A5041617114- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Urban Planning and Valuation
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Video Surveillance and Tracking Methods
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Helminth infection and control
- Mollusks and Parasites Studies
- Forest Management and Policy
- Advanced Image and Video Retrieval Techniques
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
University of Palermo
2023-2025
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
2019-2023
Fratelli Alinari (Italy)
2018
University of Catania
2009-2017
University of Perugia
2013
Abstract The E uropean wildcat is an elusive felid that declining across its range. S icily hosts a distinctive insular population, the conservation of which requires much better ecological knowledge than currently available, particularly population density. We simultaneously used two noninvasive methods (camera‐trapping and scat‐collection) to estimate density wildcats on tna volcano. conducted genetic analyses identify individuals detect potential hybridization with domestic cat. analyzed...
Abstract Severe climatic changes during the Pleistocene shaped distributions of temperate‐adapted species. These species survived glaciations in classical southern refuges with more temperate climates, as well western and eastern peripheral Alpine areas. We hypothesized that European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) populations currently distributed Italy differentiated in, expanded from two distinct glacial refuges, located Apennines at periphery Alps. This hypothesis was tested by genotyping...
Abstract Camera trapping is a widespread tool used to study mammals and derive abundance density estimates of wild populations. For the majority F elidae species, individuals are identifiable from camera trap images because their unique coat patterns; therefore, extensively for felids build individual capture histories. those species not individually identifiable, one can be tempted use success rate as relative index ( RAI ) inform conservation management decisions, although robust...
Lynx rufus (Bobcat) and Lontra canadensis (River Otter) experienced abundance increases range expansions across the midwestern US after effective management. In response, multiple states allowed legal harvest of both species. Illinois, Bobcats River Otters were listed as furbearing game species in 2016 2012, respectively; however, little research into how may be affecting these has been conducted. We used age-at-death data life-table analyses to determine growth rates (r) other demographic...
Knowledge of patterns occupancy is crucial for planning sound biological management and identifying areas which require paramount conservation attention. The European wildcat Felis silvestris an elusive carnivore classified as 'least concern' on the IUCN red list, but with a decreasing population trend in some areas. Sicily hosts peculiar population, deserves actions, due to its isolation from mainland. Patterns wildcats are unknown Italy, especially Sicily. We aimed identify ecological...
The wildcat is an elusive species that threatened with extinction in many areas of its European distribution. In Sicily the lives a wide range habitats; this study was done on Mount Etna. A previous camera trap monitoring conducted 2006 (pilot study) and 2007 (first estimation population size using trapping capture-recapture analyses) same area. 2009 digital traps pair were used at each station aim obtaining photographs wildcat. Experience data collected from studies to develop protocol...
Abstract Adult sex ratio ( ASR ) plays a pivotal role in many ecological processes, such as population dynamics time and space, extinction risk reproductive success, but few patterns the variability have been found across species. Due to socio‐spatial structure polygynous mating system felids, is expected be female‐biased felids finite area; however, also commonly either balanced or male‐biased this taxonomic group. Therefore, investigating correlates of pattern prime importance both for...
Abstract Although the behavioural ecology of European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) has been studied in several countries, its home-range size is still poorly known due to elusive behaviour species living typically low population densities. In our study, 11 wildcats from two distinct areas, Maremma Regional Park (Tuscany; 3 males and 1 female) Paradiso di Pianciano Estate (Umbria; 6 female), both located Central Italy, were by means classical VHF radio-tracking. Home ranges calculated...
An hair trapping protocol, with camera surveillance, was carried out on the south-western side of Etna, inhabited by an abundant population European wildcat. We aimed to collect for genetic analysis base a field study conducted in Switzerland, where valerian tincture had been used attract wildcats rub again wooden sticks and therefore leaving hairs. placed 18 stations, plus one trap per scented stick, 1 km away from each other 60 days (October 29 2010 December 28 2010). The rate “capture”...
Context. The ranges of many small, at-risk felid species occur almost entirely in unprotected areas, where research efforts are minimal; hence data on their density and activity patterns scare. Aims. We estimated Pallas’s cats lands central Mongolia during two periods (May–August September–November) 2019. Methods. used spatially explicit capture–recapture models to estimate population at 15.2 ± 4.8 individuals per 100 km2. Key results. obtained 484 cat images from 153 detections 4266...
Abstract Aim Insights into the biological and evolutionary traits of species, their ability to cope with global changes, can be gained by studying genetic diversity within species. A cornerstone hypothesis in conservation biology suggests that decreases decreasing population size, however, size is difficult estimate threatened species large distribution ranges, evidence for this limited few To address gap, we tested across multiple closely related at a scale using density which more...
Abstract The wildcat is an elusive species that threatened with extinction in many areas of its European distribution. In Sicily the lives a wide range habitats; this study was done on Mount Etna. 2006, after exploration area, we used camera traps aim obtaining photographs wildcat. After pilot experience and data collected to develop protocol provide estimation density wildcat's population using capture–recapture analyses natural coat-marking system recognize different specimens. We placed...
Abstract Power laws are cornerstone relationships in ecology and evolutionary biology. The density-mass allometry (DMA), which predicts an allometric scaling of population abundance, Taylor’s law (TL), a decrease the abundance variation along with density, have enhanced our knowledge inter- intra-specific abundance. When combined, these two power led to variance-mass (VMA), states that larger species lower spatial density than smaller species. VMA has been predicted through theoretical...
Longevity data for wild felids are lacking in the literature. Here we report a camera trap recapture of European Wildcat Felis silvestris at Mt. Etna Sicily, Italy after nine years. This individual was clearly identifiable as its tail ended with white ring rather than typical black and had unique shape dorsal stripe. At first capture on 26 May 2009, this cat assessed an adult, so that likely minimum age time 10 June 2018 must have been be least finding represents oldest known provides...