Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2016.1147805
F. Boero
In 2015, three relevant portions of society agreed upon a crucial issue: our impact on nature affects our chances of survival and we must be more responsible in the way we interact with both biodiversity and ecosystems. The scientific community engaged in the study of complex natural phenomena has been saying these things for a very long time; it is on its position that the other two portions of society have converged. In fact, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, published a powerful message about the urgency of preserving nature from what we are doing to her: the Encyclical Laudato Sì. Shortly thereafter, almost 200 states, at the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP 21), signed an agreement aimed at reducing carbon emissions to combat global warming. The representatives of both policy and religion do agree with ecologists and biologists. I think this has never happened before, in the history of mankind. There is still a fourth portion that does not want to listen: economics. Economists invented the practice of externalisation to take environmental costs out of cost-benefit analyses. The only important issue, for them, is the growth of the economic capital, and they want it to proceed to infinity, since they complain whenever growth stops. The natural law that implies that if something grows, something else degrows is irrelevant to them. They do not care if the growth of the economic capital erodes the natural capital. This vision implies that nature is present on one planet and we are living on another planet, where we live in isolation. I know that this is irrational, but there are even scientists (usually astrophysicists who evidently know just a little of ecology, such as Stephen Hawking) who advise us to abandon this planet on a fleet of spaceships and fly away, to colonise other planets. A portion of the scientific community evidently presumes that after having destroyed this planet we might pass on to destroy some other celestial body. The demonstration that this is an absurdity is, paradoxically, in the Bible. The book says that God became nervous due to some misbehaviour of our species and decided to wipe us out, with a timely deluge. S/he wanted to give us a chance, though. So s/he called Noah and told him to build an ark. The ark is the spaceship that, according to Hawking, among others, should bring us to other planets. However, Noah and his family were not enough to ensure the continuity of our species. God told Noah to put a couple of all animal species in the ark. The message is clear: we cannot survive without the rest of nature. Astrophysicists probably do not know this little detail, ending up associated with economists. Naturalists presume that the importance of nature is so obvious that it should be taken for granted. This assumption is simply wrong: people do not care about nature. The reason is cultural. Nature is seen as something that decorates our environment, and we look at documentaries to say “ohhhh”, but t
{"title":"The historical convergence","authors":"F. Boero","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2016.1147805","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2016.1147805","url":null,"abstract":"In 2015, three relevant portions of society agreed upon a crucial issue: our impact on nature affects our chances of survival and we must be more responsible in the way we interact with both biodiversity and ecosystems. The scientific community engaged in the study of complex natural phenomena has been saying these things for a very long time; it is on its position that the other two portions of society have converged. In fact, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, published a powerful message about the urgency of preserving nature from what we are doing to her: the Encyclical Laudato Sì. Shortly thereafter, almost 200 states, at the Paris Conference of the Parties (COP 21), signed an agreement aimed at reducing carbon emissions to combat global warming. The representatives of both policy and religion do agree with ecologists and biologists. I think this has never happened before, in the history of mankind. There is still a fourth portion that does not want to listen: economics. Economists invented the practice of externalisation to take environmental costs out of cost-benefit analyses. The only important issue, for them, is the growth of the economic capital, and they want it to proceed to infinity, since they complain whenever growth stops. The natural law that implies that if something grows, something else degrows is irrelevant to them. They do not care if the growth of the economic capital erodes the natural capital. This vision implies that nature is present on one planet and we are living on another planet, where we live in isolation. I know that this is irrational, but there are even scientists (usually astrophysicists who evidently know just a little of ecology, such as Stephen Hawking) who advise us to abandon this planet on a fleet of spaceships and fly away, to colonise other planets. A portion of the scientific community evidently presumes that after having destroyed this planet we might pass on to destroy some other celestial body. The demonstration that this is an absurdity is, paradoxically, in the Bible. The book says that God became nervous due to some misbehaviour of our species and decided to wipe us out, with a timely deluge. S/he wanted to give us a chance, though. So s/he called Noah and told him to build an ark. The ark is the spaceship that, according to Hawking, among others, should bring us to other planets. However, Noah and his family were not enough to ensure the continuity of our species. God told Noah to put a couple of all animal species in the ark. The message is clear: we cannot survive without the rest of nature. Astrophysicists probably do not know this little detail, ending up associated with economists. Naturalists presume that the importance of nature is so obvious that it should be taken for granted. This assumption is simply wrong: people do not care about nature. The reason is cultural. Nature is seen as something that decorates our environment, and we look at documentaries to say “ohhhh”, but t","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"40 1","pages":"1 - 2"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81241598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1126363
F. Marrone, K. Havenstein, R. Tiedemann, V. Ketmaier
Abstract Hemidiaptomus diaptomid copepods are known to be excellent biological indicators for the highly biodiverse crustacean communities inhabiting Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTPs), an endangered inland water habitat whose conservation is considered a priority according to the “Habitat Directive” of the European Union. This study reports on the characterization of five polymorphic microsatellite loci in Hemidiaptomus gurneyi, to be used as markers for fine-scale studies on the population genetic structure and metapopulation dynamics of a typical and obligate MTP dweller. The five selected loci proved to be polymorphic in the species, with three to five polymorphic loci per studied population. Overall, mean heterozygosity scored for all loci and populations was lower than that reported for the few other diaptomid species for which microsatellite loci have been to date described; this is possibly due to the intrinsically fragmented and isolated peculiar habitat inhabited by the species. Furthermore, the presence of indels within the flanking regions of selected loci was scored. This study, albeit confirming the technical difficulties in finding proper microsatellite markers in copepods, provides for the first time a set of useful polymorphic microsatellite loci for a Hemidiaptomus species, thus allowing the realization of fine-scale phylogeographic and population genetics studies of this flagship crustacean taxon for MTPs.
{"title":"Identification and characterization of five polymorphic microsatellite loci in the freshwater copepod Hemidiaptomus gurneyi (Copepoda: Calanoida: Diaptomidae)","authors":"F. Marrone, K. Havenstein, R. Tiedemann, V. Ketmaier","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1126363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1126363","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Hemidiaptomus diaptomid copepods are known to be excellent biological indicators for the highly biodiverse crustacean communities inhabiting Mediterranean temporary ponds (MTPs), an endangered inland water habitat whose conservation is considered a priority according to the “Habitat Directive” of the European Union. This study reports on the characterization of five polymorphic microsatellite loci in Hemidiaptomus gurneyi, to be used as markers for fine-scale studies on the population genetic structure and metapopulation dynamics of a typical and obligate MTP dweller. The five selected loci proved to be polymorphic in the species, with three to five polymorphic loci per studied population. Overall, mean heterozygosity scored for all loci and populations was lower than that reported for the few other diaptomid species for which microsatellite loci have been to date described; this is possibly due to the intrinsically fragmented and isolated peculiar habitat inhabited by the species. Furthermore, the presence of indels within the flanking regions of selected loci was scored. This study, albeit confirming the technical difficulties in finding proper microsatellite markers in copepods, provides for the first time a set of useful polymorphic microsatellite loci for a Hemidiaptomus species, thus allowing the realization of fine-scale phylogeographic and population genetics studies of this flagship crustacean taxon for MTPs.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"23 1","pages":"146 - 150"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85433965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2016.1140839
F. Bertasi
Abstract The alien polychaete Polydora cornuta was found in Venice, Marinetta and Barbamarco lagoons (north-western Adriatic Sea). Reproductive specimens were collected from all the above-mentioned lagoons at different sampling times, showing the presence of established populations. The highest recorded population density of this species was 2880 ind. m–2. Data on adult morphology, reproductive traits and early stage larval morphology are provided. An examination of old samples revealed the presence of this species in Italian waters at least since 2009, and maybe even as far back as the early 1990s. The identity of P. cornuta may have been concealed for a long time because of taxonomic confusion with P. ciliata. Previous records of this species were recently published for the western Mediterranean Sea, on the Turkish and Greek Aegean coasts. The present paper extends the geographical distribution of P. cornuta to the Adriatic Sea and adds a new record to the list of alien species in the Italian waters.
{"title":"The occurrence of the alien species Polydora cornuta Bosc, 1802 (Polychaeta: Spionidae) in North Adriatic lagoons: an overlooked presence","authors":"F. Bertasi","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2016.1140839","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2016.1140839","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The alien polychaete Polydora cornuta was found in Venice, Marinetta and Barbamarco lagoons (north-western Adriatic Sea). Reproductive specimens were collected from all the above-mentioned lagoons at different sampling times, showing the presence of established populations. The highest recorded population density of this species was 2880 ind. m–2. Data on adult morphology, reproductive traits and early stage larval morphology are provided. An examination of old samples revealed the presence of this species in Italian waters at least since 2009, and maybe even as far back as the early 1990s. The identity of P. cornuta may have been concealed for a long time because of taxonomic confusion with P. ciliata. Previous records of this species were recently published for the western Mediterranean Sea, on the Turkish and Greek Aegean coasts. The present paper extends the geographical distribution of P. cornuta to the Adriatic Sea and adds a new record to the list of alien species in the Italian waters.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"39 1","pages":"77 - 88"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78239253","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1126651
M. Yan, X. Wang, J. Deng, L. Wang, Z. Cui, J. Deng, Z. Shi
Abstract Our purpose is to elucidate the roles of some molecules and DNA methylation in cerebellar development. Immunocytochemistry was performed to investigate the expression of activated Notch1 and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), as well as DNA methylation during cerebellar development at various ages. Notch1 could be expressed in neural stem cells, newborn neurons and Purkinje cells during cerebellar development. However, Shh could be expressed mainly in developing radial glia or Bergmann cells specifically. DNA methylation was present during cerebellar development, mainly in neural progenitor cells and developing granule cells. The formation and maturation of both Purkinje cells and Bergmann cells are required for the differentiation and migration of granule cells which were bound to DNA methylation. DNA methylation and Shh and Notch signaling pathways function cooperatively during cerebellar development. The Notch pathway mainly contributes to the differentiation of Purkinje cells, but Shh is often involved in the development of Bergmann cells. DNA methylation is necessary for the differentiation and migration of granule cells. The expression of Notch1 and Shh in Purkinje cells and Bergmann cells, following the initiation of DNA methylation in granule cells, indicates that DNA methylation is regulated by Notch and Shh pathways during cerebellar development.
{"title":"DNA methylation and cerebellar development, the regulation of Notch and Shh pathway","authors":"M. Yan, X. Wang, J. Deng, L. Wang, Z. Cui, J. Deng, Z. Shi","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1126651","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1126651","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Our purpose is to elucidate the roles of some molecules and DNA methylation in cerebellar development. Immunocytochemistry was performed to investigate the expression of activated Notch1 and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh), as well as DNA methylation during cerebellar development at various ages. Notch1 could be expressed in neural stem cells, newborn neurons and Purkinje cells during cerebellar development. However, Shh could be expressed mainly in developing radial glia or Bergmann cells specifically. DNA methylation was present during cerebellar development, mainly in neural progenitor cells and developing granule cells. The formation and maturation of both Purkinje cells and Bergmann cells are required for the differentiation and migration of granule cells which were bound to DNA methylation. DNA methylation and Shh and Notch signaling pathways function cooperatively during cerebellar development. The Notch pathway mainly contributes to the differentiation of Purkinje cells, but Shh is often involved in the development of Bergmann cells. DNA methylation is necessary for the differentiation and migration of granule cells. The expression of Notch1 and Shh in Purkinje cells and Bergmann cells, following the initiation of DNA methylation in granule cells, indicates that DNA methylation is regulated by Notch and Shh pathways during cerebellar development.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"221 1","pages":"34 - 42"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79881238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1113312
J. M. Pérez, V. Moreno, J. Navas, N. Vélez de Mendizábal, J. Quesada, F. Esteban
Abstract We modelled the population biology of Oestrus sp. parasitising the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), using a system dynamics approach. Levels included in the model were as follows: first-instar larvae, third-instar larvae, pupae and resilient pupae. The values used for flows and auxiliary variables were obtained from the scientific literature, including research on both Oestrus ovis and O. sp.; we assumed that these two species are closely related, both morphologically and from a biological point of view. Simulations provided by our model allowed us to estimate the minimum monthly production of first-instar larvae and thus to establish periodic population dynamics, together with predictions for the number of larval generations. The model predicted 3–4 larval generations per year. The model proved to be very sensitive to minimal changes in a number of variables, especially the first-instar larval production rate. Despite its limitations, this methodology could be a versatile tool for studying the population dynamics of this kind of parasites, and for simulating the effects of control programmes.
{"title":"A system dynamics model of the population dynamics of Oestrus sp. (Diptera: Oestridae) infesting Iberian ibex, Capra pyrenaica","authors":"J. M. Pérez, V. Moreno, J. Navas, N. Vélez de Mendizábal, J. Quesada, F. Esteban","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1113312","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1113312","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract We modelled the population biology of Oestrus sp. parasitising the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), using a system dynamics approach. Levels included in the model were as follows: first-instar larvae, third-instar larvae, pupae and resilient pupae. The values used for flows and auxiliary variables were obtained from the scientific literature, including research on both Oestrus ovis and O. sp.; we assumed that these two species are closely related, both morphologically and from a biological point of view. Simulations provided by our model allowed us to estimate the minimum monthly production of first-instar larvae and thus to establish periodic population dynamics, together with predictions for the number of larval generations. The model predicted 3–4 larval generations per year. The model proved to be very sensitive to minimal changes in a number of variables, especially the first-instar larval production rate. Despite its limitations, this methodology could be a versatile tool for studying the population dynamics of this kind of parasites, and for simulating the effects of control programmes.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"1 1","pages":"130 - 138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90170830","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1091897
M. Manu, V. Iordache, R. Băncilă, F. Bodescu, M. Onete
Abstract In 2013–2014, the soil mite communities from six overgrazed grassland ecosystems located in the Trascău Mountains, Romania, were investigated. Forty-six species were identified, with 645 individuals. Some abiotic factors from soil were measured (soil temperature – T, soil water content – H, soil acidity – pH, carbon content – C, total nitrogen – Nt, and C/Nt ratio). Significant statistical differences were obtained between environmental factors. Using a canonical correspondence analysis of mite species abundance, environmental variables and habitats, strong relationships between investigated factors were established.
{"title":"The influence of environmental variables on soil mite communities (Acari: Mesostigmata) from overgrazed grassland ecosystems – Romania","authors":"M. Manu, V. Iordache, R. Băncilă, F. Bodescu, M. Onete","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1091897","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1091897","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract In 2013–2014, the soil mite communities from six overgrazed grassland ecosystems located in the Trascău Mountains, Romania, were investigated. Forty-six species were identified, with 645 individuals. Some abiotic factors from soil were measured (soil temperature – T, soil water content – H, soil acidity – pH, carbon content – C, total nitrogen – Nt, and C/Nt ratio). Significant statistical differences were obtained between environmental factors. Using a canonical correspondence analysis of mite species abundance, environmental variables and habitats, strong relationships between investigated factors were established.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"36 1","pages":"89 - 97"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75365238","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1118562
Z. Skandrani, Anne-Caroline Prévot, N. E. Baldaccini, J. Gasparini
Abstract Different hypotheses exist to explain the ability of individuals or species to modify their behaviours in response to the urban environment. Our study addresses risk-taking in urban birds as an essential behavioural change in cities allowing the species to manage living in anthropic habitats. Specifically, we tested role of phylogeny and the environment on risk-taking, expressed in lower escape distances. We adopted a comparative approach and compared the flight distance of urban pigeons and urban crows in Paris with rural wild rock doves and crows in Sardinia, thus contrasting environmental conditions (urban or rural), species (columbids vs. corvids) and type (feral or wild). Pigeons had lower flight distance than crows in both rural and urban environments, and rural individuals of both species had higher flight distance than urban individuals. However, this intraspecific difference was higher in pigeons than in crows, and the interspecific difference was higher in urban than in rural areas. Our study shows that risk-taking in birds is the outcome of a complex interplay between several environmental and phylogenetic factors, and confirms the hypothesis of increased risk-taking in urban pigeons as a result of a pre-adaptation due to artificial selection, as often suggested but never scientifically demonstrated.
{"title":"On the interplay between phylogeny and environment on behaviour of two urban bird species, Columba livia and Corvus corone (Aves)","authors":"Z. Skandrani, Anne-Caroline Prévot, N. E. Baldaccini, J. Gasparini","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1118562","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1118562","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Different hypotheses exist to explain the ability of individuals or species to modify their behaviours in response to the urban environment. Our study addresses risk-taking in urban birds as an essential behavioural change in cities allowing the species to manage living in anthropic habitats. Specifically, we tested role of phylogeny and the environment on risk-taking, expressed in lower escape distances. We adopted a comparative approach and compared the flight distance of urban pigeons and urban crows in Paris with rural wild rock doves and crows in Sardinia, thus contrasting environmental conditions (urban or rural), species (columbids vs. corvids) and type (feral or wild). Pigeons had lower flight distance than crows in both rural and urban environments, and rural individuals of both species had higher flight distance than urban individuals. However, this intraspecific difference was higher in pigeons than in crows, and the interspecific difference was higher in urban than in rural areas. Our study shows that risk-taking in birds is the outcome of a complex interplay between several environmental and phylogenetic factors, and confirms the hypothesis of increased risk-taking in urban pigeons as a result of a pre-adaptation due to artificial selection, as often suggested but never scientifically demonstrated.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"25 1","pages":"102 - 98"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74646632","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2016-01-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1106012
Michele Barbieri, A. Deidun, F. Maltagliati, Alberto Castelli
Abstract Pinctada imbricata radiata (Leach, 1814) was the first Lessepsian bivalve reported in the Mediterranean Sea where it is progressively expanding westward. Its native range includes the Indian Ocean and western Atlantic. The present study provides the first insight into the species’ phylogeographic structure, by analysing sequences of a 385-bp region of the mitochondrial gene coding for the subunit I of the cytochrome c oxydase (COI). Sixty-four individuals collected at seven Mediterranean localities were sequenced; in addition, eight COI sequences of individuals from the species’ native range (Persian Gulf) were retrieved from GenBank. Overall, we detected 10 haplotypes. Samples from both the native range and invaded localities were characterised by low levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversity (total h = 0.351, total π = 0.0013). Significant genetic divergence was found between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea samples, whereas very shallow genetic structuring was observed within the Mediterranean study area. Moreover, no pattern of isolation by distance was detected in the Mediterranean. From a historical demography perspective, our results on Mediterranean samples were consistent with a very recent, or even ongoing, demographic expansion. Range expansion of exotic thermophilic species in this area is a widely observed phenomenon that many authors have related to global warming.
{"title":"A contribution to the phylogeography of Pinctada imbricata radiata (Leach, 1814) (Bivalvia: Pteriidae) from the Eastern Mediterranean Sea by means of the mitochondrial COI marker","authors":"Michele Barbieri, A. Deidun, F. Maltagliati, Alberto Castelli","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1106012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1106012","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract Pinctada imbricata radiata (Leach, 1814) was the first Lessepsian bivalve reported in the Mediterranean Sea where it is progressively expanding westward. Its native range includes the Indian Ocean and western Atlantic. The present study provides the first insight into the species’ phylogeographic structure, by analysing sequences of a 385-bp region of the mitochondrial gene coding for the subunit I of the cytochrome c oxydase (COI). Sixty-four individuals collected at seven Mediterranean localities were sequenced; in addition, eight COI sequences of individuals from the species’ native range (Persian Gulf) were retrieved from GenBank. Overall, we detected 10 haplotypes. Samples from both the native range and invaded localities were characterised by low levels of haplotype and nucleotide diversity (total h = 0.351, total π = 0.0013). Significant genetic divergence was found between Persian Gulf and Mediterranean Sea samples, whereas very shallow genetic structuring was observed within the Mediterranean study area. Moreover, no pattern of isolation by distance was detected in the Mediterranean. From a historical demography perspective, our results on Mediterranean samples were consistent with a very recent, or even ongoing, demographic expansion. Range expansion of exotic thermophilic species in this area is a widely observed phenomenon that many authors have related to global warming.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"84 1","pages":"113 - 120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2016-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79751757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1093661
A. Gagliardi, D. Preatoni, L. Wauters, A. Martinoli
Abstract The increase in numbers and range of the continental subspecies of great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis in Europe has led to a growing number of conflicts with commercial fisheries and recreational angling. We investigated the dietary preferences (fish species and size classes) of wintering cormorants in two freshwater basins in Northern Italy, using pellet analysis and data on fish community composition. First, we compared cormorant diet (biomass of fish species consumed) with the annual harvest by professional fishing (biomass/year). Second, we compared diet with a measure of prey availability: direct fish sampling with nets of different mesh size. Cormorants preyed mainly on cyprinid fish. A comparison of pellet analysis and commercial fishing data showed that some fish species consumed by cormorants did not occur in the commercial harvest. Using only species that occurred in the diet and in the commercial harvest, there was no relationship between the amount of fish of different species taken. A positive correlation between pellet analysis data (consumed) and data from scientific fish sampling (available) showed that cormorants exploited fish resources on the basis of prey availability. Comparing the size of fish collected from nets and fish consumed by cormorants also showed that birds were selective with respect to prey size, picking mostly small individuals (< 110 g). We conclude that potential effects of cormorants on commercially important fish will mainly depend on habitat type (fish ponds, natural deep lakes, others), and that in the natural lakes in Lombardy cormorants mainly concentrate on species which are of limited value for commercial fishing.
{"title":"Selective predators or choosy fishermen? Relation between fish harvest, prey availability and great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis) diet","authors":"A. Gagliardi, D. Preatoni, L. Wauters, A. Martinoli","doi":"10.1080/11250003.2015.1093661","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/11250003.2015.1093661","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract The increase in numbers and range of the continental subspecies of great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis in Europe has led to a growing number of conflicts with commercial fisheries and recreational angling. We investigated the dietary preferences (fish species and size classes) of wintering cormorants in two freshwater basins in Northern Italy, using pellet analysis and data on fish community composition. First, we compared cormorant diet (biomass of fish species consumed) with the annual harvest by professional fishing (biomass/year). Second, we compared diet with a measure of prey availability: direct fish sampling with nets of different mesh size. Cormorants preyed mainly on cyprinid fish. A comparison of pellet analysis and commercial fishing data showed that some fish species consumed by cormorants did not occur in the commercial harvest. Using only species that occurred in the diet and in the commercial harvest, there was no relationship between the amount of fish of different species taken. A positive correlation between pellet analysis data (consumed) and data from scientific fish sampling (available) showed that cormorants exploited fish resources on the basis of prey availability. Comparing the size of fish collected from nets and fish consumed by cormorants also showed that birds were selective with respect to prey size, picking mostly small individuals (< 110 g). We conclude that potential effects of cormorants on commercially important fish will mainly depend on habitat type (fish ponds, natural deep lakes, others), and that in the natural lakes in Lombardy cormorants mainly concentrate on species which are of limited value for commercial fishing.","PeriodicalId":14615,"journal":{"name":"Italian Journal of Zoology","volume":"8 1","pages":"544 - 555"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2015-10-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87922412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2015-10-02DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2015.1113731
F. Boero
In the Genesis, the Creator gives just one job to the first human: to name animals. Hence, zoologists are on a mission for God! Whatever our personal beliefs, it is very probable that zoology is the basis of our culture. We were hunters, and we had to know animals. We were also gatherers, and so botany is part of our cultural heritage too. Probably males, the hunters, were zoologists, and females, the gatherers, were botanists: our culture started with the study of biodiversity, as witnessed by the cave paintings that make up our first cultural expressions. Strangely enough, when culture became Culture, the knowledge of Nature lost its appeal and we started to become more abstract, developing many other forms of culture that, in general, we ascribe to the Humanities. It is undeniable, however, that we survive just because of the goods and services that we derive from Nature! Apparently, this truism has been forgotten. We give more importance to many other things, and disregard Nature, taking it for granted. We are more interested in the economic capital than in the natural capital. However, we cannot survive if we destroy the natural capital. And we are destroying it. Yes, we all agree that nature is important, and we sign documents, such as the Rio Convention on Biological Diversity, that clearly state that the protection of Nature is a priority. But then we do not care much, and we all agree that the economic capital has to grow, ignoring a very simple natural law: if something grows, something else degrows. The growth of the economic capital usually occurs at the expense of the natural capital. Nothing new. The “naturalists” have been delivering this message for ages. The tragedy is that there is no disagreement about the priorities, and they are clearly stated. But then we behave as if they were not priorities at all. Now, those who care about Nature have a strong ally: a person living in a small state nested in the capital of Italy. His name is Jorge Bergoglio but, some years ago, he changed his name to Francis, due to a new role he was elected to play: the Pope. Francis has recently published an Encyclical entitled Laudato Sì, with the subtitle: On care for our common home. It can be found here: https://laudatosi.com/watch The message is very simple. Economy is ruling our relationship with Nature (our common home) and we are mismanaging it. The words Francis uses are very familiar to us. Ecology occurs 33 times, Species 29 times, Ecosystem 25, Biodiversity 8, even Plankton and inconspicuous species are considered: “Particularly threatened aremarine organismswhichwe tend to overlook, like some forms of plankton; they represent a significant element in the ocean food chain, and species used for our food ultimately depend on them”. Evolution is taken for granted, as reported in this sentence: “Although change is part of the working of complex systems, the speed with which human activity has developed contrasts with the naturally slow pace of b
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