PurposeThis research set out to examine how financial advice provided by a human advisor (vs robo-advisor) influences investment intentions in a retail banking context.Design/methodology/approachIn two experiments, between-subjects experimental designs were employed to test the primary hypothesis and identify the underlying causal mechanisms that influence consumer investment decisions.FindingsThe results from two experiments indicate consumers have more belief in financial advice provided by a human financial advisor (vs robo-advisor), when the level of involvement is high. The authors also identify customer belief in the information and the customer's perception of the bank's “customer focus” as the causal mechanisms that have downstream effects on investment intentions.Originality/valueThis research is the first to examine how financial advice received from a human advisor (vs robo-advisor) influences investment intentions in a retail banking context. Furthermore, this research identifies high involvement as a key boundary condition moderating the effects on investment intention and identifies consumer belief in the advice, as well as the bank's perceived level of customer focus as the causal mechanisms influencing investment intentions.

We surveyed temperate montane natural grasslands across the New England Tablelands Bioregion (NETB) and assessed the phytosociology, occurrence and threats to these assemblages. In total, 123 full floristic survey plots were placed within natural grasslands across the NETB. Mapping was undertaken within a subset of the NETB using ADS40 imagery. Analysis of the floristic data was performed using the Kulzynski association measure and UPGMA fusion strategy. Canonical correspondence analysis was performed with species data in association with 42 environmental variables. An estimated 25 000 ha of native tussock and sod tussock grasslands within six floristic assemblages were found within the NETB. The maximum extent of predicted high-quality stands may only be 2500 ha with most occurrences degraded and threatened by agricultural practices, exotic species and changes in above- and below-ground water resources. Native taxa were significantly associated with altitude, rock type and differential temperature tolerances. Altitude, eastness (longitude) and radiation of the wettest period were significant drivers of exotic species occurrence.

We surveyed subtropical closed tussock grasslands on headlands within the North Coast Bioregion of New South Wales. The aims of the investigation were to provide baseline data on this listed threatened community. Additionally, we tested the effects of macropod grazing and biomass changes on assemblages. In total, 117 full floristic survey plots were placed within extant natural grassland occurrences on 16 headlands. Data collected included the percentage cover and frequency of each species. In addition, we ranked the three species contributing most to overall biomass. Analysis of the full floristic cover data (percentage cover) was performed using the Kulzynski association measure and Unweighted Pair Group Arithmetic Averaging fusion strategy. Further analysis was performed using constrained and unconstrained ordinations and Generalised Additive Modelling using species frequency data and explanatory variables including overall, and proportional species biomass, and macropod grazing impact. Seven distinct grassland assemblages were derived, of which three were Themeda dominated. Concentrating on the Themeda-dominated assemblages, it was found that increasing biomass depth and a reduction in macropod grazing impact were associated with a reduction in plot species richness and diversity and trait richness and diversity. These changes were associated with a shift in floristic assemblage identity. All three Themeda assemblages are likely to provide a unique combination of functional resources and all should be maintained in order to promote landscape diversity. We predict that use of frequent fire is likely to cause homogenisation (reduced landscape richness) and loss of important components including listed threatened taxa.

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Aims: To use unsupervised techniques to produce a hierarchical classification of montane mires of the study region. Study area: New England Tablelands Bioregion (NETB) of eastern Australia. Methods: A dataset of 280 vascular floristic survey plots placed across the variation in montane mires of the NETB was collated. Vegetation types were identified with the aid of a clustering method based on group averaging and tested using similarity profile analysis (SIMPROF) and through ordinations using Bray-Curtis similarity and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS). A hierarchical schema was developed based on EcoVeg hierarchy and was circumscribed using positive and negative diagnostic taxa via similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER) and importance based on summed cover scores and frequency. Results: We defined one macrogroup to include all montane mire vegetation of the NETB and within these two groups and twelve alliances. Conclusions: Our study re-enforced the separation of bogs from other montane mire systems and confirmed the separation of fens and wet meadows, a distinction that previously had not been independently tested. Based on our results many existing montane mire communities of the NETB have been ill-defined at multiple hierarchical levels, leading to confusion in threat status and mapping. Additionally, nearly half of the alliances we recognise were found to have no correlates within current classification systems, which necessarily has implications for the effectiveness of current conservation planning. Taxonomic reference: PlantNET (http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/, accessed June 2016). Abbreviations: BC Act = Biodiversity Conservation Act; EPBC Act = Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Act; NETB = New England Tablelands Bioregion; NMDS = non-metric multidimensional scaling; PCT = plant community type; RE = regional ecosystem; SIMPER = similarity percentage analysis; SIMPROF = similarity profile analysis.