Cooperative Localization and SLAM Based on the Extended Information Filter

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Sustainable forest management and habitat of diurnal raptors in the SIC Alpe della Luna-Bocca Trabaria (province of Pesaro and Urbino).

For the definition of methodology in a naturalistic silviculture in a Site of Community Importance (Marche Region), documents relating to the physiognomic-structural data of forest vegetation and ecological requirements of 4 species of raptors (Goshawk, Sparrow hawk, Buzzard, Honey Buzzard) were superimposed. A wildlife suitability index of forest habitats (IIHF) was calculated, according to which forestry interventions, aimed at improving and preserving the raptor habitats, are proposed

Recent expansion of Pinus nigra Arn. above the timberline in the central Apennines, Italy

The altitude of timberlines in the central Apennines has lowered over the past few thousand years due to interacting natural and anthropogenic disturbances. These timberlines are usually sharp and consist of coppiced beech forests. We found scattered individuals of European black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) at two high elevation sites above the timberline on limestone slopes. We investigated the spatial and temporal pattern expansion of black pine and assessed vigour and growth dynamics of pine trees. Over 250 individuals were mapped in the two sites using GPS. Several site and tree parameters were measured. Tree-ring widths and the frequency of intraannual density fluctuations were also recorded. Black pine expansion started around 30 years ago. Pine trees are randomly distributed at higher elevations with no visible spatial pattern. Germination peaks were synchronous in the two sites, and tree growth displayed very similar chronologies, with synchronous occurrence of intra-annual density fluctuations. We hypothesise that the reduced livestock grazing over the last decades as well as climate warming are the major driving forces behind the high-altitude expansion of black pine on the central Apennines, where this species was present in pre-historic times

Climate Influence on the Expansion and Tree-Ring Growth of Pinus nigra L. at High Altitude in the Central Apennines

Scattered expansion of European black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) has been observed above the current timberline in the central Apennines. We aimed to detect possible common pattern of structure and growth dynamics of pine regeneration in treeline sites. Over 700 black pine samples growing above the timberline were sampled at four sites in the limestone Apennines of Marche and Abruzzo regions. For each tree we measured basal stem diameter, total height and annual height increments; a wooden core was extracted from the stem near the ground for cambial age determination and detection of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADF). We used multivariate analysis to assess patterns of the main tree structural attributes and dendrochronological analysis for age structure and growth dynamics. Expansion of European black pine started about 35 years ago featuring similar germination peaks, tree structure and growth patterns in all the sites. IADF have similar frequencies and peaks and occur in mid-late summer. These similar patterns occur at all sites besides the local differences and grazing histories suggesting the presence of an overall climate driver

Chapter Cooperative Localization and SLAM Based on the Extended Information Filter

Virtual realit