Showing papers by "The Lodge published in 2008"

How will oil palm expansion affect biodiversity

Abstract: Oil palm is one of the world's most rapidly increasing crops. We assess its contribution to tropical deforestation and review its biodiversity value. Oil palm has replaced large areas of forest in Southeast Asia, but land-cover change statistics alone do not allow an assessment of where it has driven forest clearance and where it has simply followed it. Oil palm plantations support much fewer species than do forests and often also fewer than other tree crops. Further negative impacts include habitat fragmentation and pollution, including greenhouse gas emissions. With rising demand for vegetable oils and biofuels, and strong overlap between areas suitable for oil palm and those of most importance for biodiversity, substantial biodiversity losses will only be averted if future oil palm expansion is managed to avoid deforestation.

The autumn migration of soaring birds at the bosphorus

Abstract: Summary The migration of soaring birds was observed at Kucuk Camlica at the southern end of the Bosphorus between 14 July and 8 November 1966. Simultaneous watches were also carried out at other points on the Bosphorus on a number of dates. The largest movements of birds of prey occurred on days of light northeasterly winds, the largest movements of storks on days of light winds with a southerly component. On most days the stream of migrants appeared to be concentrated over the southern end of the Bosphorus. Migration frequently occurred right throughout the day, though the peak period was usually not spread over more than three hours. Figures are given for the daily times of migration of the commonest soaring birds. Daily counts of soaring birds (storks, raptors and Cranes) migrating over the Bosphorus at Kucuk Camlica are given. The main species found migrating were (with total number recorded in brackets) White Stork Ciconia ciconia (207,145), Black Stork C. nigra (6,194), Honey Buzzard Pernis upivorus (8,997), Buzzard Buteo buteo (12,949), “Spotted” Eagle Aquila clanga/pomarina (4,309) and sparrowhawk Accipiter nisus/brevipes (5,224). The autumn migration of 1966 is discussed in detail in a systematic list. Buzzards B. buteo were recorded in large numbers for the first time at the Bosphorus, and were the commonest bird of prey. Cranes Grus grus were also recorded for the first time. Comparison is made between our results and those of previous workers, though differences of coverage rule out any firm conclusions.

The breeding ecology and diet of the Hobby Falco subbuteo in southern England

Abstract: Brecding densities, nest spacing, breeding habitat, productivity and diet are compared for Hobbies Falco subbuteo in the New Forest (heathland and largely coniferous woodland), river valley farmland and largely cultivated chalk downland. Regular spacing of nests was characteristic of the three areas. The New Forest had the highest density and lowest mean nearest neighbour distance for nests. Nest areas tended to be traditional. A high proportion of clutches were laid in disused nests of Carrion Crows Corvus corone which favoured the crowns of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris. Except on downland, the availability of such sites is unlikely to provide a constraint on Hobby distribution. In the New Forest, woodland clearings and valley mires were a feature of nest territories. There was no evidence of a habitat-related difference in fledging success. Division of labour between sexes is marked. The male is responsible for provisioning the female throughout most of the breeding season as well as the young. During the incubation period many woodland passerines were taken but when feeding nestlings Hobbies tended to specialize on Swallows Hirundo rustica, House Martins Delichon urbica and, where they had access to more urban areas, Swifts Apus apus. By breeding relatively late, Hobbies take advantage of the availability of the juveniles of such prey on which to feed their young. Large insects supplemented the diet before egg-laying and when the Hedged young were learning to hunt.

The breeding biology and causes of nest failure of Scottish Black-throated Divers Gavia arctica

Abstract: The breeding biology and causes of nest failure were examined for Black-throated Divers Gavia arctica in core areas of their Scottish breeding range in 1983–1987. Breeding was confirmed for up to 88% of territorial pairs each year (n= 28–62), and 76% of nests were on islands. Hatching success was consistently low with, on average, only 43% of territorial pairs managing to hatch a clutch each year; 64% of recorded nest failures occurred during the first week of the 4-week incubation period. Overall breeding success in West Sutherland in 1984–1987 averaged 0.23 chicks per territorial pair per year, while in Ross-shire for 1986–1987 it was 0.29. Forty percent of hatched chicks survived to fledge, and 92% of recorded deaths occurred in the first fortnight after hatching; 4.8% of fledged broods held two chicks. Causes of nest failure were assessed with the aid of surveillance cameras. Approximately 30% of losses were due to water level changes (mostly floods), 48% to predators (primarily nocturnal mammals, but also Hooded Crows Corvus corone), 13% to human egg collectors and 5% to desertion following human disturbance. Scottish Black-throated Divers produce only half the number of chicks tentatively estimated to be required to maintain a stable population. The main difference between the Scottish and more successful Swedish populations is in the degree of chick mortality.

The Dementia Difference: a Palliative Approach for People with Late-Stage Dementia--an education package for residential care.

Abstract: In addition, the clinical nurse specialist consulted with nursing staff, asking them what they wanted to know more about; and another senior nurse at TLAB interviewed family members to ask them what was most important to them when their relative was dying. The development process took approximately one year, and included several iterations, reviews, and a trial by six senior staff members who had previous experience delivering staff education on site. TI~e p~oduct is a two-day workshop tt« Dem~l/ttn Differel/ce: a Palliative Approach for People W/tl/ Late-Stage Dementia, which focuses on best practice with residents who are dying with dementia. It meets Canadian guidelines and standards, and blends evidence-based palliative care with current dementia care best practice and findings from consultations with staff and families. Workshop content covers disease progression, the ambiguous dying syndrome, supporting families, symptom management, making moments meaningful, last days and hours, and staff care. Core information is presented in PowerPoint. Each participant is given a workbook, which contains supporting documentation and other content, such as case studies, used to prompt participatory problem solving. Other learning activities are varied and numerous, including: checking one's personal \"baggage\" with regard to dying and death; looking through a \"death lens\"; role playing; learning how to develop \"strengthbased assessments\" for families; and learning how to envision making every moment count during a resident's last days and hours. There is considerable time allocated in each day to allow participants to ask and respond to questions, give feedback, interact with facilitators and with each other, and share stories and feelings. Five senior staff members who have an in-depth understanding of dementias, two of The Lodge at Broadmead (TLAB) is a 12year-old nonprofit, residential care facility (nursing home) owned and operated by the Broadmead Care Society in Victoria, British Columbia. It is home to 225 people. More than half are veterans, who are the primary beneficiaries of special program funding from Veterans Affairs Canada as part of their National Dementia Care Initiative. One of the specially funded programs at TLAB is an education initiative inspired by recent changes in the characteristics of both the residents and the care environment at the facility: the proportion of residents with dementia has increased; the average length of stay has shortened; and the number of annual deaths has increased. These changes highlighted the need for specialized staff education in end-of-Iife care for residents with dementia. No education of this sort was to be found, however, when senior nursing staff at TLAB extensively searched the literature, the Internet, and professional networks for a suitable education package in 2006. Therefore, funding was sought and gratefully received from Veterans Affairs Canada to develop a new education package focused on end-of-Iife care for persons with dementia. The first step was to seek professionals to assist in course development. Consultants in hospice palliative care and in adult learning collaborated with TLAB's clinical nurse specialist to develop a two-day workshop that would build upon previous education at TLAB, namely Supportiue Patlzways©', (Developed by Carewest of Calgary, Alberta, Supporiioe Patllways© had been delivered on site by trained TLAB staff members to 96% of TLAB staff as well as family members, volunteers, and community members between October 2004 and March 2006.) The Dementia Difference: a Palliative Approach for People with Late-Stage Dementia-an Education Package for Residential Care

Toxicity and persistence of sodium fluoroacetate (1080) in the land crab (Gecarcinus lagostoma) on Ascension Island

Abstract: An eradication program for introduced feral cats, using sodium fluoroacetate (1080) bait, was planned on Ascension Island to help breeding seabird populations to recover. We investigated the likelihood of mortality and the occurrence of residual 1080 in the 'non-target'Ascension land crab (Gecarcinus lagostoma) through simulating 'realistic' and 'worst case' exposure to 1080 bait. Crabs feeding on 1080 baits ingested an estimated maximum of 9-56 mg 1080 (kg bodyweight) -1 and although two of 32 treatment crabs died, this mortality was not attributed to 1080 poisoning but to other, unknown, causes. Our results suggest that G. lagostoma has relatively low susceptibility to acute toxic effects of 1080. Most residual 1080 was eliminated rapidly from crab tissue, with concentrations of 0.006-0.070 mg (kg body- weight) -1 measured in crab claw/leg tissue 9-11 days after exposure. Concentrations of 0.200 and 0.650 mg (kg body- weight) -1 were measured in the claw tissue of two crabs that died from other causes on the third day of exposure to 1080, indicating potential for secondary exposure of sensitive scavengers or predators of 1080-exposed crabs. We recommend a moratorium on human consumption of all crabmeat for a withholding period following the eradication program. The with- drawal period should be defined by further research on the longevity of 1080 in crab tissues, and be confirmed by moni- toring of residues in crabs after baiting.