Redundancy or progress? A response to Driscoll et al. (2019)

Driscoll et al. (Journal of Biogeography, 2019, 46, 2850–2859) provide a critique of ‘Countryside Biogeography’, but also include ‘Conservation Biogeography’ and ‘Agriculture Biogeography’ in their criticisms. Their main thesis is that these new sub-disciplines offer a ‘conceptual wrapper’ rather than distinctive frameworks and that the consequent redundancy of terms has the potential to sow confusion among biogeographers and slow progress. Here we argue that, far from sowing confusion Conservation Biogeography, for example, has provided important focal points for emerging scientific discourse, promoting new research, spawning undergraduate and graduate courses, and facilitating the formation of new scientific collaborations. The success or failure of a new sub-discipline depends on its utility. If new framings sow confusion, introduce redundancy and provide no new insights they will not be widely adopted and cited. The development of new sub-disciplines is a strong indicator of a vibrant, socially relevant and intellectually adventurous research area.     

Osmolality as a Novel Mechanism Explaining Diet Effects on the Outcome of Infection with a Blood Parasite

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青藏高原国家公园群生态系统完整性与原真性评估框架

青藏高原具有全球独特的自然生态和人文生态系统，生态系统完整性与原真性极高，建设国家公园群是青藏高原整体性保护重要生态系统完整性与原真性的重要手段。遵循"内涵界定-框架梳理-框架构建"的研究思路，科学界定国家公园生态系统完整性和原真性内涵并建立概念模型，通过梳理国家公园生态系统完整性评估的主要框架，在对区域自然生态和社会人文系统科学考察的基础上，分析区域生态系统完整性与原真性保护与监管需求，从生境质量、生物群落、生态系统服务、自然条件与灾害、人类活动、人文景观6个方面构建青藏高原国家公园群潜在建设区生态系统完整性与原真性评估框架，以期为未来国家公园群建设与管理提供基础支撑。针对目前国家公园管理存在的主要问题，提出未来评估应用需充分体现国家公园复合生态系统和"群"的特征，并建立生态系统完整性与原真性监测体系，从而更全面的服务于青藏高原国家公园群生态系统完整性与原真性保护。     

A hierarchical framework for integrating invasibility experiments incorporating different factors and spatial scales

Results from experiments studying different factors determining invasibility (e.g. land use, disturbance, biotic interactions) at different spatial scales are mainly used in isolation, probably because a methodology for integration is lacking. Recent studies show that factors affecting invasibility most likely do so in a hierarchical manner, with different factors acting more strongly at different spatial scales. Climate can be considered the dominant factor at the continental scale, while at regional and landscape scale topography, land cover and land use become increasingly important. At smaller spatial scales, soil type, disturbance, biotic interactions, resources, and microclimate may become significant. In the current paper, we propose a hierarchical framework for combining results from different types of studies. In this hierarchical system, factors operating at a smaller scale are subordinate to factors operating at a larger scale, but if conditions at higher levels are satisfied, the small-scale factors may become indispensable for making accurate predictions. Depending on the aim of the study, the accuracy of prediction can be selected by the researcher, which in its turn determines which data are required. We discuss several applications of the framework and indicate some options for future research. Although the complexity of natural systems presents fundamental limits to predictions, we think this framework can provide a useful tool for the identification of areas of risk for biological invasions, for improving our understanding of invasibility, and for identifying gaps in our current knowledge.     

Human Framework Adaptation of a Mouse Anti-Human IL-13 Antibody

Humanization of a potent neutralizing mouse anti-human IL-13 antibody (m836) using a method called human framework adaptation (HFA) is reported. HFA consists of two steps: human framework selection (HFS) and specificity-determining residue optimization (SDRO). The HFS step involved generation of a library of m836 antigen binding sites combined with diverse human germline framework regions (FRs), which were selected based on structural and sequence similarities between mouse variable domains and a repertoire of human antibody germline genes. SDRO consisted of diversifying specificity-determining residues and selecting variants with improved affinity using phage display. HFS of m836 resulted in a 5-fold loss of affinity, whereas SDRO increased the affinity up to 100-fold compared to the HFS antibody. Crystal structures of Fabs in complex with IL-13 were obtained for m836, the HFS variant chosen for SDRO, and one of the highest-affinity SDRO variants. Analysis of the structures revealed that major conformational changes in FR-H1 and FR-H3 occurred after FR replacement, but none of them had an evident direct impact on residues in contact with IL-13. Instead, subtle changes affected the V_L/V_H (variable-light domain/variable-heavy domain) interface and were likely responsible for the 5-fold decreased affinity. After SDRO, increased affinity resulted mainly from rearrangements in hydrogen-bonding pattern at the antibody/antigen interface. Comparison with m836 putative germline genes suggested interesting analogies between natural affinity maturation and the engineering process that led to the potent HFA anti-human IL-13 antibody.     

Coordination polymers built from Cu(II) and pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylate or pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylate: Structural and magnetic studies

Room temperature reaction of Cu(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O and pyrazine-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic acid (ptecH₄) in the presence of pyridine (py) in water-methanol (1:1) mixture results in the formation of {[Cu₂(ptec) · (py)₂ · (H₂O)₃] · 4H₂O}_n (1). With pyridine-2,4,6-tricarboxylic acid (pytcH₃) and Cu(NO₃)₂ · 6H₂O, crystals of {[Cu(pytc)] · 1/2[Cu(H₂O)₆] · H₂O}_n (2) could be obtained hydrothermally at 180 °C. The structure of 1 consists of 2D polymeric sheets. These sheets are stacked on top of one another due to strong C-H?π interactions forming an overall 3D structure. The structure of 2, on the other hand, consists of twin-chain coordination polymers. The void spaces between two polymeric chains are occupied by [Cu(H₂O)₆]²⁺ ions which are H-bonded to the polymeric chains. The variable temperature magnetic measurements for 1 and 2 show weak antiferromagnetic interaction between Cu(II) centers. The EPR spectra of the compounds are consistent with their structures.     

Sustainable Development Goals: A need for relevant indicators

At the UN in New York the Open Working Group created by the UN General Assembly proposed a set of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which comprises 17 goals and 169 targets. Further to that, a preliminary set of 330 indicators was introduced in March 2015. Some SDGs build on preceding Millennium Development Goals while others incorporate new ideas. A critical review has revealed that indicators of varied quality (in terms of the fulfilment certain criteria) have been proposed to assess sustainable development. Despite the fact that there is plenty of theoretical work on quality standards for indicators, in practice users cannot often be sure how adequately the indicators measure the monitored phenomena. Therefore we stress the need to operationalise the Sustainable Development Goals’ targets and evaluate the indicators’ relevance, the characteristic of utmost importance among the indicators’ quality traits. The current format of the proposed SDGs and their targets has laid a policy framework; however, without thorough expert and scientific follow up on their operationalisation the indicators may be ambiguous. Therefore we argue for the foundation of a conceptual framework for selecting appropriate indicators for targets from existing sets or formulating new ones. Experts should focus on the “indicator-indicated fact” relation to ensure the indicators’ relevance in order for clear, unambiguous messages to be conveyed to users (decision- and policy-makers and also the lay public). Finally we offer some recommendations for indicators providers in order to contribute to the tremendous amount of conceptual work needed to lay a strong foundation for the development of the final indicators framework.     

Ecological suitability evaluation for mountainous area development based on conceptual model of landscape structure,function, and dynamics

Minimizing the ecological impact of land development is a fundamental principle of sustainable development. Ecological suitability assessment is the key to realizing sustainability and is also significant for optimizing spatial patterns of territorial development. Especially in mountainous areas where the ecosystem is both vulnerable and important, quantitative evaluation of ecological suitability for land development is particularly important and urgent given current development strategy of urban construction in mountainous areas in China. Taking Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, a representative urban construction zone in a mountainous area in Yunnan Province, China, as a study area, and based on the fundamental theory of structural and functional dynamics from landscape ecology, this study has explored the integrated ecological resistance (IER) conceptual model and constructed an index system with aspects of ecological elements, ecological importance, and ecological resilience. The results showed that: (1) the ecological suitability level was higher in the north than in the south and higher in the east than in the west, as well as higher in the Bazi region than in mountainous areas. Dali City, Binchuan County, and Xiangyun County had large ecological suitable zones for development and construction. Foci of ecological resistance having strong ecological constraints were mainly concentrated in Heqing County and in various other places; (2) by combining the integrated ecological resistance and arable land distributions, the study area was zoned into five regions: prior development zone, moderate development zone, potential development zone, restricted development zone, and forbidden development zone. Moderate, potential, and restricted development zones occupied most of the area, accounting for 28.89%, 24.69%, and 21.40%, respectively, whereas prior development zones accounted for only 8.91%; (3) based on the areal proportions of ecological suitability zoning, the 12 counties of Dali Prefecture can be grouped into three categories: prior areas for conservation, comprehensive development areas, and prior areas for development. Xiangyun County and Binchuan County should be regarded as key areas of Dali Prefecture for urban construction in mountainous areas. This research has explored an ecological suitability evaluation system from the perspective of landscape ecology and made fully understanding of ecological suitability factors in the study area, which provided a good reference to ecological suitability evaluation for mountainous area development in the worldwide.     

基于多类型自然保护地整合优化的国家公园综合监测体系构建

随着我国自然保护事业进入新时代，以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系建设思路得以明确，以国家公园为代表的自然保护地监测工作也被赋予了更高的要求。监测在促进国家公园科学规划与管理中发挥着重要作用，国家公园管理目标的实现离不开可靠的监测数据和信息的支撑。我国的国家公园试点由各类型自然保护地整合设立，因此面临不同监测类型之间的整合，存在缺乏统一的监测指标体系、有效的监测数据管理、健全的监测实施机制等问题。在对各类型自然保护地整合优化的基本思路下，基于国外国家公园监测实践与经验，综合考虑我国自然保护地的监测现状和需求，从顶层设计出发，构建了以自然资源清查为基础、以生态监测为核心、以自然与人为干扰监测为辅助、以管理有效性监测为补充并服务管理有效性评价的国家公园综合监测体系。在此基础上，进一步提出由三级监测网络、监测数据管理、管理有效性评价三部分组成的国家公园监测实施机制。在国家公园监测体系构建方面进行了探索与尝试，以期为我国国家公园监测体系以及监测制度的建立提供有益参考。     

A Proposed Framework for Investigation of Cause for Environmental Effects Monitoring

Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM) programs in Canada have been developed for the pulp and paper and metal mining industries, and require a cyclical evaluation of the receiving environment to determine whether effects exist when the facilities are in compliance with existing regulations. Identifying the cause of environmental effects is a specific, identified stage in this monitoring program, but as yet there has not been a synthesis of what is meant by “identification of cause”. We propose a multitiered guidance framework for the identification of the cause of environmental effects after they have been detected, confirmed, and their extent and magnitude documented. As part of point source confirmation, the framework includes levels to define whether there is an effect, whether it is related to the effluent discharge facility, and whether response patterns in the receiver are characteristic of a particular stressor type. The next tier involves investigating individual process wastes within the facility to determine the components that are contributing to effects caused by exposure to the final effluent. The last three tiers of the framework relate to characterizing the chemical classes involved in the effect and, ultimately, to identifying the specific chemicals associated with the responses. Although there is increasing knowledge of specific causes of environmental effects gained as one progresses through the levels of investigation, there is a concomitant increase in effort and costs required. Stakeholder input is critical in determining the depth of the investigation as well as how to proceed once the environmental effects information is available.