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Phishing research presents conflicting findings regarding the psychological predictors of phishing susceptibility. The present work aimed to resolve these discrepancies by utilizing a diverse online sample and email set. Participants completed a survey that included an email classification task and measured several individual differences, including phishing awareness, age, impulsivity, curiosity, and personality (the Big‐5). Phishing susceptibility was measured by participants' ability to distinguish between phishing and legitimate emails. Three regression analyses were performed to predict email discrimination ability; (1) an age model, (2) a deficient self‐regulation model (i.e., impulsivity, response times, and curiosity), and (3) a personality (i.e., the Big‐5) model. Overall, phishing susceptibility was predicted by younger age, higher levels of impulsivity and extraversion, lower levels of openness to experience and agreeableness, and quick responses. The present work identifies several populations that are particularly vulnerable to phishing attacks and may require targeted training interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seagrasses provide a wide range of ecosystem services and are prioritized in conservation planning. Management of this dynamic community requires describing seagrass responses to repeated grazing by dependent herbivores. Using two experimental randomized block designs in Humboldt Bay, California, we tested responses of eelgrass (Zostera marina) to separate and combined effects of simulated Brant Goose (Branta bernicla) grazing (clipping to a uniform height) and fecal pellet addition, and then to medium (MED) and severe (SEV) intensities of simulated Brant flock visitation. In Experiment 1, clipping with fecal addition (FC) stimulated more clonal addition of shoots than controls or clipping and fecal addition alone (standardized β = 0.26 relative to control). The FC treatment also had the largest positive, delayed effect (β = 0.135) on density of flowering shoots. In Experiment 2, the MED intensity treatment had positive effects on shoot density (β = 0.149), rates of leaf extension (β = 0.16), and leaf productivity (β = 0.20). These MED treatment responses resulted in the highest measures of above‐ground (β = 0.099) and below‐ground (β = 0.32) biomass. Whole shoot (βMED = 0.33, βSEV = −0.36) and landscape (βMED = 0.34, βSEV = −0.23) levels of productivity for the MED treatment reflected the parabolic shape predicted by the compensatory regrowth hypothesis, likely because light and nutrient resources were available to the eelgrass and meristems that were not damaged. Meristem injury in the SEV treatment likely explained why productivity was low, but the high SEV resource levels allowed these plants to recover to control levels in approximately eight to 10 weeks after the last treatment applications. The MED level of shoot and landscape productivity would optimize low intertidal accessibility for Brant to the most nutritiously valuable leaves. Brant grazing and detrital pathways of carbon flow are likely linked with Brant‐induced productivity contributing to the detrital pathway when Brant are present and after the birds leave the estuary. The effect of Brant grazing on eelgrass sexual reproduction may increase long‐term resilience of estuarine ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT The decline in river otter ( Lontra canadensis) populations during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries throughout North America has led to protective status and strict harvest regulations. Despite sustained interest in protecting river otters, relatively few contemporary studies have evaluated the current status of populations, especially in California. An effective way to estimate river otter population sizes and facilitate monitoring is with noninvasive genetic methods. Our objective was to establish baseline demographic information for an understudied river otter population in northern California by estimating river otter abundance using noninvasive genetic sampling, supplemented with data obtained from an observation-based citizen science project focusing on river otters. We extracted DNA from scat and genotyped samples at 6 microsatellite loci. We used Program MARK to build mark-recapture models to estimate river otter abundance and pooled visual observations from a citizen science project maintained in Humboldt County, California to supplement population estimates with information regarding pups and group size. Between 41 and 44 river otters were in the study area based on noninvasive genetic samples, and group sizes ranged 1-7 or 2-12 based on observational and genetic data, respectively. The Humboldt Bay region had a high density of river otters (0.93 otters/km) as compared to other coastal systems; resource attributes of Humboldt Bay could contribute to this difference. Results reported herein demonstrate methods appropriate for establishing baseline river otter demographics. © 2013 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals that maintain pair bonds over multiple breeding attempts are often able to improve reproductive success compared to conspecifics that switch partners. However, the behavioral mechanisms driving this 'mate familiarity effect' are still largely unknown. We investigated whether long-standing pairs in the long-lived, socially monogamous Steller's jay improved their coordination of movements and behaviors, invested more time in pair bond maintenance, or became more compatible in their tendency to take risks over time compared to newly established pairs. We then compared these pair bond characteristics for successful and unsuccessful partnerships in terms of producing offspring. Jay partners regularly perched together, gave soft contact calls and travelled as a pair even in the non-breeding season. However, the proportion of observations jay partners spent in each other's company (pair tenacity) was unrelated to risk-taking behavior of pair members, pair bond duration, or the performance of subtle pair bond maintenance behaviors (i.e., a principle component of behaviors, including soft contact calls, proximity to mates, and frequency of arrival and departure flights with mate). However, evidence suggests that reproductive performance still improved in continuing compared to new pair bonds in Steller's jays. Variation in pair tenacity and frequency of pair bond behaviors may be inconsequential because of jays' overall high level of contact with partners. Additionally, if jays are able to maximize familiarity early in the pair bond through high overall pair tenacity, the additional benefit of increasing coordination and familiarity with increasing pair bond age may be limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the effects of rise in sea level on the eelgrass area (Zostera marina) habitat and the availability of the grass to the Brant geese (Branta bernicla) species in the Pacific coast estuaries. It mentions the development of digital elevation models of seven estuaries including Alaska, California and Mexico, and highlights the derivation of future total eelgrass area from the combination of tectonic rates and sediments

The concept of partner compatibility in monogamous animals implies that individuals may reproduce better when paired to a partner with similar traits than to a higher quality, but dissimilar individual. We investigated whether partner similarities in traits that are linked in a behavioural syndrome influence reproductive performance in a wild population of Steller's jays. In some years, pairs more similar in explorative tendencies and in willingness to take risks initiated nests earlier and were more likely to fledge offspring than dissimilar pairs. Benefits of behavioural similarity differed among breeding seasons, being most pronounced in a year with late breeding onset after a severe winter. Pairing patterns for behavioural traits also varied among years and traits, and assortative pairing of behaviourally similar partners was not only common overall, but was also correlated across the three explorative and risk-taking tendencies. Pair members with behavioural similarities may yield more compatible and complementary partnerships. Our results indicate that compatibility across a suite of behavioural traits (i.e. a behavioural syndrome) may be beneficial for assortative pairs and support the hypothesis that the combination of traits in behavioural syndromes in itself might be a target for selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an individual-based model to simulate the evolution of traditional foraging strategies in a fluctuating environment. The parameters and procedures are based on observed behavior of barnacle geese, Branta leucopsis, during spring staging off the coast of Helgeland, Norway. Within a temporally and spatially heterogeneous environment, goose movement is modeled according to state-dependent site selection decisions that maximize food intake. The aim of each individual is to optimize fitness (survival and reproduction) by gaining enough food (energy reserves) during 3 weeks of foraging to meet a threshold of energy necessary for successful reproduction. The geese return to the same islands each year and on a daily basis choose unoccupied sites according to their rank in the population-structured dominance hierarchy, memories of previously visited sites (tradition), past reproductive success, inherited genetic influence towards site faithfulness and/or site quality, and knowledge of the available biomass density. It is assumed that with each subsequent return to a specific location, increased familiarity of the area will benefit an individual through greater food acquisition by more efficient foraging practices. In the event of variable environmental conditions, geese are faced with a critical decision to return to previously visited sites or abandon tradition to explore for something better. It is shown that habitat quality plays an integral role in population dynamics. Beyond the scope of this paper, the evolution of foraging strategies that directly affect reproductive potential is shown to inevitably determine the resilience of the population over time ( Kanarek [2006] ). Further experiments are required for detailed results and analysis of specific circumstances that provoke the adaptation of certain behaviors. In general, this modeling approach has the potential to reveal significant insight into the emergence of stable responses to environmental disturbance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several auditory processing deficits have been reported in children with dyslexia. In order to assess for the presence of a binaural integration type of auditory processing deficit, dichotic listening tests with digits, words and consonant–vowel (CV) pairs were administered to two groups of right-handed 11-year-old children, one group diagnosed with developmental dyslexia and an age-matched control group. Dyslexic children performed more poorly than controls from their left ears when listening to digits and words and from their right ears when listening to CVs. Direction of ear advantage varied across individuals in both groups when tested with digits and CVs, but ear advantage was stable with words. Several factors that may have contributed to inconsistencies in direction of ear advantage are discussed. When the children were tested in a directed response mode, degree of ear advantage differed significantly between groups with both words and digits. More dyslexic than control children demonstrated clinically significant reductions in dichotic listening performance, but no uniform pattern of deficit emerged. Only the double correct score and the left ear score with CV pairs were predictive of word recognition performance in dyslexic children. Binaural integration deficits are present in some children with dyslexia. Auditory processing disorder assessment may help delineate factors that underlie or are associated with reading impairment in this population. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On their way from the wintering area to the breeding grounds in Spitsbergen, barnacle geese Branta leucopsis stage on islands off the coast of Norway. The aim of this study was to describe when the geese migrate in relation to the body stores deposited and explore questions related to the concept of optimal migration schedules and on the possible mechanisms involved. We estimated fat stores by repeated assessments of the abdominal profile index of individually marked females throughout staging. Reproductive success was derived from observations of the same individuals later in the annual cycle. Females arriving late, or with low fat stores at arrival, achieved higher fat deposition rates, probably by spending more time foraging. But they were unable to match final fat scores of birds that arrived earlier or with larger fat stores. Reproductive success was correlated with the timing of migration and individuals departing at intermediate dates achieved highest success. The exact date of peak reproductive success depended on the size of fat stores accumulated, such that low-quality birds (depositing less fat) benefited most from an early departure to the breeding grounds. Observations in the breeding colonies showed that these birds did not initiate a nest earlier but they spent a longer time in Spitsbergen before settling. The length of stay in Norway was close to the prediction derived from an optimisation model relating spring events to eventual breeding success. Poorest performing birds stayed longer than expected, perhaps depositing more fat to avoid the risk of starvation. Two possible mechanisms of the timing of migration were contrasted and it seemed that the geese departed for migration as soon as they were unable to accumulate any more fat stores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the survival, movements and breeding of the Hawaiian geese. Information on the initiation of the Hawaiian geese; Ranging of the estimated annual mortality.

Large-sized Barnacle Geese Branta leucopsis of both sexes had a higher probability of breeding successfully in any particular year and produced more goslings than did smaller birds. Large females paired at an earlier age, suggesting that they were preferred as mates and were likely to have entered the breeding population earlier. The relative sizes of the pair bond members also affected fitness. Most birds were able to maximize their breeding performance by mating with relatively similar sized partners; the greater the size disparity of mates, the lower the breeding performance. This supports the idea that compatibility of mates may be important in determining fitness of the pair. The success of different pair types was also affected by environmental conditions, with certain size combinations doing better in some years and poorly in other years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild goose populations were probably limited by winter food supplies before Man modified their winter range and effectively removed that limitation on population growth. At the same time, reduction of hunting lowered Man-induced mortality and allowed most populations to increase both in Europe and in North America. This paper considers likely future trends, and, using the population of Barnacle Geese breeding in Svalbard as an example, suggests how numbers might be regulated in a density related manner. The Svalbard Barnacle Goose population has shown a decline in recruitment rate and an increase in the natural mortality rate as numbers have increased. Both of these are reflections of competition on the breeding grounds, though there may be some effects at other times. We suggest that most populations will eventually be limited by resources on the breeding area. Some of the implications of changes in numbers are that pair-bond stability and breeding area philopatry are less advantageous and in time will become less pronounced as the selective value of these traits are diminished. We argue that both for applied reasons (conservation, crop damage prediction) and for academic investigations of population processes, long-term studies are vital in the management and understanding of goose populations. A number of features of their life history make geese very suitable subjects for such studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on the adoption of phonics test examinations in assessing the encoding ability of students. Investigation of the tests validity and reliability; Use of Pearson product-moment procedure in computing linear relationship of two variables; Recognition of validity through convincing evidence of criterion variables.

Since 1960, about 2150 Hawaiian Geese or Nene Branta sandvicensis were reintroduced in Hawaii to supplement the remaining wild population of about 30 birds. These geese were released mostly in high mountain sanctuaries. These sites became unsuitable during prolonged drought and the few surviving birds were those which had moved away from the release sites. The geese that survived had moved to, or were released near, agricultural pasture land. About 600 Nene are currently living in the wild; numbers are declining on the island of Hawaii, stable on Maui and increasing on Kauai. Management priorities include enhancement of grasslands, predator control and maximizing genetic diversity. To enable the species to recover, management will probably have to be large scale, intensive and prolonged. Further released captive-bred or translocated Nene should have access to enhanced habitats after predators have been controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]