采用PCR-DGGE技术研究处理农田退水组合人工湿地微生物群落特征

以种植美人蕉和旱伞竹的复合垂直流人工湿地(MIL)系统的基质(分子筛、陶粒和碎石)及表流人工湿地的基质土壤为材料,采用PCR-DGGE技术研究处理农田退水的湿地中微生物群落结构的差异及其优势菌群.结果显示,MIL系统上行池中种植美人蕉、旱伞竹和不种植物对照3个处理的表层水样和上层碎石基质以及表流人工湿地3个处理的基质土样的可操作分类单元OTU(Operation Taxonomy Unit)数目都比较多(12-14),说明其微生物种类较多,微生物多样性较高,其优势种群主要为Uncultured Xylella sp.、Uncultred bacterium以及Uncultured Tolumones sp.和Acidovorax;MIL系统上行池下层的陶粒和分子筛基质的OTU数目以对照和种植旱伞竹的较高(6-11),而种植美人蕉处理最少(4-5),呈现微生物种类少、微生物多样性较低的特点,其优势种群主要有Uncultured Xylella sp.、Uncutured soil bacterium和Uncultured Sphingomon adacsas.这些结果表明垂直复合湿地系统选择种植美人蕉能提高其下层基质还原性,降低细菌多样性,有利于硝态氮的还原去除.     

垂直流-水平潜流复合人工湿地深度处理电镀废水的效果

采用垂直流-水平潜流复合人工湿地对金华清湖电镀厂排放的电镀废水尾水进行深度处理,研究复合人工湿地对电镀废水的深度净化效果,并对复合人工湿地在低(30 cm·d-1)、高(55 cm·d-1)水力负荷条件下的去除效果进行对比试验,探讨水力负荷对复合人工湿地处理能力的影响.复合人工湿地主要由调节池、垂直流人工湿地、水平潜流人工湿地和集水池四部分组成,电镀厂化学沉淀处理后的尾水先经一级垂直流人工湿地的基质和植物根系的过滤、吸附作用,刺激微生物活性,再流入水平潜流人工湿地完成二级处理,依靠植物、微生物、基质三者的联合作用从而使电镀废水得到深度净化.其中,垂直流人工湿地种植凤眼莲(Eichhornia crassipes)、稗草(Echinochloa crusgalli)和空心莲子草(Herba Alternantherae)3种水生植物,潜流人工湿地种植藨草(Scirpus triqueter)、黄菖蒲(Iris pseudacorus)、芦苇(Phragmites communis)、千屈菜(Lythrum salicaria)和美人蕉(Canna indica)5种水生植物.结果表明,复合人工湿地对电镀废水的净化效果非常显著,对Zn、Cu、Cr、Mn四种重金属和COD具有很高的去除率,处理后Zn、Cu、Cr、Mn和COD的质量分数分别为15.9%、12.4%、15.2%、28.5%和32.9%.其中,Cu、Mn和COD出水符合<污水综合排放标准>(GB8978-1996)一级标准,而Zn、Cr虽有很高的去除率,但并未达到标准.研究同样表明,复合人工湿地对电镀废水的去除效率存在一个最适宜的处理时间,过短和过长的处理时间都不利于污染物的去除.低、高水力负荷对比试验研究表明,水力负荷对COD的去除效果影响较大,对Zn、Cu、Cr、Mn的影响较小;在高水力负荷条件下,复合人工湿地对Zn、Cu、Cr、Mn四种重金属仍然具有很高的去除率,其质量分数分别降到32.3%、27.7%、30.8%、43.2%.     

人工湿地去除三唑磷的生物学机制初步研究

构建了以陶粒为基质、种植美人蕉（Canna indica）的水平潜流人工湿地小试系统,研究了该人工湿地系统对水体中三唑磷（triazophos,TAP）的去除效果,通过测定基质酶脲酶和碱性磷酸活性、微生物种群特征及植物根系超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性,初步探讨了该人工湿地系统去除水体TAP的生物学机制。实验结果表明,在进水TAP浓度分别为0 mg·L-1（对照CW1）、0.1 mg·L-1（低浓度CW2）、1 mg·L-1（中浓度CW3）和5 mg·L-1（高浓度CW4）的条件下,人工湿地对水体中三唑磷具有良好的去除效果,去除率分别是96.4%、96.8%和53.7%。在进水TAP浓度越高的人工湿地系统中,进水端基质脲酶和碱性磷酸酶活性越高。中、高TAP浓度进水的系统中脲酶活性分别高于对照系统21.8%和29.2%。高TAP浓度进水的系统中碱性磷酸酶活性分别高于对照和低浓度进水系统51.7%和36.3%（p〈0.05）。比较进水端而言,各系统出水端的酶活性显著降低（p〈0.05）。相关性分析结果显示系统TAP的去除与基质中碱性磷酸酶活性呈显著正相关（p〈0.05）,表明基质中脲酶、碱性磷酸酶在人工湿地去除TAP过程中发挥重要作用。对各人工湿地系统基质中微生物进行分离纯化,并通过16S rDNA基因测序,结果表明,进水含TAP系统的进水端基质中均存在能够促进植物对氮磷营养元素的吸收以及与有机物降解密切相关的菌种,尤其在高TAP浓度进水的系统中发现一株含脱氨酶基因（acds）的菌株,能够促进有机磷降解中间产物—有机胺类的降解转化。此外,美人蕉根系超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶活性在进水TAP浓度升高的情况下,呈现显著增强态势（p〈0.05）,并正常生长,说明美人蕉对TAP具有较好的抵抗能力。     

两种复合人工湿地系统对东莞运河污水的净化效果

复合人工湿地系统是将不同类型的人工湿地相组合,充分发挥各类型湿地特长,实现优势瓦补的一种更有效的污水净化系统.研究采用复合垂直流-水平潜流人工湿地和复合垂直下行流人工湿地两种复合人工湿地系统对东莞运河的河道污水进行处理,分别监测了两套不同复合人工湿地系统第一、二级湿地单元的出水情况,研究了不同时间段和一定的水力负荷下复合人工湿地系统对河道污水的净化效果.结果表明,两种复合人工湿地系统的二级湿地单元出水各指标明显优于一级湿地单元,复合垂直流-水平潜流湿地对东莞运河污水COD、BOD_5和TP的平均去除率分别达到70.52%、69.21%和55.56%;复合垂直下行流湿地系统对TP的净化尤其突出,平均去除率达到72.62%,二级出水的质量浓度在0.10～0.60 mg·L~(-1)之间,对COD和BOD_5的平均去除率分别为64.74%和60.63%.两种复合系统的出水浓度均达到<城市污水处理厂污染物排放标准>(GB 18918-2002)中的一级标准.由此可见,两种复合人工湿地系统对各污染物去除效果明显优于单一的湿地系统,且更具稳定性和耐冲击能力.     

人工湿地土壤微生物生物量碳与污水净化效果的关系

微生物在人工湿地污水净化过程中发挥着重要作用,微生物生物量碳是微生物的重要表征之一.为探讨人工湿地土壤微生物量碳与污水净化效果的关系,以表面流人工湿地为研究对象,分别研究了不同植物人工湿地土壤微生物生物量碳和净化效果的时空变化及其相关性.结果显示,4种植物湿地表层(0-5 cm)微生物生物量碳极显著高于深层(15-20 cm)的测量值(P<0.01).人工湿地污染物去除效果与微生物生物量碳具有相同的季节变化规律,都呈单峰型的季节格局,夏秋季较高,冬春季较低.微生物生物量碳与人工湿地COD、BOD5和TN的去除呈显著正相关(P<0.05).水鬼蕉湿地具有较高的微生物生物量碳,而污染物去除率一般较低,这表明不同湿地微生物生物量碳与污染物去除率的相关性呈现不确定性.     

潜流人工湿地中有机污染物降解机理研究综述

人工湿地是一种完整的生态系统,它是利用系统中发生的物理、化学和生物等多重协同作用实现对污水的净化功能.开展潜流人工湿地中废水处理的机理、湿地内部有机污染物的迁移转化、湿地工艺设计及其水力学、动力学参数的研究,对环境废水中有机污染物的去除及生态安全具有重要意义.文章主要从化学、生物、设计参数等方面论述了人工湿地废水处理中有机污染物的降解及其机理研究进展.化学因素主要包括溶解性有机质(DOM)对有机污染物的迁移转化、氧化还原环境(Redox)及废水中电子受体的存在对有机质的分解状况、不同溶解氧(DO)水平为厌氧、好氧细菌对有机物的生物降解及湿地内反应动力学模型建立等因素对废水中有机污染物降解的作用及影响;生物因素主要涉及植物和微生物的作用,湿地中的生物降解是有机污染物的主要去除方式;在工艺参数方面,主要就水流特性、孔隙度、停留时间(HRT)、水力负荷(HLR)和水位等因素对湿地中有机污染物去除的影响进行了探讨.     

动物扰动对湿地植物根区有机碳和氮形态的影响

构建复合垂直流人工湿地,分别向复合垂直流人工湿地的下行池和上行池中加入蚯蚓和泥鳅,研究泥鳅和蚯蚓对人工湿地中植物根区基质有机碳和氮形态及含量的影响。结果表明,加入泥鳅后人工湿地植物根区基质的总有机碳(TOC)、易氧化有机碳(EOOC)、微生物量有机碳(MBC)、可溶性有机碳(DOC)和硝态氮平均含量分别增加16.7%、10.8%、19.1%、33.8%和68.4%,但铵态氮平均含量减少14%。加入蚯蚓后TOC、EOOC、MBC、DOC和硝态氮的含量分别增加74.6%、39.7%、40.4%、45.1%和91.8%;铵态氮平均含量下降42.8%。人工湿地中加入蚯蚓后有机碳、硝态氮和铵态氮含量的变化率比单独加入泥鳅高。相关分析表明,TOC、EOOC、MBC含量分别与硝态氮含量呈极显著正相关(P0.01),加入动物提高了人工湿地植物根区有机碳含量,并促进人工湿地的硝化过程,增加硝态氮含量。     

人工湿地的磷去除机理

人类生产和生活所产生的磷负荷导致了全中国范围湖泊的富营养化,控制此磷负荷的廉价而有效的具有非常广阔的应用前景技术是人工湿地技术。人工湿地中的磷的存在形态主要有有机磷(生物态和非生物态的)、磷酸、可溶性磷酸盐和不溶性磷酸盐。文章总结了人工湿地中的磷去除机理,在防渗人工湿地系统中,主要的磷去除机理包括化学作用(如沉淀作用和吸附作用);生物作用(如植物吸收作用和微生物吸收与积累作用)和物理作用(如沉积作用)。在未防渗的人工湿地系统中,湿地系统和周围水体(如地下水)的交换量对湿地的磷去除有重要的影响。通常情况下,物理作用和化学作用是人工湿地中最主要的磷去除途径。人工湿地中微生物对磷的去除作用的大小和其所处环境中的氧状态密切相关,植物吸收对磷的去除作用的大小和收割频率与时期、进水负荷、植物物种和气候条件等有关。     

生物炭基质潮汐流人工湿地处理生活污水性能

潮汐流人工湿地是一种新型的污水处理技术,作为人工湿地的重要组成部分,基质的合理选择能够直接影响人工湿地的运行效果。以鸡粪生物炭和玉米秸秆生物炭为基质分别建立潮汐流人工湿地来处理生活污水,并以石灰石基质人工湿地作为对照,考察不同淹没/排水比(8 h/4 h和4 h/8 h)下人工湿地对生活污水中各项污染物的去除性能。研究结果表明:生物炭基质人工湿地对COD、BOD、NH4~+-N、TN和PO4~(3-)-P的去除效率均高于石灰石基质人工湿地,且玉米秸秆生物炭基质人丁湿地对各项污染物的去除效果最好,各项污染物去除率分别为(73.6%±2.9%,COD)、(84.8%±6.1%,BOD5)、(84.2%±3.2%,NH4~+-N)、(45.3%±2.2%,TN)和(84.6%±2.8%,PO4~(3-)-P);当淹没/排水比由8 h/4 h改为4 h/8 h时,除PO4~(3-)-P的去除率基本不变外,各组人工湿地对生活污水COD、BOD、NH4~+-N和TN的去除率均有不同程度的升高,且玉米秸秆生物炭基质人工湿地对各项污染物的去除效果最好,各项污染物去除率分别为(80.5%±5.2%,COD)、(92.1%±5.1%,BOD5)、(90.3%±3.2%,NH4~+-N)、(60.3%±2.2%,TN)和(84.7%±1.5%,PO4~(3-)-P);生物炭基质人工湿地对NH4~+-N的去除途径主要为物理吸附和微生物硝化作用,且微生物硝化作用占主导,对PO4~(3-)-P的去除途径主要为物理吸附和微生物好氧吸磷作用,且微生物好氧吸磷作用占主导;生物炭基质中的微生物量要高于石灰石基质,且上层基质的微生物量高于下层基质;在微生物群落中,Clostridiaceae和Nitrosomonadaceae菌群分别承担有机物和NH4~+-N的主要去除,其在生物炭基质中的相对丰富度均高于石灰石基质。     

多级人工湿地对复合污染水体中营养盐和PFOS的去除

选取表面流人工湿地和垂直潜流人工湿地为研究对象,通过露天实验研究了不同湿地类型对复合污染水体中营养盐和PFOS的去除效果.结果表明,3种湿地对复合污染水体中营养盐和PFOS均具有较好的去除能力,且不同湿地类型对各污染物的去除效果有所差异.高浓度(100μg·L^-1)PFOS抑制风车草生长,SFCW植物PFOS含量达到的实验最高值,为(181.93±8.28)μg·g-1;低浓度(1μg·L^-1)PFOS促进了风车草的生长,VFCW2植物总生物量达到的实验最高值,为(1130.33±36.98)g;VFCW2对营养盐和PFOS的去除表现最优,在高浓度(100μg·L^-1) PFOS下,PFOS去除率仍然可达95.87%—99.86%;低浓度(1μg·L^-1) PFOS强化了VFCW1和VFCW2对NH₃-N的去除,去除率分别为60%—65%和68%—72%.PFOS的去除主要取决于人工湿地的土壤吸附和植物吸收,SFCW、VFCW1和VFCW2土壤PFOS吸附占比分别为(50.86...     

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.     

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.     

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.