Junior Recital

List of performers and performances

Junior Recital

List of performers and performances

A comparison of epibenthic reef communities settling on commonly used experimental substrates: PVC versus ceramic tiles

Artificial substrates are routinely used in coral reef research to model the recruitment and growth responses of benthic organisms (e.g. coral recruitment and encrusting organisms) to environmental change. Two commonly used, but structurally different, artificial substrates include cylindrical PVC pipes and flat ceramic tiles. Various ecosystem based models extrapolate data from these substrates interchangeably based on the assumption that results are directly comparable. In order to test this assumption we deployed these commonly used artificial substrate materials, PVC poles and ceramic tiles, in shallow patch reefs for 34 months at One Tree Island, Great Barrier Reef. Tiles were positioned to mimic upwards facing, well-lit substrates (exposed), and downwards facing, shaded (cryptic) substrates. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the community composition differed significantly between all three treatments. The majority of artificial substrate, coral reef experiments focus on key groups of calcifying organisms, primarily: coralline algae, scleractinian coral and/or total calcareous encruster cover. Interestingly, significant differences in the recruitment, colonisation and community composition of these organisms were detected for our three treatments. When compared to ceramic tiles, PVC poles had greater coverage of crustose coralline algae but reduced levels of coral recruits (< 1 mm diameter) and turf algae. We suggest that comparisons between studies that utilise data from different substrate types should be used with caution. Additionally, large scale modelling and forecasting exercises utilising these data sets should adjust for the inherent biases of each method.JM was funded by an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA: DE120101998

Junior Recital

List of performers and performances

Clinical use of antimicrobial regional limb perfusion in horses : 174 cases (1999–2009)

OBJECTIVE—To describe the clinical use of regional limb perfusion with antimicrobials (A-RLP), complications, and outcome in a large series of patients. DESIGN—Retrospective case series. ANIMALS—174 horses. PROCEDURES—Medical records of horses treated with A-RLP between 1999 and 2009 were reviewed. Signalment, primary complaint, horse use, etiology, duration of clinical signs, previous treatment, structures involved, concurrent conditions, A-RLP characteristics, additional treatments, complications, and outcome were recorded. At long-term follow-up, 2 outcomes were investigated: survival rate and return to previous use at the same or higher level. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS—Group 1 (96 horses) included septic synovitis. Group 2 (50 horses) included extrasynovial lacerations (23 horses) and fresh, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations without evidence of established synovial infection (27 horses). Group 3 (28 horses) included miscellaneous other conditions. Only minor complications were reported in 12.26% of horses that received IV (n = 155) and 33% of horses that received intraosseous (27) A-RLP. Horses with septic synovitis had a lower survival rate (53.43%) than did horses with lacerations (91.89%). Within group 2, no significant differences in short- or long-term outcomes were found between horses with extrasynovial and fresh, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations. For the horses returning to previous use, 80% of horses with septic synovitis and 72.72% of horses with lacerations were performing at the same or higher level at the time of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE—The results of the present study indicated that A-RLP is a safe technique with minimal adverse effects. The IV route presented fewer complications than intraosseous injection. Horses with infection of synovial structures had a lower survival rate than did those with acute, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations. The latter had a similar prognosis for horses with extrasynovial lacerations treated with A-RLP.http://avmajournals.avma.org/loi/javmaam2013mn201

Convocation

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A continental-scale validation of ecosystem service models

Faced with environmental degradation, governments worldwide are developing policies to safeguard ecosystem services (ES). Many ES models exist to support these policies, but they are generally poorly validated, especially at large scales, which undermines their credibility. To address this gap, we describe a study of multiple models of five ES, which we validate at an unprecedented scale against 1675 data points across sub-Saharan Africa. We find that potential ES (biophysical supply of carbon and water) are reasonably well predicted by the existing models. These potential ES models can also be used as inputs to new models for realised ES (use of charcoal, firewood, grazing resources and water), by adding information on human population density. We find that increasing model complexity can improve estimates of both potential and realised ES, suggesting that developing more detailed models of ES will be beneficial. Furthermore, in 85% of cases, human population density alone was as good or a better predictor of realised ES than ES models, suggesting that it is demand, rather than supply that is predominantly determining current patterns of ES use. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of ES model validation, even in data-deficient locations such as sub-Saharan Africa. Our work also shows the clear need for more work on the demand side of ES models, and the importance of model validation in providing a stronger base to support policies which seek to achieve sustainable development in support of human well-being

Junior Recital

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EU GPP Criteria for Public Spaces Maintenance - Preliminary Report

Green Public Procurement (GPP), in which public authorities procure goods, services and works that have less environmental impact than comparable contracts, has the potential to accelerate the market introduction and uptake of less environmentally damaging technologies. This report forms the basis to develop the EU GPP criteria for Public Spaces Maintenance. The development of EU GPP criteria requires in-depth information about the technical and environmental performance of this product group as well as about the typical procurement processes. This report gathers the necessary background information for that and presents it in a structured form. The scientific body of evidence gathered will be crosschecked with sector-experienced stakeholders to find the best way to develop the criteria in order to deliver optimum environmental improvements while complying with Public Procurement law and safeguarding the Single Market.JRC.B.5-Circular Economy and Industrial Leadershi