A5074196807- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Forensic and Genetic Research
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Virus-based gene therapy research
- Italian Fascism and Post-war Society
- Animal Diversity and Health Studies
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Geographies of human-animal interactions
- Colorectal Cancer Screening and Detection
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale
2016-2025
Institute of Environmental Protection
2020
Tecnologie Avanzate (Italy)
2018
Aalborg University
2013-2015
University of Bologna
2013-2015
Honey bee and Silkworm Research Unit
2007
Sapienza University of Rome
2004
Abstract Wolves in Italy strongly declined the past and were confined south of Alps since turn last century, reduced 1970s to approximately 100 individuals surviving two fragmented subpopulations central‐southern Apennines. The Italian wolves are presently expanding Apennines, started recolonize western Italy, France Switzerland about 16 years ago. In this study, we used a population genetic approach elucidate some aspects wolf recolonization process. DNA extracted from 3068 tissue scat...
After centuries of population decline and range contraction, gray wolves (Canis lupus) are now expanding in Europe. Understanding wolf social structure dynamics predicting their future expansion is mandatory to design sound conservation strategies, but field monitoring methods difficult or exceedingly expensive. Noninvasive genetic sampling offers unique opportunities for the reliable populations. We conducted a 9-year-long program large area (approximately 19,171 km2) northern Italy, aiming...
Hybridization and introgression can impact the evolution of natural populations. Several wild canid species hybridize in nature, sometimes originating new taxa. However, hybridization with free-ranging dogs is threatening genetic integrity grey wolf populations (Canis lupus), or even survival endangered (e.g., Ethiopian C. simensis). Efficient molecular tools to assess rates are essential conservation strategies. We evaluated power biparental uniparental markers (39 autosomal 4 Y-linked...
Interspecific hybridization is relatively frequent in nature and numerous cases of between wild canids domestic dogs have been recorded. However, hybrids golden jackals (Canis aureus) other not described before. In this study, we combined the use biparental (15 autosomal microsatellites three major histocompatibility complex (MHC) loci) uniparental (mtDNA control region a Y-linked Zfy intron) genetic markers to assess admixed origin wild-living showing anomalous phenotypic traits. Results...
Hybridization is a natural or anthropogenic process that can deeply affect the genetic make-up of populations, possibly decreasing individual fitness but sometimes favoring local adaptations. The population Italian wolves (Canis lupus), after protracted demographic declines and isolation, currently expanding in anthropic areas, with documented cases hybridization stray domestic dogs. However, identifying admixture patterns introgressed populations far from trivial. In this study, we used...
Anthropogenic hybridisation is widely perceived as a threat to the conservation of biodiversity. Nevertheless, date, relevant policy and management interventions are unresolved highly convoluted. While this due inherent complexity issue, we hereby hypothesise that lack agreement concerning goals approaches, within scientific community, may explain social awareness on phenomenon, absence effective pressure decision-makers. By focusing wolf x dog in Europe, (a) assess state art issues (b)...
Estimating demographic parameters for wide-ranging and elusive species living at low density is challenging, especially the scale of an entire country. To produce wolf distribution abundance estimates whole south-central portion Italian population, we developed integrated spatial model, based on data collected during a 7-month sampling campaign in 2020-2021. Data collection comprised extensive survey presence signs, intensive 13 areas, aimed collecting non-invasive genetic samples (NGS). The...
Phylogeographic studies of highly mobile large carnivores suggest that intra-specific genetic differentiation modern species might be the consequence most recent Pleistocene glaciation. However, relative influence biogeographical processes and subsequent human-induced population fragmentation requires a better understanding. Poland represents western edge relatively continuous distributions many wide-ranging species, e.g. lynx (Lynx lynx), wolves (Canis lupus), moose (Alces alces) and,...
Large carnivores are making remarkable comebacks in Europe, but how this affects human-wildlife conflict remains unclear. Rebounding carnivore populations lead to increasing livestock depredation, which turn leads greater economic losses for farmers. However, returning could also influence the behavior of wild ungulates, themselves responsible major crop damage and associated losses. Here, we exploit natural experiment a rebounding wolf population Italian Apennines study affected both types...
Abstract The wolf ( Canis lupus ) is among the most controversial of wildlife species. Abundance estimates are required to inform public debate and policy decisions, but obtaining them at biologically relevant scales challenging. We developed a system for comprehensive population estimation across Italian alpine region (100,000 km 2 ), involving 1513 trained operators representing 160 institutions. This extensive network allowed coordinated genetic sample collection landscape‐level spatial...
Background/Objectives: The domestication of the grey wolf (Canis lupus) and subsequent creation modern dog breeds have significantly shaped genetic landscape domestic canines. This study investigates genomic effects hybridization breeding management practices in two hybrid wolfdog breeds: Czechoslovakian Wolfdog (CSW) Saarloos (SAW). Methods: We analyzed genomes 46 CSWs 20 SAWs, comparing them to 12 German Shepherds (GSHs) wolves (WLFs), which served as their ancestral populations...
Abstract After centuries of decline and protracted bottlenecks, the peninsular Italian wolf population has naturally recovered. However, an exhaustive comprehension effects such a conservation success is still limited by reduced availability historical data. Therefore, in this study, we morphologically genetically analyzed contemporary samples, also exploiting optimization innovative bone DNA extraction method, to describe morphological variability subspecies its genetic diversity during...
The domestic cat (Felis catus) descends from the African wildcat subspecies Felis lybica lybica. Its global distribution alongside humans testifies to its successful adaptation anthropogenic environments. Uncertainty remains regarding whether cats originated in Levant, Egypt or elsewhere natural range, and on timing circumstances of their dispersal into Europe. By analysing 87 ancient modern genomes, we demonstrate that did not spread Europe with Neolithic farmers, as previously thought....
Abstract The survival of indigenous European wildcat ( Felis silvestris ) populations can be locally threatened by introgressive hybridization with free-ranging domestic cats. Identifying pure wildcats and investigating the ancestry admixed individuals becomes thus a conservation priority. We analyzed 63k cat Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) multivariate, Bayesian gene-search tools to better evaluate admixture levels between wild cats collected in Europe, timing proportions their...