Conservation Strategies for Species Affected by Apparent Competition

Apparent competition is an indirect interaction between 2 or more prey species through a shared predator, and it is increasingly recognized as a mechanism of the decline and extinction of many species. Through case studies, we evaluated the effectiveness of 4 management strategies for species affected by apparent competition: predator control, reduction in the abundances of alternate prey, simultaneous control of predators and alternate prey, and no active management of predators or alternate prey. Solely reducing predator abundances rapidly increased abundances of alternate and rare prey, but observed increases are likely short‐lived due to fast increases in predator abundance following the cessation of control efforts. Substantial reductions of an abundant alternate prey resulted in increased predation on endangered huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) deer in Chilean Patagonia, which highlights potential risks associated with solely reducing alternate prey species. Simultaneous removal of predators and alternate prey increased survival of island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) in California (U.S.A.) above a threshold required for population recovery. In the absence of active management, populations of rare woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) continued to decline in British Columbia, Canada. On the basis of the cases we examined, we suggest the simultaneous control of predators and alternate prey is the management strategy most likely to increase abundances and probabilities of persistence of rare prey over the long term. Knowing the mechanisms driving changes in species’ abundances before implementing any management intervention is critical. We suggest scientists can best contribute to the conservation of species affected by apparent competition by clearly communicating the biological and demographic forces at play to policy makers responsible for the implementation of proposed management actions. Estrategias de Conservación para Especies Afectadas por Competencia Aparente     

Effect of Planning for Connectivity on Linear Reserve Networks

Although the concept of connectivity is decades old, it remains poorly understood and defined, and some argue that habitat quality and area should take precedence in conservation planning instead. However, fragmented landscapes are often characterized by linear features that are inherently connected, such as streams and hedgerows. For these, both representation and connectivity targets may be met with little effect on the cost, area, or quality of the reserve network. We assessed how connectivity approaches affect planning outcomes for linear habitat networks by using the stock‐route network of Australia as a case study. With the objective of representing vegetation communities across the network at a minimal cost, we ran scenarios with a range of representation targets (10%, 30%, 50%, and 70%) and used 3 approaches to account for connectivity (boundary length modifier, Euclidean distance, and landscape‐value [LV]). We found that decisions regarding the target and connectivity approach used affected the spatial allocation of reserve systems. At targets ≥50%, networks designed with the Euclidean distance and LV approaches consisted of a greater number of small reserves. Hence, by maximizing both representation and connectivity, these networks compromised on larger contiguous areas. However, targets this high are rarely used in real‐world conservation planning. Approaches for incorporating connectivity into the planning of linear reserve networks that account for both the spatial arrangement of reserves and the characteristics of the intervening matrix highlight important sections that link the landscape and that may otherwise be overlooked. El Efecto de la Planeación para la Conectividad en Redes de Reservas Lineales     

Permeability of Roads to Movement of Scrubland Lizards and Small Mammals

A primary objective of road ecology is to understand and predict how roads affect connectivity of wildlife populations. Road avoidance behavior can fragment populations, whereas lack of road avoidance can result in high mortality due to wildlife‐vehicle collisions. Many small animal species focus their activities to particular microhabitats within their larger habitat. We sought to assess how different types of roads affect the movement of small vertebrates and to explore whether responses to roads may be predictable on the basis of animal life history or microhabitat preferences preferences. We tracked the movements of fluorescently marked animals at 24 sites distributed among 3 road types: low‐use dirt, low‐use secondary paved, and rural 2‐lane highway. Most data we collected were on the San Diego pocket mouse (Chaetodipus fallax), cactus mouse (Peromyscus eremicus), western fence lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis), orange‐throated whiptail (Aspidoscelis hyperythra), Dulzura kangaroo rat (Dipodomys simulans) (dirt, secondary paved), and deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) (highway only). San Diego pocket mice and cactus mice moved onto dirt roads but not onto a low‐use paved road of similar width or onto the highway, indicating they avoid paved road substrate. Both lizard species moved onto the dirt and secondary paved roads but avoided the rural 2‐lane rural highway, indicating they may avoid noise, vibration, or visual disturbance from a steady flow of traffic. Kangaroo rats did not avoid the dirt or secondary paved roads. Overall, dirt and secondary roads were more permeable to species that prefer to forage or bask in open areas of their habitat, rather than under the cover of rocks or shrubs. However, all study species avoided the rural 2‐lane highway. Our results suggest that microhabitat use preferences and road substrate help predict species responses to low‐use roads, but roads with heavy traffic may deter movement of a much wider range of small animal species.     

Effects of Exurban Development and Temperature on Bird Species in the Southern Appalachians

Land‐use dynamics and climatic gradients have large effects on many terrestrial systems. Exurban development, one of the fastest growing forms of land use in the United States, may affect wildlife through habitat fragmentation and building presence may alter habitat quality. We studied the effects of residential development and temperature gradients on bird species occurrence at 140 study sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains (North Carolina, U.S.A.) that varied with respect to building density and elevation. We used occupancy models to determine 36 bird species’ associations with building density, forest canopy cover, average daily mean temperature, and an interaction between building density and mean temperature. Responses varied with habitat requirement, breeding range, and migration distance. Building density and mean temperature were both included in the top occupancy models for 19 of 36 species and a building density by temperature interaction was included in models for 8 bird species. As exurban development expands in the southern Appalachians, interior forest species and Neotropical migrants are likely to decline, but shrubland or edge species are not likely to benefit. Overall, effects of building density were greater than those of forest canopy cover. Exurban development had a greater effect on birds at high elevations due to a greater abundance of sensitive forest‐interior species and Neotropical migrants. A warming climate may exacerbate these negative effects. Efectos del Desarrollo Exurbano y de la Temperatura sobre Especies de Aves en las Apalaches del Sur     

Decolorization and degradation of acid dyes mediated by salt fractionated turnip ( Brassica rapa ) peroxidases

Peroxidases from turnip roots (524?U?g^?1 of vegetable) were highly effective in decolorizing acid dyes having wide spectrum chemical groups. Dye solutions, containing 40–170?mg?dye?L^?1, were treated by turnip peroxidases (TP) (specific activity of 122.0?U?mg^?1 proteins). These enzymes were able to decolorize most of the acid dyes in the presence of 2.0?mM 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT). Increasing concentration of enzyme and time in the absence of HOBT did not influence dye decolorization. The rate of decolorization was significantly enhanced when HOBT was added to the decolorizing solutions. The decolorization of all the used dyes was maximum at pH 5.0 and 40°C. Complex mixtures of dyes were significantly decolorized when treated with enzyme in the presence of HOBT (2.0?mM). Phytotoxicity test based on Allium cepa root growth inhibition has shown that majority of the TP-treated dye product were not more toxic than their parent dye. Kinetic parameters of the TP with various dyes showed that this enzyme has highest affinity for Acid Yellow 42. This study demonstrates that the peroxidase/mediator system was an effective biocatalyst for the treatment of industrial effluents from textile, dye manufacturing, dyeing and printing industries or complex mixtures of dyes.     

南京地区污水厂、自来水厂及长江水域MCR-1和NDM-1携带菌耐药特征

为了研究以多粘菌素耐药基因(MCR-1)和新德里金属β-内酰胺酶-1基因(NDM-1)携带菌为代表的"超级细菌"在地表水中的环境行为,以长江南京段典型水域及邻近城市污水厂和自来水厂为研究对象,考察了MCR-1和NDM-1携带菌的耐药特性及其变化特征。结果发现,污水厂进水和生物处理单元2种细菌耐药能力均处于较高水平,随处理流程呈降低趋势,至消毒出水中不再被检出。长江中MCR-1携带菌耐粘菌素的半抑制浓度(EC50)较高,平均达37.89 mg·L-1,顺水流方向无显著降低。仅在下游朱家山河汇入口和长江大桥附近滨江公园检出较高耐药水平的NDM-1携带菌。2种细菌耐药水平受水体污染程度和人类活动影响较明显。自来水厂MCR-1携带菌数目较少,但其EC50平均可达32.75 mg·L~(-1),常规处理单元中未检出NDM-1携带菌。水处理工艺显著降低了细菌耐药水平,但排泥水中2种细菌均检出,且耐药水平相比进水显著提高。本研究可为评价水介质中超级抗性基因及其携带菌的环境风险提供参考。     

不同碳源条件下草菇内切型纤维素酶基因（eg1）转录表达的分析

利用Northernblot方法分析了不同碳源条件下草菇切型纤维素酶基因(eg1)的表达.结果发现,在含有纤维素的液体培养基中生长10d,eg1在草菇菌丝中有高效表达;纤维二糖、α-乳糖、β-乳糖,也能诱导eg1的表达,但和纤维素相比,eg1的表达量相对较低,并且它们的诱导效应在加入这类糖12h后迅速减弱;槐糖和龙胆二糖的诱导作用非常弱.在天然稻草为基质的固体栽培料生长时,草菇eg1的表达和草菇菌丝生长与出菇相对应,在菌丝生长期(d8)可见eg1的表达,d12时菌丝已长满,表达减弱,在出菇及菇体的分化及增大期,eg1的表达量逐渐增强,在成熟期达到最高水平;表明在草菇菇体发育中需要更多碳源及能源的补充,eg1在这方面起着非常重要的作用.图4参14     

人尿中1-羟基芘浓度与多环芳烃日暴露量的关系

采集并分析了 10 0名不吸烟成人 2 4h的呼吸带空气 (PM10 和气相 )、食物及尿液样品 ,建立了尿中1 羟基芘与多环芳烃日暴露量的关系 结果表明 :晨尿 1 羟基芘 (μmol·mol肌酐 -1)浓度与芘、苯并 (a )芘等 13种多环芳烃日暴露量的对数线性回归方程拟合度R2 达 0 12— 0 6 7,方程各项参数也均达到了显著性水平 (P <0 0 0 1)     

Oxidative stress and genotoxicity of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride on loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus)

This study was a preliminary step to evaluate the acute toxicity of 1-methyl-3-octylimidazolium chloride ([C₈mim]Cl) on loach (Misgurnus anguillicaudatus) by determining the effects on hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities and by the comet assay. The results showed that [C₈mim]Cl had acute toxicity at concentrations above 20 mg L^?1, inducing oxidative stress and genotoxicity on fish liver cells. In respect to enzyme activities, [C₈mim]Cl induced changes in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione content the livers of fish exposed at 20–80 mg L^?1. [C₈mim]Cl at the same exposure level caused a remarkable increase in malondialdehyde level. The comet assay indicated that [C₈mim]Cl at 20–80 mg L^?1 induced genotoxicity in liver cells. With increased exposure concentration and time, the two comet parameters trailing rate and tail moment were significantly increased, with significant differences (P < 0.05) observed between control group and each treatment group. The present study shows that ionic liquids can be a threat to the health of aquatic organism when accidentally released to aquatic ecosystems.