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This Special Issue intended to collect articles focusing on the assessment of the possible effects of climate changes on aquatic species inhabiting inland waters all over the world, including the possible synergistic effects in combination with other anthropogenic stressors. A total of six original articles were published that report on investigations of different freshwater ecosystems across the world, including the mountain streams of the Western United States and Northwest Italy, river basins of Northwest China and Central Italy, a larger lowland river in north Italy, and a high-elevation temporary pond in Central Italy. In most of these papers, special attention was devoted to the repercussions of the climate change and its effects on three important components of the biotic community: the fish, benthic macroinvertebrates, and zooplankton. According to the aims of this Special Issue, three of the articles offer new insight into the synergistic effects of global warming together with other anthropogenic stressors, including water exploitation and alien species invasions. In light of the studies' aim to highlight the effects of climate change, three papers provided analyses of environmental data collected through long-term monitoring. The scientific findings provided by these studies could help to create sound management strategies for freshwater biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper provides the fourth edition of the checklist of birds recorded in northwestern Italy (the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions) and covers more than 300 years of ornithological data, including subspecies. This work updates the previous works published in 1981, 2003, and 2009, with the revision of the AERC codes and the addition of special annotations for several species. We also provide some new settings to make the bird checklist a more useful tool for all users, particularly scholars and professionals interested in biodiversity assessment and conservation reports. To this end, (a) new coding concerning population estimates and trends, as well as risk categories (Red List), is introduced; (b) bird lists are structured for analysis at two temporal levels: the General Checklist (GCL), covering the period from 1685 to 2022, and the Operational Checklist (OCL), covering the decade 2010–2019, providing periods of reference for comparison and analysis; and (c) an electronic spreadsheet is provided as part of the online Supplementary Materials to allow for further data analysis by readers, if necessary. The list presently contains 408 species and 444 taxonomic units, which consist of both subspecies and monotypic species. Each of them has been allocated to one of the AERC categories A, B, C, or D, while category E has been excluded. Since the publication of the previous list (2009), 19 species have been added. The avifauna currently breeding in the Piedmont and Aosta Valley regions comprises 197 species, with an additional 9 species that were once breeders but are now considered regionally extinct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palaearctic grasslands are diverse and dynamic ecosystems that are in the focus of ecology, conservation biology and agronomy. This special issue is dedicated to the biodiversity and conservation issues of Palaearctic grasslands and was initiated by the Eurasian Dry Grassland Group members attending the 14th Eurasian Dry Grassland Conference (EDGC) at Sulmona, Italy in 2018. The papers in this special issue cover a wide range of grassland ecosystems from mountain dry grasslands to lowland loess grasslands, feathergrass steppes and wet grasslands, and focus on the biodiversity values and conservation issues of Palaearctic grasslands. We believe that this compilation will contribute to a better understanding of the ecology of grasslands and support their more effective conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green Infrastructure (GI) definition, deriving from the United States green infrastructure for hydro-geological rebalancing through imitating the nature stormwater management, was consolidated in Europe by GI Planning Guide. Nowadays GI can be considered a valid and meaningful approach for ameliorating urban complex ecosystems, and could also be considered as mitigation action of land consumption, according to the guidelines on the soil sealing of the European Commission (2012). The metropolitan area of Naples located in south Italy is characterized by an unauthorized and chaotic urban development. The land-use map reported an average of 30% of urbanization in the metropolitan area, rising up to 50–60% and as high as 98% in the north core area of the city. This high level of urbanization is directly related to the habitat fragmentation. The National Biodiversity Conservation Strategy defines several challenges and targets to counteract the biodiversity loss in Italy, identifying urban areas as places exposed to the greatest pressures on ecosystems. Therefore, the integration of different policies limiting habitat fragmentation, heat island effect and natural soil hydro-geological degradation into spatial planning, especially through green corridors and ecosystem enhancement in urban areas is an urgent need for the society. Spatial planning has to be renewed in metropolitan areas, where threats and weaknesses to biodiversity conservation are stronger than in any other place, according to the Law n. 56/2014, (Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana, 2014) committing metropolitan cities to the enactment of General Territorial Plan. In the current paper, we aim at designing an ecological network for the metropolitan area of Naples one of the biggest city of southern Italy. The analyses include the adopted methodological procedure, i.e., ecological network analysis and design, and the introductory elements of a spatial analysis on a pilot ecological network of several patches. Finally, the paper illustrates the network analysis conceived as a monitoring system and also in future perspective, as a planning support system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the analysis of both historical and recent collections, this paper reports an annotated list of taxa which are new to the lichen biota of Italy or of its administrative regions. Specimens were identified using a dissecting and a compound microscope; routine chemical spot tests and standardized thin-layer chromatography (TLC or HPTLC). The list includes 225 records of 153 taxa. Twenty taxa are new to Italy, the others are new to one or more administrative regions, with 15 second records and 5 third records for Italy. Some of the species belong to recently-described taxa, others are poorly known, sterile or ephemeral lichens which were largely overlooked in Italy. Several species are actually rare, either because of the rarity of their habitats (e.g. old-growth forests), or because in Italy they are at the margins of their bioclimatic distribution. The picture of the lichen biota of Italy has now new pixels, but its grain is still coarse. Further analysis of historical collections, increased efforts in the exploration of some areas, and the taxonomic revision of critical groups are still necessary to provide more complete distributional data for new biogeographic hypotheses, taxonomic and ecological research, and biodiversity conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to the Sonotope Hypothesis, the heterogenous nature of the acoustically sensed, but not yet interpreted, environmental sounds (i.e., sonoscape) is created by the spatial and temporal conformation of sonic patches (sonotopes) as recently been described in a Mediterranean rural landscape. We investigated the Sonotope Hypothesis in a mountain beech forest of the Northern Apennines, Italy that is notoriously poor in soniferous species. Our aim was to test whether sonotopes were temporally distinct over seasonal and astronomical timeframes and spatially configured in relation to vegetation variables. We used the Acoustic Complexity Index (ACItf) to analyze the heterogeneity of sonic information gathered from an array of 11 sound recorders deployed within a lattice of eleven 4-ha hexagonal sample sites distributed throughout a 48-ha managed beech forest. We visualized and described the temporal patterns of ACItf between seasons (May-June and July-August 2021), across six astronomical periods (Night I, Morning Twilight, Morning, Afternoon, Evening Twilight, and Night II), and according to two aggregated frequency classes (<2000 and >2000 Hz). We introduced Spectral Sonic Signature (SSS) calculated from the sequence of ACItf values along frequency bins as a descriptor of the dynamic production of sounds across spatial and temporal scales. We calculated Mean Spectral Dissimilarity to compare SSS values across temporal periods and between sample sites. We identified sonotopes by grouping similar SSS for each sample site generated from cluster analyses and visualized their spatial arrangements. Frequencies <2000 Hz (mainly geophonies from wind and rain) were more prevalent than frequencies >2000 Hz (mainly biophonies from songbirds). Despite there being no strong relationship to vegetation variables and minimal biophony and anthropophony, distinct sonotopes still emerged for every astronomical and seasonal period. This suggests that the sonoscape expresses distinct spatial and temporal sonotope configurations associated with the temporal and spatial patterns of geophysical events that generate geophonies with minimal animal or anthropogenic occurrences. A new strategy based on the reintroduction of indigenous trees and shrubs in managed clearings should be considered for enhancing local biodiversity conservation along with ecoacoustic monitoring based on the Sonotope Hypothesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent technological advancements have facilitated the extensive collection of movement data from large-scale fishing vessels, yet a significant data gap remains for small-scale fisheries. This gap hinders the development of consistent exploitation patterns and meeting the information needs for marine spatial planning in fisheries management. This challenge is specifically addressed in the Campania region of Italy, where several Marine Protected Areas support biodiversity conservation and fisheries management. The authors have created a spatially-explicit dataset that encompasses both large-scale (vessels exceeding 12 meters in length) and small-scale (below 12 meters) fishing efforts. This dataset (available at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.23592006) is derived from vessel tracking data and participatory mapping. It offers insights into potential conflicts between different fishing segments and their interactions with priority species and habitats. The data can assist researchers and coastal management stakeholders in formulating policies that reduce resource competition and promote ecosystem-based fisheries management. Furthermore, the provided mapping approach is adaptable for other regions and decision-making frameworks, as we are committed to sharing the tools and techniques we employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Parliament has recently passed the "Nature Recovery" law to restore degraded ecosystems and prevent natural disasters as part of its "Biodiversity Strategy 2030" and "Green Deal". In this respect, wetlands can provide a wide range of ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, hydrological land protection, provision of products, cultural and recreational benefits, and many others. However, they are still threatened by the expansion of agricultural land, overexploitation of water resources, water pollution, climate change, etc. Wetland conservation, however, is essential and requires coordinated action by managers, policymakers, stakeholders, and scientists. A systemic planning and design process is required to address these complex challenges. This research aims to outline an integrated, comprehensive, and well-structured planning framework for wetland systems that can be applied to different wetland types, in line with institutional wetland policy, governance, and management. The methodological approach developed in this study aims to integrate a longer-term strategy plan with a shorter-term action plan by combining the Yeomans scale of permanence and the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response model. This innovative approach was applied to a specific case study and may guide further wetland planning in the future. The Nominal Group Technique was used, a consensus method aimed at achieving a general agreement and convergence of opinion. An expert group of seven members with different technical backgrounds was engaged and expert consultation was found to be a simple and rapid technique for carrying out wetland planning. The expert judgements were sound, consistent, and did not overlap (i.e., were not redundant). "Pressures" and "Impacts" were identified by the experts and clustered according to corresponding "States" and "Drivers". Expert scoring allowed the resulting "Responses" to be ranked in terms of their relevance and influence on the development of the wetland strategy and action plan, while a priority order for their implementation was assessed according to the Yeomans scale of permanence. Agriculture was the highest rated 'Driver'; similarly, Biodiversity (habitats and species) was the 'State' with the highest score. Therefore, their combination (agriculture and biodiversity) should be considered as the strategic cornerstone of the whole planning framework. This means designing and implementing a system in which agriculture and nature (in our case a wetland) are allied ecological systems in mutual compensation, according to the way natural elements are embedded in the agricultural system. A collection of factsheets containing the full list of responses considered in the Wetlands Action Plan, with detailed operational actions, is provided in the Appendixes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper deals with the structure of insect communities and insect biodiversity conservation in the Alpine wetland of Pian Gembro (Italy). For over a century, the wetland was subjected to diversified peat harvesting procedures, to agricultural exploitation and recently, to a superimposed diversified intermediate management regime (DIMR) aiming at plant species and plant diversity conservation. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate whether the DIMR is likewise effective for insect biodiversity conservation. Pitfall traps, sweep and collections of visually observed insects yielded 997 individuals representing 141 species from 11 insect families. The rank-frequency curve for bog insects was relatively steep indicating a low evenness due to the high abundance of low ranking species. The curve for insects collected in the surroundings was less steep pointing to a relatively high evenness due to a lower abundance of low ranking species. In both the bog and the surroundings the Shannon diversity index was generally highest at intermediate levels of disturbance. These results indicate that the DIMR strategies implemented for plant biodiversity conservation is also appropriate to conserve insect species biodiversity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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]

This paper describes the experience of developing an educational trail inside an old-growth beech forest in central Italy. In the last 150 years local people exploited this stand almost exclusively for recreational purposes and now the beechwood has acquired new ecological value after having reached old-growth status. Despite the cultural-historical importance of the site, there is a substantial lack of knowledge about this magnificent stand among members of the public, who have no tools to understand its dynamics nor to accept those structural changes related to its natural evolution. Tourist facilities were restored at the site, according to non-restricting criteria, and an educational program was developed in order to promote a shared comprehension of old-growth forests, their ecological processes and value, the services they provide, and to increase tourist awareness toward this fragile ecosystem. We discuss the educational role ecotourism might potentially hold in western developed countries to link the public with the scientific world, educating people about nature, while preventing negative impacts on natural environments. Even if the importance of local communities in conservation of natural resources has been widely recognized by a number of conservationists, public involvement, particularly in forest conservation and management, still represents a difficult challenge, since it requires the implementation of a common understanding about forest ecosystems, forest goods and forest services. The educational trail inside the beech forest of Monte Cimino may represent a low impact strategy for preserving forest aesthetic functionality, limiting potential damages to the forest while increasing its importance for nature conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex relationships between governance processes, ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation are receiving growing attention by the scientific community. The scope of research in this field is generally that of identifying main governance factors leading to success or failure in the sustainable management of ecosystems and biodiversity conservation, so to develop appropriate sectoral and intersectoral policies fostering sustainable use of natural resources. In this paper, a methodological approach is first presented and then applied to analyse the impacts of agriculture and rural policies on agro-ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation in the central hills of Tuscany, the Chianti area. This approach is focusing in particular on governance objectives and instruments used in the management of ecosystem services. A share-farming system based on multifunctional agriculture ruled Chianti until World War II. Then, after the abandonment of rural areas by share-farmers, governance objectives and ecosystem management were oriented towards the production of commodities such as wine and olive oil almost ignoring the provision of public goods such as soil erosion and water run-off control and biodiversity conservation. In order to achieve a more sustainable ecosystems management in Chianti, there is the need to develop a multifaceted governance strategy to reward appropriately the supplying of environmental goods and services by farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

According to integrated natural resources management, interrelated resources have to be managed by maintaining their environmental quality, and visitors are stakeholders who have to be involved in natural park management decisions. In this paper we simultaneously examine the conservation and recreational values from grasslands for visitors to two Italian Regional Parks. A contingent valuation survey was carried out in 2007 for estimating non-use benefits to visitors from a grasslands conservation project in these parks. Two scenarios were considered: the present landscape composed of grasslands and forests, and a hypothetical scenario of forests without grasslands. Respondents were asked the quality rating of the parks as places for recreational activities, and their willingness to donate (WTD) per year to a project for maintaining the status quo. Results show that the majority of respondents give a high rating to these parks, are in favour of the project implementation, and willing to donate mainly for the benefit of future generations. Among the WTD determinants, by estimating a Tobit model and a two-stage model, giving a high quality rating to the park for recreational activities corresponds to a higher WTD for grassland conservation. This seems to suggest that the recreational motivation tends to coincide with the need to conserve habitats and biodiversity, and that the decision maker should pay specific attention to the maintenance of the quality of the recreational activities as well as the maintenance of a diversified landscape in these parks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mediterranean Sea ecosystems are experiencing a phase of major modifications owing to the fast increase in several disturbances such as pollution, eutrophication, habitat destruction, over-fishing, income of alien species, and climate change. One of the main problems in recent years is that global warming seems to intensify the effects of all the above-mentioned disturbances, dramatically reducing the biodiversity of the basin. The ever more frequent mass mortalities that are affecting shallow coastal environments are rapidly reducing the biomass of several filter feeders and both sponges and gorgonians are the most endangered taxa. In this paper we review the most recent episodes of mass mortality, mainly involving sea fans, and discuss the possible effects that the loss of these organisms can have on benthic assemblage structure. The data presented here are referred mainly to the study case of the MPA of Portofino (Ligurian Sea, Italy). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to provide an updated conservation status of all liverworts and hornworts in the Italian territory, evaluated according to IUCN's Guidelines for Application of IUCN Red List Criteria at Regional Level. Overall, 27.4% of taxa assessed in this study are assigned to a risk category and, therefore, considered threatened in Italy. Four liverworts are considered as Extinct, two liverworts and one hornwort Possibly Extinct at regional level. Moreover, a further 9.8% are assessed as Near Threatened, 10.8% as Data Deficient and 49.7% as Least Concern. Most threats are co-occurring, indicating that many taxa are subjected to a set of correlated adverse processes. The main IUCN major threats identified were natural system modifications (i.e. dam construction, increases in fire frequency/intensity, and water management/use), climate change (mainly increasing frequency of droughts and temperature extremes), agriculture (including pollution from agricultural effluents) and aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different European countries have interest in reviving the practice of coppice forest management. Despite in temperate forests the understory represents more than 80% of the plant diversity, it remains overlooked. The lack of knowledge is particularly evident for Italy, where coppice forests represent 42.3% of the forest cover and new demands for coppice revival are emerging. We reviewed the literature for Italy on the effect of coppice management on understory plants to summarize results, identify scientific gaps, propose research perspectives and provide management suggestions. The coppice management cycle is suitable for a great number of species with different functional strategies. The environmental changes occurring during tree regeneration after coppicing lead to the decrease of understory species richness and changes in both species and functional composition. Old-coppice forests feature impoverished understories, but they are characterized by less ruderal and alien species, and by shade-tolerant species with traits typical of mature forests. However, several issues remain, leaving uncertainty on the effective coppicing impact on understory, in particular the cross-scale effects of coppice management and the complex response of different diversity facets. We propose future studies to focus on these issues to avoid misleading management messages to users and policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recreational value of a forest is related to the degree of naturalness that can be measured by considering qualitative and quantitative characteristics of deadwood and habitat trees. Forest user groups' knowledge and opinions towards forest naturalness can support decision-makers in defining strategies. Among user groups, the literature shows a knowledge gap regarding the new generations' perceptions and opinions related to biodiversity conservation. The aim of this study is to investigate young generations' perception and preferences towards deadwood in forests. A questionnaire was developed and administrated online—in Italy and Türkiye—to a sample of university students under 25 years old. A total of 407 questionnaires (187 in Italy and 220 in Türkiye) were collected and processed. The results show that students from both countries have a high level of knowledge of deadwood and its role in forests. Most respondents perceive standing dead trees in forests to be aesthetically negative, while large lying deadwood is perceived as aesthetically positive. The attention of young generations towards issues related to biodiversity conservation is confirmed by the significance given in both countries to the management strategy that closely aligns with natural processes of mortality in undisturbed forests, where deadwood is allowed to remain without removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The reputation of a zoo indicates the level of public consideration of this institution and is determined by the actions, values, and behaviors that it has conveyed over time. The reputation of zoos is a complex construct and highlighting the key factors that can negatively affect it can lead to identifying ways to promote their reputation. To address these critical issues, a zoo must not only promote higher operational and ethical standards and animal welfare but also be certain that the stakeholders perceive the importance of its mission. This will benefit the individual institution and zoological institutions as a whole as a positive reputation will enable zoos to thrive in the future as biodiversity conservation institutions and places of environmental education and entertainment publicly supported. In this work, we report the development and the first trial of the Zoo Ethical Reputation Survey (ZERS), a tool that, through a survey designed with ad hoc items, analyzes public opinion on features that can influence the reputation of a zoo, focusing on ethical aspects. During its first applications, ZERS proved to be a tool able to provide information on the visitors' opinions about several drivers that, according to the literature, influence corporate reputation. Nowadays, most zoos have taken prominent and active positions in endangered species conservation and educating visitors about the value of biodiversity. However, to be effective and trusted in their mission, they must act ethically and have a good reputation. Yet, the drivers that can influence their reputation are still little investigated, and there are still few studies focused on assessing the reputation of these institutions. In the present work, we report the development of a tool, the Zoo Ethical Reputation Survey (ZERS), and its pilot application to assess the opinions of the visitors of two zoos, one in Italy and one in Germany, on drivers that may influence the ethical reputation of zoos. Preliminary results based on the answers of 274 respondents show that visitors' opinions on zoos acting with ethical responsibility are correlated with emotional appeal and familiarity with these institutions. The application of ZERS can help zoos identify weaknesses in their reputation and develop new strategies to improve people's attitudes towards them, bringing many benefits to the individual zoo and zoological institutions in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how functional traits influence community assemblage and functioning is crucial for assessing the effects of global change on vegetation composition. We studied the functional composition (i.e., plant size (SIZE), leaf area (LA), specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf dry matter content (LDMC)) of a xerophile pasture and a mesophile grassland in southern Italy, and recorded species richness (SR), plant cover (COV) and flowering rates (FLOW) over a 7-year period. Both communities revealed the dominance of stress-tolerators, probably reflecting an adaptation to the Mediterranean climate. The functional classification of species distinguished three groups. Species from the mesophile community had larger SIZE and LA, while those from the xerophile pasture showed higher LDMC; SLA was not connected to the source community. Community-level analyses confirmed such patterns, but with higher SLA in the mesophile grassland. While SR was comparable, COV and FLOW varied between the communities. At the species level, LDMC was positively related to FLOW and the inter-annual variability of COV and FLOW. At the community level, SIZE, LA and SLA were positively related to COV, while LDMC was positively related to FLOW. Trait variations can significantly contribute to the xerophile–mesophile shift in Mediterranean mountain vegetation, by regulating the productivity of species and communities in the two contexts and, possibly, their responsiveness to global change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amphibian biodiversity loss in recent years has exceeded that of all other groups of vertebrates. In this context, biodiversity hotspots represent priority targets for conservation in amphibian populations. However, little information is available on the distribution and conservation status of amphibian species within most biodiversity hotspots. Here, we characterized the distribution and conservation status of four threatened endemic amphibians (Bombina pachypus, Salamandra salamandra gigliolii, Salamandrina terdigitata, and Rana italica) in the Aspromonte Mountain region, a biodiversity hotspot in southern Italy where the conservation status of amphibians is almost unexplored. We conducted an intensive field survey of 507 potential breeding sites spanning over 2,326 km2. We found that all four species were widespread in the study area. We observed 337 species occurrences: 63 for S. s. gigliolii, 29 for S. terdigitata, 84 for B. pachypus, and 161 for R. italica. Species distribution analysis revealed that S. s. gigliolii and R. italica populations had an extended and homogenous distribution. Conversely, S. terdigitata showed a dispersed pattern, with long distances among breeding sites, and B. pachypus an aggregated pattern, associated with the availability of suitable artificial habitats. On the other hand, we reported a decrease in B. pachypus occurrence in its natural habitats, which reflects a negative trend of its populations. Overall, our results provide an encouraging framework for the conservation of amphibian populations in this area, but highlight the low coverage of threatened amphibian populations in protected areas, highlighting the need for a reassessment of conservation policies and spatial conservation planning for the Aspromonte region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, due to the population increase and the relative need of new land to cultivate, expand urban centers and develop transportation networks, most of the Italian natural protected areas are subject to different typologies of human pressures that generally cause habitat fragmentation. This process represents a major concern for biodiversity conservation and a key driver of species loss. The main purpose of this paper was to investigate levels of natural habitat fragmentation due to roads and railways networks in the Italian National Parks (INP S ) through the use of an Infrastructural Fragmentation Index (IFI). All the operations (geospatial analysis, image classification, and fragmentation analysis) were performed using a Geographic Information System (GIS) software for elaborating a national database. The obtained results include an IFI value for each natural territorial unit inside any INP. Moreover, in order to highlight which are the INP S characterized by higher infrastructural fragmentations, an IFI weighted mean was calculated for each INP. These results represent important indicators for the prioritization of biodiversity conservation interventions and the planning of a INP S sustainable management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-elevation ephemeral waters are sentinels of climate change, as they quickly respond to decreasing precipitation levels and increasing air temperatures. Fairy shrimps are among the most threatened invertebrates in ephemeral waters, as they are extremely vulnerable to habitat loss. Chirocephalus sibyllae is a fairy shrimp endemic to the Palazzo Borghese temporary pond, located within Sibillini Mountains National Park (Central Italy). The aims of the present study were to: (i) evaluate the physicochemical characteristics of C. sibyllae habitat, with special reference to climate changes over twenty years; (ii) document the life history, size, and abundance of C. sibyllae; and (iii) document the coexisting zooplankton fauna in Palazzo Borghese pond. The zooplankton community was monitored fortnightly, during the filling phases of the pond, from April 2019 to June 2021, using an 80 μm mesh net, within transects of known length. On each sampling occasion, 13 physicochemical parameters were measured, and water-level fluctuations and pond surface area were recorded. Compared to what was reported in the literature, in the last two years the wet phase of the Palazzo Borghese pond was shorter, and the pool dried up much earlier than in the past. The water quality was good and reflected the typical characteristics of high-mountain oligotrophic ponds. Orthophosphates seem to play a key role in zooplankton population abundance, increasing over time during the filling period. According to the extreme unpredictability of environmental features, the zooplankton community was composed of a very limited number of species, adapted to face drought conditions for most of the year. C. sibyllae life-history traits showed a high number of cysts in the broodpouch of ovigerous females (mean ± SD = 66.0 ± 38.9), and a higher mean total length of adults (1.72 cm for females and 1.76 cm for males), in comparison to data reported in the literature. The year 2019 was configured as the season with the most favorable conditions for the development of C. sibyllae; in 2020, the short duration of the pond did not allow the species to complete its life cycle. Climate change seems to pose the main threat to the species, considering that the progressive increase in air temperatures and the decrease in snowfall will, likely, lead to increasingly shorter filling phases of its habitat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Spatial Decision Support Systems (SDSSs) are rapidly gaining traction for planning and policy-making, thanks to their significant new capabilities in the use of spatial or geospatial information. The present paper illustrates the development of a basic MCSDSS (Multicriteria Spatial Decision Support System) that integrates spatial information techniques such as GIS (Geographic Information System) and Multicriteria Analysis (MCA). Many spatial problems are complex and require the use of integrated analysis and models. In the work a methodological framework for such integration is provided, highlighting the advantages and characteristics of GIS and MCA coupling and paying attention to the issues of transparency and applicability. The method is illustrated with reference to a case study in the Province of Varese (Italy). The purpose of the research is to generate a suitability map of the study region, concerning the characterization of biodiversity conservation, to be used as a decision variable in spatial planning. Different criteria are considered in the analysis and the results are obtained in the form of maps and analyzed through IDRISI Andes software. In particular, by using the resulting suitability map as a means of analysis, it is possible to identify, for the sake of biodiversity conservation, some critical areas needing mitigation measures. In addition, areas with high biodiversity conservation values can be highlighted and monitoring procedures can therefore be planned. The study concludes with some lessons learned during the development of the MCSDSS and highlights that the applied methodology is an effective tool in providing decision support for spatial planning. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In the last decades, agricultural areas have been acknowledged as important areas for biodiversity conservation and provision of ecosystem services. Several international and national Conventions have promoted the development of multifunctional agriculture and the maintenance of traditional cultural landscapes. In this general context, this paper presents some relevant research experiences carried out in Italy at different spatial scales, from national to local (Province and Municipality of Rome). The results of these studies confirm that traditional agricultural areas support the conservation of habitats and species of national and European interest and represent important elements for environmental quality at the landscape scale. Moreover, they highlight the importance of taking into account the biophysical environment, together with historical and cultural features, for mapping and charactering traditional agricultural landscapes, as well as the need to focus on the dynamics of agricultural land, which is threatened by land cover change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The identification of areas worthy of protection and their subsequent institution as natural parks are instruments that society uses to preserve biodiversity that, by supporting Natural Capital Flow (NCF), represents a guarantee for the maintenance of human life quality. However, the implemented strategies for the conservation of biodiversity may differ from those adopted for the maintenance of natural capital; consequently, planning for natural capital might require a different strategy from that used in conservation policies. The aim of this paper is to assess the ‘conservation effect’ of different conservation policies on the maintenance of NCF in three natural parks in Apulia Region (southern Italy). The assessment of natural capital flow variation has been carried out investigating the temporal dynamics of land-use/land-cover mosaics, and using Costanza et al.'s economic coefficients as surrogates of NCF. Results showed that not all environmental conservation management strategies have played an equal role in fostering NCF. This research highlights that the recognition of the natural value of a site according to the European Directives (e.g. NATURA 2000 network) is not sufficiently effective for the conservation of the NCF, while it is necessary to identify a management authority that can appropriately drive landscape transformations, and sets, if necessary, the appropriate limitations. In addition, the management of these areas as part of a network of natural parks seems to be more effective for the maintenance of NCF. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper attempts to describe Italian mammal diversity in an evolutionary context. With 122 species according latest researches, Italy holds the richest mammal assemblage among European countries. Specific taxa are often represented by clearly distinctive lineages and several of them appear restricted to the Italian peninsula. Poor knowledge of taxonomy and uncritical application of IUCN threat categories at the national level could produce a flawed set of conservation priorities, independently from the rigorous application of the proposed guidelines for national Red List assessments. Furthermore, classical conservation assessments and protective legislation only consider traditionally named taxa, often privileging insular taxa of artificial origin but neglecting most of the results of genetic and molecular studies on intraspecific variation. The aim of the present work is to outline the need to incorporate phylogenetic and biogeographic data in the assessment of conservation priorities among mammals in Italy, in order to maximise the national contribution to biodiversity conservation in Europe. To this end, distribution, threat status, intraspecific and supraspecific taxonomy of the native mammal fauna should be analysed in a global context. Phylogeographic patterns emerging from previous studies indicate the general inadequacy of continental European populations serving as sources for re-stocking or re-introductions operations in Italy and the other European peninsulas. Thus the importance of integrating international guidelines on reintroductions with a clear understanding of national biogeographical peculiarities is highlighted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Natura 2000 network of protected sites is the pillar of biodiversity conservation in Europe. Although the Natura 2000 network directly addresses birds, these have shown worrying declining trends. It is therefore crucial to assess the potential contribution of Natura 2000 conservation measures. In this paper, we use a replicable method to model bird trends in the period 2000–2015 and the effects of Natura 2000 protection, across land cover classes, on regional abundances and local species richness and diversity. We model bird trends in Veneto, a North-Eastern Italian Region with areas among the richest in bird species in Italy. Bird data were derived from the national breeding bird monitoring scheme. Breeding birds showed declining trends at the regional level, confirming national and continental trends, particularly on agricultural and natural areas. The land cover class, rather than Natura 2000, mostly influenced population trends; however, it was possible to observe slightly higher estimates of species richness and diversity in Natura 2000 sites. Despite the absolute higher estimates of richness and diversity over the investigated period, farmland and woodland bird species had steeper declining trends inside Natura 2000 than outside, matching the values of the areas outside the network at the end of the survey period. We conclude that the Natura 2000 network capacity to buffer biodiversity loss and act as a species-pool for non-protected areas is decreasing over time, mainly with regards to farmland and woodland birds. Natura 2000 implementation must be improved: conservation objectives and measures, management, and monitoring should be better integrated into existing plans and funding should be made more efficiently available for Natura 2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildlife recovery centres are widespread worldwide and their goal is the rehabilitation of wildlife and the subsequent release of healthy animals to appropriate habitats in the wild. The activity of the Genoese Wildlife Recovery Centre (CRAS) from 2015 to 2020 was analysed to assess its contribution to the conservation of biodiversity and to determine the main factors affecting the survival rate of the most abundant species. In particular, the analyses focused upon the cause, provenance and species of hospitalised animals, the seasonal distribution of recoveries and the outcomes of hospitalisation in the different species. In addition, an in-depth analysis of the anthropogenic causes was conducted, with a particular focus on attempts of predation by domestic animals, especially cats. Significantly, 96.8% of animals hospitalised came from Liguria, the region in north-western Italy where CRAS is located, with 44.8% coming from the most populated and urbanised areas of Genoa, indicating a positive correlation between population density and the number of recoveries. A total of 5881 wild animals belonging to 162 species were transferred to CRAS during the six years study period. The presence of summer migratory bird species and the high reproductive rates of most animals in summer resulted in a corresponding seasonal peak of treated animals. Birds represented 80.9% of entries; mammals accounted for 18.6% of hospitalisations; and about 0.5% of the entries were represented by reptiles and amphibians. Species protected by CITES and/or in IUCN Red List amounted to 8% of the total number of individuals. Consistent with results recorded elsewhere from Italy and other European countries, 53.9% of the specimens treated were released in nature; 4.7% were euthanised and 41.4% died. There was a significant difference between taxa in the frequency of individuals that were released, died or euthanised due to the intrinsic characteristics of species (more resistant or more adaptable to captivity than others) and/or to the types of debilitative occurrences common to each species (e.g. infections, wounds, traumas, fractures). A total of 14.2% of wildlife recovery was from injuries caused with certainty by people or domestic animals (human impact), with 54.3% of these hospitalised animals having been victims of predation attempts by domestic animals, mainly cats. The percentage of release in nature of animals hospitalised following human impact was significantly lower than overall cases (31.2% vs. 53.9%) due to the greater severity of the injuries. The percentage of animals released showed a further reduction to 27.1% amongst victims of predation attempts by pets. The work of Rehabilitation/Recovery Centres contributes to wildlife conservation. In particular, the CRAS in Genoa is a Centre with an increasing level of activity concerning the rehabilitation of species under CITES protection and/or included on the IUCN Red List. The contribution and experience of CRAS operators is critical for the success of 'information campaigns' aimed at limiting the number of stray dogs and cats because of their impact on wildlife. Therefore, the activity of a properly-managed CRAS can significantly contribute both directly and indirectly to wildlife conservation, resulting in important territorial safeguards for the protection of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italy has a rich natural heritage, which is dangerously under pressure. In recent years, there is an increased awareness of the crucial role of plants in ecosystem functioning and in providing ecosystem services. Consequently, an updated Red List of the Italian vascular flora was compiled in this work, at the request of the Ministry for Environment, Land and Sea Protection, with the scientific support of the Italian Botanical Society. The IUCN Red List criteria were applied to 2,430 Italian native vascular plant taxa to assess their current extinction risk and to highlight the major threats affecting the Italian flora. Our results revealed that 54 taxa (2.2% of the assessed taxa) are extinct or possibly extinct at regional level, while 590 taxa (24.3%) were assigned to a risk category. Moreover, 404 taxa (16.6%) were categorized as Data Deficient. The Italian vascular flora is primarily threatened by habitat modifications due to anthropic disturbance and, especially, to agriculture, tourism and residential development. Coastal areas and lowlands, where anthropogenic impacts and ecosystem destruction are more pronounced, host the greatest number of extinct or declining taxa. Our results represent an important baseline to establish conservation priorities, legislative choices and intervention strategies on a national scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We survey and map urban soils to assess their qualities and functions. • We assess and map six soil ecosystem services based on urban soil functions. • An urban soil quality index is proposed. • Quantitative assessment showed that urban soils can provide high quality services. • An example of soil ecosystem services integration in urban planning is provided. The current practice of urban planning does not pay proper attention to the quality of urban soils, to their multiple functions and to the supply of ecosystem services to the urban population. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to raising awareness about the role of soil in the built-up environment, to provide tools to assess and map urban soils ecosystem services and to highlight the possibility of integrating soil knowledge into urban planning. Within the framework of the EU funded project SOS4LIFE - Save Our Soils for LIFE, we surveyed, sampled, analyzed and mapped the soil of the city of Carpi (NE Italy), integrating the existing knowledge about soils and land use with the urban plan, and providing the basis for the production of a 1:5,000 map of urban soils. Soil data interpolated over the entire case study area provided the inputs for locally calibrated pedotransfer functions whose outputs were used to assess a set of six indicators of ecosystem services supply: soil biodiversity, buffer capacity, carbon storage, agricultural production, water regulation, and water storage. Maps of the six ecosystem services are presented along with an overall urban soil quality map based upon the number of service hotspots per unit area of unsealed soil. Results show that for a number of services, hotspots occur not only in the peri-urban agricultural areas but also in unsealed soils within the urban fabric, and that different soils provide high quality services in diverse constellation depending on soil characteristics and degree of sealing. We estimated that the unsealed soils of the green areas within the city (193 ha) store within the first 30 cm of depth 15,067 Mg of organic carbon (55,246 Mg CO 2 eq.) corresponding to an average carbon density of 78.0 Mg ha−1, which is significantly higher than the corresponding average of the agricultural soils of the area (43.4 Mg ha−1). Furthermore, thanks to their high available water capacity they store up to 58,682 m3 of water, corresponding to 304 m3 ha−1. Our approach can contribute to making soils and their ecosystem services an integral part of the urban planning process, and an example of its application is provided in order to highlight the impact of planning decisions of the joint provision of soil ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efforts in preserving natural and seminatural ecosystems and associated ecosystem services are affected by scarce financial resources. Payments for ecosystem services (PES) are increasingly recognised for creating additional funding, as in protected areas, and outdoor recreation is one important ecosystem service that is promising for successfully implementing PES. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate potentials for PES schemes related to recreational services in Natura 2000 sites. For 10 sites in different Italian regions, the study first assessed the ecosystem service outdoor recreation and analysed managerial and economic aspects of Natura 2000 sites. Then, various options for PES schemes were defined in a participatory process. Furthermore, we developed a dynamic model for evaluating the effects of PES on ecosystems and related recreational ES. Whereas the provision of recreational opportunities was mostly at a high level, the potential demand varied greatly among the sites, depending on the spatial distribution of potential beneficiaries. Moreover, we found great differences in visitation rates and consequently the actual recreational value. The PES schemes included small payments (€1) via mobile phone by visitors, contributions from regional government and tourism businesses, and visitor fees or tourist taxes among others. This study highlights how economic agreements, such as PES schemes, may support funding of Natura 2000 sites for biodiversity conservation by valorising the benefits of recreational ecosystem services; however, further research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of PES in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate changes have led to a gradual warming of the planet, resulting in decreased precipitation and rising temperatures in Mediterranean inland waters. In Trasimeno Lake, the largest shallow lake in Italy, some non‐native fish species have probably benefited from these changes as they are thermophilic and characterised by wider habitat preferences. Fish data collected by gillnets and fyke nets between 1956 and 2016, and by electrofishing in 1993 and 2014, were used to analyse changes over time in the fish community in relation to environmental conditions. An explosion in goldfish Carassius auratus (L.), following its introduction in 1988, coupled with water level fluctuations and reduced transparency, contributed to the reduction in commercial fish catch in the lake, and to the decline of the endemic southern pike Esox cisalpinus Bianco & Delmastro, already threatened by reduced spawning habitat and interspecific competition with other non‐native predatory fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many European regions the Irrigation Advisory Services (IASs) are adopted by farmers for sustainable irrigation practices. These tools are adequate to facilitate the adoption of environmental certification schemes, such as water footprint, which could improve the sustainability of production processes. As part of a survey conducted on 116 farmers among Italy, Greece and Croatia, it was possible to understand their level of awareness with respect to the certification systems in order to evaluate possible actions to be taken to increase awareness of their use. The results showed that farmers still have a certain unawareness with respect to the true added value, in economic terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hoverfly community of the Berici Hills (Northern Italy) is compared with surrounding areas in order to evaluate the biodiversity conservation importance of this area. During the period 2009-2014 thirteen sites were sampled in the Berici Hills by means of Malaise traps, recording 143 species for this area. The syrphid list of species for the Berici Hills is compared with that in the surrounding areas by means of multivariate analysis; the biodiversity of the Berici Hills is set against that in the Po Plain using rarefaction and extrapolation curves. The species recorded in the Berici Hills included 52 not recorded from the adjacent areas, and in particular for the Po Plain. Several species are associated with Mediterranean habitats, in particular xeric grasslands, well represented in the Berici Hills. Particularly interesting is the presence of several species expected for the Po Plain but probably extinct from this area. Despite its small area, the biodiversity of the Berici Hills is significantly higher than that of Po Plain. The sites of the Berici Hills are clearly separate from those of the Po Plain, underlining the peculiarity of the fauna of this area and its importance for nature conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objectives of this review are: 1) the compilation and updating of a reference database for Italian saproxylic beetles, useful to assess the trend of their populations and communities in the next decades; 2) the identification of the major threats involving the known Italian species of saproxylic beetles; 3) the evaluation of the extinction risk for all known Italian species of saproxylic beetles; 4) the organization of an expert network for studying and continuous updating of all known species of saproxylic beetle species in Italy; 5) the creation of a baseline for future evaluations of the trends in biodiversity conservation in Italy; 6) the assignment of ecological categories to all the Italian saproxylic beetles, useful for the aims of future researches on their communities and on forest environments. The assessments of extinction risk are based on the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria and the most updated guidelines. The assessments have been carried out by experts covering different regions of Italy, and have been evaluated according to the IUCN standards. All the beetles whose larval biology is sufficiently well known as to be considered saproxylic have been included in the Red List, either the autochthonous species (native or possibly native to Italy) or a few allochthonous species recently introduced or probably introduced to Italy in historic times. The entire national range of each saproxylic beetle species was evaluated, including large and small islands; for most species, the main parameters considered for evaluation were the extent of their geographical occurrence in Italy, and the number of known sites of presence. 2049 saproxylic beetle species (belonging to 66 families) have been listed, assigned to a trophic category (Table 3) and 97% of them have been assessed. On the whole, threatened species (VU + EN + CR) are 421 (Fig. 6), corresponding to 21 % of the 1988 assessed species; only two species are formally recognized to be probably Regionally Extinct in Italy in recent times. Little less than 65% of the Italian saproxylic beetles are not currently threatened with extinction, although their populations are probably declining. In forest environments, the main threats are habitat loss and fragmentation, pollution due to the use of pesticide against forest pests, and habitat simplification due to economic forest management. In coastal environments, the main threats are due to massive touristic exploitation such as the excess of urbanization and infrastructures along the seashore, and the complete removal of woody materials as tree trunks stranded on the beaches, because this kind of intervention is considered an aesthetic amelioration of seaside resorts. The number of species whose populations may become impoverished by direct harvest (only a few of large forest beetles frequently collected by insect traders) is very small and almost negligible. The Red List is a fundamental tool for the identification of conservation priorities, but it is not a list of priorities on its own. Other elements instrumental to priority setting include the cost of actions, the probability of success, and the proportion of the global population of each species living in Italy, which determines the national responsibility in the long-term conservation of that species. In this scenario, information on all species endemic to Italy, to Corso-Sardinia, to the Tuscan-Corsican areas, and to the Siculo-Maltese insular system are given. A short analysis on relationships among beetle species traits, taxonomy, specialist approaches, and IUCN Categories of Risk is also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although forest ecosystems are fundamental sources of services and global biodiversity, their capacity to maintain these benefits in the future is potentially threatened by anthropogenic impacts such as climate change, land use, and unsustainable management practices. Thus far, studies focusing on forests and their services have gained less attention compared with studies on other biomes. Additionally, management practices may potentially undermine the capacity of forests to sustain biodiversity conservation and services in the future, especially outside protected areas. This study linked the concepts of biodiversity and forest ecosystem services at the national level in Italy. Through a downscaled review, we first analyzed management issues, challenges, and needs within the context of forest ecosystem services. We then carried out a survey on protected areas. The results show that forest biodiversity supports the provision of other services and, hence, needs to be preserved and supported by adaptive management practices. Current research on forest ecosystem services must extend policy trajectories to protected areas (i.e., National Parks) as centers of biodiversity and models of the sustainable use of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trees outside forests (TOF) are important elements of the landscape and they supply goods and environmental services such as commercial production of timber and fibre, domestic production of food and firewood, carbon sequestration, conservation of habitats and species (plants and animals), erosion control and soil and water quality improvement. TOF include different types of landscape elements: small woodlands, trees along linear features such as property boundaries, roads, railways, rivers and canals, hedgerows or linear forest formations, groups of trees and isolated scattered trees, which have also different ecological functions. The article focuses on the importance and role of linear forest formations (LFF) in the rural context, with special reference to the biodiversity conservation function. It presents the results of research done in the Veneto region, north-eastern Italy. The authors have designed a sampling scheme for LFF based on the Italian National Forest Inventory and tested an indicator system in order to evaluate the quality and biodiversity of the LFF. The indicators used are: LFF type and tree species composition, vertical structure and canopy cover, naturalness, introduced species and deadwood (standing and lying). The main advantages and limitations of the applied method are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This essay reflects on paradigm shifts in environmental conservation, to examine elements of the ‘fortress conservation' model that still persist in the context of more participatory approaches. Presenting a case study on Sardinia, an Italian island in the Mediterranean Sea, it considers how existing practices for the protection of natural landscapes and biodiversity are ambivalently shaped by both institutional mandates and informal collaborations. Exploring how these are further reconfigured by the implementation of new information and communication systems, it questions implications for autochthonous visions of landscape. It argues that an engaged anthropology of the environment should critically assess how emerging strategies for generating potent expert knowledge about nature also generate issues of inclusion and exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Freshwater makes up 3% of the planet's water, 67% of which is ‘trapped’ in glaciers and polar caps. Lakes, ponds, streams, etc. (excluding subterranean waters) constitute approximately 6.5% of freshwater, which is less than 0.2% of the earth water and 0.8% of its surface. Nevertheless, beyond supporting the livelihood of billions of people, especially in poor countries, according to the different estimates 100,000/126,000 animal species are known for inland waters, from 6 to 9.5% of the total animal described. As far as Italy is concerned, there are 5496 freshwater animal species out of 55,732 total; that is, around 10% of its fauna (terrestrial species are 41,923, while marine are 8330, several eurialine species being considered as present in both marine and freshwater environments). This fauna is highly specific: we can estimate a percentage of Italian freshwater endemics that could exceed 10%. Unfortunately, freshwater species are extinct or at risk with loss rates which could be of the same extent of those of previous transitions between geological epochs like the Pleistocene-to-Holocene. In Italy it is difficult to evaluate the conservation status and trends of aquatic faunas due to the lack of previous studies. The analysis of selected taxa seems to depict a critical situation. Besides, inland waters only recently have been addressed by conservation politics and only a reduced part of their fauna is involved in preservation measures. As regards protection politics in Italy, we can safely say that those regarding freshwater animals are badly addressed: out of 841 protected species only 100 are from inland waters, and only 15 of them are invertebrates. Proposals and priorities for conservation and management of Italian freshwaters are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The role of mass media in the construction of debated environmental issues is discussed, with reference to biodiversity conservation policies. The articles in a local daily newspaper (Il Tirreno) about the designation of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in Italy have been content analyzed, before and after the park designation. In a quantitative study, two lexical correspondence analyses were conducted, on the titles and bodies of a selection of articles, respectively. A qualitative content analysis of the selected material was also performed to deepen and broaden the quantitative study. Results revealed the salience of a local-regional political conflict in the representation of the park designation, with particular emphasis on the issue of local identity: Local activism appears to function as a territorial defense against external intrusion from a centralized authority. This authority is perceived as limiting the interests and freedom of local communities. The implications of the results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant biodiversity must be safeguarded because it constitutes a resource of genes that may be used, for instance, in breeding programs. Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) is one of the most ancient crops of the Mediterranean region. Extensive differentiation of L. culinaris over millennia has resulted in a myriad of different landraces. However, in more recent times many landraces have disappeared consequent to environmental and socioeconomic changes. To promote the survival of endangered lentil landraces, we have investigated the genetic relationship between two ancient landrace cultivated in Capracotta and Conca Casale (Molise, south-central Italy) and widely spread commercial varieties using an integrated approach consisting of studies at morphological, DNA and protein level. Seeds of these two landraces were collected from local farmers and conserved in the Molise germoplasm bank. The two local landraces were well differentiated from each other, and the Conca Casale landrace was separated from the commercial varieties at morphological, protein and DNA level. The Capracotta landrace, was well separated from the commercial varieties, except Castelluccio di Norcia, at DNA level showing a more complex and heterogeneous segregation at morphological and biochemical level. The correlation between morphological, DNA and protein data, illustrates that proteomics is a powerful tool with which to complement the analysis of biodiversity in ecotypes of a single plant species and to identify physiological and/or environmental markers.Heredity (2008) 101, 136–144; doi:10.1038/hdy.2008.39; published online 14 May 2008 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. The use of predators as indicators and umbrellas in conservation has been criticized. In the Trentino region, Sergio et al. (2006 ; hereafter SEA) counted almost twice as many bird species in quadrats located in raptor territories than in controls. However, SEA detected astonishingly few species. We used contemporary Swiss Breeding Bird Survey data from an adjacent region and a novel statistical model that corrects for overlooked species to estimate the expected number of bird species per quadrat in that region. 2. There are two anomalies in SEA which render their results ambiguous. First, SEA detected on average only 6·8 species, whereas a value of 32 might be expected. Hence, they probably overlooked almost 80% of all species. Secondly, the precision of their mean species counts was greater in two-thirds of cases than in the unlikely case that all quadrats harboured exactly the same number of equally detectable species. This suggests that they detected consistently only a biased, unrepresentative subset of species. 3. Conceptually, expected species counts are the product of true species number and species detectability p. Plenty of factors may affect p, including date, hour, observer, previous knowledge of a site and mobbing behaviour of passerines in the presence of predators. Such differences in p between raptor and control quadrats could have easily created the observed effects. Without a method that corrects for such biases, or without quantitative evidence that species detectability was indeed similar between raptor and control quadrats, the meaning of SEA's counts is hard to evaluate. Therefore, the evidence presented by SEA in favour of raptors as indicator species for enhanced levels of biodiversity remains inconclusive. 4. Synthesis and application. Ecologists should pay greater attention to sampling design and analysis in animal population estimation. Species richness estimation means sampling a community. Samples should be representative for the community studied and the sampling fraction among communities compared should be the same on average, otherwise formal estimation approaches must be applied to avoid misleading inference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat modification, pollution, overfishing, poaching, competition from non-indigenous species, and diseases have led to the extinction in Europe of many populations of indigenous crayfish. Under the rationale that any programme of reintroduction should be preceded by a thorough understanding of habitat requirements of the species of concern, we studied the microhabitat use of an Austropotamobius pallipes population in Tuscany, central Italy. Microhabitat use was assessed for water depth, current velocity, substrate, percentages of boulders, underwater tree roots, and in-stream vegetation cover. Results show that A. pallipes' habitat use is size-partitioned. Smaller individuals mostly occupy stream edges in shallow waters with submerged roots, whereas larger individuals use deeper waters, often associated with boulders. Crayfish spatial distribution is restricted mostly to the microhabitats characterised by extensive cover and slow current velocity. The study highlights the importance of habitat heterogeneity and cover elements for the protection of this indigenous species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive groves represent an important economic, agro-ecological, and cultural resource in the Mediterranean Basin. Weed management plays a fundamental role in their sustainable management. The aim of this work was to characterize and assess the plant diversity associated with different weed control practices, in a homogeneous olive-dominated landscape in the South-East of Italy. Sixty-five vegetation plots were sampled in orchards treated with different weed control practices: mowing, tillage, and use of chemical herbicides. The multi-response permutation procedure was used to test the hypothesis of no difference among the treatments. The relationships between plots were visualized by means of non-metric multidimensional scaling ordination. A generalized linear mixed model was used to analyze the relationships between weed control practices and life forms, chorotypes, and diversity indexes. The results showed that the three weed control practices determined slightly different plant communities. Chemically weeded orchards showed an impoverished floristic composition and the lowest diversity, whereas mowing and tillage yielded similar values. These latter two treatments differed for the percentages of hemicryptophytes and therophytes. Moreover, different from other studies, we did not find plant species of particular concern for biodiversity conservation. We hypothesize that this result is due to the monotonous structure of the agro-landscape we investigated, where natural elements are almost lacking. From this point of view, a correct management of agro-districts should consider both the agronomic practices at the level of the individual olive groves and the structure of the agro-landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The loss of biodiversity is a matter of great concern worldwide. In the agricultural sector, the industrialization of livestock farming and the wide-spread use of highly selected hybrids, especially in developed countries, has led to the progressive extinction of many native breeds in these contexts. Nowadays, safeguarding poultry biodiversity is a key objective in all developed countries, Italy included. As a part of a large cross-sectional national project called 'Conservation of biodiversity in Italian poultry breeds', a questionnaire was designed to evaluate the diffusion of native chicken breeds and their relative product markets. The data reveal the poor diffusion of native breeds despite the existence of a niche market for their products. Indeed, increasing consumer concern about conventional production practices and the growing demand for alternative poultry products, which can fetch high retail prices, should be leveraged to encourage the diffusion of native chicken breeds in alternative poultry farming. An important knock-on effect would be the preservation of biodiversity. The intensive use of high-performing strains in poultry production has led to the extinction of several autochthonous chicken breeds and, consequently, loss of genetic variability. Interest in saving biodiversity is growing rapidly and has become a major objective worldwide. The aim of this study was to shed light on the production trends of native Italian poultry breeds and the related market. A questionnaire, which asked about the production cycles, the number of animals and table eggs produced per year and their retail prices was completed by 121 breeders across Italy. The surveyed breeders were divided into two categories: breeders conducting an agrozootechnical farm, referred to as 'farmers' (F); and breeders keeping chickens as backyard poultry, referred to as 'fancy breeders' (FB). Analysis of the data acquired indicated that animals were mainly slaughtered between 6 and 12 months of age, with F processing more animals per year. The same production trend was observed for table eggs. The recorded retail prices of native chicken products were higher than those for conventional products, but similar to those reported for valuable niche poultry products, such as the Poulet de Bresse in France and organic eggs. Knowledge about these highly valuable markets should be used to encourage the use of local breeds in alternative poultry farming and help protect biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provision of forest ecosystem services is influenced by site and stand characteristics as well as forest management practices. In order to evaluate the influence of forest management on ecosystem services provision, two artificial black pine forests located in Central Italy were studied where two different thinning approaches (traditional and selective) were applied under the SelPiBio LIFE project. Four main ecosystem services were selected and assessed: timber and bioenergy production, carbon sequestration, forest stand stability-protection, and biodiversity conservation. Even if not supported by statistical evidence, results highlighted an interesting trend just 2 years after treatment. The selective thinning was able to enhance the majority of ecosystem services compared to the traditional one. A higher growth rate of selected crop trees was measured (i.e., carbon sequestration). The slenderness ratio was sensibly reduced (i.e., mechanical stability) with a positive implication on soil retention and the prevention of landslides. Moreover, valuable and interesting commercial assortments have been proven to be retrieved from the stands with the selective approach. Larger and also better formed trees were harvested, given the impact of selective thinning on the co-dominant class. The Shannon index increased only with the selective thinning intervention. In conclusion, the provided results and methods are encouraging and might represent the basis for novel and longer monitoring efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]