惠州白盆珠水库沉积物营养元素时空变化特征及源解析

为了探究自然过程和人类活动对水库水环境演变过程的影响,采集广东惠州白盆珠水库表层沉积物和沉积柱样品,测定表层沉积物总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和总有机碳(TOC)含量,将水库划分为入库区、中部区和近坝区,分析表层沉积物的营养元素空间分布特征;利用放射性核素(~(210)Pb)和稳定初始放射性通量(CIC)模式为长度为27 cm的沉积柱建立年代序列,测定沉积柱TN、TP、TOC含量,碳稳定同位素(δ~(13)C)值和粒径垂向分布特征,分析营养元素时间分布特征及来源。结果表明:表层沉积物TN、TP和TOC含量分别在水库3个区域间无显著性差异(P0.05),营养物质污染程度低;沉积柱沉积历史约53年,平均沉积速率为0.5 cm·a~(-1);沉积柱TN、TP和TOC含量垂向分布特征可分为3个阶段:1983年之前含量均保持相对稳定,1984—2004年受人类活动影响而逐渐增加,2005—2018年呈先减小后逐渐增加趋势;沉积柱的总有机碳与总氮比值(C/N)和δ~(13)C指示沉积物中的有机质为陆源和内源的混合来源,由于白盆珠水库具有供水功能,以及流域内水土流失控制措施,陆源有机质占比与珠江三角洲其他水库相比较低,约占50%。     

莱州湾-龙口湾表层沉积物有机质特征及来源分析

通过对莱州湾-龙口湾表层沉积物样品中总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、有机碳与总氮的比值(C/N)、稳定碳氮同位素(δ13C、δ15N)生物地球化学指标的测定,分析了该区域沉积物中有机质的特征和来源.结果显示,莱州湾表层沉积物中TOC含量为0.47%±0.40%,龙口湾TOC含量为0.82%±0.37%,TN含量相差不大,因此龙口湾沉积物有机质相对含量高于莱州湾.港口的建设使龙口湾内水体流速减慢,加上龙口湾入海河流较少,使得龙口湾沉积物平均粒径(19.40μm)远低于莱州湾(43.89μm),比较容易吸附有机质.莱州湾沉积物中δ13C值为-24.96‰—21.46‰,平均值为-23.63‰;龙口湾表层沉积物中δ13C值为-23.02‰—22.39‰,平均值为-22.73‰.由此看来,莱州湾沉积物中有机质主要来源于陆生C3植物和藻类,而龙口湾有机质大部分来源于藻类,少数来自陆生C3植物.根据经典的二元模式计算,龙口湾陆源有机质的贡献比例范围为23.15%—33.67%,平均值为28.84%,莱州湾陆源贡献比例范围为7.65%—65.97%,平均值为43.75%.莱州湾沿岸有众多河流入海,尤其是含沙量最多的黄河,给湾内带来大量的陆上有机质,而龙口湾入海河流较少,沉积物中的陆上有机质较少.     

乌梁素海沉积物中营养盐分布特征与固碳能力

通过2008—2011年连续现场采样和室内实验分析,研究了乌梁素海沉积物营养盐的分布特征以及固碳功能.结果发现,乌梁素海沉积物中氮与有机碳水平分布具有相同规律,总磷水平分布差异较大,揭示了沉积环境和水动力条件对磷在沉积物中的累积具有一定影响,也在一定程度上反映了磷来源的多样性.在垂直方向上,总氮、有机碳、硝态氮规律明显,随深度增加有递减的趋势,而总磷和氨氮垂直分布差异性显著,表明其与环境因素和早期演化和成岩作用有关.乌梁素海沉积物中C:N:P=20.2:4.5:1,小于Redfield比(C:N:P=106:16:1).沉积物中总氮与有机碳有明显的正相关性,而总磷与有机碳无相关性.乌梁素海沉积物有机碳沉积速率为169.55 g·m-2·a-1,有机碳密度为5.70 kg·m-2.30 cm深度沉积物中,碳储量为134.39×104t,存在很大的固碳潜力,这对于调节气候变化和维护湖泊区域生态平衡具有重要潜能.     

闽北建溪流域表层沉积物营养元素分布特征及生态风险评价

为了解闽江上游流域沉积物环境的现状,本文研究闽北建溪流域表层沉积物中营养元素的分布特征及生态风险,描述了表层沉积物中有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)的含量分布,运用单因子指数法进行生态风险评价,并分析碳、氮、磷的比例,阐述其相关关系及其环境意义.结果表明,沉积物中TOC、TN和TP的含量均值分别为3.05%、1858.05 mg·kg~(-1)和624.68 mg·kg~(-1),对多数底栖生物处于安全范围; TOC的单因子污染指数范围为2.0—5.8,TN污染指数范围为2.3—4.4,TP指数范围则为0.4—1.7,具有潜在的生态风险;沉积物营养元素比值中TOC/TN均值为16.9,TOC/TP均值为53.7,TN/TP均值为3.2,表明建溪流域沉积物营养元素受内、外源共同输入影响,且以外源作用为主导,其中林地营养物质输出是沉积物营养累积的主要原因之一.总体而言,建溪流域沉积物TN的生态风险较高且主要受流域面源排放影响,TOC与TP的生态风险较低.因此,应着重加强流域氮素面源污染调查并对重点污染源加以严控,减轻流域总氮的生态风险.     

冰封期湿地沉积物碳、氮、磷分布及污染评价

为研究冰封期湿地沉积物污染的变化规律和主要来源,采集了包头南海湿地南海湖中20个点位的沉积物,研究分析总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)的空间分布特征,并对其污染进行评价.结果表明,随着采样深度的增加,沉积物污染物的含量均在逐渐降低,且在表层中累积明显;水平分布主要受进出水口、人类活动、水体流动、外源输入、沉积物-水界面物质交换等影响,呈现一定规律.沉积物中C/N均值为10.44,说明南海湖有机物主要以外源有机质为主.此外,由相关性分析得出,沉积物中TOC、TN、TP含量两两具有极显著正相关关系(P0.01,n=20),由此说明C、N、P具有同源性.由评价结果可知,高寒旱区湖泊与其他平原浅水湖泊的碳、氮、磷沉积特征存在明显差异.     

近百年来大辽河口潮间带中滴滴涕（DDTs）的沉积记录及其对人类活动的响应

滴滴涕(DDTs)在中国农业生产中的使用已被禁止30多年,但仍在多种环境介质中有检出.潮间带作为陆地与海洋交汇区,是污染物在环境中重要的汇.为全面了解近百年来大辽河口潮间带中DDTs的沉积特征,本研究通过在大辽河口潮间带采集柱状沉积物样品,结合定年结果,揭示了近百年来大辽河口潮间带柱状沉积物中DDTs的污染特征,并对其潜在风险、源趋和影响因素进行了分析.结果显示,大辽河口潮间带柱状沉积物中DDTs浓度范围为0.313—4.116 ng·g~(-1)(中值:2.061 ng·g~(-1)),以p,p′-DDTs为主要污染物.1988—1996年为沉积物中DDTs污染高峰期(3.436—4.116 ng·g~(-1)),与1971—1981年农药生产高峰期相对应,且存在约15年的延迟.2000年以后,辽宁省可能存在工业DDT的使用,且与疾病防控有关.经风险评估发现,DDT和DDE在0—110 cm范围内均极少(25%)对底栖生物产生负效应,而DDD和总DDTs在0—44 cm范围内偶尔(25%—50%)对底栖生物产生负效应.DDTs的特征比值分析表明,大辽河口潮间带沉积柱中DDTs主要来源于工业DDT的历史污染而非三氯杀螨醇的使用.DDT降解产物在深层(62—110 cm)以DDE为主,而在浅层(0—62 cm)以DDD为主.1971年后人为活动导致TOC含量的增加是促使大辽河口潮间带沉积物由好氧环境转变为厌氧环境的重要因素.此外,大辽河口潮间带沉积物中DDTs浓度与沉积物性质(总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和总有机碳(TOC))具有极显著相关性(P0.01),且与辽宁省GDP、城市化率和农业总产值等人为活动具有极显著正相关性(P0.01).综上,由潮间带沉积柱中DDTs的浓度和组成反映出人类活动直接或间接影响了潮间带中污染物的存在和归趋.     

洱海湖心区沉积柱芯营养盐垂向分布及时间演化特征

连续的沉积物记录为研究湖泊富营养化的长期过程提供了可能。分析了洱海湖中心沉积柱的营养盐浓度垂向分布和沉积物年代记录,并结合湖心水质变化情况,研究了洱海沉积物营养盐的时间演化特征及生态意义。结果显示:Cal.AD 1960年以前,洱海沉积物营养盐稳定在较低水平,总有机碳(TOC)平均质量分数为1.45%,总氮(TN)平均质量分数为0.20%,总磷(TP)质量分数低于1 000 mg·kg~(-1);Cal.AD 1960年以后,TOC和TN质量分数均急剧升高,尤其在1990年之后呈直线上升态势,最高值分别为5.8%和0.84%,TP质量分数从1 000 mg·kg~(-1)。左右直线上升至1 345 mg·kg~(-1),反映了洱海近几十年来的人为富营养化加剧过程。沉积物TP与TOC、TN呈极显著正相关(P=0.001),TOC与TN的Pearson相关系数最大。洱海沉积物的TOC/TN比值总体比较稳定,数值在5.8~11.5之间波动,反映出这3种营养物质的藻类同源性。沉积物的营养物累积过程伴随水质变化呈不断恶化趋势,1990年后沉积物营养盐的时间演变规律与湖心区水质随时间的变化趋势基本一致。洱海表层沉积物TN、TP浓度明显高于东部平原湖区的湖泊,其营养盐内源负荷不容忽视。与同地区湖泊相比,沉积物TN浓度水平与抚仙湖和滇池相当,而TP浓度明显低于这两个湖泊,说明洱海沉积物对P仍具有较强的吸附容量及潜在缓冲能力。     

金盆水库表层沉积物中营养盐分布特征与污染评价

为探究西安黑河金盆水库表层沉积物中营养盐的分布特征及其污染状况,本研究测定了表层沉积物中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和有机质(OM)的含量,并与其它湖库进行比较,分析了TN、TP和OM的相关性,并探究了表层沉积物中营养元素的来源及其污染状况.结果表明,TN平均含量为1132 mg·kg~(-1),TP平均含量为1131 mg·kg~(-1),OM平均含量为7.02%,三者空间变化趋势基本一致,从上游至库区,含量先减小后增加.与其它湖库相比,金盆水库表层沉积物中TN含量相对较小,TP和OM含量均处于中等水平.TOC/TN值表明,水库表层沉积物中OM均来源于高等陆生植物.TOC与TN、TP均存在显著的相关性,且与TN相关性更高,表明金盆水库表层沉积物有机质的矿化过程与氮、磷,尤其是氮的物质来源和沉积变化过程关系更为密切.根据沉积物质量评价指南,TN、TP和TOC含量均达到最低级别,说明金盆水库已受到一定程度的污染.     

沙蚕（Perinereis aibuhitensis）对老化贝类养殖沉积物的生物修复研究

在连续多年进行底栖贝类高密度养殖的滩涂海域,沉积物老化现象十分突出,养殖沉积环境的修复是改善养殖环境的重要途径,而沙蚕是一种优良的潜在生物修复物种。为了探索老化养殖沉积环境的最优生物修复方式。以文蛤(Meretrix meretrix)老化养殖滩涂沉积物为研究对象,投放不同密度(高密度:0.30 kg·m~(-2),中密度:0.20 kg·m~(-2),低密度:0.10 kg·m~(-2))的双齿围沙蚕(Perinereis aibuhitensis),通过6个月的现场修复试验,检测分析沉积物中氧化还原电位(Eh)、温度(t)、pH、硫化物、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)及总有机碳(TOC)含量的变化特征,研究双齿围沙蚕对沉积物的生物修复效果。结果表明,4-9月各试验组沉积物的Eh、pH、T整体上升,平均值分别为(-291.70±75.23) mV、(7.56±0.17)、(15.70±3.75)℃,9月各试验组沉积物中Eh、pH、t值最高分别为-116.43m V,7.91,20.36℃,但试验区域沉积物性质依然属于还原、弱碱性环境;4-9月各试验组沉积物的硫化物、TOC、TN整体下降,平均值分别为(400±66)mg·kg~(-1)、(1.10%±0.19%)、(0.17%±0.05%),9月中密度试验组沉积物中硫化物、TOC、TN最低,分别为269 mg·kg~(-1)、0.83%、0.07%,TP呈前期略微下降,后期上下波动的趋势。研究结果表明双齿围沙蚕在一定程度上可以改善老化养殖沉积物的还原环境,降低老化养殖沉积物中过高的硫化物、TOC、TN、TP含量,其修复作用与投放沙蚕的密度有关,在该试验条件下,0.20 kg·m~(-2)的投放密度较为适宜。该研究为大规模的沿海老化滩涂底质环境修复提供了一定的理论和实践基础。     

东昌湖表层沉积物的磷赋存形态

对东昌湖表层沉积物,应用Ruban等在欧洲标准委员会框架下发展的淡水沉积物磷形态分离法(SMT)测定铁铝结合态磷(Fe/Al-P)、钙结合态磷(Ca-P)、无机磷(IP)、有机磷(OP)和总磷(TP),分析TP与总氮(TN)和总有机碳(TOC)之间的相关性,结果表明,东昌湖表层沉积物的总磷含量在428.67—933.95 mg.kg-1之间,平均含量为597.78 mg.kg-1;沉积物的磷以IP为主,占TP的70.06%—91.08%,以OP为辅,占TP含量的12.31%—26.40%.IP中以Ca-P为主,占TP含量的64.67%—94.51%,Fe/Al-P仅占TP的2.57%—10.40%,从各形态磷占TP的百分比来看,Ca-P>OP>Fe/Al-P.东昌湖表层沉积物向上覆水体释放磷的潜力不大.东昌湖沉积物TP含量与梁子湖、太湖、洪泽湖、东湖和南四湖的TP含量相当,低于玄武湖和滇池;Fe/Al-P含量比我国其它湖泊要小1—2个数量级;Ca-P含量较国内其它湖泊的Ca-P含量高.表层沉积物的TP与TN、TOC之间呈极显著正相关关系,TP分布受到TN和TOC的输入影响.     

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.     

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).     

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