An analysis of key governance domains affecting environment outcomes and their social and economic consequences in the Great Barrier Reef: core data tables

The intended outcomes of governance for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) are made clear in the Reef Long Term Sustainability Plan (LTSP). At its broadest level, the vision for future outcomes in the GBR under the LTSP is "to ensure the Great Barrier Reef continues to improve on its Outstanding Universal Value every decade between now and 2050 to be a natural wonder for each successive generation to come" (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015). The Plan goes on to outline a range of quite specific water quality and reef health targets that it intends to achieve by 2050. This vision and associated outcomes are broadly agreed across the Australian and Queensland Governments and among key sectors with GBR interests. These outcomes are also implicitly supported internationally through recent decisions regarding the future status of the GBR taken by the United Nations Educations, Sciences and Cultural Organization (UNESCO, 2015). This document consists of a number of rapid assessment tables that examine the risk of systemic failure of key governance domains and subdomains that majorly influence outcomes in the GBR. In doing so, we apply the Governance Systems Analysis (GSA) framework tested in Dale et al. (2013). Table 3 provides a description and summary of the results of all the rapid assessments contained in this document. The rapid assessment tables below are organised based on their alignment with the overarching governance themes of Economic Development, Social Development, and Environmental Management. Within all themes, some governance domains are broken down into more distinct subdomains. Most rapid assessment tables in this document describe and assess the governance systems within domains and subdomains in the Environmental Management Theme. Each rapid assessment table consists of a short description of the domain or subdomain, followed by the identification and explanation of the key structural and functional components of each. Based on this, the likelihood and consequences of the each domain's or subdomain's governance system failing are identified. Each table also consequently contains a score for the likelihood of systemic failure and the consequence of systemic failure. Finally, a cumulative risk rating is then derived from the multiplication of each of the aforementioned scores. The rapid assessment tables conclude with the identification of possible or suggested areas for governance reform. The standardised scores described in Table 1 and Table 2 are used throughout this document to indicate the likelihood and consequences of systemic failure of the governance system. The use of standard criteria enables benchmarking of the target governance system over time and repeatability of the assessment/s. The multiplication of the likelihood and consequence scores provides an indication of the risk of failure of the governance system being analysed. Overview References: Commonwealth of Australia. (2015). Reef 2050 long-term sustainability plan. Canberra: Department of the Environment. Retrieved from http://www.environment.gov.au/marine/gbr/long-term-sustainability-plan Dale, A., Vella, K., Pressey, R., Brodie, J., Yorkston, H., & Pott, s. R. (2013). A method for risk analysis across governance systems: a Great Barrier Reef case study. Environmental Research Letters, 8(1), 1-16. doi: 10.1088/1748-9326/8/1/015037 UNESCO (2015). Decision: 39 COM 7B.7. Great Barrier Reef (Australia) (N 154). Retrieved from http://whc.unesco.org/archive/2015/whc15-39com-19-en.pd

Evaluating governance arrangements and decision-making outcomes for natural resource management planning: An empirical application of the governance systems analysis framework

Governance continues to be a challenge in the management and conservation of natural resources. It is difficult to strategically address governance challenges without understanding the dynamics, capacities, and knowledge application of institutions within such governance systems. This paper examines the use of Governance Systems Analysis (GSA) to compare, evaluate and benchmark governance arrangements for regional natural resource management (NRM) planning. It is applied in two Australian regional NRM case studies in Cape York and the Wet Tropics. Our analysis of governance arrangements for NRM planning in the two regions finds that while they are structurally and functionally similar, they have different capacities for decision-making about planning. The paper concludes with a discussion of the usefulness and implications of using the GSA as an evaluative framework to analyse governance in regional NRM planning systems

Book Reviews

Understanding Biblical Theology: A Comparison of Theory and PracticeEdward W. Klink III and Darian R. Lockett Grand Rapids: Zondervan 2012, 193 pp. paper, $17.99 ISBN: 978-0310-49223-8Reviewed by Ruth Anne Reese Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New TestamentMurray J. Harris Grand Rapids: Zondervan 2012, 304 pp. cloth,$42.99 ISBN: 978-0310-49392-1 Reviewed by Dale F. Walker The New Testament: A Historical and Theological IntroductionDonald Alfred Hagner Grand Rapids: Baker Academic 2012, 896 pp. cloth, $49.99 ISBN: 978-0-8010-3931-7 Reviewed by Randall Hardman Contextualization in World Missions: Mapping and Assessing Evangelical ModelsA. Scott Moreau Grand Rapids: Kregel Publications 2012, 429 pp. paper,$28.99 ISBN: 978-0-8254-3389-4 Reviewed by Robert A. Danielson The Right Church: Live Like the First ChristiansCharles E. Gutenson Nashville: Abingdon Press 2012, 194 pp. paper, $14.99ISBN: 978-1-4267-4911-7Reviewed by Brian Yeich Interfaith Dialogue in PracticeDaniel S. Brown, Jr., ed. Kansas City: Rockhurst University Press 2012, 160 pp. paper,$30.00 ISBN: 978-1-886761-32-2 Reviewed by Robert A. Danielso

Perspectives on e-books and digital textbooks and the way ahead

This article presents a range of perspectives on current issues around e-book and textbook supply and consumption in libraries and universities. It is an attempt to provide an analysis of the often-contentious issues arising and also offers an insight into the positions of all the various parties involved. Whilst there might not be agreement or consensus on the causes of issues and the way to proceed, the article attempts to coalesce various perspectives, in the hope of achieving a greater understanding of different stakeholders. Much of the debate in recent years has focused on the situation in the United Kingdom, but similar issues exist in many other countries and an insight into the international perspective is provided. We also offer some commentary on ways forward for both the short and longer term

Governing community-based natural resource management in Australia: international implications

Community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) has grown in stature as a key component of many national natural resource and rural development governance systems. Despite their growth, the integrity of CBNRM governance systems has rarely been analysed in a national context. To enhance dialogue about how best to design and deploy such systems nationally, this paper analyses the Australian system in detail. The Australian system was selected because the nation has a globally recognised and strong history of CBNRM approaches. We first contextualise the international emergence of national CBRM governance systems before analysing the Australian system. We find that a theoretically informed approach recognising regions as the anchors in brokering multi-scale CBNRM was applied between 2000 and 2007. Subsequent policy, while strengthening indigenous roles, has tended to weaken regional brokering, Commonwealth–state cooperation and research collaboration. Our findings and consequent emerging lessons can inform Australian policy makers and other nations looking to establish (or to reform existing) CBNRM governance systems. Equally, the research approach taken represents the application of an emerging new theoretical framework for analysing complex governance systems

Nitrogen fixation in sediments along a depth transect through the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone

Benthic nitrogen (N2) fixation and sulfate reduction (SR) were investigated in the Peruvian oxygen minimum zone (OMZ). Sediment samples, retrieved by a multiple corer were taken at six stations (70–1025 m) along a depth transect at 12° S, covering anoxic and hypoxic bottom water conditions. Benthic N2 fixation was detected at all sites, with high rates measured in OMZ mid-waters between the 70 and 253 m and lowest N2 fixation rates below 253 m down to 1025 m water depth. SR rates were decreasing with increasing water depth, with highest rates at the shallow site. Benthic N2 fixation depth profiles largely overlapped with SR depth profiles, suggesting that both processes are coupled. The potential of N2 fixation by SR bacteria was verified by the molecular analysis of nifH genes. Detected nifH sequences clustered with SR bacteria that have been demonstrated to fix N2 in other benthic environments. Depth-integrated rates of N2 fixation and SR showed no direct correlation along the 12° S transect, suggesting that the benthic diazotrophs in the Peruvian OMZ are being controlled by additional various environmental factors. The organic matter availability and the presence of sulfide appear to be major drivers for benthic diazotrophy. It was further found that N2 fixation was not inhibited by high ammonium concentrations. N2 fixation rates in OMZ sediments were similar to rates measured in other organic-rich sediments. Overall, this work improves our knowledge on N sources in marine sediments and contributes to a better understanding of N cycling in OMZ sediments

Evidence for a correlation between the sizes of quiescent galaxies and local environment to z ~ 2

We present evidence for a strong relationship between galaxy size and environment for the quiescent population in the redshift range 1 < z < 2. Environments were measured using projected galaxy overdensities on a scale of 400 kpc, as determined from ~ 96,000 K-band selected galaxies from the UKIDSS Ultra Deep Survey (UDS). Sizes were determined from ground-based K-band imaging, calibrated using space-based CANDELS HST observations in the centre of the UDS field, with photometric redshifts and stellar masses derived from 11-band photometric fitting. From the resulting size-mass relation, we confirm that quiescent galaxies at a given stellar mass were typically ~ 50 % smaller at z ~ 1.4 compared to the present day. At a given epoch, however, we find that passive galaxies in denser environments are on average significantly larger at a given stellar mass. The most massive quiescent galaxies (M_stellar > 2 x 10^11 M_sun) at z > 1 are typically 50 % larger in the highest density environments compared to those in the lowest density environments. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we reject the null hypothesis that the size-mass relation is independent of environment at a significance > 4.8 sigma for the redshift range 1 < z < 2. In contrast, the evidence for a relationship between size and environment is much weaker for star-forming galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. 16 pages, 11 figures, 6 table

Determination of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives from a PTFE wipe using thermal desorption-gas chromatography with electron-capture detection

Abstract A method for the detection of nitroaromatic and nitramine explosives from a PTFE wipe has been developed using thermal desorption and gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (TD-GC-ECD). For method development a standard mixture containing eight nitroaromatic and two nitramine (HMX and RDX) explosive compounds was spiked onto a PTFE wipe. Explosives were desorbed from the wipe in a commercial thermal desorption system and trapped onto a cooled injection system, which was incorporated into the injection port of the GC. A dual column, dual ECD configuration was adopted to enable simultaneous confirmation analysis of the explosives desorbed. For the desorption of 50 ng of each explosive, desorption efficiencies ranged between 80.0 and 117%, for both columns. Linearity over the range 2.5-50 ng was demonstrated for each explosive on both columns with r 2 values ranging from 0.979 to 0.991 and limits of detection less than 4 ng. Desorption of HMX from a PTFE wipe has also been demonstrated for the first time, albeit at relatively high loadings (100 ng)

The Iowa Homemaker vol.23, no.8

Keeping Up With Today, Margaret Ralston, page 2 Honored for Service, page 3 From Graduates’ Letters, page 4 G. I. Candy Bar, Ruth Midgorden, page 5 When You’re Career-Bound, Genevieve Callahan, page 6 Educational Psychology in Action, Victoria McKibben, page 7 Research Introduces New Meat, Norma Dale, page 8 Spotlight on a SPAR, page 9 What’s New in Home Economics, page 10 Forecast Clothing Prospects, Dorothy Watt, page 12 The Most From The Least, page 13 Investigate Home Canning, Frances Kerekes, page 14 Wartime Tips for Wise Shoe Care, Janet Russell, page 16 Clothing Survey, Doris Ann Gregg, page 17 Across Alumnae Desks, Virginia Carter, page 18 Alums in the News, Rachel Lusher, page 2