28 research outputs found
Distribution of the brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) in the Central Apennines, Italy, 2005-2014
Despite its critical conservation status, no formal estimate of the Apennine brown bear (Ursus arctos marsicanus) distribution has ever been attempted, nor a coordinated effort to compile and verify all recent occurrences has ever been ensured. We used 48331 verified bear location data collected by qualified personnel from 2005ď€2014 in the central Apennines, Italy, to estimate the current distribution of Apennine brown bears. Data sources included telemetry relocations, scats and DNA-verified hair samples, sightings, indirect signs of presence, photos from camera traps, and damage to properties. Using a grid-based zonal analysis to transform raw data density, we applied ordinary kriging and estimated a 4923 km2 main bear distribution, encompassing the historical stronghold of the bear population, and including a smaller (1460 km2) area of stable occupancy of reproducing female bears. National and Regional Parks cover 38.8% of the main bear distribution, plus an additional 19.5% encompassed by the Natura 2000 network alone. Despite some methodological and sampling problems related to spatial and temporal variation in sampling effort at the landscape scale, our approach provides an approximation of the current bear distribution that is suited to frequently update the distribution map. Future monitoring of this bear population would benefit from estimating detectability across a range on environmental and sampling variables, and from intensifying the collection of bear presence data in the peripheral portions of the distribution
A Process Calculus for Molecular Interaction Maps
We present the MIM calculus, a modeling formalism with a strong biological
basis, which provides biologically-meaningful operators for representing the
interaction capabilities of molecular species. The operators of the calculus
are inspired by the reaction symbols used in Molecular Interaction Maps (MIMs),
a diagrammatic notation used by biologists. Models of the calculus can be
easily derived from MIM diagrams, for which an unambiguous and executable
interpretation is thus obtained. We give a formal definition of the syntax and
semantics of the MIM calculus, and we study properties of the formalism. A case
study is also presented to show the use of the calculus for modeling
biomolecular networks.Comment: 15 pages; 8 figures; To be published on EPTCS, proceedings of MeCBIC
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Predicting biodiversity richness in rapidly changing landscapes: climate, low human pressure or protection as salvation?
Rates of biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia are among the highest in the world, and the
Indo-Burma and South-Central China Biodiversity Hotspots rank among the world’s most
threatened. Developing robust multi-species conservation models is critical for stemming
biodiversity loss both here and globally. We used a large and geographically extensive
remote-camera survey and multi-scale, multivariate optimization species distribution
modelling to investigate the factors driving biodiversity across these two adjoining biodiversity hotspots. Four major findings emerged from the work. (i) We identified clear
spatial patterns of species richness, with two main biodiverse centres in the Thai-Malay
Peninsula and in the mountainous region of Southwest China. (ii) Carnivores in particular,
and large ungulates to a lesser degree, were the strongest indicators of species richness. (iii)
Climate had the largest effect on biodiversity, followed by protected status and human
footprint. (iv) Gap analysis between the biodiversity model and the current system of
protected areas revealed that the majority of areas supporting the highest predicted biodiversity are not protected. Our results highlighted several key locations that should be
prioritized for expanding the protected area network to maximize conservation effectiveness. We demonstrated the importance of switching from single-species to multi-species
approaches to highlight areas of high priority for biodiversity conservation. In addition,
since these areas mostly occur over multiple countries, we also advocate for a paradigmatic
focus on transboundary conservation planning.The majority of the team, as well as the data, were part of the core WildCRU effort supported
principally by a Robertson Foundation grant to DWM
An adaptive force position regulator for robot manipulators
An adaptive force/position regulator for robot manipulators in contact with an elastically compliant surface is proposed in this paper. The controller consists of a PD action on the position loop, a PI action on the force loop, together with estimated gravity compensation and desired contact force feedforward. The closed-loop system is shown to have a unique equilibrium state and asymptotic stability in the neighbourhood of this state is proven via the classical Lyapunov method. To cope with imperfect gravity compensation, the controller is made adaptive with respect to a suitable set of parameters in the gravity term. Numerical case studies are developed for a three-joint elbow manipulator
Uncertainties in the identification of potential dispersal corridors: the importance of behaviour, sex, and algorithm
Modelling landscape connectivity represents one of the central challenges for conservation of natural resources,
especially in human dominated landscapes. Many different methods have been developed to this effect, but their
assumptions and limitations have been largely ignored. Using high resolution GPS tracking data from brown bears
(Ursus arctos) in central Italy, we investigated the influence of behavioural state (movement vs other behaviours), sex,
and algorithms, namely least cost path and circuit theory, on the identification of structural corridors. In particular,
considering that most studies do not account for behavioural states and/or individual characteristics, and that basically
all studies consider only a single corridor algorithm, we performed (1) a within-algorithm comparison, under the
hypothesis that both behavioural states and sex would influence prediction of structural corridors, and (2) a betweenalgorithm
comparison, under the hypothesis that different algorithms would predict different corridors. We found that
the impact of sex and/or behavioural state was substantial. On average, least cost path corridors for moving females
were 4.7 km apart (st.dev = 7.6 km) from corridors for moving males, and 5.0 km apart (st.dev = 7.2 km) from corridors
not considering sex and behaviour. The same was true for circuit theory corridors. The between-algorithm comparison
showed that the two corridor models yielded almost identical results, with >80% of the least cost path corridors falling
into the two top deciles for the corresponding circuit theory corridors. Our results suggest that the failure to consider an
animal’s behavioural state and/or sex may result in misidentification of corridors, with potential misallocation of the
limited conservation resources available
Combining multi-state species distribution models, mortality estimates, and landscape connectivity to model potential species distribution for endangered species in human dominated landscapes
Species ranges are changing in response to human-related disturbances and often management and conservation decisions must be based on incomplete information. In this context, species distribution models (SDMs) represent the most widely used tool, but they often lack any reference to demographic performance of the population under study, spatial structure of the habitat patches, or connectivity at the landscape level. Combining a multi-state SDM with a landscape pattern analysis and a mortality model, we developed a spatially-explicit, integrated model to assist and inform conservation planning for the Apennine brown bear in central Italy. We identified 15 critical habitat areas, potentially hosting 76 adult female bears. Many of these areas are, however, characterized by high levels of human-related mortality, making them attractive sink-like areas. Structural connectivity was higher in the northern part of the study area while only limited connectivity characterizes the core area, where most of the bears currently live. Our integrated model indicates that the conservation of this relict and isolated bear population is a realistic conservation goal, as we estimated that 192–270 bears could live across the Apennines. Our modelling framework enhances the biological realism of traditional SDMs and provides a conservation planning tool that integrates habitat suitability, mortality risk (as a component of the total demographic performance) and structural connectivity among habitat patches at the landscape scale. It is particularly suited for endangered species living in a human-modified landscapes where establishing a realistic and spatially explicit conservation goal would facilitate pro-active management