peatlands and opportunities for their conservation

Large, intact areas of tropical peatland are highly threatened at a global scale by the expansion of commercial agriculture and other forms of economic development. Conserving peatlands on a landscape scale, with their hydrology intact, is of international conservation importance to preserve their distinctive biodiversity and ecosystem services and maintain their resilience to future environmental change. We explored threats to and opportunities for conserving remaining intact tropical peatlands; thus, we excluded peatlands of Indonesia and Malaysia, where extensive deforestation, drainage, and conversion to plantations means conservation in this region can protect only small fragments of the original ecosystem. We focused on a case study, the Pastaza‐Marañón Foreland Basin (PMFB) in Peru, which is among the largest known intact tropical peatland landscapes in the world and is representative of peatland vulnerability. Maintenance of the hydrological conditions critical for carbon storage and ecosystem function of peatlands is, in the PMFB, primarily threatened by expansion of commercial agriculture linked to new transport infrastructure that is facilitating access to remote areas. There remain opportunities in the PMFB and elsewhere to develop alternative, more sustainable land‐use practices. Although some of the peatlands in the PMFB fall within existing legally protected areas, this protection does not include the most carbon‐dense (domed pole forest) areas. New carbon‐based conservation instruments (e.g., REDD+, Green Climate Fund), developing markets for sustainable peatland products, transferring land title to local communities, and expanding protected areas offer pathways to increased protection for intact tropical peatlands in Amazonia and elsewhere, such as those in New Guinea and Central Africa which remain, for the moment, broadly beyond the frontier of commercial development.     

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     

Human Influence and Classical Biogeographic Predictors of Rare Species Occurrence

Biogeographic theory predicts that rare species occur more often in larger, less‐isolated habitat patches and suggests that patch size and connectivity are positive predictors of patch quality for conservation. However, in areas substantially modified by humans, rare species may be relegated to the most isolated patches. We used data from plant surveys of 81 meadow patches in the Georgia Basin of Canada and the United States to show that presence of threatened and endangered plants was positively predicted for patches that were isolated on small islands surrounded by ocean and for patches that were isolated by surrounding forest. Neither patch size nor connectivity were positive predictors of rare species occurrence. Thus, in our study area, human influence, presumably due to disturbance or introduction of competitive non‐native species, appears to have overwhelmed classical predictors of rare species distribution, such that greater patch isolation appeared to favor presence of rare species. We suggest conservation planners consider the potential advantages of protecting geographically isolated patches in human‐modified landscapes because such patches may represent the only habitats in which rare species are likely to persist. Influencia Humana y Predictores Biogeográficos Clásicos de la Ocurrencia de Especies Raras     

Seasonal dynamics of macro-algae in the South Lake of Tunis

The macro-algae communities observed in the south lake of Tunis are characterized by the predominance of nitrophilous algae which are in the order of biomass importance:Ulva, Cladophora andEnteromorpha. We have noted seasonal changes of alga distribution. The wind appears to be one of the most important factors influencing this distribution. The total biomass reaches a maximum in the spring. Rapid decomposition of the biomass leads to a severe ecological imbalance, resulting in crises of anoxia and fish death. A restoration project has already started. It aims at removal of contaminated muds and the introduction of a new circulation system. The main objectives of this work were to collect information on the distribution and biomass of the phytobenthic communities as a first step in the constitution of a database for further comparison.     

Patterns and biases of climate change threats in the IUCN Red List

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessments rely on published data and expert inputs, and biases can be introduced where underlying definitions and concepts are ambiguous. Consideration of climate change threat is no exception, and recently numerous approaches to assessing the threat of climate change to species have been developed. We explored IUCN Red List assessments of amphibians and birds to determine whether species listed as threatened by climate change display distinct patterns in terms of habitat occupied and additional nonclimatic threats faced. We compared IUCN Red List data with a published data set of species’ biological and ecological traits believed to infer high vulnerability to climate change and determined whether distributions of climate change‐threatened species on the IUCN Red List concur with those of climate change‐threatened species identified with the trait‐based approach and whether species possessing these traits are more likely to have climate change listed as a threat on the IUCN Red List. Species in some ecosystems (e.g., grassland, shrubland) and subject to particular threats (e.g., invasive species) were more likely to have climate change as a listed threat. Geographical patterns of climate change‐threatened amphibians and birds on the IUCN Red List were incongruent with patterns of global species richness and patterns identified using trait‐based approaches. Certain traits were linked to increases or decreases in the likelihood of a species being threatened by climate change. Broad temperature tolerance of a species was consistently related to an increased likelihood of climate change threat, indicating counterintuitive relationships in IUCN assessments. To improve the robustness of species assessments of the vulnerability or extinction risk associated with climate change, we suggest IUCN adopt a more cohesive approach whereby specific traits highlighted by our results are considered in Red List assessments. To achieve this and to strengthen the climate change‐vulnerability assessments approach, it is necessary to identify and implement logical avenues for further research into traits that make species vulnerable to climate change (including population‐level threats).