University of the Sunshine Coast
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Differences in diet and foraging behaviour of commercially important rabbitfish species on coral reefs in the Indian Ocean
No full textHerbivorous fishes consume algae on coral reefs, and this ecological function is pivotal in helping reefs to resist and recover from disturbance. Although numerous studies have differentiated between those fishes that graze on low-profile algae and those that browse on larger fleshy macroalgae, little is known about the feeding behaviours of some herbivorous fishes (e.g. rabbitfishes, Siganidae), limiting our understanding of whether, and how, these species contribute to ecological functions on coral reefs. Here, we examine how the feeding ecology of four species of rabbitfishes that dominate the artisanal fishery in the Seychelles changed spatially and temporally. Siganus argenteus and S. sutor were generalist herbivores feeding on a range of substrata (e.g. turf algae, macroalgae, seagrass and epiphytic algae), whereas S. corallinus and S. stellatus were specialist herbivores feeding primarily on substrata covered in turf algae. Bite rates of S. argenteus and S. sutor were positively correlated with the cover of macroalgae, seagrass and epiphytic algae. By contrast, bite rates of S. corallinus and S. stellatus were not correlated with changes in the cover of turf algae. These findings illustrate possible differences in the ecological contributions among rabbitfish species on coral reefs, and emphasize the need for caution when assigning species to functional groups and assuming within-group functional equivalence. The results also support the classic niche theory that species within a community must use resources differently in order to coexist over evolutionary timescales. These results further provide valuable insights for the management of rabbitfishes in tropical fisheries because it implies that the conservation of different species might result in distinct shifts in the competitive dominance of coral and algae
An exploration of goal scoring strategies in an elite beach soccer tournament
No full textDespite the increasing popularity of beach soccer, few studies have examined goal scoring strategies during match-play. The aims of this study were to examine the different types of goals scored during an international tournament and determine what type of goals were associated with team performance. Twelve national teams were analysed across 52 matches in all phases of the European Beach Soccer League (2018) tournament. Observational data collection was conducted through video analysis of all 422 goals scored throughout the tournament. Chi square analyses revealed a significance difference in the type of goals scored x2 (72) = 102, p = 0.01. Further, the amount of goals scored from a set-play were significantly higher than all other goal scoring strategies (p = 0.001). The amount of goals scored from goalkeeper-line defence were significantly lower than all other goal scoring strategies (p = 0.001). The percentage of goalkeeper-line goals was significantly related to total tournament points [F(2, 10) = 7.242, p = 0.023, R2 = 0.42]. These data indicate that teams employing the goalkeeper-line strategy, where the goalkeeper plays outfield to serve as a numerical advantage, was associated with increases in scoring opportunities and team performance
The new iPhone SE is the cheapest yet: smart move, or a premium tech brand losing its way?
No full textNo abstract available
Resistance of New Zealand provenance Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea robusta, Kunzea linearis and Metrosideros excelsa to Austropuccinia psidii
No full textResistance to the pandemic strain of Austropuccinia psidii was identified in New Zealand provenance Leptospermum scoparium, Kunzea robusta and Kunzea linearis plants. Only one Metrosideros excelsa resistant plant was found (of the 570 tested) and no resistant plants of either Lophomyrtus bullata or Lophomyrtus obcordata were found. Three types of resistance were identified in L. scoparium. The first two, a putative immune response and a hypersensitive response, are leaf resistance mechanisms found in other myrtaceous species, whilst on the lateral and main stems a putative immune stem resistance was also observed. Both leaf and stem infection were found on K. robusta and K. linearis plants as well as branch tip dieback that developed on almost 50% of the plants. L. scoparium, K. robusta and K. linearis are the first myrtaceous species where consistent infection of stems has been observed in artificial inoculation trials. This new finding and the first observation of significant branch tip dieback of plants of the two Kunzea species resulted in the development of two new myrtle rust disease severity assessment scales. Significant seed family and provenance effects were found in L. scoparium, K. robusta and K. linearis: some families produced significantly more leaf, stem (and in Kunzea branch tip dieback) resistant plants, and provenances provided different percentages of resistant families and plants. The distribution of the disease symptoms on plants from the same seed family, and between plants from different seed families, suggested that the leaf, stem and branch tip dieback resistances were the result of independent disease resistance mechanisms
Neurobiological underpinnings of cyberbullying: A pilot functional magnetic resonance imaging study
No full textThere is a dearth of research that has investigated the neural correlates of cyberbullying, using task‐based functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and, specifically, in a real‐time context such as observing cyberbullying scenarios. This article presents pilot data from a novel protocol designed to undertake such research with the overall aim being to elucidate the neurobiological underpinnings of cyberbullying via task‐based fMRI (tb‐fMRI)) in passive cyberbystanders. Young adults (N = 32, 18 to 25 years old) viewed six negative (cyberbullying) and six neutral stimuli from the Cyberbullying Picture Series (CyPicS) while undergoing tb‐fMRI. Our results revealed 12 clusters of significantly greater blood‐oxygenation‐level‐dependent (BOLD) responses (family wise error corrected p FWE < .05) in participants when viewing cyberbullying stimuli compared to neutral stimuli, across a distributed network of regions including left and right middle temporal gyrus, default mode network hubs, left and right posterior cerebellum/vermis, and putamen. Further analysis also revealed greater BOLD response in females compared to males, as well as in those with no prior experience of cyberbullying compared to those with prior experience (despite gender), when viewing the cyberbullying stimuli compared to the neutral stimuli. These results bring us closer to understanding the neurobiological underpinnings that may be associated with cybervictim/bully status and outcomes
Tertiary education in Ergonomics and Human Factors: Quo Vadis?
No full textIn 2019, the Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) discipline turned 70; to celebrate, an international group of academics and educators have reflected on the status of HFE tertiary education across the globe. This paper draws on presentations and discussions from the 20th Triennial International Ergonomics Association (IEA) conference and considers the implications for HFE education programmes. Past, current, and future challenges are outlined and discussed with examples from different countries and programmes. This paper builds on a 2012 strategy (Dul et al., 2012), to strengthen the demand, and application, of the HFE discipline and profession. It provides a considered set of reflections, noting the range of structural issues and financial pressures within the tertiary education system that create challenges for the viability of specialist programmes such as HFE. A need exists for the broader profession to collaborate and share innovations in HFE programme development, to ensure sustainable HFE education programs
Lifting the veil of our own consciousness: W.E.B. DuBois and transformative pedagogies for social work
No full textThe Routledge Handbook of Critical Pedagogies for Social Work traverses new territory by providing a cutting-edge overview of the work of classic and contemporary theorists, in a way that expands their application and utility in social work education and practice; thus, providing a bridge between critical theory, philosophy, and social work. Each chapter showcases the work of a specific critical educational, philosophical and/or social theorist including: Henry Giroux, Michel Foucault, Cornelius Castoriadis, Herbert Marcuse, Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Joan Tronto, Iris Marion Young, Karl Marx, Antonio Gramsci and many others to elucidate the ways in which their key pedagogic concepts can be applied to specific aspects of social work education and practice. The text exhibits a range of research-based approaches to educating social work practitioners as agents of social change. It provides a robust and much needed, alternative paradigm to the technique-driven ‘conservative revolution’ currently being fostered by neoliberalism in both social work education and practice. The volume will be instructive for social work educators who aim to teach for social change, by assisting students to develop counter-hegemonic practices of resistance and agency, and reflecting on the pedagogic role of social work practice more widely. The volume holds relevance for both postgraduate and undergraduate/qualifying social work and human services courses around the world. [Book Synopsis
Soil salinity and nutrients pattern along a distance gradient in coastal region
No full textSoil salinity is considered as one of the major challenges in coastal agriculture in Bangladesh yet geographical extent of soil salinity and nutrients status have received little or no attention. This study investigated the patterns of soil salinity, total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur between agricultural and fallow land along a 90 km distance from the coastline in Noakhali, Bangladesh. Soil samples were collected from three depths (0, 10, and 30cm) in four different locations from coastline towards inland (0, 30, 60, and 90km) following a systematic random sampling. Soil salinity and total nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and sulfur were analyzed by fitting fixed effect linear models for a full factorial design and then inverse distance weighted interpolation technique was applied to map spatial patterns of selected soil parameters. Highest soil salinity and sulfur were recorded in surface soils at coastline (0 km), whereas least in 90 km far from coastline. Soil depth resulted significant differences in phosphorous, potassium and showed significant interactions among the distant points. This study delineates the soil nutrients patterns and salinity as baseline information to explain salinity driven soil nutrient dynamics in coastal region of Bangladesh