Lack of clarity about assessment criteria and standards is a source anxiety for many first-year university students. The Developing Understanding Assessment Learning (DUAL) programme was designed as staged approach to gradually familiarise students with expectations, provide opportunities the development skills required successfully complete tasks. This paper investigated students’ perceptions first two components DUAL programme, which assist biology engage stated in order develop their...

Rhodolith beds are aggregations of free-living non-geniculate coralline red algae (Corallinales, Rhodophyta), with a high biodiversity associated organisms. This is the first detailed study rhodolith-bed community from cold-temperate waters southern Australia. bed, located at 1–4-m depth in Western Port, Victoria, composed four rhodolith-forming species (Hydrolithon rupestre (Foslie) Penrose, Lithothamnion superpositum Foslie, Mesophyllum engelhartii Adey and Neogoniolithon brassica-florida...

The effect of burrowing activities ghost shrimp (Neocallichirus limosus and Biffarius arenosus) heart urchin (Echinocardium cordatum) on the flux dissolved substances across water–sediment interface was examined by comparing transport tracer deuterium oxide (D2O) between sediments overlying water in experimental laboratory tanks with without fauna. This experiment complemented measurements diffusive naturally occurring isotopes radium (224Ra 223Ra) from into column. Despite different habits,...

The Developing Understanding of Assessment for Learning (DUAL) programme was developed with the dual aims improving both quality and consistency feedback students receive students' ability to use that improve. DUAL comprises a range processes (including marking rubrics, sample reports, moderation discussions peer-review activities) which support explicit knowledge exchange between staff, staff development tacit standards in all participants. This paper describes study quantified extent...

Biffarius arenosus had a mean δ13C of –15·4 ± 0·2‰ and δ15N 5·9 0·1‰ (n = 38), Trypea australiensis –16·3 0·3 7·6 0·1 20). The signatures the only mangrove species present (Avicennia marina) most abundant saltmarsh plant (Sarcocornia quinqueflora) indicated that they were not major food sources. Seagrasses, predominantly Heterozostera tasmanica, values –11·7 65) 3·9 62), respectively. Seagrass epiphytes –17·9 0·4‰ 4·6 0·3‰ 27), A mixture seagrasses their was likely source organic carbon for...

Effective feedback can build self-assessment skills in students so that they become more competent and confident to identify self-correct weaknesses their work. In this study, we trialled a code as part of an integrated programme formative summative assessment tasks, which provided first-year on initial attempt at scientific biology report. We investigated the students’ perceptions associated action plan exercise, found majority with clear feedback, whilst tool for decoding interpreting...

The effect of bioturbation by the ghost shrimp Trypaea australiensis and semaphore crab Heloecious cordiformis was compared in sediment-filled tanks laboratory. Effect bioturbator density also investigated with high- low-density treatments. It hypothesised that two species would influence sediment profile different ways owing to their contrasting burrowing feeding habits. Both increased porosity surface sediments relative control tanks. Crab activity did not alter redox potential, but low...

Population biology of the ghost shrimps, Trypaea australiensis and Biffarius arenosus (Decapoda: Thalassinidea)

Abstract Burrow structure, feeding behaviour and diet selectivity of the ghost shrimps Biffarius arenosusand Trypaea aus-traliensiswere compared. Burrows T. australiensiswere Y-shaped with a single tunnel extending up to 51 cm into sediment. Overall burrow shape was less complex than that previously described for B. arenosus. In aquaria, australiensiswas observed resuspend sediment within feed on suspended particles, collect food directly from wall (deposit-feeding). Individuals arenosus...

The thalassinidean ghost shrimps Trypaea australiensis and Biffarius arenosus are dominant burrowing macroinvertebrates of soft‐sediment habitats in Western Port, Victoria, Australia. Burrow structure has been described for both species but little is known about how the burrows change over time. This study used resin casting to investigate temporal variation by making burrow casts each month a 12‐month period. It was found that overall morphology T. B. consistent time, warmer months (summer...

This study describes the perceptions of embedded teaching and learning leadership teams working on curriculum reform in science departments. The combined a formally recognised leader, School Director Learning Teaching, with project-based, more junior academic, Curriculum Fellow, to better leverage support for reform. Teams were established principles localizing maximising credibility discipline staff. core supported by larger Faculty team Associate Dean Academic, academic developer,...