The Risk of Living With Bears on Western Hudson Bay

Social-ecological systems in Canada’s Arctic and sub-Arctic are changing. Although community members in Churchill, Manitoba have long co-existed with polar bears, increasing interactions with grizzly bears are complicating the human understanding of the human-bear relationship. This novel ecosystem is identified by the return of the barren-land grizzly bear population to the province and is exposes the need for adaptation and innovation to combat human-grizzly bear conflicts. I explore the relationships that people in Churchill have with the three bear species found locally (polar bears Ursus maritimus, black bears Ursus americanus, and grizzly bears Ursus arctos), focusing on local knowledge of the three bear species and how individuals’ familiarity with these species influences risk perceptions for coexisting. This research also explored what locals identified as current gaps and/ or limitations to the current bear management institutions to address the increase in grizzly bear presence in northern Manitoba. Data were collected by combining semi-structured interviews and Q methodology in a mixed methods approach. I found that local perceptions of risk and bear species-specific knowledge have been influenced by generational knowledge, the geography of land activities, previous educational training, interaction experiences, and more. I found a total of four unique perspectives emerged based on the theme of species-specific knowledge, as well as three distinct perspectives on the theme of risk. Locals indicated that they possess limited options and knowledge to protect their property and themselves from grizzly bears. They are extremely interested in participating and supporting future grizzly bear research efforts and I have outlined recommendations for researchers and wildlife managers on what is needed to ameliorate human-wildlife conflicts, gain community support for conservation plans, and be adaptive to the evolving social-ecological system on western Hudson Bay. Overall, this thesis provides insights on the human dimensions of a novel ecosystem and how frameworks like the adaptive cycle of innovation can be used to guide policy makers, wildlife managers, and resources to support human-wildlife coexistence

The origins and spread of stock-keeping: the role of cultural and environmental influences on early Neolithic animal exploitation in Europe

It has long been recognised that the proportions of Neolithic domestic animal species—cattle, pig and sheep/goat—vary from region to region, but it has hitherto been unclear how much this variability is related to cultural practices or to environmental constraints. This study uses hundreds of faunal assemblages from across Neolithic Europe to reveal the distribution of animal use between north and south, east and west. The remarkable results present us with a geography of Neolithic animal society—from the rabbit-loving Mediterranean to the beef-eaters of the north and west. They also demonstrate that the choices made by early Neolithic herders were largely determined by their environments. Cultural links appear to have played only a minor role in the species composition of early Neolithic animal societie

Size Reduction in Early European Domestic Cattle Relates to Intensification of Neolithic Herding Strategies.

Our analysis of over 28,000 osteometric measurements from fossil remains dating between c. 5600 and 1500 BCE reveals a substantial reduction in body mass of 33% in Neolithic central European domestic cattle. We investigate various plausible explanations for this phenotypic adaptation, dismissing climatic change as a causal factor, and further rejecting the hypothesis that it was caused by an increase in the proportion of smaller adult females in the population. Instead we find some support for the hypothesis that the size decrease was driven by a demographic shift towards smaller newborns from sub-adult breeding as a result of intensifying meat production strategies during the Neolithic

Wild Food:Plants, Fish and Small Animals on the Menu for Early Holocene Populations at al-Khiday, Central Sudan

Al Khiday, located on the bank of the White Nile in Sudan, offers an exceptionally preserved stratigraphic sequence, providing a unique opportunity to use organic residue analysis to investigate diet and subsistence over the full course of the Khartoum Mesolithic together with possible continuity or change into the Early Neolithic, a period of nearly 3000 years (8900-6000 cal BP). Whilst the vast and diverse Mesolithic fish assemblage indicates a strong reliance on products from aquatic habitats, floodplains, vegetated marshes and open water, results from the lipid residue analysis suggest that the fish were not cooked in the pots, likely being consumed in other ways. Rather, pots were more specialised in processing plants, wild grasses, leafy plants and sedges, confirmed by experimental analysis, and for the first time, providing direct chemical evidence for plant exploitation in the Khartoum Mesolithic. Non-ruminant fauna, such as warthog and low lipid-yielding reptiles such as Adanson’s mud turtle and Nile monitor lizard, which were found in significant numbers at al-Khiday, were also cooked in pots. There is little evidence for the processing of wild ruminants in the pots, suggesting either that ruminant species were not routinely hunted, or, that large wild fauna may have been cooked in different ways, possibly grilled over fires. These data suggest sophisticated economic strategies by sedentary people likely exploiting their ecological niche to the fullest. Pottery use changes considerably in the Early Neolithic, with ruminant products being more routinely processed in pots, and while the exploitation of domesticates cannot be confirmed by a small faunal assemblage, some dairying does take place. In summary, our results provide valuable information on Early and Middle Holocene lifeways in central Sudan

Interprofessional education: Nurse – medic simulation initiatives

INTRODUCTION Interprofessional (IP) simulation improves team performance and communication skills1,2 IP simulation was established with Cardiff University medical and adult nursing students as part of IP education3. The objective was to evaluate students’ attitudes towards IP team working. METHODS Students were invited to attend simulation sessions of up to 3.5 hours duration and included a range of scenarios: stroke, seizure, cardiac arrest, sepsis using high fidelity mannequins in a simulated ward environment. A facilitator led post session debrief was conducted. Students were asked to complete the 10 item SPICE-R evaluation tool at the end of each session. RESULTS Evaluation is ongoing, of the n=77 evaluations received so far, the majority of students strongly agreed IP education was beneficial in enhancing their education 69% (53/77), practice 68% (52/77), role understanding 62% (48/77), team-working 69% (53/77), increasing patient satisfaction 77% (59/77) and improving health outcomes 74%(52/77). Approximately half of students agreed health professionals should collaborate on interprofessional teams 49% (38/77) and their role within an IP team is clearly defined 57% (44/77). Students similarly agreed they understood others’ roles 43% (33/77) and clinical placements are an ideal place for health professional students to interact 43% (33/77). CONCLUSION We created a nurturing environment for students to work interprofessionally. Successful interprofessional team working helps patient outcomes. More work is needed to ensure students understand each other’s role and to explore further opportunities for IP simulation and evaluate the longer-term outcomes and impact of IP simulation on patient care. References 1.Bulijac-Samardzic et al. Interventions to improve team effectiveness within health care: a systematic review of the past decade. Human Resource Health. 2020; 18(1):2 doi.org/10.1186/s12960-019-0411-3 2.Blackmore A, Kasfiki EV and Purva M. Simulation-based education to improve communication skills: a systematic review of the past decade. Human Resource Health. 2020; 18(1):2 doi.org/10.1186/s12960-019-0411- C3. 3. WHO (World Health Organisation) (2010) Framework for Action on Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice, Framework for action on interprofessional education & collaborative practice (who.int) [Accessed 13.1.23]