The Experts below are selected from a list of 38988 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Gang Feng - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Precipitation is the dominant driver for bird species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure in University Campuses in northern China
2020Co-Authors: Chenxia Liang, Jun Liu, Bin Pan, Na Wang, Jie Yang, Guisheng Yang, Gang FengAbstract:Although urbanization is threatening biodiversity worldwide, the increasing green urban spaces could harbor relatively high biodiversity. Therefore, how to maintain the biodiversity in urban ecosystem is crucial for sustainable urban planning and management, especially in arid and semiarid regions with relatively fragile environment and low biodiversity. Here, for the first time we linked species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure of bird assemblages in University Campuses in northern China with plant species richness, glacial-interglacial climate change, contemporary climate, and anthropogenic factors to compare their relative roles in shaping urban bird diversity. Bird surveys were conducted in 20 University Campuses across Inner Mongolia, China. Ordinary least squares models and simultaneous autoregressive models were used to assess the relationships between bird species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure with environmental factors. Structural equation models were used to capture the direct and indirect effects of these factors on the three components of bird diversity. Single-variable simultaneous autoregressive models showed that mean annual precipitation was consistently a significant driver for bird species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure. Meanwhile, mean annual temperature and plant species richness were also significant predictors for bird species richness. This study suggests that Campuses with warmer and wetter climate as well as more woody plant species could harbor more bird species. In addition, wetter Campuses tended to sustain over-dispersed phylogenetic and functional structure. Our findings emphasize the dominant effect of precipitation on bird diversity distribution in this arid and semiarid region, even in the urban ecosystem.
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species richness phylogenetic and functional structure of bird communities in chinese University Campuses are associated with divergent variables
Urban Ecosystems, 2018Co-Authors: Wenjing Zhang, Jun Liu, Chenxia Liang, Gang FengAbstract:University campus is an important component of urban landscapes for biodiversity conservation. However, to our knowledge no study has quantitatively assessed the diversity and structure of bird communities in Chinese University Campuses, especially from phylogenetic and functional perspectives. Here, for the first time we linked species richness, phylogenetic structure and body mass structure of campus bird communities with contemporary climate, glacial-interglacial climate change, altitudinal range, population density around campus, area and age of campus to test their associations. We found 393 bird species in 38 University Campuses (29% of all Chinese bird species, two species are endangered, four species are vulnerable, and 33 species are near threatened). The variables significantly correlated with campus bird species richness, phylogenetic structure and body mass structure were altitudinal range and mean annual precipitation, glacial-interglacial anomaly in temperature, and altitudinal range, respectively. In particular, there were more species in steeper and wetter Campuses, more young species clustered in Campuses with stable glacial-interglacial climate, and more species with smaller body size in steeper Campuses. Our study highlights the importance of considering both phylogenetic and functional information for biodiversity conservation in urban ecosystems.
Steven L Puller - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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the old boy and girl network social network formation on University Campuses
2008Co-Authors: Adalbert Mayer, Steven L PullerAbstract:This paper documents the structure and composition of social networks on University Campuses and investigates the processes that lead to their formation. Using administrative data and information from Facebook.com, we document the factors that are the strongest predictors of whether two students are friends. Race is strongly related to social ties, even after controlling for a variety of measures of socioeconomic background, ability, and college activities. We develop a model of the formation of social networks that decomposes the formation of social links into effects based upon the exogenous school environment and effects of endogenous choice arising from preferences for certain characteristics in one's friends. We use student-level data from an actual social network to calibrate the model. We simulate the social network under alternative University policies aimed at reducing social segmentation. We find that changes in the school environment that affect the likelihood that two students interact have only a limited potential to reduce the racial segmentation of the social network.
Chenxia Liang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Precipitation is the dominant driver for bird species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure in University Campuses in northern China
2020Co-Authors: Chenxia Liang, Jun Liu, Bin Pan, Na Wang, Jie Yang, Guisheng Yang, Gang FengAbstract:Although urbanization is threatening biodiversity worldwide, the increasing green urban spaces could harbor relatively high biodiversity. Therefore, how to maintain the biodiversity in urban ecosystem is crucial for sustainable urban planning and management, especially in arid and semiarid regions with relatively fragile environment and low biodiversity. Here, for the first time we linked species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure of bird assemblages in University Campuses in northern China with plant species richness, glacial-interglacial climate change, contemporary climate, and anthropogenic factors to compare their relative roles in shaping urban bird diversity. Bird surveys were conducted in 20 University Campuses across Inner Mongolia, China. Ordinary least squares models and simultaneous autoregressive models were used to assess the relationships between bird species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure with environmental factors. Structural equation models were used to capture the direct and indirect effects of these factors on the three components of bird diversity. Single-variable simultaneous autoregressive models showed that mean annual precipitation was consistently a significant driver for bird species richness, phylogenetic and functional structure. Meanwhile, mean annual temperature and plant species richness were also significant predictors for bird species richness. This study suggests that Campuses with warmer and wetter climate as well as more woody plant species could harbor more bird species. In addition, wetter Campuses tended to sustain over-dispersed phylogenetic and functional structure. Our findings emphasize the dominant effect of precipitation on bird diversity distribution in this arid and semiarid region, even in the urban ecosystem.
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species richness phylogenetic and functional structure of bird communities in chinese University Campuses are associated with divergent variables
Urban Ecosystems, 2018Co-Authors: Wenjing Zhang, Jun Liu, Chenxia Liang, Gang FengAbstract:University campus is an important component of urban landscapes for biodiversity conservation. However, to our knowledge no study has quantitatively assessed the diversity and structure of bird communities in Chinese University Campuses, especially from phylogenetic and functional perspectives. Here, for the first time we linked species richness, phylogenetic structure and body mass structure of campus bird communities with contemporary climate, glacial-interglacial climate change, altitudinal range, population density around campus, area and age of campus to test their associations. We found 393 bird species in 38 University Campuses (29% of all Chinese bird species, two species are endangered, four species are vulnerable, and 33 species are near threatened). The variables significantly correlated with campus bird species richness, phylogenetic structure and body mass structure were altitudinal range and mean annual precipitation, glacial-interglacial anomaly in temperature, and altitudinal range, respectively. In particular, there were more species in steeper and wetter Campuses, more young species clustered in Campuses with stable glacial-interglacial climate, and more species with smaller body size in steeper Campuses. Our study highlights the importance of considering both phylogenetic and functional information for biodiversity conservation in urban ecosystems.
Coby Stephenson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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PAWSing Student Stress: A Pilot Evaluation Study of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog Program on Three University Campuses in Canada
Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2015Co-Authors: Colleen Anne Dell, Betty Rohr, Lori Campbell, Rita Hanoski, Josh Haguerud, Alicia Husband, Chelsea Nickel, Darlene Chalmers, John Gillett, Coby StephensonAbstract:Student mental health is a concern on University Campuses, and animal-assisted interventions are one response. This article presents the immediate and three-month follow-up outcomes of a pilot evaluation study of the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program at three Canadian universities. Analyzing a sample of 403 students and 16 handlers/observers at the events and 87 students at follow-up, we found that the therapy dogs offer love and support. Love is understood as having reciprocal love for the dogs and gaining positive feelings from visiting with them. Support is understood as destressing and relaxing by interacting with the dogs. Implications for mental health supports for University students are suggested.
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pawsing student stress a pilot evaluation study of the st john ambulance therapy dog program on three University Campuses in canada museler le stress chez l etudiant etude pilote d evaluation menee sur trois campus universitaires au canada dans le ca
Canadian Journal of Counselling and Psychotherapy, 2015Co-Authors: Colleen Anne Dell, Betty Rohr, Lori Campbell, Rita Hanoski, Alicia Husband, Chelsea Nickel, Darlene Chalmers, James Gillett, Josh Haugerud, Coby StephensonAbstract:Animals are firmly embedded in many family units and are often included in how families define themselves (Tedeschi, Fitchett, & Molidor, 2005; Vanier Institute, 2009). More than one half of North American households have an animal living in them (McNicholas & Collis, 2006; Perrin, 2009; Stats, Pierfelice, Kim, & Crandell, 1999), with nearly half of those animals being dogs (Humane Society of the United States, 2014). Young adults who move away from the family home to attend University often leave behind important supports in their lives, including companion animals. With student mental health a growing concern on Canadian University Campuses in recent years, therapy dogs were first formally introduced in 2012 at the University of Ottawa. This article begins by situating the mental health needs of students on Canadian Campuses and the growth of animal-assisted interventions as one response. The goals of the St. John Ambulance (SJA) Therapy Dog program-to offer love and support-are then established. Next, the immediate and three-month follow-up outcomes of a pilot evaluation study of the program at three Canadian universities (University of Saskatchewan, University of Regina, and McMaster University) are reviewed during a final examination period. It was found that the therapy dogs unequivocally offer love and support to students. Love was understood as having reciprocal love for the dogs and gaining positive feelings from visiting with them. Support was understood by students as destressing and relaxing from interacting with the dogs and to a much lesser extent with the handlers. These findings, coupled with recent literature, also raise concern about female students identifying a greater level of stress in their lives than males. This article makes an important contribution to the flourishing practice of, but dearth of empirical understanding about, animal-assisted activities on University Campuses. Implications for mental health supports for University students are suggested.Animal-Assisted InterventionsAnimal-assisted interventions (AAIs) is the umbrella term for any intervention that includes or incorporates animals as part of a therapeutic process (Fine & Beck, 2010). Canine-specific AAIs include animal-assisted therapy (AAT), where, for example, a dog is part of a therapeutic counselling session. AAIs also include animal-assisted activities (AAAs), which are the focus of this article. Animal-assisted activities "provide opportunities for motivational, educational, recreational, and/or therapeutic benefits to enhance quality of life" (Kruger & Serpell, 2006, p. 23). Specially trained professionals, paraprofessionals, and volunteers visit in a variety of contexts with animals that meet specific criteria (Pet Partners, n.d.). An AAA is typically "informal, takes places in a variety of environments, and is not targeted at any specific medical condition or person" (Huss, 2012, p. 444). While AAAs are explicitly not therapy (i.e., treatment goals are not identified), they can be therapeutic. The human-animal bond was introduced as a concept in psychiatry, psychology, and sociology as early as the 1940s (Young, 2012). Today, the American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes that[t]he human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both. This includes, but is not limited to, emotional, psychological, and physical interactions of people, animals, and the environment. (American Veterinary Medical Association, n.d.)Young (2012) describes the mental and physiological experience of AAT and AAAs as "a tactile process whereby unconditional attachment bonds form between animals and humans, inducing relaxation by reducing cardiovascular reactivity to stress" (p. 218). Yet there is ongoing skepticism toward AAIs because of a historic absence of empirical research measuring outcomes (Borrego et al. …
Wenjing Zhang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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species richness phylogenetic and functional structure of bird communities in chinese University Campuses are associated with divergent variables
Urban Ecosystems, 2018Co-Authors: Wenjing Zhang, Jun Liu, Chenxia Liang, Gang FengAbstract:University campus is an important component of urban landscapes for biodiversity conservation. However, to our knowledge no study has quantitatively assessed the diversity and structure of bird communities in Chinese University Campuses, especially from phylogenetic and functional perspectives. Here, for the first time we linked species richness, phylogenetic structure and body mass structure of campus bird communities with contemporary climate, glacial-interglacial climate change, altitudinal range, population density around campus, area and age of campus to test their associations. We found 393 bird species in 38 University Campuses (29% of all Chinese bird species, two species are endangered, four species are vulnerable, and 33 species are near threatened). The variables significantly correlated with campus bird species richness, phylogenetic structure and body mass structure were altitudinal range and mean annual precipitation, glacial-interglacial anomaly in temperature, and altitudinal range, respectively. In particular, there were more species in steeper and wetter Campuses, more young species clustered in Campuses with stable glacial-interglacial climate, and more species with smaller body size in steeper Campuses. Our study highlights the importance of considering both phylogenetic and functional information for biodiversity conservation in urban ecosystems.
