高效液相串联质谱法检定活性污泥中N-高丝氨酸内酯

N-高丝氨酸内酯(AHLs)是革兰氏阴性菌群体感应系统中最重要的一类信号分子.本研究建立了高效液相串联质谱(HPLC-MS/MS)检测活性污泥中7种AHLs的方法.采用乙腈-水为流动相,选择电喷雾源正离子模式,经过梯度洗脱分离,在多反应监测模式下进行测定,分析时间为10 min.本方法在1—1000μg·L~(-1)范围内具有良好的线性关系,仪器检出限为1.0—2.0μg·L~(-1),仪器定量限为2.0—5.0μg·L~(-1),平均加标回收率在80.0%—113.4%之间.采用该方法对某污水处理厂和实验室序批式活性污泥装置(SBR)中活性污泥进行检测,均可检测到不同种类的AHLs,并具有良好的峰型及分离效果,说明方法可满足实际测定要求.     

鸡、猪粪便源大肠杆菌对4种抗生素耐药性的比较

以琼脂稀释法对67株鸡源大肠杆菌及61株猪源大肠杆菌进行最低抑菌浓度(MIC)测定,并以SPSS分别进行卡方检验和Probit模型估算,分析不同来源大肠杆菌耐药差异显著性及不同抗生素的半数抑菌浓度(MIC50),以期对不同畜禽粪便来源的大肠杆菌耐药差异进行详细准确的探讨。结果显示,鸡源大肠杆菌对头孢噻肟、诺氟沙星、环丙沙星和四环素耐药率分别为98.51%、68.66%、56.72%和100%,猪源大肠杆菌对头孢噻肟耐药率为88.52%,对诺氟沙星、环丙沙星和四环素则100%耐药。除四环素,鸡源、猪源大肠杆菌对诺氟沙星、环丙沙星、头孢噻肟的耐受差异显著(P0.05),51%的鸡源大肠杆菌和89%的猪源大肠杆菌均呈4重耐药。SPSS分析结果表明,Probit模型估算结果优于当前MIC50常规计算方法,头孢噻肟、诺氟沙星、环丙沙星和四环素对鸡源大肠杆菌MIC50分别为40.031μg·m L~(-1)、40.020μg·m L~(-1)、2.683μg·m L~(-1)和101.418μg·m L~(-1),对猪源大肠杆菌MIC50分别为8.724μg·m L~(-1)、56.044μg·m L~(-1)、31.214μg·m L~(-1)和130.915μg·m L~(-1)。回归方程显示环丙沙星对鸡源大肠杆菌抑制作用最强;高于40.031μg·m L~(-1)时,诺氟沙星抗菌作用弱于头孢噻肟,低于120.23μg·m L~(-1)时,诺氟沙星抗菌作用强于四环素;头孢噻肟、环丙沙星、诺氟沙星和四环素对猪源大肠杆菌的抑菌作用则呈递减趋势。同时验证了诺氟沙星和环丙沙星属同种作用机制,基于Probit模型计算更简单、快速、直观。研究结果可为畜禽养殖中大肠杆菌的耐药差异监控提供一定的数据基础。     

铅和得克隆联合暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的神经毒性作用

以斑马鱼(Danio rerio)为研究对象,探讨铅(Pb)、得克隆(DP)及二者联合急性暴露对斑马鱼胚胎的神经毒性作用。结果表明,Pb(5、20μg·L~(-1))和DP(15、60μg·L~(-1))单独暴露均会引起斑马鱼自主运动频率增加,触摸反应能力和自由游泳活力下降,并且抑制初级运动神经元的生长,加剧尾部细胞凋亡。但与20μg·L~(-1)Pb单独暴露相比,高剂量联合暴露(20μg·L~(-1)Pb+60μg·L~(-1)DP)使斑马鱼的自主运动频率显著降低(P0.05),触摸反应能力和自由游泳活力显著增强(P0.05),初级运动神经元轴突长度显著增加(P0.05),尾部细胞凋亡减少。与5μg·L~(-1)Pb单独暴露相比,低剂量联合暴露(5μg·L~(-1)Pb+15μg·L~(-1)DP)也显著减少斑马鱼尾部的细胞凋亡(P0.05)。上述结果表明,Pb或DP单独暴露对斑马鱼均可引起神经毒性作用;但二者联合暴露对斑马鱼自主运动、触摸反应以及自由游泳活力的影响则表现为拮抗作用。     

氮沉降增加对贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构的影响

土壤微生物是草原土壤生态系统的重要组成部分。为研究氮沉降增加对草原土壤微生物群落结构的影响,以内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原为研究对象,开展连续6年(2010—2015年)模拟氮沉降试验,以N计算,设置:N0(0 kg·hm~(-2))、N50(50kg·hm~(-2))、N100(100 kg·hm~(-2))、N150(150 kg·hm~(-2))和N300(300 kg·hm~(-2))5个处理,采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)技术测定0~10 cm土壤特征微生物PLFA生物标记数量并探讨土壤微生物群落结构对氮沉降的响应。结果表明:随氮添加量增大,土壤微生物总PLFAs、细菌PLFAs、革兰氏阳性细菌PLFAs、革兰氏阴性细菌PLFAs和放线菌PLFAs含量呈先升高后降低的趋势,均以N100(100 kg·hm~(-2))处理最高。土壤微生物群落PLFA标记的主成分分析显示,不同氮添加下土壤微生物PLFA标记有显著差异。相关分析表明,土壤革兰氏阳性菌、放线菌PLFA含量、G~+/G~-与土壤p H值呈显著负相关,土壤微生物总PLFAs、土壤细菌PLFAs、革兰氏阳性菌PLFAs、革兰氏阴性菌PLFAs、放线菌PLFAs和饱和脂肪酸PLFAs含量均与土壤速效磷含量呈显著正相关。综合研究表明,连续6年氮添加改变了贝加尔针茅草原土壤微生物群落结构,土壤p H值和土壤速效磷含量是驱动这种变化的主要因素。     

吡啶硫酮金属对华美盘管虫(Hydroides elegans)精子DNA的损伤效应

吡啶硫酮铜(Cu PT)和吡啶硫酮锌(Zn PT)在渗出型海洋防污涂料中的应用日益广泛,其生态毒性引起了人们的关注。本文以南海海域常见优势种——华美盘管虫(Hydroides elegans Haswell)为试验动物,采用彗星实验研究了吡啶硫酮金属对华美盘管虫精子细胞DNA的损伤情况。结果显示,低浓度(4μg·L~(-1)Cu PT或8μg·L~(-1)Zn PT)处理组的精子细胞,其"彗星"尾长、尾DNA含量及Olive尾矩都显著高于溶剂对照组(P0.05);较高浓度(8μg·L~(-1)或16μg·L~(-1)Cu PT,16μg·L~(-1)或32μg·L~(-1)Zn PT)处理组的精子细胞,其"彗星"尾长和尾矩多数显著高于溶剂对照组(P0.01)。此外,尾长和Olive尾矩在试验浓度范围内都呈现"效应-浓度"正相关。Cu PT为4μg·L~(-1)、Zn PT为8μg·L~(-1)时,对精子DNA造成轻度损伤;Cu PT为8μg·L~(-1)、16μg·L~(-1),Zn PT为16μg·L~(-1)、32μg·L~(-1)时,则达到了中度损伤的程度。可见吡啶硫酮金属具有较明显的海洋生态遗传毒性;另一方面,华美盘管虫精子细胞DNA对吡啶硫酮金属的胁迫呈现出较高的敏感性和效应-浓度相关性,在作为生态遗传毒性的生物指标方面具有潜在优势,进一步的研究将促进其在海洋重金属污染评价中的应用,特别是用于南海海洋环境的早期预警监测。     

外源和内源呼吸模式下好氧活性污泥的微生物群落演替及生物活性特征

通过模拟好氧活性污泥实验,采用PCR-DGGE技术并监测不同时期的CODCr、脱氢酶和总蛋白质的质量浓度,研究在外源和内源呼吸模式下,微生物群落结构及相关生物活性的变化。结果表明：未添加碳源处理中 CODCr的质量浓度稳定在100 mg·L-1左右;脱氢酶的质量浓度从1μg·mL-1降低到接近0μg·mL-1;总蛋白的质量浓度从0.05 mg·mL-1上升至0.07 mg·mL-1后下降至0.01 mg·mL-1左右;同时,微生物群落结构变化不大。外加葡萄糖处理中CODCr的质量浓度从1000 mg·L-1下降并稳定在100 mg·L-1左右;脱氢酶的质量浓度从2μg·mL-1上升到5μg·mL-1;总蛋白的质量浓度均从0.05 mg·mL-1上升至0.07 mg·mL-1后下降至0.005 mg·mL-1左右;同时,微生物群落多样性呈现收敛趋势。内源和外源呼吸模式下的活性污泥中,变形菌门（ Proteobacteria ）都是绝对优势种群,其次是拟杆菌门（ Bacteroidetes ）。内源呼吸末期δ-变形菌门（Deltaproteobacteria）消失,外源呼吸末期硝化螺菌门（Nitrospirae）消失。     

降水处理对南亚热带季风林土壤微生物群落结构的影响

全球变暖导致降水格局的变化,进而影响到土壤碳排放与土壤环境特征,土壤微生物群落结构是反映这一变化的有效早期响应指示。以南亚热带鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林(季风林)土壤为对象,探讨降水变化对不同土壤层土壤微生物群落的影响,试验设置3种降水变化处理(年降水量不变但降水次数增加、减少50%降水量、自然降水),采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)技术提取土壤微生物含量。结果表明:(1)不同降水处理对同一土层土壤微生物总PLFAs量、细菌PLFAs量、真菌PLFAs量、放线菌PLFAs量、丛枝菌根真菌PLFAs量影响不显著(P0.05);(2)0~10 cm土层中,土壤微生物细菌(革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌)、真菌、放线菌和丛枝菌根真菌的相对丰度值差异不明显,说明不同降水处理条件下,该层土壤微生物群落结构较为相似;(3)10~20 cm土层中,不同降水处理对细菌(革兰氏阳性菌和革兰氏阴性菌)的相对丰度产生明显的影响(P0.05);(4)在所有试验处理中,土壤p H作为一个重要的影响因子,与土壤微生物总PLFAs量成极显著负相关关系(P0.01)。     

镉胁迫对水稻生长发育的影响及伤流液与稻米镉含量的相关性研究

立足于我国水稻受镉污染的实际情况,研究镉胁迫对水稻生长发育的影响,并探讨伤流液镉含量与稻米镉含量之间的关系,为镉污染地区稻米安全生产提供数据支持和科学指导。采用营养液培育试验方法,选择中嘉早17和泰优390两个水稻品种,设置CK(0μg·L~(-1))、Cd10(10μg·L~(-1))、Cd50(50μg·L~(-1))、Cd200(200μg·L~(-1))、Cd500(500μg·L~(-1))和Cd1000(1 000μg·L~(-1)) 6个Cd浓度处理,分析不同浓度镉胁迫对水稻生长发育的影响以及各部位镉含量与糙米镉含量的相关性。结果表明,与CK相比,ρ(Cd)≤10μg·L~(-1)处理对水稻生长有促进作用,但未达显著水平(P0. 05),当ρ(Cd)10μg·L~(-1)时有抑制作用,Cd浓度越高,抑制作用越明显。水稻各部位镉含量随着镉胁迫浓度的增大而增大,伤流液中镉含量增加幅度与各部位变化趋于一致。伤流液镉含量与糙米镉含量之间存在极显著正相关(P0. 01),且在分蘖期伤流液镉含量能较好地用于预测水稻镉毒害程度。     

高效液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定人血清中的全氟辛烷磺酸及其前体物

本研究采用HPLC-MS/MS联用技术,建立了分析人血清样品中全氟辛酸(PFOA)、全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)及7种PFOS前体物的方法.以Fluoro Sep RP Octyl反相柱为色谱分离柱,甲醇和醋酸铵为梯度洗脱淋洗液,内标校正法进行定量分析.比较了3种不同萃取方法对目标全氟化合物的萃取性能,结果表明乙腈/乙酸乙酯(体积比60∶40)混合溶剂的萃取效率最高.提取液进质谱分析前,预先过石墨烯柱进一步净化以减轻基质效应和延长色谱柱寿命.9种目标全氟烷基化合物在0.50—50μg·L~(-1)浓度范围内线性相关系数r均大于0.995,检出限为0.013—0.083μg·L~(-1),定量限为0.043—0.28μg·L~(-1).在添加浓度为0.50、1.0、5.0μg·L~(-1)水平下,9种全氟烷基化合物的加标回收率为81.7%—108%,相对标准偏差均小于12%.本方法稳定性好、准确度高、且可同时分析不同种类的PFOS前体以及PFOA和PFOS的异构体,适用于实际人体血清样品的定量分析检测.对10份中国人体血清样品的分析结果表明,PFOA和PFOS的浓度分别为0.60—5.1μg·L~(-1)和1.2—63μg·L~(-1),总支链PFOA的含量比例为3.0%—12%,总支链PFOS的含量比例为32%—69%.N-Me FOSAA在一个血清样品中被检出,其浓度为0.92μg·L~(-1).2个血清样品中含有全氟辛烷磺酰胺(FOSA),其浓度为0.12μg·L~(-1)和0.17μg·L~(-1).     

上海市崇明岛养殖场周边环境中氟喹诺酮类抗生素的含量特征

在上海崇明岛选取15个不同规模的猪场、禽场和奶牛场,分别采集粪肥以及距离养殖场50 m内的地表水、土壤和相应的蔬菜样品,利用液相色谱串联质谱(LC/MS-MS)技术进行氧氟沙星(OFL)、恩诺沙星(ENR)、环丙沙星(CIP)和诺氟沙星(NOR)4种氟喹诺酮类抗生素含量分析,以了解目前上海市崇明岛养殖场周边环境中氟喹诺酮类抗生素的含量水平特征。结果表明,上海市崇明岛养殖场粪肥中氟喹诺酮类抗生素总含量范围为9.00~950μg·kg~(-1),平均值为144μg·kg~(-1),4种抗生素的检出率均在70%以上。周边地表水中氟喹诺酮总含量为2.8~477.5μg·L~(-1),平均值为86.8μg·L~(-1),ENR的检出率为66.7%,OFL、CIP和NOR的检出率均为100%。土壤中氟喹诺酮类抗生素总含量范围为19.1~802μg·kg~(-1),平均值为144μg·kg~(-1),OFL、ENR和CIP的检出率均为100%,NOR的检出率为90.9%。蔬菜中氟喹诺酮类抗生素总含量为ND~110μg·kg~(-1),平均值为21.9μg·kg~(-1)。OFL和CIP的检出率为73.3%,ENR和NOR的检出率为53.3%。养殖场周边环境中氟喹诺酮类抗生素含量均值为粪肥土壤周边地表水蔬菜。对同种氟喹诺酮类抗生素在养殖场周边不同环境介质中含量的相关性分析表明,OFL在粪肥与地表水中的含量呈正相关关系,OFL、CIP、NOR在水样与蔬菜中的含量呈正相关关系。     

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.     

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.