The Extent and Effects of an Ecological Invasion

America has a people who are on the move. Modern transportation, communication, decentralization of industry, and crowding of cities have all encouraged a mobile population. In this mobility, all cities include within their boundaries definite characteristics of many neighborhoods. Sociologists by concensus of opinion define a neighborhood as an area with fairly well-defined boundaries, occupied by individuals or families living in close physical proximity. From a social-psychological point of view, the emphasis would be upon the attitudes of neighbors toward each other and of the emotional intensity of the interaction. The specific area selected as the basis for this study was a cluster of neighborhoods which were in the process of under going many changes both socially and economically by the invasion of the Negro group. Because of the marked change by Invasion and succession recently brought about through mobility of population, social planning interest has been directed toward a means of meeting some of the basic needs of its population

A study of personality and interest traits of successful and unsuccessful group work leaders using six standardized tests

No recreational or leisure-time program can rise above the level of its leadership. No matter how fine the objectives of the Board of Directors and the Executive, if they are not matched by competence of those who actually provide leadership, they fail. From the standpoint of objectives and policies, nothing so directly determines the value and outcome of a Social Group Work Agency as the leaders in program activities. It is the Group Leaders, whether paid or volunteer, within an agency that reduce to a minimum the gap between the possible and actual effectiveness of the program

Geographic and temporal variations in fire history in boreal ecosystems of Alaska

Charcoal and pollen analyses were used to determine geographic and temporal patterns of fire importance in boreal forests of the Kenai Peninsula and interior Alaska. Sieved, large charcoal particles were measured in continuously sampled cores of Rock, Portage, and Arrow Lakes (Kenai Peninsula) and Dune and Deuce Lakes (interior Alaska) to estimate regional fire importance and fire occurrence. Charcoal accumulation rates have been low for the past 1000 years in both regions with slightly higher values in interior Alaska than on the Kenai Peninsula. An exception to this general pattern was the period of post-European settlement on the Kenai Peninsula, where charcoal accumulation rates increased by 10-fold. This increase most likely reflected increased fire occurrence due to human ignition. The Holocene charcoal and pollen records from Dune Lake indicate low fire occurrence during the early (9000 to 5500 calibrated year before present (yr BP)) birch-white spruce-alder (Betula-Picea glauca-Alnus) communities and high fire occurrence as black spruce (Picea mariana) became established after 5500 yr BP. Increased fires probably resulted from a change to fire-prone black spruce forests. For the past 5500 yr BP, two distinct fire regimes occurred. Frequent fires, with an average fire return interval of 98 years, characterized the period from 5500-2400 yr BP. Fewer fires, with an average fire interval of 198 years, characterized the period after 2400 yr BP. Fuel accumulation, stand structure, and vegetation species contributed to the natural variability in fire regimes during past changes in climate. <br/