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Calanoids of the family Diaptomidae are the most widespread copepods in the lentic inland waters of the Palearctic region. In Italy, studies on the family date back to the end of 19th century. Since then, several papers contributed to increasing the knowledge on their presence, distribution, and ecological preferences. Nevertheless, new records for the area and the discovery of putative new species stress that the current knowledge on these inland water crustaceans is still far from being exhaustive. This paper presents an updated and annotated checklist and bibliography of the Diaptomidae of the Italian peninsula and surrounding islands, including Corsica and the Maltese islands, compiled through a critical review of the existing literature and carrying out further field research. The doubtful records reported in the literature are discussed and clarified. The updated checklist includes 30 diaptomid species and subspecies; among them, an alien species and three putative new species pending formal description are reported. About 20% of the observed species are endemic or subendemic to the study area. The faunal provinces ascribed to the Mediterranean limnofaunistic region host the highest species richness and contribute to the checklist with rare species and unique occurrences. The high species richness observed in the Mediterranean area supports the hypothesis of a long-lasting persistence of an ancient and peculiar copepod fauna.
Giuseppe Alfonso; Fabio Stoch; Federico Marrone. An annotated checklist and bibliography of the Diaptomidae (Copepoda, Calanoida) of Italy, Corsica, and the Maltese islands. Journal of Limnology 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleGiuseppe Alfonso, Fabio Stoch, Federico Marrone. An annotated checklist and bibliography of the Diaptomidae (Copepoda, Calanoida) of Italy, Corsica, and the Maltese islands. Journal of Limnology. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGiuseppe Alfonso; Fabio Stoch; Federico Marrone. 2021. "An annotated checklist and bibliography of the Diaptomidae (Copepoda, Calanoida) of Italy, Corsica, and the Maltese islands." Journal of Limnology , no. : 1.
In the light of the wide distribution and ecological importance of the genus Tigriopus in coastal rock pool habitats, and of its frequent use in aquaculture and as a model organism, we investigated the identity of the Atlantic–Mediterranean Tigriopus populations and elucidated their taxonomy and patterns of morphological and genetic diversity. In order to reach these goals, an “integrative taxonomy” multisource approach was implemented. First, we investigated the constancy and taxonomical value of the morphological characters currently used to distinguish among the Tigriopus species occurring in the Mediterranean and in Eastern Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer, and checked the actual morphological differences possibly present among topotypical samples of Tigriopus fulvus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) and its two subspecies Tigriopus fulvus adriaticus Van Douwe, 1913 and Tigriopus fulvus algiricus Monard, 1935. Then, we sequenced fragments of mitochondrial (12S) and nuclear (28S) genes. In the frame of this study, different “DNA taxonomy” approaches were implemented in order to check whether the subspecies of Tigriopus fulvus were actually lineages evolving independently, that is, valid species according to the “evolutionary genetic species concept.” The results coherently indicate the presence of a single species, characterized by constant morphology and a noteworthy geographically based genetic structure in the whole study area. No morphological or genetic support was found for the taxa of allegedly subspecific rank within T. fulvus, which are thus to be considered junior synonyms of T. fulvus s.s. Finally, a restricted locus typicus is established for T. fulvus, and a neotype is designated.
Luca Vecchioni; Marco Arculeo; Vezio Cottarelli; Federico Marrone. Range‐wide phylogeography and taxonomy of the marine rock pools dweller Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 2021, 59, 839 -857.
AMA StyleLuca Vecchioni, Marco Arculeo, Vezio Cottarelli, Federico Marrone. Range‐wide phylogeography and taxonomy of the marine rock pools dweller Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida). Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 2021; 59 (4):839-857.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Vecchioni; Marco Arculeo; Vezio Cottarelli; Federico Marrone. 2021. "Range‐wide phylogeography and taxonomy of the marine rock pools dweller Tigriopus fulvus (Fischer, 1860) (Copepoda, Harpacticoida)." Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research 59, no. 4: 839-857.
Scarce data are currently available about the distribution of the Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana in Italy, and most of the known occurrence localities are based on records collected in the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth century, which were not confirmed in the last decades, mostly due to a lack of surveys. Accordingly, the available knowledge on the distribution of the species is far from being updated and representative, although a significant negative trend of H. verbana throughout the country is supposed. The lack of sound distribution data is a significant shortfall, which hinders the implementation of the monitoring of the species as required by the Article 17 of the “Habitats Directive” on the species of Union concern. To provide recent, validated distributional data for the Mediterranean medicinal leech in Italy to be used as baseline data for further surveys and monitoring, we present herein a set of unpublished observations collected in the last decades in peninsular Italy, Sicily, and Sardinia. Moreover, we report observation of H. verbana feeding on amphibians, a feeding habit to date poorly documented for the Mediterranean medicinal leech. Based on both published and novel data, H. verbana is characterised by a large but fragmented distribution in Italy. Therefore, dedicated monitoring programs and the collection of validated occasional observations are highly desirable to get a clearer picture of the real distribution of the species.
Federico Marrone; Giuseppe Alfonso; Rosario Barbagallo; Pietro Brandmayr; Giacomo Bruni; Simone Costa; Giovanni Farina; Reinhard Gerecke; Angelina Iannarelli; Giuseppe Mazza; Antonio Mazzei; Mattia Menchetti; Valerio Moretti; Emiliano Mori; Riccardo Novaga; Marco Pecoraro; Enrico Schifani; Fabio Stoch; Luca Vecchioni. New distributional data for the Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Italy, with a note on its feeding on amphibians. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 2021, 36, 1 .
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Giuseppe Alfonso, Rosario Barbagallo, Pietro Brandmayr, Giacomo Bruni, Simone Costa, Giovanni Farina, Reinhard Gerecke, Angelina Iannarelli, Giuseppe Mazza, Antonio Mazzei, Mattia Menchetti, Valerio Moretti, Emiliano Mori, Riccardo Novaga, Marco Pecoraro, Enrico Schifani, Fabio Stoch, Luca Vecchioni. New distributional data for the Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Italy, with a note on its feeding on amphibians. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography. 2021; 36 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Giuseppe Alfonso; Rosario Barbagallo; Pietro Brandmayr; Giacomo Bruni; Simone Costa; Giovanni Farina; Reinhard Gerecke; Angelina Iannarelli; Giuseppe Mazza; Antonio Mazzei; Mattia Menchetti; Valerio Moretti; Emiliano Mori; Riccardo Novaga; Marco Pecoraro; Enrico Schifani; Fabio Stoch; Luca Vecchioni. 2021. "New distributional data for the Mediterranean medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Italy, with a note on its feeding on amphibians." Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 36, no. : 1.
Ectosymbiotic temnocephalan flatworms belonging to the genus Temnosewellia Damborenea and Cannon, 2001 were collected on Cherax destructor Clark, 1936 in an aquaculture farm in Sicily, Italy. This represents the first record of a temnocephalan species for the fauna of the island. Morphological and molecular identification of the collected specimens proved that they belong to the allochthonous species Temnosewellia minor Haswell, 1888, which was introduced along with crayfishes bred in aquaculture farms. The phylogenetic analyses carried out for the molecular identification of the Sicilian population highlighted some inconsistencies in the grouping of the Temnosewellia sequences available online, thus stressing the opportunity of a careful re-examination of the voucher samples and their identifications. The risks of a its unwary introduction in the wild and the need of monitoring its possible impacts on native biota are briefly discussed.
Luca Vecchioni; Pietro Chirco; Giuseppe Bazan; Federico Marrone; Vincenzo Arizza; Marco Arculeo. First record of Temnosewellia minor (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephalidae) in Sicily, with a plea for a re-examination of the identity of the publicly available molecular sequences of the genus. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 2021, 36, 1 .
AMA StyleLuca Vecchioni, Pietro Chirco, Giuseppe Bazan, Federico Marrone, Vincenzo Arizza, Marco Arculeo. First record of Temnosewellia minor (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephalidae) in Sicily, with a plea for a re-examination of the identity of the publicly available molecular sequences of the genus. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography. 2021; 36 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Vecchioni; Pietro Chirco; Giuseppe Bazan; Federico Marrone; Vincenzo Arizza; Marco Arculeo. 2021. "First record of Temnosewellia minor (Platyhelminthes, Temnocephalidae) in Sicily, with a plea for a re-examination of the identity of the publicly available molecular sequences of the genus." Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 36, no. : 1.
Diaptomid copepods belonging to the genus Arctodiaptomus Kiefer, 1932 were collected in two temporary water bodies in Malta. The morphological identification of the collected specimens proved that they belong to Arctodiaptomus wierzejskii (Richard, 1888) even if a morphological peculiarity pertaining to the morphology of the male right antennule of the Maltese populations was observed and here briefly discussed. This finding constitutes the first record of a calanoid copepod from the inland waters of the Maltese Islands.
Luca Montevago; Luca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone. First record of Arctodiaptomus wierzejskii (Richard, 1888) (Copepoda Calanoida Diaptomidae) from Malta. Natural History Sciences 2020, 7, 1 .
AMA StyleLuca Montevago, Luca Vecchioni, Federico Marrone. First record of Arctodiaptomus wierzejskii (Richard, 1888) (Copepoda Calanoida Diaptomidae) from Malta. Natural History Sciences. 2020; 7 (2):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Montevago; Luca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone. 2020. "First record of Arctodiaptomus wierzejskii (Richard, 1888) (Copepoda Calanoida Diaptomidae) from Malta." Natural History Sciences 7, no. 2: 1.
Different lines of investigation have recently contributed to increasing the available knowledge about the invertebrates inhabiting inland waters of north Africa, but a comprehensive synopsis on Tunisian Ostracoda is missing to date. An updated checklist of Recent non-marine ostracods from Tunisia and data on their distribution is thus offered here, representing the most extensive survey on this crustacean group ever carried out in inland waters throughout the country. One-hundred-five sites covering various climate zones, from Mediterranean to desert areas, were sampled between 2002 and 2012. Most of the considered water bodies were temporary or ephemeral habitats, but a few permanent sites were sampled as well. Overall, 18 genera and 32 taxa of putative species rank were collected in the frame of this survey, among which nine species and five genera were new to Tunisian fauna. As a result of this study and based on previous investigations, nine families (Candonidae, Cyprididae, Cytherideidae, Darwinulidae, Ilyocyprididae, Leptocytheridae, Limnocytheridae, Loxoconchidae, Paradoxostomatidae), 29 genera and at least 45 species of non-marine ostracods are currently known for Tunisia, which thus prove to host the most diverse ostracod fauna among north African countries. The number of species occurring in a single sample varied from 1 to 4. The Eucypris virens complex was the most widespread taxon (58 records), followed by Heterocypris barbara (30 records), Heterocypris incongruens (22 records), and Sarscypridopsis aculeata (16 records). For some ostracod species, clear distributional gradients associated with different climatic conditions were observed. The affinities with adjacent Maghrebian ostracod faunas are discussed. This study confirms the crucial role played by marginal aquatic habitats for the conservation of biodiversity, in particular in arid and semi-arid regions.
Federico Marrone; Valentina Pieri; Souâd Turki; Giampaolo Rossetti. The Recent non-marine ostracods of Tunisia: an updated checklist with remarks on their regional distribution patterns and ecological preferences. Journal of Limnology 2020, 79, 1 .
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Valentina Pieri, Souâd Turki, Giampaolo Rossetti. The Recent non-marine ostracods of Tunisia: an updated checklist with remarks on their regional distribution patterns and ecological preferences. Journal of Limnology. 2020; 79 (3):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Valentina Pieri; Souâd Turki; Giampaolo Rossetti. 2020. "The Recent non-marine ostracods of Tunisia: an updated checklist with remarks on their regional distribution patterns and ecological preferences." Journal of Limnology 79, no. 3: 1.
The geographical pattern of genetic diversity was investigated in the endemic Sicilian pond turtle Emys trinacris across its entire distribution range, using 16 microsatellite loci. Overall, 245 specimens of E. trinacris were studied, showing high polymorphic microsatellite loci, with allele numbers ranging from 7 to 30. STRUCTURE and GENELAND analyses showed a noteworthy, geographically based structuring of the studied populations in five well-characterized clusters, supported by a moderate degree of genetic diversity (FST values between 0.075 and 0.160). Possible explanations for the genetic fragmentation observed are provided, where both natural and human-mediated habitat fragmentation of the Sicilian wetlands played a major role in this process. Finally, some conservation and management suggestions aimed at preventing the loss of genetic variability of the species are briefly reported, stressing the importance of considering the five detected clusters as independent Management Units.
Luca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Marco Arculeo; Uwe Fritz; Melita Vamberger. Stand out from the Crowd: Small-Scale Genetic Structuring in the Endemic Sicilian Pond Turtle. Diversity 2020, 12, 343 .
AMA StyleLuca Vecchioni, Federico Marrone, Marco Arculeo, Uwe Fritz, Melita Vamberger. Stand out from the Crowd: Small-Scale Genetic Structuring in the Endemic Sicilian Pond Turtle. Diversity. 2020; 12 (9):343.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Marco Arculeo; Uwe Fritz; Melita Vamberger. 2020. "Stand out from the Crowd: Small-Scale Genetic Structuring in the Endemic Sicilian Pond Turtle." Diversity 12, no. 9: 343.
We describe three new parastenocaridid: Cottarellicaris sanctiangeli Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov., Stammericaris vincentimariae Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov. and Proserpinicars specincola Bruno & Cottarelli sp. nov., collected in the pools of five different caves located in Calabria (Southern Italy). We conducted a phylogenetic analysis based on the mitochondrial COI and ribosomal 18S sequences of C. sanctiangeli sp. nov. and S. vincentimariae sp. nov., and of four more species of Stammericaris and one Proserpinicaris available from literature. Based on the molecular study, the specimens of C. sanctiangeli sp. nov. are clearly separated from the species belonging to the closely-related genus Stammericaris. The morphological and molecular data indicate that the genera belonging to the two subfamilies Parastenocaridinae and Fontinalicaridinae form two monophyletic and distinct clades, thus supporting their status. We also provide insights on the genus Proserpinicaris based on morphological data only; in particular, the most important synapomorphic character of the genus, i.e., the taxonomic value of the hyaline structure inserted on the anterior surface of the male leg 4 basis, is discussed based on the development of the P4 endopod, as observed in the last copepodid stage of some species of this genus. Finally, we widen the biogeographic and ecological knowledge of the three genera.
Maria Cristina Bruno; Vezio Cottarelli; Federico Marrone; Rosario Grasso; Erika Stefani; Luca Vecchioni; Maria Teresa Spena. Morphological and molecular characterization of three new Parastenocarididae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from caves in Southern Italy. European Journal of Taxonomy 2020, 1 .
AMA StyleMaria Cristina Bruno, Vezio Cottarelli, Federico Marrone, Rosario Grasso, Erika Stefani, Luca Vecchioni, Maria Teresa Spena. Morphological and molecular characterization of three new Parastenocarididae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from caves in Southern Italy. European Journal of Taxonomy. 2020; (689):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMaria Cristina Bruno; Vezio Cottarelli; Federico Marrone; Rosario Grasso; Erika Stefani; Luca Vecchioni; Maria Teresa Spena. 2020. "Morphological and molecular characterization of three new Parastenocarididae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) from caves in Southern Italy." European Journal of Taxonomy , no. 689: 1.
Temporary ponds are one of the most peculiar ecosystems in the world, being characterized by an extraordinarily rich crustacean fauna, with a high degree of endemism. Among them, diaptomid copepods are among the most biogeographically interesting taxa. However, the present knowledge on diaptomid distribution is still far from being exhaustive, even in the relatively well-studied western European countries. In this study, we report the first record of the diaptomid calanoid copepod Metadiaptomus chevreuxi for the Iberian Peninsula, where it was collected in five temporary ponds in Andalusia (Spain). The characteristics of the new sites are described, the literature dealing with the European localities of the species is reviewed, and a molecular phylogenetic tree has been built, based on new and previously available mitochondrial DNA sequences, thus expanding the knowledge on the ecology and phylogeography of this rare species. The species mainly occupies small isolated temporary ponds in (semi-)arid regions, suggesting adaptations to unpredictable aquatic habitats. The existence of two molecular clades separating the Iberian from the Sicilian and Tunisian populations supports the existence of a longitudinal long-term disjunction, whereas the north-south flow is probably facilitated by migrating birds. Further research on the biota of the small water bodies of the western Mediterranean area may help to expand our knowledge on rare aquatic species, such as M. chevreuxi, and to better interpret their natural history.
Federico Marrone; Fernando Ortega; Francesc Mesquita-Joanes; Francisco Guerrero. On the Occurrence of Metadiaptomus chevreuxi (Calanoida, Diaptomidae, Paradiaptominae) in the Iberian Peninsula, With Notes on the Ecology and Distribution of its European Populations. Water 2020, 12, 1989 .
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Fernando Ortega, Francesc Mesquita-Joanes, Francisco Guerrero. On the Occurrence of Metadiaptomus chevreuxi (Calanoida, Diaptomidae, Paradiaptominae) in the Iberian Peninsula, With Notes on the Ecology and Distribution of its European Populations. Water. 2020; 12 (7):1989.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Fernando Ortega; Francesc Mesquita-Joanes; Francisco Guerrero. 2020. "On the Occurrence of Metadiaptomus chevreuxi (Calanoida, Diaptomidae, Paradiaptominae) in the Iberian Peninsula, With Notes on the Ecology and Distribution of its European Populations." Water 12, no. 7: 1989.
Federico Marrone; Luca Vecchioni; Alan Deidun; Youness Mabrouki; Abdeslam Arab; Marco Arculeo. DNA taxonomy of the potamid freshwater crabs from Northern Africa (Decapoda, Potamidae). Zoologica Scripta 2020, 49, 473 -487.
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Luca Vecchioni, Alan Deidun, Youness Mabrouki, Abdeslam Arab, Marco Arculeo. DNA taxonomy of the potamid freshwater crabs from Northern Africa (Decapoda, Potamidae). Zoologica Scripta. 2020; 49 (4):473-487.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Luca Vecchioni; Alan Deidun; Youness Mabrouki; Abdeslam Arab; Marco Arculeo. 2020. "DNA taxonomy of the potamid freshwater crabs from Northern Africa (Decapoda, Potamidae)." Zoologica Scripta 49, no. 4: 473-487.
Because of its position in the middle of the Mediterranea Sea and a complex geological history that has promoted repeated waves of biological colonization, Sicily (Southern Italy) is of particular interest from a biogeographical perspective. A number of previous investigations, dating back as far as the end of the 19th century, have contributed to gather information about the occurrence of Recent non-marine ostracods in Sicily, making this region one of the most intensively studied areas of the Central Mediterranean. Published data on ostracod distributions have been integrated through an extensive field survey on mainland Sicily and surrounding small islands and archipelagos. Altogether, 271 ostracod samples and 11 sediment samples from dry water bodies were analysed from 218 sites visited between 2002 and 2017. Sampling sites were selected to encompass all the most common types of freshwater aquatic habitats, both natural and artificial, present in the area. Thirty-nine ostracods were identified at species level and 12 at supraspecific level. The present study reports four species (Cypria subsalsa, Eucypris mareotica, Physocypria kerkyrensis, Vestalenula boteai) and one genus (Vestalenula) as new for both peninsular Italy and adjacent islands, and three species (Candonopsis novaezelandiae, Ilyocypris inermis, Neglecandona neglecta) and two genera (Candonopsis and Physocypria) as new for Sicily. The updated checklist of the study area now includes at least 46 nominal species and other taxa identified at supraspecific level, belonging to 28 genera in 8 families (Candonidae, Cyprididae, Cytherideidae, Darwinulidae, Hemicytheridae, Ilyocyprididae, Limnocytheridae and Notodromadidae). The present investigation represents a significant addition to the knowledge of the ostracod diversity and distribution in the Sicilian area and in Italy as a whole. It also provides a sound baseline data for further comparative faunal studies aimed at investigating the affinities and origins of the central Mediterranean inland-water ostracod faunas, and to analyse their biogeographic patterns.
V. Pieri; F. Marrone; K. Martens; G. Rossetti. An updated checklist of Recent ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from inland waters of Sicily and adjacent small islands with notes on their distribution and ecology. The European Zoological Journal 2020, 87, 714 -740.
AMA StyleV. Pieri, F. Marrone, K. Martens, G. Rossetti. An updated checklist of Recent ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from inland waters of Sicily and adjacent small islands with notes on their distribution and ecology. The European Zoological Journal. 2020; 87 (1):714-740.
Chicago/Turabian StyleV. Pieri; F. Marrone; K. Martens; G. Rossetti. 2020. "An updated checklist of Recent ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda) from inland waters of Sicily and adjacent small islands with notes on their distribution and ecology." The European Zoological Journal 87, no. 1: 714-740.
Nonindigenous species (NIS) represent a threat to aquatic biodiversity worldwide. However, freshwater ecosystems in drylands are potentially more prone to biological invasions than those located in temperate regions because of the higher number of artificial waterbodies generally occurring in these areas, which might act as invasion hubs for NIS. We review the available information about NIS in Sicilian waterbodies, discuss the role exerted by artificial lakes and ponds in facilitating the establishment of NIS in arid and semiarid areas, and compare the invasibility of permanent and temporary waterbodies in drylands. Artificial waterbodies increase the target-area effect for dispersers and provide a hospitable environment for NIS because of their recent origin and the lack of efficient biological filters against newcomers, thus acting as bridgeheads and invasion hubs favouring invasive species. Finally, we propose actions to attenuate the threats caused by NIS to the sensitive native biota of aquatic ecosystems in drylands.
Luigi Naselli-Flores; Federico Marrone. Different invasibility of permanent and temporary waterbodies in a semiarid Mediterranean Island. Inland Waters 2019, 9, 411 -421.
AMA StyleLuigi Naselli-Flores, Federico Marrone. Different invasibility of permanent and temporary waterbodies in a semiarid Mediterranean Island. Inland Waters. 2019; 9 (4):411-421.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuigi Naselli-Flores; Federico Marrone. 2019. "Different invasibility of permanent and temporary waterbodies in a semiarid Mediterranean Island." Inland Waters 9, no. 4: 411-421.
A comprehensive phylogeny of the genus Salaria based on mitochondrial and nuclear markers grouped the extant species of the genus in well-characterised marine and freshwater clades, thus rejecting the hypothesis of a polytypic origin of the freshwater Salaria populations and supporting the occurrence of a single invasion event of the inland waters by the genus. Based on both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA datasets, the Salaria species of the freshwater clade proved to be vicariant taxa originating from a common ancestor which could possibly spread throughout the circum-Mediterranean inland waters during the late Miocene Messinian salinity crisis, then experiencing a process of allopatric differentiation after the re-flooding of the Mediterranean basin. Within the marine clade, although the nuDNA datasets showed the existence of well-supported subclades in accordance to the morphological identification of the studied specimens, one of the two subclades obtained in the phylogenetic tree based on the mtDNA dataset included both S. basilisca and S. pavo specimens, thus failing to find the two species as reciprocally monophyletic. Such a mito-nuclear discordance is here ascribed to multiple mtDNA unidirectional introgression events from S. basilisca to S. pavo, and the molecular diversity pattern of the marine Salaria species is here ascribed to a Pleistocene speciation event nowadays partly concealed by the occurrence of introgressive hybridization phenomena between the two taxa. Our results urge for prudence when implementing DNA barcoding approaches since, in the presence of mito-nuclear discordance phenomena, single-marker mtDNA-only analyses might lead to significant misidentifications.
E. Belaiba; F. Marrone; L. Vecchioni; L. Bahri-Sfar; M. Arculeo. An exhaustive phylogeny of the combtooth blenny genus Salaria (Pisces, Blenniidae) shows introgressive hybridization and lack of reciprocal mtDNA monophyly between the marine species Salaria basilisca and Salaria pavo. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 2019, 135, 210 -221.
AMA StyleE. Belaiba, F. Marrone, L. Vecchioni, L. Bahri-Sfar, M. Arculeo. An exhaustive phylogeny of the combtooth blenny genus Salaria (Pisces, Blenniidae) shows introgressive hybridization and lack of reciprocal mtDNA monophyly between the marine species Salaria basilisca and Salaria pavo. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 2019; 135 ():210-221.
Chicago/Turabian StyleE. Belaiba; F. Marrone; L. Vecchioni; L. Bahri-Sfar; M. Arculeo. 2019. "An exhaustive phylogeny of the combtooth blenny genus Salaria (Pisces, Blenniidae) shows introgressive hybridization and lack of reciprocal mtDNA monophyly between the marine species Salaria basilisca and Salaria pavo." Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 135, no. : 210-221.
The only population of the pseudodiaptomid copepod Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritschagin, 1873 to date reported to occur in Sicily disappeared at the beginning of the XXI century due to deep environmental changes which affected the single site (Lake Biviere di Gela) known for this species on the island. In that site C. aquaedulcis is now replaced by Copidodiaptomus numidicus (Gurney, 1909), a diaptomid copepod whose distribution has been greatly increasing since the second half of the last century. In the present note, the occurrence of C. aquaedulcis in 12 novel water bodies spread throughout Sicily is reported, and some environmental data on the sites where the species was collected are provided. Moreover, in a few sites C. aquaedulcis was found to co-occur with Copidodiaptomus numidicus. The recorded co-occurrence of these two species and the replacement of C. aquaedulcis with C. numidicus in Lake Biviere di Gela are briefly discussed.
Luca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Luigi Naselli-Flores. On the occurrence and distribution of Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritschagin, 1873 (Copepoda, Calanoida, Pseudodiaptomidae) in Sicily, Italy, with some notes on coexistence and species replacement in calanoid copepods. Advances in Oceanography and Limnology 2019, 10, 1 .
AMA StyleLuca Vecchioni, Federico Marrone, Luigi Naselli-Flores. On the occurrence and distribution of Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritschagin, 1873 (Copepoda, Calanoida, Pseudodiaptomidae) in Sicily, Italy, with some notes on coexistence and species replacement in calanoid copepods. Advances in Oceanography and Limnology. 2019; 10 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Luigi Naselli-Flores. 2019. "On the occurrence and distribution of Calanipeda aquaedulcis Kritschagin, 1873 (Copepoda, Calanoida, Pseudodiaptomidae) in Sicily, Italy, with some notes on coexistence and species replacement in calanoid copepods." Advances in Oceanography and Limnology 10, no. 1: 1.
The occurrence of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana in the inland waters of Sicily has been lately overlooked. In the present note, the occurrence and distribution of this species is reviewed based both on the review of the available literature data and field collecting. Although a noteworthy reduction in the distribution range of the species seems to have taken place in Sicily in the course of the XX century, Hirudo verbana was confirmed to be still present in several sites located both within and out of Natura2000 sites. The Sicilian populations of the species should be included in the frame of the monitoring activities established by the Article 17 of the EU Council Directive 92/43/EEC (“Habitats Directive”).
Federico Marrone; Domenica Emanuela Canale. Occurrence, distribution and bibliography of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Sicily (Italy). Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 2019, 34, 1 .
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Domenica Emanuela Canale. Occurrence, distribution and bibliography of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Sicily (Italy). Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography. 2019; 34 (1):1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Domenica Emanuela Canale. 2019. "Occurrence, distribution and bibliography of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana Carena, 1820 (Hirudinea, Hirudinidae) in Sicily (Italy)." Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 34, no. 1: 1.
In the frame of the activities of the LIFE11 NAT/GR/1014 ForOpenForests, some water bodies occurring in the "Ethnikos Drymos Oitis” (GR2440004) and “Oros Kallidromo” (GR2440006) (Sterea Ellada) were investigated with the aim of providing a first census of the composition and diversity of their crustacean fauna. Overall, the sampling of 15 water bodies (7 of them listed as “Mediterranean temporary ponds” sensu EU “Habitats Directive”) led to the finding of 13 branchiopod, 11 copepod, and 7 ostracod taxa, including 4 species new for mainland Greece, i.e. the copepods Arctodiaptomus alpinus (Imhoff, 1885) and Diaptomus cf. serbicus, and the branchiopods Leptestheria dahalacensis (Rüppel, 1837) and Wlassicsia pannonica Daday, 1904. The comparative analysis of the observed species assemblages and richness suggests that the protection of those ponds identified as “priority habitats” according to the “Habitats Directive” is effective for the specialized and peculiar crustacean biota of these ecosystems, but it is not sufficient in order to preserve efficiently the whole diversity of temporary pond-dwelling crustaceans occurring in the study area. Therefore, the implementation of synergistic conservation measures dedicated to both “priority” and “non-priority” habitats is desirable.
Federico Marrone; Marco Arculeo; Christos Georgiadis; Fabio Stoch. On the non-malacostracan crustaceans (Crustacea: Branchiopoda, Copepoda, Ostracoda) from the inland waters of Fthiotida (Greece). Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 2019, 34, 1 .
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Marco Arculeo, Christos Georgiadis, Fabio Stoch. On the non-malacostracan crustaceans (Crustacea: Branchiopoda, Copepoda, Ostracoda) from the inland waters of Fthiotida (Greece). Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography. 2019; 34 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Marco Arculeo; Christos Georgiadis; Fabio Stoch. 2019. "On the non-malacostracan crustaceans (Crustacea: Branchiopoda, Copepoda, Ostracoda) from the inland waters of Fthiotida (Greece)." Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 34, no. : 1.
Luca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Eya BelAiba; Francesco Tiralongo; Lilia Bahri-Sfar; Marco Arculeo. The DNA barcoding of Mediterranean combtooth blennies suggests the paraphyly of some taxa (Perciformes, Blenniidae). Journal of Fish Biology 2019, 94, 339 -344.
AMA StyleLuca Vecchioni, Federico Marrone, Eya BelAiba, Francesco Tiralongo, Lilia Bahri-Sfar, Marco Arculeo. The DNA barcoding of Mediterranean combtooth blennies suggests the paraphyly of some taxa (Perciformes, Blenniidae). Journal of Fish Biology. 2019; 94 (2):339-344.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Eya BelAiba; Francesco Tiralongo; Lilia Bahri-Sfar; Marco Arculeo. 2019. "The DNA barcoding of Mediterranean combtooth blennies suggests the paraphyly of some taxa (Perciformes, Blenniidae)." Journal of Fish Biology 94, no. 2: 339-344.
Novel Unio spp. populations from Slovenia, the Italian peninsula, Sardinia and Sicily were genetically analysed in order to define the distribution and diversity of the genus Unio in Italy and neighbouring areas. The presence of two primarily allopatric autochtonous species, Unio elongatulus Pfeiffer, and Unio mancus Lamarck, is confirmed for the Italian peninsula, Corsica, Sardinia, and Sicily.Autochthonous populations of Unio elongatulus are present in the peri-Adriatic drainages of the Italian and Balkan peninsulas, south as far as the Ofanto River (Apulia, Italy) and Lake Skadar (Albania), while its presence in the Tyrrhenian rivers of Tuscany is likely due to anthropogenic introduction events. Conversely, Unio mancus turtonii Payraudeau, an endangered peri-Tyrrhenian taxon, was found with autochthonous populations in the Apennine-Tyrrhenian drainages of peninsular Italy, eastern Mediterranean France, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily, while the actual autochthony of the single population found in the Ionian basin of the Italian peninsula (Bradano River, Basilicata) deserves further investigation. The Italian population of U. mancus requienii Michaud, reported from Lake Montepulciano is to be considered allochthonous.The binomen U. elongatulus, although widely used in the recent scientific literature, was, to date, assigned to a doubtful species, because its type locality includes a large area inhabited by different Unio taxa, which are not clearly distinguishable by their shell alone; furthermore, no type material is present in historical collections. To retain the recently-used name, a new restricted type locality is established, where only U. elongatulus lives, and a neotype is designated. The validity of the subspecies of Unio mancus is also discussed and confirmed.Finally, hypotheses on the origin of Italian mussels, and considerations on their conservation status are discussed.
Federico Marrone; Gianbattista Nardi; Simone Cianfanelli; Marijan Govedič; Salvatore Alessandro Barra; Marco Arculeo; Marco Bodon. Diversity and taxonomy of the genus Unio Philipsson in Italy, with the designation of a neotype for Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Unionidae). Zootaxa 2019, 4545, 339 -374.
AMA StyleFederico Marrone, Gianbattista Nardi, Simone Cianfanelli, Marijan Govedič, Salvatore Alessandro Barra, Marco Arculeo, Marco Bodon. Diversity and taxonomy of the genus Unio Philipsson in Italy, with the designation of a neotype for Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Unionidae). Zootaxa. 2019; 4545 (3):339-374.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFederico Marrone; Gianbattista Nardi; Simone Cianfanelli; Marijan Govedič; Salvatore Alessandro Barra; Marco Arculeo; Marco Bodon. 2019. "Diversity and taxonomy of the genus Unio Philipsson in Italy, with the designation of a neotype for Unio elongatulus C. Pfeiffer (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Unionidae)." Zootaxa 4545, no. 3: 339-374.
Correctly identifying and mapping the distribution patterns of passively dispersing freshwater organisms is an important task to understand the mechanisms through which these organisms move across the world and to counteract the introduction of invasive alien species in a timely way; moreover, in the light of the growing evidence of the pervasiveness of cryptic species and cryptic biological invasions among all animal groups, the use of molecular identification tools is strongly advisable. In this context, we present the first record of the freshwater jellyfish Craspedacusta sowerbii Lankester, 1880 in the Mediterranean island of Sicily, Italy. This invasive species, native to China, was found during a routine survey campaign aimed at assessing the freshwater species richness in the Sicilian region. Individuals were collected in November 2017 and identified to species level through the sequencing of fragments of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes, and their comparison to the sequences available on public databases. The analysis of molecular data proved that the Sicilian population belongs to C. sowerbii s.s., i.e. one of the two major Craspedacusta lineages which have been discovered to have invaded Europe and which were until recently erroneously jointly reported under the binomen Craspedacusta sowerbii. In order to get a clearer picture of the history and patterns of freshwater jellyfish invasion worldwide, the need for molecular identification of all the non-native Craspedacusta populations currently reported as C. sowerbii, and the opportunity of monitoring human-impacted ecosystems is stressed.
Enrico Schifani; Arturo Viviano; Roberto Viviano; Luigi Naselli-Flores; Federico Marrone. Different lineages of freshwater jellyfishes (Cnidaria, Olindiidae, Craspedacusta) invading Europe: another piece of the puzzle from Sicily, Italy. Limnology 2018, 20, 143 -151.
AMA StyleEnrico Schifani, Arturo Viviano, Roberto Viviano, Luigi Naselli-Flores, Federico Marrone. Different lineages of freshwater jellyfishes (Cnidaria, Olindiidae, Craspedacusta) invading Europe: another piece of the puzzle from Sicily, Italy. Limnology. 2018; 20 (2):143-151.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEnrico Schifani; Arturo Viviano; Roberto Viviano; Luigi Naselli-Flores; Federico Marrone. 2018. "Different lineages of freshwater jellyfishes (Cnidaria, Olindiidae, Craspedacusta) invading Europe: another piece of the puzzle from Sicily, Italy." Limnology 20, no. 2: 143-151.
Two members of the genus Ferrissia Walker, 1903, namely Ferrissia nipponica (Kuroda, 1949) and F. japonica Habe and Burch, 1965, have been reported to occur in Japan, but due to a lack of molecular data, doubts have been expressed as to their validity. Furthermore, the possible presence of allochthonous Ferrissia taxa has been stated under a variety of names, so that even now there is no consensus on their presence and identity. Recently, freshwater limpets belonging to the planorbid genus Ferrissia were collected in an irrigation trough on the Izu island of Hachijōjima, Tokyo, Japan. Molecular identification of the collected specimens, based on a fragment of the large ribosomal subunit 16S (mtDNA), unequivocally proved that they belong to the allochthonous, invasive species Ferrissia californica (Rowell, 1863), the protagonist of a relentless cryptic invasion worldwide to which can Japan can now be added. The shells of the collected specimens show some scars, which bear testimony to the fragile nature of the shell and, possibly, to the paucity of calcium in the inland waters of Hachijōjima.
Luca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Marco Arculeo; Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow. On the Occurrence of the Invasive Freshwater LimpetFerrissia californica(Mollusca: Gastropoda: Planorbidae) in Japan. Zoological Science 2018, 35, 149 -152.
AMA StyleLuca Vecchioni, Federico Marrone, Marco Arculeo, Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow. On the Occurrence of the Invasive Freshwater LimpetFerrissia californica(Mollusca: Gastropoda: Planorbidae) in Japan. Zoological Science. 2018; 35 (2):149-152.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLuca Vecchioni; Federico Marrone; Marco Arculeo; Victor Benno Meyer-Rochow. 2018. "On the Occurrence of the Invasive Freshwater LimpetFerrissia californica(Mollusca: Gastropoda: Planorbidae) in Japan." Zoological Science 35, no. 2: 149-152.