Edith Cowan University

About: Edith Cowan University is a education organization based out in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Tourism. The organization has 4040 authors who have published 13529 publications receiving 339582 citations. The organization is also known as: Edith Cowan & ECU.

Human threats to sandy beaches: a meta-analysis of ghost crabs illustrates global anthropogenic impacts

Abstract: Beach and coastal dune systems are increasingly subjected to a broad range of anthropogenic pressures that on many shorelines require significant conservation and mitigation interventions. But these interventions require reliable data on the severity and frequency of adverse ecological impacts. Such evidence is often obtained by measuring the response of 'indicator species'.Ghost crabs are the largest invertebrates inhabiting tropical and subtropical sandy shores and are frequently used to assess human impacts on ocean beaches. Here we present the first global meta-analysis of these impacts, and analyse the design properties and metrics of studies using ghost-crabs in their assessment. This was complemented by a gap analysis to identify thematic areas of anthropogenic pressures on sandy beach ecosystems that are under-represented in the published literature.Our meta-analysis demonstrates a broad geographic reach, encompassing studies on shores of the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans, as well as the South China Sea. It also reveals what are, arguably, two major limitations: i) the near-universal use of proxies (i.e. burrow counts to estimate abundance) at the cost of directly measuring biological traits and bio-markers in the organism itself; and ii) descriptive or correlative study designs that rarely extend beyond a simple 'compare and contrast approach', and hence fail to identify the mechanistic cause(s) of observed contrasts.Evidence for a historically narrow range of assessed pressures (i.e., chiefly urbanisation, vehicles, beach nourishment, and recreation) is juxtaposed with rich opportunities for the broader integration of ghost crabs as a model taxon in studies of disturbance and impact assessments on ocean beaches. Tangible advances will most likely occur where ghost crabs provide foci for experiments that test specific hypotheses associated with effects of chemical, light and acoustic pollution, as well as the consequences of climate change (e.g. species range shifts).

Seeing the invisible hand: Underlying effects of COVID-19 on tourists’ behavioral patterns

Abstract: Given growing attention toward the effects on COVID-19 on tourism, a number of institutions have made macro-level predictions related to the disease. More micro-level research are, however, needed. This study seeks to advance the understanding of tourists' potential behavioral transformation by reviewing psychological distance and construal level theory, as well as the relationship between psychological distance and perceived risk. Multiple dimensions of psychological distance and perceived risk are summarized with respect to COVID-19. The discussion suggests that global health emergencies evoke three types of tourism pattern: from general to elaborate, from open-hearted to closed, and from radical to conservative. These categories provide a conceptual foundation for empirical research considering contextual and individual stimuli. Practically, this paper highlights strategies to reduce individuals’ risk perceptions, encourage specific types of tourism, and regulate unethical consumption. The recommendations also encourage the analysis of crisis recovery and relevant market analysis by tourism professionals and marketers.

Neuromuscular adaptations associated with knee joint angle-specific force change.

Abstract: PurposeNeuromuscular adaptations to joint angle-specific force increases after isometric training have not yet been fully elucidated. This study examined angle-specific neuromuscular adaptations in response to isometric knee extension training at short (SL, joint angle 38.1° ± 3.7°) versus l

Psychological Sense of Community: Theory,Research and Application.

Abstract: The idea that we belong to communities and that these communities provide benefits and responsibilities is one that has gained a growing appreciation in the last decade. As a reaction to the urbanization faced by many people, globalization, cross-national forms of media and their impact on cultures, physical and social isolation from family and friends, and a growing fear of change and the unknown, images of community, belonging and support have become paramount. However, what is actually meant by community, how a community functions, and what are the benefits and costs of community membership has not necessarily been well explored.

Muscle damage responses of the elbow flexors to four maximal eccentric exercise bouts performed every 4 weeks

Abstract: Since little is known about the repeated bout effect of more than two eccentric exercise bouts, this study compared muscle damage responses among four exercise bouts. Fifteen young (21.8 ± 1.9 years) men performed four bouts of 30 maximal isokinetic eccentric contractions of the elbow flexors every 4 weeks. Maximal voluntary elbow flexion isometric and concentric strength, range of motion at the elbow joint (ROM), upper arm circumference, blood markers of muscle damage, and muscle soreness were measured before and up to 120 h following each bout. Changes in all measures following the second to fourth bouts were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than those after the first bout. The decreases in strength and ROM immediately after the fourth bout were significantly (P < 0.05) smaller than other bouts. It is concluded that the first bout confers the greatest adaptation, but further adaptation is induced when the exercise is repeated more than three times.