珠江三角洲土壤中的有机氯农药的分布特征

为确定珠江三角洲土壤中有机氯农药的含量、来源以及组成特点,对珠江三角洲中心地带广州、佛山、东莞城市群的土壤进行了采样、处理以及气象色谱分析,测定了其中有机氯农药的含量:其中,三地土壤中HCHs的含量范围是0.19～42.3,均值4.42 ng·g-1,而且在四种HCHs的单体中β-HCH的含量在三地的土壤中分布最高;三地土壤中DDTs的含量范围是3.58～831,均值82.1 ng·g-1,而DDT/(DDD+DDE)的比值在一些样品中大于2甚至更高,说明近期内仍然存在着DDTs的使用和排放.广州东莞佛山三地土壤中有机氯农药的总量分别为205、46和105 t,构成了一个潜在的南海有机氯农药污染源.     

广州市农业土壤中六六六(HCHs)和滴滴涕(DDTs)的残留特征

采集了广州市农业土壤表层(0～20 cm)样品118个,采用气相色谱方法对土壤中六六六(HCHs)和滴滴涕(DDTs)进行分析,初步揭示了广州市土壤中有机氯农药的分布及残留情况,并做出潜在生态风险评价.研究结果表明:HCHs的检出率为95.8%,残留范围在ND～17.96 ng·g-1之间,平均值2.10 ng·g-1,DDT的检出率为92.4%,残留范围在ND～327.87 ng·g-1之间,平均值为1 8.97 ng·g-1.HCHs的4种异构体中,β-HCH质量分数最高,平均质量分数为0.86 ng·g-1,而p,p'-DDT是4种DDTs异构体中质量分数最高的,平均质量分数为11.89 ng·g-1.不同土壤利用类型中,耕地土壤中的有机氯农药残留量明显高于林地和果园地.与国内外部分地方和我国土壤环境质量标准相比,广州市农业土壤中DDTs和HCHs污染程度较低.     

连云港潮滩表层沉积物中有机氯农药残留特征与风险评估

利用GC-ECD检测了连云港地区绣针河口、临洪河口、灌河口北和灌河口南等4个潮滩断面表层沉积物中DDTs和HCHs含量及组成成分.结果表明,连云港潮滩沉积物中有机氯农药的含量在2.15—24.84 ng.g-1之间,均值为9.09 ng.g-1.其中DDTs的含量在1.11—11.74 ng.g-1之间,均值为3.72 ng.g-1,HCHs的含量在0.38—20.17 ng.g-1之间,均值为5.36 ng.g-1.4个断面有机氯农药含量的顺序是临洪河口>绣针河口>灌河口北>灌河口南.连云港潮滩沉积物中HCHs主要来源于早期林丹在土壤中的残留,灌河口有新的DDT污染源输入.总有机碳是影响绣针河口和临洪河口潮滩有机氯农药分布的主要因素.以风险低值(ERL)为评价基准,沉积物中有机氯农药的最大风险商达到7.43,连云港潮滩有机氯农药存在着一定的潜在生态风险.     

太湖沉积物柱状样中有机氯农药的垂直分布特征

采用气相色谱质谱法测定了太湖沉积物柱状样品中有机氯农药(OCPs)含量,探讨了沉积柱中有机氯农药的垂直变化特征及可能的来源.研究结果表明:沉积柱中OCPs浓度为0.88—4.73 ng·g-1(干重),平均值为2.17 ng·g-1;DDTs、HCHs、六氯苯的残留量均较高,其中DDTs为0.10—1.32 ng·g-1,平均值为0.57 ng·g-1;HCHs的浓度为0.25—1.99 ng·g-1,平均值为0.65 ng·g-1;六氯苯为0.50—1.35 ng·g-1,平均值为0.92 ng·g-1.3个湖湾的沉积柱表层DDTs含量最高,有明显的表面富集现象,成分分析表明,太湖可能着存在着DDTs类物质的输入.     

洪湖湿地鹭科鸟类组织中有机氯农药的分布特征及风险评价

利用气相色谱-电子俘获检测器(GC-ECD)测定了洪湖鹭科鸟类(包括白鹭、池鹭)的胸脯肌肉、肝脏组织中的有机氯农药(OCPs)的含量.结果显示,鹭科鸟体内六六六(HCHs)、滴滴涕(DDTs)、六氯代苯、艾氏剂、七氯、环氧七氯等大部分有机氯农药均有检出.白鹭肌肉组织中HCHs和DDTs的含量范围分别为:11.3—89.4 ng.g-1和162—2149 ng.g-1(以脂重计,下同),平均值分别为37.3 ng.g-1和943 ng.g-1;肝脏组织中HCHs和DDTs的含量范围分别为:3.73—30.6 ng.g-1和280—957 ng.g-1,平均值分别为14.6 ng.g-1和566 ng.g-1.池鹭肌肉组织中HCHs和DDTs的含量范围分别为:3.61—25.8 ng.g-1和68.4—261 ng.g-1,平均值分别为11.5 ng.g-1和189 ng.g-1;肝脏组织中HCHs和DDTs的含量范围分别为:6.63—18.9 ng.g-1和147—1305 ng.g-1,平均值分别为13.1 ng.g-1和553 ng.g-1.统计分析显示,HCHs和DDTs在洪湖鹭科鸟组织中的含量差异均不显著(P>0.05).分析结果表明,洪湖湿地系统可作为有机氯污染的潜在源区,而候鸟可成为有机污染物在繁殖地与越冬地之间的传输介质.洪湖地区鹭鸟体内有机氯污染与全球其它地区相比处于较低水平,有机氯农药尚未对本区鸟类产生威胁.     

淮河(江苏段)水体有机氯农药的污染水平

分别采集淮河丰水期和枯水期次表层水样 ,并用气相色谱 电子捕集检测器分析其中1 6种有机氯农药 .水体中总HCHs含量介于 1 1 1— 7 5 5ng·l- 1 ,总DDTs含量介于 4 45—78 87ng·l- 1 .水体中DDT/(DDE DDD)比值较大 ,表明此类化合物环境滞留期较长 ;六六六的两种异构体α/γ比值接近 1 ,表明近期可能有此类物质输入淮河水域 .有机氯农药的总量在 2 6 2 7— 1 2 4 39ng·l- 1 之间 .     

珠江三角洲典型区域蔬菜地土壤中有机氯农药的污染特征——以东莞市为例

近年来珠江三角洲经济迅速发展的同时所带来的土壤有机氯农药污染问题备受关注,着重调查研究了东莞蔬菜地土壤中17种有机氯农药的污染特征.2002年10-12月采集蔬菜地土壤样品37个,利用气相色谱分析有机氯农药的含量.研究结果表明,东莞蔬菜地土壤样品中均检出有机氯,其中DDE与艾氏剂的检出率为100.0%;17种有机氯农药总含量(∑17OCPs)范围为2.47～82.23 ng·g-1,均值为22.53 ng·g-1.含有7个Cl取代基的有机氯农药即七氯与环氧七氯的含量均显著低于其他有机氯农药的含量;尽管东莞市蔬菜地土壤中DDTs的含量明显低于省内外其他地区蔬菜地土壤DDTs含量,但东莞蔬菜地土壤中有机氯农药主要以毒性较强的六氯代有机化合物为主,因此东莞蔬菜地土壤中有机氯农药污染状况不容忽视.     

卧龙巴郎山地区夏、冬两季土壤中有机氯农药和低氯代多氯联苯的海拔高度分布

利用同位素稀释质谱法测定了卧龙高海拔地区土壤中有机氯农药(OCPs)和低氯代多氯联苯(PCBs)的含量.海拔高度2800 m以上,土壤中HCHs和DDTs平均含量冬季(0.517和0.556 ng·g-1dw)高于夏季(0.293和0.323 ng·g-1dw).夏、冬两季的土壤中PCB28和PCB52含量浓度水平相近.以土壤干重表示的OCPs和低氯代PCBs含量随海拔升高而降低,而用有机碳归一化表示的含量随海拔升高而增加,证明了在卧龙高海拔地区存在着POPs的辛醇-空气分配系数与冷凝结效应相结合的富集现象.     

苏南典型土壤中22种有机氯农药的垂直分布特征

近10年来,大批农药、化工企业迁出江苏南部地区,为了解该地区有机氯农药的残留状况以及环境行为,首次对南京、镇江、常州、无锡、苏州部分农业区和工业区浅层土壤中22种有机氯农药(OCPs)的分布特征进行研究,采用加速溶剂萃取法(ASE)和气相色谱法(GC-ECD),对30个不同深度样品进行检测。结果表明:表层土壤依旧是OCPs的主要残留层,主要为滴滴涕(DDTs)和六六六(HCHs)类污染,其中,ω(DDTs)为ND~313.0 ng·g-1(干重,下同),平均值75.04ng·g-1;ω(HCHs)为ND~9.25 ng·g-1,平均值2.82 ng·g-1。DDTs残留以降解代谢产物p,p′-DDD和p,p’-DDE为主,HCHs残留则以β-HCH为主。此外,六氯苯(HCB)、艾氏剂(Aldrin)、七氯(Heptachlor)、狄氏剂(Dieldrin)和硫酸硫丹(Endosulfan sulfate)也有不同程度检出。不同利用类型表层土壤中,有机氯残留状况有所差异,DDTs在工业区土壤中残留量最高,而HCHs在农业区土壤中残留量最高,OCPs残留平均值为工业区(127.2 ng·g-1)农业区(30.75 ng·g-1)。垂向土壤样品分析结果表明:大部分点位OCPs、DDTs及HCHs的残留量均随土壤深度增加而降低,但在下降过程中存在一定的波动性,由于场地土壤受到人为活动的影响,存在一定的干扰现象。本次调查未检出γ-HCH,仅有少量α-HCH检出,说明这些地区近期未出现林丹和HCHs输入。样品中(p,p′-DDD+p,p′-DDE)/DDTs的比值显示该地区近期新的外源DDTs输入较少。本次调查提供的数据可为该地区OCPs垂直分布研究提供参考。     

吉林松花江沿岸土壤中有机氯农药残留特征及健康风险评价

选用GC/ECD分析吉林市松花江两岸土壤中17种有机氯农药（OCPs）残留情况,并探讨该区土壤中OCPs的残留特征及其可能的健康风险.研究结果表明,17种OCPs均有不同程度的检出,含量较高的组分为六六六（HCHs）、滴滴涕（DDTs）和七氯,总有机氯农药含量为133.15—1263.80 ng.g-1.研究区OCPs...     

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.     

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     

Potential for Electropositive Metal to Reduce the Interactions of Atlantic Sturgeon with Fishing Gear

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) populations have been declared either endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Effective measures to repel sturgeon from fishing gear would be beneficial to both fish and fishers because they could reduce both fishery‐associated mortality and the need for seasonal and area closures of specific fisheries. Some chondrostean fishes (e.g., sturgeons and paddlefishes) can detect weak electric field gradients (possibly as low as 5 Μv/cm) due to arrays of electroreceptors (ampullae of Lorenzini) on their snout and gill covers. Weak electric fields, such as those produced by electropositive metals (typically mixtures of the lanthanide elements), could therefore potentially be used as a deterrent. To test this idea, we recorded the behavioral responses of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (31–43 cm fork length) to electropositive metal (primarily a mixture of the lanthanide elements neodymium and praseodymium) both in the presence and absence of food stimuli. Trials were conducted in an approximately 2.5 m diameter × 0.3 m deep tank, and fish behaviors were recorded with an overhead digital video camera. Video records were subsequently digitized (x, y coordinate system), the distance between the fish and the electropositive metal calculated, and data summarized by compiling frequency distributions with 5‐cm bins. Juvenile sturgeon showed clear avoidance of electropositive metal but only when food was present. On the basis of our results, we conclude that the electropositive metals, or other sources of weak electric fields, may eventually be used to reduce the interactions of Atlantic sturgeon with fishing gear, but further investigation is needed. El Potencial del Metal Electropositivo para Reducir las Interacciones del Esturión Atlántico con Instrumentos de Pesca Bouyoucos, Bushnell & Brill 13–003     

The role of time and species identities in spatial patterns of species richness and conservation

Many conservation actions are justified on the basis of managing biodiversity. Biodiversity, in terms of species richness, is largely the product of rare species. This is problematic because the intensity of sampling needed to characterize communities and patterns of rarity or to justify the use of surrogates has biased sampling in favor of space over time. However, environmental fluctuations interacting with community dynamics lead to temporal variations in where and when species occur, potentially affecting conservation planning by generating uncertainty about results of species distribution modeling (including range determinations), selection of surrogates for biodiversity, and the proportion of biodiversity composed of rare species. To have confidence in the evidence base for conservation actions, one must consider whether temporal replication is necessary to produce broad inferences. Using approximately 20 years of macrofaunal data from tidal flats in 2 harbors, we explored variation in the identity of rare, common, restricted range, and widespread species over time and space. Over time, rare taxa were more likely to increase in abundance or occurrence than to remain rare or disappear and to exhibit temporal patterns in their occurrence. Space–time congruency in ranges (i.e., spatially widespread taxa were also temporally widespread) was observed only where samples were collected across an environmental gradient. Fifteen percent of the taxa in both harbors changed over time from having spatially restricted ranges to having widespread ranges. Our findings suggest that rare species can provide stability against environmental change, because the majority of species were not random transients, but that selection of biodiversity surrogates requires temporal validation. Rarity needs to be considered both spatially and temporally, as species that occur randomly over time are likely to play a different role in ecosystem functioning than those exhibiting temporal structure (e.g., seasonality). Moreover, temporal structure offers the opportunity to place management and conservation activities within windows of maximum opportunity.     

Main nutrient compounds in food bodies of Mexican <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis> ant-plants

Summary. Myrmecophytic plants use obligate ant mutualists as a constitutive indirect defence mechanism. These plants often produce cellular food bodies (FBs) to nourish their resident ants. Lipids, proteins, and even highly specialised compounds such as glycogen have been reported from FBs, but detailed chemical analyses of FB composition have so far been presented only for Southeast Asian Macaranga and Central American Piper myrmecophytes. Here we report the chemical composition of FBs of five myrmecophytic Acacia (Fabaceae) species from Mexico using HPLC (carbohydrates and proteins) and GC-MS (lipids). Feeding experiments revealed no hints on any use of external food sources by the inhabiting Pseudomyrmex ants. These ants obviously rely completely on FBs and extrafloral nectar provided by their hosts. The total content of nutrients in Acacia FBs was 15-25% of FB dry mass, being much lower than in Macaranga or Piper FBs. Proteins were dominating (8-14 % dm) in Acacia FBs and thus were present in higher amounts than in Macaranga FBs, yet in lower amounts than in Piper. Lipids contributed 1-9 % of dry mass, showing a lower proportion than in FBs of Macaranga or Piper. Carbohydrates made up 3-11 % dm, reaching in most Acacia species the same range as observed in Macaranga and in Piper FBs. Water content was 18-24 % of FB fresh mass, and structural tissue obviously made up a much higher proportion in Acacia FBs than in Macaranga or Piper FBs. Both characters might represent an adaptation to producing FBs unprotected at the leaf tips under dry conditions. Acacia FBs contain all amino acids and all fatty acids that are considered essential for insects, and their contents of lipids and proteins are higher than in the leaves from which they are ontogenetically derived. This indicates a putatively adaptive enrichment of nutritionally valuable compounds in structures functioning as ant-food.     

Examining the uncertain origin and management role of martens on Prince of Wales Island,Alaska

Conservation biologists are generally united in efforts to curtail the spread of non‐native species globally. However, the colonization history of a species is not always certain, and whether a species is considered non‐native or native depends on the conservation benchmark. Such ambiguities have led to inconsistent management. Within the Tongass National Forest of Alaska, the status of American marten (Martes americana) on the largest, most biologically diverse and deforested island, Prince of Wales (POW), is unclear. Ten martens were released to POW in the early 1930s, and it was generally believed to be the founding event, although this has been questioned. The uncertainty surrounding when and how martens colonized POW complicates management, especially because martens were selected as a design species for the Tongass. To explore the history of martens of POW we reviewed other plausible routes of colonization; genetically and isotopically analyzed putative marten fossils deposited in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene to verify marten occupancy of POW; and used contemporary genetic data from martens on POW and the mainland in coalescent simulations to identify the probable source of the present‐day marten population on POW. We found evidence for multiple routes of colonization by forest‐associated mammals beginning in the Holocene, which were likely used by American martens to naturally colonize POW. Although we cannot rule out human‐assisted movement of martens by Alaskan Natives or fur trappers, we suggest that martens be managed for persistence on POW. More generally, our findings illustrate the difficulty of labeling species as non‐native or native, even when genetic and paleo‐ecological data are available, and support the notion that community resilience or species invasiveness should be prioritized when making management decisions rather than more subjective and less certain conservation benchmarks.