Ursus arctos: ecologia e protezione

Orso bruno: distribuzione, ecologia e conservazione

Salvare gli anfibi

Il contributo del volontariato nelle azioni di salvataggio delle specie in migrazione. Un caso studio dalla provincia di Treviso

Indagine sulla Teriofauna mediante fototrappolaggio naturalistico nell'ambito dello studio ambientale per l'individuazione delle aree da destinarsi a Parco Comunale nel Comune di Remanzacco (UD)

Mammal camera-trapping survey in the Remanzacco Municipal Park (province of Udine, Italy). The mammals of the Municipal Park of Remanzacco (province of Udine) were surveyed during 2012 and 2013 by means of camera-trapping, together with the opportunistic collection of presence traces and assessing the available literature data. A checklist of the species was compiled for the protected area. The presence of the wildcat, Felis silvestris Schreber, 1777, was also recorded for the first time

Anfibi in strada

L’effetto delle infrastrutture lineari sulle popolazioni di anfibi. Soluzioni per la salvaguardia delle specie

Indagine, tramite fototrappolaggio su siti di attrazione, sulla distribuzione dei carnivori di medio-piccola taglia nelle Prealpi orientali del veneto: sviluppo di una metodica ripetibile (CARNIVORA)

Survey of small and medium-size Carnivores in the Eastern Venetian Prealps, based on camera-trapping in attraction sites: development of a replicable methodology.Ecological data, especially distribution, on medium and small-size Carnivores in the Veneto region appear to be scarce, poorly updated and of low quality. The present field survey was developed with the contribution of the Associazione Faunisti Veneti, within the framework of the Atlas of the Mammals of Veneto. The survey focused on four areas in the Eastern Prealps of the Veneto region (Alpago, Integral Nature Reserve Piaie Longhe-Millifret, Grappa Massif and Cesen-Col Visentin ridge). The survey employed two different methods: the collection of traces of presence of target mammals along predetermined transects (“naturalistic” method) and infrared camera trapping at baited sites. A total of four species of medium and small-sized carnivores were identified through this survey: Martes martes, Martes foina, Meles meles, Vulpes vulpes. Animals identified through camera trapping allowed a higher level of confidence in species determination with respect to the naturalistic method. Taking together both methods, Vulpes vulpes was the most frequently detected species (85), followed by Martes foina (42), M. martes (33) and Meles meles (3). Even though data are preliminary, the two mustelids (M. martes and M. foina) seem to be mutually exclusive (Grappa massif vs. Alpago), suggesting different ecological requirements for these two species that are considered sympatric

Primi indizi di riproduzione di istrice, Hystrix cristata, in Veneto. (RODENTIA: HYSTRICIDAE)

The crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata (L. 1758) has recently expanded northwards and reached the Liguria, Lombardy and Veneto regions in a short time span. Within the Veneto region, this species is known since mid Eighties, in the plain and hilly areas of Verona, Rovigo, Vicenza and Venice provinces. The present study provides an update of the presence of the species in the province of Verona and suggests that the Crested porcupine is now fully established within this territory. This is confirmed by the finding of a young, 8-10 month old, female. This is the first evidence of probable reproductive success of the species in the province of Verona, as well as within the whole Veneto region

Progetto di fototrappolaggio dei Mustelidi e del gatto selvatico, Felis silvestris, nel Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi (CARNIVORA: MUSTELIDAE, FELIDAE)

Within the research project “Biodiversity survey in alpine habitat”, ran by the DolomitiBellunesi National Park with funds from the Italian Ministry of the Environment, the Museumof Natural History of Venice was commissioned in 2013 to carry out a camera-trapping survey.The target of such survey was both to investigate the distribution and presence of mustelidsand to verify the presence of Felis silvestris. The latter species was considered as potentiallypresent, but so far never unambiguously reported. The information gathered allowed tointegrate the scarce and fragmented data available on mustelid distribution in the area of thePark. Based on preliminary work performed in 2013, a targeted survey in 2014 ascertainedthe presence of the wildcat in the Maè creek basin within the Longarone-Val di Zoldo area

The rhythm of the night: patterns of~activity of the European wildcat in the Italian peninsula

The European wildcat is a threatened carnivore, whose ecology is still scarcely studied, especially in Mediterranean areas. In this study, we estimated activity rhythm patterns of this felid, by means of camera-trapping at three spatial scales: (i) whole country (Italy); (ii) biogeographical areas; (iii) latitudinal zones. The activity rhythms patterns were also calculated according to temporal scales: (1) warm semester; (2) cold semester and (3) seasonal scales. Lastly, we also tested whether the effect of moon phases affected the wildcat activity. We conducted the analysis on a total of 975 independent events collected in 2009-2021, from 285 locations, in 65,800 camera days. We showed that the wildcat in Italy exhibits a > 70% nocturnal behaviour, with 20% of diurnal activity, at all spatial scales, and throughout the whole year, with peaks at 10.00 p.m. and 04.00 a.m. We observed a high overlap of wildcat activity rhythms between different biogeographical and latitudinal zones. The wildcat was mainly active on the darkest nights, reducing its activity in bright moonlight nights. Diurnal activity was greater in the warm months and decreased with the distance from shrubs and woodlands, most likely according to activity rhythms of its main prey, water presence in summer, the care of offspring and the availability of shelter sites. Conversely, the distance to paved roads seems to have no significant effects on diurnal activity, suggesting that, in presence of natural shelters, the wildcat probably may tolerate these infrastructures. We suggested limited plasticity in activity rhythm patterns of the wildcat, emphasizing the importance of dark hours for this species

A common statement on anthropogenic hybridization of the European wildcat (Felis silvestris)

Preserving natural genetic diversity and ecological function of wild species is a central goal in conservation biology. As such, anthropogenic hybridization is considered a threat to wild populations, as it can lead to changes in the genetic makeup of wild species and even to the extinction of wild genomes. In European wildcats, the genetic and ecological impacts of gene flow from domestic cats are mostly unknown at the species scale. However, in small and isolated populations, it is known to include genetic swamping of wild genomes. In this context, it is crucial to better understand the dynamics of hybridization across the species range, to inform and implement management measures that maintain the genetic diversity and integrity of the European wildcat. In the present paper, we aim to provide an overview of the current scientific understanding of anthropogenic hybridization in European wildcats, to clarify important aspects regarding the evaluation of hybridization given the available methodologies, and to propose guidelines for management and research priorities

Orso bruno

Orso bruno: distribuzione, ecologia e consevazione