Can Bioprospecting Save Itself?

Abstract

Bioprospecting has had a bumpy ride over the last twenty years. High expectations for bioprospecting peaked in 1991 when Costa Rica's INBio program reached a signature deal with Merck Pharmaceuticals. But hopes have waned as bioprospecting has yielded few promising compounds and little in the way of conservation benefits. This paper examines the potential for bioprospecting to contribute to conservation efforts, both broadly and within the specific context of Panama. Today, global markets for bioprospecting services stand at an estimated $60 million per year. A new model for bioprospecting, exemplified by Panama's ICBG project, may be emerging, one that takes a more business-oriented approach to finding drugs. By using ecological insights to guide sample collection, monetizing compounds earlier, and leveraging institutional clout, ICBG Panama may be increasing its odds of scientific success and contributing to conservation in non-monetary ways. I argue that in addition, ICBG Panama, its funders, and other bioprospectors must increase the scale of their operations if they are to create sustainable entities in the Darwinian world of drug discovery. Finally, I make specific policy recommendations for improving the supply and demand of bioprospecting in Panama and globally.     

Variation in phenology and height increment of northern Ulmus glabra populations: Implications for conservation

Abstract

Variation in budburst, height increment and growth cessation within and among five Norwegian Ulmus glabra (Huds.) populations was recorded in an experimental trial during the fourth and fifth growing seasons. Budburst occurred first in inland populations and last in coastal populations, and latitude of origin was less important for timing of budburst than distance from the coast. Height increment and date of growth cessation were correlated to latitude, height increment decreased with increasing latitude of origin, whereas growth cessation occurred first in northern populations and later with increasing southern origin. Thus, the phenological traits vary in accordance with the climate from where the populations have been derived. There was a general large within-population variation in phenological traits. The results are discussed in relation to conservation of adaptive trait variation of the species.     

欧洲榛子苗木的生长规律

以16个欧榛品种为试材,用L og istic M odel、G om pertz M odel、R ichards M odel等数学模型对欧榛不同品种嫁接苗、插条苗、实生苗的年生长规律进行了模拟,利用CurveExpert等软件进行分析。结果发现3类苗木的各个指标的生长变化均呈现“慢-快-慢”的规律,生长曲线基本呈“S”形。     

自然条件下水分和坡向对小甘菊生长发育的影响

小甘菊是一种强阳性耐旱植物,对于干旱缺水的新疆地区而言,是一种十分珍贵的野生资源,在节水之余,还可用于点缀早春的景色。文中针对小甘菊自然环境下的分布进行描述,并分析自然状态下不同坡向对小甘菊生长情况的影响。结果表明,在小甘菊萌芽展叶期,土壤水分状况和坡向对其生物量增加和生长势有显著影响;充足的光照有利于小甘菊的生长发育,南向坡是其最佳的生长方位;适当增加早期土壤含水量和选择光照充足的环境,更加有利于小甘菊的生长发育和增加其观赏性。     

乌鲁木齐河水源林地生态功能区划研究

以景观生态功能区划原则为理论基础,结合实际,在边界划定、主导因素结构、格局和功能分析的基础上,将乌鲁木齐河水源林地区划为5个生态功能区和15个生态功能亚区,并针对每个功能区和功能亚区,从保护水源林地和生态农林产业开发方面提出了相应的生态保育措施,可以为管理部门有效地开发和保护乌鲁木齐河流域水资源、开展生态农业生产与林牧业管理、合理地开发生态旅游等提供决策依据。     

施肥对林木生长效应的理论研究

笔者从林木生长、林分产量、木材质量三方面总结了施肥对林木生长效应的影响,从光合速率、叶绿素含量、养分含量、抗逆性等几方面阐述了施肥对林木活力的影响。同时指出施肥对林木效应理论基础研究的重要性,在定性研究的基础上开展定量研究,探求和制订最佳施肥方案,以指导林木施肥。     

三花冬青嫩枝扦插繁殖技术

运用单因素试验研究植物生长调节剂、扦插基质和带踵扦插等因素对三花冬青扦插生根的影响,结果表明3个因素对三花冬青扦插生根影响差异显著,采用当年生半木质化插条,黄心土为基质,IAA 250 mg·L-1或IBA 500 mg·L-1蘸根处理15 s,带踵扦插等技术措施,可以显著提高三花冬青嫩枝扦插的生根率,在生产中具有较高的应用价值。     

Rejuvenation of juvenile growth characters in picea abies

Cuttings were made from six‐year‐old seedlings of Picea abies L. (Karst.) that had been studied in the Stockholm phytotron. The seedlings belonged to four full‐sib families, one being of French origin, one of North‐Swedish origin and two being hybrids between parents of North‐Swedish and French origin. Nine clones from each family were included. After the rooting phase, the cuttings were exposed to the same cultivation regimes as the seedling ortets. Characteristics of growth rhythm, percentage free growth and leader length were recorded during the 2nd to the 5th growth period (GP). Plagiotropic growth habit was recorded in the 3rd to the 5th growth period, and, characteristics of the rooting phase were studied. A juvenile behaviour very similar to that characterizing growth periods 2–3 of the seedlings was observed for growth rhythm characteristics and for free growth capacity during GP2 of the cuttings. The absolute value of the differences between each observation of the seedling ortets in GP6 and the means of the cuttings in GP2 produced a new variable that quantified the degree of rejuvenation. This new variable was meaningfully calculated only for growth rhythm and growth pattern variables. A gradual reversion of the growth rhythm occurred for the cuttings, which corresponded to the change with increasing age for the seedlings. The capacity for free growth, on the contrary, disappeared already in GP3 for the cuttings, except for the French family. A large variation in the rejuvenation ability between families was observed. Furthermore, the rejuvenation ability was negatively correlated with the ability to grow plagiotropically.     

Models for predicting height and diameter of individual trees in young Picea abies (L) karst. stands

Models for predicting height and diameter of individual trees in young Picea abies (L.) Karst. stands were developed. Data collected in a large survey of young forest stands in Sweden (the HUGIN young stand survey) were used in the construction of the models. Models were developed both with and without competition indices included. When constructing the competition indices trees within three metres from the subject tree were regarded as competitors. Functions with competition indices included (distance dependent) will be useful in analyses of the development of stands with different stand structure, whereas functions without competition indices (distance independent) will be useful in systems for long‐term forecasts of yield.     

Root growth capacity and field performance of Pinus sylvestris and Picea abies seedlings

Correlations between root growth capacity (RGC), at the time of planting, and field performance were studied for Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings. Before planting a gradient in seedling viability was generated through exposure to low root temperatures and different winter storage regimes. The hypothesis that high RGC values would improve field performance was to some extent verified for pine seedlings while no correlations could be registered for spruce. Reasons for these results are discussed.