Conservation implications of physiological carry‐over effects in bats recovering from white‐nose syndrome

Although it is well documented that infectious diseases can pose threats to biodiversity, the potential long‐term consequences of pathogen exposure on individual fitness and its effects on population viability have rarely been studied. We tested the hypothesis that pathogen exposure causes physiological carry‐over effects with a pathogen that is uniquely suited to this question because the infection period is specific and time limited. The fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans causes white‐nose syndrome (WNS) in hibernating bats, which either die due to the infection while hibernating or recover following emergence from hibernation. The fungus infects all exposed individuals in an overwintering site simultaneously, and bats that survive infection during hibernation clear the pathogen within a few weeks following emergence. We quantified chronic stress during the active season, when bats are not infected, by measuring cortisol in bat claws. Free‐ranging Myotis lucifugus who survived previous exposure to P. destructans had significantly higher levels of claw cortisol than naïve individuals. Thus, cryptic physiological carry‐over effects of pathogen exposure may persist in asymptomatic, recovered individuals. If these effects result in reduced survival or reproductive success, they could also affect population viability and even act as a third stream in the extinction vortex. For example, significant increases in chronic stress, such as those indicated here, are correlated with reduced reproductive success in a number of species. Future research should directly explore the link between pathogen exposure and the viability of apparently recovered populations to improve understanding of the true impacts of infectious diseases on threatened populations.     

Quantifying the rebound effects of residential solar panel adoption

Customers who adopt solar panels can reduce their energy bills and lower the effective average electricity prices they pay. When the price falls, a solar consumer might consume more electricity than before – a solar rebound effect. We provide the first empirical evidence of residential solar rebound effects in the U.S. We use household level hourly and daily electricity meter data as well as hourly solar panel electricity generation data from 277 solar homes and about 4000 non-solar homes from 2013 to 2017 in Phoenix Arizona. Using matching methods and a fixed effects panel regression approach, we find that when solar electricity generation increases by 1 kWh, solar homes increase their total electricity consumption by 0.18 kWh. This indicates that solar rebound effects are estimated at 18%. Building upon our theoretical framework, the increase in consumer surplus from solar panel adoption is estimated at $972/yr.     

Potential Negative Ecological Effects of Corridors

Despite many studies showing that landscape corridors increase dispersal and species richness for disparate taxa, concerns persist that corridors can have unintended negative effects. In particular, some of the same mechanisms that underlie positive effects of corridors on species of conservation interest may also increase the spread and impact of antagonistic species (e.g., predators and pathogens), foster negative effects of edges, increase invasion by exotic species, increase the spread of unwanted disturbances such as fire, or increase population synchrony and thus reduce persistence. We conducted a literature review and meta‐analysis to evaluate the prevalence of each of these negative effects. We found no evidence that corridors increase unwanted disturbance or non‐native species invasion; however, these have not been well‐studied concerns (1 and 6 studies, respectively). Other effects of corridors were more often studied and yielded inconsistent results; mean effect sizes were indistinguishable from zero. The effect of edges on abundances of target species was as likely to be positive as negative. Corridors were as likely to have no effect on antagonists or population synchrony as they were to increase those negative effects. We found 3 deficiencies in the literature. First, despite studies on how corridors affect predators, there are few studies of related consequences for prey population size and persistence. Second, properly designed studies of negative corridor effects are needed in natural corridors at scales larger than those achievable in experimental systems. Third, studies are needed to test more targeted hypotheses about when corridor‐mediated effects on invasive species or disturbance may be negative for species of management concern. Overall, we found no overarching support for concerns that construction and maintenance of habitat corridors may result in unintended negative consequences. Negative edge effects may be mitigated by widening corridors or softening edges between corridors and the matrix. Other negative effects are relatively small and manageable compared with the large positive effects of facilitating dispersal and increasing diversity of native species. Efectos Negativos Potenciales de los Corredores     

西安市重污染与清洁天PM2.5组分及其活性氧物质对比

针对重霾污染,在西安市冬季重污染日(2015-11-30~2015-12-09)和清洁日(2016-01-13~2016-01-22)各进行了为期10d的PM_(2.5)采集,测量其中的有机碳、元素碳,及NH_4~+、NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)等无机水溶性离子,探讨两种污染条件下的组分特征及其成因.结果表明:观测期,重霾日和清洁日PM_(2.5)质量浓度分别为(170±47.5)μg·m~(-3)和(48.6±17.9)μg·m~(-3),且重霾日伴随低能见度、高湿静风等多种不利气象条件;重霾日二次无机离子(NH_4~+、NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-))组分占PM_(2.5)质量浓度的49.8%±13.1%,而清洁日为19.4%±5.95%,并且重霾日硫氧化速率(sulfur oxidation ratio,SOR)和氮氧化速率(nitrogen oxidation ratio,NOR)分别为0.282±0.157和0.269±0.124,远高于清洁日(SOR和NOR分别为0.189±0.057和0.077±0.046),重霾日二次有机组分浓度[(6.22±3.87)μg·m~(-3)]是清洁日[(1.44±1.63)μg·m~(-3)]的5倍,表明二次污染及不利气象条件是造成重霾期间相关组分浓度升高的重要原因.最后,通过二氯荧光黄双乙酸盐(2',7'-DCFH)化学荧光分析法测定了其中活性氧物质(reactive oxygen species,ROS)的浓度,探讨其对于二次无机组分形成的影响,结果表明观测期ROS平均浓度(以H_2O_2计)分别为(4.99±1.54)nmol·m~(-3)(重霾期),(0.492±0.356)nmol·m~(-3)(清洁期),二次反应及积累效应可能是西安重霾条件下ROS浓度升高的主要原因.NO_3~-、SO_4~(2-)与ROS均呈现正相关(P0.05),表明ROS可能通过二次氧化过程参与到二次无机组分形成过程中.     

铜胁迫对不同基因型谷子幼苗基因组DNA多态性的影响

采用室内盆栽土培法,以4种基因型谷子(D2-8、安06、黄米、朝谷)为供试材料,研究了不同浓度Cu2+胁迫对谷子幼苗体内可溶性糖、脯氨酸、丙二醛(MDA)含量和基因组DNA多态性的影响.结果表明,经50~400 mg·kg-1Cu2+处理30 d后,4种谷子幼苗体内可溶性糖含量与对照相比呈现先上升后下降的趋势,在50 mg·kg-1时达到最大值.当浓度为200mg·kg-1以上时,4种谷子的可溶性糖含量的平均降幅为对照的32.44%~56.5%.脯氨酸则表现为低含量(≤50 mg·kg-1)的促进和高含量(≥100 mg·kg-1)的抑制效应,MDA含量均有增加且与对照差异显著(P<0.05).Cu2+胁迫下不同基因型谷子幼苗基因组DNA的RAPD图谱发生明显变化,表现为单条或多条RAPD谱带的增加和缺失或者荧光强度的改变,细胞中基因组模板DNA的稳定性下降,DNA多态性变化与Cu2+浓度之间存在剂量-效应关系.不同基因型谷子对Cu2+胁迫的生理和遗传损伤响应存在差异.利用RAPD技术获得的DNA多态性变化可作为检测Cu2+遗传毒性效应的生物标记物.     

含砷毒剂降解产物三苯胂对大豆萌发及幼苗生长的影响

采用不同浓度三苯胂(Triphenylarsine,TPA)沙质室内培养东北代表性作物大豆,研究日本遗弃在华化学武器("日遗化武")装填毒剂的主要降解产物之——TPA(C18H15As)对大豆萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:在0 mg/kg～400 mg/kg TPA浓度范围内,大豆受到的毒性效应随浓度增大而增大,直至无法生长;试验大豆的萌发率、根长、下胚轴长和株高等形态指标均随着培养介质中TPA浓度的增加而出现抑制效应明显增加的趋势;其中根系是大豆幼苗期砷累积的主要器官,也是对环境TPA毒害效应最敏感、响应最早的部位之一。日遗华武泄漏造成的土壤污染若处理不当会对埋藏地种植的大豆作物生长产生影响。     

道路生态影响评价方法研究：以兰海高速公路为例

提出了将道路生态影响问题划分为3个尺度来进行评价,并根据不同尺度的生态特征采用不同的方法和指标,从而系统、定量的评价道路建设和运行所带来的生态影响.小尺度问题采用野外调查和样方对比的方法;中尺度问题主要依靠不同分辨率的遥感监测,辅之野外调研;大尺度问题主要依靠遥感和GIS结合进行分析.以兰海高速公路为例,运用该系统进行评价,取得了良好的结果.因此,该体系方法可以作为道路生态影响评价和研究的借鉴和参考.     

1株脱氮除磷菌的筛选及其特性研究

采用YG培养基,结合蓝白斑筛选、异染粒染色及好氧除磷能力检测等实验,从城市生活污水处理厂好氧生化池的活性污泥中分离出7株好氧除磷菌;再经硝酸盐还原产气和缺氧培养实验,筛选出1株高效脱氮除磷菌;通过16S rRNA基因同源性比较和生理生化鉴定,初步将其鉴定为Pseudomonas grimontii,命名为C18.菌株C18在好氧培养24h后,培养基中上清液磷浓度从38.7mg/L降低到2.28mg/L,除磷率达94.1%.C18在缺氧培养24h后,培养基中上清液磷浓度从44.5mg/L降低到5.21mg/L,除磷率达88.3%;上清液硝酸盐氮浓度从184.2mg/L降低到30.6mg/L,脱氮率达83.4%.菌株C18最适脱氮除磷温度为30℃;最适脱氮除磷pH为7.5.     

硒对镉胁迫下菠菜生理特性、元素含量及镉吸收转运的影响

为了探讨硒(Se)对菠菜中的镉(Cd)胁迫造成毒害的缓解作用,采用盆栽试验,研究了不同浓度Se(0、0.5、2.0、4.0 mg·L-1)对不同浓度Cd(0.5和2.0 mg·kg-1)胁迫下菠菜生理特性、元素含量及Cd吸收转运的影响.结果表明:不同浓度的Se可使丙二醛(MDA)积累量显著降低,最佳作用下分别为两种浓度Cd单一胁迫下的53.93%和41.79%;不同浓度的Se可以缓解Cd胁迫对菠菜地上部和根部的抑制作用,最佳缓解条件下,菠菜地上部和根部的鲜重分别为两种浓度Cd单一胁迫时的1.13倍、1.29倍和1.31倍、1.37倍,干重分别为1.78倍、2.09倍和3.03倍、4.36倍;叶绿素含量显著提高,在最佳缓解浓度下分别是两种浓度Cd单一胁迫时的1.51倍和1.35倍;与两种浓度Cd单一胁迫相比,最佳缓解浓度下超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性分别提高了36.0%和42.8%;外源Se可以使地上部和根部的K、Na、Ca和Mg等元素的含量不同程度的增加;施Se可以有效的抑制菠菜根部对Cd的吸收、富集和向地上部的转运,使菠菜地上部和根部Cd含量显著降低,分别为两种浓度Cd单一胁迫下的65.77%、75.92%和46.11%、70.01%,表明外源Se能有效的减轻Cd胁迫对菠菜的毒害作用.对本研究所用的两种浓度Cd来说,最佳的缓解浓度为2.0 mg·L-1和4.0 mg·L-1.     

溴酸盐对普通小球藻的生长以及生理特性的影响

在静态暴露的条件下,利用流式细胞术等检测技术,考察了不同浓度的溴酸盐对普通小球藻的生长以及生理特性的影响,并对溴酸盐的毒性作用机制进行了初步的探索.结果表明,当溴酸盐浓度达到8 mmol·L~(-1),持续暴露96 h时,能够引起普通小球藻比生长率显著降低、细胞膜完整性显著降低、酯酶活性显著升高、线粒体膜电位显著升高、活性氧水平显著增加.扫描电镜可直观表明细胞膜受到损伤.由此说明,由于溴酸盐毒性的持续作用,使得活性氧在藻细胞内积累,普通小球藻自身的调节功能不能及时消除过多的活性氧,从而引起细胞膜完整性、酯酶活性和线粒体膜电位出现异常情况,藻细胞生理功能出现紊乱,藻细胞结构遭到破坏,最终导致普通小球藻生长受到抑制或死亡.