Effects of time since fire on birds : how informative are generalized fire response curves for conservation management?

Fire is both a widespread natural disturbance that affects the distribution of species and a tool that can be used to manage habitats for species. Knowledge of temporal changes in the occurrence of species after fire is essential for conservation management in fire-prone environments. Two key issues are: whether postfire responses of species are idiosyncratic or if multiple species show a limited number of similar responses; and whether such responses to time since fire can predict the occurrence of species across broad spatial scales. We examined the response of bird species to time since fire in semiarid shrubland in southeastern Australia using data from surveys at 499 sites representing a 100-year chronosequence. We used nonlinear regression to model the probability of occurrence of 30 species with time since fire in two vegetation types, and compared species' responses with generalized response shapes from the literature. The occurrence of 16 species was significantly influenced by time since fire: they displayed six main responses consistent with generalized response shapes. Of these 16 species, 15 occurred more frequently in mid- or later-successional vegetation (>20 years since fire), and only one species occurred more often in early succession (<5 years since fire). The models had reasonable predictive ability for eight species, some predictive ability for seven species, and were little better than random for one species. Bird species displayed a limited range of responses to time since fire; thus a small set of fire ages should allow the provision of habitat for most species. Postfire successional changes extend for decades and management of the age class distribution of vegetation will need to reflect this timescale. Response curves revealed important seral stages for species and highlighted the importance of mid- to late-successional vegetation (>20 years). Although time since fire clearly influences the distribution of numerous bird species, predictive models of the spatial distribution of species in fire-prone landscapes need to incorporate other factors in addition to time since fire.

TEALS (Tool for Evaluation of Academic Library Spaces) project : evaluating physical library spaces

The aim of TEALS project was to establish a setting for evaluation of academic library spaces. The outcomes of such evaluation were anticipated to provide insights into the impacts of library spaces on students’ learning experiences, faculty’s teaching and research and lead to identifying the area of weakness and strength, developing improvement plans and defining specific goals and means for project decision-makers.

Transforming an academic library's spaces : an evaluation study of Deakin University Library at Burwood campus using TEALS discovery

Libraries worldwide are transforming their spaces to better align with the changing needs of their communities. The aim of this paper is to outline the process and outcome of an evaluation study of transformed academic library spaces at the Melbourne Burwood Campus using TEALS. In light of changing higher education practices and students learning preferences, Deakin University has been questioning the balance of informal learning spaces and more formal teaching and academic spaces across its campuses. Commissioned by Deakin University Library, TEALS (Tool for the Evaluation of Academic Library Spaces) was developed to evaluate academic library spaces. The Melbourne Burwood Campus library has undergone several phases of refurbishment to create a library environment that is centred around students’ needs and that supports their individual and group learning experiences. In addition, areas of the library yet to be improved will undergo a major redevelopment over the next year. Given this, carrying out an evaluation of the current spaces is timely to ensure that a better understanding of the impact of changes is achieved. The evaluation process involved: a review of architectural plans and space briefing documents; an observational study of spaces; focus groups with students and library staff; and an online survey of Students’ Library Experience. Use of the TEALS space evaluation tool along with an analysis of data collected during the evaluation process have provided significant insights into various dimensions of the quality of new library spaces. The areas of weakness and strength identified in the study will inform the next phase of Deakin University Library space redevelopment.

Development of a tool for evaluation of academic library spaces (TEALS) (0242)

The paper provides a brief description of the tool for evaluating the quality and utilisation of academic library spaces (TEALS). Supported by Deakin University Library, TEALS has been developed out of a research project in the School of Architecture and Building, Deakin University, Geelong Waterfront Campus. The tool is intended to establish the setting for evaluation of physical spaces at different phases of development of new academic library spaces and refurbishment of existing ones as well as throughout the life of buildings. The methodological framework of the tool consists of four key elements; establishing Criteria of Quality (CoQ), determining Quality Indicators, evaluating library spaces against QIs and interpreting results for future improvements. The characteristics that distinguish TEALS from existing evaluation models include adopting an approach that focus on people (students, faculty and library staff), acting as a “reflective” and “empowering” tool and being user-friendly, quick and easy to use.

Spaces of trauma : young people, homelessness and violence

Little contemporary research has examined young people’s experiences ofviolence and homelessness in detail within the Australian context. This articledraws upon qualitative research with 33 homeless youth in Melbourne andseeks to enhance understanding of the impact of violence on young people.It argues that everyday experiences of violence play a central role in shapinghomeless young people’s lived experiences, traumatising young people andviolating any sense of connection and home. It suggests that violence is notonly a causal factor for homelessness, but also exacerbates and prolongs homelessness.

Generalized coupled photon transport equations for handling correlated photon streams with distinct frequencies

A generalized form of coupled photon transport equations that can handle correlated light beams with distinct frequencies is introduced. The derivation is based on the principle of energy conservation. For a single frequency, the current formulation reduces to a standard photon transport equation, and for fluorescence and phosphorescence, the diffusion models derived from the proposed photon transport model match for homogenous media. The generalized photon transport model is extended to handle wideband inputs in the frequency domain. © 2012 Optical Society of America.

Conserving the heritage spaces of Kuala Lumpur : a case study of the old Market Square (Medan Pasar)

Being one of the new Asian mega-cities today, the origins of Kuala Lumpur started as early as 1850s at the confluence between two rivers; Gombak and Klang. The history of Kuala Lumpur changed when tin was discovered in Ampang in I 857. To cater for the need of residents and miners, a small trading post was constructed at the confluence between these two rivers. This business activity expanded eastwards to the Klang River resulting in one of the busiest business centres in Kuala Lumpur. Shophouses were erected and streets formed. These rows of shophouses and streets, with the river located to the west, created a rectangular space, known as the Old Market Square (Medan Pasar) which later became the main focal point of Kuala Lumpur. Today, even though the native senlements, chaotic sheds and huts have totally disappeared, some of the original shophouses, streets and even spaces still exist. However, they are struggling to survive and to maintain their authenticity due to pressures of nearby developments. This article considers the status of the Old Market Square in regard to its historical evolution and its position in contemporary heritage legislation and policy.

Using linear programming for weights identification of generalized bonferroni means in R

The generalized Bonferroni mean is able to capture some interaction effects between variables and model mandatory requirements. We present a number of weights identification algorithms we have developed in the R programming language in order to model data using the generalized Bonferroni mean subject to various preferences. We then compare its accuracy when fitting to the journal ranks dataset.

Creating spaces in higher education for marginalised Australians : principles for socially inclusive pedagogies

The Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education provided a timely reminder of the dismal performance of the nation and its higher education system in terms of the proportional representation of certain groups of Australians within the university student population. While the Australian Government has taken on the challenge of creating more university places for people from low socioeconomic status backgrounds, this article makes the case for creating spaces in higher education for marginalised Australians. Specifically, we argue that the most strategic place to begin this is with the pedagogic work of higher education, because of its positioning as a central message system in education. And it is from the centre that the greatest pedagogic authority is derived. In this paper we conceive of the pedagogic work involved in terms of belief, design and action. From these constitutive elements are derived three principles on which to build a socially inclusive pedagogy and to open up spaces for currently marginalised groups.  

Contact zones, third spaces, and the act of interpretation

The conceptual understanding of museums as ‘contact zones’ has been widely appropriated in the museum literature and beyond. But the discussion lacks empirical insights into actual experiences: What does ‘contact’ mean for the person experiencing it? How is it lived, negotiated and contested? Drawing on a long-term narrative study of global visitors to the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), this paper offers an empirical interrogation and theoretical refinement of the ‘contact zone’. It moves beyond the more usual focus on museological production by shedding light on the meanings made by museum visitors. This paper augments current normative and theoretical approaches with an ethnographic study of processes of intercultural mediation during cross-cultural encounters, translation and dialogue. This is done through a hermeneutic analysis of visitors’ acts of interpretation that facilitates an understanding of ‘cultural action’ in ‘contact zones’ as an interpretive ontological endeavour of the shifting Self within a pluralist cosmopolitan space.