Certain poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs)exhibit significant bioaccumulation/biomagnification behaviors in ecosystems.PFASs,such as perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS),perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA),perfluorohexanes...Certain poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs)exhibit significant bioaccumulation/biomagnification behaviors in ecosystems.PFASs,such as perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS),perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA),perfluorohexanesulfonic acid(PFHxS)and related precursors,have elicited attention from both public and national regulatory agencies,which has resulted in worldwide restrictions on their production and use.Apex predators occupy the top trophic positions in ecosystems and are most affected by the biomagnification behavior of PFASs.Meanwhile,the long lifespans of apex predators also lead to the high body burden of PFASs.The high body burden of PFASs might be linked to adverse health effects and even pose a potential threat to their reproduction.As seen in previous reviews of PFASs,knowledge is lacking between the current stage of the PFAS body burden and related effects in apex predators.This review summarized PFAS occurrence in global apex predators,including information on the geographic distribution,levels,profiles,and tissue distribution,and discussed the trophic transfer and ecotoxicity of PFASs.In the case where legacy PFASs were restricted under international convention,the occurrence of novel PFASs,such as 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate(6:2 Cl-PFESA)and perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate(PFECHS),in apex predators arose as an emerging issue.Future studies should develop an effective analytical method and focus on the toxicity and trophic transfer behavior of novel PFASs.展开更多
There is growing interest in the role that apex predators play in shaping terrestrial ecosystems and maintaining tro- phic cascades. In line with the mesopredator release hypothesis, Australian dingoes （Canis lupus d...There is growing interest in the role that apex predators play in shaping terrestrial ecosystems and maintaining tro- phic cascades. In line with the mesopredator release hypothesis, Australian dingoes （Canis lupus dingo and hybrids） are assumed by many to regulate the abundance of invasive mesopredators, such as red foxes Vulpes vulpes and feral cats Fells catus, thereby providing indirect benefits to various threatened vertebrates. Several recent papers have claimed to provide evidence for the bio- diversity benefits of dingoes in this way. Nevertheless, in this paper we highlight several critical weaknesses in the methodologi- cal approaches used in many of these reports, including lack of consideration for seasonal and habitat differences in activity, the complication of simple track-based indices by incorporating difficult-to-meet assumptions, and a reduction in sensitivity for as-sessing populations by using binary measures rather than potentially continuous measures. Of the 20 studies reviewed, 15 of them （75%） contained serious methodological flaws, which may partly explain the inconclusive nature of the literature investigating interactions between invasive Australian predators. We therefore assert that most of the ＂growing body of evidence＂ for meso- predator release is merely an inconclusive growing body of literature only. We encourage those interested in studying the eco- logical roles of dingoes relative to invasive mesopredators and native prey species to account for the factors we identify, and cau- tion the value of studies that have not done so [Current Zoology 57 （5）： 568-583, 2011].展开更多
The studies of Allen （2011） and Allen et al. （2011） recently examined the methodology underpinning claims that dingoes provide net benefits to biodiversity by suppressing foxes and cats. They found most studies to...The studies of Allen （2011） and Allen et al. （2011） recently examined the methodology underpinning claims that dingoes provide net benefits to biodiversity by suppressing foxes and cats. They found most studies to have design flaws and/or observational methods that preclude valid interpretations from the data, describing most of the current literature as ＇wild dogma＇. In this short supplement, we briefly highlight the roles and implications of wild dogma for wild dog management in Australia. We discuss nomenclature, and the influence that unreliable science can have on policy and practice changes related to apex predator management展开更多
Background:This paper presents several spatial indicators developed to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on predator-prey interactions and their relationship with ecological integrity loss in Mexico.Ecological integrity ...Background:This paper presents several spatial indicators developed to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on predator-prey interactions and their relationship with ecological integrity loss in Mexico.Ecological integrity loss is defined as the inability to sustain viable populations,habitat functions,and species interactions of Nearctic and Neotropical apex predators as a result of anthropogenic effects.As direct impacts,the indicators evaluate habitat loss and the number of inhospitable habitats.As indirect impacts,the indicators evaluate the avoidance of human features such as highways,roads,and human locations.The total impact level is described at 1 km^(2) resolution,and registered within the domain defined by the spatial habitat requirements of apex predators.The impact level is associated with ecological integrity loss,or the ecosystem capacity to reorganize habitat functions and sustain predator-prey interactions as the most visible elements of ecological integrity.Ecological integrity loss is evaluated for different groups of apex predators that are classified with different levels of anthropogenic threat.Results:The framework presented here identifies the spatial information needed for the assessment of cumulative anthropogenic impacts.By characterizing their distribution range,Nearctic predators have significantly larger intact habitats than neotropical predators but with higher ecological degradation,less landscape transformation,and overall less ecological integrity.As observed within their distribution areas,indirect impacts have a generalized effect in the broad range of landscapes in Mexico.Ecological integrity loss is the result of road,highway,and human settlement avoidance;but landscape transformation and human activity control the threshold for which ecological integrity loss becomes critical.On the other hand,there are no significant differences in impact levels among threat conservation categories for apex predators,which indicate that all predator species have the same threat level and should be all included in protection efforts.Conclusions:With the application of this spatial framework,the significance,scale,and baseline conditions can be established for evaluating anthropogenic impacts on ecological integrity.The analysis of the current condition shows the status for apex predator in the country,and identifies the ecological integrity threshold when human activities have severe to highly severe impacts in the landscape,threatening the viability of populations and their habitat.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.22022611,21906096)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2020YFA0907500)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of CAS(No.2018052).
文摘Certain poly-and perfluoroalkyl substances(PFASs)exhibit significant bioaccumulation/biomagnification behaviors in ecosystems.PFASs,such as perfluorooctane sulfonate(PFOS),perfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA),perfluorohexanesulfonic acid(PFHxS)and related precursors,have elicited attention from both public and national regulatory agencies,which has resulted in worldwide restrictions on their production and use.Apex predators occupy the top trophic positions in ecosystems and are most affected by the biomagnification behavior of PFASs.Meanwhile,the long lifespans of apex predators also lead to the high body burden of PFASs.The high body burden of PFASs might be linked to adverse health effects and even pose a potential threat to their reproduction.As seen in previous reviews of PFASs,knowledge is lacking between the current stage of the PFAS body burden and related effects in apex predators.This review summarized PFAS occurrence in global apex predators,including information on the geographic distribution,levels,profiles,and tissue distribution,and discussed the trophic transfer and ecotoxicity of PFASs.In the case where legacy PFASs were restricted under international convention,the occurrence of novel PFASs,such as 6:2 chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate(6:2 Cl-PFESA)and perfluoroethylcyclohexane sulfonate(PFECHS),in apex predators arose as an emerging issue.Future studies should develop an effective analytical method and focus on the toxicity and trophic transfer behavior of novel PFASs.
文摘There is growing interest in the role that apex predators play in shaping terrestrial ecosystems and maintaining tro- phic cascades. In line with the mesopredator release hypothesis, Australian dingoes （Canis lupus dingo and hybrids） are assumed by many to regulate the abundance of invasive mesopredators, such as red foxes Vulpes vulpes and feral cats Fells catus, thereby providing indirect benefits to various threatened vertebrates. Several recent papers have claimed to provide evidence for the bio- diversity benefits of dingoes in this way. Nevertheless, in this paper we highlight several critical weaknesses in the methodologi- cal approaches used in many of these reports, including lack of consideration for seasonal and habitat differences in activity, the complication of simple track-based indices by incorporating difficult-to-meet assumptions, and a reduction in sensitivity for as-sessing populations by using binary measures rather than potentially continuous measures. Of the 20 studies reviewed, 15 of them （75%） contained serious methodological flaws, which may partly explain the inconclusive nature of the literature investigating interactions between invasive Australian predators. We therefore assert that most of the ＂growing body of evidence＂ for meso- predator release is merely an inconclusive growing body of literature only. We encourage those interested in studying the eco- logical roles of dingoes relative to invasive mesopredators and native prey species to account for the factors we identify, and cau- tion the value of studies that have not done so [Current Zoology 57 （5）： 568-583, 2011].
文摘The studies of Allen （2011） and Allen et al. （2011） recently examined the methodology underpinning claims that dingoes provide net benefits to biodiversity by suppressing foxes and cats. They found most studies to have design flaws and/or observational methods that preclude valid interpretations from the data, describing most of the current literature as ＇wild dogma＇. In this short supplement, we briefly highlight the roles and implications of wild dogma for wild dog management in Australia. We discuss nomenclature, and the influence that unreliable science can have on policy and practice changes related to apex predator management
基金This study was funded by Comisión Nacional para la Conservación y Uso de la Biodiversidad,México,as a part of its yearly operational program.
文摘Background:This paper presents several spatial indicators developed to evaluate anthropogenic impacts on predator-prey interactions and their relationship with ecological integrity loss in Mexico.Ecological integrity loss is defined as the inability to sustain viable populations,habitat functions,and species interactions of Nearctic and Neotropical apex predators as a result of anthropogenic effects.As direct impacts,the indicators evaluate habitat loss and the number of inhospitable habitats.As indirect impacts,the indicators evaluate the avoidance of human features such as highways,roads,and human locations.The total impact level is described at 1 km^(2) resolution,and registered within the domain defined by the spatial habitat requirements of apex predators.The impact level is associated with ecological integrity loss,or the ecosystem capacity to reorganize habitat functions and sustain predator-prey interactions as the most visible elements of ecological integrity.Ecological integrity loss is evaluated for different groups of apex predators that are classified with different levels of anthropogenic threat.Results:The framework presented here identifies the spatial information needed for the assessment of cumulative anthropogenic impacts.By characterizing their distribution range,Nearctic predators have significantly larger intact habitats than neotropical predators but with higher ecological degradation,less landscape transformation,and overall less ecological integrity.As observed within their distribution areas,indirect impacts have a generalized effect in the broad range of landscapes in Mexico.Ecological integrity loss is the result of road,highway,and human settlement avoidance;but landscape transformation and human activity control the threshold for which ecological integrity loss becomes critical.On the other hand,there are no significant differences in impact levels among threat conservation categories for apex predators,which indicate that all predator species have the same threat level and should be all included in protection efforts.Conclusions:With the application of this spatial framework,the significance,scale,and baseline conditions can be established for evaluating anthropogenic impacts on ecological integrity.The analysis of the current condition shows the status for apex predator in the country,and identifies the ecological integrity threshold when human activities have severe to highly severe impacts in the landscape,threatening the viability of populations and their habitat.
