荇菜(Nymphoides peltatum)对铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)生长的抑制效应及其机制

构建了荇菜(Nymphoides peltatum)与以铜绿微囊藻为优势种的自然藻体共培养系统,分析系统中各藻种藻细胞密度、藻体叶绿素a含量、荇菜生长指标及水下[光]照度的变化;同时以荇菜种植水配置培养基,在适宜光照条件下培养铜绿微囊藻,分析藻类生长生理指标随时间的变化.结果表明:共培养系统中藻类总藻细胞密度显著下降(P<0.05),其中铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)藻细胞密度下降最为明显,40 d时比初始藻细胞密度减少了94.68%,而三角四角藻(Tetraedron minimum)数量逐渐增多,成为优势藻种,表明荇菜对铜绿微囊藻生长具有明显抑制作用.共培养系统中荇菜鲜重、水下20 cm深处光衰减率均与藻类叶绿素a含量呈显著负相关(P<0.05),表明藻细胞光合能力的大小与荇菜植株的生长及其产生的遮光作用密切相关.随培养时间延长,添加荇菜种植水的培养基中铜绿微囊藻藻细胞光密度值(D650)下降明显;叶绿素a、藻胆蛋白(包括藻蓝蛋白、别藻蓝蛋白、藻红蛋白)相对含量均有不同程度的下降,培养9 d后4者相对含量分别降至5.27%、15.53%、21.11%和48.48%;藻细胞Ca2+Mg2+-ATP酶活性下降明显,表明荇菜种植水中存在着某种对铜绿微囊藻产生抑制作用的活性物质,通过对铜绿微囊藻光反应系统(PS Ⅰ和PS Ⅱ)的作用来阻碍藻细胞光合作用进程,抑制藻类生长,说明除了遮光效应外,分泌抑藻活性物质也是荇菜抑制铜绿微囊藻生长的重要机制.     

磷及环境因子对太湖梅梁湾藻类生长及其群落影响

在太湖梅梁湾进行的围隔试验表明,藻类生长与水华形成受气候(如水温、风浪)与营养因子(如N,P)影响。统计分析发现各点硝态氮均与叶绿素a显著负相关,在不同围隔中水温、总磷、总氮等与叶绿素a显著相关。各围隔中优势种主要为蓝藻,尤其是微囊藻类。加磷对藻类生长与群落结构均有影响,但磷营养不是目前太湖水华爆发的关键因素。     

滇池铜绿微囊藻春化过程与诱导低温间的关系

在滇池铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa in Dianchi Lake)春化作用被揭示后,认识到该藻生长活动对低温有需求,分析冬季低温对滇池铜绿微囊藻生长的影响、春化过程与诱导低温间的关系等,对深入认识藻大暴发的春化过程具有重要意义。实验中先用31℃对藻高温休眠处理,然后用14~7℃低温诱导,最后在19℃、2 000 lx下培养3 d,算出平均藻增长率,用变温实验方法进行相关研究。实验结果为:藻生长启动的春化过程(诱导时间/诱导低温)为12 h/14℃、11 h/13℃、9 h/12℃、7 h/11℃、6 h/10℃、7 h/9℃、8 h/8℃、10 h/7℃,10℃为最适诱导低温;藻增长的最大春化过程实验中,10℃连续处理45 d后,平均藻增长率稳定在42.2%,这时藻数量2 d增长1倍,与藻暴发时的藻增长一致;低温间的掩盖实验表明,强低温的藻春化作用掩盖弱低温的藻春化作用,但在10~7℃内,掩盖作用是短时间的;对低温春化过程的累积作用分析表明,诱导低温在14~10℃波动对藻作用过程中,最强低温的间断春化过程具有累积作用,而诱导低温在10~7℃波动对藻作用过程中,最强低温的间断春化过程则没有累积作用;滇池的铜绿微囊藻的最适生长温度为19℃,而太湖的铜绿微囊藻为25℃,生长在滇池的铜绿微囊藻是铜绿微囊藻中适应云贵高原湖泊的一个生态型,即滇池铜绿微囊藻,学名Microcystis aeruginosa in Dianchi Lake;对春化作用重新定义分析,滇池铜绿微囊藻的春化作用属于广义春化作用。     

黄淮海湿地系统典型挺水植物对水华藻类的化感效应

利用植物的化感作用可抑制有害藻类生长,控制水华发生,改善水质.文章在考察黄淮海湿地系统的基础上,选取典型挺水植物菖蒲(Acorus calamus)和香蒲(Typha latifolia),用0.1×Hoagland完全培养液进行种植,利用其种植水培养湿地典型水华藻类--铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa Kütz)和鱼腥藻(Anabeana Bory),研究菖蒲和香蒲的种植水对铜绿微囊藻和鱼腥藻生长的影响,评价挺水植物对水华藻类的化感效应.结果显示:菖蒲种植水对铜绿微囊藻的抑制作用较强;而香蒲种植水对鱼腥藻的抑制作用较强,但是对铜绿微囊藻的生长却有促进作用.结果表明两种挺水植物的种植水都含有影响水华藻类生长的化感物质.进一步的研究表明,两种植物种植水对以上两种藻类生长的影响具有显著的体积比浓度效应.因此,保护和恢复湿地挺水植物群落对改善水环境具有重要作用,但利用挺水植物化感效应进行水体环境净化时,应按水体中有害藻类的类型合理选择植物种类.     

应用流式细胞技术研究种群初始状态对藻类毒性效应的影响

应用流式细胞技术研究种群初始状态的变化及外源种群介入对藻类毒性效应的影响.结果表明:初始细胞密度的增加可以降低Cu2 的毒性效应.当微囊藻初始细胞密度从103上升到105cells·ml-1时,24h Cu2 处理后微囊藻酯酶活性的EC50值从4.4μg·l-1上升到37μg·l-1.而外源种群(栅藻、小球藻)的介入也可降低Cu2 对微囊藻的毒性效应.     

纳米水滑石与Hela细胞的生物相容性研究

为了探讨纳米水滑石与Hela细胞的生物相容性,采用单细胞凝胶电泳法检测了纳米水滑石对Hela细胞DNA的损伤,并采用H2DCF-DA荧光法检测了纳米水滑石对Hela细胞活性氧簇的影响.结果发现,随着纳米水滑石浓度的升高(0~800μg·mL-1),Hela细胞尾部DNA含量、尾距及胞内活性氧簇含量均呈逐渐升高趋势;较低浓度(50、100μg·mL-1)纳米水滑石处理后,Hela细胞尾部DNA含量、尾距及胞内活性氧簇含量与对照组无显著性差异(p>0.05),而较高浓度(200、400、800μg·mL-1)纳米水滑石处理后,Hela细胞尾部DNA含量、尾距及胞内活性氧簇含量与对照组差异显著(p<0.05,p<0.01).以上结果表明,较高浓度(≥200μg·mL-1)的纳米水滑石可对Hela细胞DNA产生损伤,而较低浓度(≤100μg·mL-1)的纳米水滑石则具有较好的生物相容性,有可能作为载体应用于医药领域.     

微囊藻毒素对束丝藻细胞生长和抗氧化系统的影响

为从活性氧(ROS)角度探讨微囊藻毒素(MC)导致藻类细胞死亡的机理及揭示藻细胞对MC诱发的氧化胁迫的响应机制,采用50和500μg·L-1的微囊藻毒素LR(MC-LR)处理束丝藻(Aphanizomenon sp. DC01)细胞,测定了细胞生长、细胞内活性氧(ROS)含量及抗氧化系统的变化.结果表明,50μg·L-1的MC-LR处理对藻细胞的生长无显著影响,而500μg·L-1的MC-LR处理可诱导藻细胞死亡.50μg·L-1的MC-LR处理的藻细胞ROS含量在处理第2d显著高于对照;但藻细胞能通过还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPX)活性改变修复氧化损伤,使ROS水平在处理第3d恢复到对照水平.500μg·L-1的MC-LR处理可显著降低藻细胞GSH含量和SOD与GPX活性,刺激藻细胞生成过量的ROS;ROS在毒素处理4d后突然暴发,过量的ROS引起膜质过氧化,并最终导致藻细胞死亡。     

太湖北部夏季浮游藻类多样性与水质评价

于2004年7月对太湖北部浮游藻类的种群组成进行了调查,分析了藻类种属组成的空间分布,利用多种多样性评价指数对水体的污染情况进行了评价,初步探讨了太湖藻类种群组成的变化特征。太湖北部浮游藻类的密度较大,介于2.54×107～8.53×108个·L-1,主要由蓝藻、绿藻、硅藻、甲藻、裸藻和隐藻等组成,以微囊藻为优势种。自湖岸向湖心,单位体积内藻类的个数及生物量逐渐递减,种属逐渐增加。其中含较多指示污染及富营养化程度的藻类种属,各种评价指数显示水体的污染程度较为严重,属中营养—富营养化范畴。     

太湖底泥污染物分布特征分析

太湖地处北纬30°56′-31°34′、东经119°53′-120°34′之间,面积2338.1 km2,平均水深不足2 m,是典型的浅水湖泊.目前,对太湖底泥空间分布及其表层营养物的分布已有较多调查和分析,但多局于部分湖区,报道时间较早,对整个太湖进行的调查与分析不多.本研究在整个太湖共设置583个采样点,利用Ekman取样器钻取连续完整的底泥,分析有机质(OM)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和重金属在底泥中的含量及垂直分布,为太湖底泥生态疏浚范围和深度提供技术支持.     

苯酚对两种微囊藻生长的作用效应

用不同浓度的苯酚处理无毒铜绿微囊藻和有毒铜绿微囊藻。结果显示不加苯酚处理时，有毒藻生长量明显高于无毒藻；100μg／mL的苯酚促进无毒藻生长而抑制有毒藻的生长；苯酚浓度增至200μg／mL，无毒藻的生长才受到抑制。高浓度苯酚胁迫下的藻细胞：光合速率大幅度降低；可溶性蛋白含量减少；细胞膜透性增大；超氧阴离子(O2^-)产生速率和丙二醛(MDA)相对含量升高；超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性降低。这些变化有毒藻较无毒藻更显著。表明：有毒微囊藻是水华中的优势种群；两种藻中有毒藻对苯酚的敏感性更大。     

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     

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.     

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.     

Effects of Controlled Fire and Livestock Grazing on Bird Communities in East African Savannas

Abstract: In East Africa fire and grazing by wild and domestic ungulates maintain savannas, and pastoralists historically set fires and herded livestock through the use of temporary corrals called bomas. In recent decades traditional pastoral practices have declined, and this may be affecting biodiversity. We investigated the effects of prescribed fires and bomas on savanna bird communities in East Africa during the first and second dry seasons of the year (respectively before and after the rains that mark the onset of breeding for most birds). We compared abundance, richness, and community composition on 9‐ha burned plots, recently abandoned bomas, and control plots in the undisturbed matrix habitat over a 3‐year period. Generally, recently burned areas and abandoned bomas attracted greater densities of birds and had different community assemblages than the surrounding matrix. The effects of disturbances were influenced by interactions between primary productivity, represented by the normalized difference vegetation index, and time. Bird densities were highest and a greater proportion of species was observed on burned plots in the months following the fires. Drought conditions equalized bird densities across treatments within 1 year, and individuals from a greater proportion of species were more commonly observed on abandoned bomas. Yearly fluctuations in abundance were less pronounced on bomas than on burns, which indicate that although fire may benefit birds in the short term, bomas may have a more‐lasting positive effect and provide resources during droughts. Several Palearctic migrants were attracted to burned plots regardless of rainfall, which indicates continued fire suppression may threaten their already‐declining populations. Most notably, the paucity of birds observed on the controls suggests that the current structure of the matrix developed as a result of fire suppression. Traditional pastoralism appears critical to the maintenance of avian diversity in these savannas.     

Effects of Coffee Management on Deforestation Rates and Forest Integrity

Knowledge about how forest margins are utilized can be crucial for a general understanding of changes in forest cover, forest structure, and biodiversity across landscapes. We studied forest‐agriculture transitions in southwestern Ethiopia and hypothesized that the presence of coffee (Coffea arabica)decreases deforestation rates because of coffee's importance to local economies and its widespread occurrence in forests and forest margins. Using satellite images and elevation data, we compared changes in forest cover over 37 years (1973–2010) across elevations in 2 forest‐agriculture mosaic landscapes (1100 km² around Bonga and 3000 km² in Goma‐Gera). In the field in the Bonga area, we determined coffee cover and forest structure in 40 forest margins that differed in time since deforestation. Both the absolute and relative deforestation rates were lower at coffee‐growing elevations compared with at higher elevations (?10/20% vs. ?40/50% comparing relative rates at 1800 m asl and 2300–2500 m asl, respectively). Within the coffee‐growing elevation, the proportion of sites with high coffee cover (>20%) was significantly higher in stable margins (42% of sites that had been in the same location for the entire period) than in recently changed margins (0% of sites where expansion of annual crops had changed the margin). Disturbance level and forest structure did not differ between sites with 30% or 3% coffee. However, a growing body of literature on gradients of coffee management in Ethiopia reports coffee's negative effects on abundances of forest‐specialist species. Even if the presence of coffee slows down the conversion of forest to annual‐crop agriculture, there is a risk that an intensification of coffee management will still threaten forest biodiversity, including the genetic diversity of wild coffee. Conservation policy for Ethiopian forests thus needs to develop strategies that acknowledge that forests without coffee production may have higher deforestation risks than forests with coffee production and that forests with coffee production often have lower biodiversity value. Efectos de la Administración Cafetalera sobre las Tasas de Deforestación y la Integridad de los Bosques     

What Every Conservation Biologist Should Know about Economic Theory

Abstract: The last century has seen the ascendance of a core economic model, which we will refer to as Walrasian economics. This model is driven by the psychological assumptions that humans act only in a self‐referential and narrowly rational way and that production can be described as a self‐contained circular flow between firms and households. These assumptions have critical implications for the way economics is used to inform conservation biology. Yet the Walrasian model is inconsistent with a large body of empirical evidence about actual human behavior, and it violates a number of basic physical laws. Research in behavioral science and neuroscience shows that humans are uniquely social animals and not self‐centered rational economic beings. Economic production is subject to physical laws including the laws of thermodynamics and mass balance. In addition, some contemporary economic theory, spurred by exciting new research in human behavior and a wealth of data about the negative global impact of the human economy on natural systems, is moving toward a world view that places consumption and production squarely in its behavioral and biophysical context. We argue that abandoning the straightjacket of the Walrasian core is essential to further progress in understanding the complex, coupled interactions between the human economy and the natural world. We call for a new framework for economic theory and policy that is consistent with observed human behavior, recognizes the complex and frequently irreversible interaction between human and natural systems, and directly confronts the cumulative negative effects of the human economy on the Earth's life support systems. Biophysical economics and ecological economics are two emerging economic frameworks in this movement.     

Globalization of the Cashmere Market and the Decline of Large Mammals in Central Asia

As drivers of terrestrial ecosystems, humans have replaced large carnivores in most areas, and human influence not only exerts striking ecological pressures on biodiversity at local scales but also has indirect effects in distant corners of the world. We suggest that the multibillion dollar cashmere industry creates economic motivations that link western fashion preferences for cashmere to land use in Central Asia. This penchant for stylish clothing, in turn, encourages herders to increase livestock production which affects persistence of over 6 endangered large mammals in these remote, arid ecosystems. We hypothesized that global trade in cashmere has strong negative effects on native large mammals of deserts and grassland where cashmere‐producing goats are raised. We used time series data, ecological snapshots of the biomass of native and domestic ungulates, and ecologically and behaviorally based fieldwork to test our hypothesis. In Mongolia increases in domestic goat production were associated with a 3‐fold increase in local profits for herders coexisting with endangered saiga (Saiga tatarica).That increasing domestic grazing pressure carries fitness consequences was inferred on the basis of an approximately 4‐fold difference in juvenile recruitment among blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur)in trans‐Himalayan India. Across 7 study areas in Mongolia, India, and China's Tibetan Plateau, native ungulate biomass is now <5% that of domestic species. Such trends suggest ecosystem degradation and decreased capacity for the persistence of native species, including at least 8 Asian endemic species: saiga, chiru (Pantholops hodgsoni), Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus), snow leopard(Panthera uncia), khulan(Equus hemionus), kiang (E. kiang), takhi (E. przewalski), and wild yak (Bos mutus). Our results suggest striking yet indirect and unintended actions that link trophic‐level effects to markets induced by the trade for cashmere. Globalización del Mercado de Cachemira y la Declinación de Mamíferos Mayores en Asia Central     

The lichen-rich coastal heath vegetation on the isle of Anholt, Denmark — conservation and management

The high conservational value of the lichen-rich vegetation and landscape of the marine foreland Ørkenen on the isle of Anholt is treated from a Danish as well as a European perspective. The sensitivity of the lichen-rich vegetation to physical disturbance is emphasized. The impact of invasive species such asPinus mugo as well as the effect of atmospheric deposition of nutrients on the heaths at Anholt is described. Considerations related to the development of a management plan for Ørkenen are presented.     

Behavior and ecology of Old World Luperini beetles of the genusAulacophora (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

Summary The attraction of Old World leaf beetles in the genusAulacophora to kairomones and parakairomones which are effective lures for New WorldDiabrotica andAcalymma were investigated. Beetles captured on sticky traps baited with single and multicomponent lures were no different from the control traps for two species ofAulacophora. Yellow colored traps and squash blossoms are attractive toAulacophora beetles which detect sub-microgram quantities of cucurbitacins on silica gel. Leaf feeding behavior and flight activity data are correlated with varietal preference of threeAulacophora species. The common response byDiabrotica andAulacophora to cucurbitacins reinforces the two groups' coevolutionary association with the Cucurbitaceae. The apparent lack of a common response toCucurbita blossom volatiles suggests recent evolutionary pathways are substantially different for these two groups of beetles.     

Use of stochastic patch occupancy models in the California red-legged frog for Bayesian inference regarding past events and future persistence

Assessing causes of population decline is critically important to management of threatened species. Stochastic patch occupancy models (SPOMs) are popular tools for examining spatial and temporal dynamics of populations when presence–absence data in multiple habitat patches are available. We developed a Bayesian Markov chain method that extends existing SPOMs by focusing on past environmental changes that may have altered occupancy patterns prior to the beginning of data collection. Using occupancy data from 3 creeks, we applied the method to assess 2 hypothesized causes of population decline—in situ die-off and residual impact of past source population loss—in the California red-legged frog. Despite having no data for the 20–30 years between the hypothetical event leading to population decline and the first data collected, we were able to discriminate among hypotheses, finding evidence that in situ die-off increased in 2 of the creeks. Although the creeks had comparable numbers of occupied segments, owing to different extinction–colonization dynamics, our model predicted an 8-fold difference in persistence probabilities of their populations to 2030. Adding a source population led to a greater predicted persistence probability than did decreasing the in situ die-off, emphasizing that reversing the deleterious impacts of a disturbance may not be the most efficient management strategy. We expect our method will be useful for studying dynamics and evaluating management strategies of many species.