Quantifying the abundance of four large epiphytic fern species in remnant complex notophyll vine forest on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland, Australia

Epiphytes are generally considered rare in complex forests on the western edge of the Atherton Tablelands, north Queensland. This assertion is based on comparisons with wetter forests in the Wet Tropics bioregion, but is of limited use in restoration projects where targets need to be quantified. We quantified ‘rarity’ for a subset of the epiphyte community in one of the largest remaining patches of Type 5b rainforest at Wongabel State Forest(17°18' S, 145°28' E). The bundance of large individuals of the epiphytic fern species Asplenium australasicum, Drynaria rigidula, Platycerium bifurcatum, and Platycerium superbum were recorded from 100 identified midstorey or canopy trees. Epiphytes were less rare than the canopy trees sampled, averaging 1.7 individuals per tree. A clumped distribution was suggested with large epiphytes only occurring on 57 of the 100 trees. As tree size increased so did the number of individuals and species of large epiphytes recorded; only trees taller than 20 m yielded more than one epiphyte. Trees from the Meliaceae and Rutaceae hosted the most epiphytes, but host tree specificity patterns were not conclusive. Techniques for including epiphytes in restoration planning and projects are considered, and a quantified restoration target for epiphyte communities in Type 5b plantings is outlined

Oral History Interview: Anne Cummings

This interview is one of a series conducted concerning the history of Marshall University. Anne Cummings is was a Marshall alumna and, at the time of the interview, was teaching at Hamlin High School. She discusses: her experiences and her life at Marshall; how people dressed when she attended college; a brief section on restaurants; dorm life; sports; building a float for homecoming; entertainment; transportation; a brief section on married students; student government; veterans attending classes; anecdotes; various buildings on campus; and other topics.https://mds.marshall.edu/oral_history/1428/thumbnail.jp

Engaging The Public Through Social Media

The use of social media by government agencies to spur civic engagement is still a rather new concept, one whose purpose seems to have gotten lost in the excitement of the use of new technology. As a result, there is not an abundance of research into how social media can be used to promote civic engagement. This paper will attempt to reveal how agencies are using social media as well as try to pinpoint what agencies should be doing. As an example of current procedures in our area this paper will highlight some local government entities in Boyle County, Kentucky and what they currently have in place regarding use of social media by their agencies. As there appears to be very little direction on this matter, potential issues that can affect the use of social media by future administrators will also be reviewed

The Relationship Of Cognitive Style To Social Problem-solving And Empathy In Counselors-in-training

The goals of this study were, first, to study the relationship between cognitive style (field dependence-independence) and the counseling skills of empathy and social problem solving in an adult learner sample, and, second, to examine in detail, through protocol analysis, components of the social problem-solving process. The study was done with 70 elementary and secondary teachers in training to become school guidance counselors. The statistical design for the study was a 3 x 2 factorial design with repeated measures on one factor. The between-subjects factor consisted of three levels of cognitive style, while the within-subjects factor consisted of two types of problem situation: interpersonal and intrapersonal. Both analogue and in vivo measures of problem solving and empathy were obtained in both interpersonal and intrapersonal situations for all subjects.;The results of the first part of the study provided little support for hypothesized relationships between cognitive style and the two counseling skills of problem solving and empathy. In the case of empathy, situational factors had more influence on subjects\u27 performance than did cognitive style. It was found that subjects at all levels of field independence scored significantly higher on intrapersonal analogue empathy items than they did on interpersonal items. With respect to problem solving, the obtained main effect of cognitive style reflected an unanticipated U-shaped relationship between field independence and problem solving. Follow-up analyses showed that field-independent subjects generated more strategies on interpersonal analogue problems than did field-dependent subjects. In addition, they tended to use a sequential problem-solving process, while field-dependent and mid-range subjects tended to utilize a wholistic process.;Analyses of social problem-solving elements, regardless of cognitive style, indicated that subjects utilized more analysis and evaluation of self on intrapersonal problems, while displaying more evaluation of strategies on interpersonal problems. When problem-solving items were classified as simple versus complex, it was found that subjects generated more strategies, elaborations, and problem descriptions with relatively simple problems, while they generated more analyses, evaluations, and feeling statements with relatively complex problems. Thus, situational variables had a powerful influence on subjects\u27 problem-solving behavior whereas previous analyses with cognitive style had found no significant impact on problem-solving behavior

Comparing Electronic vs. Print Book Preferences Between Students in the Social Sciences, the Arts and STEM

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were any distinct differences in e-book usage habits among students in the social sciences, technical fields and the arts. To complete this study, students from three different disciplinary areas were surveyed. The same nine questions were posed to each student group, with slight modifications to some questions based on the discipline.The results of this study show that students in each discipline have a preference for convenience and accessibility, whether material is print or electronic. Some more unique characteristics between disciplines include the percentage of students using books and frequency of e-book usage. This study is unique in that it compares the preferences and habits of three specific groups of students from unrelated disciplines. It will be useful for librarians who manage collections for various disciplines and want a better understanding of what should be considered when choosing a format for materials