Mara Cagnin

Helminths of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) (Berkenhout, 1769) in the city of Palermo, Italy

SummaryA helminthological survey was performed on 143 brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) from the city of Palermo (Italy). The overall prevalence of helminth infection was 98.60 %. The following parasites were found: Brachylaima sp. (prevalence 8.39 %) (Trematoda); Taenia taeniaeformis larvae (11.89 %), Rodentolepis nana (13.29 %), Hymenolepis diminuta (24.48 %) (Cestoda); Gongylonema sp., (4.90 %), Syphacia muris (8.39 %), Nippostrongylus brasiliensis (18.88 %), Eucoleus gastricus (30.07 %), Mastophorus muris (30.77 %), Capillaria hepatica (54.55 %), Heterakis spumosa (82.52 %) (Nematoda) and one acanthocephalan (0.70 %). The species found in males were also present in females, with the exception of the acanthocephalan. No significant differences were found between males and females in prevalence (P%) or mean infection intensity (MI). However, a significant correlation between both P% and MI, as well as host age, was observed in some helminth species. Hosts were infected by one to six helminth species (median = 3). This is the first report from Sicily of helminths in R. norvegicus.

Sexual dimorphism of GABAA receptor levels in subcortical brain regions of a woodland rodent (Apodemus sylvaticus)

This is the first report of quantitative autoradiography results showing sex differences of GABAA receptor levels in brain regions of a wild rodent (wood mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus) living in its natural habitat. The labeling of this GABAergic site with its specific high affinity radioligand [3H] muscimol provided a heterogeneous and dimorphic binding pattern in some of the neural centers. In the female, higher (> or = 50 < or = 65%) to moderately higher (< 50%) binding levels than in the male, even after correction of the specific binding values using the calculated quenching coefficients, were observed in the substantia nigra pars reticulata and ventral lateral thalamic nucleus, brain centers that are relays of motor circuits. In the male, on the other hand, a higher level was only obtained in the caudateputamen. Relays of the stria terminalis-hypothalamic-central gray pathway such as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the pontine central gray and the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, were among the other female brain areas with an extremely higher (> 65%) to higher and moderately higher binding activity than in the male. From the saturation analyses, it appeared that the binding differences were mainly due to Bmax variations, although closer examinations revealed that changes in the KD might have also accounted for [3H] muscimol binding differences, as shown by the high KD and Bmax values in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, the substantia nigra pars reticulata and the pontine central gray of the female wood mouse. These findings suggest that the dimorphic binding activity of GABAA receptors in the above brain regions might be involved in neuronal circuitry mechanisms related to sex-specific social behaviors in rodents living in their natural environmental conditions.

Scale-dependent environmental variables affecting red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis) distribution

We investigated the effects of habitat fragmentation on the endemic subspecies of red squirrel Sciurus vulgaris meridionalis in the Pollino National Park, Calabria, Southern Italy. Presence/absence of squirrels was monitored using drey (nest) counts in 51 1‐ha census plots. Squirrel dreys were found in 16 plots (31%). Patch size was not correlated to squirrel presence. Squirrels were found in patches ranging from 3.19 to 6051 ha. Small‐scale forest structure significantly affected the probability of occurrence. The proportion of conifers and average tree height positively predict squirrel presence; furthermore, nest density was positively correlated with high tree species diversity and the proportion of deciduous oaks (Quercus cerris, Q. ilex). Also at the home‐range scale the proportion of conifer forest and oak‐dominated deciduous forests positively predicted squirrel presence (200–300 m radius). At the even larger scale, corresponding with potential dispersal distances (3000 m radius), landscape parameters indicating a lower degree of fragmentation and proportion of oak seemed to favour squirrel presence. Our results emphasize that multi‐scale analyses can enhance our understanding of red squirrel distribution, and that their distribution and abundance were mainly determined by forest structure components, such as food availability, at the home‐range scale. We underline the importance of protection, and eventually increasing conifer and deciduous oak woods range in the Pollino National Park for the management and conservation of endemic Calabrian red squirrels.

The use of species‐specific cone remains of sympatric arboreal rodents to monitor their distribution

The red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is threatened with local extinction in those parts of its distribution range colonised by introduced alien squirrel species. Therefore, developing fast and economic monitoring techniques is becoming of increasing importance in relation to conservation and/or management of this species as well as for developing early‐warning systems for undesired species (e.g. non‐native, invasive species). We present a detailed description of cone‐feeding techniques by edible dormouse (Glis glis), black rat (Rattus rattus) and Finlaysons squirrel (Callosciurus finlaysonii), that recently colonised a small area in the south of Italy, and compare these with signs left by red squirrels in conifer forests dominated by different tree species (Pinus halepensis, P. nigra, P. laricio, P. pinaster and P. leucodermis) in southern Italy. A total of 15,777 consumed cones were collected in 1997–2005 from 33 localities in Calabria and Lucania. Exact determination of consumer species of 100 cone remains by five trained observers was high (98.8%). We conclude that determination of consumed cones on cone feeding transects is an accurate and economic method for monitoring presence/absence of red squirrels in those parts of their range where they are sympatric with either edible dormice and/or black rats.

SPAULIGODON ALOISEI N. SP. (NEMATODA: PHARYNGODONIDAE) PARASITE OF PODARCIS SICULA (REPTILIA: LACERTIDAE) FROM ITALY

A new species of an oxyurid nematode is described from the large intestine of the lacertid lizard Podarcis sicula (Rafinesque, 1810) (Reptilia: Lacertidae) from Italy. Spauligodon aloisei n. sp. differs from other species of the genus by a combination of morphological and metrical characters, including a spined tail in males and females, absence of a spicule in males, arrangement of the last pair of the male caudal papillae, vulva location, and egg morphology. The species most similar to S. aloisei n. sp. is Spauligodon caspius Annayev, 1987, described from Tenuidactylus (=Gymnodactylus) caspius in Turkmenistan. Tail length and location of the excretory pore and vulvar opening separate S. caspius from S. aloisei n. sp. This article increases the number of species of this genus from reptiles in the Paleartic Realm to 19.

Helminths of the bank vole clethrionomys glareolus (rodentia, arvicolinae) in Southern Italy

Abstract Helminth parasites were studied in the bank vole, Clethrionomys glareolus, (Rodentia, Arvicolinae), in southern Italy (Calabrian region). In total, 193 C. glareolus from three different areas captured between 1982 and 2001 were examined and nine species of helminths were recovered: one trematode (Corrigia vitta), four cestodes (Taenia martis larvae, Mesocestoides sp. larvae, Paranoplocephala omphalodes, Catenotaenia henttoneni) and four nematodes (Aonchotheca annulosa, Mastophorus muris, He‐ligmosomoides glareoli, Syphacia petrusewiczi). This is the first record of the bank vole helminth fauna in Italy. The study of the helminth community of this host reveals no quantitative differences between sexes and habitat influences, but the data show an isolationist character of the community due to low diversity and reduced interactions between species. The geographic localization of Calabria, the limit of the range of this species in Europe, could affect the low species richness found in C. glareolus in contrast with European voles (Clethrionomys spp.).

The helminth community of Talpa romana (Thomas, 1902) (Insectivora, Talpidae) in southern Italy

Abstract. The helminth parasite community of Talpa romana in Calabria (southern Italy ) was studied. The helminth fauna comprised six species: Ityogonimus ocreatus (Goeze 1782), Staphylocistis bacillaris (Goeze 1782), Capillaria talpae (Siebold 1850), Parastrongyloides winchesi (Morgan 1928), Spirura talpae (Gmelin 1790), and Tricholinstowia linstowi (Travassos 1918). All species except S. bacillaris were dominant in this community. The helminths are all stenoxenous species of Paleartic Talpa spp. This paper is the first quantitative approach to the helminth community of T. romana and reveals typical characteristics of an isolationist community. This can be explained by genetic and paleogeographic events.

The communities of terrestrial small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) of the Nebrodi Mountains (north-eastern Sicily)

Abstract The communities of terrestrial small mammals (Insectivora, Rodentia) in the area of the Caronia Valley, Nebrodi Park (northeastern Sicily), were studied. The samplings were done on a transect of six woodland sites using pit‐fall traps. A total of 143 specimens belonging to five species (Suncus etruscus (Savi, 1822), Crocidu‐ra sicula Miller, 1901, Muscardinus avellanarius (L., 1758), Micro‐tus savii (de Selys Longchamps, 1838), and Apodemus sylvaticus (L., 1758)) were caught. A quantitative analysis was performed, based upon an index of relative density. Two types of communities were found: a less productive thermophilous woodland community, living below 1000 m a.s.l., where the typically Mediterranean species S. etruscus is dominant, while A. sylvaticus is in second place, and a more productive mesophilous woodland community, living above 1000 m a.s.l., where A. sylvaticus dominates, followed by C. sicula. The wood mouse A. sylvaticus, that in Sicily lives in allopatric conditions with regard to...

Contributo alla conoscenza ed all’inquadramento biogeografico dei micromammiferi della Sila Grande (Calabria, Italia)

Contributo alla conoscenza ed all’inquadramento biogeografico dei micromammiferi della Sila Grande (Calabria, Italia) MARA CAGNINq“, GAETANO ALOISEqqq“, ANGELO BISAZZAq““q qq Dipartzmem‘0 dz‘ Ecologizz - Umz2er:z‘tzi della Calabria — Armmzcczlzz dz‘ Rende (Cosenza) qqq‘ Dzpzm‘zmeI1t0 dz‘ Biologzkz Anzmale e dellUomo — Unzbersitci «La Sapzeizzzz» — Roma qqq”‘ Istitulo dz’ Pricologzkz ~ U7zzversz’td 512 Padomz SUMMARY As a part of a program on Calabrian mammalian fauna. we present data on rodents and insectivores from the Sila Grande. The methods used were direct trapping and the analysis of regurgitated pellets of birds of prey. The study took place within the National Park of Calabria (7000 ha), prevently forested. In this area there were 26 study stations between 980 and 1600 meters. From the 553 specimens recorded and from the leterature resulted the presence of 15 species: Eri/mceux europaez/.‘, Talpa ronzmm, Sorex armzeus, Sorex rzzm;zztzcm (the only species we did not found), Sorex minzztr/5, Neomyr zmomalz/.r, Sciznm vzr/gum, M yoxztr glix, Mtzxcardzfizzr ave//:1/izzrzzrr, Pitymy: rzivif, Ciel/:Ir1o/zomys glareolztx, Arvzrola terre:trz;t, Apodezm/5 Jylvzzticzls, Apode/zzzzrf/avicollzk, M zzr domestic:/5 5.1. The most important finding was the presence of Sorex zzzimrtzzs which was found for the first time below the Pollino mountains. Further we noted the absence of Cr0czdmzz, Eiiomys qzzerci/712:, and Dryomys uitedzz/zz, but this result must be further confirmed. The species found in this area are for the most part typical of temperate bioclime and have a wide distribution. There is a high faunistic affinity of the Sila Grande with other areas in the South Central Appeninen (Abruzzo, Pollino, Aspromonte). The lovest affinity is with Aspromonte but it is likely that this is due to the scarsity of data from this area. On the whole the data indicate that Calabria was colonized by these rodents and insectivores species, coming from Europe and passing along the Italian peninsula during the Pleistocene glaciations. INTRODUZIONE La Calabria e una regione di rilevante interesse dal punto di vista biogeogra— fico, per la sua particolare posizione nella penisola italiana. Tuttavia le cono— scenze sulla fauna di questa area sono assai scarse. Per quel Che riguarda i micromarnmiferi sono da ricordare il lavoro di Pasa sul Pollino (1955) e le ricerche di von Lehinann in Sila Grande (1961), Aspro- monte (1964), Monte Caramolo (1973) e area di Catanzaro (1977). Come dati puramente storici sono da segnalare le opere di Pagano (1901) e di Lucifero (1906-1907 a,b) da cui non e possibile cornunque ricavare informazioni utili alla Nota: Ricerca eseguita nel1’ambito di una Convenzione fra il Ministero Agricoltura e Foreste - Ex Azienda di Stato Foreste Demaniali e lUniversita della Calabria » Dipartimento diEco1ogia, per lo studio della fauna del Parco Nazionale della Calabria. 793