Recommended Procedure for Future MODSS in Farm Forestry

This chapter proposes a procedure for future MODSS in farm forestry. It assumes similar limitations as those which applied in the South-east Queensland and the Hodgson Creek study. The most critical constraint was that contact with the stakeholders, especially landholders, was limited to a half-day workshop. A recommended procedure is described, which aims to support and facilitate the decision-making process and maximise community input to support implementation

Long term movements and activity patterns of an Antarctic marine apex predator: the Leopard Seal

Leopard seals are an important Antarctic apex predator that can affect marine ecosystems through local predation. Here we report on the successful use of micro geolocation logging sensor tags to track the movements, and activity, of four leopard seals for trips of between 142–446 days including one individual in two separate years. Whilst the sample size is small the results represent an advance in our limited knowledge of leopard seals. We show the longest periods of tracking of leopard seals’ migratory behaviour between the pack ice, close to the Antarctic continent, and the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia. It appears that these tracked animals migrate in a directed manner towards Bird Island and, during their residency, use this as a central place for foraging trips as well as exploiting the local penguin and seal populations. Movements to the South Orkney Islands were also recorded, similar to those observed in other predators in the region including the krill fishery. Analysis of habitat associations, taking into account location errors, indicated the tracked seals had an affinity for shallow shelf water and regions of sea ice. Wet and dry sensors revealed that seals hauled out for between 22 and 31% of the time with maximum of 74 hours and a median of between 9 and 11 hours. The longest period a seal remained in the water was between 13 and 25 days. Fitting GAMMs showed that haul out rates changed throughout the year with the highest values occurring during the summer which has implications for visual surveys. Peak haul out occurred around midday for the months between October and April but was more evenly spread across the day between May and September. The seals’ movements between, and behaviour within, areas important to breeding populations of birds and other seals, coupled with the dynamics of the region’s fisheries, shows an understanding of leopard seal ecology is vital in the management of the Southern Ocean resources

Private Native Forestry: Silviculture, Sustainability and Incentives for Vegetation Management

Timber supplies from public native forests have declined significantly in recent decades. Consequently, wood processors are increasingly dependent on private land to maintain their throughput of native species logs. In some regions of Australia, more than 50 per cent of native forest industry log supply comes from private property. There is concern that this increased demand brings with it the increased risk of high grading in private forests - repeated removal of only merchantable stock, leaving an increasing proportion of poor quality trees which may be detrimental to both future timber yields and habitat quality. Nevertheless, this market situation also represents a commercial opportunity for private landholders and some additional incentive for them to better manage their forests for long-term sustainability. However, this needs to be supported by a policy and regulatory framework that provides incentives for private forest owners to manage their forests sustainably. Environmental policy settings and broader economic drivers can over-ride this opportunity. A range of biodiversity/habitat sustainability indicators have been developed to gauge the impacts of clearing for agriculture and in some states, for forestry operations in native forests. In Australia, these have principally been developed with a focus on public land, but, as additional scrutiny is brought to bear on private landholders, they are increasingly focused on private native forestry (PNF). Implementation of indicators may increase both the direct costs and the constraints on private native forest managers. It seems likely that returns from timber production alone may be insufficient to ensure best practice silviculture in private native forests. Incentives, available to the landowner, which recognize the public environmental goods being provided by well managed forests, may be one solution to the problem. This will require some quantification of how alternative forest management systems impact on those 'public good' values. Others suggest that government price setting arrangements for public forest timber maintain artificially low prices which reduce private forest management incentives. This paper is a progress report on several linked projects funded through RIRDC JVAP, which field test sustainability indicators, investigate the tradeoffs between commercial timber production and habitat/biodiversity conservation and examine options for improved private native forest management through commercial incentives

The Current Status of Farm Forestry in Australia

A report for the RIRDC/Land & Water Australia/FWPRDC Joint Venture Agroforestry Program, 2002

STUDENTS’ PERCEPTION OF ONLINE GROSS ANATOMY LABORATORY CLASSES VIA ZOOM TECHNOLOGY

BACKGROUND During the 1st semester of 2020 the unit ‘Functional Anatomy of the Trunk’ was re-designed and taught online, in response to the COVID-19 virus lockdown. AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of computer based online support tools (as replacement of the traditional cadaver based laboratory learning), in conjunction with a focused period of synchronous Zoom delivery, achieved student outcomes and learning experience. DESCRIPTION OF INTERVENTION The curriculum of the unit deals with the gross anatomy of the human trunk. The unit was taught in small groups (around 30 students) and entirely online with Zoom technology. DESIGN AND METHODS N=41 first year students participated in this study and were invited at the conclusion of the unit to complete an anonymous opinion-based survey (via Qualtrics). Student grades and learning management system analytics was also analysed. RESULTS Preliminary results indicate that students’ perception of the online gross anatomy laboratory learning was positive and extended their learning. However, the online learning platform has its limitations, not using real bodies makes it harder to appreciate the 3D relationships between structure and function. CONCLUSIONS Students’ perception of online learning as a replacement of the traditional gross anatomy laboratory was surprisingly positive. Most agreed that it provided valuable insights and improved their understanding of anatomy as well as helped with the application of anatomical knowledge. Equally so, they strongly agreed that the online 2D learning experience was less engaging and interesting than learning using real bodies

What happens when international migrants settle? Ethnic group population trends and projections for uk local areas

Research findings report of WHAT HAPPENS WHEN INTERNATIONAL MIGRANTS SETTLE? ETHNIC GROUP POPULATION TRENDS AND PROJECTIONS FOR UK LOCAL AREAS project. A project in the ESRC Understanding Population Trends and Processes Programme, maintained by the ReStore repository and archived to NCRM Eprints 2022

The Deceleration Index - Is it the Missing Link in Rehabilitation?

The ability to decelerate is a key component of any successful rehabilitation program, yet it is often overlooked in favor of more traditional forms of rehabilitation and training. Deceleration, which is defined as the ability to reduce speed or momentum and stop or change direction, can be a key component of successful rehabilitation. The deceleration index is a new metric being used by some physical therapists and rehabilitation specialists to improve patient outcomes. The index is based on the principle that deceleration forces should match those created with acceleration. When patients can quickly and efficiently decelerate during physical activity, they are less likely to experience pain or injury. While the deceleration index is still in its early stages of development, there is promising evidence that it could be the missing link in effective rehabilitation. In this editorial commentary, we'll explore what the deceleration index is and why it is important to the rehabilitation process