Paolo Sposimo - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Paolo Sposimo
Italian Journal of Zoology, Jul 2, 2016
All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a noctu... more All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a nocturnal raptor of conservation concern, were carried out during the breeding period, just before or immediately after the chicks fledged. The species is a trans-Saharian migrant with few resident populations in Europe. Orthoptera make up the staple of its diet in summer. In this study, we investigated the diet of scops owls on the island of Pianosa after the breeding period through the analysis of pellets. A total of 327 fragments belonging to at least 14 taxa were identified from 56 pellets collected after the breeding period, between late August and March. By frequency, invertebrates constituted 80.00% of the diet, with Coleoptera being the most represented order (62.35% of the total diet) and Orthoptera poorly represented (8.24%). Vertebrates included two bird species, three small mammals and the Moorish gecko. Although the meal-to-pellet interval for scops owls is unknown, we suggest that the bank vole, which is not recorded on any Italian island, and possibly the wild mice, may have been preyed upon in nearby areas, before a migratory movement towards a warm area (e.g. Pianosa) occurred.
Do alien free-ranging birds affect human health? A global summary of known zoonoses
CABI eBooks, 2018
Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside th... more Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside their natural distribution ranges. Impacts of introduced birds on human health have received little attention up to now, despite previous works suggesting that disease transmission is a major impact exerted by introduced bird species. Our synthesis reveals that at least 42 species of introduced birds may represent a hazard to human well-being. Among those, most are Psittaciformes, Columbiformes and Anseriformes, species that frequently occur in urban areas, partly because of their popularity as pets and ornamental species. The main zoonoses potentially brought by these birds include psittacosis, cryptococcosis, listeriosis and salmonellosis, transmitted by direct contact or via arthropod vectors (fleas, lice, ticks and mites). Many Galliformes introduced for hunting purposes can lead to salmonellosis and other gastroenteric diseases in humans. Non-native birds can threaten human health through bird-strikes around airports and through noise pollution by species sharing colonial roosts. While we found that alien birds can theoretically transmit several diseases to humans, empirical case studies of disease outbreaks linked to alien birds are rare or non-existent. The synergistic impacts of ongoing species introductions and global climate change may increase the risk of health hazards in the future. Therefore, sanitary monitoring of traded birds, mainly of the most synanthropic and game species released for human consumption would be prudent. Strict attention should be paid to alien bird populations already established within urban areas, to verify their role in affecting human health and well-being.
Journal of Nematology, 2016
Montecristo Island is an integral natural reserve of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (Centra... more Montecristo Island is an integral natural reserve of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (Central Italy), characterized by a peculiar assemblage of flora and fauna, with several endemic taxa, and also with a high number of alien species. During a soil survey, we found an alien Oscheius tipulae Lam & Webster, 1971 isolate, phylogenetically close to others from South America. In this article, we examined the possible pathways of introduction of this nematode. Because of the high number of alien plants in this protected area and the low desiccation survival ability of O. tipulae, we hypothesized that the presence of this alien nematode isolate may be related to the soil of introduced plants, although historical association with plant-associated invertebrates is also possible. Further studies with more populations and marker molecules are necessary to investigate the distribution of O. tipulae and the possible impact on this natural reserve.
Rivista italiana di ornitologia, Sep 30, 2012
luCA puGlisi 1 , enriCo mesChini & pAolo sposimo il monitorAGGio deGli uCCelli Comuni in tosCAnA ... more luCA puGlisi 1 , enriCo mesChini & pAolo sposimo il monitorAGGio deGli uCCelli Comuni in tosCAnA Riassunto-Attraverso il rilevamento da punti di ascolto effettuato negli anni 1984-85 e continuativamente a partire dal 2000, sono state raccolte informazioni semiquantitative sulla distribuzione geografica ed altitudinale delle specie comuni in Toscana, nonché sul loro andamento. Per alcune specie sono inoltre state prodotte stime di popolazione su base statistica che differiscono anche sensibilmente da quelle precedentemente proposte. Parole chiave-uccelli comuni, monitoraggio, distribuzione, andamento, stima di popolazione, Toscana.
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, Oct 11, 2019
We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also thank Gaia De Lu... more We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also thank Gaia De Luca, Marianna Di Santo and Ferdinando Corbi for providing us house mouse specimens. We are grateful to the two anonymous Reviewers for their careful reading of our manuscript and their insightful comments and suggestions. This research was funded by the European Commission LIFE project "Restoring the Pontine Archipelago ecosystem through the management of rats and other invasive alien species-PonDerat LIFE14 NAT/IT/000544". The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Biological Invasions, Jan 2, 2020
Biological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity. The black rat, one of the worst pest i... more Biological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity. The black rat, one of the worst pest in the world, is responsible for extensive population decline of many autochthonous and endemic species, particularly in island ecosystems. A number of rat eradication campaigns have been conducted, however, such endeavors do not always result in a complete removal of the pest. This may be due to the occurrence of individuals resistant to common rodenticides and/or a re-invasion of the same environment from interconnected areas when appropriate eradication units are not defined before starting an eradication campaign. Our study is a multidisciplinary approach whereby genetic and epidemiological methods were used to provide background information for successful eradication of black rats. We investigated the occurrence of mutations in the VKORC1 gene known to confer resistance to rodenticides and evaluated the spread of zoonoses across three islands of the Pontine Archipelago, an Italian hotspot of endemic Mediterranean biodiversity and a possible mainland source of invasion. As part of an eradication campaign, we also assessed patterns of genetic diversity at 10 microsatellite loci in order to identify eradication units. We recorded a strong population structure and revealed at least two distinct eradication units. Some degree of admixture was recorded on Ponza, the largest island and likely the main source of rats invading the other two islands. We did not record the occurrence of rats resistant to anticoagulants, but we revealed transmission of vector-borne pathogens in commensal habitats of the Archipelago. Keywords Eradication campaign Á Rattus rattus Á Biological invasions Á Microsatellites Á Zoonoses Á VKORC1 Sara Fratini and Chiara Natali have contributed equally to this work.
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, Jun 30, 2018
We are grateful to Giulia Cutuli for assistance with genetic analysis of Montecristo black rat sa... more We are grateful to Giulia Cutuli for assistance with genetic analysis of Montecristo black rat samples. This research was funded by the European Commission LIFE projects LIFE08 NAT/IT/000353-"Montecristo 2010: Eradication of invasive alien plants and animals and protection of native species and habitats in the Tuscan Archipelago" and LIFE13 NAT/IT/000471-RESTO CON LIFE "Island conservation in Tuscany, restoring habitat not only for birds". Genetic analysis was supported by a University of Florence grant to Stefano Cannicci. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Veterinary Parasitology, 2014
Isolated environments are privileged settings to study transmission of infection. Montecristo is ... more Isolated environments are privileged settings to study transmission of infection. Montecristo is a small island where no wild or domestic carnivores are present. Invasive Black rats Rattus rattus (n = 78) were captured and tested by PCR for Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. We wanted to test, for these parasites, the existence of a sylvatic cycle independent of reservoir or definitive hosts. None of the rats tested positive by PCR for either T. gondii or N. caninum. We recorded a 15.5% prevalence (CI95% 8-26%) of L. infantum in the rats and Phlebotomus mascittii was captured in Montecristo, leading us to identify it as possible vector of the parasite.
Fifteen Years of Rat Eradication on Italian Islands
The black rat (Rattus rattus) is thought to be the most widespread mammal on Mediterranean island... more The black rat (Rattus rattus) is thought to be the most widespread mammal on Mediterranean islands. In recent years, many field studies have documented its detrimental impact on native species, communities and ecosystems. In order to restore island ecosystems by eliminating the impacts of black rat, several projects have been planned and implemented during the last 15 years on Italian islands. Although these projects were specifically aimed at protecting nesting shearwaters Calonectris diomedea and Puffinus yelkouan from rat predation, they were also planned in order to provide benefits to other island ecosystem components, species and communities. Rats were eradicated from small islands (about 1 ha of surface) to very large islands (over 1000 ha, i.e. Montecristo). Monitoring programmes showed that shearwater reproductive success increased after rat eradication. During these years, we obtained data on different aspects related to the problem of rat impact and control on islands: (1) rat impact on target species; (2) benefits for native species from rat removal; (3) field techniques and bait delivery methods; (4) impact of rodenticides on non-target species; (5) rat abundance, home range and movements and (6) rat reinvasion after eradication. Furthermore, we developed a model aimed at identifying priority islands where rat eradication should be carried out, and/or establish recommended actions.
Biological Conservation, Jul 1, 2010
To prioritize conservation actions on Italian islands we used the case study of the eradication o... more To prioritize conservation actions on Italian islands we used the case study of the eradication of the Black rat Rattus rattus to protect Cory's shearwater Calonectris diomedea and Yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan. We evaluated for each island the effectiveness of rat eradication by means of two different indices, both based on the relative importance of the island's nesting population of the two species at the national and regional scale, but differing in the parameters set at the divisor, i.e., respectively, the number of nesting pairs in rat-free islands and the number of islands occupied by shearwaters. We estimated analytically the monetary costs of rat eradication on each island. Islands at high risk of recolonization were excluded from further analyses, while costs and effectiveness of rat eradication were compared for the remaining islands. Rat eradication was most cost-effectively carried out on the island hosting the largest colony of P. yelkouan. Eradicating rats from all the islands in the ranking provided benefits to 63.9% of the Italian population of P. yelkouan, but only to 7.1% of that of C. diomedea. Comparing costs and effectiveness of all possible island combinations, ranging from a minimum budget of 50,000 € and a maximum of 1600,000 € (i.e. the cost for eradicating rats from all the listed islands), the maximum increase in effectiveness (marginal effectiveness) fell around a relatively small budget (200,000 €). For both species, when adopting the cost/effectiveness rankings, the number of pairs protected for 1000 € of investment was significantly higher than adopting rankings of effectiveness alone, demonstrating that conservation priorities are more efficiently identified by including monetary costs in the analysis.
Animals
Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosyste... more Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosystems, and they pose a potential zoonotic and wildlife threat. Black rats (Rattus rattus) are invasive species that disrupt native flora and fauna on islands and serve as potential competent reservoirs for various pathogens and parasites. Microparasites screening was conducted in rat populations from small islands in central Italy (the Pontine Islands and Pianosa) with the aim of assessing the role of rats in maintaining infections, particularly in cases where key reservoir hosts were scarce or absent. We focused on microparasites of zoonotic and veterinary relevance. A total of 53 rats was kill-trapped and target tissues were analysed with molecular techniques. We observed the absence or very low prevalence of Anaplasma spp., while Babesia was found in rats from all locations, marking the first recorded instance of Babesia divergens in wild rats. Data from Pianosa strongly suggest the pres...
Life, Feb 2, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Do alien free-ranging birds affect human health? A global summary of known zoonoses
Invasive species and human health, 2018
Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside th... more Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside their natural distribution ranges. Impacts of introduced birds on human health have received little attention up to now, despite previous works suggesting that disease transmission is a major impact exerted by introduced bird species. Our synthesis reveals that at least 42 species of introduced birds may represent a hazard to human well-being. Among those, most are Psittaciformes, Columbiformes and Anseriformes, species that frequently occur in urban areas, partly because of their popularity as pets and ornamental species. The main zoonoses potentially brought by these birds include psittacosis, cryptococcosis, listeriosis and salmonellosis, transmitted by direct contact or via arthropod vectors (fleas, lice, ticks and mites). Many Galliformes introduced for hunting purposes can lead to salmonellosis and other gastroenteric diseases in humans. Non-native birds can threaten human health thr...
Italian Journal of Zoology, 2016
All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a noctu... more All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a nocturnal raptor of conservation concern, were carried out during the breeding period, just before or immediately after the chicks fledged. The species is a trans-Saharian migrant with few resident populations in Europe. Orthoptera make up the staple of its diet in summer. In this study, we investigated the diet of scops owls on the island of Pianosa after the breeding period through the analysis of pellets. A total of 327 fragments belonging to at least 14 taxa were identified from 56 pellets collected after the breeding period, between late August and March. By frequency, invertebrates constituted 80.00% of the diet, with Coleoptera being the most represented order (62.35% of the total diet) and Orthoptera poorly represented (8.24%). Vertebrates included two bird species, three small mammals and the Moorish gecko. Although the meal-to-pellet interval for scops owls is unknown, we suggest that the bank vole, which is not recorded on any Italian island, and possibly the wild mice, may have been preyed upon in nearby areas, before a migratory movement towards a warm area (e.g. Pianosa) occurred.
Special Issue: Management of Invasive Species in Inland Waters
Aquatic Invasive Alien Species (AIAS) are increasing due to the synergistic effects of climate ch... more Aquatic Invasive Alien Species (AIAS) are increasing due to the synergistic effects of climate change and habitat destruction. AIAS can heavily impact biodiversity and human health, causing a loss of ecosystem services; therefore, their control and management have now become a priority, particularly in the light of the new EU regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species. The main research goal of the Innovative Training Network Marie Skłodowska-Curie Aquainvad-ED is to exploit the application of innovative tools and the power of citizen science for early detection, control and management of AIAS. Eight early stage researchers are involved in Aquainvad-ED, engaged in four main research themes: (1) development and application of novel methods for early detection of AIAS; (2) identification of vectors of introduction and pathways of dispersal; (3) impacts of freshwater and marine invaders; and (4) risk assessment and control of AIAS. In order to develop multidisciplinary approaches t...
Biological Invasions, 2009
In the Mediterranean, the survival of endemic long-lived seabirds despite the long-standing intro... more In the Mediterranean, the survival of endemic long-lived seabirds despite the long-standing introduction of one of the most damaging alien predator, the ship rat (Rattus rattus), on most islands constitutes an amazing conservation paradox. A database gathering information on approximately 300 Western Mediterranean islands was analyzed through generalized linear models to identify the factors likely to influence ship rat presence and to account for how ship rat presence and island characteristics may have driven the presence and abundance of seabirds. Our review showed that few Mediterranean islands remain rat-free. At the regional scale, rat presence was only a limiting factor in the abundance of the smallest seabird, the storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), while the distribution and abundance of the three shearwaters were more influenced by island characteristics. We hypothesized that the long-term persistence of these seabirds may have been facilitated by the various biogeographical contexts of Mediterranean islands, likely to provide intra-island refuges.
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, 2019
Acknowledgements We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also... more Acknowledgements We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also thank Gaia De Luca, Marianna Di Santo and Ferdinando Corbi for providing us house mouse specimens. We are grateful to the two anonymous Reviewers for their careful reading of our manuscript and their insightful comments and suggestions. This research was funded by the European Commission LIFE project “Restoring the Pontine Archipelago ecosystem through the management of rats and other invasive alien species PonDerat LIFE14 NAT/IT/000544”. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Abstract
L’atlante delle specie alloctone in Toscana (ALT)
Italian Journal of Zoology, Jul 2, 2016
All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a noctu... more All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a nocturnal raptor of conservation concern, were carried out during the breeding period, just before or immediately after the chicks fledged. The species is a trans-Saharian migrant with few resident populations in Europe. Orthoptera make up the staple of its diet in summer. In this study, we investigated the diet of scops owls on the island of Pianosa after the breeding period through the analysis of pellets. A total of 327 fragments belonging to at least 14 taxa were identified from 56 pellets collected after the breeding period, between late August and March. By frequency, invertebrates constituted 80.00% of the diet, with Coleoptera being the most represented order (62.35% of the total diet) and Orthoptera poorly represented (8.24%). Vertebrates included two bird species, three small mammals and the Moorish gecko. Although the meal-to-pellet interval for scops owls is unknown, we suggest that the bank vole, which is not recorded on any Italian island, and possibly the wild mice, may have been preyed upon in nearby areas, before a migratory movement towards a warm area (e.g. Pianosa) occurred.
Do alien free-ranging birds affect human health? A global summary of known zoonoses
CABI eBooks, 2018
Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside th... more Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside their natural distribution ranges. Impacts of introduced birds on human health have received little attention up to now, despite previous works suggesting that disease transmission is a major impact exerted by introduced bird species. Our synthesis reveals that at least 42 species of introduced birds may represent a hazard to human well-being. Among those, most are Psittaciformes, Columbiformes and Anseriformes, species that frequently occur in urban areas, partly because of their popularity as pets and ornamental species. The main zoonoses potentially brought by these birds include psittacosis, cryptococcosis, listeriosis and salmonellosis, transmitted by direct contact or via arthropod vectors (fleas, lice, ticks and mites). Many Galliformes introduced for hunting purposes can lead to salmonellosis and other gastroenteric diseases in humans. Non-native birds can threaten human health through bird-strikes around airports and through noise pollution by species sharing colonial roosts. While we found that alien birds can theoretically transmit several diseases to humans, empirical case studies of disease outbreaks linked to alien birds are rare or non-existent. The synergistic impacts of ongoing species introductions and global climate change may increase the risk of health hazards in the future. Therefore, sanitary monitoring of traded birds, mainly of the most synanthropic and game species released for human consumption would be prudent. Strict attention should be paid to alien bird populations already established within urban areas, to verify their role in affecting human health and well-being.
Journal of Nematology, 2016
Montecristo Island is an integral natural reserve of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (Centra... more Montecristo Island is an integral natural reserve of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park (Central Italy), characterized by a peculiar assemblage of flora and fauna, with several endemic taxa, and also with a high number of alien species. During a soil survey, we found an alien Oscheius tipulae Lam & Webster, 1971 isolate, phylogenetically close to others from South America. In this article, we examined the possible pathways of introduction of this nematode. Because of the high number of alien plants in this protected area and the low desiccation survival ability of O. tipulae, we hypothesized that the presence of this alien nematode isolate may be related to the soil of introduced plants, although historical association with plant-associated invertebrates is also possible. Further studies with more populations and marker molecules are necessary to investigate the distribution of O. tipulae and the possible impact on this natural reserve.
Rivista italiana di ornitologia, Sep 30, 2012
luCA puGlisi 1 , enriCo mesChini & pAolo sposimo il monitorAGGio deGli uCCelli Comuni in tosCAnA ... more luCA puGlisi 1 , enriCo mesChini & pAolo sposimo il monitorAGGio deGli uCCelli Comuni in tosCAnA Riassunto-Attraverso il rilevamento da punti di ascolto effettuato negli anni 1984-85 e continuativamente a partire dal 2000, sono state raccolte informazioni semiquantitative sulla distribuzione geografica ed altitudinale delle specie comuni in Toscana, nonché sul loro andamento. Per alcune specie sono inoltre state prodotte stime di popolazione su base statistica che differiscono anche sensibilmente da quelle precedentemente proposte. Parole chiave-uccelli comuni, monitoraggio, distribuzione, andamento, stima di popolazione, Toscana.
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, Oct 11, 2019
We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also thank Gaia De Lu... more We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also thank Gaia De Luca, Marianna Di Santo and Ferdinando Corbi for providing us house mouse specimens. We are grateful to the two anonymous Reviewers for their careful reading of our manuscript and their insightful comments and suggestions. This research was funded by the European Commission LIFE project "Restoring the Pontine Archipelago ecosystem through the management of rats and other invasive alien species-PonDerat LIFE14 NAT/IT/000544". The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Biological Invasions, Jan 2, 2020
Biological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity. The black rat, one of the worst pest i... more Biological invasions are a growing threat to biodiversity. The black rat, one of the worst pest in the world, is responsible for extensive population decline of many autochthonous and endemic species, particularly in island ecosystems. A number of rat eradication campaigns have been conducted, however, such endeavors do not always result in a complete removal of the pest. This may be due to the occurrence of individuals resistant to common rodenticides and/or a re-invasion of the same environment from interconnected areas when appropriate eradication units are not defined before starting an eradication campaign. Our study is a multidisciplinary approach whereby genetic and epidemiological methods were used to provide background information for successful eradication of black rats. We investigated the occurrence of mutations in the VKORC1 gene known to confer resistance to rodenticides and evaluated the spread of zoonoses across three islands of the Pontine Archipelago, an Italian hotspot of endemic Mediterranean biodiversity and a possible mainland source of invasion. As part of an eradication campaign, we also assessed patterns of genetic diversity at 10 microsatellite loci in order to identify eradication units. We recorded a strong population structure and revealed at least two distinct eradication units. Some degree of admixture was recorded on Ponza, the largest island and likely the main source of rats invading the other two islands. We did not record the occurrence of rats resistant to anticoagulants, but we revealed transmission of vector-borne pathogens in commensal habitats of the Archipelago. Keywords Eradication campaign Á Rattus rattus Á Biological invasions Á Microsatellites Á Zoonoses Á VKORC1 Sara Fratini and Chiara Natali have contributed equally to this work.
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, Jun 30, 2018
We are grateful to Giulia Cutuli for assistance with genetic analysis of Montecristo black rat sa... more We are grateful to Giulia Cutuli for assistance with genetic analysis of Montecristo black rat samples. This research was funded by the European Commission LIFE projects LIFE08 NAT/IT/000353-"Montecristo 2010: Eradication of invasive alien plants and animals and protection of native species and habitats in the Tuscan Archipelago" and LIFE13 NAT/IT/000471-RESTO CON LIFE "Island conservation in Tuscany, restoring habitat not only for birds". Genetic analysis was supported by a University of Florence grant to Stefano Cannicci. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.
Veterinary Parasitology, 2014
Isolated environments are privileged settings to study transmission of infection. Montecristo is ... more Isolated environments are privileged settings to study transmission of infection. Montecristo is a small island where no wild or domestic carnivores are present. Invasive Black rats Rattus rattus (n = 78) were captured and tested by PCR for Leishmania infantum, Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum. We wanted to test, for these parasites, the existence of a sylvatic cycle independent of reservoir or definitive hosts. None of the rats tested positive by PCR for either T. gondii or N. caninum. We recorded a 15.5% prevalence (CI95% 8-26%) of L. infantum in the rats and Phlebotomus mascittii was captured in Montecristo, leading us to identify it as possible vector of the parasite.
Fifteen Years of Rat Eradication on Italian Islands
The black rat (Rattus rattus) is thought to be the most widespread mammal on Mediterranean island... more The black rat (Rattus rattus) is thought to be the most widespread mammal on Mediterranean islands. In recent years, many field studies have documented its detrimental impact on native species, communities and ecosystems. In order to restore island ecosystems by eliminating the impacts of black rat, several projects have been planned and implemented during the last 15 years on Italian islands. Although these projects were specifically aimed at protecting nesting shearwaters Calonectris diomedea and Puffinus yelkouan from rat predation, they were also planned in order to provide benefits to other island ecosystem components, species and communities. Rats were eradicated from small islands (about 1 ha of surface) to very large islands (over 1000 ha, i.e. Montecristo). Monitoring programmes showed that shearwater reproductive success increased after rat eradication. During these years, we obtained data on different aspects related to the problem of rat impact and control on islands: (1) rat impact on target species; (2) benefits for native species from rat removal; (3) field techniques and bait delivery methods; (4) impact of rodenticides on non-target species; (5) rat abundance, home range and movements and (6) rat reinvasion after eradication. Furthermore, we developed a model aimed at identifying priority islands where rat eradication should be carried out, and/or establish recommended actions.
Biological Conservation, Jul 1, 2010
To prioritize conservation actions on Italian islands we used the case study of the eradication o... more To prioritize conservation actions on Italian islands we used the case study of the eradication of the Black rat Rattus rattus to protect Cory's shearwater Calonectris diomedea and Yelkouan shearwater Puffinus yelkouan. We evaluated for each island the effectiveness of rat eradication by means of two different indices, both based on the relative importance of the island's nesting population of the two species at the national and regional scale, but differing in the parameters set at the divisor, i.e., respectively, the number of nesting pairs in rat-free islands and the number of islands occupied by shearwaters. We estimated analytically the monetary costs of rat eradication on each island. Islands at high risk of recolonization were excluded from further analyses, while costs and effectiveness of rat eradication were compared for the remaining islands. Rat eradication was most cost-effectively carried out on the island hosting the largest colony of P. yelkouan. Eradicating rats from all the islands in the ranking provided benefits to 63.9% of the Italian population of P. yelkouan, but only to 7.1% of that of C. diomedea. Comparing costs and effectiveness of all possible island combinations, ranging from a minimum budget of 50,000 € and a maximum of 1600,000 € (i.e. the cost for eradicating rats from all the listed islands), the maximum increase in effectiveness (marginal effectiveness) fell around a relatively small budget (200,000 €). For both species, when adopting the cost/effectiveness rankings, the number of pairs protected for 1000 € of investment was significantly higher than adopting rankings of effectiveness alone, demonstrating that conservation priorities are more efficiently identified by including monetary costs in the analysis.
Animals
Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosyste... more Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosystems, and they pose a potential zoonotic and wildlife threat. Black rats (Rattus rattus) are invasive species that disrupt native flora and fauna on islands and serve as potential competent reservoirs for various pathogens and parasites. Microparasites screening was conducted in rat populations from small islands in central Italy (the Pontine Islands and Pianosa) with the aim of assessing the role of rats in maintaining infections, particularly in cases where key reservoir hosts were scarce or absent. We focused on microparasites of zoonotic and veterinary relevance. A total of 53 rats was kill-trapped and target tissues were analysed with molecular techniques. We observed the absence or very low prevalence of Anaplasma spp., while Babesia was found in rats from all locations, marking the first recorded instance of Babesia divergens in wild rats. Data from Pianosa strongly suggest the pres...
Life, Feb 2, 2023
This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative... more This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY
Do alien free-ranging birds affect human health? A global summary of known zoonoses
Invasive species and human health, 2018
Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside th... more Non-native birds are prominent among alien taxa, with at least 415 species established outside their natural distribution ranges. Impacts of introduced birds on human health have received little attention up to now, despite previous works suggesting that disease transmission is a major impact exerted by introduced bird species. Our synthesis reveals that at least 42 species of introduced birds may represent a hazard to human well-being. Among those, most are Psittaciformes, Columbiformes and Anseriformes, species that frequently occur in urban areas, partly because of their popularity as pets and ornamental species. The main zoonoses potentially brought by these birds include psittacosis, cryptococcosis, listeriosis and salmonellosis, transmitted by direct contact or via arthropod vectors (fleas, lice, ticks and mites). Many Galliformes introduced for hunting purposes can lead to salmonellosis and other gastroenteric diseases in humans. Non-native birds can threaten human health thr...
Italian Journal of Zoology, 2016
All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a noctu... more All of the published studies but one about the diet of the Eurasian scops owl Otus scops, a nocturnal raptor of conservation concern, were carried out during the breeding period, just before or immediately after the chicks fledged. The species is a trans-Saharian migrant with few resident populations in Europe. Orthoptera make up the staple of its diet in summer. In this study, we investigated the diet of scops owls on the island of Pianosa after the breeding period through the analysis of pellets. A total of 327 fragments belonging to at least 14 taxa were identified from 56 pellets collected after the breeding period, between late August and March. By frequency, invertebrates constituted 80.00% of the diet, with Coleoptera being the most represented order (62.35% of the total diet) and Orthoptera poorly represented (8.24%). Vertebrates included two bird species, three small mammals and the Moorish gecko. Although the meal-to-pellet interval for scops owls is unknown, we suggest that the bank vole, which is not recorded on any Italian island, and possibly the wild mice, may have been preyed upon in nearby areas, before a migratory movement towards a warm area (e.g. Pianosa) occurred.
Special Issue: Management of Invasive Species in Inland Waters
Aquatic Invasive Alien Species (AIAS) are increasing due to the synergistic effects of climate ch... more Aquatic Invasive Alien Species (AIAS) are increasing due to the synergistic effects of climate change and habitat destruction. AIAS can heavily impact biodiversity and human health, causing a loss of ecosystem services; therefore, their control and management have now become a priority, particularly in the light of the new EU regulation 1143/2014 on invasive alien species. The main research goal of the Innovative Training Network Marie Skłodowska-Curie Aquainvad-ED is to exploit the application of innovative tools and the power of citizen science for early detection, control and management of AIAS. Eight early stage researchers are involved in Aquainvad-ED, engaged in four main research themes: (1) development and application of novel methods for early detection of AIAS; (2) identification of vectors of introduction and pathways of dispersal; (3) impacts of freshwater and marine invaders; and (4) risk assessment and control of AIAS. In order to develop multidisciplinary approaches t...
Biological Invasions, 2009
In the Mediterranean, the survival of endemic long-lived seabirds despite the long-standing intro... more In the Mediterranean, the survival of endemic long-lived seabirds despite the long-standing introduction of one of the most damaging alien predator, the ship rat (Rattus rattus), on most islands constitutes an amazing conservation paradox. A database gathering information on approximately 300 Western Mediterranean islands was analyzed through generalized linear models to identify the factors likely to influence ship rat presence and to account for how ship rat presence and island characteristics may have driven the presence and abundance of seabirds. Our review showed that few Mediterranean islands remain rat-free. At the regional scale, rat presence was only a limiting factor in the abundance of the smallest seabird, the storm petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), while the distribution and abundance of the three shearwaters were more influenced by island characteristics. We hypothesized that the long-term persistence of these seabirds may have been facilitated by the various biogeographical contexts of Mediterranean islands, likely to provide intra-island refuges.
Hystrix-italian Journal of Mammalogy, 2019
Acknowledgements We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also... more Acknowledgements We are grateful to Flavia Fineschi for assistance with genetic analysis. We also thank Gaia De Luca, Marianna Di Santo and Ferdinando Corbi for providing us house mouse specimens. We are grateful to the two anonymous Reviewers for their careful reading of our manuscript and their insightful comments and suggestions. This research was funded by the European Commission LIFE project “Restoring the Pontine Archipelago ecosystem through the management of rats and other invasive alien species PonDerat LIFE14 NAT/IT/000544”. The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study. Abstract
L’atlante delle specie alloctone in Toscana (ALT)