Leadership in compassionate care programme: final report.

The Leadership in Compassionate Care programme is a collaborative venture between Edinburgh Napier University and NHS Lothian and is supported by a generous benefactor. The aim of the 3 year project is to ensure that compassionate nursing practice is integral to care within NHS Lothian and within the undergraduate nursing programme at Napier University. An important part of this programme is to disseminate both the learning and outcomes to other organisations.The programme has 4 key strands which are: Embedding the principles of Compassionate Care with in the undergraduate curriculum. Supporting newly qualified nurses during their first year in practice to facilitate the transition from student to competent and compassionate staff nurse. Establishing NHS Lothian centres of excellence in Compassionate Care – called Beacon Wards. Supporting development of leadership skills in Compassionate Care in NHS Lothian

The effects of deforestation and forest fragmentation on a central Amazonian frog community

An investigation into the effects of deforestation and habitat fragmentation on a central Amazonian frog community was carried out on the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, (BDFFP) based in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Three aspects of deforestation were investigated: the effects of fragmentation and reserve size, the influence of matrix habitat and the effects offorest edge on frogs in 10- hectare isolates. Very few frogs species were lost from fragments (regardless of size) following fragmentation and isolation for 7-10 years. Instead, frog species richness increased, with an average increase in 10 species per fragment. The increase in species was brought about by an increase in matrix associated species, some of which were present in the absence of their preferred breeding habitat. Different frog species had varied responses to fragmentation. The abundance of Eleutherodactylus fenestratus, a terrestrial breeder, increased significantly as fragment size decreased, and its abundance was significantly higher in both large and small fragments than in continuous forest. Colostethus stepheni, a semi-terrestrial breeder, was less abundant in fragments than continuous forest. Finally, Eleutherodactylus zimmermanae and Osteocephalus sp.A did not differ significantly in abundance among fragments, or between fragments and continuous forest. Multiple regression analysis indicated that variation in litter depth and canopy cover may explain the observed increase in E. fenestratus abundance in small fragments. Breeding success of pool breeders attracted to artificial pools was variable, but there was no evidence of reduced breeding success in fragments relative to primary forest. Overall, fragmentation appeared to affect the frog community less severely than other taxonomic groups. Species richness in tropical forest remnants showed a tendency to increase as a result of fragmentation, and only one of four species exhibited lowered abundance in fragments. The effects of fragmentation and subsequent small isolated populations of frog species in fragments was alleviated somewhat by the ability of central Amazonian frogs to utilise matrix habitat. Litter frogs, wallow breeders and upland forest pool breeders all displayed an ability to permeate, and in most cases become residents of matrix habitat. Both matrix with a history of cut and burn and matrix which was only cut supported a similar frog community. Thus, for central Amazonian frogs isolates were not truly isolated due to the ability of frogs to utilise matrix habitat. Litter frogs in 10- hectare isolates displayed an independence from edge related abiotic and biotic gradients. This independence was true for frog species richness, abundance and composition. Consequently, forest fragments are in effect larger for frogs than for other taxa who are constrained by edge effects to exist only within the core of large fragments. Colostethus stepheni was one species found to be negatively affected by habitat fragmentation. Abundance of Colostethus stepheni was significantly lower in fragments and matrix habitat compared to primary continuous forest. This species was also found to be sensitive to edge, with higher abundances recorded as distance from the edge increased. The community level approach adopted in this study, as opposed to intensive investigation of single species, may well have overlooked other' sensitive' species which show more subtle responses to habitat fragmentation than that of Colostethus stepheni. The ability to use matrix and the relative independence from edge related phenomena accounts for the resilience of central Amazonian frogs in a disturbed and fragmented landscape. However, with respect to matrix habitat, forest surveyed in this study has not been repeatedly cut or cut and burnt (with the exception of pasture-land where the frog community is depauperate). In other areas of the Amazon, away from the experimental plots of the BDFFP, matrix habitat is destroyed more frequently. More work is needed to determine the ability of central Amazonian frogs to utilise matrix habitat which is disturbed more frequently

The New Zealand common gecko Hoplodactylus maculatus: an ecophysiological comparsion of two isolated populations

Thermophysiological traits of two isolated Hoplodactylus maculatus populations were investigated to test adpatations to climate. Geckos were collected from Craigieburn (high altitude, generally cooler site) and Banks Peninsula. If climatic conditions at respective sites influenced physiology, I expected geckos from Craigieburn to exhibit cold-adapted physiological traits, whilst Banks Peninsula geckos would exhibit traits more characteristic of a warmclimate species. To this end I investigated four thermophysiological parameters: metabolism (SMR), preferred body temperature (PBT), locomotory performance and critical thermal minimum (CTMin). I hypothesized that if climate had an effect on SMR, Craigieburn geckos would exhibit higher levels of SMR which typically characterise other coolclimate reptiles. Craigieburn geckos displayed an average relative elevation of SMR over Banks Peninsula geckos of 26%. Furthermore, Craigieburn geckos appeared to be 'geared' towards lower body temperatures and exhibited a greater acclimatory and acclimatizatory ability of SMR. The PBT of Craigieburn geckos was consistently elevated above Banks Peninsula geckos. This finding was somewhat paradoxical in light of previous studies of this parameter. A closer examination of the ecology of the two populations is required to clarify the adaptive significance of a higher PBT in geckos from a cooler climate. With respect to locomotory performance, I hypothesized that if thermal extremes influenced activity, Craigieburn geckos would exhibit activity patterns which help ameliorate the adverse effects of cold temperature. Craigieburn geckos did in fact have greater independence of activity to temperature than Banks Peninsula geckos, especially over lower body temperatures. The final parameter investigated, that of the critical thermal minimum, failed to distinguish the populations decisively. However there was some evidence of a greater acclimatizatory and acclimatory range in Craigieburn geckos, providing somewhat limited support for a population difference. Investigations into all four parameters lead me to conclude that populations of Hoplodactylus maculatus from Craigieburn and Banks Peninsula are physiologically distinct and warrant a revision of nomenclature

The effects of deforestation and forest fragmentation on a central Amazonian frog community

An investigation into the effects of deforestation and habitat fragmentation on a central Amazonian frog community was carried out on the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project, (BDFFP) based in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil. Three aspects of deforestation were investigated: the effects of fragmentation and reserve size, the influence of matrix habitat and the effects offorest edge on frogs in 10- hectare isolates. Very few frogs species were lost from fragments (regardless of size) following fragmentation and isolation for 7-10 years. Instead, frog species richness increased, with an average increase in 10 species per fragment. The increase in species was brought about by an increase in matrix associated species, some of which were present in the absence of their preferred breeding habitat. Different frog species had varied responses to fragmentation. The abundance of Eleutherodactylus fenestratus, a terrestrial breeder, increased significantly as fragment size decreased, and its abundance was significantly higher in both large and small fragments than in continuous forest. Colostethus stepheni, a semi-terrestrial breeder, was less abundant in fragments than continuous forest. Finally, Eleutherodactylus zimmermanae and Osteocephalus sp.A did not differ significantly in abundance among fragments, or between fragments and continuous forest. Multiple regression analysis indicated that variation in litter depth and canopy cover may explain the observed increase in E. fenestratus abundance in small fragments. Breeding success of pool breeders attracted to artificial pools was variable, but there was no evidence of reduced breeding success in fragments relative to primary forest. Overall, fragmentation appeared to affect the frog community less severely than other taxonomic groups. Species richness in tropical forest remnants showed a tendency to increase as a result of fragmentation, and only one of four species exhibited lowered abundance in fragments. The effects of fragmentation and subsequent small isolated populations of frog species in fragments was alleviated somewhat by the ability of central Amazonian frogs to utilise matrix habitat. Litter frogs, wallow breeders and upland forest pool breeders all displayed an ability to permeate, and in most cases become residents of matrix habitat. Both matrix with a history of cut and burn and matrix which was only cut supported a similar frog community. Thus, for central Amazonian frogs isolates were not truly isolated due to the ability of frogs to utilise matrix habitat. Litter frogs in 10- hectare isolates displayed an independence from edge related abiotic and biotic gradients. This independence was true for frog species richness, abundance and composition. Consequently, forest fragments are in effect larger for frogs than for other taxa who are constrained by edge effects to exist only within the core of large fragments. Colostethus stepheni was one species found to be negatively affected by habitat fragmentation. Abundance of Colostethus stepheni was significantly lower in fragments and matrix habitat compared to primary continuous forest. This species was also found to be sensitive to edge, with higher abundances recorded as distance from the edge increased. The community level approach adopted in this study, as opposed to intensive investigation of single species, may well have overlooked other' sensitive' species which show more subtle responses to habitat fragmentation than that of Colostethus stepheni. The ability to use matrix and the relative independence from edge related phenomena accounts for the resilience of central Amazonian frogs in a disturbed and fragmented landscape. However, with respect to matrix habitat, forest surveyed in this study has not been repeatedly cut or cut and burnt (with the exception of pasture-land where the frog community is depauperate). In other areas of the Amazon, away from the experimental plots of the BDFFP, matrix habitat is destroyed more frequently. More work is needed to determine the ability of central Amazonian frogs to utilise matrix habitat which is disturbed more frequently