北京表层土壤重金属污染分布及大气沉降贡献

土壤重金属污染已成为影响城市可持续发展和生态环境安全的重大环境问题。对城市表土重金属污染状况以及来源进行系统分析具有重要意义。于2013年11月—2014年3月同步采集了北京城区及周边不同位置的大气沉降和0—10 cm表层土壤样品,采用ICP-MS测试了样品中主要重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的质量分数。利用富集因子和地累积指数法探讨了北京表层土壤重金属的污染状况,并对大气沉降贡献进行了定量表征。结果表明,北京表层土壤中重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的平均质量分数分别为0.5、76.8、51.3、25、35.2和133.4 mg·kg~(-1)。6种重金属质量分数都存在明显的"粒径递减"效应,即在2—63μm粒径段,表土重金属质量分数一般随粒径的减小而升高,粒径越小重金属在表土中的富集越明显。北京表层土壤中重金属Cr和Ni基本无污染,Cu、Zn和Pb轻微污染,Cd轻度污染;6种重金属都呈现不同程度的轻度富集(CdCuZnPbCrNi),均受自然源和人为污染源的共同影响。海淀区、朝阳区、东城区和西城区这4个区的交界区域存在Cd、Cu和Pb连片轻度、中度污染至偏重污染。朝阳区和东城区的交界区域、海淀区东南部、西城区西部、东城区西部存在Zn连片轻度污染至中度污染。北京表土中重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn和Pb的大气沉降平均贡献率分别为17.4%、21.2%、14.6%、12.2%、16.0%和20.0%。北京表层土壤重金属污染主要集中在细粒径颗粒,表现出较强的空间分异性,并且受大气沉降不同程度的影响。     

冬季河南省若干城市室内灰尘中重金属的健康风险

大气沉降是室内灰尘的重要来源.本研究于2017年1—2月采集了河南省12个城市的室内灰尘样品共48个,并按照取样城市的空间分布探讨了重金属(Ni、Cu、Zn、Mn、Co、Cr、As、Ag、Cd、Pb)污染的南北差异(以黄河为界).运用地积累指数法对其进行污染评价.应用美国EPA人体暴露风险模型进行健康风险评价.结果表明,豫南城市室内灰尘中重金属除Pb以外平均浓度均显著高于豫北城市.豫南城市重金属平均浓度表现为Zn Mn Cr Ni Pb As Cu Co Cd Ag,浓度大小依次是306.7、249.2、223.3、116.9、55.7、41.6、30.3、7.0、1.8、1.3 mg·kg-1,而豫北城市重金属浓度表现为Zn Mn Pb Cr As Ni Cu Co Cd Ag,浓度大小依次是200.7、179.4、85.4、48.7、22.9、22.1、21.4、4.4、2.6、0.7 mg·kg-1.地累积指数结果显示Cd在豫南和豫北城市均是重污染和极重污染,而Ag在豫南城市是重污染和极重污染.豫南城市室内灰尘中4种致癌重金属的致癌风险大小依次为Cr As Ni Cd,6种非致癌重金属的非致癌风险大小依次为Zn Mn Cu Pb Co Ag;豫北城市室内灰尘中致癌重金属的致癌风险依次为Cr As Ni Cd,非致癌重金属的非致癌风险依次为ZnMn Pb Cu Co Ag.     

北京市怀柔区冬季大气重金属污染状况分析

环境大气中重金属元素通常存在于细颗粒物(PM_(2.5))中,对人体健康和生态环境具有潜在威胁.开展大气中重金属的监测对评估其环境健康影响以及针对性控制措施的制定具有重要科学意义和现实意义.本文对北京市怀柔区大气中20种重金属元素于2016年1月19日至3月4日进行了连续现场监测,并分析了大气重金属的污染现状、特征及来源.观测期间大气平均总重金属浓度为0.52μg·m~(-3),约占PM_(2.5)平均浓度(70.3μg·m~(-3)的0.75%,其中以Fe、Zn、Ba、Pb、Mn、Cu、Cd、As浓度较高;在2月8日(大年初一)烟花爆竹燃放高峰期间大气颗粒物中重金属元素浓度明显升高,总重金属浓度最高可达7.94μg·m~(-3),占PM_(2.5)的比例为9%,尤其以Ba、Pb、Cu、Zn、Mn、Cr浓度增长最为突出.以Fe作为地壳参比元素,发现怀柔冬季大气中Ni、Mn、Ga、Cr的富集因子小于10,其它元素的富集因子大于10,表明怀柔冬季大气中Ni、Mn、Ga、Cr主要来源于土壤或岩石风化,其它元素则主要来自人为污染源排放.基于怀柔冬季大气中不同重金属变化特征分析,推测Pb、Zn、Hg、Mn、Ni、Se与As共同来源于冬季燃煤采暖以及周围工业园区煤炭燃料燃烧排放,Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn、Mn和Ba主要来源于烟花爆竹燃放,Cd等元素来源于周围工业园区的工业生产过程.     

川东北大气沉降中水溶态重金属季节变化:自然和人为因素的影响

大气沉降地球化学研究对解释表生环境中元素地球化学行为具有重要意义.但以往对大气沉降地球化学的研究主要集中在城市或者受工业活动强烈影响的地区.本研究选择地处偏远、无明显工业活动影响的川东北地区,于2011年8月—2014年7月采集大气沉降样品,对其中水溶态重金属元素Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Ga、As、Cd和Pb进行了研究.结果表明,这些重金属元素的年平均沉降通量最大的为Zn,158μg·(10~2cm~2·a)~(-1),最小的为Ga,0.06μg·(10~2cm~2·a)~(-1),相差达到4个数量级.相对于我国城镇地区或受工业活动影响的偏远地区,川东北地区重金属元素沉降通量较低.总体上Co和Ni的沉降通量在冬-春季节较高,可能与这些季节的大气粉尘活动有关,Ga、Pb、Cr、Cd、Zn、As等则一般在夏季沉降通量较高,可能与降水增加和旅游旺季的人类活动加强有关.2012年12月—2013年9月的当地道路改建工程导致了重金属元素沉降通量的明显提高.     

闽东定海-黄岐湾表层沉积物重金属污染特征及来源解析

定量解析沉积物重金属来源并绘制空间分布图可为海洋生态环境治理修复提供科学依据.本文以定海-黄岐湾为研究区,分析其表层沉积物的重金属含量,通过内梅罗指数和地统计法探究其重金属空间分布规律,并基于正定矩阵因子分析模型(PMF)定量描述其重金属元素的污染来源.研究结果表明定海-黄岐湾表层沉积物的V、 Cr、 Co、 Ni、 Cu、 Zn、 Cd、 Pb均值分别为86.55、 61.50、 13.50、30.42、30.60、116.58、0.11、39.94 mg·kg^-1均超出福建省近岸浅海沉积物的背景值1倍以上;地统计和内梅罗指数表明V、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb含量的空间分布和污染特征具有差异性.其中,V为轻度污染,Cr、Co、Ni、Pb均为中度污染而Cu、Zn、Cd为重污染,但是其高值区和污染严重区域均出现在人类活动密集区,呈现受人类活动影响的共性特征;PMF分析则阐释沉积物中的V来自于区域岩石风化的自然源,Zn和Cd元素来自于生活污水的排放,Ni、Cr、Co和Cu来自于船只表面金属涂层剥落,Pb来自于船只海上交通泄露的油料.自然源、生活排污源、工...     

榆树市玉米种植区黑土重金属污染状况及来源浅析

为明晰农田黑土重金属含量状况以及污染来源,选择黑土区连续多年种植玉米的榆树市为研究区,原位采集196个土壤样品,采用火焰-石墨炉原子吸收分光光度计对土壤中5种重金属含量进行分析测定,并采用相关分析和主成分分析法进行污染来源解析。结果表明,土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb质量分数平均值分别为(0.119±0.08)、(56.51±9.10)、(19.21±3.42)、(70.58±14.57)和(34.42±7.85)mg·kg-1;土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb含量超过相应的黑土背景值的点位百分比分别为69.9%、36.7%、26.5%、82.1%、84.2%;土壤中Cd和Zn含量超过相应的土壤环境质量二级标准的点位百分比分别为6.6%和0.5%;与成土母质相对比,富集系数为:Pb(1.56)Cr(1.29)Zn(1.24)Cd(1.20)Cu(1.16);与中国第二次土壤普查数据对比,土壤Pb、Cd、Zn平均含量分别增加48.1%、8.2%、5.1%;土壤Cr和Cu含量变化较小。相关分析表明,土壤Cu和Cr含量呈极显著正相关(r~2=0.369,P0.01),土壤Pb和Zn含量呈极显著正相关(r~2=0.333,P0.01),表明土壤Cu和Cr可能有相同的污染来源,Pb和Zn污染来源相似。主成分分析表明,3个主成分(PC)可解释总方差的79.13%。PC1解释总方差的29.33%,主要包括Zn和Pb,土壤中Pb和Zn污染主要来源于燃煤、大气干湿沉降物和化肥施加;PC2解释总方差的26.81%,包括Cr和Cu,土壤中Cr和Cu主要受成土母质控制;PC3解释总方差的23.00%,包括Cd,而土壤Cd富集可能来源于磷肥。总体而言,榆树市玉米种植区黑土重金属污染较轻,但Cd有超标现象,应引起重视。     

浙北地区农用地和建设用地土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

为了研究浙北地区农用地和建设用地2种不同土地利用方式下土壤重金属污染情况,采集并分析了159个表层(0～20 cm)土壤样品中的Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni 8种重金属含量,采用主成分分析法(PCA)进行来源解析,并运用单因子污染指数法、污染负荷指数法、潜在生态风险及预警指数法进行综合评价。结果显示,农用地和建设用地8种重金属元素的平均质量分数均未超过相关评价标准筛选值,但均超过浙江省土壤环境背景值,其中农用地中Cd和Hg污染,建设用地Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn污染明显。研究区农用地和建设用地土壤重金属综合污染负荷指数(PLI)均为轻度污染状态,且对土壤污染贡献率最大的重金属元素均为Cd,可为研究区土壤重金属的污染防治、风险管控提供依据。研究区农用地除Cd为中度污染外,其他7种重金属均为轻微污染;建设用地Cd为重度污染,Cu、Zn、Pb为轻度污染,Cr、Hg、As、Ni为轻微污染。研究区农用地土壤Ni、Zn、Cu、Cr主要受土母质影响,Cd和Pb主要来源可能为交通运输,Hg和As主要受人类活动影响;建设用地Cd、Hg、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni可能具有不同程度的相同来源...     

上海市不同工业类型土壤重金属含量差异性分析

为揭示不同工业类型土壤重金属含量的差异性,研究以上海市为例,选取机械制造、化工、印染三种污染较为严重的工业类型,进行实地采样分析.结果表明,上海工业土壤重金属元素As、Cr、Cu、Pb、Zn没有超过国家土壤环境质量二级标准,但Ni的平均值达到75.23 mg·kg~(-1),是国家土壤环境质量二级标准的1.5倍;以上海市土壤背景值为评价标准,除As外,各元素单因子污染指数均大于1,由高到低依次为:Ni,Zn、Pb,Cu,Cr,As;印染企业、机械制造、化工企业综合污染指数均大于2,属于中度污染,污染程度由高到低依次为:印染企业,化工企业,机械制造,表现出明显的累积趋势.相关分析和因子分析表明,元素Pb、Cu和Zn有相似来源,Cr和Ni有相似来源,As为另一来源;前两类元素含量远高于对应元素背景值,超标率均在90%以上,来源主要受人为活动影响;As元素含量与背景值相当,来源主要与成土母质有关.通过对比分析发现,Cr、Ni来源主要与机械制造和化工等企业污染排放有关;印染企业生产过程中污染物的排放可能是Pb、Cu、Zn的主要来源;各类型企业土壤均存在多个元素累积,呈现出复合污染的趋势.     

开封市城乡交错区农田土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

用200 m×200 m网格布点法采集开封市城乡交错区表层土壤样品259个.采用ICP-MS测定了土壤重金属(Cd、Pb、Cu、Ni、Zn和Cr)含量,原子荧光法测定了土壤中Hg和As含量.分别采用污染负荷指数(PLI)和潜在生态风险指数(RI)评价土壤重金属污染程度和潜在生态风险水平,应用IDW空间插值法分析土壤重金属污染和潜在生态风险空间分布,并对重金属的来源进行讨论.结果表明:(1)开封市城乡交错区表层土壤8种重金属元素Cd、Hg、Pb、As、Cu、Ni、Zn和Cr的平均含量分别为1.43、0.37、40.77、7.13、33.92、25.28、180.23、49.00 mg·kg~(-1).(2)各样点8种元素平均PLI为1.93,总体上属于轻度污染.其中Cd和Hg为重度污染,Zn、Pb和Cu为轻度污染,Ni、Cr和As处于无污染状态.各样点8种元素平均RI为765.50,属于很强生态风险.其中Cd和Hg处于极强和很强风险,其余元素为轻微风险.(3)PLI的分布与RI的分布有些相似,高值区位于炼锌厂、化肥厂和化肥河(HF河)临近区域,低值区位于研究区东北部包括开封火电厂周边,总体呈由东北向西南递增的趋势.(4)Cd和Hg既是主要的污染因子又是主要的生态风险因子,其来源主要与炼锌厂和化肥厂的废水排放与污水灌溉、烟尘沉降、交通污染以及农业等人类活动有关.     

有色金属冶炼厂周边地表水和农业土壤中重金属污染特征与评价

于2014年11月对黄石市大冶有色冶炼厂周边地表水和农业土壤分别采集15和18个样品,并用火焰原子吸收分光光度法分析6种重金属含量(Cr、Ni、Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn),探讨周边地表水和农业土壤中重金属污染特征,并进行健康风险评价.结果表明,Cr、Ni、Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn的平均含量分别为4.76、70.27、10.63、63.11、59.86、90.65μg·L~(-1)(地表水);52.12、45.54、81.34、781.76、303.69、403.23 mg·kg~(-1)(农业土壤),且变异系数较大,污染分布较不均匀;环境中重金属污染来源主要受冶炼厂冶炼生产活动影响,自然环境因素和其本身的理化特征主导含量空间分布;主成分1解释了冶炼厂周边环境中重金属主要的污染来源,即主要受有色金属冶炼活动的影响;致癌风险主要来自Cr,而Pb非致癌风险相对较高.     

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     

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.     

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.     

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.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.