不同经营方式及生境对大兴安岭高纬度林区生长盛季森林土壤CO_2、CH_4、N_2O通量的影响

为了确定不同森林经营利用方式(原始林、皆伐林、渐伐林)及不同生境(有林地、无林地、湿地)对于森林土壤-大气主要温室气体通量的影响,于2013年生长盛季(7─8月),在内蒙古大兴安岭兴安落叶松(Larix gmelinii)林区选取了16块样地,采用静态箱/气相色谱法进行了土壤-大气温室气体通量的原位观测。气体监测的同时,测定了土壤湿度和各层土壤温度以及各样地土壤的物理、化学性质。实验结果表明:大兴安岭兴安落叶松林区生长盛季CH4通量平均值为C(-133.6±62.3)μg·m-2·h-1。沼泽湿地(PD2和PD7)CH4表现为释放,CH4通量平均值为C(130.0±41.0)μg·m-2·h-1,其它14个样地土壤CH4为吸收,吸收通量变化范围为C(-242.0~-42.6)μg·m-2·h-1,变异系数为47%。所有样地CO2的地-气通量变化范围是C(94.9~1164.0)μg·m-2·h-1,平均值为C(671.3±324.3)μg·m-2·h-1,变异系数是48%。所有样地N2O通量的范围是N(1.2~21.6)μg·m-2·h-1,平均值为N(7.3±6.1)μg·m-2·h-1,变异系数为84%。通过数据分析显示,大兴安岭林区生长盛季不同经营方式及不同生境对森林土壤-大气CH4、CO2、N2O通量均无显著相关性。CH4通量与土壤各层温度及各层湿度并未发现有显著相关性,仅显示CH4通量与土壤有机质(SOC)呈正相关关系、土壤全氮(TN)呈负相关关系;CO2通量与土壤5 cm处温度显著相关(P=0.042 3),与土壤0 cm及10 cm处温度无显著相关性,CO2通量与土壤各层温度呈正相关关系,与腐殖质层、0~10 cm以及10~20 cm土壤湿度呈负相关关系,与SOC、TN呈负相关关系;N2O通量与土壤各层温度、湿度及SOC均呈正相关关系,与TN呈负相关关系。     

华南丘陵区针叶林和果园地表CH4通量的日变化

利用静态箱-气相色谱法对华南丘陵区典型土地利用类型(针叶林:马尾松 Pinus massoniana;果园:龙眼Dimocarpus longan Lour)地表CH4通量日变化进行了原位观测.结果表明, 针叶林和果园土壤总体来说为大气CH4的吸收汇.地表CH4通量日变化波动较大,规律不明显.吸收较强的月份为10-11月,较弱的月份为6-9月.针叶林地表CH4吸收通量日平均值变化幅度为-0.093～0.066 mg·m-2·h-1,果园为-0.098～0.146 mg·m-2·h-1.地温和气温对地表CH4通量无明显影响.降雨对地表CH4通量有较大的影响,旱季(10-3月) 地表CH4吸收通量大于雨季(4-9月).凋落物和植被类型对CH4通量没有明显影响.     

鼎湖山针阔叶混交林地表CH4通量

用静态箱-气相色谱法对鼎湖山针阔叶混交林的地表CH4通量进行了为期一年的原位观测和研究.结果表明,该林型土壤总体为大气CH4的吸收汇,通量年变化范围60～-120 μg·m-2·h-1,在雨季向旱季过渡的9、10月份,土壤对CH4的吸收较为强烈,而在冬季的1月份,吸收通量最小;凋落物层对该林型地表CH4的吸收没有明显的阻隔作用;多元回归分析发现CH4通量与地下5 cm温度显著相关,尤其是在土壤湿度变化不大的旱季,土壤表层温度为影响CH4通量的主导因子.     

北亚热带红壤丘陵区3种土地利用方式下CH_4通量及其影响因素

以北亚热带红壤丘陵区林地、茶园、菜地为对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法,对3种土地利用方式下CH4通量进行了研究,同时测定了土壤温度、含水量和无机氮含量。旨在探索不同土地利用方式下CH4"源"和"汇"的功能,对评估不同土地利用方式对全球气候变化的贡献具有重要意义。结果表明,不同土地利用方式下土壤甲烷平均通量有显著差异,分别为:林地-15.44μg·m-2·h-1,茶园-1.49μg·m-2·h-1,菜地7.11μg·m-2·h-1;菜地土壤甲烷平均通量最高,茶园其次,林地最低,CH4年累积通量分别为0.52、-0.31和-1.46 kg·hm-2,菜地土壤以排放CH4为主,而茶园和林地土壤是CH4的汇。茶园和菜地土壤CH4通量呈一定的季节性变化,春、秋季CH4通量较高。林地CH4吸收通量与土壤湿度呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),且当土壤湿度(WFPS)高于70%时,林地土壤才以排放CH4为主;而茶园和菜地土壤CH4吸收通量与土壤含水量无显著相关关系。土壤CH4通量与土壤温度之间未呈显著的相关关系。不同土地利用方式下土壤CH4排放通量与铵态氮含量呈显著的负相关关系(P0.05),而与硝态氮含量未呈显著的相关性。     

水热条件对不同坡位兴安落叶松林土壤CH_4通量的影响

兴安落叶松林是我国北方最大的针叶林,在我国具有重要的碳汇地位,对我国以及全球的气候变化具有重要影响。由于独特的高寒高湿和多年冻土的特殊生态环境,兴安落叶松林土壤中CH4的吸收与释放的规律与众不同。因此,开展对土壤CH4动态及其与环境关系的研究,对揭示兴安落叶松林碳汇能力的形成、碳释放动态以及兴安落叶松林对气候变化的作用具有重要的理论和实践意义。作者于2011年5月到9月间在内蒙古根河国家生态站,在不同坡位的4种典型兴安落叶松林群落中布设样地,采用静态箱-红外气体分析仪收集气体并分析CH4通量的变化,同时测定不同深度的土壤温度,测定土壤含水率。借助SAS方差分析、相关性分析等统计方法,对兴安落叶松林土壤CH4通量的季节变化进行研究,同时分析土壤温度及含水率对CH4通量的影响。结果表明,CH4的季节动态变化规律:坡顶CH4通量为春季释放,夏季吸收,秋季释放,吸收大于释放,通量的平均值为-68.12μg·m-2·h-1;坡上部CH4通量为春夏秋3季均吸收,通量的平均值为-342.49μg·m-2·h-1;坡下部CH4通量为春季释放,夏季吸收,秋季释放,释放大于吸收,通量的平均值为67.8μg·m-2·h-1;坡脚CH4通量为春夏秋3季均释放,通量的平均值为263μg·m-2·h-1。总的来说,在生长季兴安落叶松林土壤甲烷通量吸收大于释放,说明地处寒温带的大兴安岭是CH4的汇。观测期间CH4通量与温度及土壤含水率均有一定的相关性,二者从不同角度影响CH4通量的变化,而随着坡位的变化土壤水热条件也随之改变,这同样是影响CH4通量的一个重要因素。     

秋季COS和DMS在草坪与大气间的交换

利用静态箱法研究了羰基硫 (COS)和二甲基硫 (DMS)在绿化草坪与大气之间的交换 .在秋季 ,草坪对COS的吸收通量为 0 75— 1 4 5 μg·m- 2 ·h- 1 ,对DMS的排放通量为0 0 5— 0 35 μg·m- 2 ·h- 1 .COS和DMS的交换通量与环境温度、光照及初始浓度等因素有关 ,其中 ,周围大气COS的浓度对草坪吸收COS的影响最为明显 .草坪对COS的吸收通量与DMS的排放通量呈正相关 ,相关系数 (R2 )大于 0 7.此外 ,COS的垂直分布也表明草坪对COS具有明显的吸收作用     

冬季淹水稻田CH_4产生、氧化和排放规律及其影响因素研究

采用静态箱/气象色谱法——田间原位观测和室内培养试验连续一年研究了冬季淹水稻田的CH4产生潜力、氧化潜力和排放通量,以探讨冬季淹水稻田CH4产生、氧化和排放的季节变化规律及其影响因素。结果表明：0~251 d（d表示淹水后天数）,CH4产生潜力逐渐增大,到251 d达最大值,之后逐渐减小;0~204 d,CH4氧化潜力变化较小,但到235 d急剧增至最大值,随后逐渐减小;0~169 d,稻田几乎没有CH4排放,192 d才开始有较明显的CH4排放,到230 d达最大值,为80.2 mg.m-2.h-1,随后逐渐减小,331 d出现一个CH4排放高峰。全观测期内CH4排放量为69.9 g.m-2,其中非水稻生长期排放6.7 g.m-2,占总量的9.5%。全观测期内CH4产生潜力与土温及土壤Eh均无显著相关性;全观测期内CH4氧化潜力与土温极显著正相关（P〈0.01）,水稻生长期CH4氧化潜力与土壤中氨氮含量呈极显著正相关（P〈0.01）;全观测期内稻田CH4排放与土温和CH4产生潜力两个因素均显著正相关（P〈0.05）而与土壤Eh呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）。     

岩溶表层带土壤温度和含水率对呼吸作用的影响

全球环境变化对岩溶区的碳循环产生重要的影响,而土壤呼吸作用在全球环境变化的影响和反馈的过程中具有十分重要的作用。因此,以岩溶区的岩溶表层带为研究对象,研究了土壤呼吸作用与土壤温度和大气降水量之间的响应机理和内在联系。研究结果表明：岩溶表层带的土壤呼吸作用具有单峰型的季节性变化特征。洼地0~5、10~20 cm 的土壤呼吸速率在范围变化分别为82.58 mg· m-2· h-1至412.89、151.39 mg· m-2· h-1至523 mg· m-2· h-1,最大值出现在8月中旬。坡地0~5、10~20 cm的土壤呼吸速率在范围变化55.05 mg· m-2· h-1至412.89、137.63 mg· m-2· h-1至495.47 mg· m-2· h-1,最大值出现也在8月中旬。洼地的土壤呼吸作用相对强于坡地,主要是由于坡地土壤相对洼地土壤较薄并且容易被降水冲刷搬运。在大气降水量不成为限制土壤呼吸作用的因子下,土壤温度为主要控制土壤呼吸作用的因子。因此,该研究可为控制土壤呼吸作用缓和大气CO2的升高和温室效应应对策略,为国家固碳减排的科学决策提供理论依据。     

水旱轮作稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH4和N2O排放的影响

甲烷（CH4）和氧化亚氮（N2O）是仅次于二氧化碳（CO2）的重要温室气体,农田是大气CH4和N20的重要来源,但目前农业措施对CH4和N2O排放的影响尚不明确。以水旱轮作稻田旱作季休闲为对照,采用静态箱．气相色谱法研究了种植紫云英、黑麦草、冬小麦以及油菜等4种作物对稻田旱作季CH4和N2O排放及其温室效应的影响。结果表明：水旱轮作稻田旱作季CH4排放通量较低,而N2O排放较为明显。稻田旱作季CH4平均排放通量表现为油菜〉黑麦草〉冬小麦〉紫云英〉休闲,依次为8．96、7．19、6．94、6．52和6．02μg·m-2·h-1,季节N20平均排放通量的顺序是油菜（61．1lμg·m-2·h-1）〉冬小麦（52．5lag·m-2·h-1）〉黑麦草（34．0μg·m-2·h。）〉休闲（15.3lμg·m-2·h-1）〉紫云英（13．6lμg·m-2·h-1）。稻田旱作季种植不同作物对CH4和N2O季节总排放量的影响达到极显著水平（P〈0．01）,C144和N2O季节总排放量均以种植油菜为最大,分别达到43．2和294．7mg·m-2,比对照休闲增加49％和299％。种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草较对照休闲显著增加稻田旱作季总增温潜势（P〈0．05）,紫云英和休闲处理间总增温潜势无显著差异（P〉0．05）。研究表明,种植油菜、冬小麦和黑麦草等作物由于氮肥的施用增加了水旱轮作稻田旱作季温室效应。     

互花米草入侵盐沼湿地CH_4和N_2O排放日变化特征研究

甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)是导致全球气候变暖的2种重要温室气体,探索其源汇及地域排放特征一直是全球变化研究领域的核心内容。CH4和N2O通量的日变化研究是正确估算大时间尺度下CH4和N2O排放量的基础。利用静态箱法原位观测了江苏沿海芦苇(Phragmites australis)、盐蒿(Suada salsa)、光滩、水面以及互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵湿地CH4和N2O排放的日变化特征。结果表明,1)互花米草湿地地上部生物量为1.70 kg·m-2,土壤有机碳质量分数为13.55 g·kg-1;分别是芦苇和盐蒿湿地的2.50~3.43和2.15~4.15倍。2)互花米草和芦苇湿地土壤10 cm处氧化还原电位(Eh)有明显日变化,最低值出现在3:00,最高值出现在12:00;光滩和盐蒿湿地没有明显的日变化。3)互花米草湿地CH4日平均排放通量为0.52 mg·m-2·h-1,是其他湿地的2.12~6.40倍;N2O日平均通量为-3.24μg·m-2·h-1,显著低于盐蒿湿地、光滩和水面(P0.05)。互花米草和芦苇湿地CH4排放通量最高值(0.73 mg·m-2·h-1和0.30 mg·m-2·h-1)出现在15:00,最低值(0.37mg·m-2·h-1和0.17 mg·m-2·h-1)出现在3:00,均与土壤孔隙水中CH4浓度呈显著负相关(P0.05)。互花米草湿地CH4排放通量与10 cm土温、Eh和生态系统CO2净交换量(NEE)显著正相关(P0.05)。互花米草和芦苇湿地N2O通量9:00-18:00为负值,21:00—6:00为正值,均与NEE呈显著负相关(P0.05)。盐蒿湿地、光滩和水面CH4和N2O排放通量没有明显日变化特征。互花米草入侵提高了沿海湿地CH4排放,但降低了N2O排放,植物对CH4传输作用以及向根际传输O2和易分解有机物是导致互花米草和芦苇湿地CH4和N2O排放表现出日变化特征的原因。     

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.     

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.     

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.