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Gli anfibi costituiscono un ottimo modello per esplorare gli aspetti storici della distribuzione delle specie a causa della loro bassa capacità di dispersione e della bassa vagilità individuale. I bufonidi sono una delle famiglie di Anuri più ricche di specie, tra cui il rospo comune, Bufo bufo, diffuso nelle regioni eurasiatiche. Abbiamo eseguito uno studio cariologico con tecniche standard di bandeggio C e sequenziali con fluorocromi (Cromomicina A3 (CMA) e Diamidinofenilindolo (DAPI) su diversi girini di diverse popolazioni del Centro e Sud Italia. Tutti i girini esaminati presentavano il cariotipo Bufo standard, di 2n = 22 cromosomi a due braccia, con le prime sei coppie più grandi delle altre cinque (7 - 11), e l'eterocromatina NOR associata distale sui bracci lunghi della sesta coppia di cromosomi, che era anche l'unica regione cromosomica CMA-positiva. Il bandeggio C ha evidenziato eterocromatina centromerica, DAPI positiva, su tutti i cromosomi in tutte le popolazioni studiate dell'Italia centrale. Le popolazioni dell'Italia meridionale differivano per bande C paracentromeriche aggiuntive sui bracci corti dei cromosomi 1, 3 e 5. Questi risultati supportano la suddivisione delle popolazioni centrali di B. bufo da quelle meridionali, come evidenziato anche da studi filogenetici molecolari., BORNH Bulletin of Regional Natural History, V. 2 N. 3 (2022): BORNH 03/2022

Here we report the results of a longitudinal field study (2002 -2018) aimed at monitoring the presence and the breeding activity of the Italian Green Toad, Bufotes balearicus, within the area of the administrative boundaries of Naples. We identified breeding sites in five sub-areas (Bagnoli – ex sito industriale, Mostra d'Oltremare, Parco del Poggio, Scalo Ferroviario-zona orientale, Parco Massimo Troisi), one of which (Parco M. Troisi) since 2018. Only in two subareas (Mostra d’Oltremare and Parco del Poggio) the reproductive activity took place regularly, almost every year, although the development of tadpoles was often compromised by a variety of anthropogenic disturbances. However, the major potential threat to the survival of this amphibian for the entire study area is represented by the isolation of its population mainly due to the scarcity of natural and semi-natural green areas in a highly urbanized territory. We hope that our research will be helpful to plan management activity for this species in the urban area of Naples., BORNH Bulletin of Regional Natural History, V. 1 N. 3 (2021): BORNH 03/2021

By applying advanced techniques that are available now days, it is relatively feasible to determine and monitor the degree of pollution of marine systems. However, it is still difficult to evaluate the effects that pollution may have on marine organisms and, in general, on the environment. A way to overcome this limit is by biomonitoring, i.e. by monitoring the biological responses of selected organisms (namely biomarkers) to pollutants. Many species of molluscs have been labelled as efficient biomarkers. In my research project the aim was to verify the appropriateness of limpets (Patella caerulea) as biomarkers by analyzing specimens of Patella collected in sites with different degrees of pollution along the coasts of the Campania region (Italy). To reach my goal, I measured the potential damage of pollutants at two levels: somatic (by monitoring gill histopathologies) and germinal (by monitoring gonad chromosomic aberrations). My results suggest that pollutants caused a significant damage in natural populations of P. caerulea. The gills of specimens collected from polluted sites presented structural changes, cell and tissue degeneration (cells with vacuoles, dissociation of haemocele septa, nuclear alterations), or the development of compensative mechanisms related to environmental toxicity (epithelium swelling, hyperplasia and fusion of septa). Furthermore, although preliminary, the results suggest that the level of gill injury appeared to be related to the degree of pollution of the study site. Finally, gill aberrations were always higher in each study site compared to the reference site. 2 The gonads of individuals of polluted sites also showed comparatively higher rates of chromosome aberrations, which are supposed to be a by product of an exposition to heavy metal and organic pollutants. In conclusion, the results obtained in my research project suggest that pollutants may act on the cells both of the somatic and germinal lineage in Patella and are thus potentially dangerous for the whole natural population of limpets of the Campania region Dottorato di Ricerca in Biologia Animale,XX Ciclo, a.a.2006-2007 Università della Calabria