bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of Ocean Deoxygenation on Marine Benthos in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Harnik Paul G. , Chao Anne , Collins Katie S. , Rillo Marina C.
Published: February 2023

Ocean deoxygenation is a growing concern globally. Oxygen is less soluble in warm water, and warming temperatures also result in the slowdown of ocean circulation which limits oxygen delivery to deeper waters. Anthropogenic eutrophication has also contributed to the development of hypoxic conditions in many coastal areas. Here we investigate biodiversity structure along an environmental gradient in the Gulf of Mexico to see how patterns of spatiotemporal turnover can inform future biotic response of benthos to ocean deoxygenation. Live and dead assemblages of bivalve mollusks were collected at 15 stations offshore Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida. Abundance and body size data were collected, and specimens were classified functionally using information about feeding, attachment, life position, and body size. Environmental conditions were characterized using multi-decadal mean sea surface temperature (SST), dissolved oxygen (DO), and net primary productivity (NPP), and grain size data from our field samples. Stations in the north-central Gulf affected by Mississippi River discharge are characterized by higher NPP, lower DO, and higher percentages of silt and clay than stations in the northeastern Gulf. Both taxonomic and functional diversity significantly covary with this environmental gradient, with the lowest diversities observed at stations in the core of Louisiana’s “dead zone.” Analyses of spatiotemporal turnover patterns reveal shifts in the dominant feeding mode, with hypoxic environments containing a greater abundance of deposit and mixed feeders, compared with more oxygenated environments that host an abundance of suspension feeders and are characterized by a greater variety of feeding ecologies. Live-dead analyses reveal a shift in taxonomic and functional diversity in coastal Louisiana, that appears to coincide with the onset of anthropogenic eutrophication in these coastal settings.
Fossil Squamates of Pedernales Province, Dominican Republic: Novel Record of Human-Induced Extinction and Extirpation
Authors: Riegler Mitchell S. , Vinola Lazaro W. , Steinberg Evan S. , Quintal Hannah , Almonte Juan N. , Bloch Jonathan I.
Published: February 2023

Hispaniola (Haiti & Dominican Republic (D.R.)), is the second largest island in the Caribbean and is a hotspot of squamate diversity (~184 species), yet little is known about their fossil record and how it relates to the present. Past studies on mammalian communities suggest that many rodent species go extinct after human arrival (~7,000 y.B.P.), most significantly after European colonization (~530 y.B.P.) corresponding to a rapid loss of 70-98% of original forest. Pedernales Province in the D.R., has much of its original forest cover, yet fossil squamates from this region have not been documented. Our study of Holocene dry cave fossil sites and a new archeological site located in Pedernales allows for evaluation of extinction in squamates in an area where deforestation is not a primary concern. Using dentigerous elements, several genera of squamates (Ameiva, Anolis, Celestus, Cyclura, Leiocephalus, and Geckos) were identified. We recorded their abundance at each depth, and found Anolis, Celestus, and Geckos to be the most common fossils. From this collection we discovered two new species of Celestus, a new species of Gecko, and revised the taxonomy of Leiocephalus. One of the newly identified large Celestus species, originally only known from fossils, was later discovered in a separate cave as a living specimen. These results suggest that deforestation is not the only driver of extinction in the D.R., and that even in well preserved areas, extinction of small taxa is happening. Additionally, some cryptic taxa may be unrecognized. The arrival of domesticated animals and associated pests (mice, rats, etc.), likely had a dramatic influence on these extinctions, as well as direct human predation, first reported here. Further radiocarbon and geochemical sampling of these herpetofaunal fossils will help assess why these species went extinct, and such trends can inform modern conservation efforts as to which taxa are most at risk.
Molluscs Across Space and Through Time in a Hypersaline Coastal Lagoon, Mexico
Authors: Suárez-Mozo Nancy Y. , Brenner Mark , Kenney William F. , Díaz Asencio Misael , Curtis Jason H. , Aquino-Lopez Marco A. , Guerra-Castro Edlin , Simões Nuno
Published: February 2023

Biotic remains have been used in paleoecological studies to provide information on past environmental conditions. Death assemblages can be used to make inferences about past environmental conditions if modern optima and ranges of taxa are known. Gaps in knowledge about historical biotic changes often stem from a paucity of information regarding species distributions, community species richness and evenness, community structure, ecological interactions, and possible factors that caused past biotic shifts. We studied mollusc assemblages in sediment cores from Río Lagartos coastal lagoon (Mexico) and compared them to present-day mollusc communities to gain insights into environmental changes that occurred in the lagoon throughout the last century. A total of 18,779 mollusc specimens, representing 20 bivalve and 45 gastropod species, and belonging to 32 families and 48 genera, were identified in three short sediment cores collected from the coastal lagoon in 2017. Molluscs in the sediment cores were compared to an inventory of modern fauna from the lagoon, which was collected along a salinity gradient in 2017 and 2018 to link species distributions with environmental variables. Mollusc communities from the sediment cores and present-day datasets possess the same ubiquitous species and feeding guilds. Nearly twice as many species, however, were identified in the sediment cores as in the present-day inventory. We report differences in mollusc abundance and taxonomic composition in the cores across space and time, which may be related to the salinity gradient in the lagoon, temporal shift in salinity, and recent human-mediated modifications of the nearby terrestrial environment. Biotic changes driven by shifts in salinity could have been reduced salinity. Such inputs may have been driven by hurricanes, along with associated high wind velocities and geomorphologic transformations. This paleobiology study will be of use for future conservation efforts in the coastal lagoon.
Integrating Information from the Past into Oyster Management
Authors: Dietl Gregory P. , Durham Stephen R.
Published: February 2023

In the United States, the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) is an economically, culturally, and ecologically important oyster species that ranges from Maine to Texas. Eastern oyster populations are managed by a variety of federal, state, and local governments as well as non-governmental organizations. In addition, the long history of oyster harvesting and coastal land use change in the United States, and asynchronous fluctuations in abundance across the species range due to diverse pressures (e.g., hydrological changes, pollution, disease, overharvesting), combined with often scarce historical monitoring records documenting the timing and magnitude of the changes, have challenged oyster applied professionals for well over a century. The Oysters Past Working Group (OPWG) brings together academic researchers (paleoecologists, archaeologists, and historical ecologists) and applied professionals, representing federal, state, and local government and non-governmental organizations tasked with conserving, managing, and/or restoring oyster populations and habitat. The primary goals of the OPWG are to: 1) identify priority research directions for academic researchers by evaluating the information needs among applied professionals and the types of information from the past that may be able to address them; 2) create a guidance document on best practices for applying information from the past to oyster management; and 3) build trust and commitment to promote longer-lasting and sustained collaboration between academic researchers and applied professionals.
Paleoecological Implications of Trematode-Induced Pit Size in Chamelea Gallina from the Adriatic Sea, Italy
Authors: Fitzgerald Erin , Scarponi Daniele , Huntley John W.
Published: February 2023

Gymnophallid trematodes are complex life cycle parasites that induce characteristic pits in their bivalve intermediate hosts, which serve as their sole fossil record. Previous work demonstrated that trematode prevalence increases with rising sea levels, but little has been done to investigate patterns of trematode pit size in relation to Holocene sea-level and environmental changes. Here we focus on trematode pits preserved in the bivalve Chamelea gallina from five late Holocene core samples (2510-3140 y BP) and eight modern death assemblages from the Po-Adriatic system (northern Italy). Using ImageJ, we measured 838 total pits, with 715 from the core samples and 123 from the death assemblages. The geometric mean of the primary and secondary axis was used as a proxy for trace size, which ranges from 0.117 mm to 1.708 mm. The median size of Holocene pits (0.497 mm) is significantly larger (pWilcoxon = 1.73e-05) than the median size of modern pits (0.396 mm), indicating a decrease in trematode metacercariae body size over this time. There was no significant relationship between trematode pit size and host bivalve body size and only whole, well-preserved Holocene valves were analyzed to minimize the influence of taphonomy. We interpret a change in C. gallina-trematode parasite-host interactions over the last 3 ky, which could be the result of several scenarios. Modern pits could be created by different taxa, which have smaller body sizes, or the pits could be formed by the same parasitic taxa which now may have a decreased body size, perhaps due to stress. These results, coupled with a survey of modern metacercariae sizes, suggest that the trematode pit size record can provide relevant information on parasite paleoecology and, perhaps, identity. Such information will enable more nuanced analyses of parasite-host response to environmental change in the past with an eye to the future.
Death Assemblages Record Significant Range Contraction in a Molluscan Species of Concern from the Eastern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Sanders Stephanie A. , Herbert Gregory S. , Trobbiani Gastón , Seiden Nicole , Rogers Jaime A.
Published: February 2023

Marine habitats are in decline due to increasing anthropogenic pressures, but baseline data on species distributions needed to manage and conserve populations are lacking. Incorporating death assemblages into species assessments can create a more accurate understanding of pre-anthropogenic communities than survey records alone. In this study, we conducted a live-dead analysis on mollusks from a new 2008-2018 dredge survey in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. We selected the predatory banded tulip snail, Cinctura hunteria, as a test case for assessment because this species is one of several designated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife as a species of concern. Using spatial count data for shells in our samples, we estimated density values for each taxonomic grade over the sampled area using IDW spatial interpolation. These maps reveal large areas of occupation across the west Florida shelf for two taxonomic grades of dead shells but loss of offshore occurrence for live records. One explanation for the lack of occurrences in offshore habitats is that, unlike dead shell records, there is no time averaging accumulation of live shells. Time averaging increases detectability of species in habitats where they are rare. However, independent fisheries data from live-only animal surveys not only mirror our live-dead results but suggest that habitat loss in our live-dead comparisons was rapid and occurred in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Thus, live-dead comparisons reveal both natural baselines as well as anthropogenic changes in distribution without being significantly distorted by time-averaging biases. Including live-dead data can greatly improve species assessments when long-term survey records are unavailable and provide a key tool in combatting biodiversity loss across marine ecosystems.
Distribution and Diversity of Sediment-Dwelling Echinoids of the Central Florida Keys
Authors: Grun Tobias B. , Kowalewski Michał
Published: February 2023

Sediment-dwelling echinoids, such as clypeasteroids (sand dollars and sea biscuits) and spatangoids (heart urchins), are important ecosystem engineers found in many soft-bottom habitats around the Florida Keys. Several studies, conducted over the last five decades, have documented their spatial distribution and diversity in various areas of the Florida Keys. This study focuses on the central part of the Florida Keys, an area that has been subject to diverse human impacts including tourism, fishing, boating, and diving leading to pollution, eutrophication, and intrusion of non-native species. All these stressors can potentially undermine the ecosystem’s composition and health, including sediment-dwelling echinoids. To assess the current state of echinoid populations, 27 sites located along the central part of the Florida Keys have been surveyed by SCUBA (2020-2021) for presence of live specimens and dead skeletal remains of clypeasteroid and spatangoid echinoids. A total of 17 out of 27 sites were inhabited by sediment-dwelling echinoids of the species Clypeaster rosaceus, Clypeaster subdepressus, Encope michelini, Leodia sexiesperforata, Meoma ventricosa, and Plagiobrissus grandis. Up to five species co-occurred at single sites, although most sites harbored only one or two species, and at all sites a single species was dominant in terms of relative abundance. The most widespread and abundant species in the surveyed area were Clypeaster rosaceus, Leodia sexiesperforata, and Meoma ventricosa. A comparison of live specimens with skeletal echinoid remains indicates that dead tests are typically much rarer than live specimens. However, the spatial distribution and abundance of dead remains tracks live occurrences: when dead remains are found, live specimens are always observed. The comparison of the new survey reported here with past studies and database records suggests that the faunal composition of sediment-dwelling echinoid assemblages has not changed notably over the past 50 years.
Concordant Spatial Gradients in Predation Intensity and Productivity Archived in Surficial Mollusk Shell Accumulations in Seagrass Meadows Along the Gulf Coast of Florida
Authors: Hardin Alizé M. , Casebolt Sahale , Hyman A. Challen , Barry Savanna , Cummings Katy , Frazer Tom , Kowalewski Michał
Published: February 2023

Seagrass meadows are highly structured habitats of great socioeconomic value but are declining globally due to human impacts. The northern Gulf Coast of Florida contains one of the largest relatively unaltered seagrass habitats (~3,000 km2), making it a model system for acquiring baselines to better manage and monitor seagrass meadows. This project investigated spatial gradients in ecological and taphonomic attributes of surficial seagrass-associated benthic mollusk death assemblages. An updated analysis of water parameters (based on project COAST data) indicated that total dissolved phosphorous (TDP) and chlorophyll-a (CHL-a) concentrations increased steadily northward. To analyze the historical ecology of local seagrass meadows, mollusk assemblages were bulk sampled at 12 stations across multiple estuaries along the gradient. Radiocarbon dating of valves (n = 90) from several estuaries indicated that the assemblages represented a multi-millennial accumulation with a median shell age of 1760 AD. Focusing on two abundant bivalves found within all estuaries, Transennella spp and Crassostrea virginica, the study evaluated spatial trends in body size, traces of predation, and post-mortem shell alterations. The results, primarily focused on Transennella spp., indicated that ecological and taphonomic characteristics varied notably, both among and within estuaries. Relative abundance, body size, and taphonomic attributes did not appear to correlate significantly with productivity or drilling frequency. However, drilling frequency correlated significantly with TDP and CHL-a, suggesting that predator-prey interactions may co-vary tightly with productivity. These results suggest that spatial gradients in predation can be archived by drilling frequencies in death assemblages. Moreover, the consistency between the long-term record of predation and modern gradient conditions suggests that long-term spatial dynamics of predator-prey interactions may be hydrologically controlled.
Coyotes Reveal Baseline Nitrogen Decline Across End-Pleistocene Ecosystem Collapse
Authors: DeSantis Larisa R. , Meachen Julie A. , Miller Joshua H. , Dunn Regan , Lindsey Emily , Pardi Melissa , Southon John , Binder Wendy , Cohen Joshua , O’Keefe F. Robin , Muller Elsa , Petherick Ansley , Hall Elizabeth , Johnson Solathus , Fuller Benjamin , Farrell Aisling , Takeuchi Gary
Published: February 2023

The end Pleistocene was a time of ecological turmoil, coincident with environmental change, extinctions, and anthropogenic impacts on the landscape. As one of the few persisting predators from the Pleistocene, La Brea’s exceptional record of coyotes (Canis latrans) provides a unique opportunity to clarify how a recently documented ecosystem state-shift impacted survivors. Through a multiproxy analysis of Rancho La Brea coyotes from the past 50,000 years to present, we analyzed over 100 individuals for radiocarbon chronologies, stable isotopes, dental microwear, and morphology to assess the consequences of megafaunal extirpation on these predators. Most notably, coyotes demonstrate a significant decline in δ15Nbone collagen values immediately after the extirpation of megafauna. While this decline is suggestive of a change in diet from more to less meat, stable isotopes of amino acids from a subset of samples instead provide evidence of a baseline shift in nitrogen—indicating large scale changes in the availability of nutritional resources. While coyotes do not demonstrate notable changes in diet across the extirpation boundary, as inferred from stable carbon isotopes in tooth enamel and dental microwear texture analysis, significant shifts in stable oxygen isotopes in δ18Oenamel and δ13Cbone collagen indicate more nuanced changes in potential prey-resources. Coyotes also demonstrate a linear decline in body size that begins prior to the local extirpation of megafauna (~20,000 years ago) and may be in response to competition with larger canids, the decline in large prey, and/or concurrent increases in aridity during this interval. A dramatic increase in scavenging of forested prey (e.g., deer) during the past century stands out as significantly distinct from the dietary niches occupied over the past 50,000 years—implying dramatic impacts of human behavior on coyotes, a recent shift in their ecological role, and the highly adaptable nature of these carnivores.
Reconstructing Millennial-Scale Variability in Reef Shark Communities Across The Isthmus of Panama
Authors: Dillon Erin , McCauley Douglas , De Gracia Brigida , Cybulski Jonathan D. , O’Dea Aaron
Published: February 2023

Shark populations have declined over the last half century, but the patterns of change vary across space. Long-term records of shark abundance are limited, making it challenging to determine how local environmental conditions influence pre-exploitation shark baselines and their susceptibility to human impacts. We use shark scales (dermal denticles) preserved in coral reef sediments to reconstruct shark communities during the mid-Holocene and today across the Isthmus of Panama. We interpret these data alongside records of primary productivity, habitat, and fish abundance to explore energy flow to higher trophic levels on each coast. The Tropical Eastern Pacific is a productive system driven by seasonal upwelling with a long history of shark exploitation. The Caribbean coast, on the other hand, is oligotrophic and environmentally stable, with lower rates of harvesting. We find that denticle accumulation rates, a proxy for shark abundance, are an order of magnitude greater in Pacific Panama (Gulf of Panama) than in Caribbean Panama (Bocas del Toro). Primary productivity and fish abundance are also higher in Pacific Panama, helping to support these large predator populations. Denticle accumulation rates declined by 71% since the mid-Holocene in Caribbean Panama, including a selective loss of pelagic sharks. In contrast, modern denticle accumulation rates in Pacific Panama are comparable to their range of variability during the mid-Holocene, and the composition of denticle assemblages remained similar through time—suggesting that sharks in the Gulf of Panama have persisted despite intensive fishing. We postulate that the region’s high productivity might underlie its high shark abundance and apparent resilience by increasing available resources for predators. Our findings shed light on the role of energy in shaping natural variability in shark baselines and recovery potential. They also highlight the importance of incorporating oceanographic context into shark management.
Mobilizing Paleobiology to Support Conservation in the Bahamas
Authors:   The Bahamas Lost Ecosystems Conservation Paleobiology Working Group
Published: February 2023

The Bahamas sit at the intersection of multiple global change issues emblematic of contemporary Anthropocene conservation challenges. However, the region also has a long and dynamic biocultural history characterized by multiple human migration events associated with species extirpations, extinctions, invasions, and biogeographic rearrangements. This dynamic history informs present day species and ecosystem diversity, as well as societal perceptions of biodiversity conservation. Here, we introduce an interdisciplinary working group focused on the mobilization of paleobiology data and models in support of contemporary conservation agendas and outreach in The Bahamas. Our aims are aligned with global biodiversity goals but are scaled to regional needs. They include: (1) Identify the temporal and spatial scale of human drivers of loss beginning with initial human settlement (ca. AD 700) and through more contemporary time periods; (2) Using these baselines of taxa through time, consider both species-specific conservation and broader ecosystem restoration possibilities; (3) Employ paleobiological data in new modeling and computational approaches to reconstruct ecosystem functions through time and across space to explore possible avenues for “rewilding”; and (4) Ensure equitable benefits of research and conservation implementation. Within the context of these aims, we also discuss both the challenges and great promise of forming a “conservation paleobiology working group” across people with diverse backgrounds and engagement with conservation.
Using the Past to Tell More Persuasive Conservation Stories
Authors: Pier Jaleigh Q. , Olson Olivia L. , Mychajliw Alexis M. , Dietl Gregory P.
Published: February 2023

Conservation biologists are increasingly realizing the power of telling stories, which can persuade people to get involved and take action towards conservation goals. Stories connect with a wide variety of audiences by means of transporting them to captivating narrative worlds. The feeling of being swept into a story, referred to as transportation, is the mechanism through which persuasion takes place. Once a reader becomes absorbed into a story, they become removed from the real world and their own personal experiences, making them more likely to believe the story’s central message and change their behavior. Here, we argue that conservation biologists can tell more persuasive stories if longer-term perspectives available from geohistorical records, such as sediment cores and fossils, are incorporated. By providing a richer context or starting a story from a point further back in time, a different story can be told, which may help motivate audiences towards achieving specific conservation goals. Developing storytelling skills is a necessary addition to any conservation paleobiologists’ ‘toolbox.’
The Importance of Paleoecology in Everglades Restoration Science and Management
Authors: Aumen Nicholas G. , Wingard Georgiana L. , Bernhardt Christopher
Published: February 2023

Paleoecology studies provide pre-instrument data from the Everglades painting an informative picture of physical, biological, and ecological conditions prior to human intervention. Because Florida’s development history is relatively recent, and because observational data span only the last half-century, managers rely on paleoecology data as the basis for important decisions regarding multi-decadal and expensive restoration. Effective restoration depends strongly on the establishment of restoration targets, especially pre-development vegetation and hydropatterns (flow, depth, timing, distribution). Coring data were instrumental in the reconstruction of paleo hydrologic and vegetation trends in the ARM Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, helping managers understand the magnitude and causes of 20th century problems. Similarly, sediment cores from the Big Cypress National Preserve led managers to understand that the development of marl prairies in Everglades National Park – critical habitat for the endangered Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow – was a 20th century phenomenon resulting from past water management practices. Finally, paleoecological and modeling studies in Florida Bay and the Everglades for the $20B+ Comprehensive Everglades Restoration plan established freshwater flow targets now used by managers. Although restoration of historic freshwater flow is not feasible, knowledge about Everglades hydrology and ecology prior to human intervention plays a pivotal role in the design, selection, and construction of restoration projects. Paleoecological data, coupled with decadal-scale monitoring and other long-term studies, provide the long-term perspective necessary to understand decadal, to centennial, and to millennial time-scale processes. While these data are cost-effective to procure, a long-term commitment to funding these types of studies is essential to provide the scientific foundation for restoration.
Steller’s Sea Cow and Kelp Forest Regeneration in the North Pacific
Authors: Roopnarine Peter D. , Banker Roxanne M. W. , Sampson Scott D.
Published: February 2023

Modern ecosystems are almost universally degraded relative to their past counterparts, from the Pleistocene to the present day. Thus, modern ecosystems may serve as poor guides to conservation actions. Conservation paleobiology is well-suited to address this challenge through enhanced understanding of systems dynamics during past periods of greater species and functional diversity, abundances, and resilience. However, past and present ecosystem dynamics must be integrated to model the future impacts of conservation actions. Here we propose a three-step, Past-Present-Future (PPF) methodology rooted in mathematical modeling. First, construct a model of primary species and interactions of the present-day ecosystem, including biotic and abiotic components. Second, integrate historical and/or paleontological data into the model to investigate past states and processes of the ecosystem, with an emphasis on critical elements (e.g., ecological engineer species) that are no longer present. Third, integrate analyses from the first two steps to predict putative future dynamics and states, and use these to make testable predictions regarding specific conservation interventions. We illustrate this approach with a study investigating impacts of the now-extinct Steller’s sea cow on north Pacific giant kelp forests. The model indicates that the historical system was distinct from the modern, with differing abundances of giant kelp and understory algae. Furthermore, the familiar kelp-dominated state is metastable, capable of rapid transitions to an urchin-dominated state if perturbed by extreme hydrodynamic events, disease-driven reductions of seastar predation, or disease coupled to extreme warming events. We explore the possibility of increasing the resilience of modern forests by artificially recreating at least some of the ecological impacts of sea cows, accounting for metabolic requirements, estimates of abundance based on recent analyses of ancient DNA, and trophic impact.
Live-Dead Shifts in Molluscan Functional Diversity in Coastal Alabama
Authors: Filipovich Charlotte L. , Harnik Paul G. , Collins Katie S.
Published: February 2023

Abiotic and biotic environmental factors shape species behavioral, physiological, and morphological traits. Shifts in the diversity of these functional traits therefore can serve as an indicator of spatial and temporal changes in environmental conditions. In recent centuries, the delivery of nutrients to coastal ecosystems has increased markedly through changing waste management and land-use practices. Nutrient enrichment has increased rates of primary productivity, resulting in greater organic accumulation on the seafloor and the development of hypoxic conditions in some areas, due to the aerobic decomposition of phytoplankton blooms. Anthropogenic eutrophication and associated hypoxia have been monitored annually in the northern Gulf of Mexico for over four decades, with an emphasis on areas surrounding the Mississippi River Delta. To further understand how anthropogenic eutrophication affects functional diversity in benthic marine communities, we collected live and dead assemblages of bivalve mollusks from surficial sediments at five stations along the -20 meters isobath in coastal Alabama. Bivalves were categorized into functional groups using information about their mobility, fixation, feeding type, substrate preference, and body size. Consistent with our hypotheses, preliminary results indicate a temporal shift from benthic communities dominated primarily by epifaunal and infaunal suspension-feeding species to communities characterized primarily by deposit feeders, many of which dwell on the seafloor surface. Ongoing analyses will help identify the functional traits that are most sensitive to these changing environmental conditions. Understanding functional diversity shifts in the recent past can provide insight into how anthropogenic eutrophication may further impact benthic marine ecosystems in the future.
Paleoecology of the Plio-Pleistocene of Queensland: Ecological Shifts Evidenced From Fauna at the Darling Downs
Authors: DeSantis Larisa R. , Price Gilbert , Louys Julien
Published: February 2023

The continent of Australia is currently warming approximately thirty-five percent faster than the rest of the globe, with the warmest year on record coinciding with the most extreme bush fires. While effects of ongoing climate change are apparent over the past century, Australia has experienced pronounced aridification since the Miocene/Pliocene, transitioning from tropical forests to more open habitats. To better contextualize on-going climate change, we assess the ecology and paleobiology of mammalian faunas in Australia from the Pliocene to the Present in the Darling Downs region of Queensland Australia. Via the analysis of stable isotopes from tooth enamel and dental microwear texture analysis of the chewing surfaces of teeth, we clarify the ecology and paleobiology of medium to large marsupials from the Pliocene Chinchilla Sands and Pleistocene Eastern Darling Downs faunas. By comparing these ancient marsupial mammal communities to extant marsupial mammals that inhabit these regions today, we further demonstrate that the most dramatic changes between past ecosystems are clearly between those of the Present and the Plio-Pleistocene—indicated that the Darling Downs region of today is disparate as compared to the past. Most notably, Macropus giganteus consumes vegetation that is ~5.6‰ higher in δ13C values today than during the past, indicating feeding in a significantly more open landscape. The Pliocene and Pleistocene of the Darling Downs are instead dominated by mixed-feeding and browsing taxa, with several taxa exhibiting diets disparate from modern analogues (e.g., an abundance of C4 browsers). Collectively, these deep-time temporal comparisons are a clear example of how ecological communities observed today do not represent the full range of ecological niches occupied in the past and highlight the dramatic climate-departures experienced today.
MegaSDM: Modelling Species Ranges in The Past And Future
Authors: Shipley Benjamin R. , Dilkina Bistra , McGuire Jenny L.
Published: February 2023

As we enter the Anthropocene, unprecedented climatic and landscape changes are leading to global extinctions and the reorganization of many species’ ranges. Understanding how species ranges have changed through time can contextualize long-term interactions between geography and ecology, offer insight into how they may change in the future, and inform conservation of vulnerable species. Species distribution models (SDMs) can be an important method for examining these range shifts, both in the future and through the past, by providing hypotheses about the responses of species’ ranges to certain scenarios. Here, I present several avenues for exploring hypotheses on range shifts using the megaSDM R package. This package facilitates realistic spatiotemporal SDM analyses by incorporating dispersal probabilities, creating time-step maps of range change dynamics, and efficiently handling large datasets and intensive subsampling techniques, while still allowing model-specific tuning. Using megaSDM, with the ongoing expansion of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) as an example, I show how dispersal rate constraints can be incorporated into predictions of range shifts through time, introducing the concept of “invadable suitability”. Comparing dispersal-constrained to unconstrained models, I establish the importance of considering the dispersal ability of a species when projecting its range through time. Finally, I demonstrate the effects of transient range dynamics (e.g., a momentary range contraction in a period of prolonged expansion) on modelled species distributions, showing that these dynamics can be accounted for by incorporating many incremental time steps. These improvements in SDMs allow us to test and refine hypotheses that forecast or hindcast species range shifts. They are small but important steps towards treating conservation as a dynamic, rather than static, field and bringing a paleontological perspective to the preservation of life on Earth.
A study on impact of accounting education on improving the quality of human resource accounting
Authors: Pham Ngoc Toan , Le Quang Man
Published: February 2023

To develop human resources in accounting and auditing in sufficient quantity and quality assurance based on renewal and enhancement of training and fostering; the combination of specialized training and refresher training and higher education to create high-quality human resources. At the same time, the enhancement of international integration, the establishment of close ties, and mutual recognition between Vietnam and other countries in the region, the world, and international organizations. The main aim of this paper was to address issues related to the inadequacies of the existing curriculum and pedagogies that could adversely affect the role of accountants in this increasingly hostile business environment. Using mixed research methodology, the research identifies the factors influencing the early success of graduates’ careers. Discussion on the pertaining issues in the accounting education system led to a suggestion that the existing curriculum and pedagogies be revamped. The accounting curriculum should be broadened to ensure that a broad array of generic skills, knowledge and professional attributes can be developed in accounting graduates. Moreover, to reinforce the learning process, changes in the pedagogies were inevitable. These changes were expected to bring about significant improvements to the quality of accounting graduates to ensure that they could perform exceptionally when they enter the profession.
Ranking criteria of university lecturers’ happiness index in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Authors: Huynh Dang Bich Vy , Nguyen Le Hoang Thuy To Quyen
Published: February 2023

Happiness is the final goal targeted by every nation, community, and individual. It is the new pattern of economic development. However, happiness is a fuzzy concept, and much contextually depends. This study was conducted to rank the criteria of lecturers’ happiness index in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Based on the data from the in-depth interviews with 20 experts, Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied. The research results show that the lecturer’s happiness measurement model consists of three levels. Level 2 includes five criteria with the priority orders as follows: 1) physical and spiritual health (50.9%), 2) employment and income (25.5%), 3) self-actualization (13.9%), 4) social networks (6.2%) and 5) family happiness (3.5%). Further ranking findings at level 3 confirm the highest share of non-material components in each factor. These findings are important for planning the key strategy to promote lecturers’ happiness to reach the goal of “happy school” in Vietnam.
Academic integrity advisers : do they have confidence in themselves?
Authors: Bergadaà Michelle , Peixoto Paulo
Published: February 2023

This chapter presents the results of an international survey of "academic ethics officers" (AEOs), mainly integrity officers, ombudsmen and directors of doctoral schools. In view of the diversity of proposals put forward by the respondents, the authors wonder about the possibilities of increasing their self-confidence in a changing world. The object of the research must be defined: trust. A semiotic analysis of the verbatims makes it possible to induce a model with five dimensions to which the GDRs feel more or less close, and therefore mobilised in a variable way: identity proximity, network proximity, process proximity, technological proximity and functional proximity. For each of these dimensions, observations are made and proposals are made as to what IRAFPA can or cannot do to reinforce them.
THEORIES OF THE PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND SPORT DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Bhowmick Sudarsan
Published: February 2023

History of human civilization indicates that movement activity has been a part of lives of all people down through the ages. Barrow has mentioned - Exercise is the basic need of life. Participation in movement activity has been proved to be beneficial for development of physical, psychological, social and many other dimensions of human life. Theories of the physical education and sport development have been proposed to explain their philosophy of development on the basis of participation goal of human beings for physical exercise.
Assessing spoken English proficiency for biotechnology research collaboration in a globalized world.
Authors: Wang Yujin
Published: February 2023

The increasing globalization of biotechnology research and development has highlighted the need for effective communication among researchers from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. Spoken English proficiency has become a key factor in successful collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field. This paper examines the challenges and opportunities associated with assessing spoken English proficiency for biotechnology research collaboration in a globalized world. Drawing on a review of the relevant literature and case studies, the paper explores the factors that contribute to effective communication in biotechnology research and the ways in which spoken English proficiency can impact collaboration. The paper also considers the different approaches and methods used in spoken English assessment, including traditional testing methods and performance-based assessment, as well as the advantages and limitations of these approaches. The study uses a mixed-methods research design, including surveys and interviews, to collect and analyze data on the experiences and perceptions of biotechnology researchers on the role of spoken English proficiency in collaboration. The findings suggest that effective communication in biotechnology research requires not only language proficiency but also intercultural competence and soft skills. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the study for biotechnology education and research collaboration, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive and inclusive approach to spoken English assessment that considers both linguistic and non-linguistic factors.
Personalización de un proceso de diagnóstico y retroalimentación para el desarrollo de competencias en álgebra intermedia
Authors: Azcorra Novelo Viviana Guadalupe , Gallardo Córdova Katherina Edith
Published: February 2023

Although there is a long way to go in terms of the application of Personalised Learning and Adaptive Learning in higher education, it has been found that the delivery of personalised trajectories remains an area of opportunity for both institutions and educators. The focus of the present study was on the enrichment of personal learning environments. That is, how a diagnostic test, with an adaptive approach, contributes to the determination of personalised learning trajectories, applied for the purpose of teaching and learning algebra in undergraduate studies. An exploratory case study was chosen, with the participation of three teachers with experience in algebra at a higher level and ten students enrolled in the intermediate algebra course at a higher education institution in southeastern Mexico. To give voice to each participant, a semi-structured interview was applied after the implementation of the test. And the MOODLE Lesson tool was used for the application of the diagnostic instrument. The results indicate that the diagnostic test made it possible to measure the student's knowledge and level of performance, thus helping to identify prior knowledge in a timelier manner and, with this, to refine or improve personalised instruction.

A pesar de que existe un camino recorrido en términos de la aplicación del Aprendizaje Personalizado y el Aprendizaje Adaptativo en educación superior, se ha detectado que la entrega de las trayectorias personalizadas sigue siendo un área de oportunidad tanto para las instituciones como para los educadores. El objetivo del presente estudio fue en función del enriquecimiento de los entornos personales de aprendizaje. Es decir, cómo una prueba diagnóstica, con enfoque adaptativo, contribuye a la determinación de trayectorias de aprendizaje personalizadas, aplicado para fines de la enseñanza y aprendizaje del álgebra en estudios de pregrado. Se optó por un estudio de casos de tipo exploratorio y participaron tres profesores con experiencia en álgebra a nivel superior y diez estudiantes inscritos en el curso de álgebra intermedia de una institución de educación superior del sureste de México. Para dar voz a cada participante, se aplicó una entrevista semiestructurada después de la implementación de la prueba. Y se usó la herramienta Lección de Moodle para la aplicación del instrumento diagnóstico. Los resultados permiten indicar que la prueba diagnóstica permitió medir los conocimientos del estudiante y el nivel de desempeño en el que se encuentran, contribuyendo así a que la identificación de conocimientos previos sea más puntual y, con ello, precisar o mejorar la instrucción personalizada.
El trabajo colaborativo en los EDIT, explorando el aprendizaje inmersivo en el metaverso
Authors: Valdés Godínes Juan Carlos , Angel Rueda Christian Jonathan
Published: February 2023

This paper is based on the exploratory research carried out in a metaverse created specifically to teach the subject "Fundamentals of Design", which has allowed us to observe and record the characteristics and manifestations of the immersive form of the teaching-learning process with university level students; in the specific case of this document, we address the collaborative aspect of immersive learning, which is not its only characteristic, but we believe it is important to reflect and share this topic with the academic community, with the idea of demystifying the idea that learning mediated by digital technologies is a solitary process, which fosters a dehumanizing isolation; on the contrary, the main idea presented here is that immersive learning, generated in the digital technology called metaverse, has collaborative characteristics built through dynamics mediated by avataric representations interesting to explore, in order to raise its educational possibilities.

El presente trabajo tiene como base la investigación exploratoria realizada en un metaverso creado exprofeso para impartir la materia “Fundamentos del diseño” que ha permitido observar y registrar las características y manifestaciones del proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje en ambientes inmersivos con alumnos de nivel universitario; en el caso específico de este documento, se aborda el tema del aspecto colaborativo como característica del aprendizaje en este tipo de ambientes, que no es su única característica, pero creemos importante reflexionar y compartir con la comunidad académica la temática, con la idea de desmitificar el planteamiento de que el aprendizaje mediado por tecnologías digitales es un proceso en solitario, que fomenta un aislamiento deshumanizante; por el contrario, la idea principal que aquí se expone es que el aprendizaje inmersivo, generado en la tecnología digital llamada metaverso, posee características colaborativas construidas mediante dinámicas mediadas por representaciones avataricas interesantes de explorar, para así poder plantear sus posibilidades educativas.