Connettere per conoscere e comunicare: sviluppi dell’applicazione UID 3.0 | Connecting to Know and Communicate: Development of the UID 3.0 Application

ITA - Conoscenza, comunicazione e connessione sono le tre parole che hanno ispirato e guidato la creazione di una app dedicata alla comunità scientifica dell’Unione Italiana Disegno, tutt’ora in fase di implementazione. Il contributo racconta, in prima istanza, le fasi di ideazione e sviluppo dell’applicativo, avente l’obiettivo di amplificare gli attuali strumenti di comunicazione esistenti per ottimizzare la capacità di creare relazioni e connessioni fra informazioni e utenti. Lo studio qui presentato intende proporsi poi, soprattutto, come un’occasione per riflettere sulla formulazione di un linguaggio grafico appropriato ed espressivo del settore scientifico disciplinare al quale si rivolge principalmente, fornendo una metodologia di rappresentazione utile per future applicazioni anche in ambiti diversi. Un linguaggio grafico che si articola in una variegata molteplicità di aspetti e peculiarità: dalla capacità di esprimere con efficacia e immediatezza informazioni di varia natura, raccogliere e rappresentare sinteticamente dati eterogenei e porli in immediata connessione tra loro, al collegamento diretto tra utenti di una rete diffusa, alla questione dei principi di inclusività, che si esplicano in primo luogo nell’attenzione riservata al tema affascinante dell’accessibilità visiva. ENG - Knowledge, communication and connection are the three words that inspired and guided the creation of an app dedicated to the scientific community of the Unione Italiana per il Disegno, which is still being implemented. Firstly, the paper describes the phases of design and development of the application, which has the aim of amplifying the current existing communication tools to optimize the ability to create relationships and connections between information and users. Subsequently, the study presented here wants primarily to be an opportunity to reflect on the formulation of an appropriate graphic language that is expressive of the scientific disciplinary sector to which it is mainly addressed, providing a representation methodology useful for future applications also in different fields. A graphic language that is divided into a variegated multiplicity of aspects and peculiarities, as: the ability to express effectively and immediately various kinds information, collect and synthetically represent heterogeneous data and place them in immediate connection with each other; the direct connection between users of a widespread network; the question of the principles of inclusiveness, which are expressed primarily in the attention paid to the fascinating theme of visual accessibility

The influence of natural fire and cultural practices on island ecosystems: insights from a 4800 year record from Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

Aim: Long-term ecological data provide a stepped frame of island ecosystem transformation after successive waves of human colonization, essential to determine conservation and management baselines. However, the timing and ecological impact of initial human settlement on many islands is still poorly known. Here we report analyses from a 4800-year sedimentary sequence from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), with the goal of disentangling forest responses to natural fire from early human pressure on the island.Location: La Calderilla, a volcanic maar caldera at 1770 m a.s.l. on Gran Canaria.Taxon: plants and fungi.Methods: A core from the caldera infill was analysed for sediment properties, pollen, micro- and macrocharcoal, with radiocarbon and biochronology dating. Fossil data were statistically zoned and interpreted with the help of cross-correlation and ordination analyses. Surface samples and a pollen–vegetation training set were used as modern analogues for vegetation reconstruction.Results: Before human settlement (4800–2000 cal. yr BP), pine (Pinus canariensis) pollen dominated. Extensive dry pine forests characterised the highlands, although with temporary declining phases, followed by prompt (sub-centennial scale) recovery. Towards 2280 cal. yr BP there was a shift to open vegetation, marked by an increase in coprophilous spores. Coincidental with independent evidence of human settlement in the pine belt (2000–470 cal. yr BP) there was a decline of pine and a peak in charcoal. Following historic settlement (470–0 cal. yr BP), pollen producers from anthropogenic habitats, secondary vegetation and coprophilous fungi increased in abundance, reflecting higher pressure of animal husbandry and farming. Modern moss polsters reflect extensive reforestation since 1950 CE (Common Era).Main conclusions: From 4800 cal. yr BP, the pristine vegetation covering the Gran Canaria highlands was a mosaic of dry pine forests and open vegetation. The pine forests sustained intense fires, which may well have promoted habitat diversity. Human interference was initiated around 2280 cal. yr BP probably by recurrent cultural firing and animal husbandry, triggering a steady trend of forest withdrawal and expansion of grasses and scrubs, until the final disappearance of the pine forest locally in the 20th century. Grasslands were found to be of ancient cultural origin in the summit areas of Gran Canaria, although they underwent an expansion after the Castilian Conquest

The influence of natural fire and cultural practices on island ecosystems: Insights from a 4,800 year record from Gran Canaria, Canary Islands

AimLong‐term ecological data provide a stepped frame of island ecosystem transformation after successive waves of human colonization, essential to determine conservation and management baselines. However, the timing and ecological impact of initial human settlement on many islands is still poorly known. Here, we report analyses from a 4800‐year sedimentary sequence from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands), with the goal of disentangling forest responses to natural fire from early human pressure on the island.LocationLa Calderilla, a volcanic maar caldera at 1,770 m a.s.l. on Gran Canaria.TaxonPlants and fungi.MethodsA core from the caldera infill was analysed for sediment properties, pollen, micro‐ and macrocharcoal, with radiocarbon and biochronology dating. Fossil data were statistically zoned and interpreted with the help of cross‐correlation and ordination analyses. Surface samples and a pollen–vegetation training set were used as modern analogues for vegetation reconstruction.ResultsBefore human settlement (4,800–2,000 cal. yr bp), pine (Pinus canariensis) pollen dominated. Extensive dry pine forests characterized the highlands, although with temporary declining phases, followed by prompt (sub‐centennial scale) recovery. Towards 2,280 cal. yr bp there was a shift to open vegetation, marked by an increase in coprophilous spores. Coincidental with independent evidence of human settlement in the pine belt (2,000–470 cal. yr bp) there was a decline of pine and a peak in charcoal. Following historic settlement (470–0 cal. yr bp), pollen producers from anthropogenic habitats, secondary vegetation and coprophilous fungi increased in abundance, reflecting higher pressure of animal husbandry and farming. Modern moss polsters reflect extensive reforestation since 1950 ce (Common Era).Main conclusionsFrom 4,800 cal. yr bp, the pristine vegetation covering the Gran Canaria highlands was a mosaic of dry pine forests and open vegetation. The pine forests sustained intense fires, which may well have promoted habitat diversity. Human interference was initiated around 2,280 cal. yr bp probably by recurrent cultural firing and animal husbandry, triggering a steady trend of forest withdrawal and expansion of grasses and scrubs, until the final disappearance of the pine forest locally in the 20th century. Grasslands were found to be of ancient cultural origin in the summit areas of Gran Canaria, although they underwent an expansion after the Castilian Conquest

Scenari di ricostruzione delle interazioni uomo-ambiente-clima in Lombardia (N-Italia) dal Paleolitico medio all’età del Ferro

This contribution aims to provide an updated and concise overview of the main events and developments characterising the interaction between human communities and their environment in Lombardy (Northern Italy) between the Middle Paleolithic and the Late Iron Age (60,000 to 2,100 years cal BP). Within the above defined geographic and chronological context, our main goal is to highlight and summarise the role of natural factors in the development of human history, both over the long durée and within defined periods. We provide a short history of the ecosystems and socio-ecological systems in Lombardy, for which – thanks to the contribution of several research groups and scholars active in the region – we analyse specific key issues. These analyses are facilitated by chronostratigraphic tables and GIS-based cartography, and introduced by an overview of the climatic changes that affected Alpine and Po Plain landscapes across the Last Glaciation and subsequent Late Glacial times, up to the shortlasting events which influenced the development of Holocene civilisations. The structure and significance of the issues introduced in the overview will be discussed by individual research groups working within this study are

Characterising key issues in human–environment interactions in Lombardy (N-Italy) from the Middle Paleolithic to the Iron Age

This contribution aims to provide an updated and concise overview of the main events and developments characterising the interaction between human communities and their environment in Lombardy (Northern Italy) between the Middle Paleolithic and the Late Iron Age (60,000 to 2,100 years cal BP). Within the above defined geographic and chronological context, our main goal is to highlight and summarise the role of natural factors in the development of human history, both over the long durée and within defined periods. We provide a short history of the ecosystems and socio-ecological systems in Lombardy, for which – thanks to the contribution of several research groups and scholars active in the region – we analyse specific key issues. These analyses are facilitated by chronostratigraphic tables and GIS-based cartography, and introduced by an overview of the climatic changes that affected Alpine and Po Plain landscapes across the Last Glaciation and subsequent Late Glacial times, up to the shortlasting events which influenced the development of Holocene civilisations. The structure and significance of the issues introduced in the overview will be discussed by individual research groups working within this study are