四溴双酚A对赤子爱胜蚓的生长和基因表达的影响

试验采用人工土壤法,通过14 d急性毒性试验,研究了不同剂量TBBPA对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)生长、基因表达的影响。在14 d急性毒性试验中,随着暴露时间和浓度的增加,蚯蚓生长受到了显著抑制,未出现死亡现象。超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)的基因表达量在低浓度(50 mg·kg-1)时受到诱导上调;谷胱甘肽转移酶(GST)的基因表达量在400 mg·kg-1染毒组受到明显诱导,是对照组的8.73倍;热休克蛋白(Hsp70)的基因表达量在50、100和200 mg·kg-1染毒组被诱导上调。基因表达量的变化显示,在50、100、200 mg·kg-1浓度条件下,蚯蚓可以利用自身的抗氧化能力维持体内的动态平衡稳定,使得机体免受损伤。但是在超过400 mg·kg-1浓度后,TBBPA的毒性效应超过了机体的应对能力,使机体遭受损伤,外在特征主要表现为蚯蚓身体蜷缩、变细变硬。从生物标志物角度,基因表达量的变化对TBBPA毒性效应的指示作用较生长抑制率更为敏感。     

四溴双酚A对太平洋真宽水蚤的急性毒性及氧化胁迫

为了研究四溴双酚A(tetrabromobis-phenol A,TBBPA)对海洋桡足类的急性毒性和氧化胁迫效应,以太平洋真宽水蚤为受试生物,测定了TBBPA对其96 h急性毒性和对其体内抗氧化防御系统的影响。结果表明,TBBPA对太平洋真宽水蚤的96 h半数致死浓度(96 h-LC50)为178μg·L~(-1),95%可信区间为91~306μg·L~(-1),表现为极毒。亚致死浓度下,TBBPA能够不同程度影响太平洋真宽水蚤的抗氧化防御酶活力以及非酶物质含量。其中SOD和GST活性的变化趋势较为一致,暴露初期SOD和GST活性显著上升(P0.05),随暴露时间延长酶活性有所下降,最终趋向对照组水平;GPx活性水平始终维持在对照组以上并且差异显著(P0.05);暴露初期,GSH含量受轻微氧化压力而轻微升高,暴露48 h后GSH含量急剧下降并显著低于对照组(P0.05)。太平洋真宽水蚤体内SOD、GST、GPx活性和GSH含量对TBBPA暴露均十分敏感,能够为海洋环境的TBBPA监测提供生化指标参考。     

四溴双酚A对赤子爱胜蚓的急性毒性及抗氧化防御系统酶的影响

以赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)为研究对象,根据OECD指南中的滤纸接触法和人工土壤法研究了四溴双酚A(TBBPA)的急性毒性和对蚯蚓体内抗氧化防御系统酶的影响.结果表明,滤纸接触法和人工土壤法检测TBBPA对蚯蚓的半致死浓度LC50分别为4.90mg·L-(148h)和16.7mg·kg-(114d),TBBPA对蚯蚓具有低等毒性.当TBBPA的浓度在0.05和0.1mg·kg-1时对蚯蚓超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)产生显著诱导;在0.05mg·kg-1时,对过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)也产生显著诱导;脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)随TBBPA浓度的升高逐渐增加,呈良好的剂量效应关系(R2=0.97,p<0.01).SOD、CAT、GST和MDA可以作为土壤生态早期预警中潜在的敏感的生物标志物.     

铜暴露对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)抗氧化酶活力的影响

通过溶液接触法和人工土壤法,研究了不同暴露环境中Cu对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)SOD酶、CAT酶和GST酶活力的影响.结果显示:溶液接触试验中, Cu显著抑制蚯蚓SOD酶活力(P<0.05),人工土壤试验中Cu则诱导SOD酶活力增加,预示暴露条件影响蚯蚓SOD酶对Cu的生物响应.人工土壤试验中, Cu暴露浓度与蚯蚓CAT酶和GST酶活力的相关系数分别为0.814和0.933,均存在极显著的剂量效应关系(P<0.001).在这两种暴露环境下,赤子爱胜蚓的CAT酶和GST酶活力对Cu浓度响应敏感.     

十溴二苯乙烷对草鱼幼鱼肝脏和肌肉组织氧化应激效应的影响

十溴二苯乙烷(DBDPE)是目前在全球范围内广泛使用的新型溴代阻燃剂,其环境风险已引起广泛关注,但目前仍缺乏针对水生生物的毒性研究数据。作者通过饲料中添加十溴二苯乙烷暴露的方式对草鱼幼鱼进行长期暴露实验,研究500、1 000和3 000 mg·kg~(-1)三个饲料添加剂量暴露组和1个对照组长期暴露对草鱼幼鱼肝脏和肌肉组织中氧化应激酶(SOD、CAT和GSH-PX)活性和抗氧化物质(GSH)含量的影响。结果显示:暴露8周后,随着DBDPE暴露水平的升高,草鱼幼鱼肝脏组织中氧化应激酶(SOD、CAT和GSH-PX)和抗氧化物质(GSH)均表现出低浓度诱导及高浓度抑制的效应。500和1 000 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组草鱼幼鱼肝脏组织中SOD、CAT和GSH-PX活性和GSH含量均显著高于对照组(P0.05),且均在500 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组达到最高。3 000 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组SOD、CAT和GSH-PX活性和GSH含量低于500和1 000 mg·kg~(-1)暴露组,但与对照组无显著性差异(P0.05)。草鱼幼鱼肌肉组织中氧化应激酶活性变化甚微,3个浓度剂量组肌肉组织中SOD、CAT活性和GSH含量以及500 mg·kg~(-1)剂量组GSH-PX活性与对照组均无显著性差异(P0.05)。研究成果表明DBDPE暴露影响草鱼幼鱼肝脏组织的抗氧化防御系统,可以诱导草鱼幼鱼产生氧化应激效应。     

经皮肤暴露四溴双酚A对Wistar雄性大鼠的毒性效应

尘/土以及含阻燃剂产品的皮肤接触是四溴双酚A(TBBPA)重要的人体暴露途径。为研究TBBPA经皮肤亚慢性暴露毒性效应,选择无特定病原菌级别(SPF级)Wistar雄性大鼠作为受试生物,分别设空白对照组(K)、溶剂对照组(Z),以及20mg·kg~(-1)(A)、60 mg·kg~(-1)(B)、200 mg·kg~(-1)(C)、600 mg·kg~(-1)(D)共4个不同剂量的TBBPA暴露组,采用皮肤接触的方式连续暴露90 d。暴露期间观察大鼠状态并称重,于第91天解剖大鼠,分离主要脏器称重计算脏器系数,并对暴露皮肤进行组织病理学检查。研究发现,经皮肤暴露TBBPA后,90 d暴露期间不同实验组Wistar大鼠在表观形态、行动、进食方面无差异,TBBPA暴露导致大鼠体重略微降低,但各处理组间大鼠体重无显著差异;90 d暴露后不同剂量组间大鼠的器官脏器系数没有显著的剂量-效应关系,不同剂量组大鼠皮肤暴露区域均有一定程度的炎症细胞浸润及部分组织胶原间隙增宽。研究结果表明,TBBP A 90 d亚慢性皮肤暴露对Wistar大鼠无明显毒性效应。     

纳米ZnO对中华圆田螺的氧化应激效应

以淡水螺为受试生物,研究了中华圆田螺(Cipangopaludina Cahayensis)肝脏中自由基强度、抗氧化酶活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量纳米ZnO暴露21 d时的变化情况.结果表明,纳米ZnO可显著诱导中华圆田螺产生羟基(·OH)自由基;超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和MDA含量的变化趋势相同,0.1—1 mg·L~(-1)暴露下活性随浓度增加逐渐增加,2 mg·L~(-1)时有所回落;过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈诱导状态,随浓度增加活性缓慢增大;谷胱甘肽S-转移酶(GST)活性保持抑制状态;·OH信号强度与SOD活性和MDA含量的变化具有一致性;SOD活性和MDA含量激活率较高,CAT激活率则保持稳定.     

壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚暴露下赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia foetida）的生理损伤

利用急性接触试验和人工土壤试验分别研究了壬基酚聚氧乙烯醚（NPEO）对赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia foetida）的致死性和氧化损伤.急性接触试验结果显示,NPEO对赤子爱胜蚓的48 h毒性半致死剂量p（48 h,LD50）为0.58 mg·L^-1;人工土壤试验结果显示,NPEO可诱导赤子爱胜蚓CAT酶活力、GST酶活力、GSH含量和氧化产物（MDA）含量上升,暴露28 d时,NPEO浓度与赤子爱胜蚓CAT酶活力、GST酶活力、GSH含量和MDA含量呈正相关,且均存在显著的剂量-效应关系（P＜0.05）,NPEO剂量增加对赤子爱胜蚓SOD酶活性和Cu-Zn SOD酶活性有轻微抑制作用.以上结果表明NPEO在亚致死暴露浓度下＜0.50 mg· kg^-1）会对赤子爱胜蚓产生生理胁迫并导致一定程度的氧化损伤.     

长期饲喂钬对鲤鱼非特异性免疫酶活性的影响

以鲤鱼为研究对象,进行为期60 d的饲喂试验,研究了硝酸钬对其非特异性免疫的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,在实验剂量范围内,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)在肝脏中呈先升高后降低的趋势,SOD、GSH-Px酶活性在20 mg·kg~(-1)时,升高显著(P0.05),三者在65 mg·kg~(-1)时都被显著抑制(P0.05);在肾中都被诱导,在65 mg·kg~(-1)升高显著(P0.05)。肝肾中丙二醛(MDA)含量都变化不显著(P0.05)。抗超氧阴离子自由基、抑制羟自由基能力和单胺氧化酶(MAO)活性都降低,且在65 mg·kg~(-1)时降低显著(P0.05或P0.01)。因此,在饲料中添加稀土元素钬20、42、65 mg·kg~(-1),能够影响非特异性免疫力,且鲤鱼肝组织比肾脏反应更敏感。     

四溴双酚A(TBBPA)对中肋骨条藻的毒性效应研究

为研究四溴双酚A(tetrabromobisphenol A,TBBPA)对海洋微藻的毒性效应,本文设置五个不同浓度组(0、1.0、5.0、10.0、20.0 mg·L-1)进行中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)培养实验,在96 h内取样分析其光合色素含量、可溶性蛋白含量、丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性的变化。结果表明,较低浓度组(1.0和5.0 mg·L-1)叶绿素a、叶绿素c和类胡萝卜素含量48 h之前被显著诱导,最大值出现在24 h;较高浓度组(10.0和20.0 mg·L-1)三种色素含量在48 h之前被显著抑制,24 h达最低值;72 h之后各浓度组均恢复到对照组水平。不同浓度TBBPA胁迫下,中肋骨条藻的可溶性蛋白含量、SOD活性和MDA含量一般被显著诱导,SOD活性和MDA含量在72 h和96 h时随TBBPA浓度升高而增加。虽然1.0 mg·L-1TBBPA对中肋骨条藻生长不具有可观测效应,但已影响到其生理生化指标。目前海水中TBBPA浓度较低,尚不会对中肋骨条藻产生毒性影响。     

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).