五里河水体甲基汞污染及沉积物中甲基汞释放速度的初步研究

河流水体的汞污染,主要来源于工业生产中所排放的含汞废水。环境监测报告表明,生产氯碱的化工厂的含汞废水排入河流后,会使水体造成严重的汞污染。五里河就是这样一条被汞严重污染的河流,它是构成锦州湾海域汞污染的主要污染源。 从汞的化学形态来看,五里河水体的汞污染,可分为无机汞污染和有机汞(主要是甲基汞)污染。而处于水生生态环境中(主要是沉积物中)的无机汞,可以转化为甲基汞。由于甲基汞污染比无机汞污染对环境和人类具有更大的危害性,所以五里河水体中甲基汞     

沈阳细河流域土壤和作物中汞的潜在生态危害及健康风险评价

为研究沈阳市细河流域土壤汞(Hg)的污染和健康风险状况,对该区土壤和农作物中Hg的含量和分布进行了调查和分析。采用Hakanson潜在生态风险危害指数法评价土壤Hg的污染状况,并利用健康风险评价模型对Hg通过不同暴露途径所引起的健康风险作出评价。研究结果表明,细河流域土壤Hg的潜在生态危害相对较大,其中43.21%样品处于中等危害程度,26.62%属于强及以上风险级别。健康风险评价模型计算表明,人体经食物摄取是土壤Hg暴露的主要途径,Hg日平均暴露剂量依次为食物摄取呼吸暴露皮肤暴露;成人和儿童的非致癌危害指数分别为0.315和0.713,均低于风险阈值1,表明Hg不会对人体造成健康危害。     

海洋环境汞甲基化/去甲基化研究进展

汞（Hg）是一种在大气中具有较长停留时间并能进行长距离传输的全球性污染物.甲基汞（MeHg）具有毒性强、易富集、可随食物链放大的特点，是引起环境风险的主要汞形态.通过各种来源排放到海洋环境中的无机汞在沉积物和水柱中均可甲基化为MeHg，原位甲基化和去甲基化是控制海洋环境中甲基汞水平的关键过程.虽然目前已有综述总结了环境中汞甲基化/去甲基化，但对海洋生态系统中汞甲基化/去甲基化过程涉及相对较少.本文在总结海洋汞甲基化/去甲基化过程速率、途径和热点区域基础上，详细讨论了海洋光化学、非光化学以及微生物3种汞甲基化/去甲基化途径机制，并对未来研究方向进行了展望.在现有研究基础上，未来应在不同汞甲基化/去甲基化途径贡献估算、实际海洋环境汞甲基化/去甲基化基因/微生物作用验证、环境因素对海洋汞甲基化/去甲基化影响方面开展更深入研究.海洋汞甲基化/去甲基化的研究可为深入理解海洋汞的环境行为与风险和发展有效的汞污染风险防控技术提供科学依据和数据支撑.     

典型汞污染地区食物汞含量及人体汞暴露健康风险

系统采集典型汞污染地区(铅锌冶炼、金矿冶炼和燃煤电厂)食物样品(大米、蔬菜和鱼肉) 409个,测定其总汞含量以评估当地居民食物摄入汞暴露的健康风险。结果显示:铅锌冶炼地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为5.99μg·kg~(-1)(3.02～30.7μg·kg~(-1)),仅有1个样品总汞含量超过我国大米汞限量标准(20μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为0.646～5.44μg·kg~(-1)和1.80～26.4μg·kg~(-1),均未超过我国食品汞限量标准;金矿冶炼地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为4.46μg·kg~(-1)(3.13～8.67μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为0.760～7.83μg·kg~(-1)和1.59～21.9μg·kg~(-1),所有食物均未超过我国食品汞限量标准;燃煤电厂地区大米总汞含量的几何均值为3.63μg·kg~(-1)(1.05～11.4μg·kg~(-1)),蔬菜和鱼肉总汞含量分别为1.12～3.78μg·kg~(-1)和2.24～12.3μg·kg~(-1),所有食物均未超过我国食品汞限量标准。铅锌冶炼、金矿冶炼和燃煤电厂3个地区居民通过食用食物(大米、鱼肉和蔬菜途径)总汞摄入量的均值分别为0.068、0.038和0.031μg·d~(-1)·kg~(-1),均未超出联合国粮农组织和世界卫生组织食品添加剂联合专家委员会(JECFA)推荐的人体安全总汞摄入量0.71μg·d~(-1)·kg~(-1);表明3个研究地区居民汞暴露的风险较低。大米汞摄入量占3个地区居民食物总汞摄入量的比例分别为77.2%、70.8%和71.4%,食用大米是当地居民汞暴露的主要途径。     

沉积物中汞的甲基化研究进展

汞是环境中存在的一种重要污染物质,其毒性与之化学形态密切相关。环境中的汞主要以无机汞形态存在,然而无机汞可以通过甲基化作用转化为毒性更强的甲基汞,从而给受到暴露的生物及人类带来更高的健康风险。沉积物是汞在水生环境系统中的主要分布相,也是无机汞甲基化过程发生的主要场所。沉积物中汞的甲基化过程受到生物种类、汞的生物可利用性等生物因素及温度、含硫化合物、有机质、氧化还原条件等环境理化性质的影响。本文对汞在沉积物中甲基化过程的作用机制及其影响因素的研究现状及最新进展进行了总结,并对未来更深入的研究进行了展望。     

北京市场常见水产品中总汞、甲基汞分布特征及食用风险

以甲苯二次萃取-直接测汞的方法对北京市场常见水产品中的甲基汞进行分析测定,并评价了食用人群的暴露风险。分析样品包括大黄鱼（Pseudosciaena crocea）、虾（Penaeus chinensis）等9种常见海产品以及武昌鱼（Megalobrama amblycephala Yih）、鳙鱼（Aristichthys nobilis）2种淡水海产品。测定结果表明：海产品中总汞和甲基汞质量分数要远高于淡水鱼中的总汞和甲基汞质量分数,总汞绝大多数是以甲基汞的形式存在,所占比例从74.7%到96.0%不等;对其中3种鱼类的鱼体甲基汞分布研究表明：肌肉中的甲基汞质量分数最高,肝脏中次之,鱼鳃中质量分数最低。根据我国水产品甲基汞标准,本研究中水产品甲基汞质量分数均低于国家标准,但根据世界卫生组织（WHO）和美国环保署EPA颁布的甲基汞摄入量参考值,食用银鳕鱼等甲基汞质量分数相对较高的水产品仍然存在一定的风险,应注意限量。     

加拿大最大程度降低汞的环境和健康风险的进展

出于对人类健康的担忧,加拿大采取手段限制人为汞排放.汞是一种在环境中普遍存在的天然元素.接触途径很复杂.科学文献、政策和法规都涉及到环境中的汞水平,不过所涉及的都是甲基汞(一种神经毒素).把汞颗粒和活性汞甲基化合成有机甲基汞会产生毒性作用.加拿大政府已经颁布了一套政策法规以期最大程度地降低甲基汞和其他有毒化学品对健康和环境的危险性,并与加拿大各省政府和地区政府进行合作,积极参与双边、区域和国际活动.     

加拿大最大程度降低汞的环境和健康风险的进展

出于对人类健康的担忧,加拿大采取手段限制人为汞排放.汞是一种在环境中普遍存在的天然元素.接触途径很复杂.科学文献、政策和法规都涉及到环境中的汞水平,不过所涉及的都是甲基汞(一种神经毒素).把汞颗粒和活性汞甲基化合成有机甲基汞会产生毒性作用.加拿大政府已经颁布了一套政策法规以期最大程度地降低甲基汞和其他有毒化学品对健康和环境的危险性,并与加拿大各省政府和地区政府进行合作,积极参与双边、区域和国际活动.     

加拿大最大程度降低汞的环境和健康风险的进展

出于对人类健康的担忧,加拿大采取手段限制人为汞排放.汞是一种在环境中普遍存在的天然元素.接触途径很复杂.科学文献、政策和法规都涉及到环境中的汞水平,不过所涉及的都是甲基汞(一种神经毒素).把汞颗粒和活性汞甲基化合成有机甲基汞会产生毒性作用.加拿大政府已经颁布了一套政策法规以期最大程度地降低甲基汞和其他有毒化学品对健康和环境的危险性,并与加拿大各省政府和地区政府进行合作,积极参与双边、区域和国际活动.     

安徽省典型地区人群头发汞含量及其影响因素分析

汞及其化合物毒性大,挥发性强,在环境中易于迁移,危害人体健康.人发中汞的含量是反映汞的环境暴露对人体的影响的优良指标.本研究利用氢化物发生-原子吸收分光光度法对安徽省合肥、淮南、安庆等8个典型地区人群的131个头发样品中总汞含量进行测定,并用SPSS软件对数据结果进行了统计分析.结果表明,安徽省人群发汞含量为0.480±0.896μg·g~(-1),与国内外部分地区相比,处于较低水平,人体受汞暴露的风险较低;六安地区人群发汞含量(0.068±0.054μg·g~(-1))明显低于其他7个地区;男、女发汞含量分别为0.581±1.083μg·g-1和0.317±0.416μg·g~(-1),在0.05的显著性水平上无显著性差异,发汞含量与性别相关性较小;样本中30—50岁的人群发汞含量相对其他年龄段偏高,表明发汞含量与年龄具有一定相关关系;染发样本发汞含量明显低于非染发样本,不能准确反映人体的汞暴露程度.     

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.     

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.     

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.