1,720,987 research outputs found
Spettro trofico di due popolazioni sinantropiche di geco comune, Tarentola mauritanica (Linnaeus, 1758), in Sicilia sud-occidentale
Full text linkThe Moorish gecko (Tarentola mauritanica) is a lizard belonging to the
Phyllodactylidae family, with circum-Mediterranean distribution. Despite
the species is widespread in Sicily, there are very few studies on its feeding
behaviour. This paper analyzes the diet of two synanthropic populations
located in southwestern Sicily (province of Trapani) and exposed to
different environmental conditions. Fecal remains were collected along the outer walls of an inhabited house in the coastal village of Triscina and
in an uninhabited rural house, located near Castelvetrano town. The first
study area has been constantly affected by artificial light sources, which
are absent in the second study area. Results show in both cases that diets
consist exclusively of arthropods, except for a single case of saurophagy
on a juvenile Podarcis sp. detected in the ‘Castelvetrano’ sample. The two
populations have significantly different trophic spectra and probably adopt
two different foraging strategies. The ‘Triscina’ sample is characterized by
the predominance of few categories of fliers prey generally concentrated by
artificial light sources (Coleoptera 39.6%, Neuroptera 38.6%), suggesting
the adoption of a ‘sit-and-wait strategy’. The ‘Castelvetrano’ sample is instead more varied and characterized by the prevalence of soil-related, and mostly wingless, prey (Dermaptera 36.7%, Formicidae 23.3%, Coleoptera 21.7%, spiders 11.7%), thus suggesting the adoption of an ‘active foraging strategy’
A singular case of early-stage long-distance dispersal of the smooth newt, Lissotriton vulgaris (Linnaeus, 1758) (Amphibia, Caudata)
Full text linkTo date, the global introduction of alien amphibians and reptiles has likely been facilitated by the expanding plant nursery trade. Here, we report in detail a singular case of unintentional introduction of Lissotriton vulgaris in Sicily. A newt in the final stages
of its larval development was found in a private garden pond in north-western Sicily, where aquatic plants from a nursery in Veneto (northeastern Italy) had been introduced two months earlier. The analysis of the mithochondrial markers ND2 and ND4 revealed a
shared haplotype between the Sicilian newt and a sample from Treviso, the province of the putative source. The timing of the plant introduction to the garden pond suggests that the translocation occurred during the newt’s egg or early larval stage. Although based on a single case study, our results provide clear evidence of amphibian egg/early stage translocation and their ability to survive as contaminants in aquatic plants. This underscores the need to strengthen prevention and early detection programs in the plant trade and nursery management supply chain, involving institutions, regulatory bodies, traders, as well as buyers and hobbyists
Preliminary observations on the use of cover objects as shelters in a micro-island population of false smooth snake (Macroprotodon cf. cucullatus)
No full textFirst documented cases of defensive biting behaviour towards humans by the Italian Barred Grass Snake, Natrix helvetica sicula (Cuvier, 1829)
No full textWe report the first documented cases of defensive biting behaviour towards humans by the Italian Barred Grass Snake
ENVIRONMENTAL DNA: A POSSIBLE TOOL TO EVALUATE THE VERTEBRATE BIODIVERSITY USING WATER SAMPLES OF THREE SICILIAN LAKE
No full textFreshwater ecosystems play a key role for the biogeochemical cycles and are subject to several anthropic impact that cause a biodiversity loss. Conventional census methods seem to be insufficient and not very convenient for the detection of species. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA, called "environmental DNA" (eDNA), through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing material and its evaluation could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity (HARPER et al., 2019; SCHENEKAR, 2023). On the other hand, today there are considerable doubts about it: seems to be the non-existence of well-defined protocols which depend on the sampling site, environmental factors and extraction methods; degradation processes are very rapid and the costs of evaluations are very high (many samples are needed in different points). The aim of this study (part of RTDA-PON project) was to fine-tune the sampling and eDNA extraction protocol, reducing the costs and evaluating the potential of this method compared to the conventional methods. Another aim was evaluating the biodiversity of vertebrate in some Sicilian Lake for which until to date no more is known. In this study, the eDNA technique was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Poma Lake, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Scanzano Lake.The water sampled in each site was filtered and eDNA was extracted using extraction kit. Metabarcoding analysis was performed by IGA Technology Services s.r.l. The results showed the possibility to understand which types of phyla, class, order, family, gender, or species lives in these sites. The species not captured or not sighted using conventional methods were detected thanks to the use of eDNA and vice versa highlighting that the evaluation of eDNA can be useful to evaluate not only aquatic species but also other species that use these sites as a source of supply. Another important result was the possibility to detect DNA of species not typical of freshwater sites highlighting the contamination process. eDNA is a very important tool to evaluate the biodiversity and the health status of the environment, but on the other hand, for a more complete census, it is very important use also other conventional methods at the same times. Our preliminary results showed that eDNA method have the potential to replace the traditional methods of census but it is not yet the time to do it, using both methods is surely the best approach
Una nuova popolazione isolata di xenopo liscio in Sicilia sud-occidentale
Full text linkAfrican clawed frog is a sub-saharan native anuran that has been introduced
in various states of the old and the new world. The only Italian population
of this species is located in western Sicily, and it is known as the European
clawed frog population with wider distribution area. This paper describes a
new Sicilian population of this species, and sets out to verify the effective
isolation from the currently known distribution. The new site is a disused
swimming pool, located near the mouth of the Belice River (province of
Trapani), 31 km away from the nearest edge of the African clawed frog distribution area. To test whether this new population is the result of natural expansion of its range have been checked 21 control sites, arranged in a suitable area near the new site and along the basin of the Belice River, whose upper course is included in the Sicilian range of this species. The surveys in the control sites did not reveal the presence of clawed frogs, therefore, it seems doubtful the hypothesis of natural expansion along the Belice River basin and plausible the occurrence of a man-mediated introduction event
First observations of oophagy in a wild population of the sand boa (Eryx jaculus)
No full textThe sand boa Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) is found in the southern Balkans, Middle East and North Africa (Sindaco et al., 2013). Only recently The presence of this species has been confirmed in Italy, in a small area of southern Sicily (Insacco et al., 2015). Knowledge of the sand boa in Sicily is limited with few data on geographical distribution, morphology, and habitat (Insacco et al., 2015; Faraone et al., 2017). Even at a global scale the biology of
this species is little known due to its secretive habits (Tokar & Obst, 1993)
Environmental DNA: The First Snapshot of the Vertebrate Biodiversity in Three Sicilian Lakes
Full text linkFreshwater ecosystems play a key role in global diversity and are subject to a series of anthropic impacts, often leading to biodiversity loss. The organisms inhabiting these sites continuously release DNA into the environment through cells, excrement, gametes and/or decomposing matter; thus, evaluation of this eDNA could revolutionize the monitoring of biodiversity. In this study, environmental DNA metabarcoding was used for the first time in three Sicilian lakes: Lake Poma, Piana degli Albanesi Lake and Lake Scanzano. Results obtained provide the first snapshot of vertebrate biodiversity in these three lakes, where little is known, to provide valuable information useful for creating a baseline of knowledge regarding the biodiversity in these three lakes. Another important result was the detection of marine species, most likely due to some kind of anthropogenic contamination. Environmental DNA is a useful tool to evaluate both biodiversity and the ecological status of the environment; it has the potential to complement traditional methods, and the use of both approaches may offer a more comprehensive understanding of the ecosystem
Annual activity cycle of the Javeline sand Boa Eryx jaculus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Sicily.
No full textThe Javelin sand Boa Eryx jaculus is a snake little known from an eco-ethological point of
view. Here, some aspects of its phenology are described for the first time. 229 observations were collected in Sicily, with the aim of describing the annual activity of this population. The activity of adult
males and juveniles presents a similar trend, with a sharp peak between May and July. Juveniles
sharply declined in the following months. Adult females have three peaks of activity of similar amplitude. The activity cycle of the Javelin sand Boa could be modulated by some aspects of his trophic
behaviour. In fact, juveniles and adult males prefer prey types highly available only during their maximum activity period. Adult females exploit prey with more constant availability over time and this
could cause smaller fluctuations in the activity. Juveniles’ observations had a peak in the first half of
their annual activity cycle, contrary to what might be expected in a species that gives birth mainly in
late summer. This could indicate that the newborns have extremely elusive habits in the first months
of life or, alternatively, the occurrence of births in spring has been rarely observed in other studies
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