苏云金芽孢 力无质粒突变株BMB171的转化和表达性能

研究了苏云金芽孢杆菌无质粒突变株ＢＭＢ１７１的转化性能和表达ｃｒｙ１Ａｃ和ｃｒｙ１Ｃａ基因的性能,用ｐＨＴ３１０１、ｐＢＭＢ３３０５、ｐＢＭＢ１７３６、ｐＢＭＢ６７１、ｐＢＴＬ－１和ｐＨＶ１２４９等６种外源质粒电转化无质粒突变株ＢＭＢ１７１,其转化频率分别是Ｂｔ－４Ｑ７、Ｂｔ－４Ｄ１０和Ｂｔｉ．７８／１１等３种常用体菌相应最高转化频率的１０００、６．７、１２．５、６６．７、３５００和２倍,其每μｇ     

BACILLUS SP. BT-7木聚糖酶基因克隆与鉴定

报道了从一株有较高半纤维素酶活性的Ｂａｃｉｌｕｓｓｐ．ＢＴ７克隆内切木聚糖酶基因的结果．以大肠杆菌ＸＬ１ｂｌｕｅ为宿主菌,采用水解圈检测法,在含有ＲＢＢ木聚糖（４氧甲基Ｄ葡萄糖苷Ｄ木聚糖Ｒｅｍａｚｏｌ亮蓝Ｒ）的平板上分离到能水解ＲＢＢ木聚糖的阳性克隆３个,对它们进行的限制酶作图和Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交分析表明,它们属于３种不同的内切木聚糖酶基因     

微生物降解蔬菜残留农药研究

从富集培养物中筛选到以甲胺磷为唯一碳源生长的菌株ＮＭＪ５和以乐果为唯一碳源生长的菌株ＮＭＬ３,经鉴定分别为芽孢杆菌属（Ｂａｃｉｌｕｓｓｐ．）和假单胞菌属（Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓｓｐ．）．它们利用甲胺磷、乐果生长的最适条件及在无机盐培养基中农药最大耐受浓度分别为ｐＨ７．５,ｔ＝３５℃,ρ＝１０００ｍｇ／Ｌ和ｐＨ７．５,ｔ＝３０℃,ρ＝２０００ｍｇ／Ｌ．在无碳基础培养基内单菌株培养８ｄ,５２４ｍｇ／Ｌ的甲胺磷好气降解４２．５％,厌气降解３５．９％,２５０ｍｇ／Ｌ的乐果好气降解５０．２％,厌气降解１６．４％．小区试验表明,ＮＭＪ５、ＮＭＬ３的菌液制剂对普通白菜的变种南农矮脚黄（Ｂｒａｓｉｃａｃａｍｐｅｓｔｒｉｓｓｐ．ｃｈｉｎｅｎｓｉｓＬ．ｖａｒ．ｃｏｍｍｕｎｉｓＴｓｅｎｅｔＬｅｅ）中残留的甲胺磷、乐果有明显的去除作用．     

邻苯二酚1,2-双加氧酶(C12O)基因的定位、克隆和表达

射性同位素标记ｔｆｄＣ基因片段作探针,Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ杂交定位Ｌ１菌株的邻苯二酚１,２双加氧酶基因位于ＰｓｔⅠ的Ｉ片段和ＢａｍＨⅠ的Ｍ和Ｎ片段．低熔点琼脂糖回收ＰｓｔⅠ的Ｉ段,直接克隆至表达载体ｐＫＴ２３０上,获得重组子ｐＫＴ２３０ｐ．重组子转化不具开环酶活性的甲胺磷降解菌Ｐ２,获得高效的Ｃ１２Ｏ酶活     

固定CO2基因工程菌的构建

构建了含有ＲｕｂｉｓＣＯＦｏｒｍ ＩＩ基因的可转化大肠杆菌紫色非硫杆菌穿梭质粒（ＰＭＰＢ２）,将其转化紫色非硫杆菌野生型Ｒｈｏｄｏｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓｐａｌｕｓｔｒｉｓ Ｎｏ．７ 和紫色非硫杆菌ＲｕｂｉｓＣＯＦｏｒｍ Ｉ缺陷型ＲｈｏｄｏｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓｐａｌｕｓｔｒｉｓＮｏ．７ＤＦＩ,获得２ 株ＲｕｂｉｓＣＯ基因工程菌ＭＧ１１ 和ＭＧ１４,二者的ＲｕｂｉｓＣＯ 酶活性比对照菌分别提高７６ ．７％ 和８３．３％ ．连续传４０ 代表明,重组质粒在受体菌中是较稳定的     

不同菌源的微生物对邻苯二甲酸二甲酯生物降解性的比较

从处理石化厂废水的活性污泥中分离出１ 株邻苯二甲酸酯降解菌 Ｆ Ｓ１（ 荧光假单胞菌 Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓｆｌｕｏｒｅｓｃｅｎｓ Ｆ Ｓ１） ,从处理焦化厂废水的活性污泥中分离出２ 株邻苯二甲酸酯降解菌 Ｆ Ｓ２（ 铜绿假单胞菌 Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｍｏｎａｓａｅｒｕｇｉｎａｓａ Ｆ Ｓ２） 和 Ｆ Ｓ３（ 短杆菌 Ｂｒｅｖｉｂａｃｔｅｒｉｕｍ ｓｐ ． Ｆ Ｓ３） ． 研究了邻苯二甲酸酯降解菌 Ｆ Ｓ１ , Ｆ Ｓ２ 和 Ｆ Ｓ３ 对邻苯二甲酸二甲酯（ Ｄ Ｍ Ｐ） 的最适降解条件,比较了其降解特性． Ｆ Ｓ１ 、 Ｆ Ｓ２ 和 Ｆ Ｓ３ 最适酸度分别为ｐ Ｈ６ ．５ ～８ ．０ 、ｐ Ｈ７ ．０ ～８ ．０ 和ｐ Ｈ７ ．０ ～８ ．０ ,温度为２０ ～３５ ℃、１５ ～３５ ℃和１５ ～３５ ℃．邻苯二甲酸酯降解菌 Ｆ Ｓ１ 、 Ｆ Ｓ２ 和 Ｆ Ｓ３ 对邻苯二甲酸二甲酯的降解的半寿期： Ｆ Ｓ１ ＜ Ｆ Ｓ２ ＜ Ｆ Ｓ３ ,邻苯二甲酸酯降解菌 Ｆ Ｓ１ 是一株高效的邻苯二甲酸二甲酯降解菌     

抗砷载体的构建及在氧化亚铁硫杆菌中的表达

利用ＤＮＡ体外重组技术，将抗砷质粒ｐＵＭ３经ＨｉｎｄⅢ酶切后得到的４．３ｋｂ抗砷片段克隆到有广泛寄主的ＩｎｃＱ质粒ｐＪＲＤ２１５的ＨｉｎｄⅢ位点上，构建了一个新的抗砷质粒ｐＳＤＸ３。砷抗性研究表明，在大肠杆菌中，ｐＳＤＸ３的抗砷水平与ｐＵＭ３相近。将ｐＳＤＸ３通过接合的方式引入氧化亚铁硫杆菌Ｔｆ－５９中并得到了表达，与对照相比，含质粒ｐＳＤＸ３的Ｔｆ－５９抗砷水平有了很大的提高。     

EoNPV的限制性酶切图谱及polyhedrin基因和egt基因的定位

用８种限制性内切酶酶解茶尺蠖Ｅｃｔｒｏｐｉｓｏｂｌｉｑｕａ核型多角体病毒（ＥｏＮＰＶ）基因组ＤＮＡ,获得大于０．８８ｋｂ的片段数分别为７、３８、１９、１７、１６、９、３２和１４．由此统计,基因组平均大小大于１１８．５ｋｂ,即Ｍｒ约大于７８．６×１０６．用ＢｍＮＰＶ的多角体蛋白（ｐｈ）基因和ＡｃＭＮＰＶ的ｅｇｔ基因为探针,应用Ｓｏｕｔｈｅｒｎ杂交方法,将ＥｏＮＰＶ的ｐｈ基因定位于ＢａｍＨＩＡ、ＣｌａＩＤ、ＥｃｏＲＩＭ、ＥｃｏＲＶＬ、ＨｉｎｄⅢＦ、ＰｓｔＩＡ、ＳａｌＩＨ和ＸｈｏＩＢ片段上,将ｅｇｔ基因定位于ＢａｍＨＩＡ、ＣｌａＩｌ、ＥｃｏＲＩＫ、ＥｃｏＲＶＡ、ＨｉｎｄⅢＨ、ＰｓｔＩＡ、ＳａｌＩＢ、ＸｈｏＩＩ片段上．通过克隆和酶切鉴定ＥｃｏＲＩＭ和ＥｃｏＲＶＬ片段,测定ｐｈ基因部分序列,并以ＥｃｏＲＩＭ为探针对基因组酶切印迹进行杂交,制作了ＥｏＮＰＶｐｈ基因和ｅｇｔ基因区的酶切图谱,推定ｅｇｔ基因保守区位于ｐｈ基因上游约４．５５ｋｂ处．     

紫云英根瘤分离菌株质粒多样性的研究

从广东、广西、湖南、湖北、江西、浙江、江苏７省紫云英（ＡｓｔｒａｇａｌｕｓｓｉｎｉｃｕｓＬ．）主要分布区４６个采集点的紫云英根瘤中分离到１０１个菌株．检测发现有１６种不同质粒类型,所含质粒１～４个不等,含两个质粒的菌株占绝大部分,质粒Ｍｒ为３６×１０６～３６４×１０６．用克隆Ｍ．ｈｕａｋｕｉ７６５３Ｒ的ｎｏｄＤＢＣ４．２ｋｂ片段为探针（α３２ｐｄＣＴＰ）进行的分子杂交结果表明,所有这些菌株均含有共生质粒,通常为第一大质粒,但Ｃ、Ｌ、Ｍ、Ｎ和Ｏ型为第二大质粒,共生质粒Ｍｒ在１３１×１０６～３６４×１０６之间．比较质粒类型与１６Ｓ２３ＳｒＤＮＡＩＧＳ（ｐＨｒ,ｐ２３ＳＲ０１）ＰＣＲＲＦＬＰ分析结果表明,ＩＧＳ类型不同,即使在同一植株分离所得的根瘤其质粒类型常不同,但在同一植株上分离菌株的质粒类型相同,则其ＩＧＳ常表现相同．表明质粒的类型是细菌染色体背景和细菌外环境（如共生条件等）共同作用的结果     

营养物质对细菌质粒pEA9：：Km在土壤中拼命转移频率的影响

用成团肠杆菌（Ｅｍｔｅｒｏｂａｃｔｅｒ ａｇｇｌｏｍｅｒａｎｓ）Ｔ７（ｐＥＡ９：：Ｋｍ）为供体菌,以Ｅ．ａ．３３９（ｐＥＡ９＾－）为受体菌在天然土壤中进行接合实验,测定各种营养物质对重组质粒ｐＥＡ９：：Ｋｍ同源接合转移频率的影响。实验发现,如果在土壤中加入生理盐水或无机盐培养基,就观察不到细菌数量的增加和质粒的转移;只有加入碳源物质后才检测到细菌数量的增加和质粒的接合转移,接合转移频率的大小位于１     

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.