The density of badger setts in a natural river corridor (NE Italy)

The European badger Meles meles (Linnaeus, 1758) is a common semifossorial mustelid species widely distributed throughout Europe. It also shows a high degree of plasticity, adapting its spatial and temporal behaviour to live in highly disturbed environments. Badgers live in social groups occupying underground systems called setts, which could be classified as “main” (i.e., the complex systems with a great number of entrances), and as “outliers”, “annexes” and “subsidiary” (i.e., the other burrows with a low number of entrances). An extensive scientific literature occurs on the ecology and biology of this species, and some information is available also for setts density in Europe and in Italy, too. However, since badgers may inhabit a wide variety of habitats, the setts density varies significantly both locally and on a large scale. We aimed to provide setts density in a river basin in the North-East of Italy. From January to March 2022, a sett survey was conducted in the eastern plain of Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (NE Italy), along the floodplains of the lowest reaches of Isonzo/Soca river basin, from Pavia di Udine (Torre river) to the Isonzo river mouth, a natural corridor surrounded by a highly human-modified matrix. Transects to collect setts information were made in the entire area of 27.82 km2 by two or three operators. For each sett, we recorded the geo-referenced location, the type (main, subsidiary and outliers), the habitat, and the number of entrances. To estimate the density, we only considered active main setts, dividing their number by the area. A total of 22 main setts were identified within the floodplains, corresponding to a density of 0.79 setts/km2. The mean number of entrances was 13.67 (min: 5, max: 28) and they were mainly recorded in forested patches (riverine forests and transitional woodlands-shrublands). We founded other 14 subsidiaries and 13 outliers setts. The density estimated in our study area is remarkably high compared to those estimated in similar environmental conditions (e.g., Po plain area, NW Italy), but considerably lower than those reported for natural habitats (e.g., Alpine area). Even if we did not specifically analyse habitat selection of the badger for the location of setts, our results confirm the importance of the forested area and specifically riverine forests for the badgers in agricultural matrices. Furthermore, it is known that several mammals use the complex burrow system of the European badger as shelter or as a reproductive site. In a highly fragmented and disturbed area, the high density of badger setts could favour the expansion and the survival of other species, some of which are of conservation interest (e.g., European wildcat Felis silvestris and golden jackal Canis aureus) and some other invasive species (e.g., the raccoon dog Nyctereutes procyonoides)

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

Density Estimates and Habitat Preferences of Two Sympatric Bird Species as Potential Bioindicators of Tropical Forest Alterations

Forestry management can shape the structure of habitat types and have important biological consequences on the composition of biodiversity. This study focused on Momotus lessonii and Eumomota superciliosa, two potential bioindicators of local and wide scale tropical forest alterations. The study took place in the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge (Costa Rica), a protected area characterized by two main forest habitats where the two species coexist, i.e., primary moist and second-growth dry forest. A distance sampling method was used to obtain density estimates for each species. A spot mapping approach showed an apparent partitioning of the two species at the site. The Kilometric Abundance Index (KAI) and statistical analyses revealed significant differences between the two habitats, i.e., E. superciliosa tended to be more abundant and preferred the dry forest, whilst M. lessonii favored moist environments. The development of arid and semi-arid environments characterized by open areas will probably lead to a numerical increase in E. superciliosa with a consequent expansion, while the decline of moister and homogeneously forested environments will likely affect negatively M. lessonii. We argue that these birds will act as bioindicators of local and global environmental changes, and their monitoring will enable appropriate forest management decisions for conservation purposes

Water mass dynamics shape Ross Sea protist communities in mesopelagic and bathypelagic layers

Deep-sea environments host the largest pool of microbes and represent the last largely unexplored and poorly known ecosystems on Earth. The Ross Sea is characterized by unique oceanographic dynamics and harbors several water masses deeply involved in cooling and ventilation of deep oceans. In this study the V9 region of the 18S rDNA was targeted and sequenced with the Ion Torrent high-throughput sequencing technology to unveil differences in protist communities (>2 \u3bcm) correlated with biogeochemical properties of the water masses. The analyzed samples were significantly different in terms of environmental parameters and community composition outlining significant structuring effects of temperature and salinity. Overall, Alveolata (especially Dinophyta), Stramenopiles and Excavata groups dominated mesopelagic and bathypelagic layers, and protist communities were shaped according to the biogeochemistry of the water masses (advection effect and mixing events). Newly-formed High Salinity Shelf Water (HSSW) was characterized by high relative abundance of phototrophic organisms that bloom at the surface during the austral summer. Oxygen-depleted Circumpolar Deep Water (CDW) showed higher abundance of Excavata, common bacterivores in deep water masses. At the shelf-break, Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW), formed by the entrainment of shelf waters in CDW, maintained the eukaryotic genetic signature typical of both parental water masses

Population density of European wildcats in a pre-alpine area (Northeast Italy) and an assessment of estimate robustness

6noWhilst population density is a basic demographic parameter, it is rarely available for the elusive European wildcat, despite its wide distribution. Italy hosts at least five different wildcat populations and little information is available for the wildcats inhabiting the northeast of the Italian peninsula. With the aim to provide the first report on European wildcat population density, we used spatially explicit capture-recapture models applied to camera trapping data in a pre-alpine area in NE Italy. The survey was carried out from May 18 th to September 14 th , 2015, using 31 camera traps distributed within a 1×1 km grid, placing a single camera per km 2. We collected 32 videos of wildcats, corresponding to a total of eleven individuals. Density ± SE estimate was 0.35 ± 0.12 individuals per km 2 , with the encounter probability (g0) equal to 0.10 ± 0.03, and the spatial scale (σ) equal to 461 ± 62 m, corresponding to a mean home range size of 3.36 km 2. In addition, to evaluate our sampling design and the robustness of our estimates we simulated data generation and fitted SECR models under several realistic combinations of number and spacing of detectors, and sampling efforts. Considering the relative standard errors and relative bias our sampling design produced robust estimates, whereas in scenarios with short sampling periods or greater spacing of detectors, the estimates were inadequate. Our study provides previously unavailable data on the biology of the European wildcat from NE Italy and some important considerations concerning sampling design to plan future research.mixedembargoed_20221123Federica Fonda, Giovanni Bacaro, Silvia Battistella, Gianpasquale Chiatante, Stefano Pecorella, Marco PavanelloFonda, Federica; Bacaro, Giovanni; Battistella, Silvia; Chiatante, Gianpasquale; Pecorella, Stefano; Pavanello, Marc

The herpetofauna of a threatened and underinvestigated region of Costa Rica: diversity and conservation

Although characterized by some of the most endangered ecosystems of Central America, the Nicoya Peninsula, northwestern Costa Rica, is a wide and scarcely investigated region in terms of herpetofauna. Within this context, we studied the amphibians and reptiles of the Karen Mogensen Wildlife Refuge (KMR), a protected area of approximately 1,000 hectares characterized mainly by tropical dry forest and moist forest. The investigation included a series of 20 surveys from 2011 to 2021. Overall, the area hosts a relatively rich and diverse community, including 11 anuran species (10 genera, 5 families) and 40 reptiles (35 genera, 16 families), including 12 Lacertilia, 26 Serpentes and 2 Testudines. Thirty percent of the species detected represent a new record for all (14%) or part (16%) of the entire north-western portion of Costa Rica. Ten species reach the southernmost or northernmost limits of their global range, thus being potentially more susceptible of disappearance due to various threatening factors. Two other species, the ophid Epicrates maurus and the endemic dwarf gecko Sphaerodactylus graptolaemus, expand the latitudinal extent of their distribution. From a conservation point of view, the chelonian Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima is listed as globally vulnerable, while the anuran Agalychnis callidryas is characterized by markedly declining populations. We applied the Environmental Vulnerability Score, pointing out that the herpetofauna of the Refuge shows a medium to low vulnerability to environmental alterations. Overall, this Score highlighted that 10 taxa of reptiles may need a specific attention from a conservation point of view. In conclusion, despite the relatively small extension of the protected area, our study revealed a high diversity, inclusive of several species of high biogeographical interest, thus underlining the relevance of the KMR for amphibian and reptile conservation in a vulnerable environmental context

HELP LDL apheresis reduces plasma pentraxin 3 in familial hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND:Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a key component of the humoral arm of innate immunity, is secreted by vascular cells in response to injury, possibly aiming at tuning arterial activation associated with vascular damage. Severe hypercholesterolemia as in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) promotes vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is currently the treatment of choice to reduce plasma lipids in FH. HELP LDL apheresis affects pro- and antiinflammatory biomarkers, however its effects on PTX3 levels are unknown. We assessed the impact of FH and of LDL removal by HELP apheresis on PTX3. METHODS:Plasma lipids, PTX3, and CRP were measured in 19 patients with FH undergoing chronic HELP LDL apheresis before and after treatment and in 20 control subjects. In the patients assessment of inflammation and oxidative stress markers included also plasma TNFα, fibrinogen and TBARS. RESULTS:At baseline, FH patients had higher (p = 0.0002) plasma PTX3 than matched control subjects. In FH PTX3 correlated positively (p≤0.05) with age, gender and CRP and negatively (p = 0.01) with HELP LDL apheresis vintage. The latter association was confirmed after correction for age, gender and CRP. HELP LDL apheresis acutely reduced (p≤0.04) plasma PTX3, CRP, fibrinogen, TBARS and lipids, but not TNFα. No association was observed between mean decrease in PTX3 and in LDL cholesterol. PTX3 paralleled lipids, oxidative stress and inflammation markers in time-course study. CONCLUSION:FH is associated with increased plasma PTX3, which is acutely reduced by HELP LDL apheresis independently of LDL cholesterol, as reflected by the lack of association between change in PTX3 and in LDL levels. These results, together with the finding of a negative relationship between PTX3 and duration of treatment suggest that HELP LDL apheresis may influence both acutely and chronically cardiovascular outcomes in FH by modulating PTX3

Spatial distribution of the pine marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina) in the Italian Alps

The pine marten (Martes martes) and stone marten (Martes foina) are considered similar carnivores in terms of morphology, habitat requirements, diet and distribution. Despite their range overlap widely throughout Europe, few studies have analysed their spatial distribution in sympatry. With the aim of investigating the environmental factors which may enhance their coexistence, we focused on the Italian sector of the Alpine biogeographical region, an area offering homogeneous environmental conditions and resources. Recent, presence-only data were collected through a collaboration network and ad hoc surveys for faecal DNA, yielding a total of 1658 and 329 records for stone marten and pine marten, respectively. Species distribution models (SDM) were run using MaxEnt with sampling bias correction. Three detailed models were fitted, each considering different landscape descriptors (land use, topography and climate) and, finally, an overall model was developed for each species. The pine marten selected forested areas, particularly coniferous forests, at intermediate altitude, while lower-altitude belts, partially including cultivated and urban areas, were more suitable for the stone marten. Both martens avoided open areas. Moreover, the thermophilic stone marten preferred warmer and drier areas than the pine marten. About 50% of the Alpine area was filed as suitable for each species, with 34.6% of cells resulting suitable for both martens. Differential use of space, probably associated with segregation along with other dimensions of their niches (e.g. the temporal niche), lowers resource competition and enhances the coexistence of these strictly-related species

Transitare la formazione infermieristica italiana nel periodo post pandemico: le priorità alla luce delle lezioni apprese

Introduzione. Con il ritorno alla normalità, molte attività didattiche sono state ripristinate senza una analisi approfondita di quali trasformazioni attivate nel periodo pandemico dovrebbero essere mantenute e valorizzate. Obiettivo. Individuare le priorità per transitare efficacemente la formazione infermieristica nel periodo post pandemico. Metodo. È stato adottato un disegno qualitativo descrittivo. Un network di nove università ha coinvolto 37 docenti, 28 infermieri tutor/guide di tirocinio e 65 studenti/neolaureati. La raccolta dati è stata effettuata con una scheda semistrutturata; le principali priorità emerse in ogni singola università sono state poi combinate in una visione di insieme. Risultati. Sono emerse nove priorità, tra le quali l’esigenza di: 1. riflettere sulla didattica a distanza per valorizzarne il ruolo complementare a quella in presenza (lezioni/laboratori); 2. ripensare l’apprendimento clinico rifocalizzandone gli obiettivi, la durata, le rotazioni, e le sedi da privilegiare; 3. comprendere come integrare gli spazi di apprendimento virtuale e quelli in presenza nella programmazione didattica; 4. proseguire nelle scelte inclusive e sostenibili. Considerato che la formazione infermieristica è essenziale per il Paese, è prioritario elaborare un piano educativo pandemico capace di garantirne la continuità in ogni circostanza. Conclusioni. Sono emersi nove ambiti prioritari accomunati dal ruolo sempre più importante della didattica digitale; le lezioni apprese, tuttavia, indicano l’esigenza di attivare una fase intermedia capace di guidare verso la completa transizione della formazione nel post pandemia