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Members of the globally distributed bivalve family Ostreidae (oysters) have a significant role in marine ecosystems and include species of high economic importance. In this work, we report the occurrence of digenean parasites of the families Bucephalidae (Prosorhynchoides sp.) and Monorchiidae (Postmonorchis sp.) in Mediterranean native populations of Ostrea edulis (but not in the introduced Magallana gigas). Molecular detection was based on DNA sequencing of the ribosomal intergenic spacer 2 (ITS2) marker. The importance of detecting the presence of overlooked digenean parasites in Mediterranean oysters is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faunistic inventories of particular regions would provide essential datasets for conservation and resource management, but often data are not evenly distributed through the space and time as a consequence of an unequal sampling effort. Therefore, to accurately estimate species diversity it is necessary to minimize this potential confounding effect embedded within most existing datasets. In this study, we identified as high-priority conservation targets areas of high-value species diversity of amphibians in Latium (Central Italy), by illustrating a methodology to generate biodiversity patterns from very heterogeneous datasets, which accounts for the relationships between species richness and sampling effort. We analyzed 6656 data records collected from 1991–2011, which were assigned to the corresponding 10 × 10 km cell of the UTM grid. In order to remove the bias introduced by the differential field effort across cells, we used regression analyses after applying a curve estimation procedure. Then, we validated the best regression model by comparing species richness estimated using this model against that obtained using rarefaction curves. Our results show that the use of residuals can be a suitable approach for controlling the influence of sampling effort on the observed species richness except in a very unequal distribution of the records. Indeed, residuals can be calculated for any cells, irrespective of the observation effort, while when using rarefaction curves a relatively high number of records per cell is required. Finally, when contrasting the amphibian diversity pattern with the existing network of protected areas, several conservation gaps are identified in Latium, especially in mountainous areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological invasions have become a major cause of biodiversity loss. Tracing the origin of the populations of alien species is essential to infer the dispersal pathway and finally to set conservation policies aimed at preventing new introductions. The Italian wall lizard,Podarcis sicula, is one of the reptile species most widely introduced, with allochthonous populations occurring from the United States to Turkey. For some of them, instances of geographic expansion and competition/hybridization with autochthonousPodarcissp. have been indicated. In the Iberian Peninsula, five introduced populations are known: Lisbon (W Portugal), Noja, Cantabria (N Spain), La Rioja (N Spain) and Almería (S Spain) and Sant Celoni, Barcelona (NE Spain) while the species now widely ranges Menorca Island in the Balearics. Here we assess the origin of four populations (Barcelona population will not be included) by comparing in a phylogenetic framework the cytochromebgene sequences of specimens from the introduced and native populations. The results from this study provide evidence for distinct sources, pathways, and timing of introduction in Iberian Peninsula and Balearics byP. siculafrom Tuscany, Calabria, Sicily, and Sardinia. This finding underpins the fact thatP. siculaholds considerable potential invasiveness and advises for conservation strategies based on a global and preventive plan for avoiding new introductions as well as on eradication and control measures when prevention fails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibians have emerged as a major conservation concern because of the global decline in their numbers in recent decades. Notwithstanding, they are often neglected in conservation planning respects to other less threatened vertebrate groups. In Italy, few studies have analyzed the effectiveness of amphibian protection regimes. The main aim of this paper is to estimate the contribution of the WWF oases network to amphibians conservation in Italy. Moreover, we conducted a prioritization of this network and we individuated additional areas that should be protected for implementing an oases role. We assembled the largest and most up-to-date dataset available for amphibians in the WWF oases, and we adopted a spatial approach based on gap and irreplaceability analyses. Our results provide a critical assessment of the oases importance for amphibians conservation. Many species that are completely uncovered by oases protection have been identified, and new areas suitable for filling the conservation gap have been recognized. We recommend designation of new reserves in these areas to help guarantee amphibian conservation. Moreover, we identified those oases that ensure the representation of the largest number of species. In this light, Monte Arcosu appeared to be the most important site for the achievement of the current degree of species representation. Together with six other oases that obtained high irreplaceability scores, Monte Arcosu represents a priority for the preservation of amphibian diversity. Specific initiatives should be primarily implemented in these oases, guaranteeing that highly irreplaceable sites will maintain their crucial role in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which compared the results of numerical modeling of continuous flow microwave heating using the COMSOL Multiphysics v3.4 and ANSYS 8.0 software packages. The primary aim was to develop a three dimensional (3-D) model in COMSOL based on coupling of Maxwell's equation with heat and momentum transport equations. The COMSOL and ANSYS models were in close agreement in their prediction of power loss. Both models produced similar temperature profile prediction.