Drowning and aquatic injuries dictionary

Background Drowning is a significant public health issue with more than 320,000 deaths globally every year. These numbers are greatly underestimated, however, due to factors such as inadequate data collection, inconsistent categorization and failure to report in certain regions and cultures. The objective of this study was to develop a standardised drowning dictionary using a consensus-based approach. Through creation of this resource, improved clarity amongst stakeholders will be achieved and, as a result, so will our understanding of the drowning issue. Methodology A list of terms and their definitions were created and sent to 16 drowning experts with a broad range of backgrounds across four continents and six languages. A review was conducted using a modified Delphi process over five rounds. A sixth round was done by an external panel evaluating the terms’ content validity. Results The drowning dictionary included more than 350 terms. Of these, less than 10% had been previously published in peer review literature. On average, the external expert validity endorsing the dictionary shows a Scale Content Validity index (S-CVI/Ave) of 0.91, exceeding the scientific recommended value. Ninety one percent of the items present an I-CVI (Level Content Validity Index) value considered acceptable (> 0.78). The endorsement was not a universal agreement (S-CVI/UA:0.44). Conclusion The drowning dictionary provides a common language, and the authors envisage that its use will facilitate collaboration and comparison across prevention sectors, education, research, policy and treatment. The dictionary will be open to readers for discussion and further review at www.idra.world

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Habitat Selection in Female-Calf Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Pairs on the Hawaiian Breeding Grounds

The Au'au Channel between the islands of Maui and Lanai, Hawaii comprises critical breeding habitat for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Central North Pacific stock. However, like many regions where marine mega-fauna gather, these waters are also the focus of a flourishing local eco-tourism and whale watching industry. Our aim was to establish current trends in habitat preference in female-calf humpback whale pairs within this region, focusing specifically on the busy, eastern portions of the channel. We used an equally-spaced zigzag transect survey design, compiled our results in a GIS model to identify spatial trends and calculated Neu's Indices to quantify levels of habitat use. Our study revealed that while mysticete female-calf pairs on breeding grounds typically favor shallow, inshore waters, female-calf pairs in the Au'au Channel avoided shallow waters (<20 m) and regions within 2 km of the shoreline. Preferred regions for female-calf pairs comprised water depths between 40–60 m, regions of rugged bottom topography and regions that lay between 4 and 6 km from a small boat harbor (Lahaina Harbor) that fell within the study area. In contrast to other humpback whale breeding grounds, there was only minimal evidence of typical patterns of stratification or segregation according to group composition. A review of habitat use by maternal females across Hawaiian waters indicates that maternal habitat choice varies between localities within the Hawaiian Islands, suggesting that maternal females alter their use of habitat according to locally varying pressures. This ability to respond to varying environments may be the key that allows wildlife species to persist in regions where human activity and critical habitat overlap

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Habitat Selection in Female-Calf Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Pairs on the Hawaiian Breeding Grounds

The Au’au Channel between the islands of Maui and Lanai, Hawaii comprises critical breeding habitat for humpback whales(Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Central North Pacific stock. However, like many regions where marine mega-fauna gather,these waters are also the focus of a flourishing local eco-tourism and whale watching industry. Our aim was to establishcurrent trends in habitat preference in female-calf humpback whale pairs within this region, focusing specifically on thebusy, eastern portions of the channel. We used an equally-spaced zigzag transect survey design, compiled our results in aGIS model to identify spatial trends and calculated Neu’s Indices to quantify levels of habitat use. Our study revealed thatwhile mysticete female-calf pairs on breeding grounds typically favor shallow, inshore waters, female-calf pairs in the Au’auChannel avoided shallow waters (,20 m) and regions within 2 km of the shoreline. Preferred regions for female-calf pairscomprised water depths between 40–60 m, regions of rugged bottom topography and regions that lay between 4 and6 km from a small boat harbor (Lahaina Harbor) that fell within the study area. In contrast to other humpback whalebreeding grounds, there was only minimal evidence of typical patterns of stratification or segregation according to groupcomposition. A review of habitat use by maternal females across Hawaiian waters indicates that maternal habitat choicevaries between localities within the Hawaiian Islands, suggesting that maternal females alter their use of habitat accordingto locally varying pressures. This ability to respond to varying environments may be the key that allows wildlife species topersist in regions where human activity and critical habitat overlap

Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Habitat Selection in Female-Calf Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) Pairs on the Hawaiian Breeding Grounds

The Au'au Channel between the islands of Maui and Lanai, Hawaii comprises critical breeding habitat for humpback whales (Megaptera novaeangliae) of the Central North Pacific stock. However, like many regions where marine mega-fauna gather, these waters are also the focus of a flourishing local eco-tourism and whale watching industry. Our aim was to establish current trends in habitat preference in female-calf humpback whale pairs within this region, focusing specifically on the busy, eastern portions of the channel. We used an equally-spaced zigzag transect survey design, compiled our results in a GIS model to identify spatial trends and calculated Neu's Indices to quantify levels of habitat use. Our study revealed that while mysticete female-calf pairs on breeding grounds typically favor shallow, inshore waters, female-calf pairs in the Au'au Channel avoided shallow waters (&lt;20 m) and regions within 2 km of the shoreline. Preferred regions for female-calf pairs comprised water depths between 40-60 m, regions of rugged bottom topography and regions that lay between 4 and 6 km from a small boat harbor (Lahaina Harbor) that fell within the study area. In contrast to other humpback whale breeding grounds, there was only minimal evidence of typical patterns of stratification or segregation according to group composition. A review of habitat use by maternal females across Hawaiian waters indicates that maternal habitat choice varies between localities within the Hawaiian Islands, suggesting that maternal females alter their use of habitat according to locally varying pressures. This ability to respond to varying environments may be the key that allows wildlife species to persist in regions where human activity and critical habitat overlap

Humpback whale sightings along the eastern shoreline of the Au'au Channel, Maui, Hawaii, classified by presence (female-calf groups) or absence (adult-only groups) of a calf in the group.

<p>Humpback whale sightings along the eastern shoreline of the Au'au Channel, Maui, Hawaii, classified by presence (female-calf groups) or absence (adult-only groups) of a calf in the group.</p

Habitat preference in adult-only humpback whale groups along the eastern shoreline of the Au'au Channel, Maui, Hawaii.

*<p>Totals slightly less than entire study region due to slight gaps in bathymetry data (Δ6.5 km²). Neu's indices provide standardized estimates of habitat use, based on habitat availability. Regions were classified as preferred (where 95% CI's of observed group counts (Oi) were entirely above the expected counts based on habitat availability (P_i)) and avoided (where 95% CI's of observed counts were entirely below the expected counts). In all other (neutral) regions, 95% CI of observed counts included the expected count. * borderline – neutral/preferred.</p

Habitat preference in female-calf humpback whale groups along the eastern shoreline of the Au'au Channel, Maui, Hawaii.

*<p>Totals slightly less than entire study region due to slight gaps in bathymetry data (Δ6.5 km²). Neu's indices provide standardized estimates of habitat use, based on habitat availability. Regions were classified as preferred (where 95% CI's of observed group counts (Oi) were entirely above the expected counts based on habitat availability (Pi)) and avoided (where 95% CI's of observed counts were entirely below the expected counts). In all other (neutral) regions, 95% CI of observed counts included the expected count.</p

Locations of humpback groups classified according to the presence or absence of a calf.

<p>Mean (s.d.) values provided.</p><p>Differences were not significant, once corrections for multiple testing were taken into consideration (α/k = 0.016).</p