Natural Habitat Design for Zoo-Housed Elasmobranch and Teleost Fish Species Improves Behavioural Repertoire and Space Use in a Visitor Facing Exhibit

This study investigated the behaviour of two Elasmobranch species; Southern fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina dumerilii, n = 1) and Port Jackson shark (Heterodontus portusjacksoni, n = 4) and two teleost species; moonlighter (Tilodon sexfasciatus, n = 1) and banded morwong (Cheilodactylus spectabilis, n = 1) living within a single enclosure. For this study, two treatments were compared, the original enclosure design, and then after the enclosure had been renovated to more closely represent the species natural habitats, with a raised front viewing glass to prevent visitor interaction. Behaviours such as resting, swimming and abnormal behaviours such as surface and perimeter swimming (elasmobranchs only) were recorded as well as location within the enclosure, for 10 days pre and 10 days post renovation. The Port Jackson sharks significantly reduced the performance of abnormal behaviours after renovation, and significantly increased the time spent near the exhibit front. The Southern fiddler ray increased resting post renovation, while the teleost species also spent more time near the exhibit front. Although a small sample size was used, the results suggest that a more naturalistic environment with multiple micro-habitats and effective visitor barriers allows for a greater proportion of the day spent exhibiting natural behaviours, greater space use and reduced stereotypes.

Genetic and Immunological Evidence for Microbial Transfer Between the International Space Station and an Astronaut

Microbial transfer from the environment can influence a person’s health, but relevant studies often have confounding variables and short durations. Here, we used the unique environment of the International Space Station (ISS) to track movement of microbes between an astronaut’s commensal microbiomes and their environment. We identified several microbial taxa, including Serratia proteamaculans and Rickettsia australis which appear to have been transferred from the ISS to the commensal microbiomes of the astronaut. Strains were matched at the SNP and haplotype-level, and notably some strains persisted even after the astronaut’s return to Earth. Some transferred taxa correspond to secondary strains in the ISS environment, suggesting that transfer may be mediated by evolutionary selection. Finally, we show evidence that the T-Cell repertoire of the astronaut changes to become more specific to environmental taxa, suggesting that continual microbial and immune monitoring can help guide spaceflight mission planning, health monitoring, and habitat design.

Mixed-Species Gardens Increase Monarch Oviposition without Increasing Top-Down Predation

Monarch butterfly populations have declined by over 80% in the last 20 years. Conservation efforts focus on the creation of milkweed habitats to mitigate this decline. Previous research has found monarchs lay more eggs per milkweed stem in urban gardens than natural habitats and recent work identified specific garden designs that make urban gardens more attractive to monarchs. Increasing plant diversity can reduce specialist insect herbivore colonization via bottom-up (e.g., plant) and top-down (e.g., predation) regulatory factors. Although this is beneficial for pest management efforts, it contradicts conservation efforts. In this study, we explored if adding multiple flowering species to garden-sized milkweed plantings affected monarch oviposition or top-down regulation of larvae. We compared monarch egg abundance, natural enemy abundance and richness, and biological control of monarch larvae in milkweed monocultures and milkweed mixed with four additional wildflower species. We found that monarchs laid 22% more eggs on sentinel milkweed plants in mixed-species plots with no effect of plant diversity on monarch survival. We also found higher natural enemy richness, wasp, and predatory bug abundance in the mixed-species plots and this did not translate to higher biological control rates. Our results provide more evidence that plant selection and habitat design are important for monarch conservation.

Appraisal Based Learning for Effective Cognition of Vernacular Architecture

one of the objectives of architectural design education can be defined as mentoring architecture students to produce meaningful architecture. In concurrence a progressive divergent framework to facilitate effective learning is required. This could be achieved by adopting an instructional strategy which focuses on act of meaningful knowing. This approach would not only make transmission of learning contextually relevant, but may also significantly alter the perception of the habitable space to be conceived. The research further depicts the need for diachronic process based appraisal format of enquiry. The emphasis is on retrieval of information about effective building design strategies from past attempts with respect to a particular typology of habitat design. This knowledge base becomes basis for innovative problem addressal while resolving new spatial issues. Such a precedent based instructional strategy would pave way for meaningful architectural discourse in the design studio. A framework for appraisal based study is proposed as part of the research paper. A qualitative study of the fundamentals of traditional dwellings practices in Kerala is also carried out as part of this research. From the view point of perceiving and reflecting on built environment; the ability to recognise, understand and experience spaces in terms of appropriate settings, spatial quality, functionality and form is essential. The proposed instructional framework is further strengthened by integrating with fundamental concepts of learning theories and physiological activities related to teaching and learning based mentoring process. Essential traits from the three domains of learning theory namely behaviourism, cognitivism and constructivism are incorporated to construct a learning experience known as comprehensive approach. The understanding of human cognition and induced activity helps us to logically comprehend the various activities involved at respective stages during learning. This overall act relates to how rationally processed information is being organised in a person, how it is likely to be retrieved and applied for resolving spatial issues related to habitat design when given an opportunity.

It Takes Partners to Create Solutions Management Wants

The notion of interdisciplinarity is inherent in the principles of human factors and ergonomics. HFE can be described as a multi-disciplinary, user-centric ‘bundling science,’ in that it applies theory, principles, and data from many relevant disciplines to the design of work systems, taking into account the complex interactions between the human and other humans, the external environment, tools and equipment, and technology to enhance human performance and well-being (Wilson, 2000). The 2017 HFES Annual Conference panel addressed how to increase management’s perceived value of HFE by changing the focus of HFE from risk to enhanced employee wellbeing, performance and productivity. This panel furthers this discussion by addressing how HFE can increase its perceived value by partnering with other disciplines to solve a critical organizational problem. We use the example of the Mars spacecraft habitat design to illustrate how HFE and other disciplines can intersect to create a living, working and recreational space that supports astronaut health, wellbeing and performance. First, Mosier describes HFE’s increasing role in interdisciplinarity. Mosier also discusses habitat design from the perspective of team and psycho-social factors. Kennedy describes how architectural and engineering factors affect astronauts’ physiological and psychological well-being. Miller discusses the role automation and technology will play in habitat functioning to keep astronauts safe and healthy. Banks adds concepts of psychological need satisfaction through habitat design to maintain astronaut health and well-being. Imada closes the panel with the role of HFE in the design of suitable human interfaces and consideration of how all elements function together as an effective system. The audience will be invited to contribute their own ideas for how these different disciplines can work together with HFE to create a healthy and productive habitat.