Beyond prospective accountancy : reassessing the case for British membership of the single European currency comparatively

The fact that Britain will, at most, be a late signatory to the single European currency means that the strategic deliberations it faces in deciding whether to enter EMU are rather different to those of earlier entrants. However, this crucial point is lost in almost all discussion of the subject. To date, the academic debate has been dominated by what we term 'prospective accountancy', in which a series of abstract counterfactuals ostensibly inform a stylised cost–benefit analysis. This article moves beyond such an approach by combining conjectures about the specificities of the British case with a concrete analysis of the experiences of the Eurozone member whose economy appears most closely to resemble Britain's: namely, Ireland. The comparative dimension of our work facilitates more empirically-based analysis of the merits and demerits of British entry into EMU. Yet, it is important not to lose sight of the limits of an exclusively comparative approach, for the British growth model is qualitatively different to that of other European Union economies. British growth since the early 1990s has been consumption led, and this in turn has been fuelled to a considerable degree by the release of equity from the housing market. The likely impact of EMU on the British economy will be determined to a significant extent, then, by its effect upon this key catalyst of British growth. Sadly, no retrospective comparison can inform such an assessment

Preliminary data on movements and health condition of the first radio-collared huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) population study in Argentina

Aun cuando solo quedan menos de 500 ejemplares de huemul patagonico (Hippocamelus bisulcus) en Argentina, existe escasa información sobre su ecología y dinámicas poblacionales. Por primera vez en la historia de Argentina, se instalaron equipos de radio telemetría en un grupo de huemules para entender de mejor forma los factores que no han permito la recuperación de las poblaciones. Durante el invierno del 2017, se procedió a la captura de seis ejemplares en seis días (tres de cada género), al interior del parque protegido Shoonem, provincia de Chubut. Se presenta en este artículo una descripción de las condiciones particulares del clima y las características del paisaje que serán útiles considerar para mejorar el éxito de capturas de huemules, particularmente en Argentina. Aun cuando los animales capturados presentaban un aspecto sano a primera vista, durante la última evaluación (25 enero 2018), identificamos signos clínicos de enfermedad en 5 de 6 animales capturados durante el procedimiento; incluyendo renguera, pezuñas deterioradas, perdida de 2-7 incisivos y atrofia muscular. Los desplazamientos registrados desde el sitio de captura en régimen de invernada a zonas de uso estival fueron 187% mayores en las hembras comparativamente a los machos.Even though less than 500 Patagonian huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) remain in Argentina, information on their population ecology and dynamics is severely lacking. For the first time in Argentine history, radio-telemetry collars were placed on a group of huemul to better understand the factors behind the population?s failure to recover. Six adult huemul (3 of each gender) were captured in six days, the winter of 2017, inside Shoonem Protected Park, Chubut province. In this article, we present a description of the unique climatic conditions and characteristics of the environment that would be useful to consider in order improving the success of huemul captures, particularly in Argentina. Despite the outwardly healthy appearance of each radio-collared huemul on the last observation date (January 25, 2018), we identified clinical symptoms of disease in 5 of these 6 animals during their capture; these included lameness, affected hoof, exfoliation of 2-7 incisors, and muscular atrophy. Movement distances from the winter capture site to maximum summer distance recorded were 187% greater for females than males (n=6, p =0.05, Mann Whitney).Fil: Smith Flueck, Jo Anne. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; ArgentinaFil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Universidad de Basilea; Suiza. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Escobar Ruiz, Miguel. Fundación Shoonem; Argentin

Institutional and Student Transitions Into Enhanced Blended Learning

This presentation provides an overview of the ‘Transitions into blended learning’ project, which has focused on three areas: developing an institutional transition framework, researching student experiences, and identifying interventions to support effective transitions. The framework identified external drivers for blended learning, a set of considerations for institutions, and a set of processes to facilitate change involving three stakeholder groups at the heart of the model. The work included learner experience research with students newly engaged in blended learning. This work identified support needs around access (to technology and learning materials), attitudes (towards learning online) and attributes (skills) needed to engage autonomously in blended learning. The institution-wide Enhancement themes team identified a set of interventions or ‘anchor points’ to prevent the institution ‘drifting back’ into purely traditional approaches to learning and teaching. These included the recognition and promotion of good practice through case studies, development of an institutional e-learning framework, and an event to encourage staff and students to share good practice in blended learning. This three-year project was largely led by a PhD student (JA), working with the principal investigator (VHD) and the institutional representative (KG)

Huemul heresies: Beliefs in search of supporting data. 2. Biological and ecological considerations

Scarce information from remnant huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) populations in marginal habitats can lead to erroneous interpretations of the species' natural history, such as assumptions of being a highly inflexible species. We evaluated discrepancies between historical accounts and recent interpretations regarding biological and ecological traits to better understand factors preventing recovery of highly endangered huemul. Early information supports the theory that huemul are currently living under suboptimal conditions. We find variability to be the norm for huemul, as with other cervids, in regard to antler characteristics, group size and density, sexual segregation, and social and feeding behaviours. No evidence supports competition and disease from livestock or red deer as having caused declines or preventing recovery. Instead, livestock management, particularly presence of people and dogs, creates incompatibilities. Where red deer are sympatric with huemul, red deer are outnumbered by livestock by 2100%, and being regularly inspected at slaughter, livestock provide a good proxy for diseases afflicting red deer. Inadequate antipredator responses due to evolutionary absence of cursorial predators are unsupported as several Canis species coexisted with huemul, overlapping with dogs that arrived with Paleoindians. Three populations have increased despite high predator density. Age at maturity for huemul is 1 year, with evidence that fawns may also breed. Reported twinning needs confirmation, but occurs in congeneric taruca (H. antisensis) and other Odocoilines, and huemul frequently raise fawns successfully every year; life cycle calculations should apply these parameters. Like taruca, dominance group breeding systems have been described repeatedly. Although huemul bucks were recently claimed unique by displaying territoriality year-round, data do not support such behaviour. Two sole dispersal records (8 and 15.5 km) are unlikely to represent maximum dispersal capacity and do not support barriers assumed from few kilometres of unsuitable habitat. Huemul using 500 ha could predictably disperse up to 90 km, well within the ranges of other cervids. Mistakenly assuming barriers and underestimating reproductive capacity may distract from discovering the factors affecting recolonisations. Sustained recovery may depend on re-establishing source populations on more productive habitats, guided by zooarcheological and historical data.Fil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad de Basilea; Suiza. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentina. Fundación Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Smith-Flueck, Jo Anne M.. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentin

Huemul heresies: Beliefs in search of supporting data. 1. Historical and zooarcheological considerations

Patagonian huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) was eliminated from many former ranges before arrival of early explorers who already acknowledged its rareness. Considering huemul analogous to ungulates in mountains back home, huemul was called mountain deer, which is repeatedly cited without validation and remains the orthodox interpretation. Yet other species considered analogous also use lowlands, flatlands, deserts and grasslands, and the only congeneric, H. antisensis, uses habitat with high affinity to Patagonian grasslands. Recent comparative analyses of the post-cranial morphology show that huemul cannot be associated with rock-climbing species, but falls within ranges of other cervids. Interpretations of past human utilisation rely on one study of economic anatomy and bone remains, frequently concluding that huemul was unimportant to hunter-gatherers. However, considering only bone fat and omitting easily removable fat is erroneous. Total energy of deer in autumnwinter partitions into 53% as fat and hunter-gatherers elsewhere focussed on deer during the peak fat cycle, using all easily removable fat (1200% more energy than in bones) and consuming fat and marrow while butchering. Natives are likely to have influenced huemul distribution and density in winter ranges due to high incentives (fat) and easiness to kill. Sparse evidence is likely the result of surveys in Patagonia having been biased towards caves, leaving out transient movements and camps. Generalist cervids passed the Panama land-bridge filter to reach South America. Considering paleoclimate, Hippocamelus dispersed east of the Andes, pushed by glaciations even to north-eastern Brazil. Hippocamelus would reach and cross Andes only after deglaciations. As a mixed feeder, huemul utilised Patagonian steppe. Hunter-gatherers arrived after the last glaciation and influenced the local distribution of Hippocamelus, especially in northern and central Chile, after early adoption of an agricultural lifestyle. Introduction of horses converted native economies through adoption of an equestrian lifestyle and arrival of millions of introduced livestock, which thus affected early writings. Only few records indicate the presence of large groups of huemul far from forests, and substantial killings. Human-caused range contractions of northern ungulates affected mainly losses at low elevations and most species persisted in the marginal periphery, including high-elevation refuges. Paleoecology, zoogeography and land-use history in southern South America indicate that mountain huemul is a secondary relict created by impacts of post-Columbian colonisation. We caution against the rigid application of modern huemul habitats in interpreting past habitat use and huemul ecology, and simply considering the few extra-Andean accounts as abnormal outliers.Fil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad de Basilea; Suiza. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentina. Fundación Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Smith-Flueck, Jo Anne M.. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentin

Severe dental fluorosis in juvenile deer linked to a recent volcanic eruption in Patagonia

The Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic eruption deposited large amounts of tephra (ashes) in over 7.5 million ha of Argentina in June of 2011. Tephra were considered chemically innoxious based on water leachates, surface water fluoride levels determined to be safe, and livestock losses attributable to inanition and excessive tooth wear. To evaluate effects on wild ungulates, we sampled wild red deer (Cervus elaphus) at 100 km from the volcanic eruption in Sept-Oct 2012. Here we show that these tephra caused severe dental fluorosis, with bone fluoride levels reaching up to 3720 ppm. Among subadults, tephra caused pathological development of newly emerging teeth typical of fluorosis, including enamel hypoplasia, breakages, pitting, mottling, and extremely rapid ablation of entire crowns down to underlying pulp cavities. The loss of teeth functionality affected physical condition and none of the subadults were able to conceive. Susceptibility to fluorosis among these herbivores likely resides in ruminant food processing: a) mastication and tephra size reduction, b) thorough and repeated mixing with alkaline saliva, c) water-soluble extraction in the rumen, and d) extraction in the acidic abomasum. Although initial analyses of water and tephra was interpreted not to present a concern, ruminants as a major component of this ecosystem are shown to be highly susceptible to fluorosis, with average bone level increasing over 36-fold during the first 15.5 months of exposure to tephra. This is the first report of fluorosis in wild ungulates from volcanic eruptions. The described impact will reverberate through several aspects of the ecology of the deer, including effects on population dynamics, morbidity, predation susceptibility, as well as other components of the ecosystem like the scavenger and plant communities. We also anticipate further impact on livestock production systems, yet as of now, existence of fluorosis has not been recognized.Fil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata; Argentina. University Basel. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute; Suiza. DeerLab; ArgentinaFil: Smith Fluck, Jo Anne M.. DeerLab; Argentin

Marcando con radio collar un grupo del amenazado huemul patagónico por primera vez en Argentina

En Argentina quedan 350-500 huemules en peligro de extinción. Se marcaron huemules con radio-collares durante 6 días de invierno. El encuentro de un huemul cada día promedió 93 minutos (17 grupos, 37 individuos). El período de tiempo desde la detección hasta la inmovilización promedió 46 minutos; la distancia de tiro promedió 15.7 m; y desde la inmovilización hasta recuperación promedió 45.5 minutos. Se realizaron 10 intentos de captura, de los cuales seis fueron exitosos. Comparado con la única radio-marcación anterior en Argentina, esta operación requirió 96.5% menos días-hombre/animal. De los huemules marcados, 86% presentaban patologías clínicas, posiblemente por estar restringidos a áreas marginales o sumideros, es decir, trampas ecológicas. Esta operación permitió marcar por primera vez un macho y un grupo de seis huemules en Argentina.In Argentina, 350-500 endangered huemul remain. Huemul were radio-collared in Chubut during six winter days. Encountering huemul each day averaged 93 minutes (17 groups, 37 individuals). Spotting until darting an animal averaged 46 minutes; darting distance averaged 15.7 m; and darting until recovery averaged 45.5 minutes. Ten capture attempts were made, of which six were successful. Compared to the only huemul previous radio-collared in Argentina (2016), the present operation required 96.5% less man-days/animal. Of marked huemul, 86% presented clinical pathologies, best explained by restriction to marginal if not sink areas, or ecological traps. This operation allowed the first-ever marking of huemul bucks in Argentina, and a group of six huemul.Fil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Administración de Parques Nacionales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Basilea; SuizaFil: Smith Flueck, Jo Anne M.. Universidad Nacional del Comahue; Argentin

A review of introduced cervids in Chile

We review the extent of exotic deer distributions in Chile, which are encountered in all provinces, including Tierra del Fuego, except for possibly Region III; many deer are contained in at least 107 enclosures. Red deer (Cervus elaphus) by far has the largest feral population of exotic cervids in southern South America, providing source animals that can easily cross the Andes between Chile and Argentina. Red deer was introduced from Europe to the central valley of Chile in 1928. Since the 1940s, feral populations have also expanded from Argentina into Chile, by way of easily accessible, low-elevation mountain passes of the Andes, accompanied by further direct shipments from Argentina. The area occupied by 1990 was estimated at 3400km2, whereas an analysis in 2003 estimated an area of 7700km2. The overall area invaded by 2003 was between 3742'S and 5455'S, and 7336'W and 6950'W (Argentina and Chile combined, although non-contiguous). Ecological impact of the red deer in Chile has been described since 1981, and red deer features in the Chilean Pest Manual. A conservative rate for the red deer expansion was estimated at 1km/year, but likely is more rapid where habitat modifications facilitate movement. The pre-Columbian northern limit of the native cervid huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) was 30S, and because red deer has occupied all habitat types currently used by huemul, it could thus spread 750km further north. To the south, all areas are suitable for red deer. Invasion patterns will depend on additional intentional introductions and enclosures on both sides of the Andes because of the omnipresent risk of escapes. Fallow, axis and roe deer (Dama dama, Axis axis, Capreolus capreolus, respectively) also have been introduced to Chile and occur in many enclosures. Fallow deer recently escaped on Chiló Island, became established and raised concerns because of its potential impacts on several endemic species on the island. The striking lack of information on feral deer may relate to policies and laws about firearms and restricted access to hunting areas, resulting in the apparent absence of popular hunting, which, nevertheless, could be a potential tool should the invasion continue and lead to future deer overabundance.Fil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentina. Fundación Bariloche; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Smith-Flueck, Jo Anne M.. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentin

The need to unmask lurking false friends: sustainability is a state, not a process!

Monjeau (2010, p. 117) concluded that “a possible way out from conservation crossroads might consist in being able to distinguish friends from dangerous enemies” and that conservation in Latin America is “full of Trojan horses”. This was in reference to the quantity of deceits hidden behind certain concepts, which although offered as promising solutions for conservation are also highly ambiguous. One such concept is “sustainable development”Fil: Monjeau, Jorge Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundacion Bariloche; Argentina. Universidad Atlantida Argentina. Departamento de Investigacion y Desarrollo. Instituto de Analisis de Recursos Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Smith Fluck, Jo Anne. Universidad Atlantida Argentina. Departamento de Investigacion y Desarrollo. Instituto de Analisis de Recursos Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Universidad Atlantida Argentina. Departamento de Investigacion y Desarrollo. Instituto de Analisis de Recursos Naturales; Argentin

Variation in reproduction of a temperate deer, the southern pudu (Pudu puda)

Pudu (Pudu puda), occurring in the southern cone of Latin America, has been classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), yet little is known about this animal in the wild, with most knowledge on the breeding behaviour coming from captive animals. For this second-smallest deer in the world, delayed implantation has been suggested to explain the two peaks in the annual cycle of male sexual hormones on the basis of the accepted tenet that the breeding period occurs only once a year, between March and June. However, in the present study, birth dates from fawns born at the Los Canelos semi-captive breeding centre in Chile and male courting behaviour revealed the possibility of two rutting periods: autumn and spring. To our knowledge, this is the first time that late-fall births (May through early June for 17% of fawns in the study population) have been recorded for the southern pudu; two of these four births were conceived by females in the wild. From zoo and captive-animal birth records (n = 97), only three fawns were born in the fall. For all births combined (n = 121), 77% occurred in spring. The roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Pere David deer (Elaphurus davidianus) have been considered the only two temperate cervids in which sexual activity is initiated by increasing daylength and which breed in early summer. Yet, the present results indicate a similar response from the southern pudu when under a wild or semi-captive environment, with breeding taking place in spring. These results suggest that this species may either have two reproductive periods per year or retains the capacity to be a breeder for a much more extended period of time than documented by earlier studies. Pudu, like other temperate deer, is responsive to photoperiod for timing its breeding period, but may further optimise its production of offspring by also responding to other environmental cues such as seasonal variation in food supply when climatic conditions are favourable.Fil: Vidal, Fernando. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Smith-Flueck, Jo Anne M.. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Fluck, Werner Thomas. Fundación Bariloche; Argentina. Universidad Atlantida Argentina; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bartos, Ludek. No especifíca