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In this study we investigated the research designs employed to study the interdisciplinary profession of school librarianship during a time period of notable changes across both the Pre-K-12 and school library domains. To conduct this work, we analyzed all 217 articles published in "School Library Research" (SLR) and "School Libraries Worldwide" (SLW) from 2007 through July 2015. Results point to the high variability in research designs employed and limited inclusion of Pre-K-12 students as participants. The articles also exhibit high incidences of collaboration between scholars but limited involvement of practitioners as researchers. Findings are discussed in relation to research and practice.

There is an urgent need for landscape-scale ecological restoration to reverse habitat loss and recover ecosystem functions and services. Given the unique nature of coastal and marine ecosystems a roadmap to overcome current barriers and guide transformative change is needed to achieve large-scale restoration. We conducted a national scale program of engagement with restoration practitioners, decision makers, industry, researchers, community groups, and Indigenous groups in Australia to map out the current state of implementation, barriers encountered and aspirations for the future. In collaboration with a graphic facilitator, we distilled the findings into ten guiding principles which are communicated through an engaging conceptual model. Here we articulate the ten guiding principles for large-scale coastal and marine ecological restoration and include discussion of the rational, the current state in Australia, and ideas for moving forward with respect to each principle. The principles are: 1) Co-design is central; 2) Fit-for-purpose governance; 3) No-gap funding; 4) Access to social, economic and biophysical data; 5) Evidence-based and transparent decision making; 6) Coordinated and at scale; 7) Robust monitoring, evaluation and reporting; 8) Clear strategy to adapt to climate change; 9) Nature-based solutions are implemented; and 10) Knowledge is shared effectively. We then evaluated the principles against three large-scale restoration programs in the UK, USA and Australia and found that their characteristics broadly adhere to each of the principles. Implementation of the roadmap is now necessary and will aid in achieving return of ecological functions in line with international commitments and societal goals. • Scaling up restoration in coastal and marine ecosystems requires a roadmap to overcome key barriers. • We report outcomes from a national program of engagement with the Australian marine restoration community. • Findings are distilled into ten guiding principles for landscape scale coastal and marine ecological restoration. • Assessing the principles against three successful international programs finds that they broadly model these principles. • Following the roadmap will enable development of successful large-scale marine restoration programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Coastal protection from erosion and flooding is a significant ecosystem service provided by vegetated marine systems. Kelp beds are a dominant habitat-forming species on temperate reefs worldwide. While they are valued as hotspots of biodiversity, there is a paucity of information that supports their use in nature-based coastal defence. This includes the effectiveness of kelp beds in attenuating waves approaching the shore and how this influences sediment transport. Methods Wave loggers were deployed at paired kelp bed and control (urchin barren) treatments at four sites in Port Phillip Bay, Australia. The significant wave height offshore (exposed side) to onshore (sheltered side) of the treatment were compared to determine wave attenuation. Key Results At three sites, the wave attenuation of kelp beds was significantly less than that of the control. This result was consistent across the environmental conditions recorded in this study. At the fourth site, on average there was no significant difference in wave transmission between kelp and control. However, wave attenuation at kelp beds was 10 % greater than the control during periods of northerly winds. We highlight the importance of disentangling the effects of the reef substratum and kelp when evaluating the efficacy of kelp at providing coastal protection. Conclusions We have highlighted a significant gap in the research on ecosystem services provided by kelp beds. A greater understanding is needed on which kelp species are able to provide coastal protection, and under what conditions. Such future research is essential for providing managers and policy makers with actionable information on sustainable and cost-effective solutions for coastal defence when faced with a changing climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Health literacy is an important concept associated with participation in preventive health initiatives, such as falls prevention programs. A comprehensive health literacy measurement tool, appropriate for this population, is required. The aim of this study was to evaluate the measurement properties of the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ) in a cohort of older adults who presented to a hospital emergency department (ED) after a fall.Methods: Older adults who presented to an ED after a fall had their health literacy assessed using the HLQ (n = 433). Data were collected as part of a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of a falls prevention program. Measurement properties of the HLQ were assessed using Rasch analysis.Results: All nine scales of the HLQ were unidimensional, with good internal consistency reliability. No item bias was found for most items (43 of 44). A degree of overall misfit to the Rasch model was evident for six of the nine HLQ scales. The majority of misfit indicated content overlap between some items and does not compromise measurement. A measurement gap was identified for this cohort at mid to high HLQ score.Conclusions: The HLQ demonstrated good measurement properties in a cohort of older adults who presented to an ED after a fall. The summation of the HLQ items within each scale, providing unbiased information on nine separate areas of health literacy, is supported. Clinicians, researchers and policy makers may have confidence using the HLQ scale scores to gain information about health literacy in older people presenting to the ED after a fall.Trial Registration: This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, number ACTRN12614000336684 (27 March 2014). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid living shorelines use a combination of engineered structures with natural ecosystems to achieve coastal protection and habitat restoration outcomes, with added co-benefits such as carbon sequestration. Rock fillets constructed along eroding estuarine banks are designed to accumulate sediment, establish mangroves, and stabilise the shoreline. There is, however, a lack of data to support whether rock fillets are achieving these goals. We used a chronosequence of rock fillets to determine their effect on mangrove development, bank stabilisation and carbon sequestration in four estuaries in New South Wales, Australia. Aboveground biomass and adult density increased with age of rock fillets, and mangrove structure was similar to a natural fringing mangrove after 15 years. The rock fillets accumulated sediment, which reduced the eroded estuary bank height, however, little effect of the fillets on bank slope was observed. Sediment carbon stocks were not different between rock fillets, eroding estuary banks and natural fringing mangroves. Rock fillet design had a significant effect on mangrove structure and coastal protection function, with greater wave transmission through lower rock fillets, suggesting design optimisation is needed. As the construction cost of the rock fillets was equal or less than traditional rock revetments, where suitable they present a more economic and environmentally sustainable solution to estuarine erosion management. • Hybrid living shorelines can provide coastal protection and habitat restoration outcomes. • Rock fillets were successful at accumulating sediment and establishing mangroves. • Mangrove structure within rock fillets was similar to natural mangroves after 15 years. • There was no effect of the rock fillets on blue carbon accumulation. • Technical guidance can inform large-scale application of rock fillets for nature-based coastal defence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing demand for novel coastal protection approaches that also provide co-benefits such as enhanced biodiversity. Rock-fillets, which are used to stabilise eroding banks in estuaries, can be colonised by mangroves, and may provide habitat for estuarine fauna. However, it is unknown whether hybrid mangrove/rock-fillet habitats are functionally equivalent to natural mangroves, for estuarine fauna. To determine whether hybrid mangrove habitats are functionally equivalent to natural mangroves, we used δ13C and δ15N stable isotope analyses to describe the isotopic niche space and overlap of estuarine species in these two habitats across three estuaries in NSW, Australia. Using a Bayesian standard ellipse analysis of isotopic niche area, over half the 12 species observed had larger isotopic niche areas in natural mangroves compared to hybrid habitats, however there were no clear patterns for species between habitats. Natural mangroves and hybrid rock-fillet habitats were isotopically distinct for all species sampled (low proportional overlap, 0–19%) suggesting they are not, at present, wholistically functionally equivalent. Estuarine communities from the two habitat types, however, had similar isotopic niches. Hybrid communities displayed a broader range of δ13C values compared to natural mangroves, suggesting mangrove/rock-fillet habitats have a more diverse range of basal food sources. These findings demonstrate the potential for defence solutions to provide unique co-benefits by supporting food webs, but also that natural habitats provide unique ecosystem services that should be protected and rehabilitated where possible. Future modelling and monitoring of habitat utilisation and species performance could provide further insight into the co-benefits and trade-offs of hybrid habitats. • Species isotopic niche size varied for natural mangrove and rock-fillet habitats. • Minimal isotopic niche overlap of natural mangrove and rock-fillet habitats. • Rock-fillet communities have broader δ13C range suggesting more basal food sources. • Natural mangroves and rock-fillet habitats are isotopically distinct. • The two habitats provide equally complex but novel and divergent niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]