Calculating Biologically Accurate Mitigation Credits: Insights from the California Tiger Salamander

Abstract:  Current conservation mitigation plans often fail to ensure full in-kind habitat replacement for endangered species, which suggests the need for improved methods for calculating mitigation credits. A simple, yet biologically meaningful method for calculating mitigation credits would be to let the number of mitigation credits assigned to a parcel of land scale with the reproductive value of the individuals occupying that parcel. This can be accomplished by dividing the population into 2 or more subdivisions with different reproductive values, calculating the densities of these subdivisions as a function of one or more habitat parameters, and then forming a weighted sum of these densities such that each density distribution is weighted by the reproductive value of its respective subdivision of the population. This weighted sum is the density distribution of reproductive value, and by integrating it over a particular parcel, one can determine the mitigation value of that parcel. We carried out this procedure for a population of California tiger salamanders ( Ambystoma californiense ), with distance from breeding site as our habitat parameter and the 3 visually identifiable age classes (adults, juveniles, and metamorphs) as our population subdivisions. This led to a density distribution of reproductive value that decreased exponentially with increasing distance from a breeding site. Mitigation strategies derived from this function will be more likely to ensure the persistence of California tiger salamander populations than current approaches, which assign all land within 1.6 km of a breeding site the same mitigation value. Use of the density distribution of reproductive value as a basis for mitigation plans is a procedure that can be applied to all endangered species, and it should improve the quality of mitigation decisions.     

Indirect interactions between invasive and native plants via pollinators

In generalised pollination systems, the presence of alien plant species may change the foraging behaviour of pollinators on native plant species, which could result in reduced reproductive success of native plant species. We tested this idea of indirect interactions on a small spatial and temporal scale in a field study in Mauritius, where the invasive strawberry guava, Psidium cattleianum, provides additional floral resources for insect pollinators. We predicted that the presence of flowering guava would indirectly and negatively affect the reproductive success of the endemic plant Bertiera zaluzania, which has similar flowers, by diverting shared pollinators. We removed P. cattleianum flowers within a 5-m radius from around half the B. zaluzania target plants (treatment) and left P. cattleianum flowers intact around the other half (control). By far, the most abundant and shared pollinator was the introduced honey bee, Apis mellifera, but its visitation rates to treatment and control plants were similar. Likewise, fruit and seed set and fruit size and weight of B. zaluzania were not influenced by the presence of P. cattleianum flowers. Although other studies have shown small-scale effects of alien plant species on neighbouring natives, we found no evidence for such negative indirect interactions in our system. The dominance of introduced, established A. mellifera indicates their replacement of native insect flower visitors and their function as pollinators of native plant species. However, the pollination effectiveness of A. mellifera in comparison to native pollinators is unknown. Christine B. Müller, deceased 7 March 2008.     

Plasticity in size and age at maturity in a monogamous fish: effect of host coral size and frequency dependence

The number and maximum body size of the gobioid fish, Paragobiodon echinocephalus, increase with the size of its obligate host coral, Stylophora. Only the largest two individuals breed monogamously in each coral head, and the reproductive success of each spawning is positively correlated with body size. In this study, the plasticity in size and age at maturity in P. echinocephalus was examined. We analyzed life history data from gobies 15–20 mm TL (total length) at their initial marking. Gobies found in larger corals were of lower rank in size order and began to breed later at a larger size, usually upon moving to other corals. The size at maturity ranged widely from 17.2 to 36.0 mm TL. After maturation, growth rates decreased. Mortality, however, was not affected by the timing of maturation. The host coral size did not affect the growth and mortality of marked fish, but the mortality rate of juveniles prior to marking appeared to be higher in smaller corals. The estimated lifetime reproductive success did not differ between the gobies inhabiting corals of different size. Thus the plasticity in size and age at maturity in this species may be maintained by frequency-dependent selection in choosing a host coral size that affects an individual’s social status. Received: 5 April 1995/Accepted after revision: 18 February 1996     

苏北海滨湿地互花米草无性分株扩张能力

在新洋港滩涂由海向陆建立样地:光滩(mudflat)、零星互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)斑块(SAP)、稳定互花米草滩下边缘(SAFI)、2003年互花米草定居处(SAF03)1、989年互花米草定居处(SAF89)、碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)滩(SS)及禾草滩(GF),各样地原位栽培9株生长无差异的互花米草分蘖幼苗(1 m×1 m样方,3次重复),分析互花米草生长指标和繁殖成功率,研究互花米草在苏北海滨湿地的扩张能力。结果表明:(1)mudflat处互花米草分蘖幼苗存活率为7.8%,极显著低于其他样地,SAP、SAFI、SAF03、SAF89、SS和GF样地互花米草存活率分别为88.9%7、7.8%、60.0%、81.1%、0和66.6%;(2)mudflat处根状茎数量显著高于其他样地,但互花米草种子千粒重显著低于其他样地,127 d时mudflat、SAP、SAFI、SAF03、SAF89及GF处互花米草数量比原先存活的互花米草数量分别增加了24.81、9.73、0.26、.7、5.8和3.0倍;(3)SAP、SAFI及SAF89间总生物量无显著差异(P>0.05),且显著...     

Genomic instability in the bank vole: Population-ecological aspects

Chromosome aberration frequency in relation to population dynamics and demographic parameters was studied for six years in a bank vole population in the Middle Urals. The frequencies of structural chromosome aberrations, chromatid gaps, aneuploidy, and polyploidy in males and females and in animals of different ages did not differ significantly. In the breeding period, the frequencies of structural aberrations and changes in chromosome number increased in the somatic cells of voles. Highly significant differences between the levels of chromosome instability in different years manifested a tendency toward a negative correlation with population size.     

纳米颗粒物对雄性生殖系统影响的研究进展

纳米颗粒物因其独特的性质(表面效应、量子尺寸效应和宏观量子隧道效应),在化学、力学、电磁、光学以及生物医学等方面得到了广泛的应用。由于纳米颗粒物具有特殊的性质,使其更容易进入机体并对机体产生生物学效应,其对人体的潜在危害也已逐渐引起人们的关注。生殖健康作为健康的一个重要部分,关系着人类的繁衍与发展,因此纳米颗粒物对生殖系统的影响也逐渐引起人们的重视。本文主要总结了近几年来纳米颗粒物对雄性生殖系统影响的研究,为进一步的研究提供建议和帮助。     

纳米材料对鼠科动物的生殖毒性及致毒机理

纳米材料是近几年应用越来越多的一种新型材料,因此国内外科研单位对其毒性的研究也逐年增加。但是目前对鼠科动物生殖毒性及其机理的了解还相对较少,亟需大量研究填补此领域的空白。本文主要从亲代和子代2个方面阐述了纳米材料对鼠科动物的生殖毒性,从不同生物水平等方面概述了纳米材料对亲子两代鼠科动物的损伤效应及可能的机制。最后,试探性地提出了今后在纳米材料领域对鼠科动物生殖毒性的研究重点。     

联苯菊酯暴露对雌性褐菖鲉卵巢发育的影响及其毒性机制

联苯菊酯是农业、园林等领域应用广泛的拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂,然而有关联苯菊酯对鱼类生殖毒性的研究却很少。以常见的近海鱼类褐菖鲉为受试对象,探讨联苯菊酯对鱼类卵巢发育的影响及机制。褐菖鲉在以环境相关浓度(1、10、100 ng·L~(-1))的联苯菊酯暴露50 d后,各暴露组卵巢生殖细胞发育均受到显著抑制,卵巢17β-雌二醇与睾酮含量均出现下降,caspase-3活性呈剂量依赖性上升。相对定量PCR分析显示,卵巢雌激素受体(ERβ)mRNA水平下降。结果表明,联苯菊酯诱导细胞产生凋亡,导致雌、雄激素水平和雌激素受体表达下降,环境剂量作用下对褐菖鲉卵巢发育具有显著影响。     

Protective effects of curcumin on antioxidant status,body weight gain,and reproductive parameters in male rats exposed to subchronic 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of curcumin (CUR) on antioxidant status, body weight (BW) gains, and some reproductive parameters in male rats exposed to subchronic doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Thirty-two rats were divided into four groups. The first group was kept as control. The second group (TCDD group) was given TCDD at a dose of 50 ng·kg^?1 BW per day; the third group (CUR group) was treated with CUR at a dose of 80 mg·kg^?1 BW per day. The fourth group (TCDD + CUR group) was given TCDD and CUR at the same doses simultaneously. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased in the TCDD group. In addition, TCDD exposure decreased liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activities of kidney and brain, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities of liver, kidney, and brain, and glutathione levels of liver, kidney, and heart. However, CUR treatment with TCDD exposure decreased MDA levels in all tissues and increased SOD activities of liver, kidney, and brain, CAT activity of heart, and GSH-Px activities of heart and brain. TCDD caused a decrease in BW gain, and CUR partially eliminated this effect of TCDD. In addition, while reproductive organ weights, sperm concentration, and sperm motility tended to decrease with TCDD exposure, these effects tended to be close to normal levels by CUR treatment. In conclusion, CUR was seen to be effective in the treatment and prevention of toxicity induced by subchronic TCDD exposure.     

Thinking ahead about reproductive health: contingency planning and emergency preparedness in crisis situations (Iraq and West Africa)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) coordinated efforts to integrate RH into contingency planning for the 2003 Iraq crisis and the 2003 regional response for displaced populations in West Africa. Using UNFPA's network of country offices in the Middle East, staff developed logistics plans, conducted workshops and pre-positioned RH supplies. Though refugee movements did not occur, the contingency planning enhanced the response capacity of UNFPA offices and made it possible to rapidly provide assistance inside Iraq. In West Africa, multi-country workshops and follow-up resulted in country-level and regional action plans useful during the renewed crises of 2003; scarce funding, however, limited their full implementation. UNFPA's experiences show that contingency planning requires committing resources for crises, some of which will not occur; new staff skills; and follow-up. Moreover, RH is considered by some to be additional to the core elements of contingency planning. RH's political sensitivity, particularly with certain donors, further complicated integrated planning.