Effects of fenvalerate on the net-spinning behaviour of Hydropsych siltalai (Döhler) (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae)

The effects of fenvalerate exposure on the net-spinning behaviour of Hydropsyche siltalai were examined in a laboratory study. The larvae were exposed to nominal pulse-doses of 0.25 and 0.5 μg fenvalerate l-1. Nets were collected and examined for anomalies after four days of exposure to fenvalerate. Additional nets were collected after another four day of exposure. The fenvalerate dissipated rapidly from the water column, and since only two doses of fenvalerate were given, the larvae were exposed to two pulse-doses of fenvalerate rather than to a constant concentration. In the 0.5 μg l-1-treatment the net-spinning behaviour was significantly affected, expressed as an increased mesh-opening and a decreased symmetry of the nets. No significant effects of fenvalerate exposure on the net-spinning behaviour were detected in the 0.25 μg l-1-treatment. Thus, with the conditions given in this experiment, exposure to fenvalerate starts to affect the net-spinning behaviour of Hydropsyche siltalai at a concentration between 0.25 and 0.5 μg l-1. The use of net-anomalies and Hydropsyche as bioindicators for monitoring pollutants in stream ecosystems are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in abundance of Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris in England

1. Thirteen time series, varying from 17 to 27 years, of the abundance of Vespula germanica and V. vulgaris from lowland England are examined. The time series depend on either spring queens and workers taken in Malaise or suction traps, or collected colonies. 2. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, the abundance of V. germanica declined abruptly but that of V. vulgaris did not. 3. During the early 1980s, the 2‐year cycle of annual abundance of V. vulgaris changed to a nearly perfectly damped pattern of annual abundances. 4. The most likely factor causing these population changes was the increased use of pesticides acting directly by killing the wasps and indirectly by reducing their food resources. 5. The difference in response of the two species to increased pesticide use may be related to a difference in foraging ability.     

有机磷农药对滇池微囊藻生长和摄磷效应的影响

采集滇池水体作为铜绿微囊藻培养基,研究了两种有机磷农药(甲胺磷和辛硫磷)对微囊藻生长和摄磷效应的动力学规律。结果表明,在滇池水体中添加较低浓度的甲胺磷(0.8、1.6、3.2mg/L)和辛硫磷(0.02、0.06、0.1mg/L)均能不同程度地促进微囊藻的生长,且在HGZ培养基中抑制微囊藻生长的浓度在滇池水体中却能促进微囊藻的生长。微囊藻的生长取决于细胞内磷的浓度且对磷的吸收利用存在积累性,在微囊藻生长初期,摄取各形态磷的速率较快;随后微囊藻摄取各形态磷的速率较慢。总溶解磷(TSP)和溶解反应磷(SRP)是微囊藻优先摄取的磷形态,在生长过程中微囊藻利用了大量的溶解有机磷(DOP)作为磷源加速生长。这一特点对于微囊藻成为淡水湖泊富营养化发展过程中的一种重要优势种具有极为重要的作用。     

微生物降解农药研究的新进展

农药尤其是化学农药中高毒、高残留、难降解的农药是重要的环境污染物,而利用微生物治理农药所造成的环境污染是一项有效的手段。从降解农药的微生物的种类、工程菌的构建、微生物降解农药的机理、降解特性、影响因素及应用效果等多方面综述了近年来的研究进展,并提出了微生物降解农药研究领域的发展趋势和有待进一步解决的一些突出问题。     

Enantiomeric separation of imidazolinone herbicides using chiral high-performance liquid chromatography

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is one of the most powerful tools to prepare enantiopure standards of chiral compounds. In this study, the enantiomeric separation of imidazolinone herbicides, i.e., imazethapyr, imazapyr, and imazaquin, was investigated using chiral HPLC. The enantioselectivity of Chiralpak AS, Chiralpak AD, Chiralcel OD, and Chiralcel OJ columns for the three analytes was compared under similar chromatographic conditions. Chiralcel OJ column showed the best chiral resolving capacity among the test columns. The resolved enantiomers were distinguished by their signs of circular dichroism detected at 275 nm and their structures confirmed with LC-mass spectrometric analysis. Factors affecting the chiral separation of imidazolinones on Chiralcel OJ column were characterized. Ethanol acted as a better polar modifier than the other alcohols including 2-propanol, 1-butanol, and 1-pentanol. Although the acidic modifier in the mobile phase did not influence chiral recognition, it was necessary for reducing the retention time of enantiomers and suppressing their peak tailing. Thermodynamic evaluation suggests that enantiomeric separation of imidazolinones on Chiralcel OJ column is an enthalpy-driven process from 10 to 40 degrees C. This study also shows that small amounts of pure enantiomers of imidazolinones may be obtained by using the analytical chiral HPLC approach.     

Risk Perception and Chronic Exposure to Organochlorine Pesticides in Maya Communities of Mexico

In order to analyze risk perception related to the use and handling of organochlorine pesticides (OCP) in agricultural and livestock activities among Maya communities of Yucatan, Mexico, and to study their impact on public health and the environment, we conducted an analytical study applying 274 semi-structured interviews in 11 municipalities in the zone called “Ring of Cenotes.” The harmful effects of agrochemicals on water supplies, soils, air, and human health were considered, including the indoor use of pesticides to preserve harvest products. Recent studies showed high levels of OCP in groundwater. A generalized low risk perception related to human health and the environment due to pesticide use was found. Likewise, social parameters were analyzed, including the educational level, as well as risk factors related to groundwater karst vulnerability. Pesticides that have been banned by international conventions are still in use. The occurrence of some diseases such as cervical cancer, with a very high prevalence at the national level, and the practice of obtaining drinking water from polluted wells and sinkholes, may be associated with this low risk perception and with poor social conditions. Establishing programs on health education, agro-ecological production alternatives, and water chemical quality monitoring is recommended.     

Effect of Some Pesticides on Reproduction of Rotifer <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachionus plicatilis</Emphasis> Müller

Pesticides have been major contributors to environmental pollution and they are now widely distributed in aquatic environments. Zooplankters are frequently used as test animals to detect aquatic contaminants because of their sensitivity and ecological importance. We investigated the effect of a 7-day exposure to four commonly used pesticides (diazinon, fenitrothion, methoprene and isoprothiolane) on reproduction of the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis. Pesticide concentrations of 3–7 times lower than the 24-h 50% lethal concentration (24-h LC₅₀) were tested to determine the ‚no observed effect’ concentration (NOEC), ‚lowest observed effect’ concentration (LOEC), and the ‚50% effective’ concentration (EC₅₀) on specific growth rate (r), sexual reproduction, fertilization, resting egg production, and hatchability of resting eggs. Results showed that the lowest EC₅₀ value of r, mixis, fertilization, and resting egg production of 1.4 μM for diazinon was 63 times lower than its 24-h LC₅₀ of 88.4 μM, while for fenitrothion it was 66 times (3.5 and 229.8 μM, respectively). For isoprothiolane, the lowest EC₅₀ value of r, mixis, fertilization, and resting egg production of 8.9 μM was 25 times lower than its 24-h LC₅₀ of 220.7 μM, while for methoprene was 37 times (2.7 and 100.8 μM, respectively). In all pesticides, hatching rate of resting eggs consistently gave the lowest EC₅₀ values which is about 2–40 times lower than the lowest EC₅₀ of r, mixis, fertilization, and resting egg production. Hatchability of resting eggs therefore is the most sensitive parameter in detecting effects of pesticides exposure in rotifer B. plicatilis.     

From Metchnikoff to Monsanto and beyond: the path of microbial control

In 125 years since Metchnikoff proposed the use of Metarhizium anisopliae to control the wheat cockchafer and brought about the first field trials, microbial control has progressed from the application of naturalists' observations to biotechnology and precision delivery. This review highlights major milestones in its evolution and presents a perspective on its current direction. Fungal pathogens, the most eye-catching agents, dominated the early period, but major mycological control efforts for chinch bugs and citrus pests in the US had questionable success, and interest waned. The discoveries of Bacillus popilliae and Bacillus thuringiensis began the era of practical and commercially viable microbial control. A program to control the Japanese beetle in the US led to the discovery of both B. popilliae and Steinernema glaseri, the first nematode used as a microbial control agent. Viral insect control became practical in the latter half of the 20th century, and the first registration was obtained with the Heliothis nuclear polyhedrosis virus in 1975. Now strategies are shifting for microbial control. While Bt transgenic crops are now planted on millions of hectares, the successes of more narrowly defined microbial control are mainly in small niches. Commercial enthusiasm for traditional microbial control agents has been unsteady in recent years. The prospects of microbial insecticide use on vast areas of major crops are now viewed more realistically. Regulatory constraints, activist resistance, benign and efficacious chemicals, and limited research funding all drive changes in focus. Emphasis is shifting to monitoring, conservation, integration with chemical pesticides, and selection of favorable venues such as organic agriculture and countries that have low costs, mild regulatory climates, modest chemical inputs, and small scale farming.     

常用杀虫剂对小菜蛾天敌卷蛾分索赤眼蜂的影响

在实验室条件下测定田间常用的11种杀虫剂对小菜蛾Plutella xylostella(L.)卵寄生性天敌卷蛾分索赤眼蜂Trichogrammatoidea bactrae Nagaraja的影响。结果表明,高效氯氰菊酯、丁醚脲、阿维菌素、多杀霉素、溴虫腈、氟虫腈和杀螟丹对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂有极明显触杀毒性,成蜂接触药膜8h后的死亡率达到89.31%～100%,丁醚脲、阿维菌素和多杀霉素能极显著降低成蜂的寄生力,溴虫腈和氟虫腈处理卵和幼虫期均显著降低卷蛾分索赤眼的成蜂羽化率,杀螟丹对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂各虫态都有极强的毒性,其处理后成蜂的羽化率几乎都为0。试验结果说明,氟啶脲、茚虫威、苏云金杆菌和虫酰肼对卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂及各发育虫态均较安全,可在田间任何时候使用,而高效氯氰菊酯、丁醚脲、多杀霉素和阿维菌素的使用则应尽量避开卷蛾分索赤眼蜂成蜂期。     

巢湖表层水体中有机氯农药的分布及其组成

以固相萃取-气相色谱法/电子捕获检测器(SPE-GC/ECD)作为检测手段,对巢湖表层水体中有机氯农药(OCPs)的分布及组成特征进行分析.结果表明:研究区13个采样点中共检出包括六六六(HCHs)、滴滴涕(DDTs)、β-硫丹(β-Endosulfan)、艾氏剂(Aldrin)、六氯苯(hexachlorobenzene)和七氯(Heptachlor)在内的16种有机氯农药,其总含量范围为0.54～64.01ng.L-1;16种有机氯农药中以HCHs和DDTs为主,其平均质量浓度分别为5.56ng.L-1和16.57ng.L-1,约占其总量的84.75%;研究区的有机氯农药污染除了主要源于历史上农田中有机氯农药的残留外,近期可能还有新的农药污染源进入水环境;研究区所检出的各类有机氯农药均未超过国家地表水环境质量标准,巢湖表层水体中有机氯农药含量及潜在风险均属于中等偏低水平.