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ABSTRACTThere is great need for mentorship in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the field of occupational therapy (OT); however, there is little research on the effectiveness of an international tele-mentorship programme. The objectives of this mixed methods research were to examine the effectiveness and perceived benefits of the online, international mentorship programme. The study utilised the Self-Assessment of Clinical Reflection and Reasoning (SACRR) at initiation and completion of the study, 11 months apart, and a focus group. The results found significant changes in self-perceived clinical reflection skills in items 23 and 25 on the SACRR. Qualitative themes were increased confidence in clinical skills and occupational therapy practice, importance of evidence-based practice, significance of mentorship and inter- and intra-professional collaboration, and programme improvements. In conclusion, the tele-mentoring sessions enabled participants to form relationships/contacts, gain knowledge from qualified experts in specialty practice areas, and increase confidence in their clinical skill sets.

ABSTRACTThe Covid-19 pandemic has caused increased hardship for new mothers and their young children. Increased isolation, lack of in-person doctor visits and decreased interaction within the community, has pregnant and postpartum women in need of additional support. Occupational therapists often work with infants and their mothers due to feeding concerns. Difficulty with early feeding adds additional stress on the mother–infant dyad relationship. This case study describes a mother’s traumatic experience giving birth during Covid-19 and the occupational therapy intervention provided to the mother–infant dyad. In order to improve outcomes for the mother and child with feeding concerns, this case study is a call to action for paediatric occupational therapy practitioners to include the promotion of positive mental health of mothers in their practice, particularly during the pandemic.

We describe the development of two complementary priority species indicators (PSIs) to help the UK to report progress towards Aichi target 12 on the status of known threatened species. Based on species identified as national conservation priorities, the indicators present average changes in (i) 213 species for which trends in relative abundance are available from structured monitoring schemes, and (ii) 179 species for which trends in frequency of occurrence were modelled from data sets of unstructured biological records. Both indicators show substantial declines in priority species since 1970, of 67% and 40%, respectively, although the rate of decline in the relative abundance-based PSI may have lessened over the last five years (2007–2012). We discuss the biases and weaknesses of the indicators at present, and put forward suggestions as how these may be addressed, including through the development of a third PSI.

The article discusses the National Bat Monitoring Programme of the Bat Conservation Trust of Great Britain, focusing on the results of the programme analysing data on 11 bat species collected by volunteers at different sites across the country. It mentions the importance of monitoring bat populations in ensuring effective conservation and determining their response to environmental change. Results showed an increasing trend for all bat species, suggesting signs of recovery.

Can ecological relationships between bat species be predicted largely on the basis of morphology? This question was addressed by investigating skull morphology of two cryptic species of the pipistrelle bat. Since 45 P. pipistrellusapparently eats larger prey than 55 P. pipistrellus, we predicted that it would have a larger overall skull size, a larger dentary apparatus, and a larger gape. To test these predictions, variables were measured from skulls of the two cryptic species, and comparisons made between them. In accordance with our predictions, overall skull size was larger in 45 P. pipistrellusthan in 55 P. pipistrellus, and 45 P. pipistrellushad a longer lower jaw and the distance between the jaws at maximum gape was larger. In addition, 45 P. pipistrellushad longer upper canines, which may allow it to pierce harder prey items than 55 P. pipistrellus. Only some aspects of dietary differences between the two cryptic species could be explained by differences in skull morphology, and we suggest that empirical data, at least on diet and habitat use, are also required to explain mechanisms of resource partitioning among species in bat communities.