The comparative biology of New Zealand oystercatchers

Oystercatchers comprise a distinctive group of mollusc-eating shorebirds. They form an extremely uniform monogeneric family which has not undergone any major adaptive radiations into a diversity of ecological niches, but rather has dispersed from original centres of distribution to occupy identical niches in new geographical localities. The uniformity of structure and habit displayed within the group has been attributed by Larson (1957) to a high ecobiotic specialisation with centripetal selection involved. Throughout their range, oystercatchers exploit identical ecological niches which require specialised habits for successful utilisation. The specialised feeding habits of oystercatchers are well documented (Murphy, 1925; Dewar, 1940; Larson, 1957; Tinbergen and Norton-Griffiths, 1964; Dare, 1966), and a natural consequence of this specialisation is that it is restrictive to adaptive radiation

Peer Review in Perioperative Medicine

Peer review is an assessment of performance by someone of the same status and ability as the reviewed individual. While peer review is a well-established practice in scientific medical publishing, its application is less well established as a component of clinical routine. While valued as a standard procedure in some medical systems, recognition of its benefits is only just emerging in others. Advances in management sciences together with the rise of a multicultural and multigenerational workforce, as well as ever-increasing patient safety and quality standards, are encouraging both the implementation and refinement of peer review in the perioperative setting. Quality of professional performances, compliance with organization strategy, and influence of personality traits are dimensions to be defined and included in peer review processes among acute care physicians. Management sciences offer guidance and provide a rationale for the inclusion of peer review processes. Peer review provides a process applicable to help developing individual as well as departmental performances in the face of ever-increasing complex workplace settings. Furthermore, peer review might be a key element in preventing, dealing with, and learning from catastrophic perioperative complications. With a solid peer review system in place, both individuals and departments involved in perioperative medicine benefit from an additional strategy to improve their effort in preventing, dealing with, and learning from catastrophic events.Charles J. Fox, IIIElyse M. CornettG. E. Ghal