Short-term effects of canopy and surface fire on centipede (Chilopoda) communities in a semi natural Mediterranean forest

Species composition and structure of centipede (Chilopoda) communities were studied in a sub-urban burnt forest on the Mediterranean coast near Roma, Italy. The study was carried out in two sites affected by canopy fire (complete vegetation destruction), one affected by surface fire (persistence of tree canopy), and three unburnt sites. Monthly, quantitative/qualitative samplings were performed in each site from April 2001 to April 2002 by pitfall trapping and one hour active search. Analyses of species composition, dominance structure, diversity and colonization progress were performed. Centipede communities of the sites affected by canopy fire were simply structured, poor in both species richness and diversity; conversely, species composition, structure and diversity of the community affected by surface fire were scarcely modified

Can the grey literature help us understand the decline and extinction of the Near Threatened Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Latium, central Italy?

AbstractTo trace the local extinction of the Eurasian otter Lutra lutra in Latium, central Italy, and examine the causes of the species' disappearance, we reviewed and classified information from both the scientific and grey literature according to the reliability and geographical accuracy of the records. The temporal and spatial patterns of 160 records from 23 geographical subunits from 1832 to 2006 suggest that the species collapsed between 1960 and 1975; two different extinction patterns were revealed by a set of multivariate analyses. In northern Latium the species collapsed because of several independent local threats. In central and southern Latium the species collapsed because of catastrophic habitat alteration (land reclamation during the 1930s) that negatively affected the source population. After this event the species went extinct in hilly and mountainous areas, where several population sinks occurred. We presume that this latter process drove the remnant otter subpopulations to extinction in central Italy, emphasizing the role of an extinction vortex in causing the collapse of this metapopulation rather than the classical threats recognized for this species. The value of the grey literature for a posteriori historical analysis of local extinction dynamics is highlighted by this research

Effetto di variabili ambientali sulla densit? di attivit? di tassocenosi edafiche (Isopoda Oniscidea, Chilopoda, Coleoptera Carabidae) in habitat forestali dell\u27Italia centrale

Results on research on Isopoda Oniscidea, Chilopoda and Coleoptera Carabidae in natural and artificial oak forests in centra Italy (Castel di Guido, Roma, 10-80 m s.l.m).Si riportano i risultati di una ricerca condotta su Isopodi Oniscidei, Chilopodi e Coleotteri Carabidi in querceti naturali e artificiali, in un\u27area sottoposta a gestione lungo il versante tirrenico dell\u27Italia centrale (Castel di Guido, Roma, 10-80 m s.l.m). Campionamenti mensili sono stati condotti per 12 mesi (2009-2010) con pitfall-traps (NaCl e aceto) in habitat forestali (4 stazioni, 8 trappole ciascuna) differenti per grado di complessit? strutturale. Scopo del lavoro ? stato quello di testare tramite regressioni multiple la possibile relazione tra variabili strutturali dell\u27ambiente (copertura di canopy, di strato arbustivo, di strato erbaceo, copertura e profondit? della lettiera, numero di rami a terra) e i valori di densit? di attivit? annuali (Day) delle singole trappole nei tre gruppi campionati, utilizzando le sei variabili ambientali e la loro combinazione in due fattori principali estratti dalla PCA. I valori delle variabili sono stati calcolati ogni mese secondo la scala di Braun-Blanquet entro una circonferenza di raggio 2 m con centro la trappola. I due modelli di regressione adottati hanno dato risultati significativi e parzialmente analoghi solo per Chilopodi e Coleotteri Carabidi. La DAy dei Chilopodi ? significativamente influenzata dalla copertura del canopy, dello strato arbustivo e della lettiera mentre quella dei Coleotteri Carabidi dal canopy e dallo strato arbustivo. E\u27 probabile che i fattori ambientali di tipo strutturale siano indirettamente importanti nella scelta dell\u27ambiente d\u27elezione da parte dei Chilopodi e dei Coleotteri Carabidi; infatti, la presenza di una complessa stratificazione in alcune delle stazioni esaminate e la diversificazione delle nicchie trofiche e spaziali potrebbero aver influenzato direttamente la presenza di molte specie di invertebrati fitofagi, potenziali prede per molte specie di Chilopodi e Coleotteri Carabidi

A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda)

A common terminology for the external morphological characters of centipedes (Chilopoda) is proposed. Terms are selected from the alternatives used in the English literature, preferring those most frequently used or those that have been introduced explicitly. A total of 330 terms are defi ned and illustrated, and another ca. 500 alternatives are listed.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse

A common terminology for the external anatomy of centipedes (Chilopoda)

A common terminology for the external morphological characters of centipedes (Chilopoda) is proposed. Terms are selected from the alternatives used in the English literature, preferring those most frequently used or those that have been introduced explicitly. A total of 330 terms are defi ned and illustrated, and another ca. 500 alternatives are listed.Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Muse