A5032207782- Avian ecology and behavior
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Plant and animal studies
- Marine animal studies overview
- Atmospheric chemistry and aerosols
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Environmental Philosophy and Ethics
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- International Maritime Law Issues
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- NF-κB Signaling Pathways
University of Palermo
2014-2025
Water Research Institute
2021-2025
National Research Council
2021-2025
Italfarmaco (Italy)
2023
University of Pavia
1993-2019
University of Milano-Bicocca
2017
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
2010-2017
University of Pisa
1993
Abstract The effectiveness of agri‐environment schemes (AESs), the largest conservation‐related expenditure for farmland biodiversity conservation within European Union, is often compromised by a limited spatial scale implementation. We focused on multiannual forage crops, surrogate habitat grassland birds, to assess scale‐dependent effects mowing timing and frequency local population size an iconic species, skylark ( Alauda arvensis ). While there much evidence negative impact in‐field...
The active participation of scientific trusts, including CISO (Centro Italiano Studi Ornitologici), in applied conservation actions plays a crucial role addressing the challenges faced by natural and semi-natural landscapes, which are increasingly impacted improper land-use land-cover. This is particularly true for those landscapes where Large Infrastructures Big Events (LIBEs) planned. In these circumstances, researchers, professionals, environmentalists typically express their concerns on...
Amidst a global biodiversity crisis1, the word 'biodiversity' has become indispensable for conservation and management2. Yet, is often used as buzzword in scientific literature. Resonant titles of papers claiming to have studied 'global biodiversity' may be promote research focused on few taxonomic groups, habitats, or facets - taxonomic, (phylo)genetic, functional. This usage lead extrapolating results outside target systems these studies with direct consequences our understanding life...
Light‐level geolocators are currently widely used to track the migration of small‐sized birds, but their potentially detrimental effects on survival highly aerial species have been poorly investigated so far. We recorded capture–recapture histories 283 common swifts Apus apus and 107 pallid pallidus breeding in 14 colonies Italy, Spain, Sweden Switzerland that were equipped with 10 different types (‘geolocator birds’), compared of, respectively, 215 101 not (‘control birds’). Data analysed...
Editorial
Ecological theory predicts that coexisting species should exhibit realized niche differentiation to minimize competition. However, little is known about patterns of when ‘newcomer’ spontaneously colonize a new region, leading novel sympatric conditions. Over the past 15 years, three closely related and ecologically similar falcon (Common Kestrel Falco tinnunculus , Lesser naumanni Red‐footed Falcon vespertinus ) have expanded their ranges as result land‐use climate changes in intensively...
Timing of arrival/emergence to the breeding grounds is under contrasting natural and sexual selection pressures. Because differences in sex roles physiology, balance between these pressures on either may differ, leading earlier male (protandry) or female (protogyny) arrival. We test several competing hypotheses for evolution protandry using migration data 22 bird species, including first time monochromatic ones where supposedly less intense. Across positively covaried with size dimorphism...
Inland wetlands are crucial for biodiversity conservation, especially in highly-urbanized landscapes. In the European Union, many included EU 'Natura 2000' network, main tool conservation over continent, which requires development of site-specific management plans. Clear and feasible recommendations necessary to provide site managers with effective tools maintenance these unstable environments. Birds excellent umbrella species, therefore a targeted at increasing habitat suitability focal...
Abstract For many years, eggs of diverse bird species have been used as monitoring tools in studies investigating perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination, especially marine and remote areas. Avian are a suitable matrix because they relatively easy to collect their yolks store maternally transferred PFAS. Moreover, the concentrations PFAS detected good proxy for maternal exposure allow assessment potential risk birds. These features support use avian key tool PFAS‐contaminated sites....
Future climatic scenarios forecast increases in average temperatures as well the frequency, duration, and intensity of extreme events, such heatwaves. Whereas behavioral adjustments can buffer direct physiological fitness costs exposure to excessive temperature wild animals, these may prove more difficult during specific life stages when vagility is reduced (e.g., early developmental stages). By means a nest cooling experiment, we tested effects on different reproduction cavity-nesting...
Departure and stopover decisions are crucial for a successful migration. Such modulated by complex interplay between endogenous (physiological state) external factors, such as weather (e.g. wind) geography (ecological barriers). In this study of the black redstart Phoenicurus ochruros, short-distance migrant passerine, we investigate effect weather, gauged tailwind crosswind conditions, rainfall, temperature, barometric pressure, on departures from site in central Mediterranean Sea, off...
The breeding populations of colonial herons, egrets and allied waterbirds in Northwestern Italy increased since 1972, when a long-term monitoring was initiated, up to the end 20° century. Populations continental importance for some heron species were concentrated mostly district intensive rice cultivation, where paddies offered wide foraging opportunities. After 2000, new cultivation techniques caused progressive reduction paddy flooding. We found significant relationship between post-2000...
Spatial segregation of foraging areas among conspecifics breeding in neighbouring colonies has been observed several colonial vertebrates and is assumed to originate from competition information use. Segregation between individuals different parts a same colony comparatively received limited attention, even though it may have strong impacts on structure individual fitness, thus population dynamics species. To shed light the processes (namely memory) driving small‐scale spatial species, we...
Farmland habitats host important populations of several threatened bird species. So far, how to reconcile farmland management with the maintenance viable these taxa is a major challenge for conservation biology. Southeastern Italy hosts ca 7000 pairs breeding lesser kestrels Falco naumanni, representing one European strongholds this small colonial raptor concern. We firstly assessed relative importance managed crops versus semi-natural grasslands in determining local abundance at landscape...
Climate warming would theoretically create conditions for the breeding range expansion of pseudo‐steppe Mediterranean and long‐distance migrant species provide possibility these to overwinter in same areas. However, contemporary changes rainfall regimes might have negative effects on climate suitability turn, shrink potential range. The lesser kestrel Falco naumanni is highly sensitive oscillations has recently extended its Italian towards northern latitudes increasing wintering records. We...
Capsule: Growth trajectories of Blue Tit Cyanistes caeruleus nestlings differed between sexes and were negatively affected by rain but not temperature during the linear growth phase (LGP).Aims: To model to identify main ecological factors affecting them.Methods: Sixty-five nestling Tits from a population in northern Italy weighed at regular intervals sexed using molecular genetic techniques. The LGP period was identified analysed test for influence age, sex, hatching date, brood size,...
A growing body of work shows that climate change is the cause a number directional shifts in spring phenology migratory birds. However, changes autumn are well studied and their consistency across species, as link with population trends, remains uncertain. We investigate migration dates 11 species soaring birds over Strait Gibraltar 16‐year period. Using models corrected for phylogeny, we assessed whether ecological morphological characteristics, account interspecific times. recorded...