Search Results (80)

Rapid environmental changes driven by human activities are contributing to a significant decline in global biodiversity, with avian species being particularly affected due to their migratory behavior. As highly mobile hosts, birds facilitate the geographic dispersal of ectoparasites, including ticks, which serve as vectors for numerous zoonotic pathogens. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Faunistic Observatory of the Asinara National Park between 2021 and 2023, aimed to investigate the potential role of migratory birds in tick dispersal and the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA. Birds were captured using mist nets during pre-breeding (April–May) and post-breeding (October–November) migration periods. Ticks were systematically collected and identified at the species level, and molecular analyses were performed using real-time and conventional PCR to detect the presence of Borrelia spp. DNA. Results showed a distinct seasonal variation in tick species composition. In autumn, Ixodes ricinus was predominant (99%), whereas Hyalomma species were more frequently observed in spring (78%). Molecular screening revealed Borrelia spp. DNA in 26.1% of the collected ticks, with Borrelia garinii being the most prevalent species. These findings underscore the ecological significance of migratory birds in the dissemination of ticks and tick-borne pathogens, highlighting their potential role in shaping disease transmission dynamics across different geographic regions. This study provides valuable insights into the seasonal fluctuations in tick populations associated with migratory avifauna and the epidemiological risks posed by these interactions. Continued surveillance of migratory birds as vectors of zoonotic pathogens is essential for informing public health strategies and mitigating the risks of emerging infectious diseases, but further investigation is needed to clarify the actual role of migratory birds in the transmission of Borrelia spp. Full article

Comprehensive genetic surveys of Lepidoptera are still largely lacking across most of the eastern Mediterranean. Consequently, there is a lack of modern, taxonomically validated checklists that meet current scientific standards. In this study, we analyze the butterfly and moth fauna of Crete (Greece) for the first time, based on 3110 DNA barcode sequences, primarily obtained from specimens based on our own sampling program. Building on these data, and incorporating previously published records from print sources and online forums, we establish the first comprehensive checklist of the island’s fauna. In total, the occurrence of 1230 species from 62 families is confirmed, with 724 of them genetically verified. Among them, 75 species appear to be island endemics. The checklist includes 125 newly recorded species for Crete, validated by DNA barcoding (with 36 also being new for Greece), along with 23 species confirmed solely through morphological study, and another 16 only documented by photographs. Conversely, 212 previously reported species had to be removed as likely invalid. Furthermore, 112 unidentified sequence clusters (BINs—Barcode Index Numbers) were documented, taxonomic uncertainties that will require future integrative resolution. Full article

One of the eight shortfalls in European wild bee data is the knowledge of the flowering plants they favor. This knowledge is of particular importance for bee gardens and wildflower strips initiatives aiming to provide forage for the wild bees. The aim of this study is to provide a list of plants that are used for food by certain taxa of wild bees in Bulgaria and to evaluate their potential for cultivation in bee gardens and wildflower strips. In relation to this, we discuss the food plant specialization of the wild bees. We summarize our observations on the pollination of certain plants and faunistic records considering the food plants in several grassland habitats on the territory of Bulgaria at altitudes between 0 and 1500 m above sea level, during the last 30 years. More than 54 taxa of wild bees are listed. They belong to the families Apidae, Andrenidae, Colletidae, Halictidae, and Megachilidae. Some of these bees are identified to the species level, and others to the genus or family level. Among the recorded wild bees are observed eight oligolectic species (22.2%). The listed bees are flower visitors of 60 plant taxa belonging to 20 families, which offer nectar and/or pollen. The wild bees’ food plants are predominantly from the families Fabaceae (15 species), Lamiaceae (14 species), Asteraceae (9 species), etc. The perennials are 67%, while annuals are 9%, annual or biennial 6%, biennials 5%, etc. We discuss the seed germination specifics of these plants. More studies are needed in this field. The conservation of wild bees may be supported by wildflower restoration activities, but the process depends on many factors, including seed germination difficulties. Therefore, the natural grassland habitats must be preserved and protected. Full article

Micropterigidae and Eriocraniidae are poorly investigated in Southern Europe. Despite the richness of the Italian territory, studies devoted to investigating their molecular diversity are lacking. Furthermore, knowledge concerning the diversity and species distribution of these families in southern Italian regions is very poor. The aim of this paper is to contribute to filling the gaps in knowledge on the diversity of Micropterigidae and Eriocraniidae in southern Italian regions by analysing, through DNA barcoding, the samples collected in this geographic area by the authors in recent years. In total, 37 specimens were submitted to DNA barcoding analysis. The sequences were subsequently identified by comparing them with those available in the Barcoding of Life Data Systems. The results provided the first record and the first sequences of the Eriocraniidae family for southern Italy, the first record in continental Italy of a formerly Sicilian endemic species, the first sequences of an endemic species, and the first sequence belonging either to a previously described but unsequenced species or to an undescribed species. In conclusion, DNA barcoding of these families in southern Italy provided very interesting insights, improving their molecular libraries and the knowledge on the fauna of this territory. Daytime studies can further improve these results, but addressing the gaps concerning immature stages should be the major goal of future research. Full article

The assessment of mosquito diversity in remnants of the Atlantic Forest, which are considered biodiversity hotspots, is crucial for studying patterns of behavior and adaptation, performing environmental monitoring, and public health. These studies provide valuable insights into the ecology and biology of these insects, contributing to a better understanding of forest ecosystems and the interactions among the species that inhabit them. The present study aimed to assess the variation in faunistic parameters of abundance, richness, diversity, and evenness along an environmental gradient. This gradient extends from the edge toward the interior of the fragment. The research tested the hypothesis that edge effects influence the distribution of mosquito species in the Tijuca National Park. Sampling was carried out from May 2022 to December 2023, occurring monthly over two consecutive days within the park area. Three different sampling points within the conservation unit were selected: sampling point 1, forest edge; sampling point 2, 35 m from the edge; and sampling point 3, 500 m from the edge, representing different distance gradients. Mosquitoes were captured using CDC light traps with CO₂, Shannon traps, and human-protected attraction; the combination of these traps provided a representative sampling of the diversity of adult mosquitoes present in the study area. An active search for immatures was performed in larval habitats using pipettes and entomological scoops. During the sampling period, a total of 1004 specimens were collected, comprising 320 immatures and 684 adults, representing 27 species. Statistical analyses showed that abundance and richness along the established gradient were not uniform among the sampling points. The Kruskal–Wallis test identified two distinct sampling points: the forest edge (point 1) and a location 35 m from the edge (point 2). The sampling point at the forest edge exhibited the highest levels of species richness, diversity, and evenness. However, given the brief duration of this study, it is crucial to expand the sampling efforts by increasing both the number and frequency of traps and collections. Such enhancements are essential to achieve a more thorough understanding of the ecological patterns and processes at play. Full article

Distribution data on the lacewing fauna of the data-deficient Transcarpathian Lowland (West Ukraine) were provided. The attractivity of phenylacetaldehyde-(FLO) and isoamyl alcohol-based (SBL) lures designed for trapping lepidopteran pests to lacewings was also studied and compared to the efficiency of light traps traditionally used in studies on neuropterans. In the three-year study, 374 individuals of 10 species were caught. Although the light trap was the most efficient method, the efficiency of the tested lures could also be proved. Regarding abundances, FLO was significantly more efficient than the SBL lure. The lures could supplement the checklist of the fauna with two species and attracted an especially high number of Chrysoperla species. In the case of parallel use with light traps, they serve as an efficient standardised combined method for trapping lacewings, both in faunistic studies and plant protection applications. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of gaseous pollutants and vegetation on the structure of fruit-feeding butterfly communities (some subfamilies of Nymphalidae) in a Caatinga area in Brumado, BA, between 2016 and 2018. Two transects were established: Transect “I” (presence of pollutant plumes) and Transect “II” (absence), encompassing a forest fragment and pasture. Bait traps were installed in each transect, and the butterfly communities were analyzed using faunistic indices, including species richness, Shannon diversity index, abundance, and dominance. The canopy opening was also assessed. The composition of fruit-feeding butterfly communities was influenced by both pollutants and vegetation. Gaseous pollutants increased butterfly abundance, diversity, and species richness, though species dominance remained unaffected. Notably, the abundance of Hamadryas februa was particularly sensitive to pollutant exposure. Conversely, increased canopy opening was negatively associated with butterfly abundance and diversity. A relationship between canopy opening and the presence of gaseous pollutants may reflect changes in the abundance and diversity of fruit-feeding butterfly species in the study region. Long-term community monitoring is important, as interannual differences in population fluctuations are common. A better understanding of the patterns found is essential to for devise devising conservation strategies for frugivorous butterfly communities in mining ventures. Full article

The study of Auchenorrhyncha species composition in Greek olive orchards is crucial due to the potential threat of Xylella fastidiosa invading the region. Recent studies have begun exploring agricultural landscapes, particularly olive and citrus orchards. From 2016 to 2022, biodiversity surveys were conducted in thirteen olive orchards across three regions of Greece: Peloponnese, Sterea Ellada, and the Northeast Aegean. Malaise traps were installed in each orchard and monitored monthly, supplemented by sweep net sampling in two orchards to capture less mobile species and assess their association with host plants. A total of 14,771 specimens were collected, representing 125 species predominantly feeding on weeds. The dominant species were the Typhlocybinae Hebata decipiens and Zyginidia pullula, while Euscelis lineolata was the most common Deltocephalinae. Aphrophoridae, including Philaenus spumarius and Neophilaenus campestris, were more effectively collected with sweep nets, primarily from Avena sterilis L. This study offers a detailed overview of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in Greek olive orchards, providing essential insights for developing strategies to prevent the invasion of Xylella fastidiosa. Full article

For almost all the Sicilian islands, there are no faunistic data concerning marine Heterobranchia, which is one of the most sought-after groups of marine critters by photographers and diving enthusiasts all over the world. With the present study, carried out through underwater photography at various dive sites and stretches of coastline in the island of Marettimo, we made the first contribution to the knowledge of the marine Heterobranchia fauna present on this island of the Egadi archipelago. Through data collection, it was possible to document the presence of 43 species of marine Heterobranchia. Data analysis showed a remarkable homogeneity in the number of species between the examined sites. This is probably due to the peculiar environmental homogeneity present in the sites of this island, which are almost all rich in the presence of both benthic suspension feeders (the favorite prey of many groups of marine Heterobranchia) and environments full of crevices, grottos, and vertical walls, which are the preferred habitats of the majority of these mollusks. The higher number of marine heterobranch species found in Marettimo compared to the smaller number of species found on the other recently examined Sicilian islands (Pantelleria, Lipari, and Vulcano) is probably due to the massive presence of rich coralligenous biocoenoses and the particular hydrodynamic regime to which Marettimo is subject. Full article

The state of research into acarofauna in Polish national parks is very uneven. One of the least examined areas in this regard is Bory Tucholskie National Park (BTNP), established in 1996. The aim of the current research was to explore the species diversity and community structure of mites from the suborder Uropodina (Acari: Mesostigmata), inhabiting different forest, open, and unstable microhabitats in the area of BTNP. Based on the analysis of over 300 samples collected in BTNP between 2004 and 2024, 29 taxa of Uropodina were identified, with 3839 specimens found in the analyzed material. The highest species diversity has been observed in different types of pine forests (19 species), in transformed alder and alder forests (15 species, each), and in reeds (12 species), while the lowest diversity occurred in peat bog areas (8 species) and inland dunes (5 species). The spatial distribution analyses for Uropodina in the area of BTNP have been made and distribution maps for each species have been drawn. Moreover, the Maturity Index (MI) was also calculated to compare the species diversity of the Uropodina communities in BTNP with those in other Polish national parks. The Uropodina community in BTNP ranked eighth in terms of species richness among 13 national parks explored in Poland so far. Finally, the comparative analysis of the MI for the selected Polish national parks has revealed that BTNP could be ranked fourth in terms of the faunistic value for the discussed mite group. Full article

The Alboran Sea is the westernmost sub-basin of the Mediterranean Sea, and it is connected to the Atlantic Ocean through the Strait of Gibraltar. The Alboran Ridge is located in the middle of the Alboran Sea and represents a hotspot of biodiversity in the Mediterranean Sea. Besides their critical importance, there are few studies on the communities and changes in biodiversity, and they mostly concentrate on infralittoral and circalittoral bottoms. In this work, the composition, structure and bathymetric and temporal changes of megafauna of the Alboran Ridge were examined. Samples were collected from MEDITS surveys carried out between 2012 and 2022 at depths ranging from 100 to 800 m. Analyses were performed separately for each of the taxonomic groups: osteichthyes, chondrichthyes, crustaceans, molluscs, echinoderms and “other groups”. There was no common spatial organization for each of the faunistic groups studied, although most of them displayed differences between the shelf and the slope. The continental shelf was characterized by the highest values of community metrics such as abundance, biomass, species richness and mean weight of species for all groups except for chondrichthyes and crustaceans. Decreasing trends of some community metrics were detected in some of the faunistic groups throughout the study period. Full article

The fauna of Lepidoptera in the Mediterranean is still inadequately documented. As a result, even remotely complete DNA barcode libraries (mt. COI (cytochrome c oxidase 1) gene) are lacking in most areas. This proposed gap is being analyzed for the first time for the fauna of North Cyprus. In the initial phase, 248 morphospecies from 29 families (exclusive Heterocera) were sampled, sequenced and compared with existing DNA reference sequences in the global BOLD database (Barcode of Life Data Systems) via BINs (Barcode Index Numbers). A total of 194 species could be unequivocally assigned to a Linnaean taxon. Additionally, six species previously unidentified in BOLD, as well as fourteen species without reference barcodes, were identified at the species level. Twenty-four of these species were new records for Cyprus. In addition, 25 taxa with new BINs could not be assigned to a valid species due to potential cryptic diversity or the lack of relevant revisions. Furthermore, a few species could not be identified due to barcode sharing and/or potential misidentifications in BOLD. Overall, approximately 20% of the samples could not be identified using the existing DNA barcode libraries, a significant deficit for European standards, which should be addressed as a priority issue in future studies. Full article

Germany is home to a rich cuckoo wasp fauna (Hymenoptera: Chrysididae) with about 108 species. However, several nomenclatural changes, the lack of identification keys, and the discovery of cryptic species difficult to identify based on external morphology have made the identification of several species a challenge. COI barcoding has been instrumental in the identification of some cuckoo wasp species and could help alleviate some of the above problems, but a reliable large reference database containing the cuckoo wasp barcodes is lacking. We present the COI barcodes of more than 800 specimens of 101 cuckoo wasp species native to Germany to lay the foundation for the barcode-based identification of German species. An analysis of the COI barcode sequences suggested groups that are largely consistent with the current taxonomy of the group. We found a few cases of over- or undersplitting of taxa. In some common species, the high degree of barcode divergence suggests the presence of cryptic species that need to be further assessed by integrative approaches. Our library of cuckoo wasp reference barcodes will enhance researchers’ ability to reliably identify species within this fascinating group of insects, in particular for identifying life stages that offer few or no morphological features for species-level identification. Full article

Background: The relationship between human populations and wild animals dates back across centuries of interactions, enabling the construction of belief systems in communities. The socioecological perspective allows us to understand the interactions between the social and ecological dimensions of a population and nature. Methods: In this context, 133 residents of a rural community were interviewed to assess their knowledge and use of animals. We sought to evaluate the following: (i) animal species used by community residents, (ii) types of use and (iii) the effects of socioeconomic variables on different uses of vertebrate animal taxa. Results: The fauna cited were represented by 82 ethnospecies distributed in 48 families; it was not possible to identify nine ethnospecies and two were identified only at the genus level (Columbina sp. and Turdus sp.). Among the identified species, birds presented the greatest taxonomic richness (n = 34/41.0%), followed by mammals (n = 22/27.0%) and reptiles (n = 15/18.0%). Through generalized linear models, we identified which socioeconomic variables influenced the knowledge and use of wildlife resources. Furthermore, the influence of socioeconomic variables varied between taxa and use categories. Conclusions: The influence of socioeconomic variables may vary according to the taxonomic group, as well as the type of cultural domain, favoring the increase or decrease in the use of a resource. Full article

The results of our preliminary studies indicated that the diets of predatory fishes can be bioindicators of faunistic changes in ecosystems and indirectly of changes taking place in aquatic environments in the Pomeranian Bay. We examined the diet composition of top predators Gadus morhua, Sander lucioperca, Perca fluviatilis, and the mesopredator Neogobius melanostomus. The diet composition of the perch, pikeperch, and round goby in the Pomeranian Bay was analyzed for the first time. Our findings indicated that perch, an euryphagous species, is the best potential bioindicator because it is present in the area studied most of the year and has a low to moderate feeding index (FI). Baltic cod, also an euryphagous species, could be a good bioindicator in the areas where it is abundant and occurs frequently, but not in the Pomeranian Bay, where it is caught mainly in the fall. Round goby, which is present in the area studied and had a low FI, is a stenophagous species that preys mainly on benthic species, while pikeperch had a very high FI and the least number of prey species in its diet. The results of trophic interaction analysis among the predators analyzed and their non-native/invasive prey are also provided. Full article