淮南市校园灰尘重金属污染特征及生物有效性

以淮南市小学及幼儿园地表灰尘为研究对象,测定灰尘重金属(Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、V和Zn)含量,采用TCLP(Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure)法提取灰尘中重金属有效态含量,并进行生态风险评价.结果表明,淮南市小学及幼儿园不同校园灰尘Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、V和Zn平均含量分别为10.46、86.69、35.94、31.54、97.29、49.25、348.77 mg·kg~(-1),除Co和V外其他重金属含量均超过安徽省和淮南市土壤环境背景值.煤炭开采、运输、燃煤发电、工业污染和交通污染造成淮南市校园灰尘重金属存在不同程度的累积.楼道灰尘中Co、Cu、Pb和Zn污染程度远高于操场和街道灰尘,楼道灰尘重金属污染源不仅来自室内和楼层内污染源,同时还受到室外源的影响.TCLP法提取重金属Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、V和Zn有效态平均含量为0.52、0.58、1.60、1.12、0.67、0.65、35.99 mg·kg~(-1),与标准值相比,只有Ni和Zn提取态含量超标.内梅罗综合污染平均指数为1.204,为轻污染级别,淮南市校园灰尘重金属绝大部分对生态环境不存在风险胁迫.     

模拟酸雨对泉州市区大气降尘重金属的淋溶

以泉州市区受污染的大气降尘为研究对象,开展大气降尘中重金属(Cu,Pb,Cr,Cd,Zn,Mn,Fe,Ni,V,As,Co)在不同酸度(pH=2.5、3.5、4.5、5.6)酸雨淋溶下的溶出行为研究.结果表明:由于降尘样品本身的中和作用,淋出液的pH呈现出先升后降的趋势,并最终接近淋溶液原始pH.在模拟酸雨作用下,污染降尘中不同重金属呈现不同的溶出规律,金属Cu、Pb、Fe、Ni、Mn、Cd的淋出量随pH的升高而降低,各重金属的溶出基本可分为快速溶出阶段、缓慢溶出阶段或稳定阶段,重金属的溶出不仅与总量有关,还与模拟酸雨pH、环境温度、淋溶时间等因素有关.在pH2.5的酸雨下,累积释放量由大到小的顺序为交通区降尘:FeZnMnCoCuCrNiPbAsVCd,工业区降尘:MnFeZnPbCrCuNiAsVCoCd.     

西安市不同功能区可悬浮灰尘中重金属含量、形态及污染评价

首先利用原子吸收分光光度计测定西安市住宅区、文教区、交通区和公共服务区可悬浮灰尘样品中重金属Ni、Cu、Pb、Zn、Mn和Cr的含量,然后采用修正的BCR连续提取技术分析样品中重金属的赋存形态,最后利用单因子及内梅罗综合污染指数法评估重金属的污染水平.结果表明,西安市可悬浮灰尘中Ni(40.4μg·g~(-1))、Cu(44.0μg·g~(-1))、Pb(55.4μg·g~(-1))和Zn(128.8μg·g~(-1))的平均含量超出了陕西省土壤元素背景值,而Mn(187.4μg·g~(-1))和Cr(22.3μg·g~(-1))的平均含量低于该背景值.重金属在不同功能区呈现不同的变化特征:Ni、Cu和Cr在4个功能区含量差异不明显; Pb在交通区含量最高,在公共服务区含量最低; Zn在住宅区含量最低,在其他3个功能区含量接近; Mn文教区含量略高于其他3个功能区.不同功能区可悬浮灰尘中Cr主要以残余态存在,Cu、Zn和Mn主要以可还原态存在,Ni主要以可氧化态和可还原态存在,Pb主要以乙酸可提取态和可还原态存在.约有70%以上的Zn、Mn、Pb、Cu和Ni可以发生迁移,易被生物利用.单因子污染评价表明,4个功能区可悬浮灰尘样品中Ni、Cu、Pb和Zn呈现不同程度的污染,Mn和Cr处于清洁.内梅罗综合污染评价表明,不同功能区可悬浮灰尘重金属综合污染水平不同,住宅区和公共服务区处于轻污染水平,文教区和交通区处于中污染水平.     

常州市道路两侧户外灰尘重金属分布、形态及环境风险

在常州市城区、城郊和农村20个道路断面50 m范围内采集140个户外灰尘样品,测定Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Ni、Cr和Mn等重金属的含量,分析其区域差异、垂直分布和化学形态特征,进行富集系数和污染系数分析,并构建了涵盖灰尘重金属含量、形态和毒性的环境风险指数.结果表明,以上各重金属含量平均值分别为173.51、952.66、444.50、3.16、115.64、132.44、801.59 mg·kg-1.随着楼层的升高,城区灰尘中Pb、Mn和Cr的含量呈递减趋势,Cd、Cu和Zn含量没有显著变化,Ni含量呈上升趋势.Cu和Cr主要为残渣态,Zn、Pb和Cd主要为可还原态,Ni主要为酸可提取态.Cd的环境风险等级为严重,Pb为重或严重,Cu和Zn为较低或中,Ni为中,Cr和Mn为低.     

红枫湖水源地附近粉煤灰堆积场重金属存在形态及静态淋溶规律

酸雨对露天粉煤灰堆积场的淋滤作用导致周围环境产生重金属污染是一种广泛现象.为研究酸雨对贵阳市水源地红枫湖周边一大型粉煤灰堆积场的重金属迁移影响,本文以这一粉煤灰堆积场为研究对象,通过静态淋溶实验探讨了粉煤灰中Cr、Ni、CU、Zn、AS、Cd、Pb等7种重金属元素的含量、存在形态、淋溶时间、堆积时间、粒度对重金属溶出规律的影响.结果表明,粉煤灰中Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、As和Cd等6种重金属的含量随堆积时间增加而增大,Cr含量变化与上述反之;在淋溶实验中,堆积时间的增加使Cr、Ni、Cu和Zn重金属元素的可溶态减小;在淋溶第28—48天期间,Cr、Ni和Cu元素溶出浓度降低的粒度顺序为细粒度>中粒度和粗粒度、Cd元素溶出浓度降低的粒度顺序为中粒度>粗粒度>细粒度.本研究对红枫湖水源地和周边地下水的重金属防控提供一定的参考依据.     

厦门市大气降尘中重金属形态分布及生物有效性

采集了2012年11月至2013年1月期间厦门市大气降尘样品,用改进的BCR四步连续提取法分析了12种重金属元素(Ba、Ti、Co、Cr、Cu、Fe、Mn、Zn、Ni、Pb、Sr、V)的含量、赋存形态和生物有效性.结果显示,重金属元素四态含量之和均值(mg·kg~(-1))顺序为:Fe(43733)Zn(4495)Ti(2728)Ba(747)Mn(723)Cu(444.4)Sr(176)Cr(171)Pb(160)Ni(40.4)V(27.6)Co(11.2);Zn和Cu含量分别为我国土壤环境质量标准第二类标准限值(250和100 mg·kg~(-1))的18倍和4.4倍;除Fe、Ti、Ba、Cr和V外,大气降尘中其他元素生物有效态含量占有相当的比例(32.2%—88.6%).Zn、Sr主要以弱酸溶态存在,Pb主要以可还原态存在,Cu主要以可氧化态存在,其余元素主要以残渣态存在.大气降尘中重金属的平均生物有效性系数顺序为:Sr(0.87)Zn(0.85)Cu(0.80)Pb(0.67)Mn(0.50)Co(0.47)Ni(0.39)Ba(0.19)≈Cr(0.19)V(0.12)Fe(0.08)Ti(0.01),Ti、Fe、V、Cr和Ba为生物不可利用元素,Ni、Co、Mn和Pb为潜在生物可利用元素,Cu、Zn和Sr为生物可利用元素.     

土壤重金属的形态分布特征及其影响因素

土壤重金属元素在介质中的存在形态是衡量其环境效应的关键参数.选择长江三角洲地区的江苏省昆山市为研究区,采集了126个土壤表层样品,通过欧共体标准司提出的BCR 3步提取法对土壤中Cd、Cr、Cu、Co、Ni、Pb和Zn等7种重金属元素的形态分布特征进行了分析,并采用逐步回归法探讨了影响重金属化学形态的影响因素.研究结果表明,Cd主要以可还原态存在,Pb主要以有机结合态存在,而Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn和Co 5种元素主要以残渣态存在,不同重金属元素的次生相态所占总量百分比由大到小的顺序为Cd、Pb、Co、Cu、zn、Ni、Cr.重金属总量是影响重金属形态含量的最主要因素,其次为有机质和pH值,FeOx含量是影响残渣态含量的主要因素,粘粒含量是影响Zn各形态的主要因素,MnOx含量是影响Pb各形态的主要因素.     

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.     

包头市公园及广场灰尘中重金属污染特征

本文以包头市具有代表性的26个公园和广场为研究对象,采集灰尘样品,利用X-Ray荧光光谱仪测定样品中Ba、Co、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn和V的含量,采用修正的BCR提取法分析灰尘中各种重金属的存在形态,运用地累积指数法和污染负荷指数法,评价包头市公园和广场灰尘重金属的污染程度.研究结果显示,除了Mn、Ni和Zn以外,其他重金属元素的平均含量均高于其区域土壤背景值,尤其是Co、Cr和Pb,其平均含量为区域土壤背景值的2倍以上,富集明显.灰尘中各重金属元素的存在形态差异较大,其整体迁移能力由高到低为CoZnCuMnPbBaNiVCr,其中Co和Zn易迁移,危害较大.灰尘中各重金属元素地累积指数的平均值由大到小依次为CoCrPbCuBaVNiMnZn.包头市公园和广场灰尘受到不同程度的重金属污染,其中,包钢公园和包头乐园属于中度污染,而其他公园和广场属于偏中度污染.昆都仑区公园和广场灰尘重金属污染最严重.     

风浪扰动对太湖水体重金属形态的影响

对不同风浪条件下水体中的悬浮颗粒物,采用ICP-AES测定其中Co,Cr,Cu,Ni,Pb,Zn,Al,Fe和Mn不同形态的含量.研究表明,水体中Al,Fe,Co,Cr,Pb和Ni可提取态含量随风浪扰动程度的增强其含量均有不同程度的增大. Mn,Zn和Cu在7m·s-1风浪下含量最高,11m·s-1风浪次之,2m·s-1风浪最小.7m·s-1风浪与2m·s-1风浪相比,水体中Mn, Co, Cr, Zn, Cu和Ni的B1, B2, B3态含量增加3-20倍.11m·s-1风浪与7m·s-1风浪相比,Co, Cr和Ni的B1态含量分别增加31.1%-76.8%,Mn, Zn和Cu分别减少22.1%-38.6%; Cr,Zn和Ni的B2态含量增加12.1%-50.2%, Mn减少65.6%, Co和Cu的含量相当; Co和Ni的B3态含量增加15.4%-10.3%,Cr,Mn,Zn和Cu略微减少.水体中的金属主要以Fe-Mn氧化物结合态存在,且金属的三态比例随风浪的变化不明显. Mn的生物有效性最高,Zn,Cu和Ni次之,毒性较大的Pb和Cr的生物有效性较低.Al, Fe和Pb的Fe-Mn氧化物结合态比例非常高,约有74.56%-100%. Co,Cr和Ni的有机结合态比例较高,且Co和 Ni的三态比例比较均一,Cu的B3态较低.     

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.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.     

Parasitic wasps orient to green leaf volatiles

Summary Undamaged plants emit low levels of green leaf volatiles (GLVs), while caterpillar-damaged and artificially damaged plants emit relatively higher levels of certain GLVs. Female braconid parasitoids,Microplitis croceipes, oriented to both damaged plants and to individual GLVs in no-choice tests in a wind tunnel, but seldom oriented to undamaged plants. Female ichneumonid parasitoids,Netelia heroica, also oriented to individual GLVs in a wind tunnel. Males of both wasp species failed to orient to the GLVs. These data show that leaf-feeding caterpillars can cause the release of GLVs, and that parasitic wasps can respond to these odors by flying upwind (chemoanemotactic response), which brings the wasps to their caterpillar hosts. This supports the hypothesis that plants communicate with members of the third trophic level,i.e., plants under herbivore attack emit chemical signals that guide natural enemies of herbivores to sites of plant damage. In this interaction, the GLVs serve as tritrophic plant-to-parasitoid synomones. That parasitoids from two different wasp families oriented to GLVs suggests that the response may be widespread among the Hymenoptera.Mention of a commercial or proprietary product does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture     

Potential for Electropositive Metal to Reduce the Interactions of Atlantic Sturgeon with Fishing Gear

Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrhynchus) populations have been declared either endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Effective measures to repel sturgeon from fishing gear would be beneficial to both fish and fishers because they could reduce both fishery‐associated mortality and the need for seasonal and area closures of specific fisheries. Some chondrostean fishes (e.g., sturgeons and paddlefishes) can detect weak electric field gradients (possibly as low as 5 Μv/cm) due to arrays of electroreceptors (ampullae of Lorenzini) on their snout and gill covers. Weak electric fields, such as those produced by electropositive metals (typically mixtures of the lanthanide elements), could therefore potentially be used as a deterrent. To test this idea, we recorded the behavioral responses of juvenile Atlantic sturgeon (31–43 cm fork length) to electropositive metal (primarily a mixture of the lanthanide elements neodymium and praseodymium) both in the presence and absence of food stimuli. Trials were conducted in an approximately 2.5 m diameter × 0.3 m deep tank, and fish behaviors were recorded with an overhead digital video camera. Video records were subsequently digitized (x, y coordinate system), the distance between the fish and the electropositive metal calculated, and data summarized by compiling frequency distributions with 5‐cm bins. Juvenile sturgeon showed clear avoidance of electropositive metal but only when food was present. On the basis of our results, we conclude that the electropositive metals, or other sources of weak electric fields, may eventually be used to reduce the interactions of Atlantic sturgeon with fishing gear, but further investigation is needed. El Potencial del Metal Electropositivo para Reducir las Interacciones del Esturión Atlántico con Instrumentos de Pesca Bouyoucos, Bushnell & Brill 13–003     

The role of time and species identities in spatial patterns of species richness and conservation

Many conservation actions are justified on the basis of managing biodiversity. Biodiversity, in terms of species richness, is largely the product of rare species. This is problematic because the intensity of sampling needed to characterize communities and patterns of rarity or to justify the use of surrogates has biased sampling in favor of space over time. However, environmental fluctuations interacting with community dynamics lead to temporal variations in where and when species occur, potentially affecting conservation planning by generating uncertainty about results of species distribution modeling (including range determinations), selection of surrogates for biodiversity, and the proportion of biodiversity composed of rare species. To have confidence in the evidence base for conservation actions, one must consider whether temporal replication is necessary to produce broad inferences. Using approximately 20 years of macrofaunal data from tidal flats in 2 harbors, we explored variation in the identity of rare, common, restricted range, and widespread species over time and space. Over time, rare taxa were more likely to increase in abundance or occurrence than to remain rare or disappear and to exhibit temporal patterns in their occurrence. Space–time congruency in ranges (i.e., spatially widespread taxa were also temporally widespread) was observed only where samples were collected across an environmental gradient. Fifteen percent of the taxa in both harbors changed over time from having spatially restricted ranges to having widespread ranges. Our findings suggest that rare species can provide stability against environmental change, because the majority of species were not random transients, but that selection of biodiversity surrogates requires temporal validation. Rarity needs to be considered both spatially and temporally, as species that occur randomly over time are likely to play a different role in ecosystem functioning than those exhibiting temporal structure (e.g., seasonality). Moreover, temporal structure offers the opportunity to place management and conservation activities within windows of maximum opportunity.     

Main nutrient compounds in food bodies of Mexican <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia</Emphasis> ant-plants

Summary. Myrmecophytic plants use obligate ant mutualists as a constitutive indirect defence mechanism. These plants often produce cellular food bodies (FBs) to nourish their resident ants. Lipids, proteins, and even highly specialised compounds such as glycogen have been reported from FBs, but detailed chemical analyses of FB composition have so far been presented only for Southeast Asian Macaranga and Central American Piper myrmecophytes. Here we report the chemical composition of FBs of five myrmecophytic Acacia (Fabaceae) species from Mexico using HPLC (carbohydrates and proteins) and GC-MS (lipids). Feeding experiments revealed no hints on any use of external food sources by the inhabiting Pseudomyrmex ants. These ants obviously rely completely on FBs and extrafloral nectar provided by their hosts. The total content of nutrients in Acacia FBs was 15-25% of FB dry mass, being much lower than in Macaranga or Piper FBs. Proteins were dominating (8-14 % dm) in Acacia FBs and thus were present in higher amounts than in Macaranga FBs, yet in lower amounts than in Piper. Lipids contributed 1-9 % of dry mass, showing a lower proportion than in FBs of Macaranga or Piper. Carbohydrates made up 3-11 % dm, reaching in most Acacia species the same range as observed in Macaranga and in Piper FBs. Water content was 18-24 % of FB fresh mass, and structural tissue obviously made up a much higher proportion in Acacia FBs than in Macaranga or Piper FBs. Both characters might represent an adaptation to producing FBs unprotected at the leaf tips under dry conditions. Acacia FBs contain all amino acids and all fatty acids that are considered essential for insects, and their contents of lipids and proteins are higher than in the leaves from which they are ontogenetically derived. This indicates a putatively adaptive enrichment of nutritionally valuable compounds in structures functioning as ant-food.     

Examining the uncertain origin and management role of martens on Prince of Wales Island,Alaska

Conservation biologists are generally united in efforts to curtail the spread of non‐native species globally. However, the colonization history of a species is not always certain, and whether a species is considered non‐native or native depends on the conservation benchmark. Such ambiguities have led to inconsistent management. Within the Tongass National Forest of Alaska, the status of American marten (Martes americana) on the largest, most biologically diverse and deforested island, Prince of Wales (POW), is unclear. Ten martens were released to POW in the early 1930s, and it was generally believed to be the founding event, although this has been questioned. The uncertainty surrounding when and how martens colonized POW complicates management, especially because martens were selected as a design species for the Tongass. To explore the history of martens of POW we reviewed other plausible routes of colonization; genetically and isotopically analyzed putative marten fossils deposited in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene to verify marten occupancy of POW; and used contemporary genetic data from martens on POW and the mainland in coalescent simulations to identify the probable source of the present‐day marten population on POW. We found evidence for multiple routes of colonization by forest‐associated mammals beginning in the Holocene, which were likely used by American martens to naturally colonize POW. Although we cannot rule out human‐assisted movement of martens by Alaskan Natives or fur trappers, we suggest that martens be managed for persistence on POW. More generally, our findings illustrate the difficulty of labeling species as non‐native or native, even when genetic and paleo‐ecological data are available, and support the notion that community resilience or species invasiveness should be prioritized when making management decisions rather than more subjective and less certain conservation benchmarks.