title: Biological identification of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) from the Canadian Arctic, using mitochondrial DNA barcodes

authors: Hogg, Ian D.

abstract: We evaluated sequence diversity in the mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI; EC 1.9.3.1) gene as a tool for resolving differences among species of Arctic springtails. The Collembola examined in this analysis were collected from Igloolik, Cornwallis, and Somerset islands and included representatives from all major families found in the Arctic. Members of 13 genera and 19 species were examined, including 4 species of the genus Folsomia and 3 species of the genus Hypogastrura. In all cases, species were successfully discriminated. Sequence divergences within species were generally less than 1%, whereas divergences between species were greater than 8% in all cases. Divergences among individuals of one species of Folsomia were much higher (up to 13%), but this likely represents the presence of an undescribed sibling species. We conclude that DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for identifying species of Collembola and should regularly be useful as a complement to traditional, morphological taxonomy.

text: Biological identification of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) from the Canadian Arctic, using mitochondrial DNA barcodes We evaluated sequence diversity in the mitochondrial cytochrome-c oxidase I (COI; EC 1.9.3.1) gene as a tool for resolving differences among species of Arctic springtails. The Collembola examined in this analysis were collected from Igloolik, Cornwallis, and Somerset islands and included representatives from all major families found in the Arctic. Members of 13 genera and 19 species were examined, including 4 species of the genus Folsomia and 3 species of the genus Hypogastrura. In all cases, species were successfully discriminated. Sequence divergences within species were generally less than 1%, whereas divergences between species were greater than 8% in all cases. Divergences among individuals of one species of Folsomia were much higher (up to 13%), but this likely represents the presence of an undescribed sibling species. We conclude that DNA barcoding is a powerful tool for identifying species of Collembola and should regularly be useful as a complement to traditional, morphological taxonomy.

year: 2004-05

title: A second chance in education: upgrade teachers' perceptions of tertiary education in Samoa

authors: Tuia, Tagataese Tupu

abstract: A second chance in education is becoming more and more infrequent in the region. The study is the first in Samoa and makes references to existing literature on teacher upgrade. This paper investigated whether the Teacher Upgrade programme in Samoa contributed positively to teaching and learning in schooling. The programme itself is a pathway for teachers to gain a degree qualification, a rise in pay and an opportunity to hold leadership positions of responsibility at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC). Teacher upgrade programmes have made a difference in former colonised nations’ education systems. Samoa, for instance, started teacher upgrade five years ago and has witnessed improvement in its education system, particularly with students’ performance and engagement. The participants in the Teacher Upgrade programme included teachers, school principals, and senior officers from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC). Qualitative data was collected through the utilisation of an indigenous research methodology—talanoa and nofo—that aligns with the lived realities of the participants. The findings highlighted teacher upgrade has positive educational outcomes for teachers in the programme. This ranged from knowledge, skills, creativity in resource making, diverse pedagogical know-how, improvement in the use and application of technology, and improvements in higher qualification and salary.

text: A second chance in education: upgrade teachers' perceptions of tertiary education in Samoa A second chance in education is becoming more and more infrequent in the region. The study is the first in Samoa and makes references to existing literature on teacher upgrade. This paper investigated whether the Teacher Upgrade programme in Samoa contributed positively to teaching and learning in schooling. The programme itself is a pathway for teachers to gain a degree qualification, a rise in pay and an opportunity to hold leadership positions of responsibility at the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC). Teacher upgrade programmes have made a difference in former colonised nations’ education systems. Samoa, for instance, started teacher upgrade five years ago and has witnessed improvement in its education system, particularly with students’ performance and engagement. The participants in the Teacher Upgrade programme included teachers, school principals, and senior officers from the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC). Qualitative data was collected through the utilisation of an indigenous research methodology—talanoa and nofo—that aligns with the lived realities of the participants. The findings highlighted teacher upgrade has positive educational outcomes for teachers in the programme. This ranged from knowledge, skills, creativity in resource making, diverse pedagogical know-how, improvement in the use and application of technology, and improvements in higher qualification and salary.

year: 2021

title: Māori women in Southern New Zealand’s shore-whaling world

authors: Stevens, Kate

abstract: Kate Stevens and Angela Wanhalla explore the role of Māori women in Southern New Zealand’s nineteenth-century shore-whaling world. Rarely noted in accounts of the industry, Māori women were adept at sea travel and maintained knowledge and beliefs that informed practices of the whaling communities located on Kāi Tahu tribal territory. Highlighting their role as intermediaries between humans and the marine world, Wanhalla and Stevens bring forth several historical accounts of Māori women involved in the shore-whaling industry.

text: Māori women in Southern New Zealand’s shore-whaling world Kate Stevens and Angela Wanhalla explore the role of Māori women in Southern New Zealand’s nineteenth-century shore-whaling world. Rarely noted in accounts of the industry, Māori women were adept at sea travel and maintained knowledge and beliefs that informed practices of the whaling communities located on Kāi Tahu tribal territory. Highlighting their role as intermediaries between humans and the marine world, Wanhalla and Stevens bring forth several historical accounts of Māori women involved in the shore-whaling industry.

year: 2019