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Differing Sex-Related Arrival Of Red Phalaropes Phalaropus Fulicarius At Wintering Grounds In Chile, Yerko A. Vilina, Valeria Sabaj, Paola Sáez, Daniela Leiva-Calderón, Franco Cruz-Jofré

Marine Ornithology

Information is often sparse about whether sex affects arrival of long-distance migratory species at wintering grounds. In this paper we analyze the Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius, a species exhibiting sex-role reversal in its nesting patterns. Between September and December 2005, 166 individuals were found dead along the northern Chile coast, which borders the Humboldt Current. Each individual was tagged, and the date of finding was recorded. Nuclear DNA samples were obtained from 46 individuals and analyzed using a molecular sexing method. Results indicate that females arrived between September and early October, with males appearing in late October. On average, females …

Early Records Of Stones (Gastroliths) In Stomachs Of Antarctic Penguins, Peter D. Shaughnessy

Marine Ornithology

During 1915/16, A. H. Ninnis, on board S/Y Aurora of Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition of 1914-1917, collected penguins and seals to augment food supplies while the ship drifted in pack ice. Ninnis found stones (gastroliths) in 86 of 166 Adelie Penguin Pygoscelis adeliae stomachs (52%); numbers varied from 0 to 38 and averaged 2.1 per bird. He also examined eight Emperor Penguin Aptenodytes forsteri stomachs. Two birds had about a dozen stones each, three had some, and three had none. The function of stones in penguins' stomachs remains unknown, but Ninnis did not consider them essential for digestion.

Seabird Abundance Patterns Along A Sydney–Los Angeles Transect, Christopher D. Mcquaid

Marine Ornithology

Our understanding of seabird occurrence patterns is influenced by the fact that some parts of the ocean are less travelled than others, particularly in the centres of oceanic gyres. During the Transglobe Expedition, the M/V Benjamin Bowring undertook a 34-day crossing of the Pacific Ocean from Sydney to Los Angeles. During the crossing, three one-hour watches were conducted daily (morning, noon, and evening), during which all birds visible from the ship were counted and identified (when possible). Bird counts were extremely low in the central regions of the South and North Pacific gyres, in stark contrast to the elevated counts—by …

First Record Of Lesser Frigatebird Fregata Ariel From Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Matthias D. Dehling

Marine Ornithology

The Lesser Frigatebird Fregata ariel is widespread in the western and central tropical Pacific, where it breeds from Raine Island, Australia, in the west to the Tuamotu Archipelago in the east (Marchant & Higgins, 1990). The non-breeding range is larger, extending northwest to Japan and rarely Russia (Sibley & Clapp, 1967) and northeast, rarely, to the northwest Hawaiian Islands, USA (Pratt et al., 1987), and exceptionally as a vagrant to the continental United States (Howell et al., 2014).

Movements By An Adult Male Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata Magnificens Connect Protected Areas In Waters Off Northeastern South America, Lucas Penna Soares Santos, Cecília Licarião, Heideger Lima Do Nascimento, Ricardo Krul, Juliana Kleinsorge, Larissa Schmauder Teixeira Cunha, Patricia Pereira Serafini, Fábio Olmos

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Molecular Screening Of Avian Viruses And Parasites In Wedge-Tailed Shearwaters Ardenna Pacifica And Barau’S Petrels Pterodroma Baraui On Réunion Island, Camille Lebarbenchon, Celine Toty, Solenn Boucher, Audrey Jaeger, Matthieu Le Corre

Marine Ornithology

We investigated Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica and Barau's Petrel Pterodroma baraui exposure to infectious agents circulating in the western Indian Ocean. Using polymerase chain reaction and serological analyses, we screened for influenza viruses, flaviviruses, coronaviruses, and blood parasites (Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, and Plasmodium). No active infections were detected and serological results suggested limited past exposure, with only two Wedge-tailed Shearwaters testing positive for antibodies to the influenza A virus. These findings indicate the limited role of these species as epidemiological reservoirs. However, environmental factors such as tick infestations and isolated breeding habitats highlight the need for continued epidemiological monitoring to support …

First Record Of Franklin’S Gull Leucophaeus Pipixcan In Saudi Arabia, Silvia Arossa, Lotfi Jilani Rabaoui, Fran Trabalon, David Darrell-Lambert, Foued Hamza, Ridha Ouni, Mohamed Shobrak, Abdulnasser Al Qutub, Mohammed Ali Qurban

Marine Ornithology

We report here the first confirmed sighting of Franklin's Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan in Saudi Arabia, the third record for the larger Arabian Peninsula. The bird was sighted during an ornithological survey conducted in October 2024. The findings highlight the region's importance as a migratory stopover, emphasizing the need for enhanced research and conservation efforts to protect critical habitats for migratory birds.

What To Eat When Far From Home? A Vagrant Seabird Selects Novel But Analogous Prey, William L. Kennerley, Gemma V. Clucas, Donald E. Lyons, Keenan C. Yakola

Marine Ornithology

Vagrancy in birds is an important mechanism contributing to range expansion and the establishment of new breeding populations. However, research on the ecology of vagrant individuals has been limited. From 2005 to 2021, a Red-billed Tropicbird Phaethon aethereus, far outside its usual range, was a summer resident at Seal Island, Maine, USA. In 2020 and 2021, we collected fecal samples from this individual and identified prey types consumed via DNA metabarcoding techniques, using 12S and 18S genes. We identified six fish species in the Red-billed Tropicbird fecal DNA samples, with Atlantic Saury Scomberesox saurus and Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus contributing …

Breeding Phenology And Reproductive Success Of Larid Species Nesting In Cuba, Antonio Garcia-Quintas, Dennis Denis, Christophe Barbraud, Sophie Lanco

Marine Ornithology

Breeding phenology is a life history trait that influences reproductive success and population dynamics, yet it remains poorly studied in tropical seabird species. The Caribbean constitutes a breeding hotspot for seabirds, although information about their phenology and reproductive success is limited. We characterized the breeding phenology and reproductive success of seven larid species during the 2021 breeding season on three cays in Cuba. To document breeding phenological phases, we conducted weekly surveys and used camera traps. We also recorded the number of nests, eggs and fledglings. Overall, the breeding phenology of the studied species was seasonal and relatively synchronous, occurring …

Bonavista Bay Murre Hunters In Newfoundland And Labrador Propose Further Interaction With Biologists And Managers, C. Wayne Humphries, Grant R. W. Humphries, Alexandra M. C. Robbins, Gail S. Fraser

Marine Ornithology

Thick-billed Murres Uria lomvia and Common Murres U. aalge, seabirds with low reproductive rates, delayed reproduction, and high adult survivorship, are hunted in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) by non-Indigenous residents. The traditional hunt has a complex regulatory history as a result of NL joining Canada in 1949 and the protection of non-game species under the Migratory Bird Convention Act. Thirty hunters from the northeastern region of the island of Newfoundland were interviewed about their knowledge of murres, their hunting practices, and their opinions on current hunting regulations. While the hunters had detailed local species knowledge from the region they hunted, …

Breeding Ecology And Incubation Behaviours Of Little Tern Sternula Albifrons In The Sabkhat Al-Fasl Lagoons, Saudi Arabia, Monif Alrashidi

Marine Ornithology

Aspects of the breeding ecology and behaviour of the Little Tern Sternula albifrons were studied in the Sabkhat Al-Fasl Lagoons, Saudi Arabia, a region characterized by extreme temperature fluctuations. Ground temperatures in the area can range from 50 °C during the day to 25 °C at night. Observations of 147 nests revealed that Little Terns prefer to nest in exposed sites with no vegetation cover. The distance from nests to the nearest bushes ranged from 11-17 m (median = 13 m), while the distance to water ranged from 2-10 m (median = 4 m). Using a small trail camera, adult …

Updating The Status Of The Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus Thagus Following Avian Influenza And El Niño Events In Peru, Liliana Ayala, Gabriela Sandoval-Lazaro

Marine Ornithology

The Peruvian Pelican Pelecanus thagus is an endemic species of the Humboldt Current System. Between November 2022 and March 2024, the avian influenza epidemic and El Niño conditions significantly affected the pelican population. This study provides an update on the population size and breeding status of the species in Peru. Pelican abundance decreased by 31.5% to 37.6% within marine protected areas. The number of live pelicans ranged from 1,652 to 46,046 in 2023 and from 14,505 to 52,540 in 2024, based on counts conducted in natural protected areas by Peruvian government officials. Breeding primarily occurred on six islands between October …

Notes On The Breeding Population Of The Polynesian Storm Petrel Nesofregetta Fuliginosa On Motu Motiro Hiva (Salas Y Gómez Island), Eastern South Pacific, Matías Portflitt-Toro, Juan Serratosa, K. David Hyrenbach, Guillermo Luna-Jorquera

Marine Ornithology

The Polynesian Storm Petrel is an endangered seabird found in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Despite its critical conservation status, little is known about its population, its breeding biology, and the threats facing it. We provide information about its reproductive status, nesting areas, and plastic ingestion on the remote island of Motu Motiro Hiva. In seven visits between 2012 and 2024, we found breeding activity to occur from August to November, with nesting cavities located primarily on the rocky areas of the east and southeast sectors of the island. We found an extremely high incidence of plastic ingestion in the 15 …

Masthead, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Inside Front Cover, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Front Cover, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Contents, Marine Ornithology

Marine Ornithology

No abstract provided.

Role Conflict And Burnout: How Can Employed Graduate Students Thrive, Not Just Survive?, Eric M. Douthirt

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates several of the multifaceted challenges faced by employed graduate students, a growing demographic within U.S. higher education. Against a backdrop of intensifying technological change, evolving labor market dynamics, and increased educational attainment, these individuals encounter pronounced school-work-family conflict (SWFC), resulting in a heightened risk for personal burnout (PB).

Building upon the job demands-resources theory, this research explores whether school-work facilitation (SWF) and student emotional engagement (EE) might attenuate the deleterious relationship between school-work-family conflict (SWFC) and personal burnout (PB), with gender and number of children included as controls.

Data from 489 participants, collected via a single cross-sectional …

Development And Initial Validation Of An Instrument To Measure Teachers’ Socioscientific Issues Instruction Perceptions, Michael Edward Mitchell

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Little is known about how high school science teachers perceive Socioscientific Issues (SSI) on a broad scale, including what factors shape their views of a pedagogical shift to adopt SSI. To address this critical gap, I constructed the Teachers’ Socioscientific Issues (SSI) Perceptions Survey (TSPS), the first instrument specifically designed and initially validated to measure teacher perceptions of SSI integration. This study presents the development and validation of the TSPS, offering robust evidence for its reliability, fairness, and construct validity.

Survey development adhered to gold-standard psychometric protocols (Bandalos, 2018; Crocker & Algina, 1986; DeVellis, 2012; McCoach et al., 2013) and …

Sound Practices In Human Resources: A Critical Analysis Of How Ai Applicant Screening Tools Are Used With Deaf Individuals In The Hospitality And Tourism Sector, Sherry L. Gaynor

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the intersection of Career and Workforce Education, Deaf Education, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies used in hiring practices. The purpose of this research is to identify potential barriers to equitable employment for Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) individuals and to propose effective methods for evaluating and assessing AI and machine learning applications utilized in recruitment and selection processes. Although AI is increasingly embedded in human resource management (HRM), there remains a significant lack of research addressing its use with special populations. In particular, no prior studies have examined how voice recognition software, facial analysis, psychometric testing, and virtual …

Statistical Challenges And Simulation Results For Pilot Clinical Trials, Weiliang Cen

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Background: The effect size estimated from a pilot trial is often an inaccurate reflection of the true effect size observed in a large trial, leading to either underestimation or overestimation. Published data suggest that effect sizes from large trials are typically smaller than those reported in their corresponding pilot trials. To address this discrepancy, conservative or discount adjustment methods are widely recommended to modify pilot trial effect sizes when calculating sample sizes, thereby maintaining adequate statistical power. This study aims to assess effect sizes from both pilot and large trials and to evaluate the performance of existing adjustment methods.

Methods: …

Exploring Teachers’ Perspectives On Digital Storytelling As A Tool In Saudi Kindergarten Classrooms: A Qualitative Multicase Study, Ouhuud Alahmdi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 emphasizes the importance of integrating digital technologies into early childhood education, with the goal of developing children’s skills for the 21st century from an early age and preparing them for the future. Digital storytelling is an effective and interactive multimodal strategy to enhance young children’s skills in the classroom. However, there is limited research examining how kindergarten teachers design and utilize digital storytelling in their classrooms. This qualitative multicase study aimed to explore how Saudi kindergarten teachers perceived and implemented digital storytelling as a tool to promote engagement and comprehension among young children. The study focused …

Middle School Counselors' Perceptions Of Meeting Career Counseling Needs Of Middle School Students, Mario Oscar Garcia

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examined middle school counselors' perceptions of their effectiveness in delivering career counseling to students. Middle school is a pivotal time for career exploration and planning, yet disparities in guidance persist, particularly for students not on a traditional college pathway. Guided by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) National Model, this study employed a survey method. An online survey developed by the researcher assessed counselors' time allocation across academic, career, social-emotional, and duties unrelated to their essential school counseling roles. Additionally, the survey inquired about counselors’ perceived effectiveness in meeting the career needs of diverse student populations (advanced academic, …

Geographic Patterns Of Educational Achievement: A Methodological Case Study Of Regression Modeling Approaches, Leokadia Lipien

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This methodological case study introduces a novel approach to investigate the impact of student, teacher, and geographic factors on the academic achievement of virtual school students in Florida. Traditional linear regression models, and even multilevel models, often overlook spatial dependencies, which can lead to biased estimates and incomplete inferences. This research addresses this limitation by comparing a cross-classified multilevel model (CCMM) with a novel cross-classified spatial model (CCSM) that incorporates coefficients from geographically weighted regression (GWR). Utilizing secondary data from a statewide virtual school, including student demographics, teacher characteristics, and standardized test scores, along with U.S. Census Bureau data, the …

Surveying Secondary Ela Teachers’ Engagement With Ai-Powered Tools For Classroom Assessment, Mona Alrashidi

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents profound challenges andpossibilities for educational assessment, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA), where AI- powered tools can generate the very linguistic products traditionally used as evidence of student learning. While scholarship has primarily explored theoretical frameworks and broad perceptions, a critical gap remains in understanding how secondary ELA teachers navigate and report AI integration within formative assessment workflows. This understanding is essential: formative assessment has been recommended as a strategy to mitigate AI-related challenges by prioritizing learning processes over products. Yet empirical evidence of teachers’ practices remains limited.

This exploratory study surveyed 102 …

Mathematics And Growth Mindset: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis Of Interventions At The Post-Secondary Level, Sean E. Murphy

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Growth mindset interventions have been implemented in academic settings for over three decades (C. S. Dweck et al., 1995a). One academic field where growth mindset may be most needed is mathematics, as it is not unusual for a student to claim, “I’m not a math person.” Notably, no meta-analysis of mindset interventions in post-secondary mathematics classrooms existed prior to the current study. To close this gap in the literature, the present study included a systematic review and meta-analysis, drawing on two search methods: Boolean and snowballing. The results from both methods were screened using inclusion/exclusion criteria. Snowballing search was hypothesized …

Literacies Of Resistance: How Florida Teachers Story Policy Navigation And Response, Katharine E. Hull

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Teachers are inundated with education legislation and the policy texts and discourses that surround them. Over nine months beginning in March 2024, I collaborated with three Florida P-12 teachers to explore their literacy practices and stories as they engaged with policy in a state that has recently passed an astounding amount of education legislation. This study explored how (1) teachers story the current policy context and their roles within it; (2) teachers use literacy practices to understand and respond to P/policies that impact their labor/working lives; and (3) teachers’ literate identities, agency, and collectivity intersect and shape one another. Guided …

The Barriers And Facilitators Of Maternal Influenza Vaccination, Rashida Karida Jones

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Influenza remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with Black individuals disproportionately affected. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable due to their modulated immune state, placing them at increased risk of complications, hospitalization, and intensive care admission. Despite strong evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of maternal seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV), uptake remains suboptimal. This study employed a multi-method design to identify barriers and facilitators of maternal SIV uptake, with a particular focus on racial disparities.

Quantitative analyses utilized the Florida Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (FL PRAMS) dataset from the years 2018–2022. In the fully …

Breaking The Cycle: A Teacher And Mother’S Examination Of Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support, Jessica Hinton

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) included Response to Intervention (RTI) as an option for determining eligibility for learning disabilities. However, there is no required structure to follow for RTI implementation. This lack of guidance leads to a lack of clarity in implementation at district and site levels. Many states use RTI as the primary indicator of whether a student needs special education services for a learning disability. RTI is a model for delivery of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). The terms RTI and MTSS are often used interchangeably. For clarity, I use MTSS-RTI to …

The Relationship Between Perceived And Actual Knowledge Of Multi-Tiered Systems Of Support/Response To Intervention (Mtss/Rti) In Middle School Principals In Florida, Susan L. Sanger-Miller

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Principals play a crucial role in implementing MTSS/RtI (Multi-Tiered Systems of Support/Response to Intervention), yet little is known about their understanding of the RtI component. This quantitative survey examined Florida middle school principals’ actual and perceived knowledge of MTSS/RtI, as well as how training and demographic factors—such as special education certification, education level, Title I status, administrative experience during rollout years (2006–2010), district training hours, and college coursework—relate to that knowledge. Data from 54 principals were collected through perception scales, training background, and knowledge-based questions. Results showed principals rated their perceived knowledge higher than their actual knowledge, with a moderate …