Diversity and abundance of solitary and primitively eusocial bees in an urban centre: a case study from Northampton (England)

The apparent reduction of solitary and primitively eusocial bees populations has remained a huge concern over the past few decades and urbanisation is considered as one of the factors affecting bees at different scales depending on bee guild. As urbanisation is increasing globally it necessitates more research to understand the complex community dynamics of solitary and primitively eusocial bees in urban settings. We investigated the urban core of a British town for diversity and abundance of solitary bees using standardized methods, and compared the results with nearby meadows and nature reserves. The study recorded 48 species within the town, about 22 % of the total species and 58 % of the genera of solitary bees in the United Kingdom. Furthermore we found the urban core to be more diverse and abundant in solitary and primitively eusocial bees compared to the meadows and nature re-serves. Of particular note was an urban record of the nationally rare Red Data Book species Coelioxys quadridentata and its host Anthophora quadrimaculata. This research demonstrates that urban settings can contribute significantly to the conservation of solitary and primitively eusocial bees in Britain

Quantitative Historical Change in Bumblebee (Bombus spp.) Assemblages of Red Clover Fields

Flower visiting insects provide a vitally important pollination service for many crops and wild plants. Recent decline of pollinating insects due to anthropogenic modification of habitats and climate, in particular from 1950's onwards, is a major and widespread concern. However, few studies document the extent of declines in species diversity, and no studies have previously quantified local abundance declines. We here make a quantitative assessment of recent historical changes in bumblebee assemblages by comparing contemporary and historical survey data. species observed in the 1930's, five species were not observed at present. The latter were all long-tongued, late-emerging species.Because bumblebees are important pollinators, historical changes in local bumblebee assemblages are expected to severely affect plant reproduction, in particular long-tubed species, which are pollinated by long-tongued bumblebees

Exploring contemporary patterns of cultural consumption : offline and online film watching in the UK

This paper focuses on patterns of film consumption within cultural consumption more broadly to assess trends in consumerism such as eclectic consumption, individualised consumption and omnivorous/univorous consumption and whether economic background and status feature in shaping cultural consumption. We focus on film because it is widely consumed, online and offline, and has many genres that vary in terms of perceived artistic and entertainment value. In broad terms, film is differentiated between mainstream commercially driven film such as Hollywood blockbusters, middlebrow ‘feel good’ movies and independent arthouse and foreign language film. Our empirical statistical analysis shows that film consumers watch a wide range of genres. However, films deemed to hold artistic value such as arthouse and foreign language feature as part of broad and wide-ranging pattern of consumption of film that attracts its own dedicated consumers. Though we found that social and economic factors remain predictors of cultural consumption the overall picture is more complex than a simple direct correspondence and perceptions of other cultural forms also play a role. Those likely to consume arthouse and foreign language film consume other film genres and other cultural forms genres and those who ‘prefer’ arthouse and foreign language film have slightly more constrained socio-economic characteristics. Overall, we find that economic and cultural factors such income, education, and wider consumption of culture are significant in patterns of film consumption

Prediction of risk and incidence of dry eye in critical patients

Objectives: to estimate the incidence of dry eye, to identify risk factors and to establish a risk prediction model for its development in adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit of a public hospital. Method: concurrent cohort, conducted between March and June, 2014, with 230 patients admitted to an intensive care unit. Data were analyzed by bivariate descriptive statistics, with multivariate survival analysis and Cox regression. Results: 53% out of 230 patients have developed dry eye, with onset mean time of 3.5 days. Independent variables that significantly and concurrently impacted the time for dry eye to occur were: O2 in room air, blinking more than five times per minute (lower risk factors) and presence of vascular disease (higher risk factor). Conclusion: dry eye is a common finding in patients admitted to adults intensive care units, and care for its prevention should be established

Charting a theoretical framework for examining Indigenous journalism culture

Indigenous media around the globe have expanded considerably in recent years, a process that has also led to an increase in the number of Indigenous news organisations. Yet, research into Indigenous news and journalism is still rare, with mostly individual case studies having been undertaken in different parts of the globe. Drawing on existing research gathered from a variety of global contexts, this paper theorises five main dimensions which can help us think about and empirically examine Indigenous journalism culture. They include: the empowerment role of Indigenous journalism; the ability to offer a counter-narrative to mainstream media reporting; journalism’s role in language revitalisation; reporting through a culturally appropriate framework; and the watchdog function of Indigenous journalism. These dimensions are discussed in some detail, in an attempt to guide future studies into the structures, roles, practices and products of Indigenous journalism across the globe

Undersized Acanthopagrus butcheri caught and released from commercial gillnets show high survival rates in the Gippsland Lakes, Southeastern Australia

A substantial decline in the commercial catches and catch rates of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri in the Gippsland Lakes, Australia, signified a depletion of the stock and prompted management to increase the legal minimum length (LML) from 26 cm to 28 cm (total length) in December 2003. The effectiveness of this increase depends on the postrelease survival rate of undersized fish. The present study estimates the rates of release and initial survival (1 h after capture) of undersized A. butcheri during commercial fishing by gill nets in the Gippsland Lakes. Field capture and holding trials were also used to estimate initial and delayed survival (72 h after capture). Almost 6,000 A. butcheri from 347 gill net shots were caught during 2005–2006. The average total length increased by 1 cm from 2005 to 2006, increasing the proportion of the catch that was retained in 2006 (75%) compared with 2005 (50%). The best estimates of initial and delayed survival were 97.2% (SE, 0.3%) and 94.4% (SE, 3.8%), respectively. The total survival rate, which combines the initial survival rate from observer work with the delayed survival rates from the trials, was estimated as 90.8% (SE, 3.8%). The increase in the LML from 26 to 28 cm afforded significant protection to fish between these size limits, but the level of protection will be short term (1 or at most 2 years) for each year-class because of the growth rate of the species. Released, retained, and postrelease survival rates are discussed for various LMLs and with regard to their implications for fishery managemen