1,721,107 research outputs found
HABITAT USE BY THE EUROPEAN WILD RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) IN A COASTAL SANDY DUNE ECOSYSTEM OF CENTRAL ITALY
No full textThe European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) has been recurrently introduced into Italy since the Roman times. Some populations occur along sandy coastal dunes (Central Italy). There is no information about the ecology and habitat preferences of wild rabbits in this particular ecosystem. During May and June 2009, we assessed the distribution of wild rabbits in a 120 ha protected area (province of Livorno, Tuscany), by faecal pellet counts in 170 circular plots (d = 1 m). Range size defined by Kernel Analysis was 27.3 ha (95%) and 13.2 ha (50%). Habitat selection was assessed through Jacobs' index of selection. Rabbits selected the first dunes that offer both food (psammophilous grasses) and the cover of tamarisk shrubs. Holm oak woods and pinewoods were avoided, probably because of the lack of undergrowth
Aspirin in primary prevention: the triumph of clinical judgement over complex equations
No full textAspirin, in 2017, has celebrated its 120th birthday. The efficacy and safety of low-dose aspirin in secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease is well supported by many studies, instead in primary prevention it remains controversial, especially in the aftermath of the publication in 2018 of three novel primary prevention randomized clinical trials, showing that the benefit of low-dose aspirin, although additive to that of statin, is counterbalanced by an excess of (mainly gastrointestinal) bleeding events. The signal for a net benefit seems to be even more controversial in the elderly starting aspirin after the age of 70 years. While international guidelines have promptly downgraded their recommendations to more conservative indications, the practicing clinician is called to make the effort to individualize the treatment, after careful evaluation of the haemorrhagic risk vis-a-vis the risk to develop, in the mid-term and long-term follow-up, major cardiovascular events or cancer. This is a particularly complex task, given the different immediate and long-term impact of diverse outcomes on health, the dynamic nature over time of the benefit/risk balance, prompting periodic re-assessments of its indication, and the interindividual variability in aspirin response. The chemopreventive properties of aspirin, anticipated by a large body of epidemiological and mechanistic evidence, are awaiting their final confirmation by the long-term follow-up of the latest trials specifically designed to assess this endpoint, with the expectation to subvert the delicate benefit/risk balance of aspirin in primary prevention. This review is intended to provide an interpretation of past and current evidence to guide clinical decision making on the contemporary patient
Mechanisms of transgenerational epigenetic inheritance: lessons from animal model organisms
No full textEpigenetic inheritance is a phenomenon whereby stochastic or signal-induced changes to parental germline epigenome modulate phenotypic output in one or more subsequent generations, independently of mutations in the genomic DNA. While the number of reported epigenetic inheritance phenomena across phyla is exponentially growing, much remains to be elucidated about their mechanistic underpinnings, and their significance for organismal homeostasis and adaptation. Here, we review the most recent epigenetic inheritance examples in animal models, outlining molecular details behind environmental sensing by the germline, and the functional relationships connecting epigenetic mechanisms and phenotypic traits after fertilization. We touch upon the experimental challenges associated with studying the scope of environmental input on phenotypic outcomes between generations. Finally, we discuss the implications of mechanistic findings from model organisms for the emergent examples of parental effects in human populations
Effect of land use on winter Brown hare density in southern Tuscany (Italy): considerations for farmland management
No full textWe performed a linear Multiple regression Analysis by stepwise selection in order to evaluate the effect of the habitat variables on the hare density. The relationships between hare density and rotation hay fields shows that also a relative low incidence of this crop can be very beneficial in a landscape dominated by winter cereals.THe analysis of the relationships between habitat variables and hare abundance carried out at local scale can allow to establish more effective habitat improvement programs. In particularly, the results of present study suggest that even small parches of grasses and rotation hay crops can improve hare density
Occurrence of eggs and oocysts of intestinal parasites of pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in droppings collected in differently managed protected areas of Tuscany (Italy)
No full textInterspecific habitat selection of european hare (Lepus europaeus) and wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in western Tuscany (Italy)
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First evaluation of different captive rearing techniques for the re-establishment of the red legged partridge populations
No full textIn Tuscany, the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) became extinct at the beginning of the 20th century. Recently, some attempts have been made to re-establish wild populations in Tuscany using farm reared birds, but in most cases the released populations have shown difficulties in reaching sufficient viability, even in areas where the habitat can be considered suitable. Modern technologies for rearing game-birds may be not suitable for reintroduction purposes. For this reason we carried out preliminary research to evaluate the survival of red legged partridges reared under natural condition (Natural) compared to those farm reared (Artificial). Natural rearing occurred in a large pen where birds were allowed to mate freely and to nest. Natural reared birds reached a larger size than artificially-reared birds. Partridges were released in a 7.56 sq km protected area located in the province of Leghorn (western Tuscany, Italy). We followed the fate of 22 young radio-tagged red-legged female partridges (half Natural and half Artificial) and 56 young red-legged partridges (25 Artificial and 31 Natural) marked with different coloured ponchos. The survival of Natural radio-tagged red-legged partridges was double that of the Artificial red-legged partridges. After six months, the re-sighting rate of the Natural poncho-marked birds reached 22.6% whereas none of the Artificial stock was re-sighted. The preliminary results of this research suggest that Natural rearing may be an important tool to improve the success of partridge reintroduction
Corn appetibility reduction in wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) in relationship to the use of commercial repellente
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