Song divergence of chipping sparrows in mixed forest and open habitats: testing the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis

ABSTRACT The Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis has been studied in the context of many different songbirds with varying results. It predicts that songbirds will alter their song frequency and trill rate to maximize transmission, with lower frequencies and faster trill rates exhibiting better sound propagation in forest habitats. In order to further test this hypothesis, we studied the song of the chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) in both forest and open grassland habitats in northern Michigan. Chipping sparrow song is simplistic, enabling thorough analysis. Eight individuals were recorded at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) and five were recorded within ten miles of the station. Songs were analyzed for maximum and minimum frequency, frequency range and trill rate. Results indicate that frequency and trill rate measurements show trends inverse to those predicted by the AAH, though no values were significant. There is a variety of potential causes of the unexpected results. Small sample size could play a significant role. Habitats were also variable and thus different characterization of each recording site as forest or open habitat could produce more expected results. Though unlikely, it is also possible that forest chipping sparrows are exhibiting character displacement in the presence of pine warblers. We also must consider the possibility that chipping sparrow song does not follow the AAH

The Information Literacy Continuum: Mapping the ACRL Framework to the AASL School Library Standards

The Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) and the American Association for School Libraries (AASL), two major divisions of the American Library Association (ALA), both recently released new guidelines. These documents form the basis for information literacy and library skills instruction for PK-20 education. In this study, we explored the alignment between these documents to identify the continuum of knowledge and skill expectations as well as the dispositional attributes toward information literacy that learners are presented. Our findings identified where the content of the ACRL Framework and AASL Standards Framework for Learners documents is strongly aligned as well as the gaps in the teaching and learning continuum. These findings suggest areas for ongoing development in practical application for both PK-12 school librarians and academic librarians who provide information literacy instruction in colleges and universities

Streaming Enrollment in Early Child Care Centers Using Stable Matching

From the Washington University Office of Undergraduate Research Digest (WUURD), Vol. 13, 05-01-2018. Published by the Office of Undergraduate Research. Joy Zalis Kiefer, Director of Undergraduate Research and Associate Dean in the College of Arts & Sciences; Lindsey Paunovich, Editor; Helen Human, Programs Manager and Assistant Dean in the College of Arts and Sciences Mentor(s): John McCarth

Song divergence of Chipping Sparrows in mixed forest and open habitats: testing the Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis

Natural History & EvolutionThe Acoustic Adaptation Hypothesis has been studied in the context of many different songbirds with varying results. It predicts that songbirds will alter their song frequency and trill rate to maximize transmission, with lower frequencies and faster trill rates exhibiting better sound propagation in forest habitats. In order to further test this hypothesis, we studied the song of the chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) in both forest and open grassland habitats in northern Michigan. Chipping sparrow song is simplistic, enabling thorough analysis. Eight individuals were recorded at the University of Michigan Biological Station (UMBS) and five were recorded within ten miles of the station. Songs were analyzed for maximum and minimum frequency, frequency range and trill rate. Results indicate that frequency and trill rate measurements show trends inverse to those predicted by the AAH, though no values were significant. There is a variety of potential causes of the unexpected results. Small sample size could play a significant role. Habitats were also variable and thus different characterization of each recording site as forest or open habitat could produce more expected results. Though unlikely, it is also possible that forest chipping sparrows are exhibiting character displacement in the presence of pine warblers. We also must consider the possibility that chipping sparrow song does not follow the AAH.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/57458/1/Burns_Melissa_2007.pd

The Scent of Change: A Case Study

Decisions about entering into a new business venture involve a variety of considerations, despite the level of experience an entrepreneur has. This case presents the story of a business owner Bennett Gage and his decisions concerning whether or not he should enter into a business where canines are used to detect bed bugs in hotels. This case study gives the reader an opportunity to wrestle with some of the many questions that are part of entering into the creation of a new service

Removing the Undesirables: A Case Study

The lodging industry has been particularly challenged by the bed bug’s resurgence. Bed bugs are primarily associated with places where people sleep and most of these places are properties associated with the lodging industry such as hotels, motels and bed & breakfasts. In the United States, this industry is massive

Birds and backs : a scholarly exploration of writing, performance, and body image

Field of study: Theater.Dr. M. Heather Carver, Dissertation Supervisor.Includes vita."May 2017."Diet culture is an intricate part of the current society in the United States, affecting countless women and girls, and men and boys. The health problems associated with dieting are major concerns, especially given the current fat phobia and endless declarations that we are in an obesity epidemic. This dissertation offers a personal examination of diet culture, body image, performance, and writing. Through writing and performing a series of characters, I made a political statement about the health of the fat body and learned to live in my own body peacefully and healthfully. As a former dieter who has made the decision to live in my current body, I offer a unique perspective with my autoethnographic performances and writing. As a playwright and performer, I transgressed societal norms by presenting a performance that did not adhere to traditional storytelling structures and presenting a body on stage that does not adhere to societal expectations of the female body. Through these acts, I offered my audience a chance to rethink their own beliefs about the body and to begin moving toward a healthier way of living and being in their bodies.Includes bibliographical references (pages 251-258)

Behavior Change Techniques Present in Wearable Activity Trackers: A Critical Analysis

Please cite as: Mercer K, Li M, Giangregorio L, Burns C, Grindrod K Behavior Change Techniques Present in Wearable Activity Trackers: A Critical Analysis JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2016;4(2):e40 DOI: 10.2196/mhealth.4461 PMID: 27122452 PMCID: 4917727Background: Wearable activity trackers are promising as interventions that offer guidance and support for increasing physical activity and health-focused tracking. Most adults do not meet their recommended daily activity guidelines, and wearable fitness trackers are increasingly cited as having great potential to improve the physical activity levels of adults. Objective: The objective of this study was to use the Coventry, Aberdeen, and London-Refined (CALO-RE) taxonomy to examine if the design of wearable activity trackers incorporates behavior change techniques (BCTs). A secondary objective was to critically analyze whether the BCTs present relate to known drivers of behavior change, such as self-efficacy, with the intention of extending applicability to older adults in addition to the overall population. Methods: Wearing each device for a period of 1 week, two independent raters used CALO-RE taxonomy to code the BCTs of the seven wearable activity trackers available in Canada as of March 2014. These included Fitbit Flex, Misfit Shine, Withings Pulse, Jawbone UP24, Spark Activity Tracker by SparkPeople, Nike+ FuelBand SE, and Polar Loop. We calculated interrater reliability using Cohen's kappa. Results: The average number of BCTs identified was 16.3/40. Withings Pulse had the highest number of BCTs and Misfit Shine had the lowest. Most techniques centered around self-monitoring and self-regulation, all of which have been associated with improved physical activity in older adults. Techniques related to planning and providing instructions were scarce. Conclusions: Overall, wearable activity trackers contain several BCTs that have been shown to increase physical activity in older adults. Although more research and development must be done to fully understand the potential of wearables as health interventions, the current wearable trackers offer significant potential with regard to BCTs relevant to uptake by all populations, including older adults

Foraging enrichment alleviates oral repetitive behaviors in captive red-tailed black cockatoos (Calyptorhynchus banksii)

The relationship between inadequate foraging opportunities and the expression of oral repetitive behaviors has been well documented in many production animal species. However, this relationship has been less‐well examined in zoo‐housed animals, particularly avian species. The expression of oral repetitive behavior may embody a frustrated foraging response, and may therefore be alleviated with the provision of foraging enrichment. In this study, we examined the effect of different foraging‐based enrichment items on a group of captive red‐tailed black cockatoos who were previously observed performing oral repetitive behavior. A group of six cockatoos were presented with five foraging enrichment conditions (no enrichment (control), sliced cucumber, fresh grass, baffle cages, and millet discs). Baseline activity budgets were established over a 10‐day preintervention period and interventions were then presented systematically over a 25‐day experimental period. This study demonstrated that the provision of foraging interventions effectively increased the median percentage of time spent foraging compared to control conditions (range, 5.0–31.7% across interventions vs. 5.0% for control), with two of the interventions; grass and millet discs, significantly decreasing the expression of oral repetitive behaviors (control = 16.6 vs. 8.3% for both grass and millet discs). Finally, a rapid‐scoring method utilized by zookeepers during the study proved to be a useful proxy for the amount of time the cockatoos spent interacting with the foraging interventions and overall time spent foraging