Browsing by Subject "records"

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    Open Access
    Collapse of an iconic conifer: long-term changes in the demography of Widdringtonia cedarbergensis using repeat photography
    (2016) White, J D M; Jack, S L; Hoffman, M T; Puttick, J; Bonora, D; Visser, V; February, E C
    BACKGROUND: Conifer populations appear disproportionately threatened by global change. Most examples are, however, drawn from the northern hemisphere and long-term rates of population decline are not well documented as historical data are often lacking. We use a large and long-term (1931-2013) repeat photography dataset together with environmental data and fire records to account for the decline of the critically endangered Widdringtonia cedarbergensis. Eighty-seven historical and repeat photo-pairs were analysed to establish 20th century changes in W. cedarbergensis demography. A generalized linear mixed-effects model was fitted to determine the relative importance of environmental factors and fire-return interval on mortality for the species. RESULTS: From an initial total of 1313 live trees in historical photographs, 74% had died and only 44 (3.4%) had recruited in the repeat photographs, leaving 387 live individuals. Juveniles (mature adults) had decreased (increased) from 27% (73%) to 8% (92%) over the intervening period. Our model demonstrates that mortality is related to greater fire frequency, higher temperatures, lower elevations, less rocky habitats and aspect (i.e. east-facing slopes had the least mortality). CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that W. cedarbergensis populations have declined significantly over the recorded period, with a pronounced decline in the last 30 years. Individuals that established in open habitats at lower, hotter elevations and experienced a greater fire frequency appear to be more vulnerable to mortality than individuals growing within protected, rocky environments at higher, cooler locations with less frequent fires. Climate models predict increasing temperatures for our study area (and likely increases in wildfires). If these predictions are realised, further declines in the species can be expected. Urgent management interventions, including seedling out-planting in fire-protected high elevation sites, reducing fire frequency in higher elevation populations, and assisted migration, should be considered.
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    Open Access
    Retrieving physiotherapy patient records in an academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa
    (2005) Mkumbuzi, V P R; Amosun, S L; Stewart, A V
    The purpose of this study was to evaluate the process and feasibility of retrieving physiotherapy patient records in an academic hospital in Johannesburg in the Republic of South Africa. Multiple methods of data collection which included a walk-through observation of the whole health facility, aided by a researcher designed checklist, interviews and attempting to retrieve physiotherapy records were employed to evaluate the process of retrieving physiotherapy patient records and to determine the factors that influenced physiotherapy record retrieval. The percentage record retrieval was calculated by dividing the number of physiotherapy patient records that were actually retrieved by the total number of patients billed for receiving physiotherapy for one calendar month. The process of retrieving physiotherapy records was arduous and multi-faceted, requiring the use of multiple recording books, files and boxes to identify the names and hospital numbers of patients who attended physiotherapy. These data were required to retrieve the correct physiotherapy record. A final retrieval rate of 29.7% (n = 769) was achieved. The implications for the quality and planning of physiotherapy services, the legal and professional standing of the physiotherapy profession and implications for the academic functions in this hospital are discussed. The study concluded that the process of retrieving physiotherapy records in different sections of the selected hospital lacked uniformity.