有机磷阻燃剂的环境暴露与动物毒性效应

有机磷阻燃剂(OPFRs)逐渐替代了危害较大的多溴联苯醚(PBDEs),因此使得人类及其他生物更易暴露于这种有机物中。有研究表明,部分有机磷酸酯具有致癌性,因而使人们对其毒性的问题也日益关注。本文概述了有机磷阻燃剂的环境暴露水平,总结了近年来从体外与体内实验2个方面动物毒性效应的研究。目前研究发现诸多地区的大气、土壤和水体中的有机磷阻燃剂总含量水平相对较低;仅高浓度暴露才会对不同动物体造成一定程度的损伤,而远大于环境浓度的低浓度暴露几乎无损伤效应。最后,对有机磷阻燃剂毒性效应的未来研究重点进行了展望。     

有机磷酸酯阻燃剂的环境暴露与迁移转化研究进展

有机磷酸酯(organophosphate esters,OPEs)是目前被广泛使用的阻燃剂添加成份,其具有神经、生殖、基因等生物毒性,且具有致癌性。作为新一类污染物,有机磷酸酯在环境中越来越多的释放引起了环境研究者的关注。文章综述了OPEs在水体、土壤、空气和生物体中的暴露浓度,并介绍了OPEs在环境中的各种迁移转化途径。目前针对OPEs的环境暴露研究仍十分有限,需要更全面调查其在多环境介质中的暴露状况以综合评价其生态风险。OPEs的多种迁移途径已得到证实,但相关物理化学转化和生物转化机制研究尚不完整。最后对OPEs的进一步研究提出了展望,以期促进我国OPEs的生态风险研究。     

有机磷酸酯阻燃剂降解方法的研究进展

有机磷阻燃剂(OPFRs)已取代溴代阻燃剂广泛应用于各行业,并很容易通过挥发、磨损等方式进入各环境介质中.目前,已在水体、土壤等环境介质中检测到了 OPFRs的存在.本文总结了目前已有的OPFRs在环境中的降解方式,据其原理主要可分为化学法和生物法,化学法主要包含Fenton/类Fenton氧化法、紫外-双氧水法(UV...     

磷酸三丁酯的生物毒性效应研究进展

作为传统溴代阻燃剂的替代品,有机磷酸酯阻燃剂(organophosphate flame retardants, OPFRs)已广泛用于制造业,对环境造成的影响备受人们关注,成为新有机污染物的研究热点之一。目前,烷基OPFRs在各种环境介质中被频繁检出,通过吸入、饮食摄入或皮肤接触等途径进入生物体内,产生一定的毒性效应,对生态系统和人类健康具有潜在的风险。本文总结了一类烷基OPFR——磷酸三丁酯(tributyl phosphate, TBP)在生物体内的富集、毒性效应和作用机制,提出了当前研究中存在的问题和建议,同时展望了生物毒性评价的发展趋势,为今后全面评估TBP的生态风险提供依据。     

新型有机磷阻燃剂环境污染物的研究进展

新型有机磷阻燃剂(emerging organophosphate flame retardants,eOPFRs)是市场上新出现的或环境中最近新检测到的一类有机磷阻燃剂.由于溴代阻燃剂(brominated flame retardants,BFRs)和部分常规OPFRs在全球限制或禁止使用,市场对eOPFRs的需求...     

有机磷酸酯阻燃剂的人群暴露和甲状腺毒性的研究进展

有机磷酸酯(organophosphate esters,OPEs)是使用最为广泛的有机磷阻燃剂,并兼具增塑剂、消泡剂和萃取剂等功能,被广泛用于电子产品、建筑材料和塑料材料等中,导致其在环境介质中普遍存在,对生态系统和人体健康构成巨大威胁.作为一种新型环境污染物,OPEs的人群暴露特征和生物毒性成为环境健康领域的研究热...     

溴系阻燃剂的毒理学研究进展

溴系阻燃剂(brominated flame retardants,BFRs)广泛应用于塑料、电子、建筑、纺织等材料和产品中,在多种环境介质中都可以检测到BFRs的存在。目前市场上的溴系阻燃剂主要有3种:四溴双酚A(tetrabromobisphenol A,TBBPA)、多溴联苯醚(polybrominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)和六溴环十二烷(hexa bromocyclododecanes,HBCDs)。近年来,进入环境中的BFRs在数量和种类上迅速增加,由此引发的环境效应日益受到国际社会广泛关注,有关BFRs的毒理学研究也成为相关领域的焦点内容。在总结近年来国内外相关研究的基础上,就BFRs在内分泌干扰效应、肝脏毒性、生殖毒性和神经毒性等方面的研究现状及需要进一步研究的内容进行了综述。     

有机磷酸酯类阻燃剂毒性效应研究进展

有机磷酸酯类阻燃剂(organophosphate flame retardants,OPFRs)作为多溴联苯醚等溴代阻燃剂(brominated flame retardants,BFRs)的替代品被广泛应用,由此带来的环境影响广受关注。目前针对OPFRs的生物毒性研究仍相对有限,需要更全面调查其在多环境介质中的暴露状况、环境归趋、生物毒性效应等研究成果,在此基础上才能综合评价其可能引起的生态风险。因此,综述了OPFRs对水生生物、哺乳动物和人类等多种生物体的急性毒性、生殖与发育毒性、神经毒性、脏器毒性、基因毒性与致突变性和内分泌干扰性。OPFRs的多种生物毒性已得到证实,但相关致毒机制研究尚不完整深入。最后对OPFRs的进一步研究存在的问题进行分析,提出了研究展望,以期促进开展OPFRs的环境风险和人体健康风险研究。     

我国人群有机磷阻燃剂暴露评估及其健康风险

有机磷阻燃剂的使用量呈现不断增加的趋势,但目前对我国人群有机磷阻燃剂的暴露特征及其健康风险研究甚少.为评估有机磷阻燃剂的暴露水平,本研究采集了全国8个城市中共600名普通成年人的尿液样本,用LC-MS-MS检测了11种有机磷酸酯代谢产物的浓度.研究表明,11种代谢产物均在尿液当中检出,磷酸二(2-氯乙基)酯(BCEP)...     

水环境中的有机磷阻燃剂及其生物富集和生物转化研究进展

随着世界范围内对溴代阻燃剂的禁用,有机磷阻燃剂(OPFRs)被作为替代品广泛应用于建筑、纺织、化工、电子以及家装材料等行业,生产和使用量逐年上升.由于OPFRs在环境和生物体中普遍检出,且多种化合物具有致癌性、神经毒性和生殖毒性,对生态环境和人体健康造成潜在威胁,目前已成为国际上的一个研究热点.笔者重点综述了河流、湖泊...     

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).