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This exploratory study aims to fill the gap by adopting Hirose’s two-phase decision-making model with the theory of social networks to explore the environmentally friendly attitudes and environmental behavioral intentions toward pro-environmental behaviors of the citizen scientists who participated in the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project. The Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project is a systematic citizen science project founded in 2003 with the aim to identify existing and potential irrigation ponds that are important to creating waterbird refuges to secure habitats for wintering waterbirds in anthropogenically influenced areas. The participation in this project itself can be considered as a form of pro-environmental behavior. A total of 24 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project. Qualitative data showed that participants mentioned six variables (i.e., perceived seriousness, ascription of responsibility, belief in the effectiveness, feasibility evaluation, cost–benefit evaluation, and social norms evaluation) of the two-phase decision-making model in relation to environmentally friendly attitudes and environmental behavioral intention. Findings also revealed three key variables (i.e., social networks, learning and growth, and belonging and contribution) in the theory of social networks that are associated with environmentally friendly attitudes and environmental behavioral intention. Based on the findings, it is proposed that the social needs variables are incorporated as an extension to the two-phase decision-making model to offer a more comprehensive explanation of pro-environmental behavior.
Shan-Hui Chao; Jin-Zhang Jiang; Kuan-Chu Wei; Eric Ng; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Yi-Te Chiang; Wei-Ta Fang. Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior of Citizen Science: An Exploratory Study of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project. Sustainability 2021, 13, 5126 .
AMA StyleShan-Hui Chao, Jin-Zhang Jiang, Kuan-Chu Wei, Eric Ng, Chia-Hsuan Hsu, Yi-Te Chiang, Wei-Ta Fang. Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior of Citizen Science: An Exploratory Study of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (9):5126.
Chicago/Turabian StyleShan-Hui Chao; Jin-Zhang Jiang; Kuan-Chu Wei; Eric Ng; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Yi-Te Chiang; Wei-Ta Fang. 2021. "Understanding Pro-Environmental Behavior of Citizen Science: An Exploratory Study of the Bird Survey in Taoyuan’s Farm Ponds Project." Sustainability 13, no. 9: 5126.
In a preliminary study of the sea urchin, Tripneustes gratilla at Hobihu, south Taiwan, biased sex ratios were found in 2010. Three hypotheses were proposed to explain the mechanism and tested in a wider region around Taiwan. The Sampling Bias Hypothesis was not supported since external morphology, including “masking” percentages, i.e., percentages of debris cover on top of urchin tests, and the height:diameter ratios of urchin tests were not different between the sexes. The Innate Hypothesis was not supported since an island-wide investigation revealed unbiased sex ratios in six out of seven surveys carried out in March/April when the urchins started to appear on the surface of the substrate, but the sex ratios were male-biased in all 11 surveys, later in the year. Moreover, artificially propagated sea urchins raised in seawater ponds had unbiased sex ratios, whereas the wild population in the same region and season had significantly male-biased sex ratios. With the progress of season, the sex-ratios became more and more biased with increasing urchin sizes, in two field cases. These phenomena falsified the Innate Hypothesis. The Differential Mortality Hypothesis was the only one that could not be falsified. Females obviously suffer higher mortality rates than males in the field, presumably due to predators. It is suggested that females attracted predators during repeated spawning when they released eggs. The additional mortality rates of females than males were estimated to be no less than 20% per month based on the change of sex ratios through seasons.
Keryea Soong; Guan-Lin Yu; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Gwo-Liang Chang; Shi-Jie Lin. Male-biased sex ratios of Tripneustes gratilla around Taiwan. Regional Studies in Marine Science 2021, 44, 101737 .
AMA StyleKeryea Soong, Guan-Lin Yu, Chia-Hsuan Hsu, Gwo-Liang Chang, Shi-Jie Lin. Male-biased sex ratios of Tripneustes gratilla around Taiwan. Regional Studies in Marine Science. 2021; 44 ():101737.
Chicago/Turabian StyleKeryea Soong; Guan-Lin Yu; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Gwo-Liang Chang; Shi-Jie Lin. 2021. "Male-biased sex ratios of Tripneustes gratilla around Taiwan." Regional Studies in Marine Science 44, no. : 101737.
Finding suitable habitats for specific functions such as breeding provides examples of key biotic adaptation. The adult marine midge Pontomyia oceana requires an extremely specific habitat, i.e., hard substrates above water in shallow water, to deposit fertilized eggs. We investigated how these sea surface-skimming insects accomplished this with a stringent time constraint of 1–2 h of the adult life span in the evenings. We observed that in artificial containers, midges aggregated at bright spots only if the light was not in the direction of the sea. This behavior could potentially attract midges toward the shore and away from the open water. Experiments were performed in the intertidal zone in southern Taiwan to test three hypotheses explaining such behavior: gradients of temperature and CO2, and soundscape. No differences were observed in moving directions or aggregation of midges under artificial temperature and CO2 gradients. However, midges preferred sounds at 75 Hz compared with other frequencies (all ≤300 Hz) as observed in a field experiment involving floating traps with loudspeakers. Moreover, when background noise was experimentally masked using white noise of all frequencies, midges were significantly more likely to aggregate at bright spots in the direction of the sea than in the absence of white noise. These results establish that sound is used by midges to navigate in dark seas and move toward the shore where exposed hard substrates are in abundance. Marine mammals present well-known cases of sound pollution at sea; here the finding in the insignificant marine midge is just the harbinger of the potential effects noise at shore may have to affect critical reproductive stages of marine organisms.
Chun-Gin Chang; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Keryea Soong. Navigation in darkness: How the marine midge (Pontomyia oceana) locates hard substrates above the water level to lay eggs. PLOS ONE 2021, 16, e0246060 .
AMA StyleChun-Gin Chang, Chia-Hsuan Hsu, Keryea Soong. Navigation in darkness: How the marine midge (Pontomyia oceana) locates hard substrates above the water level to lay eggs. PLOS ONE. 2021; 16 (1):e0246060.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChun-Gin Chang; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Keryea Soong. 2021. "Navigation in darkness: How the marine midge (Pontomyia oceana) locates hard substrates above the water level to lay eggs." PLOS ONE 16, no. 1: e0246060.
The objective of the research was to explore and compare the differences in potential creative thinking that media richness had on learners in creativity training through two different types of communication formats; computer-mediated communication, and face-to-face communication. The results indicated that the computer-mediated communication format performed better than the face-to-face in terms of the fluency, flexibility, and originality dimensions of creative thinking. The computer-mediated communication format also had a greater level of media richness perception (i.e., use of multiple cues, language diversity, and personal focus of the medium) than the face-to-face format. In terms of the combined effectiveness of computer-mediated communication, and face-to-face formats, the use of multiple cues, language variety of perception of media richness had direct effects on the fluency of creativity. There was also a positive correlation between the elaboration of creativity and the use of multiple cues, language variety, and personal focus of the medium in the perception of media richness. Furthermore, language variety was correlated with creativity and flexibility. The research findings highlighted the importance of the availability of immediate feedback on media richness, whereas creativity cognition should focus on the breadth and depth of the information, which contributes to enhancing the creativity of individuals or a group of employees.
Shan-Hui Chao; Jinzhang Jiang; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Yi-Te Chiang; Eric Ng; Wei-Ta Fang. Technology-Enhanced Learning for Graduate Students: Exploring the Correlation of Media Richness and Creativity of Computer-Mediated Communication and Face-to-Face Communication. Applied Sciences 2020, 10, 1602 .
AMA StyleShan-Hui Chao, Jinzhang Jiang, Chia-Hsuan Hsu, Yi-Te Chiang, Eric Ng, Wei-Ta Fang. Technology-Enhanced Learning for Graduate Students: Exploring the Correlation of Media Richness and Creativity of Computer-Mediated Communication and Face-to-Face Communication. Applied Sciences. 2020; 10 (5):1602.
Chicago/Turabian StyleShan-Hui Chao; Jinzhang Jiang; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Yi-Te Chiang; Eric Ng; Wei-Ta Fang. 2020. "Technology-Enhanced Learning for Graduate Students: Exploring the Correlation of Media Richness and Creativity of Computer-Mediated Communication and Face-to-Face Communication." Applied Sciences 10, no. 5: 1602.
Citizen science projects are considered popular and efficient approaches to scientific research and conservation of sustainability. In addition, much research suggests that citizen science can improve participants’ environmental and scientific literacy when they participate in surveys over a period of time. However, considerable research indicates that people in short-term training programs do not change their environmental literacy significantly. Nevertheless, studies have stated that these results might result from inappropriate evaluation methods. In this study, we used personal meaning mapping (PMM) to evaluate participants’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior intention in relation to land crab protection. This method merges quantitative and qualitative dimensions, used in scientific knowledge research, which we extend to evaluate attitude and behavior intention. As a result, even with short-term training, we observe that participants’ knowledge, attitude, and behavior intention significantly improves. Although some individuals exhibit no change in certain respects, we use PMM to understand the causes in detail. Taiwan is an island, famous for its fertile landscapes and biodiversity, and we anticipate finding efficient means to improve public environmental literacy. According to our research, public engagement in citizen science projects is an excellent approach to environmental education and conservation for sustainability.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Yuan-Mou Chang; Chi-Chang Liu. Can Short-Term Citizen Science Training Increase Knowledge, Improve Attitudes, and Change Behavior to Protect Land Crabs? Sustainability 2019, 11, 3918 .
AMA StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu, Yuan-Mou Chang, Chi-Chang Liu. Can Short-Term Citizen Science Training Increase Knowledge, Improve Attitudes, and Change Behavior to Protect Land Crabs? Sustainability. 2019; 11 (14):3918.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu; Yuan-Mou Chang; Chi-Chang Liu. 2019. "Can Short-Term Citizen Science Training Increase Knowledge, Improve Attitudes, and Change Behavior to Protect Land Crabs?" Sustainability 11, no. 14: 3918.
Caprimulgus affinis is an endemic species commonly known as the Taiwan nighthawk, forest nighthawk, or South Asian nighthawk. In recent years, the C. affinis population has gradually moved outward from river habitats into the metropolitan areas of Taiwan. Because male birds’ booming sounds at night can reach up to 90 dB or higher and they can be intermittently tweeting for more than 10 hours, they often disturb the sleep of urban residents and can even cause nightmares. In this study, we analyzed long-term survey data to assess the distribution history of C. affinis in Taiwan. By using 1738 entries of observation data collected from 1999 to 2014, a model of C. affinis distribution was constructed, and a geostatistical method was used to improve the accuracy of the model estimate. In addition, the Mann–Kendall trend test was applied to predict future C. affinis distribution. Based on the results, four variables were selected to construct the C. affinis distribution matrix. Urban population, coastal proximity, and distance to upstream river location represented positive driving forces, whereas city elevation was a negative driving force. C. affinis is currently distributed on the plains of central and southern Taiwan and in eastern Taiwan. The C. affinis emergence trend diagram was plotted using the time–space trend diagram, which showed yearly increases in the C. affinis populations in urban and settled areas including central, western, northeastern, and southeastern Taiwan and yearly decreases in the populations in rural areas including northern and southern Taiwan, especially in fragmented riverine habitats. Regression kriging can correctly describe the distribution of the entire C. affinis population, which leads to the correct understanding of the biological corridor of C. affinis in their migration through the graphical contours in GIS. The analytic model in this study contributes to the establishment of the time–space trend diagram.
Bai-You Cheng; Guey-Shin Shyu; Shi-Ching Wu; Hsiao-Hsien Lin; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Ben A. LePage; Wei-Ta Fang. Fragmented Riverine Habitats in Taiwan Have Spatio-Temporal Consequences, Re-Distributing Caprimulgus affinis into Urban Areas Leading to a Human–Wildlife Conflict. Sustainability 2019, 11, 1778 .
AMA StyleBai-You Cheng, Guey-Shin Shyu, Shi-Ching Wu, Hsiao-Hsien Lin, Chia-Hsuan Hsu, Ben A. LePage, Wei-Ta Fang. Fragmented Riverine Habitats in Taiwan Have Spatio-Temporal Consequences, Re-Distributing Caprimulgus affinis into Urban Areas Leading to a Human–Wildlife Conflict. Sustainability. 2019; 11 (6):1778.
Chicago/Turabian StyleBai-You Cheng; Guey-Shin Shyu; Shi-Ching Wu; Hsiao-Hsien Lin; Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Ben A. LePage; Wei-Ta Fang. 2019. "Fragmented Riverine Habitats in Taiwan Have Spatio-Temporal Consequences, Re-Distributing Caprimulgus affinis into Urban Areas Leading to a Human–Wildlife Conflict." Sustainability 11, no. 6: 1778.
Farm ponds or irrigation ponds, providing a vital habitat for diverse bird communities, are an environmental feature with characteristics that cross over typical urban and natural conditions. In this study, the species richness and community structure of irrigation ponds were characterized on the local and landscape scales. Within a landscape complex in the Taoyuan Tableland of Taiwan, 45 ponds were surveyed, ranging in areas from 0.2 to 20.47 ha. In total, 94 species and 15,053 individual birds were identified after surveying four times. The association between ponds and birds was determined to establish the effect of pond dimensions on species richness and community composition in the complex by comparing the responses of functional groups to pond configurations. Seven avian functional groups were identified. Compared with landbirds (i.e., families Alcedinidae, Apodidae, Icteridae, and Sturnidae), waterbirds (i.e., families Anatidae, Ardeidae, Charadriidae, Podicipedidae, and Scolopacidae) exhibited a stronger correlation with pond variables. Our study provides substantial evidence that these artificial ponds have influenced wintering waterbirds. The final results of this study may help stakeholders and land managers identify areas not to establish large-scale solar facilities considering waterbird habitats in pond areas.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Jui-Yu Chou; Wei-Ta Fang. Habitat Selection of Wintering Birds in Farm Ponds in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Animals 2019, 9, 113 .
AMA StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu, Jui-Yu Chou, Wei-Ta Fang. Habitat Selection of Wintering Birds in Farm Ponds in Taoyuan, Taiwan. Animals. 2019; 9 (3):113.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu; Jui-Yu Chou; Wei-Ta Fang. 2019. "Habitat Selection of Wintering Birds in Farm Ponds in Taoyuan, Taiwan." Animals 9, no. 3: 113.
Terrestrial hermit crabs play a significant role in coastal ecology. For example, as seed dispersers and debris scavengers in coastal forests, they accelerate the decomposition of organic substances. In the Indo-Pacific Ocean, Coenobita rugosus, C. brevimanus, and C. cavipes are the three most common species of terrestrial hermit crab. Because the mechanisms that contribute to the sympatry of these three species of crab have not been identified, this study investigated the three most likely explanations: niche differences, competition, and predation. The results showed that the three species displayed niche differences in terms of seasonal activity, habitat, utilization of shells, and food preference, suggesting that competition for resources is avoided. The habitat of terrestrial hermit crabs in Taiwan is closely associated with that of humans. Our study helps improve our understanding of the ecology of terrestrial hermit crabs and their conservation.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Marinus L. Otte; Chi-Chang Liu; Jui-Yu Chou; Wei-Ta Fang. What are the sympatric mechanisms for three species of terrestrial hermit crab (Coenobita rugosus, C. brevimanus, and C. cavipes) in coastal forests? PLoS ONE 2018, 13, e0207640 .
AMA StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu, Marinus L. Otte, Chi-Chang Liu, Jui-Yu Chou, Wei-Ta Fang. What are the sympatric mechanisms for three species of terrestrial hermit crab (Coenobita rugosus, C. brevimanus, and C. cavipes) in coastal forests? PLoS ONE. 2018; 13 (12):e0207640.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu; Marinus L. Otte; Chi-Chang Liu; Jui-Yu Chou; Wei-Ta Fang. 2018. "What are the sympatric mechanisms for three species of terrestrial hermit crab (Coenobita rugosus, C. brevimanus, and C. cavipes) in coastal forests?" PLoS ONE 13, no. 12: e0207640.
Citizen science has become a major source of scientific research in recent years. Many studies have concluded that citizen science projects not only contribute to the sciences but also considerably improve the scientific and environmental literacy of participating volunteers (citizen scientists). A dynamic citizen science project can accomplish goals that benefit society but it is difficult to establish, operate, and maintain a citizen science project. This paper reports a case study and examined the most famous citizen science project in Taiwan, the Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network (TaiRON), with the viewpoint of a community of practice learning theory. Community of practice theory is widely used in education and business management research and is an important framework for knowledge exchange and dissemination. Through content analysis, observation, and interviews with the moderator of the TaiRON project, this study explored how its internal operations reflected the principles of community of practice theory. The results indicated that TaiRON members developed a set of shared working methods and jointly completed certain actions. All participating members possessed in-depth knowledge or enthusiasm with respect to their specific focus areas, enabling them to meaningfully contribute to work on specific topics. The three major elements of a community of practice—domain, community, and practice—should be aligned with the community’s purpose and action. We discovered that the TaiRON citizen science project was consistent with the elements of the theory of community of practice. In particular, the establishment of TaiRON was enabled by scientific and technological advances; therefore, this paper discusses the characteristics of virtual communities of practice. Moreover, TaiRON contributed to raising the public’s environmental literacy. This paper reports pilot research concerning citizen science operations and may stimulate related future research.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Te-En Lin; Wei-Ta Fang; Chi-Chang Liu. Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network: An Example of a Community of Practice Contributing to Taiwanese Environmental Literacy for Sustainability. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3610 .
AMA StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu, Te-En Lin, Wei-Ta Fang, Chi-Chang Liu. Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network: An Example of a Community of Practice Contributing to Taiwanese Environmental Literacy for Sustainability. Sustainability. 2018; 10 (10):3610.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu; Te-En Lin; Wei-Ta Fang; Chi-Chang Liu. 2018. "Taiwan Roadkill Observation Network: An Example of a Community of Practice Contributing to Taiwanese Environmental Literacy for Sustainability." Sustainability 10, no. 10: 3610.
Numerous environmental factors can influence body size. Comparing populations in different ecological contexts is one potential approach to elucidating the most critical of such factors. In the current study, we found that the body size of the land hermit crab Coenobita rugosus was significantly larger on Dongsha Island in the South China Sea than on other eco-islands around Southern Taiwan. We hypothesized that this could be due to differences in (1) shell resources, (2) parasite impact, (3) competition, (4) predation, and (5) food. We found no supporting evidence for the first three hypotheses; the shells used by the hermit crabs on Dongsha were in poorer condition than were those used elsewhere, extremely few individuals in the region had ectoparasites, and the density of hermit crabs varied considerably among localities within each island. However, significantly higher percentages of C. rugosus reached age 3 years on Dongsha than at Siziwan bay in Taiwan. Two growth rate indices inferred from size structures suggested faster growth on Dongsha than at Siziwan. The condition index (i.e., the body mass/shield length ratio of C. rugosus) was also greater on Dongsha than at Siziwan. Therefore, Dongsha hermit crabs seem to have superior diet and growth performance. Seagrass debris accumulation at the shore of Dongsha was considerable, whereas none was observed at Siziwan or on the other islands, where dicot leaves were the dominant food item for the vegetarian hermit crabs. We then experimentally evaluated the possible role of seagrass as food for C. rugosus. The crabs on Dongsha preferred seagrass to dicot leaves, and their growth increment was faster when they fed on seagrass than when they fed on dicot leaves; no such differences were found in the Siziwan hermit crabs. The aforementioned results are compatible with the food hypothesis explaining the size differences among the islands. The predator hypothesis could explain the greater life span but not the other findings. Populations of C. rugosus on islands with seagrass debris piles probably contribute more to the gene pool of the species because higher proportions of these populations could achieve high fecundity. The fate of these terrestrial hermit crabs may rely on the health of underwater seagrass ecosystems that are under threat from global change.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Keryea Soong. Mechanisms causing size differences of the land hermit crab Coenobita rugosus among eco-islands in Southern Taiwan. PLOS ONE 2017, 12, e0174319 .
AMA StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu, Keryea Soong. Mechanisms causing size differences of the land hermit crab Coenobita rugosus among eco-islands in Southern Taiwan. PLOS ONE. 2017; 12 (4):e0174319.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu; Keryea Soong. 2017. "Mechanisms causing size differences of the land hermit crab Coenobita rugosus among eco-islands in Southern Taiwan." PLOS ONE 12, no. 4: e0174319.
The land hermit crab, Coenobita purpureus Stimpson, 1858 (Anomura, Coenobitidae), is endemic to Japan. However, for the first time one light blue male land hermit crab, with a shield length of 1.51 cm, was collected on Dongji Island, South Penghu Marine National Park, in Taiwan. This paper describes the morphological characteristics of the collected individual and provides colour illustrations and photographs of the specimen. Because dispersal is one of the fundamental traits of all species, we herein also discuss hypotheses on the possible dispersal of C. purpureus to Dongji Island. Finally, this record is notably the southernmost report in the known global distribution of C. purpureus.
Chia-Hsuan Hsu; Keryea Soong. Has the land hermit crab Coenobita purpureus settled in Taiwan? Crustaceana 2017, 90, 111 -118.
AMA StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu, Keryea Soong. Has the land hermit crab Coenobita purpureus settled in Taiwan? Crustaceana. 2017; 90 (1):111-118.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChia-Hsuan Hsu; Keryea Soong. 2017. "Has the land hermit crab Coenobita purpureus settled in Taiwan?" Crustaceana 90, no. 1: 111-118.