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Marine mega-fauna DNA testing in Cleveland Bay
The seagrass meadows in Townsville harbor are well established foraging grounds for a large herd of dugong and a high number of green sea turtles (marine mega-herbivores). These foraging grounds have maintained a healthy and resilient meadow after quickly bouncing back from large loss after tropical cyclone Yasi and have provided vital foraging grounds for the endangered and vulnerable marine mega-herbivores.
Healthy seagrass meadows are also home to many different benthic macro fauna (such as sea cucumbers, ascidians, sponges, etc). Previous port funded seagrass surveys have found the seagrass meadows in Townsville harbor contain a wide range of benthic macro fauna. When marine mega-herbivores forage in seagrass meadows, they are known to incidentally consume benthic macro fauna. However, it is unknown at what extent this incidental consumption occurs, and how important this fauna is to their diet.
This project will determine which benthic macro fauna are present in the faeces of marine mega-herbivores using two different DNA methods: eDNA water filtration and laboratory-based DNA extraction. The DNA results will be compared with results of the presence of marine benthic macro fauna from an already scheduled port funded ariel seagrass survey (May and November 2024). Determining which benthic macro fauna are present in dugong and green turtle diets in relation to what is present in the foraging meadow, will enable a greater understanding the role these benthic macro fauna play in the health and resilience of seagrass meadows.
This project will enable a greater understanding of the complex interactions marine mega-herbivores have with their main food source (seagrass), and the role macro benthic fauna play with the value seagrass meadows provide. This information can help to inform whether a seagrass meadow is functioning to its full potential, based on the importance of macro benthic fauna to the diet and health of marine mega-herbivores.
Understanding employees’ perspectives on the usage of Mandai Animal Care Application
In today’s work environment which is defined by digital transformation, the convergence of technology and productivity has brought about a paradigm shift in how employees manage their daily work responsibilities (Singh et al., 2020). Once synonymous with personal convenience, mobile applications have emerged as indispensable tools in the professional landscape. As organizations strive to adapt to an ever-evolving business environment, mobile application development for work has become a focal point of innovation and efficiency (Leong et al., 2020). Besides, the growing popularity of mobile technology has ushered in a new era where work knows no bounds. Besides, employees carry their work with them, securely and conveniently, within the confines of their smartphones and tablets (Pillai et al., 2021). This transformation is not about portability but signifies a fundamental shift in how work is organized, executed, and experienced. Within this context, our research examines the usage experience of mobile work applications and the critical factors that encourage mobile application adoption.
The purpose of this project is twofold.
First, we examine the intricacies of the usage experience of a work mobile application. We would target to answer questions like - What makes these apps effective tools for productivity? How do they influence the work-life balance of employees? Are there specific design features that contribute to a more seamless user experience?
Second, our project seeks to discover the factors driving the adoption of work mobile applications. Understanding what motivates individuals and organizations to embrace these tools is pivotal for developers, businesses, and policymakers. These factors could include usability, security, cost-effectiveness, and organizational culture.
Our project adopts a two-studies approach to accomplish these objectives, combining interviews and user surveys, as follows:
(a) Study 1 identifies the perspectives on employees’ usage experience and factors driving the adoption or non-adoption of the work mobile application.
(b) Study 2 involves the deployment of the survey to measure the usage experience and draw relationships with micro-, meso- and macro-outcomes
Navigating the carceral interface
This project aims to address the gap in knowledge of how young Indigenous people experience the
carceral system and document how Indigenous community organisations support and provide vital contributions to
building safer more supportive communities.
The Bamboo Parenting Program: Promotion of a Randomised Pilot Trial.
The Bamboo Parenting Program is an online social support program for first-time mothers in the perinatal period. The program has been designed to prevent mental illness during this vulnerable period, and by leveraging social support, Bamboo targets one of the most significant predictors of mental health for perinatal women. The program pairs first-time mothers with volunteer mothers or with mother-nominated individuals (with support training provided in program). Pairs work together to navigate the critical and difficult perinatal period. Funding from this seed fund will be used to promote a pilot randomised trial in North Queensland.