Irregularly calcified eggs and eggshells of Caiman latirostris (Alligatoridae: Crocodylia)

We describe irregularly calcified egg and eggshell morphologies for the first time in nests of the broad-snouted caiman, Caiman latirostris. Research is based on detailed descriptions of 270 eggs from a total sample of 46,800 collected between 2005 and 2011 in Santa Fe Province, Argentina, and encompasses animals from both natural habitats and held in captivity. We discuss possible reasons for the occurrence of eggs with different mineralisation patterns in our extensive C. latirostris field sample and its conservation significance; the chemistry of egg laying in amniotes is sensitive to environmental contamination which, in turn, has biological implications. Based on our egg sample, we identify two caiman eggshell abnormalities: (1) regularly calcified eggs with either calcitic nodules or superficial wrinkles at one egg end and (2) irregularly calcified eggs with structural gaps that weaken the shell. Some recently laid clutches we examined included eggs with most of the shell broken and detached from the flexible membrane. Most type 1 regularly calcified eggs lost their initial calcified nodules during incubation, suggesting that these deposits do not affect embryo survival rates. In contrast, irregularly calcified caiman eggs have a mean hatching success rate of 8.9 % (range 0-38 %) across our sample compared to a mean normal success of 75 %. Most irregularly calcified caiman eggs probably die because of infections caused by fungi and bacteria in the organic nest material, although another possible explanation that merits further investigation could be an increase in permeability, leading to embryo dehydration.Fil: Fernández, Mariela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universidad Bariloche. Instituto de Investigaciones en Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; ArgentinaFil: Simoncini, Melina Soledad. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentina. Proyecto Yacaré; ArgentinaFil: Dyke, Gareth. University Of Southampton; Reino Unid

Students' Perceptions of the Use of Video Recording in Additional Language Oral Assessments

This study adds resources to the current research on computer-aided second language (L2) learning by focusing on a relatively under-explored area of online oral assessment using video recording. It fills the gap of existing literature by looking into the area through the lens of students’ perception. Drawing on data collected through questionnaires and interviews of students from Chinese and Japanese language programs at Curtin University, this study finds that video-recorded oral assessments facilitated L2 learning by improving learners’ motivation and encouraging self-reflection. The study also sheds light on the importance of technical and teamwork guidance in maximising learning outcomes. Data variations between beginners and advanced learners who participated in this study give weight to the argument that a “one size fits all” approach will not be effective in online language learning, and so facilitators may need to carefully evaluate the level of learners’ language competence when they are incorporating online components in their programs