Integrating Top-Down with Bottom-Up Conservation Policy in Africa

Abstract:  Developed nations intervened in conservation policy across Africa during the 20th century to address needs to protect species and biodiversity that were based on their own perceptions and priorities. In the 21st century, conservationists in Africa have revised these perceptions and begun the process of identifying conservation priorities from an African perspective and in consideration of Africans' priorities. Although foreign conservation interveners struggled to identify mechanisms to which local people would respond, African conservationists are now demonstrating how to integrate the continent's unique socioeconomic circumstances into efforts to protect biodiversity. In Africa effective conservation policy must include the generation of wealth, reduction of disease and hunger, and support of traditional land-use practices.     

Prevalence of the Crayfish Plague Pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in Invasive American Crayfishes in the Czech Republic

Abstract:  In Central Europe invasive North American crayfishes are carriers of the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci, which causes crayfish plague. This lethal disease currently represents one of the major threats to native European crayfishes. We used molecular methods—species-specific amplification and sequencing of the pathogen DNA—to investigate the prevalence of individuals latently infected with A. astaci in 28 populations of two invasive American crayfish species (6 of the signal crayfish [ Pacifastacus leniusculus ] and 22 of the spiny-cheek crayfish [ Orconectes limosus ]) in the Czech Republic. The pathogen occurred in 17 investigated populations. We recorded a high variation in positive reactions, ranging from 0% to 100%, in populations of O. limosus . In P. leniusculus, however, only one individual out of 124 tested positive for the pathogen. There was a clear relationship between the water body type and pathogen prevalence in O. limosus . Infection ratios in isolated standing waters were usually low, whereas in running waters, pathogen prevalence often exceeded 50%. Other evaluated characteristics of potential plague pathogen carriers (size, sex, and the presence of melanized spots in the cuticle) seemed to be unrelated to infection. Our data suggest that in contrast to other European countries, O. limosus seems to be the primary reservoir of crayfish plague in the Czech Republic. Although all populations of alien American crayfishes may be potential sources of infections and should be managed as such, knowledge on the prevalence of the plague pathogen at various localities may allow managers to focus conservation efforts on the most directly endangered populations of native crayfishes.     

Priorities for Improving the Scientific Foundation of Conservation Policy in North America

Abstract:  The Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) can enhance conservation of biodiversity in North America by increasing its engagement in public policy. Toward this end, the North America Section of SCB is establishing partnerships with other professional organizations in order to speak more powerfully to decision makers and taking other actions—such as increasing interaction with chapters—geared to engage members more substantively in science-policy issues. Additionally, the section is developing a North American Biodiversity Blueprint, which spans the continental United States and Canada and is informed by natural and social science. This blueprint is intended to clarify the policy challenges for protecting continental biodiversity, to foster bilateral collaboration to resolve common problems, and to suggest rational alternative policies and practices that are more likely than current practices to sustain North America's natural heritage. Conservation scientists and practitioners can play a key role by drawing policy makers' attention to ultimate, as well as proximate, causes of biodiversity decline and to the ecological and economic consequences of not addressing these threats.     

水环境中石油类物质分析方法探讨

在详述了国内外石油类分析方法的基础上,对各方法的适用范围、优缺点及可比性进行了深入分析,阐述了各类方法存在的共性问题,指出按照石油类物质毒性大小分别定量分析的方法将是未来的发展趋势。     

全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)经口染毒对C57BL/6小鼠脾脏T细胞亚群CD4+/CD8+的影响

采用每天一次经口灌胃染毒的方法,探讨了全氟辛烷磺酸(Perfluorooctane sulfonate,PFOS)经口重复剂量染毒对C57BL/6小鼠脾脏T细胞亚群CIM+和CD8+的影响.选择雄性C57BL/6小鼠24只,实验组PFOS染毒剂量分别为5、10、20mg·kg-1(bw).每天一次经口灌胃染毒12d后,制备脾脏T淋巴细胞悬液,经特异性荧光标记的CD3(FITC)、CIM(PE)、CD8(PERCP)单克隆抗体作用后,采用FACS流式细胞仪检测T淋巴细胞及其亚群百分数.结果表明,10 mg·kg-1(bw)和20 mg·kg-1(bW)PFOS染毒组小鼠体重呈明显的下降趋势;20 mg·kg-1(bw)PFOS染毒组小鼠胸腺和脾脏指数显著低于对照组(P<0.05),而各剂量组小鼠肝脏指数均显著高于对照组(P<0.05).PFOS染毒20mg·kg-1(bw)实验组CD3+CD4+与CD3+CD8+T细胞的绝对计数和百分比均显著低于对照组(p<0.01).研究结果显示,PFOS暴露可降低小鼠免疫器官中CD4+、CD8+T细胞的含量,表明PFOS可抑制小鼠的细胞免疫水平.     

Can phosphate compounds be used to reduce the plant uptake of Pb and resist the Pb stress in Pb-contaminated soils？

The effects of di erent phosphate-amendments on lead (Pb) uptake, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the levelof malondialdehyde (MDA) in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) in contaminated soils with 2500, or 5000 mg P2O5/kg soil ofhydroxyapatite (HA), phosphate rock (PR), single-superphosphate (SSP) and the mix of HA/SSP (HASSP) were evaluated in potexperiments. Results showed that the Pb concentrations in shoots and roots decreased by 18.3%–51.6% and 16.8%–57.3% among thetreatments respectively compared to the control samples. The e ciency order of these phosphate-amendments in reducing Pb uptakewas as follows: HASSPt HA > SSP t PR.With the addition of SSP, HA and the mix of HA/SSP, the SOD activity in shoot was reducedmarkedly (P < 0.05) compared with that in the control group. For example, the SOD activities in shoot by the treatments of HASSP,SSP, and HA in 5000 mg P2O5/kg were found to be only 51.3%, 56.2%, and 56.7%, respectively. Similar e ects were also observed onthe level of MDA in the shoots with a decrease in 24.5%–56.3%. The results verified the inference that phosphate compounds could beused to reduce the plant uptake of Pb and resist the Pb stress in the plant vegetated in Pb-contaminated soils.     

2007年春节期间北京大气细粒子中正构烷烃的污染特征

利用大流量颗粒物采样器分昼夜采集了2007年春节前后大气气溶胶中PM_2.5样品,并采用气相色谱-质谱技术对PM_2.5样品中的正构烷烃进行了检测和分析.结果表明,春节期间大气细粒子平均浓度全部超过WHO阈值,且夜间平均浓度要高于白天.细粒子中检测出C₁₀～C₃₃的正构烷烃,总浓度为201.7～2 715.6　ng·m^-3,夜间正构烷烃的平均总浓度（943.5 ng·m^-3）要高于白天(581.1 ng·m^-3）,除夕前的平均总浓度（1025.5 ng·m^-3）要高于除夕后（536.6 ng·m^-3）.主峰碳为23、 24和25,CPI值为0.9～1.4,平均为1.15,表明春节期间北京大气细粒子中的正构烷烃主要由化石燃料的不完全燃烧产生,%WaxC_n的结果表明生物源对气溶胶中正构烷烃的贡献率为8.5%～47%.     

新型规整吸附/光催化偶联催化剂性能研究

在预先成形的金属网上制备规整炭化物载体,载体经TiO2负载、烧结后制成新型规整型吸附/光催化偶联催化剂。以室内空气典型污染物苯为模拟降解对象,研究了该催化剂的光催化活性及活性影响因素。此外,还研究了载体的吸附性、气相的湿度及流速对负载催化剂反应性能的影响。实验结果表明:载体的吸附性对催化剂的反应性能有影响,在苯的初始浓度80mg/m3、光照2h的相同条件下,在两个不同吸附性载体的负载催化剂上,苯的净降解率分别为51.1%和33.56%;气速对催化剂反应性能的影响体现在传质阻力和停留时间上,反应过程存在一个最佳气速;气相的湿度对催化剂的反应性能影响不大,在苯初始浓度300mg/m3、光照2h条件下,气相的相对湿度由33%增至75%,苯的净降解率变化不超过5%。