东海原甲藻的光周期效应研究

以东海原甲藻ProrocentrumdonghaienseLu为试验材料,设置了短光周期(A)和长光周期(B)两组试验:A组分光周期1、2、4、6、8、10和12h7个处理,B组分光周期12、14、16、18、20、22和23h7个处理,测定了东海原甲藻的细胞密度、叶绿素a含量、蛋白质含量、生物量和可溶性糖等指标。结果表明,在13个不同的光周期处理中,随着光周期的不断延长,东海原甲藻的细胞密度等一系列指标值均不断上升,各指标和光周期的长度呈现正相关的关系。结果表明东海原甲藻是一种喜长光照的赤潮藻类。     

4种典型有害赤潮原因种的溶血特性研究

对4种典型赤潮原因种的细胞和培养水中的溶血特性进行了研究.藻种分别是:赤潮异弯藻(Heterosigma akashiwo)的两个品系,微小亚历山大藻(Alexandrium minutum),东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)和微小卡罗藻(Karlodinum micrum).对各藻类的去藻上清液和超声破碎细胞提取液进行了溶血性检测,发现:几种赤潮种对鲫鱼红血细胞的溶血特性具有种间差异,同藻种的细胞与其培养水中的溶血强度存在差异.具体表现为:赤潮异弯藻具有最强的溶血性,去藻上清液的溶血性(60￣100%)远大于超声破碎细胞提取液的溶血性(30￣60%);微小卡罗藻超声破碎细胞提取液的溶血性(70%)大于去藻上清液的溶血性(30%),且是各藻超声破碎细胞提取液溶血性中最强的;东海原甲藻和微小亚历山大藻溶血性较弱,微小亚历山大藻去藻上清液的溶血性(30%)略大于超声破碎细胞提取液的溶血性(10%),东海原甲藻两部分的溶血性差异不显著.赤潮种类及其细胞内外的溶血特性在一定程度上显示了赤潮原因种在赤潮致害过程中的特征.     

2014年春季东海大面积甲藻赤潮的生态特征

为准确掌握东海近岸海域赤潮发生情况,深入了解东海海域赤潮发生时和未发生时的生态环境条件,根据浙江省舟山海洋生态环境监测站对东海近岸海域常年的监测结果,选定从杭州湾外侧向南到温州南麂列岛的东海近岸海域为赤潮高发区,开展生态环境研究.2014 年4 月和5 月利用专业海洋调查船,按《海洋监测规范》对东海赤潮高发海域进行了二次综合海洋生态环境调查,结果发现调查海域氮、磷营养盐含量普遍较高,4 月研究海域无机氮均值为0.406 mg·L^-1,活性磷酸盐均值0.013 mg·L^-1;5 月无机氮均值0.244 mg·L^-1,活性磷酸盐均值0.004 mg·L^-1.大多数样品无机氮超一类海水水质标准,尤其是4 月91.7%的样品超-类海水标准,5 月也有35.7%样品超-类海水标准.硝酸盐氮是无机氮的主要存在形式.2014 年5 月调查期间发生了大面积的赤潮,赤潮原因种是东海原甲藻（Prorocentrum donghaiense）,细胞密度平均在107/L 以上.分析赤潮发生前后的水环境变化,5 月调查海域海水温度有较大上升,各海域水温均超过了20 ℃,海域平均温度从4 月的15.9 ℃上升到5 月的21.9 ℃.通过本次研究发现在营养盐浓度普遍较高的调查海域,水温上升是引发赤潮的关键因素.使用专业统计软件SPSS17 发现赤潮藻类的细胞密度与水温、化学需氧量和溶解氧存在着极显著的正相关（P〈0.01）,与活性磷酸盐、硝酸盐氮和无机氮存在着显著负相关（P〈0.05）.另外本次调查还发现,大面积东海原甲藻赤潮暴发后,活性磷酸盐被大量消耗.综合目前有关东海原甲藻赤潮期间对活性磷酸盐的吸收动力学研究,发现今后应进一步加强这方面的调查研究.     

鼠李糖脂对东海典型甲藻赤潮生物生长抑制作用的影响

探讨了铜绿假单胞菌产鼠李糖脂类生物表面活性剂对东海典型甲藻赤潮生物锥状斯式藻(Scrippsiella trochoidea)、塔玛亚历山大藻(Alexandrium tamarense)、海洋原甲藻(Prococentrum marinum)和微小原甲藻(P.minium)生长的抑制作用,并对其不同抑制作用的机理进行了初步探讨.结果表明,鼠李糖脂在一定浓度范围内对几种甲藻的生长表现出明显的抑制作用,对几种甲藻生长抑制作用的强弱顺序为:锥状斯式藻>微小原甲藻>塔玛亚历山大藻>海洋原甲藻.对不同属的甲藻,这种抑制作用可能与藻细胞本身表面的附属物、内部物质组成及个体大小有关;而对于同一属的甲藻则与各甲藻的生物膜脂肪酸组成尤其是其多不饱和脂肪酸的含量有关,即甲藻的多不饱和脂肪酸含量越低,鼠李糖脂对藻细胞生长的抑制作用越明显,反之亦然.图1表2参18     

丙烯酰胺对水环境中典型微藻的毒性效应

作为可疑致癌物,丙烯酰胺(acrylamide,AM)是目前各国政府和广大民众普遍关注的重要污染物.为探究AM对水体生物的毒性效应及可能存在的生态风险,本文以海洋微藻东海原甲藻(Prorocentrum donghaiense)和淡水微藻莱茵衣藻(Chlamydomonas reinhardtii)为研究对象,采用室内培养法,测定了不同暴露浓度的AM对2种微藻生长、形态和生理状态的影响.结果显示,AM对2种藻类生长均有显著的抑制作用(P0.05),96 h半抑制质量浓度(EC_(50))分别为22.79 mg·L~(-1)和161.8 mg·L~(-1);最高无抑制浓度(NOEC)分别为1.04 mg·L~(-1)和9.84 mg·L~(-1).不同微藻对AM胁迫的响应存在较大的差异性,与莱茵衣藻相比,东海原甲藻对AM更敏感.扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)结果显示,当受到AM影响时,2种藻细胞严重变形,表现出塌陷、质壁分离、空泡数量增多和叶绿体片层结构少量断裂等现象;叶绿素含量和F_v/F_m(PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量)测试表明AM可以通过破坏微藻的光合系统而抑制光合作用.AM对东海原甲藻属于中毒性物质,对莱茵衣藻属于低毒性物质.     

3种有毒赤潮微藻对海岸底泥微生物群落多样性的影响

为评估海洋有毒赤潮微藻对生态系统的影响,使用培养的产毒微藻作用于海岸底泥,利用Illumina Miseq高通量测序平台进行细菌16S rRNA测序,分析比较产毒的网状原角藻(Protoceratium reticulate)、利玛原甲藻(Prorocentrum lima)、微小亚历山大藻(Alexandrium minutum)对海洋微生物细菌群落结构组成和多样性的作用影响.结果表明:金藻实验组的细菌群落多样性(Chao1、ACE、Shannon)指数最大,利玛原甲藻最小.海岸底泥系统中6个优势细菌门是变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)、绿弯菌门(Chlorofexi)、放线菌门(Actinobcteria);金藻和海水实验组的细菌在门、纲、目、科、属、种6个分类水平上都具有较高的类群数;利玛原甲藻实验组在除种和属以外的4个分类水平上,都具有最低类群数.因此,有毒赤潮微藻及其毒素对于微生态细菌可能具有毒性作用,影响其周围生境中细菌群落结构及其多样性;本研究结果从微生态角度评价有毒微藻及藻毒素的作用影响,可为全面了解有害藻华及有毒微藻对海洋生态系统的潜在危害提供基础.(图8表2参40)     

邻苯二甲酸二丁酯对海洋微藻生长的影响

近年来,内陆和近海水体中的一种典型环境激素邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)含量显著上升,但其对海洋生态系统的影响并不明确。本研究选取7种海洋微藻为实验材料,包括1种甲藻(东海原甲藻Prorocentrum donghaiense),2种定鞭藻(小普林藻Prymesium parvum和球形棕囊藻Phaeocystis globosa),2种硅藻(中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum和三角褐指藻Phaeodactylum tricornutum),以及1种隐藻(红胞藻Rhodomonus salina)和1种绿藻(海洋小球藻Chlorella sp.),设置5个DBP暴露浓度(5、10、20、50、100μg·L-1),研究其对海洋微藻生长的影响,并探索DBP暴露对微藻抗氧化系统和光合系统的影响。结果表明:在所有暴露组中,球形棕囊藻、小普林藻、东海原甲藻、红胞藻、海洋小球藻生长速率显著增加;5~20μg·L-1的DBP暴露下中肋骨条藻不受影响,50、100μg·L-1下受到抑制;所有DBP暴露组对三角褐指藻没有显著影响。在50μg·L-1DBP暴露下,随着时间的延长,球形棕囊藻的SOD、CAT、MDA均表现出先升高后下降的趋势,第7天藻的叶绿素a、叶绿素b,类胡萝卜素含量较对照组分别增加了23%、10%、48%,球形棕囊藻光系统II(PSII)的最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSII的潜在活性(Fv/F0)、光合性能指数PI分别增加了4.8%、16%、69%。研究发现DBP对海洋微藻的影响具有种间差异性,能够显著促进有害赤潮藻球形棕囊藻的生长,近岸水体DBP含量的增加可能改变浮游植物群落组成,进而增加有害藻华暴发的风险。     

海洋底栖甲藻——利玛原甲藻（Prorocentrum lima）产毒特征的研究（Studies on Toxin Production of Prorocentrum lima）

为了解海洋底栖甲藻——利玛原甲藻(Prorocentrum lima)的产毒特征,阐明腹泻性贝毒(Diarrhetic shellfishpoisoning,DSP)复杂的生物合成机制,采用酶联免疫试剂盒,对利玛原甲藻不同生长期、不同营养盐条件下毒素生成情况进行了研究.结果显示,不同生长期单个利玛原甲藻细胞中大田软海绵酸(Okadaic acid,OA)的含量明显不同,平台期时OA含量最高,与对数中期存在显著差异(p<0.05).低N、P条件下藻的生长状况较差,所能到达的藻密度明显低于对照组(f/2培养基);藻细胞中OA的总含量也低于对照组,但单个藻细胞中OA的含量明显高于对照组(p<0.05).以上结果提示,利玛原甲藻DSP毒素的产生可能与藻所处的环境和藻的生理状态等有关.     

三丁基锡对中国近海常见海洋微藻的毒性效应

研究三丁基氯化锡(TBT)对中国近海常见5种硅藻和甲藻(硅藻中丹麦细柱藻(Leptocylindrus danicus)、派格棍形藻(Bacilaria paxillifera)、聚生角毛藻(Chaetoceros socialis),甲藻中微型原甲藻(Prorocentrum minimum)、简裸甲藻(Gymnodinium simplex))的毒性效应,考察了有机锡对浮游藻光合活性(Fv/Fm)、粒径、生长的影响。结果表明:派格棍形藻、聚生角毛藻、简裸甲藻的光合活性(Fv/Fm)受TBT影响较显著;微型原甲藻、丹麦细柱藻的光合活性受TBT影响较小。高质量浓度TBT胁迫下海洋微藻峰值粒径显著减小,低质量浓度TBT对峰值粒径影响不显著。低质量浓度TBT对派格棍形藻、聚生角毛藻、简裸甲藻、微型原甲藻均有较强的毒性作用,非检测毒性浓度(NDEC)分别为1.17、1.07、0.23、3.73μg.L-1,丹麦细柱藻对TBT具有很强耐受性,NDEC为112.62μg.L-1。     

氮、磷营养盐对东海原甲藻生长和硝酸还原酶活性的影响

在实验室培养条件下,研究了不同氮、磷浓度及氮磷比结构对东海原甲藻生长和藻细胞硝酸还原酶活性(NRA)的影响.结果表明,各培养组藻细胞在接种后d 2即进入指数生长期,但受氮、磷浓度及结构的影响,各培养组的比生长率和藻密度存在一定的差异.同东海原甲藻的生长类似,藻细胞的NRA也受氮、磷浓度及结构的影响.研究进一步发现,东海原甲藻硝酸还原酶活性的最大值(NRAmax)都出现在指数生长期,与最大比生长率出现时间基本一致,且当N/P=16时,酶活力有最大值,表明东海原甲藻的硝酸还原酶活性存在一定阈值.此外,藻的生长速率与营养盐的同化速率并不一致,存存一定的滞后效应.     

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.