A new Erica lusitanica Rudolphi heathland association to the Iberian south-west

As result of several field trips following doctoral research in Marianic-Monchiquensean Sector, we describe a new heathland named Lavandulo viridis-Ericetum lusitanici ass nova hoc loco (Genistion micrantho-anglicae, Rivas- Martínez 1979) as a thermomediterranean to lower mesomediterranean, upper dry to humid, schistose association. The analysis of 11 relevés, following Braun-Blanquet methodology shows the floristic identity of this new association as well as the chorological segregation of its area of occurrence. Finally, despite these communities already being relatively well known and although they are poor in species number, such heathlands show floristic singularity and own sinecology, with a large and distinct geographical area of distribution, so we emphasized its integration within Atlantic wet heaths priority habitat (⁄4020 – Annex B-I from Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992)

Modelling a layer for real-time management of interactions in web based distance learning

In the last few years, the University of Aveiro, Portugal, has been offering several distance learning courses over the Web, using e-learning platforms. Experience showed that different editions of a same course, using the same contents and structure, and having similar target learners, had different success rates. What would be the reason for that? A hypothesis was considered: The level of success could be directly related with the remote follow-up of the learners’ participation in the courses; the best results usually occur when the follow-up is closer. The existing e-learning platforms offer and the standardization works being developed by organizations and consortiums like IMS (IMS Global Learning Consortium, Inc), ADL SCORM (Advanced Distributed Learning Sherable Content Object Reference Model), IEEE LTSC LOM (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Learning Technologies Standard Committee Learning Object Metadata), ARIADNE (ARIADNE Foundation for the European Knowledge Pool), AICC CMI (Aviation Industry CBT Committee Computer Managed Instruction), etc, don’t cover the course monitorization concerns mentioned. Those projects were focused on aspects like contents and its delivery in the context of the execution of the courses’ activities. This is even true in the SCORM project that doesn’t include any reference to the management of the e-learning processes. Recently, in the context of the IMS Global Consortium, a new project designated IMS LD (Learning Design) is under development, providing a framework for the description of learning units under a three level model. In the most recently defined level, the C level, some functionalities related to notifications were proposed, expressing similar concerns to the ones that triggered our research. However, the extent at which IMS LD takes the functionalities is, from our point of view, not complete. This article describes a proposal of a reference model and functionalities towards a specification of a layer for real-time management of user interactions on LMSs, and its possible integration with the ADL SCORM standard proposal. The paper includes a discussion of the management metadata model for the LMS sub-system and how the integration of the management module under SCORM may be achieved

Enhancing web supported learning in higher education by adding a management layer to LMSs

There are many situations in the e-Learning experiences that can compromise the success of the courses. Many times simple reasons are great enough to motivate people to abandon them. For example, if someone does not execute a programmed activity inside the defined window of time, it can compromise the rest of the course to that person. In such situations it would be important that the teacher knew about the situation in useful time, to be able to take any corrective action. Another example could be presented, involving the professor and the learners. Let us assume that an activity A2 is programmed to be executed by the learners and that it depends on the previous knowledge of the result of the evaluation of a work submitted by the learners to the teacher (activity A1). If the teacher doesn’t inform the learners about their classification in useful time, that can compromise the execution of the activity A2. It seems to be necessary to use mechanisms of automatic management, in real time, of the envolvement of each participant in a distance learning course using LMS (Learning Management System). Such a functionality allows the detection of deviations to the scheduled activities planned for each actor. If it is the case, the referred mechanism can initiate the process of sending notifications to the relevant entities, enabling the correction of these deviations. Several organizations and consortiuns, involving the industry, governmental institutions and universities, are developing projects of standardization. It seemed important to us to see how the referred aspects were covered by those projects, and to perceive how it could be possible to articulate our work with the ones that are available from these organizations and consortiuns. This article describes the work that the authors are developing towards the specification of a layer for real-time management of user interactions with LMSs, during the operationalization of a course, and also includes a management meta-data model, related to that management layer

Approach to climatophilous vegetation series of Serra da Estrela (Portugal)

This work contains the study results of climatophilous vegetation series from Serra da Estrela, the highest mountain on the Portuguese mainland. Located in central-northern Portugal in the Estrelensean Sector (Carpetan-Leonese Subprovince), the Serra da Estrela has several bioclimatic stages, mainly resulting from slope and altitude ranges: mesomediterranean, submediterranean mesotemperate, supramediterranean, submediterranean supratemperate, and submediterranean orotemperate. In each of these belts are observed changes in plant communities that determine variations in terms of the vegetation series. The methodology was based on Dynamic-Catenal Phytosociology. The results show the presence of five climatophilous series; their structural characteristics and dynamics are described in this paper: 1. Lycopodio clavati–Junipereto nani S.; 2. Saxifrago spathularis–Betuleto celtibericae S.; 3. Holco mollis–Querco pyrenaicae S.; 4. Arbuto–Querco pyrenaicae cytisetoso grandiflori S.; e 5. Viburno tini–Querco roboris S

New Proposals on Portuguese Vegetation (II)

As a consequence of the geobotanical studies that have been developed in west and southern areas of the Iberian Peninsula, four new phytosociological associations are proposed, integrated in the perennial mesophytic grasslands of Stipo giganteae-Agrostietea castellanae (Serratulo flavescentis-Celticetum giganteae, Armerio macrophyllae-Celticetum giganteae, Centaureo rothmaleranae-Celticetum giganteae, and Centaureo coutinhoi-Dactyletum lusitanici). For each proposed unit, besides its syntaxonomical fitting, we present its ecological diagnosis and the serial and catenal context, as well as its patrimonial value

Suitable methods for landscape evaluation and valorization: the third dimension in landscape metrics

Landscape metrics have been widely developed over the last two decades. One of the major recent developments in landscape metrics analysis was the integration of the third dimension. Topography has an extremely important role in ecosystems function and structure, even though the common analysis in landscape ecology only considers a planimetric surface, which leads to some erroneous results particularly in mountain areas. In this study we tested landscape metrics behaviour in 13 sample areas of 10,000 m2 each in several topographical conditions of Central Alentejo, Portugal. The significance analysis of the results achieved in planimetric and three-dimensional environments is presented

Orbit Representations from Linear mod 1 Transformations

We show that every point $x_0\in [0,1]$ carries a representation of a $C^*$-algebra that encodes the orbit structure of the linear mod 1 interval map $f_{\beta,\alpha}(x)=\beta x +\alpha$. Such $C^*$-algebra is generated by partial isometries arising from the subintervals of monotonicity of the underlying map $f_{\beta,\alpha}$. Then we prove that such representation is irreducible. Moreover two such of representations are unitarily equivalent if and only if the points belong to the same generalized orbit, for every $\alpha\in [0,1[$ and $\beta\geq 1$

Merging traditional livelihood activities with new employment opportunities brought by ecotourism to Iona national park, Angola: rethinking social sustainability

Ecotourism activities and investment projects have been consistently increasing worldwide over the last few decades. In this process, ecotourism has contributed to fight poverty, to create local employment opportunities and to promote nature conservation. However, there are also plenty examples of nature-base tourism destinations where ecotourism principles have been distorted and negative impacts are on the rise. Therefore, studies that provide a deep understanding of the roots and consequences of those both positive and negative impacts are needed to achieve new higher tourism quality standards, to foster a sound local development and to promote an integrated and sustainable national growth. To obtain information useful to contribute specific recommendations aimed at linking tourism employers and job seekers, we have conducted a survey addressing locals’ demographic characteristics and their engagement in traditional livelihood activities. Data gathered from 202 respondents showed that in the largest villages traditional livelihood activities, excepting pastoralism, tend to have little expression while the same activities seem to play a key role in some small communities. Striking differences were found between nomadic or semi-nomadic people and people who have been assimilated into the western civilization and also have more sedentary life styles. Using this information and taking in consideration some new employment opportunities brought nature-based tourism to the Iona National Park, we have identified specific demographic profiles more suited for part-time and full-time jobs