F~-和Cl~-对莱茵衣藻的生长效应

为了探讨和比较F-和Cl-对莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)生长的抑制毒性,采用锥形瓶培养法及模型分析,研究了不同浓度F-和Cl-胁迫下莱茵衣藻生物量、比生长速率及生长抑制程度的变化。结果表明:5~80mg·L-1的F-对莱茵衣藻均具生长抑制毒性,且抑制率随F-浓度和暴露时间的增加而增大,但10 d最大抑制率低于62%,因此,莱茵衣藻对80 mg·L-1以下的F-具有较好的耐受性;Cl-对莱茵衣藻的生长既有促进作用,甚至也有严重的抑制作用(12 800 mg·L-1Cl-处理组10 d抑制率可高达96%),这取决于Cl-浓度;F-和Cl-对莱茵衣藻的生长效应不同,主要表现在生长效应模型系数随F-和Cl-浓度的变化规律上。另外,就相同暴露时间下的EC50值而言,F-(18.0~56.4 mg·L-1)远低于Cl-(1 074~2 630 mg·L-1),即F-对莱茵衣藻的毒性高于Cl-,但Cl-的生态风险亦不容忽视。     

镉、铅胁迫对滇杨(Populus yunnanensis)幼苗生长及其光合生理的影响

为探究滇杨(Populus yunnanensis)在Cd、Pb胁迫下的生长及其光合生理反应,采用水培的方式对滇杨幼苗开展胁迫试验。结果表明,在Cd胁迫下,滇杨株高无显著变化,总根长显著降低,地径在Cd浓度为100μmol·L~(-1)时显著增加;在Pb胁迫下,滇杨株高、总根长均显著降低,地径则在Pb浓度为50和100μmol·L~(-1)时显著增加。Cd、Pb胁迫下丙二醛含量随着胁迫浓度增加而上升,总酚含量仅在胁迫浓度为100和200μmol·L~(-1)时显著提高。200μmol·L~(-1) Cd处理、100和200μmol·L~(-1) Pb处理的叶绿素含量显著低于对照。PSⅡ最大光化学效率和PSⅡ潜在活性仅在Cd浓度为100μmol·L~(-1)时显著低于对照。在Cd胁迫下,滇杨的净光合速率随着胁迫浓度的增加而降低,而在Pb胁迫下,净光合速率则随着胁迫浓度的增加先升后降。滇杨在Cd浓度为50μmol·L~(-1)时耐受性最强,在Pb浓度为100μmol·L~(-1)时耐受性最强,滇杨对Cd的耐受性强于Pb。     

羧基化多壁碳纳米管与铅镉对蚕豆幼苗叶片的氧化损伤

蚕豆幼苗悬浮培养于含有羧基化多壁碳纳米管MWCNTs-COOH(0、2.5、5.0和10.0 mg·L~(-1))、20.0μmol·L~(-1)Pb+5.0μmol·L~(-1)Cd(简称Pb+Cd),以及MWCNTs-COOH与Pb+Cd的复合溶液中,15 d后检测叶片生理生化指标的变化,以期为MWCNTs与Pb、Cd复合污染的植物毒性和生态风险性评价提供科学依据。结果表明,随着MWCNTs-COOH浓度的增加,与对照组比较,MWCNTs-COOH单一或与Pb+Cd的复合溶液均诱导了叶片O_2~(·-)和H_2O_2产物的明显积累,并伴随着超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)及愈创木酚过氧化物酶(POD)同工酶及其酶活性的升高。2.5 mg·L~(-1)MWCNTs-COOH单一或与Pb+Cd的复合显著诱导CAT酶活性,10.0 mg·L~(-1)MWCNTs-COOH与Pb+Cd的复合导致CAT酶活性降低至对照组以下,CAT酶可作为早期诊断MWCNTs-COOH或MWCNTs-COOH复合重金属环境污染的敏感的生物标志物。MWCNTsCOOH还诱导了蛋白羰基化、热休克蛋白70(HSP70)、非蛋白巯基(NPT)产物和内肽酶(EP)同工酶活性的增加,与Pb+Cd复合后HSP70产物趋于降低,而蛋白羰基化和NPT产物以及EP酶活性显著升高。叶片抗氧化酶和EP酶活性的升高、HSP70和NPT产物的增加缓解了上述氧化胁迫与损伤,是蚕豆幼苗重要的防御机制。综上,MWCNTs-COOH诱导了蚕豆叶片的氧化胁迫和应激响应,与Pb+Cd复合后则加剧了叶片的氧化损伤与蛋白降解。     

典型重金属胁迫对日本沼虾的氧化损伤及交互作用

为深入探讨水体不同浓度重金属联合对水生生物的慢性毒性机制,本研究以日本沼虾(Macrobranchium nipponense)为受试生物,镉(Cd)和铅(Pb)为目标金属,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、金属硫蛋白(MT)和丙二醛(MDA)为测试终点,研究不同浓度的Cd和Pb单一及联合暴露对日本沼虾的氧化损伤及交互作用。实验结果表明:Cd对虾的致死浓度为1 mg·L-1,当其与同浓度Pb联合时,致死毒性增强;在0.01 mg·L-1和0.1 mg·L-1下联合时均表现为拮抗作用。不同处理组对标志物产生不同程度的诱导或抑制效应,其中,SOD活性均受到胁迫抑制,0.1 mg·L-1Cd暴露10 d后对肝胰腺SOD抑制率达53.38%,0.1 mg·L-1Pb暴露10 d后对肌肉SOD抑制率达70.02%;CAT活性整体受胁迫激活,肝胰腺与肌肉CAT活性在时间尺度上呈现相反的变化规律;肝胰腺中MT和MDA对重金属的敏感性要高于肌肉;综合生物标志物响应(IBR)评价表明,机体在时间尺度上可通过酶活性调节而具有一定的解毒功能,但并不能消除重金属引起的氧化损伤,且重金属单一毒性要高于联合毒性,其中Cd对肝胰腺毒性最大,Pb对肌肉毒性最大。研究结果能够为水体重金属生态风险预警、水质基准制定及流域水环境管理提供依据。     

胞内砷磷含量和比值对莱茵衣藻砷酸盐和亚砷酸盐耐性的影响

为探索胞内砷(As)与磷(P)含量和比值与莱茵衣藻As耐性的关系,本文设置两个磷酸盐(PO_4~(3-))和系列砷酸盐(As(V))、亚砷酸盐(As(Ⅲ))浓度,处理72 h后测定莱茵衣藻生长情况和胞内As、P含量,并以培养液As浓度([As]_dis)、胞内As含量([As]_intra)、胞内砷磷比([As:P]_intra)推算半数效应浓度(EC_50),比较这3种指标对莱茵衣藻As耐性的评价效果.结果表明,随着[As]_dis的增加,莱茵衣藻[As]_intra上升,提高培养液PO_4~(3-)浓度不影响As(Ⅲ)处理下的[As]_intra,但显著降低了As(V)处理下的[As]_intra.以[As]_dis表征EC_50时,两种PO_4~(3-)水平(0.315、3.15 mg·L~(-1))下的As(Ⅲ)-EC_50(2090.3、21183.6μg·L~(-1)-As)明显高于As(V)-EC_50(162.1、2358.3μg·L~(-1)-As).基于[As]_intra的EC_50数据显示,PO_4~(3-)水平不影响As(Ⅲ)-EC_50(123.9、125.0μg·g~(-1)-As-dw),但显著影响As(V)-EC_50(7.4、58.6μg·g~(-1)-As-dw).由[As:P]_intra推算的EC_50可知,PO_4~(3-)对两种形态As毒性的影响相反,As(Ⅲ)-EC_50分别为21.1、6.1(mol/mol,As/P),As(V)-EC_50分别为1.3、3.4(mol/mol,As/P).研究结果说明,As(V)对该藻的毒性大于As(Ⅲ),莱茵衣藻对As(V)和As(Ⅲ)的耐性除了受到培养液PO_4~(3-)浓度的制约外,还受到胞内As、P含量及其比值的影响.     

三亚河沉积物中重金属生态风险评价与污染历史

主要研究了三亚河沉积物中重金属的分布、富集程度、生态风险以及污染历史,可为三亚河的污染治理和海洋环境保护提供参考信息。结果表明,三亚河表层沉积物中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、As、Cd、Hg、Ni等8种重金属元素的质量分数分别为(3.9±1.7)、(100.4±38.9)、(32.0±8.3)、(28.8±11.5)、(10.27±4.61)、(0.181±0.110)、(0.204±0.091)、(22.7±8.0)μg·g~(~(-1)),Al2O3、TOC的质量分数分别为10.34%±5.49%、1.29%±1.23%。210Pbex放射性比活度被用于确定研究区的平均沉积速率并建立沉积年代框架。应用210Pbex稳定初始浓度模型得出三亚河沉积物的平均沉积速率约为0.89 cm·a~(-1),所获取柱状样的沉积年代为1918─2014年。基于柱状样底部未受人类活动影响的子样得到的研究区8种重金属的背景值分别为7.5、38.7、14.3、31.9、4.95、0.027、0.015和6.4μg·g~(-1)。三亚河表层沉积物中Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd、Hg和TOC经Al元素标准化后的富集因子的算术平均值都大于1.5,说明这些重金属和有机质大部分来源于人类活动的输入。柱状沉积物中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd和Hg的质量分数和富集因子在45 cm深度以上(即上世纪60年代以后)也存在明显的由人类活动的输入引起的上升和富集趋势。研究区沉积物中TOC与富集重金属Pb、Cr、Cd、Zn和Cu之间的Pearson相关系数r值为0.56~0.85,表明有机质降解所产生的腐殖酸吸附是导致沉积物中重金属质量分数变大的主要原因。对照美国NOAA沉积物生物效应数据标准,三亚河沉积物中Hg含量在多数站位介于ERL和ERM阈值之间,已对底栖生物产生负面影响。三亚河目前重金属的沉积通量约为2.26g·m-2·a~(-1),所沉积的重金属主要为Zn,约占总通量的50.6%,其次为Pb、Cr和Cu,它们的比例分别为16.1%,14.5%和11.5%,毒性较强的Hg和Cd分别仅占总通量的0.10%和0.09%。     

保定市区生活饮用水中重金属污染物健康风险初步评价

以保定市3个市区的居民生活饮用水为研究对象,对其中Mn、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb等重金属离子的含量进行了调查研究,并采用我国《生活饮用水卫生标准》(GB5749—2006)和目前美国环保署(EPA)推荐的健康风险评价模型对各市区饮用水中重金属所引起的健康风险进行了初步评价.结果表明,保定市各市区饮用水中重金属平均浓度范围分别为Mn:5.31—13.7μg·L-1,Cu:3.24—7.46μg·L-1,Zn:96.3—107μg·L-1,As:0.72—0.78μg·L-1,Cd:0.03—0.05μg·L-1,Hg:1.69—1.79μg·L-1,Pb:0.26—1.16μg·L-1,均未超出《生活饮用水卫生标准》.通过饮水途径所致健康风险中,As在北市区所引起的致癌风险最大(5.3×10-6a-1),Cd在新市区的致癌风险最大(1.4×10-7a-1),但均低于国际辐射防护委员会(ICRP)推荐的通过饮水途径最大可接受风险水平(5.0×10-5a-1);在保定市通过饮水途径引起的非致癌健康风险中,Zn的风险最大,Hg次之,但两者风险水平均在10-6—10-8之间,也低于ICRP推荐的最大可接受水平.此外,研究还表明大部分给水管材及其使用年限对水中重金属浓度影响不大.     

土壤性质对水稻土中外源镉与铅生物有效性的影响

为定量了解土壤理化性质对进入土壤中的外源镉和铅生物有效性的影响,采集了性质相差较大的16个水稻土,通过添加Cd(或Pb)培养和老化处理(Cd的加入量为0、0.2、0.5、1、2和5 mg·kg-1;Pb加入量为0、20、50、100、200和500 mg·kg-1,培养时间为1年),研究了不同土壤中Cd(或Pb)负荷与土壤中水溶态和交换态Cd(或Pb)的关系.结果表明,随着Cd(或Pb)污染水平的提高,土壤中水溶态和交换态Cd(或Pb)均显著增加,但不同土壤中水溶态和交换态Cd(或Pb)随土壤Cd(或Pb)积累的增加幅度有很大的差异.相关分析表明,水稻土中水溶性Cd(或Pb)主要与土壤Cd(或Pb)污染水平和pH值有关;而交换态Cd(或Pb)主要与土壤Cd(或Pb)污染水平、pH值、CEC及质地等有关.数据显示,pH值较高、质地较黏的土壤可大大减缓因污染引起的CA和Pb生物有效性的提高.     

冬季北黄海溶解态CH_4和N_2O的浓度分布及海-气交换通量

2014年1月开展了北黄海表层海水中溶解态甲烷(CH_4)和氧化亚氮(N_2O)浓度及海水温盐等参数的观测研究.结果显示,冬季北黄海表层海水溶解态CH_4和N_2O的浓度范围分别为4.3—7.3 nmol·L-1和12.8—14.9 nmol·L-1,饱和度范围分别为150%—255%和128%—149%,是大气CH_4和N_2O的源.通过针对性开展温盐数据校正,区域和全球尺度大气CH_4和N_2O摩尔分数参考值的对比计算等关键过程的研究,优化提高了溶解态CH_4和N_2O饱和度及海-气交换通量计算方法和结果的准确度,得出1月份海-气CH_4和N_2O交换通量分别为6.3±5.1μmol·m-2·d-1和9.4±8.0μmol·m-2·d-1(W2014).并结合文献报道的春、夏、秋季节观测结果,将北黄海N_2O年释放量修订为1.02×10-2Tg.     

壬基酚胁迫对莱茵衣藻的生理影响

研究了不同浓度壬基酚(nonylphenol)对莱茵衣藻(Chlamydormonas reinhardtii)生长、色素含量、抗氧化酶活性和脂质过氧化作用的影响.结果表明,随着ρ(壬基酚)(0～0.8 mg·L-1)的升高,莱茵衣藻的生长受到抑制,培养5d时0.8mg·L-1壬基酚处理组抑制率达到84.4％.叶绿素a含量随着壬基酚浓度的升高而呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,类胡萝卜素含量则逐渐降低,0.6 mg·L-1壬基酚处理组叶绿素a和类胡萝卜素含量分别比对照组下降16.7％和37.2％(P＜0.05);总可溶性蛋白和丙二醛(MDA)含量随壬基酚浓度的升高而呈下降趋势,0.4和0.6 mg·L-1壬基酚处理组这两个指标与对照组间差异均达显著水平(P＜0.05).超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性随壬基酚浓度的增加而不断上升,至ρ(壬基酚)为0.6 mg·L 1时SOD和CAT活性极显著升高(P＜0.001),分别为对照组的25.0倍和32.1倍.还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量在一定浓度范围(0～0.2 mg·L-1)内随壬基酚浓度的升高而升高,当ρ(壬基酚)＞0.2mg·L-1时则下降,表明壬基酚胁迫可诱导GSH含量增加.     

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.     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

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.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

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.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.