bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Role of isolation and habitat quality in shaping species abundance: a test with badgers (Meles meles L.) in a gradient of forest fragmentation
Authors: Virgós Emilio 
Published: March 2003

AimThis paper describes badger (Meles meles L. 1758) abundance in remnant forests of the two Iberian plateaux. The relative role of factors related to habitat quality and to isolation were tested in order to explain variations in badger abundance according to forest‐scrubland cover at the landscape scale. It was predicted that isolation would be more important where there is less forest cover (greater fragmentation), while habitat quality would predominate in areas where forest cover is greater (less fragmentation).LocationThirty‐six forests (> 90 ha) were sampled, 16 in the North and 20 in the South plateau. Twelve forests were sampled in each one of the following categories of regional forest‐scrubland cover in the landscape (10 × 10 km): < 20%, 20–30%, > 30%.MethodsIn each forest, 4‐km transects were followed to look for badger setts. The number of badger setts km–1 was used as a surrogate of badger abundance. The transects were divided into 250 m segments in which a series of environmental variables related to habitat quality were estimated. Moreover, for each forest patch three variables related to isolation on a landscape or regional scale were measured on forest maps (1 : 400,000): the distance to riparian woodland, distance to the mountains of Central Spain and distance to other large forests on the plateau (> 10,000 ha). The prediction through Pearson correlations was tested and forward stepwise multiple regressions performed with the different subsets of data (different forest‐scrubland categories).ResultsThe results support the established prediction, in areas with under 20% forest cover, that isolation was the best predictor of badger abundance in forest fragments, while in areas with over 20% cover, the most important predictors were those associated with intraforest habitat quality (shrub cover and rock cover).Main conclusionsData for badger abundance in fragmented forests indicate that factors determining species distribution and numbers in heterogeneous environments are highly dependent on landscape pattern. Isolation is the main factor explaining distribution in highly fragmented situations in which the pattern can be explained through metapopulation models. However, in less fragmented situations, distribution models are more easily described in terms of habitat suitability (niche models).
Historical biogeography of Indo‐western Pacific coral reef biota: is the Indonesian region a centre of origin?
Authors: Santini Francesco , Winterbottom Richard 
Published: March 2003

AimTo apply the modern theory of vicariant biogeography to the study of evolution of the coral reef fauna in the Indo‐western Pacific region.LocationIndian and western Pacific Oceans.MethodsUse of taxa ladograms and Brooks Parsimony Analysis to reconstruct relationships between geographical areas.ResultsThe analysis seems to indicate that the Indonesian region, long stated to be a `centre of origin' for most of the Indo‐West Pacific marine fauna, is a very derived area in the general area cladogram; and that most of the lineages may have originated in the western Indian Ocean, Australia, or the South‐western Pacific (probably from lineages that had remained isolated after the breakup of the Gondwanan supercontinent, or because of the movement of island arcs). A series of events that fragmented an originally widespread biota seems to be highly congruent with geological events that caused the break up of Gondwanaland.Main conclusionsContrary to several previous claims, based mostly on descriptive, rather than analytical, studies, most lineages of coral reef fauna inhabiting the Indo‐western Pacific region probably originated through vicariant events associated with, and following the break up of Gondwana. A general pattern of biotic distribution that is highly congruent with geological data shows that even if long range dispersal and sympatric speciation may in some cases have taken place, they have not probably been the predominant mechanism of speciation in the clades examined.
Biogeography of spiders on remote oceanic islands of the Pacific: archipelagoes as stepping stones?
Authors: Gillespie Rosemary G. 
Published: March 2003

AimThe composition of species in any given island community may directly reflect the processes of immigration such that species on a more remote island comprise a nested subset of those on the nearest less remote land mass. Alternatively, new species can arise on islands by less frequent colonization but subsequent evolutionary differentiation. In the current study the species composition of spiders is examined in native communities on three remote oceanic archipelagoes to test hypotheses concerning the relative importance for species accumulation of (i) immigration from the nearest land mass, vs. (ii)in situspeciation.LocationThe study focuses on three volcanic hot‐spot archipelagoes in the Pacific: the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Society Islands.MethodsTetragnathaspiders were collected from the three remote Pacific archipelagoes as well as Australasia and America. Sequences of mitochondrial DNA (Cytochrome Oxidase I and 16S ribosomal DNA) were obtained from the spiders and a phylogenetic approach was used to examine relatedness among island endemic lineages of spiders, as well as associations between species on different archipelagoes with continental congeners.ResultsWithin archipelagoes, species groups are largely monophyletic. When species groups are compared between archipelagoes, those on one archipelago are never the sister group to those on another archipelago. Rather, each archipelago has a mainland congener as its closest sister group.Main conclusionsFirst, colonization of the Hawaiian, Marquesas and Society archipelagoes byTetragnathaspiders appears to have occurred independently, most likely in each case from a continental source, but not from the nearest archipelago. Secondly,in situspeciation has occurred in the Marquesas and Society Islands in a similar manner to that in Hawaii, although apparently on a smaller scale.
Elevated genetic heterogeneity and Pleistocene climatic instability: inferences from nrDNA in New Zealand Coprosma (Rubiaceae)
Authors: Wichman Stephen R. , Wright Shane D. , Cameron Ewen K. , Keeling D. Jeannette , Gardner Richard C. 
Published: March 2003

AimTo examine patterns of hybridization and genotype mixing within the genus Coprosma J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Rubiaceae).LocationNew ZealandMethodsNucleotide sequence was determined for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and external transcribed spacer (ETS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA for fifty individuals from thirty‐six taxa within the New Zealand component of the genus Coprosma.ResultsMixed sequences were found to be widespread in Coprosma. Direct sequencing of ITS polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from seven polyploid taxa showed evidence of sequence mixtures. Cloning and sequencing of individual PCR products from two polyploids confirmed the presence of multiple templates, one of which corresponded to that of a diploid. Intra‐individual heterogeneity was also seen in a hybrid diploid taxon, with the mixed nucleotides corresponding to those of the parental lineages. Finally the ITS sequences of twenty‐two diploid taxa showed that eleven contained intra‐individual heterogeneity.ConclusionsWe conclude that the widespread occurrence of sequence mixtures in Coprosma results from of frequent hybridization. We also conclude that concerted evolution of the ITS and ETS regions is depressed. We propose that these characteristics evolved as a mechanism to maintain high levels of heterogeneity and suggest that this is adaptive for Coprosma in climatically unstable and physically complex New Zealand landscapes. These landscapes have been subjected to repeated oscillations between stadial and interstadial environments during the Pleistocene.
Changes in distribution of birches and birch‐feedingEriocraniamoths in St Petersburg, Russia, between 1986 and 2001
Authors: Kozlov Mikhail V. 
Published: March 2003

Aim and locationI aimed to assess changes in number and quality of suitable habitats, as well as in habitat occupancy byEriocranialeafminers (Lepidoptera, Eriocraniidae), which have occurred in central parts of the city of St Petersburg between 1986 and 2001.MethodsThe study compares results of 2000/2001 with the data of 1986 (published by Kozlov, M.V.,Zhurnal Obzsej Biologii (Moscow), 1988,49, 670;Journal of Biogeography, 1996,23, 95) and is based on (1) mapping of birch trees in two representative plots (20–25 ha) in downtown and on the periphery of the densely built city area, (2) survey of 133 isolated or semi‐isolated habitats that were found suitable forEriocraniain 1986, and (3) presence/absence records of birches (Betula pendulaandB. pubescens) andEriocraniaminers in Petrogradskaya area by using 160 × 160 m regular grid (same as in 1986; 379 cells).ResultsBoth number of habitats suitable forEriocraniaand number of birch trees in these habitats increased since 1986. Colonization of vacant habitats in the area of sporadic distribution in the years 2000/2001 exceeded the extinction rate by a factor of 4; probability of extinction was highest in low densityEriocraniapopulations associated with small habitat patches, like solitary birch trees in densely built areas. Proportion of the occupied habitat patches within the zone of sporadic distribution in 2000 (92.4%) was much higher than in 1986 (50.4%); thus the area of the lacuna in distribution range ofEriocraniaspecies, associated with the historical centre of St Petersburg, has decreased since 1986.Main conclusionThe data of 2000/2001 fit the prediction (Kozlov, 1996) thatEriocraniamoths are able to re‐colonize the city areas built before 1950s, where they have been extinct or almost extinct by the mid‐1980s.
Grasslands, heathlands and shrublands in coastal New England: historical interpretations and approaches to conservation
Authors: Motzkin Glenn , Foster David R. 
Published: March 2003

Abstract Aim  This study evaluates the long‐term history of grassland, heathland and shrubland communities that are high priorities for conservation in the north‐eastern US and support numerous globally rare species. Such an historical perspective is necessary in order to develop appropriate conservation and management approaches for these communities.Location  The study area encompasses the coastal region that extends from Cape Cod, MA to Long Island, NY, including the islands of Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and Block Island.Methods  In order to determine whether open‐land habitats occurred in the study region prior to European arrival in the seventeenth century and to assess changes to these communities through the historical period, a wide range of palaeoecological, archaeological, ethno‐historical, biological and field data were reviewed. Information about the history of human impacts on these communities was used to interpret landscape change over time and to evaluate current and potential conservation and management approaches.Results  The region was predominantly wooded prior to widespread Euro‐American land clearing beginning in the seventeenth century, with some areas of early successional habitats, primarily on exposed sites and near Native American settlements. Grasslands, heathlands and shrublands increased dramatically as a result of intensive and primarily agricultural disturbance through the historical period. The decline in recent decades of these communities results from extensive residential and commercial development, and from widespread abandonment of traditional agricultural practices, especially intensive grazing.Main conclusions  Despite considerable uncertainty as to the pre‐European distribution and abundance of species characteristic of grasslands, heathlands and shrublands, historical disturbances have been sufficiently widespread and severe that it is unlikely that modern species assemblages closely resemble those that occurred prior to European arrival. Management aimed at perpetuating early successional species assemblages on sites other than exposed, coastal locations may require use of traditional land‐use practices or appropriate substitutes of comparable intensity.
Seeing is believing — picture building: a key component of telephone triage
Authors: Edwards Bernie 
Published: March 2003

• This paper describes one part of a major study aimed at building a substantive theory of the triage process.• The paper reports on some early findings of a major component of the reasoning strategy utilized by nurses when making triage decisions via the telephone.• The study reveals that in telephone triage nurses compensate for the absence of face‐to‐face contact by creating a mental image of the caller and the situation being dealt with. This forms the basis of the nurses' assessment of the urgency of the problem.• The properties that contribute to this process of ‘visualization work’ are presented and the linkages with current thought in relation to clinical reasoning are explored.
Nursing assessment and diagnosis of respiratory distress in infants by children's nurses
Authors: ARMITAGE GERRY 
Published: March 2003

• Many children's nurses have significant contact with children who have breathing difficulties and should be using systematic criteria to assess their nursing needs.• Children's nurses do not appear to follow systematic criteria but are strongly influenced by the medical model and this may be detrimental to holistic assessment and the development of nursing diagnoses based on nursing needs.• As nursing, along with other disciplines, develops evidence‐based practice, childern's nurses should develop evidence for best practice mindful of children's views, parental needs and the education of future practitioners.
A multicentre comparative evaluation: washable pants with an integral pad for light incontinence
Authors: CLARKE‐O'NEILL SINEAD , PETTERSSON LENA , FADER MANDY , DEAN GRAHAM , BROOKS RODNEY , COTTENDEN ALAN 
Published: March 2003

• The Continence Product Evaluation Network (CPE network) is funded by the Medical Devices Agency (MDA) of the Department of Health, to undertake comparative evaluations of continence products.• There are a wide variety of continence products on the UK market and very little information is available to aid product selection. The aim of this study was to evaluate washable pants with integral pads for women with light incontinence.• A randomized multiple cross‐over design was used. Seventy‐two women tested each of the 10 products that were available on the UK market at the time of the evaluation. Both subjective and objective outcome measures were used to evaluate the products.• Products performed similarly in terms of leakage but there were statistically significant differences in other performance aspects, e.g. fit and discreteness.• This study should be valuable in enabling purchasers, carers and users to make informed decisions when purchasing products.
Barriers that delay children and young people who are dependent on mechanical ventilators from being discharged from hospital
Authors: NOYES JANE 
Published: March 2003

• A qualitative study of user perspectives published previously by the author found that children and young people who are dependent on ventilators spend many months and in some cases years in hospital when they no longer had a medical need or wanted to be there.• This second paper is drawn from the same qualitative study and reports on the barriers that the children and young people who are dependent on ventilators, and their parents, described as important factors in preventing their discharge from hospital.• Six issues were identified as significant barriers that prevented the children and young people from being discharged. These were: the attitudes of professionals; the lack of joint commissioning and accounting responsibility; general poor management both within the health service and in collaborating with other services; complex social issues; housing problems; and a general lack of auditing and outcome measures.• The generalizability of the findings is unknown. However, recommendations are made in relation to the need to establish joint commissioning and accounting responsibility for care and services, and to establish outcome measures to monitor the effectiveness and appropriateness of the care and services provided.
An action research project to evaluate the clinical practice facilitator role for junior nurses in an acute hospital setting
Authors: KELLY DANIEL , SIMPSON SUSAN , BROWN PAULINE 
Published: March 2003

• It has been well documented that newly qualified nurses require support in developing confidence and professional competence. Although preceptorship models have gone some way in addressing this need, innovative and flexible models of facilitation and development are also required to respond to local demands.• In the project reported here a number of supernumerary clinical practice facilitators (CPFs) were appointed to support both healthcare assistants and newly qualified registered nurses to enhance their competence and clinical skills. It was anticipated that they might also encourage awareness of other professional issues, such as evidence‐based practice, as well as having a positive influence on the clinical learning environment and staff morale.• This article describes how an action research approach was used to establish the CPF role in a variety of clinical areas across a large inner‐city National Health Service Trust. It outlines the evaluation undertaken and the further contribution that such roles could provide.
The relationship of perceived control to outcomes in older women undergoing surgery for fractured neck of femur
Authors: Shaw Chris , Mccoll Elaine , Bond Senga 
Published: March 2003

Summary• This paper examines the relationship between internal locus of control and recovery from surgery for fractured neck of femur in women over the age of 65 years, in order to inform strategies for nursing care.• Structured interviews were carried out at 5 and 30 days postsurgery with 112 women (mean age 78.6 years) in five general hospitals in the North of England.• Locus of control was assessed as a factor associated with the outcomes of physical disability (measured as dependence in activities of daily living) and psychological distress (measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale).• Internal locus of control was significantly related to less physical disability, but no association was found between locus of control and depression and anxiety at 30 days postsurgery when age, 5‐day measures and other 30‐day outcome measures were controlled.• The findings suggest that nursing interventions that enhance perceived internal control by patients during rehabilitation may result in better physical outcomes. Further work is required to explore the relationship of control to psychological outcomes.
Using cost‐effectiveness analysis to compare Hospital at Home and in‐patient interventions. Part 1
Authors: Jester Rebecca , Hicks Carolyn 
Published: March 2003

Summary• An economic analysis was conducted as an integral part of a comparison of the effectiveness and suitability of Hospital at Home (HaH) and in‐patient interventions. The sample comprised of 109 adult primary total joint replacement patients and 21 of their coresident informal carers.• The paper is presented in two parts. Part 1 includes the background and rationale for the study and the findings from the comparison of the effectiveness of the two interventions using multiple data collection sources.• Data were collected using questionnaires, audit and semi‐structured interviews.• Hospital at Home was found to be significantly more effective in terms of patient satisfaction and reduced joint stiffness and as least as effective as in‐patient care in relation to levels of joint pain, joint disability and incidence of postoperative complications. In addition informal carers reported 107 positive comments compared with 36 negative comments related to HaH care and all except one of the 21 carers would choose HaH again in preference to in‐patient care.
The ecological significance of canopy seed storage in fire‐prone environments: a model for resprouting shrubs
Authors: Enright Neal J. , Marsula Ralf , Lamont Byron B. , Wissel Christian 
Published: March 2003

1 Based on a parameter set describing mean life‐history attributes for the resprouting shrub Banksia attenuata in south‐western Australia, the relationship between fire interval and extent of canopy seed storage (serotiny) was analysed. Deterministic and stochastic computer models were used to try to identify the circumstances under which serotiny is favoured, and what degree of serotiny maximizes the estimated finite rate of natural increase (λ) for species which, in addition to serotiny, have the capacity to resprout vegetatively. 2 The deterministic model indicated a maximum finite rate of natural increase (λ = 1.015) when the fire interval was 13 years and all seeds were retained on the plant until fire occurred (i.e. complete serotiny). Populations were predicted to decline if the fire interval exceeded about 40 years. 3 Changes to biological attributes associated with timing of reproduction shifted the optimum fire interval but did not change the overall pattern in relation to serotiny. Reduction in the probability of adults resprouting after fire also shifted the optimum, so that as probability of resprouting declined, optimum fire interval increased. 4 Increasing stochasticity around the mean fire interval (CV > 50%) under regimes of frequent fire (fire interval <20 years) led to strong, but not complete, serotiny as the optimum strategy (λ = 1.009 ± 0.001). If fire was less frequent, and the probability of inter‐fire recruitment was similar to that of post‐fire recruitment, then the optimum strategy was zero serotiny. 5 The probability of seedling recruitment was low after most fires due to low seed availability and high seedling mortality over the first summer. Stochastic weather (variation in summer rainfall) resulted in a higher rate of population growth (λ = 1.019) than under constant average weather conditions, emphasizing the importance of rare recruitment events in the population behaviour of resprouting species. 6 Resprouters were able to cope with more frequent fire than non‐sprouters, but there was no evidence to support the contention that they are also favoured under regimes of infrequent fire.