ORCID Profile
0000-0002-2491-1517
Current Organisations
Australian Research Council
,
University of Tasmania
Does something not look right? The information on this page has been harvested from data sources that may not be up to date. We continue to work with information providers to improve coverage and quality. To report an issue, use the Feedback Form.
Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Conservation And Biodiversity | Environmental Science and Management | Ecological Applications | Ecological Impacts of Climate Change | Natural Resource Management | Life Histories (Incl. Population Ecology) | Global Change Biology | Other Biological Sciences | Ecology | Wildlife And Habitat Management | Landscape Ecology | Global Change Biology | Speciation and Extinction | Conservation and Biodiversity | Palaeoecology | Archaeology Of Hunter-Gatherer Societies (Incl. Pleistocene | Archaeology | Other Studies in Human Society | Evolutionary Biology | Archaeological Science | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Archaeology | Environmental Impact Assessment | Stochastic Analysis And Modelling | Palaeoecology | Terrestrial Ecology | Freshwater Ecology | Invertebrate Biology | Terrestrial Ecology | Quaternary Environments | Epidemiology | Operations Research | Environment And Resource Economics | Environmental Technologies | Aboriginal Studies | Veterinary Sciences | Epidemiology | Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics | Evolutionary Impacts of Climate Change | Ecosystem Function | Population And Ecological Genetics | Invasive Species Ecology | Biogeography and Phylogeography
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity at Regional or Larger Scales | Ecosystem Adaptation to Climate Change | Integrated (ecosystem) assessment and management | Climate change | Global climate change adaptation measures | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences | Native forests | Environmental and resource evaluation not elsewhere classified | Control of pests and exotic species | Land and water management | Control of pests and exotic species | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Environmental health | Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species at Regional or Larger Scales | Living resources (flora and fauna) | Integrated (ecosystem) assessment and management | Biological sciences | Other environmental aspects | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander development and welfare | Sustainability Indicators | Expanding Knowledge in History and Archaeology | Integrated (ecosystem) assessment and management | Effects of Climate Change and Variability on Australia (excl. Social Impacts) | Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments | Climate Change Adaptation Measures | Understanding Australia's Past | Integrated (ecosystem) assessment and management | Control of pests and exotic species | Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences | Socio-cultural issues | Disease distribution and transmission | Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences |
Related Links
Publications
Primary forests are irreplaceable for sustaining tropical biodiversity
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-09-2011
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE10425
Abstract: Human-driven land-use changes increasingly threaten bio ersity, particularly in tropical forests where both species ersity and human pressures on natural environments are high. The rapid conversion of tropical forests for agriculture, timber production and other uses has generated vast, human-dominated landscapes with potentially dire consequences for tropical bio ersity. Today, few truly undisturbed tropical forests exist, whereas those degraded by repeated logging and fires, as well as secondary and plantation forests, are rapidly expanding. Here we provide a global assessment of the impact of disturbance and land conversion on bio ersity in tropical forests using a meta-analysis of 138 studies. We analysed 2,220 pairwise comparisons of bio ersity values in primary forests (with little or no human disturbance) and disturbed forests. We found that bio ersity values were substantially lower in degraded forests, but that this varied considerably by geographic region, taxonomic group, ecological metric and disturbance type. Even after partly accounting for confounding colonization and succession effects due to the composition of surrounding habitats, isolation and time since disturbance, we find that most forms of forest degradation have an overwhelmingly detrimental effect on tropical bio ersity. Our results clearly indicate that when it comes to maintaining tropical bio ersity, there is no substitute for primary forests.
Population viability analyses on a cycling population: a cautionary tale
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2001
Nuclear energy and bio energy carbon capture and storage, keys for obtaining 1.5°C mean surface temperature limit
Publisher: Inderscience Publishers
Date: 2017
Low genetic diversity in the bottlenecked population of endangered non-native banteng in northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-06-2007
Peripheral intravenous catheter securement: An integrative review of contemporary literature around medical adhesive tapes and supplementary securement products
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-02-2022
DOI: 10.1111/JOCN.16237
Abstract: To synthesise evidence related to medical adhesive tapes and supplementary securement products for peripheral intravenous catheters in adults, to prevent complications and device failure. Integrative review informed by Whittemore and Knafl and reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 statement. Data sources. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, EMBASE/MEDLINE and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health were searched from 2000–21 September 2020. Review Methods. Studies enrolling hospitalised participants years with peripheral intravenous catheters secured by medical adhesive tapes, or supplementary products (bandage, splint and sutureless securement device), were eligible. Quality appraisal was performed using Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklists. Nineteen studies met criteria, including 43,683 peripheral intravenous catheters. Quality appraisal identified high or unclear risk of bias in 58% of studies. Nonsterile tape was the most common intervention tested (14 studies), alone or in multiproduct combinations. Nonsterile tape directly over insertion sites was associated with increased PIVC failure and complications. Sutureless securement devices potentially reduce failure and complications. Multiproduct combinations were very common. Practice recommendations regarding other tapes and secondary securement products are challenging, due to conflicting, or lack of, evidence. Tapes and secondary securement product evidence are limited, and over half of the studies are of low methodological quality. This review found nonsterile tape was associated with increased failure and complications multiproduct dressing and securement bundles were prevalent and significant evidence gaps exist particularly regarding bandages and splints. The results provide nurses with evidence of medical adhesive tapes and supplementary product effectiveness for peripheral intravenous catheter securement, and future research directions to reduce unacceptably high failure and complication rates. Larger rigorously conducted randomised controlled trials are needed to add to current evidence.
Changes in autumn arrival of long-distance migratory birds in Southeast Asia
Publisher: Inter-Research Science Center
Date: 20-08-2013
DOI: 10.3354/CR01172
Process-explicit models reveal pathway to extinction for woolly mammoth using pattern-oriented validation
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 18-02-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.17.431706
Abstract: Pathways to extinction start long before the death of the last in idual. However, causes of early-stage population declines and the susceptibility of small residual populations to extirpation are typically studied in isolation. Using validated process-explicit models, we disentangle the ecological mechanisms and threats that were integral in the initial decline and later extinction of the woolly mammoth. We show that reconciling ancient DNA data on woolly mammoth population decline with fossil evidence of location and timing of extinction requires process-explicit models with specific demographic and niche constraints, and a constrained synergy of climatic change and human impacts. Validated models needed humans to hasten climate-driven population declines by many millennia, and to allow woolly mammoths to persist in mainland Arctic refugia until the mid-Holocene. Our results show that the role of humans in the extinction dynamics of woolly mammoth began well before the Holocene, exerting lasting effects on the spatial pattern and timing of its range-wide extinction.
Demographic sensitivity and persistence of the threatened white- and orange-bellied frogs of Western Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-2003
Extravasation injury management for neonates and children: A systematic review and aggregated case series
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-08-2022
DOI: 10.1002/JHM.12951
Abstract: Pediatric extravasation injuries are significant healthcare‐associated injuries, with sometimes significant sequelae. Evidence‐based guidance on management is necessary to prevent permanent injury. A systematic review of the literature, including aggregated case series, investigating extravasation injury management of hospitalized pediatric patients. PubMed, Cummulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE) were searched on December 13, 2021. Primary research investigating extravasation injury management of hospitalized pediatric patients (to 18 years), published from 2010 onwards and in English, independently screened by two authors, with arbitration from a third author. Data regarding the study, patient (age, primary diagnosis), extravasation (site, presentation, outcome), and treatment (first aid, wound management) were extracted by two authors, with arbitration from a third author. From an initial 1769 articles, 27 studies were included with extractable case data reported in 18 studies, resulting in 33 cases. No clinical trials were identified, instead, studies were primarily case studies (52%) of neonates (67%), with varied extravasation symptoms. Studies had good selection and ascertainment, but few met the causality and reporting requirements for quality assessments. Signs and symptoms varied, with scarring (45%) and necrosis (30%) commonly described. Diverse treatments were categorized into first aid, medical, surgical, and dressings. Despite infiltration and extravasation injuries being common within pediatric healthcare, management interventions are under‐researched, with low‐quality studies and no consensus on treatments or outcomes.
A comprehensive database of quality-rated fossil ages for Sahul’s Quaternary vertebrates
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 19-07-2016
Abstract: The study of palaeo-chronologies using fossil data provides evidence for past ecological and evolutionary processes, and is therefore useful for predicting patterns and impacts of future environmental change. However, the robustness of inferences made from fossil ages relies heavily on both the quantity and quality of available data. We compiled Quaternary non-human vertebrate fossil ages from Sahul published up to 2013. This, the FosSahul database, includes 9,302 fossil records from 363 deposits, for a total of 478 species within 215 genera, of which 27 are from extinct and extant megafaunal species (2,559 records). We also provide a rating of reliability of in idual absolute age based on the dating protocols and association between the dated materials and the fossil remains. Our proposed rating system identified 2,422 records with high-quality ages (i.e., a reduction of 74%). There are many applications of the database, including disentangling the confounding influences of hypothetical extinction drivers, better spatial distribution estimates of species relative to palaeo-climates, and potentially identifying new areas for fossil discovery.
Remembering the Unforgettable: Trialing ICU Diaries in North America*
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 12-2018
Finding needles (or ants) in haystacks: Bayesian prediction of locations of invasive organisms to inform eradication and containment programs
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-12-2009
DOI: 10.1890/09-0838
Peripherally InSerted CEntral catheter dressing and securement in patients with cancer: the PISCES trial. Protocol for a 2x2 factorial, superiority randomised controlled trial
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2017
Predicting the timing and magnitude of tropical mosquito population peaks for maximizing control efficiency
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 24-02-2009
Emigration is costly, but immigration has benefits in human-altered landscapes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2016
New light on old horizon: Constructing mathematical concepts, underlying abstraction processes, and sense making strategies
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 16-12-2015
Micron particle deposition in the nasal cavity using the v2-f model
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2011
Wetland conservation and sustainable use under global change: a tropical Australian case study using magpie geese
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2010
Momentum drives the crash: Mass extinction in the tropics
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-04-2006
The tropical frontier in avian climate impact research
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-09-2011
Brave new green world - Consequences of a carbon economy for the conservation of Australian biodiversity
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2013
Landscape functional connectivity for butterflies under different scenarios of land-use, land-cover, and climate change in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Dynamics and predicted distribution of an irrupting ‘sleeper’ population: fallow deer in Tasmania
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-01-2022
Societal extinction of species
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.TREE.2021.12.011
Abstract: The ongoing global bio ersity crisis not only involves biological extinctions, but also the loss of experience and the gradual fading of cultural knowledge and collective memory of species. We refer to this phenomenon as 'societal extinction of species' and apply it to both extinct and extant taxa. We describe the underlying concepts as well as the mechanisms and factors that affect this process, discuss its main implications, and identify mitigation measures. Societal extinction is cognitively intractable, but it is tied to biological extinction and thus has important consequences for conservation policy and management. It affects societal perceptions of the severity of anthropogenic impacts and of true extinction rates, erodes societal support for conservation efforts, and causes the loss of cultural heritage.
Importance of endogenous feedback controlling the long-term abundance of tropical mosquito species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-04-2008
Using plant distributions to predict the current and future range of a rare lizard
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-01-2201
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12050
Peripheral intravenous catheter management in childbirth (PICMIC): A multi‐centre, prospective cohort study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-06-2021
DOI: 10.1111/JAN.14933
Abstract: Childbirth is a normal, physiological process, yet intervention is common. Arguably the most common intervention is the insertion of a peripheral intravenous catheter however, there are few studies guiding best practice. This study aimed to describe current intravenous catheter insertion practice, explore clinician decision‐making during insertion and perceptions of women. This prospective, observational cohort study recruited 101 women and clinicians from two Australian regional hospitals. Data collection incorporated non‐participant observation, brief interview and chart review. Variables measured included pain score, insertion attempts, catheter gauge and dwell time. Childbearing women were, on average, aged 31 with body mass index (BMI) above 28. Women reported a mean pain score of 3.3/10 at 24 h for catheter insertion and 12% reported bruising. An 18‐gauge catheter was considered more painful than a 16‐gauge, and multiple attempts did not increase perceived average pain score. Association between failed first attempts and higher BMI was not established. Participant clinicians were predominantly midwives, who selected and placed 18‐gauge catheters mostly in hand or wrist (66%). Decision‐making about site, catheter gauge, dressing and attempts varied. Thirty‐four per cent attempted two to three times, despite regular practise. Confidence to reliably insert determined catheter gauge and almost half clinician participants cited hospital policy and preferred non‐dominant arm as key reasons for the location of PIVC. Regular use of a large‐gauge catheter is counter intuitive when placed in the small veins of the hand with extension tubing. More research is needed to promote best practice around gauge selection, site and women's experience.
Balpara: A Practical Approach to Working With Ontological Difference in Indigenous Land & Sea Management
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 20-04-2023
Finding needles (or ants) in haystacks: predicting locations of invasive organisms to inform eradication and containment
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2010
DOI: 10.1890/09-0838.1
Abstract: To eradicate or effectively contain a biological invasion, all or most reproductive in iduals of the invasion must be found and destroyed. To help find in idual invading organisms, predictions of probable locations can be made with statistical models. We estimated spread dynamics based on time-series data and then used model-derived predictions of probable locations of in iduals. We considered one of the largest data sets available for an eradication program: the c aign to eradicate the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) from around Brisbane, Australia. After estimating within-site growth (local growth) and intersite dispersal (saltatory spread) of fire ant nests, we modeled probabilities of fire ant presence for >600000 1-ha sites, including uncertainties about fire ant population and spatial dynamics. Such a high level of spatial detail is required to assist surveillance efforts but is difficult to incorporate into common modeling methods because of high computational costs. More than twice as many fire ant nests would have been found in 2008 using predictions made with our method rather than those made with the method currently used in the study region. Our method is suited to considering invasions in which a large area is occupied by the invader at low density. Improved predictions of such invasions can dramatically reduce the area that needs to be searched to find the majority of in iduals, assisting containment efforts and potentially making eradication a realistic goal for many invasions previously thought to be ineradicable.
First, do no harm: A systematic review of deforestation spillovers from protected areas
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Conservation biology - Rarity bites
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2006
DOI: 10.1038/444555A
An introduction to women in STEM careers: International perspectives on increasing workforce participation, advancement and leadership
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Date: 31-10-2014
A novel, data-driven approach to derive spatially coherent extent of occurrence maps for biogeographic studies
Publisher: Authorea, Inc.
Date: 25-05-2023
DOI: 10.22541/AU.168502324.42187548/V1
Abstract: As a source of information on species’ geographic distributions, macroecologists and biogeographers have had to rely on expert-derived range maps to study bio ersity patterns at large scales. In addition to being biased towards well-studied taxa and subjective by nature, such maps suffer from a lack of consistency in how species’ absences are treated within the wider distribution. Using the finer resolution of the Interim Biogeographic Regionalization for Australia (subregions) and ex le sets of Australian species as study system, we developed a reproducible, data-driven approach to map the extent of occurrence (EOO) of hundreds—or even thousands—of species by combining presence-only data and subregions (i.e., non-equal-sized operational units that represent homogenous areas of unique environmental features) within a unifying quantitative framework. From data-driven and expert-derived range maps for 533 birds, species richness’ estimates differ at three biogeographical scales—whit bias (mean error) at coarser resolution (ecoregion) being half that at subregional scale—and the spatial association between pairs of these birds’ presence-absence maps vary from nearly zero to almost one (representing such pattern almost either differently or identically, respectively). Holes within the wider distribution of the EOO maps for pairs of hibians, mammals, reptiles, and plants seem to respond to the demarcation of different subpopulations over Australia rather than causing an underestimation of a species’ empirical distribution. These results demonstrate that this approach can reliably map EOO of species whose distributions aligns with three broad types of geographic patterns (wide-range, habitat-specialists, and range-restricted species). This alternative to expert-derived range maps can serve as a basis for more robust, data-driven studies of biogeographic bio ersity patterns, thus improving our understanding and conservation efforts of global bio ersity.
What is the evidence for planetary tipping points?
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 21-12-2017
DOI: 10.1093/OSO/9780198808978.003.0008
Abstract: This chapter critically evaluates the likelihood that planet Earth will cross one or more global environmental tipping points, resulting in a degraded state that would be difficult to reverse. Ecological tipping points occur when components of a system change rapidly due an initial forcing that is lified by positive feedbacks, resulting in a regime shift. The chapter examines the evidence in support of biological and geophysical boundaries that clearly delimit a “safe operating space” for people and bio ersity. For in idual ecosystems, abrupt state transitions have been documented. However, apart from the climate system, there is scant evidence (or theoretical justification) to support the view that global aggregates like bio ersity, chemical cycles, or resource extraction have planetary thresholds that define the boundaries of a global safe operating space. Acknowledging the absence of clear evidence for thresholds or boundaries at the global level does not diminish the seriousness of anthropogenic impacts. It does, however, imply that local-scale mitigation actions will be most effective.
Predictors of contraction and expansion of area of occupancy for British birds
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 07-07-2014
Abstract: Geographical range dynamics are driven by the joint effects of abiotic factors, human ecosystem modifications, biotic interactions and the intrinsic organismal responses to these. However, the relative contribution of each component remains largely unknown. Here, we compare the contribution of life-history attributes, broad-scale gradients in climate and geographical context of species’ historical ranges, as predictors of recent changes in area of occupancy for 116 terrestrial British breeding birds (74 contractors, 42 expanders) between the early 1970s and late 1990s. Regional threat classifications demonstrated that the species of highest conservation concern showed both the largest contractions and the smallest expansions. Species responded differently to climate depending on geographical distribution—northern species changed their area of occupancy (expansion or contraction) more in warmer and drier regions, whereas southern species changed more in colder and wetter environments. Species with slow life history (larger body size) tended to have a lower probability of changing their area of occupancy than species with faster life history, whereas species with greater natal dispersal capacity resisted contraction and, counterintuitively, expansion. Higher geographical fragmentation of species' range also increased expansion probability, possibly indicating a release from a previously limiting condition, for ex le through agricultural abandonment since the 1970s. After accounting statistically for the complexity and nonlinearity of the data, our results demonstrate two key aspects of changing area of occupancy for British birds: (i) climate is the dominant driver of change, but direction of effect depends on geographical context, and (ii) all of our predictors generally had a similar effect regardless of the direction of the change (contraction versus expansion). Although we caution applying results from Britain's highly modified and well-studied bird community to other biogeographic regions, our results do indicate that a species' propensity to change area of occupancy over decadal scales can be explained partially by a combination of simple allometric predictors of life-history pace, average climate conditions and geographical context.
Geographic variation in the ecological effects of extinction of Australia's Pleistocene megafauna
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-07-2016
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.01612
Abstract: Recent studies suggest that extinction of Pleistocene megafauna had large impacts on the structure and functioning of ecosystems, including increased fire and shifts in vegetation state. We argue that the ecological effects of mega‐herbivore extinction are likely to have varied geographically, and might have been reduced in environments of low productivity. We tested this at Caledonia Fen, a cool, high‐elevation site in southeast Australia with a palynological record reaching back approximately 140 ka. The dung fungus Sporormiella indicated that large herbivores were present through most of the early part of the last glacial cycle, but declined abruptly between 50–40 ka and did not recover. This event corresponds with evidence for continent‐wide extinction of Australia's Pleistocene megafauna at that time. An earlier episode of low Sporormiella occurrence coincided with evidence of raised water levels in the fen. Changes in wetland conditions can alter the accumulation of Sporormiella , but there was no such change when Sporormiella counts fell in the period 50–40 ka. We found no evidence that the decline in Sporormiella triggered increased fire or a change in vegetation, which remained a low grass/shrub steppe. This contrasts with a warmer and more humid site, Lynch's Crater in northeast Australia, where decline of dung fungi was followed by increased fire and transition from mixed sclerophyll forest and rainforest to uniform sclerophyll forest. Our results suggest that the magnitude of ecological responses to Pleistocene megafaunal extinction varied geographically, under the control of regional climates.
Australasian bird invasions: accidents of history?
Publisher: Ornithological Society of Japan
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.2326/OSJ.3.33
Randomized controlled trials in central vascular access devices: A scoping review
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 21-03-2017
Rapid deforestation threatens mid-elevational endemic birds but climate change is most important at higher elevations
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-02-2014
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12180
Effect of warming and infusion of red blood cell concentrates on markers of haemolysis: An ex vivo simulation study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Examining threats faced by island birds: a population viability analysis on the Capricorn silvereye using longterm data
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-1998
Paediatric nursing research in Australia: A descriptive survey
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
Rapid megafaunal extinction following human arrival throughout the New World
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2013
Landscape functional connectivity for butterflies under different scenarios of land-use, land-cover, and climate change in Australia
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 10-02-2022
DOI: 10.1101/2022.02.07.479372
Abstract: Pollinating invertebrates are vital to terrestrial ecosystems but are impacted by anthropogenic habitat loss/fragmentation and climate change. Conserving and improving landscape connectivity is important to offset those threats, yet its assessment for invertebrates is lacking. In this study, we evaluated the functional connectivity between protected areas in Australia for 59 butterfly species, under present conditions and different future scenarios (for 2050 and 2090) of land-use, land-cover, and climate change. Using circuit-theory analysis, we found that functional connectivity under present conditions varies widely between species, even when their estimated geographical ranges are similar. Under future scenarios, functional connectivity is predicted to decrease overall, with negative changes worsening from 2050 to 2090, although a few species are positive exceptions. We have made our results available as spatial datasets to allow comparisons with taxa from other studies and can be used to identify priority areas for conservation in terms of establishing ecological corridors or stepping-stone habitat patches. Our study highlights the importance of considering pollinating invertebrates when seeking holistic conservation and restoration of a landscape’s functional connectivity, underscoring the need to expand and promote protected areas to facilitate functional connectivity under future scenarios of global change. The habitat suitability maps and functional connectivity maps are made available as GeoTiff images via Figshare (10.6084/m9.figshare.19130078).
A comparison of hydrophobic polyurethane and polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter: Results from a feasibility randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-09-2020
DOI: 10.1186/S13063-020-04699-Z
Abstract: To evaluate the feasibility of an efficacy trial comparing a hydrophobic polyurethane peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) with a standard polyurethane PICC. This pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted between May 2017 and February 2018. Adult participants ( n = 111) were assigned to hydrophobic polyurethane PICC with proximal valve (intervention) or a polyurethane PICC with external cl (standard care). Primary outcome was trial feasibility including PICC failure. Secondary outcomes were central line-associated bloodstream infection, local infection, occlusion, thrombosis, fracture and dislodgement, phlebitis, local or systemic allergic reaction, and PICC dwell time. All feasibility outcomes were achieved, apart from eligibility criteria. In total, 338 patients were screened, 138 were eligible (41%), and of these 111 were randomised (80%). Patients received the allocated PICC in 106 (95%) insertions. No patients withdrew from the study and there was no missing data. PICC failure was 24% (13/55) in the intervention group and 22% (12/55) in the standard care group ( p = 0.820). PICC failure per 1000 PICC days was 16.3 in the intervention group and 18.4 in the control group ( p = 0.755). The average dwell time was 12 days in the intervention and 8 days in the control group. This study demonstrates the feasibility of an efficacy trial of PICC materials in an adult population, once adjustments were made to include not only in-patients, but also patients being discharged to the Hospital in the Home service. Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12616001578493 . Prospectively registered on 16 November 2016. The trial protocol was published a priori (Kleidon et al., Vasc Access 3:15–21, 2017).
Does foraging mode influence life history traits? A comparative study of growth, maturation and survival of two species of sympatric snakes from south-eastern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-11-2003
Comparing predictions of extinction risk using models and subjective judgement
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2004
Targeting season and age for optimizing control of invasive rabbits
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-05-2016
DOI: 10.1002/JWMG.21093
Strengthening forecasts of climate change impacts with multi-model ensemble averaged projections using MAGICC/SCENGEN 5.3
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2012
Abrupt warming events drove Late Pleistocene Holarctic megafaunal turnover
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 07-08-2015
Abstract: The causes of the Pleistocene extinctions of large numbers of megafaunal species in the Northern Hemisphere remain unclear. A range of evidence points to human hunting, climate change, or a combination of both. Using ancient DNA and detailed paleoclimate data, Cooper et al. report a close relationship between Pleistocene megafaunal extinction events and rapid warming events at the start of interstadial periods. Their analysis strengthens the case for climate change as the key driver of megafaunal extinctions, with human impacts playing a secondary role. Science , this issue p. 602
Fragile southeast Asian biotas
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2008
Using paleo-archives to safeguard biodiversity under climate change
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 28-08-2020
Abstract: The late Quaternary paleorecord, within the past ∼130,000 years, can help to inform present-day management of the Earth's ecosystems and biota under climate change. Fordham et al. review when and where rapid climate transitions can be found in the paleoclimate record. They show how such events in Earth's history can shape our understanding of the consequences of future global warming, including rates of bio ersity loss, changes in ecosystem structure and function, and degradation in the goods and services that these ecosystems provide to humanity. They also highlight how recent developments at the intersection of paleoecology, paleoclimatology, and macroecology can provide opportunities to anticipate and manage the responses of species and ecosystems to changing climates in the Anthropocene. Science , this issue p. eabc5654
Nuclear power can reduce emissions and maintain a strong economy: Rating Australia's optimal future electricity-generation mix by technologies and policies
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
Examining the Role of Securement and Dressing Products to Prevent Central Venous Access Device Failure: A Narrative Review
Publisher: Association for Vascular Access
Date: 06-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.JAVA.2015.03.001
Abstract: Objective: To describe the underpinning principles involved in central venous access device (CVAD) securement and dressing products to prevent CVAD failure and complications through a synthesis of research studies. Background: Functional, dependable CVADs are a necessary part of patient care. Dressing and securement products are used to prevent CVAD failure and complications, but there is a large variety of products available for clinicians to access, with variable effectiveness. Methods: A narrative review of studies describing the mechanisms for CVAD securement and dressing products to prevent failure and complication was undertaken. After a systematic search, 20 clinical and laboratory studies were included in the review. Discussion: The major mechanisms by which CVAD dressing and securement products prevent failure are providing a barrier to microbial contamination and motion reduction. CVAD securement and dressing products provide these functions using coating, adhesion, antimicrobial properties, absorbency, and moisture vapor transmission without causing irritation to skin and maintaining visibility of the insertion site. The complexity of patients requiring CVAD securement and dressing means that universal recommendations across CVAD populations and broad generalization of studies from single populations (eg, intensive care) or devices (eg, peripherally inserted central catheters) are ill advised. Conclusions: CVAD securement and dressing products provide important, multifaceted functions to prevent CVAD failure and complication.
Reconstructing the dynamics of ancient human populations from radiocarbon dates: 10 000 years of population growth in Australia
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 11-05-2011
Abstract: Measuring trends in the size of prehistoric populations is fundamental to our understanding of the demography of ancient people and their responses to environmental change. Archaeologists commonly use the temporal distribution of radiocarbon dates to reconstruct population trends, but this can give a false picture of population growth because of the loss of evidence from older sites. We demonstrate a method for quantifying this bias, and we use it to test for population growth through the Holocene of Australia. We used model simulations to show how turnover of site occupation across an archaeological landscape, interacting with erasure of evidence at abandoned sites, can create an increase in apparent site occupation towards the present when occupation density is actually constant. By estimating the probabilities of abandonment and erasure from archaeological data, we then used the model to show that this effect does not account for the observed increase in occupation through the Holocene in Australia. This is best explained by population growth, which was low for the first part of the Holocene but accelerated about 5000 years ago. Our results provide new evidence for the dynamism of non-agricultural populations through the Holocene.
Training future generations to deliver evidence‐based conservation and ecosystem management
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2021
Abstract: 1. To be effective, the next generation of conservation practitioners and managers need to be critical thinkers with a deep understanding of how to make evidence‐based decisions and of the value of evidence synthesis. 2. If, as educators, we do not make these priorities a core part of what we teach, we are failing to prepare our students to make an effective contribution to conservation practice. 3. To help overcome this problem we have created open access online teaching materials in multiple languages that are stored in Applied Ecology Resources. So far, 117 educators from 23 countries have acknowledged the importance of this and are already teaching or about to teach skills in appraising or using evidence in conservation decision‐making. This includes 145 undergraduate, postgraduate or professional development courses. 4. We call for wider teaching of the tools and skills that facilitate evidence‐based conservation and also suggest that providing online teaching materials in multiple languages could be beneficial for improving global understanding of other subject areas.
Ravens exploit wildlife roadkill and agricultural landscapes but do not affect songbird assemblages
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 30-06-2020
Spatially explicit spreadsheet modelling for optimising the efficiency of reducing invasive animal density
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-01-2010
Quantifying the drivers of larval density patterns in two tropical mosquito species to maximize control efficiency
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 08-2009
DOI: 10.1603/022.038.0408
Abstract: Understanding the contributions of environmental variation and density feedbacks to changes in vector populations is essential for designing effective vector control. We analyzed monitoring datasets describing larval densities over 7 yr of the two dominant mosquito species, Aedes vigilax (Skuse) and Culex annulirostris (Skuse), of the greater Darwin area (Northern Territory, Australia). Using generalized linear and linear mixed-effects models, we tested hypotheses regarding the environmental determinants of spatio-temporal patterns in relative larval abundance in both species. The most important spatial drivers of Ae. vigilax and Cx. annulirostris larval densities were elevation and water presence. Ae. vigilax density correlates negatively with elevation, whereas there was a positive relationship between Cx. annulirostris density and elevation. These results show how larval habitats used by the saltwater-influenced breeder Ae. vigilax and the obligate freshwater breeder Cx. annulirostris are separated in a tidally influenced sw . The models examining temporal drivers of larval density also identified this discrimination between freshwater and saltwater habitats. Ae. vigilax larval densities were positively related to maximum tide height and high tide frequency, whereas Cx. annulirostris larval densities were positively related to elevation and rainfall. Adult abundance in the previous month was the most important temporal driver of larval densities in both species, providing a clear dynamical link between the two main life phases in mosquito development. This study shows the importance of considering both spatial and temporal drivers, and intrinsic population dynamics, when planning vector control strategies to reduce larval density, adult population density, and disease transmission effectively.
Genetics in conservation management: Revised recommendations for the 50/500 rules, Red List criteria and population viability analyses
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
Growth and survival of two north Australian relictual tree species, Allosyncarpia ternata (Myrtaceae) and Callitris intratropica (Cupressaceae)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-06-2007
Patient blood management in critically ill children undergoing cardiac surgery: A cohort study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2023
Estimates of minimum viable population sizes for vertebrates and factors influencing those estimates
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2003
Erratum: Primary forests are irreplaceable for sustaining tropical biodiversity (Nature (2011) 478 (378-381) DOI: 10.1038/nature10425)
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-12-2014
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE12933
Putative extinction of two sawfish species in Mexico and the United States
Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Date: 09-2009
DOI: 10.1590/S1679-62252009000300020
Abstract: All species of sawfish are listed by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as endangered or critically endangered. In fact, the smalltooth sawfish Pristis pectinata, and the largetooth sawfish Pristis pristis, have been declared to be regionally and locally extinct from the US Atlantic coast and the Gulf of California, Mexico, respectively, likely due to overfishing. However, here we dispute these claims by illustrating how lack of existence of a given species within a region can be misconstrued as evidence for extinction.
THE KIDS SAFE CHECKLIST FOR PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNITS
Publisher: AACN Publishing
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.4037/AJCC2013560
Abstract: Checklists have been recognized by multiple industries as a valuable tool to reduce errors of omission. In the busy environment of a pediatric intensive care unit, adverse events are common and can have severe consequences. Researchers have focused on developing evidence-based practice guidelines however, the nature of human error means that consistent application of this evidence in practice is challenging. To develop an evidence-based checklist as a tool to reduce preventable adverse events and enhance clinical care in pediatric intensive care units. After a systematic review of literature and a retrospective review of local reporting of adverse events in pediatric intensive care units, nominal group technique was used to determine the structure and content for the checklist. An 8-element mnemonic checklist (KIDS SAFE) was developed: kids' development needs, infection, deep-vein thrombosis prophylaxis, skin integrity, sedation, analgesia, family, and enteral needs. Prevention of adverse events is better than cure. Use of the KIDS SAFE checklist has the potential to reduce errors of omission in pediatric intensive care units.
Nature’s untold stories: An overview on the availability and type of on-line data on long-term biodiversity monitoring
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 20-06-2018
Deforestation and Avian Extinction on Tropical Landbridge Islands
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-03-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1523-1739.2010.01495.X
Abstract: There are few empirical data, particularly collected simultaneously from multiple sites, on extinctions resulting from human-driven land-use change. Southeast Asia has the highest deforestation rate in the world, but the resulting losses of biological ersity remain poorly documented. Between November 2006 and March 2008, we conducted bird surveys on six landbridge islands in Malaysia and Indonesia. These islands were surveyed previously for birds in the early 1900 s, when they were extensively forested. Our bird inventories of the islands were nearly complete, as indicated by s ling saturation curves and nonparametric true richness estimators. From zero (Pulau Malawali and Pulau Mantanani) to 15 (Pulau Bintan) diurnal resident landbird species were apparently extirpated since the early 1900 s. Adding comparable but published extinction data from Singapore to our regression analyses, we found there were proportionally fewer forest bird extinctions in areas with greater remaining forest cover. Nevertheless, the statistical evidence to support this relationship was weak, owing to our unavoidably small s le size. Bird species that are restricted to the Indomalayan region, lay few eggs, are heavier, and occupy a narrower habitat breadth, were most vulnerable to extinction on Pulau Bintan. This was the only island where sufficient data existed to analyze the correlates of extinction. Forest preservation and restoration are needed on these islands to conserve the remaining forest avifauna. Our study of landbridge islands indicates that deforestation may increasingly threaten Southeast Asian bio ersity.
Potential for Worldwide Displacement of Fossil-Fuel Electricity by Nuclear Energy in Three Decades Based on Extrapolation of Regional Deployment Data
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 13-05-2015
Evaluating options for sustainable energy mixes in South Korea using scenario analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2013
Long-Term Field Data and Climate-Habitat Models Show That Orangutan Persistence Depends on Effective Forest Management and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 07-09-2012
Drivers of increasing global crop production: A decomposition analysis
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 09-2020
Abstract: Rising crop production over the last half century has had far-reaching consequences for human welfare and the environment. With food demand projected to rise, one of the central challenges in minimizing agriculture’s impacts on the climate and bio ersity is to increase crop production with higher yields rather than more cropland. However, quantifying progress is challenging. When analyzed at the most aggregated, global level, yields can be defined as the total crop output per unit area per year, but aggregate yields are driven by multiple factors, only some of which have a clear relationship to improved agricultural production. To date, there is no research that simultaneously determines how much of rising crop production has been met by rising aggregate yields versus cropland expansion, while also quantifying the unique contribution of each yield driver. Using LMDI decomposition analysis, we find that rising aggregate yields contributed far more than cropland expansion (89% compared to 11%). That is, growing global food demand has by and large been met by growing more crops on the same amount of land, rather than expanding cropland. Our second-stage decomposition showed that nearly two-thirds of aggregate yield improvements have come from pure yield, or the output of a given crop per unit of harvested cropland area in a given country per unit area per year. The remainder has come from less-discussed drivers of aggregate yields, including cropping intensity, changes in the geographic distribution of cropland, and crop composition. Further, we use attribution analysis to show the contributions to different decomposition factors from countries grouped by climate, income, and region, as well as from different crops. Such granular yet comprehensive breakdowns of crop production and aggregate yields offer more accurate forecasts and can help focus policies on the most promising levers to meet rising food demand sustainably.
Flooding Policy Makers with Evidence to Save Forests
Publisher: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Date: 03-2009
Extinction of the Tasmanian emu and opportunities for rewilding
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Pragmatic population viability targets in a rapidly changing world
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2010
Developing Appropriateness Criteria for Pediatric Vascular Access
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 06-2020
Abstract: To describe the methodology undertaken to provide guidance on the appropriateness, as well as inappropriateness, of vascular access device selection, characteristics, and insertion technique for pediatric patients. The RAND Corporation–University of California, Los Angeles Appropriateness Method was used. After definition of key terms and scope, a systematic review of the pediatric vascular access literature was undertaken. Clinical scenarios were developed to reflect the common indications for vascular access across pediatric health care. These were sectioned according to (1) device selection, (2) device characteristics, and (3) insertion technique. An interdisciplinary panel of experts (N = 14) consisting of leading experts representing erse pediatric clinical disciplines including anesthesiology, cardiology and cardiac surgery, critical care and emergency, general surgery, hematology and oncology, hospital medicine, infectious disease, interventional radiology, pharmacology, regional pediatric hospitalist, and vascular access nursing specialties was convened. The scenarios were rated for appropriateness by the panel over 2 rounds (1 [highly inappropriate] to 9 [highly appropriate]). Round 1 ratings were completed anonymously and independently by panel members and classified into 3 levels of appropriateness: appropriate, uncertain, and inappropriate, or disagreement. For round 2, panelists met in-person to discuss the round 1 ratings and independently rerated the indications. All indications were reclassified into 3 levels of appropriateness or disagreement. The RAND Corporation–University of California, Los Angeles Appropriateness Method provides a rigorous, in-depth and transparent methodology to develop the first appropriateness criteria for the selection of pediatric vascular access devices in a range of patient groups.
Selection and Insertion of Vascular Access Devices in Pediatrics: A Systematic Review
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 06-2020
Abstract: To critically review the evidence for the selection and insertion of pediatric vascular access devices (VADs). Data were sourced from the US National Library of Medicine, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, the Cochrane Library databases, Embase, and international clinical trial databases. Clinical practice guidelines, systematic reviews, cohort designs, randomized control trials (RCTs), quasi RCTs, before-after trials, or case-control studies that reported on complications and/or risk as well as reliability of VADs in patients aged 0 to 18 years were included. Articles were independently reviewed to extract and summarize details on the number of patients and catheters, population, age of participants, VAD type, study method, indication, comparators, and the frequency of VAD failure or complications. VAD selection and insertion decision-making in general hospitalized and some specialized patient populations were well evidenced. The use of single-lumen devices and ultrasound-guided techniques was also broadly supported. There was a lack of RCTs, and for neonates, cardiac patients, patients with difficult venous access, midline catheters, catheter-to-vein ratio, and near-infrared devices, the lack of evidence necessitated broadening the review scope. Limitations include the lack of formal assessment of the quality of evidence and the lack of RCTs and systematic reviews. Consequently, clinical decision-making in certain pediatric populations is not guided by strong, evidence-based recommendations. This is the first synthesis of available evidence for the selection and insertion of VADs in pediatric patients and is important for determining the appropriateness of VADs in pediatric patients.
‘True Blood’ The Critical Care Story: An audit of blood sampling practice across three adult, paediatric and neonatal intensive care settings
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2015.06.002
Abstract: Anaemia is common in critically ill patients, and has a significant negative impact on patients' recovery. Blood conservation strategies have been developed to reduce the incidence of iatrogenic anaemic caused by s ling for diagnostic testing. Describe practice and local guidelines in adult, paediatric and neonatal Australian intensive care units (ICUs) regarding blood s ling and conservation strategies. Cross-sectional descriptive study, conducted July 2013 over one week in single adult, paediatric and neonatal ICUs in Brisbane. Data were collected on diagnostic blood s les obtained during the study period, including demographic and acuity data of patients. Institutional blood conservation practice and guidelines were compared against seven evidence-based recommendations. A total of 940 blood s ling episodes from 96 patients were examined across three sites. Arterial blood gas was the predominant reason for blood s ling in each unit, accounting for 82% of adult, 80% of paediatric and 47% of neonatal s les taken (p<0.001). Adult patients had significantly more median [IQR] s les per day in comparison to paediatrics and neonates (adults 5.0 [2.4] paediatrics 2.3 [2.9] neonatal 0.7 [2.7]), which significantly increased median [IQR] blood s ling costs per day (adults AUD$101.11 [54.71] paediatrics AUD$41.55 [56.74] neonatal AUD$8.13 [14.95] p<0.001). The total volume of s les per day (median [IQR]) was also highest in adults (adults 22.3mL [16.8] paediatrics 5.0mL [1.0] neonates 0.16mL [0.4]). There was little information about blood conservation strategies in the local clinical practice guidelines, with the adult and neonatal sites including none of the seven recommendations. There was significant variation in blood s ling practice and conservation strategies between critical care settings. This has implications not only for anaemia but also infection control and healthcare costs.
Developing Pediatric Appropriateness Criteria for Intravenous Catheters
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 06-2020
Decoupling of component and ensemble density feedbacks in birds and mammals
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2012
DOI: 10.1890/11-1415.1
Abstract: A component density feedback represents the effect of change in population size on single demographic rates, whereas an ensemble density feedback captures that effect on the overall growth rate of a population. Given that a population's growth rate is a synthesis of the interplay of all demographic rates operating in a population, we test the hypothesis that the strength of ensemble density feedback must augment with increasing strength of component density feedback, using long‐term censuses of population size, fertility, and survival rates of 109 bird and mammal populations (97 species). We found that compensatory and depensatory component feedbacks were common (each detected in ∼50% of the demographic rates). However, component feedback strength only explained % of the variation in ensemble feedback strength. To explain why, we illustrate the different sources of decoupling between component and ensemble feedbacks. We argue that the management of anthropogenic impacts on populations using component feedbacks alone is ill‐advised, just as managing on the basis of ensemble feedbacks without a mechanistic understanding of the contributions made by its components and environmental variability can lead to suboptimal decisions.
Conservation management and sustainable harvest quotas are sensitive to choice of climate modelling approach for two marine gastropods
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-05-2013
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12092
Climate change without extinction: Tasmania's small-mammal communities persisted through the Last Glacial Maximum–Holocene transition
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Population Ecology: First Principles
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2004
Would the Australian megafauna have become extinct if humans had never colonised the continent? Comments on 'A review of the evidence for a human role in the extinction of Australian megafauna and an alternative explanation' by S. Wroe and J. Field
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2007
Abundance and projected control of invasive house crows in Singapore
Publisher: JSTOR
Date: 10-2003
DOI: 10.2307/3802688
Uncertainties in dating constrain model choice for inferring extinction time from fossil records
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2015
Ecological and economic benefits to cattle rangelands of restoring an apex predator
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-12-2015
Satellite telemetry and seasonal movements of Magpie Geese (Anseranas semipalmata) in tropical northern Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2010
DOI: 10.1071/MU09098
Pattern, process, inference and prediction in extinction biology
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 2017
Abstract: Extinction is a key feature of the evolutionary history of life, and assessments of extinction risk are essential for the effective protection of bio ersity. The goal in assembling this special issue of Biology Letters was to highlight problems and questions at the research frontier of extinction biology, with an emphasis on recent developments in the methodology of inferring the patterns and processes of extinction from a background of often noisy and sparse data. In selecting topics, we sought to illustrate how extinction is not simply a self-evident phenomenon, but the subject of a dynamic and quantitatively rigorous field of natural science, with practical applications to conservation.
Risk factors for umbilical vascular catheter–related adverse events: A scoping review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2021.02.010
Abstract: Adverse events associated with umbilical catheters include malposition, bloodstream infections, thrombosis, tip migration, and extravasation, resulting in loss of vascular access and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. There is a need for greater understanding of risk factors associated with adverse events to inform safe practice. The aim of the study was to summarise the existing evidence regarding risk factors for umbilical catheter-related adverse events to inform the undertaking of future research. A scoping review of peer-reviewed original research and theses was performed. The US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, Embase, EMcare, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were the data sources. Informed by the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer's Manual, all types of original research studies reporting adverse events published in English from 2009 to 2020 were eligible for inclusion. Studies where umbilical artery catheter and umbilical venous catheter data could not be extracted separately were excluded. Searching identified 1954 publications and theses, 1533 were excluded at screening, and 418 were assessed for eligibility at full text. A total of 89 studies met the inclusion criteria. A range of potential risk factors for umbilical arterial and venous catheters were identified. Longer dwell time and prematurity were associated with increased risk of bloodstream infection and thrombosis in cohort studies. Case studies detailed analogous factors such as insertion techniques and lack of catheter surveillance during dwell warrant further investigation. We identified a vast range of patient, device, and provider risk factors that warrant further investigation. There was a lack of large cohort studies and randomised controlled trials to demonstrate the significance of these risk factors. Improvement in methods to ensure correct catheter tip location and to detect adverse events early is essential. In addition, policy needs to be developed to guide clinicians in catheter surveillance measures to reduce the risk of adverse events.
Revisiting chamberlin: Multiple working hypotheses for the 21st century
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 07-2007
DOI: 10.1641/B570708
Improving performance and transferability of small mammal species distribution models
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-07-2018
A new OSL dose model to account for post-depositional mixing of sediments
Publisher: California Digital Library (CDL)
Date: 09-06-2023
DOI: 10.31223/X5MH39
Abstract: In applications of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating to unconsolidated sediments, the burial age of a s le of grains is estimated using statistical models of the distribution of the experimentally determined equivalent doses of the grains, together with estimates of the environmental dose rate. For grains that have been vertically mixed after deposition (e.g., due to bioturbation), existing dose models may fail to appropriately account for the complexity of the mixing process, thus producing inaccurate age estimates of the original time of deposition of the `native' grains in any particular s le (usually the quantity of most interest). Here we introduce a new dose model, the asymmetric Laplacian mixture model (ALMM), developed for vertically mixed s les with single-grain dose distributions. The approach is based on a continuous statistical mixture that models the displacement of grains in both upward and downward directions. The central dose of the native grains in each sediment s le is estimated by the ALMM, as well as the parameters associated with overdispersion of single-grain dose distributions and the (modelled) mixing process. Using Bayesian methodology, we apply the model to two series of vertically contiguous s les collected at the site of Nawarla Gabarnmang in northern Australia. Independent age estimates obtained from radiocarbon dating of charcoal fragments support the OSL ages for the native grains estimated by the ALMM. Moreover, our study includes sensitivity analyses that show the model is robust to variation in the experimental error of the OSL data. The ALMM is introduced in the context of compound Gaussian distributions, a broadly encompassing statistical framework that includes many of the most commonly used dose models. This unifying and accessible perspective on the statistical modelling of dose distributions will support practitioners in selecting an appropriate model for s les affected by post-depositional mixing, and hopefully stimulate further theoretical developments. A new R rstanosl package is provided that fits the ALMM and other commonly used dose models using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo methods via the Stan programming language.
Resolving when (and where) the Thylacine went extinct
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Explaining the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions: Models, chronologies, and assumptions
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 04-11-2002
Abstract: Understanding of the Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions has been advanced recently by the application of simulation models and new developments in geochronological dating. Together these have been used to posit a rapid demise of megafauna due to over-hunting by invading humans. However, we demonstrate that the results of these extinction models are highly sensitive to implicit assumptions concerning the degree of prey naivety to human hunters. In addition, we show that in Greater Australia, where the extinctions occurred well before the end of the last Ice Age (unlike the North American situation), estimates of the duration of coexistence between humans and megafauna remain imprecise. Contrary to recent claims, the existing data do not prove the “blitzkrieg” model of overkill.
Correlations among extinction risks assessed by different systems of threatened species categorization
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2004
Tools for integrating range change, extinction risk and climate change information into conservation management
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-05-2013
Key role for nuclear energy in global biodiversity conservation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-12-2015
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.12433
Abstract: Modern society uses massive amounts of energy. Usage rises as population and affluence increase, and energy production and use often have an impact on bio ersity or natural areas. To avoid a business-as-usual dependence on coal, oil, and gas over the coming decades, society must map out a future energy mix that incorporates alternative sources. This exercise can lead to radically different opinions on what a sustainable energy portfolio might entail, so an objective assessment of the relative costs and benefits of different energy sources is required. We evaluated the land use, emissions, climate, and cost implications of 3 published but ergent storylines for future energy production, none of which was optimal for all environmental and economic indicators. Using multicriteria decision-making analysis, we ranked 7 major electricity-generation sources (coal, gas, nuclear, biomass, hydro, wind, and solar) based on costs and benefits and tested the sensitivity of the rankings to biases stemming from contrasting philosophical ideals. Irrespective of weightings, nuclear and wind energy had the highest benefit-to-cost ratio. Although the environmental movement has historically rejected the nuclear energy option, new-generation reactor technologies that fully recycle waste and incorporate passive safety systems might resolve their concerns and ought to be more widely understood. Because there is no perfect energy source however, conservation professionals ultimately need to take an evidence-based approach to consider carefully the integrated effects of energy mixes on bio ersity conservation. Trade-offs and compromises are inevitable and require advocating energy mixes that minimize net environmental damage. Society cannot afford to risk wholesale failure to address energy-related bio ersity impacts because of preconceived notions and ideals.
Signs of Rumpwear in the Common Ringtail Possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus
Publisher: Wildlife Disease Association
Date: 25-07-2022
Obliquity-driven expansion of North Atlantic sea ice during the last glacial
Publisher: American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Date: 10-12-2015
DOI: 10.1002/2015GL066344
Long peripheral catheters in children: A scoping review
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-09-2022
DOI: 10.1002/JHM.12968
Abstract: Long peripheral catheters (LPCs) are emerging vascular access devices used for short‐medium term vascular access needs. Literature in adults suggests LPCs have longer dwell‐times than peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVs) and lower rates of serious complications than peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). The role of LPCs in children is less established. The objective of this scoping review is to describe and synthesize the existing literature on the effectiveness and safety of LPCs in children. This review follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) guidelines. Searches were done in MEDLINE (Ovid), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, CINAHL (Ebsco), and Google Scholar most recently on February 22, 2022. Studies were included if published in English on or after 2000 and included patients years of age. Twenty‐one studies were included. The body of literature is variable in quality, measurements, and reported outcomes. Median dwell‐time ranged from 5 to 14 days. The rate of completion of therapy ranged from 20% to 86%. Dislodgement, occlusion, and infiltration were the most common complications reported (0%–31%). Venous thromboembolism rates ranged from 0% to 13%. The rate of catheter‐related bloodstream infection was 0% in 9 of 10 studies. Less than 50% of studies reported comparative outcomes. LPCs show promising outcomes in select populations, with longer dwell‐time than PIVs and possibly lower rates of serious complications than PICCs. However, more research is needed to clarify the optimal use of LPCs in pediatrics.
Empirical tests of harvest-induced body-size evolution along a geographic gradient in Australian macropods
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-08-2015
A fast re-sampling method for using reliability ratings of sightings with extinction-date estimators: Reply
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-06-2023
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.4124
Threat and response: A decade of decline in a regionally endangered rainforest palm affected by fire and introduced animals
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2006
Booming during a bust: Asynchronous population responses of arid zone lizards to climatic variables
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2012
Accidents alter animal fitness landscapes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ELE.13705
Abstract: Animals alter their habitat use in response to the energetic demands of movement (‘energy landscapes’) and the risk of predation (‘the landscape of fear’). Recent research suggests that animals also select habitats and move in ways that minimise their chance of temporarily losing control of movement and thereby suffering slips, falls, collisions or other accidents, particularly when the consequences are likely to be severe (resulting in injury or death). We propose that animals respond to the costs of an ‘accident landscape’ in conjunction with predation risk and energetic costs when deciding when, where, and how to move in their daily lives. We develop a novel theoretical framework describing how features of physical landscapes interact with animal size, morphology, and behaviour to affect the risk and severity of accidents, and predict how accident risk might interact with predation risk and energetic costs to dictate movement decisions across the physical landscape. Future research should focus on testing the hypotheses presented here for different real‐world systems to gain insight into the relative importance of theorised effects in the field.
TAUROLIDINE–CITRATE LINE LOCKS PREVENT RECURRENT CENTRAL LINE–ASSOCIATED BLOODSTREAM INFECTION IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2019
Quantifying 25 years of disease‐caused declines in Tasmanian devil populations: host density drives spatial pathogen spread
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-02-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ELE.13703
Abstract: Infectious diseases are strong drivers of wildlife population dynamics, however, empirical analyses from the early stages of pathogen emergence are rare. Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), discovered in 1996, provides the opportunity to study an epizootic from its inception. We use a pattern‐oriented diffusion simulation to model the spatial spread of DFTD across the species' range and quantify population effects by jointly modelling multiple streams of data spanning 35 years. We estimate the wild devil population peaked at 53 000 in 1996, less than half of previous estimates. DFTD spread rapidly through high‐density areas, with spread velocity slowing in areas of low host densities. By 2020, DFTD occupied % of the species' range, causing 82% declines in local densities and reducing the total population to 16 900. Encouragingly, our model forecasts the population decline should level‐off within the next decade, supporting conservation management focused on facilitating evolution of resistance and tolerance.
Roost characteristics of invasive mynas in Singapore
Publisher: JSTOR
Date: 10-2002
DOI: 10.2307/3802943
Dealing with opposing theoretical perspectives: knowledge in structures or knowledge in pieces?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-2020
Pedagogical Content Knowledge oder Fachdidaktisches Wissen?
Publisher: Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden
Date: 2022
Tropical Conservation Biology: response to Lugo's tendentious review
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 03-2009
Postcards from the past: charting the landscape-scale conversion of tropical Australian savanna to closed forest during the 20th century
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2006
Beyond wind: furthering development of clean energy in South Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2015
The Allure of the Few
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-05-2008
European rabbit survival and recruitment are linked to epidemiological and environmental conditions in their exotic range
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 17-02-2012
Difficult Peripheral Venous Access in Children: An International Survey and Critical Appraisal of Assessment Tools and Escalation Pathways
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JNU.12505
Abstract: Peripheral venous cannulation is considered a routine procedure, yet 50% of first attempt insertions fail, necessitating repeat insertion attempts. Identification of children with difficult intravenous access (DIVA) can help promote prompt escalation to an appropriately skilled clinician. To describe current international practice regarding the identification and management of children with DIVA, and to systematically review clinical tools and clinical pathways for children with DIVA. A cross-sectional, international survey followed by a systematic review and critical appraisal of clinical pathways using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research Evaluation (AGREE) II checklist. A total of 148 clinicians from eight countries completed the survey. The majority were nurses (n = 92 62%), practicing as vascular access specialists (n = 27 18%). Twenty-three respondents (16%) reported using a DIVA tool, of which the DIVA Score was most common (n = 5 22%). Five clinical pathways were identified from the survey and review. Based on the AGREE II domains, pathways generally scored well for scope and purpose, and for clarity of presentation areas. Information on the rigor of development and editorial independence was infrequently detailed. Based on AGREE II findings, one pathway was recommended for clinical practice, and four were recommended for use with modification. Resources for the identification and escalation of children with DIVA are not standardized or consistently used. Further work is needed to streamline processes for DIVA identification and escalation to the appropriate clinician, with technology-assisted insertion capability. This will enhance patient experiences and reduce harm from multiple insertion attempts. Multiple failed insertion attempts come at great cost to the child, family, and healthcare service. Early identification and management of the child with DIVA can ensure prompt escalation and management, improving the patient and family experience.
Predicting and mitigating future biodiversity loss using long-term ecological proxies
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 28-09-2016
DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE3086
Body size and growth in tropical small mammals: Examining variation using non-linear mixed effects models
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2005
No need for disease: Testing extinction hypotheses for the thylacine using multi-species metamodels
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-01-2013
Abstract: Population viability analysis (PVA) is widely used to assess the extinction risk of threatened species and to evaluate different management strategies. However, conventional PVA neglects important biotic interactions and therefore can fail to identify important threatening processes. We designed a new PVA approach that includes species interactions explicitly by networking species models within a single 'metamodel'. We demonstrate the utility of PVA metamodels by employing them to reinterpret the extinction of the carnivorous, marsupial thylacine Thylacinus cynocephalus in Tasmania. In particular, we test the claim that well-documented impacts of European settlement cannot account for this extinction and that an unknown disease must have been an additional and necessary cause. We first constructed a classical, single-species PVA model for thylacines, which was then extended by incorporation within a dynamic predator-herbivore-vegetation metamodel that accounted for the influence of Europeans on the thylacine's prey base. Given obvious parameter uncertainties, we explored both modelling approaches with rigorous sensitivity analyses. Single-species PVA models were unable to recreate the thylacine's extinction unless a high human harvest, small starting population size or low maximum population growth rate was assumed, even if disease effects were included from 1906 to 1909. In contrast, we readily recreated the thylacine's demise using disease-free multi-species metamodels that simulated declines in native prey populations (particularly due to competition with introduced sheep). Dynamic, multi-species metamodels provide a simple, flexible framework for studying current species declines and historical extinctions caused by complex, interacting factors.
Integrating bioclimate with population models to improve forecasts of species extinctions under climate change
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 22-07-2009
Abstract: Climate change is already affecting species worldwide, yet existing methods of risk assessment have not considered interactions between demography and climate and their simultaneous effect on habitat distribution and population viability. To address this issue, an international workshop was held at the University of Adelaide in Australia, 25–29 May 2009, bringing leading species distribution and population modellers together with plant ecologists. Building on two previous workshops in the UK and Spain, the participants aimed to develop methodological standards and case studies for integrating bioclimatic and metapopulation models, to provide more realistic forecasts of population change, habitat fragmentation and extinction risk under climate change. The discussions and case studies focused on several challenges, including spatial and temporal scale contingencies, choice of predictive climate, land use, soil type and topographic variables, procedures for ensemble forecasting of both global climate and bioclimate models and developing demographic structures that are realistic and species-specific and yet allow generalizations of traits that make species vulnerable to climate change. The goal is to provide general guidelines for assessing the Red-List status of large numbers of species potentially at risk, owing to the interactions of climate change with other threats such as habitat destruction, overexploitation and invasive species.
Meeting sustainable development goals via robotics and autonomous systems
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-06-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-022-31150-5
Abstract: Robotics and autonomous systems are reshaping the world, changing healthcare, food production and bio ersity management. While they will play a fundamental role in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals, associated opportunities and threats are yet to be considered systematically. We report on a horizon scan evaluating robotics and autonomous systems impact on all Sustainable Development Goals, involving 102 experts from around the world. Robotics and autonomous systems are likely to transform how the Sustainable Development Goals are achieved, through replacing and supporting human activities, fostering innovation, enhancing remote access and improving monitoring. Emerging threats relate to reinforcing inequalities, exacerbating environmental change, erting resources from tried-and-tested solutions and reducing freedom and privacy through inadequate governance. Although predicting future impacts of robotics and autonomous systems on the Sustainable Development Goals is difficult, thoroughly examining technological developments early is essential to prevent unintended detrimental consequences. Additionally, robotics and autonomous systems should be considered explicitly when developing future iterations of the Sustainable Development Goals to avoid reversing progress or exacerbating inequalities.
Pessimistic and optimistic bias in population viability analysis
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2000
Complication and failures of central vascular access device in adult critical care settings
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 12-2018
DOI: 10.1097/CCM.0000000000003370
Abstract: To examine the proportion and rate of central venous access device failure and complications across central venous access device types in adult intensive care. A systematic search was undertaken in the electronic databases Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health in September 2017. Included studies were of observational (prospective and retrospective) or interventional design and reported central venous access device failure and complications in adult ICU settings. Studies were excluded if they were published prior to November 2006 or not reported in English. Two reviewers independently screened articles, assessed eligibility, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. Data were extracted on the primary outcome, central venous access device failure, and secondary outcomes: central venous access device complications (central line-associated bloodstream infection, catheter-related bloodstream infection, catheter-related thrombosis, occlusion, catheter removal due to suspected infection, dislodgement, breakage, and local infection). Patient and device data and study details to assess the study quality were also extracted. A total of 63 studies involving 50,000 central venous access devices (396,951 catheter days) were included. Central venous access device failure was 5% (95% CI, 3–6%), with the highest rates and proportion of failure in hemodialysis catheters. Overall central line-associated bloodstream infection rate was 4.59 per 1,000 catheter days (95% CI, 2.31–6.86), with the highest rate in nontunneled central venous access devices. Removal of central venous access device due to suspected infection was high (17% 20.4 per 1,000 catheter days 95% CI, 15.7–25.2). Central venous access device complications and device failure is a prevalent and significant problem in the adult ICU, leading to substantial patient harm and increased healthcare costs. The high proportion of central venous access devices removed due to suspicion of infection, despite low overall central line-associated bloodstream infection and catheter-related bloodstream infection rates, indicates a need for robust practice guidelines to inform decision-making surrounding removal of central venous access devices suspected of infection.
Roadkill islands: carnivore extinction shifts seasonal use of roadside carrion by generalist avian scavenger
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 19-02-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.02.18.429855
Abstract: Global road networks facilitate habitat modification and are integral to human expansion. Many animals, particularly scavengers, use roads as they provide a reliable source of food, such as carrion left after vehicle collisions. Tasmania is often cited as the ‘roadkill capital of Australia’, with the isolated offshore islands in the Bass Strait experiencing similar, if not higher, levels of roadkill. However, native mammalian predators on the islands are extirpated, meaning the remaining scavengers are likely to experience lower interference competition. In this study, we use a naturally occurring experiment to examine how the loss of mammalian carnivores within a community impacts roadside foraging behaviour by avian scavengers. We monitored the locations of roadkill and forest ravens ( Corvus tasmanicus ), an abundant scavenger species, on eight road transects across the Tasmanian mainland (high scavenging competition) and the Bass Strait islands (low scavenging competition). We represented raven observations as one-dimensional point patterns, using hierarchical Bayesian models to investigate the dependence of raven spatial intensity on habitat, season, distance to roadkill and route location. We found that roadkill carcasses were a strong predictor of raven presence along road networks. The effect of roadkill was lified on roads on the Bass Strait islands, where roadside carrion was a predictor of raven presence across the entire year. In contrast, ravens were more often associated with roadkill on Tasmanian mainland roads in the autumn, when other resources were low. This suggests that in the absence of competing mammalian scavengers, ravens choose to feed on roadside carrion throughout the year, even in seasons when other resources are available. This low interference competition could be disproportionately benefiting forest ravens, leading to augmented raven populations and changes to the vertebrate community structure. Our study provides evidence that scavengers modify their behaviour in response to reduced scavenger species ersity, potentially triggering trophic shifts and highlighting the importance of conserving or reintroducing carnivores within ecosystems.
The use of Australian bioregions as spatial units of analysis to explore relationships between climate and songbird diversity
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1071/PC110354
Abstract: Biogeographers often investigate patterns of bio ersity at continental and global scales, using existing data georeferenced to a lattice of cells of latitude and longitude. Problems can arise with this approach when the available biological data are insufficient to adequately s le each cell and the cells are environmentally heterogeneous. An alternative, though less-often employed, approach is to use bioregions (defined as areas with distinctive biophysical environmental characteristics) as the basic s ling unit and to statistically control for unequal areas of regions. Here we applied this latter approach with the Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) to analyse continental patterns of songbird species richness in relation to mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, and mean wet season temperature, which are all predicted to substantially change given anthropogenic climate change. We used the Birds Australia database that has a large s le ( ,560,000) of distribution records covering Australia. For each of the 85 IBRAs, we determined the total number of songbird species and standardized these richness values accounting for the species-area effect by including the log of bioregion area as a covariate in the statistical models. Our analysis of standardized bioregion songbirds richness showed that the best supported model, based on information theory statistics included an interaction of mean annual temperature and precipitation (48.6% deviance explained). The fitted model showed declining richness with increasing temperature and declining precipitation, signalling that future climates may result in regional declines in songbird abundance. We suggest our simple empirical-statistical approach, using bioregions as the spatial unit, has promise for continental and global impact assessment of ersity changes and for conservation planning
Determinants of survival for the northern brown bandicoot under a landscape-scale fire experiment
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2003
Population dynamics can be more important than physiological limits for determining range shifts under climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-09-2013
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.12289
Abstract: Evidence is accumulating that species' responses to climate changes are best predicted by modelling the interaction of physiological limits, biotic processes and the effects of dispersal-limitation. Using commercially harvested blacklip (Haliotis rubra) and greenlip abalone (Haliotis laevigata) as case studies, we determine the relative importance of accounting for interactions among physiology, metapopulation dynamics and exploitation in predictions of range (geographical occupancy) and abundance (spatially explicit density) under various climate change scenarios. Traditional correlative ecological niche models (ENM) predict that climate change will benefit the commercial exploitation of abalone by promoting increased abundances without any reduction in range size. However, models that account simultaneously for demographic processes and physiological responses to climate-related factors result in future (and present) estimates of area of occupancy (AOO) and abundance that differ from those generated by ENMs alone. Range expansion and population growth are unlikely for blacklip abalone because of important interactions between climate-dependent mortality and metapopulation processes in contrast, greenlip abalone should increase in abundance despite a contraction in AOO. The strongly non-linear relationship between abalone population size and AOO has important ramifications for the use of ENM predictions that rely on metrics describing change in habitat area as proxies for extinction risk. These results show that predicting species' responses to climate change often require physiological information to understand climatic range determinants, and a metapopulation model that can make full use of this data to more realistically account for processes such as local extirpation, demographic rescue, source-sink dynamics and dispersal-limitation.
Compromised Ecosystem Services From Urban Aerial Microbiomes: A Review of Impacts on Human Immune Function
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
Date: 22-10-2020
Effects of prey metapopulation structure on the viability of black‐footed ferrets in plague‐impacted landscapes: a metamodelling approach
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-02-2014
Bioregionalization approaches for conservation: methods, biases, and their implications for Australian biodiversity
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-11-2020
V.1 Causes and Consequences of Species Extinctions
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Date: 31-12-2009
Building a Global, Pediatric Vascular Access Registry: A Scoping Review of Trial Outcomes and Quality Indicators to Inform Evidence‐Based Practice
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-01-2019
DOI: 10.1111/WVN.12339
Abstract: Internationally, there is a lack of comparative vascular access (VA) data for pediatric clinicians and organizations to benchmark outcomes, evaluate quality initiatives, and improve practice. A VA registry is needed to address these knowledge and data capture gaps. To determine the range and heterogeneity of VA outcome measures or quality indicators reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical registries, to inform development of a homogeneous, reliable, minimum dataset for a pediatric VA registry. Scoping review framework. A systematic search for RCTs reporting VA outcomes in pediatrics and neonates was undertaken in the Cochrane library, EMBASE, CINAHL, PubMed, MEDLINE, and EBSCO using a medical subject headings and key words related to VA and pediatrics. We included RCTs of children (0-18 years) reporting any VA outcome. We identified clinical registries reporting VA data in children (0-18) through web-based searches using key words related to VA and clinical or quality registries. Additional registries were identified through peer consultation. The frequency and scope of outcome measures and quality indicators were extracted from trials and registries and evaluated. From 93 RCTs included, 214 different VA measures were reported, reflecting 14 outcome domains. The most commonly reported outcome domains were insertion (44 RCTs 47%), noninfectious complications (33 RCTs 35%), and infectious complications (30 RCTs 32%). Of the 22 registries identified, VA-associated infection was the main quality indicator routinely collected (12 registries 55%). Outcomes such as mechanical complications and patient-reported outcomes were infrequently collected. Vascular access outcomes reported in pediatric and neonatal RCTs are highly heterogeneous. Internationally, clinical registries currently collect minimal VA data with the exception of infection outcomes. A core dataset of reliable, relevant measures to children and clinicians for VA device quality is needed. This will enable a VA registry that facilitates inter-institutional and international benchmarking.
Biodiversity losses and conservation responses in the Anthropocene
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 21-04-2017
Abstract: Bio ersity is essential to human well-being, but people have been reducing bio ersity throughout human history. Loss of species and degradation of ecosystems are likely to further accelerate in the coming years. Our understanding of this crisis is now clear, and world leaders have pledged to avert it. Nonetheless, global goals to reduce the rate of bio ersity loss have mostly not been achieved. However, many ex les of conservation success show that losses can be halted and even reversed. Building on these lessons to turn the tide of bio ersity loss will require bold and innovative action to transform historical relationships between human populations and nature.
Forecasts of habitat suitability improve habitat corridor efficacy in rapidly changing environments
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-04-2014
DOI: 10.1111/DDI.12208
Energy research within the UNFCCC: a proposal to guard against ongoing climate-deadlock
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-05-2016
Urbanisation reduces the abundance and diversity of airborne microbes - but what does that mean for our health? A systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2020
Strength of density feedback in census data increases from slow to fast life histories
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-07-2012
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.298
Experimental comparison of aerial larvicides and habitat modification for controlling disease-carrying Aedes vigilax mosquitoes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-11-2012
DOI: 10.1002/PS.2317
Abstract: Microbial and insect-growth-regulator larvicides dominate current vector control programmes because they reduce larval abundance and are relatively environmentally benign. However, their short persistence makes them expensive, and environmental manipulation of larval habitat might be an alternative control measure. Aedes vigilax is a major vector species in northern Australia. A field experiment was implemented in Darwin, Australia, to test the hypotheses that (1) aerial microbial larvicide application effectively decreases Ae. vigilax larval presence, and therefore adult emergence, and (2) environmental manipulation is an effective alternative control measure. Generalised linear and mixed-effects modelling and information-theoretic comparisons were used to test these hypotheses. It is shown that the current aerial larvicide application c aign is effective at suppressing the emergence of Ae. vigilax, whereas vegetation removal is not as effective in this context. In addition, the results indicate that current larval s ling procedures are inadequate for quantifying larval abundance or adult emergence. This field-based comparison has shown that the existing larviciding c aign is more effective than a simple environmental management strategy for mosquito control. It has also identified an important knowledge gap in the use of larval s ling to evaluate the effectiveness of vector control strategies.
The Ecological Footprint Remains a Misleading Metric of Global Sustainability
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 05-11-2013
Minimum viable population size: A meta-analysis of 30 years of published estimates
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2007
Does the Shoe Fit? Real versus Imagined Ecological Footprints
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 05-11-2013
Rainfall and temperature variation does not explain arid species diversity in outback Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 07-2013
DOI: 10.2147/RRBS.S40301
Association between land use, land cover, plant genera, and pollinator abundance in mixed-use landscapes
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 21-01-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.20.427393
Abstract: Pollinators are globally threatened by land-use change, but its effect varies depending on the taxa and the intensity of habitat degradation. However, pollinator-landscape studies typically focus on regions of intensive human activities and on a few focal species. Evaluating pollinator responses in landscapes with moderate land-use changes and on multiple pollinator groups would therefore fill an important knowledge gap. This study aims to determine the predictive capacity and effect of habitat characteristics on the relative abundance of multiple pollinator groups in mixed-use landscapes. To do this, we collected field data on the relative abundance of nectivorous birds, bees, beetles, and butterflies across the Tasman Peninsula (Tasmania, Australia). We then applied Random Forests to resolve the effects of land use (protected areas, plantation, and pasture), land cover at different radii (100 m and 2000 m), and plant genera on pollinator abundance. Overall, land cover and plant genera were more important predictors of pollinator abundance than land use. And the effect of land use, land cover, and plant genera varied depending on the pollinating group. Pollinator groups were associated with a range of plant genera, with the native genera Acacia, Leptospermum, Leucopogon, Melaleuca, Pomaderris , and Pultenaea being among the most important predictors. Our results highlight that one size does not fit all—that is pollinator response to different landscape characteristics vary, emphasise the importance of considering multiple habitat factors to manage and support a dynamic pollinator community, and demonstrates how land management can be informed using predictive modelling.
A meta-analysis of the impact of anthropogenic forest disturbance on southeast Asia's biotas
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2009
Hot topics in biodiversity and climate change research
Publisher: F1000 Research Ltd
Date: 30-09-2015
DOI: 10.12688/F1000RESEARCH.6508.1
Abstract: With scientific and societal interest in bio ersity impacts of climate change growing enormously over the last decade, we analysed directions and biases in the recent most highly cited data papers in this field of research (from 2012 to 2014). The majority of this work relied on leveraging large databases of already collected historical information (but not paleo- or genetic data), and coupled these to new methodologies for making forward projections of shifts in species’ geographical ranges, with a focus on temperate and montane plants. A consistent finding was that the pace of climate-driven habitat change, along with increased frequency of extreme events, is outpacing the capacity of species or ecological communities to respond and adapt.
Tracking shifting range margins using geographical centroids of metapopulations weighted by population density
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2013
Reply to o'neill et al. and o'sullivan: Fertility reduction will help, but only in the long term
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 23-01-2015
How to monitor elusive lizards: comparison of capture-recapture methods on giant day geckos (Gekkonidae, Phelsuma madagascariensis grandis) in the Masoala rainforest exhibit, Zurich Zoo
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-06-2009
Central venous Access device SeCurement And Dressing Effectiveness (CASCADE) in paediatrics: protocol for pilot randomised controlled trials
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-2016
How secure is the Lord Howe Island Woodhen? A population viability analysis using VORTEX
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 1997
DOI: 10.1071/PC970125
Abstract: The Lord Howe Island Woodhen is a flightless rail endemic to Lord Howe Island that became endangered due to human over-exploitation and predation from wild pigs. It has recently recovered from a population size of 20?30 to around 200 as a result of a captive breeding and reintroduction programme. Its classification has been downgraded from endangered to vulnerable, but no quantitative assessment of its future prospects had been undertaken. A population viability analysis (PVA) was performed on the Lord Howe Island Woodhen to project its possible fate using VORTEX, a package that realistically reflects the woodhen's recent history. Prospective analyses showed the woodhen to be acutely sensitive to minor changes in mortality and fecundity, and to catastrophes, due to exotic species, inbreeding, or disease. A remote population needs to be established if the likelihood of the woodhen's extinction is to be minimized. According to the most recent IUCN Red List categories, the woodhen satisfies the criteria for endangered status.
iEcology: Harnessing Large Online Resources to Generate Ecological Insights
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
One equation fits overkill: why allometry underpins both prehistoric and modern body size-biased extinctions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-04-2005
What Makes Mathematics Teacher Knowledge Specialized? Offering Alternative Views
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-09-2017
Dynamics of range margins for metapopulations under climate change
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 25-02-2009
Abstract: We link spatially explicit climate change predictions to a dynamic metapopulation model. Predictions of species' responses to climate change, incorporating metapopulation dynamics and elements of dispersal, allow us to explore the range margin dynamics for two lagomorphs of conservation concern. Although the lagomorphs have very different distribution patterns, shifts at the edge of the range were more pronounced than shifts in the overall metapopulation. For Romerolagus diazi (volcano rabbit), the lower elevation range limit shifted upslope by approximately 700 m. This reduced the area occupied by the metapopulation, as the mountain peak currently lacks suitable vegetation. For Lepus timidus (European mountain hare), we modelled the British metapopulation. Increasing the dispersive estimate caused the metapopulation to shift faster on the northern range margin (leading edge). By contrast, it caused the metapopulation to respond to climate change slower , rather than faster, on the southern range margin (trailing edge). The differential responses of the leading and trailing range margins and the relative sensitivity of range limits to climate change compared with that of the metapopulation centroid have important implications for where conservation monitoring should be targeted. Our study demonstrates the importance and possibility of moving from simple bioclimatic envelope models to second-generation models that incorporate both dynamic climate change and metapopulation dynamics.
Marine extinctions revisited
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2007
Implementation of a paediatric peripheral intravenous catheter care bundle: A quality improvement initiative
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-01-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.14384
Abstract: To improve paediatric peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) care through the implementation of care bundles. A pre-post study using mixed methods (clinical audit, staff survey, parent interviews) in 2016 at a tertiary paediatric hospital in Brisbane was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a PIVC insertion and maintenance bundle to improve PIVC insertion, promote function and support practice. Participants included children with PIVC, parents and staff inserting and managing PIVCs. A mnemonic care bundle, SUCCESS PIVCS (At insertion: Skills, Understand and prepare, Consent, Clean site, Escalate, Secure, Sign and document. During management: Prompt removal, Inspect hourly, Vein patency, Clean hands and Scrub the hub), was developed and implemented via visual aids, workshops and change ch ions. During audit, PIVC first-attempt insertion success, PIVC failure, PIVC dwell, escalation to senior clinicians and insertion and management procedures were measured. Pre-implementation audit (n = 102) and survey (n = 117) data described high rates of PIVC failure (n = 50 49%), difficulty obtaining equipment (n = 64 55%) and pressure to insert (n = 50 43%). Parent interviews (n = 15) identified lack of communication, fear, appreciation of skilled technicians and technology and care giver roles as key to improving the experience. After implementation first-attempt insertion success (45 vs. 62% risk ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.05-1.78), first-attempt escalation to senior clinicians (junior doctor 72 vs. 41% P = <0.001) and median PIVC dwell (40 vs. 52 h P = 0.021) improved. This multi-level care bundle demonstrated improvements in the insertion and management of PIVCs however, PIVC failure remained high.
Global climate change: Convergence of disciplines by Arnold J. Bloom. Sunderland (Massachusetts): Sinauer Associates
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: 06-2011
DOI: 10.1086/659900
Long‐term breeding phenology shift in royal penguins
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-06-2012
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.281
ENDOGENOUS AND EXOGENOUS FACTORS CONTROLLING TEMPORAL ABUNDANCE PATTERNS OF TROPICAL MOSQUITOES
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2008
DOI: 10.1890/07-1209.1
Abstract: The growing demand for efficient and effective mosquito control requires a better understanding of vector population dynamics and how these are modified by endogenous and exogenous factors. A long-term (11-year) monitoring data set describing the relative abundance of the saltmarsh mosquito (Aedes vigilax) in the greater Darwin region, northern Australia, was examined in a suite of Gompertz-logistic (GL) models with and without hypothesized environmental correlates (high tide frequency, rainfall, and relative humidity). High tide frequency and humidity were hypothesized to influence saltmarsh mosquito abundance positively, and rainfall was hypothesized to correlate negatively by reducing the availability of suitable habitats (moist substrata) required by ovipositing adult female mosquitoes. We also examined whether environmental correlates explained the variance in seasonal carrying capacity (K) because environmental stochasticity is hypothesized to modify population growth rate (r), carrying capacity, or both. Current and lagged-time effects were tested by comparing alternative population dynamics models using three different information criteria (Akaike's Information Criterion [corrected AIC(c)], Bayesian Information Criterion [BIC], and cross-validation [C-V]). The GL model with a two-month lag without environmental effects explained 31% of the deviance in population growth rate. This increased to > 70% under various model combinations of high tide frequency, rainfall, and relative humidity, of which, high tide frequency and rainfall had the highest contributions. Temporal variation in K was explained weakly by high tide frequency, and there was some evidence that the filling of depressions to reduce standing water availability has reduced Aedes vigilax carrying capacity over the study period. This study underscores the need to consider simultaneously both types of drivers (endogenous and exogenous) when predicting mosquito abundance and population growth patterns. This work also indicates that climate change, via continued increases in rainfall and higher expected frequencies and intensities of high tide events with sea level rise, will alter mosquito abundance trends in northern Australia.
Climate-Induced Elevational Range Shifts and Increase in Plant Species Richness in a Himalayan Biodiversity Epicentre
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-02-2013
An international survey of pediatric and neonatal clinicians' vascular access practice: PediSIG assessment of vascular access, education, and support (PAVES) catheter selection
Publisher: Mark Allen Group
Date: 23-07-2020
DOI: 10.12968/BJON.2020.29.14.S40
Abstract: There is a wide variance in neonatal and pediatric vascular access workforce models, training, and competency assessments. Pain control during procedures is critical for children, yet it is not consistently used. Procedural support has shown improved patient outcomes, yet is not standardly used for every distressful procedure. Core standards are needed to ensure proper training and support for the pediatric and neonatal vascular access clinicians. Despite evidence to support best practice in neonatal and pediatric venipuncture delivery and procedural support, there are inconsistencies in practice. To inform future research, education, and workforce innovation, the Association for Vascular Access Pediatric Special Interest Group (PediSIG) developed and undertook a survey to describe the current vascular access practice for clinicians caring for neonatal and pediatric patients. Describe the current state of workforce models, training, and clinical practices surrounding pediatric and neonatal vascular access. Cross-sectional, electronic survey using convenience s ling. International clinicians who provide vascular access (peripheral intravenous catheter insertion, venipuncture for blood s ling) for neonatal and pediatric patients. An electronic survey was developed by the PediSIG. The survey covered workforce models, clinician training and competency, pain relief, procedural support, and device securement. The electronic survey was then distributed to the PediSIG membership and shared among several neonatal ediatric email lists. Data were analyzed descriptively, with an exploration of association between clinical outcomes, workforce, and training. There were 242 responses from 5 countries showing a wide variance of practice. Workforce models showed many different team names and responsibilities along with a variance of personnel and staffing hours. Clinician training was described as 4 hours or less by 44% (n = 69) of respondents. Less than half of the responses (47% n = 99) reported having a formal procedure to escalate a patient to an expert care and not having a set number of max attempts before escalation. Only two-thirds (n = 115) of respondents said they had a standardized protocol for pain control and procedural support, with only 13% (n = 23) and 15% (n = 27), respectively, self-reporting that they always followed the protocol. The respondents reported a wide variance in neonatal and pediatric vascular access procedures and the resources used to support this practice. Core standards need to be developed to help guide neonatal and pediatric clinicians and their institutions. The standards should encompass recommendations for workforce models, proper training, competency, insertion guidelines, pain control,
Dressings and securement devices to prevent complications for peripheral arterial catheters
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-05-2018
Endemic predators, invasive prey and native diversity
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 08-09-2011
Abstract: Interactions between native ersity and invasive species can be more complex than is currently understood. Invasive ant species often substantially reduce ersity in the native ants ersity that act as natural control agents for pest insects. In Indonesia (on the island of Sulawesi), the third largest cacao producer worldwide, we show that a predatory endemic toad ( Ingerophrynus celebensis ) controls invasive ant ( Anoplolepis gracilipes ) abundance, and positively affects native ant ersity. We call this the invasive-naivety effect (an opposite of enemy release), whereby alien species may not harbour anti-predatory defences against a novel native predator. A positive effect of the toads on native ants may facilitate their predation on insect vectors of cacao diseases. Hence, toads may increase crop yield, but further research is needed on this aspect. Ironically, hibians are globally the most threatened vertebrate class and are strongly impacted by the conversion of rainforest to cacao plantations in Sulawesi. It is, therefore, crucial to manage cacao plantations to maintain these endemic toads, as they may provide critical ecosystem services, such as invasion resistance and preservation of native insect ersity.
Most species are not driven to extinction before genetic factors impact them
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 11-10-2004
Abstract: There is controversy concerning the role of genetic factors in species extinctions. Many authors have asserted that species are usually driven to extinction before genetic factors have time to impact them, but few studies have seriously addressed this issue. If this assertion is true, there will be little difference in genetic ersity between threatened and taxonomically related nonthreatened species. We compared average heterozygosities in 170 threatened taxa with those in taxonomically related nonthreatened taxa in a comprehensive metaanalysis. Heterozygosity was lower in threatened taxa in 77% of comparisons, a highly significant departure from the predictions of the no genetic impact hypothesis. Heterozygosity was on average 35% lower (median 40%) in threatened taxa than in related nonthreatened ones. These differences in heterozygosity indicate lowered evolutionary potential, compromised reproductive fitness, and elevated extinction risk in the wild. Independent evidence from stochastic computer projections has demonstrated that inbreeding depression elevates extinction risk for threatened species in natural habitats when all other threatening processes are included in the models. Thus, most taxa are not driven to extinction before genetic factors affect them adversely.
Synergies between climate change, extinctions and invasive vertebrates
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1071/WR07116
Abstract: There is mounting evidence for the direct ecological impacts of recent climate change, and for lifying feedbacks, in both directions, with other drivers of bio ersity loss, such as habitat fragmentation and overexploitation. Surprisingly, however, empirical and experimental data on the links between climate change and species introductions are scant, especially for invasive vertebrates. Because the theoretical basis for their mutually reinforced impact is strong, this dearth of evidence likely reflects the difficulty in studying such interactions, and insufficient attention to this topic, rather than a genuine lack of association. Given the unprecedented rate of recent and predicted future climate change, and the continued exponential rise in species invasions worldwide, it is imperative that we sharpen our scientific focus so as to best equip wildlife managers with the knowledge to tackle this inevitable synergy of threats.
Realistic levels of inbreeding depression strongly affect extinction risk in wild populations
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2006
Unreported yet massive deforestation driving loss of endemic biodiversity in Indian Himalaya
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-05-2006
Astro-ecology? Shifting the interdisciplinary collaboration paradigm
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 31-08-2018
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.4455
South Korean energy scenarios show how nuclear power can reduce future energy and environmental costs
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2014
Habitat suitability, live abundance and their link to road mortality of Tasmanian wildlife
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1071/WR18128
Abstract: ContextTasmania has been called the roadkill capital of Australia. However, little is known about the population-level impact of vehicle mortality on native mammals in the island state. AimsThe aims were to investigate the predictability of roadkill on a given route, based on models of species distribution and live animal abundance for three marsupial species in Tasmania – the Tasmanian pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and the bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) – and to assess the possibility of predicting the magnitude of state-wide road mortality based on live animal abundance. MethodsRoad mortality of the three species was measured on eight 15-km road segments in south-eastern Tasmania, during 16 weeks over the period 2016–17. Climate suitability was predicted using state-wide geographical location records, using species distribution models, and counts of these species from 190 spotlight survey roads. Key resultsThe Tasmanian pademelons were the most frequently killed animal encountered over the study period. Live abundance, predicted by fitting models to spotlight counts, did not correlate with this fatality rate for any species. However, the climate suitability index generated by the species distribution models was strongly predictive for wombat roadkill, and moderately so for pademelons. ConclusionsAlthough distributional and wildlife abundance records are commonly available and well described by models based on climate, vegetation and land-use predictors, this approach to climate suitability modelling has limited predictability for roadkill counts on specific routes. ImplicationsRoad-specific factors, such as characteristics of the road infrastructure, nearby habitats and behavioural traits, seem to be required to explain roadkill frequency. Determining their relative importance will require spatial analysis of roadkill locations.
A practical method for creating a digital topographic surface for ecological plots using ground-based measurements
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-12-2018
Emerging perspectives in mathematical cognition: contextualizing, complementizing, and complexifying
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-01-2019
50/500 rule and minimum viable populations: response to Jamieson and Allendorf
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2013
Shifting trends: detecting environmentally mediated regulation in long-lived marine vertebrates using time-series data
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-11-2008
DOI: 10.1007/S00442-008-1205-9
Abstract: Assessing the status and trends in animal populations is essential for effective species conservation and management practices. However, unless time-series abundance data demonstrate rapid and reliable fluctuations, objective appraisal of directionality of trends is problematic. We adopted a multiple-working hypotheses approach based on information-theoretic and Bayesian multi-model inference to examine the population trends and form of intrinsic regulation demonstrated by a long-lived species, the southern elephant seal. We also determined the evidence for density dependence in 11 other well-studied marine mammal species. (1) We tested the type of population regulation for elephant seals from Marion Island (1986-2004) and from 11 other marine mammal species, and (2) we described the trends and behavior of the 19-year population time series at Marion Island to identify changes in population trends. We contrasted five plausible trend models using information-theoretic and Bayesian-inference estimates of model parsimony. Our analyses identified two distinct phases of population growth for this population with the inflexion occurring in 1998. Thus, the population decreased between 1986 and 1997 (-3.7% per annum) and increased between 1997 and 2004 (1.9% per annum). An index of environmental stochasticity, the Southern Oscillation Index, explained some of the variance in r and N. We determined analytically that there was good evidence for density dependence in the Marion Island population and that density dependence was widespread among marine mammal species (67% of species showed evidence for population regulation). This approach demonstrates the potential functionality of a relatively simple technique that can be applied to short time series to identify the type of regulation, and the uncertainty associated with the phenomenon, operating in populations of large mammals.
Comparison of the population viability analysis packages GAPPS, INMAT, RAMAS and VORTEX for the whooping crane (Grus americana)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-1999
Current and future threats from non-indigenous animal species in northern Australia: a spotlight on World Heritage Area Kakadu National Park
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1071/WR06056
Abstract: Non-indigenous animal species threaten bio ersity and ecosystem stability by damaging or transforming habitats, killing or out-competing native species and spreading disease. We use World Heritage Area Kakadu National Park, northern Australia, as a focal region to illustrate the current and potential threats posed by non-indigenous animal species to internationally and nationally recognised natural and cultural values. Available evidence suggests that large feral herbivores such as Asian sw buffalo, pigs and horses are the most ecologically threatening species in this region. This may reflect the inherent research bias, because these species are highly visible and impact primary production consequently, their control has attracted the strongest research and management efforts. Burgeoning threats, such as the already established cane toad and crazy ant, and potentially non-indigenous freshwater fish, marine invertebrates and pathogens, may cause severe problems for native bio ersity. To counter these threats, management agencies must apply an ongoing, planned and practical approach using scientifically based and well funded control measures however, many stakeholders require direct evidence of the damage caused by non-indigenous species before agreeing to implement control. To demonstrate the increasing priority of non-indigenous species research in Australia and to quantify taxonomic and habitat biases in research focus, we compiled an extensive biography of peer-reviewed articles published between 1950 and 2005. Approximately 1000 scientific papers have been published on the impact and control of exotic animals in Australia, with a strong bias towards terrestrial systems and mammals. Despite the sheer quantity of research on non-indigenous species and their effects, management responses remain largely ad hoc and poorly evaluated, especially in northern Australia and in high-value areas such as Kakadu National Park. We argue that improved management in relatively isolated and susceptible tropical regions requires (1) robust quantification of density–damage relationships, and (2) the delivery of research findings that stimulate land managers to develop cost-effective control and monitoring programs.
poems: R package for simulating species' range dynamics using pattern-oriented validation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-09-2021
Abstract: Spatially explicit population models (SEPMs) can simulate spatiotemporal changes in species' range dynamics in response to variation in climatic and environmental conditions, and anthropogenic activities. When combined with pattern‐oriented modelling methods, ecological processes and drivers of range shifts and extinctions can be identified, and plausible chains of causality revealed. The open‐source multi‐platform R package poems provides functionality for simulating and validating projections of species' range dynamics using stochastic, lattice‐based population models. Built‐in modules allow parameter uncertainty to propagate through to model simulations, with their effects on species' range dynamics evaluated using Approximate Bayesian Computation. These validation procedures identify models with the structural complexity and parameterisation needed to simulate the effects of past changes in climate, environment and human activities on species' range shifts and extinction risk. We illustrate the features and versatility of poems by simulating the historical decline and extinction of the Thylacine Thylacinus cynocephalus , an icon of recent extinctions in Australia. We show that poems can reveal likely ecological pathways to extinction using pattern‐oriented methods, providing validated projections of the range collapse and population decline of threatened species. By providing flexible and extendable modules for building and validating SEPMs of species' range dynamics, poems allows the effects of past and future threats on species' populations to be quantified using well‐parameterised, structurally realistic models, with important generative mechanisms. Since poems can directly unravel ecological processes of species responses to global change, and strengthen predictions of range shifts and extinction risk—within a flexible, R‐based environment—we anticipate that poems will be of significant value to ecologists, conservation managers and biogeographers.
Skin Complications Associated With Pediatric Central Venous Access Devices: Prevalence, Incidence, and Risk
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 18-05-2019
Abstract: Central venous access devices (CVADs) are vital to enable treatment for children with cancer and other complex health conditions. However, complications effecting the CVAD wound are commonly reported. This study aimed to identify the incidence and prevalence of CVAD-associated skin complications current management, and characteristics associated with complication development, in pediatrics. A prospective observational study performed across medical, oncology, and hematology departments at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Australia, between April and July 2017. Children admitted with CVADs were assessed twice weekly for CVAD-associated skin complications and associated signs and symptoms. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (i.e., proportions, frequency) and time-to-event multivariable regression (i.e., hazard ratios [HRs]). Two hundred and seventy-one CVADs were reviewed over 43,787 catheter days, with over one eighth of participants (14% n = 37) having a CVAD-associated skin complication during their admission (0.95 per 1,000 catheter days, 95% confidence interval [CI 0.61, 1.17]), most commonly contact dermatitis (11% n = 29 0.72 per 1,000 catheter days 95% CI [0.50, 1.04]). Within biweekly checks the median point prevalence of complications varied between 0.4% and 11% and clinical management was wide-ranging. A primary diagnosis of oncology (HR 2.89, 95% CI [1.10, 7.62]) or medical/surgical (HR 2.55, 95% CI [1.04, 6.22]) conditions plain, nonbordered polyurethane dressings (HR 4.92, 95% CI [2.00, 12.13]) and poor dressing integrity (HR 2.64, 95% CI [1.18, 5.92]) were significantly associated with contact dermatitis. In conclusion, substantial numbers of pediatric patients experience CVAD-associated skin complications, and innovations are necessary to identify, prevent, and treat these health care–associated injuries.
Complications of central venous access devices: A systematic review
Publisher: American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Date: 11-2015
Abstract: The failure and complications of central venous access devices (CVADs) result in interrupted medical treatment, morbidity, and mortality for the patient. The resulting insertion of a new CVAD further contributes to risk and consumes extra resources. To systematically review existing evidence of the incidence of CVAD failure and complications across CVAD types within pediatrics. Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health databases were systematically searched up to January 2015. Included studies were of cohort design and examined the incidence of CVAD failure and complications across CVAD type in pediatrics within the last 10 years. CVAD failure was defined as CVAD loss of function before the completion of necessary treatment, and complications were defined as CVAD-associated bloodstream infection, CVAD local infection, dislodgement, occlusion, thrombosis, and breakage. Data were independently extracted and critiqued for quality by 2 authors. Seventy-four cohort studies met the inclusion criteria, with mixed quality of reporting and methods. Overall, 25% of CVADs failed before completion of therapy (95% confidence interval [CI] 20.9%–29.2%) at a rate of 1.97 per 1000 catheter days (95% CI 1.71–2.23). The failure per CVAD device was highest proportionally in hemodialysis catheters (46.4% [95% CI 29.6%–63.6%]) and per 1000 catheter days in umbilical catheters (28.6 per 1000 catheter days [95% CI 17.4–39.8]). Totally implanted devices had the lowest rate of failure per 1000 catheter days (0.15 [95% CI 0.09–0.20]). The inclusion of nonrandomized and noncomparator studies may have affected the robustness of the research. CVAD failure and complications in pediatrics are a significant burden on the health care system internationally.
Bloodstream infection and occlusion of central venous catheters in children
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2018
Extinctions: consider all species
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2011
DOI: 10.1038/474284B
Hot, unpredictable weather interacts with land use to restrict the distribution of the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 12-07-2021
Ecological-economic models of sustainable harvest for an endangered but exotic megaherbivore in northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-06-2007
Survival estimation in a long-lived monitor lizard: Radio-tracking of Varanus mertensi
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-07-2010
Why nuclear energy is essential to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emission rates
Publisher: EDP Sciences
Date: 2015
Undesirable aliens: factors determining the distribution of three invasive bird species in Singapore
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 24-10-2003
DOI: 10.1017/S0266467403006084
Abstract: Biological invasions are a major environmental concern due to their negative impacts on bio ersity and economics. We determined the population sizes and habitat-abundance relationships of the three most successful invasive bird species in Singapore: the house crow Corvus splendens , white-vented myna Acridotheres javanicus and common myna A. tristis . Estimated population sizes of the three species between February 2000 and February 2001 were between 106 000-176 000, 122 000-155 000 and 20 000-29 000, respectively. Population size of the house crow grew dramatically ( -fold) in the last 15-16 y while that of the white-vented and common myna declined. Habitat-abundance relationships suggest that house crows are highly dependent on anthropogenic food. Their abundance was also positively related to proximity to coast. The common myna associated closely with agricultural areas while the white-vented myna probably preferred urban greenery among residential buildings. Our study shows that the three invasive bird species associated with different aspects of human-modified environment.
Mathematics teacher learning to notice: a systematic review of studies of video-based programs
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-02-2021
DOI: 10.1007/S11858-020-01216-Z
Abstract: Teacher noticing has become increasingly acknowledged as a fundamental aspect of teacher professional competence. Teacher education scholars have examined how the development of noticing might be supported both in initial teacher education and in professional development. In mathematics teacher education, several studies have explored the use of video as a supporting tool for teacher noticing. It remains unclear how this body of work builds on the various theoretical perspectives of noticing prevalent in the literature, thus broadening our understanding of noticing. Furthermore, the field has not examined systematically the extent to which research has leveraged the affordances of digital video technologies, and whether scholars have employed different research methods to answer questions that are critical to teacher educators. This survey paper reviews studies published in the last two decades on programs centered on mathematics teacher noticing that used video as a supporting tool for teacher learning. Thirty-five peer-reviewed papers written in English were identified and coded along three dimensions: (1) theoretical perspectives (2) use of video technologies and (3) research questions and methods. This review summarizes important findings and highlights several directions for future research. Most studies involved pre-service teachers, and only a few centered on in-service teachers. Developers of the large majority of programs took a cognitive psychological perspective and focused on the attending erceiving and interpreting/reasoning facets of noticing. Few studies used video-based software and few studies used grouping, and even fewer used randomized grouping. Evidence of program effects on responding and decision making, and on instructional practice, is limited and should be extended in the future.
Tick exposure and extreme climate events impact survival and threaten the persistence of a long-lived lizard
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-01-2016
Abstract: Assessing the impacts of multiple, often synergistic, stressors on the population dynamics of long-lived species is becoming increasingly important due to recent and future global change. Tiliqua rugosa (sleepy lizard) is a long-lived skink (>30 years) that is adapted to survive in semi-arid environments with varying levels of parasite exposure and highly seasonal food availability. We used an exhaustive database of 30 years of capture-mark-recapture records to quantify the impacts of both parasite exposure and environmental conditions on the lizard's survival rates and long-term population dynamics. Lizard abundance was relatively stable throughout the study period however, there were changing patterns in adult and juvenile apparent survival rates, driven by spatial and temporal variation in levels of tick exposure and temporal variation in environmental conditions. Extreme weather events during the winter and spring seasons were identified as important environmental drivers of survival. Climate models predict a dramatic increase in the frequency of extreme hot and dry winter and spring seasons in our South Australian study region from a contemporary probability of 0.17 up to 0.47-0.83 in 2080 depending on the emissions scenario. Our stochastic population model projections showed that these future climatic conditions will induce a decline in the abundance of this long-lived reptile of up to 67% within 30 years from 2080, under worst case scenario modelling. The results have broad implications for future work investigating the drivers of population dynamics and persistence. We highlight the importance of long-term data sets and accounting for synergistic impacts between multiple stressors. We show that predicted increases in the frequency of extreme climate events have the potential to considerably and negatively influence a long-lived species, which might previously have been assumed to be resilient to environmental perturbations.
Nuclear power: yes or no?
Publisher: IOP Publishing
Date: 10-2010
Implications of Australia's population policy for future greenhouse gas emissions targets
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-2016
DOI: 10.1002/APP5.135
Central venous Access device SeCurement And Dressing Effectiveness for peripherally inserted central catheters in adult acute hospital patients (CASCADE): a pilot randomised controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-10-2017
Does the terrestrial biosphere have planetary tipping points?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.TREE.2013.01.016
Abstract: Tipping points--where systems shift radically and potentially irreversibly into a different state--have received considerable attention in ecology. Although there is convincing evidence that human drivers can cause regime shifts at local and regional scales, the increasingly invoked concept of planetary scale tipping points in the terrestrial biosphere remains unconfirmed. By evaluating potential mechanisms and drivers, we conclude that spatial heterogeneity in drivers and responses, and lack of strong continental interconnectivity, probably induce relatively smooth changes at the global scale, without an expectation of marked tipping patterns. This implies that identifying critical points along global continua of drivers might be unfeasible and that characterizing global biotic change with single aggregates is inapt.
Artificial nest predation rates vary among habitats in the Australian monsoon tropics
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-07-2008
Importance of the Local Environment on Nutrient Cycling and Litter Decomposition in a Tall Eucalypt Forest
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-04-2019
DOI: 10.3390/F10040340
Abstract: The relative abundance of nitrogen-fixing species has been hypothesised to influence tree biomass, decomposition, and nitrogen availability in eucalypt forests. This prediction has been demonstrated in experimental settings (two-species mixtures) but is yet to be observed in the field with more realistically complex communities. We used a combination of (a) field measurements of tree-community composition, (b) s ling of soil from a subset of these sites (i.e., the local environment), and (c) a decomposition experiment of forest litter to examine whether there is a local-scale effect of the nitrogen-fixing Acacia dealbata Link (presence and abundance) on nitrogen availability, and whether increases in this essential nutrient led to greater biomass of the canopy tree species, Eucalyptus obliqua L’Hér. Average A. dealbata tree size was a significant predictor of forest basal area in 24 plots (12% deviance explained) and, when combined with average distance between trees, explained 29.1% variance in E. obliqua biomass. However, static patterns of local nitrogen concentration were unrelated to the presence or size of A. dealbata, despite our experiments showing that A. dealbata leaf litter controls decomposition rates in the soil (due to three times higher N). Such results are important for forest management in the context of understanding the timing and turnover of shorter-lived species like acacias, where higher N (through either litter or soil) might be better detected early in community establishment (when growth is faster and intraspecific competition more intense) but with that early signal subsequently dissipated.
Needleless connector decontamination for prevention of central venous access device infection: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
Peripherally inserted central catheter design and material for reducing catheter failure and complications
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-07-2019
Protect PIVC s: Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial of a novel antimicrobial dressing for peripheral intravenous catheters (ProP Trial). (Preprint)
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 30-08-2023
Abstract: ntroduction: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are the most common vascular access device with most hospitalised patients receiving at least one during hospital admission. Traditionally, a transparent dressing alone is considered adequate to safely secure a PIVC, regardless of the potential risk of local and systemic infections. Although PIVCs have the lowest incidence of proven infection of all vascular access devices (0.1%, 0.5 per 1000 catheter-days), with nearly 2 billion purchased worldwide each year, the absolute risk of infectious complications and related costs are similar to or even greater than those for other vascular access devices. Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated dressings are widely used to reduce the infectious risk of central venous and arterial catheters but their value in preventing PIVC-related infectious complications has not yet been evaluated in patients. We hypothesise an impregnated CHG transparent dressing, in comparison to standard polyurethane dressing, will be safe, effective, and cost-effective in protecting against PIVC-related infectious complications and phlebitis. Methods and analysis: The ProP Trial is a two-arm, superiority, randomised-controlled trial conducted in two centres in Australia and one centre in France. Patients (adults and children aged ≥6 years) requiring one PIVC for ≥48 hours will be eligible. Exclusion criteria include catheter placement under emergency conditions, burned, non-intact or diseased skin at catheter insertion site, known allergy to CHG or transparent dressing adhesives, and previous participation in the trial. The trial will be conducted in two phases. First, 300 participants will be enrolled as an internal pilot to test protocol feasibility without review of clinical outcomes. An independent data safety monitoring committee will assess the feasibility of pursuing the full trial, of 2624 (1312 in each study group) patients. Patients will be randomised 1:1 to 3M™ Tegaderm™ Antimicrobial IV Advanced Securement dressing or standard care group using a central, web-based randomisation service, with varied block sizes of 4 and 6 and stratification by hospital. Recruitment began on 3rd May, 2023. Other than the type of randomised dressing used to secure the PIVCs, the insertion, maintenance and removal of PIVCs will follow standard practices at the participating sites. The primary endpoint is a composite of catheter-related infectious complications (local and bloodstream infections) and phlebitis. Ethics and dissemination: Human Research Ethics Committee will be gained at participating sites. Eligible patients will receive oral and written information and will be enrolled after giving written consent. For children, parental or legal guardian consent will be required for inclusion in the study. The findings will be disseminated through presentation at scientific conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration: NCT05741866
Does inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity decrease disease resistance?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 08-2004
Ecological correlates of extinction proneness in tropical butterflies
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2004
Fire impacts recruitment more than survival of small-mammals in a tropical savanna
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2015
DOI: 10.1890/ES14-00519.1
Genetic structure of introduced swamp buffalo subpopulations in tropical Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2012
Managed relocation as an adaptation strategy for mitigating climate change threats to the persistence of an endangered lizard
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-06-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2486.2012.02742.X
Abstract: The distributional ranges of many species are contracting with habitat conversion and climate change. For vertebrates, informed strategies for translocations are an essential option for decisions about their conservation management. The pygmy bluetongue lizard, Tiliqua adelaidensis, is an endangered reptile with a highly restricted distribution, known from only a small number of natural grassland fragments in South Australia. Land-use changes over the last century have converted perennial native grasslands into croplands, pastures and urban areas, causing substantial contraction of the species' range due to loss of essential habitat. Indeed, the species was thought to be extinct until its rediscovery in 1992. We develop coupled-models that link habitat suitability with stochastic demographic processes to estimate extinction risk and to explore the efficacy of potential climate adaptation options. These coupled-models offer improvements over simple bioclimatic envelope models for estimating the impacts of climate change on persistence probability. Applying this coupled-model approach to T. adelaidensis, we show that: (i) climate-driven changes will adversely impact the expected minimum abundance of populations and could cause extinction without management intervention, (ii) adding artificial burrows might enhance local population density, however, without targeted translocations this measure has a limited effect on extinction risk, (iii) managed relocations are critical for safeguarding lizard population persistence, as a sole or joint action and (iv) where to source and where to relocate animals in a program of translocations depends on the velocity, extent and nonlinearities in rates of climate-induced habitat change. These results underscore the need to consider managed relocations as part of any multifaceted plan to compensate the effects of habitat loss or shifting environmental conditions on species with low dispersal capacity. More broadly, we provide the first step towards a more comprehensive framework for integrating extinction risk, managed relocations and climate change information into range-wide conservation management.
Silver Buckshot or Bullet: Is a Future “Energy Mix” Necessary?
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 24-01-2018
DOI: 10.3390/SU10020302
Nest site selection of the house crow (Corvus splendens), an urban invasive bird species in Singapore and implications for its management
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2002
Plant extinction risk under climate change: Are forecast range shifts alone a good indicator of species vulnerability to global warming?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-01-2012
Predictive accuracy of population viability analysis in conservation biology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 03-2000
DOI: 10.1038/35006050
Device related pressure injuries across the critical care lifespan
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1111/NICC.12874
Indigenous harvest, exotic pig predation and local persistence of a long-lived vertebrate: Managing a tropical freshwater turtle for sustainability and conservation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-11-2008
Insertion, management, and complications associated with arterial catheters in paediatric intensive care: A clinical audit
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2019.05.003
Abstract: Peripheral arterial catheters (PAC) are used for haemodynamic monitoring and blood s ling in paediatric critical care. Limited data are available regarding PAC insertion and management practices, and how they relate to device function and failure. This information is necessary to inform future interventional research. The primary objective of this study was to describe PAC insertion and management practices, and associated complications. Secondary objectives were to determine patient and clinical characteristics associated with risk of PAC successful insertion and failure. A prospective, observational study was conducted in the anaesthetic department and paediatric intensive care unit of a tertiary paediatric facility. Data were collected on PAC insertion, PAC management and PAC removal. Standard incidence and prevalence were calculated per 1,000 device days. Risk factors for multiple insertions and PAC failure were identified using Cox regression. A total of 100 catheters in 89 children were examined capturing 472 device days. PACs were primarily inserted for blood s ling (78%) in the radial artery (78%) using ultrasound guidance (67%), with 31% inserted on first attempt. Heparin saline solution was used in 82% of devices. Median catheter dwell was 50.6 hours (IQR 24.0 - 158.0), with PAC failure occurring in 19 devices (20%), at a rate of 40.2 per 1000 catheter days (95% CI 25.7 - 63.1). Arm board immobilisation (HR 2.9 95% CI 1.02-8.02 p = 0.05), higher PIM3 score (HR 1.06 95% CI 1.03-1.09 p < 0.01) was associated with an increased the risk of PAC failure, and non-2% chlorhexidine antisepsis was associated with a decrease in PAC failure (HR 0.32 95% CI 0.11-0.96 p = 0.04), in univariate analysis. PAC insertion is challenging, and failure is common. Prospective clinical trial data is needed to identify high risk patient groups and to develop interventions which optimise practices, thereby reducing failure.
Differences and congruencies between PVA packages: the importance of sex ratio for predictions of extinction risk
Publisher: Resilience Alliance, Inc.
Date: 2000
How carbon pricing changes the relative competitiveness of low-carbon baseload generating technologies
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2011
Climate change, variability and conservation impacts in Australia
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1071/PC110168
Abstract: Australian conservation scientists, managers and decision makers must come to grips with anthropogenic climate change, imposed upon an already variable regional climate system. Pre- and post-instrumental records and climate proxies indicate that Australia has experienced wet and dry cycles over intra-decadal to millennial time scales. Precipitation variation across Australia is correlated with different climate features but reliable tools for seasonal rainfall prediction are still some years away. Atmosphere-Ocean General Circulation Models predict a widening of the Hadley circulation and strengthening of the Southern Annular Mode, which should result in reduced cool season rainfall over southern Australia. Shifts in the Australian climate over the Holocene epoch, most notably increased ENSO variability after 5 000 years ago, are associated with substantial vegetation change and indicate the speed at which ecosystems may be altered. The CO2 fertilization of plant biomes may mitigate increasing aridity to some extent but, in general, climate change is expected to negatively affect native vegetation and agricultural productivity. Sea-level rise is predicted to be substantial over this century and, when coupled with increased storm intensity, poses threats in the form of erosion, salinization and flooding. The best chance of building adaptable ecosystems and preserving ecosystem services requires the extension, integration and possibly optimization of reserve systems, in concert with improved management of other threatening processes (habitat loss, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution and disease). In addition, a price on carbon dioxide emissions would provide incentives for privately funded reforestation schemes, but additional incentives promoting mixed species over monoculture plantings would be required to assure maximum bio ersity benefits.
Human population reduction is not a quick fix for environmental problems
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 27-10-2014
Abstract: The planet’s large, growing, and overconsuming human population, especially the increasing affluent component, is rapidly eroding many of the Earth’s natural ecosystems. However, society’s only real policy lever to reduce the human population humanely is to encourage lower per capita fertility. How long might fertility reduction take to make a meaningful impact? We examined various scenarios for global human population change to the year 2100 by adjusting fertility and mortality rates (both chronic and short-term interventions) to determine the plausible range of outcomes. Even one-child policies imposed worldwide and catastrophic mortality events would still likely result in 5–10 billion people by 2100. Because of this demographic momentum, there are no easy ways to change the broad trends of human population size this century.
Range and extinction dynamics of the steppe bison in Siberia: A pattern‐oriented modelling approach
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-10-2022
DOI: 10.1111/GEB.13601
Abstract: To determine the ecological processes and drivers of range collapse, population decline and eventual extinction of the steppe bison in Eurasia. Siberia. Pleistocene and Holocene. Steppe bison ( Bison priscus ). We configured 110,000 spatially explicit population models (SEPMs) of climate–human–steppe bison interactions in Siberia, which we ran at generational time steps from 50,000 years before present. We used pattern‐oriented modelling (POM) and fossil‐based inferences of distribution and demographic change of steppe bison to identify which SEPMs adequately simulated important interactions between ecological processes and biological threats. These “best models” were then used to disentangle the mechanisms that were integral in the population decline and later extinction of the steppe bison in its last stronghold in Eurasia. Our continuous reconstructions of the range and extinction dynamics of steppe bison were able to reconcile inferences of spatio‐temporal occurrence and the timing and location of extinction in Siberia based on hundreds of radiocarbon‐dated steppe bison fossils. We showed that simulating the ecological pathway to extinction for steppe bison in Siberia in the early Holocene required very specific ecological niche constraints, demographic processes and a constrained synergy of climate and human hunting dynamics during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. Ecological processes and drivers that caused ancient population declines of species can be reconstructed at high spatio‐temporal resolutions using SEPMs and POM. Using this approach, we found that climatic change and hunting by humans are likely to have interacted with key ecological processes to cause the extinction of the steppe bison in its last refuge in Eurasia.
Fire frequency matters more than fire size: Testing the pyrodiversity-biodiversity paradigm for at-risk small mammals in an Australian tropical savanna
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
Roadkill islands: Carnivore extinction shifts seasonal use of roadside carrion by generalist avian scavenger
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-06-2021
Abstract: Global road networks facilitate habitat modification and are integral to human expansion. Many animals, particularly scavengers, use roads as they provide a reliable source of food, such as carrion left after vehicle collisions. Tasmania is often cited as the ‘roadkill capital of Australia’, with the isolated offshore islands in the Bass Strait experiencing similar, if not higher, levels of roadkill. However, native mammalian predators on the islands are extirpated, meaning the remaining scavengers are likely to experience lower interference competition. In this study, we used a naturally occurring experiment to examine how the loss of mammalian carnivores within a community impacts roadside foraging behaviour by avian scavengers. We monitored the locations of roadkill and forest ravens Corvus tasmanicus , an abundant scavenger species, on eight road transects across the Tasmanian mainland (high scavenging competition) and the Bass Strait islands (low scavenging competition). We represented raven observations as one‐dimensional point patterns, using hierarchical Bayesian models to investigate the dependence of raven spatial intensity on habitat, season, distance to roadkill and route location. We found that roadkill carcasses were a strong predictor of raven presence along road networks. The effect of roadkill was lified on roads on the Bass Strait islands, where roadside carrion was a predictor of raven presence across the entire year. In contrast, ravens were more often associated with roadkill on Tasmanian mainland roads in the autumn, when other resources were low. This suggests that in the absence of competing mammalian scavengers, ravens choose to feed on roadside carrion throughout the year, even in seasons when other resources are available. This lack of competition could be disproportionately benefiting forest ravens, leading to augmented raven populations and changes to the vertebrate community structure. Our study provides evidence that scavengers modify their behaviour in response to reduced scavenger species ersity, potentially triggering trophic shifts and highlighting the importance of conserving or reintroducing carnivores within ecosystems.
PaleoView: a tool for generating continuous climate projections spanning the last 21 000 years at regional and global scales
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-05-2017
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.03031
Identifying island safe havens to prevent the extinction of the World’s largest lizard from global warming
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-09-2020
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.6705
Quaternary Extinctions and Their Link to Climate Change
Publisher: Island Press/Center for Resource Economics
Date: 2012
Co-extinctions of tropical butterflies and their hostplants
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2004
Local and global pyrogeographic evidence that indigenous fire management creates pyrodiversity
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-04-2015
DOI: 10.1002/ECE3.1494
What makes a species vulnerable to extinction? Comparative life-history traits of two sympatric snakes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2002
Characterizing the spatio-temporal threats, conservation hotspots and conservation gaps for the most extinction-prone bird family (Aves: Rallidae)
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 09-2021
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.210262
Abstract: With thousands of vertebrate species now threatened with extinction, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate the causes of wildlife collapse. Rails (Aves: Rallidae), being the most extinction-prone bird family globally, and with one-third of extant rail species now threatened or near threatened, are an emphatic case in point. Here, we undertook a global synthesis of the temporal and spatial threat patterns for Rallidae and determined conservation priorities and gaps. We found two key pathways in the threat pattern for rails. One follows the same trajectory as extinct rails, where island endemic and flightless rails are most threatened, mainly due to invasive predators. The second, created by the ersification of anthropogenic activities, involves continental rails, threatened mainly by agriculture, natural system modifications, and residential and commercial development. Indonesia, the USA, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Cuba were the priority countries identified by our framework incorporating species' uniqueness and the level of endangerment, but also among the countries that lack conservation actions the most. Future efforts should predominantly target improvements in ecosystem protection and management, as well as ongoing research and monitoring. Forecasting the impacts of climate change on island endemic rails will be particularly valuable to protect rails.
Contribution of Inbreeding to Extinction Risk in Threatened Species
Publisher: Resilience Alliance, Inc.
Date: 2002
Evaluating options for the future energy mix of Japan after the Fukushima nuclear crisis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2013
Predicted impacts of climate change and extreme temperature events on the future distribution of fruit bat species in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
Experimental evidence for density-dependent responses to mortality of snake-necked turtles
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 27-11-2009
DOI: 10.1007/S00442-008-1217-5
Abstract: Density-dependent compensation has rarely been demonstrated in long-lived vertebrates in highly variable environments, such as the wet-dry tropics, where complex factors impact on vital rates. We used an experimental manipulation of population density in six replicated wild populations of the northern snake-necked turtle (Chelodina rugosa). We show that this species can rebound rapidly following reductions in density, and so is resilient to harvest and predation by pigs. Remarkably, in some populations, turtle abundance took as little as 1 year to recover from a strong negative perturbation (>50% experimental population reduction) in adult density. This was achieved through an increase in hatchling recruitment and survival into larger size classes. Our manipulative experiments, viewed concomitantly with previous experimental and correlative research, challenge the general perceptions that freshwater turtles universally are highly susceptible to any form of off-take and that high sub-adult and adult survival is crucial for achieving long-term population stability in freshwater turtles generally. In the case of C. rugosa, such generalities would produce overly cautious prescriptions for sustainable management.
The case for a near-term commercial demonstration of the Integral Fast Reactor
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
Nuclear energy and bio energy carbon capture and storage, keys for obtaining 1.5°C mean surface temperature limit
Publisher: Inderscience Publishers
Date: 2017
An aggregative response of the tropical Australian magpie goose (Anseranas semipalmata) to seasonal floodplains
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 02-2011
DOI: 10.1017/S0266467410000672
Abstract: We describe the spatial aggregation of the magpie goose ( Anseranas semipalmata ) in relation to the dynamics of the ephemeral floodplains of northern Australia. Past broad-scale studies have linked geese to floodplains dominated by the sedge, Eleocharis dulcis , but the type of response has not been determined, nor the impact of predation on food plants. Moreover, departure thresholds are not known. We develop hypotheses on aggregation and departure and confront these with field data. Thus, from 2005–2007 we established two sites on the floodplains of Kakadu National Park (three 1-ha plots per site, six plots in total) and used for monthly, dry season bird counts. An airboat was used to collect data from each of the six plots, including sedge tubers and measures of water level and soil viscosity. Further, we built exclosures (three per site, six in total) to test the impact of herbivory on E. dulcis . Generalized linear models and information theory were used to test the strength of supporting evidence for alternate hypotheses. Geese showed a clear aggregative response to E. dulcis tubers, were forced to depart following floodplain drying and had a marked impact on E. dulcis tuber density. Despite this, there was no evidence of a negative-feedback mechanism between plant–herbivore populations, suggesting that the system is driven by extrinsic parameters (here rainfall).
Why nuclear energy is sustainable and has to be part of the energy mix
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2014
Burden of proof: A comprehensive review of the feasibility of 100% renewable-electricity systems
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2017
Trastuzumab-associated cardiac events in the Persephone trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-11-2016
DOI: 10.1038/BJC.2016.357
Conservation value of cacao agroforestry for amphibians and reptiles in South-East Asia: combining correlative models with follow-up field experiments
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2009
Nurses' decision‐making about intravenous administration set replacement: A qualitative study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-07-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JOCN.14979
Abstract: To explore nurses' decision-making regarding intravenous administration set replacement for vascular access device infusions in paediatric and adult clinical settings. Intravenous administration sets are routinely replaced at regular intervals in clinical practice with the goal of preventing catheter-related bloodstream infection however, emerging evidence is challenging traditional hang-time durations. Nurses' perceptions and contextual factors affecting decision-making for administration set replacement have not been assessed previously. Qualitative study using focus groups with contextualism methodology and inductive analysis. During November-December 2016, eight semi-structured focus groups were conducted with 38 nurses at two metropolitan hospitals in Queensland, Australia. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Two authors independently reviewed transcripts and extracted significant statements using Braun and Clarke's 7-step method of thematic analysis. The COREQ checklist provided a framework to report the study methods, context, findings, analysis and interpretation. Five key themes emerged from the analysis: (a) infection prevention, (b) physical safety, (c) patient preference, (d) clinical knowledge and beliefs, and (e) workload. Administration set replacement can be a complex task, particularly when patients have multiple infusions and incompatible medications. Nurses drew on perceptions of patient preference, as well as previous experience, knowledge of peer experts and local policies, to aid their decisions. Nurses use clinical reasoning to balance patient safety and preferences with competing workplace demands when undertaking administration set replacement. Nurses rely on previous experience, hospital and medication manufacturer policies, and peer experts to guide their practice. Nurses at times deviate from clinical guidelines in the interests of patient acuity, nurses' experience and workload. The findings of this study indicate nurses also balance considerations of patient preference and safety with these competing demands.
Central Venous Access Devices Site Care Practices: An International Survey of 34 Countries
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-03-2015
DOI: 10.5301/JVA.5000450
Abstract: Effective postinsertion management of central venous access devices (CVADs) is important to prevent CVAD-associated complications, including catheter-associated bloodstream infections. Although there is a wealth of evidence-based guidelines available to guide the care of CVADs, applying their recommendations to the clinical setting across variable patient groups, CVAD types and international healthcare settings is challenging. This may result in patients receiving suboptimal care. A cross-sectional descriptive study using an online survey was performed with an aim to determine current CVAD site care practices internationally. The CVAD site care domains included skin antisepsis, dressing selection, frequency of dressing change and device securement practices across impaired and unimpaired CVAD sites. Clinicians (n = 1044) residing in 34 countries reported ersity in their practice, with the majority of respondents practicing as nurses (89%) from North America (81%) as vascular access specialists (52%). The respondents’ reported practice was variant, with differing inconsistency to guidelines throughout each of the domains. There was wide variance in the management of CVAD sites with impaired skin integrity, such as rash, skin stripping/adhesive-related injuries and drainage. Vascular access clinicians reported high levels of confidence in managing CVAD sites, including those with impaired skin. These inconsistencies are reflective of the complex and heterogeneous populations requiring CVADs, the evidence available to support practice in this area, the skills and knowledge of the clinicians caring for them and the resources of the healthcare setting. Further research and education is necessary to ensure that CVAD site care is undertaken effectively to minimise preventable complications.
An efficient protocol for the global sensitivity analysis of stochastic ecological models
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2016
DOI: 10.1002/ECS2.1238
Road map for improvement: Point prevalence audit and survey of central venous access devices in paediatric acute care
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-10-2016
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.13347
Abstract: To identify the prevalence, management and complications associated with central venous access devices (CVADs) within Australian paediatric facilities, providing a map for clinicians, researchers and managers to focus solutions. A point prevalence audit and survey of CVAD practices in Australian tertiary paediatric hospitals between September and November 2015, using validated data collection tools. Across the six sites, 1027 patients were screened with CVADs prevalent in 26.1% (n = 268), and 261 CVADs in 248 patients available for audit. Variations in management were evident with dressings not meeting the basic criteria of clean, dry and intact for 13.5% of CVADs (n = 35), and non-sterile dressings used to reinforce 26.4% of CVADs (n = 69). Almost half of CVADs (49.4% n = 132) had no documentation regarding site assessment in the previous 4 h, and 13.4% had no planned use in the next 24 h (35 CVAD). CVAD-associated complications within the previous 7 days were evident in 9.5% of CVADs (n = 27), most commonly catheter blockage (5.7% CVAD, n = 15), and bloodstream infection (1.9% CVAD, n = 5). Peripherally inserted central catheters (16.9%) in comparison to other catheter types (7.4% P = 0.04), and subsequent CVADs (14.1%) in comparison to initial CVADs (6.5% P = 0.04), had significantly higher proportions of CVAD-associated complications in the previous 7 days. Variation between the sites' guidelines was evident across many practices. CVADs are prevalent and essential for paediatric health care however, complications remain a significant problem. Areas identified for improvement were local CVAD guidelines, regular documentation of CVAD site assessment and review of dressing products to improve integrity.
How much can nuclear energy do about global warming?
Publisher: Inderscience Publishers
Date: 2017
Ecosystem-based tsunami mitigation for tropical biodiversity hotspots
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.TREE.2019.10.008
Abstract: Inclusion of ecosystem-based approaches in the governmental masterplan for tsunami mitigation in Palu, Indonesia may make the city a rare case study for ecological disaster risk reduction in tropical bio ersity hotspots. Such case studies are a key pillar of the United Nations (UN) Sendai Framework to protect coastal societies globally.
Too hot for the devil? Did climate change cause the mid-Holocene extinction of the Tasmanian devil Sacrophilus harrisii from mainland Australia?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-12-2022
DOI: 10.1111/ECOG.05799
Abstract: The possible role of climate change in late Quaternary animal extinctions is hotly debated, yet few studies have investigated its direct effects on animal physiology to assess whether past climate changes might have had significant impacts on now‐extinct species. Here we test whether climate change could have imposed physiological stress on the Tasmanian devil Sarcophilus harrisii during the mid‐Holocene, when the species went extinct on mainland Australia. Physiological values for the devil were quantified using mechanistic niche models of energy and water requirements for thermoregulation, and soil‐moisture‐based indices of plant stress from drought to indirectly represent food and water availability. The spatial pervasiveness, extremity and frequency of physiological stresses were compared between a period of known climatic and presumed demographic stability (8000–6010 BP) and the extinction period (5000–3010 BP). We found no evidence of widespread negative effects of climate on physiological parameters for the devil on the mainland during its extinction window. This leaves cultural and demographic changes in the human population or competition from the dingo Canis dingo as the main contending hypotheses to explain mainland loss of the devil in the mid‐Holocene.
Factors affecting success of conservation translocations of terrestrial vertebrates: A global systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2021
Towards a more comprehensive model of teacher noticing
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 13-11-2020
Crop health and its global impacts on the components of food security
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-03-2017
The Australian National Rabbit Database: 50 yr of population monitoring of an invasive species.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-05-2019
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.2750
Abstract: With ongoing introductions into Australia since the 1700s, the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has become one of the most widely distributed and abundant vertebrate pests, adversely impacting Australia's bio ersity and agroeconomy. To understand the population and range dynamics of the species and its impacts better, occurrence and abundance data have been collected by researchers and citizens from sites covering a broad spectrum of climatic and environmental conditions in Australia. The lack of a common and accessible repository for these data has, however, limited their use in determining important spatiotemporal drivers of the structure and dynamics of the geographical range of rabbits in Australia. To meet this need, we created the Australian National Rabbit Database, which combines more than 50 yr of historical and contemporary survey data collected from throughout the range of the species in Australia. The survey data, obtained from a suite of complementary monitoring methods, were combined with high-resolution weather, climate, and environmental information, and an assessment of data quality. The database provides records of rabbit occurrence (689,265 records) and abundance (51,241 records, >120 distinct sites) suitable for identifying the spatiotemporal drivers of the rabbit's distribution and for determining spatial patterns of variation in its key life-history traits, including maximum rates of population growth. Because all data are georeferenced and date st ed, they can be coupled with information from other databases and spatial layers to explore the potential effects of rabbit occurrence and abundance on Australia's native wildlife and agricultural production. The Australian National Rabbit Database is an important tool for understanding and managing the European rabbit in its invasive range and its effects on native bio ersity and agricultural production. It also provides a valuable resource for addressing questions related to the biology, success, and impacts of invasive species more generally. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set other than citation of this Data Paper.
Predicted the impacts of climate change and extreme-weather events on the future distribution of fruit bats in Australia
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 14-05-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.13.443960
Abstract: Fruit bats (Megachiroptera) are important pollinators and seed dispersers whose distribution might be affected by climate change and extreme-weather events. We assessed the potential impacts of those changes, particularly more frequent and intense heatwaves, and drought, on the future distribution of fruit bats in Australia. We also focus a case study on Tasmania, the southernmost island state of Australia, which is currently devoid of fruit bats but might serve as a future climate refugium. Australia (continental-scale study) and Tasmania. Species distribution modelling was used to predict the occurrence of seven species of fruit bats, using an ensemble of machine-learning algorithms. Predictors included extreme-weather events (heatwave and drought), vegetation (as a proxy for habitat) and bioclimatic variables. Predictions were made for the current-day distribution and future (2050 and 2070) scenarios using multiple emission scenarios and global circulation models. Changes in climate and extreme-weather events are forecasted to impact all fruit-bat species, with the loss and gain of suitable areas being predominantly along the periphery of a species’ current distribution. A higher emission scenario resulted in a higher loss of areas for Grey-headed flying fox ( Pteropus poliocephalus ) and Spectacled flying fox ( P. conspicillatus ) but a higher gain of areas for the Northern blossom bat ( Macroglossus minimus ). The Grey-headed flying fox ( Pteropus poliocephalus ) is the only study species predicted to potentially occur in Tasmania under future scenarios. Fruit bats are likely to respond to climate change and extreme weather by migrating to more suitable areas, including regions not historically inhabited by those species such as Tasmania—possibly leading to human-wildlife conflicts. Conservation strategies (e.g., habitat protection) should focus on areas we found to remain suitable under future scenarios, and not be limited by state-political boundaries.
And then there were none?
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 22-01-2010
Abstract: Direct dating of fossils of the putative last survivors of the Australian megafauna supports claims that they were extinct by 40 thousand years ago and not later.
Dressings and securement devices for central venous catheters (CVC)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-09-2015
The aftermath of megafaunal extinction: Ecosystem transformation in Pleistocene Australia
Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Date: 23-03-2012
Abstract: Following the arrival of humans in Australia 40- to 50,000 years ago, many species of large vertebrates rapidly became extinct. By analyzing sediment cores from a site in northeastern Australia, Rule et al. (p. 1483 see the Perspective by McGlone ) show that the extinction of the Australian megafauna caused important ecosystem shifts. Prominent among these were a shift from rainforest vegetation to sclerophyllous vegetation and a sustained increase in the incidence of fire. The cores also provide evidence of the cause of megafaunal extinction in Australia, ruling out climate and anthropogenic fire as possible causes while confirming that the extinctions closely followed human arrival. These findings show how landscapes sometimes have been fundamentally changed by the indirect effects of early humans—which underscores the impact that even prehistoric human societies had on natural systems.
Correlates of extinction proneness in tropical angiosperms
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-07-2008
International recommendations for a vascular access minimum dataset: a Delphi consensus-building study
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 22-09-2020
DOI: 10.1136/BMJQS-2020-011274
Abstract: Data regarding vascular access device use and outcomes are limited. In part, this gap reflects the absence of guidance on what variables should be collected to assess patient outcomes. We sought to derive international consensus on a vascular access minimum dataset. A modified Delphi study with three rounds (two electronic surveys and a face-to-face consensus panel) was conducted involving international vascular access specialists. In Rounds 1 and 2, electronic surveys were distributed to healthcare professionals specialising in vascular access. Survey respondents were asked to rate the importance of variables, feasibility of data collection and acceptability of items, definitions and response options. In Round 3, a purposive expert panel met to review Round 1 and 2 ratings and reach consensus (defined as ≥70% agreement) on the final items to be included in a minimum dataset for vascular access devices. A total of 64 of 225 interdisciplinary healthcare professionals from 11 countries responded to Round 1 and 2 surveys (response rate of 34% and 29%, respectively). From the original 52 items, 50 items across five domains emerged from the Delphi procedure.Items related to demographic and clinical characteristics (n=5 eg, age), device characteristics (n=5 eg, device type), insertion (n=16 eg, indication), management (n=9 eg, dressing and securement), and complication and removal (n=15, eg, occlusion) were identified as requirements for a minimum dataset to track and evaluate vascular access device use and outcomes. We developed and internally validated a minimum dataset for vascular access device research. This study generated new knowledge to enable healthcare systems to collect relevant, useful and meaningful vascular access data. Use of this standardised approach can help benchmark clinical practice and target improvements worldwide.
Use fast reactors to burn plutonium
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 06-2012
DOI: 10.1038/486323B
A pilot randomised controlled trial of dressing and securement methods to prevent arterial catheter failure in intensive care
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Crop pests and predators exhibit inconsistent responses to surrounding landscape composition
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 02-08-2018
Abstract: Decades of research have fostered the now-prevalent assumption that noncrop habitat facilitates better pest suppression by providing shelter and food resources to the predators and parasitoids of crop pests. Based on our analysis of the largest pest-control database of its kind, noncrop habitat surrounding farm fields does affect multiple dimensions of pest control, but the actual responses of pests and enemies are highly variable across geographies and cropping systems. Because noncrop habitat often does not enhance biological control, more information about local farming contexts is needed before habitat conservation can be recommended as a viable pest-suppression strategy. Consequently, when pest control does not benefit from noncrop vegetation, farms will need to be carefully comanaged for competing conservation and production objectives.
Criteria for assessing the quality of Middle Pleistocene to Holocene vertebrate fossil ages
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2015
The carrying capacity of ecosystems
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-10-2004
If We Want to Get Ahead, We Should Transcend Dualisms and Foster Paradigm Pluralism
Publisher: Springer International Publishing
Date: 2019
Effects of land-use change on community composition of tropical amphibians and reptiles in Sulawesi, Indonesia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-05-2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1523-1739.2009.01434.X
Abstract: Little is known about the effects of anthropogenic land-use change on the hibians and reptiles of the bio erse tropical forests of Southeast Asia. We studied a land-use modification gradient stretching from primary forest, secondary forest, natural-shade cacao agroforest, planted-shade cacao agroforest to open areas in central Sulawesi, Indonesia. We determined species richness, abundance, turnover, and community composition in all habitat types and related these to environmental correlates, such as canopy heterogeneity and thickness of leaf litter. Amphibian species richness decreased systematically along the land-use modification gradient, but reptile richness and abundance peaked in natural-shade cacao agroforests. Species richness and abundance patterns across the disturbance gradient were best explained by canopy cover and leaf-litter thickness in hibians and by canopy heterogeneity and cover in reptiles. Amphibians were more severely affected by forest disturbance in Sulawesi than reptiles. Heterogeneous canopy cover and thick leaf litter should be maintained in cacao plantations to facilitate the conservation value for both groups. For long-term and sustainable use of plantations, pruned shade trees should be permanently kept to allow rejuvenation of cacao and, thus, to prevent repeated forest encroachment.
Lack of chronological support for stepwise prehuman extinctions of Australian megafauna
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 25-07-2013
Central venous access device Securement and dressing effectiveness: The CASCADE pilot randomised controlled trial in the adult intensive care
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2019.10.002
Abstract: Central venous access devices (CVADs) are a vital medical device for intensive care (ICU) patients however, complications and failure are common, yet potentially prevented through effective dressings and securement. The objective of this study was to test the feasibility of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing standard care with three dressing and securement products to prevent CVAD failure. Secondary aims included comparing dressing and securement products on CVAD failure, microbial colonisation, and intervention costs. A single-centre pilot RCT of ICU adult patients requiring CVADs for >24 h were randomised to four groups: (i) sutures plus chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) dressing (standard care) (ii) standard care plus tissue adhesive (TA) (iii) two sutureless stabilisation devices (SSD) plus CHG dressing (iv) sutures, CHG disc plus integrated securement dressing (ISD). Descriptive statistics assessed feasibility. Incidence rates (IRs) of CVAD failure were reported, with group differences compared using the Fisher exact and log-rank tests. Cox regression explored univariable risks for failure. A substudy examined bacterial colonisation of catheter tips, dressings, and skin. Cost estimates of the intervention were compared. A total of 121 participants were randomised. Study feasibility was established with no withdrawal and moderate staff acceptability however, recruitment was low at 12%. Overall CVAD failure was seen in 14 of 114 (12%) CVADs (19 per 1000 catheter-days) highest in the SSD group (IR: 27.3 per 1000 catheter-days [95% confidence interval {CI}: 11.4-65.6]), followed by the standard care group (IR: 22.3 per 1000 catheter-days [95% CI: 8.38-59.5]) and TA group (IR: 20.6 per 1000 catheter-days [95% CI: 6.66-64.0]), and lowest in the ISD group (IR: 8.8 per 1000 catheter-days [95% CI: 2.19-35.0]). The majority of complications (11/14, 79%) were suspected central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI), of which only one was laboratory confirmed (standard care group). The cost per patient was lowest in the standard care group by an average difference of AUD $14. A large multisite RCT examining forms of securement and dressing is feasible. ISD is the highest priority to test further as it had the lowest failure rate. ACTRN12615000667516 PROTOCOL: www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id = 368765.
Parent and interdisciplinary professional perceptions of family‐centered care in Thai NICU: A qualitative study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-09-2023
DOI: 10.1111/NICC.12711
Abstract: Family‐centered care (FCC) has been successfully incorporated into daily practice in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) worldwide. However, the implementation of FCC in lower‐resourced settings, such as Thailand, can be challenging and needs to be further explored. To identify parents' and interdisciplinary professionals' perceptions of FCC and to describe the opportunities to improve FCC in a Thai NICU. An exploratory qualitative approach was used. The data were collected through face‐to‐face, semi‐structured, in idual interviews based on an interview guide. This study was conducted before the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (February 2020) in a hospital in southern Thailand. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyse interview data. Participants were parents (n = 9) and interdisciplinary professionals (n = 8). The results revealed four key themes: (a) Recognizing and responding to in idual families' different readiness and their rights and values, (b) working in a parent‐interdisciplinary partnership to provide care, (c) lacking resources and motivation and (d) understanding of care requirements and providing help/sympathy. The interdisciplinary professionals accepted that FCC is necessary for clinical practice, but there are some challenges in the Thai NICUs context because of the system of health care delivery. The findings highlighted that interdisciplinary professionals often viewed parents' involvement as an obstacle to providing neonatal care. Further research is recommended to investigate how FCC is operationalized by interdisciplinary professionals and how hospital administrators can be supported to implement the FCC approach into clinical practice in Thai NICUs.
Dangers of Sensationalizing Conservation Biology
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-05-2007
At the crossroads: An uncertain future facing the electricity‐generation sector in South Korea
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-04-2018
DOI: 10.1002/APP5.245
How does your PICCOMPARE? A pilot randomized controlled trial comparing various PICC materials in pediatrics
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-02-2018
DOI: 10.12788/JHM.2911
Abstract: Despite the popularity of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs), recent literature highlights their potential injurious complications. Innovative PICC materials have been developed to prevent thrombosis and infection formation (Endexo®) and antireflux valves to prevent occlusion (pressure-activated safety valve®). No large randomized controlled trial has assessed these technologies. Our primary aim was to evaluate the feasibility of a large randomized controlled efficacy trial of PICC materials and design to reduce PICC complication in pediatrics. A randomized controlled feasibility trial was undertaken at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in South Brisbane, Australia, between March 2016 and November 2016. Consecutive recruitment of 150 pediatric participants were randomly assigned to receive either (1) polyurethane PICC with a cl or (2) BioFlo® PICC (AngioDynamics Inc, Queensbury, NY). Primary outcomes were trial feasibility, including PICC failure (thrombosis, occlusion, infection, breakage, or dislodgement). Secondary outcomes were PICC complications during use. Protocol feasibility was established, including staff and patient acceptability, timely recruitment, no missing primary outcome data, and 0% attrition. PICC failure was 22% (16 of 74, standard care) and 11% (8 of 72, BioFlo®) corresponding to 12.6 and 7.3 failures per 1000 hours (risk ratio 0.58 95% confidence interval, 0.21-1.43 P = .172). PICC failures were primarily due to thrombosis (standard care 7% versus BioFlo® 3%) and complete occlusion (standard care 7% versus BioFlo® 1%). No blood stream infections occurred. Significantly fewer patients with BioFlo® had PICC complications during use (15% vs 34% P = .009). BioFlo® PICCs appear potentially safer for pediatrics than traditional standard care PICCs with a cl . Further research is required to definitively identify clinical, cost-effective methods to prevent PICC failure and improve reliability.
Environmental and health impacts of a policy to phase out nuclear power in Sweden
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Sleep assessment by patients and nurses in the intensive care: An exploratory descriptive study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2016.04.001
Abstract: Sleep disruption is common in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, with reports indicating reduced quality and quantity of sleep in many patients. There is growing evidence that sleep in this setting may be improved. To describe ICU patients' self-report assessment of sleep, examine the relationship between patients' self-reported sleep and their reported sleep by the bedside nurse, and describe the strategies suggested by patients to promote sleep. An exploratory descriptive study was undertaken with communicative adult patients consecutively recruited in 2014-2015. Patients reported sleep using the Richards-C bell Sleep Questionnaire (score range 0-100mm higher score indicates better sleep quality), with nursing assessment of sleep documented across a five level ordinal variable. Patients were asked daily to describe strategies that helped or hindered their sleep. Ethical approval for the study was gained. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed [median (interquartile range)] relationships were tested using Spearman's rank correlation and differences assessed using the Kruskal-Wallis test p<0.05 was considered significant. Participants (n=151) were recruited [age: 60 (46-71) years ICU length of stay 4 (2-9) days] with 356 self-reports of sleep. Median perceived sleep quality was 46 (26-65) mm. A moderate relationship existed between patients' self-assessment and nurses' assessment of sleep (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient 0.39-0.50 p<0.001). Strategies identified by patients to improve sleep included adequate pain relief and sedative medication, a peaceful and comfortable environment and physical interventions, e.g. clustering care, ear plugs. Patients reported on their sleep a median of 2 (1-3) days during their ICU stay, suggesting that routine use of self-report was feasible. These reports revealed low sleep quality. Patients reported multiple facilitators and barriers for sleep, with environmental and patient comfort factors being most common. Interventions that target these factors to improve patient sleep should be implemented.
Strange bedfellows? Techno-fixes to solve the big conservation issues in southern Asia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2012
Robust estimates of extinction time in the geological record
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2012
Forest resilience and tipping points at different spatio‐temporal scales: approaches and challenges
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2015
Limited evidence for the demographic Allee effect from numerous species across taxa
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-2010
DOI: 10.1890/09-1128.1
Abstract: Extensive theoretical work on demographic Allee effects has led to the latent assumption that they are ubiquitous in natural populations, yet current empirical support for this phenomenon is sparse. We extended previous single-taxon analyses to evaluate the empirical support for demographic Allee effects in the per capita population growth rate of 1198 natural populations spanning all major taxa. For each population, we quantified the empirical support for five population growth models: no growth (random walk) exponential growth, with and without an Allee effect and logistic growth, with and without an Allee effect. We used two metrics to quantify empirical support, information-theoretic and Bayesian strength of evidence, and observed top-rank frequency. The Ricker logistic model was both the most supported and most frequently top-ranked model, followed by random walk. Allee models had a combined relative support of 12.0% but were top-ranked in only 1.1% of the time series. Accounting for local climate variation and measurement error caused the loss of top-ranked Allee models, although the latter also increased their relative support. The 13 time series exhibiting Allee models were shorter and less variable than other time series, although only three were non-trending. Time series containing observations at low abundance were not more likely and did not show higher support for Allee effect models. We conclude that there is relatively high potential for demographic Allee effects in these 1198 time series but comparatively few observed cases, perhaps due to the influences of climate and measurement error.
Southeast Asian biodiversity: an impending disaster
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2004
DOI: 10.1016/J.TREE.2004.09.006
Abstract: Southeast Asia has the highest relative rate of deforestation of any major tropical region, and could lose three quarters of its original forests by 2100 and up to 42% of its bio ersity. Here, we report on the current state of its biota and highlight the primary drivers of the threat of extinction now faced by much of the unique and rich fauna and flora of the region. Furthermore, the known impacts on the bio ersity of Southeast Asia are likely to be just the tip of the iceberg, owing to the paucity of research data. The looming Southeast Asian bio ersity disaster demands immediate and definitive actions, yet such measures continue to be constrained by socioeconomic factors, including poverty and lack of infrastructure. Any realistic solution will need to involve a multidisciplinary strategy, including political, socioeconomic and scientific input, in which all major stakeholders (government, non-government, national and international organizations) must participate.
Adapted conservation measures are required to save the Iberian lynx in a changing climate
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 21-07-2013
DOI: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1954
Feral pig predation threatens the local persistence of snake-necked indigenous harvest and turtles in northern Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2006
Beyond Singapore: Hong Kong and Asian biodiversity [2] (multiple letters)
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2005
Novel coupling of individual‐based epidemiological and demographic models predicts realistic dynamics of tuberculosis in alien buffalo
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-10-2011
Predicting spatial and seasonal patterns of wildlife-vehicle collisions in high-risk areas
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 25-03-2022
DOI: 10.1071/WR21018
Abstract: Context Vehicle collisions with wildlife can injure or kill animals, threaten human safety, and threaten the viability of rare species. This has led to a focus in road-ecology research on identifying the key predictors of ‘road-kill’ risk, with the goal of guiding management to mitigate its impact. However, because of the complex and context-dependent nature of the causes of risk exposure, modelling road-kill data in ways that yield consistent recommendations has proven challenging. Aim Here we used a multi-model machine-learning approach to identify the spatio-temporal predictors, such as traffic volume, road shape, surrounding vegetation and distance to human settlements, associated with road-kill risk. Methods We collected data on the location, identity and wildlife body size of each road mortality across four seasons along eight roads in southern Tasmania, a ‘road-kill hotspot’ of management concern. We focused on three large-bodied and frequently affected crepuscular Australian marsupial herbivore species, the rufous-bellied pademelon (Thylogale billardierii), Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and the bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus). We fit the point-location data using ‘lasso-regularisation’ of a logistic generalised linear model (LL-GLM) and out-of-bag optimisation of a decision-tree-based ‘random forests’ (RF) algorithm for optimised predictions. Results The RF model, with high-level feature interactions, yielded superior out-of-s le prediction results to the linear additive model, with a RF classification accuracy of 84.8% for the 871 road-kill observations and a true skill statistic of 0.708, compared with 61.2% and 0.205 for the LL-GLM. The lasso rejected road visibility and human density, ranking roadside vegetation type and presence of barrier fencing as the most influential predictors of road-kill locality. Conclusions Forested areas with no roadside barrier fence along curved sections of road posed the highest risk to animals. Seasonally, the frequency of wildlife–vehicle collisions increased notably for females during oestrus, when they were more dispersive and so had a higher encounter rate with roads. Implications These findings illustrate the value of using a combination of attributive and predictive modelling using machine learning to rank and interpret a complexity of possible predictors of road-kill risk, as well as offering a guide to practical management interventions that can mitigate road-related hazards.
Response to Hau et al: Beyond Singapore: Hong Kong and Asian biodiversity
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2005
CLIMATE CHANGE BIOLOGY
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Date: 12-2011
DOI: 10.1086/662472
Conserving imperiled species: a comparison of the IUCN Red List and U.S. Endangered Species Act
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-12-2012
Skin complications associated with vascular access devices: A secondary analysis of 13 studies involving 10,859 devices
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJNURSTU.2018.10.006
Abstract: Vascular access devices are widely used in healthcare settings worldwide. The insertion of a vascular access device creates a wound, vulnerable to irritation, injury and infection. Vascular access-associated skin complications are frequently reported in the literature, however very little evidence is available regarding the incidence and risk factors of these conditions to inform practice and technology development. To estimate the incidence of vascular access-associated skin complications, and to identify patient, catheter and healthcare-related characteristics associated with skin complication development. Secondary data analysis from 13 multi-centre randomised controlled trials and observational studies evaluating technologies and performance of vascular access devices in clinical settings between 2008 and 2017. Six hospitals (metropolitan and regional) in Queensland, Australia. The 13 studies involved paediatric and adult participants, across oncology, emergency, intensive care, and general hospital settings. A total of 7669 participants with 10,859 devices were included, involving peripheral venous (n = 9933), peripheral arterial (n = 341), and central venous access (n = 585) devices. Standardised study data were extracted into a single database. Clinical and demographic data were descriptively reported. Cox proportional hazards regression models (stratified by peripheral vs central) were used for time-to-event, per-device analyses to examine risk factors. Univariate associations were undertaken due to complexities with missing data in both outcomes and covariates, with p < 0.01 to reduce the effect of multiple comparisons. Over 12% of devices were associated with skin complication, at 46.2 per 1000 catheter days for peripheral venous and arterial devices (95% confidence interval, CI 42.1-50.7), and 22.5 per 1000 catheter days for central devices (95% CI 16.5-306). The most common skin complications were bruising (peripheral n = 134, 3.7% central n = 33, 6.8%), and swelling due to infiltration for peripheral devices (n = 296 2.9%), and dermatitis for central devices (n = 13 2.2%). The significant risk factors for these complications were predominantly related to device (e.g., skin tears associated with peripheral arterial catheters [hazard ratio, HR 16.0], radial insertion [HR 18.0] basilic insertion [HR 26.0])) and patient characteristics (e.g., poor skin integrity associated with increased risk of peripheral device bruising [HR 4.12], infiltration [HR 1.98], and skin tear [HR 48.4]), rather than management approaches. Significant skin complications can develop during the life of peripheral and central vascular access devices, and these are associated with several modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. Further research is needed to evaluate effectiveness technologies to prevent and treat skin complications associated with vascular access devices.
Host, environment, and anthropogenic factors drive landscape dynamics of an environmentally transmitted pathogen: Sarcoptic mange in the bare‐nosed wombat
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-05-2023
Abstract: Understanding the spatial dynamics and drivers of wildlife pathogens is constrained by s ling logistics, with implications for advancing the field of landscape epidemiology and targeted allocation of management resources. However, visually apparent wildlife diseases, when combined with remote‐surveillance and distribution modelling technologies, present an opportunity to overcome this landscape‐scale problem. Here, we investigated dynamics and drivers of landscape‐scale wildlife disease, using clinical signs of sarcoptic mange (caused by Sarcoptes scabiei ) in its bare‐nosed wombat (BNW Vombatus ursinus ) host. We used 53,089 camera‐trap observations from over 3261 locations across the 68,401 km 2 area of Tasmania, Australia, combined with landscape data and ensemble species distribution modelling (SDM). We investigated: (1) landscape variables predicted to drive habitat suitability of the host (2) host and landscape variables associated with clinical signs of disease in the host and (3) predicted locations and environmental conditions at greatest risk of disease occurrence, including some Bass Strait islands where BNW translocations are proposed. We showed that the Tasmanian landscape, and ecosystems therein, are nearly ubiquitously suited to BNWs. Only high mean annual precipitation reduced habitat suitability for the host. In contrast, clinical signs of sarcoptic mange disease in BNWs were widespread, but heterogeneously distributed across the landscape. Mange (which is environmentally transmitted in BNWs) was most likely to be observed in areas of increased host habitat suitability, lower annual precipitation, near sources of freshwater and where topographic roughness was minimal (e.g. human modified landscapes, such as farmland and intensive land‐use areas, shrub and grass lands). Thus, a confluence of host, environmental and anthropogenic variables appear to influence the risk of environmental transmission of S. scabiei . We identified that the Bass Strait Islands are highly suitable for BNWs and predicted a mix of high and low suitability for the pathogen. This study is the largest spatial assessment of sarcoptic mange in any host species, and advances understanding of the landscape epidemiology of environmentally transmitted S. scabiei . This research illustrates how host‐pathogen co‐suitability can be useful for allocating management resources in the landscape.
Disentangling synergistic disease dynamics: Implications for the viral biocontrol of rabbits
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-07-2018
Abstract: European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) have been exposed to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) and myxoma virus (MYXV) in their native and invasive ranges for decades. Yet, the long-term effects of these viruses on rabbit population dynamics remain poorly understood. In this context, we analysed 17 years of detailed capture-mark-recapture data (2000-2016) from Turretfield, South Australia, using a probabilistic state-space hierarchical modelling framework to estimate rabbit survival and epidemiological dynamics. While RHDV infection and disease-induced death were most prominent during annual epidemics in winter and spring, we found evidence for continuous infection of susceptible in iduals with RHDV throughout the year. RHDV-susceptible rabbits had, on average, 25% lower monthly survival rates compared to immune in iduals, while the average monthly force of infection in winter and spring was ~38%. These combined to result in an average infection-induced mortality rate of 69% in winter and spring. In iduals susceptible to MYXV and immune to RHDV had similar survival probabilities to those having survived infections from both viruses, whereas in iduals susceptible to both RHDV and MYXV had higher survival probabilities than those susceptible to RHDV and immune to MYXV. This suggests that MYXV may reduce the future survival rates of in iduals that endure initial MYXV infection. There was no evidence for long-term changes in disease-induced mortality and infection rates for either RHDV or MYXV. We conclude that continuous, year-round virus perpetuation (and perhaps heterogeneity in modes of transmission and infectious doses during and after epidemics) acts to reduce the efficiency of RHDV and MYXV as biocontrol agents of rabbits in their invasive range. However, if virulence can be maintained as relatively constant through time, RHDV and MYXV will likely continue realizing strong benefits as biocontrol agents.
Modelling range dynamics under global change: which framework and why?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-12-2015
Abstract: To conserve future bio ersity, a better understanding of the likely effects of climate and land‐use change on the geographical distributions of species and the persistence of ecological communities is needed. Recent advances have integrated population dynamic processes into species distribution models ( SDM s), to reduce potential biases in predictions and to better reflect the demographic nuances of incremental range shifts. However, there is no clear framework for selecting the most appropriate demographic‐based model for a given data set or scientific question. We review the computer‐based modelling platforms currently used for the development of either population‐ or in idual‐based species range dynamics models. We describe the features and requirements of 20 software platforms commonly used to generate simulations of species ranges and abundances. We classify the platforms according to particular capabilities or features that account for user requirements and constraints, such as (i) ability to simulate simple to complex population dynamics, (ii) organism specificity or (iii) their computational capacities. Using this classification, we develop a protocol for choosing the most appropriate framework for modelling species range dynamics based in data availability and research requirements. We find that the main differences between modelling platforms are related to the way in which they simulate population dynamics, the type of organisms they are able to model and the ecological processes they incorporate. We show that some platforms can be used as generic modelling software to investigate a broad range of ecological questions related to the range dynamics of most species, and how these are likely to change in the future in response to forecast climate and land‐use change. We argue that model predictions will be improved by reducing usage to a smaller number of highly flexible freeware platforms. Our approach provides ecologists and conservation biologists with a clear method for selecting the most appropriate software platform that meets their needs when developing SDM s coupled with population‐dynamic processes. We argue that informed tool choice will translate to better predictions of species responses to climate and land‐use change and improved conservation management.
Twenty Landmark Papers in Biodiversity Conservation
Publisher: InTech
Date: 12-10-2011
DOI: 10.5772/23984
The SAFE index: using a threshold population target to measure relative species threat
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-03-2011
DOI: 10.1890/100177
An ecological regime shift resulting from disrupted predator-prey interactions in Holocene Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2014
DOI: 10.1890/13-0746.1
Minimum viable population size: not magic, but necessary
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2011
A fast re-sampling method for using reliability ratings of sightings with extinction-date estimators
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-07-2019
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.2787
Abstract: The pattern of sightings of a species that is rare, and then no longer observed, can be used to estimate its extinction date. However, other than physical captures or specimens, the veracity of any sighting is ambiguous, and should be treated probabilistically when used to infer extinction dates. We present a simple yet powerful computational approach for incorporating observational reliability into extinction date estimators (EDE). Our method (1) combines repeated within-year sightings probabilistically, (2) s les observations using reliability as an inclusion probability, (3) infers a probability distribution and summary statistics of extinction dates with any EDE, and (4) computes the frequency distribution of the extinction date. We applied this method to eight exemplar sighting records covering a range of lengths, sighting rates and uncertainties, using a variety of statistical EDEs, and compared these results with a threshold approach for selecting sightings. We also demonstrated a robust coverage of "true" extinction dates based on selected real-world ex les of rediscovered species and confirmed extinctions, and simulated sighting records. Our approach represents a powerful generalization of past work because it is not predicated on any specific method for inferring extinction dates, and yet is simple to implement (with R script provided).
Evidence for a broad-scale decline in giant Australian cuttlefish (Sepia apama) abundance from non-targeted survey data
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1071/MF14081
Abstract: Little is known about the population trajectory and dynamics of many marine invertebrates because of a lack of robust observational data. The giant Australian cuttlefish (Sepia apama) is IUCN-listed as Near Threatened because the largest known breeding aggregation of this species in northern Spencer Gulf, South Australia, has declined markedly since the turn of the century. We used by-catch records from long-term trawl surveys to derive abundance data for S. apama and commercial cuttlefish harvest data as a measure of exploitation. Using Bayesian hierarchical models to account for zero-inflation and spatial dependence in these abundance counts, we demonstrated a high probability of broad-scale declines in the density of S. apama, particularly surrounding the primary aggregation site, which supports the recent closure of the entire S. apama fishery in northern Spencer Gulf. Historical harvest data were positively correlated with S. apama density estimated from the trawl surveys, suggesting that the commercial cuttlefish catch tracks the species abundance. Our results also indicated the possibility that the known S. apama breeding grounds might be supplemented by in iduals that were spawned elsewhere in northern Spencer Gulf.
Fire frequency is relatively more important than fire size - A reply to Russell-Smith et al
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2015
Does population viability analysis software predict the behaviour of real populations? A retrospective study on the Lord Howe Island woodhen Tricholimnas sylvestris (Sclater)
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-1997
Monitoring contrasting land management in the savanna landscapes of northern Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-09-2008
DOI: 10.1007/S00267-007-9006-1
Abstract: We compared measures of ecosystem state across six adjacent land-tenure groups in the intact tropical savanna landscapes of northern Australia. Tenure groups include two managed by Aboriginal owners, two national parks, a cluster of pastoral leases, and a military training area. This information is of relevance to the debate about the role of indigenous lands in the Australian conservation estate. The timing and frequency of fire was determined by satellite imagery the biomass and composition of the herb-layer and the abundance of large feral herbivores by field surveys and weediness by analysis of a Herbarium database. European tenures varied greatly in fire frequencies but were consistently burnt earlier in the dry season than the two Aboriginal tenures, the latter having intermediate fire frequencies. Weeds were more frequent in the European tenures, whilst feral animals were most abundant in the Aboriginal tenures. This variation strongly implies a signature of current management and/or recent environmental history. We identify indices suitable for monitoring of management outcomes in an extensive and sparsely populated landscape. Aboriginal land offers a unique opportunity for the conservation of bio ersity through the maintenance of traditional fire regimes. However, without financial support, traditional practices may prove unsustainable both economically and because exotic weeds and feral animals will alter fire regimes. An additional return on investment in Aboriginal land management is likely to be improved livelihoods and health outcomes for these disadvantaged communities.
Forecasting future global food demand: A systematic review and meta-analysis of model complexity
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2018.07.019
Abstract: Predicting future food demand is a critical step for formulating the agricultural, economic and conservation policies required to feed over 9 billion people by 2050 while doing minimal harm to the environment. However, published future food demand estimates range substantially, making it difficult to determine optimal policies. Here we present a systematic review of the food demand literature-including a meta-analysis of papers reporting average global food demand predictions-and test the effect of model complexity on predictions. We show that while estimates of future global kilocalorie demand have a broad range, they are not consistently dependent on model complexity or form. Indeed, time-series and simple income-based models often make similar predictions to integrated assessments (e.g., with expert opinions, future prices or climate influencing forecasts), despite having different underlying assumptions and mechanisms. However, reporting of model accuracy and uncertainty was uncommon, leading to difficulties in making evidence-based decisions about which forecasts to trust. We argue for improved model reporting and transparency to reduce this problem and improve the pace of development in this field.
The devil in the (demographic) detail
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2006
Culinary destination consumer-based brand equity: exploring the influence of tourist gaze in relation to FoodPorn on social media
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 23-09-2022
The uncertain blitzkrieg of Pleistocene megafauna
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-03-2004
How interactions between animal movement and landscape processes modify local range dynamics and extinction risk
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 05-2014
Abstract: Forecasts of range dynamics now incorporate many of the mechanisms and interactions that drive species distributions. However, connectivity continues to be simulated using overly simple distance-based dispersal models with little consideration of how the in idual behaviour of dispersing organisms interacts with landscape structure (functional connectivity). Here, we link an in idual-based model to a niche-population model to test the implications of this omission. We apply this novel approach to a turtle species inhabiting wetlands which are patchily distributed across a tropical savannah, and whose persistence is threatened by two important synergistic drivers of global change: predation by invasive species and overexploitation. We show that projections of local range dynamics in this study system change substantially when functional connectivity is modelled explicitly. Accounting for functional connectivity in model simulations causes the estimate of extinction risk to increase, and predictions of range contraction to slow. We conclude that models of range dynamics that simulate functional connectivity can reduce an important source of bias in predictions of shifts in species distributions and abundances, especially for organisms whose dispersal behaviours are strongly affected by landscape structure.
Dressing and securement for central venous access devices (CVADs): A Cochrane systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJNURSTU.2016.04.003
Abstract: To compare the available dressing and securement devices for central venous access devices (CVADs). Systematic review of randomised controlled trials. Cochrane Wounds Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews and of Effects, NHS Economic Evaluation Database, Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, clinical trial registries and reference lists of identified trials. Studies evaluated the effects of dressing and securement devices for CVADs. All types of CVADs were included. Outcome measures were CVAD-related bloodstream infection, CVAD tip colonisation, entry and exit site infection, skin colonisation, skin irritation, failed CVAD securement, dressing condition and mortality. We used standard methodological approaches as expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. We included 22 studies involving 7436 participants comparing nine different types of securement device or dressing. All included studies were at unclear or high risk of performance bias due to the different appearances of the dressings and securement devices. It is unclear whether there is a difference in the rate of CVAD-related bloodstream infection between securement with gauze and tape and standard polyurethane (RR 0.64, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.63, low quality evidence), or between chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated dressings and standard polyurethane (RR 0.65, 95% CI 0.40 to 1.05, moderate quality evidence). There is high quality evidence that medication-impregnated dressings reduce the incidence of CVAD-related bloodstream infection relative to all other dressing types (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.93). There is moderate quality evidence that chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated dressings reduce the frequency of CVAD-related bloodstream infection per 1000 patient days compared with standard polyurethane dressings (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33 to 0.78). There is moderate quality evidence that catheter tip colonisation is reduced with chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated dressings compared with standard polyurethane dressings (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.73), but the relative effects of gauze and tape and standard polyurethane are unclear (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.51 to 1.77, very low quality evidence). Medication-impregnated dressing products reduce the incidence of CVAD-related bloodstream infection relative to all other dressing types. There is some evidence that chlorhexidine gluconate-impregnated dressings, relative to standard polyurethane dressings, reduce CVAD-related bloodstream infection for the outcomes of frequency of infection per 1000 patient days, risk of catheter tip colonisation and possibly risk of CVAD-related bloodstream infection. Most studies were conducted in intensive care unit settings. More, high quality research is needed regarding the relative effects of dressing and securement products for CVADs.
Robust, data-driven bioregionalizations emerge from diversity concordance
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 09-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.08.31.458457
Abstract: Despite the increasing interest in developing new bioregionalizations and assessing the most widely accepted biogeographic frameworks, no study to date has sought to systematically define a system of small bioregions nested within larger ones that better reflect the distribution and patterns of bio ersity. Here, we examine how an algorithmic, data-driven model of ersity patterns can lead to an ecologically interpretable hierarchy of bioregions. Australia. Present. Terrestrial vertebrates and vascular plants. We compiled information on the biophysical characteristics and species occupancy of Australia’s geographic conservation units (bioregions). Then, using cluster analysis to identify groupings of bioregions representing optimal discrete-species areas, we evaluated what a hierarchical bioregionalization system would look like when based empirically on the within-and between-site ersity patterns across taxa. Within an information-analytical framework, we then assessed the degree to which the World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) biomes and ecoregions and our suite of discrete-species areas are spatially associated and compared those results among bioregionalization scenarios. Information on bio ersity patterns captured was moderate for WWF’s biomes (50– 58% for birds’ beta, and plants’ alpha and beta ersity, of optimal discrete areas, respectively) and ecoregions (additional 4–25%). Our plants and vertebrate optimal areas retained more information on alpha and beta ersity across taxa, with the two algorithmically derived biogeographic scenarios sharing 86.5% of their within- and between-site ersity information. Notably, discrete-species areas for beta ersity were parsimonious with respect to those for alpha ersity. Nested systems of bioregions must systematically account for the variation of species ersity across taxa if bio ersity research and conservation action are to be most effective across multiple spatial or temporal planning scales. By demonstrating an algorithmic rather than subjective method for defining bioregionalizations using species- ersity concordances, which reliably reflects the distributional patterns of multiple taxa, this work offers a valuable new tool for systematic conservation planning.
Measuring the Meltdown: Drivers of Global Amphibian Extinction and Decline
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-02-2008
Modelling to forestall extinction of Australian tropical birds
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 23-08-2007
Decline and likely extinction of a northern Australian native rodent, the Brush-tailed Rabbit-rat Conilurus penicillatus
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2010
Is there a Pleistocene archaeological site at Cuddie Springs?
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-2006
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Thrombosis After Placement via Electrocardiography vs Traditional Methods
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Transience of public attention in conservation science
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-06-2023
DOI: 10.1002/FEE.2598
Abstract: Societal awareness of, and engagement with, environmental problems is a critical prerequisite for effective conservation programs. Research has revealed a strong general pattern whereby public attention received by cultural products diminishes over time. If transposed to conservation, this transience of societal attention is likely to be of major importance because it can limit motivation to support conservation efforts. We address the concept of attention transience applied to conservation, discuss its major drivers and mechanisms, and provide a short overview of conservation issues for which this phenomenon is expected to be particularly relevant. Attention transience leaves a brief window of opportunity for conservationists to focus public awareness and to mobilize necessary support. In this context, it is critical to maximize the conservation benefits generated during these short bursts of attention, especially through tailored conservation marketing c aigns with targeted message framing and regular efforts to refocus attention on key issues.
Multi-model climate projections for biodiversity risk assessments
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-2011
DOI: 10.1890/11-0314.1
Disease and the devil: density-dependent epidemiological processes explain historical population fluctuations in the Tasmanian devil
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-03-2005
Threat or invasive status in legumes is related to opposite extremes of the same ecological and life-history attributes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-08-2008
Extinction debt from climate change for frogs in the wet tropics
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 10-2016
Abstract: The effect of twenty-first-century climate change on bio ersity is commonly forecast based on modelled shifts in species ranges, linked to habitat suitability. These projections have been coupled with species–area relationships (SAR) to infer extinction rates indirectly as a result of the loss of climatically suitable areas and associated habitat. This approach does not model population dynamics explicitly, and so accepts that extinctions might occur after substantial (but unknown) delays—an extinction debt. Here we explicitly couple bioclimatic envelope models of climate and habitat suitability with generic life-history models for 24 species of frogs found in the Australian Wet Tropics (AWT). We show that (i) as many as four species of frogs face imminent extinction by 2080, due primarily to climate change (ii) three frogs face delayed extinctions and (iii) this extinction debt will take at least a century to be realized in full. Furthermore, we find congruence between forecast rates of extinction using SARs, and demographic models with an extinction lag of 120 years. We conclude that SAR approaches can provide useful advice to conservation on climate change impacts, provided there is a good understanding of the time lags over which delayed extinctions are likely to occur.
Minimum viable population sizes and global extinction risk are unrelated
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-02-2006
DOI: 10.1111/J.1461-0248.2006.00883.X
Abstract: Theoretical and empirical work has shown that once reduced in size and geographical range, species face a considerably elevated risk of extinction. We predict minimum viable population sizes (MVP) for 1198 species based on long‐term time‐series data and model‐averaged population dynamics simulations. The median MVP estimate was 1377 in iduals (90% probability of persistence over 100 years) but the overall distribution was wide and strongly positively skewed. Factors commonly cited as correlating with extinction risk failed to predict MVP but were able to predict successfully the probability of World Conservation Union Listing. MVPs were most strongly related to local environmental variation rather than a species’ intrinsic ecological and life history attributes. Further, the large variation in MVP across species is unrelated to (or at least dwarfed by) the anthropogenic threats that drive the global bio ersity crisis by causing once‐abundant species to decline.
Persistence of lowland rainforest birds in a recently logged area in central Java
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 06-2005
Environmental and allometric drivers of tree growth rates in a north Australian savanna
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2006
What is the relationship between elements of ICU treatment and memories after discharge in adult ICU survivors?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2015.11.004
Abstract: Patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) often experience distressing memories during recovery that have been associated with poor psychological and cognitive outcomes. The aim of this literature review was to synthesise the literature reporting on relationships between elements of ICU treatment and memories after discharge in adult ICU survivors. Integrative review methods were used to systematically search, select, extract, appraise and summarise current knowledge from the available research and identify gaps in the literature. The following electronic databases were systematically searched: PubMed, Ovid EMBASE, EBSCOhost CINAHL, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Additional studies were identified through searches of bibliographies. Original quantitative research articles written in English that were published in peer-review journals were included. Data extracted from studies included authors, study aims, population, s le size and characteristics, methods, ICU treatments, ICU memory definitions, data collection strategies and findings. Study quality assessment was based on elements of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme using the checklists developed for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies. Fourteen articles containing data from 13 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The relatively limited evidence about the association between elements of ICU treatment and memories after ICU discharge suggest that deep sedation, corticoids and administration of glucose 50% due to hypoglycaemia contribute to the development of delusional memories and amnesia of ICU stay. The body of literature on the relationship between elements of ICU treatment and memories after ICU discharge is small and at its early stages. Larger studies using rigorous study design are needed in order to evaluate the effects of different elements of ICU treatment on the development of memories of the ICU during recovery.
Geographic range determinants of two commercially important marine molluscs
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-2012
Predicting the Distribution of Commercially Important Invertebrate Stocks under Future Climate
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 12-12-2012
Conservation Value of Non-Native Banteng in Northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 30-06-2006
DOI: 10.1111/J.1523-1739.2006.00428.X
Abstract: The global species extinction crisis has provided the impetus for elaborate translocation, captive breeding, and cloning programs, but more extreme actions may be necessary. We used mitochondrial DNA, Y-chromosome, and nuclear lactoferrin-encoding gene sequencing to identify a wild population of a pure-strain endangered bovid (Bos javanicus) introduced into northern Australia over 150 years ago. This places the Australian population in a different conservation category relative to its domesticated conspecific in Indonesia (i.e., Bali cattle) that has varying degrees of introgression from other domesticated Bos spp. The success of this endangered non-native species demonstrates that although risky, the deliberate introduction of threatened exotic species into non-native habitat may provide, under some circumstances, a biologically feasible option for conserving large herbivores otherwise imperiled in their native range.
Fertility partially drives the relative success of two introduced bovines (Bubalus bubalis and Bos javanicus) in the Australian tropics
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1071/WR10174
Abstract: Context Some large herbivores introduced to Australia have achieved population densities so high as to cause considerable ecological damage. Intriguingly, others have been relatively less successful and have correspondingly perturbed their new environments less. An excellent ex le is two similar-sized bovine species that established feral populations in the Northern Territory of Australia in the mid-19th century. Asian sw buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) rapidly colonised the tropical savannas, causing ecological degradation, especially on freshwater sw s. In contrast, banteng (Bos javanicus) are restricted to their point of introduction and have caused relatively negligible ecological damage. Understanding the reasons of this differential success is of theoretical and applied interest and contributes to managing large herbivore populations for ex situ conservation and feral-animal control. Aims To compare the population structure of buffalo and banteng on the basis of shot s les, so as to construct life tables for four contemporary (low-density) buffalo populations, and collated data from previous work from three historical (high-density) buffalo populations and one banteng population (the only extant ex situ population in existence). Further, to provide a validation of age estimation with and without informed priors in a Bayesian model comparing horn length and ages estimated from tooth cementum annuli. Finally, to interpret our results in the context of relative invasion potential of the two bovid species. Key Results For both species, survival of juveniles was the most important demographic component influencing deterministic population growth. However, buffalo have the demographic capacity to recover swiftly after control because of high survival and fertility rates across a range of population densities. Fertility of buffalo was historically greater than that of banteng, and buffalo fertility increased as their populations were reduced. Conclusions These findings highlight how subtle differences in demographic rates and feeding ecology can influence the success (high population growth and range expansion) of large herbivores, knowledge which is increasingly important for managing invasive species effectively. Implications We show that that in idual life-history traits and demographic performance, especially fertility, play an important role in determining the spread of invasive bovids in a novel environment.
Synergies among extinction drivers under global change
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2008
DOI: 10.1016/J.TREE.2008.03.011
Abstract: If habitat destruction or overexploitation of populations is severe, species loss can occur directly and abruptly. Yet the final descent to extinction is often driven by synergistic processes ( lifying feedbacks) that can be disconnected from the original cause of decline. We review recent observational, experimental and meta-analytic work which together show that owing to interacting and self-reinforcing processes, estimates of extinction risk for most species are more severe than previously recognised. As such, conservation actions which only target single-threat drivers risk being inadequate because of the cascading effects caused by unmanaged synergies. Future work should focus on how climate change will interact with and accelerate ongoing threats to bio ersity, such as habitat degradation, overexploitation and invasive species.
Intensive care diaries to promote recovery for patients and families after critical illness: A Cochrane Systematic Review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2015
DOI: 10.1016/J.IJNURSTU.2015.03.020
Abstract: To assess the effect of an intensive care unit (ICU) diary versus no ICU diary on patients, and their caregivers or families, during the patient's recovery from admission to an ICU. Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and clinical controlled trials. CENTRAL, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PILOT Web of Science Conference Proceedings, clinical trial registries and reference lists of identified trials. Studies evaluated the effectiveness of patient diaries, when compared to no ICU diary, for patients or family members to promote recovery after admission to ICU were included. Outcome measures for describing recovery from ICU included the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress symptomatology, health-related quality of life and costs. We used standard methodological approaches as expected by The Cochrane Collaboration. Two review authors independently reviewed titles for inclusion, extracted data and undertook risk of bias according to pre-specified criteria. We identified three eligible studies two describing ICU patients (N=358), and one describing relatives of ICU patients (N=30). No study adequately reported on risk of PTSD as described using a clinical interview, family or caregiver anxiety or depression, health-related quality of life or costs. Within a single study there was no clear evidence of a difference in risk for developing anxiety (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.07-1.19) or depression (RR 0.38, 95% CI 0.12-1.19) in participants who received ICU diaries, in comparison to those that did not receive a patient diary. Within a single study there was no evidence of difference in median post-traumatic stress symptomatology scores (diaries 24, SD 11.6 no diary 24, SD 11.6) and delusional ICU memory recall (RR 1.04, 95% CI 0.84-1.28) between the patients recovering from ICU admission who received patient diaries, and those who did not. One study reported reduced post-traumatic stress symptomatology in family members of patients recovering from admission to ICU who received patient diaries (median 19 range 14-28), in comparison to no diary (median 28 range 14-38). Currently there is minimal evidence from RCTs of the benefits or harms of patient diaries for patients and their caregivers or family members. A small study has described their potential to reduce post-traumatic stress symptomatology in family members. However, there is currently inadequate evidence to support their effectiveness in improving psychological recovery after critical illness for patients and their family members.
Is the carpentarian rock-rat Zyzomys palatalis critically endangered?
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1071/PC060134
Abstract: The Carpentarian Rock-rat Zyzomys palatalis is a rare conilurine rodent with a global distribution restricted to a small area of sandstone escarpments in the Gulf of Carpentaria region of the Northern Territory. Previous assessments of its World Conservation Union (IUCN) status in 1996 had classified the species as Critically Endangered based on the restricted area of occupancy and a putative decline in the extent and quality of its closed forest habitat due to uncontrolled landscape fires. A later population viability analysis confirmed that habitat loss was potentially the single most important threatening process. Here we argue that the species should be reclassified as Vulnerable, on the basis of the following new evidence: (1) the assumption that it was a closed forest specialist was not supported by a radiotracking study, which showed that on average 43% of an in idual's monitored time was spent in the forest-savannah margin, and (2) analysis of repeat historical aerial photography has shown that the core closed forest habitat has in fact increased by 36% over the last 50 years. This has lead to an increase of 140 in the minimum number of equivalent Z. paJatalis territories, from 387 to 587, when home range overlaps and utilization of the savannah margins are considered. Reclassification of the species' conservation status should be accompanied with: (i) genetic studies of relatedness between isolated populations (ii) monitoring and maintenance of the integrity of the landscapes, including creeklines that connect patches and (iii) consideration of the introduction of captive bred specimens into an adjacent unoccupied fragments.
A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Novel Dressing and Securement Techniques in 101 Pediatric Patients
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JVIR.2017.07.012
Abstract: To evaluate feasibility of an efficacy trial comparing peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) dressing and securement techniques to prevent complications and failure. This pilot, 3-armed, randomized controlled trial was undertaken at Royal Children's Hospital and Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia, between April 2014 and September 2015. Pediatric participants (N = 101 age range, 0-18 y) were assigned to standard care (bordered polyurethane [BPU] dressing, sutureless securement device), tissue adhesive (TA) (plus BPU dressing), or integrated securement dressings (ISDs). Average PICC dwell time was 8.1 days (range, 0.2-27.7 d). Primary outcome was trial feasibility including PICC failure. Secondary outcomes were PICC complications, dressing performance, and parent and staff satisfaction. Protocol feasibility was established. PICC failure was 6% (2/32) with standard care, 6% (2/31) with ISD, and 3% (1/32) with TA. PICC complications were 16% across all groups. TA provided immediate postoperative hemostasis, prolonging the first dressing change until 5.5 days compared with 3.5 days and 2.5 days with standard care and ISD respectively. Bleeding was the most common reason for first dressing change: standard care (n = 18 75%), ISD (n = 11 69%), TA (n = 4 27%). Parental satisfaction (median 9.7/10 P = .006) and staff feedback (9.2/10 P = .002) were most positive for ISD. This research suggests safety and acceptability of different securement dressings compared with standard care securement dressings may also reduce dressing changes after insertion. Further research is required to confirm clinically cost-effective methods to prevent PICC failure.
SARS-CoV-2 vaccination modelling for safe surgery to save lives: data from an international prospective cohort study
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 24-03-2021
DOI: 10.1093/BJS/ZNAB101
Abstract: Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 vaccination could support safer elective surgery. Vaccine numbers are limited so this study aimed to inform their prioritization by modelling. The primary outcome was the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one COVID-19-related death in 1 year. NNVs were based on postoperative SARS-CoV-2 rates and mortality in an international cohort study (surgical patients), and community SARS-CoV-2 incidence and case fatality data (general population). NNV estimates were stratified by age (18–49, 50–69, 70 or more years) and type of surgery. Best- and worst-case scenarios were used to describe uncertainty. NNVs were more favourable in surgical patients than the general population. The most favourable NNVs were in patients aged 70 years or more needing cancer surgery (351 best case 196, worst case 816) or non-cancer surgery (733 best case 407, worst case 1664). Both exceeded the NNV in the general population (1840 best case 1196, worst case 3066). NNVs for surgical patients remained favourable at a range of SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates in sensitivity analysis modelling. Globally, prioritizing preoperative vaccination of patients needing elective surgery ahead of the general population could prevent an additional 58 687 (best case 115 007, worst case 20 177) COVID-19-related deaths in 1 year. As global roll out of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination proceeds, patients needing elective surgery should be prioritized ahead of the general population.
Land management affects grass biomass in the Eucalyptus tetrodonta savannas of monsoonal Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-05-2007
Climate change enhances the potential impact of infectious disease and harvest on tropical waterfowl
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-06-2009
Dressings and securement devices for central venous catheters (CVC)
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 28-02-2013
Can morphometrics predict sex in varanids?
Publisher: Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Date: 03-2007
Clinical audits to improve critical care: Part 1 Prepare and collect data
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2017.04.003
Abstract: Clinical audits are used to examine current practice, compare this with established best practice and implementing change, to ensure patients receive the most effective treatment. They are successful in improving the quality and safety of care provided, and thereby clinical outcomes. Clinical audits are ubiquitous throughout critical care practice, but without the necessary focus, engagement, preparation, method, evaluation and communication, they may be a waste of resources. This article is the first of a two-paper series regarding audits in critical care. The article provides an overview of the structures and processes needed to prepare and collect data for clinical audits, to make them as effective as possible to improve patient outcomes. This is accomplished through a practical step-by-step guide, including links to valuable resources, which are relevant to all critical care clinicians planning on undertaking clinical audits.
Clinical audits to improve critical care: Part 2: Analyse, benchmark and feedback
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2018
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2017.04.002
Abstract: Clinical audits are an essential part of the cycle designed to ensure that patients receive the best quality of care. By measuring the care delivered against established best practice standards, it becomes possible to identify shortcomings and to plan targeted strategies and processes for continuous improvement. The success of a clinical audit depends upon defined goals, motivation of stakeholders, appropriate tools and resources, and clear communication. In part 1 of this series, an overview of the structures and processes needed to prepare and collect data for clinical audits in the critical care setting was provided [A.J. Ullman, G. Ray-Barruel, C.M. Rickard, M. Cooke, Clinical audits to improve critical care: Part 1 Prepare and collect data, Aust Crit Care, 2017, in press]. In part 2, we discuss how to analyse the collected audit data, benchmark findings with internal and external data sets, and feedback audit results to critical care clinicians to promote evidence-based practice and improve patient outcomes.
Southeast Asian birds in peril
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 2006
Timing and severity of immunizing diseases in rabbits is controlled by seasonal matching of host and pathogen dynamics
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 02-2015
Abstract: Infectious diseases can exert a strong influence on the dynamics of host populations, but it remains unclear why such disease-mediated control only occurs under particular environmental conditions. We used 16 years of detailed field data on invasive European rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) in Australia, linked to in idual-based stochastic models and Bayesian approximations, to test whether (i) mortality associated with rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is driven primarily by seasonal matches/mismatches between demographic rates and epidemiological dynamics and (ii) delayed infection (arising from insusceptibility and maternal antibodies in juveniles) are important factors in determining disease severity and local population persistence of rabbits. We found that both the timing of reproduction and exposure to viruses drove recurrent seasonal epidemics of RHD. Protection conferred by insusceptibility and maternal antibodies controlled seasonal disease outbreaks by delaying infection this could have also allowed escape from disease. The persistence of local populations was a stochastic outcome of recovery rates from both RHD and myxomatosis. If susceptibility to RHD is delayed, myxomatosis will have a pronounced effect on population extirpation when the two viruses coexist. This has important implications for wildlife management, because it is likely that such seasonal interplay and disease dynamics has a strong effect on long-term population viability for many species.
Perspectives of patients and family members regarding psychological support using intensive care diaries: An exploratory mixed methods study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JCRC.2016.12.003
Abstract: Diaries summarizing intensive care are routine practice in some countries, although evidence to support diary use is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify whether distress post-intensive care influences patients' and relatives' choice as to whether they would like to receive a diary and what information delivery method is preferred. Intensive care patients admitted for at least 3 days and their relatives participated in an exploratory mixed methods study. Interviews were conducted 3 to 5 months after discharge. Psychological distress was assessed using Kessler-10 and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Checklist - 5. Perceptions of benefit of diaries were assessed using a 4-point Likert scale. Differences were examined using Fisher exact test (P<.05). Fifty-seven patients and 22 relatives consented to participation, with 22 patients and 22 relatives interviewed before data saturation. Psychological distress was evident in 25 (47%) patients and 5 (23%) relatives. Participants' psychological health was similar for those who perceived diaries as beneficial, and those who did not. Themes included memory, process, and impact, although opinions were erse. Patient and relative preferences of receiving a diary are not related to psychological distress. Diverse opinions around common themes suggest the need for a range of interventions to aid psychological recovery.
Innovation in Central Venous Access Device Security
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 10-2019
Impact of paediatric tonsillectomy perioperative management on pain, nausea and recovery: A prospective cohort study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-05-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.14505
Abstract: Tonsillectomy procedures are a core element of paediatrics however, perioperative management differs. This study aimed to describe tonsillectomy management, including the burden of pain, nausea and delayed recovery. A prospective cohort study was undertaken through an audit of tonsillectomy perioperative practice and recovery and survey interviews with family members 7-14 days post-surgery. The study was undertaken at an Australian tertiary referral paediatric hospital between June and September 2016. The audit included 255 children undergoing tonsillectomy, with 127 family members interviewed. Most participants underwent adenotonsillectomy (n = 216 85%), with a primary diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnoea (n = 205 80%) and a mean age of 7 years (standard deviation 3.9). A variety of intra-operative pain relief and antiemetics was administered. Pain was present in 29% (n = 26) of participants at ward return, increasing to 32-45% at 4-20 h and decreasing to 21% (n = 15) at discharge. A third of the children (32% n = 41) had moderate to severe pain at post-discharge interview, and 30% (n = 38) experienced nausea at home. Most parents (82% n = 104) were still giving regular paracetamol at 7 days post-operatively, and 31% (n = 39) had finished their oxycodone. Of the participants, 14% (n = 26) presented to the emergency department within 7 days of discharge 8% (n = 20) of the total cohort were re-admitted. There was variety in perioperative and post-discharge care. Pain scores were infrequently documented post-tonsillectomy, and parents are generally dissatisfied with the management of post-operative pain and nausea. Further research is needed to provide a more consistent approach to perioperative management to promote recovery.
Extinction: A synthesis of disciplines for theoretical and practical advances
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1017/EXT.2023.2
Abstract: Extinction is a new open-access journal focused on the patterns and processes underlying the loss of bio ersity. It aims to inform conservation efforts, with a broad spatial and temporal scope. Extinction biology – the scientific study of species loss – has a long history and has recently become a more interdisciplinary and integrated field. This journal offers a unique, synthetic forum in which to present cutting-edge research and discuss its implications. This includes ecological, molecular, paleontological, and social perspectives, based on empirical data, theory, and modelling, to understand extinction processes. By tackling the big challenges, the research published in Extinction will be valuable for researchers and practitioners concerned with extinction and its role in shaping the history and future of life on Earth.
Evaluating scat surveys as a tool for population and community assessments
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 03-12-2022
DOI: 10.1071/WR21056
Abstract: Abstract Context Reliable, cost-effective monitoring methods are essential for managing wildlife populations. Scat-and-sign surveys (i.e. monitoring defecation, animal scratching, footprints, food remains) are a rapid, low-cost, non-invasive monitoring approach, but unquantified biases and uncertainties associated with these methods have caused researchers to doubt their reliability. Aims We sought to quantify how richness, occupancy and activity estimates derived from a long-term camera-trap study differed from those of scat surveys in the same locations, to determine scat-survey reliability and model bias corrections. Methods We used transect-based scat surveys at 110 sites in the temperate forests of southern Tasmania (Australia), to estimate occupancy, activity and community richness for common, ground-dwelling vertebrates. These results were compared with estimates derived from a long-term passive camera-trap study at the same sites. In addition, time-lapse imagery taken with the camera traps was used to monitor the persistence of rufous-belled pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) and Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) scats in relation to environmental correlates. Key results Scat persistence differed between these two species. The half-life of S. harrisii scats was 113 days, compared with 63 days for T. billardierii. Generalised linear modelling showed that scat surveys were most efficacious at sites with little disturbance and homogenous substrates. Overall, scat surveys consistently underestimated site occupancy and richness relative to the camera traps (μ = 2.7:1), but this bias was inconsistent, with the ratio exceeding 15 for the arboreal brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Scats were most reliably detected for large, trail-using mammals such as S. harrisii, T. billardierii, and common wombat (Vombatus ursinus). Scat surveys were less useful for the surveillance of low-density and arboreal species. Scats were uncommon for the two bird species examined, but alternative superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae) signs were detected reliably. Conclusions Scat surveys reliably detected large, trail-using mammals. However, estimates of activity were poorly correlated between camera traps and scat surveys. Implications When used appropriately, scat surveys can provide an effective and cheap ‘snapshot’ index for wildlife monitoring, especially if the species-specific biases have been calibrated for the vertebrate community and environment under monitoring.
Spatial climate patterns explain negligible variation in strength of compensatory density feedbacks in birds and mammals
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 11-03-2014
SRT1720 improves survival and healthspan of obese mice
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-08-2011
DOI: 10.1038/SREP00070
Timing of surgery following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection: an international prospective cohort study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-03-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ANAE.15458
Abstract: Peri‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection increases postoperative mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal duration of planned delay before surgery in patients who have had SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study included patients undergoing elective or emergency surgery during October 2020. Surgical patients with pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 infection were compared with those without previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. The primary outcome measure was 30‐day postoperative mortality. Logistic regression models were used to calculate adjusted 30‐day mortality rates stratified by time from diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection to surgery. Among 140,231 patients (116 countries), 3127 patients (2.2%) had a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis. Adjusted 30‐day mortality in patients without SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was 1.5% (95%CI 1.4–1.5). In patients with a pre‐operative SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis, mortality was increased in patients having surgery within 0–2 weeks, 3–4 weeks and 5–6 weeks of the diagnosis (odds ratio (95%CI) 4.1 (3.3–4.8), 3.9 (2.6–5.1) and 3.6 (2.0–5.2), respectively). Surgery performed ≥ 7 weeks after SARS‐CoV‐2 diagnosis was associated with a similar mortality risk to baseline (odds ratio (95%CI) 1.5 (0.9–2.1)). After a ≥ 7 week delay in undertaking surgery following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, patients with ongoing symptoms had a higher mortality than patients whose symptoms had resolved or who had been asymptomatic (6.0% (95%CI 3.2–8.7) vs. 2.4% (95%CI 1.4–3.4) vs. 1.3% (95%CI 0.6–2.0), respectively). Where possible, surgery should be delayed for at least 7 weeks following SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Patients with ongoing symptoms ≥ 7 weeks from diagnosis may benefit from further delay.
Innovative dressing and securement of tunneled central venous access devices in pediatrics: A pilot randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-08-2017
Managing the long-term persistence of a rare cockatoo under climate change
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-06-2012
A secure future? Human urban and agricultural land use benefits a flightless island-endemic rail despite climate change
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 06-2023
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.230386
Abstract: Identifying environmental characteristics that limit species' distributions is important for contemporary conservation and inferring responses to future environmental change. The Tasmanian native hen is an island endemic flightless rail and a survivor of a prehistoric extirpation event. Little is known about the regional-scale environmental characteristics influencing the distribution of native hens, or how their future distribution might be impacted by environmental shifts (e.g. climate change). Using a combination of local fieldwork and species distribution modelling, we assess environmental factors shaping the contemporary distribution of the native hen, and project future distribution changes under predicted climate change. We find 37% of Tasmania is currently suitable for the native hens, owing to low summer precipitation, low elevation, human-modified vegetation and urban areas. Moreover, in unsuitable regions, urban areas can create ‘oases’ of habitat, able to support populations with high breeding activity by providing resources and buffering against environmental constraints. Under climate change predictions, native hens were predicted to lose only 5% of their occupied range by 2055. We conclude that the species is resilient to climate change and benefits overall from anthropogenic landscape modifications. As such, this constitutes a rare ex le of a flightless rail to have adapted to human activity.
Pesticides reduce tropical amphibian and reptile diversity in agricultural landscapes in Indonesia
Publisher: PeerJ
Date: 20-03-2023
DOI: 10.7717/PEERJ.15046
Abstract: Pesticide use on tropical crops has increased substantially in recent decades, posing a threat to bio ersity and ecosystem services. Amphibians and reptiles are common in tropical agricultural landscapes, but few field studies measure pesticide impacts on these taxa. Here we combine 1-year of correlative data with an experimental field approach from Indonesia. We show that while pesticide application cannot predict hibian or reptile ersity patterns in cocoa plantations, our experimental exposure to herbicides and insecticides in vegetable gardens eliminated hibians, whereas reptiles were less impacted by insecticide and not affected by herbicide exposure. The pesticide-driven loss of a common hibian species known to be a pest-control agent (mainly invertebrate predation) suggests a strong indirect negative effect of pesticides on this service. We recommend landscape-based Integrated Pest Management and additional ecotoxicological studies on hibians and reptiles to underpin a regulatory framework and to assure recognition and protection of their ecosystem services.
Response to the Letter to the Editor regarding “Methods for microbial needleless connector decontamination: A systematic review and meta-analysis”
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
Global zero-carbon energy pathways using viable mixes of nuclear and renewables
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
Roughing it: terrain is crucial in identifying novel translocation sites for the vulnerable brush-tailed rock-wallaby ( Petrogale pencillata )
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 12-2020
DOI: 10.1098/RSOS.201603
Abstract: Translocations—the movement of species from one place to another—are likely to become more common as conservation attempts to protect small isolated populations from threats posed by extreme events such as bushfires. The recent Australian mega-fires burnt almost 40% of the habitat of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby ( Petrogale pencillata ), a threatened species whose distribution is already restricted, primarily due to predation by invasive species. This chronic threat of over-predation, coupled with the possible extinction of the genetically distinct southern population (approx. 40 in iduals in the wild), makes this species a candidate for a conservation translocation. Here, we use species distribution models to identify translocation sites for the brush-tailed rock-wallaby. Our models exhibited high predictive accuracy, and show that terrain roughness, a surrogate for predator refugia, is the most important variable. Tasmania, which currently has no rock-wallabies, showed high suitability and is fox-free, making it a promising candidate site. We outline our argument for the trial translocation of rock-wallaby to Maria Island, located off Tasmania's eastern coast. This research offers a transparent assessment of the translocation potential of a threatened species, which can be adapted to other taxa and systems.
The parent, child and young person experience of difficult venous access and recommendations for clinical practice: A qualitative descriptive study
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-05-2023
DOI: 10.1111/JOCN.16759
Abstract: Explore the parent and child/young person experience of difficult venous access and identify ideas and preferences for changes to clinical practice. Peripheral intravenous catheter insertion is one of the most common invasive procedures in hospitalised paediatric patients. Multiple insertion attempts in paediatric patients are common and associated with pain and distress. Little research has explored the parent and child/young person experience of difficult venous access nor sought to identify their suggestions to improve clinical practice. Qualitative description. A purposive s ling approach was used to identify children and young people with experience of difficult venous access and their parents. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted, with s le size based on data saturation. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. There were 12 participants, seven parents and five children/young people (five parent/child dyads and two in idual parents). Analysis of the data revealed three main themes: (1) Distress—before, during and after (2) Families navigating the system: the challenging journey from general clinician to specialist and (3) Difficult venous access impacts both treatment and life outside the hospital A pre‐determined theme, (4) Recommendations for good clinical practice is also described. Multiple attempts to insert a peripheral intravenous catheter are a source of substantial distress for children/young people, leading to treatment avoidance. Effective interpersonal skills, providing choice and avoiding frightening language are important to minimise distress. Clinicians without specialist training should assess each child's venous access experience and consider immediate referral to a specialist if they have a history of difficult venous access. Cultural change is required so clinicians and healthcare services recognise that repeated cannulation may be a source of psychological distress for children/young people.
Antithrombogenic peripherally inserted central catheters: overview of efficacy and safety
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-12-2018
DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2019.1555466
Abstract: Thrombotic complications associated with peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are common, as most synthetic materials when placed in the presence of serum often result in platelet activation, fibrin deposition, thrombotic occlusion, and potentially embolization. A current innovation focus has been the development of antithrombogenic catheter materials, including hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces. These are being incorporated into PICCs in an attempt to prevent the normal thrombotic cascade leading to patient harm. This review focuses on the laboratory efficacy and clinical effectiveness of antithrombogenic PICCs to prevent PICC-associated thrombosis, as well as their efficiency and safety. This synthesis was informed by a systematic identification of published and unpublished laboratory and clinical studies evaluating these technologies. A range of PICCs have been developed with antithrombogenic claims, using varying technologies. However, to date, there is no peer-reviewed laboratory research describing the in idual PICCs' effectiveness. Despite promising early clinical trials, adequately powered trials to establish efficacy, effectiveness, efficiency, and safety of all of the in idual products have not yet been undertaken.
Catastrophic extinctions follow deforestation in Singapore
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 07-2003
DOI: 10.1038/NATURE01795
Diaries for recovery from critical illness
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Date: 30-04-2013
PICCPED® MOBILE APPLICATION: PREVENTION OF ADVERSE EVENTS IN A PERIPHERALLY INSERTED CENTRAL CATHETER IN PEDIATRICS
Publisher: FapUNIFESP (SciELO)
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1590/1980-265X-TCE-2020-0627
Abstract: ABSTRACT Objective: to construct a mobile application in the mobile-learning format that favors learning, offering support to the nurse's clinical reasoning and decision-making in the prevention of adverse events related to the peripherally inserted central catheter in pediatrics. Method: the construction of the mobile-learning technological production took place between 2016 and 2020, following seven steps that included the Contextualized Instructional Designer. The content of the application was based on current scientific evidence, with the inclusion of guidelines, international and national directives and was elaborated grounded on Problem-Based Learning. The project team involved the participation of two content experts, a programmer, and two graphic designers. Results: the application consists of a pediatric clinical case, which gives rise to six other cases, exploring six catheter maintenance procedure. When presenting the cases, the user is encouraged to perform a clinical evaluation and make a decision about the problem raised. So, when the user correctly chooses the clinical issue, there is a message of congratulations and they are encouraged to continue their learning. In opposition, when the user answers incorrectly, the software shows the adverse event that can affect the patient and a new evaluation and decision-making are encouraged. At the end of each procedure, there is an animation of the correct technique for better assimilation of the constructed knowledge. Conclusion: this type of mobile-learning application allows for knowledge dissemination and assists safe care to children using the peripherally inserted central catheters.
Global evidence that deforestation amplifies flood risk and severity in the developing world
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-08-2007
Dangerous Ideas in Zoology: Plenary Session 1
Publisher: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales
Date: 06-2017
DOI: 10.7882/AZ.2016.036
A validated ensemble method for multinomial land-cover classification
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2020
Land use change drives major loss of Southeast Asian biodiversity
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 12-08-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.08.552370
Abstract: Southeast Asia is highly bio erse and currently experiences among the highest rates of tropical deforestation globally, but impacts on bio ersity are not well synthesized. We use Bayesian multi-level modeling to meta-analyse 831 pairwise comparisons of bio ersity in sites subject to human land use change and anthropogenic forest disturbance (for ex le in plantations or logged forest) versus undisturbed sites. After controlling for hierarchical dependences, we show that bio ersity is a fifth lower in sites with these land-use changes (95% credible interval= 16-28%, mean = 22%). This reduction was greater when land use change/anthropogenic forest disturbances were high-intensity (34% reduction in bio ersity) compared to low-intensity (18% reduction), and effects were consistent across biogeographic regions and taxa. Oil-palm plantations lead to the greatest reduction in bio ersity (39%, CI 27-48%), and agroforests the least (24%, CI 10-37%). We also find that bio ersity is reduced in young secondary forest by 26% (CI 4-42%) compared to undisturbed forest, but there is no reduction in bio ersity for intermediate or mature-aged secondary forest (although species composition is potentially altered). Overall, our study provides the clearest evidence yet of the substantial detrimental impact of land-use change and anthropogenic forest disturbance on the bio ersity of Southeast Asia.
A novel integrated dressing to secure peripheral intravenous catheters in an adult acute hospital: a pilot randomised controlled trial
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 30-10-2018
Evaluating behavioural responses of macropods to drones
Publisher: Authorea, Inc.
Date: 28-08-2023
DOI: 10.22541/AU.169321871.15706342/V1
Abstract: Wildlife monitoring is a crucial component of conservation management, with reliable field surveys being important for trend analysis and population viability modelling. Unoccupied aircraft systems (UAS), also known as drones, are rapidly supplanting manned aircraft for aerial wildlife counts. Here we investigated and compared the impacts of drone presence on two large terrestrial mammals from Tasmania, Australia—Bennett’s wallaby ( Notamacropus rufogriseus ), and Forester kangaroo ( Macropus giganteus tasmaniensis ) —using a commercial quadcopter model: DJI Phantom 4 Pro. Further, a ground bird, the domestic chicken ( Gallus gallus domesticus ), was used as a model organism to further investigate behavioural responses of ‘aerial aware’ species to drones. We found that M. giganteus tasmaniensis and N. rufogriseus started to exhibit noticeable changes in behaviour, including evasion, when the drone motor sound exceeded ~50 decibels (dB) as heard from the ground (at flight altitudes of 30 – 50 m). At lower sound levels (48 dB and below, above 50 m), the animal’s response was minimal. The response of G. gallus domesticus to the drone was remarkably similar to that of the Macropus species, despite the species generally being more susceptible to, and instinctively vigilant against drone-sized aerial predators such as raptors. This study has established the baseline information required to understand the limits of drone operations, in terms of target disturbance, for macropod surveys.
Sensitivity analysis of range dynamics models (SARDM): Quantifying the influence of parameter uncertainty on forecasts of extinction risk from global change
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
Clarity and Precision of Language Are a Necessary Route in Ecology
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 14-04-2014
Dominant carnivore loss benefits native avian and invasive mammalian scavengers
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 26-10-2022
Abstract: Scavenging by large carnivores is integral for ecosystem functioning by limiting the build-up of carrion and facilitating widespread energy flows. However, top carnivores have declined across the world, triggering trophic shifts within ecosystems. Here, we compare findings from previous work on predator decline against areas with recent native mammalian carnivore loss. Specifically, we investigate top-down control on utilization of experimentally placed carcasses by two mesoscavengers—the invasive feral cat and native forest raven. Ravens profited most from carnivore loss, scavenging for five times longer in the absence of native mammalian carnivores. Cats scavenged on half of all carcasses in the region without dominant native carnivores. This was eight times more than in areas where other carnivores were at high densities. All carcasses persisted longer than the three-week monitoring period in the absence of native mammalian carnivores, while in areas with high carnivore abundance, all carcasses were fully consumed. Our results reveal that top-carnivore loss lifies impacts associated with carnivore decline—increased carcass persistence and carrion access for smaller scavengers. This suggests that even at low densities, native mammalian carnivores can fulfil their ecological functions, demonstrating the significance of global carnivore conservation and supporting management approaches, such as trophic rewilding.
Hydrocolloid dressings for treating pressure ulcers
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-04-2018
Ecologically realistic estimates of maximum population growth using informed Bayesian priors
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-11-2013
Impact of intense disturbance on the structure and composition of wet-eucalypt forests: A case study from the Tasmanian 2016 wildfires
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-07-2018
Development of a paediatric central venous access device database: A retrospective cohort study of practice evolution and risk factors for device failure
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 22-08-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JPC.14600
Abstract: To describe practice evolution, complications and risk factors for multiple insertion attempts and device failure in paediatric central venous access devices (CVADs). A paediatric retrospective cohort study using prospectively collected data from CVAD database 2012-2014. Data included were patient (i.e. age, condition), insertion (i.e. indication, device, technique) and removal (complications, dwell). Descriptive statistics and incidence rates were calculated per calendar year and compared. Risk factors for multiple insertion attempts and failure were explored with logistic regression and cox regression, respectively. A total of 1308 CVADs were observed over 273 467 catheter-days in 863 patients. Multiple insertion attempts remained static (14%) and significantly associated with non-haematological oncology (odds ratio 2.19 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-4.43), respiratory (3.71 1.10-12.5), gastroenterology (4.18 1.66-10.5) and other (difficult intravenous access) (2.74 1.27-5.92). CVAD failure decreased from 35% (2012) to 25% (2014), incidence rate from 1.50 (95% CI 1.25-1.80) to 1.28 (1.06-1.54) per 1000 catheter-days. Peripherally inserted CVAD failure was significantly associated with lower body weight (per kilogram decrease, hazard ratio (HR) 1.02 95% CI 1.00-1.03), cephalic vein (1.62 1.05-2.62), difficult access (1.92 1.02-3.73), sub-optimal tip placement (1.69 1.06-2.69) and gastroenterology diagnosis (2.27 1.05-4.90). Centrally placed CVAD failure was significantly associated with younger age (per year, HR 1.04 95% CI 1.00-1.07), tunnelled device (3.38 2.41-4.73) and gastroenterology diagnosis (1.70 1.06-2.73). While advancement in CVAD practices improved overall CVAD insertion and failure outcomes, further improvements and innovation are necessary to ensure improved vessel health and preservation for children requiring CVAD.
Spatial pattern analysis of line-segment data in ecology
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 19-01-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.18.427207
Abstract: The spatial analysis of linear features (lines and curves) is a challenging and rarely attempted problem in ecology. Existing methods are typically expressed in abstract mathematical formalism, making it difficult to assess their relevance and transferability into an ecological setting. A set of concrete and accessible tools is needed. We develop a new method to analyse the spatial patterning of line-segment data. It is based on a generalisation of Ripley’s K -function and includes an analogue of the transformed L -function, together with estimators and theoretical expectation values. We introduce a class of line-segment processes, related to the Boolean model, which we use in conjunction with Monte-Carlo methods and information criteria to generate and compare candidate models. We demonstrate the utility of our method using fallen tree (dead log) data collected from two one-hectare Australian tall eucalypt forest plots. Comparing six line-segment models, we find for both plots that the distribution of fallen logs is best explained by plot-level spatial heterogeneity. The use of non-uniform distributions to model dead-log orientation on the forest floor improves model performance in one of the two sites. Our case study highlights the challenges of model comparison in spatial-pattern analysis, where Monte-Carlo approaches based on the discrepancy of simulated summary functions can generate a different ranking of models than that of information criteria. These methods are of a general nature and are applicable to any line-segment data. In the context of forest ecology, the integration of fallen logs as linear structural features in a landscape with the point locations of living trees, and a quantification of their interactions, will yield new insights into the functional and structural role of tree fall in forest communities and their enduring post-mortem ecological legacy as spatially distributed decomposing logs.
Deficiencies in estimating the extinction date of the thylacine with mixed certainty data
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-2018
DOI: 10.1111/COBI.13186
Effect of fire on small mammals: A systematic review
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2014
DOI: 10.1071/WF14026
Abstract: Fire is a natural disturbance that exerts an important influence on global ecosystems, affecting vegetation distribution and structure, the carbon cycle and climate. However, human-induced changes to fire regimes may affect at-risk species groups such as small mammals. We examine the effect of fire on small mammals and evaluate the relative sensitivity to fire among different groups using a systematic review methodology that included critiquing the literature with respect to survey design and statistical analysis. Overall, small mammal abundance is slightly higher, and demographic parameters more favourable, in unburnt sites compared to burnt sites. This was more pronounced in species with body size range of 101–1000g and with habitat requirements that are sensitive to fire (e.g. dense ground cover): in 66.6 and 69.7% of pairwise comparisons, abundance or a demographic parameter were higher in unburnt than burnt sites. This systematic review demonstrates that there remains a continued focus on simple shifts in abundance with regards to effect of fire and small mammals, which limits understanding of mechanisms responsible for change. Body size and habitat preference were most important in explaining variation in small mammal species’ responses to fire.
Multiscale modelling of the drivers of rainforest boundary dynamics in Kakadu National Park, northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2007
Could nuclear fission energy, etc., solve the greenhouse problem? The affirmative case
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2012
Economic Feasibility of Energy Supply by Small Modular Nuclear Reactors on Small Islands: Case Studies of Jeju, Tasmania and Tenerife
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-09-0015
DOI: 10.3390/EN11102587
Abstract: Small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) offer the promise of providing carbon-free electricity and heat to small islands or isolated electricity grids. However, the economic feasibility of SMRs is highly system-dependent and has not been studied in this context. We selected three case-study islands for such an evaluation: Jeju, Tasmania and Tenerife based on their system complexity. We generated 100,000 electricity-mix cases stochastically for each island and examined the system-level generation-cost changes by incrementing the average generation cost of SMRs from USD$60 to 200 MWh−1. SMRs were found to be economically viable when average generation cost was $100 MWh−1 for Jeju and $140 MWh−1 for Tenerife. For Tasmania the situation was complex hydroelectric power is an established competitor, but SMRs might be complementary in a future “battery of the nation” scenario where most of the island’s hydro capacity was exported to meet peak power demand on the mainland grid. The higher average generation cost of SMRs makes it difficult for them to compete economically with a fossil fuel/renewable mix in many contexts. However, we have demonstrated that SMRs can be an economically viable carbon-free option for a small island with a limited land area and high energy demand.
Ancient DNA reveals late survival of mammoth and horse in interior Alaska
Publisher: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Date: 29-12-2009
Abstract: Causes of late Quaternary extinctions of large mammals (“megafauna”) continue to be debated, especially for continental losses, because spatial and temporal patterns of extinction are poorly known. Accurate latest appearance dates (LADs) for such taxa are critical for interpreting the process of extinction. The extinction of woolly mammoth and horse in northwestern North America is currently placed at 15,000–13,000 calendar years before present (yr BP), based on LADs from dating surveys of macrofossils (bones and teeth). Advantages of using macrofossils to estimate when a species became extinct are offset, however, by the improbability of finding and dating the remains of the last-surviving members of populations that were restricted in numbers or confined to refugia. Here we report an alternative approach to detect ‘ghost ranges’ of dwindling populations, based on recovery of ancient DNA from perennially frozen and securely dated sediments ( sed aDNA). In such contexts, sed aDNA can reveal the molecular presence of species that appear absent in the macrofossil record. We show that woolly mammoth and horse persisted in interior Alaska until at least 10,500 yr BP, several thousands of years later than indicated from macrofossil surveys. These results contradict claims that Holocene survival of mammoths in Beringia was restricted to ecologically isolated high-latitude islands. More importantly, our finding that mammoth and horse overlapped with humans for several millennia in the region where people initially entered the Americas challenges theories that megafaunal extinction occurred within centuries of human arrival or were due to an extraterrestrial impact in the late Pleistocene.
Why tropical island endemics are acutely susceptible to global change
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2008
How complex should models be? Comparing correlative and mechanistic range dynamics models
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 20-11-2018
DOI: 10.1111/GCB.13935
Abstract: Criticism has been levelled at climate-change-induced forecasts of species range shifts that do not account explicitly for complex population dynamics. The relative importance of such dynamics under climate change is, however, undetermined because direct tests comparing the performance of demographic models vs. simpler ecological niche models are still lacking owing to difficulties in evaluating forecasts using real-world data. We provide the first comparison of the skill of coupled ecological-niche-population models and ecological niche models in predicting documented shifts in the ranges of 20 British breeding bird species across a 40-year period. Forecasts from models calibrated with data centred on 1970 were evaluated using data centred on 2010. We found that more complex coupled ecological-niche-population models (that account for dispersal and metapopulation dynamics) tend to have higher predictive accuracy in forecasting species range shifts than structurally simpler models that only account for variation in climate. However, these better forecasts are achieved only if ecological responses to climate change are simulated without static snapshots of historic land use, taken at a single point in time. In contrast, including both static land use and dynamic climate variables in simpler ecological niche models improve forecasts of observed range shifts. Despite being less skilful at predicting range changes at the grid-cell level, ecological niche models do as well, or better, than more complex models at predicting the magnitude of relative change in range size. Therefore, ecological niche models can provide a reasonable first approximation of the magnitude of species' potential range shifts, especially when more detailed data are lacking on dispersal dynamics, demographic processes underpinning population performance, and change in land cover.
Extinction risk scales better to generations than to years
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 10-2008
Look down to see what's up: A systematic overview of treefall dynamics in forests
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 17-04-2017
DOI: 10.3390/F8040123
The state and conservation of Southeast Asian biodiversity
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Date: 2009
Characterising the spatio-temporal threats, conservation hotspots, and conservation gaps for the most extinction-prone bird family (Aves: Rallidae).
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 21-01-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.20.427508
Abstract: With thousands of vertebrate species now threatened with extinction, there is an urgent need to understand and mitigate the causes of wildlife collapse. As distinct evolutionary clades can follow different routes to endangerment, there is value in taxon-specific analyses when assessing species’ vulnerability to threats and identifying gaps in conservation actions. Rails (Aves: Rallidae), being the most extinction-prone bird Family globally, and with one third of extant rail species now threatened or near-threatened, are an emphatic case in point. Yet even for this well-studied group, there is uncertainty in our understanding of what factors might be causing this vulnerability, whether the current threats are consistent with those that led to recent extinctions, and ultimately, what conservation actions might be necessary to mitigate further losses. Here, we undertook a global synthesis of the temporal and spatial threat patterns for Rallidae and determined conservation priorities and gaps. We found two key pathways in the threat pattern for rails. One follows the same trajectory as extinct rails, where island endemic and flightless rails are most threatened, mainly due to invasive predators. The second, created by the recent ersification of anthropogenic activities, involves continental rails (generally in the Neotropics), threatened most commonly by agriculture, natural-system modifications and residential and commercial development. Conservation efforts around most-at-risk species should be adapted according to the most relevant geographic scale (bioregions or countries), and principal locality type of the population (continental or island endemic). Indonesia, the U.S.A., the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Cuba were the priority countries identified by our classification system incorporating species’ unique evolutionary features and level of endangerment, but also among the countries that lack conservation actions the most. Future efforts should predominantly target improvements in ecosystem protection and management, as well as ongoing research and monitoring. Forecasting the impacts of climate change on island endemic rails and disentangling the specific roles of extrinsic and intrinsic traits (like flightlessness), will be particularly valuable avenues of research for improving our forecasts of rail vulnerability.
Co-extinctions of tropical butterflies and their hostplants
Publisher: Association for Tropical Biology
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1646/Q1566
How will climate change affect plantherbivore interactions? A tropical waterbird case study
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2009
DOI: 10.1071/MU09003
Resolving when (and where) the Thylacine went extinct
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 19-01-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.18.427214
Abstract: Like the Dodo and Passenger Pigeon before it, the predatory marsupial Thylacine ( Thylacinus cynocephalus ), or ‘Tasmanian tiger’, has become an iconic symbol of human-caused extinction. The last captive animal died in 1936, but even today reports of the Thylacine’s possible ongoing survival in remote regions of Tasmania are newsworthy and capture the public’s imagination. Extirpated from mainland Australia in the mid-Holocene, the large island of Tasmania became the species’ final stronghold. Following European settlement in the 1800s, the Thylacine was heavily persecuted and pushed to the margins of its range, although many sightings were reported thereafter—even well beyond the 1930s. To gain a new depth of insight into the extinction of the Thylacine, we assembled an exhaustive database of 1,237 observational records from Tasmania (from 1910 onwards), quantified their uncertainty, and charted the patterns these revealed. We also developed a new method to visualize the species’ 20 th -century spatio-temporal dynamics, to map potential post-bounty refugia and pinpoint the most-likely location of the final persisting subpopulation. A direct reading of the high-quality records (confirmed kills and captures, in combination with sightings by past Thylacine hunters and trappers, wildlife professionals and experienced bushmen) implies a most-likely extinction date within four decades following the last capture (i.e., 1940s to 1970s). However, uncertainty modelling of the entire sighting record, where each observation is assigned a probability and the whole dataset is then subject to a sensitivity analysis, suggests that extinction might have been as recent as the late 1980s to early 2000s, with a small chance of persistence in the remote south-western wilderness areas. Beyond the intrinsically fascinating problem of reconstructing the final fate of the Thylacine, the new spatio-temporal mapping of extirpation developed herein would also be useful for conservation prioritization and search efforts for other rare taxa of uncertain status.
Tropical turmoil: a biodiversity tragedy in progress
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 24-06-2009
DOI: 10.1890/070193
Turning back the clock on the extinction of megafauna in Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2010
Modelling strategies for the management of the critically endangered Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) of northern Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2002
Cross validation for model selection: A review with examples from ecology
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-01-2023
DOI: 10.1002/ECM.1557
Abstract: Specifying, assessing, and selecting among candidate statistical models is fundamental to ecological research. Commonly used approaches to model selection are based on predictive scores and include information criteria such as Akaike's information criterion, and cross validation. Based on data splitting, cross validation is particularly versatile because it can be used even when it is not possible to derive a likelihood (e.g., many forms of machine learning) or count parameters precisely (e.g., mixed‐effects models). However, much of the literature on cross validation is technical and spread across statistical journals, making it difficult for ecological analysts to assess and choose among the wide range of options. Here we provide a comprehensive, accessible review that explains important—but often overlooked—technical aspects of cross validation for model selection, such as: bias correction, estimation uncertainty, choice of scores, and selection rules to mitigate overfitting. We synthesize the relevant statistical advances to make recommendations for the choice of cross‐validation technique and we present two ecological case studies to illustrate their application. In most instances, we recommend using exact or approximate leave‐one‐out cross validation to minimize bias, or otherwise k ‐fold with bias correction if k 10. To mitigate overfitting when using cross validation, we recommend calibrated selection via our recently introduced modified one‐standard‐error rule. We advocate for the use of predictive scores in model selection across a range of typical modeling goals, such as exploration, hypothesis testing, and prediction, provided that models are specified in accordance with the stated goal. We also emphasize, as others have done, that inference on parameter estimates is biased if preceded by model selection and instead requires a carefully specified single model or further technical adjustments.
Climate change not to blame for late Quaternary megafauna extinctions in Australia
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 29-01-2016
DOI: 10.1038/NCOMMS10511
Abstract: Late Quaternary megafauna extinctions impoverished mammalian ersity worldwide. The causes of these extinctions in Australia are most controversial but essential to resolve, because this continent-wide event presaged similar losses that occurred thousands of years later on other continents. Here we apply a rigorous metadata analysis and new ensemble-hindcasting approach to 659 Australian megafauna fossil ages. When coupled with analysis of several high-resolution climate records, we show that megafaunal extinctions were broadly synchronous among genera and independent of climate aridity and variability in Australia over the last 120,000 years. Our results reject climate change as the primary driver of megafauna extinctions in the world’s most controversial context, and instead estimate that the megafauna disappeared Australia-wide ∼13,500 years after human arrival, with shorter periods of coexistence in some regions. This is the first comprehensive approach to incorporate uncertainty in fossil ages, extinction timing and climatology, to quantify mechanisms of prehistorical extinctions.
Process‐explicit models reveal pathway to extinction for woolly mammoth using pattern‐oriented validation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-11-2021
DOI: 10.1111/ELE.13911
Abstract: Pathways to extinction start long before the death of the last in idual. However, causes of early stage population declines and the susceptibility of small residual populations to extirpation are typically studied in isolation. Using validated process‐explicit models, we disentangle the ecological mechanisms and threats that were integral in the initial decline and later extinction of the woolly mammoth. We show that reconciling ancient DNA data on woolly mammoth population decline with fossil evidence of location and timing of extinction requires process‐explicit models with specific demographic and niche constraints, and a constrained synergy of climatic change and human impacts. Validated models needed humans to hasten climate‐driven population declines by many millennia, and to allow woolly mammoths to persist in mainland Arctic refugia until the mid‐Holocene. Our results show that the role of humans in the extinction dynamics of woolly mammoth began well before the Holocene, exerting lasting effects on the spatial pattern and timing of its range‐wide extinction.
Securement for vascular access devices: looking to the future
Publisher: Mark Allen Group
Date: 27-04-2017
Collectors endanger Australia's most threatened snake, the broad-headed snake Hoplocephalus bungaroides
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 04-2002
Polyhexamethylene biguanide discs versus unmedicated dressings for prevention of central venous catheter–associated infection in the intensive care unit: A pilot randomised controlled trial to assess
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2022
DOI: 10.1016/J.AUCC.2021.05.015
Abstract: Central venous catheters are prone to infectious complications, affecting morbidity, mortality and healthcare costs. Polyhexamethylene biguanide-impregnated discs at the catheter insertion site may prevent local and bloodstream infection however, efficacy has not been established in a critical care setting. The objective of this study was to pilot test polyhexamethylene biguanide-impregnated discs compared to standard unmedicated dressings for central venous catheter infection prevention in critically ill patients. This was a single-centre pilot randomised controlled trial. Adults admitted to intensive care requiring a central venous catheter for >72 h were eligible. Patients with a current bloodstream infection, concurrent central venous catheter, chlorhexidine or polyhexamethylene biguanide allergy, or sensitive skin were excluded. Patients were randomised to receive standard central venous catheter dressings with/without polyhexamethylene biguanide discs. The primary outcome was feasibility, defined by patient eligibility, recruitment, retention, protocol adherence, missing data, and staff satisfaction. Secondary outcomes included: central line-associated infection primary bloodstream infection local infection skin complications device/dressing dwell time serious adverse events, and cost-effectiveness. Of 309 patients screened, 80 participants were recruited with 98% (n = 78) receiving an internal jugular catheter which dwelled for a median of 5 days (interquartile range = 4.0, 6.0). Feasibility criteria were predominantly met (recruitment 88% retention 100% protocol fidelity 91%) however, eligibility criteria were not met (32% most commonly owing to short predicted catheter dwell). Staff acceptability criteria were met, with 83% of staff scoring dressing application and removal ≥7 on a numerical rating scale. There were no central line-associated bloodstream infections and no local infections. Insertion site itch occurred in 4% (control [n = 0], intervention [n = 3]) of participants, while 32% (24/76) reported pain, and 46% (35/76) tenderness. Polyhexamethylene biguanide discs appear safe for central venous catheter infection prevention. Feasibility of a large efficacy trial was established with some modifications to screening processes. Large, adequately powered randomised controlled trials are needed to test the infection prevention hypotheses.
A flexible tool to prioritize areas for conservation combining landscape units, measures of biodiversity, and threats
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2019
DOI: 10.1002/ECS2.2859
Abstract: Expanding the reserve system is a key strategy to enhance bio ersity protection. Yet, conservation outcomes can be undermined by underrepresentation of some habitats and opportunistic placement of protected areas. Irreplaceability and vulnerability, the key principles of conservation, should thus be combined within a bioregionalization framework to implement protection in the habitats that most need it. We proposed a simple and flexible method to prioritize bioregions for conservation based on these principles and used it to rank the 85 bioregions of the Australian continent. To do so, we quantified bio ersity values and threats in each bioregion by gathering open‐access data on species, landscapes, and land use. Bioregions were then ranked using a set of customizable scenarios, including ecologically meaningful combinations of measures of irreplaceability and vulnerability. To identify bio erse areas under threat but potentially overlooked, we compared our results with the location of already established bio ersity hotspots (i.e., areas identified as important for bio ersity and under threat). We found that bioregions with the highest bio ersity values are predominantly located in the southwest, east, and north of the continent. Similarly, threats, particularly land clearance, are concentrated along the east coast and in the southwest. When ranking bioregions using scenarios including both threats and bio ersity values, the majority (75%) of the highest‐ranking bioregions were already included in bio ersity hotspots. For five of these bioregions, the proportion of protected land to date still falls below the 17% recommended by the Convention on Biological Diversity and thus they likely require prompt prioritization and intervention. The method proposed can support ongoing monitoring and prioritization of land units for conservation. Its simplicity and flexibility mean it can be easily adopted for different areas and adjusted to local priorities.
Modelling strategies for the management of the critically endangered Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) of northern Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2002
Predicting spatial and seasonal patterns of wildlife-vehicle collisions in high-risk areas
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 19-01-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.01.17.427044
Abstract: Vehicle collisions with wildlife can injure or kill animals, threaten human safety, and threaten the viability of rare species. This has led to a focus in road-ecology research on identifying the key predictors of ‘road-kill’ risk, with the goal of guiding management to mitigate its impact. However, because of the complex and context-dependent nature of the causes of risk exposure, modelling road-kill data in ways that yield consistent recommendations has proven challenging. Here we used a novel multi-model machine-learning approach to identify the spatio-temporal predictors, such as traffic volume, road shape, surrounding vegetation and distance to human settlements, associated with road-kill risk. We collected data on the location, identity and size of each road mortality across four seasons along eight roads in southern Tasmania – a ‘road-kill hotspot’ of management concern. We focused on three large-bodied and frequently impacted crepuscular Australian marsupial herbivore species, the rufous-bellied pademelon ( Thylogale billardierii ), Bennett’s wallaby ( Macropus rufogriseus ) and the bare-nosed wombat ( Vombatus ursinus ). We fit the point-location data using ‘lasso-regularization’ of a logistic generalized linear model (LL-GLM) and out-of-bag optimization of a decision-tree-based ‘random forests’ (RF) algorithm. The RF model, with high-level feature interactions, yielded superior results to the linear additive model, with a RF classification accuracy of 84.8% for the 871 road-kill observations and a true skill statistic of 0.708, compared to 61.2% and 0.205 for the LL-GLM. Forested areas with no roadside barrier fence along curved sections of road posed the highest risk to animals. Seasonally, the frequency of wildlife-vehicle collisions increased notably for females during oestrus, when they were more dispersive and so had a higher encounter rate with roads. These findings illustrate the value of using data-driven approaches to predictive modelling, as well as offering a guide to practical management interventions that can mitigate road-related hazards.
Strength of evidence for density dependence in abundance time series of 1198 species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-2006
DOI: 10.1890/0012-9658(2006)87[1445:SOEFDD]2.0.CO;2
Abstract: Population limitation is a fundamental tenet of ecology, but the relative roles of exogenous and endogenous mechanisms remain unquantified for most species. Here we used multi-model inference (MMI), a form of model averaging, based on information theory (Akaike's Information Criterion) to evaluate the relative strength of evidence for density-dependent and density-independent population dynamical models in long-term abundance time series of 1198 species. We also compared the MMI results to more classic methods for detecting density dependence: Neyman-Pearson hypothesis-testing and best-model selection using the Bayesian Information Criterion or cross-validation. Using MMI on our large database, we show that density dependence is a pervasive feature of population dynamics (median MMI support for density dependence = 74.7-92.2%), and that this holds across widely different taxa. The weight of evidence for density dependence varied among species but increased consistently, with the number of generations monitored. Best-model selection methods yielded similar results to MMI (a density-dependent model was favored in 66.2-93.9% of species time series), while the hypothesis-testing methods detected density dependence less frequently (32.6-49.8%). There were no obvious differences in the prevalence of density dependence across major taxonomic groups under any of the statistical methods used. These results underscore the value of using multiple modes of analysis to quantify the relative empirical support for a set of working hypotheses that encompass a range of realistic population dynamical behaviors.
Application of artificial neural networks in linear profile monitoring
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2011
Egress! How technophilia can reinforce biophilia to improve ecological restoration
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-06-2016
DOI: 10.1111/REC.12387
Methods for Determining Viability of Wildlife Populations in Large Landscapes
Publisher: Elsevier
Date: 2009
What are the best correlates of predicted extinction risk?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2004
Sustainable harvest regimes for magpie geese (Anseranas semipalmata) under spatial and temporal heterogeneity
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1071/WR02104
Abstract: We developed a population model of magpie geese in the Northern Territory that considered spatial and temporal variation and related sources of uncertainty, building on previous analyses of the plausible rates of increase for this species. The model was used to explore realistic limits to recreational and indigenous harvest and to examine productive, yet risk-averse, management regimes for long-term sustainability. Harvest strategies based on a proportional off-take provided similar yields to a fixed quota system, but resulted in a reduced risk of substantial population decline. Moreover, higher harvests could be supported in model systems that incorporated dispersal phenomena consistent with patterns suggested by the observed distributional and abundance patterns. However, irrespective of harvest strategy and spatial structure, off-take at the levels implied in previously published analyses are clearly unsustainable. These results illustrate the desirability of matching the design of management systems to the heterogeneity of population processes. Management regimes that fail to take account of spatial and temporal heterogeneity could damage the interests of important stakeholder groups and potentially imperil the future viability of the species. However, the costs of disaggregated management systems may be substantial and benefits of investment in them need to be clearly demonstrated. Gaining better appreciation of spatial variation in harvests should be given high priority.
Better forecasts of range dynamics using genetic data
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.TREE.2014.05.007
Abstract: The spatiotemporal response of species to past global change must be understood for adaptive management and to make useful predictions. Characteristics of past population dynamics are imprinted in genes, yet these molecular 'log books' are just beginning to be used to improve forecasts of biotic responses to climate change. This is despite there now being robust quantitative frameworks to incorporate such information. A tighter integration of genetic data into models of species range dynamics should lead to more robust and validated predictions of the response of demographic and evolutionary processes to large-scale environmental change. The use of these multidisciplinary methods will help conservation scientists to better connect theory to the on-ground design and implementation of effective measures to protect bio ersity.
Plausible bounds for maximum rate of increase in magpie geese (Anseranas semipalmata): Implications for harvest
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2005
DOI: 10.1071/WR02105
Abstract: We used improved information on fecundity and credible estimates of survival to define the plausible bounds of maximum intrinsic rate of population increase (r m) in magpie geese and explored the management and conservation implications, given current estimates of off-take. We considered previous estimates of r m (0.78, based on time-series analysis of aerial count data) and the corresponding predicted maximum sustainable harvest rates (30–39% per annum) to be excessive, thereby risking poor management decisions. In contrast, our estimate of the maximum plausible range of r m (0.11–0.28) is substantially lower than the previous estimate, and suggests maximum harvest rates of no more than 5–14% of total population size per annum. We consider that it would be unwise to adopt the prior estimate of r m for management policy because it would risk over-exploitation. Our results embody a more precautionary approach to assessing maximum sustainable yield for magpie geese in northern Australia, and are not confounded by migration. The move from a simple empirical model to a partially mechanistic one reflects a significant improvement in understanding, but must nevertheless be viewed as part of an ongoing process of model refinement and testing.
The use of diaries in psychological recovery from intensive care
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1186/CC13164
Urban-associated diseases: Candidate diseases, environmental risk factors, and a path forward
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.ENVINT.2019.105187
Abstract: Cities are home to over half the global population that proportion is expected to rise to 70% by mid-century. The urban environment differs greatly from that in which humans evolved, with potentially important consequences for health. Rates for allergic, inflammatory and auto-immune diseases appear to rise with urbanization and be higher in the more urbanized nations of the world which has led some to suggest that cities promote the occurrence of these diseases. However, there are no syntheses outlining what urban-associated diseases are and what characteristics of cities promote their occurrence. To synthesize the current understanding of "urban-associated diseases", and discover the common, potentially modifiable features of cities that may be driving these associations. We focus on any diseases that have been associated with cities or are particularly prominent in today's urban societies. We draw on expertise across erse health fields to examine the evidence for urban connections and drivers. We found evidence for urban associations across allergic, auto-immune, inflammatory, lifestyle and infectious disease categories. Some conditions (e.g. obesity and diabetes) have complex relationships with cities that have been insufficiently explored. Other conditions (e.g. allergies and asthma) have more evidence demonstrating their relationship with cities and the mechanisms driving that association. Unsurprisingly, air pollution was the characteristic of cities most frequently associated with disease. Other identified urban risk factors are not as widely known: altered microbial exposure and a disconnect from environmental microbiomes, vitamin D deficiency, noise and light pollution, and a transient, over-crowded, impoverished population. However, many complexities and caveats to these relationships beg clarification we highlight the current knowledge gaps and outline ways to fill those gaps. Identifying urban-associated diseases and their drivers will allow us to prepare for the urban-disease burden of the future and create healthy cities that mitigate that disease burden.
Lessons from a century of conservation translocations
Publisher: California Digital Library (CDL)
Date: 12-02-2021
Parsimonious model selection using information theory: a modified selection rule
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-2021
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.3475
Abstract: Information‐theoretic approaches to model selection, such as Akaike's information criterion (AIC) and cross validation, provide a rigorous framework to select among candidate hypotheses in ecology, yet the persistent concern of overfitting undermines the interpretation of inferred processes. A common misconception is that overfitting is due to the choice of criterion or model score, despite research demonstrating that selection uncertainty associated with score estimation is the predominant influence. Here we introduce a novel selection rule that identifies a parsimonious model by directly accounting for estimation uncertainty, while still retaining an information‐theoretic interpretation. The new rule, which is a modification of the existing one‐standard‐error rule, mitigates overfitting and reduces the likelihood that spurious effects will be included in the selected model, thereby improving its inferential properties. We present the rule and illustrative ex les in the context of maximum‐likelihood estimation and Kullback‐Leibler discrepancy, although the rule is applicable in a more general setting, including Bayesian model selection and other types of discrepancy.
Spatial pattern analysis of line-segment data in ecology
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-12-2022
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.3597
Abstract: The spatial analysis of linear features (lines and curves) is a challenging and rarely attempted problem in ecology. Existing methods are typically expressed in abstract mathematical formalism, making it difficult to assess their relevance and transferability into an ecological setting. We introduce a set of concrete and accessible methods to analyze the spatial patterning of line‐segment data. The methods include Monte Carlo techniques based on a new generalization of Ripley's ‐function and a class of line‐segment processes that can be used to specify parametric models: parameters are estimated using maximum likelihood and models compared using information‐theoretic principles. We apply the new methods to fallen tree (dead log) data collected from two 1‐ha Australian tall eucalypt forest plots. Our results show that the spatial pattern of the fallen logs is best explained by plot‐level spatial heterogeneity in combination with a slope‐dependent nonuniform distribution of fallen‐log orientations. These methods are of a general nature and are applicable to any line‐segment data. In the context of forest ecology, the integration of fallen logs as linear structural features in a landscape with the point locations of living trees, and a quantification of their interactions, can yield new insights into the functional and structural role of tree fall in forest communities and their enduring post‐mortem ecological legacy as spatially distributed decomposing logs.
Final year nursing student's exposure to education and knowledge about sepsis: A multi-university study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Short overlap of humans and megafauna in Pleistocene Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2006
Value-added diagnostics for the assessment and validation of integrated assessment models
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
The state and conservation of Southeast Asian biodiversity
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-03-2010
50/500 rules need upward revision to 100/1000 – response to Franklin et al
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2014
Innovations and limits in methods of forecasting global environmental change
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2016
Global warming tugs at trophic interactions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-12-2009
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2656.2008.01490.X
Abstract: Climate change impacts are becoming increasingly evident as 1 degree C warming above pre-industrial temperatures is approached. One of the signature biological effects is a shift towards earlier-timed reproduction. If in idual species lack sufficient adaptive plasticity to alter phenology, they will have reduced fitness in a hotter world. Yet, a long-term study of an oak-caterpillar-songbird-sparrowhawk food web reveals that what could matter as much is if trophic interactions are disrupted. Multiple selective pressures may be triggered by climate change, leading to a tug-of-war between the need to stay in synchrony with the timing of maximum food, and the benefits of minimizing predation.
Using dung fungi to interpret decline and extinction ofmegaherbivores: Problems and solutions
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2015
Modelling of fossil and contemporary data suggest the Broad‐toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus) currently occupies a small part of its available climatic niche: Implications of paleontological data for conservation of a threatened species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-05-2023
DOI: 10.1111/AEC.13350
Abstract: We use fossil, sub‐fossil and contemporary records of the Broad‐toothed rat, Mastacomys fuscus , to model changes in its range over the last 21 thousand years. Mastacomys fuscus was exposed to, and flourished in, a much broader range of environmental conditions in the recent past than it occupies today. It also currently occupies a much smaller range than it did in the Late Pleistocene. Apart from a weak response to sea‐level rise in the Holocene, the decline of M. fuscus does not correlate with known climate change. Instead, the contraction of the species' distribution on mainland Australia to high‐elevation areas occurred recently and rapidly. Small changes in the 1000 year BP and present‐day projected distributions imply some contraction of the area of suitable climate to higher elevations of the mainland subspecies M. f. mordicus , up to 2200 m above sea level. However, M. f. mordicus also persists near sea level at Cape Otway (southwestern Victoria) and from sea level to 1500 m above sea level at Barrington Tops (eastern New South Wales, Australia). This suggests suitable habitat may still exist in coastal Victoria and the central Tablelands/Blue Mountains areas. This research highlights the importance and value of using sub‐fossil data to understand changes in the distribution and niche occupation of threatened species as the basis for conservation planning.
The conservation biologist's toolbox – principles for the design and analysis of conservation studies
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date: 2010
Homage to an Avant-Garde Conservation Leader, Navjot Sodhi Obituary
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-07-2011
The influence of non-climate predictors at local and landscape resolutions depends on the autecology of the species
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-04-2014
DOI: 10.1111/AEC.12134
Management of Central Venous Access Device-Associated Skin Impairment
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 05-2017
Ecology needs a convention of nomenclature
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 18-02-2014
Large Estimates of Minimum Viable Population Sizes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-09-2004
Trophic rewilding of native extirpated predators on Bass Strait Islands could benefit woodland birds
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-07-2020
Density dependence: An ecological Tower of Babel
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 31-05-2012
DOI: 10.1007/S00442-012-2347-3
Abstract: The concept of density dependence represents the effect of changing population size on demographic rates and captures the demographic role of social and trophic mechanisms (e.g. competition, cooperation, parasitism or predation). Ecologists have coined more than 60 terms to denote different statistical and semantic properties of this concept, resulting in a formidable lexicon of synonymies and polysemies. We have examined the vocabulary of density dependence used in the modern ecological literature from the foundational lexicon developed by Smith, Allee, Haldane, Neave and Varley. A few simple rules suffice to abate terminological inconsistency and to enhance the biological meaning of this important concept. Correct citation of original references by ecologists and research journals could ameliorate terminological standards in our discipline and avoid linguistic confusion of mathematically and theoretically complex patterns.
SECUREment bundles to prevent peripheral intravenous catheter failure-the SECURE-PIVC trial: Study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Publisher: Mark Allen Group
Date: 22-10-2020
DOI: 10.12968/BJON.2020.29.19.S40
Abstract: Peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) are widely used, but failure is unacceptably common with up to 69% failing before treatment is complete. PIVC securement reduces failure, but the optimal way to achieve this is unclear. Tapes and supplementary securement products are widely used, however rigorous testing of these to reduce PIVC failure remains unexplored. In adult medical-surgical wards at a tertiary hospital, this pilot randomized controlled trial tests standard care (bordered polyurethane dressing plus nonsterile tape over the extension tubing) against two securement interventions (intervention one: standard care plus two sterile tape strips over the PIVC hub intervention two: intervention one plus a tubular bandage). Patients years of age requiring a PIVC for hours are eligible. Patients with laboratory-confirmed positive blood cultures within 24 hours of screening, known allergy to study products, current or high-risk of skin tear, or non-English speaking without interpreter are excluded. S le size is 35 per trial arm, and central randomization is computer-generated with allocation concealed until entry. Patients and clinical staff cannot be blinded to treatment allocation. However, infection outcomes are assessed by a blinded investigator. Primary outcome is study feasibility. Secondary outcomes (PIVC failure, dwell time, skin adverse events, PIVC colonization, and cost) are compared between groups. Feasibility outcomes are reported descriptively. Ethical approvals were received from Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (HREC/18/QRBW/44571) and Griffith University (2018/1000). Trial commencement was May 2019. Trial registration: ACTRN12619000026123.
What blood conservation practices are effective at reducing blood sampling volumes and other clinical sequelae in intensive care? A systematic review
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2023
Managing an Endangered Asian Bovid in an Australian National Park: The Role and Limitations of Ecological-Economic Models in Decision-Making
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-2012
DOI: 10.1007/S00267-005-0157-7
Abstract: Should north Australia's extensive populations of feral animals be eradicated for conservation, or exploited as a rare opportunity for Indigenous enterprise in remote regions? We examine options for a herd of banteng, a cattle species endangered in its native Asian range but abundant in Garig Gunak Barlu National Park, an Aboriginal land managed jointly by traditional owners and a conservation agency in the Northern Territory of Australia. We reflect on the paradoxes that arise when trying to deal effectively with such complex and contested issues in natural resource management using decision-support tools (ecological-economic models), by identifying the trade-offs inherent in protecting values whilst also providing incomes for Indigenous landowners.
Kyoto: doing our best is no longer enough
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 11-2007
DOI: 10.1038/450478D
Tissue adhesive for vascular access devices: who, what, where and when?
Publisher: Mark Allen Group
Date: 26-10-2017
DOI: 10.12968/BJON.2017.26.19.S4
Abstract: Despite vascular access devices (VADs) being vital for patient care, device failure rates are unacceptably high with around 25% of central venous devices, and 30–40% of peripheral venous devices, developing complications that result in VAD failure. The use of tissue adhesive is a novel method of securing VADs and is gaining popularity, however the evidence base guiding its clinical use is still emerging. This article aims to review the types and properties of tissue adhesives, provide an overview of the existing evidence base, and discuss how tissue adhesives may be used in clinical practice.
Methods for microbial needleless connector decontamination: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.AJIC.2019.01.002
Abstract: The objective of this review was to compare the effectiveness of connector decontamination with 70% alcohol wipes, alcoholic chlorhexidine gluconate wipes, or alcohol impregnated caps to prevent catheter-associated bloodstream infection (CABSI). A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline, and PubMed. The primary outcome was CABSI, with randomized and observational studies included. The inclusion criteria were: English language, any age group, no date limitations, and reporting connector decontamination interventions to prevent CABSI. The exclusion criteria were: multimodal interventions, letters, and conference abstracts. Quality assessment with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, a narrative synthesis, and meta-analysis were conducted. Pooled data used a random effects model for pair-wise comparisons, due to clinical heterogeneity. Statistical heterogeneity was investigated by visual model inspection, χ², and I² statistics. Ten studies compared 70% alcohol wipes with 70% alcohol-impregnated caps, and 2 studies (n = 1,216) tested an alcoholic chlorhexidine gluconate wipe. Alcoholic chlorhexidine gluconate wipes were associated with significantly less CABSI than 70% alcohol wipes (risk ratio, 0.28 95% confidence interval, 0.20-0.39). Alcohol-impregnated caps were associated with significantly less CABSI than 70% alcohol wipes (risk ratio, 0.43 95% confidence interval, 0.28-0.65). Studies were of low to moderate quality. Alcohol impregnated caps and alcoholic chlorhexidine gluconate wipes were associated with significantly less CABSI than 70% alcohol wipes. This requires confirmation in randomized controlled trials.
Population demography of the Tasmanian short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 15-03-2022
DOI: 10.1071/ZO21037
Abstract: Deriving estimates of demographic parameters and the processes driving them is crucial for identifying wildlife management options. The short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is the most widely distributed native Australian mammal, yet little is known of its population dynamics due to its cryptic nature. Consequently, assessment of the impacts of climate and threats on echidna populations has been difficult. We analyse 19 years (1996–2014) of mark–recapture data to estimate survival and reproductive rates of a Tasmanian population of short-beaked echidna, and to evaluate the influence of regional weather patterns on its demographics. Population size showed high year-to-year variation, ranging from 1 to 40 echidnas km2 across the study area. Known-fate modelling of radio-tracked in iduals suggested that climatic conditions impacted survival average longevity was estimated at 16.7 years but only 4.8 years when the total spring/summer rainfall was below 125 mm, and 6.25 in years when temperatures more frequently exceeded 32°C. Recruitment, estimated from Pradel analyses, was low in the population (β = 0.08) and not significantly affected by climate. These results are the first quantitative estimates of climate effects, survival, and recruitment for this species, and suggest that climate-enhanced drying and temperature increase would pose a threat to echidna populations in Tasmania.
Not just an intravenous line: Consumer perspectives on peripheral intravenous cannulation (PIVC). An international cross-sectional survey of 25 countries
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 28-02-2018
Hot, unpredictable weather interacts with land use to restrict the distribution of the yellow-tailed black-cockatoo
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 21-04-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.04.20.440554
Abstract: Conserving nomadic species is challenging due to the difficulty in monitoring their characteristically transient populations, and thereby detecting range-wide declines. An ex le is the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo (YTBC Zanda funerea ), which disperses widely in search of food and is regularly—but sporadically—observed across eastern Australia. Under climate warming, a general southward shift in species distributions is expected in the southern hemisphere, with the extreme southern margins being truncated by an ocean barrier. Given these constraints, we ask whether sufficient refugia will exist for the YTBC in the future, by: (i) modelling habitat relationships within current geographic range of the YTBC based on weather, climate, vegetation, and land use, and (ii) using this framework, coupled with climate-model projections, to forecast 21 st century impacts. Intensive land use and high variability in temperature and rainfall seem to most limit YTBC occurrence. In contrast, areas with a cooler, stable climate, and a network of old-growth forests, such as occurs in parts of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania, are most suitable for the species. As Australia becomes progressively hotter under climate change, the preferred bioclimatic envelope of the YTBC is forecast to contract poleward (as a general pattern) and to fragment within the existing range. However, despite an extensive loss of climatically suitable regions, the YTBC might find stable refugia at the southern margins of its geographic range, although continued loss of old-growth forests undermines their nesting potential. Therefore, beyond habitat conservation, creating nesting opportunities within plantation forests would likely be an effective conservation strategy to preserve habitat quality in climate refugia.
Dominant carnivore loss benefits native avian and invasive mammalian scavengers
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 06-09-2021
DOI: 10.1101/2021.09.06.459188
Abstract: Scavenging by large carnivores is integral for ecosystem functioning by limiting the build-up of carrion and facilitating widespread energy flows. However, top carnivores have declined across the world, triggering trophic shifts within ecosystems. In this study, we use a natural ‘removal experiment’ of disease-driven decline and island extirpation of native mammalian (marsupial) carnivores to investigate top-down control on utilisation of experimentally placed carcasses by two mesoscavengers – the invasive feral cat and native forest raven. Ravens were the main beneficiary of carnivore loss, scavenging for five times longer in the absence of native mammalian carnivores. Cats scavenged on almost half of all carcasses in the region without dominant native carnivores. This was eight times more than in areas where other carnivores were at high densities. In the absence of native mammalian carnivores, all carcasses persisted in the environment for 3 weeks. Our results reveal the efficiency of carrion consumption by mammalian scavengers. These services are not readily replaced by less-efficient facultative scavengers. This demonstrates the significance of global carnivore conservation and supports novel management approaches, such as rewilding in areas where the natural suite of carnivores is missing.
Community-based Intravenous Treatment and Central Venous Access Devices: A Scoping Review of the Consumer and Caregiver Experience, Information Preferences, and Supportive Care Needs
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-01-2023
Economic and environmental costs of replacing nuclear fission with solar and wind energy in Sweden
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
A nuclear- to-gas transition in South Korea: Is it environmentally friendly or economically viable?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2018
Decline in whale shark size and abundance at Ningaloo Reef over the past decade: The world's largest fish is getting smaller
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2008
Substantial harm associated with failure of chronic paediatric central venous access devices
Publisher: BMJ
Date: 06-07-2017
Selective hunting of juveniles as a cause of the imperceptible overkill of the australian pleistocene megafauna
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2006
The theta-logistic is unreliable for modelling most census data
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-07-2010
Peripheral intravenous catheter failure: A secondary analysis of risks from 11,830 catheters
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Large estimates of minimum viable population sizes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 28-09-2004
Critiques of PVA ask the wrong questions: Throwing the heuristic baby out with the numerical bath water
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-01-2002
Relative need for conservation assessments of vascular plant species among ecoregions
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-08-2011
Optimal timing for intravascular administration set replacement
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-09-2013
The Patterns and Causes of Dermatitis in Terrestrial and Semi-Aquatic Mammalian Wildlife
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 06-06-2021
DOI: 10.3390/ANI11061691
Abstract: Causative disease and stress agents which manifest as dermatitis in mammals have varying effects on in idual animals, from benign irritation and inflammation, to causing morbidity and even mortality. Bacteria, viruses and ectoparasites are all potential causes of dermatitis, and it can be exacerbated by various environmental, genetic and social factors. Furthermore, it is uncertain whether dermatitis is more likely to manifest in already-vulnerable wildlife species. Here, we systematically review the literature for reports of dermatitis in terrestrial and semi-aquatic wild mammalian species, with the goal of determining the biogeographical scale of dermatitis reports, the causes of dermatitis, and whether manifestation of dermatitis is reported more commonly in certain wildlife species or their captivity status (i.e., free-living, in captivity or in a laboratory). We reveal biases in the reporting of dermatitis by a biogeographic realm, with 55% of cases reported in the Nearctic, and towards particular orders of mammals, namely Artiodactyla and Carnivora. Overall, free-living wildlife is almost twice as likely to be reported as having dermatitis than in iduals in captivity and six times more likely than in iduals in laboratories, which we interpret as owing to exposure to a broader spectrum of parasites in free-ranging in iduals, and potential reporting bias in captive in iduals. Notably, dermatitis was reported in 23 threatened species, with some species more likely than others to be reported exhibiting clinical signs of dermatitis resulting from underlying health problems. We also find that threatened species are more likely to be reported as having dermatitis in captivity, particularly outside of their endemic home range. This review highlights erse patterns of dermatological disease causes in captive and free-ranging wildlife, conditions under which they are more likely to be documented, and the need for cross-disciplinary research to ascertain (and so better manage) the varied causes.
Analyzing linear spatial features in ecology
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 16-05-2018
DOI: 10.1002/ECY.2215
Abstract: The spatial analysis of dimensionless points (e.g., tree locations on a plot map) is common in ecology, for instance using point-process statistics to detect and compare patterns. However, the treatment of one-dimensional linear features (fiber processes) is rarely attempted. Here we appropriate the methods of vector sums and dot products, used regularly in fields like astrophysics, to analyze a data set of mapped linear features (logs) measured in 12 × 1-ha forest plots. For this demonstrative case study, we ask two deceptively simple questions: do trees tend to fall downhill, and if so, does slope gradient matter? Despite noisy data and many potential confounders, we show clearly that topography (slope direction and steepness) of forest plots does matter to treefall. More generally, these results underscore the value of mathematical methods of physics to problems in the spatial analysis of linear features, and the opportunities that interdisciplinary collaboration provides. This work provides scope for a variety of future ecological analyzes of fiber processes in space.
Model-based adaptive spatial sampling for occurrence map construction
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-09-2013
Why tropical island endemics are acutely susceptible to global change
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 10-12-2010
Investigating Avian Behaviour Using Opportunistic Camera-Trap Imagery Reveals an Untapped Data Source
Publisher: Ornithological Society of Japan
Date: 02-02-2022
DOI: 10.2326/OSJ.21.3
Peripheral intravenous catheter non-infectious complications in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis,成人外周静脉导管非感染性并发症:系统评价和荟萃分析
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-10-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JAN.14565
What caused extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Sahul?
Publisher: The Royal Society
Date: 10-02-2016
Abstract: During the Pleistocene, Australia and New Guinea supported a rich assemblage of large vertebrates. Why these animals disappeared has been debated for more than a century and remains controversial. Previous synthetic reviews of this problem have typically focused heavily on particular types of evidence, such as the dating of extinction and human arrival, and have frequently ignored uncertainties and biases that can lead to misinterpretation of this evidence. Here, we review erse evidence bearing on this issue and conclude that, although many knowledge gaps remain, multiple independent lines of evidence point to direct human impact as the most likely cause of extinction.
Incorporating known cources of uncertainty to determine precautionary harvests of saltwater crocodiles
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-2006
DOI: 10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1436:IKSOUT]2.0.CO;2
Abstract: It has been demonstrated repeatedly that the degree to which regulation operates and the magnitude of environmental variation in an exploited population will together dictate the type of sustainable harvest achievable. Yet typically, harvest models fail to incorporate uncertainty in the underlying dynamics of the target population by assuming a particular (unknown) form of endogenous control. We use a novel approach to estimate the sustainable yield of saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) populations from major river systems in the Northern Territory, Australia, as an ex le of a system with high uncertainty. We used multimodel inference to incorporate three levels of uncertainty in yield estimation: (1) uncertainty in the choice of the underlying model(s) used to describe population dynamics, (2) the error associated with the precision and bias of model parameter estimation, and (3) environmental fluctuation (process error). We demonstrate varying strength of evidence for density regulation (1.3-96.7%) for crocodiles among 19 river systems by applying a continuum of five dynamical models (density-independent with and without drift and three alternative density-dependent models) to time series of density estimates. Evidence for density dependence increased with the number of yearly transitions over which each river system was monitored. Deterministic proportional maximum sustainable yield (PMSY) models varied widely among river systems (0.042-0.611), and there was strong evidence for an increasing PMSY as support for density dependence rose. However, there was also a large discrepancy between PMSY values and those produced by the full stochastic simulation projection incorporating all forms of uncertainty, which can be explained by the contribution of process error to estimates of sustainable harvest. We also determined that a fixed-quota harvest strategy (up to 0.2K, where K is the carrying capacity) reduces population size much more rapidly than proportional harvest (the latter strategy requiring temporal monitoring of population size to adjust harvest quotas) and greatly inflates the risk of resource depletion. Using an iconic species recovering from recent extreme overexploitation to examine the potential for renewed sustainable harvest, we have demonstrated that incorporating major forms of uncertainty into a single quantitative framework provides a robust approach to modeling the dynamics of exploited populations.
Teacher noticing: enlightening or blinding?
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-03-2016
Short overlap of humans and megafauna in Pleistocene Australia
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 2006
Tissue adhesive and chlorhexidine gluconate interaction: Implications for vascular access device securement
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 25-09-2018
Missing the wood for the trees? New ideas on defining forests and forest degradation
Publisher: Pensoft Publishers
Date: 29-06-2017
Demographic response of snake-necked turtles correlates with indigenous harvest and feral pig predation in tropical northern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-09-2007
DOI: 10.1111/J.1365-2656.2007.01298.X
Abstract: Species that mature late, experience high levels of survival and have long generation times are more vulnerable to chronic increases in mortality than species with higher fecundity and more rapid turnover of generations. Many chelonians have low hatchling survival, slow growth, delayed sexual maturity and high subadult and adult survival. This constrains their ability to respond quickly to increases in adult mortality from harvesting or habitat alteration. In contrast, the northern snake-necked turtle Chelodina rugosa (Ogilby 1890) is fast-growing, early maturing and highly fecund relative to other turtles, and may be resilient to increased mortality. Here we provide correlative evidence spanning six study sites and three field seasons, indicating that C. rugosa is able to compensate demographically to conditions of relatively low subadult and adult survival, caused by pig Sus scrofa (Linnaeus 1758) predation and customary harvesting by humans. Recruitment and age specific fecundity tended to be greater in sites with low adult and subadult survival (and thus reduced densities of large turtles), owing to higher juvenile survival, a smaller size at onset of maturity and faster post-maturity growth. These patterns are consistent with compensatory density-dependent responses, and as such challenge the generality that high subadult and adult survival is crucial for achieving long-term population stability in long-lived vertebrates such as chelonians. We posit that long-lived species with 'fast' recruitment and a capacity for a compensatory demographic response, similar to C. rugosa, may be able to persist in the face of occasional or sustained adult harvest without inevitably threatening population viability.
Protected-area planning in the Brazilian Amazon should prioritize additionality and permanence, not leakage mitigation
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2020
How to rank journals
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 03-2016
Single crystal hybrid perovskite field-effect transistors
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 17-12-2018
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-018-07706-9
Abstract: The fields of photovoltaics, photodetection and light emission have seen tremendous activity in recent years with the advent of hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites. Yet, there have been far fewer reports of perovskite-based field-effect transistors. The lateral and interfacial transport requirements of transistors make them particularly vulnerable to surface contamination and defects rife in polycrystalline films and bulk single crystals. Here, we demonstrate a spatially-confined inverse temperature crystallization strategy which synthesizes micrometre-thin single crystals of methylammonium lead halide perovskites MAPbX 3 (X = Cl, Br, I) with sub-nanometer surface roughness and very low surface contamination. These benefit the integration of MAPbX 3 crystals into ambipolar transistors and yield record, room-temperature field-effect mobility up to 4.7 and 1.5 cm 2 V −1 s −1 in p and n channel devices respectively, with 10 4 to 10 5 on-off ratio and low turn-on voltages. This work paves the way for integrating hybrid perovskite crystals into printed, flexible and transparent electronics.
Related Organisations
Related Funding Activities
(ARC Research Network For Understanding And Managing Australian Biodiversity)
Start Date: 2004
End Date: 2009
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityPlant-herbivore Interactions: A Model Two-species System From Northern Australia
Start Date: 2005
End Date: 2007
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLandscape-scale Population Dynamics Of Open Forests In The Australian Monsoon Tropics
Start Date: 2003
End Date: 2005
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityEnvironmental Genomics: Mining, Climate Change, Water, Crime And Health
Start Date: 2009
End Date: 2011
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityMinimum Sizes And Habitat Areas For Viable Populations
Start Date: 2002
End Date: 2003
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityProject DP160100748
Start Date: 2016
End Date: 2018
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityApplying Macroecology To Assist In The Management Of Kakadu National Park
Start Date: 2003
End Date: 2005
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityProject FL160100101
Start Date: 2016
End Date: 2020
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityManaging Endangered Banteng In A Jointly-managed National Park: Contested Values, Indigenous Aspirations And Resource Use
Start Date: 2003
End Date: 2006
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivitySystems Modelling For Synergistic Ecological-climate Dynamics
Start Date: 2010
End Date: 2014
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityRange Dynamics And Demographics Of Spatially Structured Populations Under Global Change
Start Date: 2010
End Date: 2012
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityApplying Search Theory For Eradicating Invasive Species
Start Date: 2007
End Date: 2009
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityNetworking Environmental Science To Achieve Integrated Management Of Australian Terrestrial Biodiversity In An Era Of Environmental Change
Start Date: 2003
End Date: 2003
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityA Landscape-scale Experimental Test Of Factors Driving Mammal Declines In Northern Australia
Start Date: 2005
End Date: 2008
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityReconstructing Past Population Dynamics To Understand Human And Climatic Impacts In Prehistory
Start Date: 2008
End Date: 2010
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityAn Integrated Tool For Informing Pest Management: Modelling Range Shifts For An Invasive Vertebrate In Response To Climate Change
Start Date: 2012
End Date: 2015
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityPlanning For A Transformed Future: Modelling Synergistic Climate Change And Land Use Impacts On Biodiversity
Start Date: 2009
End Date: 2011
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityMeta-modelling Of Ecological, Evolutionary And Climatic Systems Dynamics
Start Date: 2012
End Date: 2015
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDeveloping Best-practice Approaches For Restoring Forest Ecosystems That Are Resilient To Climate Change
Start Date: 2012
End Date: 2014
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityModelling And Control Of Mosquito-borne Diseases In Darwin Using Long-term Monitoring
Start Date: 2006
End Date: 2008
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityMulti-model Predictions Of Ecosystem Flux Under Climate Change Based On Novel Genetic And Image Analysis Methods
Start Date: 2011
End Date: 2014
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityGeneralised Methods For Testing Extinction Dynamics Across Geological, Near And Modern Time Scales
Start Date: 2013
End Date: 2016
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityEcological-epidemiological Models Of Feral Swamp Buffalo Control In Northern Australia
Start Date: 2006
End Date: 2010
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0208516
Start Date: 2002
End Date: 01-2005
Amount: $101,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivitySuper Science Fellowships - Grant ID: FS110200051
Start Date: 09-2011
End Date: 11-2014
Amount: $556,800.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0561555
Start Date: 10-2005
End Date: 03-2009
Amount: $300,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivitySpecial Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354789
Start Date: 01-2004
End Date: 06-2004
Amount: $10,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityAustralian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL160100101
Start Date: 07-2016
End Date: 12-2022
Amount: $2,864,368.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0771672
Start Date: 01-2007
End Date: 07-2010
Amount: $375,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0346929
Start Date: 07-2003
End Date: 06-2007
Amount: $294,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP110200805
Start Date: 06-2012
End Date: 12-2014
Amount: $405,222.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0669303
Start Date: 10-2006
End Date: 04-2010
Amount: $265,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP120200249
Start Date: 01-2013
End Date: 12-2018
Amount: $575,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0989420
Start Date: 06-2009
End Date: 12-2012
Amount: $521,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityARC Future Fellowships - Grant ID: FT100100200
Start Date: 01-2011
End Date: 01-2015
Amount: $911,732.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP1096427
Start Date: 2010
End Date: 06-2016
Amount: $390,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0881764
Start Date: 2008
End Date: 12-2012
Amount: $624,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0343000
Start Date: 01-2003
End Date: 12-2006
Amount: $275,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP120101019
Start Date: 2012
End Date: 12-2015
Amount: $510,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityResearch Networks - Grant ID: RN0457921
Start Date: 10-2004
End Date: 10-2009
Amount: $1,500,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP0558350
Start Date: 2005
End Date: 12-2008
Amount: $350,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityDiscovery Projects - Grant ID: DP210101324
Start Date: 2021
End Date: 12-2023
Amount: $391,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0991985
Start Date: 09-2010
End Date: 12-2013
Amount: $500,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0349305
Start Date: 01-2004
End Date: 12-2006
Amount: $144,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityARC Centres Of Excellence - Grant ID: CE170100015
Start Date: 06-2017
End Date: 12-2024
Amount: $33,750,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityLinkage Projects - Grant ID: LP0667619
Start Date: 04-2006
End Date: 08-2009
Amount: $638,251.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity