How important are different types of temperate woodlands for ground-foraging birds?

There is widespread concern about population decline in a number of woodland-dependent birds in southern Australia. Of all declining species, approximately half forage on the ground. This study examined the avifaunal assemblages of temperate woodlands of the Northern Plains, Victoria, to investigate the importance of woodland habitats for ground-foraging species. Four main types of woodland were surveyed (white cypress-pine, black box, grey box and river red gum) and, in total, 89 bird species were detected. All four woodland types differed in habitat structure and, in turn, supported significantly different avifaunal assemblages. Forty of the 89 species (45%) foraged, at least in part, on the ground. Species richness and abundance of ground-foragers differed significantly between woodland types, being highest in white cypress-pine and black box. There was a greater richness of ground-foragers during the breeding than non-breeding season, but abundance did not vary seasonally. Overall, ground-foraging birds comprised a greater proportion of species (>55%) and individuals (>60%) in white cypress-pine and black box woodland than in grey box and river red gum (42–48% of species, <50% individuals). Those ground-foragers regarded as declining also occurred in greatest richness in white cypress-pine woodlands, one of the most depleted habitats in the region. The lowest richness of ‘declining’ ground-foraging species was in river red gum woodland, the most widespread woodland type. Throughout Australia, the proportion of ground-foraging species in bird assemblages tends to be greater in temperate, semi-arid or arid woodlands than in moist forests and rainforests. However, in many regions woodland habitats are severely depleted and their open ground layer is particularly vulnerable to degradation. The extent of suitable habitat for ground-foraging birds in temperate woodlands may be much less than is apparent from current measures of tree cover. Sustainable management of drier (non-riverine) temperate woodlands is required to conserve this important element of the Australian avifauna.

`Just give me someone who can hit the ground running`: an investigation into the job-ready public relations graduate

Public relations educators perform an academic and vocational balancing act. Employers demand graduates with developed vocational skills. In the meantime, academics strive to provide students with work skills as well as solid theoretical base, and to also address emerging issues. This paper uses a case study in Geelong, Victoria to examine what Australian regional employers see as desirable attributes in public relations graduates. It then explores how educators address the needs of the employers as well as the needs of the public relations profession.

Foraging ecology of ground-feeding woodland birds in temperate woodlands of Southern Australia

Ground-foraging birds of temperate woodlands of southern Australia are prominent among bird species considered to be susceptible to population decline. We examined the foraging ecology, including foraging substrates, actions and heights, of 13 ground-foraging species at four woodland sites in northern Victoria. Nine species are regarded as declining in southern Australia and four are considered common. Ten foraging substrates were identified, of which leaf-litter (54% of observations) and bare ground (17%) were most frequently used. In all woodland sites, litter was used more frequently than expected from its proportional cover. Bare ground was frequently used as a substrate by individual species, and fallen timber and grass were important for some species. Most species were generalists in their use of substrates. Six foraging actions were observed, of which gleaning and pouncing were most frequently recorded. All species foraged close to the ground and four foraged almost entirely at ground level. For pouncing birds, dead branches and fallen timber were the most important launch substrates from which pouncing actions were initiated. Eight of the 13 species differed in some aspect of their foraging ecology between woodland sites, especially in relation to the use of substrates (seven species). Fewer species (four) displayed differences in foraging ecology between seasons, with the greatest seasonal variation being in use of foraging substrates (three species). Overall, no significant differences were evident in the foraging ecologies of common and declining species. Species in both groups encompassed a wide range of foraging behaviours. Owing to this range in foraging ecology, the conservation of diverse assemblages of ground-foraging birds requires the maintenance of heterogeneous ground layers and careful management of disturbance processes.

Whither sporting heritage : reflections on debates in Victoria about Waverley Park and the Melbourne Cricket Ground

The successful nomination of Waverley Park to the Victorian Historic Register
proved as controversial as the stadium was during its thirty-year existence. The
nomination was accepted primarily on the grounds of the social historical value of the site, rather than its architectural or engineering qualities, but in fact a range of different social histories were in conflict during the registration process. Four of the social histories involved are outlined and their influence on the outcome assessed. Some of the implications for the evaluation of sporting heritage sites emerge therefrom (Hay, R., Lazenby, C., Lewis, N., Haig-Muir, M., Mewett, P., 2001).

Fatty acid and sterol composition of frozen and freeze-dried New Zealand green lipped mussel (Perna canaliculus) from three sites in New Zealand

In view of previously reported anti-inflammatory bioactivity of the New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel (NZGLM), the overall lipid profile and fatty acid and sterol composition of the NZGLM from various sites in New Zealand (Hallam Cove, Port Ligar, Little Nikau) were investigated using thin layer  chromatography (TLC) and gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Samples were either frozen (F) or freeze-dried (FD) soon after collection. It was also thought prior to the study, there may be differences in the dietary sources of phytoplankton between the sites, responsible for the bioactivity, however data collected in New Zealand reported no difference in the type of phytoplankton, but a difference in the quantity. There were no major significant differences in the major components of the lipid, fatty acid and sterol composition between FD or frozen samples, nor were there any significant differences in the major composition between sites. The only major difference was between total lipid composition of the freeze-dried and frozen samples due to the removal of water during freeze-drying. Total lipid content on a dry weight basis in FD samples was 8.4 g/100g tissue and was significantly higher than frozen samples (P < 0.05) and there was no significant site variation. The lipid class content between sites was also not significantly different as judged by TLC. Triglyceride (TG) lipid fraction appeared to be the most prominent in the frozen and FD samples. The free fatty acid (FFA) band was the next most prominent band and was visually more prominent in the frozen samples. Sterol esters (SE) were detected in higher amounts in the frozen samples compared with the FD samples. Phospholipid (PL) and sterols (ST) were distributed throughout all samples. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were the main group of fatty acids in both FD and frozen samples (45-46%), most of which were omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids (40-41%). Saturated fatty acids (SFA) accounted for approximately one quarter of total fatty acids, with little variation between FD and frozen samples. The major fatty acids of the NZGLM were docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) (19% in both FD and frozen samples), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and palmitic acid (16:0) (15% in both FD and frozen samples). Cholesterol was the most prominent sterol (31% of total sterols). Other major sterols included desmosterol/ brassicasterol (co-eluting), 24-methylenecholesterol, trans-22-dehydrocholesterol, 24- nordehydrocholesterol and occelasterol. This study is unique as it compares the lipid composition of the NZGLM from three sites in New Zealand with the additional effect of processing. This is the second comparative study investigating the lipid, fatty acid and sterol composition of the NZGLM with added interest in the effect of freeze drying on the lipid content of the mussel. This study showed that there were no major significant differences in lipid, sterol and fatty acid composition between the FD and frozen samples of the NZGLM for three sites in New Zealand. Food chain studies and further research is warranted to investigate the presence and role of major and minor lipid.
components of the NZGLM.

Earth bound: the rise and fall of a ground-breaking venture

Earth Sanctuaries Ltd (ESL) intends to offer its entire asset base for sale. ESL's primary objective is to conserve Australia's biodiversity, by breeding and preserving fauna profitably by running sanctuaries, environmental consultancies and related tourist facilities. This "ailing company" is also undergoing a management restructuring and attempting cost reduction. ESL was was one of the first firms to adopt AASB 1037. The implications for the accounting profession are discussed.

Uncommon ground : white women in aboriginal history (Book review)

Book review of "Uncommon ground : white women in aboriginal history" by Anna Cole, Victoria Haskins, & Fiona Paisley.

Competing on the higher ground : social expectations and sport

Research in sport ethics has traditionally focused on the ethical dimensions of the sport event and athletes, however the examination of the principles of ethics to the management and organisation of sport is a relatively recent phenomenon. The tension between the roles and responsibilities of sport as a business, and sport as an ethical and moral aspect of society has forced sport organisations to face an increased number of complex ethical dilemmas. As sport systems throughout the world become further professionalised and bureaucratised, the community understanding of what is ‘good’ is challenged. It is a commonly held expectation that there should be a high level of moral behaviour from those participating directly in the sport event (athletes, coaches, referees), however this expectation has extended to the sporting clubs and organisations which govern the sport itself.

Often used interchangeably, ethics and morality are complex terms concentrating on issues of right and wrong behaviour. Beauchamp and Bowie (1993) stated that the term morality suggests a social institution, composed of a set of standards which are pervasively acknowledged by the members of a culture, or alternatively a social construction. The application of ethics and moral values to the business environment applies across all sectors, including for-profit, non-profit and government, however Rubin (1990) found that the normative ethics, those which society accepts as ethical behaviour, varies from sector to sector. In the non-profit sector, to which many sport organisations belong, Rubin (1990) found that because the community expects more ‘good’, they accept less ‘bad’. As many sport organisations throughout the world remain largely non-profit, linked with the commonly held belief that sport is a foundation for moral behaviours, the idealistic expectation of ethical conduct placed upon them may be different to those of more mainstream business organisations.

Mewett (2003) noted the importance of sport as a social phenomenon which ramifies widely through society to become an intrinsic part of culture and community life. The different expectations of ethical conduct and moral value placed on sport organisations increases the public interest in the ethical dilemmas faced by these organisations. Using the concept of conflict of interest as an example, this paper will examine the tension and difference between the community and social understanding and expectations of sport, and those of the sport organisations themselves.