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Adjustable wind selectivity in shearwaters implies knowledge of the foraging landscape
Full text linkUnderstanding the movements of highly mobile animals is challenging because of the many factors they must consider in their decision-making. Many seabirds, for example, are adapted to use winds to travel long distances at low energetic cost1,2,3 but also potentially benefit from targeting specific foraging hotspots.4,5,6 To investigate how an animal makes foraging decisions, given the inevitable trade-off between these factors, we tracked over 600 foraging trips of breeding Manx shearwaters (Puffinus puffinus; N = 218 individuals) using GPS accelerometers. By first uncovering the relationships between wind and the flapping effort put into flight, we show that shearwaters, while generally wind selective, adjust their wind selectivity, apparently balancing flight costs against the benefits of travel toward known targets. This is supported by a number of scenarios that alter the balance between maximizing flight efficiency and goal-oriented flight. First, shearwaters exhibit lower wind selectivity during homing movement when constrained to target-driven navigation toward the colony. Second, when wind speeds are low, flight costs vary little with travel direction, which shearwaters respond to by reducing wind selectivity in their outbound commutes, again favoring target-driven movement toward presumably memorized foraging areas. Finally, birds are also less wind selective during longer continuous periods of flight, presumably also associated with target-oriented movement. Our findings reveal how an animal’s foraging strategy can dynamically optimize the complex trade-off between efficient travel and accessing known foraging areas, implying the incorporation of prior knowledge of the cost-benefit landscape well beyond the range of what can be detected directly
Evaluating microplastic trapping efficiency in seagrass meadows using hydraulic flume simulations
Full text linkMicroplastic (MP) pollution poses a significant environmental threat, with projections indicating a 50-fold increase in pollution levels by 2100. Seagrass meadows, important for carbon storage and sediment stabilisation, may also serve as a Nature-based Solution for MP pollution. Despite the well-documented presence of MPs in seagrass sediments, the efficiencies of MP capture by these habitats remain largely unexplored. In this study, hydraulic flume simulations were conducted to assess how different seagrass planting configurations influence MP trapping. The results indicate that meadows with random spatial distribution are 6 % more effective at trapping MPs under high concentrations compared to grid-patterned meadows, while lower planting densities enhance trapping efficiency by 14 %. These findings offer insights into optimising seagrass restoration efforts for mitigating MP pollution, and this highlights the need for further needed to understand the broader ecological implications of MP retention in these critical ecosystems
Tree demographics and soil charcoal evidence of fire disturbances in an inaccessible forest atop the Mount Lico inselberg, Mozambique
Full text linkSocietal Impact StatementHighland forests of Mozambique have been strongly modified by human activities for millennia. Some highlands have sheer rock cliffs and are highly inaccessible to people and appear relatively undisturbed. Evidence from the forest and soils of inaccessible Mount Lico show that the fire regime has changed over the recent millennia. As climate and fire regimes continue to change, management of highland ecosystems will be crucial to sustain the high biodiversity and mountain‐water resources that provide key ecosystem services to people living close to these forests.Summary The sheer rock cliffs of the Mount Lico inselberg, northern Mozambique, is relatively inaccessible to people. A 0.57 km2 forest covers the top of the isolated mountain, and the tree demographics and soil offer an opportunity to investigate the long‐term fire ecology of the forests of the western, leeside of the mountain and potential for changing regional hydroclimate of the Late Holocene. On the western side of the mountaintop, a 20 × 20 m plot was surveyed for tree taxa, heights and bole diameters. A 220 cm deep pit was dug into the forest soil and analysed to describe the soil texture and carbon content. Charcoal was quantified on sieved subsamples and classified into charcoal morphologies that were then grouped by how readily entrainable on an index score. Three radiocarbon dates were collected from pieces charcoal. The forest is a combination of montane and woodland tree taxa that differed from the older, more mesic eastern side and reflected differential disturbance patterns. The reddish loam soils dated to the Middle Holocene. Charcoal was present in all soil subsamples and varied little until increasing consistently during the past millennium. The charcoal morphologies suggested a combination of locally derived charcoal and charcoal derived from the surrounding lowlands with the latter increasing in the past centuries. Few Holocene paleoenvironmental records have been developed from tropical soils in Africa and are useful in locations that do not host lakes and wetlands. Both tree demographics and soil charcoal suggest that changing forest disturbance regimes began during the past millennium. An understanding of history informs future conservation and appropriate management of these special places
Do leaders actually influence sports performance? An integrated systematic review and meta-analyses.
Full text linkThe precise nature of the leadership-sport performance relationship remains unclear. Furthermore, understanding of how leadership effects might differ across coach and athlete leaders or across team and individual performance is currently limited. To address these issues, we conducted an integrated systematic and meta-analytical review (50 studies, 17,158 athletes), to quantify differences between coach and athlete leaders, and examine potential moderator variables. Results revealed a significant yet small positive relationship between leadership and performance (r = .21; Hedges’ g = .44). Significantly stronger relationships emerged for team captains (r = .34) with team performance than coaches (r = .18), and informal athlete leaders (r = .15). Moreover, significantly larger effect sizes were yielded for authentic (r = .44) and transformational (r = .33) compared to social identity leadership (r = .19). In sum, both coaches and athletes possess the potential to be effective leaders, who influence both team and individual performance
You’re just like me, so we must be great together”: How similarity in narcissism impacts the quality of the coach-athlete relationship
Full text linkNarcissism has emerged as a highly relevant personality trait in sporting contexts, as its competitive environment offers individuals numerous opportunities to pursue personal glory. However, little is known about narcissism in the context of the coach–athlete relationship, and the extent to which similarity in narcissism across coaches and athletes can influence relationship quality. This study sought to explore how similarity in narcissism affects a coach’s perception of their coach–athlete relationship. Data from semistructured interviews with 30 national and international coaches were analyzed using thematic analysis within a critical realist approach. Coaches were purposefully sampled based on their Coach–Athlete Relationship Questionnaire and Dark Triad Dirty Dozen narcissism scores from Stanford et al. (2024). Four groups were then established: similar in trait narcissism/high relationship quality, similar in trait narcissism/low relationship quality, dissimilar in trait narcissism/high relationship quality and dissimilar in trait narcissism/low relationship quality, prior to any interviews. Using Wiltshire and Ronkainen’s (2021) three-level framework of analysis, 70 experiential, 18 inferential, and five dispositional themes were generated. The dispositional themes were perceived relationship perfection, high (perceived) self-awareness, breeding behaviors, relationship power, and relationship elasticity. This study offers an insight into the experiences of similarity in narcissism and the subsequent influence on the quality of the coach–athlete relationship
Effects of protection on large‐bodied reef fishes in the western Indian Ocean
Full text linkPredatory and large-bodied coral reef fishes have fundamental roles in the functioning and biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems, but their populations are declining, largely due to overexploitation in fisheries. These fishes include sharks, groupers, Humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and Green Humphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum). In the western Indian Ocean, this situation is exacerbated by limited population data on these fishes, including from conventional visual census methods, which limit the surface area surveyed. We developed a rapid timed scuba swim survey approach for application over large areas for estimation of the abundance of large-bodied reef fishes and assessment of the effectiveness of marine protected areas (MPAs) in maintaining these species’ populations. Using this method, we sampled 7 regions in the western central Indian Ocean andGulf of Aden, including 2 remote reference locations where fishing is prohibited. Eightfamilies were selected for the surveys from across 3 categories: pelagic, demersal, and large-bodied single species. Sharks (Carcharhinidae) were absent in 5 of the 7 regions, observed only in Mozambique and the Chagos Archipelago. Tunas (Scombridae) and barracudas( Sphyraenidae) were rarely observed (none in Madagascar, Djibouti, and Iles Glorieuses). The Giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) was absent in all regions, Humphead wrasse was absent in Comoros and Iles Glorieuses, and Green Humphead parrotfish was observed at only one site in Tanzania. The MPAs were not effective in protecting these single large-bodied species or the 4 pelagic families, except for sharks in the highly protected reference ocations. However, MPAs with medium levels of protection were effective in maintaining the abundance of some demersal families, notably large-bodied groupers. Our results support the hypothesis of local extirpation of these large-bodied fishes on many coral reefs in the western Indian Ocean
A feasibility trial of an early childhood, violence prevention, parenting program integrated into early childhood educational provision in Jamaica: A study protocol
Full text linkViolence against children (VAC) is a global public health issue that can lead to long-lasting negative consequences for child outcomes. The Irie Homes Toolbox (IHT) is an early childhood, violence-prevention, parenting program designed for integration into early childhood educational services in Jamaica. We have previously shown that the program is effective in reducing child maltreatment when implemented by the research team. For wide-scale dissemination, the IHT needs to be delivered by preschool staff as part of their routine duties. We adapted the IHT using results from our previous evaluations and we are conducting a mixed-method feasibility trial of the IHT fully integrated into preschool provision. Twenty-four basic schools in Kingston and St Andrew, Jamaica have been randomly assigned to intervention (n=12) or wait-list control (n=12) with ten caregivers per school participating in the study (240 caregivers, 120/group). The intervention is delivered through twelve, weekly, one-hour sessions by a preschool teacher with groups of ten caregivers of children aged 2-6 years. An ongoing process evaluation includes quantitative measures of caregiver attendance, teacher compliance, and fidelity of intervention implementation and qualitative measures of enablers and barriers to implementation and suggestions for improvement. In the impact evaluation, the primary outcome is frequency of caregivers’ use of violence against their child. Secondary outcomes are caregiver attitudes to violence, preferences for harsh punishment, involvement with their child and child conduct problems. All outcomes are measured through caregiver-report. The results of the study will be used to inform revisions of the IHT for implementation at scale
DashSpace: A Live Collaborative Platform for Immersive and Ubiquitous Analytics
Full text linkWe introduce DashSpace, a live collaborative immersive and ubiquitous analytics (IA/UA) platform designed for handheld and head-mounted Augmented/Extended Reality (AR/XR) implemented using WebXR and open standards. To bridge the gap between existing web-based visualizations and the immersive analytics setting, DashSpace supports visualizing both legacy D3 and Vega-Lite visualizations on 2D planes, and extruding Vega-Lite specifications into 2.5D. It also supports fully 3D visual representations using the Optomancy grammar. To facilitate authoring new visualizations in immersive XR, the platform provides a visual authoring mechanism where the user groups specification snippets to construct visualizations dynamically. The approach is fully persistent and collaborative, allowing multiple participants—whose presence is shown using 3D avatars and webcam feeds—to interact with the shared space synchronously, both co-located and remotely. We present three examples of DashSpace in action: immersive data analysis in 3D space, synchronous collaboration, and immersive data presentations
Social Return on Investment Analysis: A Mixed Methods Approach to Assessing the Value of Adult Hospice Services
Full text linkObjectivesHospice services offer invaluable support to individuals facing life-limiting illnesses, however, quantifying their positive impact presents a challenge. As the demand for palliative care rises due to complex illnesses and an aging population, hospices face the need to prove their value. With funding primarily reliant on charitable donations and limited statutory support, they must demonstrate their effectiveness to secure additional resources in a competitive landscape. MethodsThis study employed the Social Return on Investment (SROI) framework to evaluate the social value generated by four hospice sites offering inpatient and day therapy services across North Wales. Through a mixed-methods approach, quantitative and qualitative data were collected to explore stakeholder experiences, values, and outcomes, facilitating a thorough examination of the broader social impact of hospice care. ResultsThe average input and output values for the inpatient unit were £602,100 and £1,667,861 respectively, thus returning a base case ratio of £2.77: £1. The day therapy unit had average input and output costs of £155,928 and £1,847,347 respectively, hence a base case ratio of £11.85: £1. Sensitivity analysis yielded estimates of between £2.20: £1 and £6.83: £1 for the inpatient unit and between £2:44: £1 and £19:51: £1 for the day therapy unit. ConclusionAs healthcare providers globally confront challenges with resource constraints, adopting value-driven methodologies becomes crucial. Embracing such methodologies fosters a more comprehensive understanding of value, transcending traditional metrics to encompass social, environmental, and long-term sustainability considerations
Meeting report:International soil virus conference 2024
Full text linkThe research field of soil viral ecology continues to advance rapidly as the roles of viruses in the functioning of soil ecosystems are increasingly recognized. To address recent developments in the field, the second International Soil Virus Conference was held in Livermore, California, USA, from June 25 to 27th, 2024, providing soil viral ecologists the opportunity to share new findings and suggest guidelines for future research, while encouraging international scientific discussion and collaboration. The meeting was held in person with sessions simultaneously streamed online. Fifty researchers attended from ten different countries and spanned a wide range of subfields and career stages. A total of 21 oral presentations were presented, followed by discussions covering key themes in soil viral research. This report summarizes the main takeaways and recommendations from the talks and discussions.</p