What drives policy decision-making related to species conservation?     

Berta Martín-López  Carlos Montes 《Biological conservation》2009,142(7):1370-1491

While many countries have developed and expanded efforts to sustain and enhance the protection of biodiversity, the effectiveness of such programs, as well as the manner in which funds are distributed, has been questioned. We examined funding allocation decisions for species conservation in Spain at different governmental scales. Several factors that may impact conservation spending patterns and policy decisions were examined, including available scientific data, current scientific policies, and public awareness and perceptions of conservation needs. Our analyses revealed a strong connection between existing conservation policies and scientific information, research priorities and public concern. We found that there is a substantial bias in the taxa that are studied, the funding levels for those studies and public policy which triggers and supports the studies. The relationships, however, are not strictly cause and effect, but are instead enmeshed in a complex feed-back system in which conventional scientific activity acts as the main driver but is itself influenced by both policy and public perception. By acknowledging both the essential role of science in this system and the critical factors that can influence the acquisition of scientific information, a constructive dialog can be established that will propel conservation activities to a more productive and environmentally sound outcome.  相似文献   

Corrigendum to “What drives policy decision-making related to species conservation?” [Biol. Conserv. 142 (2010) 1370–1380]     

Berta Martín-López  Carlos Montes  Lucía Ramírez  Javier Benayas 《Biological conservation》2011,144(5):1778

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Risk assessment of Arbutus unedo L. fruits from plants growing on contaminated soils in the Panasqueira mine area,Portugal     

Maria Manuela Abreu  Berta Godinho  M. Clara F. Magalhães 《Journal of Soils and Sediments》2014,14(4):744-757

Purpose

In the Panasqueira mine area, Arbutus unedo L. (arbutus tree) grows on soils developed on waste materials and on soils impacted by mining activity. The arbutus berry brandy is considered a product with economic value. The aims of this study were to evaluate the biogeochemical impact of the mining activity on soils and arbutus trees, to assess the possible risks associated with human consumption of the fruits and the derived brandy, and to evaluate the potential of the arbutus tree in phytostabilization.

Materials and methods

Soil samples (10–15 cm deep) developed on waste materials, on schists affected by seepage water or treatment plant effluents and on colluvium-alluvium materials were characterized (fraction <2 mm) for pH, particle size distribution, organic carbon (C_org), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and NPK by classical methodologies. Plant (A. unedo) samples (roots, leaves and twigs, and fruits) were collected at the same sites as the sampled soils, washed with tap and distilled water and dried at 40 °C. The elements’ concentrations in soils (total fraction—four-acid digestion and available fraction—diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid extraction), plants (ashing followed by acid digestion) and brandy samples produced with fruits collected on contaminated and non-contaminated sites were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy.

Results and discussion

The soils are mainly acid, silty loam, with variable values for C_org, CEC and NPK. They are contaminated with As (158–7,790 mg/kg), Cd (0.6–79 mg/kg), Cu (51–4,080 mg/kg), W (19–1,450 mg/kg) and Zn (142–12,300 mg/kg). The available fraction of the soils is quite variable between <0.04 and 76 % of the total, depending on the element. Trace elements’ concentrations, in leaves and twigs, are within the normal range for plants, except for Cd and Zn that, in some samples, are above the normal values, but without phytotoxic symptoms. Trace elements’ concentrations in fruits are low. The calculated hazard quotient for all trace elements in arbutus berry was <0.1. In the brandy, elemental concentrations are within the legal standards, except for Pb, whose higher concentrations may result from distillery equipment.

Conclusions

According to the EC 466/2001 legislation and with a hazard quotient of <1, the arbutus berry consumption does not constitute health risks for humans. The fruits can be used to produce local brandy. The concentration of copper in brandy is within the range established by the Portuguese legislation. Arbutus unedo can be used in the phytostabilization programs in the Panasqueira area, for it is a pioneer species and a non-accumulator of trace elements.  相似文献   

Arbuscular mycorrhizal induced changes to plant growth and root system morphology in Prunus cerasifera     

Berta G  Trotta A  Fusconi A  Hooker JE  Munro M  Atkinson D  Giovannetti M  Morini S  Fortuna P  Tisserant B  Gianinazzi-Pearson V  Gianinazzi S 《Tree physiology》1995,15(5):281-293

We compared root system morphogenesis of micropropogated transplants of Prunus cerasifera L. inoculated with either of the arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi Glomus mosseae or Glomus intraradices or with the ericoid mycorrhizal species Hymenoscyphus ericae. All plants were grown in sand culture, irrigated with a nutrient solution that included a soluble source of phosphorus, for 75 days after transplanting. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization increased both the survival and growth (by over 100%) of transplants compared with either uninoculated controls or transplants inoculated with H. ericae. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization increased root, stem and leaf weights, leaf area, root length and specific leaf area, and it decreased root length/leaf area ratio, root/shoot weight ratio and specific root length. Both uptake of phosphorus and its concentration in leaves were increased by AM infection, although the time course of the relationships between intensity of AM infection and P nutrition were complex and suggested a role for factors other than nutrition. The time course for the development of infection varied. It was most rapid with G. mosseae, but it was ultimately higher with G. intraradices. None of the treatments significantly affected the lengths of adventitious roots or the first-, second- or third-order laterals that developed from them. Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization increased the intensity of branching in all root orders with the effect being most obvious on first-order lateral roots where the number of branches increased from under 100 to over 300 brances m(-1). As a result, although first-order laterals made up 55% of the root systems of control plants, the comparable value was 36% in AM-infected plants. In contrast, second-order laterals represented 25% of control root systems, but 50% of AM-colonized root systems. Glomus intraradices but not G. mosseae increased root diameter. Anatomical studies revealed no changes in the overall form of the root tip, although there were changes in the diameter of the root cap, cell numbers and cell size. Hymenoscyphus ericae increased the duration of the metaphase index. Both AM fungal treatments increased the concentrations of soluble proteins in root extracts and modified the protein profiles by the elimination and addition of protein bands detected by PAGE analysis. We conclude that AM fungal inoculation influenced processes in the root system at different levels, but not all effects were due to improved P nutrition or increased physiological age.  相似文献   

Antimicrobial activity of olive solutions from stored Alpeorujo against plant pathogenic microorganisms     

Medina E  Romero C  de Los Santos B  de Castro A  Garcia A  Romero F  Brenes M 《Journal of agricultural and food chemistry》2011,59(13):6927-6932

The aim of this work was to assess the in vitro antimicrobial effects that wastewaters from alpeorujo oil extraction have against phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi. Alpeorujo was stored for 6 months and then processed to extract its oil, pomace, and a new liquid waste (OWSA), which was characterized by its content in phenolic compounds. OWSA at 20% decreased bu >4 log the population of Erwinia spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Clavibacter spp. viable cells in test tubes, whereas OWSA at 50% in agar medium was necessary to inhibit mycelial growth of most fungi. It was found that the bactericidal effect was due to the joint action of low molecular mass phenolic compounds, although neither hydroxytyrosol, its glucosides, hydroxytyrosol glycol, nor a glutaraldehyde-like compound individually explained this bioactivity. Hence, OWSA constitutes a promising natural solution to fight plant phytopathogenic bacteria and fungi.  相似文献   

Increased plant tolerance against chrysanthemum yellows phytoplasma (‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’) following double inoculation with Glomus mosseae BEG12 and Pseudomonas putida S1Pf1Rif     

R. D’Amelio  G. Berta  E. Gamalero  N. Massa  L. Avidano  S. Cantamessa  G. D’Agostino  D. Bosco  C. Marzachì 《Plant pathology》2011,60(6):1014-1022

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of a combined inoculum of a rhizobacterium and an arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus on plant responses to phytoplasma infection, and on phytoplasma multiplication and viability in Chrysanthemum carinatum plants infected by chrysanthemum yellows phytoplasma (CY). Combined inoculation with Glomus mosseae BEG12 and Pseudomonas putida S1Pf1Rif resulted in some resistance to phytoplasma infection (about 30%), delayed symptom expression in nonresistant plants, improved growth of the aerial part of the infected plants (+68·1%), and altered root morphology (root tip number: +49·9%; branching degree: +82·8%). Combined inoculation with the two beneficial microorganisms did not alter CY multiplication and viability. In inoculated and infected plants, phytoplasma morphology was typical of senescent cells. A more active and efficient root system in double‐inoculated plants probably mediated the effects of the two rhizospheric microorganisms in the infected plants. The practical application of rhizospheric microorganisms for mitigating phytoplasma damage, following evaluation under field conditions, represents an additional tool for the integrated management of phytoplasmosis.  相似文献   

Isolation of dopamine D2 receptor (D2R) promoters in Mugil cephalus     

J. N. Nocillado  B. Levavi-Sivan  A. Avitan  F. Carrick  A. Elizur 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2005,31(2-3):149-152

This paper reports the isolation of two putative D₂R promoters from grey mullet, one 5′ flanking and the other an intronic sequence immediately upstream of the first coding exon. Promoter activity of the intronic sequence was confirmed in vitro through functional analysis using luciferase as reporter gene. The functional characteristics of the region flanking the 5′-UTR is currently under investigation.  相似文献   

Characterization of the inhibitory dopamine receptor from the pituitary of tilapia     

Levavi-Sivan Berta  Avitan Ayelet  Kanias Tamir 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》2003,28(1-4):73-75

The study was aimed to characterize the inhibitory dopamine (DA) receptor in the pituitary of tilapia. DA D₂ and D₃ agonists inhibited GnRH-stimulated LH release from tilapia pituitary cells more efficiently than D₄ agonists. However, no significant differences were observed between the efficiencies of D₂ and D₃ drugs. In order to elucidate the signal transduction of the tilapia DA receptor we performed transfection of COS-7 cells with tilapia D₂ DA receptor that resulted in the inhibition of forskolin-stimulated cAMP accumulation. Moreover, the tilapia D₂ dopamine receptor inhibits adenylate cyclase activity via coupling to pertussis toxin-sensitive G proteins of the Gi/Go family. Our results also show that estradiol up-regulates taDA-R mRNA.  相似文献   

Incorporating ecosystem services into ecosystem-based management to deal with complexity: a participative mental model approach     

Javier Moreno  Ignacio Palomo  Javier Escalera  Berta Martín-López  Carlos Montes 《Landscape Ecology》2014,29(8):1407-1421

Integrating ecosystem services into ecosystem-based management (EBM) is currently one of the most relevant challenges for management. For that purpose, it is necessary to depict the relationships established between ecosystems and society considering the delivery, use and governance of ecosystem services. One effective way of doing so involves collaboration between researchers, who scientifically study the system, and managers, who have specific experience and technical knowledge. With this aim, we held two workshops in 2011 in the National Parks of Doñana and Sierra Nevada, Andalusia (Spain), with researchers and managers from the protected areas at different organizational levels: local, regional and national. Taking the participative mental model technique as an inspiration, we developed a tool that was used as a means to allow a holistic analysis of ecosystem services from an interdisciplinary and participative perspective. We found that participatory mental models, help integrating ecosystem services into EBM as it includes stakeholders’ proposals and knowledge. For the implementation of ecosystem services for management, we discuss the necessity of navigating a process that requires considerable changes, not only in using new concepts such as ecosystem services, but also in the management structures that govern the services. This process would require closer interaction between citizens, researchers and managers, and the creation of new participation spaces that include ecosystem service beneficiaries located beyond protected areas.  相似文献   

Intracellular mediation of GnRH action on GTH release in tilapia     

Berta Levavi-Sivan  Zvi Yaron 《Fish physiology and biochemistry》1993,11(1-6):51-59

The objective of the present study was to confirm previous results on the mediation of GnRH signal in tilapia by providing evidence from experiments in cultured pituitary cells and from perifusion experiments using a GnRH-antagonist. After 4 days in culture under identical conditions, cells taken from pituitaries of fish maintained at 26°C were more sensitive to GnRHa ([D-Ala⁶, Pro⁹-NEt]-LHRH) than those taken from fish maintained at 19°C. Cells from female pituitaries were more responsive than those from males. taGTH release in culture was augmented by Ca²⁺ ionophore (A23187; 1–100 μM) or ionomycin (0.02–10 μM). The response of perifused pituitary to GnRH was reduced by nimodipine (1–10 μM) indicating that Ca²⁺ influx via voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels is involved in the stimulation of GTH release. Activation of protein kinase C by OAG (1-oleyl-2-acetyl glycerol; 0.16–160 μM) or TPA (1-O-tetra-decanoyl phorbol-13-acetate; 1.25–125 nM) resulted in a dose-dependent stimulation of taGTH release from cultured cells. Arachidonic acid (0.33–330 μM) also augmented the release of taGTH from the culture. Four sequential pulses of sGnRH (100 nM) at 2h intervals resulted in surges of taGTH release from perifused pituitary fragments; the surges were similar in magnitude with no signs of desensitization. Sequential stimulation with graded doses of sGnRH (0.1 nM to 1 μM) in the presence of GnRH-antagonist ([Pro^2,6, Trp³]-GnRH) resulted in an attenuation of taGTH release. However, the GnRH-antagonist did not alter the pattern of forskolin-stimulated GTH release, indicating that forskolin stimulation is exerted at the level of the adenohypophyseal cells. It is concluded that, as in other vertebrates, the transduction of GnRH stimulation of GTH release involves Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels, mobilization of the ion from intracellular sources, arachidonic acid and activation of PKC. Adenylate cyclase-cAMP system us also involved in the mediation but its relationship with other transduction cascades requires further investigations.  相似文献