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The Scientific Committee for the Italian Fauna is managing the new checklist of the animal species of Italy. The previous checklist was published in 1993-1995 and included both protozoans and Metazoa (more than 57,000 species); the new project, which includes only Metazoa, started in 2020 and is aimed at updating the former checklist (with more than 60,000 expected species) by on-line datasets and data papers. The new checklist includes marine species recorded in the Italian seas, divided into nine marine sectors, with the Italian Economic Exclusive Zone, and terrestrial and freshwater species recorded in administrative regions, as well as in the three macro-regions (northern continental, southern peninsular and insular - Sicily and Sardinia - macro-regions). Records from geopolitical units biogeographically Biogeographia 37: ucl001 Bologna 2 et al., 2022 related to Italy (i.e., Canton Ticino, CH; Corsica, F; San Marino Republic and Vatican City) are also included. Over 180 Italian and foreign taxonomists have so far participated to the first phase of this new project, providing datasets for taxa at different hierarchical level, from phyla to subfamilies and tribes. The list is intended to be a fundamental instrument not only for the faunistic knowledge of Italy, but also for biodiversity conservation strategies in the country and in the European Union. The new Checklist of the Italian fauna will be available from the LifeWatch Italy platform, and it will be progressively updated. Furthermore, data papers for taxa at different hierarchical level could be published with continuity in a special section of the journal Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography.

1. Although caves are generally perceived as isolated habitats, at the local scale, they are often interconnected via a network of fissures in the bedrock. Accordingly, caves in close proximity are expected to host the same, or very similar, animal communities.

Invasive alien species (IAS) are considered one of the largest drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide and the negative impacts of IAS can also affect human health and economy. More than 12,000 alien species occur in Europe. Terrestrial invertebrate species are the largest proportion of alien animal species and represents one of the most impacting groups in Europe. The most important European policy against alien species is the EU Regulation 1143/2014, which provides for the development of priority lists of IAS of relevant concern aimed to allow the optimization of intervention measures. Italian policy implemented the EU Regulation with the Legislative Decree No 230/2017 that provides the adoption of a list of IAS of national concern. Aim of this work is to present a preliminary prioritized list of alien terrestrial invertebrate species (ATIS) present in Italy, thus providing an useful tool to identify species to be included in the list of IAS of national concern. We defined criteria for assessing the species and ranking them in a prioritized list on the basis of the magnitude of their potential impact on wild native biodiversity. We identify 233 relevant ATIS, among the 1126 species included in the Italian Alien Terrestrial Invertebrate Database, on which the evaluation process started. After the evaluation process, 109 ATIS with considerable impacts on biodiversity were selected and prioritized. We ranked the species in four priority categories by matching their distribution in Italy with the magnitude of their possible impact on biodiversity.

On the evening of June 7th, 2019, Augusto Vigna Taglianti died in Rome at the age of almost 76 years, after a long illness, tenderly assisted by his wife Giuliana. Formerly a Professor of Entomology at the Sapienza University of Rome, he was a Full Member of the Italian National Academy of Entomology and of the National Academy of Sciences (the “Accademia dei XL”) [...], Fragmenta Entomologica, Vol. 51 No. 2 (2019)

Plutonium zwierleini is one of the largest scolopendromorph centipedes in Europe and is known for debates on the evolution of segmental body pattern in arthropods. However, only 24 records have so far been reported and probably only a dozen specimens still exist in collections. Based on 19 new data from professionals and amateur recorders, we confirmed that populations are present today in four disjunct areas: southern Iberian Peninsula, Sardinia, southern Italian Peninsula and Sicily. A phylogenetic analysis of the first molecular data obtained for Plutonium (16S, COI, 18S, 28S) provided strong evidence that it is closely related to Theatops, either sister to the latter or nested within it, with an estimated separation since the Mesozoic. By examining specimens of Plutonium from all the four inhabited areas and specimens of most of the species of Theatops, we also documented many synapomorphies uniting Plutonium and Theatops (brown-orange colour, whitish patches replacing the ocelli, a particular denticulation on the forcipules, conspicuously swollen and piercing ultimate legs) and some derived characters unique to Plutonium, including the blade-edged claws of the ultimate legs and the previously overlooked presence of long, dense setae on most other legs, in both sexes and in the entire species range.

Endogeophilus ichnusae gen. et sp. nov. (Chilopoda: Geophilidae sensu stricto) is described based on three specimens from two localities in south-western Sardinia, examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. The new centipede resembles the rare Ibero-Pyrenean genus Galliophilus Ribaut & Brolemann, 1927 in some features, especially in the forcipular segment, and the temperate European species Geophilus electricus (Linnaeus, 1758) in other features, especially in the ultimate leg-bearing segment. However, the true affinities of E. ichnusae gen. et sp. nov. are uncertain, because the new species departs significantly from the majority of geophilids for the higher number of legs (91–107 pairs in the specimens examined), the slender trunk segments (the sternites being longer than wide), the relatively stout legs (the tarsus being only about twice as long as wide) and the very short setae (≤ 15 mm) scattered on the body surface. All these features are probably derived and suggest adaptation to a more strictly endogeic habit than other geophilids.

The centipede genus Eupolybothrus Verhoeff, 1907 in North Africa is revised. A new cavernicolous species, Eupolybothrus kahfi Stoev & Akkari, sp. n., is described from a cave in Jebel Zaghouan, northeast Tunisia. Morphologically, it is most closely related to Eupolybothrus nudicornis (Gervais, 1837) from North Africa and Southwest Europe but can be readily distinguished by the long antennae and leg-pair 15, a conical dorso-median protuberance emerging from the posterior part of prefemur 15, and the shape of the male first genital sternite. Molecular sequence data from the cytochrome c oxidase I gene (mtDNA–5’ COI-barcoding fragment) exhibit 19.19% divergence between Eupolybothrus kahfi and Eupolybothrus nudicornis, an interspecific value comparable to those observed among four other species of Eupolybothrus which, combined with a low intraspecific divergence (0.3–1.14%), supports the morphological diagnosis of Eupolybothrus kahfi as a separate species. This is the first troglomorphic myriapod to be found in Tunisia, and the second troglomorph lithobiomorph centipede known from North Africa. Eupolybothrus nudicornis is redescribed based on abundant material from Tunisia and its post-embryonic development, distribution and habitat preferences recorded. Eupolybothrus cloudsley-thompsoni Turk, 1955, a nominal species based on Tunisian type material, is placed in synonymy with Eupolybothrus nudicornis. To comply with the latest technological developments in publishing of biological information, the paper implements new approaches in cybertaxonomy, such as fine granularity XML tagging validated against the NLM DTD TaxPub for PubMedCentral and dissemination in XML to various aggregators (GBIF, EOL, Wikipedia), vizualisation of all taxa mentioned in the text via the dynamically created Pensoft Taxon Profile (PTP) page, data publishing, georeferencing of all localities via Google Earth, and ZooBank, GenBank and MorphBank registration of datasets. An interactive key to all valid species of Eupolybothrus is made with DELTA software.

A new genus Diphyonyx is proposed here for a previously unrecognised lineage of geophilid centipedes. It is distinct from other geophilids in its unique combination of morphological characters, including the peculiar shape of the pretarsus of the legs on the anterior part of the trunk. The type species D. conjungens (Verhoeff, 1898), comb. n., is redescribed in detail and its geographical distribution updated (Balkan Peninsula, Anatolia, Crimea). Included in Diphyonyx are also D. sukacevi (Folkmanova, 1956), comb. n., and D. garutti (Folkmanova & Dobroruka, 1960), comb. n., both from southern Russia. D. garutti is raised here to species rank.

International audience; AbstractKey messageForest maturity benefits biodiversity by providing positive effects on key arthropod assemblages such as spider and ground beetles, which play a fundamental role in the ecosystem.ContextSustainable forest management is a widely held international goal, and more knowledge is needed on invertebrate assemblages, essential to the ecological functioning of forest ecosystems.AimsWe aim at evaluating the effects of microsite conditions on spider, centipede, and ground beetle assemblages living in an unmanaged protected beech forest within the Natural Park of Alpi Marittime (SW Alps, Italy). In view of our results, we provide insights on the successional pathways of the focal assemblages in relation to future management of the forest, recommended by the local authorities for conservation purposes.MethodsWe placed 50 pitfall traps along four transects crossing the forest and emptied them monthly, from July to October 2011. We characterized the four arthropod assemblages in terms of abundance, species richness, diversity, and biomass and related them to leaf cover, rock cover, wood debris cover, litter depth, number of trees, mean tree size, and light conditions at ground level using generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA).ResultsThirty-one species of spiders (1,212 individuals), 12 of centipedes (262 individuals), and 11 of ground beetles (2,177 individuals) were collected. In all groups, mature-forest species highly dominated the samples. Tree size proved to be one of the most important parameters conditioning the assemblages, in particular spiders and ground beetles. A minor effect of light conditions and ground cover (presence of wood debris) was also detected.ConclusionsIn view of our results, the recent guidelines for the management of the forest seem in accordance with an effective conservation of the forest arthropod assemblages. Interventions aimed at stabilizing and renovating critical areas within the forest go along with a progressive amelioration of the forest arthropod community. With respect to the maintenance of a large degree of arthropod diversity, stand thinning may not be the most effective management, and reaching a more mature stage might be of interest.

We compared two soil arthropod assemblages (Isopoda Oniscidea and Coleoptera Carabidae) in an artificial–natural Mediterranean forest mosaic. Using data from pitfall traps, we investigated through a co-occurrence analysis whether local ecomosaic supported non-random organized arthropod assemblages, and we compared the results between the two taxa. We evaluated ‘‘the effect of reforestation’’ on forest species of both assemblages using nestedness and indicator value analyses, and wing morphology analysis in the case of the ground beetle assemblage. A significant difference between the assemblages is turned out, probably because woodlouse are more specialized in spatial niche than ground beetles. Overall, there is a clear evidence of randomness in the woodlouse assemblage structure. Moreover, forest woodlouse species and brachypterous ground beetles appear affected by ‘‘the effect of reforestation’’ in the study area

Historically, where forest habitats are deemed as the pristine landscape state, anthropogenic habitats such as managed grasslands or open spaces are often perceived to be antagonistic and of secondary conservation priority. Traditionally, studies on biodiversity responses to ecological variation, i.e. edge effect, have mostly focused on forest habitats. Yet recently there has been increased attention on communities beyond the forest edge in an effort to better understand how interactions between forests and adjacent habitats may potentially affect regional biodiversity. However, in Europe and the Mediterranean basin (a biodiversity hotspot), areas with high landscape heterogeneity and high edge density, there is a paucity of studies analysing the community responses across forest and “beyond edge” habitats across ecotones. In a protected area of central Italy, we investigated the responses of ground-dwelling arthropods [Araneae (spiders), Chilopoda (centipedes) and Carabidae (ground beetles)], which were differentiated into habitat-specific guilds (forest, edge and grassland species) across a forest–grassland ecotone. We investigated the extent to which a habitat edge influenced communities of arthropods associated with either the forest or grassland, and how far from the edge this effect penetrated into each habitat. Twelve 150 m-transects perpendicular to a forest–grassland edge were established and arthropods were sampled at nine progressive distances across the ecotone. An indicator species analysis was used to detect species significantly associated with forest, edge-belt or grassland habitats, which were assumed representative of the respective communities. Logistic models of indicator species richness and abundances were used to describe responses of grassland and forest communities across the ecological boundaries. We found that grassland and edge habitats had habitat specialists and higher species richness compared to the forest habitat. Moreover, the occurrence of grassland-specific species was influenced by the presence of an edge up to 15 m from the habitat border. In contrast forest-associated indicator species were not affected by proximity to the habitat edge, rather individuals typical of forest habitats tended to “spill over” into grassland habitats. These findings support the hypothesis that in a forest–grassland mosaic, forest species are less sensitive to an edge and influence the community beyond the forest edge and into the grassland more than the reverse, i.e. the effect was asymmetric. From these data, we estimated that a minimum grassland habitat width of 600 m is necessary for grassland species to maintain a core area that is relatively unaffected by the spillover of species from adjacent forest habitats. Incorporating the directional influences of adjacent communities on each other allows for an empirical assessment of habitat vulnerability that doesn’t a priori value the conservation of one habitat over another.

Arthropod assemblages (Isopoda Oniscidea, Chilopoda, Coleoptera Carabidae) were studied in three 20-year-old reforestations with native oak species (holm-oak Quercus ilex, Turkey-oak Quercus cerris, and downy-oak Quercus pubescens) and in a natural mixed oak forest (Q cerris and Quercus frainetto) in Latium (central Italy). The three reforested areas had been previously used for agricultural purposes. Samples were collected monthly by pitfall traps for a period of 1 year (March 2009-February 2010). Structural parameters and the arthropod assemblage compositions of the four studied areas were compared. The effects of the different forest types and the influence of environmental variables on the activity density of each species were analyzed, with particular emphasis to forest species. Contrary to centipedes and ground beetles, woodlice showed lower values of richness, diversity and equitability in reforestations than in the natural forest. According to Canonical Correspondence Analysis, forest species of woodlice and centipedes resulted mainly associated with forests characterized by a high structural heterogeneity (natural forest and reforestation with Q. pubescens). In these two forests the activity density of centipede forest species is mainly influenced by the coverage of both shrub and leaf litter layer, and woodlice forest species only by the coverage of the latter. The ground beetle forest species were mainly associated with forests characterized by low structural heterogeneity and an almost total closure of the canopy throughout the year (reforestation with Q. ilex). However, some ground beetle forest species are present also in the natural forest. Our results suggest that reforestations with different native broadleaf species belonging to the local "potential" vegetation can contribute to the conservation of the diversity of forest arthropod assemblages in the extremely fragmented agricultural landscape of the middle Tyrrhenian area. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

To trace the local extinction of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Latium, central Italy, and examine the causes of the species’ disappearance, we reviewed and classified information from both the scientific and grey literature according to the reliability and geographical accuracy of the records. The temporal and spatial patterns of 160 records from 23 geographical subunits from 1832 to 2006 suggest that the species collapsed between 1960 and 1975; two different extinction patterns were revealed by a set of multivariate analyses. In northern Latium the species collapsed because of several independent local threats. In central and southern Latium the species collapsed because of catastrophic habitat alteration (land reclamation during the 1930s) that negatively affected the source population. After this event the species went extinct in hilly and mountainous areas, where several population sinks occurred. We presume that this latter process drove the remnant otter subpopulations to extinction in central Italy, emphasizing the role of an extinction vortex in causing the collapse of this metapopulation rather than the classical threats recognized for this species. The value of the grey literature for a posteriori historical analysis of local extinction dynamics is highlighted by this research.

A common terminology for the external morphological characters of centipedes (Chilopoda) is proposed. Terms are selected from the alternatives used in the English literature, preferring those most frequently used or those that have been introduced explicitly. A total of 330 terms are defi ned and illustrated, and another ca. 500 alternatives are listed., Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo

Alien myriapods in Europe have never been subject to a comprehensive review. Currently, 40 species belonging to 23 families and 11 orders can be regarded as alien to Europe, which accounts approximately for about 1.8% of all species known on the continent. Millipedes (Class Diplopoda) are represented by 20 alien species, followed by centipedes (Class Chilopoda) with 16, symphylans with 3 and pauropods with only 1. In addition there are numerous cases of continental species introduced to the Atlantic and Mediterranean islands or others of southern origin transported and established in North European cities. Th e earliest record of an alien myriapod dates back to 1836, although the introduction of some species into Europe could have begun already in historical times with an increase in trade between ancient Greeks and Romans with cities in the Near East and North Africa. In post-medieval times this process should have intensifi ed with the trade between Europe and some tropical countries, especially after the discoveries of the Americas and Australia. Th e largest number of alien myriapods (25, excl. intercepted) has been recorded from Great Britain, followed by Germany with 12, France with 11 and Denmark with 10 species. In general, northern and economically more developed countries with high levels of imports and numerous busy sea ports are richer in alien species. Th e various alien myriapods have diff erent origins, but most of them show tropical or subtropical links (28 species, 70%). Eight of them (20%) are widespread in the Tropical and Subtropical belts, eleven (circa 28%) are of Asian origin, seven show links with South and Central America, and one each originates from North America, North Africa, Australasia, and islands in

Species composition and structure of centipede (Chilopoda) communities were studied in a sub-urban burnt forest on the Mediterranean coast near Roma, Italy. The study was carried out in two sites affected by canopy fire (complete vegetation destruction), one affected by surface fire (persistence of tree canopy), and three unburnt sites. Monthly, quantitative/qualitative samplings were performed in each site from April 2001 to April 2002 by pitfall trapping and one hour active search. Analyses of species composition, dominance structure, diversity and colonization progress were performed. Centipede communities of the sites affected by canopy fire were simply structured, poor in both species richness and diversity; conversely, species composition, structure and diversity of the community affected by surface fire were scarcely modified.

Biogeographia vol. XXVIII - 2007 (Pubb/icato il 30 dicembre 2007) Biogeografia del/’Appennino centra/e e settentriona/e: trenfanni dopo Centipede assemblages (Chilopoda) in forest habitat of the Anti—Apennines (Central Italy): species composition and quantitative structure MARZIO ZAPPAROLI, MARIA PERONI* Dipzzrtimmto all Protezione zlelle Pizzmfe, Univerritze degli Stmli dellzz Tuscizz, z/izl Szm Camilla ale Lellis 5.;2.c., 01100 Vitereo (Itzzly); e-mail.‘ ztzpptzr0l@um'tu5. it *2/22; Mzzrtz'rz' Pennesi 5.7l.£'., 65024 Manoppello (Pesczzrzz), Italy e—mzzil: mzzrirzper072i@liber0. it Key words: Chilopoda, forest habitats, assemblages, dominance structure, biodiversity, Central Apennines, Italy SUMMARY Species composition and structure of Chilopoda assemblages were studied between 1992 and 1997 by hand collecting and pitfall trapping in three seminatural forest habitats of the Lepini Mountains area, Central Apennines, Lazio, Italy: Quarry: ilex forest (3 sites), Q. cerri: forest (1 site) and Fzzgm sylwzticzz Forest (3 sites). Analyses of species composition, chototype spectrum, dominance structure, and diversity were performed. A total of 30 species were collected (about half of the species thus far identified in Lazio). The greatest species diversity, 21 species, was found in beechwoods; meanwhile slightly fewer species were found in holm oak, 17-20 species, and in Turkey oalcwoods, 17 species. From a zoogeographical point of view, the species recorded mostly belong to the European and Mediterranean main chorotypes. The ratio of European species was higher in Fzzgz/5 dominated sites (52.4—61.9%), whereas the ratio of Mediterranean species was higher in QIl€7'L‘I15 ilex 20.0—30.0%) and ce77‘i.t (23.5%) woods; the ratio of Holoarctic (Asiatic—European) species was low in all of the tested sites (4.8—11.8%). In hand collecting sampling, the Apennine endemic Eupalybat/zrurfzrcirrtztr (Newport, 1845), a forest thermophilous species, was found to be the dominant species at the Qzzerczu ilcx and Q. cerrir sites, whereas the south—European Lit/Jol7izz.v mstzzneur Newport, 1844, which inhabits a wide range of forest habitats in Italy, was found to be the dominant species in beechwoods. The studied assemblages are almost homogeneous as far as concern the biodiversity values and the structure of dominance, which is generally complex. Some differences were recorded in evens values, probably due to edaphic or anthropic factors. INTRODUCTION Numerous studies on the compositiomand the structure of Centipede assem- blages in Italy have been carried out in recent years. Such studies have mainly been done in the North—oriental regions, where North Adriatic coastal habi- tats (Glerean, 2003), Padano—venetian flatland plain woods (Minelli, 1982; Zapparoli, 2004), mountain woods and alpine prairies of the Oriental Alps (Minelli, 1981, 1988) have been investigated. Despite some national and regio

The chilopod fauna of the Maltese Islands (Malta, Gozo, Comino) was studied from a faunistic and zoogeographic point of view. A list of the species found on these islands is given, based on recent faunistic investigations as well as on a critical assessment of the few records available in the literature. Twenty one species are recorded to occur on the islands: I Scutigeromorpha, 7 Lithobiomorpha, 3 Scolopendromorpha, and 10 Geophilomorpha. Twenty species are confirmed to occur on the island of Malta, lion Gozo and three on Comino. The Maltese chilopod fauna mostly consists of species that are widespread in the Mediterranean islands, particularly those of the western Mediterranean. As shown in other studies on the chilopod faunas of other Mediterranean micro-insular systems, that of the Maltese Islands is mainly influenced by ecological factors rather than by paleogeographic and paleoclimatic ones. Zoogeographically the Maltese chilopod fauna is mainly Mediterranean in character, with a very limited representation of Holarctic (22%) and European (11%) species., peer-reviewed

Biogeographia - vol. XX — 1999 (Pubblicato il 31 ottobre 1999) Biogeografia de1|’AnatoIia The present knowledge of the Centipede fauna of Anatolia (Chilopoda) 1 MARZIO ZAPPAROLI Dipzzrrimento all Protezione delle Pizmte, Universitfz zlellzz Tuscizz, Via Szm Camilla de Lellis — [—01I00 Viterbo (Italy) Key words: Chilopoda, Anatolia, Turkey, checklist, zoogeography. SUMMARY On the basis of published records and original data collected between 1973-1993, a synthesis is presented of the present knowledge of the centipede Fauna of the Anatolian peninsula from faunisric and biogeographical points of view. The whole Anatolia within Turkey as it is politically constituted today is considered. One—hundred-twenry- three species have been recorded: 2 Scutigeromorpha (2 genera), 73 Lithobiomorpha (7 genera), 13 Scolopendro— morpha (2 genera), and 35 Geophilornorpha (15 genera). These values, however, are provisional, owing to the lack of faunistic knowledge and some unresolved taxonomic problems, especially for Geophilomorpha. For the zoogeographical analysis, 100 species have been considered. The main ehorological categories are represented as Follows: species widely spread in the Holarctic Region (17 species): W-Palearctic ( 1), Sibero—European (1), Centralasiatic- European (2), Turano-Europeo—Mediterranean (2), Turano-Mediterranean (2), Europeo-Mediterranean (1), SW- Asiatic (8); species more or less widely spread in Europe (23): European (5), Centraleuropean (5); S—European (13); species more or less widely spread in the Mediterranean countries (20): Mediterranean (9), E—Mediterranean (11); species widely spread in the Palearctic Region but occurring in small periferal areas of Western Palearetic region (2): Saharo—Turano—Sindian (1), NE—African—Sindian (1). The endemics of the Near East occurring in Anatolia (38 species) are arranged in the Following groups: N—Anatolian (= Pontic) (13), W—Anatolian (2), NW—Anatolian (3), Ponto- Caucasian (6), S-Anatolian (= Taurian) (8), Central Anatolian (1), Kurdish (4), Kolkhidan (1). The larger rate of endemics has been recorded in N—Anatolia, especially in E-Pontus, where it reaches about the 38% of the regional fauna. The rate ofendemics recorded in SE—Anatolia (5%) is very low but this figure could be influenced by the general lack of faunistic knowledge in this area. An annotated checklist of the species of centipedes of Turkey is also given (Appendix I), as well as a synthesis oftheir local distribution according to the presence in the natural regions and in the administrative provinces (Appendix H). The following new species and subspecies of Lithobiidae are described (Appendix H1): Lit/meizzs (Lit/whim) zzntanel/as n. sp., Lit/Jab/Tm (Lit/Jalziut) biamlii n. sp., Lit/ralziur (Sigilzim) dagzzlmyzzziterzris n. sp. and Lit/Jalzizzs (/l/[mzatzzr.rabi1z.t) mzznimttrii n. sp., all from E—Anatolia; Lit/Jabizzr {Lit/Jabizis) z'5pzzrte7z.tz'.t n. sp., Lit/Jobizzs (Lit/Jab/T115) pleriu: rmmlyrzzzus n. subsp. and Lit/Jabiu: (Lit/Jobz'z1r)ple5izz5 tzutliriai n. subsp., all from S—Anatolia (Mediterranean region); and Lit/Jobim (Lit/7017i!!!) rizemit n. sp., from E—Pontus. The following new synonymies are proposed: Lit/7abiu5 libel‘ Lignau, 1903 = Lit/Jabiut cilicizu Verhoeff, 1925 syn. nov.; Lit/Jonizzr l1'berLignau, 1903 = Tmnzzlim/.tp/mnetut Chamberlin, 1952 syn. nov.; Herzizz (Tut/cop/iilizs) /mrom Verhoeff, 1941 = Henizz mzgclvui Riharov, 1987 syn. nov. 1 Zoological researches in the Near East by the Universities ofRorne: 189. This study was partially supported by grants from MURST 1999 (University of “Roma Treq) “Variazione geografica e diversita a livello di specie, faune e zoocenosi: cause storiche ed ecologicheq.

BIOGEOGHAPHIA « vol. XVIII — 1995 (Pubb/icato i/ 31 ottobre 1995) Le piccole Isole Circumsarde e il Ioro significato Biogeografico I chilopodi delle isole circumsarde nel contesto del popolamento insulate dell’area tirrenica s.l. DONATELLA FODDAI (q‘), ALESSANDRO MINELLI (qq‘) e MARZIO ZAPPAROLI (H) (‘'9 Dipm*z‘z'meIzt0 dz‘ Bzblogzkz, UI2z'z2errz'tc2 tlegli Stutli, Via Trieste, 75 - 35121 Przdowz Dz'ptzrtz'me7zt0 (Ii Protezioize delle Pitmte, Um'vem’tzi della Tuscia, Via S. Ctmzillo de Lellir - 01100 Viterho Key words: centipedes, islands faunas, faunistics, equilibrium biogeograhy. SUMMARY 25 species of centipedes known from 40 circumsardinian islands (cs. i.) are critically discussed, in the context of West Mediterranean islands, from a faunistic and zoogeographic point of view. A maximum of 15 species has been found on one island (La Maddalena), the most characteristic centi~ pedes of the cs, i. being Brzzc/Jy.te/Je/m’_v/zz armzzta, Hydroxc/Jemlylzz 51/lmzzzrimz, Sc/Jezzdyla 721edfz.‘errm1ea and Clrizapader porezdo/zit. The Centipede fauna of the es. i. differs from that of Sardinia because of the poor representation of the Lithobiomorpha (19 species in Sardinia), perhaps on account of the little size of these islands and the lack of suitable habitats like woods and caves. The Centipede fauna of the little isle of Figarolo is peculiar, with 10 species on 0.211 Kmz only, these species include the interesting thyrrenian element Bn1e/Jyrc/Je/m'yla rm)/ata and the halobiont Geo];/Jilm poser- do/123‘. Some species, expected be present here on account of their wide distribution in Sardinia and in the other Western Mediterranean Italian islands (i.e. HiII1flIlfflI'illIIl gabrielix, Lit/70/7z'ur /m'cr0[1: and Geop/Jilzlr mrpap/mgr/X), have not been also found. All species of the cs. i. also occur in Sardinia, so we think that this fauna resulted from recent coloniza- tion events. , a High similarity exists both among the es. i. insisting on the same sector of Sardinia, and among those which insist on different sectors. However, we perceive a filter effect associated with the dimensions of the islands of the different archipelagos. \When comparing the centipedes of the Northeastern sector of Sardinia and those of the island groups insisting here, with those of the Tuscanian Archipelago, we find high similarity between this compartment and the Tuscanian Islands, moderate similarity between the Maddalena Archipelago and the Tuscanian one, and a low and decreasing similarity between the Northeastern Islands and Tavolara, and the Tuscanian Archipelago. _, This gradient is probably determined by the increasing distance between the islands comparedand by the different size of the islands. i For the cs. i. 7 species out of 25 account for the 65% of the species/island presences, similar values were found for the other West-mediterraiiean Italian Islands (34 islands; Corsica, Giraglia, Sicily and Sardinia excluded), where 65 °/o of the presences is accounted for by 15 species out of 56. Five species (Pzzc/Jy/7zerz'zmr ferrz/gz'Izez//71, Scalopemira carziderzr 0rzzm'eIzrz'r, Cryp/opt t)‘i.\'2tfCtltZt.X‘, 5tz'gI7zzzt0gtzi‘ter gmci[z's, Sci/tigerzz coleaptrzzta) are comprised amongst the 7 most commonly occurring ones, both for the cs. i. and for the other \West—Mediterranean Italian islands. 357

BIOGEOGHAPH/A — vol. X V/I » 1993 (Pubblicato // 31 ottobre 1994) ll popolamento animale e vegetale de||'Appennino Umbro»Marchigiano Aspetti faunistici e zoogeografici del popolamento dei Chilopodi clell’Appennino umbro—marchigiano ALESSANDRO MINELLI(qq‘) e MARZIO ZAPPAROLI (qqq'*) (q“) Dzpartimeizto dz’ Biologia, Um'z1erxz'tz2 degli Studz’, Via Trieste 75, 35121 Padomz ( *1 ’‘‘) Dz'partz'ment0 di Protezione delle Pzkmte, Unzixerszfii della Tuxcia, Via San Camilla de Lellis, 01100 Viterbo 1 SUMMARY The centipedes of the section of Central Apennines comprised between the Marecchia and Esino Valleys (the so called Appennino urnbro-marchigiano) are discussed from a faunistic and zoogeographic point of View. 32 species are recorded for this area; they can be distributed according to the main chorological catego- ries as follows: European s. 1. 75.0% (i.e. European s. Sl'.l'., 34.3% and S-European, 34.3%); Mediterranean s.l. 15.6%, Holoarctic 9.3%. A catalogue of the species is also given based on the literature data critically revi- sed, supplemented by new faunistic records. The following new synonymy is also proposed: Lz’t/aobius lanzaz’ Matic, 1961 = Litbabiu: calcaratur C.L. Koch, 1844, n. syn. 1. INTRODUZIONE La fauna dei Chilopodi dell’Appennino umbro-rnarchigiano, intesa sensu AA.VV. (1957) e cioe dal Valico di Bocca Serriola e dalla Valle del fiurne Me- tauro 21 NW, al Massiccio del Terrninillo alla Valle del fiume Velino e del fiume Tronto a SE, dall’alta Valle del fiurne Tevere 21 SW ed 211 litorale adriatico a NE, non e stata oggetto di studi specifici e quest’area, come del resto molte altre del- l’Italia peninsulare, puo essere considerata una delle meno conosciute da questo punto di Vista. Gli scarsi dati disponibili sono rappresentati da singoli reperti ri- portati da Verhoeff (1934), Manfredi (1936, 1951), Zangheri (1966), Matic (1966) e Matic e Darabantu (1971); i pochissitni reperti cavernicoli si devono a Manfredi (1940) e a Cola e Freude (1974), tutti sintetizzati in Minelli (1985). N ella presente nota Viene preso in esame il popolamento dei Chilopodi di quella porzione dell’Appennino umbro-marchigiano cornpresa tra le Valli dei fiumi Marecchia a N ed Esino a S. Viene pertanto fornita una sintesi critica dei dati di letteratura, aggiornata da quanto emerso nel corso di recenti indagini compiute in particolare tra il 1991 ed il 1992 e seguita da una preliminare analisi zoogeografica del popolarnento medesirno. 151

BIOGEOGRAPHIA - vol. XIII - 1987 Biogeografia clelle Alpi SucI—OrientaIi I Chilopodi delle Alpi sud—o1_:ientali(qq‘) MARZIO ZAPPAROLI Istzmzfo di Dzfem delle Pzkmte, Um’z2em'tt2 dellzz Tzzsczkz, Via S. Cczmillo de Lellis, 01100 Vz'terI70 SUMMARY The centipedes of south-eastern Alps (including N—E Padania) are listed and discussed from faunisti- cal and zoogeographical point of view. In this area 76 species are recognized; their main chorological categories are european (80.25°/o), mainly south—eastern»european, european s. str. and central-european. Very low are the mediterranean components (12%). Some taxonomical notes are included too. PREMESSA La fauna dei Chilopodi delle Alpi sud-orientali e stata oggetto di numero- se e continue indagini, tanto da poter essere senza dubbio ritenuta una delle meglio conosciute in Europa. I lavori pifi significativi, relativi a1 popolamento epigeo di questa regione 0 di aree in essa cornprese, sono dovuti essenzialmente ad Attems (1949), Fedrizzi (1878), Manfredi (1935), Matic (1974), Matic e Darabantzu (1971) e Minelli (1981b). Numerose citazioni sono tuttavia sparse in altri lavori quali Attems (1895, 1903a, 1903b, 1929a, 1929b, 1930), Berlese (1884), Canestrini (1875), Daday (1889), Dalla Torre (1882, 1888), De Poli (190721, 19071)), De Toni (1889), Eason (1970, 1972, 1974), Eason e Minellj (1976), Fanzago (1874, 1876), Fedrizzi (1876a, 1876b, 1877), Gredler (1883), Grube (1861), Koch (1862), Latzel (1880), Leydig (1871), Marcuzzi (1956, 1961), Matic (1971, 1978, 1979), Matic e Stentzer (1977), Meinert (1871, 1872, 1886), Minelli (1979, 1981a, 1982a, 19821)), Minelli e Pasqal (1986), Minelli e coll. (1984), Scopoli (1763), Thaler (1984), Verhoeff (1898, 1901, 1928, 1931, 1934, 1935, 1937, 1938). Anche i1 popolarnento ipogeo e stato oggetto di numerose indagini, per quanto riguarda il settore italiano queste Vengono sintetizzate da Minelli (1982c, 1985) a cui rirnando; altre citazionj, relative a cavita poste in settori diversi, sono contenute in Atterns (1908, 1949), Manfredi (193221, 1932b, (*) Lavoro parzialmente eseguito con contributo M.P.I. (40%) e C.N.R. (Gruppo Biologia Naturali- stica). 553

ALESSANDRO MINELLI * e MARZIO ZAPPAROLI ** * Dipartimento di Biologia de1l’Universit:‘1 di Padova ** Dipartimento di Biologia Anirnale e del1’Uomo dell’UniversitE1 «La Sapienza» —R0ma I Chilopodi della regione ligure con particolare riguardo al popolamento delle Alpi Liguri INTRODUZIONE La Liguria e una delle poche regioni italiane i cui Chilopodi sono stati studiati in maniera In-onografica; i1 prirno catalogo, re- datto da Pocock (1890), e stato successivamente ritoccato e a11un- gato, ma un inventario critico aggiornato dei Chilopodi liguri non e stato pi1‘.1 redatto, cosi come e mancato, a tutt’oggi, ogni tentativo di interpretazione zoogeografica dei reperti n-oti. I lavori pifi utili, a integrazione di quello citato di Pocock, sono i seguenti: Attems (1903, 1929), Br'l51ernann (1904), Latzel (1887, 1889), Fanzago (1894), Manfredi 1935, 1948), Matic (1967, 1970, 1971), Matic e Darabantzu (1971), Minelli (1982), Silvestri (1894, 1922),Verhoeff (192521, 19251:), 1928, 1935, 1938, 1939), Zapparoli (1980). Se- gnalazioni occasionali di singoli reperti sono sparse in altre note: si tratta per 10 pin di dati relativi alla fauna cavernicola, gie arnpia- mente niassunta da uno di noi in a-ltro Iavoro (Minelli, 1985a). In questi anni abbiamo personalmente studiato un rnateriale assai pifi ricco di quello in prec-edenza esarninato dagli autori Che si sono occupati della fauna ligurez Ci E: c-osi possibile correggere numerose inesattezze contenute nella letteratura, proporre alcune sinonirnie (Che in questa nota, tuttavia, n-on formalizziamo), a11un- gare sensibilrnente 1’e1enco delle specie note -per la regione e pre- cisare in dettaglio la distribuzione di ciascuna allfinterno della re- gione stessa. E’ cosi finethnente possibile, anche attraverso un con- fronto con la fauna delle regioni finitime, una prima analisi zoogeo— grafica. Lavoro parzialmente eseguito con il contributo del C.N.R., Gruppo Nazionale di Biologia Naturalistica, contr. N. 83.02175.04, e del Ministero PI. (40%).

The genus Hycleus is a hyper-diverse genus of blister beetles including ~500 species with a wide geographic distribution in different biogeographic regions in the Old World, and with the highest diversity occurring in the Afrotropical Region. The phylogenetic relationships among the species and the biogeographic processes related to their diversification have never been investigated. In this study, to provide a biogeographic hypothesis that allow explaining the current diversity and the observed distribution patterns of Hycleus, we built a robust time-calibrated phylogenetic tree using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA obtained from 125 species. Phylogenetic results were subsequently used for biogeographic inference carried out with the R package BioGeoBEARS. Four main lineages were detected in our tree: A. including only Afrotropical species; B. including only Saharo-Sindian species; C. comprising Afrotropical, Palaearctic and Saharo-Sindian species; and D. comprising Afrotropical and Oriental species. According to our results, the genus Hycleus likely originated in the Afrotropical Region during the Early Miocene (~20 Mya), and subsequently spread in the Saharo-Sindian Transitional Region and in the Palaearctic Region. In the Late Miocene (~7.5 Mya) a second Saharo-Sindian group branched off from the Palaearctic lineage, whereas the Oriental Region was colonized (~7.8 Mya) following a dispersal event through the Arabian Peninsula from the Afrotropical Region.

Marine invertebrates inhabit a key position as intermediate consumers in the pelagic as well as in the benthonic food chains, making them suitable model systems for ecotoxicological studies. Among benthonic organisms, echinoderms represent a simple, though significant, model system to test how specific stress can simultaneously provoke dangerous effects on growth and vitality of organisms. Sea urchins provide an attractive and exceptional model for investigating environmental pollution. Most studies investigating the effects of Cd stress were conducted on Paracentrotus lividus, one of the most important marine invertebrates used as bioindicator of metal/heavy metal pollution and an important model organism in developmental biology. It was shown that exposure to different toxics causes the synthesis of heat-shock proteins (HSPs), providing a protective role during stress conditions. The synthesis of a specific set of HSPs was demonstrated in P. lividus embryos continually exposed to 1mM of CdCl2 at the blastula (15 h) and gastrula (24 h) stages. Cd insult induces an alteration of normal development, probably inducing alternative pathways of growth, as demonstrated from the presence of several typologies of embryo morphology. Contextually, embryos activate other molecular defense mechanisms such as apoptosis. Studies on the apoptotic processes activated in P. lividus were conducted after a long-lasting exposure to low Cd concentrations, similar to those found in moderately or highly polluted seawaters. These exposures caused severe developmental delays and abnormalities in the larvae, suggesting that even very small amounts of Cd, if accumulated in cells, can produce significant cytotoxic effects and apoptosis. Finally, we can assume that in sea urchin embryos/larvae, apoptosis can be considered part of a defense strategy that, by sacrificing a few cells, can safeguard the whole organism and the developmental program, provided that the exposure to Cd is not excessively prolonged or too intense. Another molecular process studied in sea urchin embryos is autophagy, a mechanism of self-eating described as an important intracellular pathway responsible for degradation and recycling of long-term proteins and cytoplasmic organelles. Autophagy has been recently observed in eggs and embryos, in response to stress induced by Cd and other stressors. Results of these studies revealed a higher level of autophagosomes in embryos exposed to Cd for 18 h. Several experiments have been conducted on sea urchin embryos exposed to Cd to study the relationship between autophagy and apoptosis. Results suggest that autophagy may have a key role providing the energy supply necessary for apoptosis, delivering ATP molecules by recycling damaged cellular components. Recent studies suggest that autophagy is important for the clearance of protein aggregates that are formed in cells following stress, and in this process, the p62/SQSTM1 protein (sequestosome 1) appears to play a key role. p62/SQSTM1 is a multifunctional, multidomain adaptator protein which resides at the autophagosome membranes. It is an autophagosome cargo protein that targets other proteins that bind to it for selective autophagy. To highlight any protein aggregates concomitantly with the peak of autophagic vacuolation, control P. lividus embryos and embryos exposed to 1 mM CdCl2 for 18 and 24 h were submitted to the immunofluorescence/confocal laser scan microscopy protocol, using the anti-p62/SQSTM1 heterologous antibody. Qualitative analysis showed a diffuse globular signal that is often referred to as Ibs (inclusion bodies), suggesting that the presence of polyubiquitinated protein aggregates was intended for autophagic degradation. Taken together, these data indicate that in conjunction with the peak of autophagic vacuolation, there is an intense formation of protein aggregates that would be sent to degradation mediated by the autophagic process. Reported data about the defense mechanisms induced by Cd in P. lividus suggest a hierarchical choice of defense strategies; strikingly, the temporal choice of activation of different mechanisms depends on the fact that the embryo tries to face the stress conditions using, initially, defense strategies that are less deleterious to preserve the developmental program. If these processes are not sufficient to offset the damage, the autophagic and apoptotic mechanisms are activated.

The first representatives of germ line to appear in the embryo are primordial germ cells (PGCs), and some conserved proteins play a role in their determination and specificity (e.g.: VASA). Also mitochondria have an active role in germ line development and to further understand this role, it is fundamental to deal with their inheritance dynamics. Metazoa generally experience strictly maternal inheritance (SMI) of mitochondria. The only known exception is represented by some bivalve molluscs that show doubly uniparental inheritance (DUI). Recently, a novel protein (RPHM21) was shown to be encoded by the male-transmitted mtDNA of the DUI species Ruditapes philippinarum. In silico analyses suggested its viral origin, and we hypothesized that the endogenization of a viral element provided sperm mitochondria with the ability to invade male germ line, thus being transmitted to the progeny. We investigated the dynamics of germ line development in relation to RPHM21 and expression patterns. We used specifically produced antibodies to detect germ cell proliferation and to compare the localization of VASPH (R. philippinarum VASA homolog) and RPHM21. Bivalves show a mechanism of seasonal gonad production, in which the gonad is re-adsorbed after spawning, and rebuilt de novo at the beginning of the subsequent reproductive season. Based on VASPH staining, we determined that in R. philippinarum the proliferation of PGCs begins among the simple columnar epithelium (batiprismatic cells) of the gut. Then PGCs appear to migrate in the connective tissue. Germ cells at initial stage of gametogenesis were also VASPH-stained. Since adult specimens showed an intense proliferation of PGCs in the gut, we deduced that this reservoir of PGCs migrate from the intestinal epithelium and reach the presumptive gonad localization where they rebuild the gonad at every reproductive season. Both VASPH and RPHM21 were localized in male PGCs, at one side of the cell cytoplasm, but while VASPH was detected in all PGCs, RPHM21 appeared to be expressed only in a subpopulation of them. Since RPHM21 was detected in all spermatozoa, we propose that the germ cells expressing it could gain advantage over the others during spermatogenesis. Specifically, RPHM21 might have a role in activation and proliferation of male PGCs, or might be involved in a process of active elimination of germ cells not expressing it, something that would resemble a meiotic drive.

PL10 is a DEAD-box protein that functions as ATP-dependent RNA helicase. DEAD-box proteins are involved in many processes related to RNA metabolism. In particular, some of them regulate the translation of multiple mRNAs allowing specific molecules to direct the process of differentiation in male and female germ cells. VASA, PL10, and P68 DEAD-box proteins are members of three closely related subfamilies: Vasa, in several animals, is exclusively expressed to the germ cell lineage, while PL10 and P68 expression are documented also in somatic tissues. In mouse, three PL10 related genes are identified: DDX3 and DDX3Y located on chromosomes X and Y and expressed in germ and somatic cells and the autosomal retrogene PL10 specifically expressed in testicular tissues at the pachytene stage of male meiosis. In non-mammal animals, PL10 is the sole member of the subfamily and in Xenopus and in Danio rerio PL10 expression is well documented in male and female germ cells but also in most embryonic and adult tissues. At the moment, there is no available data regarding PL10 in reptiles. We isolated Podarcis sicula PL10 homologue gene (Ps-PL10), developed a specific antibody (anti-Ps-PL10) and analyzed, at confocal microscopy, the expression pattern of PL10 during spermatogenesis in all phases of adult reproductive cycle of P. sicula (1- full gonadal activity in the spring, 2- complete regression in the summer, and 3- slow autumnal recrudescence without spermiation) with the aim to identify when PL10 is expressed during the differentiation process of male germ cells. Moreover, to verify if this protein is also expressed in the somatic tissue of the testis, this analysis was extend to young testes when the walls of the seminiferous tubules were forming. The obtained results show that PL10 expression is present from spermatocytes I to spermatids. During full gonadal activity (spring), PL10 expression increases in spermatids in the final steps of spermiogenesis, the strong immunostaining accumulates in the cytoplasm of residual bodies. No stained is observed in spermatogonia and in spermatozoa as well as in the somatic cells of seminiferous epithelium in all phases of the reproductive cycle analyzed. The specific expression of PL10 in meiotic cells suggests that this protein is involved in the differentiation of germ cells, in particular, during the differentation process from spermatid to spermatozoa, given the massive expression observed in the cytoplasm of residual bodies.