Pyrrolizidine alkaloids on three trophic levels – evidence for toxic and deterrent effects on phytophages and predators

Summary. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) present a model system in the investigation of tritrophic interactions mediated by plant secondary compounds. However, their toxicity for insect herbivores has never been experimentally proven. Here, we demonstrate the toxic effects of a PA on growth and survival of the eri silk moth Philosamia ricini. In a feeding experiment, larvae of this generalist herbivore fed with an artificial PA diet gained weight significantly slower than control animals, and died as pupae. We suggest that derivatives of the ingested PA N-oxide damage developmental functions during metamorphosis. A tracer test with [¹⁴C]senecionine N-oxide revealed that the caterpillars lack adaptations that would prevent conversion of the chemical into the pro-toxic free base. In contrast, the PA adapted leaf beetle Longitarsus anchusae accumulates PAs as N-oxides. We tested the purpose of sequestration in this species as defence against predators. Through a series of prey choice experiments with three carabid predator species, chemically non-protected bark beetle pupae were chosen almost uniformly over L. anchusae pupae. In a following choice test with one of these predators, artificially PA-treated mealworm segments deterred the predator from feeding. Overall the study corroborates the immediate toxic effect of PAs on non-adapted herbivores and the protective effect that adapted insects may gain by sequestering them. It thereby underlines the potential for PAs to play a central role in multitrophic interactions between plants, phytophages and their predators.     

中国农田生态系统土壤碳库的饱和水平及其固碳潜力

在利用反硝化-分解(DNDC)模型估算中国分县农田土壤碳库及其变化量的基础上,分析中国分省农田土壤碳库的饱和水平,估算各省市自治区农田土壤的固碳潜力,比较旱田与水田固碳能力的差异。结果表明:笔者所得到的中国农田土壤碳库的饱和水平可代表在1990年的土地利用方式、耕作措施、施肥水平和气候条件不变的情况下农田土壤经过耕种后所能达到的碳含量的平衡值,为农田选择土地利用方式、耕作栽培措施和施肥方式以固定更多的碳素提供依据。在分布上,中国农田土壤碳库的饱和水平以华北地区较低,以华北地区为中心向外呈辐射状递增。在1990年的土地利用方式、耕作措施、施肥水平和气候条件不变的情况下,中国农田土壤的固碳潜力为-0.969 Pg。从单位面积的固碳潜力看,以西藏自治区最高,黑龙江省最低;从分布看,从南向北有逐渐递减的趋势。中国水田比旱田有更大的固碳能力。     

Systemic retention of ingested cantharidin by frogs

Summary Frogs(Rana pipiens) fed on blister beetles (Meloidae) or cantharidin, retain cantharidin systemically. After cessation of feeding, they void the compound relatively quickly. Systemic cantharidin does not protect frogs against ectoparasitic feeding by leeches(Hirudo medicinalis) or predation by snakes(Nerodia sipedon). As suggested by our data, and from reports in the early literature, ingestion of cantharidin-containing frogs can pose a health threat to humans.Paper no. 95 of the seriesDefense Mechanisms of Arthropods; no. 94 is LaMunyon & Eisner, Psyche (in press)     

China’s carbon neutrality: an extensive and profound systemic reform

● China has pledged ambitious carbon peak and neutrality goals for mitigating global climate change. ● Major challenges to achieve carbon neutrality in China are summarized. ● The new opportunities along the pathway of China’s carbon neutrality are discussed from four aspects. ● Five policy suggestions for China are provided. China is the largest developing economy and carbon dioxide emitter in the world, the carbon neutrality goal of which will have a profound influence on the mitigation pathway of global climate change. The transition towards a carbon-neutral society is integrated into the construction of ecological civilization in China, and brings profound implications for China’s socioeconomic development. Here, we not only summarize the major challenges in achieving carbon neutrality in China, but also identify the four potential new opportunities: namely, the acceleration of technology innovations, narrowing regional disparity by reshaping the value of resources, transforming the industrial structure, and co-benefits of pollution and carbon mitigation. Finally, we provide five policy suggestions and highlight the importance of balancing economic growth and carbon mitigation, and the joint efforts among the government, the enterprises, and the residents.     

Insights into the electron transfer mechanisms of permanganate activation by carbon nanotube membrane for enhanced micropollutants degradation

● A CNT filter enabled effective KMnO₄ activation via facilitated electron transfer. ● Ultra-fast degradation of micropollutants were achieved in KMnO₄/CNT system. ● CNT mediated electron transfer process from electron-rich molecules to KMnO₄. ● Electron transfer dominated organic degradation. Numerous reagents have been proposed as electron sacrificers to induce the decomposition of permanganate (KMnO₄) by producing highly reactive Mn species for micropollutants degradation. However, this strategy can lead to low KMnO₄ utilization efficiency due to limitations associated with poor mass transport and high energy consumption. In the present study, we rationally designed a catalytic carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane for KMnO₄ activation toward enhanced degradation of micropollutants. The proposed flow-through system outperformed conventional batch reactor owing to the improved mass transfer via convection. Under optimal conditionals, a > 70% removal (equivalent to an oxidation flux of 2.43 mmol/(h·m²)) of 80 μmol/L sulfamethoxazole (SMX) solution can be achieved at single-pass mode. The experimental analysis and DFT studies verified that CNT could mediate direct electron transfer from organic molecules to KMnO₄, resulting in a high utilization efficiency of KMnO₄. Furthermore, the KMnO₄/CNT system had outstanding reusability and CNT could maintain a long-lasting reactivity, which served as a green strategy for the remediation of micropollutants in a sustainable manner. This study provides new insights into the electron transfer mechanisms and unveils the advantages of effective KMnO₄ utilization in the KMnO₄/CNT system for environmental remediation.     

Optimal timing of carbon capture policies under learning-by-doing

Using a standard Hotelling model of resource exploitation, we determine the optimal energy consumption paths from three options: dirty coal, which is non-renewable and carbon-emitting; clean coal, which is also non-renewable but carbon-free thanks to carbon capture and storage (CCS); and solar energy, which is renewable and carbon-free. We assume that the atmospheric carbon stock cannot exceed an exogenously given ceiling. Taking into account learning-by-doing in CCS technology, we show the following results: (i) clean coal exploitation cannot begin before the outset of the carbon constrained phase and must stop strictly before the end of this phase; (ii) the energy price path can evolve non-monotonically over time; and (iii) when the solar cost is low enough, an unusual energy consumption sequence along with solar energy is interrupted for some time and replacement by clean coal may exist.     

Ancillary benefits of reduced air pollution in the US from moderate greenhouse gas mitigation policies in the electricity sector

Actions to slow atmospheric accumulation of greenhouse gases also would reduce conventional air pollutants yielding “ancillary” benefits that tend to accrue locally and in the near-term. Using a detailed electricity model linked to an integrated assessment framework to value changes in human health, we find a tax of $25 per metric ton of carbon emissions would yield NO_x-related health benefits of about $8 per metric ton of carbon reduced in the year 2010 (1997 dollars). Additional savings of $4–$7 accrue from reduced investment in NO_x and SO₂ abatement in order to comply with emission caps. Total ancillary benefits of a $25 carbon tax are $12–$14, which appear to justify the costs of a $25 tax, although marginal benefits are less than marginal costs. At a tax of $75, greater total benefits are achieved but the value per ton of carbon reductions remains roughly constant at about $12.     

Reassessment of the Ocean-To-Atmosphere Flux of Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide (CO) in the surface sea waters is produced predominantly by photochemical processes, oxidized by micro-organisms and outgassed to the atmosphere. to assess carbon monoxide flux from the oceans to the atmosphere, the photochemical production and microbial oxidation of carbon monoxide in the oceanic mixed-layer was investigated during several oeanographic cruises and in the laboratory. the photoproduction rate of carbon monoxide was found to be well correlated to the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in coastal and open ocean surface waters. Taking a global average carbon monoxide production rate of 10 ± 2 nmole litre^-1 (mg DOC hr)^-1 in the surface open ocean water, and 25 ± 7 nmole litre^-1 (mg DOC hr)^-1 in coastal sea water, at cloud-free summer solar noon, the photochemical production of carbon monoxide in the global oceans is estimated to be at a rate of 1200 ± 200 Tg CO y^-1. the microbial carbon monoxide turnover time in the mixed-layer was observed to range from hours in a coastal estuary to 16 days in the Pacific along 1057deg; W in dark incubations. Natural sunlight can largely inhibit the microbial consumption of carbon monoxide in surface water. On a global scale, microbial consumption is responsible for the loss of less than 10% of photochemical produced carbon monoxide in the surface ocean. Field measurements have shown that the net transport of carbon monoxide from the euphotic zone to the underlying deeper ocean water is limited and that the overall life time in surface sea waters is less than 3-4 hours. When combined, these field measurements with the photoproduction and microbial consumption rates obtained, we estimate the oceanic flux to the atmosphere is about 1000 ± 200 Tg CO y^-1, which represents the largest single source of atmospheric carbon monoxide.     

碳中和目标下区域土地利用结构优化研究

通过对土地利用变化的碳循环影响、碳排放核算方法、碳排放效应分析、碳排放效率及碳减排潜力评价、土地利用结构优化等方面研究成果的梳理,明晰了碳中和目标下区域土地利用结构优化研究进展。针对现有研究存在的不足,从区域土地利用变化的视角,提出碳中和目标下区域土地利用结构优化研究的系统性框架,即构建碳收支“调查—监测—核算—评价—过程模拟—低碳优化—碳减排效益评价—低碳政策”的整体框架和方法体系,发挥其在区域碳减排、土地利用低碳结构优化和区域可持续发展中的作用。     

Recent advances in antimony removal using carbon-based nanomaterials: A review

• The synthesis and physicochemical properties of various CNMs are reviewed. • Sb removal using carbon-based nano-adsorbents and membranes are summarized. • Details on adsorption behavior and mechanisms of Sb uptake by CNMs are discussed. • Challenges and future prospects for rational design of advanced CNMs are provided. Recently, special attention has been deserved to environmental risks of antimony (Sb) element that is of highly physiologic toxicity to human. Conventional coagulation and ion exchange methods for Sb removal are faced with challenges of low efficiency, high cost and secondary pollution. Adsorption based on carbon nanomaterials (CNMs; e.g., carbon nanotubes, graphene, graphene oxide, reduced graphene oxide and their derivatives) may provide effective alternative because the CNMs have high surface area, rich surface chemistry and high stability. In particular, good conductivity makes it possible to create linkage between adsorption and electrochemistry, thereby the synergistic interaction will be expected for enhanced Sb removal. This review article summarizes the state of art on Sb removal using CNMs with the form of nano-adsorbents and/or filtration membranes. In details, procedures of synthesis and functionalization of different forms of CNMs were reviewed. Next, adsorption behavior and the underlying mechanisms toward Sb removal using various CNMs were presented as resulting from a retrospective analysis of literatures. Last, we prospect the needs for mass production and regeneration of CNMs adsorbents using more affordable precursors and objective assessment of environmental impacts in future studies.