Italian Mammal Research Articles

Revising museum collections help to fill knowledge gaps in the Italian mammal fauna: the case of Sorex araneus and Sorex antinorii from South Tyrol

Revising museum collections help to fill knowledge gaps in the Italian mammal fauna: the case of Sorex araneus and Sorex antinorii from South Tyrol

Mammal endemism In Italy: A review

Author(s): Amori, Giovanni; Castiglia, Riccardo | Abstract: Although there are various checklists of Italian mammals, there is not yet a synthesis of those mammals that are endemic to Italy. Therefore, we provide for the first time a detailed review on Italian mammal endemic species including endemic taxa deserving additional studies. This review is based on the most recent taxonomic revisions obtained using Scopus and Google Scholar databases. We also considered the age of endemic species. Some aspects of mammalian conservation are also provided and discussed.

Phylogeography of the Tyrrhenian red deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus) resolved using ancient DNA of radiocarbon-dated subfossils

We present ancient mitochondrial DNA analyses of 31 complete cytochrome b gene sequences from subfossil red deer remains from the Tyrrhenian islands (Corsica and Sardinia) and mainland Italy in a European-wide phylogeographic framework. Tyrrhenian and North African red deer, both going back to human introductions, were previously the only red deer to harbour the mitochondrial B lineage whose origin, however, remained unknown. Our ancient Italian samples from the central part of the peninsula that were radiocarbon-dated to an age of ca. 6300 to 15 600 cal BP all showed B haplotypes, closely related or even identical to those found on Sardinia. Genetic diversity in the mainland population was considerably higher than on the islands. Together with palaeontological evidence our genetic results identify the Italian Peninsula as the ultimate origin of the B lineage and thus the Tyrrhenian and North African red deer. This is in line with previous biogeographic findings that uncovered distinct intraspecific phylogeographic lineages in Italian mammals, underlining Italy’s status as a hotspot of European mammalian diversity.

Lepus corsicanus gastro-intestinal helminths: first report

Abstract Italian hare Lepus corsicanus De Winton, 1898, is a true species living in simpatry with Lepus europaeus in mainland Italy and with Oryctolagus cuniculus in Sicily, where L. europaeus is absent. Up to date, nobody has studied the helminths of this endemic Italian Mammal. Therefore, in order to describe Italian hare gastro-intestinal helminths, gastro-intestinal tract of 29 Italian hares, coming from mainland Italy (#14) and from Sicily (#15) were collected between 1997 and 2009. Twentyfive hares were positive for at least one parasite (86 %). Six parasite species were isolated, 2 cestodes (Cittotaenia pectinata, prevalence 3 %) and Paranoplocephala sp., 3 %) and 4 nematodes (Trichostrongylus retortaeformis, 86 %, Graphidium strigosum, 14 %, Trichuris sp., 10 % and Teladorsagia circumcincta, 7 %). Both Teladorsagia circumcincta circumcincta and Teladorsagia circumcincta trifurcata morphotypes were identified. Comparison with available data regarding L. europaeus and O. cuniculus in Italy is provided. Being not T. circumcincta and Paranoplocephala sp. typical parasites of leporids, a description of the observed specimens is given.

Biochronology and palaeoenvironmental changes from the Middle Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene in Central Italy

Paleoenvironmental variations that occurred in Italy from the Middle Pliocene to the Late Pleistocene are described. The number of large mammal species seems increased moderately, especially from the Galerian to the Late Aurelian biochronological units. On the contrary, the paleobotanical data show a decrease of the forest cover from the Middle Pliocene to the late Early Pleistocene and an increase of lands occupied by prairies and steppes. This change is also supported by the appearance of hypsodont taxa among mammals. The distribution of mammal faunas between the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian sides of Central Italy, during the Middle and Late Pleistocene, seems not to be influenced by climatic and environment differences. When the Adriatic data are more complete, it is possible, in fact, to observe a trend that is fairly close to that of the Tyrrhenian. The majority of megaherbivorous taxa has an Asian origin, and it can be hypothesized that in the interglacial phases, the Tosco-Emilian Apennines allowed the taxa coming from the northeast to enter and spread out into the more diversified Tyrrhenian side, whereas during the glacial periods the narrow Ligurian corridor were followed. This research supports the role of the Italian Peninsula as a refuge area for continental Europe; this particular condition permits the Italian mammal faunas to develop endemic lineage (such as Elephas antiquus italicus Osborn, 1931, Cervus elaphus rianensis Leonardi & Petronio, 1974, C. e. aretinus Azzaroli, 1947, etc.). At last, biodiversity sharply dropped during the last 30 000 years, probably due to the anthropic activities and the strong climatic cooling of the last pleniglacial.

The italian zoological gardens and their role in mammal systematic studies, conservation biology and museum collections

The opportunities offered to scientific research by living mammal collections are generally overlooked in Italy. This paper presents a short historical overview of the scientific investigations done on captive mammals from Italian zoos, especially those concerning taxonomic research. A glimpse of the opportunities offered by zoo specimens for scientific research is presented utilising examples from the National Museums Scotland. The importance of increasing care in the identification of individual animals by studbook and ISIS numbers is also highlighted. We argue that a stronger collaboration between zoos, museums and universities is needed to maximise the scientific and conservation value of Italian mammal collections.

Body mass as a predictive variable of home‐range size among Italian mammals and birds

AbstractThe existence of allometric relationships between home‐range size and body mass was tested for 34 Italian mammals and 106 Italian birds. These allometries were investigated in relation to a carnivorous, omnivorous or herbivorous diet and, in the case of birds, also territoriality. Initially, non‐phylogenetic comparative analyses were undertaken by fitting general linear models to data on average home‐range size and average body mass obtained from the literature. Then, two phylogenetic trees for the studied species of mammals and birds were reconstructed and phylogenetic independent contrasts were applied in order to determine the influence of phylogeny on these relationships. For mammals, the type of diet proved to be a determining factor in defining the relationship between home‐range size and body mass. Significant allometries were found with both conventional and phylogenetic analyses in all trophic groups. The results emphasized the importance of the spatial distribution of resources in understanding these allometries. For birds, conventional analysis showed significant relationships between home‐range size and body mass, and pointed to the importance of both diet and territorial systems in understanding these allometries. After controlling for phylogeny, significant allometries were found only for those birds for which information on the size of their feeding territory was available. Regardless of the complexity of factors influencing the home‐range size of a species, the outcomes of this study support the notion of the existence of an allometry between home‐range size and body mass among Italian mammals and birds, suggesting that further developments of this area of investigation may prove worthwhile.

The high-resolution sequence stratigraphy and the mammal fossil record: a test in the Middle–Upper Pleistocene deposits of the Roman Basin (Latium, Italy)

In the Campagna Romana area Pleistocene vertebrate fossil remains are preserved both in continental and marine sedimentary successions. This fact favoured the identification of faunal complexes in agreement with the biochronologic setting proposed for the Plio–Pleistocene large mammal faunas of the Italian peninsula. At the same time, the detailed facies and sequence stratigraphic analyses carried out in the last years on such deposits have allowed establishment of a regional and local chronostratigraphic framework which sets some physical and temporal limits to the occurrence of faunal complexes. In this light, the study of the Pleistocene deposits of the Roman Basin, based on sequence stratigraphy and mammal biochronology approach, can constitute a significant tool to test the relationships among physical stratigraphic units, faunal complexes and faunal units. In the examined area, the fossiliferous levels are essentially found in transgressive fluvial and fluvio-palustrine deposits filling incised valleys (TST) and in highstand barrier island–lagoon deposits (HST). Excluding some cases where bones show a probable exhumation process, whole discovered mammal remains are mostly coeval with deposits containing them. Based on taphonomic considerations and on depositional and physical stratigraphic settings, a correlation scheme among Roman Pleistocene sequence-stratigraphic units, local faunal complexes and Italian mammal biochrons is proposed. Nevertheless, many problems remain to be clarified before either the correlation between events and the geochronological framework, or the significance and the biochronological value of each faunal assemblage can be considered as definitive.

Palaeoenvironmental significance of the mammalian faunas of Italy since the Pliocene

AbstractThe evolution of mammalian communities is a significant tool for reconstructing past environments and climate. In this paper, a palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction based on the study of the Italian mammal faunas ranging from Middle Pliocene to the Holocene is presented using the cenogram method and quantification of temperatures based on arvicolid species richness. These analyses reveal open and arid conditions during glacial periods and less open and more humid conditions during interglacials, with some differences between north and central–south Italy. Northern and Southern communities reflect similar trends in the evolution of palaeoenvironments and in the variation of the temperatures, but differences in estimated temperatures, which indicate a more temperate climate for southern Italy throughout the period, are considered here. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Mammal diversity and taxonomy in Italy: implications for conservation

The paper attempts to describe Italian mammal diversity in an evolutionary context. With 122 species according latest researches, Italy holds the richest mammal assemblage among European countries. Specific taxa are often represented by clearly distinctive lineages and several of them appear restricted to the Italian peninsula. Poor knowledge of taxonomy and uncritical application of IUCN threat categories at the national level could produce a flawed set of conservation priorities, independently from the rigorous application of the proposed guidelines for national Red List assessments. Furthermore, classical conservation assessments and protective legislation only consider traditionally named taxa, often privileging insular taxa of artificial origin but neglecting most of the results of genetic and molecular studies on intraspecific variation. The aim of the present work is to outline the need to incorporate phylogenetic and biogeographic data in the assessment of conservation priorities among mammals in Italy, in order to maximise the national contribution to biodiversity conservation in Europe. To this end, distribution, threat status, intraspecific and supraspecific taxonomy of the native mammal fauna should be analysed in a global context. Phylogeographic patterns emerging from previous studies indicate the general inadequacy of continental European populations serving as sources for re-stocking or re-introductions operations in Italy and the other European peninsulas. Thus the importance of integrating international guidelines on reintroductions with a clear understanding of national biogeographical peculiarities is highlighted.

THE MAMMAL FAUNA OF ITALY A REVIEW

A synthesis on the status of the Italian mammals species is reported. For each order, faunistic and biogeographic data and conservation concern are considered. In addition, a list of endemic, rare andlor endangered mammal species, classified according to the new IUCN criteria is provided as well as the species and subspecies recently introduced in Jtalian territory.

Guide to the microscope analysis of Italian mammals hairs: Insectivora, Rodentia and Lagomorpha

Abstract A key is proposed for identifying the hairs of Italian Insectivora, Rodentia and Lagomorpha to the genera and species level using microscope analysis. The criteria used are: general morphology, scale cuticular pattern, cortex structure, medulla type, and shape in cross‐section. A new method of cross‐sectioning hair is illustrated.