Utility of biological sensor tags in animal conservation

Electronic tags (both biotelemetry and biologging platforms) have informed conservation and resource management policy and practice by providing vital information on the spatial ecology of animals and their environments. However, the extent of the contribution of biological sensors (within electronic tags) that measure an animal's state (e.g., heart rate, body temperature, and details of locomotion and energetics) is less clear. A literature review revealed that, despite a growing number of commercially available state sensor tags and enormous application potential for such devices in animal biology, there are relatively few examples of their application to conservation. Existing applications fell under 4 main themes: quantifying disturbance (e.g., ecotourism, vehicular and aircraft traffic), examining the effects of environmental change (e.g., climate change), understanding the consequences of habitat use and selection, and estimating energy expenditure. We also identified several other ways in which sensor tags could benefit conservation, such as determining the potential efficacy of management interventions. With increasing sensor diversity of commercially available platforms, less invasive attachment techniques, smaller device sizes, and more researchers embracing such technology, we suggest that biological sensor tags be considered a part of the necessary toolbox for conservation. This approach can measure (in real time) the state of free‐ranging animals and thus provide managers with objective, timely, relevant, and accurate data to inform policy and decision making.     

Effect of biogeographic history on population vulnerability in European amphibians

The genetic diversity of populations, which contributes greatly to their adaptive potential, is negatively affected by anthropogenic habitat fragmentation and destruction. However, continental‐scale losses of genetic diversity also resulted from the population expansions that followed the end of the last glaciation, an element that is rarely considered in a conservation context. We addressed this issue in a meta‐analysis in which we compared the spatial patterns of vulnerability of 18 widespread European amphibians in light of phylogeographic histories (glacial refugia and postglacial routes) and anthropogenic disturbances. Conservation statuses significantly worsened with distances from refugia, particularly in the context of industrial agriculture; human population density also had a negative effect. These findings suggest that features associated with the loss of genetic diversity in post‐glacial amphibian populations (such as enhanced fixation load or depressed adaptive potential) may increase their susceptibility to current threats (e.g., habitat fragmentation and pesticide use). We propose that the phylogeographic status of populations (i.e., refugial vs. post‐glacial) should be considered in conservation assessments for regional and national red lists.     

Progress in the ecology and conservation of giant pandas

Giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) conservation is a possible success story in the making. If extinction of this iconic endangered species can be avoided, the species will become a showcase program for the Chinese government and its collaborators. We reviewed the major advancements in ecological science for the giant panda, examining how these advancements have contributed to panda conservation. Pandas’ morphological and behavioral adaptations to a diet of bamboo, which bear strong influence on movement ecology, have been well studied, providing knowledge to guide management actions ranging from reserve design to climate change mitigation. Foraging ecology has also provided essential information used in the creation of landscape models of panda habitat. Because habitat loss and fragmentation are major drivers of the panda population decline, efforts have been made to help identify core habitat areas, establish where habitat corridors are needed, and prioritize areas for protection and restoration. Thus, habitat models have provided guidance for the Chinese governments’ creation of 67 protected areas. Behavioral research has revealed a complex and efficient communication system and documented the need for protection of habitat that serves as a communication platform for bringing the sexes together for mating. Further research shows that den sites in old‐growth forests may be a limiting resource, indicating potential value in providing alternative den sites for rearing offspring. Advancements in molecular ecology have been revolutionary and have been applied to population census, determining population structure and genetic diversity, evaluating connectivity following habitat fragmentation, and understanding dispersal patterns. These advancements form a foundation for increasing the application of adaptive management approaches to move panda conservation forward more rapidly. Although the Chinese government has made great progress in setting aside protected areas, future emphasis will be improved management of pandas and their habitat.     

Conservation mycology in Australia and the potential role of citizen science

Fungi are undoubtedly important for ecosystem functioning; however, they have been omitted or given scant attention in most biodiversity policy documents, management plans, and formal conservation schedules throughout the world. This oversight may be due to a general lack of awareness in the scientific community and compounded by a scarcity of mycology‐associated curricula at the tertiary level and a lack of mycologists in research institutions. Although molecular techniques advance the systematic cataloging of fungi and facilitate insights into fungal communities, the scarcity of professional mycologists in the environmental sciences hampers conservation efforts. Conversely, citizen science initiatives are making significant contributions to the mycology discipline by increasing awareness and extending the scope of fungal surveys. Future research by professional and amateur mycologists into the distribution of fungi and their function in ecosystems will help identify wider and more effective conservation goals.     

Use of genetic,climatic, and microbiological data to inform reintroduction of a regionally extinct butterfly

Species reintroductions are increasingly used as means of mitigating biodiversity loss. Besides habitat quality at the site targeted for reintroduction, the choice of source population can be critical for success. The butterfly Melanargia russiae (Esper´s marbled white) was extirpated from Hungary over 100 years ago, and a reintroduction program has recently been approved. We used museum specimens of this butterfly, mitochondrial DNA data (mtDNA), endosymbiont screening, and climatic‐similarity analyses to determine which extant populations should be used for its reintroduction. The species displayed 2 main mtDNA lineages across its range: 1 restricted to Iberia and southern France (Iberian lineage) and another found throughout the rest of its range (Eurasian lineage). These 2 lineages possessed highly divergent wsp alleles of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia. The century‐old Hungarian specimens represented an endemic haplotype belonging to the Eurasian lineage, differing by one mutation from the Balkan and eastern European populations. The Hungarian populations of M. russiae occurred in areas with a colder and drier climate relative to most sites with extant known populations. Our results suggest the populations used for reintroduction to Hungary should belong to the Eurasian lineage, preferably from eastern Ukraine (genetically close and living in areas with the highest climatic similarity). Materials stored in museum collections can provide unique opportunities to document historical genetic diversity and help direct conservation.     

Quantifying progress toward a conservation assessment for all plants

The Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) set an ambitious target to achieve a conservation assessment for all known plant species by 2020. We consolidated digitally available plant conservation assessments and reconciled their scientific names and assessment status to predefined standards to provide a quantitative measure of progress toward this target. The 241,919 plant conservation assessments generated represent 111,824 accepted land plant species (vascular plants and bryophytes, not algae). At least 73,081 and up to 90,321 species have been assessed at the global scale, representing 21–26% of known plant species. Of these plant species, at least 27,148 and up to 32,542 are threatened. Eighty plant families, including some of the largest, such as Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, and Rubiaceae, are underassessed and should be the focus of assessment effort if the GSPC target is to be met by 2020. Our data set is accessible online (ThreatSearch) and is a baseline that can be used to directly support other GSPC targets and plant conservation action. Although around one‐quarter of a million plant assessments have been compiled, the majority of plants are still unassessed. The challenge now is to build on this progress and redouble efforts to document conservation status of unassessed plants to better inform conservation decisions and conserve the most threatened species.     

前驱物结晶体升华成膜法制备TiO2薄膜及其光催化性研究

采用“前驱物结晶体升华成膜法”工艺，使含钛前驱物结晶体草酸氧钛酸以升华的方式，均匀地在玻璃表面形成前驱物薄膜；经过热处理，制备出外观平整透明的玻璃基TiO2薄膜，其薄膜厚度为80-100nm，粒度≤50nm。初步研究了制备条件、薄膜性能和本工艺制备的玻璃基TiO2纳米薄膜对甲基对硫磷的光催化降解性能。     

钙镁试剂-示波计时电位法快速测定天然水中不同形态铝

采用钙镁试剂 (CLG) 示波计时电位法 ,分别在中性和碱性条件下直接检测天然水中的无机单核铝 [Ali]和总单核铝 [Ala]浓度 .并用该法测定了酸消化水样中的总铝 [AlT],由 [Ala]-[Ali]间接得到有机单核铝 [Alo],[AlT]-[Ala]得到酸溶态铝 [Alr],从而实现了水中五种Al形态的电化学测定 .实验结果表明 :在pH9 0的 0 5mol·1 - 1KCl+ 0 1mol·1 - 1Na2 B4 O7缓冲溶液中 ,CLG切口为Ep1=-0 75V ,加入铝后出现新切口 ,Ep2 =-0 90V ,检测线性范围为 8× 1 0 - 6— 4× 1 0 - 5mol·1 - 1,检测下限为 6× 1 0 - 7mol·1 - 1,在 3× 1 0 - 5mol·1 - 1Al时 ,相对标准偏差为 4 8% (n =1 0 ) .在中性条件下测定的是无机单核铝 ,而在碱性条件下则是总单核铝 (包括无机单核铝和有机单核铝两部分 ) .     

用连续提取法研究芘在鱼鳃表面的结合形态

建立了研究鱼鳃表面芘的结合状态的四步连续提取方法．分别用H2O、CaCl2、CH3OH和n-C6H14+CH2Cl2(1:1, v/v)混合液提取经暴露的鱼鳃．操作定义的前3步分别提取松散附着在鳃表的鱼鳃黏液中的芘,紧密附着在鳃表的鱼鳃黏液中的芘以及直接吸着在鱼鳃表皮上的芘,第4步则用来提取鱼鳃组织吸收的芘．其提取的芘分别占总量的 4．0％、12．1％、45．2％和38．7％．经3 h暴露,进入鳃组织的芘仅为总测定量的三分之一强,因此大部分芘并未进入鳃组织．单独进行的五步CH3OH连续提取实验结果证明,CH3OH提取步骤能有效地解吸鳃表吸着的芘,但不会导致鳃组织中芘的释放．动态实验结果表明,黏液结合态芘在暴露1h左右即达到平衡,而鳃表吸着态和鳃组织吸收态芘在暴露3h内含量迅速上升,3 h后显著趋缓．     

有机磺酸类化合物的络合萃取研究

本文以三烷基胺为络合剂,正辛醇,煤油,氯仿,四氯化碳等为稀释剂,测定了络合萃取剂对于对甲基苯磺酸,磺基水杨酸稀溶液的相平衡分配系数,讨论了稀释剂,体系ＰＨ值和７３０１络合剂含量对萃取相平衡分配系数Ｄ值的影响,确定了形成的萃合物的组成。