A5010289822- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Spider Taxonomy and Behavior Studies
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Crustacean biology and ecology
- Architecture and Computational Design
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Leech Biology and Applications
- Marine Ecology and Invasive Species
- Subterranean biodiversity and taxonomy
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Mediterranean and Iberian flora and fauna
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Animal and Plant Science Education
University of Palermo
2006-2025
ORCID
2024
Regione Siciliana
2019-2022
University of Bologna
2006
Abstract Melanism, the process of heavier melanin deposition, can interact with climate variation at both micro and macro scales, ultimately influencing color evolution in organisms. While ecological processes regulating production relation to have been extensively studied, intraspecific variations melanism are seldom considered. Such scientific gap hampers our understanding how species adapt rapidly changing climates. For example, dark coloration may lead higher heat absorption be...
A major threat to biodiversity is represented by Invasive Alien Species (IAS), particularly on freshwater ecosystems, which are already heavily altered human activities. Two of the most pernicious IAS eastern and western mosquitofish, i.e., Gambusia holbrooki G. affinis. These two poeciliids morphologically very close each other, soon after their formal description, was considered a subspecies In following years, several studies proved that these entities belonged different species;...
The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an island-endemic subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented distribution confined to Sardinia, Italy. Information on its reproductive biology wild offspring remain scarce in the scientific literature. This present study reports first recorded data clutch of eggs laid by melanistic female N. h. cetti that exhibited lethargy when observed basking, prompting brief period health monitoring screening for presence pathogenic fungus...
The frequent introduction and rapid spread of invasive alien species (IAS) along with the limited resources available for their management highlight need to adopt simple effective methods prioritizing efforts. Here, we propose a technically model actions, using Sicily (southern Italy) as case study. Despite its invasion being relatively recent not yet widespread, highly red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii proved be able colonize different habitat types on this Mediterranean island. We...
Abstract The worldwide spread of invasive species is considered to be one the main causes global amphibian declines and loss biodiversity in general. African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis, shows a strong ability establish populations invade various geographic regions. In 2004 X. laevis was found Sicily for first time. Sicilian population probably largest Europe with range about 225 km2 an area characterized by numerous agricultural ponds. This high density ponds has potentially facilitated...
The current knowledge of Sicilian inland water decapod malacostracans is scarce and an updated synopsis on species distribution lacking. Therefore, we reviewed the checklist recent decapods based published unpublished records novel observations with aim providing exhaustive repository, also to be used as a sound baseline for future surveys. Overall, five native occur in study area, i.e., atyid shrimp Atyaephyra desmarestii, palaemonid shrimps Palaemon adspersus, P. antennarius, elegans,...
The first record of the red swamp crayfish in Sicily dates back to 2003 and, since then, species seemed be confined a few localities western Sicily. A small "citizen science" project carried out from November 2016 onwards led creation "Sicilian Procambarus working group" (SPwg), which aims at monitoring distribution and impact To date, SPwg found five new sites on island, thus doubling number local occurrence. clarkii lie different river basins, some them located several hundred kilometres...
African clawed frogs of the widespread polytypic species Xenopus laevis Daudin, 1802 (ranging large parts sub-Saharan Africa) have been spreading since 1940s, and established reproductive populations in Europe, Asia Americas, where they can negative impact as competitors native amphibians disease vectors for chytridomycosis or ranaviruses. Here we use two mitochondrial (cytochrome b, 16S rDNA) one nuclear (RAG 1: Recombination Associated Gene 1) DNA markers to infer potential origin invasive...
The ocellated skink (Chalcides ocellatus) is a widespread lizard, naturally distributed between the Maghreb and coastal Pakistan, with few insular populations in Mediterranean area. Some of this species have also been recorded peninsular Italy, Campania Southern Tuscany due to accidental introductions via touristic commercial routes. In work, we conducted genetic analyses on mitochondrial DNA COXI, cytb 16S mtDNA genes sample Italian populations. Differently from what previously suggested,...
This work presents an updated dichotomous key to all snake species of Europe, based on morphological, morphometric and distributional characters. It gathers data from both the last keys concerning European every following paper giving updates taxonomic classification or occurrence new allochthonous species. The includes 58 taxa, including 57species one still unnamed taxon, distributed territory, photographic material for each aim this is make identification through a single manuscript more...
The Sardinian grass snake, Natrix helvetica cetti, is an endangered endemic snake subspecies with a restricted and highly fragmented geographic distribution. Information on its ecology detailed distribution are scarce may negatively impact conservation status. Therefore, literature review taxonomy, morphology, ecology, presented here. Moreover, field records from the authors, citizen science existing provide updated highlighting presence within 13 new 7 historic 10 × km cells. Bioclimatic...
Plutonium zwierleini is a large plutoniumid centipede of great evolutionary interest, occurring with isolated populations along the western Mediterranean area, from Spain to Italy. Due its rarity and extreme paucity available records, P. among least known chilopods, scarce information currently on ecology natural history. Based an extensive sampling effort carried out in Sicily between 2022 2023, we here provide additional occurrence localities for species across Sicily, new insights into...
For decades, the evolutionary role of melanism in reptiles has been highly debated. According to thermal hypothesis, melanistic phenotypes should provide advantages, thus positively impacting various biological aspects these individuals. Nevertheless, benefits seem be countered by environmental constraints and predatory pressure. Here, we mapped for first time distribution polymorphic asp viper (Vipera aspis). We focused our research effort on Italian peninsula, where this species reaches...
The distribution of Isidus moreli Mulsant et Rey, 1874 (Elateridae Pomachiliini) in Sicily is updated, a saproxylophagous species linked to dune environments and considered “Vulnerable” the national red lists “Near Threatened” European ones. For this species, ecological peculiarities are also highlighted main threat factors discussed, underlining importance protected areas for its conservation.
Invernada del alimoche comun ( Neophron percnopterus ) en Sicilia: nuevos datos Las poblaciones continentales europeas de son por lo general migratorias y viajan desde sus lugares cria hasta las areas invernada la region subsahariana Sahel. En Sicilia, donde actualidad hay seis parejas reproductoras esta especie, pocos informes sobre presencia alimoches invierno. Se describe el avistamiento un joven dos adultos Sicilia durante temporada invierno 2015-2016.
graphical regions, and 15% in the Continental one. However, there were no statistical significant differences among suggesting that rate of amphibian site loss was similar different parts Italy. This nation-wide monitoring project demonstrated Italy, during last thirty years, a relevant proportion breeding habitats has been destroyed or altered. The main cause alteration land reclamation water extraction.