Collaborative conservation planning : Quantifying the contribution of expert engagement to identify spatial conservation priorities

The importance of expert input to spatial conservation prioritization outcomes is poorly understood. We quantified the impacts of refinements made during consultation with experts on spatial conservation prioritization of Christmas Island. There was just 0.57 correlation between the spatial conservation priorities before and after consultation, bottom ranked areas being most sensitive to changes. The inclusion of a landscape condition layer was the most significant individual influence. Changes (addition, removal, modification) to biodiversity layers resulted in a combined 0.2 reduction in correlation between initial and final solutions. Representation of rare species in top ranked areas was much greater after expert consultation; representation of widely distributed species changed relatively little. Our results show how different inputs have notably different impacts on the final plan. Understanding these differences helps plan time and resources for expert consultation.Peer reviewe

Responses of floodplain birds to high-amplitude precipitation fluctuations over two decades

Globally, high-amplitude variation in weather (e.g. precipitation) is increasing in frequency and magnitude. This appears to be so for the southern Murray-Darling Basin, Australia, where droughts of unprecedented (in the instrumental record, extending back to the mid-1800s) depth and duration (1997–first half of 2010; second half of 2012–) are being punctuated by extreme wet periods, albeit of shorter duration (‘Big Wet’, second half of 2010–first half of 2012). We have previously reported on the responses of floodplain-forest birds to the cessation of the longest recorded drought (‘Big Dry’, 1997–first half of 2010), but we found little evidence of a rebound, at least shortly after the Big Wet. However, we reasoned that there may have been insufficient time for the birds to have responded in that short time, so we repeated the survey program 5 years after the end of the Big Wet (2017). Bird occurrences, reproductive activity and success were substantially greater compared with late in the Big Dry (2009) than they had been soon after the Big Wet (2013). However, bird occurrences still fell well below measurements in the early-Big Dry (1998), so that the avifauna appears to be in decline, most probably because the length of drought periods far exceeds that of wet periods giving the birds too little time to recover fully. © 2022 The Authors. Austral Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Ecological Society of Australia

Credible biodiversity offsetting needs public national registers to confirm no net loss

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The AuthorsIn the face of the ongoing biodiversity crisis, questions are arising regarding the success, or lack thereof, of biodiversity offset schemes, where biodiversity losses from human development are compensated by producing equitable gains elsewhere. The overarching goal of offsetting is to deliver no net loss (NNL) of biodiversity. Assessing whether offsetting does indeed deliver NNL is, however, challenging because of a lack of clear and reliable information about offset schemes. Here we consider barriers in tracking NNL outcomes, outline criteria of public offset registers to enable accessible and credible reporting of NNL, and show how existing registers fail to satisfy those criteria. The lack of accessibility and transparency in existing registers represents a fundamental gap between NNL targets and a valid tracking system, which challenges the impetus to enact the transformative changes needed to reverse biodiversity decline.Peer reviewe

Zoo Basel Newsletter. 2013, Juli

Climate change alters the frequency and severity of extreme events, such as drought. Such events will be increasingly important in shaping communities as climate change intensifies. The ability of species to withstand extreme events (resistance) and to recover once adverse conditions abate (resilience) will determine their persistence. We estimated the resistance and resilience of bird species during and after a 13-year drought (the \u27Big Dry\u27) in floodplain forests in south-eastern Australia. We conducted bird surveys at the beginning and end of the Big Dry, and after the abrupt end to the drought (the \u27Big Wet\u27), to evaluate species-specific changes in reporting rates among the three periods. We assessed changes in bird-breeding activity before and after the Big Wet to estimate demographic resilience based on breeding. Between the start and the end of the Big Dry (1998 vs. 2009), 37 of 67 species declined substantially. Of those, only two had increased reporting rates after the Big Wet (2009 vs. 2013) that were equal to or larger than their declines, while three partially recovered. All other declining species showed low resilience: 25 showed no change in reporting rates and seven declined further. The number of breeding species and total breeding activity of all species declined after the Big Wet, and there was no change in the number of young produced. The Big Dry caused widespread declines in the floodplain avifauna. Despite the drought being broken by 2 years of well-above-average rainfall and subsequent near-average rainfall, most species showed low resilience and there was little indication that overall breeding had increased. The effects of drought appeared to be pervasive for much of the floodplain avifauna, regardless of species traits (species body mass, fecundity, mobility or diet). Ecosystems such as these are likely to require active management and restoration, including reinstatement of natural flooding regimes, to improve ecological condition, to enhance resistance and resilience to extreme climate events

TOEIC S&Wテストを少人数クラスに統合した2年目のプログラムの評価

本論文は，2年間連続で実施した少人数クラスで行われたTOEIC®S&W テストの調査研究の上に，更なる研究を行ったものである。HiSPECというプログラムは，各学部1 年時の英語力トップクラスの学生に対して提供されたもので，英語力向上の支援を目的としたものである。本論文の焦点は，HiSPECライティング授業に対する教師のフィードバック，アンケート調査に対する学生の反応，及びTOEIC®S&Wの結果である。 結果として，HiSPECライティング授業に関して，教師も学生も高い満足度があり，HiSPECライティング授業は学生にとって十分意味あるものであることがわかった。また，10月と1月の間にTOEICライティングスコアにかなりの向上が見られた。しかし，TOEICスピーキングに関しては，その向上は見られなかった。This article builds upon previous research investigating the integration of the TOEIC® Speaking and Writing test with small group classes. The program, HiSPEC, is designed to raise the English abilities of first-year students with the best English skills in their respective faculties. The focus of the article is on teachers’ feedback to the 2017 HiSPEC Writing course, students’ responses to a questionnaire survey, and the students’ TOEIC® S&W test results. Our findings show that there was a high level of satisfaction for both teachers and students in relation to the HiSPEC Writing course, and that HiSPEC Writing classes were well-regarded by the students in terms of class size, class activities, and materials. Also, regarding the results of the TOEIC® Writing tests held at the beginning and end of the semester, considerable improvement was found in the students’ scores. However, with respect to TOEIC® Speaking test scores, no increase was found

TOEICライティングテストと少人数クラスとの統合

この論文は，本学学生の英語ライティング力向上に向けたプログラムについて述べたものである。それは，英語コミュニケーションに向けた広大プログラム（通称HiSPEC）と呼ばれ，文部科学省の認定を受けた「スーパー・グローバル大学」の一環である。そのプログラムは，入学時で各学部の最も英語力の高い学生を1 クラス約15 人という少人数クラスに充当し，各クラスの学生は後期セメスターに週1 回（90 分授業），計15 回に渡って外国人講師の指導を受けた。 ライティング授業の評価は，量的及び質的データを基に分析が行われた。そのデータ分析は，外国人講師のフィードバック，学生のアンケート評価及びTOEIC ライティングテスト結果の統計的分析を基に行われた。その結果，外国人講師も学生も少人数授業は楽しく，大半の学生はそのコースの全ての側面で満足をしていた。また，ライティング力の向上に関しては，そのコースの最初と最後のテスト結果を比較すると，統計的に有意差が見られた。In this article, we describe and evaluate the writing component of Hiroshima University’s Program for English Communication (HiSPEC) taught in 2016. The program was developed in response to Hiroshima University’s change in status when it was designated a Top Global University by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). The program involves the creation of small-group classes for first-year students with the best English-test results in faculty groupings, and testing through the TOEIC® Speaking and Writing tests. The small classes contained up to 14 students, and were taught by British and American teachers of English. The course was held in the second semester of 2016, with students receiving 90 minutes of instruction per week over a period of approximately 15 weeks. Evaluation of the writing course involved both quantitative and qualitative data, and took the form of teacher feedback through summaries, student feedback via a questionnaire survey, and an analysis of two TOEIC® Writing test scores using a t-test. It was found that both teachers and students enjoyed the small-group classes, and that most of the students were satisfied with all aspects of the course. The results of the t-test showed a significant difference between the test scores at the beginning of the course and the test scores at its end

TOEICスピーキングテストと少人数クラスとの統合

この論文は，大学1年生の英語スピーキング力及びライティング力向上に向けた新しいプログラムの組織や評価等について述べたものである。そのプログラムは，英語コミュニケーションのための広大プログラム（通称HiSPEC）と呼ばれ，優れた英語コミュニケーション能力を有する日本のリーダーを創生する，「スーパー・グローバル大学」の一環である。ここでは，HiSPECの前半，つまりスピーキング力を中心とした内容とTOEICスピーキングテストに焦点を当てている。 入学試験時で各学部の最も英語力の高い学生約15人を1クラスに充当した。これら非英語専攻の学生は，前期セメスターに週1回外国人講師の指導を受けた。TOEICスピーキングテストは，前期始め近くとその10週間後に受けている。 その結果，学生のTOEICスピーキングテストにおける英語力は，全体的に2つのテスト間では向上していたが，統計上の有意差はなかった。アンケートを見てみると，授業は楽しく，そのおかげで英会話力を向上しようという動機づけになった，と学生は強く述べている。また外国人講師は，テスト結果では意義深いほどの向上は見られなかったが，少人数クラスは学生の英語スピーキング力とその動機づけに良い効果をもたらしたと報告している。しかし，TOEICスピーキングテストを使用する妥当性に疑問を投げかけ，十分なスピーキング力の向上を見るには指導期間が短いという懸念を示す講師もいた。This article describes the organization, set-up, and evaluation of an exciting new program which is attempting to help first-year university students improve their English speaking and writing skills. Known as Hiroshima University’s Program for English Communication (HiSPEC), the program is part of the “Super Global University” initiative, which attempts to create Japanese leaders who have excellent English communication abilities. Here, we focus on the first half of HiSPEC, which is oriented towards speaking skills and the TOEIC® Speaking test. Students with the highest English entrance exam scores from some faculties were identified and grouped into “small classes,” with about 15 students in each. Those non-English majors received instruction from native English-speaking instructors for 90 minutes one day per week during a semester, and took the TOEIC Speaking Test near the beginning of the semester and about 10 weeks later. Results showed that the students’ TOEIC Speaking Test scores generally improved, but the improvements were not statistically significant. In questionnaires, students overwhelmingly stated that they enjoyed the courses and, thanks to the program, they had become even more motivated to improve their English conversation skills in the future. The instructors, meanwhile, reported that even though the test scores did not significantly improve, the small class sizes had positive effects on students’ English speaking abilities and motivations. Yet, some teachers questioned the validity of using the TOEIC Speaking Test to motivate students, and also expressed concern that there was not enough instruction time between the two test administrations for significant improvement to be expected. The implications are described here

Blood pressure self-monitoring in pregnancy (BuMP) feasibility study; a qualitative analysis of women's experiences of self-monitoring

Background Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity worldwide. Raised blood pressure (BP) affects 10% of pregnancies worldwide, of which almost half develop pre-eclampsia. The proportion of pregnant women who have risk factors for pre-eclampsia (such as pre-existing hypertension, obesity and advanced maternal age) is increasing. Pre-eclampsia can manifest itself before women experience symptoms and can develop between antenatal visits. Incentives to improve early detection of gestational hypertensive disorders are therefore strong and self-monitoring of blood pressure (SMBP) in pregnancy might be one means to achieve this, whilst improving women’s involvement in antenatal care. The Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring in Pregnancy (BuMP) study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of SMBP in pregnancy. Methods To understand women’s experiences of SMBP during pregnancy, we undertook a qualitative study embedded within the BuMP observational feasibility study. Women who were at higher risk of developing hypertension and/or pre-eclampsia were invited to take part in a study using SMBP and also invited to take part in an interview. Semi-structured interviews were conducted at the women’s homes in Oxfordshire and Birmingham with women who were self-monitoring their BP as part of the BuMP feasibility study in 2014. Interviews were conducted by a qualitative researcher and transcribed verbatim. A framework approach was used for analysis. Results Fifteen women agreed to be interviewed. Respondents reported general willingness to engage with monitoring their own BP, feeling that it could reduce anxiety around their health during pregnancy, particularly if they had previous experience of raised BP or pre-eclampsia. They felt able to incorporate self-monitoring into their weekly routines, although this was harder post-partum. Self-monitoring of BP made them more aware of the risks of hypertension and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy. Feelings of reassurance and empowerment were commonly reported by the women in our sample