Survey Used (survey + used)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


122 Local to Coastal-Scale Macrophyte Community Structure: Surprizing Patterns and Possible Mechanisms

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 2003
B. A. Menge
Understanding large-scale patterns in ecological communities is a central goal of ecology, and yet, rigorous quantitative geographic data on distribution, abundance and diversity are almost totally lacking. Even in rocky intertidal habitats, our data on community structure are spatially and temporally limited, with most surveys limited to a few sites over short time periods. When linked to studies of community dynamics on similar scales, such studies should provide insights into the determinants of pattern at more relevant scales. In 1999 PISCO, the Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans, initiated survey programs aimed at determining patterns of community structure along the US west coast from Washington to Baja California. Sites are regularly spaced along the coast in a nested design, and were physically similar. Surveys used randomly placed quadrats in transects run parallel to shore in high, mid and low zones. Results show that, contrary to expectation, macroalgal diversity along the northern coast was higher, not lower than that along the southern coast. Possible factors associated with this unexpected pattern include along-coast variation in tidal amplitude, time of tide, thermal stress, upwelling intensity and resulting nutrient gradients, disturbance from storms or sand burial, and grazing. We review evidence relevant to these factors, and focus on the possible role of grazing, using field experiments done under differing oceanographic conditions along the Oregon coast as a model. Although short-term grazing rates can vary with oceanographic condition, we hypothesize that despite these results and those of many similar studies showing strong grazing effects on local spatial and short time scales, that bottom-up factors are stronger determinants of macroalgal community structure on larger spatial scales and longer time scales. [source]


Modelling the hydraulic preferences of benthic macroinvertebrates in small European streams

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 1 2007
SYLVAIN DOLÉDEC
Summary 1. Relating processes occurring at a local scale to the natural variability of ecosystems at a larger scale requires the design of predictive models both to orientate stream management and to predict the effects of larger scale disturbances such as climate changes. Our study contributes to this effort by providing detailed models of the hydraulic preferences of 151 invertebrate taxa, mostly identified at the species level. We used an extensive data set comprising 580 invertebrate samples collected using a Surber net from nine sites of second and third order streams during one, two or three surveys at each site. We used nested non-linear mixed models to relate taxon local densities to bed shear stresses estimated from FliesswasserStammTisch hemisphere numbers. 2. An average model by taxon, i.e. independent from surveys, globally explained 25% of the density variations of taxa within surveys. A quadratic relationship existed between the average preferences and the niche breadth of taxa, indicating that taxa preferring extreme hemisphere numbers had a reduced hydraulic niche breadth. A more complete model, where taxa preferences vary across surveys, globally explained 38% of the variation of taxa densities within surveys. Variations in preferences across surveys were weak for taxa preferring extreme hemisphere numbers. 3. There was a significant taxonomic effect on preferences computed from the complete model. By contrast, season, site, average hemisphere number within a survey and average density of taxa within a survey used as covariates did not consistently explain shifts in taxon hydraulic preferences across surveys. 4. The average hydraulic preferences of taxa obtained from the extensive data set were well correlated to those obtained from two additional independent data sets collected in other regions. The consistency of taxon preferences across regions supports the use of regional preference curves for estimating the impact of river management on invertebrate communities. By contrast, the hydraulic niche breadths of taxa computed from the different data sets were not related. [source]


An educational evaluation of supervisor and mentor experiences when supporting Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Workers

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 5 2009
N. HARRISON ma pgdip cogth pgdip pc couns pgdip ed ba(hons) dpsn rgn rmn
This paper reports on the findings of a postal survey used to enhance understanding into the backgrounds, experiences and support offered to supervisors and mentors of Primary Care Graduate Mental Health Workers (PCGMHWs). A postal questionnaire was sent to the total population of supervisors and mentors who had supported PCGMHW students from three universities in the Northwest of England, during the period of their introduction 2004,2006. Most supervisors and mentors had previous experience of supervision and mentorship with other types of students but not PCGMHWs. Data suggest that there were difficulties due limited understanding of the role of PCGMHWs and how it was to be operationalized. Respondents reported staff shortages, time constraints and competing commitments, which limited support available to students. The lack of organizational readiness and infrastructure to support the role was widely reported. However, the role has developed and is generally well received. The implications for future development of the PCGMHW and the preparation and support of supervisors and mentors are discussed. [source]


Comprehensive measurement of maternal satisfaction: The modified Mason Survey

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NURSING PRACTICE, Issue 3 2002
Maree Johnson RN
A three-stage process was undertaken to identify and modify a tool that was capable of measuring the many aspects of maternal satisfaction relevant to Australian women. First, the scope of maternal satisfaction to be measured was defined by summarizing available literature and surveys purporting to measure maternal satisfaction (including surveys used in maternity services in New South Wales). The multidimensional nature of maternal satisfaction was confirmed, with 16 core aspects (common to the literature and local surveys) and nine additional unique aspects of maternal satisfaction being identified. Second, these core and additional aspects were used to examine the comprehensiveness of the Mason Survey, a survey recommended by the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia for use in maternity services. Eighty-eight per cent of the core and additional aspects (22/25) were found to be present in the Mason Survey. Third, an expert panel further modified the Mason Survey by removing items not applicable to the Australian context. The modified Mason Survey is a comprehensive measure of maternal satisfaction suitable for Australian women and capable of providing valuable information on the quality of services and future planning for maternity services. [source]