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Aim The need to forecast range shifts under future climate change has motivated an increasing interest in better understanding the role of biotic interactions in driving diversity patterns. The contribution of biotic interactions to shaping broad-scale species distributions is, however, still debated, partly due to the difficulty of detecting their effects. We aim to test whether spatial exclusion between potentially competing species can be detected at the species range scale, and whether this pattern relates to fine-scale mechanisms of coexistence. Location Western Palearctic. Methods We develop and evaluate a measure of geographic avoidance that uses outputs of species distribution models to quantify geographic exclusion patterns expected if interspecific competition affects broad-scale distributions. We apply the measure to 10 Palearctic bat species belonging to four morphologically similar cryptic groups in which competition is likely to occur. We compare outputs to null models based on pairs of virtual species and to expectations based on ecological similarity and fine-scale coexistence mechanisms. We project changes in range suitability under climate change taking into account effects of geographic avoidance. Results Values of geographic avoidance were above null expectations for two cryptic species pairs, suggesting that interspecific competition could have contributed to shaping their broad-scale distributions. These two pairs showed highest levels of ecological similarity and no trophic or habitat partitioning. Considering the role of competition modified predictions of future range suitability. Main conclusions Our results support the role of interspecific competition in limiting the geographic ranges of morphologically similar species in the absence of fine-scale mechanisms of coexistence. This study highlights the importance of incorporating biotic interactions into predictive models of range shifts under climate change, and the need for further integration of community ecology with species distribution models to understand the role of competition in ecology and biogeography.
Roberto Novella‐Fernandez; Javier Juste; Carlos Ibáñez; Hugo Rebelo; Danilo Russo; Antton Alberdi; Andreas Kiefer; Laura Graham; Hynek Paul; Charles Patrick Doncaster; Orly Razgour. Broad‐scale patterns of geographic avoidance between species emerge in the absence of fine‐scale mechanisms of coexistence. Diversity and Distributions 2021, 27, 1606 -1618.
AMA StyleRoberto Novella‐Fernandez, Javier Juste, Carlos Ibáñez, Hugo Rebelo, Danilo Russo, Antton Alberdi, Andreas Kiefer, Laura Graham, Hynek Paul, Charles Patrick Doncaster, Orly Razgour. Broad‐scale patterns of geographic avoidance between species emerge in the absence of fine‐scale mechanisms of coexistence. Diversity and Distributions. 2021; 27 (9):1606-1618.
Chicago/Turabian StyleRoberto Novella‐Fernandez; Javier Juste; Carlos Ibáñez; Hugo Rebelo; Danilo Russo; Antton Alberdi; Andreas Kiefer; Laura Graham; Hynek Paul; Charles Patrick Doncaster; Orly Razgour. 2021. "Broad‐scale patterns of geographic avoidance between species emerge in the absence of fine‐scale mechanisms of coexistence." Diversity and Distributions 27, no. 9: 1606-1618.
Bats show responses to anthropogenic stressors linked to changes in other ecosystem components such as insects, and as K-selected mammals, exhibit fast population declines. This speciose, widespread mammal group shows an impressive trophic diversity and provides key ecosystem services. For these and other reasons, bats might act as suitable bioindicators in many environmental contexts. However, few studies have explicitly tested this potential, and in some cases, stating that bats are useful bioindicators more closely resembles a slogan to support conservation than a well-grounded piece of scientific evidence. Here, we review the available information and highlight the limitations that arise in using bats as bioindicators. Based on the limited number of studies available, the use of bats as bioindicators is highly promising and warrants further investigation in specific contexts such as river quality, urbanisation, farming practices, forestry, bioaccumulation, and climate change. Whether bats may also serve as surrogate taxa remains a controversial yet highly interesting matter. Some limitations to using bats as bioindicators include taxonomical issues, sampling problems, difficulties in associating responses with specific stressors, and geographically biased or delayed responses. Overall, we urge the scientific community to test bat responses to specific stressors in selected ecosystem types and develop research networks to explore the geographic consistency of such responses. The high cost of sampling equipment (ultrasound detectors) is being greatly reduced by technological advances, and the legal obligation to monitor bat populations already existing in many countries such as those in the EU offers an important opportunity to accomplish two objectives (conservation and bioindication) with one action.
Danilo Russo; Valeria Salinas-Ramos; Luca Cistrone; Sonia Smeraldo; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto. Do We Need to Use Bats as Bioindicators? Biology 2021, 10, 693 .
AMA StyleDanilo Russo, Valeria Salinas-Ramos, Luca Cistrone, Sonia Smeraldo, Luciano Bosso, Leonardo Ancillotto. Do We Need to Use Bats as Bioindicators? Biology. 2021; 10 (8):693.
Chicago/Turabian StyleDanilo Russo; Valeria Salinas-Ramos; Luca Cistrone; Sonia Smeraldo; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto. 2021. "Do We Need to Use Bats as Bioindicators?" Biology 10, no. 8: 693.
Paul A. Racey; M. Brock Fenton; Danilo Russo; Johan Eklöf; Gareth Jones. Jens Rydell (1953–2021). Mammal Review 2021, 1 .
AMA StylePaul A. Racey, M. Brock Fenton, Danilo Russo, Johan Eklöf, Gareth Jones. Jens Rydell (1953–2021). Mammal Review. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StylePaul A. Racey; M. Brock Fenton; Danilo Russo; Johan Eklöf; Gareth Jones. 2021. "Jens Rydell (1953–2021)." Mammal Review , no. : 1.
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that caused the COVID-19 pandemic, is genomically similar to a SARS-like beta-coronavirus found in Asian rhinolophid bats. This evolutionary relationship impressed the global media, which then emphasised bats as key actors in the spillover that resulted in the pandemic. In this study, we highlight changes in the traditional and new media coverage of bats and in Internet search volumes that occurred since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. We analysed Google and Wikipedia searches for bats and coronaviruses in 21 countries and eight languages, as well as television broadcasts in the USA, some of which have global coverage, between January 2016 and December 2020. In January 2020, the amount of television news about bats boomed, and news associated with the term ‘bat’ shifted to COVID-19-related topics. A nearly identical pattern was observed in Google searches during 2020 at the global scale. The daily time series of television coverage and Internet search volumes on bats and coronavirus in the USA covaried in the first quarter of 2020, in line with the existence of a media bubble. Time-series analysis revealed that both the Google Trends index and visits to Wikipedia pages about bats boomed in early 2020, despite the fact that this time of year is usually characterised by low search volumes. Media coverage emphasised, correctly or not, the role of bats in the COVID-19 pandemic and amplified public interest in bats worldwide. The public image of these mammals, in many cases threatened and important ecosystem service providers, was seriously compromised. We therefore recommend that policymakers and journalists prioritise scientifically accurate communication campaigns about bats, which would help counteract the surge in bat persecution, and leverage interest towards positive human–bat interactions.
Jacopo Cerri; Emiliano Mori; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo; Sandro Bertolino. COVID‐19, media coverage of bats and related Web searches: a turning point for bat conservation? Mammal Review 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleJacopo Cerri, Emiliano Mori, Leonardo Ancillotto, Danilo Russo, Sandro Bertolino. COVID‐19, media coverage of bats and related Web searches: a turning point for bat conservation? Mammal Review. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJacopo Cerri; Emiliano Mori; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo; Sandro Bertolino. 2021. "COVID‐19, media coverage of bats and related Web searches: a turning point for bat conservation?" Mammal Review , no. : 1.
Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a pervasive form of pollution largely affecting wildlife, from individual behaviour to community structure and dynamics. As nocturnal mammals, bats are often adversely affected by ALAN, yet some “light-opportunistic” species exploit it by hunting insects swarming near lights. Here we used two potentially competing pipistrelle species as models, Kuhl’s (Pipistrellus kuhlii) and common (Pipistrellus pipistrellus) pipistrelles, both known to forage in artificially illuminated areas. We set our study in a mountainous area of central Italy, where only recently did the two species become syntopic. We applied spatial modelling and radiotracking to contrast potential vs. actual environmental preferences by the two pipistrelles. Species distribution models and niche analysis showed a large interspecific niche overlap, including a preference for illuminated areas, presenting a potential competition scenario. Pipistrellus pipistrellus association with ALAN, however, was weakened by adding P. kuhlii as a biotic variable to the model. Radiotracking showed that the two species segregated habitats at a small spatial scale and that P. kuhlii used artificially illuminated sites much more frequently than P. pipistrellus, despite both species potentially being streetlamp foragers. We demonstrate that ALAN influences niche segregation between two potentially competing species, confirming its pervasive effects on species and community dynamics, and provide an example of how light pollution and species’ habitat preferences may weave a tapestry of complex ecological interactions.
Valeria B Salinas-Ramos; Leonardo Ancillotto; Luca Cistrone; Chiara Nastasi; Luciano Bosso; Sonia Smeraldo; Víctor Sánchez Cordero; Danilo Russo. Artificial illumination influences niche segregation in bats. Environmental Pollution 2021, 284, 117187 .
AMA StyleValeria B Salinas-Ramos, Leonardo Ancillotto, Luca Cistrone, Chiara Nastasi, Luciano Bosso, Sonia Smeraldo, Víctor Sánchez Cordero, Danilo Russo. Artificial illumination influences niche segregation in bats. Environmental Pollution. 2021; 284 ():117187.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValeria B Salinas-Ramos; Leonardo Ancillotto; Luca Cistrone; Chiara Nastasi; Luciano Bosso; Sonia Smeraldo; Víctor Sánchez Cordero; Danilo Russo. 2021. "Artificial illumination influences niche segregation in bats." Environmental Pollution 284, no. : 117187.
Wind turbines (WTs) frequently kill bats worldwide. During environmental impact assessments, consultant ecologists often use automated ultrasonic detectors (AUDs) to estimate the activity and identity of bats in the zone of highest mortality risk at WTs in order to formulate mitigation schemes, such as increased curtailment speeds to prevent casualties. While acknowledging the potential of acoustic monitoring, we evaluate the limitations of AUDs for monitoring bats at WTs and highlight directions for future research. We show that geometric attenuation and atmospheric attenuation of ultrasonic echolocation calls, in conjunction with limited sensitivity of ultrasonic microphones, severely constrain detection distances of bats at WTs. Taking into account the acoustic shadow produced by the nacelle, AUDs cover only approximately 23% of the risk zone for a bat calling at 20 kHz and 4% for a bat calling at 40 kHz, assuming a 60 m blade length. This percentage will further decrease with increasing blade lengths in modern WTs. Additionally, the directionality of echolocation calls and the dynamic flight behaviour of bats constrain the detectability of bats. If a call can be detected, the low interspecific and high intraspecific variation of echolocation call characteristics may impair species identification, limiting the power to predict population‐level effects of fatalities. We conclude that technical, physical, and biological factors severely constrain acoustic monitoring in its current form. We suggest the use of several AUDs, installed at complementary sites at WTs, and the testing of other techniques, such as radar, cameras, and thermal imaging, to inform stakeholders on the mortality risk of bats at WTs.
Christian C. Voigt; Danilo Russo; Volker Runkel; Holger R. Goerlitz. Limitations of acoustic monitoring at wind turbines to evaluate fatality risk of bats. Mammal Review 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleChristian C. Voigt, Danilo Russo, Volker Runkel, Holger R. Goerlitz. Limitations of acoustic monitoring at wind turbines to evaluate fatality risk of bats. Mammal Review. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleChristian C. Voigt; Danilo Russo; Volker Runkel; Holger R. Goerlitz. 2021. "Limitations of acoustic monitoring at wind turbines to evaluate fatality risk of bats." Mammal Review , no. : 1.
Climate change is among the key anthropogenic factors affecting species’ distribution, with important consequences for conservation. However, little is known concerning the consequences of distributional changes on community‐level interactions, and responses by generalist species might have many ecological implications in terms of novel interactions with resident species. In this study, we applied Ecological Niche Models and niche analysis to three generalist bat species, Hypsugo savii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, and Pipistrellus pipistrellus, which share similar ecological traits and are sympatric in parts of their ranges. Our aims were to investigate how predicted climate change will affect species’ distribution and to analyse the degree of climatic niche overlap between the three species, in both the current and the future scenarios (2050 and 2070; Representative Concentration Pathways 4.5 and 8.5). Temperatures were the most important predictors influencing species’ range expansion in future. According to our models, Pipistrellus kuhlii and Hypsugo savii may expand their geographic ranges towards northern latitudes, whereas the geographic range of the less thermophilous Pipistrellus will shift northwards, resulting in it losing the southern portion in Europe. The already considerable degree of climatic niche overlap between the three species will increase further in future. On the basis of our findings, within the new areas potentially colonised by all three species in future, alterations in community‐level balance might occur, bringing about effects that are only partially predictable. In view of this, we highlight the need for further research and improved monitoring of bat communities in areas that are predicted to be particularly vulnerable to climate change.
Sonia Smeraldo; Luciano Bosso; Valeria B. Salinas‐Ramos; Leonardo Ancillotto; Víctor Sánchez‐Cordero; Suren Gazaryan; Danilo Russo. Generalists yet different: distributional responses to climate change may vary in opportunistic bat species sharing similar ecological traits. Mammal Review 2021, 1 .
AMA StyleSonia Smeraldo, Luciano Bosso, Valeria B. Salinas‐Ramos, Leonardo Ancillotto, Víctor Sánchez‐Cordero, Suren Gazaryan, Danilo Russo. Generalists yet different: distributional responses to climate change may vary in opportunistic bat species sharing similar ecological traits. Mammal Review. 2021; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSonia Smeraldo; Luciano Bosso; Valeria B. Salinas‐Ramos; Leonardo Ancillotto; Víctor Sánchez‐Cordero; Suren Gazaryan; Danilo Russo. 2021. "Generalists yet different: distributional responses to climate change may vary in opportunistic bat species sharing similar ecological traits." Mammal Review , no. : 1.
Bats are often unfairly depicted as the direct culprit in the current COVID-19 pandemic, yet the real causes of this and other zoonotic spillover events should be sought in the human impact on the environment, including the spread of domestic animals. Here, we discuss bat predation by cats as a phenomenon bringing about zoonotic risks and illustrate cases of observed, suspected or hypothesized pathogen transmission from bats to cats, certainly or likely following predation episodes. In addition to well-known cases of bat rabies, we review other diseases that affect humans and might eventually reach them through cats that prey on bats. We also examine the potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the causal agent of COVID-19, from domestic cats to bats, which, although unlikely, might generate a novel wildlife reservoir in these mammals, and identify research and management directions to achieve more effective risk assessment, mitigation or prevention. Overall, not only does bat killing by cats represent a potentially serious threat to biodiversity conservation, but it also bears zoonotic implications that can no longer be neglected.
Valeria Salinas-Ramos; Emiliano Mori; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. Zoonotic Risk: One More Good Reason Why Cats Should Be Kept Away from Bats. Pathogens 2021, 10, 304 .
AMA StyleValeria Salinas-Ramos, Emiliano Mori, Luciano Bosso, Leonardo Ancillotto, Danilo Russo. Zoonotic Risk: One More Good Reason Why Cats Should Be Kept Away from Bats. Pathogens. 2021; 10 (3):304.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValeria Salinas-Ramos; Emiliano Mori; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. 2021. "Zoonotic Risk: One More Good Reason Why Cats Should Be Kept Away from Bats." Pathogens 10, no. 3: 304.
Variation in body size is thought as one of the main responses to climate change, yet studies exploring the existence of this pattern are limited by the scarcity of long temporal datasets. Bats are promising candidates for the occurrence of climate-driven changes in body size because their life cycle is highly sensitive to ambient temperature. Although a reduction in body size would adaptively imply more efficient heat dissipation under a climate change scenario, dehydration caused by heatwaves would in fact be limited by a larger body size, so either responses may be predicted. An increasing body size over time might also be the consequence of a longer growth season secured by a warmer climate. On such bases, we tested the hypothesis that body size varied in the bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum from Italian populations between 1869 and 2005 by examining forearm length (FAL) in 78 spatially independent specimens, and found that FAL increased over that period. We also ruled out that body size varied over space in relation to latitude (as predicted by Bergmann’s rule) or insularity, besides confirming the occurrence of sexual dimorphism (females being larger than males). This study illustrates a rare example of an increasing body size trend in a mammal species measured over ca. a century and a half, potentially unveiling a response to environmental variation.
Valeria B. Salinas-Ramos; Paolo Agnelli; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. Body size of Italian greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) increased over one century and a half: a response to climate change? Mammalian Biology 2021, 1 -5.
AMA StyleValeria B. Salinas-Ramos, Paolo Agnelli, Luciano Bosso, Leonardo Ancillotto, Danilo Russo. Body size of Italian greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) increased over one century and a half: a response to climate change? Mammalian Biology. 2021; ():1-5.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValeria B. Salinas-Ramos; Paolo Agnelli; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. 2021. "Body size of Italian greater horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) increased over one century and a half: a response to climate change?" Mammalian Biology , no. : 1-5.
Human-generated noise can deleteriously affect many animals. Echolocating bats, which crucially depend on sound for their activity, might therefore serve as bioindicators to quantify the ecological effects of sound pollution. While the influence of sound pollution on animal behaviour has been widely studied, the impact of music is almost unknown. We tested whether music, broadcast loudly, affects bats’ foraging and drinking behaviour. The study was done at two waterbodies, where bats drink and forage in the Negev Desert, Israel, during summertime, when water availability is limited: both sites, one isolated natural pond and one artificial waterbody, frequently host recreational parties and concerts. We broadcast music whose frequency range did not overlap with that of bat echolocation calls, and acoustically assessed bat activity before and after the music broadcast. At the remote waterbody, used by bats as a drinking site, the number of bat passes did not vary between treatments. However, after music was broadcast, bats performed significantly more unsuccessful drinking attempts. At the artificial waterbody—a foraging site—activity decreased significantly after music was broadcast. Additionally, music had a cumulative effect on bats, since overall activity significantly decreased over the experimental period. Noise may affect bats by narrowing their attention or distracting them from their primary task. Broadcasting loud music near remote waterbodies is, therefore, significantly hazardous for bats and other wildlife.
Adi Domer; Carmi Korine; Mallory Slack; Indira Rojas; Daniela Mathieu; Aaron Mayo; Danilo Russo. Adverse effects of noise pollution on foraging and drinking behaviour of insectivorous desert bats. Mammalian Biology 2021, 1 -5.
AMA StyleAdi Domer, Carmi Korine, Mallory Slack, Indira Rojas, Daniela Mathieu, Aaron Mayo, Danilo Russo. Adverse effects of noise pollution on foraging and drinking behaviour of insectivorous desert bats. Mammalian Biology. 2021; ():1-5.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAdi Domer; Carmi Korine; Mallory Slack; Indira Rojas; Daniela Mathieu; Aaron Mayo; Danilo Russo. 2021. "Adverse effects of noise pollution on foraging and drinking behaviour of insectivorous desert bats." Mammalian Biology , no. : 1-5.
Traditional farming, where livestock is seasonally managed as free ranging and the use of drugs is reduced or absent, may prove beneficial to biodiversity by fostering the occurrence of spatial heterogeneity, and increasing the availability of trophic resources to wildlife. Previous work indicates that the presence of cattle in lowlands leads to an increase in bat foraging activity, yet no study has addressed this topic in mountainous regions, where free-ranging livestock is still common. Here we explore the relationships between landscape structure, farming and bat activity in a mountainous agricultural area, hypothesizing that bat activity will increase in response to the presence of livestock and landscape structure and heterogeneity. We found that traditional cattle farming may have a role in influencing bat activity in mountainous agroecosystems, yet its effects are evident for a limited number of species. Three pipistrelle species favoured foraging in areas subjected to cattle farming by hunting more often over cattle or fresh dung than at control sites. Free-ranging cattle thus provide profitable foraging opportunities for bats in mountainous landscapes, which remarks the importance of traditional farming activities in sustaining biodiversity. Cattle might also benefit from bat foraging activity if this leads to suppression of blood-sucking pests.
L. Ancillotto; F. Festa; F. De Benedetta; F. Cosentino; B. Pejic; D. Russo. Free-ranging livestock and a diverse landscape structure increase bat foraging in mountainous landscapes. Agroforestry Systems 2021, 95, 407 -418.
AMA StyleL. Ancillotto, F. Festa, F. De Benedetta, F. Cosentino, B. Pejic, D. Russo. Free-ranging livestock and a diverse landscape structure increase bat foraging in mountainous landscapes. Agroforestry Systems. 2021; 95 (2):407-418.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Ancillotto; F. Festa; F. De Benedetta; F. Cosentino; B. Pejic; D. Russo. 2021. "Free-ranging livestock and a diverse landscape structure increase bat foraging in mountainous landscapes." Agroforestry Systems 95, no. 2: 407-418.
Body size in animals commonly shows geographic and temporal variations that may depend upon several environmental drivers, including climatic conditions, productivity, geography and species interactions. The topic of body size trends across time has gained momentum in recent years since this has been proposed as a third universal response to climate change along with changes in distribution and phenology. However, disentangling the genuine effects of climate change from those of other environmental factors is often far from trivial. In this study, we tested a set of hypotheses concerning body size variation across time and space in Italian populations of a rhinolophid bat, the lesser horseshoe bat Rhinolophus hipposideros. We examined forearm length (FAL) and cranial linear traits in a unique historical collection of this species covering years from 1869 to 2016, representing, to the best of our knowledge, the longest time series ever considered in a morphological assessment of a bat species. No temporal changes occurred, rejecting the hypotheses that body size varied in response to climate change or urbanization (light pollution). We found that FAL increased with latitude following a Bergmann’s rule trend, whereas the width of upper incisors, likely a diet-related trait, showed an opposite pattern which awaits explanation. We also confirmed that FAL is sexually dimorphic in this species and ruled out that insularity has any detectable effect on the linear traits we considered. This suggests that positive responses of body size to latitude do not mean per se that concurring temporal responses to climate change are also expected. Further investigations should explore the occurrence of these patterns over larger spatial scales and more species in order to detect the existence of general patterns across time and space.
Valeria B. Salinas-Ramos; Paolo Agnelli; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto; Victor Manuel Sánchez-Cordero; Danilo Russo. Body Size Variation in Italian Lesser Horseshoe Bats Rhinolophus hipposideros over 147 Years: Exploring the Effects of Climate Change, Urbanization and Geography. Biology 2020, 10, 16 .
AMA StyleValeria B. Salinas-Ramos, Paolo Agnelli, Luciano Bosso, Leonardo Ancillotto, Victor Manuel Sánchez-Cordero, Danilo Russo. Body Size Variation in Italian Lesser Horseshoe Bats Rhinolophus hipposideros over 147 Years: Exploring the Effects of Climate Change, Urbanization and Geography. Biology. 2020; 10 (1):16.
Chicago/Turabian StyleValeria B. Salinas-Ramos; Paolo Agnelli; Luciano Bosso; Leonardo Ancillotto; Victor Manuel Sánchez-Cordero; Danilo Russo. 2020. "Body Size Variation in Italian Lesser Horseshoe Bats Rhinolophus hipposideros over 147 Years: Exploring the Effects of Climate Change, Urbanization and Geography." Biology 10, no. 1: 16.
Wildfires shape ecosystems globally, yet little is known on their effects on wildlife distribution and spatial behaviour. We used bats as models to test the effects of fire on ecosystems because they are multi‐habitat specialists and feature ecological and life traits such as behavioural plasticity and longevity that make them able to respond to both short‐ and long‐term environmental changes. We aimed at testing the effects of a severe wildfire on a Mediterranean bat assemblage in terms of occupancy, activity and individual fitness. Here, we measure the effects of fire on activity levels and occupancy by a Mediterranean bat assemblage at the Vesuvius National Park, in Southern Italy, over 4 years, encompassing a year when a severe wildfire occurred. By comparing bat occurrence and activity at burnt versus unburnt sites with a Before‐After/Control‐Impact approach, we found that bat responses to wildfires are species specific and depend on the time elapsed since the fire. Species that rely more strongly on forest areas showed a strong short‐term adverse response in terms of occupancy and activity, while species adapted to open habitats showed no response 1 year after the wildfire. However, most species showed a general positive effect due to the passage of fire 2 years after its occurrence, probably because of vegetation regrowth. The wildfire event was also associated with reduced reproduction in at least one species, and to worse individual body conditions 1 year after the wildfire. Our results show that most bats in a Mediterranean ecosystem show resilience to the occurrence of fire, yet many species show negative short‐term responses by altering their spatial behaviour and decreasing their investment in reproduction. Future increases in fire occurrence and intensity due to climate change may alter bat assemblages and impair population viability in the long term, hampering the fundamental ecosystem services provided by structured bat communities.
L. Ancillotto; L. Bosso; P. Conti; D. Russo. Resilient responses by bats to a severe wildfire: conservation implications. Animal Conservation 2020, 24, 470 -481.
AMA StyleL. Ancillotto, L. Bosso, P. Conti, D. Russo. Resilient responses by bats to a severe wildfire: conservation implications. Animal Conservation. 2020; 24 (3):470-481.
Chicago/Turabian StyleL. Ancillotto; L. Bosso; P. Conti; D. Russo. 2020. "Resilient responses by bats to a severe wildfire: conservation implications." Animal Conservation 24, no. 3: 470-481.
The genus Crocidura (Eulipotyphla, Soricidae) is the most speciose genus amongst mammals, i.e., it includes the highest number of species. Different species are distinguished by skull morphology, which often prevents the identification of individuals in the field and limits research on these species’ ecology and biology. We combined species distribution models and molecular analyses to assess the distribution of cryptic Crocidura shrews in Italy, confirming the occurrence of the greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula in the northwest of the country. The molecular identification ascertained the species’ presence in two distinct Italian regions. Accordingly, species distribution modelling highlighted the occurrence of areas suitable for C. russula in the westernmost part of northern Italy. Our results confirm the role of Italy as a mammal hotspot in the Mediterranean; additionally, they also show the need to include C. russula in Italian faunal checklists. To conclude, we highlight the usefulness of combining different approaches to explore the presence of cryptic species outside their known ranges. Since the similar, smaller C. suaveolens may be displaced by the larger C. russula through competitive exclusion, the latter might be the species actually present where C. suaveolens had been reported previously. A comprehensive and detailed survey is therefore required to assess the current distribution of these species.
Emiliano Mori; Mattia Brambilla; Fausto Ramazzotti; Leonardo Ancillotto; Giuseppe Mazza; Danilo Russo; Giovanni Amori; Andrea Galimberti. In or Out of the Checklist? DNA Barcoding and Distribution Modelling Unveil a New Species of Crocidura Shrew for Italy. Diversity 2020, 12, 380 .
AMA StyleEmiliano Mori, Mattia Brambilla, Fausto Ramazzotti, Leonardo Ancillotto, Giuseppe Mazza, Danilo Russo, Giovanni Amori, Andrea Galimberti. In or Out of the Checklist? DNA Barcoding and Distribution Modelling Unveil a New Species of Crocidura Shrew for Italy. Diversity. 2020; 12 (10):380.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEmiliano Mori; Mattia Brambilla; Fausto Ramazzotti; Leonardo Ancillotto; Giuseppe Mazza; Danilo Russo; Giovanni Amori; Andrea Galimberti. 2020. "In or Out of the Checklist? DNA Barcoding and Distribution Modelling Unveil a New Species of Crocidura Shrew for Italy." Diversity 12, no. 10: 380.
During the glacial episodes of the Quaternary, European forests were restricted to small favourable spots, namely refugia, acting as biodiversity reservoirs. the Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas have been considered as the main glacial refugia of trees in Europe. In this study, we estimate the composition of the last glacial forest in a coastal cave of the Cilento area (SW Italy) in seven time frames, spanning from the last Pleniglacial to the Late Glacial. Charcoal analyses were performed in seven archaeological layers. Furthermore, a paleoclimate modelling (Maxent) approach was used to complement the taxonomic identification of charcoal fragments to estimate the past potential distribution of tree species in Europe. Our results showed that the mesothermophilous forest survived in this region in the core of the Mediterranean basin during the Last Glacial Period (LGP, since ~36 ka cal BP), indicating that this area played an important role as a reservoir of woodland biodiversity. Here, Quercus pubescens was the most abundant component, followed by a wide variety of deciduous trees and Pinus nigra. Charcoal data also pointed at the crucial role of this coastal area, acting as a reservoir for warm temperate trees of genera Tilia, Carpinus and Sambucus, in LGP, in the Mediterranean region. Our modelling results showed that P. nigra might be the main candidate as a “Pinus sylvestris type” in the study site in the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Furthermore, we found that P. nigra might coexist with Q. pubescens in several European territories both currently and in the LGM. All models showed high levels of predictive performances. Our results highlight the advantage of combining different approaches such as charcoal analysis and ecological niche models to explore biogeographic questions about past and current forest distribution, with important implications to inform today’s forest management and conservation.
Gaetano Di Pasquale; Antonio Saracino; Luciano Bosso; Danilo Russo; Adriana Moroni; Giuliano Bonanomi; Emilia Allevato. Coastal Pine-Oak Glacial Refugia in the Mediterranean Basin: A Biogeographic Approach Based on Charcoal Analysis and Spatial Modelling. Forests 2020, 11, 673 .
AMA StyleGaetano Di Pasquale, Antonio Saracino, Luciano Bosso, Danilo Russo, Adriana Moroni, Giuliano Bonanomi, Emilia Allevato. Coastal Pine-Oak Glacial Refugia in the Mediterranean Basin: A Biogeographic Approach Based on Charcoal Analysis and Spatial Modelling. Forests. 2020; 11 (6):673.
Chicago/Turabian StyleGaetano Di Pasquale; Antonio Saracino; Luciano Bosso; Danilo Russo; Adriana Moroni; Giuliano Bonanomi; Emilia Allevato. 2020. "Coastal Pine-Oak Glacial Refugia in the Mediterranean Basin: A Biogeographic Approach Based on Charcoal Analysis and Spatial Modelling." Forests 11, no. 6: 673.
Biological invasions represent some of the most severe threats to local communities and ecosystems. Among invasive species, the vector-borne pathogen Xylella fastidiosa is responsible for a wide variety of plant diseases and has profound environmental, social and economic impacts. Once restricted to the Americas, it has recently invaded Europe, where multiple dramatic outbreaks have highlighted critical challenges for its management. Here, we review the most recent advances on the identification, distribution and management of X. fastidiosa and its insect vectors in Europe through genetic and spatial ecology methodologies. We underline the most important theoretical and technological gaps that remain to be bridged. Challenges and future research directions are discussed in the light of improving our understanding of this invasive species, its vectors and host–pathogen interactions. We highlight the need of including different, complimentary outlooks in integrated frameworks to substantially improve our knowledge on invasive processes and optimize resources allocation. We provide an overview of genetic, spatial ecology and integrated approaches that will aid successful and sustainable management of one of the most dangerous threats to European agriculture and ecosystems.
Francesca Raffini; Giorgio Bertorelle; Roberto Biello; Guido D’Urso; Danilo Russo; Luciano Bosso. From Nucleotides to Satellite Imagery: Approaches to Identify and Manage the Invasive Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa and Its Insect Vectors in Europe. Sustainability 2020, 12, 4508 .
AMA StyleFrancesca Raffini, Giorgio Bertorelle, Roberto Biello, Guido D’Urso, Danilo Russo, Luciano Bosso. From Nucleotides to Satellite Imagery: Approaches to Identify and Manage the Invasive Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa and Its Insect Vectors in Europe. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (11):4508.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesca Raffini; Giorgio Bertorelle; Roberto Biello; Guido D’Urso; Danilo Russo; Luciano Bosso. 2020. "From Nucleotides to Satellite Imagery: Approaches to Identify and Manage the Invasive Pathogen Xylella fastidiosa and Its Insect Vectors in Europe." Sustainability 12, no. 11: 4508.
Because of the high risk of going unnoticed, cryptic species represent a major challenge to biodiversity assessments, and this is particularly true for taxa that include many such species, for example, bats. Long‐eared bats from the genus Plecotus comprise numerous cryptic species occurring in the Mediterranean Region and present complex phylogenetic relationships and often unclear distributions, particularly at the edge of their known ranges and on islands. Here, we combine Species Distribution Models (SDMs), field surveys and molecular analyses to shed light on the presence of a cryptic long‐eared bat species from North Africa, Plecotus gaisleri, on the islands of the Sicily Channel, providing strong evidence that this species also occurs in Europe, at least on the islands of the Western Mediterranean Sea that act as a crossroad between the Old Continent and Africa. Species Distribution Models built using African records of P. gaisleri and projected to the Sicily Channel Islands showed that all these islands are potentially suitable for the species. Molecular identification of Plecotus captured on Pantelleria, and recent data from Malta and Gozo, confirmed the species' presence on two of the islands in question. Besides confirming that P. gaisleri occurs on Pantelleria, haplotype network reconstructions highlighted moderate structuring between insular and continental populations of this species. Our results remark the role of Italy as a bat diversity hotspot in the Mediterranean and also highlight the need to include P. gaisleri in European faunal checklists and conservation directives, confirming the usefulness of combining different approaches to explore the presence of cryptic species outside their known ranges—a fundamental step to informing conservation.
Leonardo Ancillotto; Luciano Bosso; Sonia Smeraldo; Emiliano Mori; Giuseppe Mazza; Matthias Herkt; Andrea Galimberti; Fausto Ramazzotti; Danilo Russo. An African bat in Europe, Plecotus gaisleri : Biogeographic and ecological insights from molecular taxonomy and Species Distribution Models. Ecology and Evolution 2020, 10, 5785 -5800.
AMA StyleLeonardo Ancillotto, Luciano Bosso, Sonia Smeraldo, Emiliano Mori, Giuseppe Mazza, Matthias Herkt, Andrea Galimberti, Fausto Ramazzotti, Danilo Russo. An African bat in Europe, Plecotus gaisleri : Biogeographic and ecological insights from molecular taxonomy and Species Distribution Models. Ecology and Evolution. 2020; 10 (12):5785-5800.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonardo Ancillotto; Luciano Bosso; Sonia Smeraldo; Emiliano Mori; Giuseppe Mazza; Matthias Herkt; Andrea Galimberti; Fausto Ramazzotti; Danilo Russo. 2020. "An African bat in Europe, Plecotus gaisleri : Biogeographic and ecological insights from molecular taxonomy and Species Distribution Models." Ecology and Evolution 10, no. 12: 5785-5800.
This comprehensive species-specific chapter covers all aspects of the mammalian biology, including paleontology, physiology, genetics, reproduction and development, ecology, habitat, diet, mortality, and behavior. The economic significance and management of mammals and future challenges for research and conservation are addressed as well. The chapter includes a distribution map, a photograph of the animal, and a list of key literature.
Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. Brown Long-Eared Bat Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus, 1758). Handbook of the Mammals of Europe 2020, 1 -18.
AMA StyleLeonardo Ancillotto, Danilo Russo. Brown Long-Eared Bat Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus, 1758). Handbook of the Mammals of Europe. 2020; ():1-18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleLeonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. 2020. "Brown Long-Eared Bat Plecotus auritus (Linnaeus, 1758)." Handbook of the Mammals of Europe , no. : 1-18.
Recent growth of investments in wind energy and power industries has increased concerns about the associated adverse impacts on wildlife. In particular, flying vertebrates are especially at risk, both directly, through an extra mortality rate due to collision with turbines and electrocution, and indirectly through habitat loss or fragmentation. In this study, we propose a modelling approach that combines species distribution models and data managed in geographic information systems to predict and quantify the effects of wind turbines and power lines on the breeding habitat of a soaring migratory bird, the black stork Ciconia nigra, in Italy. The species is recolonizing the country, where it had been driven to extinction in the Middle Age by human persecution. Today, infrastructures such as those considered in our study might in fact hamper this recolonization. Our results show a high probability of presence of the species in several areas in Italy. The most important variables in influencing habitat suitability for C. nigra are the mean temperature of May followed by the distance from urban areas, inland wetlands and hydrographic network. Exposure to wind turbine collision and electrocution resulted to be potentially high. In particular, in Northern Italy the main potential risk of mortality for C. nigra is posed by power lines, whereas in southern regions the species might be mostly threatened by wind turbines. Our approach makes it possible to detect suitable areas that, although not yet colonized by the species, would imply a high mortality risk should the species colonize them in the future. The tool we provide may therefore prove useful to conservationists and landscape planners in order to mitigate the impact of human infrastructures on this species and encourage a more sustainable planning.
Sonia Smeraldo; Luciano Bosso; Maurizio Fraissinet; Lucio Bordignon; Massimo Brunelli; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. Modelling risks posed by wind turbines and power lines to soaring birds: the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in Italy as a case study. Biodiversity and Conservation 2020, 29, 1959 -1976.
AMA StyleSonia Smeraldo, Luciano Bosso, Maurizio Fraissinet, Lucio Bordignon, Massimo Brunelli, Leonardo Ancillotto, Danilo Russo. Modelling risks posed by wind turbines and power lines to soaring birds: the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in Italy as a case study. Biodiversity and Conservation. 2020; 29 (6):1959-1976.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSonia Smeraldo; Luciano Bosso; Maurizio Fraissinet; Lucio Bordignon; Massimo Brunelli; Leonardo Ancillotto; Danilo Russo. 2020. "Modelling risks posed by wind turbines and power lines to soaring birds: the black stork (Ciconia nigra) in Italy as a case study." Biodiversity and Conservation 29, no. 6: 1959-1976.
Invasive alien species are major drivers of global change that can have severe impacts on biodiversity and human well‐being. Management strategies implemented to mitigate these impacts are based on a hierarchical approach, from prevention of invasion, via early warning and rapid response, to invasive species management. We evaluated how different classes of spatially explicit models have been used as predictive tools to improve the effectiveness of management strategies. A review of literature published between 2000 and 2019 was undertaken to retrieve studies addressing alien mammal species through these models. We collected 62 studies, dealing with 70 (27%) of the 261 mammal species that are considered to be introduced worldwide. Most of the studies dealt with species from the orders Rodentia (34%), Artiodactyla and Carnivora (both 24%); the most commonly studied families were Sciuridae (13%) and Muridae (12%). Most of the studies (73%) provided spatial predictions of potential species spread, while only ca. 15% of the studies included evaluations of management options. About 29% of the studies were considered useful in risk assessment procedures, but only because they presented climatic suitability predictions worldwide, while studies modelling suitability before a species was introduced locally are still lacking for mammals. With some exceptions, spatially explicit population models are still little used, probably because of the perceived need for detailed information on life history parameters. Spatially explicit models have been used in relatively few studies dealing with invasive mammals, and most of them covered a restricted pool of species. Most of the studies used climate matching to evaluate the suitability of geographic areas worldwide or the possibility of species that were already established spreading further. Modelling procedures could be a useful tool to assess the risk of establishment for species not yet present in an area but likely to arrive; however, such studies are lacking for mammals.
Sandro Bertolino; Chiara Sciandra; Luciano Bosso; Danilo Russo; Peter W.W. Lurz; Mirko Di Febbraro. Spatially explicit models as tools for implementing effective management strategies for invasive alien mammals. Mammal Review 2020, 50, 187 -199.
AMA StyleSandro Bertolino, Chiara Sciandra, Luciano Bosso, Danilo Russo, Peter W.W. Lurz, Mirko Di Febbraro. Spatially explicit models as tools for implementing effective management strategies for invasive alien mammals. Mammal Review. 2020; 50 (2):187-199.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSandro Bertolino; Chiara Sciandra; Luciano Bosso; Danilo Russo; Peter W.W. Lurz; Mirko Di Febbraro. 2020. "Spatially explicit models as tools for implementing effective management strategies for invasive alien mammals." Mammal Review 50, no. 2: 187-199.