2,2’,4,4’-四溴二苯醚(BDE-47)对大型溞(Daphnia magna)的毒性效应

2,2’,4,4’-四溴二苯醚(BDE-47)在水体及各种水生生物(鱼类、海洋哺乳动物以及水生无脊椎动物)中被广泛检出,但BDE-47对水生无脊椎动物毒性效应的研究还处于起步阶段。以大型溞(Daphnia magna)为受试生物,通过急性(48h)和慢性(21d)毒性暴露实验,考察了BDE-47对大型溞活动抑制率、心率、产仔情况和酶活性等指标的影响。结果显示,BDE-47对大型溞活动抑制率的48h-EC50为112.5μg.L-1;高浓度(>100μg.L-1)BDE-47显著诱导提高大型溞的心率。21d慢性暴露实验中,8μg.L-1处理组中大型溞全部死亡;其他各浓度处理组(0.5、1、2、4μg.L-1)中,母溞第1胎产仔时间延后,第1胎子代数量减少,总产仔数量大幅减少,这表明大型溞的繁殖能力受到抑制。BDE-47在一定程度上抑制了母溞胆碱酯酶(ChE)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的活性,大型溞体内的代谢机制没有被诱导,神经活性虽被抑制,但抑制率不高。BDE-47大幅诱导过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性,并呈现一定的剂量效应关系,相对于ChE和GST,CAT对BDE-47暴露更为敏感,可作为BDE-47对大型溞慢性暴露毒性效应的潜在生物标志物。     

基于IBR模型研究BDE-47和BDE-153对半滑舌鳎的毒性效应

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是应用广泛的溴代阻燃剂。选择2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)和2,2’,4,4’,5,5’-六溴联苯醚(BDE-153)对半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus semilaevis Gunther)进行15 d的暴露实验,测定了不同暴露浓度下半滑舌鳎肝脏的超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)、7-乙氧基-3-异吩恶唑酮-脱乙基酶(7-ethoxyresorufin-o-deethylase,EROD)的活性、雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)和丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)含量,并运用综合生物标志物响应(integrated biomarker response,IBR)模型研究BDE-47和BDE-153对半滑舌鳎的毒性效应。结果表明,环境浓度BDE-47和BDE-153暴露下半滑舌鳎的抗氧化酶活性、ER含量和EROD活性无显著变化;中高浓度组(500 ng·L~(-1)和50 000 ng·L~(-1))与对照组基本上都有显著差异。运用IBR方法进行计算发现,BDE-47和BDE-153对半滑舌鳎的毒性效应呈现出显著的剂量效应。将2种污染物暴露组IBR值进行比较,发现BDE-47各浓度组的IBR值均大于BDE-153组,这表明BDE-47的毒性要高于BDE-153。IBR指数能够有效地对PBDEs的海洋环境风险进行科学评价。     

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚对大型溞的毒性效应

以实验室培养的大型溞为受试生物,进行了2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)对大型溞的48h急性毒性实验和21d慢性毒性实验,并研究了暴露在不同质量浓度和处理时间的BDE-47中,大型溞的抗氧化酶系中的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)的酶活性变化。结果表明,BDE-47对大型溞的48h的半致死浓度为1.04mg·L-1,属于高毒物质;在BDE-47慢性毒性实验低浓度处理组中,大型溞的体长及繁殖能力受到了抑制,而高浓度处理组中大型溞的体长及繁殖能力上升,其中第一次产仔数和产卵总数是表征BDE-47慢性毒性的最灵敏参数。随着BDE-47浓度的增加,大型溞SOD和GST活性均呈现出低浓度诱导高浓度抑制的现象。SOD和GST均表现出一定的敏感性,但相对SOD,GST对BDE-47暴露更为敏感。     

内质网应激介导的凋亡在PBDE-47致大鼠海马损伤中的作用

为了明确内质网应激(endoplasmic reticulum stress,ERS)介导的凋亡在2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(2,2’,4,4’-tetrabromodiphenylether,PBDE-47)致大鼠神经毒性中的作用,在脑发育的突增期(出生第10天),分别用0 mg·kg~(-1)、1 mg·kg~(-1)、5 mg·kg~(-1)和10mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47进行单次灌胃染毒,并从出生第8天开始每天给予150 mg·kg~(-1)ERS抑制剂4-苯基丁酸(phenylbutyric acid,PBA),持续3周。仔鼠出生第8周末,从对照组、10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理组、150 mg·kg~(-1)PBA处理组和150 mg·kg~(-1)PBA+10mg·kg~(-1)PBDE处理组中随机选取8只大鼠进行水迷宫实验。然后将所有动物断头处死,分离大鼠海马组织,观察其海马组织形态学改变、测定ERS标志分子(GRP78、IRE1和CHOP)和凋亡相关蛋白Cyt c的表达水平。结果显示,10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理可导致雌性大鼠海马CA4区细胞排列紊乱、锥形神经细胞数量减少甚至消失,尼氏小体数量减少,大鼠逃避潜伏期延长(P0.05)。5和10 mg·kg~(-1)PBDE-47处理可显著上调ERS相关蛋白IRE1和CHOP的表达水平(P0.05),并明显增强海马组织凋亡相关蛋白Cyt c的表达。PBA干预可明显降低PBDE-47诱导的IRE1和CHOP以及Cyt c蛋白的表达水平,提示PBDE-47可通过ERS介导凋亡,导致大鼠海马组织损伤,从而影响大鼠学习记忆功能。     

BDE-47对人胚肾细胞HEK293的毒理效应及作用机制

2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)是生物体中含量最高且毒性最强的PBDEs之一,有关BDE-47对肾细胞的毒性及其作用机制的研究仍有待补充。选取3个剂量组(低:10-6mol·L-1、中:10-5mol·L-1、高:10-4mol·L-1)及溶剂对照组,研究了BDE-47对人胚肾细胞(HEK293)的细胞凋亡率及活性氧(ROS)水平的影响;并从分子水平对细胞氧化损伤、凋亡相关蛋白(APE1及p53)及凋亡相关基因m RNA(p53、Bax、Caspase 3、Caspase 8)的表达量进行测定。实验结果显示:与对照组相比,中、高剂量组细胞凋亡率显著增加(P0.05);ROS水平在中剂量组显著上升(P0.01);随BDE-47浓度的变化,APE1蛋白表达量与细胞ROS水平存在一致性;p53、Bax、Caspase 8 m RNA表达量与BDE-47的浓度间存在剂量-效应关系。结果表明,BDE-47可诱导HEK293细胞凋亡及氧化应激,APE1可能是细胞ROS升高与细胞凋亡间重要的中介因子;BDE-47可以通过影响Caspase 8及线粒体途径中p53及Bax的表达诱导细胞凋亡。     

BDE-47和BDE-209对乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)活性的抑制特性及分子作用力研究

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是应用广泛的溴代阻燃剂,其中2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)和2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)广泛存在于环境中。PBDEs具有神经毒性,但其致毒机制尚不明确。本文通过研究BDE-47与BDE-209对乙酰胆碱酯酶(AChE)活性的影响及二者与AChE相互作用的光谱分析,揭示BDE-47与BDE-209导致神经毒性的致毒机制。BDE-47和BDE-209在一定浓度范围内均能够抑制AChE分解乙酰胆碱;随着浓度的增加,两者的抑制率均呈现出先增加后降低的规律。BDE-47浓度为400μmol·L-1时抑制率达到最大,为22.3%;BDE-209浓度为200μmol·L-1时抑制率达到最大,为11.2%。相同浓度下,BDE-47对AChE的抑制率始终大于BDE-209,表明AChE对BDE-47更加敏感。荧光光谱分析结果表明BDE-47和BDE-209与AChE之间的相互作用均主要为疏水作用,同时不存在范德华引力作用;BDE-47与AChE的结合常数大于BDE-209与AChE的结合常数,表明BDE-47更易与AChE相互作用。此外,温度的升高不利于BDE-47和BDE-209与AChE之间相互作用。BDE-47和BDE-209抑制AChE活性很可能是导致神经毒性通路之一。     

多溴联苯醚对鲫鱼离体肝脏组织中CAT和GSH-Px的影响

以鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)为试验材料,研究了在离体条件下经不同质量浓度的2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)和2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)暴露后,鲫鱼肝脏组织中过氧化氢酶(CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性的动态变化.结果表明,采用质量浓度为0.10～10.00 mg·L-1的BDE-47和5.6～100.00mg·L-1的BDE-209分别处理鲫鱼肝脏组织30 min,0.10 mg·L-1 BDE-47和5.6 mg·L-1BDE-209试验组鲫鱼肝脏组织中CAT和GSH-Px活性与对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05),其余各试验组的CAT和GSH-Px活性随BDE-47及BDE-209质量浓度的增加而逐渐下降,均与BDE-47及BDE-209的质量浓度呈明显的相关关系(P<0.01).这说明BDE-47和BDE-209对鲫鱼肝脏产生了氧化损伤,具有生化毒性影响.     

BDE-47对斑马鱼胚胎-幼鱼的急性毒性及氧化应激作用

为研究2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)对斑马鱼胚胎-幼鱼急性毒性、氧化应激及细胞凋亡的影响,以受精后3 h的斑马鱼胚胎为染毒对象,用概率单位法计算BDE-47对斑马鱼胚胎-幼鱼的96 h-LC₅₀;再参照96 h-LC₅₀按一定比例级差设置0.25、0.5、1.0、2.0 mg·L^-1 4个浓度组和1个对照组(0 mg·L^-1)进行96 h半静水式毒性试验,检测斑马鱼超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)及过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性、丙二醛(MDA)含量和细胞凋亡情况。结果表明,BDE-47对斑马鱼96 h的急性毒性LC₅₀为3.77 mg·L^-1(95%可信区间1.93～10.27 mg·L^-1);2.0 mg·L^-1剂量组与对照组相比,SOD活性和MDA含量显著增加,且CAT活性与BDE-47染毒浓度之间存在明显的剂量-效应关系;0.5 mg·L^-1 BDE-47染毒96 h后,即观察到斑马鱼幼鱼出现明显细胞凋亡,主要集中于神经管和脑部。研究表明,BDE-47可以影响斑马鱼体内抗氧化防御系统,并能诱导细胞凋亡;BDE-47导致神经组织的氧化损伤可能在动物神经毒性中起重要作用。     

BDE-28及BDE-99对斑马鱼早期生命阶段HPT、HPG和HPA轴功能基因表达水平的影响

2,4,4'-三溴联苯醚(2,4,4'-tribromodiphenyl,BDE-28)和2,2',4,4',5-五溴联苯醚(2,2',4,4',5-pentabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-99)在水环境中广泛存在,并且发现在我国长江下游鱼体内和底泥中检出含量较高。目前针对2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether,BDE-47)的水生生物内分泌干扰效应和机制报道较多,而对于检出水平较高的BDE-28和BDE-99的相关方面研究还比较缺乏。本文将斑马鱼鱼卵分别暴露于2、20和200μg·L~(-1)的BDE-28和BDE-99溶液中,借助q-RT-PCR的方法研究它们对斑马鱼幼鱼的下丘脑-垂体-甲状腺(hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroidal,HPT)、下丘脑-垂体-性腺(hypothalamuspituitary-gonadal,HPG)和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺(hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal,HPA)轴上50个基因的影响。结果发现,在受精后120 h(hours post fertilization,hpf)时,暴露于2、20和200μg·L~(-1)的BDE-28和BDE-99的实验组中斑马鱼HPT、HPG和HPA轴上相关基因的表达均受到影响,其中BDE-28主要导致三轴相关基因显著上调,而BDE-99导致三轴相关基因显著下调。BDE-28和BDE-99对斑马鱼早期阶段3个主要内分泌分子通路的影响将导致内分泌功能的改变,从而可能会对斑马鱼的后期生长发育产生影响。另外,主成分分析发现2种不同溴取代个数的PBDE类物质(BDE-28和BDE-99)通过不同的毒性机制对斑马鱼产生不良影响。     

沉积物中2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)在铜锈环棱螺体内的毒代动力学及其繁殖毒性

多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)是一种全球性的新型持久性有毒污染物,沉积物中高浓度的PBDEs是水生态系统的巨大风险源,2,2’,4,4’-四溴联苯醚(BDE-47)在PBDEs同系物中,目前分布最广,生物毒性最强。为评价沉积物中BDE-47向底栖动物体内转移的潜力及其对底栖动物的潜在繁殖毒性,将实验室培养的铜锈环棱螺(Bellamya aeruginosa)暴露于BDE-47加标沉积物中,研究了BDE-47在铜锈环棱螺体内的毒代动力学特性及其对铜锈环棱螺潜在繁殖力的影响。结果表明,铜锈环棱螺对沉积物中BDE-47吸收较快,代谢速度相对较慢,BDE-47在铜锈环棱螺体内具有较强的生物积累性。生物积累达理论平衡时,铜锈环棱螺体内BDE-47浓度为1440.67ng·g-1(以样品干质量计)。BDE-47在铜锈环棱螺体内的生物积累和生物净化过程较好地符合一级动力学模型,摄入速率常数、清除速率常数和生物-沉积物累积因子分别为0.10、0.038和2.75,生物半衰期为18d。铜锈环棱螺体内BDE-47达到90%稳定状态所需的理论时间约为60d。低浓度BDE-47(160ng·g-1)暴露对铜锈环棱螺的潜在繁殖力没有影响,但当浓度≥640ng·g-1时,铜锈环棱螺的繁殖力下降50%,这表明BDE-47对铜锈环棱螺具有繁殖毒性。铜锈环棱螺可作为指示沉积物中底栖生物长期暴露于BDE-47的良好检测模型。     

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.     

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     

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).