A5016728673- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant and animal studies
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Hemiptera Insect Studies
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Cocoa and Sweet Potato Agronomy
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
2005-2015
Istituto Sperimentale per la Zootecnia
2006-2010
University of Bologna
2004
Abstract Climatic history and ecology are considered the most important factors moulding spatial pattern of genetic diversity. With advent molecular markers, species’ historical fates have been widely explored. However, it has remained speculative what role ecological played in shaping structures within species. an unprecedented, dense large‐scale sampling genome‐screening, we tested how influenced Alpine plants. Here, show that species growing on similar substrate types, largely determined...
Abstract The Convention on Biological Diversity ( CBD ) aims at the conservation of all three levels biodiversity, that is, ecosystems, species and genes. Genetic diversity represents evolutionary potential is important for ecosystem functioning. Unfortunately, genetic in natural populations hardly considered strategies because it difficult to measure has been hypothesised co‐vary with richness. This means richness taken as a surrogate planning, though their relationship not properly...
Honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) are bioindicators of environmental pollution levels. During their wide-ranging foraging activity, these hymenopterans exposed to pollutants, thus becoming a useful tool trace the contaminants as heavy metals, pesticides, radionuclides and volatile organic compounds. In present work we demonstrate that can also be used active samplers airborne particulate matter. Worker were collected from hives located in polluted postmining area South West Sardinia (Italy) is...
Zyginidia pullula is a grass-dwelling leafhopper characterized by bisexual reproduction mode. In this species, some females collected in Northern Italy, when mated with males, gave origin to an exclusively female brood. Here, we demonstrated that these lineages infection new strain of Wolbachia pipientis-designated as wZygpul-was detected amplifying and sequencing the wsp 16S rRNA genes. About half progeny were intersexual phenotypes, i.e. showing upper pygofer appendages, typical male...
Aim We test for the congruence between allele-based range boundaries (break zones) in silicicolous alpine plants and species-based break zones flora of European Alps. also ask whether such coincide with areas large elevational variation. Location The Methods On a regular grid laid across entire Alps, we determined allele- using respective clustering algorithms, identifying discontinuities cluster distributions (breaks), quantifying integrated densities zones). Discontinuities were identified...
The current extensive use of the domestic goat (Capra hircus) is result its medium size and high adaptability as multiple breeds. extent to which genetic variability was influenced by early domestication practices largely unknown. A common standard analyze maternally-inherited livestock species through complete sequencing entire mitogenome (mitochondrial DNA, mtDNA). We present first survey mitogenomic based on 84 sequences selected from an initial collection 758 samples that represent 60...
The Etruscan culture developed in Central Italy (Etruria) the first millennium BC and for centuries dominated part of Italian Peninsula, including Rome. history Etruscans is at roots Mediterranean civilization, but their origin still debated: local or Eastern provenance? To shed light on this mystery, bovine human mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNAs) have been investigated, based well-recognized strict legacy which links livestock populations. In region corresponding to ancient Etruria (Tuscany,...
ABSTRACT Aim To test the influence of various species traits, elevation and phylogeographical history on genetic diversity high‐mountain plants in Alps Carpathians. Location The regular sampling grid comprised whole range European Methods Twenty‐two plant were exhaustively sampled their was assessed with amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). ANOVAs used to check for relationships between traits diversity, whether influenced by altitude (i.e. versus Carpathians). Results In both...
Industrial activities play a key role in the economic well-being of country but they usually involve processes with more or less profound environmental impact, including emission pollutants. Among them, much attention has been given to airborne particulate matter (PM) whose exposure is ubiquitous and linked several adverse health effects mainly due its size chemical composition. Therefore, there strong need exploit monitoring systems for PM able provide accurate information on potential...
Summary The verification of the breed origin animal products is relevant for food safety and authenticity. We assessed suitability AFLP molecular markers in assignment cattle individuals to their origin. Three hundred ninety‐six animals belonging 16 breeds genotyped with 141 were used as reference data set. Assignment was performed likelihood ( aflpop ) Bayesian structure methods. approach superior algorithm respect (i) correct simulated (93% vs. 81% respectively), (ii) 44 sampled Romagnola...
The global demand for bee pollen as a dietary supplement human nutrition is increasing. Pollen, which comprises proteins and lipids from bees’ diets, rich in essential amino acids, omega fatty bioactive compounds that can have beneficial effects on health. However, may also contain contaminants due to environmental contamination. To date, data contamination by pollutants refer almost exclusively pesticides heavy metals, very little information available the potential of airborne particulate...
Urban areas present multiple challenges to scientists interested in unraveling the source, transport, and fate of airborne particulate matter (PM). Airborne PM consists a heterogeneous mixture particles with different sizes, morphologies, chemical compositions. However, standard air quality stations only detect mass concentration mixtures aerodynamic diameters ≤10 μm (PM10) and/or ≤ 2.5 (PM2.5). During honey bee foraging flights, up 10 size attaches their bodies, making them suitable for...
The aim of this study was to assess the genetic diversity four autochthonous cattle breeds Tuscany and their relationships in comparison with Italian Friesian Brown, using amplified fragment length polymorphism markers. A total 212 individuals were genotyped three primer combinations generating 102 polymorphic Average expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.23 Mucca Pisana 0.26 Chianina, Friesian, Brown Maremmana. differences resulted not significant (Kruskall-Wallis test, p = 0.416). Gst-B...
Abstract Background Phasmids show noteworthy abilities to overcome species-specific reproductive isolation mechanisms, including hybridization, polyploidy, parthenogenesis, hybridogenesis and androgenesis. From an evolutionary standpoint, such tangled interactions lead the complex phyletic relationships known as "reticulate evolution". Moroccan stick insects of genus Clonopsis include one bisexual ( C. felicitatis ) two closely related parthenogenetic forms gallica , soumiae ), which...
Wolbachia pipientis is known to infect only arthropods and nematodes (mainly filarial worms). A unique feature shared by the two Phyla ability replace exoskeleton, a process as ecdysis. This characteristic thought reflect common ancestry. Arthropod moulting induced steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) role for ecdysteroids in nematode ecdysis has also been suggested. Removing from worms impairs host's development. From analyses of genome harbored Brugia malayi that its host, bacterium...
Two new species of the genus Seira are described: atlantica n. sp. and maroccana They come from two different sites along Atlas mountains (Morocco); their descriptions mainly based on distribution number dorsal macrochaetae pigmentation. Both taxa belong to domestica group species, characterized by a reduced macrochaetae. Their relationships among congeneric discussed.
Abstract The honey bee Apis mellifera has long been recognized as an ideal bioindicator for environmental pollution. These insects are exposed to pollutants during their foraging activities, making them effective samplers of contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, radionuclides, and volatile organic compounds. Recently, it demonstrated that bees can be a valuable tool monitoring studying airborne PM pollution, complex mixture particles suspended in the air, known have detrimental...