浙北地区农用地和建设用地土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

为了研究浙北地区农用地和建设用地2种不同土地利用方式下土壤重金属污染情况,采集并分析了159个表层(0～20 cm)土壤样品中的Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni 8种重金属含量,采用主成分分析法(PCA)进行来源解析,并运用单因子污染指数法、污染负荷指数法、潜在生态风险及预警指数法进行综合评价。结果显示,农用地和建设用地8种重金属元素的平均质量分数均未超过相关评价标准筛选值,但均超过浙江省土壤环境背景值,其中农用地中Cd和Hg污染,建设用地Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn污染明显。研究区农用地和建设用地土壤重金属综合污染负荷指数(PLI)均为轻度污染状态,且对土壤污染贡献率最大的重金属元素均为Cd,可为研究区土壤重金属的污染防治、风险管控提供依据。研究区农用地除Cd为中度污染外,其他7种重金属均为轻微污染;建设用地Cd为重度污染,Cu、Zn、Pb为轻度污染,Cr、Hg、As、Ni为轻微污染。研究区农用地土壤Ni、Zn、Cu、Cr主要受土母质影响,Cd和Pb主要来源可能为交通运输,Hg和As主要受人类活动影响;建设用地Cd、Hg、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni可能具有不同程度的相同来源...     

冬季河南省若干城市室内灰尘中重金属的健康风险

大气沉降是室内灰尘的重要来源.本研究于2017年1—2月采集了河南省12个城市的室内灰尘样品共48个,并按照取样城市的空间分布探讨了重金属(Ni、Cu、Zn、Mn、Co、Cr、As、Ag、Cd、Pb)污染的南北差异(以黄河为界).运用地积累指数法对其进行污染评价.应用美国EPA人体暴露风险模型进行健康风险评价.结果表明,豫南城市室内灰尘中重金属除Pb以外平均浓度均显著高于豫北城市.豫南城市重金属平均浓度表现为Zn Mn Cr Ni Pb As Cu Co Cd Ag,浓度大小依次是306.7、249.2、223.3、116.9、55.7、41.6、30.3、7.0、1.8、1.3 mg·kg-1,而豫北城市重金属浓度表现为Zn Mn Pb Cr As Ni Cu Co Cd Ag,浓度大小依次是200.7、179.4、85.4、48.7、22.9、22.1、21.4、4.4、2.6、0.7 mg·kg-1.地累积指数结果显示Cd在豫南和豫北城市均是重污染和极重污染,而Ag在豫南城市是重污染和极重污染.豫南城市室内灰尘中4种致癌重金属的致癌风险大小依次为Cr As Ni Cd,6种非致癌重金属的非致癌风险大小依次为Zn Mn Cu Pb Co Ag;豫北城市室内灰尘中致癌重金属的致癌风险依次为Cr As Ni Cd,非致癌重金属的非致癌风险依次为ZnMn Pb Cu Co Ag.     

北京表层土壤重金属污染分布及大气沉降贡献

土壤重金属污染已成为影响城市可持续发展和生态环境安全的重大环境问题。对城市表土重金属污染状况以及来源进行系统分析具有重要意义。于2013年11月—2014年3月同步采集了北京城区及周边不同位置的大气沉降和0—10 cm表层土壤样品,采用ICP-MS测试了样品中主要重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的质量分数。利用富集因子和地累积指数法探讨了北京表层土壤重金属的污染状况,并对大气沉降贡献进行了定量表征。结果表明,北京表层土壤中重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的平均质量分数分别为0.5、76.8、51.3、25、35.2和133.4 mg·kg~(-1)。6种重金属质量分数都存在明显的"粒径递减"效应,即在2—63μm粒径段,表土重金属质量分数一般随粒径的减小而升高,粒径越小重金属在表土中的富集越明显。北京表层土壤中重金属Cr和Ni基本无污染,Cu、Zn和Pb轻微污染,Cd轻度污染;6种重金属都呈现不同程度的轻度富集(CdCuZnPbCrNi),均受自然源和人为污染源的共同影响。海淀区、朝阳区、东城区和西城区这4个区的交界区域存在Cd、Cu和Pb连片轻度、中度污染至偏重污染。朝阳区和东城区的交界区域、海淀区东南部、西城区西部、东城区西部存在Zn连片轻度污染至中度污染。北京表土中重金属Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn和Pb的大气沉降平均贡献率分别为17.4%、21.2%、14.6%、12.2%、16.0%和20.0%。北京表层土壤重金属污染主要集中在细粒径颗粒,表现出较强的空间分异性,并且受大气沉降不同程度的影响。     

包头市南海湿地土壤重金属污染评价及来源解析

包头市南海湿地位于中国西北地区的高纬度寒旱区,具有独特的河流湿地生态系统。以南海湿地土壤为研究对象,对湿地28个点位表层土壤(0~20 cm)中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Mn、Pb、Zn 8种重金属进行检测分析,采用环境质量指数与Hakanson环境生态潜在风险指数相结合的方法,探讨土壤中8种重金属的累积污染现状及潜在生态风险,利用相关性分析、主成分分析和聚类分析区分了南海湿地重金属的来源,以期为南海湿地土壤环境保护提供理论依据。结果表明,As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Mn、Pb和Zn重金属平均值分别为75.18、1.27、56.98、111.18、87.67、622.71、54.10和209.33 mg·kg~(-1)。以包头市南海公园树木林土壤重金属含量为评价基准,南海湿地土壤重金属普遍超标,研究区域所有样方中As、Cd、Cu、Mn和Pb均超标,Cr有64.29%的样点超标,Ni有96.43%的样点超标,Zn有89.29%的样点超标。单因子污染指数表明,Cd处于中度污染;As、Cu、Pb和Zn处于轻度污染;Cr、Ni和Mn处于轻微污染。农田区和景观大道两侧处于重污染水平,鱼塘区和湿地植物区处于中污染水平。潜在生态风险指数表明,Cd处于强风险等级;As、Cr、Cu、Ni、Mn、Pb、Zn处于低风险等级。;研究区整体上都属于中等风险等级。来源解析表明:As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Mn的来源受到周边工业活动和农业活动的影响;Pb和Zn的来源与道路交通有关,Pb还受到工业活动的影响;Cr来源与土壤母质和农业活动有关。     

污灌区土壤-小麦系统重金属污染、迁移和积累--以开封市化肥河污灌区为例

以开封市化肥河污灌区为例，研究了土壤-小麦系统重金属(Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni和AS)污染、迁移和积累规律。结果表明，该区土壤重金属污染较为严重，所有样点的综合污染指数均大于1，其中Cd和AS污染最为严重，其平均质量分数远远超出了土壤环境二级标准值。在该区土壤上种植的小麦也表现出一定程度的重金属累积，但其茎叶和种子重金属质量分数差别较大；在所有种子样品中，Zn质量分数都未超标，AS、Cr和Pb质量分数部分到达了较高的残留水平，Cd质量分数则远远超出了国家食品限量卫生标准。依据重金属迁移累积率(βi)，小麦对As和Cr的吸收能力较低，而对Ni和Cd的吸收能力较高；在所有小麦样品中，除Cu外，茎叶对同一重金属的平均富集能力均大于种子。     

武汉三角湖复合垂直流人工湿地对重金属元素的去除研究

对武汉三角湖复合垂直流人工湿地进出水口中10种重金属元素（As、Ba、Cd、Cr、Cu、Li、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn）去除进行了周年监测（2007年2月—12月）。人工湿地进水口重金属含量较低,无超标重金属元素。三角湖人工湿地进水口重金属元素含量排序为：Ba〉Mn〉Zn〉Li〉Cu〉As〉Pb〉Cr〉Ni〉Cd。三角湖人工湿地出水口对重金属去除效果排序为：Cd〉As〉Mn〉Pb〉Zn〉Cr〉Cu〉Ba〉Li〉Ni。研究表明复合垂直流人工湿地可以有效的去除重金属,对受污染水体水质改善和水生态系统恢复具有重要意义。     

太湖竺山湾及其主要入湾河流表层沉积物重金属污染及潜在生态风险评估

为了解太湖竺山湾及其主要入湾河流表层沉积物重金属污染状况,采用ICP-MS测定了13个采样点中Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd和Pb等7种重金属的含量,并采用地累积指数(I_(geo))法和毒性单位(TU)法对其污染特征及潜在生态风险进行了研究.结果表明,7种重金属Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Pb的含量分别是相应背景值的2.02、2.18、4.69、5.25、1.62、13.6和2.37倍,均表现出了显著的累计效应.地累积指数表明Cr、Ni、As和Pb总体上处于无污染到轻污染状态,Cu和Zn处于轻污染状态,Cd处于轻污染到重污染状态.结合相关系数分析和聚类分析,可推断Cd主要来自于农业面源,Cu、Zn、Cr、Ni和As主要来自于工业污染,Pb一方面来源于橡胶合成和PVC生产等行业,另一方面来源于交通运输中含铅燃料的使用;生态风险评估结果表明,研究区域内重金属对栖息在沉积物中的动物群有中等到严重程度的毒性风险,7种重金属毒性单位均值由大到小为NiCrCuZnAsPbCd.     

成都市城乡结合部大气水中重金属污染特征

通过对成都市城乡结合部的大气水进行定点周期性采集和监测,并采用火焰原子吸收光谱法和原子荧光光度法测定样品中表征大气水样受污染程度的重金属含量,包括Cu、Pb、Fe、Mn、Zn、Cd、Hg、As、Cr等9种重金属元素。分析结果表明,成都市城乡结合部大气水中主要污染重金属元素为Cu、Zn、As、Hg、Fe,其中Hg、As含量在秋冬季以及阴雨雾霾的特殊天气条件下尤其高,东郊监测最高As浓度为12.86mg/L,西郊监测Hg浓度高达17.55mg/L。从区域污染程度上说,西郊大气水重金属污染较为严重,东郊较之稍轻。     

淮河江苏段沉积物重金属的分布特征、来源解析及其生态风险

为了解淮河江苏段沉积物重金属的污染特征、空间分布及其生态风险,对其表层沉积物中重金属（Cd、Mn、Cu、Zn、As、Ni、Pb和Cr）的含量进行检测,利用相关性和主成分进行重金属来源分析,并采用富集系数与生物毒性不利影响对表层沉积物重金属进行污染评价.结果表明,除Cd与Cr外,Zn、Mn、As、Ni、Cu等重金属的含量均高于江苏土壤背景值.重金属含量空间分布差异明显,其中洪泽湖北部及围湖地区等地重金属污染状况最严重,来源可能来自城镇污水、工业废水等复合污染.富集水平排序为Zn>Mn>As>Ni>Cu>Pb>Cr>Cd,其中Mn、Zn富集程度最为明显.生物毒性不利影响评价总体处于中风险状态,主要贡献来源于Ni、Zn.除了Cu、Cd、Pb外,Ni、Zn、Cr、As重金属可能会对底栖动物产生危害作用.因此,淮河江苏段沉积物重金属整体表现为较重生态风险水平.     

重庆市主城区街道灰尘重金属的污染特征分析

分析了重庆主城区的7个功能分区的40个街道灰尘样品中的As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn等8种重金属元素的全量.结果表明,重庆市街道灰尘各重金属的平均含量均低于全国同类城市平均水平,不同功能区之间,Hg的变异系数达到显著差异;灰尘中各重金属(除Cr外)均以0—0.25mm粒径的质量分配量占绝对优势;以主城区深层土壤背景值为评价标准,重金属元素中,Hg、Cu、Pb达到了重污染,Cd、Zn、As达到了中度污染;Cr、Ni达到了轻污染;商贸区、工业区、居民区、文教区都达到了重污染,剩余功能区也都达到了中度污染.重庆市主城区街道灰尘中,Cu、Pb、Hg为主要污染重金属,居民区和商贸区的为主要控制功能区.     

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.