Northcentral's Expectation Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Northcentral's Expectation - Research Paper Example Introduction It is important for the researchers to clearly differentiate and distinguish the quantitative research method and qualitative research method. In order to make sure that the research is properly carried out and the stated aim and objectives are fulfilled in effective and efficient manner, it is essential for the researcher to carefully select the research method. For this purpose, the researcher should be able to clearly distinguish the two research methods from each other. The qualitative research method is descriptive as it focus on depth and details, on the other hand quantitative research method is precise as it focus on the quantity. The research designs in the quantitative research method are more formal and use more numbers and statistics. Apart from this the quantitative research designs are designed for the statistical treatment and analysis. On the other hand, the qualitative research method and designs focus more on different informal sources like words, image s and other things. This in turn, allow the researcher to get hold of the topic being investigated on more personal level. It is also important to acknowledge here that some researchers often use a mix method approach in which both quantitative and qualitative research methods are used. ... For this purpose, researchers also take help from different statistical tests. The numbers are interpreted with the help of different mathematical and statistical techniques for example, mean, frequency, z-score test, and many other. In order to increase the generalization of the research study, there should be large amount of information or data. Researchers normally use different well structured questionnaires and surveys in order to gather quantitative data. Along with this the experimental studies are also common in order to identify and establish causal relationship between difference variables. These experiments are either performed in controlled setting or non controlled setting (Creswell, 2007). In order to come up with the problem statement in the quantitative research study it is first essential to identify different variables which includes confounding variables, covariates, mediating variables, dependent variable, independent variable, etc. Along with this in quantitative research study the researcher has to come up with different research questions and the related proposed hypothesis. The researcher should make sure that the research questions and hypothesis are formulated in such a manner that they are aligned with the problem statement of the research study. Hypotheses are only formulated in the quantitative research study or mix method research study. The quantitative research study focuses on exploring the direct relationship between two or more variables with the help of different tests and experiments. For this reason, in quantitative research studies and mix method research studies it is essential for the researcher to present the operational definition of the

Competition Act Case Essay Example for Free

Competition Act Case Essay In a telling judgement, the Supreme Court of India, on Sep. 9, 2010, has effectively and judiciously circumscribed the boundaries of exercise of power by both the Competition Commission of India (CCI/Commission) and the Competition Appellate Tribunal (â€Å"the Tribunal†) while delivering its verdict in the much awaited case Competition Commission of India v. Steel Authority of India Ltd. This Note captures the highlights of the decision for readers of this Blog! Background: The Court was hearing an appeal by the CCI against the order dated Feb. 15, 2010 of the Tribunal in Steel Authority of India Ltd. v. Jindal Steel Power Ltd. Jindal Steel had filed a complaint before CCI alleging anti-competitive practices and abusive behaviour by SAIL while it entered into an exclusive supply agreement with Indian Railways. Upon receipt of the complaint/information, CCI issued notice to SAIL to furnish certain information for within two weeks from the date of receipt of such notice. SAIL requested for an extension of time upto six weeks to file the required information. CCI in its meting deliberated on the request and decided not to grant any further extension. In the said meeting CCI also formed a prima facie opinion on the existence of the case and directed the Director General (DG) to inquire into the matter pursuant to its powers under Section 26(1) of the Competition Act, 2002 (â€Å"the Act†). SAIL challenged this direction before the Tribunal claiming that CCI could not have formed a prima facie opinion without hearing it first. SAIL also contended that CCI has not recorded any reasons while forming the prima facie opinion and that the time provided by CCI to file information was grossly inadequate. While filing the appeal before Tribunal, SAIL did not implead CCI as a party. CCI thus filed an application before Tribunal for impleading itself as a necessary and proper party and also assailed the very maintainability of appeal. The Tribunal, in its detailed order, holding that even the direction to inquire was appealable under Section 53A(1) of the Act noted that CCI could not have directed the DG to inquire into the complaint without having heard SAIL. It further noted that CCI was neither a necessary nor a proper party in appeals filed by an aggrieved party before the Tribunal. The Tribunal also noted that CCI did not record any reasons while declining to grant extension of time and hence it in violation of principles of natural justice. Appeal before the Supreme Court: Aggrieved by the order of the Tribunal, CCI approached the Supreme Court which framed six broad issues noting some of the allied issues raised by the parties: (i) Whether the direction passed by the Commission u/s. 26(1) of the Act while forming prima facie opinion would be appealable u/s/ 53A(1) of the Act? (ii) What is the scope of the power vested with Commision u/s. 26(10 of the Act and whether parties including the informant and other affected parties are entitled to notice at the stage of formation of prima facie opinion? (iii) Whether the Commission would be necessary or at least a proper part in proceedings before the Tribunal? (iv) At what stage and in what manner the Commission can exercise its powers u/s. 33 of the Act while passing interim orders? (v) Whether it is obligatory for the Commission to record reasons while forming prima facie opinion? (vi) What directions, if any, need to be issued by the Court for ensuring proper compliance of the procedural requirements while keeping in mind the scheme and object of the Act? The Verdict: Issue 1: The Court made an exhaustive study of the scheme and the provisions of the Act and rules of statutory interpretation, noted the distinction between â€Å"and† and â€Å"or†, referred to Indian, UK and European decisions to unearth settled principles of law and finally concluded that Section 53A(1) of the Act expressly provides for what decisions or orders or directions may be appealed before Tribunal. The Court noted that right to appeal is a substantive right which derives its legitimacy from the operation of law or statute. If the Statute does not provide for an appeal, the Court cannot presume such right. The direction to cause an investigation into a matter is passed under Section 26(1) of the Act does not determine any right or obligation of the parties to the lis. It does not find mention in Section 53A(1) of the Act and hence, the Court found that such orders would not be appealable under the Act. Issue 2 and 5: The Court noted that the exclusion of principles of natural justice (PNJ) is a well known concept and the legislature has the competence to enact such laws. Whether the exclusion of application of PNJ would vitiate the entire proceedings would depend upon the nature and facts of every case in the light of the Act or Rules and Regulation applicable to the case. The Court, then, read into various provisions of the Act and the Competition Commission of India (General) Regulations, 2009 in order to determine the nature of functions of the Commission under various provisions. The Court found that at the face of it, the exercise of power u/s. 26(1) of the Act while forming prima facie opinion is inquisitorial and regulatory. It held that while forming prima facie opinion, the Commission does not condemn anyone. This function is not adjudicatory in nature but merely administrative. This function is in the nature of preparatory measures in contrast to the decision making process and hence right of notice of hearing is not contemplated u/s. 26(1) of the Act. On the issue of reasons to be recorded at the stage of forming prima facie opinion, the Court held that the Commission must express its mind in no uncertain terms that it is of the view that prima facie case exists. Such opinion should be formed on the basis of the records, including the information furnished and reference made to the Commission. The reasons may not be in detail but there must be minimum reasons substantiating the view of the Commission. Issue 3: The Court reiterated the settled position of law relating necessary party and proper party. A necessary party is one without whom no order can be made effectively whereas a proper party is one in whose absence an effective order can be made but whose presence is necessary for a complete and final decision on the question involved in the proceeding. Applying the principle of dominus litus, the Court then noted that in cases where the Commission initiates a proceedings suo moto it shall be the proper party. In all other proceedings, it shall be a necessary party. Issue 4: On powers of the Commission u/s. 33, the Court noted in following terms: â€Å"During an inquiry and where the Commission is satisfied that the act is in contravention of the provisions stated in Section 33 of the Act, it may issue an order temporarily restraining the party from carrying on such act, until the conclusion of such inquiry or until further orders without giving notice to such party, where it deems it necessary. This power has to be exercised by the Commission sparingly and under compelling and exceptional circumstances. The Commission, while recording a reasoned order inter alia should : (a) record its satisfaction (which has to be of much higher degree than formation of a prima facie view under Section 26(1) of the Act) in clear terms that an act in contravention of the stated provisions has been committed and continues to be committed or is about to be committed; (b) It is necessary to issue order of restraint and (c) from the record before the Commission, it is apparent that there is every likelihood of the party to the lis, suffering irreparable and irretrievable damage or there is definite apprehension that it would have adverse effect on competition in the market.† Issue 6: One of the major outcomes of the case relates to the Court’s recognition and affirmation of the expeditious disposal of complaints filed before the Commission. The Court found this to be a fit case to issue certain guidelines in the larger interest of the justice administration. These directions weigh special worth in the light of the fact the Commission, even after more than one year of the enforcement of the operative provisions of the Act, has not issued its order in a single contentious case. The Court passed following guidelines: (a) Even though the time period for forming prima facie opinion by the Commission is provided in the Regulations (i.e. 60 days from the date of filing information) it is expected of the Commission to hold its meetings and record its opinion about existence or otherwise of a prima facie case within a period much shorter than the stated period. (b) All proceedings including investigation and inquiry by the Commission/DG must be completed expeditiously while securing the objectives of the Act. (c) Wherever during the course of inquiry the Commission exercises its jurisdiction to pass interim orders, it should pass a final order in that behalf as expeditiously as possible and in any case not later than 60 days. (d) The reports by the Director General u/s. 26(2) should be submitted within the time as directed by the Commission but in all cases not later than 45 days from the date of passing of directions in terms of Section 26(1) of the Act. (e) The Commission/DG shall maintain complete confidentiality as envisaged u/s. 57 of the Act and Regulation 35 of the Regulations. Wherever the ‘confidentiality’ is breached, the aggrieved party certainly has the right to approach the Commission for issuance of appropriate directions in terms of the provisions of the Act and the Regulations in force. Reading between the Lines: The verdict of the Apex Court bears immense significance given the timing of and issues involved in the judgement. It may be noted that both â€Å"competition law and policy† and the Commission are at a very nascent stage within the broad regulatory matrix of Indian economy. The judgement of the Supreme Court has rightly echoed the sentiments of proponents of free and fair market economy and it shall go in long way to effective sketch the competition law landscape in the country. At this point, I would like draw some conclusions which may not seem apparent at the face of it. They are as follows: (i) The Court, in its opening paragraphs, notes the importance of competition law and policy for any free market economy referring to three types of efficiencies: i.e. allocative, productive and dynamic. The Court observes that the main objective of competition law is to promote economic efficiency using competition as one of the means of assisting the creation of market responsive to consumer preferences. While it may be too early to conclude, but this certainly indicates that Indian Courts are going to lean towards Chicago School of Thought in the Chicago-Harvard dichotomy. It is the Chicago School of Economists which has brought the efficiency test as a dominant factor in last three decades in US Courts. (ii) While highlighting the aims of competition law, the Court makes a mention of the relevant laws of other jurisdictions including that of USA, UK and Australia. It would not be far-fetched to argue that the Court has indirectly hinted that in future, it shall definitely take into account the competition law jurisprudence developed in these jurisdictions while deciding contentious issues. That the Supreme Court is going to rely on EU and US Court decisions while explaining the substantive concepts involved in competition law is further strengthened by the fact that the Court referred to two decisions EU courts i.e. CFI and ECJ in its very first judgement related to the new Act even when there was no substantive concept of competition law as such involved. Remarks: (i) The Court has very effectively defined the ambit and scope of the powers of the Commission and the Tribunal at the stage of forming of prima facie opinion. No jurisdiction generally allows challenging the direction passed by the competition authorities to initiate investigation. However, there may be cases where the amount of information to be filed would be voluminous and the Commission in such cases must provide adequate time. It is doubtful whether a person would be able to challenge the denial of extension of time by the Commission in such cases. (ii) In larger interest of justice administration, the Court passed certain directions till the Commission formulates its own regulations in that regard. Though such a step by the Court is quite welcome, but the timelines provided by the Court are quite unreasonable and strict. For example, the Court has directed that the DG must submit its report within 45 days u/s. 26(2) of the Act. This seems quite onerous to be implemented in practice. The collection of evidence and ascertainment of facts would require the DG to issue notices to relevant parties. Such parties would have to prepare their responses which they intend to file before DG. All this may not be done within 45 days of time period. (iii)Though I fully agree with the Court’s reasoning as to why Commission needs to give notice to parties at the time of forming prima facie opinion; the analysis seems to be incomplete as the judgement has not even referred to provisions of Section 36 of the Act. The Court should have analyzed the provisions of Section 36 while discussing the issue of compliance or non-compliance of PNJ. (iv)Finally, the Court also states that â€Å"as far as American law is concerned, it is said that the Sherman Act, 1890, is the first codification of recognized common law principles of competition law.† I do not want to sound picky, but to my limited knowledge, Canada was the first country to enact its Competition Act which was one year prior to the Sherman Act i.e. in 1889.

Essay --

â€Å"Join, or Die† Rhetorical Analysis Looking back in American history, it is needless to say that there were many trials and tribulations that were overcome to achieve the freedom U.S citizens have today. In retrospect, it is astonishing how the colonists were oppressed by the British for more than a century and finally joined together with courage to revolt against them. This type of revolution would not have been alive if it were not for the art of rhetoric. Political icons in American history used rhetoric to stoke the wrath of colonists to revolt against the British. Founding Father, Benjamin Franklin, significantly used visual rhetoric to persuade the colonies to unite together with his first political cartoon entitled, â€Å"Join, or Die,† which was published in the Pennsylvania Gazette in 1754. Benjamin Franklin used his credibility to establish a well-crafted rhetorical illustration, in which its symbolization, initials, and caption all play an active role in the ground breaking drawing, which changed the minds of colonists towards the pursuit of freedom that is exercised today. Benjamin Franklin’s reputation during this time is what fueled â€Å"Join, or Die† to be more than just a drawing. He contributed many scientific inventions as well as insightful publications to society. His contributions earned him the credibility and reputation for being an intelligent individual. â€Å"Join, or Die† was the first political cartoon to be published in a newspaper like the Pennsylvania Gazette, indicating that impacted drawings such as this were not familiar to the public yet. Due to Franklin’s positive and respectful ethos, this political cartoon was taken with more consideration, instead of being tossed off as a mediocre sketch in a newspape... ... towards the colonies that are individually recognized. The failure to independently recognize each of the thirteen colonies in their own respect hinders his degree of persuasion towards his audience. Although there were snags in Benjamin Franklin’s political cartoon, it nevertheless accomplished its goal of persuading the colonists to band together as a harmonized force against the British for freedom. It is undeniable that Benjamin’s Franklin’s rhetorical methods were successful in his political cartoon, â€Å"Join, or Die†. The visual captured the minds of many colonists and led them towards the idea of revolution, and it is still appreciated today. Although there were drawbacks in the illustration, it nevertheless accomplished persuasion, and it is one of the many contributions that pushed colonists into fighting for the freedom that is exercised in America today.

The Nature of Adolescence, by John C. Coleman and Leo B. Hendry Essay

There have been many scientists and philosophers that have put forth information about the stages that humans go through in life. One of these representations is put forth by Erikson, in the book The Nature of Adolescence, by John C. Coleman and Leo B. Hendry. This theory has four steps; 1. The problem of intimacy, 2. A diffusion of time perspective, or the problems of focusing on the future, 3. Diffusion of industry or the difficulty of focusing on studies, and finally 4. Negative identity or the "rebellious" stage. These stages are not purely involved in the teenage years of a person’s life, as they can go through and possibly stay at these stages throughout their entire life. Rebecca Fraser-Thill defines it as, "Identity diffusion is one step in the process of finding a sense of self. It refers to a period when an individual does not have an established identity, nor is actively searching for one. In other words, it's a time when a person's identity remains unresolved, yet there is no identity crisis" (Thill). In the novel A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce, each of these stages can be seen as the novel progresses. An analysis of the stages of development as stated by Erikson, in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and in my own life is needed. Intimacy problems can be seen in the early stages of A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man when Stephen, the protagonist of the novel, has multiple sexual escapades with prostitutes. James Joyce tells of this, saying, "It was too much for him. He closed his eyes, surrendering himself to her, body and mind, conscious of nothing in the world but the dark pressure of her softly parting lips."(Joyce, Chapter 2, Section 5). This shows his reluctance to commit to a... ...in the world. Many people either do not progress, getting stuck on one level or another, or they regress back to stages that they have already surpassed. There are definitely problems in everybody’s life but the best thing to do is learn from them. These stages are not set in stone and there is no way to fully know what happens in a person's mind. Works Cited About. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 May 2014. . Coleman, John C., and Leo B. Hendry. The Nature of Adolescence. N.p.: Metheun and Co., 1980. Print. Erikson, Erik H. Identity: Youth and Crisis. N.p.: W.W. Norton and Company, 1968. Print. Melges, Frederick T. "Identity and Temporal Perspective." Cognitive Models of Psychological Time. Ed. Richard A. Block. N.p.: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1990. 255-67. Print. SimplyPsychology. N.p., n.d.

A Poet Portfolio of James Joyce

James Augustine Joyce was born on the 2nd of February 1882 to a couple in Dublin. Two of his ten siblings died young from typhoid. As a boy, James studied at a boarding school in County Kildare.When his father could no longer pay the fees, the young Joyce transferred to a Christian Brothers school. However, Joyce rejected Catholicism in 1898 although philosophies of St. Thomas Aquinas became a strong influence in him even after he had left the brothers (Bradley 23).He studied modern languages at the University College Dublin in 1898. His first published work was a review of Ibsen's New Drama in 1900 which resulted in a letter of thanks from the Norwegian dramatist himself (Ellmann 13).Joyce left for Paris immediately after graduating. Unfortunately, he ended up squandering what little fortune his family still had. He returned to Ireland shortly after only to witness the final days of his mother who died of cancer in August 13, 1903. James resorted to heavy drinking after his mothers death, at the same time trying to make a meager living out of reviewing books, teaching and singing (Ellmann 15).In 1904, he met a young woman from Connemara by the name of Nora Barnacle who worked as a chambermaid who later on became his wife. The couple moved from Dublin and James experienced a great deal of trouble in finding work (Ellmann 16).James’ two major contributions to poetry are the books Chamber Music which is his first full length collection composed of 36 short lyrics published in 1907 and Pomes Penyeach which was published in twenty years later. (Ellmann 25)James’ works have been highly scrutinized by several well known personalities in their own right such as Mà ¡irtà ­n Ó Cadhain, Jorge Luis Borges, Flann O'Brien, and Samuel Beckett.He died on the 11th of January 1941 following complications after surgery for a perforated ulcer. James Joyce’s life is annually celebrated as Bloomsday every June 16 in Dublin and in other cities around the w orld. (Ellmann 20)

Peroxisomes - Eukaryotic Organelles

Peroxisomes - Eukaryotic Organelles Peroxisomes are small organelles found in eukaryotic plant and animal cells. Hundreds of these round organelles can be found within a cell. Also known as microbodies, peroxisomes are bound by a single membrane and contain enzymes that produce hydrogen peroxide as a by-product. The enzymes decompose organic molecules through oxidation reactions, producing hydrogen peroxide in the process. Hydrogen peroxide is toxic to the cell, but peroxisomes also contain an enzyme that is capable of converting hydrogen peroxide to water. Peroxisomes are involved in at least 50 different biochemical reactions in the body. Types of organic polymers that are broken down by peroxisomes include amino acids, uric acid, and fatty acids. Peroxisomes in liver cells help to detoxify alcohol and other harmful substances through oxidation. Key Takeaways: Peroxisomes Peroxisomes, also known as microbodies, are organelles that are found in both eukaryotic animal and plant cells.A number of organic polymers are broken down by peroxisomes including amino acids, uric acid, and fatty acids. At least 50 different biochemical reactions in the body involve peroxisomes.Structurally, peroxisomes are surrounded by one membrane that encloses digestive enzymes. Hydrogen peroxide is produced as a by-product of peroxisome enzyme activity which decomposes organic molecules.Functionally, peroxisomes are involved in both the destruction of organic molecules and the synthesis of important molecules in the cell.Similar to mitochondria and chloroplast reproduction, peroxisomes have the ability to assemble themselves and reproduce by dividing in a process known as peroxisomal biogenesis. Peroxisomes Function In addition to being involved in the oxidation and decomposition of organic molecules, peroxisomes are also involved in synthesizing important molecules. In animal cells, peroxisomes synthesize cholesterol and bile acids (produced in the liver). Certain enzymes in peroxisomes are necessary for the synthesis of a specific type of phospholipid that is necessary for the building of heart and brain white matter tissue. Peroxisome dysfunction can lead to the development of disorders that affect the central nervous system as perioxsomes are involved in producing the lipid covering (myelin sheath) of nerve fibers. The majority of peroxisome disorders are the result of gene mutations that are inherited as autosomal recessive disorders. This means that individuals with the disorder inherit two copies of the abnormal gene, one from each parent. In plant cells, peroxisomes convert fatty acids to carbohydrates for metabolism in germinating seeds. They are also involved in photorespiration, which occurs when carbon dioxide levels become too low in plant leaves. Photorespiration conserves carbon dioxide by limiting the amount of CO2 available to be used in photosynthesis. Peroxisome Production Peroxisomes reproduce similarly to mitochondria and chloroplasts in that they have the ability to assemble themselves and reproduce by dividing. This process is called peroxisomal biogenesis and involves the building of the peroxisomal membrane, intake of proteins and phospholipids for organelle growth, and new peroxisome formation by division. Unlike mitochondria and chloroplasts, peroxisomes have no DNA and must take in proteins produced by free ribosomes in the cytoplasm. The uptake of proteins and phospholipids increases growth and new peroxisomes are formed as the enlarged peroxisomes divide. Eukaryotic Cell Structures In addition to peroxisomes, the following organelles and cell structures can also be found in eukaryotic cells: Cell Membrane: The cell membrane protects the integrity of the interior of the cell. It is a semi-permeable membrane that surrounds the cell.Centrioles: When cells divide, centrioles help to organize the assembly of microtubules.Cilia and Flagella: Both cilia and flagella aid in cellular locomotion and can also help move substances around cells.Chloroplasts: Chloroplasts are the sites of photosynthesis in a plant cell. They contain chlorophyll, a green substance that can absorb light energy.Chromosomes: Chromosomes are located in the cells nucleus and carry heredity information in the form of DNA.Cytoskeleton: The cytoskeleton is a network of fibers that support the cell. It can be thought of as the cells infrastructure.Nucleus: The cells nucleus controls cell growth and reproduction. It is surrounded by the nuclear envelope, a double-membrane.Ribosomes: Ribosomes are involved in protein synthesis. Most often, individual ribosomes have both a small and large subunit.Mitochondria: Mit ochondria provide energy for the cell. They are considered the cells power house. Endoplasmic Reticulum: The endoplasmic reticulum synthesizes carbohydrates and lipids. It also produces proteins and lipids for a number of cell components.Golgi Apparatus: The golgi apparatus manufactures, stores, and ships certain cellular products. It can be thought of as the shipping and manufacturing center of the cell.Lysosomes: Lysosomes digest cellular macromolecules. They contain a number of hydrolytic enzymes that help to break down cellular components.

Tourette Syndrome essays

Tourette Syndrome essays How would you feel if you were diagnosed with a disease that has baffled scientists for centuries? If your entire social life was destroyed due to this disease which may worsen as time goes by. But worst of all about being diagnosed with this disease is the fact that there is no cure. My guess is you wouldnt be too happy. You would probably become very depressed, violent, and cut yourself out from any social activities. If you felt this way, you would now be able to understand the lives and feelings of those diagnosed with Tourette syndrome (TS). Tourette Syndrome is a neurological disorder; therefore it affects the nervous system. The nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerve cells, and fibers that extend throughout the body. When healthy, the nervous system reacts and responds to nerve impulses that allows us to maintain homeostasis. The nervous system can be broken down further into its three basic functions: sensory functions, integrative functions, and motor functions. In sensory functions, your bodys sensory receptors detect many different stimuli in and outside of your body. For example, your sensory receptors may detect a change in your blood temperature, or a change outside of your body such as a touch on the arm. Your body then goes through a process know as its integrative function. This is when your nervous system processes information sent via your sensory neurons and in a way makes decisions regarding appropriate responses. When all is said and done during this process a decision is made and sent through interneurons that act as a postman and deliver the decision to the motor function part of your nervous system. The motor function involves responding to the decision delivered by the interneurons by using efferent neurons that obtain the decision and send it to the effector to finally carry out the response. An effector can be anything in your body such a muscle fi...

buy custom Leadership Skills essay

buy custom Leadership Skills essay The term leadership can be defined as process of social influence where a person enlists the aid and support of others to accomplish a common task or objective. Leadership can also be defined as the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common objective. Good leadership requires several attributes that are essential for one to become an effective leader such as integrity, honesty, ability to communicate effectively, and courage among others (Owen, 2007). Leadership as an element of social interaction is a complex activity involving the process of influencing both actors that is the leaders and the followers that has a wide range of possible outcomes for example achievements of goals, motivating the commitment of individuals to such goals, while enhancing group cohesion and reinforcing change within the organization to form lasting organizational cultures. Effective leadership is based on ideas which cannot happen unless those ideas are communicated to the followers in way that engages them. Good leaders are made through a series of process that involve application of skills and knowledge of a leader, through extensive research, study and practices .Leadership involves communicating, inspiring and supervising of the followers by the leader. According to Blake Mouton (1999) leadership requires one to have a set of principles for example being technically proficient, understanding oneself and seeking self improvement, ability to make sound and timely decisions, leading by example, understanding your job and having solid familiarity with your employees tasks among others. The success of a leader can be enabled by application of their knowledge and skills however their personal traits and attributes contribute greatly to their success for example positive beliefs, values, ethics and character are important determinants of ones success. For one to be termed as an effective leader some qualities are important to achieve success in these undertakings. The ability to communicat effectively is paramount in the success of a leader. Effective communication helps promote better human relations and interpersonal skills (Owen, 2007). As a leader one should be able to communicate the goals and objectives of the organization to the followers and thus making it possible to work toward a common goal and also win their trust and confidence. A leader should be able to motivate the followers. This can be achieved by exemplary leading, being a good listener to the views of the subjects in the context of an organization, and should be able to note and complement good work by others so as to motivate them to work harder .For example giving promotions to employees who produce impressive results. Churchill of Britain is hailed for his motivation as a leader and statesman due to his ability to inspire and motivate his people in the opening days of the war (Caroselli, 2000). Integrity is an important trait of an effective leader. Integrity gives one a higher moral standing as one is honest and has a sense of strong internal guidelines. A leader who encourages transparency, leads by example is bound to be successful in their role for they are able to win the respect and cooperation of the followers thus able to achieve their objectives. Being a professional in ones undertakings as a leader would also make one an effective leader. This entails being loyal to your followers, performing selfless services, having good character traits, commitment, integrity and courage among others are important traits in ensuring effective leadership. This helps create confidence in the followers and thus are able to follow the lead of the leader (Victor Philip, 2004). The above attributes of effective leadership help leader to attain the trust and confidence of their subjects. They promote employer and employee satisfaction within organizations. It also helps employees understand the overall business strategy, helping them to contribute effectiively to achieve the corporations objectives and thus acquiring overall success. The ability of a leader to communicate effectively, motivate his/her followers, practice integrity, and act professionally in conducting their roles not only gives then a competitive edge in their work but also earns the respect of the followers and thus are able to motivate them to work towards a common goal. Having learnt that leaders are made, one realizes that it is possible to acquire and develop effective leadership skills through learning effective communication skills and practicing to be an effective communicator so as to be able to be an effective leader. Virtues like integrity selflessness, honesty should be natured so as to train one to be an effective leader .The ability of one to lead by example is of paramount importance as one is able to achieve the respect and cooperation of the followers (Victor Philip, 2004). Understanding the whole concept of leadership is also vital in acquiring and developing effective leadership skills. The understanding that leadership is service to humanity which only succeeds through winning the cooperation of the followers and thus should be engaging and governed by mutual respect is vital to becoming an effective leader (Adair, 1998). Important effective leadership principles should be acquired and developed such as having the dream of leaving the world a better place than one found it, desire to achieve excellence, upholding ethics ,being persistent, understanding ones strengths and improving on them, would ensure success in developing leadership skills. In conclusion, leadership is a broad concept that requires any aspiring leader to work on their personal attributes and also improve on their knowledge and skills in order to be successful. (Zaccaro Banks, 2001). However we realize that leadership cannot be effective if it fails to win the respect of the followers thus leader should strive to win this trust of their subjects. Buy custom Leadership Skills essay

British legal system Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

British legal system - Case Study Example This reflective report will provide an analysis of some of the most famous historical cases within the Old Bailey Courthouse, and choose a key issue based upon what I have witnessed and provide an analysis of discrimination and diversity in the criminal court as it pertains to my visit. London's Central Criminal Court is responsible for handling the most important criminal cases from the Greater London area as well as sensational legal matters which warrant special attention from other parts of Britain. The Old Bailey presently occupies the site of the Main Roman West Gate in the ancient city of London. Dating back to the 12th century, the present location initially housed both a court and a prison and was destroyed in the 1666 Great London Fire. The present structure was largely built at the end of the Victorian era and replayed the unpopular Newgate prison during the reign of his majesty King Edward VII. In 2007, London's Central Criminal Court celebrated its 100 year anniversary. The immense Old Bailey has 18 courtrooms and tries approximately 1,500 cases per year making it one of the most active and prolific courthouses in the country. Trying serious murderers, accused terrorists and a plethora of high-profile defendants, the Old Bailey's Senior Judge, His Hono ur Judge Peter Beaumont QC is the Recorder of London ands highest authority at the Court (City of London, 2007; Murphy, 1999). What are the roles and functions of the court Old Bailey within the UK system' The Old Bailey Courthouse is an iconic structure which plays an important role in the British system. Accordingly, most prominent cases in the London area make their way to the Old Bailey and this is the place in which UK justice is meted out. Criminals, violent offenders, embezzlers and a whole host of other presumed offenders have faced justice at the Old Bailey and this building remains an important and often publicized institution of the British justice system. Accordingly, in media and tabloid reports, when a case is in front of the judges at the Old Bailey there is increased media attention and publicity since the trial is likely of a great magnitude and importance. Historically speaking, a variety of high-profile cases have been judged at the Old Bailey including the case against Oscar Wilde in which he made his famous 'Love that dare not speak its name" speech while in the dock at the Old Bailey; t he Lord Haw Haw treason case after World War II; the trial of the Kray Brothers were tried at the Old Bailey as well as that of the Yorkshire Ripper. Recent prominent cases include the case of Fatima Miah, who was acquitted of violently shaking her newborn causing death and the shocking case of Baby P in which a two-year old boy was raped and killed. These are just some of the most sensational cases to land in the dock at the Old Bailey. The Old Bailey is the personification of the strength and importance of Her Majesty's Courts Services (HMCS), the judiciary, the police forces and the City of London. It is the representation of the British Justice System and an important building for the people of the United Kingdom. We now turn to an exploration of an important issue in our analysis, discrimination and racism within the UK Justice System (Murphy, 1999. Issue Analysis The promotion of equality and inclusion as well as the value of diversity in practice are at the helm of

Linguistic Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Linguistic - Essay Example instance, was added to the OED in 2001, with a description of â€Å"Expressing frustration at the realization that things have turned out badly† and cites the cartoon The Simpsons in setting both its definition and its spelling (OED s.v. â€Å"D’oh†). A dictionary attempting to set rather than describe usage would be very unlikely to include a word made famous by a television cartoon. Furthermore, the policy of the Oxford English Dictionary board itself describes the resource as descriptive rather than prescriptive. In its â€Å"Guide to the Third Edition of the OED† the board writes that â€Å"the Dictionary is intended to be descriptive, not prescriptive,† though the dictionary notes that it will indicate when usages have been popularly considered â€Å"incorrect† (OED Online). Noting a usage as being popularly â€Å"incorrect† does not make the resource prescriptive, however: it simply describes the popular usage of the

Fashion and Consumers Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Fashion and Consumers - Essay Example The essay "Fashion and Consumers" analyzes fashion and consumerism. The rules were established at the end of the eighteenth century: coat, trousers and vest, designed and constructed to produce a uniformly ideal silhouette and image for any man. A slightly wider lapel here, a fractionally narrower trouser leg there, is as much as most of us are willing to tolerate† (Boyer). From there, consumers influences the market of fashion because of their interest and needs during a period of time. decisions because it is as set of symbols and artifacts created by a society and handed down from generation to generation. From there, customer segmentation is important understanding consumer behavior so that marketers can know what they need to appeal to each consumer’s social class. Since customer segmentation is at the root of CRM, each business that performs CRM is ready to address the bigger question of deploying unique messages to the right customer at the right time. The booming CRM industry has provided the in-depth customer data that is vital for successful direct mail campaigns and integrated channel strategies focused on keeping and growing profitable customers. Data can become customer insight. Customer insight can become action. Action can grow the value of customer base and grow net income. Unlike women's hemlines, which seem to go from here to there in a blink, more than a half-inch taken or given anywhere in a man's wardrobe constitutes a revolution. The general thrust in menswear. since the beginning of the twentieth century has been to make the basic suit more comfortable: lighter-weight fabrics and construction techniques have reduced stiffness, heaviness and constriction. Men's tailoring today is positively airy compared to what it was before mid-century (Boyer). Social classes From there, social classes are likely to respond differently to a sellers marketing program. However, there are other situational factors that encourages consumers to purchase organic food such as store location and personal preference. Due to this fact, marketers may need to design marketing programs tailored to specific social classes so that that they can be more successful in understanding their customers needs without making mistakes. Customers have the ability to make a choice about what they want to purchase. Customers want excellent service from the companies that they patron and they want competitive pricing. This may appear to them that the company is weakening or is inconsistent. By communicating goals and strategy early on, the organization pays respect to customers and employees, and deals openly with uncertainty and doubt. (Baron, A. p. 13, 2006). Customer trends Customer trends change and so does their choices, which means people are generally tired of the same brands that they had been using over the years. When they do not see the expected innovation they migrate to new brands. With that, maintaining the standards of such a huge chain becomes feasible. However, when there is lack of quality service in one store it affects the whole brand. In order to overcome the issues, marketers of organic food need to consider group thinking and conformity so that everyone can work together. Working on a team can be very rewarding and exciting, but also frustrating if some of the team member are not committed

The Business Perspective of the Apple Company Term Paper

The Business Perspective of the Apple Company - Term Paper Example The brand value of the company is incomplete in today’s world. Effective use of technology provides the company with brand recognition, enabling it to stand out among its competitors. The collaborative work of its employees has paved the way for the success of the company, which follows a collaborative work culture. Apple Inc. is recognized as the biggest start-up in the world, formed by the efficient hands of Steve Jobs. There are frequent team meetings in each department in order to discuss the current business scenario, and the company values and encourages the participation of its team members in the decision-making processes. Apple has a reputation of valuing individuality and excellence that help in the company’s decision making (Apple Inc, 2012). Products/services and geographic scope Formerly named Apple Computer Inc., the company is an American multinational corporation which specializes in the design and sale of electronic goods and high-technology personal co mputers, along with computer software. The best-known products of the company are the Macintosh series of computers and the iPhone. In 2007, the company shifted from offering only computers towards making and selling consumer electronics. In terms of market capitalization, it is the largest public limited company. The company manages its business on a geographic basis, with five operating segments, in America, Japan, Europe, and some other regions. The operating segment offers similar hardware as well as software products (Datamonitor, 2009:3). Competitors Apple Inc operates its business in multiple industries, the main one of which is personal computers. Apart from this, the company produces software and consumer electronics. In the personal computer industry, Apple’s main competitors are IBM, Hewlett Packard, Dell Inc. etc. In the consumer electronics industry, the main market competitor is Samsung, which has a similar type of product on the market; Apple has also been faci ng competition in developing countries. Apple’s direct competitors are Google, Microsoft, and RIMM (Research in Motion Limited).

Race and ethnicity College Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Race and ethnicity College - Essay Example In other words, sociologists consider that physical marks reflect not the objective reality, but subjective attitude. According to Robert Park (1964, pp. 237-239, 315), a racial mark has become the symbol of the suspense, in the ground of which has laid the sense of self-vulnerability. He writes that a sociologist is interested not in physical distinctions, differentiating one race from another, but in less evident lineaments of inner apprehensions. And physical distinctions are just the symbols of these inner apprehensions. Park claims that historical process in the issue is predetermined by the ideological factors, not by the biological ones. The more important is to realize what people believe in and look for, than to know who they are. In other words modern sociologists, considering race as an artificial construct and one of means of creation and description the identity, emphasize that race remains to be rather important notion, which determines and legalizes social and political actions of people. At the same time they are sure that race is a product of racism, and not contrariwise. From this point of view groups, which are called racial, turn out to be racialised. It means that social, political, or economical state of these groups is described with the help of racial categories. A lot of A lot of scholars for decades have oppugned against scientific racism, which has tried to ground the idea of racial inequality. They have proved that human capabilities do not depend on the colour of the skin or type of eyes. One of the most outstanding representatives of this stream is Ashley Montague (1952), who from 1940s has insisted that race is just a scientific phantom. However a lot of scholars as before have considered race and ethnos as some biological reality, underestimating the paramount role of social factor. Nonetheless some of these scholars have understood that race is rather social construct then the biological reality, and that the concept of race implicates relationship of dominance and submission. The development of genetic studies has approved that several different genes determine so-called 'racial marks'. This fact has originated the basis for the true scientific approach and has given a possibility to claim that there are no races, only clines (Livingstone, 1962). During last decades this approach has been widely accepted by majority of scholars. During 1960 - 1980 it has been noticed some decline and loss of interest in studying the concept of race. In the mean time we have to confess that unfortunately even in the twenty first century mankind failed to get rid of racism. Just the other way round during last decades of the twentieth century it has got the new, even more 'fastidious' forms. As a result it has become very difficult for scholars to define the notion of 'racism'. And what even worst is that modern racists make use of such uncertainty and declare themselves as intransigent fighters against racism. It should be said that contemporary criminal justice turned out to be just not ready to such metamorphoses of racism. Modern antiracists very often fall short of knowledge about its essence and history, and accordingly they do not take into consideration significant peculiarities, which can be very helpful in struggling against it. In fact antiracism time and again is based on the same prejudices

The Business Perspective of the Apple Company Term Paper

The Business Perspective of the Apple Company - Term Paper Example The brand value of the company is incomplete in today’s world. Effective use of technology provides the company with brand recognition, enabling it to stand out among its competitors. The collaborative work of its employees has paved the way for the success of the company, which follows a collaborative work culture. Apple Inc. is recognized as the biggest start-up in the world, formed by the efficient hands of Steve Jobs. There are frequent team meetings in each department in order to discuss the current business scenario, and the company values and encourages the participation of its team members in the decision-making processes. Apple has a reputation of valuing individuality and excellence that help in the company’s decision making (Apple Inc, 2012). Products/services and geographic scope Formerly named Apple Computer Inc., the company is an American multinational corporation which specializes in the design and sale of electronic goods and high-technology personal co mputers, along with computer software. The best-known products of the company are the Macintosh series of computers and the iPhone. In 2007, the company shifted from offering only computers towards making and selling consumer electronics. In terms of market capitalization, it is the largest public limited company. The company manages its business on a geographic basis, with five operating segments, in America, Japan, Europe, and some other regions. The operating segment offers similar hardware as well as software products (Datamonitor, 2009:3). Competitors Apple Inc operates its business in multiple industries, the main one of which is personal computers. Apart from this, the company produces software and consumer electronics. In the personal computer industry, Apple’s main competitors are IBM, Hewlett Packard, Dell Inc. etc. In the consumer electronics industry, the main market competitor is Samsung, which has a similar type of product on the market; Apple has also been faci ng competition in developing countries. Apple’s direct competitors are Google, Microsoft, and RIMM (Research in Motion Limited).

Public and Private Finance in Property Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Public and Private Finance in Property - Essay Example ncreased consumption levels, reduction in unemployment rate, increased exports, growth in corporate profits as well as increased foreign direct investments. The British government does not only depend on tax revenue to fund its budget but also other sources which include state owned organizations, privatizations, foreign direct investments, sale of assets. The British government own several corporations, which forms a commendable source of revenue to the government in form of profits. For instance, the UK government own the postal service company- Royal mail, train-operating company-East Coast, and education holding company- BPP Holdings. The British government has been involved in a number of privatizations whereby the government relieve its ownership and interest in parastatal to private investors. An example of such privatization includes that of the British rail in 1993. British government is major player in local business and this is evident through participation in sovereign we alth funds. The UK government own motorways, harbours, airport terminus and sewer lines that forms an important source of revenue to the government when members of the public use these infrastructure. The government has also in a number of occasions disposed off its assets to get additional revenue in order to fund its operations. Government Expenditure The UK government has been experiencing a number of challenges with its expenditure patters for a long period. It is quite unfortunate that the UK government’s total expenditure for its fiscal years have always surpassed its revenue (Parliament, 2012). This trend has remained like this for a considerable period. The government has been forced in most cases to borrow surplus funds from the public in order to meet its expenditure need.... The British government does not only depend on tax revenue to fund its budget but also other sources which include state owned organizations, privatizations, foreign direct investments, sale of assets. The British government own several corporations, which forms a commendable source of revenue to the government in form of profits. For instance, the UK government own the postal service company- Royal mail, train-operating company-East Coast, and education holding company- BPP Holdings. The British government has been involved in a number of privatizations whereby the government relieve its ownership and interest in parastatal to private investors. An example of such privatization includes that of the British rail in 1993. British government is major player in local business and this is evident through participation in sovereign wealth funds. The UK government own motorways, harbours, airport terminus and sewer lines that forms an important source of revenue to the government when memb ers of the public use these infrastructure. The government has also in a number of occasions disposed off its assets to get additional revenue in order to fund its operations. The UK government has been experiencing a number of challenges with its expenditure patters for a long period. It is quite unfortunate that the UK government’s total expenditure for its fiscal years have always surpassed its revenue (Parliament, 2012). The government has been forced in most cases to borrow surplus funds from the public in order to meet its expenditure need.

What Is Mento Essay Example for Free

What Is Mento Essay Mento is a distinct style of Jamaican music that emerged in the early 1900s and is not to be confused with Jamaican calypso. Mento, much like other Caribbean folk music, is a blending of African rhythms, Latin rhythms, and Anglo folksongs. Mento draws its traditions from African slaves brought to Jamaica and some European folk culture. Slaves were sometimes made to play music, singing European folk songs which largely influenced the development of Mento. Inevitably, the slaves would infuse their own traditions with the music and it became common practice to sing Mento songs about social lives of the people. In Jamaica, Mento is sometimes referred to as country music, because of it light hearted and simplistic lyrics as well as the omitting of electric instruments. A Mento band typically consists of a banjo, an acoustic guitar, hand drums and rumba box and is characterized by a 3:3:2 rhythms with an emphasis on the fourth beat in each bar. Mento came to real prominence in the 1940s and 1950s before being displaced by ska, rock steady and reggae. It wasnt until the early 1950s that true Mento recordings first began to appear on 78 RPM discs. This decade was mento’s golden age, as a variety of artists recorded Mento songs in an assortment of rhythms and styles. It was the peak of mentos creativity and popularity in Jamaica and the birth of Jamaicas recording industry. These recordings reveal Mento to be a diverse musical genre, sometimes played with reckless abandon and other times with orderly precision. In addition to mentos African and European roots, by this time, it had also encompassed pan-Caribbean influences, as well as from American jazz. Although it was informed by a world of music, mento is clearly, uniquely Jamaican. And as Jamaicas original music, all other Jamaican music can trace its roots to mento . Mento is still listened to in Jamaica today, but mostly be heard in tourist destinations. Early recordings of traditional mento are difficult to find. Some early mento practioners were Slim and Slam, Count Lasher and Everard Williams.

Effect of the Local Environment on Bees

Effect of the Local Environment on Bees Local Environment Europe The effect of the local environment on bee abundance and diversity in regions throughout Europe. Bees have an important ecological role; they are insect pollinators providing a crucial service. Without insect pollination human diet would be very different to how we know it now. Declines in pollinators have been reported and by attempting to understand the how the local environment affects bee abundance and diversity it may be possible to prevent any further decline. Samples were collected at six sites across Europe in each site there was a disturbed landscape and a natural landscape and within each of these a hot and a cold area. Samples were collected, pinned and identified to genera and the Halictus measured. Analysis found that there was no significant difference in size between different countries, landscape and temperature. The number of individuals and the number of genera did not significantly differ between temperature, landscape and country however on a smaller country level there were differences in the numbers of individuals and genera at different landscapes. The number of bumblebees was affected by the landscape with more individuals found in the disturbed landscapes; it is possible that due to the foraging ability and feeding preferences that bumblebees are able to gain an advantage in a disturbed landscape. Different genera were found in different regions with high numbers of Panurgus and Panurginus found in Spain and Catalunya. The number of bumblebees was also found to be significantly related to latitude. These differences in composition in different areas could be seriously affected in the face of climate change. The effect of the local environment on bee abundance and diversity in regions throughout Europe. 1: Background and importance â€Å"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.† Albert Einstein 1.1: The importance of bees Bees provide the critical ecosystem service of pollination (Kearns et al 1998). Insect pollination is essential for our life as we know it. 84% of crops in the EU depend on insect pollination (Williams 1994) and one third of our diet can be attributed to insect pollination, either directly or indirectly (McGregor 1976). Of the insect pollinators it is bees which provide the most pollination, bees which are highly adapted to flower visitation, have been confirmed to be pollinators for 72.7% of crop species and it is thought they could be responsible for the pollination of another 10.2% (Williams 1994, Roubik 1995). Declines in bees point towards serious consequences for natural ecosystem process and agricultural processes (Biesmeijer et al 2006). The declines being experienced on local and regional scales present a worrying situation with habitat loss, fragmentation, agricultural intensification and pesticide use causing declines in honey bees, solitary bees, wild bees and bumble bees (Steffan-Dewenter et al 2005). The greatest diversity of bees in the world is experienced in arid and semi-arid regions of the world including the Mediterranean regions of Southern Europe (Danforth 2007). Most of the bees in the world are solitary bees (National Research Council of the National Academies 2007) and of the solitary bees the majority of them are resource specialists, oligolectic (Wcislo and Cane 1996). Oligolectics are bee species which collect pollen from one genus or species but can collect nectar from a variety of plants, they are often referred to as specialists. Polylectic bee species are generalists; they can collect pollen from a variety of flowering plants and include the honeybee (Apis) and the bumblebee (Bombus). In theory the risk of extinction is elevated in oligolectic bees as their presence and distribution is limited by just one floral host (Zayed and Packer 2007). Work by Cane et al (2006) into urban habitat fragmentation showed the abundance and richness of oligolectic bees to have declined but not to have declined in the polylectic bees. Due to the important role of bees it is essential to understand the abundance and diversity of bees across the landscape and the local factors that affect them. By understanding the local factors affecting the diversity and abundance of bees it may be possible to effectively manage and conserve bees and help to prevent any further declines in diversity and abundance. 1.2: Landscape Much of the natural habitat in Europe has been lost and the habitats with the highest species richness are the remaining semi-natural areas (Pimentel et al 1992). The impact of disturbance on insect communities is not so extensively studied as the impact on vegetation, on the studies that are available results show that different insect groups respond differently to disturbance (Steffan-Dewenter and Leschke 2003). Study by Steffan-Dewenter and Leschke (2003) on the effect of habitat management and landscape on bees and wasps in orchards in Europe showed that the vegetation was more significantly affected by the management practices than the insects. Bee species richness is correlated with the percentage of grassland in the surrounding landscape (Dauber et al 2003, Hendrickx et al 2007, Steffan-Dewenter et al 2002). The bees in the study by Hendrickx et al (2007) showed not only a decline with distance from semi-natural patches but also a decline with increasing management practices. The other groups in the study experienced increased numbers with proximity to semi-natural habitat but no significant declines with increasing agricultural management. The results for bees can be attributed due to bees having such a strong dependence on floral resources (Tscharntke et al 1998). Low plant diversity with limited floral resources may not to be able to support a high diversity of insects thus resulting in lower insect diversity and the ability to support only the generalist species (Westphal et al 2003). Proximity to floral resources and nesting sites is important as foraging distances can be fairly small. Large bumblebees such as Bombus terrestris can forage distances up to 3000m, as foraging distances are related to body size, smaller bees may only be able to forage a few metres (Westphal et al 2006). In the tropical forests of Costa Rica pasture management and the floral resources showed to have no significant impact on the diversity or abundance of bees, however deforested countryside just metres away from the forest contained a different community composition (Brosi et al 2006). The complexity of landscapes means that the impact of disturbance can vary depending on the frequency, intensity and extent of the disturbance (Samways 2005). Moderate disturbance can actually increase the diversity of the area by opening up areas for colonisation by providing ecological niches and opportunities for rarer species (Caswell 1976, Connell 1978, Petraitis et al 1989). Alternately diversity could be lowered as the dominance of opportunistic species is increased (Margalef 1968). Bees depend on floral resources for nectar and pollen and can only travel certain distances from their nesting site to reach it, both flowers and nests need to be close by. Therefore declining floral resources, and declining suitable nest sites, as experienced in large scale disturbed areas, may result in the declining numbers and diversity of bees. 1.3: Microclimate- temperature The microclimate, the lowest two metres of the atmosphere (Stoutjesdijk and Barkman 1992), is the layer of the atmosphere where the majority of plants and animals live (Unwin and Corbet 1991). The soil surface (or other substance, for example forest or concrete) influences the heat and moisture budget of the surrounding atmosphere producing localised variations in the climatic conditions, for example temperature, windspeed and humidity. The relationship between plant and microclimate is a close one with plants affecting the climatic conditions around them and the microclimate affects the factors controlling the functioning of the plant including the availability of the products required for photosynthesis. Insects benefit from this interaction and due to the close mutalistic relationship between some plant and insect species, for example plants and pollinators, are dependent on a healthy relationship between microclimate and plants. An unsuitable microclimate will lead to the deterioration of plant life and eventual death of the plant and insects dependent on it. 1.4: Insects, temperature and body size In many insects body temperature is essential in order to gain flight. An insect needs to gain enough energy to fly; it needs to raise the thoracic temperature above the temperature of the environment (Bishop and Armbruster 1999) this can be achieved by basking and endothermy (producing heat in the muscles) (Unwin and Corbet 1991). The size of the insect plays a vital role in the ability to heat up and subsequently fly and forage. A study by Casey and Joos (1983) found that the proportion of heat lost from the thorax per time unit decreases as the body mass of the insect increases, therefore larger insects are slower at gaining and loosing heat. Bishop and Armbruster (1999) also concluded that the ability to raise temperature in order to fly increases with body size making bumblebees better thermoregulators than solitary bees. Even when looking at solitary bees larger solitary bees will be better at thermoregulation than smaller solitary bees. Foraging activity can be restricted by thermoregulation factors (Heinrich 1974) and not just over winter. In the summer months foraging at high latitudes and higher temperatures may prove to be difficult for larger insects with solitary bees reaping the floral rewards. Whilst in cooler areas at lower latitudes larger bees, such as bumblebees will have the advantage (Bishop and Armbruster 1999). Tropical bumblebees have been found to be the largest bees, an exception to the rest of the findings by Peat et al (2205). They found that the mean size of bumblebees varies between different climates with colder climates having a larger mean size than those of warmer climates. Size variation of bumblebees within a region was found not to be related to temperature but other factors, possibly to improve colony foraging with different sizes able to visit different flowers (Peat et al 2005). It is not just at different temperatures, different latitudes and different elevations that there are heat constraints on the species present but also a daily sequence. Heinrich (1976) observed bees visiting flower patches and noted the day sequence process. Large insects, such as large bumblebees, are able to achieve a body temperature high enough to fly at a lower temperature than a smaller insect, for example a small solitary bee. This then means that earlier in the day the bumblebee can begin to forage and last longer into the evening when the temperature of the environment begins to fall. However in the midday heat the bumblebee may become overheated and need to retreat and cease flying for a few hours. The small solitary bee although not able to start until later and unable to continue into the evening will be able to cope in the midday heat and continue to forage (Unwin and Corbet 1991). The temperature of the area determines the foraging activity of bees and will influence the bees present in the area. What is under-researched is the effect of very localised temperature has on the bees and size of bees present. 1.5: Climate The temperature of the environment does not only determine the body temperature of the insect but also the geographical range (Gates 1993). Over the past 30years shifts in the abundance and distribution of a variety of species have been witnessed due to climate change (Parmesan and Yohe 2003). Hickling et al (2006) studied the distributions of different taxonomic groups in Britain over the last 25years to examine any shifts in range that may have occurred. A shift in distribution upwards and northwards was found in most taxonomic groups with the latitude being a more significant factor than elevation. Alterations to geographic ranges will impact different organisms in different ways and at different times in their lifecycle. It is possible that the interactions between organisms could be severely affected and possibly even destroyed, in some instances resulting in the extinction of one or both of the species. With these shifts in distributions comes the increased possibility of species extinctions, one prediction for 2050 using a mid-range climate scenario showed 15-37% of species committed to extinction (Thomas et al 2004). In order to avoid the risk of extinction species will have to be able to keep up with the changing climate by migrating at fast enough rates however barriers such as mountains and fragmented, disturbed landscapes may hinder this migration (Pearson and Dawson 2003). General climate models which observe the possible consequences of climate change show a general pattern of the increasing of the Mediterranean summer drought (Gates 1993). As a result it is expected that a shift in species composition will occur and drought conditions will lead to reduced plant cover. This will inevitably impact many insect species including pollinators, such as bees, that will lose their source of nectar and pollen. Research suggests that resource specialists are likely to be the first to suffer declines as they rely on just one plant for their pollen (Cane et al 2006). Looking at the effect of local temperatures on abundance and richness may be able to give an indication of what will follow with global climate change and thus be an aid for planning and conservation measures. 2: Aims and Objectives Bees are essential for pollination and are the key to maintaining life as we know it. Reaching and maintaining the right temperature is essential for an insect’s flight, there is evidence that reaching this temperature is related to body size but does it vary with temperature within a microclimate? Does the local temperature affect the bee diversity and abundance and will this provide any insights into what may happen in the face of global climate change? Within Europe it has been reported that it is the remaining semi-natural habitats that contain the most species richness. If this is the case it would be expected that areas of human disturbance would experience a much lower diversity and abundance. In this project the aim is to examine the effect that the local conditions, temperature and landscape, have on the abundance and genera of bees in a selection of regions across Europe. Within this there are three main objectives to be examined: To determine if the local temperature affects the abundance and diversity of bees. To determine if the surrounding landscape, disturbed or natural, affects the diversity and abundance of bees. To establish whether the size of certain genera are significantly affected by the local environment. 3: Methodology 3.1: Site selection Samples of pollinators were collected in field sites throughout Europe in the summer of 2007 as part of the CITIRAT (Climate Interactions with Terrestrial plant Interactions a Risk Assessment Tool) project. The CITIRAT project is part of the wider EU ALARM (Assessing LArge scale Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods) project (http://www.alarmproject.net/alarm/). The field sites for the CITIRAT project were pre-determined by ALARM, with the core sites situated in different regions throughout Europe allowing the study of most of the climatic regions in Europe. For each of the core sites there are two sites measuring 4km by 4km within 50km of each other. One of the two sites being predominantly natural or semi-natural and the other site a disturbed landscape. The two focal sites have being selected so that the geological and environmental parameters are as similar as possible allowing the human disturbance to be the most distinguishing features between the sites. Figure 3.1.1 shows examples of the land cover in each category. Table 3.1.1: An example of the classification of disturbed and natural sites, categories taken from the level 3 CORINE 2000 land cover classification. Disturbed Non-irrigated arable land, pastures, discontinuous urban fabric, complex cultivation procedures, fruit trees and berry plantations, agro-forestry areas, olive groves, permanently irrigated land. Natural/semi-natural Mixed forest, coniferous forest, broadleaved forest, transitional woodland-scrub, sclerophyllous vegetation, natural grasslands. Using GIS analysis the temperature for each of the disturbed and natural areas was calculated using a model which combined the elevation, slope, aspect, average daytime temperature, clear sky solar radiation maps. This model then gave the temperatures for points throughout the landscape, the hottest 10% and coldest 10% of points were selected and ranked, the top two temperature points for both hot and cold were then determined and ready for fieldwork to begin. 3.2: Sampling method Each of the two landscapes (disturbed and natural) had two sampling rounds approximately 2 weeks apart. Within each sampling round two hot and two cold temperature sites were used (as predetermined by the GIS analysis). Each temperature spot had three cluster sets of pan traps, one white, one yellow and one blue. Each cluster contained five pan traps of a single colour. Each cluster was situated five metres apart in open, low vegetation at ground level. The pan traps were left out over a two day period in dry conditions with low wind and a temperature of greater than 15 ºC. Leaving pan traps out over a two day period eradicated any daily variation in bee species present due to daily temperature fluctuations. By using all three coloured pan traps bias was reduced as a range of colour preferences could be catered for (Leong and Thorp 1999). When the samples, preserved in alcohol, were returned to Leeds the samples were sorted taking note of the number of honeybees, number of bumble bees, number of other bees, number of hoverflies and the number of butterflies. Anything else that was collected in traps was discarded. The bumblebees and other bees were removed from the sample tubes, and were dried, pinned and labelled. The bees were then identified to genus level and the results recorded. Figure 3.3.1: Map of Europe showing the ALARM core sites. The yellow dots indicate the sites used in this analysis and their ‘country’ label. Adapted from an image available at: http://www.alarmproject.net. 3.3: Analytical method Samples were collected at sites all across Europe. Time and resource restraints meant that not all of the sites sampled could be pinned and identified for use in this study. The sites used were carefully selected with sites showing high variation in elevation and therefore temperature differences chosen. Figure 3.3.1 shows the European sites used in this project and table 3.3.1 shows the latitude and longitude of the sites. From here on these ‘sites’ will be called countries to avoid confusion. Table 3.3.1: Sites used with the latitude and Longitude Country Landscape Latitude Longitude Austria Disturbed 47.5205 14.1432 Austria Natural 48.0125 15.1620 Catalunya Disturbed 41.2620 1.7714 Catalunya Natural 41.2526 1.9006 Germany Disturbed 51.5491 9.7754 Germany Natural 51.4540 12.9410 Italy Disturbed 45.6202 12.4526 Italy Natural 45.7775 12.6088 Spain Disturbed 39.3153 -4.0661 Spain Natural 39.4133 -4.0650 UK Disturbed 51.5082 -1.5310 UK Natural 51.7650 -0.4585 To calculate the diversity for each of the conditions at each of the sites the Simpson’s diversity index, which is â€Å"one of the most meaningful and robust diversity measures†(Magurran 2004) was used. The index works by calculating the probability, that from a community of infinite size, two individuals will belong to the same species. The Simpson diversity index was expressed as 1-D therefore meaning that as the Simpson’s diversity decreases as does the diversity, this logical adaptation of the index mean that the diversity of the samples could easily be calculated and compared. In order to determine if the size of bees are affected by the local conditions one genus, Halictus was chosen due to them making up a large proportion of total individuals present. To measure the Halictus samples a random number table was used to determine which specimens should be measured. All of the specimens were females and from two countries, Spain and Germany. Digital callipers were used under a microscope to measure the width of the thorax, in-between the base of the wings. The numbers of Bombus’ were looked at as well as the size of the Halictus. Bombus’ are known to be (generally) a larger body size and better thermoregulators so provide a good genus to use as an indication of distribution related to the local environment factors. The information available for use in the statistical analysis was the number of individuals, the number of genera, the temperature (hot or cold), the landscape (disturbed or natural), the country, the sample round (1 or 2), the site (either 1 or 2), the diversity (Simpson’s 1-D), the number of bumblebees, the number of solitary bees and for a selection of sites the size of Halictus. The statistical analysis was carried out using R and Minitab for the principal component analysis. Excel was used for the production of some of the graphics. Not all the data was normally distributed, distributions were checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The analysis used was a mixed effects model but not all data meet the assumptions so where unavoidable non-parametric tests were used, a generalised mixed effects model (glmmPQL). 4: Results Nineteen Genera were identified; a list of these genera and authorities can be viewed in the appendix A. One genus could not be confirmed despite various opinions but is suspected that it might be Panurginus. 4.1: Individuals and genera Figure 4.1.1: The mean number of individuals per sample round, error bars indicate  ±1 SE. (t66= -5.804, p= A mixed effects model was used for the analysis of the individuals. The random effects were site, landscape and country. The standard deviation estimate for country was 0.528 showing that for the countries there was a variation from the mean, this may affect the outcome of the model. The only significant factor was sample round (t66=-6.456, p= There were no significant differences in individuals within temperature, landscape, sample round or any of the interaction terms. To alleviate the problem of countries having a great variation in the numbers of individuals the model was rerun with countries as a fixed factor. This reduced the variation of the random effects and recalculated the fixed effects. Sample round remained the only significant factor (t66= 5.804, p= The dataset for genera was non-parametric so the model used was the glmmPQL. A very low standard deviation estimate was given for each of the random factors (country= 4.2: Diversity The generalised mix effects model for diversity used Simpson’s 1-D values. The estimates of standard deviation for the random effect of country were extremely low, Figure 4.1.2: The mean diversity (Simpson’s 1-D) for each country. Error bars indicate  ± 1 SE. The diversity was not significantly for any of the factors, Standard deviation between countries was low at 4.3: Bumblebees and other bees The numbers of bumblebees (Bombus spp) were used in a generalised mixed effects model (glmmPQL) in order to determine if there were significant differences in the variation between temperature, landscape and sample round. The standard deviation of country was high at 1.376 showing that within the effect of country there was a lot of variation from the mean, thus contributing to the variation in bumblebees and possibly influencing the overall model. Of the fixed factors sample round and landscape were shown to be significant. Bumblebee numbers were significantly different for sample round (t79=-3.59, p=0.001, 95%CL) and landscape (t76= -3.314, p=0.001, 95%CL). Rerunning the model with country as a fixed factor changed the results. The standard deviation of the site was low at 81= -3.153, 95%CL), sample round (p=0.001, t81 = -3.394,) and also several countries were significantly different from the control country which was Austria. Catalunya (p=0.001, t81=-3.488, 95% CL), Italy (p=0.043, t81=-2.060, 95%CL), Spain (p=0.014, t81=-2.513, 95%CL) and the UK (p=0.002, t81=3.266, 95% CL). Germany was proven to not be significantly different from Austria (P=0.392, t81=-0.861, 95%CL) (figure 4.3.3). Figure 4.3.2: The number of bumblebees per landscape. Error bars indicate  ± 1SE (t81=-3.153, p=0.002, 95%CL). Figure 4.3.1: The number of bumblebees per sample round. Error bars indicate  ± 1SE (t81=-3.394, p=0.001, 95%CL). Figure 4.3.3: The mean number of bumblebees per country, error bars represents  ± 1 SE. The number of other bees (bees that were not honeybee or bumblebees) were taken and used in a mixed effect generalised linear model (glmmPQL). The model was initially run with the random factors of country and site. The standard deviation for country was 0.968 Effect of the Local Environment on Bees Effect of the Local Environment on Bees Local Environment Europe The effect of the local environment on bee abundance and diversity in regions throughout Europe. Bees have an important ecological role; they are insect pollinators providing a crucial service. Without insect pollination human diet would be very different to how we know it now. Declines in pollinators have been reported and by attempting to understand the how the local environment affects bee abundance and diversity it may be possible to prevent any further decline. Samples were collected at six sites across Europe in each site there was a disturbed landscape and a natural landscape and within each of these a hot and a cold area. Samples were collected, pinned and identified to genera and the Halictus measured. Analysis found that there was no significant difference in size between different countries, landscape and temperature. The number of individuals and the number of genera did not significantly differ between temperature, landscape and country however on a smaller country level there were differences in the numbers of individuals and genera at different landscapes. The number of bumblebees was affected by the landscape with more individuals found in the disturbed landscapes; it is possible that due to the foraging ability and feeding preferences that bumblebees are able to gain an advantage in a disturbed landscape. Different genera were found in different regions with high numbers of Panurgus and Panurginus found in Spain and Catalunya. The number of bumblebees was also found to be significantly related to latitude. These differences in composition in different areas could be seriously affected in the face of climate change. The effect of the local environment on bee abundance and diversity in regions throughout Europe. 1: Background and importance â€Å"If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man.† Albert Einstein 1.1: The importance of bees Bees provide the critical ecosystem service of pollination (Kearns et al 1998). Insect pollination is essential for our life as we know it. 84% of crops in the EU depend on insect pollination (Williams 1994) and one third of our diet can be attributed to insect pollination, either directly or indirectly (McGregor 1976). Of the insect pollinators it is bees which provide the most pollination, bees which are highly adapted to flower visitation, have been confirmed to be pollinators for 72.7% of crop species and it is thought they could be responsible for the pollination of another 10.2% (Williams 1994, Roubik 1995). Declines in bees point towards serious consequences for natural ecosystem process and agricultural processes (Biesmeijer et al 2006). The declines being experienced on local and regional scales present a worrying situation with habitat loss, fragmentation, agricultural intensification and pesticide use causing declines in honey bees, solitary bees, wild bees and bumble bees (Steffan-Dewenter et al 2005). The greatest diversity of bees in the world is experienced in arid and semi-arid regions of the world including the Mediterranean regions of Southern Europe (Danforth 2007). Most of the bees in the world are solitary bees (National Research Council of the National Academies 2007) and of the solitary bees the majority of them are resource specialists, oligolectic (Wcislo and Cane 1996). Oligolectics are bee species which collect pollen from one genus or species but can collect nectar from a variety of plants, they are often referred to as specialists. Polylectic bee species are generalists; they can collect pollen from a variety of flowering plants and include the honeybee (Apis) and the bumblebee (Bombus). In theory the risk of extinction is elevated in oligolectic bees as their presence and distribution is limited by just one floral host (Zayed and Packer 2007). Work by Cane et al (2006) into urban habitat fragmentation showed the abundance and richness of oligolectic bees to have declined but not to have declined in the polylectic bees. Due to the important role of bees it is essential to understand the abundance and diversity of bees across the landscape and the local factors that affect them. By understanding the local factors affecting the diversity and abundance of bees it may be possible to effectively manage and conserve bees and help to prevent any further declines in diversity and abundance. 1.2: Landscape Much of the natural habitat in Europe has been lost and the habitats with the highest species richness are the remaining semi-natural areas (Pimentel et al 1992). The impact of disturbance on insect communities is not so extensively studied as the impact on vegetation, on the studies that are available results show that different insect groups respond differently to disturbance (Steffan-Dewenter and Leschke 2003). Study by Steffan-Dewenter and Leschke (2003) on the effect of habitat management and landscape on bees and wasps in orchards in Europe showed that the vegetation was more significantly affected by the management practices than the insects. Bee species richness is correlated with the percentage of grassland in the surrounding landscape (Dauber et al 2003, Hendrickx et al 2007, Steffan-Dewenter et al 2002). The bees in the study by Hendrickx et al (2007) showed not only a decline with distance from semi-natural patches but also a decline with increasing management practices. The other groups in the study experienced increased numbers with proximity to semi-natural habitat but no significant declines with increasing agricultural management. The results for bees can be attributed due to bees having such a strong dependence on floral resources (Tscharntke et al 1998). Low plant diversity with limited floral resources may not to be able to support a high diversity of insects thus resulting in lower insect diversity and the ability to support only the generalist species (Westphal et al 2003). Proximity to floral resources and nesting sites is important as foraging distances can be fairly small. Large bumblebees such as Bombus terrestris can forage distances up to 3000m, as foraging distances are related to body size, smaller bees may only be able to forage a few metres (Westphal et al 2006). In the tropical forests of Costa Rica pasture management and the floral resources showed to have no significant impact on the diversity or abundance of bees, however deforested countryside just metres away from the forest contained a different community composition (Brosi et al 2006). The complexity of landscapes means that the impact of disturbance can vary depending on the frequency, intensity and extent of the disturbance (Samways 2005). Moderate disturbance can actually increase the diversity of the area by opening up areas for colonisation by providing ecological niches and opportunities for rarer species (Caswell 1976, Connell 1978, Petraitis et al 1989). Alternately diversity could be lowered as the dominance of opportunistic species is increased (Margalef 1968). Bees depend on floral resources for nectar and pollen and can only travel certain distances from their nesting site to reach it, both flowers and nests need to be close by. Therefore declining floral resources, and declining suitable nest sites, as experienced in large scale disturbed areas, may result in the declining numbers and diversity of bees. 1.3: Microclimate- temperature The microclimate, the lowest two metres of the atmosphere (Stoutjesdijk and Barkman 1992), is the layer of the atmosphere where the majority of plants and animals live (Unwin and Corbet 1991). The soil surface (or other substance, for example forest or concrete) influences the heat and moisture budget of the surrounding atmosphere producing localised variations in the climatic conditions, for example temperature, windspeed and humidity. The relationship between plant and microclimate is a close one with plants affecting the climatic conditions around them and the microclimate affects the factors controlling the functioning of the plant including the availability of the products required for photosynthesis. Insects benefit from this interaction and due to the close mutalistic relationship between some plant and insect species, for example plants and pollinators, are dependent on a healthy relationship between microclimate and plants. An unsuitable microclimate will lead to the deterioration of plant life and eventual death of the plant and insects dependent on it. 1.4: Insects, temperature and body size In many insects body temperature is essential in order to gain flight. An insect needs to gain enough energy to fly; it needs to raise the thoracic temperature above the temperature of the environment (Bishop and Armbruster 1999) this can be achieved by basking and endothermy (producing heat in the muscles) (Unwin and Corbet 1991). The size of the insect plays a vital role in the ability to heat up and subsequently fly and forage. A study by Casey and Joos (1983) found that the proportion of heat lost from the thorax per time unit decreases as the body mass of the insect increases, therefore larger insects are slower at gaining and loosing heat. Bishop and Armbruster (1999) also concluded that the ability to raise temperature in order to fly increases with body size making bumblebees better thermoregulators than solitary bees. Even when looking at solitary bees larger solitary bees will be better at thermoregulation than smaller solitary bees. Foraging activity can be restricted by thermoregulation factors (Heinrich 1974) and not just over winter. In the summer months foraging at high latitudes and higher temperatures may prove to be difficult for larger insects with solitary bees reaping the floral rewards. Whilst in cooler areas at lower latitudes larger bees, such as bumblebees will have the advantage (Bishop and Armbruster 1999). Tropical bumblebees have been found to be the largest bees, an exception to the rest of the findings by Peat et al (2205). They found that the mean size of bumblebees varies between different climates with colder climates having a larger mean size than those of warmer climates. Size variation of bumblebees within a region was found not to be related to temperature but other factors, possibly to improve colony foraging with different sizes able to visit different flowers (Peat et al 2005). It is not just at different temperatures, different latitudes and different elevations that there are heat constraints on the species present but also a daily sequence. Heinrich (1976) observed bees visiting flower patches and noted the day sequence process. Large insects, such as large bumblebees, are able to achieve a body temperature high enough to fly at a lower temperature than a smaller insect, for example a small solitary bee. This then means that earlier in the day the bumblebee can begin to forage and last longer into the evening when the temperature of the environment begins to fall. However in the midday heat the bumblebee may become overheated and need to retreat and cease flying for a few hours. The small solitary bee although not able to start until later and unable to continue into the evening will be able to cope in the midday heat and continue to forage (Unwin and Corbet 1991). The temperature of the area determines the foraging activity of bees and will influence the bees present in the area. What is under-researched is the effect of very localised temperature has on the bees and size of bees present. 1.5: Climate The temperature of the environment does not only determine the body temperature of the insect but also the geographical range (Gates 1993). Over the past 30years shifts in the abundance and distribution of a variety of species have been witnessed due to climate change (Parmesan and Yohe 2003). Hickling et al (2006) studied the distributions of different taxonomic groups in Britain over the last 25years to examine any shifts in range that may have occurred. A shift in distribution upwards and northwards was found in most taxonomic groups with the latitude being a more significant factor than elevation. Alterations to geographic ranges will impact different organisms in different ways and at different times in their lifecycle. It is possible that the interactions between organisms could be severely affected and possibly even destroyed, in some instances resulting in the extinction of one or both of the species. With these shifts in distributions comes the increased possibility of species extinctions, one prediction for 2050 using a mid-range climate scenario showed 15-37% of species committed to extinction (Thomas et al 2004). In order to avoid the risk of extinction species will have to be able to keep up with the changing climate by migrating at fast enough rates however barriers such as mountains and fragmented, disturbed landscapes may hinder this migration (Pearson and Dawson 2003). General climate models which observe the possible consequences of climate change show a general pattern of the increasing of the Mediterranean summer drought (Gates 1993). As a result it is expected that a shift in species composition will occur and drought conditions will lead to reduced plant cover. This will inevitably impact many insect species including pollinators, such as bees, that will lose their source of nectar and pollen. Research suggests that resource specialists are likely to be the first to suffer declines as they rely on just one plant for their pollen (Cane et al 2006). Looking at the effect of local temperatures on abundance and richness may be able to give an indication of what will follow with global climate change and thus be an aid for planning and conservation measures. 2: Aims and Objectives Bees are essential for pollination and are the key to maintaining life as we know it. Reaching and maintaining the right temperature is essential for an insect’s flight, there is evidence that reaching this temperature is related to body size but does it vary with temperature within a microclimate? Does the local temperature affect the bee diversity and abundance and will this provide any insights into what may happen in the face of global climate change? Within Europe it has been reported that it is the remaining semi-natural habitats that contain the most species richness. If this is the case it would be expected that areas of human disturbance would experience a much lower diversity and abundance. In this project the aim is to examine the effect that the local conditions, temperature and landscape, have on the abundance and genera of bees in a selection of regions across Europe. Within this there are three main objectives to be examined: To determine if the local temperature affects the abundance and diversity of bees. To determine if the surrounding landscape, disturbed or natural, affects the diversity and abundance of bees. To establish whether the size of certain genera are significantly affected by the local environment. 3: Methodology 3.1: Site selection Samples of pollinators were collected in field sites throughout Europe in the summer of 2007 as part of the CITIRAT (Climate Interactions with Terrestrial plant Interactions a Risk Assessment Tool) project. The CITIRAT project is part of the wider EU ALARM (Assessing LArge scale Risks for biodiversity with tested Methods) project (http://www.alarmproject.net/alarm/). The field sites for the CITIRAT project were pre-determined by ALARM, with the core sites situated in different regions throughout Europe allowing the study of most of the climatic regions in Europe. For each of the core sites there are two sites measuring 4km by 4km within 50km of each other. One of the two sites being predominantly natural or semi-natural and the other site a disturbed landscape. The two focal sites have being selected so that the geological and environmental parameters are as similar as possible allowing the human disturbance to be the most distinguishing features between the sites. Figure 3.1.1 shows examples of the land cover in each category. Table 3.1.1: An example of the classification of disturbed and natural sites, categories taken from the level 3 CORINE 2000 land cover classification. Disturbed Non-irrigated arable land, pastures, discontinuous urban fabric, complex cultivation procedures, fruit trees and berry plantations, agro-forestry areas, olive groves, permanently irrigated land. Natural/semi-natural Mixed forest, coniferous forest, broadleaved forest, transitional woodland-scrub, sclerophyllous vegetation, natural grasslands. Using GIS analysis the temperature for each of the disturbed and natural areas was calculated using a model which combined the elevation, slope, aspect, average daytime temperature, clear sky solar radiation maps. This model then gave the temperatures for points throughout the landscape, the hottest 10% and coldest 10% of points were selected and ranked, the top two temperature points for both hot and cold were then determined and ready for fieldwork to begin. 3.2: Sampling method Each of the two landscapes (disturbed and natural) had two sampling rounds approximately 2 weeks apart. Within each sampling round two hot and two cold temperature sites were used (as predetermined by the GIS analysis). Each temperature spot had three cluster sets of pan traps, one white, one yellow and one blue. Each cluster contained five pan traps of a single colour. Each cluster was situated five metres apart in open, low vegetation at ground level. The pan traps were left out over a two day period in dry conditions with low wind and a temperature of greater than 15 ºC. Leaving pan traps out over a two day period eradicated any daily variation in bee species present due to daily temperature fluctuations. By using all three coloured pan traps bias was reduced as a range of colour preferences could be catered for (Leong and Thorp 1999). When the samples, preserved in alcohol, were returned to Leeds the samples were sorted taking note of the number of honeybees, number of bumble bees, number of other bees, number of hoverflies and the number of butterflies. Anything else that was collected in traps was discarded. The bumblebees and other bees were removed from the sample tubes, and were dried, pinned and labelled. The bees were then identified to genus level and the results recorded. Figure 3.3.1: Map of Europe showing the ALARM core sites. The yellow dots indicate the sites used in this analysis and their ‘country’ label. Adapted from an image available at: http://www.alarmproject.net. 3.3: Analytical method Samples were collected at sites all across Europe. Time and resource restraints meant that not all of the sites sampled could be pinned and identified for use in this study. The sites used were carefully selected with sites showing high variation in elevation and therefore temperature differences chosen. Figure 3.3.1 shows the European sites used in this project and table 3.3.1 shows the latitude and longitude of the sites. From here on these ‘sites’ will be called countries to avoid confusion. Table 3.3.1: Sites used with the latitude and Longitude Country Landscape Latitude Longitude Austria Disturbed 47.5205 14.1432 Austria Natural 48.0125 15.1620 Catalunya Disturbed 41.2620 1.7714 Catalunya Natural 41.2526 1.9006 Germany Disturbed 51.5491 9.7754 Germany Natural 51.4540 12.9410 Italy Disturbed 45.6202 12.4526 Italy Natural 45.7775 12.6088 Spain Disturbed 39.3153 -4.0661 Spain Natural 39.4133 -4.0650 UK Disturbed 51.5082 -1.5310 UK Natural 51.7650 -0.4585 To calculate the diversity for each of the conditions at each of the sites the Simpson’s diversity index, which is â€Å"one of the most meaningful and robust diversity measures†(Magurran 2004) was used. The index works by calculating the probability, that from a community of infinite size, two individuals will belong to the same species. The Simpson diversity index was expressed as 1-D therefore meaning that as the Simpson’s diversity decreases as does the diversity, this logical adaptation of the index mean that the diversity of the samples could easily be calculated and compared. In order to determine if the size of bees are affected by the local conditions one genus, Halictus was chosen due to them making up a large proportion of total individuals present. To measure the Halictus samples a random number table was used to determine which specimens should be measured. All of the specimens were females and from two countries, Spain and Germany. Digital callipers were used under a microscope to measure the width of the thorax, in-between the base of the wings. The numbers of Bombus’ were looked at as well as the size of the Halictus. Bombus’ are known to be (generally) a larger body size and better thermoregulators so provide a good genus to use as an indication of distribution related to the local environment factors. The information available for use in the statistical analysis was the number of individuals, the number of genera, the temperature (hot or cold), the landscape (disturbed or natural), the country, the sample round (1 or 2), the site (either 1 or 2), the diversity (Simpson’s 1-D), the number of bumblebees, the number of solitary bees and for a selection of sites the size of Halictus. The statistical analysis was carried out using R and Minitab for the principal component analysis. Excel was used for the production of some of the graphics. Not all the data was normally distributed, distributions were checked using the Shapiro-Wilk test. The analysis used was a mixed effects model but not all data meet the assumptions so where unavoidable non-parametric tests were used, a generalised mixed effects model (glmmPQL). 4: Results Nineteen Genera were identified; a list of these genera and authorities can be viewed in the appendix A. One genus could not be confirmed despite various opinions but is suspected that it might be Panurginus. 4.1: Individuals and genera Figure 4.1.1: The mean number of individuals per sample round, error bars indicate  ±1 SE. (t66= -5.804, p= A mixed effects model was used for the analysis of the individuals. The random effects were site, landscape and country. The standard deviation estimate for country was 0.528 showing that for the countries there was a variation from the mean, this may affect the outcome of the model. The only significant factor was sample round (t66=-6.456, p= There were no significant differences in individuals within temperature, landscape, sample round or any of the interaction terms. To alleviate the problem of countries having a great variation in the numbers of individuals the model was rerun with countries as a fixed factor. This reduced the variation of the random effects and recalculated the fixed effects. Sample round remained the only significant factor (t66= 5.804, p= The dataset for genera was non-parametric so the model used was the glmmPQL. A very low standard deviation estimate was given for each of the random factors (country= 4.2: Diversity The generalised mix effects model for diversity used Simpson’s 1-D values. The estimates of standard deviation for the random effect of country were extremely low, Figure 4.1.2: The mean diversity (Simpson’s 1-D) for each country. Error bars indicate  ± 1 SE. The diversity was not significantly for any of the factors, Standard deviation between countries was low at 4.3: Bumblebees and other bees The numbers of bumblebees (Bombus spp) were used in a generalised mixed effects model (glmmPQL) in order to determine if there were significant differences in the variation between temperature, landscape and sample round. The standard deviation of country was high at 1.376 showing that within the effect of country there was a lot of variation from the mean, thus contributing to the variation in bumblebees and possibly influencing the overall model. Of the fixed factors sample round and landscape were shown to be significant. Bumblebee numbers were significantly different for sample round (t79=-3.59, p=0.001, 95%CL) and landscape (t76= -3.314, p=0.001, 95%CL). Rerunning the model with country as a fixed factor changed the results. The standard deviation of the site was low at 81= -3.153, 95%CL), sample round (p=0.001, t81 = -3.394,) and also several countries were significantly different from the control country which was Austria. Catalunya (p=0.001, t81=-3.488, 95% CL), Italy (p=0.043, t81=-2.060, 95%CL), Spain (p=0.014, t81=-2.513, 95%CL) and the UK (p=0.002, t81=3.266, 95% CL). Germany was proven to not be significantly different from Austria (P=0.392, t81=-0.861, 95%CL) (figure 4.3.3). Figure 4.3.2: The number of bumblebees per landscape. Error bars indicate  ± 1SE (t81=-3.153, p=0.002, 95%CL). Figure 4.3.1: The number of bumblebees per sample round. Error bars indicate  ± 1SE (t81=-3.394, p=0.001, 95%CL). Figure 4.3.3: The mean number of bumblebees per country, error bars represents  ± 1 SE. The number of other bees (bees that were not honeybee or bumblebees) were taken and used in a mixed effect generalised linear model (glmmPQL). The model was initially run with the random factors of country and site. The standard deviation for country was 0.968