scholarly journals The extreme insular adaptation of Garganornis ballmanni Meijer, 2014: a giant Anseriformes of the Neogene of the Mediterranean Basin

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 160722 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Pavia ◽  
Hanneke J. M. Meijer ◽  
Maria Adelaide Rossi ◽  
Ursula B. Göhlich
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Large Body Size ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Type Area ◽  
Fighting Behaviour ◽  
Shared Element ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

New skeletal elements of the recently described endemic giant anseriform Garganornis ballmanni Meijer, 2014 are presented, coming from the type-area of the Gargano and from Scontrone, southern and central Italy, respectively. The new remains represent the first bird remains found at Scontrone so far, and another shared element between these two localities, both part of the Apulia-Abruzzi Palaeobioprovince. The presence of a very reduced carpometacarpus confirms its flightlessness, only previously supposed on the basis of the very large size, while the morphologies of tarsometatarsus and posterior phalanges clearly indicate the adaptation of G. ballmanni to a terrestrial, non-aquatic, lifestyle. Its very large body size is similar to that observed in different, heavily modified, insular waterfowl and has been normally interpreted as the response to the absence of terrestrial predators and a protection from the aerial ones. The presence of a carpal knob in the proximal carpometacarpus also indicates a fighting behaviour for this large terrestrial bird species.

scholarly journals Palaega pisana n. sp. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from the Pliocene of Orciano Pisano, Pisa (Toscana, Central Italy)

2012 ◽  
Vol 153 (1) ◽  
pp. 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Pasini ◽  
Alessandro Garassino
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Late Cenozoic ◽  
New Form ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

We report a new form of cirolanid ascribed to<em> Palaega pisana</em> n. sp. (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cirolanidae) from the Pliocene of Orciano Pisano, Pisa (Toscana, Central Italy). This is the second species of <em>Palaega Woodward</em>, 1870, reported from the Pliocene of Tuscany and Italy, increasing the very sparce palaeontological data on presence and distribution of the genus in the Mediterranean Basin during the Late Cenozoic.

Trichodorus arasbaranensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Trichodoridae) from a natural forest in Arasbaran, north-west Iran

Nematology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 243-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gholamreza Niknam ◽  
Akbar Karegar ◽  
Ebrahim Zahedi ◽  
Wilfrida Decraemer
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Excretory Pore ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Lateral View ◽  
Large Body Size ◽  
Pharyngeal Bulb ◽  
North West ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Cervical Papilla ◽  
Males And Females

AbstractTrichodorus arasbaranensis n. sp. is described from the rhizosphere of Carpinus betulus growing in forests in Arasbaran, north-west Iran. The new species is characterised by its large body length (1020-1520 μm in males; 1100-1500 μm in females), cuticle abnormally swollen upon fixation, onchiostyle medium-sized (41-66 μm in males; 49-65 μm in females) and secretory-excretory pore at level of pharyngeal bulb. Males have a single ventromedian cervical papilla varying in position from anterior to posterior to secretory-excretory pore, sperm cells with sausage-shaped nucleus, large (74-110 μm), smooth, ventrally curved spicules, manubrium wide, not offset from lamina, lamina narrowed in mid-region and with a distal ventral velum, and gubernaculum 25.5-34.5 μm long. Females have a short, but well developed, rounded vagina with large, rounded, triangular to oval-shaped, sclerotised vaginal pieces in lateral view. Because of its large body size, the new species most closely resembles T. magnus, T. elegans, T. obtusus, T. californicus and T. nanjingensis, from which the female can be differentiated by the short vagina length in relation to the corresponding body diam. and large size of the vaginal sclerotised pieces, and the male by the longer and differently shaped spicule which bears a velum. A key to the males and females of the Trichodorus spp. recorded from Iran is provided.

scholarly journals BURSAPHELENCHUS SPECIES (NEMATODA: APHELENCHIDA) ASSOCIATED WITH AN OLIVE TREE IN CENTRAL ITALY

Redia ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 103 ◽  
pp. 121-127
Author(s):  
GIULIA TORRINI ◽  
AGOSTINO STRANGI ◽  
STEFANIA SIMONCINI ◽  
ILARIA CUTINO ◽  
GIUSEPPE MAZZA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Olive Tree ◽  
Dead Tree ◽  
Phytoparasitic Nematodes ◽  
Olive Cultivation ◽  
Cultural Interest ◽  
Olive Trees ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Olive cultivation is of great economic, ecological, and cultural interest in Italy, as well as in the rest of the Mediterranean basin. Among the pests of olive trees, several groups of insects, mites, and nematodes have been reported. Phytoparasitic nematodes especially of the genera Meloidogyne, Pratylenchus, Helicotylenchus, Xiphinema, Tylenchulus, Rotylenchulus, and Heterodera have usually been extracted from roots and soil around trees. On the other hand, no information is available concerning nematodes directly associated with the wood. At the end of September 2018, in a high-density cultivated olive grove in Tuscany (central Italy), several olive trees with decline symptoms were observed. Three Bursaphelenchus species, B. fungivorus, B. minutus, and B. sexdentati were extracted from the wood of one dead tree. Even though these species had already been reported in Italy, these findings were the first ones recorded in olive wood. Moreover, another undescribed Bursaphelenchusspecies was found associated with the bark beetle Hylesinus fraxini collected from olive trunks and branches. Further research is needed to investigate the role of insects and Bursaphelenchus spp. in the decline processes of olive trees.

scholarly journals Genome-wide analysis of Corsican population reveals a close affinity with Northern and Central Italy

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Tamm ◽  
Julie Di Cristofaro ◽  
Stéphane Mazières ◽  
Erwan Pennarun ◽  
Alena Kushniarevich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Genetic Isolation ◽  
Genome Wide Analysis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Genome Analyses ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

Abstract Despite being the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean basin, the genetic variation of Corsica has not been explored as exhaustively as Sardinia, which is situated only 11 km South. However, it is likely that the populations of the two islands shared, at least in part, similar demographic histories. Moreover, the relative small size of the Corsica may have caused genetic isolation, which, in turn, might be relevant under medical and translational perspectives. Here we analysed genome wide data of 16 Corsicans, and integrated with newly (33 individuals) and previously generated samples from West Eurasia and North Africa. Allele frequency, haplotype-based, and ancient genome analyses suggest that although Sardinia and Corsica may have witnessed similar isolation and migration events, the latter is genetically closer to populations from continental Europe, such as Northern and Central Italians.

scholarly journals Genome-wide analysis of Corsican population reveals a close affinity with Northern and Central Italy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika Tamm ◽  
Julie Di Cristofaro ◽  
Stéphane Mazières ◽  
Erwan Pennarun ◽  
Alena Kushniarevich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
North Africa ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Genetic Isolation ◽  
Genome Wide Analysis ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genome Wide Data ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Genome Analyses ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

AbstractDespite being the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean basin, the genetic variation of Corsica has not been explored as exhaustively as Sardinia, which is situated only 11 km South. However, it is likely that the populations of the two islands shared, at least in part, similar demographic histories. Moreover, the relative small size of the Corsica may have caused genetic isolation, which, in turn, might be relevant under medical and translational perspectives. Here we analysed genome wide data of 16 Corsicans, and integrated with newly (33 individuals) and previously generated samples from West Eurasia and North Africa. Allele frequency, haplotype-based, and ancient genome analyses suggest that although Sardinia and Corsica may have witnessed similar isolation and migration events, the latter is genetically closer to populations from continental Europe, such as Northern and Central Italians.

scholarly journals Variation in zoogeographical composition along an elevational gradient: the tenebrionid beetles of Latium (Central Italy)

Entomologia ◽  
2013 ◽  
pp. e6 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Fattorini
Keyword(s):  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Species Abundances ◽  
History Of ◽  
Evenness Indices ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

The aim of this paper is to propose the use of chorotype analysis of species assemblages on an elevational gradient to detect the main historical and ecological factors responsible for current faunal settings. A comprehensive faunistic database was used to assess species abundance across 100 m belts in Latium (Central Italy). Species were assigned to chorotypes according to their ranges. Entropy and evenness indices were applied to both species abundances and chorotype frequencies recorded in each belt. Both species and chorotype entropy decreased with elevation, whereas species and chorotype evenness increased. Chorotypes centred on the Mediterranean basin decreased with increasing elevation, chorotypes centred in Europe and Asia had similar frequencies among belts and endemic species increased with elevation. A cluster analysis with species presence/absence data, revealed three main clusters grouping respectively: i) all belts above 1700 m; ii) belts between 901 and 1500 m; and iii) belts between 0 and 900 m. An analysis based on chorotype frequencies produced very similar results. We can conclude that: high elevation assemblages are less diversified, but more balanced than lowland assemblages, in terms of both species and chorological composition. Belts similar in species composition (presence/absence) are also similar in zoogeographical composition (frequency of chorotypes). This indicates that elevation is a factor that strongly selects species’ attributes and especially their geographical distribution. Variations in chorotype composition along an elevational gradient may be used to trace the history of biotas.

scholarly journals Population genomics of wall lizards reflects the dynamic history of the Mediterranean Basin

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weizhao Yang ◽  
Nathalie Feiner ◽  
Daniele Salvi ◽  
Hanna Laakkonen ◽  
Daniel Jablonski ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Hybrid Origin ◽  
Recent Common Ancestor ◽  
Extant Species ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean Basin has experienced extensive change in geology and climate over the past six million years. Yet, the relative importance of key geological events for the distribution and genetic structure of the Mediterranean fauna remains poorly understood. Here, we use population genomic and phylogenomic analyses to establish the evolutionary history and genetic structure of common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis). This species is particularly informative because, in contrast to other Mediterranean lizards, it is widespread across the Iberian, Italian, and Balkan peninsulas, and in extra-Mediterranean regions. We found strong support for six major lineages within P. muralis, which were largely discordant with the phylogenetic relationship of mitochondrial DNA. The most recent common ancestor of extant P. muralis was likely distributed in the Italian Peninsula, and experienced an Out-of-Italy expansion following the Messinian salinity crisis (~5 Mya), resulting in the differentiation into the extant lineages on the Iberian, Italian and Balkan peninsulas. Introgression analysis revealed that both inter- and intraspecific gene flow have been pervasive throughout the evolutionary history of P. muralis. For example, the Southern Italy lineage has a hybrid origin, formed through admixture between the Central Italy lineage and an ancient lineage that was the sister to all other P. muralis. More recent genetic differentiation is associated with the onset of the Quaternary glaciations, which influenced population dynamics and genetic diversity of contemporary lineages. These results demonstrate the pervasive role of Mediterranean geology and climate for the evolutionary history and population genetic structure of extant species.

scholarly journals Body size affects the evolution of eyespots in caterpillars

2015 ◽  
Vol 112 (21) ◽  
pp. 6664-6669 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas John Hossie ◽  
John Skelhorn ◽  
Jesse W. Breinholt ◽  
Akito Y. Kawahara ◽  
Thomas N. Sherratt
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Large Prey ◽  
Laboratory Setting ◽  
Large Body Size ◽  
Small Prey ◽  
Avian Predators ◽  
Predator Attack ◽  
Large Size ◽  
Selection For

Many caterpillars have conspicuous eye-like markings, called eyespots. Despite recent work demonstrating the efficacy of eyespots in deterring predator attack, a fundamental question remains: Given their protective benefits, why have eyespots not evolved in more caterpillars? Using a phylogenetically controlled analysis of hawkmoth caterpillars, we show that eyespots are associated with large body size. This relationship could arise because (i) large prey are innately conspicuous; (ii) large prey are more profitable, and thus face stronger selection to evolve such defenses; and/or (iii) eyespots are more effective on large-bodied prey. To evaluate these hypotheses, we exposed small and large caterpillar models with and without eyespots in a 2 × 2 factorial design to avian predators in the field. Overall, eyespots increased prey mortality, but the effect was particularly marked in small prey, and eyespots decreased mortality of large prey in some microhabitats. We then exposed artificial prey to naïve domestic chicks in a laboratory setting following a 2 × 3 design (small or large size × no, small, or large eyespots). Predators attacked small prey with eyespots more quickly, but were more wary of large caterpillars with large eyespots than those without eyespots or with small eyespots. Taken together, these data suggest that eyespots are effective deterrents only when both prey and eyespots are large, and that innate aversion toward eyespots is conditional. We conclude that the distribution of eyespots in nature likely results from selection against eyespots in small caterpillars and selection for eyespots in large caterpillars (at least in some microhabitats).

scholarly journals The future of terrestrial mammals in the Mediterranean basin under climate change

2011 ◽  
Vol 366 (1578) ◽  
pp. 2681-2692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luigi Maiorano ◽  
Alessandra Falcucci ◽  
Niklaus E. Zimmermann ◽  
Achilleas Psomas ◽  
Julien Pottier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Mediterranean Basin ◽  
Biological Diversity ◽  
Central Italy ◽  
Future Climate Change ◽  
Natural Ecosystems ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
The Future ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

The Mediterranean basin is considered a hotspot of biological diversity with a long history of modification of natural ecosystems by human activities, and is one of the regions that will face extensive changes in climate. For 181 terrestrial mammals (68% of all Mediterranean mammals), we used an ensemble forecasting approach to model the future (approx. 2100) potential distribution under climate change considering five climate change model outputs for two climate scenarios. Overall, a substantial number of Mediterranean mammals will be severely threatened by future climate change, particularly endemic species. Moreover, we found important changes in potential species richness owing to climate change, with some areas (e.g. montane region in central Italy) gaining species, while most of the region will be losing species (mainly Spain and North Africa). Existing protected areas (PAs) will probably be strongly influenced by climate change, with most PAs in Africa, the Middle East and Spain losing a substantial number of species, and those PAs gaining species (e.g. central Italy and southern France) will experience a substantial shift in species composition.

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