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White-nose disease, caused by the dermatophyte Pseudogymnoascus destructans, is a devastating pathology that has caused a massive decline in the US bat populations. In Europe, this fungus and the related infection in bats have been recorded in several countries and for many bat species, although no mass mortality has been detected. This study reports for the first time the presence of P. destructans in Italy. The fungus was isolated in the Rio Martino cave, a site located in the Western Alps and included in the Natura 2000 network. Twenty bats, belonging to five different species, were analysed. The fungus was retrieved on eight individuals of Myotis emarginatus. The allied keratolytic species P. pannorum was observed on two other individuals, also belonging to M. emarginatus. Strains were isolated in pure culture and characterized morphologically. Results were validated through molecular analyses. Future work should be dedicated to understand the distribution and the effects of the two Pseudogymnoascus species on Italian bats.

In the last century bat populations significantly declined mainly due to habitat fragmentation and degradation. As management-dependent species, bats need appropriate monitoring programs for the implementation of sound conservation strategies. However, bats’ small size, high mobility, elusiveness and nocturnal lifestyle make them difficult to survey. Non-Invasive Genetic Sampling (NIGS) may offer safe and cost-effective solutions, but requires well-planned sampling strategies, informative molecular markers and reliable laboratory protocols. Here we developed a NIGS protocol for species and individual identification of three mouse-eared bats, the Geoffroy’s bat (Myotis emarginatus), the long-fingered bat (Myotis capaccinii) and the Daubenton’s bat (Myotis daubentonii). Species identification was accomplished by mitochondrial (mt) DNA sequencing of reference tissue (n=49) and droppings (n=285) from Central-Northern Italy. In addition, we optimized a multiplex panel of seven microsatellites suitable for species and individual identification of the three species from droppings. We obtained a good success with mtDNA sequencing (245/285; 86%) and microsatellite genotyping (129/245; 53%). All microsatellites were successfully amplified with low error rates, and were polymorphic in the three Myotis species, with probabilities of identity 6 0.001 and observed heterozygosities of Ho=0.48 in M. emarginatus, 0.62 in M. capaccinii and 0.71 in M. daubentonii. Our protocol represents a useful tool for population genetic studies on mouse-eared bats that could likely be extended to other bat species and provide useful information to implement effective conservation plans.

Riassunto L'orecchione alpino (Plecotus alpinus Kiefer e Veith, 2001) è presente anche in Piemonte: prima segnalazione accertata mediante analisi del DNA Viene riportata la prima segnalazione per il Piemonte della specie Plecotus alpinus (Kiefer e Veith, 2001) recentemente descritta. Per l'esatta determinazione specifica si è fatto ricorso a tecniche genetiche, in quanto non sono state ancora messe a punto tecniche discriminanti basate su parametri biometrici. La presenza di questa nuova specie anche in Piemonte dovrebbe indurre ad un monitoraggio su larga scala, per definirne in dettaglio la distribuzione e le preferenze di habitat, finalizzate anche alla determinazione dello status delle popolazioni presenti.

Between 1992 and 2001, small mammals were trapped in the Gran Paradiso National Park (NW Italy), using Capture-Mark-Recapture techniques. According to a sample of data collected in August, the following percentages were found for the genus Apodemus: 25.9% of the individuals caught in alder shrubwoods, 20.9% in hardwoods, 12.1% in open habitat-types and 3.1% in coniferous woods. Further trapping, carried out in winter in the villages inside the Park, demonstrated that Apodemus occurrence inside the buildings was quite common. Fiftytwo specimens were sacrificed and identified by protein electrophoresis and/or molecular analyses as A. alpicola (N= 14), A. flavicollis (N= 21) and A. sylvaticus (N= 17). External morphology and biometric parameters were analysed on the above specimens, as were cranial features, and the effectiveness of the determination technique proposed by Reutter et al. on the study area material was verified. This technique enabled us to determine other specimens (mainly from discarded bottles) using skull analysis. A. flavicollis (recorded from the lowest altitude of the area, 750 m, up to 2123 m a.s.l.) dominated in hardwoods. A. alpicola (recorded from 1580 m to 2423 m) is more abundant above 1750 m, in alder shrubwoods and in open habitat-types, characterized by patches of rocky elements, low ligneous and herbaceus vegetation. All the individuals caught inside buildings were A. sylvaticus, but this species (recorded from 750 m to 1960 m) was scarcely observed in natural habitats. Strix aluco and Aegolius funereus prey remains, collected in the area during the breeding period of both owls, were examined. Apodemus accounted for 13.7% of prey and 9.4% of biomass eaten by Strix aluco and for 7.2% of prey and 7.3% of biomass consumed by Aegolius funereus. Riassunto Contributo alla conoscenza del genere Apodemus nel Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso Fra il 1992 e il 2001, sono stati effettuati nel Parco Nazionale Gran Paradiso trappolaggi microteriologici, secondo tecniche di Cattura-Marcatura-Ricattura. Sulla base di un campione di dati raccolti in agosto, al genere Apodemus vanno ascritti 25,9% degli esemplari catturati negli alneti (Alnus viridis), 20,9% nei boschi di latifoglie, 12,1% negli ambienti aperti e 3,1% nei boschi di conifere. Da ulteriori trappolaggi, condotti in autunno e inverno nei villaggi del Parco, risulta comune la presenza di Apodemus negli edifici. Cinquantadue esemplari sono stati sacrificati e attribuiti con analisi elettroforetica e/o biomolecolare ad A. alpicola (N=14), A. flavicollis (N=21) e A. sylvaticus (N=17). Gli stessi esemplari sono stati analizzati dal punto di vista morfologico-biometrico esterno e craniologico, accertando la validità per l'area di studio del metodo di determinazione proposto da Reutter et al. Ciò ha consentito di determinare ulteriori esemplari dell'area, prevalentemente rinvenuti all'interno di bottiglie abbandonate nell'ambiente. A. flavicollis (rilevata dalla quota minore dell'area, m 750, fino a 2123 m) denota massimi di presenza nei boschi di latifoglie. A. alpicola (rilevata fra 1580 e 2423 m) è più abbondante sopra i 1750 m, in alneti e ambienti aperti caratterizzati da un mosaico di elementi rocciosi, vegetazione erbacea e legnoso-bassa. Tutti gli esemplari catturati all'interno di edifici sono risultati riferibili ad A. sylvaticus, ma la specie (complessivamente rilevata fra 750 e 1960 m) è stata rinvenuta negli ambienti naturali assai raramente. L'analisi di resti alimentari di Strix aluco e Aegolius funereus raccolti nell'area durante il periodo riproduttivo dei due Strigidi evidenzia un contributo di Apodemus pari al 13,7% delle prede e al 9,4% della biomassa ingerita nel caso di Strix aluco, del 7,2% delle prede e del 7,3% della biomassa nel caso di Aegolius funereus.

The authors discuss the results of a survey on the occurrence of breeding colonies of Myotis myotis and Myotis blythi in Piedmont and Aosta Valley. Five breeding roosts were found, four of them inside historical buildings and one in a unused mine. Colony sizes varied from 50 to 1259 individuals (numbers estimated using photographs taken in June). Conservation problems are analysed.