A restatement of the natural science evidence base concerning neonicotinoid insecticides and insect pollinators

There is evidence that in Europe and North America many species of pollinators are in decline, both in abundance and distribution. Although there is a long list of potential causes of this decline, there is concern that neonicotinoid insecticides, in particular through their use as seed treatments are, at least in part, responsible. This paper describes a project that set out to summarize the natural science evidence base relevant to neonicotinoid insecticides and insect pollinators in as policy-neutral terms as possible. A series of evidence statements are listed and categorized according to the nature of the underlying information. The evidence summary forms the appendix to this paper and an annotated bibliography is provided in the electronic supplementary material.     

化学杀虫剂对不同类型棉田害虫、天敌种群的影响

研究了化学杀虫剂对6种不同类型棉田的害虫、天敌种群数量及其相互作用的影响。结果表明,化学防治使棉花苗期棉蚜数量下降,但不能抑制中后期棉蚜数量;除豆间棉田外,其他类型棉田化防区棉红蜘蛛和棉铃虫数量低于未防区。化学防治使各类型棉田天敌数量减少,以单作棉田天敌数量减少最明显,间套作棉田天敌数量下降幅度较小;此外,棉田不同天敌种群所受的影响存在一定差异,化学防治对瓢虫、捕食蝽类的影响显著,数量下降剧烈,但蜘蛛类群下降幅度比前两者小。化学防治对棉田害虫与天敌的相互关系的影响随棉田类型或害虫、天敌种类的不同而有所差异。     

花部重金属积累对植物-传粉昆虫互惠关系影响的研究进展

传粉昆虫急剧下降是当前全球生态学家最为关注的热点问题之一,全球气候变化、土地利用改变、生境破碎化以及工农业生产带来的有害物质如杀虫剂等均有重要影响。相比而言,土壤重金属污染对传粉昆虫的潜在影响缺乏深入评价。土壤重金属会进入植物组织如花部,在传粉过程中传递到传粉者体内,并通过影响传粉者行为改变植物雌雄适合度,全面梳理相关研究进展和存在的问题,有助于提升对重金属污染带来的生态后果的全面认识,了解动植物相互关系对环境变化的响应。本文结合前期的研究成果,从重金属在植物花部中的积累模式、花部重金属积累对植物雌雄适合度的影响、经花部报酬介导的重金属积累对蜂类传粉者传粉行为、生活史关键环节的影响等进行综述,以期为理解花部重金属积累对植物与传粉昆虫互惠关系的影响,进而拓展关于土壤重金属污染与传粉昆虫数量减少之间的内在联系的科学认识。     

Comparison of the effect of market crop wastes and chemical soil fertility amendments on insect pests, natural enemies and yield of Brassica oleracea

Field studies were conducted over three growing seasons during 2 years to assess the relative effect of market crop waste (MCW)‐derived soil fertility amendments and conventional fertiliser (NPK) on tritrophic relations as well as yield performance of white cabbage. A randomised complete block design with four treatments and a control replicated four times was used. Treatments were (a) MCW compost incorporated in the soil, (b) uncomposted MCW incorporated in the soil, (c) uncomposted MCW applied as surface mulch, (d) a conventional chemical fertiliser (NPK) incorporated in the soil and (e) the untreated control. Results indicated that relative to NPK‐amended plants, MCW‐amended cabbage performed better in plant growth parameters as well as yield, despite having sustained aphid and Plutella xylostella infestations that could be as much as double as those in the NPK treatment. Natural enemy occurrence followed the trend of host insect infestations. The average yield performance and net financial benefits from MCW‐compost‐amended plants were three‐fold as that of NPK‐amended plants. Soil analysis results indicated an advantage in soil quality accruing from the MCW amendments. This study, therefore, provides documentation for the utilisation of MCW, previously handled as garbage to be disposed of, as a key component in integrated management of insect pests and depleted soils in crop production in sub‐Saharan Africa and beyond.     

桃园生草对桃树上主要害虫及天敌生态位的影响

调查了种植白三叶草桃园(生草区)与不种草桃园(对照区)桃树上主要害虫及天敌数量,并对其生态位进行了测定.结果表明:生草区桃树害虫的水平生态位、垂直生态位和时间生态位宽度最大的分别是桃红颈天牛(0.999)、茶翅蝽(0.964)和茶翅蝽(0.795),而对照区其值分别是0.918、0.792和0.632;生草区桃树天敌的...     

Isolation and characterization of the first microsatellite loci from the order Psocoptera in the economically important pest insect Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) and cross‐species amplification

A total of 11 microsatellite loci from the invasive insect pest Liposcelis decolor were isolated and characterized of which six loci were polymorphic. A population survey involving a total of 30–192 individuals per locus from five populations revealed a range of four to seven alleles per locus and moderate observed heterozygosities (0.183–0.565), highlighting the utility of these loci in further population genetic studies. Cross‐species amplifications were successful for two to 11 loci in five other Liposcelis species also of international economic importance.     

Baculovirus-based strategies for the management of insect pests: a focus on development and application in South Africa

There is growing concern among governments, scientists, agricultural practitioners and the general public regarding the negative implications of widespread synthetic chemical pesticide application for the control of crop pests. As a result, baculovirus biopesticides are gaining popularity as components of integrated pest management (IPM) programmes in many countries despite several disadvantages related to slow speed of kill, limited host range and complex large scale production. In South Africa, baculoviruses are incorporated into IPM programmes for the control of crop pests in the field, and recent bioprospecting has led to the characterisation of several novel isolates with the potential to be formulated as commercial products. This contribution will provide an overview of the use of baculoviruses against insect pests in South Africa, as well as research and development efforts aimed at broadening their application as biocontrol agents. Challenges faced by researchers in developmental projects as well as potential users of baculoviruses as biopesticides in the field are also discussed.     

The use of ultraviolet-blocking films in insect pest management in the UK; effects on naturally occurring arthropod pest and natural enemy populations in a protected cucumber crop

Studies in polytunnels were conducted to investigate the effects of ultraviolet (UV)‐blocking films on naturally occurring insect pests and their arthropod natural enemies on a cucumber crop. Within tunnels clad with Antibotrytis (blocks light < 400 nm) and UVI/EVA (UV transmitting), 5.8 and 23.4 times more aphids, respectively, were recorded on traps compared with those on traps within tunnels clad with XL 385 (blocks light < 385 nm). When all plants within the UVI/EVA tunnels had become heavily infested with aphids, half of the plants in XL 385 tunnels were uninfested. More Coleoptera and thrips (approximately two times) were recorded under the UVI/EVA film than under the UV‐blocking films, but for other arthropod pests (e.g. whitefly, leafhoppers), clear conclusions could not be drawn as low numbers were recorded. Substantial numbers of chalcid parasitoids and syrphids were found under the UV‐blocking films, but further research is needed to evaluate fully the effect of such films on biological control of aphids. Higher syrphid numbers and more aphid mummies were recorded under the UVI/EVA film, probably because of the higher numbers of aphids present in tunnels clad with this film. The potential that UV‐blocking films have as an effective component of commercial Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems, for protected horticultural crops, is discussed.     

解脂耶氏酵母表达调控工具的开发及天然产物合成的研究进展

解脂耶氏酵母是一种重要的产油酵母,由于其能利用多种疏水性底物,具有良好的耐酸、耐盐等胁迫耐受性,具有高通量的三羧酸循环,可提供充足的乙酰辅酶A前体等特点,被认为是生产萜类、聚酮类和黄酮类等天然产物的理想宿主,在代谢工程领域有着广泛的应用。近年来,越来越多的基因编辑、表达和调控工具被逐渐开发,这促进了解脂耶氏酵母合成各种天然产物的研究。文中综述了近年来解脂耶氏酵母中基因表达和天然产物合成方面的研究进展,并探讨了在该酵母中异源合成天然产物所面临的挑战和可能的解决方案。     

华北棉区主要害虫抗药性监测与治理技术示范

【目的】华北地区转基因Bt棉大面积种植后,刺吸式口器害虫已成为棉花主要害虫。本研究旨在监测明确棉花主要害虫对田间常用杀虫剂抗性水平变化,以指导田间合理用药。【方法】2013-2015年分别采用叶片药膜法和点滴法系统监测了河北省邱县、山东省滨州市、河南省西华县棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera、棉蚜Aphis gossypii、绿盲蝽Apolygus lucorum对常用杀虫药剂的抗性动态变化情况。【结果】棉铃虫对辛硫磷、高效氯氟氰菊酯抗性呈上升趋势,抗性倍数都在20倍以上,对甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐从敏感状态转为中等水平抗性,抗性倍数在10倍以上。棉蚜对杀虫剂抗性水平都比较高,特别是对氧化乐果、高效氯氰菊酯、吡虫啉都已产生了高水平抗性,抗性倍数都在100倍以上。绿盲蝽对吡虫啉从敏感状态转为中等水平抗性,抗性倍数在10倍以上,对马拉硫磷、灭多威等药剂抗性倍数还维持在10倍以下,对高效氯氟氰菊酯只监测到滨州种群产生了中等水平的抗性,抗性倍数达到了95倍。在明确棉花害虫抗药性水平的基础上,对山东滨州棉花害虫实施了以轮换用药为主的抗性治理示范,示范区比农户自防对照区减少3次用药,增加棉花产量7.53%,节本增收109.16元,取得了较好的示范效果和经济效益。【结论】当前华北棉区主要害虫抗性水平上升,急需开展以轮换用药为主的抗性治理措施。     

The sterile insect technique and the Mediterranean fruit fly: assessing the utility of aromatherapy in large field enclosures

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is widely used in integrated programs against tephritid fruit flies, particularly the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann (Diptera: Tephritidae). Unfortunately, the mass‐rearing procedures inherent to the SIT often lead to a reduction in the male mating competitiveness. One potential solution involves the prerelease exposure of males to particular attractants. In particular, male exposure to ginger root oil [Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Zingiberaceae); hereafter GRO], has been shown to increase mating success dramatically in field cage trials. To evaluate more rigorously the effectiveness of GRO exposure, we here describe two projects that compared levels of egg sterility or pupal yield, respectively, following the release of wild flies and either GRO‐exposed (treated) sterile males or GRO‐deprived (control) sterile males in large field enclosures. In both projects, sterile males from a genetic sexing strain were exposed as adults to GRO for 24 h while held in large storage boxes. In Hawaii, we dissected eggs from fruits to determine the percentage of egg hatch at four overflooding ratios, ranging from 5 : 1 to 60 : 1 (sterile : wild males), and found that, at all four ratios, the proportion of unhatched (sterile) eggs was significantly greater in enclosures containing GRO‐exposed males than control males. In Guatemala, we allowed larvae to develop in fruits and counted the number of pupae produced. At the only overflooding ratio tested (25 : 1), pupal yield was approximately 25% lower for enclosures containing GRO‐exposed males than control males, although this difference was not statistically significant. An explanation for the differing outcomes is proposed, and the implications of these findings for the SIT are discussed.     

中国生态保护和建设的机制转型及科技需求

近年来,我国生态保护和建设正处于机制转型时期。主要原因是快速的城镇化及其所伴随的农业劳动力析出,农业生产要素中劳动力价格上升而土地价格下降,造成生态治理产品的私人物品属性不断弱化,公共物品属性不断强化。这就意味着生态保护和建设的投入主体应由农牧民转向以政府所代表的全社会;策略上由"改善土地生产条件、以开发带动治理"向"保护为主、监督开发"转变;措施取向上从"主动干预自然"向"依靠大自然自我恢复能力"转变。这一转型也要求生态保护和建设的科技工作重点实现相应调整:从以往侧重减缓生态压力的间接治理模式和技术开发,向直接针对生态系统恢复的科研方向转移。科技攻关的重点应为生态系统结构和功能的监测、生态服务功能的评估及生态建设规划等方面。     

A model for integrating wildlife science and agri-environmental policy in the conservation of declining species

We examined a case study where a successful wildlife-friendly model for intensively managed hayland was developed from field data and implemented locally as policy by a federal agency. Farmers were ensured a first hay-harvest with high protein content; after a 65-day delay (compared to the normal 35–40-day cutting cycle) farmers took a second harvest of greater quantity but decreased quality. Farmers were paid $247–333/ha in 2008–2010 to offset costs associated with the decreased nutritional content caused by the approximately 25-day second harvest delay. Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) reproductive rates improved from 0.0 to 2.8 fledglings per female per year. Creation and implementation of this policy required communication among scientists, federal agricultural agencies, farmers, and state and federal fish and wildlife departments. Data collection, analyses, and communication processes served as an effective global model for practitioners to apply to other agricultural products and taxa. © 2011 The Wildlife Society.     

土壤动物多样性的地理分布及其生态功能研究进展

土壤动物多样性地理分布及其生态功能研究已成为地学和生态学等领域共同关注的科学前沿。本文在介绍相关研究最新进展的基础上, 讨论已有研究的局限性或不确定性, 展望未来研究的重点方向。近10年来, 代表性土壤动物类群的全球分布研究取得突破性进展; 国内土壤动物研究的尺度和采样区域也有明显拓展, 尤其在蚯蚓和线虫相关研究上取得了系列成果。结果表明, 土壤动物多样性随纬度的变化模式主要有两种, 即在低纬度的热带最高或在中纬度的温带最高; 而土壤动物多度与多样性可能同步变化、无明显关系、截然不同甚至相反; 降水、植物生产力和土壤有机质是土壤动物分布格局的关键驱动力, 但它们的影响力因土壤动物类群不同而异。土壤动物具有改善土壤物理结构、促进养分循环和有机碳稳定、提高作物健康水平等多重功能; 土壤动物的多功能性评估方兴未艾, 但仍面临诸多挑战。简单分析土壤动物随经纬度等的变化规律存在较大局限性, 考虑在基于地质-生态历史及“经纬度-海拔-离海岸距离”等构建的多维时空框架内, 探究土壤动物分布特征及其驱动力。土壤动物分布格局对其潜在的生态功能有关键影响, 但是目前对土壤动物分布格局的预测和模拟仍主要依靠经验模型; 代谢生态学等理论在土壤动物群落研究中的应用值得关注。探究分类多样性的冗余机制, 突出功能多样性, 可以将生物多样性与生态功能更好地联系起来; 同时, 需要在特定条件和时空下, 从整个土壤食物网及其与植物的联系中理解土壤动物多样性与多功能性的联系。建议未来关注两个研究方向: (1)量化人类活动和气候变化给土壤动物多样性和生态功能带来的巨大不确定性; (2)完善土壤动物群落特征预测的理论框架和开展土壤动物群落的精准调控, 综合评价其多功能性, 进而将土壤动物与人类福祉更紧密地联系起来。     

The effect of ant attendance on the success of rosy apple aphid populations, natural enemy abundance and apple damage in orchards

1 The rosy apple aphid, Dysaphis plantaginea, is the most serious pest of apple in Europe and, although conventionally controlled by insecticides, alternative management measures are being sought. Colonies of D. plantaginea are commonly attended by ants, yet the effects of this relationship have received little attention. 2 An ant exclusion study was conducted in two distant orchards within the U.K. At both sites, ants were excluded from a subset of D. plantaginea infested trees at the beginning of the season and populations were monitored. The number of natural enemies observed on trees was also recorded and, before harvest, the percentage of apples damaged by D. plantaginea calculated. 3 Overall, the exclusion of ants reduced the growth and eventual size of D. plantaginea populations. On trees accessed by ants, greater numbers of natural enemies were recorded, presumably because aphid populations were often greater on such trees. However, this increased natural enemy presence was diluted by the larger aphid populations such that individual aphids on ant‐attended trees were subjected to a lower natural enemy pressure compared with those on ant‐excluded trees. 4 At harvest, apple trees that had been accessed by ants bore a greater proportion of apples damaged by D. plantaginea. There were also differences in cultivar susceptibility to D. plantaginea damage. 5 The present study highlights the importance of the ant–D. plantaginea relationship and it ia suggested that ant manipulation, whether physically or by semiochemicals that disrupt the relationship, should be considered as a more prominent component in the development of future integrated pest management strategies.     

A critical review of the discovery and application of a migratory pheromone in an invasive fish, the sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus L.

The sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus , an ancient and parasitic agnathan fish native to the North Atlantic, invaded the Laurentian Great Lakes approximately a century ago triggering its fisheries to collapse. Presently, this species is held in check through a toxicant-based control programme directed by a bi-national treaty organization that seeks to develop a more broadly based integrated pest management (IPM) strategy. After a long and difficult search, the most active components of a migratory pheromone for the sea lamprey were identified and synthesized. This pheromone has remarkable potency and considerable potential to enhance various control strategies that fall within an IPM scheme. The pheromone is comprised of a mixture of at least three sulphated steroids: petromyzonamine disulphate (PADS), petromyzosterol disulphate (PSDS) and petromyzonol sulphate (PS). A steroidal sex pheromone appears to have similar promise. These discoveries, which are prompting development of the first pheromonally guided pest management programme for an invasive fish, have revealed significant scientific and policy challenges. Among the former are the needs to acquire long-term and significant support for the science, to synthesize sufficient quantities of cues, and to deploy and measure pheromonal components in natural waters. Among the latter are the needs to regulate this new type of 'pesticide', protect these technologies from exploitation and promote future research on this and other invasive fish species. Lessons from these experiences may be applicable to the study of other invasive fishes.     

A perspective on the evolving science and practice of ecological restoration in Australia

Summary  This brief review of the science and practice of ecological restoration and rehabilitation in Australia shows that, from small isolated efforts in the first half of the 20th century, substantial numbers of programmes are steadily emerging from natural area, agricultural landscape, mining and aquatic management sectors. With support from numerous research programmes in the last two decades, restoration and rehabilitation work is increasing in scale and ecological rigour; and researchers and practitioners are increasingly engaging with the international restoration discourse. Future improvements in prioritization, goal-setting, monitoring, evaluation and communication are, however, still needed to improve Australia's capacity to meet its increasingly serious environmental challenges and do its bit to reduce and halt global degradation.     

Field evaluation of the efficacy of neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) and Beauveria bassiana (Bals.) Vuill. in cotton production

Neem oil (Azadirachta indica A. Juss) alone and combined with the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (isolate Bb11) was applied to control cotton pests. The efficacy of these treatments was compared with that of synthetic insecticides applied either in a calendar‐based application or in the ‘Lutte Etagée Ciblée’ (LEC) strategy, consisting of using first calendar‐based (half‐dose) applications followed by threshold‐based treatments. The experiment was carried out in collaborative research with farmers in three cotton agro‐ecological zones differing in rainfall, pest prevalence, and farming practices. The neem oil and neem oil‐Bb11 treatments required 2 to 6 applications, while conventional and LEC received 6 to 8 applications. The percentage of damaged reproductive organs in plots treated with neem oil and neem oil plus Bb11 was higher than that recorded under the conventional and LEC strategy, with exception of the zone with the highest rainfall; this resulted in yields being 25% and 39% lower, respectively. Yields in the biopesticide plots were 26–42% higher and in the conventional and LEC plots 44–59% higher than those in the control plots that received only water. Overall, the LEC regime scored best, both in yield and profitability. The incidence of natural enemies was highest in the control and in the plots treated with biopesticides. Although the use of entomopathogen Bb11 and neem oil avoids many problems associated with the application of synthetic insecticides, their efficacy needs to be enhanced by improved formulation or by combining them with other pesticides.