A5083424900- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Plant and animal studies
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Morphological variations and asymmetry
- Animal and Plant Science Education
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- scientometrics and bibliometrics research
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage
- Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- melanin and skin pigmentation
University of Pisa
2016-2025
Museo Galileo
2016-2025
Natural History Museum Aarhus
2022
American Museum of Natural History
2010-2015
Anthrologica
2012
Museo de Historia Natural
2010
Museo Civico di Zoologia
2001
Abstract The designation of taxonomic units has important implications for the understanding and conservation biodiversity. Eurasian vipers are a monophyletic group viperid snakes (Serpentes, Viperinae), currently comprising four genera ( Daboia , Macrovipera Montivipera Vipera ) up to 40 species. Taxonomic have been described using wide variety methods criteria, consequently, considerable controversy still surrounds validity some listed In order promote consensus- evidence-based taxonomy...
For cultural reasons and due to the narrow vision of environmental policy makers, most conservation efforts focus on a few charismatic species consequently neglect majority others under threat; many unpopular are even killed in large numbers with little concern. Redressing this bias through educational programs is therefore important. Snakes animals; they suffer from human harassment places populations have declined worldwide. Consequently, provide suitable substrate better improve education...
Abstract Aim The ecological dimension of evolutionary processes has been scarcely addressed in phylogeographic studies. We reconstruct the historical biogeography Western Mediterranean vipers to discover role climate fostering diversification. Location Basin. Taxon Vipera aspis and latastei‐monticola complex. Methods used nearly range‐wide analyses three mitochondrial genes followed by geographic assignment 4,056 records genetic units test phylogenetic niche conservatism, under a 3D...
Hybrid zones provide insights into the evolution of reproductive isolation. Sexual selection can contribute to barriers, but it remains poorly understood how sexual traits impact gene flow in secondary contact. Here, we show that a recently evolved suite function male-male competition mediates between two lineages wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). Gene was relatively low and asymmetric presence exaggerated male morphology coloration compared when share ancestral phenotype. Putative barrier...
Abstract Colour variability is largely widespread in the animal world as it tightly associated with fitness and survivorship. Therefore, drivers implications of such have been great interest for zoologists past decades. Reptiles are excellent models to investigate colour variations expression under different conditions. Here, we focused on melanism occurrence two main lineages Hierophis viridiflavus at scale species distribution, by extracting available data from iNaturalist, a citizen...
ABSTRACT Body colorations have been investigated intensely concerning their adaptive significance from the ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Studies on melanism caught growing interest thanks to its marked variability across space, time taxon and, in ectotherms, it has hypothesised be driven by thermal advantages. Among reptiles, vipers show conspicuous inter‐ intraspecific patterns of variation, making them excellent models address patterns. We hypothesis Viperidae performing a...
Abstract The suitability of morphological characters to assess phylogenetic relationships and taxonomic identities have been much debated. However, they are often reliable investigate patterns variability in quantitative traits (i.e., morphometry). With this respect, head shape snakes has regarded as a key morphometric character that is tightly involved selection evolution. In Northern Italy, species the genus Vipera relatively common along Alps; more than one can be detected, among which V....
Abstract Melanism is a common trait in vertebrates. While endotherms, melanism has been primarily associated with the protection against oxidative stress caused by incoming UV radiation, ectotherms, it far less understood. Bogert's rule, most widely supported biogeographical framework explaining occurrence of reptiles, states that melanistic individuals should be favoured thanks to faster heating rates. It led formulation Thermal Hypothesis explain evolution and maintenance ectotherms....
Sexual dimorphism in digit length ratios has been reported for humans, a few other mammals, and two bird species. This is thought to arise via an interaction between the prenatal exposure of embryo sex hormones Hox genes, which are highly conserved among vertebrates control development both appendices, including fingers toes, urogenital system. In this study, we report on sexual 2D:3D, 2D:4D, 3D:4D contralateral forelimbs species oviparous lizards, common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) tree...
ABSTRACT Aim Ecogeographical variation of body size in vertebrates (e.g. Bergmann's rule) has long been recognized. However, the patterns and causes intra‐specific ecogeographical ectotherms, amphibians particular, are strongly debated. We identified relationship between bioclimatic variables predicted a priori by alternative hypotheses (heat balance, endurance, seasonality, starvation resistance, water availability, primary productivity, parental investment) proposed to explain we evaluated...
Abstract Strongly selected characters can be transferred from one lineage to another with limited genetic exchange, resulting in asymmetric introgression and a mosaic genome the receiving population. However, systems are rarely sufficiently well studied link pattern of its underlying process. Male common wall lizards western Italy exhibit exaggeration suite sexually that make them outcompete males distantly related lack these characters. This results hybridization adaptive following...
We used a multidisciplinary approach to infer the taxonomy and historical biogeography of H ierophis viridiflavus . gemonensis , performing molecular analyses mitochondrial (16 S C yt‐b, ND 4) nuclear markers ( PRLR ), landmark‐based morphometric study cytogenetic analysis. Our data distinguished three main groups in studied species, corresponding two monophyletic clades E W ) within Clades display significant genetic (about 4% for yt‐b morphological divergence different morphology sex...
Lizards are ideal for studying colour polymorphism, because some species polymorphic and the morphs often have different ecological or reproductive strategies. We studied feeding habits of six populations Podarcis muralis to test whether differed in their diet. Some taxa were selected a similar way by all morphs, but selection on other varied was characteristic each morph. Diet most red yellow morphs. Two hypotheses could explain these differences: active segregation trophic niche space...
Abstract Identifying the processes that lead to evolution and maintenance of links between colour morphs behavioural strategies has implications for reproductive isolation sympatric speciation. Sexual selection may play a significant role in pattern complexity reptiles, particularly when there are fitness consequences associated with mating males different morphs. In this article, we explored if common wall lizard females ( Podarcis muralis ) actively select according their morph...
Abstract The reproductive biology and ecology of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis is little known, available information was previously mainly anecdotal. Morphological data on E. are now well documented in most known distribution area. Body size northern populations tends to be larger than southern populations. There also indications that clutch may Clutch status a central Italy population were detected by radiography palpation, respectively, comparative obtained direct count intact...
The occurrence of variation in body size and reproductive traits Vipera aspis was assessed by analysing 74 females different populations, collected throughout a large part the distribution range taxon, from central-western France to central Italy. Six populations were analysed, two plain habitats, Italy, characterized Continental climate, whereas other four derived coastal inland, hilly Italian respectively, showing Mediterranean climate. Females French area showed smallest mean size, pre-...
Abstract The phylogeography of the colubrid snake Hierophis viridiflavus was estimated using ND4 mtDNA sequences and a fragment nuclear marker β-fibrinogen intron 7. This species has wide distribution across Mediterranean region, is characterized by three distinct colour patterns (“viridiflavus”, abundistic, melanic-melanotic) with quite well defined geographic distribution. “viridiflavus” pattern occurs in northwestern central areas species' range, abundistic typical individuals from...