Psychological perspectives of ecosystem health

Behavior-based and person-based perspectives are integrated to summarize approaches for dealing with the human element of ecosystem health. Behavior is selected by its consequences, and therefore interventions are needed to decrease the natural reinforcing consequences (e.g., convenience, efficiency) of environment-destructive behaviors and to increase the reinforcing consequences of environment-protective behaviors. An ABC Model (for Activator-Behavior-Consequence) can be applied effectively to design intervention programs for benefiting the human behavior aspects of ecosystem health. However, intervention agents are needed to implement positive behavior-change techniques, and this requires people to actively care enough to emit other-directed (or altruistic) behaviors for the health of the ecosystem. Person factors which influence one's propensity to actively care include: self-esteem, belongingness, and empowerment, influenced by perceptions of self-efficacy (I can do it), personal control (I am in control), and optimism (I expect the best). Strategies are reviewed for increasing these person states or expectancies. The health of our ecosystem depends upon people changing their behaviors and attitudes regarding the environment. Behavior-based psychology offers the technology for changing behaviors and attitudes in desirable directions; person-based psychology offers the states or expectancies needed in people to increase their willingness to actively care for the environment. By applying the theory and principles from these subdisciplines of applied psychology, the critical human element of our ecosystem can be accounted for and managed effectively.     

Effect of stocking density on the behavior of newly transformed juvenile Macrobrachium rosenbergii

This study characterized the behavioral activity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in the early stages of development, under different stocking densities (25 and 40 animals/m²), and during the light and dark phases of a 24-h cycle. Observations of individuals were made in 8 aquariums. Behavioral recording lasted 15 min/aquarium, 4 times/day and 4 days/week, 4 weeks in total. Food was offered twice daily. Observational methods included a combination of behavioral sampling and scan sampling. During the light phase, inactivity, cleaning and remaining in a shelter were the most frequent behaviors. During the dark phase the subjects displayed a higher frequency of feeding, exploration, swimming, and digging. At low density, the animals gained more weight and exhibited greater growth overall. These results indicate a behavioral pattern that is more favorable to animals in the lower density cultivation environment that can also create better living conditions for these shrimp, favor survival rates and therefore improve management success.     

Responses of ant communities to experimental fire regimes on rangelands in the Victoria River District of the Northern Territory

Abstract Fire is a significant feature of Australia's savannas. Its use is being encouraged for cattle rangeland management, but there is little knowledge of the ecological effects of prescribed fire regimes on native biodiversity. The responses of ant communities to five experimental fire regimes over 2 years are reported from the Victoria River District in the semi‐arid tropics of northern Australia. The experiment was stratified at two levels: soil type (red and black) and fire treatment (unburnt; burnt twice in successive years in early (May) or late (October) dry season and unburnt thereafter; and burnt twice, 3 years apart, in early or late dry season). Ants were sampled twice in April, corresponding with the end of the 1997 and 1998 wet seasons. Ant species richness was not responsive to fire treatment, but reduced with time since fire on black soil. Total ant abundance also reduced with time since fire on the black soil, with significant different abundances in burnt versus unburnt plots in the 1998 sample. Soil type and sampling time had the greatest influence on ant community composition in multivariate analysis than did fire regime, although there were moderate gradients of time since fire with the black soil plots. The abundance of 19 species were significantly different between fire regimes in anova , 13 on red soil and six on black soil. The abundance of eight species (four each on red and black soil) changed significantly with time since fire, with seven promoted by burning. Ant functional group profiles changed little with fire. Total ant abundance and richness had significant relationships with key pasture species and vegetative variables. The responses of ants largely recapitulated those of plants, birds and reptiles on the same plots. It is envisaged that ants will have an important role to play in the sustainable management of Australia's rangelands aiding the off‐reserve conservation of biodiversity.     

迁地麋鹿对野鸭湖植被的保护性生物控制

利用食草动物来管理自然保护地的植被平衡具有很大的应用潜力,一方面可提升动物的生态价值,另一方面通过控制取食规模,改变植被的生物多样性,达到对自然保护地生态平衡管理的目的。基于此于2021年6月5日引入4头麋鹿(2雄2雌),对野鸭湖自然保护区的“芦苇优势群落”采取保护性的生物控制研究,从项目的实施来看：1)单纯收割不能控制芦苇的生长扩张;对芦苇区系植物多样性的影响有限,未改变芦苇区系结构;2)麋鹿引入该区域后,通过取食、游泳、躺卧和踩踏等活动有效控制了芦苇和香蒲的过度扩张;1年后芦苇和香蒲面积下降了21.96%,为三棱水葱、水蓼等提供了生长空间,逐渐形成了仍以芦苇和香蒲为主且更多样的湿地环境;3)增加滩涂和开阔水面等景观,使多样性指数进一步提升,未改变周边区系湿地生态结构;4)麋鹿迁入可降低野鸭湖“脆弱物种”芦苇区系的丰富度,由引入前的(r=3.67)下降到引入后的(r=1.97);麋鹿迁入提升了野鸭湖植被区系物种多样性,芦苇区系的多样性指数由引进前的(r=0.90)上升到引进后的(r=2.11);麋鹿引入的第一年结果显示,整个引入区域的植被多样性指数由r=0.51上升到r=0.91。麋...     

Addressing the conflict between partner notification and patient confidentiality in serodiscordant relationships: How can Ubuntu help?

This study evaluates the conflict between patient confidentiality and partner notification in sero‐discordant relationships, and argues the thesis that based on a theoretical formulation of Ubuntu, a health provider is obliged to facilitate friendly relationships in which individuals are true subjects and/or objects of communal friendship. In serodiscordant relationships, the health professional can fulfil this obligation by notifying “others” (particularly a partner with whom an HIV positive patient has a “present” and “actual relationship”) of their spouse's HIV seroconversion, since without such relevant information a partner (subject) of an HIV positive patient cannot “appropriately” care for the patient's condition (object). There is a need to move away from the medical traditional emphasis that has for so long put primacy on doctor‐patient confidentiality as is the case with the Health Professions Council of South Africa Guidelines (Booklet 12) which favours patient confidentiality over partner notification. Given empirical evidence to support effectiveness of partner notification amongst sero‐discordant couples, there is thus, a need to focus emphasis on latter. This shift is necessary for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development of Goal of ending HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030. I proposed in this study that African ethics, specifically Ubuntu, will do a better job than current ethical frameworks at ensuring that partner notification receives more emphasis in the care of serodiscordant couples. If this framework is integrated into ethical guidelines and codes, it would significantly enhance the care of serodiscordant couples, as well as further boost global effort at ending HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030.     

Responses to Comments and Closer to a Definition of Applied Psychophysiology

This paper responds to the nine response papers to the initial paper in this series. This paper also presents a revised working definition of applied psychophysiology which is in concert with many of the responses.     

基于应用能力培养的微生物学教学内容优化

微生物学作为生物学科的重要组成部分,是诸多专业的专业基础课程,在不同层次、不同类型、不同专业的高校,其教学基本遵循相同或相似的注重课程理论体系的经典教学模式,该模式不利于普通地方院校本科生应用能力的培养。为此,笔者根据微生物学科研项目思路的构建程序和微生物学实际应用的关键操作技术,以实验项目选择和实验项目顺序调整为突破口,优化微生物学理论和实验教学内容,使两者相辅相成融为一体,以充分发挥专业基础课程在培养学生应用能力方面的作用。     

The Heritability Theory of Heterosis and Its Meaning for Global Agriculture

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Building strong relationships between conservation genetics and primary industry leads to mutually beneficial genomic advances

Several reviews in the past decade have heralded the benefits of embracing high‐throughput sequencing technologies to inform conservation policy and the management of threatened species, but few have offered practical advice on how to expedite the transition from conservation genetics to conservation genomics. Here, we argue that an effective and efficient way to navigate this transition is to capitalize on emerging synergies between conservation genetics and primary industry (e.g., agriculture, fisheries, forestry and horticulture). Here, we demonstrate how building strong relationships between conservation geneticists and primary industry scientists is leading to mutually‐beneficial outcomes for both disciplines. Based on our collective experience as collaborative New Zealand‐based scientists, we also provide insight for forging these cross‐sector relationships.