A5019856704- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine animal studies overview
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Forest Management and Policy
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Lichen and fungal ecology
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Environmental and Biological Research in Conflict Zones
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
University of Naples Federico II
2014-2025
Ca' Foscari University of Venice
2024
Forestry Research Centre
2010-2023
Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria
2015
Accademia di Belle Arti di Frosinone
2015
Università degli Studi della Tuscia
2003
Bats show responses to anthropogenic stressors linked changes in other ecosystem components such as insects, and K-selected mammals, exhibit fast population declines. This speciose, widespread mammal group shows an impressive trophic diversity provides key services. For these reasons, bats might act suitable bioindicators many environmental contexts. However, few studies have explicitly tested this potential, some cases, stating that are useful more closely resembles a slogan support...
Conventional agriculture occupies a substantial portion of Earth's terrestrial surface and adversely affects biodiversity through pesticide spread, mechanisation, loss spatial temporal heterogeneity farmed landscapes. Consequently, conventional has become primary target many restoration projects operating at various scales, from habitat to landscape. While these efforts aim increase farmland promote the delivery associated ecosystem services, unintended consequences may arise when important...
The altitudinal distribution of animals and changes in their body size are effective indicators climate change. Bats sensitive to change due dependence on temperature during critical life stages. However, long-term studies documenting responses over extended periods rare. We present a 24-year investigation Myotis daubentonii, riparian bat known for sexual segregation, along river course Central Italy. While males occupy the entire course, females confined downstream warmer areas supporting...
The European biodiversity and forest strategies rely on sustainable management (SFM) to conserve biodiversity. However, current sustainability assessments hardly account for direct indicators. We focused multi-taxon to: i) gather map the existing information; ii) identify knowledge research gaps; iii) discuss its potential. established a network fit data species, standing trees, lying deadwood sampling unit description from 34 local datasets across 3591 units. A total of 8724 species were...
Abstract Artificial illumination at night ( ALAN ) alters many aspects of animal behaviour. Commuting and foraging bats have been found to be affected by , but no study has yet addressed the impact lighting on drinking activity, despite its critical importance for bats. We experimentally illuminated cattle troughs used four forest sites in Italy, compared activity under lit dark conditions. predicted that (1) number bat species events will lower (2) more than edge specialists. recorded 2549...
Abstract In summer, many temperate bat species use daytime torpor, but breeding females do so less to avoid interferences with reproduction. forest‐roosting bats, deep tree cavities buffer roost microclimate from abrupt temperature oscillations and facilitate thermoregulation. Forest bats also switch roosts frequently, thermally suitable may be limiting. We tested how barbastelle ( Barbastella barbastellus ), often roosting beneath flaking bark in snags, thermoregulate successfully despite...
Abstract Organisms sharing the same habitats may differ in small‐scale microhabitat requirements or benefit from different management. In this study, set I taly, we focused on two species of high conservation value, cerambycid beetle R osalia alpina and bat B arbastella barbastellus , which often share forest areas several cases individual trees. We compared potential distribution and, at spatial scales, niches between such species. The predicted distributions largely overlapped bat. proved...
ABSTRACT The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is a critical tool in global conservation, providing essential information on species' conservation status worldwide. However, the current assessment process faces several challenges, including data gaps, standard inconsistencies across taxonomic groups, and limited assessor pool. Data gaps are common for many taxa, particularly those more difficult to observe or identify with wide, fragmented ranges. We use bats as model highlight challenges...
According to Bergmann's and Allen's rules, climate change may drive morphological shifts in species, affecting body size appendage length. These rules predict that species colder climates tend be larger have shorter appendages improve thermoregulation. Bats are thought sensitive therefore expected respond climatic changes across space time. We conducted a phylogenetic meta‐analysis on > 27 000 forearm length (FAL) mass (BM) measurements from 20 sedentary European bat examine patterns....
ABSTRACT On their dorsal surface, bat tongues show a raised muscular structure called mediodorsal lobe (MDL) or lingual prominence. It exhibits different mechanical papillae across species, which we hypothesized are linked to foraging strategies. We predicted that tall MDLs and prominent pointing frontward would effectively trap prey items caught on the wing by aerial hawkers. examined 904 high‐resolution, close‐up images of 239 individual bats from 24 European focusing MDL height morphology...
We evaluated the spatial and temporal patterns of roost switching behaviour by a tree‐dwelling population barbastelle bats Barbastella barbastellus in beech forest central Italy. Switching was common to both sexes did not depend on group size. observed individual switching, latter often involving abandonment tree single night. suggest that behaviours such as flight activity around roosts or cavity inspection play role recruiting mates coordinating their occupation another site. Bats almost...
Bats face a great risk of dehydration, so sensory mechanisms for water recognition are crucial their survival. In the laboratory, bats recognized any smooth horizontal surface as because these provide analogous reflections echolocation calls. We tested whether also approach surfaces other than to drink in nature by partly covering watering troughs used hundreds with Perspex layer mimicking water. aimed 1) confirm that under natural conditions too mistake testing this on large numbers...
Abstract The barbastelle ( Barbastella barbastellus ) is a rare forest bat with wide distribution in Europe. Here, we combine results from the analysis of two mtDNA fragments species modelling to determine glacial refugia and postglacial colonization routes. We also investigated whether niche conservatism occurs this species. Glacial were identified three southern European peninsulas: Iberia, Italy Balkans. These latter played major role process, their populations expanding England central...
Abstract Bats show pronounced and often‐adverse reactions to artificial illumination at night ( ALAN ) when commuting, roosting or foraging. also affects bat drinking activity, least lighting occurs over short intervals. We tested whether continuous of sites 4‐h periods would lead bats tolerate resume in the course night. conducted our experiments forest (Italy) desert (Israel) test latter habitat, where water is scarce, a greater motivation drink might less adverse reactions. recorded 6853...
Forest islands in agricultural landscapes may be vital for biodiversity conservation, providing habitats a variety of species, including bats. Our study focused on forest island NE Italy, where we observed mixed-species groups giant (Nyctalus lasiopterus) and common noctula) noctules roosting at the site. The noctule is highly endangered across Europe, our findings shed light its preferences, key information to inform sustainable forestry practices that take this species into account. Using...
The Mediterranean Basin is typified by a high degree of species rarity and endemicity that reflects its position, geomorphology, history. Although the composition cryptic variation bat faunas from Iberian Balkan Peninsulas are relatively well studied, data Apennine Peninsula still incomplete. This significant shortfall, given presumed refugial role this region in context Europe's Pleistocene phylogeography. It was thus our aim to supplement phylogeographical information region, generating...
Competition may lead to changes in a species' environmental niche areas of sympatry and shifts the weaker competitors occupy where stronger ones are rarer. Although mainland Mediterranean (Rhinolophus euryale) Mehely's (R. mehelyi) horseshoe bats mitigate competition by habitat partitioning, this not be true on resource-limited systems such as islands. We hypothesize that Sardinian R. euryale (SAR) have distinct ecological suited persist south Sardinia mehelyi is Assuming SAR originated from...
Abstract Although bats are frequently admitted to rescue centres — mainly as orphans very little information is available on their survival after release. Our study answered the following questions: i) do hand-reared survive over a short time; ii) which activities and habitat selection they exhibit; iii) loyal release area; iv) able join local colonies? We radio-tracked 21 Pipistrellus kuhlii two-year period released site that differed from where were rescued. At provided with same bat boxes...