Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest... more Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest-neighbor vegetation data to test two predictions associated with the traditional "size-advantage" hypothesis for plant competitive ability: (1) the relative representation of larger species should increase in later stages of succession; and (2) resident species that are near neighbors should, over successional time, become more similar in plant body size and/or seed size than expected by random assembly. The first prediction was supported over the time period between mid to later succession, but the second prediction was not; that is, there was no temporal pattern across the chronosequence indicating that either larger resident species, or larger seeded resident species, increasingly exclude smaller ones from local neighborhoods over time. Rather, neighboring species were generally more different from each other in seed sizes than expected by random assembly. As larger species...
The Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators (oCUBE) bringstogether over 50 biology ... more The Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators (oCUBE) bringstogether over 50 biology educators from 18 Ontario universities with the commongoal to improve the biology undergraduate experience for both students andeducators. This goal is achieved through an innovative mix of highlyinteractive face-to-face meetings, online conferencing platforms (wiki andvideo conferencing), monthly online newsletters, and other activities. The beautyof the oCUBE model is that it meshes with the active learning methods that itsmembers use in their own teaching. It also creates a community of practice withintra- and inter-institutional collaborations that assist in resolving educationalissues of both common and immediate importance to oCUBE members. oCUBE membersreport that oCUBE activities and resources are very effective in helping themlearn new teaching strategies and in developing professionally.
Objectives: Previous literature has approached proficiency testing (PT) performance by defining t... more Objectives: Previous literature has approached proficiency testing (PT) performance by defining the minimum levels, and combinations of imprecision and bias, necessary to meet PT requirements. In this case report, current PT performance was assessed and modeling performed to prioritize our quality improvement efforts. Methods: A total of 1006 chemistry challenge results from Ontario's Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program (LPTP, now QMPLS) performed on 69 tests during 1999 and 2000 were used for this retrospective analysis. Peer group means, all method means and results from reference labs were used for comparison. QMPLS flagging and recommended performance criteria were compiled, and modeling performed to predict different levels of performance. Results: Our internal imprecision is Ͻ5% for 72% of our 69 tests; however, only 20% of our tests had a CV/PT Ͻ25%. Of the 1006 challenges performed, 136 (13.5%) results were outside PT limits, 55 (5.5%) results were flagged, and 12 requests were received from QMPLS seeking clarification on 24 (2.4%) results. Follow-up identified 9 (38%) nonanalytical errors, 8 (33%) method bias errors, 4 (17%) random errors, 2 poor methods, and one with no error identified. Modeling predicted flagging rates of 2.4% using QMPLS recommended precision performance, 1.6% using our current internal imprecision, 2.2% or 7.0% if we included an overall 20% or 50% relative bias rate with our current imprecision levels, or 15.0% when an estimate of our actual bias for each analyte was considered along with our current imprecision levels. Conclusions: If imprecision were the only cause of PT errors, our flagging rate for this study period would be 1.6%, and we would need to formally investigate 8 results a year. In practice, strict application of the QMPLS PT criteria would result in 68 investigations annually; however, judicial review of the results before request for clarification significantly reduced this number to 12 investigations (of which 38% were nonanalytical errors). At the present time bias is a significant cause of poor PT performance in a variety of assays. Individual laboratories need to address the problem of bias, and ultimately so do manufacturers. It would be helpful if PT programs also acknowledged this necessary evolution in both their criteria and processes.
. To encourage medical students to select research careers, the Queen's University Faculty of Hea... more . To encourage medical students to select research careers, the Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences curriculum includes a mandatory Critical Enquiry elective in the 2nd year. An anonymous written survey was administered to medical students before and after the elective to determine their perceptions of the value of the elective and its impact on their decision to pursue a career in medical research. There was a significant increase in the number of students expressing an interest in pursuing a research career following the elective (35-42%, p ¼ 0.029). Students recognized other benefits including the development of critical appraisal, information literacy, and critical thinking skills; and the opportunity to select an area of and form contacts for postgraduate training. Even students who choose not to pursue careers in medical research perceive benefits to a mandatory undergraduate research elective.
Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest... more Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest-neighbor vegetation data to test two predictions associated with the traditional "size-advantage" hypothesis for plant competitive ability: (1) the relative representation of larger species should increase in later stages of succession; and (2) resident species that are near neighbors should, over successional time, become more similar in plant body size and/or seed size than expected by random assembly. The first prediction was supported over the time period between mid to later succession, but the second prediction was not; that is, there was no temporal pattern across the chronosequence indicating that either larger resident species, or larger seeded resident species, increasingly exclude smaller ones from local neighborhoods over time. Rather, neighboring species were generally more different from each other in seed sizes than expected by random assembly. As larger species accumulate over time, some relatively small species are lost from later stages of succession, but species size distributions nevertheless remain strongly right-skewed-even in late succession-and species of disparate sizes are just as likely as in early succession to coexist as immediate neighbors. This local-scale coexistence of disparate sized neighbors might be accounted for-as in traditional interpretations-in terms of species differences in "physical-space-niches" (e.g., involving different rooting depths), combined with possible facilitation effects. We propose, however, that this coexistence may also occur because competitive ability involves more than just a size advantage, with traits associated with survival (tolerance of intense competition) and fecundity (offspring production despite intense competition) being at least equally important.
Background : We explored evidence for spatial patterning in vegetation across a sand-dune chronos... more Background : We explored evidence for spatial patterning in vegetation across a sand-dune chronosequence spanning 453 years of primary succession to test for indications of a temporal signature of niche versus neutral processes during community assembly. Methods : The study was conducted on a series of dune-capped beach ridges located in Wilderness State Park in Emmet County of northern Lower Michigan, United States (45° 43′ N, 84° 56′ E). Nearest-neighbour survey data were subjected to species dispersion and association analyses. Results : Both species richness and species evenness showed the classic ‘hump-shaped’ relationship across successional time, suggesting that competition is an important force in structuring this community. However, the only evidence of intra-specific aggregation occurred in the youngest dune. Older dunes displayed random spatial structure and the oldest dunes tended toward a mix of random patterns and intra-specific segregation, i.e. with nearest neighbours more likely than by chance to be inter-specific. In addition, the frequency of species having lower neighbour-species richness than expected by chance was higher in younger, not older dunes. Species with significantly low neighbour richness (based on absolute nearest neighbours) on later dunes tended to have a high proportion of nearest neighbours that were intra-specific. Conclusions : The data provided no evidence that resident species in later succession have greater intra-specific aggregation or more niche differentiation based on horizontal niche space. The data are more consistent with theories of community assembly involving competitive equivalence and/or effects of facilitation.
Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest... more Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest-neighbor vegetation data to test two predictions associated with the traditional "size-advantage" hypothesis for plant competitive ability: (1) the relative representation of larger species should increase in later stages of succession; and (2) resident species that are near neighbors should, over successional time, become more similar in plant body size and/or seed size than expected by random assembly. The first prediction was supported over the time period between mid to later succession, but the second prediction was not; that is, there was no temporal pattern across the chronosequence indicating that either larger resident species, or larger seeded resident species, increasingly exclude smaller ones from local neighborhoods over time. Rather, neighboring species were generally more different from each other in seed sizes than expected by random assembly. As larger species...
The Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators (oCUBE) bringstogether over 50 biology ... more The Ontario Consortium of Undergraduate Biology Educators (oCUBE) bringstogether over 50 biology educators from 18 Ontario universities with the commongoal to improve the biology undergraduate experience for both students andeducators. This goal is achieved through an innovative mix of highlyinteractive face-to-face meetings, online conferencing platforms (wiki andvideo conferencing), monthly online newsletters, and other activities. The beautyof the oCUBE model is that it meshes with the active learning methods that itsmembers use in their own teaching. It also creates a community of practice withintra- and inter-institutional collaborations that assist in resolving educationalissues of both common and immediate importance to oCUBE members. oCUBE membersreport that oCUBE activities and resources are very effective in helping themlearn new teaching strategies and in developing professionally.
Objectives: Previous literature has approached proficiency testing (PT) performance by defining t... more Objectives: Previous literature has approached proficiency testing (PT) performance by defining the minimum levels, and combinations of imprecision and bias, necessary to meet PT requirements. In this case report, current PT performance was assessed and modeling performed to prioritize our quality improvement efforts. Methods: A total of 1006 chemistry challenge results from Ontario's Laboratory Proficiency Testing Program (LPTP, now QMPLS) performed on 69 tests during 1999 and 2000 were used for this retrospective analysis. Peer group means, all method means and results from reference labs were used for comparison. QMPLS flagging and recommended performance criteria were compiled, and modeling performed to predict different levels of performance. Results: Our internal imprecision is Ͻ5% for 72% of our 69 tests; however, only 20% of our tests had a CV/PT Ͻ25%. Of the 1006 challenges performed, 136 (13.5%) results were outside PT limits, 55 (5.5%) results were flagged, and 12 requests were received from QMPLS seeking clarification on 24 (2.4%) results. Follow-up identified 9 (38%) nonanalytical errors, 8 (33%) method bias errors, 4 (17%) random errors, 2 poor methods, and one with no error identified. Modeling predicted flagging rates of 2.4% using QMPLS recommended precision performance, 1.6% using our current internal imprecision, 2.2% or 7.0% if we included an overall 20% or 50% relative bias rate with our current imprecision levels, or 15.0% when an estimate of our actual bias for each analyte was considered along with our current imprecision levels. Conclusions: If imprecision were the only cause of PT errors, our flagging rate for this study period would be 1.6%, and we would need to formally investigate 8 results a year. In practice, strict application of the QMPLS PT criteria would result in 68 investigations annually; however, judicial review of the results before request for clarification significantly reduced this number to 12 investigations (of which 38% were nonanalytical errors). At the present time bias is a significant cause of poor PT performance in a variety of assays. Individual laboratories need to address the problem of bias, and ultimately so do manufacturers. It would be helpful if PT programs also acknowledged this necessary evolution in both their criteria and processes.
. To encourage medical students to select research careers, the Queen's University Faculty of Hea... more . To encourage medical students to select research careers, the Queen's University Faculty of Health Sciences curriculum includes a mandatory Critical Enquiry elective in the 2nd year. An anonymous written survey was administered to medical students before and after the elective to determine their perceptions of the value of the elective and its impact on their decision to pursue a career in medical research. There was a significant increase in the number of students expressing an interest in pursuing a research career following the elective (35-42%, p ¼ 0.029). Students recognized other benefits including the development of critical appraisal, information literacy, and critical thinking skills; and the opportunity to select an area of and form contacts for postgraduate training. Even students who choose not to pursue careers in medical research perceive benefits to a mandatory undergraduate research elective.
Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest... more Using a sand dune chronosequence that spans 485 years of primary succession, we collected nearest-neighbor vegetation data to test two predictions associated with the traditional "size-advantage" hypothesis for plant competitive ability: (1) the relative representation of larger species should increase in later stages of succession; and (2) resident species that are near neighbors should, over successional time, become more similar in plant body size and/or seed size than expected by random assembly. The first prediction was supported over the time period between mid to later succession, but the second prediction was not; that is, there was no temporal pattern across the chronosequence indicating that either larger resident species, or larger seeded resident species, increasingly exclude smaller ones from local neighborhoods over time. Rather, neighboring species were generally more different from each other in seed sizes than expected by random assembly. As larger species accumulate over time, some relatively small species are lost from later stages of succession, but species size distributions nevertheless remain strongly right-skewed-even in late succession-and species of disparate sizes are just as likely as in early succession to coexist as immediate neighbors. This local-scale coexistence of disparate sized neighbors might be accounted for-as in traditional interpretations-in terms of species differences in "physical-space-niches" (e.g., involving different rooting depths), combined with possible facilitation effects. We propose, however, that this coexistence may also occur because competitive ability involves more than just a size advantage, with traits associated with survival (tolerance of intense competition) and fecundity (offspring production despite intense competition) being at least equally important.
Background : We explored evidence for spatial patterning in vegetation across a sand-dune chronos... more Background : We explored evidence for spatial patterning in vegetation across a sand-dune chronosequence spanning 453 years of primary succession to test for indications of a temporal signature of niche versus neutral processes during community assembly. Methods : The study was conducted on a series of dune-capped beach ridges located in Wilderness State Park in Emmet County of northern Lower Michigan, United States (45° 43′ N, 84° 56′ E). Nearest-neighbour survey data were subjected to species dispersion and association analyses. Results : Both species richness and species evenness showed the classic ‘hump-shaped’ relationship across successional time, suggesting that competition is an important force in structuring this community. However, the only evidence of intra-specific aggregation occurred in the youngest dune. Older dunes displayed random spatial structure and the oldest dunes tended toward a mix of random patterns and intra-specific segregation, i.e. with nearest neighbours more likely than by chance to be inter-specific. In addition, the frequency of species having lower neighbour-species richness than expected by chance was higher in younger, not older dunes. Species with significantly low neighbour richness (based on absolute nearest neighbours) on later dunes tended to have a high proportion of nearest neighbours that were intra-specific. Conclusions : The data provided no evidence that resident species in later succession have greater intra-specific aggregation or more niche differentiation based on horizontal niche space. The data are more consistent with theories of community assembly involving competitive equivalence and/or effects of facilitation.
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Papers by Jennifer Waugh