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Ecotourism can fuel an important source of financial income for African countries and can therefore help biodiversity policies in the continent. Translocations can be a powerful tool to spread economic benefits among countries and communities; yet, to be positive for biodiversity conservation, they require a basic knowledge of conservation units through appropriate taxonomic research. This is not always the case, as taxonomy was considered an outdated discipline for almost a century, and some plurality in taxonomic approaches is incorrectly considered as a disadvantage for conservation work. As an example, diversity of the genus Giraffa and its recent taxonomic history illustrate the importance of such knowledge for a sound conservation policy that includes translocations. We argue that a fine-grained conservation perspective that prioritizes all remaining populations along the Nile Basin is needed. Translocations are important tools for giraffe diversity conservation, but more discussion is needed, especially for moving new giraffes to regions where the autochthonous taxa/populations are no longer existent. As the current discussion about the giraffe taxonomy is too focused on the number of giraffe species, we argue that the plurality of taxonomic and conservation approaches might be beneficial, i.e., for defining the number of units requiring separate management using a (majority) consensus across different concepts (e.g., MU—management unit, ESU—evolutionary significant unit, and ECU—elemental conservation unit). The taxonomically sensitive translocation policy/strategy would be important for the preservation of current diversity, while also supporting the ecological restoration of some regions within rewilding. A summary table of the main translocation operations of African mammals that have underlying problems is included. Therefore, we call for increased attention toward the taxonomy of African mammals not only as the basis for sound conservation but also as a further opportunity to enlarge the geographic scope of ecotourism in Africa.
Spartaco Gippoliti; Jan Robovský; Francesco Angelici. Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach. Conservation 2021, 1, 121 -136.
AMA StyleSpartaco Gippoliti, Jan Robovský, Francesco Angelici. Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach. Conservation. 2021; 1 (2):121-136.
Chicago/Turabian StyleSpartaco Gippoliti; Jan Robovský; Francesco Angelici. 2021. "Taxonomy and Translocations of African Mammals: A Plea for a Cautionary Approach." Conservation 1, no. 2: 121-136.
The crested porcupine Hystrix cristata is one of the most well-known members of the Family Hystricidae, yet very little is known regarding its geographic variability in Africa. Two alternative hypotheses exist; pre-1940s classical taxonomy supported the existence of a distinct Eastern African species, Hystrix galeata, whereas recent molecular data seem to support only a North-South separation inside one single species, with the geographic-ecological barrier represented by the Sahara desert. Our morphometric data support the recognition of Hystrix cristata senegalica Cuvier, 1822 as the sub-Saharan representative of the species with a clear morphological difference between the North African and sub-Saharan crested porcupines, which seem re-conductible mostly to size difference. Within H. c. senegalica, our analysis seems to support a weak separation between the West African and the East African samples. Owing to considerable qualitative skull differences and overlooked molecular data, the taxonomic status of H. galeata remains uncertain as well as the status of porcupines of North-East Africa (Nubia). Our results also highlight the role of North Africa (mainly the Maghreb) as a refuge for the nominal taxon. This suggests that intraspecific variability is presently overlooked and that further integrative studies and more samples are needed to adequately assess the geographic variability of sub-Saharan crested porcupines.
Francesco Maria Angelici; Paolo Colangelo; Spartaco Gippoliti. Out of Europe: Investigating Hystrix cristata (Rodentia: Hystricidae) skull morphometric geographic variability in Africa. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 2021, 36, 1 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici, Paolo Colangelo, Spartaco Gippoliti. Out of Europe: Investigating Hystrix cristata (Rodentia: Hystricidae) skull morphometric geographic variability in Africa. Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography. 2021; 36 ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici; Paolo Colangelo; Spartaco Gippoliti. 2021. "Out of Europe: Investigating Hystrix cristata (Rodentia: Hystricidae) skull morphometric geographic variability in Africa." Biogeographia – The Journal of Integrative Biogeography 36, no. : 1.
Historically, many local grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations have undergone substantial reductions in size or become extinct. Among these, the wolf population once living in Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, was completely eradicated by human activity in the early decades of the 20th century. To gain a better understanding of the genetic identity of the Sicilian wolf, we used techniques for the study of ancient DNA to analyze the mitochondrial (mt) variability of six specimens stored in Italian museums. We were able to amplify a diagnostic mtDNA fragment of the control region (CR) in four of the samples. Two of the samples shared the same haplotype, differing by two substitutions from the currently most diffused Italian wolf haplotype (W14) and one substitution from the only other Italian haplotype (W16). The third sample showed a previously unreported wolf-like haplotype, and the fourth a haplotype commonly found in dogs. All of the wolf haplotypes analyzed in this study belonged to the mitochondrial haplogroup that includes haplotypes detected in all the known European Pleistocene wolves and in several modern southern European populations. Unfortunately, this endemic island population, which exhibited unique mtDNA variability, was definitively lost before it was possible to understand its taxonomic uniqueness and conservational value.
Francesco M. Angelici; Marta M. Ciucani; Sabrina Angelini; Flavia Annesi; Romolo Caniglia; Riccardo Castiglia; Elena Fabbri; Marco Galaverni; Davide Palumbo; Gloria Ravegnini; Lorenzo Rossi; Agatino M. Siracusa; Elisabetta Cilli. The Sicilian Wolf: Genetic Identity of a Recently Extinct Insular Population. Zoological Science 2019, 36, 189 -197.
AMA StyleFrancesco M. Angelici, Marta M. Ciucani, Sabrina Angelini, Flavia Annesi, Romolo Caniglia, Riccardo Castiglia, Elena Fabbri, Marco Galaverni, Davide Palumbo, Gloria Ravegnini, Lorenzo Rossi, Agatino M. Siracusa, Elisabetta Cilli. The Sicilian Wolf: Genetic Identity of a Recently Extinct Insular Population. Zoological Science. 2019; 36 (3):189-197.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco M. Angelici; Marta M. Ciucani; Sabrina Angelini; Flavia Annesi; Romolo Caniglia; Riccardo Castiglia; Elena Fabbri; Marco Galaverni; Davide Palumbo; Gloria Ravegnini; Lorenzo Rossi; Agatino M. Siracusa; Elisabetta Cilli. 2019. "The Sicilian Wolf: Genetic Identity of a Recently Extinct Insular Population." Zoological Science 36, no. 3: 189-197.
During historical times many local grey wolf (Canis lupus) populations underwent a substantial reduction of their sizes or became extinct. Among these, the wolf population once living in Sicily, the biggest island of the Mediterranean Sea, was completely eradicated by human persecution in the early decades of the XX century.In order to understand the genetic identity of the Sicilian wolf, we applied ancient DNA techniques to analyse the mitochondrial DNA of six specimens actually stored in Italian museums.We successfully amplified a diagnostic mtDNA fragment of the control region (CR) in four of the samples. Results showed that two samples shared the same haplotype, that differed by two substitutions from the currently most diffused Italian wolf haplotype (W14) and one substitution from the only other Italian haplotype (W16). The third sample showed a wolf-like haplotype never described before and the fourth a haplotype commonly found in dogs.Furthermore, all the wolf haplotypes detected in this study belonged to the mitochondrial haplogroup that includes haplotypes detected in all the known European Pleistocene wolves and in several modern southern European populations.Unfortunately, this endemic island population, bearing unique mtDNA variability, was definitively lost before it was possible to understand its taxonomic uniqueness and conservational value.
Francesco Maria Angelici; Marta Maria Ciucani; Sabrina Angelini; Flavia Annesi; Romolo Caniglia; Riccardo Castiglia; Elena Fabbri; Marco Galaverni; Davide Palumbo; Gloria Ravegnini; Lorenzo Rossi; Agatino Maurizio Siracusa; Elisabetta Cilli. The Sicilian wolf: Genetic identity of a recently extinct insular population. 2018, 453365 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici, Marta Maria Ciucani, Sabrina Angelini, Flavia Annesi, Romolo Caniglia, Riccardo Castiglia, Elena Fabbri, Marco Galaverni, Davide Palumbo, Gloria Ravegnini, Lorenzo Rossi, Agatino Maurizio Siracusa, Elisabetta Cilli. The Sicilian wolf: Genetic identity of a recently extinct insular population. . 2018; ():453365.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici; Marta Maria Ciucani; Sabrina Angelini; Flavia Annesi; Romolo Caniglia; Riccardo Castiglia; Elena Fabbri; Marco Galaverni; Davide Palumbo; Gloria Ravegnini; Lorenzo Rossi; Agatino Maurizio Siracusa; Elisabetta Cilli. 2018. "The Sicilian wolf: Genetic identity of a recently extinct insular population." , no. : 453365.
A new endemic subspecies of gray wolf from the island of Sicily (Italy) is described. While usually considered extinct before 1940, there’s some evidence it may have survived up to 1970. This wolf was widespread throughout the island and characterized by a smaller size and a paler coloration than the Apennine wolf (Canis lupus italicus) from Central-Southern Italy.This subspecies is described from a mounted specimen (the holotype) including also a separate skull stored at the Museo di Storia Naturale ‘La Specola’, Università di Firenze, Italy. The three paratypes are: a) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Regionale Interdisciplinare di Terrasini’ in Terrasini (PA), Italy, b) a mounted specimen stored at the Museo di Zoologia ‘Pietro Doderlein’, Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy, c) a mounted specimen stored at the ‘Museo Civico Baldassarre Romano’ in Termini Imerese (PA), Italy.This new subspecies is described as Canis lupus cristaldiisubsp. nov. We suggest ‘Sicilian wolf’ as common name for this new taxon.
Francesco Maria Angelici; Lorenzo Rossi. A new subspecies of gray wolf, recently extinct, from Sicily, Italy (Carnivora, Canidae). 2018, 320655 .
AMA StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici, Lorenzo Rossi. A new subspecies of gray wolf, recently extinct, from Sicily, Italy (Carnivora, Canidae). . 2018; ():320655.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici; Lorenzo Rossi. 2018. "A new subspecies of gray wolf, recently extinct, from Sicily, Italy (Carnivora, Canidae)." , no. : 320655.
Alexandrine parakeet sightings have repeatedly occurred in the city of Rome, Italy in the Caffarella valley, within the ‘Regional Park of Appia Antica’ starting from March 2010. Several other sightings have been made since December 2014 onwards. Until now, nesting has not been proven, but it is believed that this may have already occurred.
Francesco Maria Angelici; Alessandro Fiorillo. Repeated sightings of Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula eupatria in Rome (Central Italy) and its likely acclimatization. Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia 2016, 85, 33 -35.
AMA StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici, Alessandro Fiorillo. Repeated sightings of Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula eupatria in Rome (Central Italy) and its likely acclimatization. Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia. 2016; 85 (2):33-35.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici; Alessandro Fiorillo. 2016. "Repeated sightings of Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula eupatria in Rome (Central Italy) and its likely acclimatization." Rivista Italiana di Ornitologia 85, no. 2: 33-35.
The African lion Panthera leo is under threat. Over the last century the lion has lost about 82 % of its former distribution range, and recent estimates suggest that there are 23,000–38,000 free-ranging lions living in 68 mostly geographically isolated areas. Approximately 24,000 lions are in strongholds, but about 6000 lions are living in populations with a high risk of local extinction, of which about 3000 are in West and Central Africa. Particularly critical is the situation in West Africa, with perhaps only 400 individuals, of which less than 250 are adults. Main threats for lions are habitat loss through agricultural development and human settlement, depletion of prey populations, human–wildlife conflict, epidemics and diseases and trade of lion parts. Conflict mitigation between humans and lions, mainly investigated in rural areas in West and East Africa, have successfully reduced livestock losses and subsequently reduced the number of lions killed. However, mitigation measures alone might fail to secure the critically endangered lion population in West Africa, where translocations and reintroductions might be necessary to counteract genetic impoverishment. Despite encouraging human wildlife coexistence, other approaches for effective long-term conservation of African lions, and the lions’ prey species, favor the separation of land used by humans and conservation areas through the erection of fences. Fences have already been erected in many areas in southern Africa, where lion populations are still viable. Ecotourism and trophy hunting can also be beneficial for lion conservation. However, revenues and user rights over wildlife have to be devolved to local people. This has been successfully implemented in Namibia, which is one of the few countries where lion populations are currently increasing. Although trophy hunting can be a useful conservation tool for conserving lions, it can also be a threat. Therefore, improved regulations and management of lion hunting to prevent negative impacts on hunted lion populations is necessary in many countries. If the downwards trend in lion numbers continues, it is questionable if there will be still lions around in the next century.
Martina Trinkel; Francesco Maria Angelici. The Decline in the Lion Population in Africa and Possible Mitigation Measures. Problematic Wildlife 2015, 45 -68.
AMA StyleMartina Trinkel, Francesco Maria Angelici. The Decline in the Lion Population in Africa and Possible Mitigation Measures. Problematic Wildlife. 2015; ():45-68.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMartina Trinkel; Francesco Maria Angelici. 2015. "The Decline in the Lion Population in Africa and Possible Mitigation Measures." Problematic Wildlife , no. : 45-68.
Over 60 out of 355 currently living parrot species have established at least one breeding population outside their natural distribution ranges. Among those, the ring-necked parakeet is one of the most successful invaders. This species is a gregarious Afro-Asian parakeet with an extremely large distribution range, recorded in over 35 countries outside its native extent of occurrence. Despite being one of the most introduced bird species throughout the world, its interactions with native biodiversity and environment are not completely known and rely mainly on anecdotal evidence. Future researchers are therefore required to fill these gaps. Trunk cavities represent the preferred breeding sites of these alien parrots and indicate potential routes of direct and indirect competition with native hole-nesting bird species, such as nuthatches and starlings. Interactions with tree squirrels, bats and insects are rarely reported but may be more severe than currently known. Droppings by ring-necked parakeets may alter the herbaceous vegetation under the roost but direct cause–effect relationships for this phenomenon are hard to assess if no data about floral composition before the time of invasion is available. Ring-necked parakeets may have economic impacts, being responsible for crop damage, as well as societal impacts; three bird strikes with airplanes involved this species in England. The ring-necked parakeet is a potential reservoir of a plethora of diseases transmittable to humans and wildlife. No data concerning ecosystem recovery after the removal of ring-necked parakeets is available, as eradication and numerical control programmes are often hampered by the emotional affiliation which links humans to these bright birds.
Mattia Menchetti; Emiliano Mori; Francesco Maria Angelici. Effects of the Recent World Invasion by Ring-Necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri. Problematic Wildlife 2015, 253 -266.
AMA StyleMattia Menchetti, Emiliano Mori, Francesco Maria Angelici. Effects of the Recent World Invasion by Ring-Necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri. Problematic Wildlife. 2015; ():253-266.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMattia Menchetti; Emiliano Mori; Francesco Maria Angelici. 2015. "Effects of the Recent World Invasion by Ring-Necked Parakeets Psittacula krameri." Problematic Wildlife , no. : 253-266.
The annual socio-economic costs of human–wildlife interactions on a worldwide basis are very difficult to estimate. Because standardized methods of assessing the impacts are lacking, most of the information regarding the true cost are extrapolated from public surveys. These surveys confirm that the number of instances is increasing and becoming more diverse. Based on these surveys, the estimated costs will exceed billion of dollars (USD). In concept, any wildlife species, including those generally more accepted and well seen, can become problematic depending on the nature of their interaction with humans. The interaction that may lead to a conflict or problem with economic or social implications requires a focused approach to achieve resolution or mitigation. This chapter summarizes the reasons behind and significance of the book “Problematic Wildlife: definitions and concepts,” or rather, when and why a wildlife species may become problematic. The purpose of this chapter is to define the term “problematic wildlife” from a broader perspective. The phrase “problematic wildlife” has been broadly applied in wildlife conservation and management. It may refer to native species that need to be intensively managed by humans, either because they are rare and thus considered in danger of extinction, or because they have become locally overabundant and may be viewed in conflict with human interests and livelihoods. It may also refer to alien or nonnative species that invade new territories at the expense of native species or human livelihoods causing economic and environmental damage. It may also refer to all species, native or nonnative, that are either directly or indirectly endanger humans and are in conflict with humans and their activities. It may include wildlife that must be managed, even in protected areas, which means, e.g., introducing the wildlife, re-introducing, restocking it, and promoting sustainable hunting. The phrase “problematic wildlife” may also encompass the genetic aspects related to wildlife management, problems related to the electrocution of wildlife by energy transmission, the impact of wind farms on avian species, bird strikes and domestic air travel, the illegal trade in rare or invasive animal species, including all the problems resulting from it, as well as the consumption and distribution of bushmeat, which can be mechanism for the spread of epidemics and zoonoses. The phenomenon of the “hidden species” i.e., those species whose existence is not sure, but that exist in popular culture, and on which should be done permanently clarity is also a problem which is in some way connected to the issue of “problematic wildlife.”
Francesco Maria Angelici. Problematic Wildlife at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century: Introduction. Problematic Wildlife 2015, 3 -18.
AMA StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici. Problematic Wildlife at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century: Introduction. Problematic Wildlife. 2015; ():3-18.
Chicago/Turabian StyleFrancesco Maria Angelici. 2015. "Problematic Wildlife at the Beginning of the Twenty-First Century: Introduction." Problematic Wildlife , no. : 3-18.