菹草在低浓度含铜尾水净化过程中的毒性研究

将菹草(Potamogeton crispus)种植于不同浓度的含游离态(CuSO4)和螯合态(EDTA-Cu)铜离子模拟尾水中,定期观测菹草在不同浓度、不同形态含铜尾水中的生长状况,并用水下饱和脉冲叶绿素荧光仪测定菹草光合作用PSⅡ有效荧光产量(Fv/Fm)、光化学荧光淬灭系数(qP)和非光化学荧光淬灭系数(qN)等指标,以研究菹草在低浓度含铜尾水净化过程中的生态效应。结果表明,菹草对铜离子有吸附或富集作用,且对CuSO4的吸附或富集能力大于EDTA-Cu。CuSO4对菹草的毒性作用小,且对菹草生长有一定的促进作用;随着铜离子浓度(0.01、0.3、0.5和1.0 mg·L-1)的递增,CuSO4各试验组菹草叶片数增加量分别是对照组的292.5%、390.0%、155.0%和45.0%。而EDTA-Cu在试验浓度范围内对菹草的生长影响较小,毒性作用不明显。随游离态和螯合态铜离子浓度的提高,相对光合电子传递速率(RET)、Fv/Fm、qP和qN变化明显,表明一定浓度的铜离子增强了菹草的光电子传递速率和份额,铜离子对PSⅡ反应中心的毒性作用较小,可以促进其光合作用。     

苦草光合作用日变化对水体环境因子及磷质量浓度的影响

在静态实验系统中通过水下饱和脉冲荧光仪（Diving-PAM）和多参数水质监测仪（YSI）监测沉水植物苦草（Vallisneria natans）叶绿素荧光参数与水质物理指标的日变化,并同时跟踪测定水体中各形态磷的质量浓度,以研究苦草光合作用日变化对水体物理因子和磷质量浓度的影响。结果表明,苦草叶片光合作用的相对电子传递速率（rETR）,非光化学淬灭系数（qN）及快速光响应曲线的变化趋势和叶片表明的光照强度日变化同步,呈单峰曲线变化;光系统Ⅱ（PSⅡ）实际量子产量（Yield）和光化学淬灭系数（qP）与叶片表明的光照强度日变化相反,呈单槽型曲线变化。水体中溶解氧（DO）、pH和氧化还原电位（Eh）的日变化趋势和与苦草光合作用趋势一致,也呈单峰曲线,均在12：00—13：00时达到最高值。水体总磷（TP）与溶解性总磷（DTP）质量浓度在14：00达到最低值（TP 0.015 mg.L-1,DTP 0.010 mg.L-1）,在24：00达到最大值（TP 0.031 mg.L-1,DTP 0.025 mg.L-1）,溶解性活性磷（SRP）质量浓度在6：00—18：00保持在较低的水平,且无明显波动（0.38~2.46μg.L-1）,在24：00达到最大值（9.62μg.L-1）。水体各形态磷的质量浓度变化呈白天降低、夜间升高趋势,水体中各形态磷的质量浓度变化与苦草光合作用日变化趋势相反。实验结果表明,苦草光合作用引起的水体中环境因子的日变化影响了沉积物磷释放的动态平衡过程,从而引起水体磷质量浓度的日变化。     

鄱阳湖网箱养殖对水环境的影响——以都昌水域为例

为了探讨网箱养殖对水体的影响,选取了位于鄱阳湖北岸的都昌县网箱养殖水域为研究对象,于2017年10月和2018年3月对网箱区、外围区和对照点的水体环境进行了分析调查,探讨了网箱养殖对养殖区水体水环境(水温、DO、pH、Chla、TN、TP等)的影响,并利用综合营养状态指数对水体的富营养化状态进行了评价.结果表明,网箱养殖活动对养殖区水体水温和pH几乎没有影响;而对DO、Chla和营养盐含量的影响较明显.3月和10月研究区水体的DO明显低于对照点,Chla明显高于对照点.3月和10月网箱区水体的TN变化范围分别为2.26—2.40 mg·L~(-1)和2.05—2.72 mg·L~(-1),对照点分别为1.49 mg·L~(-1)和1.14 mg·L~(-1);TP的变化范围分别为0.24—0.42 mg·L~(-1)和0.11—0.23 mg·L~(-1),对照点分别为0.18 mg·L~(-1)和0.11 mg·L~(-1);TN和TP含量的最大值均出现在网箱区;网箱区水体NH~+_4-N的变化范围分别为0.66—1.05 mg·L~(-1)和0.18—0.39 mg·L~(-1);NO~-_3-N的变化范围分别为0.72—1.01 mg·L~(-1)和0.38—0.62 mg·L~(-1);3月研究区水体的NH~+_4-N、NO~-_3-N、TN和TP含量整体高于10月.养殖水体处于中营养,尚未出现富营养化.     

曝气复氧对滇池重污染支流底泥污染物迁移转化的影响

利用模拟试验方法,研究和探讨了河道曝气复氧对滇池重污染支流底泥污染物迁移转化的影响,结果表明:(1)曝气复氧会导致上覆水体pH值上升0.6～1.0;(2)曝气复氧对上覆水体中TN、TP的质量浓度影响相似,在好氧处理条件下呈下降趋势,而在不曝气的对照处理中呈持续上升趋势,两种状况上覆水体TN、TP的平均变化速率分别为:-0.156 mg·L-1·d-1、-0.060mg·L-1·d-1和0.414mg·L-1·d-1、0.036mg·L-1·d-1;(3)上覆水体中COD的质量浓度在好氧和对照两种处珲条件下,表现出两种不同的变化趋势,前者先上升后下降,而后者先下降后上升,平均变化速率分别为-0.361 mg·L-1·d-1和0.314 mg·L-1·d-1;(4)曝气复氧可抑制河道底泥向上覆水释放污染物质,适合于重污染河道水体修复.     

两种富营养化水体对植物生长及光合荧光特性的影响

采用水培方法,研究水芹（Oenanthe javanica）、美人蕉（Canna indica）、菖蒲（Acorus calamus）在两种富营养化水体中生长、部分光合荧光特性的变化,结果表明：（1）营养盐对水芹、美人蕉株高、根长有显著影响,2种植物在低营养盐水体（L）中株高、根长增长率显著低于高营养盐水体（H）,生物量亦表现为L组〈H组,而菖蒲在2种水体中株高、根长,生物量等无显著差异（p〈0.05）;（2）水芹、美人蕉叶片的叶绿素a（Chla）,叶绿素b（Chlb）在L组中含量低,在H组中含量高,w（Chla）/w（Chlb）则随营养盐浓度的升高而降低。菖蒲叶片Chla,Chlb,Car、w（Chla）/w（Chlb）在两实验水体中无显著差异;（3）水芹、美人蕉叶片的Fv/Fm,Yield,qP,re,t,max值及其饱和光强随营养盐浓度的降低而显著降低,qN值变化趋势正好相反,表明在低营养盐水体中,两种植物光系统II（PS II）光能转换效率显著下降,且PS II将吸收过剩的能量通过热耗散的形式释放,以保护自身组织免受过剩光的损害,体现了两种植物在营养盐缺失下的自我保护机制,而菖蒲叶片Fv/Fm,Yield,qP,qN以及快速光响应曲线在L组、H组中均显著差异（p〉0.05）,表明在本文设定的营养盐浓度范围内,菖蒲叶片的光合作用能力未受到显著影响。     

规模化控养水葫芦改善滇池草海相对封闭水域水质的研究

在滇池草海的封闭水域东风坝和老干鱼塘开展修复富营养化水体的试验性工程示范。定期监测水葫芦(Eichhornia crassipes)生长规律,富集氮、磷能力,以及2个水域水葫芦种养后水质的周年动态变化。结果表明,2个水域水葫芦最大生长速率均出现在7月,生长速率分别为759.3和601.6 g·m-2·d-1,12月基本停止生长,东风坝和老干鱼塘水域新鲜水葫芦对氮、磷的富集量分别为1.95、0.17和1.74、0.14 kg·t-1,水体营养化程度直接影响水葫芦生长特征。规模化控养水葫芦明显提高水体透明度,降低水体溶解氧浓度和pH,但既未明显影响鱼类生长,又有利于水葫芦的生长与繁殖。在水葫芦种苗初始投放覆盖度10%、投苗量为22.5 t·hm-2条件下,水葫芦种养后(7—12月)东风坝水体TN、TP和NH4+-N平均浓度比种养前(6月)分别下降7.79、0.67和0.91 mg·L-1,老干鱼塘水体TN、TP和NH4+-N平均浓度比种养前分别下降1.03、0.08和0.09 mg·L-1。水葫芦被机械化打捞后,2处水域水体TN和TP浓度并未明显回升,水质变化较平稳,表明规模化控养水葫芦修复封闭的富营养化水域水质效果明显。     

富营养化水体中浮游动物对藻类的控制作用

采用室内受控生态系统进行实验.采用于桥水库原水接种后,人工设置营养盐质量浓度梯度,模拟富营养化程度不同的水体,以研究浮游动物的生长情况,及其控制藻类生长的作用.使用SPSS统计软件进行数据分析.结果显示:过高的营养盐浓度,可能会对轮虫的生长产生抑制作用,而甲壳类动物的总数量基本由营养盐质量浓度决定.在四个营养盐质量浓度梯度下,浮游动物与藻类之间均存在一定的显著或极显著相关关系,说明浮游动物均能够发挥一定的控藻作用.当营养盐ρ(TN)=3mg·L-1、ρ(TP)=0.02mg·L-1左右,浮游动物的控藻作用最明显.当营养盐质量浓度过高时,浮游动物的控藻作用受影响.     

外源脱落酸(ABA)增强菹草抗镉(Cd2+)胁迫能力

以高等沉水植物菹草(Potamogen crispus)为试验材料,观察4 mg·L-1 Cd2 胁迫条件下外施脱落酸(abscisic acid,ABA)对菹草某些生理生化指标的影响.结果表明,外施ABA可以明显减轻Cd2 毒害作用,使Cd2 胁迫下菹草叶片中叶绿素、可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸含量增加,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性提高,过氧化物酶(POD)活性和O(-)/(·)2产生速率降低,且以施用2.5～5 μmol·L-1 ABA效果最好.     

洞庭湖浮游植物增长的限制性营养元素研究

近20年水质监测资料表明,洞庭湖水体富营养化日趋严重。洞庭湖水体主要污染物为氮和磷,而营养盐赋存形态及其含量对浮游植物生长的影响在洞庭湖尚未见报道。2011年9月至2012年8月对洞庭湖浮游植物生物量及主要营养盐赋存形态与含量进行监测,同时利用藻类增长的生物学（NEB）评价方法对限制浮游植物增长的营养盐进行了研究,并分析了浮游植物生物量与各营养元素之间的相关性。结果表明：洞庭湖主要污染物总氮（TN）和总磷（TP）的年平均值分别为1.90 mg·L-1和0.093 mg·L-1,溶解态无机氮（DIN）平均占ρ（TN）比例为87%,溶解态总磷（DTP）平均占ρ（TP）比例为70%。洞庭湖水体中,DIN是TN的主要贡献者,且不同形态DIN的贡献大小依次为ρ（NO3--N）〉ρ（NH4＋-N）〉ρ（NO2--N）;磷形态组成中,TP主要以溶解反应性磷（SRP）存在。春季洞庭湖水体中ρ（TN）、ρ（TP）较高,这一结果可能源于春季面源污染。洞庭湖水体中ρ（Chla）与氮显著正相关,与磷显著负相关。NEB 实验结果表明氮对洞庭湖浮游植物生长有明显的促进作用,其幅度随氮浓度的增加而加强,而磷对浮游植物的生长影响不大,有时出现抑制作用,硝态氮与磷之间不存在交互作用。因此,氮可能是洞庭湖浮游植物增长的主要限制性营养因子,这一研究暗示在洞庭湖富营养化控制过程中应特别注重氮的控制。     

冬季降温对菹草叶片光合荧光特性的影响

将菹草(Potamogeton cripus)石芽种植于室外水体中,萌发后选择发育程度相近的幼苗,在冬季降温期间利用水下饱和脉冲荧光仪(DIVING-PAM)测定幼苗叶片的FV/Fm和光响应恢复曲线.结果表明,在冬季水温低于7℃的条件下菹草叶片FV/Fm显著降低(P<0.01).水温回复到9～10℃后,FV/Fm逐渐增大;光强的降低有利于FV/Fm的恢复.进一步研究植株的光响应恢复曲线发现,第4-10天,水温<7℃,菹草叶片有效荧光产量(ΔFV'/Fm)的光响应能力和暗恢复能力显著下降;同时,热耗散能力和暗恢复能力也显著降低,发生光抑制的可能性增大.当水温升高到9～10℃时,ΔFV/Fm和非光化学淬灭(NPQ)随光强降低和实验天数的增加逐渐得到恢复.因而,水温9～10℃可能是冬季菹草进行正常光合作用的临界温度;菹草在低温(<7℃)、高光照条件下易发生光抑制,导致PSII受到伤害.     

Achieving Open Access to Conservation Science

Conservation science is a crisis discipline in which the results of scientific enquiry must be made available quickly to those implementing management. We assessed the extent to which scientific research published since the year 2000 in 20 conservation science journals is publicly available. Of the 19,207 papers published, 1,667 (8.68%) are freely downloadable from an official repository. Moreover, only 938 papers (4.88%) meet the standard definition of open access in which material can be freely reused providing attribution to the authors is given. This compares poorly with a comparable set of 20 evolutionary biology journals, where 31.93% of papers are freely downloadable and 7.49% are open access. Seventeen of the 20 conservation journals offer an open access option, but fewer than 5% of the papers are available through open access. The cost of accessing the full body of conservation science runs into tens of thousands of dollars per year for institutional subscribers, and many conservation practitioners cannot access pay‐per‐view science through their workplace. However, important initiatives such as Research4Life are making science available to organizations in developing countries. We urge authors of conservation science to pay for open access on a per‐article basis or to choose publication in open access journals, taking care to ensure the license allows reuse for any purpose providing attribution is given. Currently, it would cost $51 million to make all conservation science published since 2000 freely available by paying the open access fees currently levied to authors. Publishers of conservation journals might consider more cost effective models for open access and conservation‐oriented organizations running journals could consider a broader range of options for open access to nonmembers such as sponsorship of open access via membership fees. Obtención de Acceso Abierto a la Ciencia de la Conservación     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Some polyphagous Homoptera gain protection from their natural enemies by feeding on the toxic plantsSpartium junceum andErythrina corallodendrum (Leguminosae)

Summary Interactions were studied among alkaloid-containing legumes (Erythrina corallodendrum andSpartium junceum) and non-toxic plants (Citrus sinensis, Cucurbita moschata andEuphorbia tirucalli), several polyphagous homopterans,Aphis craccivora (Aphididae),Icerya purchasi, I. aegyptiaca (Margarodidae),Lepidosaphes ulmi (Diaspididae) andPlanococcus citri (Pseudococcidae), and some major natural enemies of these homopterans. Significant reductions in survival due to negative effects of alkaloid containing as compared with non-alkaloidal plants were recorded for the predatorsRodolia cardinalis andChilocorus bipustulatus, but not forCryptolaemus montrouzieri (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae),Chrysoperla carnea (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae) andSympherobius sanctus (Neuroptera: Sympherobiidae). The development time of the larvae or pupae ofR. cardinalis, C. carnea andS. sanctus was longer on the toxic plants than on the non-toxic ones. The percentage of parasitism ofA. craccivora collected from the non-alkaloidal plantsVicia palaestina andMelilotus albus was much higher than that onS. junceum. The parasitoid complexes ofA. craccivora differed between both plant groups. The nutritive value of honeydew ofI. purchasi andA. craccivora, as expressed by the life span ofEncyrtus infelix (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) adults, was also investigated. Life spans were significantly longer when the wasps fed on honeydew produced on non-alkaloidal plants (C. sinensis andPittosporum tobira) than on alkaloid containing plants whenI. purchasi — but notA. craccivora — was the producer. It is suggested that the chemical defense ofE. corallodendrum andS. junceum is exploited by polyphagous phytophages to reduce predation. In nature, population growth and density of four of the investigated homopterans are conspicuously high when they developed on the alkaloid containing plant species, and very low on non-alkaloid plants. The efficiency of their natural enemies may be reduced by sequestration of alkaloids (or other toxic plant compounds) or their transfer into excreted honeydew. Therefore it is assumed that a generalist phytophagous homopteran may be protected from its natural enemies, although at different rates of efficiency, if it can safely sequester the host allelochemical when it develops on toxic species within its host range.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Sequestration of cucurbitacin analogs by New and Old World chrysomelid leaf beetles in the tribe Luperini

Summary Two South American polyphagous leaf beetles,Diabrotica speciosa andCerotoma arcuata, selectively accumulated the bitter tasting compound 23,24-dihydrocucurbitacin D in their body after ingesting root tissues of cucurbit plants. Similarly, three Asian Cucurbitaceae-feeding specialists in the genusAulacophora were found to sequester the same compound. Cucurbitacin analogs were shown to deter feeding by a bird predator, indicating an allomonal role for these compounds in cucurbitacin-associated chrysomelid leaf beetles both of New and Old Worlds. The strong affinity to cucurbitacins, selective sequestration of the analogs and consequent protection from predators suggested an ecological adaptation mechanism developed in common among these two geographically isolated subtribes in the Luperini.