title: On the threshold: Affordances of online tutorials in the learning of threshold concepts

authors: Peter, Mira

abstract: According to threshold concept theory, in each academic discipline there exist concepts that once grasped allow new and previously inaccessible ways of perceiving and thinking about the subject to emerge [1]. Acquiring a threshold concept (TC) often resembles a phase transition as observed in other psychological perception-action dynamical systems [2]. Previous studies of student learning in introductory electronics have revealed areas where students get stuck [3]. In the present study we investigated the impact of multimodal, online tutorials on learning TCs.

text: On the threshold: Affordances of online tutorials in the learning of threshold concepts According to threshold concept theory, in each academic discipline there exist concepts that once grasped allow new and previously inaccessible ways of perceiving and thinking about the subject to emerge [1]. Acquiring a threshold concept (TC) often resembles a phase transition as observed in other psychological perception-action dynamical systems [2]. Previous studies of student learning in introductory electronics have revealed areas where students get stuck [3]. In the present study we investigated the impact of multimodal, online tutorials on learning TCs.

year: 2013

title: Long-term variations in fish assemblage, macrophyte community, and water quality in Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake)

authors: Law, Duncan Robert Mckenzie

abstract: Lake Rotoroa (37º48’S, 175º16’E) is a small, shallow, polymictic lake located on the western side of Hamilton City. The lake covers an area of 0.54 km2 with a mean depth of 2.4 m, catchment and riparian margins have been significantly modified into a suburban park-like setting. Due to its urban location and recreational value, exotic flora and fauna have been intentionally and unintentionally introduced. This has resulted in fluctuations in water quality and changes in phytoplankton, fish, and macrophyte assemblages over the past 60 years. The overall aim of this thesis is to summarise the fluctuations in water quality and macrophyte community of Lake Rotoroa associated with introduction of exotic species, and to develop a general understanding of the ecosystem response. This study involved collating and analysing available information on fish assemblages, macrophyte community, and water quality in Lake Rotoroa. Data from nine fish surveys undertaken between 1976 and 2012 has been combined. Water quality and macrophyte data was supplied by NIWA, who have undertaken monitoring for Hamilton City Council as part of the national lakes monitoring programme.

Fishing methods have varied from gill, trap, and fyke netting between 1976 and 2001, with boat electrofishing surveys between 2003 and 2012. Lake Rotoroa has a relatively diverse freshwater fish fauna, comprising two native and six exotic fish species. The fish assemblage is now dominated by the native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis), European perch (Perca fluviatilis), brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus), and tench (Tinca tinca), with low densities of rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fish density and biomass have varied throughout the survey period, to some extent related to the environmental conditions and macrophyte cover. 

Macrophyte coverage and water quality have undergone considerable changes in the last 30 years, with the collapses of macrophytes stimulating decreases in water quality and increased perch abundance. In 1990, the macrophyte community collapsed with an associated release of nutrients into the water column, causing the lake to become supertrophic. Between 1992 and 2010, water quality improved, with a decrease phosphorus concentrations that apparently limited phytoplankton biomass and improved water clarity. This allowed macrophytes to recolonise the lake to 30% lake bed coverage in 2005 and a consequent improvement from supertrophic to a eutrophic state. Since 2009, the macrophyte community has undergone another collapse, with only a few clumps of native charophytes and Egeria densa present in 2011. The reduction of macrophytes has been accompanied by a decrease in water clarity. The collapse has been attributed to disturbance by grazing from the herbivorous rudd and foraging benthic feeding fish, although other stresses such as decreased water clarity and microcystins may also have had an influence. 

Further research is needed on the selectivity between passive and active fish capture methods used to allow accurate comparisons between the two methods. This will allow for density and biomass estimates to be made for the passive fishing methods previously used and allow greater insight into changes in abundance of fish populations in Lake Rotoroa.

text: Long-term variations in fish assemblage, macrophyte community, and water quality in Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake) Lake Rotoroa (37º48’S, 175º16’E) is a small, shallow, polymictic lake located on the western side of Hamilton City. The lake covers an area of 0.54 km2 with a mean depth of 2.4 m, catchment and riparian margins have been significantly modified into a suburban park-like setting. Due to its urban location and recreational value, exotic flora and fauna have been intentionally and unintentionally introduced. This has resulted in fluctuations in water quality and changes in phytoplankton, fish, and macrophyte assemblages over the past 60 years. The overall aim of this thesis is to summarise the fluctuations in water quality and macrophyte community of Lake Rotoroa associated with introduction of exotic species, and to develop a general understanding of the ecosystem response. This study involved collating and analysing available information on fish assemblages, macrophyte community, and water quality in Lake Rotoroa. Data from nine fish surveys undertaken between 1976 and 2012 has been combined. Water quality and macrophyte data was supplied by NIWA, who have undertaken monitoring for Hamilton City Council as part of the national lakes monitoring programme.

Fishing methods have varied from gill, trap, and fyke netting between 1976 and 2001, with boat electrofishing surveys between 2003 and 2012. Lake Rotoroa has a relatively diverse freshwater fish fauna, comprising two native and six exotic fish species. The fish assemblage is now dominated by the native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis), European perch (Perca fluviatilis), brown bullhead catfish (Ameiurus nebulosus), and tench (Tinca tinca), with low densities of rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and goldfish (Carassius auratus). Fish density and biomass have varied throughout the survey period, to some extent related to the environmental conditions and macrophyte cover. 

Macrophyte coverage and water quality have undergone considerable changes in the last 30 years, with the collapses of macrophytes stimulating decreases in water quality and increased perch abundance. In 1990, the macrophyte community collapsed with an associated release of nutrients into the water column, causing the lake to become supertrophic. Between 1992 and 2010, water quality improved, with a decrease phosphorus concentrations that apparently limited phytoplankton biomass and improved water clarity. This allowed macrophytes to recolonise the lake to 30% lake bed coverage in 2005 and a consequent improvement from supertrophic to a eutrophic state. Since 2009, the macrophyte community has undergone another collapse, with only a few clumps of native charophytes and Egeria densa present in 2011. The reduction of macrophytes has been accompanied by a decrease in water clarity. The collapse has been attributed to disturbance by grazing from the herbivorous rudd and foraging benthic feeding fish, although other stresses such as decreased water clarity and microcystins may also have had an influence. 

Further research is needed on the selectivity between passive and active fish capture methods used to allow accurate comparisons between the two methods. This will allow for density and biomass estimates to be made for the passive fishing methods previously used and allow greater insight into changes in abundance of fish populations in Lake Rotoroa.

year: 2012

title: E tama Hikairo

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

subjects: Oriori

abstract: He oriori tēnei mō Hikairo, te mokopuna tuatahi a Kīngi Tūheitia. He oriori tēnei e whakanui ana i a Hikairo, tōna whakapapa, tōna tūranga i te ao Māori me te ao Kīngitanga. He mokopuna Ringatū anō a Hikairo, nā Kīngi Tūheitia i tuku mai a Hikairo kia tūātia e Te Hāhi Ringatū ki te Poukai o Wāhi Pā i te tuawaru o Whiringa-ā-Nuku 2014. Ka whakaaturia tōna whakapono Hāhi Ringatū ki roto i te oriori nei e kupu whakaaritia ana. I tohua hoki e Kīngi Tūheitia a Te Kāhautu hai pou whakaruruhau1 mō Hikairo koinei ia i titoa ai tēnei oriori mō tana tamaiti mokopuna, mō Hikairo. He aroha nui nō te matua mō wai oti, mō Hikairo.

I titoa tēnei oriori hai waiatatanga mā te kapa haka o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. I waiatatia e Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti tēnei ki Te Matatini i tū ki Ōtautahi te tau rua mano tekau mā rima. He huarahi anō tēnei mā Te Kāhautu ki te whakamānawa i tana mokopuna i a Hikairo, nara nā te kapa haka a Te Kāhautu i waiata, i whakanui a Hikairo ki te maraenui o te iwi Māori, ko Te Matatini. Ana i tuatahi a Hikairo i te wehenga o Te Waiata Tira. “E Tama Hikairo, haere mai rā.”

text: E tama Hikairo He oriori tēnei mō Hikairo, te mokopuna tuatahi a Kīngi Tūheitia. He oriori tēnei e whakanui ana i a Hikairo, tōna whakapapa, tōna tūranga i te ao Māori me te ao Kīngitanga. He mokopuna Ringatū anō a Hikairo, nā Kīngi Tūheitia i tuku mai a Hikairo kia tūātia e Te Hāhi Ringatū ki te Poukai o Wāhi Pā i te tuawaru o Whiringa-ā-Nuku 2014. Ka whakaaturia tōna whakapono Hāhi Ringatū ki roto i te oriori nei e kupu whakaaritia ana. I tohua hoki e Kīngi Tūheitia a Te Kāhautu hai pou whakaruruhau1 mō Hikairo koinei ia i titoa ai tēnei oriori mō tana tamaiti mokopuna, mō Hikairo. He aroha nui nō te matua mō wai oti, mō Hikairo.

I titoa tēnei oriori hai waiatatanga mā te kapa haka o Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti. I waiatatia e Ōpōtiki Mai Tawhiti tēnei ki Te Matatini i tū ki Ōtautahi te tau rua mano tekau mā rima. He huarahi anō tēnei mā Te Kāhautu ki te whakamānawa i tana mokopuna i a Hikairo, nara nā te kapa haka a Te Kāhautu i waiata, i whakanui a Hikairo ki te maraenui o te iwi Māori, ko Te Matatini. Ana i tuatahi a Hikairo i te wehenga o Te Waiata Tira. “E Tama Hikairo, haere mai rā.”

year: 2016