多溴联苯醚在啮齿类动物体内的代谢动力学研究进展

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类持久性有机污染物(POPs),其作为一种广泛使用的溴化阻燃剂在环境中普遍存在.PBDEs对生物体和人体存在内分泌干扰等毒性危害,正受到人们越来越多的关注.然而目前PBDEs对人体造成的影响都是由动物实验(主要是啮齿类动物)外推而得,因此研究不同的PBDEs同系物在啮齿类动物体内的代谢动力学...     

多溴联苯醚在中国的污染现状研究进展

多溴联苯醚(Polybrominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)作为"新POPs"逐渐受到环境科研工作者的重视.本文综合评述了PBDEs在我国各种环境介质、生物体以及人体中的污染现状.研究分析表明,PBDEs在我国的污染尚处于相对较低的水平,但在广东贵屿和浙江台州等电子垃圾拆解地PBDEs的污染较为严重.本文最后展望了我国PBDEs研究中需要加强的几个方面.     

北江沉积物中多溴联苯醚的含量水平和分布特征

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)具有与多氯联苯(PCBs)相似的化学结构和环境行为,是一种典型的持久性有机污染物(POPs).本文研究了珠江第二大水系北江流域沉积物中PBDEs的含量水平、空间分布特征和可能来源.     

多溴联苯醚在环境中迁移转化的研究进展

多溴联苯醚(Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers,PBDEs)是全球广泛使用的一种添加型溴代阻燃剂,具有高亲脂性、难降解性、生物累积性和高毒性.全面了解PBDEs在环境的迁移转化规律是对其进行科学的风险评价的基础.归纳和分析了近几年国内外学者有关PBDEs在不同环境介质中的分布情况及其迁移转化的研究动态,并重点讨论了光解和生物降解的机理、产物和影响因素.结果表明,大气中以气态的低溴代联苯醚为主,具有较强的长距离迁移能力,而BDE-209等高溴代联苯醚则主要吸附在气溶胶颗粒物上,迁移能力有限;PBDEs在水中的浓度较低,主要在沉积物和生物体的脂肪中累积,并通过食物链的放大作用使处于食物链顶端的生物受到毒害.光解和生物降解是PBDEs在环境中转化的主要途径,在空气中和浅层水中以光解为主,而在深层水和沉积物中生物降解占主导.文章最后指出了今后的主要研究方向.     

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)光降解研究现状

多溴联苯醚(polybrominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)为一类新型的持久性有机污染物,因其在环境中的广泛分布和生物累积性而备受关注,环境中PBDEs的降解也成为研究热点.光降解是自然环境中PBDEs降解的主要途径之一,而光降解过程中会形成毒性更高的溴代二英.本文在总结国内外PBDEs光降解研究的基础上,对影响PBDEs光降解的因素(诸如:分子结构、光源、介质等)、途径和产物,特别是溴代二英的形成进行了综述,对目前存在问题及进一步的研究方向进行了讨论和展望.     

室内环境中多溴联苯醚的污染特征和暴露风险研究进展

多溴联苯醚(polybrominated diphenyl ethers,PBDEs)是一类常见的溴代阻燃剂,具有生育毒性、生殖毒性以及致癌性等慢性毒性.作为典型的溴代阻燃剂,多溴联苯醚常被加入到各种产品中以提高产品的安全性,但在各种商业产品的使用过程中,多溴联苯醚会不可避免地逸出至室内环境中,存在于空气或者灰尘中被人体摄入.研究表明,人类一生有80%—90%的时间处于室内环境中,因此,通过了解目前室内环境中多溴联苯醚的污染现状,进而评估通过室内环境暴露多溴联苯醚对人体的潜在危害极为重要.本文总结了室内环境中多溴联苯醚的浓度水平、组成特征以及人体暴露风险,并对未来的研究提出建议.     

多溴联苯醚、六溴环十二烷和四溴双酚A在环境中污染现状的研究进展

作为最主要的三大传统溴系阻燃剂(BFRs),多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)、六溴环十二烷(HBCD)、四溴双酚A(TBBPA)具有半挥发性、环境持久性和远距离传输性,目前在全球各种环境介质、生物体内广泛存在.毒理学研究表明,PBDEs、HBCD、TBBPA均具有明显的生物毒性和致癌性,对生态环境和人体健康存在潜在危害.本文简要概述了PBDEs、HBCD、TBBPA的使用现状,综述了全球范围内非生物体(灰尘、水体、土壤、沉积物、污泥)和生命体内(植物、动物、人体)等3种传统BFRs的污染水平、特征、暴露途径和毒性,并讨论了当前存在问题,最后对PBDEs、HBCD、TBBPA的未来研究进行了初步展望.     

在食品和环境分析中使用大气压气相色谱质谱电离源(APGC)检测多溴联苯(PBBs)和多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)

多溴联苯(PBBs)和多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是在全球范围内受到管制的持续性有机,染物(POPs),这类化合物结构类似且复杂,定性和定量分析都极具挑战.本文应用大气压气相色谱质谱电离源(APGC)分析10种PBBs和28种PBDEs,显著提升了食品和环境分析中这类化合物的检测灵敏度.     

莱州湾东部海域多溴联苯醚的污染特征及生态风险评价

于2015年4月和11月,在莱州湾东部海域设置6个采样站点,采集海水和表层沉积物样品,采用气相色谱-质谱联用联用测定海水溶解相、颗粒相和沉积物中14种多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的含量,分析了PBDEs的组成特征,采用主成分分析了其来源,并对其生态风险进行了评价.结果表明,4月份溶解相、颗粒相和表层沉积物中14种PBDEs同系物总含量(∑14PBDEs)的范围分别为0. 29—0. 76 ng·L~(-1)、1.79—3.60 ng·L~(-1)和31.37—44. 39 ng·g-1,其中BDE209的含量范围分别为0. 21—0. 65 ng·L~(-1)、0.84—2.34 ng·L~(-1)和24. 27—36.79 ng·g-1.11月份海水溶解相和沉积相中∑14PBDEs与4月份无显著差异(P 0. 05),但颗粒相中的∑14PBDEs显著低于4月份(P0.05).4、11月颗粒相中∑14PBDEs占海水中总含量(溶解相+颗粒相)的平均比例分别为83.9%和71.2%,表明PBDEs主要分配在颗粒相上.沉积物PBDEs含量与总有机碳呈极显著正相关关系(r0.9,P0.01).14种PBDEs中,BDE209是最主要的同系物,其次是BDE47.主成分分析表明,莱州湾PBDEs主要来源于商业十溴联苯醚的地表径流输入.莱州湾东部海水中五溴联苯醚和八溴联苯醚存在低生态风险,沉积物中五溴联苯醚具有中等生态风险.     

多溴联苯醚的环境毒理学研究进展

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一类广泛使用的溴代阻燃剂,其大量生产和使用导致了越来越严重的环境污染.由于PBDEs具有较高的亲脂性,化学性质比较稳定,它们可远距离传输到地球各种环境介质中,并通过食物链累积放大,在生物体内蓄积产生毒性效应.本文针对近年来PBDEs毒性效应和致毒机制的研究进展,从PBDEs的内分泌干扰毒性、发...     

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 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.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.