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- The golden jackal Canis aureus L. 1758 (Carnivora: Canidae) on the Tuscan
Apennines
Authors: Francesco Bacci; Enrico Lunghi
Abstract: We report the first observations of the golden jackal on the Tuscan Apennines (Italy). We observed two individuals 15 times in the district of Prato, between 21 November 2021 and 5 January 2022. Their presence has been assessed through camera traps at the edge of an urbanized area. The southernmost presence data for Italy reported in the literature is documented for Emilia-Romagna, about 200 km north from Prato, while a recent unpublished report records its presence in northern Lazio, about 300 km south. These observations highlight the need to increase the research effort to monitor the expansion of the golden jackal along the Italian peninsula more efficiently.
PubDate: Tue, 10 May 2022 08:12:30 +000
- Contribution to the knowledge of Ypsolophidae from forested habitats of
Southern Italy with an update of the Italian checklist of the genus
Ypsolopha Latreille 1796 (Lepidoptera: Yponomeutoidea)
Authors: Stefano Scalercio
Abstract: The Italian fauna of the family Ypsolophidae consists of 19 species. In recent years, knowledge for peninsular Italy has increased, but especially for central Italy. Actually, only few records are available for the southern regions. During the surveys dedicated to the study of macrolepidoptera, several microlepidoptera were also collected. In this paper, the results of the collections for the genus Ypsolopha Latreille 1796 in the Calabria region are reported, updating the Italian checklist of this genus 27 years after its publication. Nine species are listed among which Y. persicella (Fabricius 1787) is new to the fauna of Peninsular Italy, while six other species are new to the fauna of Southern Italy.
PubDate: Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:30:11 +000
- First record of Scolopendra cingulata Latreille, 1829 (Chilopoda,
Scolopendromorpha, Scolopendridae) in NW Italy and biotope
characterization
Authors: Luca Anselmo; Alberto Selvaggi
Abstract: The presence of an isolated population of Scolopendra cingulata in NW Italy is here reported, together with the vegetational characteristics of the biotope. These data further underline the particularity and the importance of the conservation of this site.
PubDate: Fri, 08 Apr 2022 13:19:03 +000
- The western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L. 1758 on San Pietro
Island (southern Sardinia, Italy) and an updated review of its presence on
the Italian small islands
Authors: Corrado Battisti
Abstract: The current presence and local distribution of the western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L. 1758, on San Pietro Island (Southern Sardinia, Italy) are here discussed for the period 2013-2021 with a short review of the species’ occurrence on the small Italian islands. The species was found in the central-eastern sector of the island, which is characterised by a high urban and infrastructural density and an agricultural mosaic, both suitable ecological conditions favouring its presence. Most of the direct data were obtained from roadkills. Despite the elusive behaviour of the species and the consequent possible underestimation, it can be assumed that the species shows a low density. In this respect, it might be interesting to investigate whether local limiting factors, either anthropogenic or natural might act on the hedgehog population. At a larger scale, the updated review of the small Italian islands shows the presence of the species on 13 islands, of which probably only Elba, Asinara and San Pietro (all >50 km2) support established populations. Further research is needed to study anthropogenic origin, history of introduction, genetics, density and medium-long-term viability of these small populations in each insular context.
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:19:56 +000
- On the occurrence of the invasive Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus
Rathbun 1896 (Decapoda: Brachyura: Portunidae) in Sicilian inland waters
Authors: Luca Vecchioni; Salvatore Russotto, Marco Arculeo, Federico Marrone
Abstract: The Atlantic blue crab Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, 1896 is included among the worst invasive alien species in the Mediterranean Sea. Here, we report the finding of the species in two Sicilian rivers, the Irminio and the Imera Meridionale, where it was collected up to 6 km from the river mouths. Although several records of the species are already available from Italy, this is the first evidence of the occurrence of this invasive crab so far from the coastline in the whole country. In the light of the well-known impact of the Atlantic blue crab on the invaded water bodies, the monitoring of the species and appropriate mitigation strategies should be implemented in order to protect the threatened native biota of Sicilian inland waters.
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 12:14:14 +000
- Non-volant mammals of the ‘Lago di Tarsia’ Regional Nature Reserve and
Special Conservation Area (IT93100055; Cosenza, Southern Italy)
Authors: Agostino Brusco; Roberto Marchianò, Giuseppe Dodaro, Corrado Battisti
Abstract: In this study we improved the knowledge about terrestrial mammals (excluding Chiroptera) of the 'Lago di Tarsia' Regional Nature Reserve (Special Conservation Area; Cosenza; Southern Italy), collecting a large amount both of direct and indirect original data (including road-killing remains and items obtained by small mammal traps, owl pellets, and phototraps), and bibliographic ones. We obtained 424 records belonging to 22 taxa classified at species level and one requiring a further taxonomic diagnosis (Microtus savii vel brachycerchus). Hystrix cristata Linnaeus, 1758, Vulpes vulpes (Linnaeus, 1758) and Martes sp. were the taxa with the highest number of records (> 10%). Sciurus meridionalis (Lucifero, 1907), Martes foina (Erxleben, 1777), Glis glis (Linnaeus, 1758), Apodemus cfr. flavicollis (Melchior, 1834), Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778, Talpa romana (Thomas, 1902), Rattus cfr. rattus (Linnaeus, 1758), Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) were the taxa with the lowest number (<1%). Almost half of the records have been obtained by indirect traces (hairs, excrements, fingerprints, burrows, etc.). Records from owl pellets represented an important percentage. Although the study area is restricted in size, the high environmental heterogeneity make possible the co-occurrence of a high number of species, including specialized taxa (e.g., forest mammals, mustelids and Soricomorpha). Some species, occurring in the neighbouring, although not recorded in our study (e.g. Sorex spp., Neomys sp., Elyomis quercinus Linnaeus, 1766), could be confirmed improving the research effort. Further studies are necessary in this regard, also focusing on the role of this reserve as dispersal corridor for rare carnivores, occurring in the massifs and rivers neighbouring to the Reserve (e.g. Lutra lutra Linnaeus, 1758 and Canis lupus Linnaeus, 1758).
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 08:30:51 +000
- Confirmation of the presence of Eleocharis mamillata (H.Lindb.) H.Lindb.
subsp. austriaca (Hayek) Strandh. (Cyperaceae) in Piedmont (Italy)
Authors: Lorenzo Lastrucci; Livia Lunardi, Graziana Fiorini, Daniele Viciani
Abstract: Eleocharis mamillata subsp. austriaca belongs to Eleocharis subser. Eleocharis. The presence of this entity in the Italian territory was known for almost all the Alpine administrative regions and for Calabria. According to the Portal to the Flora of Italy, this entity was reported for Piedmont based on erroneous records. Nevertheless, during a wide herbarium survey on the subseries Eleocharis, several old and recent specimens collected in Piedmont have been identified as Eleocharis mamillata subsp. austriaca. Therefore, we can confirm the presence of the taxon in this region and provide a distribution map on the basis of the analysed material.
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:32:43 +000
- Habitat selection of the roe deer Capreolus capreolus (Artiodactyla,
Cervidae) in an agroforestry system
Authors: Paolo Zorzi; Alessandro Nardotto, Michele Bottazzo, Matteo Dal Zotto
Abstract: The present study aimed at assessing the habitat preferences of the most widespread and abundant ungulate in Italy, the roe deer, in the Vallevecchia protected area (Venice). This area has been the object of naturalistic management and continuous environmental improvements in the last decades. Currently, the area is characterized by a high habitat heterogeneity, including deciduous woodlands, pine forests, wetlands, and farmlands. The study was carried out during the summers of 2017 and 2020. Data were collected along standardized transects, and the geo-localized records were divided into the corresponding habitats to calculate the Jacobs Index. In addition, chi-square test was applied, with the calculation of Pearson residuals to estimate the significance of associations to the habitats. The analyses show that in Vallevecchia the roe deer prefers woods and permanent meadows. Conversely, this ungulate avoids pine forests, wetlands and farmlands, despite their potential as sources of food and shelter. In line with other studies on agroforestry systems, wooded areas were most likely preferred because they provide shelter from disturbing factors and thermal stress, while meadows were likely chosen for trophic reasons. In this respect, we point out that in the studied area the preference for meadows was most likely due also to the availability of sprouts all year round, deriving from the constant mowing activities implemented in this habitat. In addition, our investigation underlines that the roe deer normally avoids maize and wheat crops, in accordance with similar studies. Moreover, the analyses highlight the preference for farmlands only if woods and grasslands are not present in the adjoining areas. Conversely, the proximity of these habitats results in a low impact on crops. In addition to encouraging the enforcement of current management actions in Vallevecchia, our results represent a contribution to a more effective management of the roe deer in agroforestry systems, aimed at limiting its impact in anthropized contexts and at achieving the conditions for a better coexistence of this deer with human activities.
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 07:15:33 +000
- First record of the presence and reproduction of the two-tailed pasha
Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus 1767) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in Northeastern
Italy
Authors: Daniele Beretta; Enzo Moretto, Luca Bolognin, Luis Guariento
Abstract: Charaxes jasius (Linnaeus, 1767) is reported for the first time for the Veneto region, in Northeastern Italy. Both adults and caterpillars have been observed in the Euganean Hills (Colli Euganei Regional Park) between August and October 2021. The location is a xerothermic oasis that could provide the suitable environmental conditions for maintaining a population of this species, which is recently expanding its range to northern latitudes.
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +000
- In memory of Alberto Mario Simonetta (1930-2021)
Authors: Filippo Ceccolini
Abstract: The polyvalent figure of Alberto Mario Simonetta (Pisa, 1930 - Florence, 2021), one of the most important exponents of Italian Zoology of the last century, is here presented with a brief biographical note, a list of the taxa he described and of those dedicated to him, and a complete list of his publications.
PubDate: Thu, 07 Apr 2022 00:00:00 +000
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