Using the mapping method, I obtained data about a rich, even and diversified breeding bird assemblage inhabiting an abandoned and re-naturalized historical military fortress (Rome, central Italy). ...Fortress and the surrounding parks host a large number of edge-mosaic, forest and synanthropic species (often localized at urban scale as Dendrocopos minor and Columba palumbus) due to a large availability of many sub-habitats and related niches (walls, cavities, tree holes, mature trees, mowed meadows, hedgerows, and deep moats). In this regard, this historical site may be considered a “key-stone structure” at the landscape scale (i.e., a mature forest/rocky patch embedded in an agromosaic suburban mosaic). The application of the Abundance/Biomass Comparison (ABC) evidenced a dominant role of large body mass species. The underlying logic behind this approach assumes that, generally, in less disturbed environments species with higher trophic level (and higher body mass) dominate: the increase in frequency of these larger species induce early cumulating biomass curves. However, in our anthropized case study, this assumption seems not valid since many large body mass species (as Columba livia dom., Psittacula krameri and Corvus cornix) show a low trophic level (e.g. granivorous or homnivorous): i.e. body mass is not an indicator of trophic level. Therefore, the pattern reported by ABC curves evidence only a dominance of large body mass species without implications on the trophic level and, consequently, on the disturbance acting on the assemblage. In this regard, assumptions linked to the ABC curves are probably not universal but only limited to specific taxa and contexts.
Big musical events often coincide with natural spaces, and therefore they may have an impact on sensitive ecosystems. Here, a story of events that took place following a big event on an Italian beach ...within a Special Protection Area (SPA; hosting embryonic shifting dunes and plover birds of conservation concern) is reported. Following a theatrical approach to conservation, this story unfolds in three acts (Act I: The Premises; II: On the Field; III: Long-Term Effects) that include the social targets (‘actors’) involved (i.e., the pop star’s staff, ONG, institutions, and local stakeholders) as well as the critical issues and conflicts. This experience provides some conservation lessons: (i) big musical events can have an impact on sensitive socio-ecosystems; (ii) the intrinsic value of coastal ecosystems has been underestimated since the site selection was carried out by decision makers with inaccurate/inappropriate use of digital tools; (iii) communication among the private organizers, public institutions, ONG, and people was poor; (iv) the availability of huge economic resources has made the local municipality vulnerable; (v) digital social processes increased polarization between opposing parties with an increase in local conflicts among Public Agencies; and (vi) these conflicts had long-term cascade effects on the nature reserve’s management. To communicate conservation stories, I encourage conservation practitioners to use a theatrical approach to communicate local events with socio-ecological implications—increasing awareness of human–wildlife conflicts and cognitive bias emerging after unshared decisions—using simplified conceptual frameworks.
The current presence and local distribution of the western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L. 1758, on San Pietro Island (Southern Sardinia, Italy) are here discussed for the period 2013-2021 ...with a short review of the species’ occurrence on the small Italian islands. The species was found in the central-eastern sector of the island, which is characterised by a high urban and infrastructural density and an agricultural mosaic, both suitable ecological conditions favouring its presence. Most of the direct data were obtained from roadkills. Despite the elusive behaviour of the species and the consequent possible underestimation, it can be assumed that the species shows a low density. In this respect, it might be interesting to investigate whether local limiting factors, either anthropogenic or natural might act on the hedgehog population. At a larger scale, the updated review of the small Italian islands shows the presence of the species on 13 islands, of which probably only Elba, Asinara and San Pietro (all >50 km2) support established populations. Further research is needed to study anthropogenic origin, history of introduction, genetics, density and medium-long-term viability of these small populations in each insular context.
In order to maintain the hydraulic outflow in land reclaimed canalizations, the competent agencies provide to mechanically mow the Giant Reed (Arundo donax, L. 1753) along the aquatic ecosystem ...banks. Nevertheless, the reeds mowed can be transported away from the waters following storm surges and can be deposited in large quantities along the sandy beaches. We carried out a stratified study in a Mediterranean sandy beach to test the hypothesis that Giant Reed wrack may act as a sink and barrier for plastic beach litter. We observed a large amount of plastic litter entrapped in the Arundo donax wrack (density of 0.868 items/m2), with a higher density when compared to both the inner and the shoreline belts. Density of litter is significantly higher considering the categories of meso- and micro-plastics. Organic macrophyte wrack is useful for dunal macrodetritivorous invertebrates and generally for fauna communities, which use this litter as refuge and trophic pabulum. Significant accumulations of organic wrack can mitigate coastal erosion; nevertheless, for its structural characteristics, Arundo wrack can also act as a barrier for litter towards the inner vegetated dunes, so entrapping a large amount of anthropogenic litter. In this regard, Arundo wrack can represent a sink habitat, first attracting (due to large availability of detritus with a relative high rate of decomposition) and then, entrapping many organisms in anthropogenic litter. We suggest that, once mechanically mowed, the land reclaimed agencies should periodically remove from the channel banks the Arundo donax reeds, impeding the accumulation of incoherent vegetated matter along the aquatic ecosystem banks.
•Giant Reeds can be deposited in large quantities along the beaches.•We observed a large amount of litter entrapped in the Reed debris, when compared to both the inner and the shoreline beach belts.•Giant Reed debris can represent a sink habitat, attracting and entrapping organisms in anthropogenic litter.•Land reclaimed Agencies should periodically remove from the channel banks the Giant Reeds, impeding their accumulation of along the seashore.
•In ecological network planning there is an interdisciplinary semantic ambiguity.•Ecological networks lack in the use problem solving logic, decision-making approach, costs/benefits evaluation, ...monitoring to test effectiveness.•There is an over-emphasis of connectivity as a concept and an under-evaluation of more pragmatic local-based measures.•Fragmentation-sensitive species should be selected to monitor effectiveness of ecological network plans.
The paper critically examines the equivoques, conceptual traps and weaknesses of the recent ‘ecological network’ paradigm, invocated as a cool environmental planning tool to the aim to mitigate the effect of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity. We highlight as: (i) there is a semantic ambiguity deriving from the languages used in this interdisciplinary arena; (ii) these plans will be considered a true tool for biodiversity conservation when they will adopt a logic of problem solving and the standards requested in project cycle management (clear objectives, decision-making approach, appropriate monitoring and indicators, adaptive management); (iii) planners should follow a costs/benefits analysis comparing different scenarios and verifying that the ‘connectivity’ option effectively work better; (iv) each ecological network should be considered as a context-specific strategy where connectivity is only a simplified and schematic key of interpretation; (v) planners should carried out a local selection of fragmentation-sensitive targets that may not correspond with the species of conservation concern included in global or national red lists.
Carpobrotus
is a genus of succulent Aizoaceae originating from South Africa that has become invasive in the Mediterranean and represents a serious threat in coastal ecosystems. On the small island of ...San Pietro (Sardinia),
Carpobrotus
sp. pl. is invading also habitats far from the sea. We surveyed the distribution of
Carpobrotus
on the island using the transect method and defined two models of potential suitability for this taxon based on a set of variables predicting its occurrence at local scale. Our data corroborate previous evidence about the ecological synanthropy of
Carpobrotus
sp. pl. Using a representative sample of transects (70,720 m in total length), we obtained evidence of 39 sites of occurrence with a higher linear density along paved roads (with high traffic levels) when compared to unpaved dirt roads (with low traffic levels). When compared to other sites, in sites of occurrence we observed a higher density of urbanization and road infrastructure, both at 100-m and 500-m scales. However, after performing a logistic regression analysis using a set of selected non-autocorrelated variables as covariates, and the occurrence of
Carpobrotus
sp. pl. as the dependent variable, we observed that distance from the coastline was the main predictor. Suitability models suggest that the actual rate of invasion is likely to increase if disturbance (along particular roads) is not effectively managed and that this island can be at risk from a future wider invasion of this taxon, caused by progressive urbanization.
Clean-ups can be considered real conservation actions since beach litter may impact many ecosystem components. However, although these actions are quite easy to carry out, we think that they need to ...follow specific criteria and clear planning. Contrariwise, an unplanned clean-up could lead to counter-productive—or even harmful—consequences to the fragile dune ecosystem; e.g., excessive trampling and/or extreme sand removal. Here, we defined a road map for implementing beach clean-ups according to the logic of problem solving and project management, also adding a flow chart. More particularly, we subdivided the clean-up project into different steps as follows: context analysis, input and planning, process, monitoring (outputs and outcomes) and adaptation.
Ecological network (EN) planning bases conservation actions on a strong theoretical skeleton offered by disciplines such as population and landscape ecology, insular biogeography, community ecology ...and population genetics. Nevertheless, a lack of precise definitions and of a body of practical information regarding implementation has hindered many EN projects whose effectiveness for species conservation appears to be dubious. For example, current policy responses to human-induced habitat fragmentation are often based on simplified spatial assumptions (‘putting a pattern on a map’) that lack a sound understanding of ecosystem functionality. In this opinion article, I would like to stimulate discussion on the problematic aspects of EN discipline. The ‘road map’ of this article includes a close examination of (1) the EN approach (site-based or target-oriented?); (2) the multidisciplinary debate; (3) how to select target species; (4) the ENs as networks of territorial objects (what about functional connectivity or structural contiguity?); (5) the role of Natura 2000 network; and (6) the weakness of the EN approach as a persuasive tool or an alibi.
An assessment of the short-term effects of an outdoor music festival (Jova Beach Party event; July 2019; central Italy) on bird assemblages has been carried out, adopting a BACI ...(Before-After-Control-Impact) survey design, and using the point counts method both in the impact site (Impact, I; where the concert was held) and in comparable Control site (C). In the I site, data have been stratified both for urban (U) and agro-mosaic (M) habitats. When comparing before and after the music event, in IU site, the species richness and the Hill diversity index decreased, differently from CU where species richness a species abundance increased. Diversity profiles highlighted the impoverishment of bird assemblages after the event, but only in the Impact urban habitats. After the musical event, individual rarefaction curves for richness were lower in IU after the concert, while, differently in CU curves are higher. These data suggest an impact in bird assemblages limited to the urban site, due to the stress mainly induced by high intensity noise pollution. Musical events may disrupt the structure of synanthropic bird assemblages, inducing a dispersal of individuals towards the surrounding landscape. Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) appeared a particularly sensitive bird. However, further efforts are necessary to study the effects of these events at species level.
Display omitted
•Effects of noise disturbances due to a music event on birds have been studied.•After the event, normalized richness and Hill diversity decreased.•In the Control site, richness, abundance and Hill diversity increased.•Starling appeared the most sensitive species.•Musical events may favour the bird dispersal in the surrounding.
Alhough the role as pest of the two most common invasive parakeets (rose-ringed parakeet,
Psittacula krameri
and monk parakeet,
Myiopsitta monachus
) has been largely recognized, nevertheless ...analytical data on foraging diet on cultivated plants are still scanty in non-native countries. Here, we carried out a revision about the impact of these birds on ornamental and commercial plants in Italy, both for urban and rural sites. Reviewing scientific papers, grey literature and personal observations, we obtained two species-specific checklists of edible plants. In this regard, we focused on plants of commercial interest in rural areas, implying a possible economic impact. We obtained evidences for 81 plant taxa belonging to 34 families (Rosaceae: the highest impacted). Almost all the evidences were related to ornamental species in urban parks and only a limited number of records refer to cultivated plants located in rural sites. Rose-ringed parakeet showed a significant higher percentage of foraged species when compared to monk parakeet. Nevertheless, when considering the plants of commercial interest in rural sites, monk parakeet showed a significantly higher number of records. Thanks to large distribution and easy detectability of these species, we obtained a large number of ‘grey’ data (local papers, unpublished reports and personal observations) that, although with a lower reliability, defined a first arrangement at large (national) scale. Future systematic field studies and citizen science actions will be necessary to obtain further quantitative data to support management and control strategies focused on these invasive birds.
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