Conservation,protected areas and the global economic system: how debt,trade, exchange rates,inflation and macroeconomic policy affect biological diversity

The main characteristics of the dominant economic system, including the increasing use of markets and money are described. The global system has expanded trade, including international trade, and production tremendously. While this system has the potential to favour nature conservation, in practice the opposite has occurred. Difficulties raised for conservation of biodiversity by short-term economic crises such as deficits in a country's international payments, the adoption of policies for structural economic adjustment, international capital flows, international loans and foreign aid as well as debt-for-nature swaps are discussed. As explained, it is politically difficult in market economies to support nature conservation at the expense of economic growth and as more economies develop and become market economies this problem spreads. Given global interdependence of nations, an important issue is the distribution of net benefits from biodiversity conservation between developed and less developed countries. Possible distributions of benefits and related issues are discussed. In conclusion, the importance of political lobbying by nature conservation groups in developed market economies is emphasised as a means of ensuring correction of market failures. Unfortunately, no economic system is likely to prove satisfactory in itself in conserving biodiversity so political action by conservationists is always required.     

用荧光指示剂Fura－2测定正常和电刺激后蛙肌胞浆自由Ca~（2＋）浓度

蛙半腱肌肌束负载Ｆｕｒａ－２／ＡＭ后,可用荧光信号Ｆ３４０、３８０ｎｍ波长比值（Ｒ３４０／３８０）反映胞浆内游离Ｃａ２＋浓度（〔Ｃａ２＋〕）。利用这一技术,我们发现长时间电刺激后的骨骼肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕,高于未刺激肌,Ｒ３４０／３８０分别为１．４９±０．５４（ｎ＝１０）和１．０２±０．２６（ｎ＝１０）。加入Ｃａ２＋载体伊屋诺霉素（ｉｏｎｏｍｙｃｉｎ,１μｍｏｌ／Ｌ）后,正常肌与电刺激肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕,均上升,但刺激肌上升幅度低,持续时间短。说明电刺激至力竭后,细胞内有较多的Ｃａ２＋负载。增加细胞外Ｃａ２＋浓度至１５ｍｍｏｌ／Ｌ,〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ下降。而给予Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换阻断剂奎尼丁（１０４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ）后,正常肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ上升,刺激肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ下降。结果提示：Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换是正常骨胳肌外排Ｃａ２＋的途径之一;而长时间肌肉活动则可能使细胞膜Ｎａ＋－Ｃａ２＋交换方式改变,从而导致力竭肌〔Ｃａ２＋〕ｉ上升。     

Diatom communities of acidic mountain streams in Poland

A comparison has been made of the species composition of diatom communities developing in acidic Polish mountain streams which flow over calcium-poor substrates: sandstones in the Silesian Beskid (section of the Western Carpathians), the witokrzyskie Mts, and over granite in the Karkonosze range (in the Sudetic Mts). The number of taxa and diversity of the diatom assemblages decreased along a decreasing pH gradient. The correlation between pH and the number of taxa was positive and significant (r ² = 0.69, p < 0.005). A small number of species (< 20) and low diversity were found in the communities developing in strongly acidic streams such as in the witokrzyskie Mts with pH 4.1–5.2, and in the Silesian Beskid with pH 3.5–4.0. In the stream of the Karkonosze Mts, with pH 5.2–6.0, the communities were characterized by their greater number of species and higher diversity.Acidobiontic and acidophilous diatoms were generally dominant. The pH-indiferent forms were less abundant, and their proportion increased above pH 5.0. Eunotia exigua, E. paludosa var. trinacria, E. tenella and Pinnularia subcapitata dominated in streams with the lowest pH, while E. exigua, E. sudetica and Achnanthes kryophila predominated in a stream with water pH above 5.2. Eunotia exigua, a common acidobiontic species was present in all the examined communities, and was a strong dominant in waters of pH 5.0. A corresponding decrease in abundance of E. exigua was observed with an increase in pH.     

北京鸭血清HDL主要载脂蛋白的高效液相层析分离及其理化性质

用高效液相层析(HPLC)对北京鸭血清高密度脂蛋白(HDL)的所有载脂蛋白(apo)分离纯化,得五个主要apo峰,经SDS-PAGE鉴定,均为单一带;并做了IEF、糖基含量分析;对其中含量高的四个apo峰样进行了氨基酸组成测定和N-端部分氨基酸序列分析;从所做理化性质的研究,发现北京鸭血清HDL中的主要apo为:A-Ⅰ、C-Ⅲ_o、apoC-Ⅲ_s(s=1,2)、apoC's及可能的A-Ⅲ,几乎不含E和A-Ⅱ_o北京鸭HDL中apo的上述组成特点明显不同于易患动脉粥样硬化(As)的人及兔等动物,在一定程度上决定了北京鸭HDL的形成与代谢具有其特点,该特点与北京鸭不易形成As密切相关。     

泉州常绿阔叶林的特征与分布

泉州的常绿阔叶林包括南亚热带雨林和南亚热带山地照叶林。通过对这两种植被类型的区分成分、生活型、叶的性质以及群落的结构与分布的分析,说明海拔450m以下具有较明显的以厚壳桂、红楠等为优势种的南亚热带雨林的特征和景观;海拔450～900m主要以米槠等拷类为优势种的群落,但仍有南亚热带雨林的某些特征;海拔900～1400m以甜槠为主要建群种的群落,属于中亚热带照叶林的群落特征。     

Tropical dry woodland loss occurs disproportionately in areas of highest conservation value

Tropical and subtropical dry woodlands are rich in biodiversity and carbon. Yet, many of these woodlands are under high deforestation pressure and remain weakly protected. Here, we assessed how deforestation dynamics relate to areas of woodland protection and to conservation priorities across the world's tropical dry woodlands. Specifically, we characterized different types of deforestation frontier from 2000 to 2020 and compared them to protected areas (PAs), Indigenous Peoples' lands and conservation areas for biodiversity, carbon and water. We found that global conservation priorities were always overrepresented in tropical dry woodlands compared to the rest of the globe (between 4% and 96% more than expected, depending on the type of conservation priority). Moreover, about 41% of all dry woodlands were characterized as deforestation frontiers, and these frontiers have been falling disproportionately in areas with important regional (i.e. tropical dry woodland) conservation assets. While deforestation frontiers were identified within all tropical dry woodland classes of woodland protection, they were lower than the average within protected areas coinciding with Indigenous Peoples' lands (23%), and within other PAs (28%). However, within PAs, deforestation frontiers have also been disproportionately affecting regional conservation assets. Many emerging deforestation frontiers were identified outside but close to PAs, highlighting a growing threat that the conserved areas of dry woodland will become isolated. Understanding how deforestation frontiers coincide with major types of current woodland protection can help target context-specific conservation policies and interventions to tropical dry woodland conservation assets (e.g. PAs in which deforestation is rampant require stronger enforcement, inactive deforestation frontiers could benefit from restoration). Our analyses also identify recurring patterns that can be used to test the transferability of governance approaches and promote learning across social–ecological contexts.     

Human-modified landscapes driving the global primate extinction crisis

The world's primates have been severely impacted in diverse and profound ways by anthropogenic pressures. Here, we evaluate the impact of various infrastructures and human-modified landscapes on spatial patterns of primate species richness, at both global and regional scales. We overlaid the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) range maps of 520 primate species and applied a global 100 km² grid. We used structural equation modeling and simultaneous autoregressive models to evaluate direct and indirect effects of six human-altered landscapes variables (i.e., human footprint [HFP], croplands [CROP], road density [ROAD], pasture lands [PAST], protected areas [PAs], and Indigenous Peoples' lands [IPLs]) on global primate species richness, threatened and non-threatened species, as well as on species with decreasing and non-decreasing populations. Two-thirds of all primate species are classified as threatened (i.e., Critically Endangered, Endangered, and Vulnerable), with ~86% experiencing population declines, and ~84% impacted by domestic or international trade. We found that the expansion of PAST, HFP, CROP, and road infrastructure had the most direct negative effects on primate richness. In contrast, forested habitat within IPLs and PAs was positively associated in safeguarding primate species diversity globally, with an even stronger effect at the regional level. Our results show that IPLs and PAs play a critical role in primate species conservation, helping to prevent their extinction; in contrast, HFP growth and expansion has a dramatically negative effect on primate species worldwide. Our findings support predictions that the continued negative impact of anthropogenic pressures on natural habitats may lead to a significant decline in global primate species richness, and likely, species extirpations. We advocate for stronger national and international policy frameworks promoting alternative/sustainable livelihoods and reducing persistent anthropogenic pressures to help mitigate the extinction risk of the world's primate species.     

Short-term effects of a large dam decommissioning on biofilm structure and functioning

Aging dams and the rising efforts to restore stream ecosystems are increasing the number of dam decommissioning programs. Although dam decommissioning aims at improving in-stream habitat, biodiversity, and ecosystem functioning in the long term, it might also cause ecological impacts in the short term due to the mobilization of the sediment accumulated in the reservoir. Benthic biofilm in particular can be impaired by episodes of high turbidity and scouring. We conducted a multiple before-after/control-impact experiment to assess the effects of the drawdown of a large dam (42 m tall), a first step to its decommissioning, on biofilm structure (biomass and chlorophyll-a) and functioning (metabolism, nutrient uptake, and organic matter breakdown). Our results show that the reservoir drawdown reduced the autotrophic biofilm biomass (chlorophyll-a) downstream from the dam, which in turn lowered metabolism. However, nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by the biofilm was not affected. Organic matter breakdown was slower below the dam than in nearby undammed reaches before and during drawdown. All drawdown effects quickly disappeared and reaches downstream from the dam approached values found in nearby undammed reaches. Thus, our results indicate that the effects of reservoir drawdown on stream biofilms exist but may be small and disappear rapidly.     

Restudy of the upper age limit of Beijing Man site

The chronological position of Beijing Man site was restudied by U-series dating of two calcite samples taken from a stalagmitic flowstone layer intercalated in 1–2 layers. Based on the weighted mean of three measurements performed on the purer one, the upper age limit of this site be 421 ₋₅₄ ⁺¹¹⁰ ka B.P., much greater than former evaluation of 230 ka based on U-series dating of fossil bones. The reliability of the obtained results was discussed.     

Acoustic communities in an environmental gradient from native to urban areas in Central Brazil

As urban areas expand due to increasing human populations, natural habitats are diminishing in quantity and quality. We conducted a study to examine the response of diurnal acoustic communities along a gradient of environments, ranging from native to dense urban areas. We hypothesized that acoustic indices would decline with urbanization, transitioning from natural and rural areas to urban environments. We conducted the research in and around Brasília, Central Brazil. We deployed 24 digital recorders in native, rural, low-density and high-density urban areas. We employed five commonly used acoustic indices (ADI, ACI, NDSI, H and BI) to characterize the acoustic communities and represent the existing biodiversity numerically. We initially compared the index values across different land use types using a non-parametric rank sum test. Subsequently, we selected eight landscape metrics and performed a principal component analysis to summarize the surrounding matrix at each sampling point. We then employed generalized linear models to determine if the acoustic indices exhibited the anticipated variations. The results indicated significant variations in all indices among the different land use types, indicating their responsiveness to distinct acoustic communities and environmental characteristics. ADI, H and NDSI exhibited declining values from native to urban areas, while ACI and BI displayed the opposite trend. These findings underscore the influence of landscape structure on acoustic indices. Consequently, we concluded that adopting appropriate landscape planning, mainly through integrating natural and urban areas, could help preserve biodiversity in tropical urban regions.