Habitat suitability models and carrying capacity estimations for rock ptarmigans in a protected area of the Italian Alps

Rock ptarmigan populations in the Alps are suffering an overall decline, and management actions are needed to ensure their conservation. Yet wildlife management and conservation actions are often the consequences of political decisions taken by subjects that lack the scientific knowledge about the relationships between the environment and species ecology. Habitat suitability models are tools that translate these complex relationships into mathematical models and spatially explicit maps of potential presence and abundance of species that are easier to understand by people not experienced with the study of biological processes. In this study, I modelled the species-habitat relationships at two levels, by estimating the potential distribution and potential density of the species in a protected area of the Western Italian Alps. In particular, I took the results of a previous study carried out in the same area to estimate the probability of male occurrence by comparing the habitat structure in presence plots and random plots, respectively, by logistic regression analyses. Then, I applied the logistic regression equation to the same variables measured in hexagonal cells of a grid superimposed over the entire study area, and I obtained the map of the potential distribution of the species. Finally, I developed multiple regression analyses of male density estimated by distance sampling vs habitat variables, and I applied the results to the areas of potential distribution to forecast the potential density and therefore the carrying capacity of the study area. I obtained a potential distribution of 38.2 km2, with a potential average density of 5.1 males/km2. The latter was positively affected by the percentage cover of grassland and rocky grassland in the plots. The integrated approach that I used by combining models of occurrence and density allowed me to confirm and improve the results of previous works on rock ptarmigan predicted occurrence, to identify areas of conservation importance within the protected area and to give useful tools for spatially explicit management to the Natural Park administrators

Effects of FSI, CR and BEC at Small Relative Momenta of Particles and W-mass Systematics at LEP

The effects of Final State Interactions(FSI), Colour Reconnection(CR) and Bose--Einstein Correlations(BEC) at small relative momenta of particles are discussed. The short review of the LEP results on BEC at Z-peak, on BEC between particles from different Ws in $e^+e^-\to W^+W^-$ events, and the W-mass systematics due to BEC is givenComment: 4 pages, LaTeX, with 1 fig. Presented at 32st International Symposium on Multiparticle Dynamics (ISMD 2002), Alushta, Ukraine, 7-13 Sep 200

Effects of density on lek-site selection by Black Grouse <i>Tetrao tetrix</i> in the Alps

Capsule: The Black Grouse is a primarily lekking species, but low population density and lack of suitable habitat can lead to the establishment of non-lekking populations. Aims: To understand if differences in density could be related to differences in the lekking system, if there were differences in lek-site selection, and if there was a direct effect of habitat on the lek size. Methods: We compared lek sizes between two Black Grouse populations with different male population densities as estimated by distance sampling. We considered land-cover categories, landscape metrics and orographic variables and computed the Ivlev’s Electivity Index to evaluate habitat selection of males in the two study areas. A general linear model was used to assess the relationship between lek size and habitat variables. Results: We could not demonstrate the direct effect of density on the displaying behaviour but we found strongly different patterns of lek-site selection and different effects of habitat on lek size according to the population density. Conclusions: We concluded that habitat normally considered as high quality and habitat complexity may play different roles in selection by solitary versus lekking males when different population densities are considered

The Winning Tradition: A History of Kentucky Wildcat Basketball

In its 95-year history, the Kentucky Wildcats have won more games than any other college basketball team. Their winning percentage is the highest in the country. They share the record for the most 20-win seasons. They are second in all-time number one rankings. And despite no longer holding the record for winningest coach, Adolph Rupp will always be a giant in the pantheon of college basketball. When The Winning Tradition first appeared in 1984, it was the first complete history of the Wildcat basketball program. Bert Nelli pointed out that, contrary to the accepted mythology, Adolph Rupp arrived at a program already strong and storied. Nor did Rupp bring an entirely new style of play to the Bluegrass. Instead he adopted—and perfected—that of his predecessor, John Mauer. What Rupp did bring was an ability to charm the news media and a fierce determination to turn out winning teams, making him the undisputed “Baron of Basketball.” This new and expanded edition of The Winning Tradition brings the history of Kentucky basketball up to date. Nelli and his son Steve turn the same unflinching gaze that characterized the honesty of the first edition on the scandals that marred Eddie Sutton’s tenure, the return to glory under Rick Pitino, and a full accounting of Tubby Smith’s history-making first year. The start of basketball season is welcomed in the Bluegrass with an unmatched enthusiasm and intensity. Each year brings a new team, new stars, and new glory. Other books have documented individual seasons, individual players, or individual coaches. But The Winning Tradition remains the only complete and authoritative history of the most celebrated college basketball program in the world. A book no fan can afford to be without, The Winning Tradition brings alive the agonies, frustrations, and glories of each season of Kentucky basketball, from the first team (fielded by women) to the surprising victory in the 1998 NCAA tournament. Bert Nelli is a retired professor of history at the University of Kentucky. His son, Steve Nelli, a graduate of the University of Kentucky, is a vice president of First Union National Bank in Charlotte, North Carolina.https://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_sports_studies/1002/thumbnail.jp

Competition and access price regulation in the broadband market

We construct a model for differentiated Cournot competition between service-based and infrastructure-based firms, out of which one infrastructure-based firm (the incumbent) supplies to the service-based firms. We seek for and compare the socially optimal and the incumbent’s profit maximizing access price in two scenarios: (i) service-based firms and incumbent supply homogeneous services (partial differentiation), and (ii) all services are horizontally differentiated (uniform differentiation). We show that in both cases the incumbent never forecloses service-based firms if infrastructure-based competition is present or if services are somewhat differentiated. Under uniform differentiation the welfare optimizing access price is below marginal cost, hence the incumbent subsidizes the production of service-based firms and makes zero profit. In the case of partial differentiation, the same result obtains when both markets are concentrated. However, if markets are not concentrated, the socially optimal access fee exceeds the marginal cost.