The Genus Carabits Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera Carabidae). Cara bus Linnaeus, 1758 is a genus of beelies of the Family Carabidae. It contains

about ! 00 subgenera and is highly differentiated in about 1 000 species and a very targe number of subspecies. Terrestrial and carnivorous Carabus are

nocturnal predators that feed on snails, earthworms and caterpillars. The genus is widespread in the Oloartic Region but nearly all the species are native

to the Paleartic. Carabus are adapted to live from the sea level up to 5000 m in the mountains, they can be easily found in all kinds of habitats except the

deserts and the areas permanently covered by ice. Unable to fly they usually have reduced to rudimental wings, a very few species occasionally have

individuals capable of flying; C c(a t raws, C. gramriatus and, probably, C mounts, which makes them excellent biogeograph ical indicators, Carabus

are of medium to large size (12 mm to 65 mm) with developed mandibles and long and strong legs; the dorsal surface of the body frequently has a

sculpture formed of three kinds of longitudinal parallel and symmetrical arranged striae and deep points; often the sculpture is very diversified and

shows conspicuously morphological variations: totally erased, irregular, protruding ribs, with large and deep fovea, etc. Very often Carabus arc

colorful and of fascinating beauty. For these reasons they arc so attractive and notable items for collections, in fact they have been collected and studied

since, at least, 200 years. Carabus is one of the most deeply studied groups of Coleoptera, with a huge I iterature on their taxonomy, biology, phylogeny,

ecology and biogeography. Nevertheless, the genus is still far to be completely known, in fact a number of new taxa are described every year especially

from the most remote areas of Asia and many taxonomic problems are far to be solved.

Ivan Kapuzxi. viaCialla 47, 33040 Prepot to (Udine) Italy; email: info@ronchidicialla.it

Cover photo by A. Plutenko

1. Carabus (Megodontus) schoenberri

sajanus Braining, 1927 - Russia, Siberia,

W Sajan Mts., A. Plutenko.

2. Carabus (Megodonfus) leach i panzer!

Dejean, 1 829 - Russia, SW Altay, Kalbin-

skiy range, A. Plutenko.

3. Carabus {Limnocarabus) clatratus au-

ra nie ns is Muller, 1902- Serbia, Voj vo d i -

na, Ruma, Sava river, L Rapuzzi.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 3-6

First record of Mesophylax aspersus (Rambur, 1 842) from the

Republic of Kosovo (Trichoptera Limnephilidae)

Halil Ibrahimi, Agim Gashi, Linda G rape i- Koto ri , Astrit Bilalli, Milaim Musliu & Ferdije Zhushi-Etemi

Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, “Mother Theresa”

p.n., 10 000 Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo

’Corresponding author, e-mail: linda_grapci@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT The distribution of Mesophylax aspersus Curtis, 1834 (Trichoptera Limnephilidae) ranges

from Western Europe, Mediterranean region, Madeira, Canary Islands and up to South-

western Asia. According to the present knowledge it is however almost absent from South-

eastern Europe. In this paper we present first record of M. aspersus from the Republic of

Kosovo. This is at the same time first country record of the genus. Unlike many countries

where this species is present abundantly in our case it is extremely rare. A single adult male

specimen of M. aspersus was found in an ultraviolet light trap at the Blinaje Hunting Reserve

on August 23rd 2013. This has been a single specimen of this species caught at this locality

during a one year monthly sampling of caddisflies with UV light traps and entomological

net. Another male specimen has been caught on September 24th 2014 at the same locality.

Streams and rivers in all parts of Kosovo were surveyed during the period 2009-2014 for

Trichoptera species and currently the Blinaje Hunting Reserve is the only locality where this

species has been found. The distributional area of this species has been considerably expan-

ded by this record. The closest country where this species has been recorded is Bosnia and

Herzegovina.

KEY WORDS Mesophylax aspersus ; Kosovo; Trichoptera; Balkan Peninsula.

Received 24.09.2014; accepted 12.12.2014; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

The genus Mesophylax McLachlan 1882

(Trichoptera Limnephilidae) is classified according

to Schmid (1955, 1957) in Stenophylacini tribus

close to genera Stenophylax Kolenati, 1848 and

Micropterna Stein, 1874; this genus consists by

only six species in the European fauna (Malicky,

1998; 2004).

Species of genus Mesophylax are mainly dis-

tributed in the Mediterranean area and radiate quite

far to the West, North, East, South-west and South-

east (Malicky, 1998).

Mesophylax aspersus Curtis, 1834 has a distri-

bution mostly limited in countries surrounding the

Mediterranean Sea, occurring from the Canary

Islands to the Near East (e.g. Schmid, 1957;

Botosaneanu, 1974; Dakki, 1987; Bonada, 2004).

From the biological point of view, adults of M.

aspersus emerge in spring and undergo a summer

diapause in caves (Bouvet & Ginet, 1969;

Botosaneanu, 1974; Salavert et al., 2011). They

do not feed during the adult stage, surviving most

probably on the reserves of the adipose tissue

accumulated during the larval phase (Bournaud,

1971).

Halil Ibrahimi etalii

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data sampling and processing

Adult caddisfly specimens were collected with

entomological net and ultraviolet light trap. The

sampling was carried out monthly between March

and December 2013 and only casually during the

autumn of 2014. Ultraviolet light was placed above

the white pan of 60 cm in diameter filled 10 cm

with water with a few drops of detergent. The trap

was placed on stream bank and operated from dusk

until next morning. Collected samples were pre-

served in 80 % ethanol. The specimens were identi-

fied under a stereomicroscope with determination

keys from Malicky (2004) and Kumanski (1985,

1988). Specimens were collected by Halil Ibrahimi

and were determined by Halil Ibrahimi. Specimens

of M. aspersus were verified by Professor Hans

Malicky. The collection is deposited at the Labor-

atory of Zoology of the Faculty of Natural and

Mathematical Sciences, University of Prishtina,

Kosovo.

Study area

The territory of Blinaje Hunting area designated

as special reserve zone is located in central part of

Kosovo, 1 5 km on the western side of Lypjan town.

The total surface of Blinaje special reserve is 5500

ha and stretches in the territory of three municip-

alities: Lypjan, Shtime and Gllogoc. The altitude

within this territory ranges from 670 to 860 m

above sea level. There are 33 artificial lakes present

inside Blinaje special reserve.

The sampling site (Fig. 1) is located at the spring

area of the only stream inside this area which is

adjacent to the biggest lake inside Blinaje special

reserve (42.5185°N, 20.9788°E, and 721 m above

sea level).

RESULTS

Family LIMNEPHILIDAE

Mesophy lax McLachlan, 1882

Mesophylax aspersus Curtis, 1834

A single adult male specimen of Mesophylax

aspersus was found in an ultraviolet light trap at

the Blinaje Hunting Reserve on August 23rd 2013.

This has been a single specimen of this species

caught at this locality during a one year monthly

sampling of caddisflies with UV light traps and

entomological net.

Other species associated with M. aspersus in

this sample are: Potamophylax pallidus (Klapalek,

1899) (10 males, 3 females), Micropterna nyctero-

bia McLachlan, 1875 (4 male, 1 female), Wormal-

dia occipitalis (Pictet, 1834) (1 male), Hydropsyche

saxonica McLachlan, 1884 (2 males) and Hydro-

psyche sp. (5 females); leg. Halil Ibrahimi.

Another male specimen of M. aspersus has been

caught on September 24th 2014 at the same locality

with ultraviolet light trap.

Other species associated with M. aspersus in

this sample are: Potamophylax pallidus (5 males, 2

females), Micropterna nycterobia (1 male, 1

female) and Hydropsyche sp. (2 females); leg. Halil

Ibrahimi.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

In this paper we present first record of Mesophy-

lax aspersus from the Republic of Kosovo. This is

at the same time first country record of the genus.

The distribution of M. aspersus ranges from

Western Europe, Mediterranean region, Madeira,

Canary Islands and up to southwestern Asia (until

Cachemira) (Malicky, 1998; Bonada et al., 2004).

In the Balkan Peninsula the species is however rare.

It has been previously reported from Bulgaria

(Kumanski, 1988) but after a revision of this genus

(Malicky, 1998), the eastern part of the Balkan

Peninsula seems to be inhabited by M. impunct-

antus McLachlan, 1884 and not M. aspersus

(Kumanski, 1997, 2007).

The distributional area of M. aspersus has been

considerably expanded by this record. The closest

country where this species has been recorded is

Bosnia and Herzegovina (Radovanovic, 1935).

This record is almost eight decades old and in

meantime despite detailed investigations in Bosnia

and Hercegovina (eg. Marinkovic-Gospodnetic,

1966, 1970, 1971, 1978; Stanic-Kostroman,

2009), this species hasn’t been found any more. In

Macedonia, a neighboring country to Kosovo, as

in the rest of the eastern part of the Balkan Penin-

First record of Mesophylax aspersus (Rambur, 1842) from the Republic of Kosovo (Trichoptera Limnephilidae)

Figure 1. Sampling site in Blinaje Hunting Reserve: A) Adriatic Sea Basin, B) Black Sea Basin, C) Aegean Sea Basin.

sula up to the Western Anatolia is present a sub-

species M. impunctatus aduncus Navas, 1923

(Kumanski, 1997). Thus, in the continental part of

the Balkan Peninsula, Kosovo seems to be the

border line between the distribution of M. as-

persus and M. impunctatus.

The species seems to be very rare in Kosovo.

More than 100 localities (Ibrahimi, 2011; Ibrahimi

et al. 2012 a, 2012 b, 2013) in streams and rivers

in all parts of Kosovo were surveyed during the pe

riod 2009-2014 for Trichoptera species and

currently the Blinaje Hunting Reserve is the only

locality where this species has been found. The

abundance of M. aspersus found in Kosovo also

seems to be low. Out of nearly 1100 caddisfly spe-

cimens caught during 2013 and 2014 in Blinaje

Hunting Reserve, only two specimens belong to M.

aspersus. This is not the case in other areas around

the Mediterranean Sea where this species is

present. For example in the Iberian Peninsula the

species is quiet abundant (Bonada, 2004).

This record is a further contribution to the

inventory of the caddisfly fauna of the Republic of

Kosovo which is one of the poorest investigated

areas in Europe (Pongracz, 1923; Marinkovic-

Gospodnetic, 1975, 1980; Malicky, 1986, 1999;

Ibrahimi, 2007; Ibrahimi & Gashi, 2008; Ibrahimi

et al., 2012 a; Ibrahimi et al., 2012 b; Ibrahimi et

al., 2013; Olah, 2010; Olah et al., 2013a; Olah et

al., 2013b).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was partially financed by the Min-

istry of Education, Science and Technology of the

Republic of Kosovo through the project “Identific-

ation of rare aquatic insects in some spring areas in

Kosovo”, Project holder Halil Ibrahimi.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 7-10

About the presence of the snow vole, Chionomys nivalis

(Martins, 1 842) (Mammalia Rodentia Cricetidae),in Calabria,

Southern Italy: data review and critical considerations

Armando Nappi 1 & Gaetano Aloise 2

1 M useo civico di Storia naturale, via Cortivacci 2 , 23017 M orbegno, Sondrio, Italy; e-mail: armando.nappi@ alice.it

! M useo di Storia Naturale della Calabria e O rto Botanico. Universita della Calabria, Via P. Bucci s.n., 8 7036 Rende, Cosenza,

Italy; e-mail: g aetan o .alo ise @ unical.it

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT The presence of CllioVlOlTiyS Tlivulis (M artin s , 1 842) (Mammalia Rodentia Cricetidae) in

Calabria, the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, is reported in different literature sources,

but the only Calabrian specimen, from Lago Cecita, Cosenza district, is preserved into M useo

Zoologico “La Specola”, Firenze. A recent examination of this specimen, moreover, has

shown that it is an Arvicold CllfiphibiuS (Linnaeus, 1 75 8 ) juvenile. The distribution of C.

nivalis along the Apennines, requires adequate insights and critical reviews.

KEY WORDS a P ennines; Calabria; ChiOflOmyS nivalis ; distribution.

Received 19.11.2014; accepted 26.0 1.2 0 15; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

The snow vole Chionomys TlivCllis (Martins,

1 842) (Rodentia Cricetidae), is a species wide-

spread from south-western Europe through south-

eastern Europe to the W Caucasus, east to Turkey,

Israel, Lebanon, W Syria, W and N Iran and S Turk-

menistan (Musser & Carleton, 2005). In Italy it is

present continuously along the Alps, while the dis-

tribution area of the Apennines is more fragmented

(Amori, 2008). Moreover, on the latter portion,

some bibliographic data, such as few Abruzzo

mountains as well as the Matese Massif, between

Molise and Campania, should be confirmed by

more recent research (Nappi et al., 2007). Further

south, always along the Apennines, the question

about the snow vole presence in the Calabria region,

in the southern tip of the Italian peninsula, subject

of this note, is of particular interest. The presence

of the species in this region, in fact, was considered

uncertain and debated for nearly half a century.

From the literature search, the first value found

is contained in a generic work on mammals, where

snow vole is reported in Italy “ Sullc Alpi 6 SlilV

Appennino, sino alia Calabria' ’ (“on the Alps and

on the Apennines, until Calabria”), without further

details (Scortecci, 1 9 5 3 ). However, this species is

absent in other publications concerning Calabrian

mammals (Costa, 1 8 3 9, 1 845, 1 847, for a correct

dating of the issues of “Fauna del Regno di Napoli”

written by O. G. Costa, see D ’ Eras mo, 1949;

Moschella, 1900; Lucifero, 1 909; Pasa, 1 95 5 ) and

Toschi (1965), expresses some doubts about its

presence in the region.

Afterwards, in a study about some birds of prey

from Sila Grande, Cosenza, is reported the discovery

of the predation rem ains near a nest of huzza rd Buteo

bliteO Linnaeus, 1758, 25. V. 1971, consisting of

“ cranio frammentario, denti e peli di Microtino,

quasi certamente Microtus nivalis” (fragmentary

skull, teeth and hair of Microtine, almost certainly

Microtus nivalis ) , n o w synonymous with Chionomys

Armando Nappi & Gaetano Aloise

nivalis (D essi F ulgheri et al., 1 9 72). T his m aterial is

now lost and is no longer verifiable (P. Mirabelli,

p e r s . com.).

Afterwards, the presence of the species in the

reg io n , based on a m u seal specimen, is repo rte d b y

Amori et al. (1986). According to Amori (1993),

“ these sporadic records could be confirmed by fur-

ther and more specific research ” and in an other

review, Amori (1999) indicate the species distribu-

tion, in Italy, from the Alps until the central Apen-

nines. M ore recently, the presence of the snow vole

in Calabria, is reported in a mammals volume of

“Fauna d'ltalia” series (Amori, 2008) and in the

section of this species of the IUCN Red List

(Krystufek & Amori, 2008).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this paper, all literature data, that it was pos-

sible to find, were considered. In addition, the only

Calabrian specimen, known by writers, was ana-

lysed. This consist in a liquid preserved body, with

relative skull, into M useo Zoologico “La Specola”,

Firenze, n . MZUF-7448 (Cosenza, Lago Cecita,

18. VIII. 1970, Piero M annucci legit; head-body: 89

m m , t a i 1 : 5 7 m m ; ear: 10 m m ; h i n d f o o t : 2 2 mm).

Of this specimen, skull and teeth morphologies

were analyzed. Third upper molar and first lower

molar, in particular, were compared with the molar

morphotypes, identified by N adachow ski (1991),

just in the genus Chionomys M iller, 1 908.

RESULTS

A recent analysis of the specimen above men-

tioned, has shown that the tooth morphology (Fig.

1) is that typical of water vole Arvicola OITiphibiuS,

(Linnaeus, 1 7 5 8 ) as well as the skull morphology,

r datable to a young specimen of this species (Figs.

2 , 3 ) . A s confirmed, moreover, by comparison with

skulls of juvenile specimens of water vole (Museo

Civico di Storia N aturale di M ilano, nn. 1855, 1863,

1869, 1875, 4134; Museo di Storia Naturale, Uni-

versity della Calabria: nn. SG35, SG 147, AS 164;

Coll. Teriologica G. Aloise: n 615).

DISCUSSION

It seems that the snow vole has colonized the

southern areas of the Italian peninsula already during

very ancient times, perhaps the early middle Pleisto-

cene. This is suggested by a finding at the site of Not-

archirico, within Venosa Basin, Potenza district,

characterized by the presence of archaic elements

such as So rex c fr. runtoneiisis Hinton 1911 , Pliomys

episcopalis Bartolomei, 1 970 and Arvicola Can-

tianUS (Koenigswald 1973) (Sala, 1999). It is also

useful to remember, in this context, the fact that

among the small mammals, in Italy, Calabria is the

southern distribution limit of different species (see

Amori et al., 2008) some of which, of mountain en -

vironm ent, with disjoint areal as Driomys nitedula

Pallas, 1778 (Capizzi & Filippucci, 2008), or frag-

mented areal as Talpa Caeca S avi, 1 8 22 (Aloise &

Cagnin, 2003) and NeOmyS fodienS P enn ant, 177 1

(Aloise et al., 2005). T. Caeca and N . fadiens, pre-

viously considered distributed along the central and

northern Italy, but absent in the southern regions,

were found only recently. Taking into account these

assumptions, the presence of the snow vole, in Ca-

labria, cannot be excluded, even for the lack of re-

search in potentially suitable areas, such as, for

exam pie, P o llin o M as sif an d O rsom arso M o u n tain s .

Based on the results of the present work, and in

the absence of some objective evidence, snow vole

m ust be currently considered to be absent from this

region. On the other hand, until now, all research

related to small mammal fauna, have not yielded

positive results regarding the presence of the species

in Calabria (Lehmann, 1 96 1, 1 964, 1 9 73, 1 97 7;

Aloise et al., 1 98 5; Cagnin et al., 1 9 86; Aloise &

Cagnin, 1 987) and on the basis of more than 3.000

specimens of small mammals, collected over the

entire territory of Calabria during 1983-2013 (Coll.

Teriologica of the M useo di Storia N aturale of the

Universita della Calabria and Coll. Teriologica G.

Aloise), snow vole has never been found. With

regard to Lago Cecita area, alt hough it was also the

subject of several investigations that have provided

more than 300 specimens from traps and 84 speci-

mens fro m rap to rs pellets, C. nivalis has never been

found. It should also be noted that in this area there

are no environments suitable for the snow vole.

Moreover, the presence of water vole, just

around Lago Cecita, is supported by a liquid pre-

served specimen (n. SG 147, Cosenza district,

Spezzano Sila, Valle Capra, 18. VII. 1991) and by a

6 specimen from raptor pellets into Collezione

Teriologica of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Uni-

versita della Calabria, by a stuffed skin (n. 4020,

About the presence of the snow vole, Chionomys nivalis (Mammalia Rodentia Cricetidae), in Calabria, Southern Italy

Fig. i. Right first lower molar (left) and right third upper

molar (right) of the specimen MZUF-7448 determined in

this paper as Arvicola amphibius ( see Fig. 2 for details).

Figure 2, 3. Skulls (Fig. 2) and jaws (Fig. 3) in different view

of juvenile of Arvicold amphibius (left) (Calabria, C osenza,

Lago Cecita, 1 8 .V III. 1 9 70, P. Mannucci leg., Museo Zo-

ologico “La Specola”, Firenze, n. MZUF-7448) and

Chionomys nivalis (right) (Emilia Romagna, M odena, M onte

Cirnone, 19. IX. 1990, C. Bertarelli leg., Museo Civico di

Ecologia e Storia Naturale, Marano sul Panaro, n. 296).

14. VII. 1963) into Museo Civico di Storia Naturale

di Milano and by some observations (F. Pellegrino,

2012, pers. com.). The distribution of the snow

vole, in central-southern Italy, certainly requires

adequate deepenings but data about water vole, a

very decreasing species in Italy, recently no longer

found in different historical localities, are equally

interesting (Cagnin, 2008).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish like to thank Paolo Agnelli (Florence,

Italy), G iorgio B ardelli (M ilan, Italy), M ara C agnin

(Rende, Italy), Antonio Gelati (M ara no sul Panaro,

Italy), Michela Podesta (Milan, Italy) and Renzo

Rabacchi (Marano sul Panaro, Italy) who have

provided us some museum specimens, Andrea Maria

Paci ( C itta di Castello, Italy) for the help in the lit-

erature search, Gabrie 11a Bianchi and Livio Ciapponi

(M orb eg no , Italy ) for m a king po ssib le th e realization

of the iconography to one of the us (A.N.).

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 11-16

Species composition of carabid communities (Coleoptera

Carabidae) in apple orchards and vineyards in Val d’Agri

(Basilicata, Italy)

Agostino Letardi*, Silvia Arnone, Massimo Cristofaro & Paola Nobili

ENEA, Unita Tecnica sviluppo sostenibile ed innovazione del sistema agroindustriale - Laboratorio gestione sostenibile degli

agro-ecosistemi - Via Anguillarese 3 0 1, 00123 Rome, Italy

Corresponding author, e-mail: agostino.letardi@ enea.it

ABSTRACT An entomological investigation was carried out in an agricultural area, mainly apple

orchards, of the Agri river plain, located in some municipalities ofBasilicata, Italy. Between

2012 and 2014, species richness and composition of carabid assemblages were investigated

on the ground surface of differently managed (abandoned, organic, commercial and IPM)

apple orchards and vineyards. Ground beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) were sampled by

means of pitfall traps. 1 28 8 individuals belonging to 40 species were collected, representing

two-thirds of the carabid fauna of this area found in our and earlier studies. The species

richness varied between 4 and 20 in the different orchards. The common species, occurring

with high relative abundance in the individual orchards in decreasing order were: PterO-

stichus ( Feronidius) melas (Creutzer, 1 7 99), Pseudoophonus ( Pseudoophonus ) rufipes (De

Geer, 1 774), Brachinus crepitans (Linnaeus, 1 7 5 8), Harpalus ( Harpalus ) dimidiatus

(P. Rossi, 1790) and PoeciluS ( PoecUllS ) ClipreUS (Linnaeus, 1 75 8). Most of the collected

ground beetles were species with a wide distribution in the Paleartic region, eurytopic and

common in European agroecosystem s. The assemblages were dominated by small-medium,

macropterous species, with summer larvae. No endemic species were found.

KEYWORDS ground beetle; pitfall trapping; bioindicators; conservation; agro-ecosystem management.

Received 18.12.2014; accepted 26.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

In the frame of the ENEA project AGRIVAL

(aree AGRIcole ad alto VALore naturalistico

dell’alta val d’Agri = high nature value farmland in

upper Val d’Agri) (M enegoni et al., 2012, 2014), an

entomological investigation was carried out in an

agricultural area, apple orchards and vineyards, of

the Agri river plain, located in the municipalities of

M arsico V., Tramutola, Grumento N. and Viggiano

(Potenza, Basilicata, Italy).

The aim of this research was to investigate the

Carabid assemblages. In Europe several studies

gave faunal data on similar agro-ecosystems inhab-

iting carabids (Kutasi et al., 2004); these studies

indicate that variations in cultivation management

leads to variations in carabid beetle assemblages.

Although the spatial distribution of carabid beetles

may be primarily determined by microhabitat con-

ditions and biotic interactions at the local scale,

identifying general patterns of carabid responses to

different agro-ecosystem managements may help to

understand how species, functional groups and as-

semblages effectively distribute, and to predict how

they will cope with current and future land-use and

climatic changes (Brandmayr et al., 2011; Kotze et

Agostino Letardi et alii

al., 2011). In previous studies in Europe the fol-

lowing species were mentioned as common (Kutasi

et al., 2004): Pseudoophonus rufipes (De Geer,

17 7 4), Harpalus distinguendus (D u fts c h m id , 1 8 1 2 ) ,

Harpalus tardus (Panzer, 1796), Nebria brevicollis

(Fabricius 1 792), PterOStichuS melanarius (Illiger,

17 9 8), Poecdus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758), Harpalus

affinis (Schrank, 1781).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Five traps were activated for a week every

month in 12 sampling locations, from May until

October. Sampling started on July, 2012 and ended

on October, 2014. Locations have been selected

according to the type of crop (10 apple orchards

and 2 vineyards) and the managing practices

(traditional, integrated and organic) (Fig. 1, Table

1). Due to logistic unpredictable problems, some

of the locations selected at the beginning of the

experiment (samples Aa, Ab and Ac) were not

suitable anymore, and since 2013 were displaced

with analogous locations, respectively samples G,

H and L.

Ground beetles were sampled using plastic pit-

fall traps (500 ml and 100 mm the diameter of the

top) buried in the soil and filled with 50 ml salt

water. Pitfalls were covered with a 10 x 10 cm

plastic roof to prevent flooding.

The qualitative and quantitative data of the

carabid assemblages, recorded in the orchards of

the selected areas of Val d’Agri, were analyzed in

three different ways: 1) the weighted average of

different species in the total catch of the 12 samples;

2) the sum of the scores was calculated (where the

most abundant species collected in an orchard were

placed in decreasing order, and the dominant

species, with highest relative abundance scored 8,

the second one 7 etc.; the scores from different

orchards were summarised by species: the highest

possible score, if a species was dominant in all

orchards, was [12 x 8J 96); 3) the presence or ab-

sence of the species in the orchards was also in-

vestigated. The most widely distributed species

(which were found in 12 of the 12 investigated

orchards) got 100% ; the species, which was collec-

ted in 9 orchards, got 75% etc.

Carabids were identified to the species level, if

possible, following the nomenclature of Fauna

Figure 1. Locations of sampled farms: Val d’Agri (Basilica ta, Italy). Modified from AGEA 2011.

Carabid communities (Coleoptera Carabidae) in apple orchards and vineyards inVal d’Agri (Basilicata, Italy)

FARM

code

Lat. N

Long. E

destination

management

environment

New Ager

A a

40° 16’

15° 53’

apple orchard

conventional

agro-ecosystem

New Ager

40° 15’

15° 53’

apple orchard

IPM

agro-ecosystem

New Ager

A c

40° 16’

15° 53’

apple orchard

IPM

ecosystem

C ap uti

40° 17’

15° 49’

apple orchard

conventional

agro-ecosystem

C ap uti

40° 17’

15° 49’

apple orchard

conventional

near a ditch

F iorenti

40° 18’

15° 54’

apple orchard

abandoned

industrial zone

F iorenti

40° 18’

15° 54’

vineyard

conventional

agro-ecosystem

D o n z a

40° 19’

15° 49’

apple and pear orchard

abandoned

agro-ecosystem

P i s a n i

40° 20’

15° 50’

vineyard

organic

agro-ecosystem

T ropiano

40° 2 1 ’

15° 49’

apple orchard

conventional

agro-ecosystem

Padula

40° 17’

15° 52’

apple orchard

abandoned

agro-ecosystem

B osco G aldo

40° 20’

15° 50’

apple orchard

IPM

agro-ecosystem

Table 1. Localization of farms samples and some their characteristics (Val d’Agri, Basilicata, Italy).

Europaea (Vigna-Taglianti, 2013). Specimens, pre-

served in alcohol, are stored in the collection of the

ENEA Casaccia research centre.

RESULTS

Overall, 1,288 individuals have been collected

belonging to 40 carabid species which represent,

according to our elaboration of the available data

(Casale et al., 2006; Letardi et al., 2014a, b), two

thirds of the total carabid fauna reported for this

geographic area. The species richness of the invest-

igated carabid assemblages ranged between 4 and

20 in the different orchards: the weighted averages

of different species in each samples were not stat-

istically significantly different, nevertheless they

show an evident tendency to increase in terms of

biodiversity moving from conventional manage-

ment farms towards organic and semi-abandoned,

re-naturalized ones (Table 2). The relatively high

biodiversity value in the conventional managed

farm New Ager (Aa) could be an exception due to

the very few number of samples (just 4, all during

2012) collected: in 2013 and 2014 it was not pos-

sible to sample inside the New Ager farm, due to

technical logistic impediments.

Qualitative and quantitative data analyses have

been performed among the collected carabid

species following 3 methods: their proportion in the

total catch of the investigated orchards; the scoring

of the seven commonest species in the different

orchards (total scores) and their presence in the

orchards (distribution).

The most abundant species was PteWStichllS

melas (3 3%) followed by Pseudoophonus rufipes

(2 0 % ), Brachinus crepitans ( 14 %), Harpalus di-

midiatus (8%) and Poecilus cup reus (6%). The

species which dominated the carabid assemblages

(with the total scores) were PterOStichuS melas (80),

Pseudoophonus rufipes (7 9), Harpalus dimidiatus

(4 5), Poecilus cupreus (18), Brachinus crepitans

(14), Carabus rossii Dejean, 1 826 (1 1 ) and

Calathus fuscipes (Goeze, 1 777) (10) (Table 3).

Pterostichus melas and Pseudoophonus rufipes

were found in all investigated samples (100%),

Harpalus dimidiatus was found in the 75% of the

different habitats, Poecilus CUpreUS was found in

the 67%, Anchomenus dorsalis (Pontoppidan,

1 7 63) and CalatllUS sp. pr. montivagUS Dejean,

1831 were found in the 58%, while Amara sp . p r.

aenea (De Geer, 1774) and Nebria brevicollis

(Fabricius, 1 792) were also quite common (50%).

Agostino Letardi et alii

FARM

code

sam-

ples

average

stan-

dard

dev.

species

num-

ber

New A g er

A a

3.00

±1.83

New A g er

1 .50

±1.29

New A g er

A c

2.25

±1.26

C ap uti

B a

1 7

1 .65

±1.27

C ap uti

1 .75

±1.39

F iorenti

2.93

±1.69

F iorenti

1 7

2.00

±1.84

D onza

4.60

±2.32

Pisani

1 7

3.18

±1.70

T ropiano

1 .00

±1.28

Padula

1 3

2.92

±1.98

B osco G aldo

1 3

1 .38

±1.12

Table 2. Weighted average of species biodiversity.

It can be concluded that four species Pt6W-

stichus melas, Pseudoophonus rufipes, Harpalus

dimidiatus and Poecdus cupreus were among the

commonest species in the investigated samples in

respect of all three approaches.

DISCUSSION

Altogether, as a result of our investigations, 40

carabid species, representing about two-thirds of the

whole carabid fauna reported in this area in our and

previous studies (Casale et al., 2006), were found

in apple orchards and vineyards of the medium area

of the Agri river plain.

Most of the collected carabids, both in the whole

area and in each sample, were species with a wide

distribution in the Paleartic region, eurytopic and

common in European agroecosystems.

The assemblages were dominated by small-

medium, macropterous species, with summer 1

arvae; we didn’t find any endemism (Table 4).

species

Total

score

P. melas

14.3

7.3

6.2

21.2

62.6

41 .2

18.8

52.3

15.9

57.8

P. rufipes

46.2

28.6

87.8

6.4

87.7

10.1

7.4

12.5

8.1

5.7

15.6

H. dimidiatus

37.1

5.1

14.4

13.1

23.5

8.1

6.3

P. cupreus

43.1

10.3

7.2

1 8

B. crepitans

6.4

50.5

C. rossii

28.1

1 1

C. fuscipes

5.2

10.5

A. aenea

5.8

C. convexus

10.4

D. clypeatus

5.1

O. cribricollis

5.1

C. preslii

5.2

specimen n°

333

270

species n°

Table 3. Relative abundance (%) and the total scores of the most abundant carabid species.

Relative abundance lower than 5% were marked with +.

Carabid communities (Coleoptera Carabidae) in apple orchards and vineyards inVal d’Agri (Basilicata, Italy)

Brachinus crepitans

Nebria brevicollis

Trechus quadristriatus

Amara sp. pr. aenea

Calathus circumseptus

Poecilus cupreus

Calathus fuscipes

Nebria brevicollis

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Egadroma c fr. marginatum

Poecilus cupreus

Pterostichus melas

Amara sp.pr. aenea

Harpalus dimidiatus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Pterostichus c fr. nigrita

Anchomenus dorsalis

Harpalus distinguendus

Pterostichus melas

Trechus quadristriatus

Brachinus crepitans

Calathus circumseptus

Ophonus cribricollis

Poecilus cupreus

Calathus sp. pr. montivagus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Calathus fuscipes

Acinopus megacephalus

Carabus preslii

Pterostichus melas

Harpalus serripes

Anchomenus dorsalis

Carabus rossii

Pterostichus cfr. nigrita

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Brachinus crepitans

Carterus c fr. fulvipes

Pterostichus melas

Calathus cinctus

Chlaenius chrysocephalus

Calathus circumseptus

Ditomus clypeatus

Amara sp.pr. aenea

Calathus fuscipes

Drypta clentata

Brachinus crepitans

Acinopus megacephalus

Calathus sp. pr. montivagus

Harpalus dimidiatus

Calathus cinctus

Harpalus dimidiatus

Carabus convexus

Harpalus distinguendus

Calathus circumseptus

Poecilus cupreus

Carabus preslii

Nebria brevicollis

Calathus sp. pr. montivagus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Carabus rossii

Ophonus sp.

Carabus preslii

Pterostichus melas

Cychrus italicus

Poecilus cupreus

Carabus rossii

Harpalus dimidiatus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Cryptophonus tenebrosus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Pterostichus melas

Ditomus clypeatus

Agonum sordidum

Pterostichus melas

Harpalus dimidiatus

Amara sp.pr. aenea

Pterostichus c f r. nigrita

Harpalus distinguendus

Anchomenus dorsalis

C arabidae sp . 1

Agonum sordidum

Harpalus serripes

Calathus sp.pr. montivagus

Amara sp.pr. aenea

Harpalus sp.

Carabus rossii

Anchomenus dorsalis

Ophonus cribricollis

Cryptophonus tenebrosus

Amara sp. pr. aenea

Brachinus sclopeta

Ophonus ( Metophonus ) sp.

Cymindis miliaris

Anchomenus dorsalis

Calathus cinctus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Harpalus dimidiatus

Brachinus crepitans

Calathus fuscipes

Pterostichus melas

Harpalus sp.

Brady cellus cfr. verbasci

Calathus sp. pr. montivagus

Nebria brevicollis

Calathus cinctus

Carterus c fr. fulvipes

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Calathus fuscipes

Harpalus dimidiatus

Anchomenus dorsalis

Pterostichus melas

Calathus sp. pr. montivagus

Harpalus distinguendus

Calathus circumseptus

Pterostichus cfr. nigrita

Ccirterus c fr. fulvipes

Harpalus sp.

Calathus sp. pr. montivagus

Cryptophonus tenebrosus

Harpalus sp .pr. affinis

Carabus preslii

Cymindis miliaris

Lebia sp.

Carabus rossii

Agonum sordidum

Harpalus serripes

Nebria brevicollis

Harpalus dimidiatus

Anchomenus dorsalis

Nebria brevicollis

Olisthopus cfr. fuscatus

Poecilus cupreus

Brachinus sclopeta

Olisthopus cfr. f uscatus

Poecilus cupreus

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Cychrus italicus

Ophonus cribricollis

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Pterostichus melas

Harpalus dimidiatus

Poecilus cupreus

Pterostichus melas

C arabidae sp . 2

Harpalus serripes

Pseudoophonus rufipes

Trechus quadristriatus

Harpalus sp.

Pterostichus melas

C arabidae sp . 2

Table 3. Species collected in each locality (Val d’Agri, Basilicata, Italy).

The common species in agro-environments

investigated were the same as those usually found

in field crops and which can be considered as

“disturbance- tolerant” species.

The number of captures, qualitative and quantit-

ative data here reported have shown a clear

tendency to be more abundant moving from con-

ventional towards to organic managements, not sup-

ported by a solid statistical analysis; therefore

sampling more distributed in terms oftime and rep-

licates would be necessary to provide more suitable

data.

Agostino Letardi et alii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We wish to thank a large number of entomolo-

gical colleagues of a web forum (www.

entomologiitaliani.net; M. Agosti, L. Badoei,

S. Biondi, S. Cosimi, S. A. Degiovanni, F. Di

Giovanni, L. Forbicioni, G. Franzini, M. Gigli,

G. Giovagnoli, M. Grottolo, P. Leo, C. M anci, J.

Matejiecek, V. Monzini, M. Pavesi,A. Petrioli, N.

Pilon, R. Rattu, R. Sciaky, M . Selis and F. Turchetti)

for their help and suggestions; the owners of the

farms where the study took place; Camilla Nigro,

Piera Damiani and Giuseppe Sassano, of the ALSIA

station of Villa d’AGRI (Italy), for their great sup-

port in field work The study was carried out in the

framework of AGRIVAL Project funded by Italian

Government Grant according to Legge Finanziaria

20 1 0, A groalim entare art. 2 comma 44.

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faunaeur.org

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 17-26

Paleontologic and stratigraphic data from Quaternary de-

posits of Leghorn subsoil (Italy)

Andrea Guerrini 1 *, Alessandro Ciampalini 1 , Simone Da Prato 2 , Franco Sammartino 1 & Maurizio Forli 3

'Gruppo Archeologico e P ale o n to lo g ic o Livornese, Museo di Storia N aturale del M e d ite rra n e o . Via Roma 234, 57 1 27 Leghorn,

Italy; entail: agl8268@gmail.com

2 CNR-IGG Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse. Via Moruzzi 1. 56124 Pisa, Italy

’Societa Italiana di M alacologia, Via Galcianese 20H, 59100 Prato, Italy; e-mail: info@ dodoline. eu

* Corresponding author

ABSTRACT The Authors describe two malacofauna fossils attributable, on biostratigraphic and strati-

graphic base, to Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene, observed by a drilling carried out in the

east of the city of Leghorn, Italy. The malacological fossil association ofPleistocene was low

in number of individuals but well characterized in the number of species; the one attributable

to the Upper Pleistocene is related to contemporary associations already known in literature

for Leghorn subsoil, and shows two species not previously reported. The malacofauna of

the Lower Pleistocene is characteristic of the current coastal muddy debris; Tyrrhenian

malacofauna mainly consists of allochthonous elements, from a “Posidoilio, meadows” and

the deposition al environment is attributable to the Mediterranean current seabeds. The strati-

graphy of the subsoil of the area differs from that known in literature, as it shows a single

level of "Panchina" that rests directly above clay sediments of the Lower Pleistocene.

KEY WORDS M alacofauna; Stratigraphy; Pleistocene; Leghorn.

Received 24.0 1.20 1 5; accepted 25.02.20 1 5; printed 30.03.20 1 5

INTRODUCTION

The present study is part of a project examining

the malacofauna found in sediments forming the

subs tr ate of the city of Leghorn (Italy) which is not

always investigable directly. This is mainly because

of the closure, at the end of the nineteenth century,

of all the quarries, and the rapid development,

during the last century, of the city itself, which

resulted in the obliteration of the last outcrops. In

the second half of 1 900 were published a few pa-

pers of malacology, including one related to the

excavation of the dry dock of the “Torre del Fanale”

(Barsotti et al., 1 974). Therefore, the study of the

malacofauna of Leghorn subsoil can be carried out

only by analysing new successions, even within the

town limits, to refine the knowledge on biotic

fossils and compare them with those already known.

Recently, have been published data on two new

sections, one at the immediate northeast outskirts

of the town in locality “Vallin Buio” (Ciampalini

et al., 2014a), where the Tyrrhenian sediments rest

directly on those of the Pliocene, and the other one

from an excavation inside the town, near the section

studied herein, and called section “via Gram sci”

from its location (Ciampalini et al., 2014b), in

which is highlighted a malacofauna contained in the

top level of the "Panchina" formation.

The present paper describes the discovery of two

unpublished fossil malacofauna in deposits attrib-

Andrea Guerrini etalii

1 8

uted to Low er Pleistocene and the Upper Pleistocene.

These deposits were brought to light during the

execution of a geological drilling for the geotech-nical

characterization of the subsoil and herein named, sec-

tion “via M anasse” (Figs. 1,2). W ithin the sed irn en ts,

in addition to molluscs, were recovered ostracods and

foram inifera, whose study was carried out to assess

the c hron o s tratig rap h ic framework of the sediments

and their paleoenvironmental characterization.

Geological framework

In the subsoil of Leghorn, in a modest layer of

reddish sands (“Sabbie di D o n o r a tic o ” ) , there are

up to two calcarenitic sands (Panchina) which, on

the basis of stratigraphic and faunal evidence, are

generally attributable to the Tyrrhenian (M alatesta,

1942; Barsotti et al., 1974; Ciampalini et al., 2006).

The levels of "Panchina" belong to a morpholo-

gical element known in the literature as "Terrazzo

di Livorno" (Barsotti et al. , 1974; Lazzarotto et al.,

1 990), interpreted as a polycyclic marine terrace

(Federici& Mazzanti, 1995) that developed during

the stage 5 of the marine isotope stratigraphy

("marine isotope stage 5") (Chen et al., 1991;

Antonioli et al., 1999). The subs tr ate of this ter race

consists of sediments related to the Lower Pleisto-

cene that, based on fossil remains found on several

occasions, were attributed to the “Formazione di

Morrona” (Bossio et al., 1981; Dall'Antonia et al.,

2004; Boschian et al., 2006).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sediments analyzed originate from a

drilling, the location of which is shown in figure 1,

carried out for the geological and geotechnical

assessment of the subsoil (Fig. 2). The fossil shells

were collected directly from sediments or after

washing them. Considering the small amount of

sedimentary m ate rial available, it has not been pos-

sible to recover a large number of complete speci-

mens of large dimensions.

For measures of shells we used the following

abbreviations: d = m ax irn urn diarn eter; 1 = m ax irn urn

Simplified Description of Map Units

H olocene units

Upper Pleistocene continental units

Upper Pleistocene marine units

Middle Pleistocene continental units

Pliocene units

Miocene units

Ligurian units

LIGURIAN

SEA

LEGHORN

Via

Bacinodi carenaggio

Figure 1. Geological sketch map and location of the investigated borehole from “Via Manasse” (43°33'01” N-10°19 , 16”E).

Paleontologic and stratigraphic data from Quaternary deposits of Leghorn subsoil (Italy)

width; h = maximum height. The measurements are

in millimeters and the specimens figured are

numbered in Table 1.

Abbreviations used to indicate the marine biotic

communities are according to Peres & Picard

(1964): HP, biocenosis of photophilic algae; SGCF,

biocenosis of coarse sands with influence ofbottom

currents; VTC, biocenosis of coastal terrigenous

muds. The listofTyrrhenian molluscs found in this

study, reported in Table 1, is compared with those

of other locations recently studied, i.e. “Vallin

Buio” and “via Gramsci” (Ciampalini et al., 2014a,

2014b), and with that of the careening basin of the

“Torre del Fanale” which is, to date, the largest

excavation (Barsotti et al., 1 974).

The studied material is deposited, with the cata-

lognumberMSNM 827, at the Museum ofNatural

History of the Mediterranean in Leghorn.

Were weighed 150 g of anhydrous material,

employed for the m icro p alaeo n to lo g ic al analysis.

The samples were disgregated in water at 100 °C,

filtered in sieves with meshes netof 74 pm and then

dried in oven at 70 °C . The m ic ro p ala e o n to lo g ic al

analysis was conducted primarily on foraminifera

and ostracods. As for the b io s tra tig r a p h ic and pa-

laeoecological appearance of identified taxa, ref-

erence is made to the main available papers

(Ruggieri, 1973; Dali 'Antonia et al., 2004; Guernet,

2005; Faranda & Gliozzi, 2008).

RESULTS

In the sequence under consider ation, starting

from ground level, have been recognized seven

lithological intervals listed below, from which three

samples, indicated with the abbreviations MAN1,

M AN2 and M AN 3, respectively, were collected, at

different elevations (Fig. 3), for m icrop alae on to -

logical analysis.

Interval 1 (0-0.80 m): dark brown sands, with

nodules of Mn. In the first 10-15 cm, dark in color

due to the presence of coal, are visible brick frag-

ments that indicate a very recent age;

Interval 2 (0.80-1.10 m): sand with fragments of

wood and sand with gravel;

Interval 3 (1.10-3.80 m): ocher sandy silt with

Fe-M n nodules and rare levels of gravel. This level

becomes darker in the upper part;

Fig. 2. Core photograph, showing the first 5 meters from

ground level; the arrow indicates the portion of the borehole

where it was found the Tyrrhenian malacofauna described

Current Soil

Donoratieo Sands

Rio Maggione

Conglomerates

Castiglionccllo

Calcarenites

(Panchina I)

Monona Formation

(5) Marine molluscs

i-J Samples

Man!

Tt 1 T M 1 T ’

a S G

Figure 3. Stratigraphic column of the borehole from "Via

Manasse”; sample position is shown; a - Shales, S - Sands,

G - G ravels

Interval 4 (3.80-4.50 m): beige calcareous sand,

fossiliferous. From this level the sample MAN1

was taken ;

Interval 5 (4. 5-4. 7 m): gray-blue sand. From it

the sample MAN2 was taken;

Interval6 (4.7-10 m): gray blue clayish siltwith

sandy fossiliferous levels; at 6 m of depth is present

a decimeters level of gravel ocher in color. From

this range the sample MAN3 was taken;

Interval 7 (10-20 m): gray bluish clay silt with

rare fossils.

Andrea Guerrini etalii

By m icrop alae o n to lo g ic al analysis conducted on

the sample MAN1, taken within the interval 4, it

was observed a m alacofauna consisting of few

individuals, in good conditions, representing fifteen

species of gastropods and four bivalves; the full list

is shown in Table 1. By comparison of the species

observed with those reported for coeval sections

recently described, and those listed for the larger

“Bacino di Carenaggio” (see Barsotti et al., 1974;

Ciampalini et al. , 2014a, 2014b), it appears the

presence of two species not previously reported, i.e.

Gibbula turbinoides (Deshayes, 1835) and Fusinus

pulchelluS (Philippi, 1 844).

Within Foram inifera, the conservation status

varies widely, from good to bad; frequently, indi-

viduals of Elphidium crispum (Linnaeus, 1 75 8 )

were found associated with common represent-

atives of Elphidium spp., Ammonia parkinsoniana

(d'Orbigny, 1 8 39 ), Ammonia beccarii (L innaeus,

1 75 8), Ammonia spp. The residue of the washing

consists of a medium coarse sand, white in color.

Granules are formed by lithics, quartz and fossil

fragments (molluscs, echinoids, foram inifera) very

elaborate, subspherical and with traces of erosion.

Noteworthy, part of the components of the sand are

cemented forming agglomerates.

The analysis conducted on the sample MAN2,

from interval 5, allowed to recognize a rich and

diversified association of frequent specimens of

Loxoconcha SubmgOSa{R\iggieri, 1 977), with spe-

cimens o f Aurilalanceaeformis {UUczny, 19 69), A.

convexa (Baird, 1850), Pterigo cythereis, Cytherop-

teTOn Sulcatum (Bonaduce, Ciampo et Masoli,

1 9 7 6), C. latum (Muller, 1 894), Paracytheridea c f .

hexalpha (D oruk, 1 9 8 0 ) , and represen tativ es o f the

rare species Cimbaurila cimbaefarmis { Seguenza,

1 8 83 ), among the ostracods. Moreover, specimens

belonging to the Foraminifera genera Elphidium ,

Ammonia , Dorothia , Cassidulina have been collec-

ted. The residue of washing is made up of a sand

with a grain size ranging from fine to coarse and

gray in color. The granules are complex, mainly

made of lithic s .

The sample MAN3, from the interval 6, com-

prises a fossil association rich either in number of

specimens or in number of species. Were found nu-

merous specimens of LoXOCOUCha SubvUgOSa, and

valves belonging to the genera Auvila , PtCVigO-

cythereis, Cytheropteron , Bosquetina , Buntonia

(Ostracoda); specimens belonging to the genera

Elphidium, Ammonia, Dorothia, Cassidulina and to

the species Hyalinea baltic (Schroeter, 1 78 3) (Fo-

raminifera) were collected. In addition, frequent

remains of echinoids, bryozoans and molluscs were

observed. Among these have been identified the

species Turritella tricarinata (b roc chi, 1 8 1 4 ) (Fig.

4 8), Nassarius gigantulus (B ellardi, 1 8 8 2 ) (Figs. 49,

50) and Corbula gibba (O livi, 1 792) (Figs. 5 1, 52).

The residue of washing is a gray sand with a

particle size ranging from fine to coarse. Sand

grains are mainly composed of lithics and fossil

r e m a in s .

DISCUSSION

The result of the micropalaeon to logical ana ly sis

of the samples MAN2 and MAN3, from the

intervals 5 and 6, indicate associations typical of a

marine environment of the shallower part of the

internal platform. Furthermore, the discovery of

significant species as Aurila lance aefarmis,

Cimbaurila cimbaefarmis, Loxoconcha subrugosa,

Hyalinea baltica allow to attribute the lower part

of the succession to the lower Pleistocene, in par-

ticular to the “Calabriano p . p . (Emiliano)”, in

agreement with the presence of the gastropod

NaSSariuS gigantulus that disappears at the top of

the “Emiliano” (Ragaini et al., 2007).

In levels 5 and 6 have been identified, as the

most significant species, Turritella tricarinata,

Nassarius gigantulus and Corbula gibba which fo r m

a common association in sediments of the Lower

Pleistocene attributable to the VTC biocenosis.

Lithological characteristics and micro - macropa-

leontologic associations, allow to report the litholo-

gical interval 4 to the formation known as

"Panchina", widespread in the area, and attributed to

the Late Pleistocene (Tyrrhenian). Fossil Mollusca

referable to the Tyrrhenian, as P ersististrombus latUS

(Gmelin, 1791) and CoUUS emineUS (B o r n , 1 778),

have been reported by Malatesta (1 942) in a sand

fro m th e bo tto m of a we 11 dug in the Hospital of Leg-

horn, in the vicinity of the succession under study.

The small number of bivalves (only four

species) found in this interval is not significant

itself, but, taking into account the fifteen species of

gastropods in common with the other sections

already known in literature, and considering their

sediments, the Tyrrhenian fossil association is

Paleontologic and stratigraphic data from Quaternary deposits of Leghorn subsoil (Italy)

2 1

GASTROPODA Cuvier, 17 95

via Manasse

via Gramsci

(C iam palini et

al., 20 14a)

Vallin Buio

(C iam palini et

al., 2014a)

Bacino care-

naggio (B arsot-

ti et al., 1 9 7 4)

Figures

Tectura virginea to . f. m tiller, 1 7 76)

4-6

Jujubinus exasperatus (Pennant, 1777 )

7, 8

Gibbllla turbinoides (Deshayes, 1832)

9-11

Bolma rugosa ( L in n e , 1767)

1 2

Tricolia tenuis (Michaud, 1829)

13, 14

Bittium reticulatum (Da Costa, 1 7 7 8 )

15-18

Bittium latreillii (Payraudeau, 1 8 2 6)

19,20

Cerithium vulgatum b rug uiere , 1792

Rissoa variabilis (Won Muhifeidt, 1 8 2 4 )

2 1,22

Rissoa sp.

Alvania mamillata r is s 0 , 1 8 2 6

24,25

Alvania discors (Allan, 1 8 1 8 )

26,27

Alvania cimex (Linnaeus, 1 75 8)

28,29

Rissoina bruguieri (Payraudeau, 1826)

3 0, 31

Columbella rustica (Linnaeus, 1758)

32,33

FusinUS pulchellus (Philippi, 1 8 44)

34-36

Vexillum ebenus (Lamarck, 1811)

37,38

BIVALVIA Linnaeus, 1758

Striarca lactea (Linnaeus, 1758)

39-42

Glycymeris sp.

43,44

Chama gryphoides (Linnaeus, 1758)

46,47

Parvicardium exiguum (G m eiin, 1 79 1 )

Table 1. List of fossil molluscs from Tyrrhenian found in the survey of “via Manasse”, compared with

those found in sections of “via Gram sci”, “Vallin Buio and “Bacino di Carenaggio”.

compatible with a biocenosis of the SGCF type,

with specimens from the HP biocenosis. These data

confirm those already found in previous studies on

similar samples (Barsotti et al., 1974; Ciampalini et

a 1 . , 2014a; Ciampalini et al. 2014b) and what re-

ported by Corselli (1981) for the current seabed of

the Gulf of Baratti (LI ).

By comparing the lists of molluscs of the Upper

Pleistocene, relative to the locations of the territory

of Leghorn and reported in the above mentioned

papers (Table 1), it can be seen that the species in

common are nearly all, with the exception of RisSOCl

variabilis (Von Muhifeidt , 1 824) and Vexillum

ebeniiS (Lamarck, 1811), which are absent in the

deposits of “ via Gramsci” and “Vallin Buio”, but

present at the “Bacino di carenaggio”; RisSOitlCl

bruguieri (Payraudeau, 1 826) present in “ v ia G ram -

sci”, but absent in “Vallin Buio” and the “Bacino di

carenaggio” and, finally, Glbbulci tUvbinoidcS and

FusinUS pulchellus absent in all other locations.

As for the failure of a previous report of Bittiutfl

latreillii { Payraudeau, 1826), we assumed that the

Andrea Guerrini etalii

Figs. 4-6. Tectura virginea (O . F. M tiller, 1776)d = 3.3, h = 1.7. Figs. 7, 8. Jujubinus exasperatus (Pennant, 1777)d = 4.8, h =

6.5. Figs. 9-11. Gibbulu turbinoides (Deshayes, 1835) d = 3.9, h = 3.6. Fig. 12. BolfflCi TUgOSQ, (Linnaeus, 1767) operculum d

= 6. Figs. 13, 14. Tricolia tenuis (Michaud, 1 8 2 9) d = 4,h = 7.1. Figs. 15-18. BittUim reticuldtlim (Da Costa, 1778), Figs. 15, 16 :

d = 3.2, h =10.8; Figs. 17, 18: d = 2 .6 , h = 7.3. Figs. 19,20. Bittiuni lotveillH (Payrau deau, 1826) d = 2.4, h = 7.9.

Paleontologic and stratigraphic data from Quaternary deposits of Leghorn subsoil (Italy)

Figs. 21 , 22 . Rissoa variabilis (Von Miihlfeldt, 1 824) d = 2, h =3.9. Fig. 23. RisSOCl sp. d = 1.6, h = 4.2. Figs. 24, 25. Alvania

mamillata Risso, 1826 d = 3 . 2 , h = 5 . Figs. 26, 27 . Alvania discors (Allan, 18 18 ) d = 2 . 5 , h = 4; Figs. 28 , 29 . Alvania cimex

(Linnaeus, 1758) d = 2.3, h = 4.4; Figs. 30, 31. RisSOinCl bvugllieri (Payraudeau, 1826) d = 2.6, h = 6.8. Figs. 32, 33. Co-

lumbella rustica (Linnaeus, 1 75 8) d = 3.3, h = 4.9. Figs. 34-36. FusiriUS pulchelluS ( Philippi, 1 844) d = 2.0 m m , h =5.5 mm.

Andrea Guerrini etalii

Figs. 37, 38. Vexillum ebenus (Lamarck, 1811) d = 4, h = 8.2. Figs. 39-42 Striarca IdCtea (Linnaeus, 1 758), Figs. 39, 40: 1 = 4.9, h =

3.5; Figs. 41, 42: 1 = 6.2, h = 3.9. Figs. 43, 44. Gfycymeris sp. 1 = 4.1, h = 3.9; Fig. 45. Parvicardilim exigUUm ( Gmelin, 1791) 1 =

7.3, h = 6.3; Figs. 46, 47. Chama gryphoideS (Linnaeus, 1758)l=5.3,h = 4.7;Fig.48. Tlirritella tricarimta (B rocchi, 1 8 1 4) d = 4.8,

h = 1 1 ; Figs. 49, 5 0. NaSSCiriuS gigantulllS (B ellardi, 1882)d = 1 .3, h =2.5. Figs. 51,52. Corbuld gibba (Olivi, 1792)1= 9.4,h = 8.3.

Paleontologic and stratigraphic data from Quaternary deposits of Leghorn subsoil (Italy)

species may have been confused with B. F6ticU-

latum (Da Costa, 1778). Gibbula turbinoides and

Fusinus pulchellus , exclusive of the succession of

“via Manasse”, are compatible with the habitat of

“posidonieto” as one lives at low depth under the

rocks and on seagrass, and the other between the

Posidonia oceanica ( L.) Delile rhizomes.

The overall available data and m icropalaeonto-

logical analysis confirm, for the level of "Panchina",

a shallow marine habitat at high energy, with rocky

substrates alternating to sandy ones, in proximity of

or mixed to seagrass meadows. Even for the micro-

palaeontological association of the sample collected

in the limes to n e (interval 4), the conservation status

of the fossils and the structure of the granules of

sand confirm the hypothesis of the occurrence of a

marine environment at high energy.

Contrary to other Tyrrhenian fossilmalacofauna

found in the Leghorn area and atthe same s tratigra-

phic level, which are generally poorly preserved

(Ciampalini et al., 2014a, 2014b), the association

of “via Manasse” is composed of specimens little

eroded and often with traces of original coloring.

This, combined with the finer grain size of the

sediments, although still corroborating the hypothe-

sis of a marine environment at high energy, may

indicate a lower transport and consequently a

marine environment more stable and little deeper

than that assumed for the neighboring area of “via

Gramsci”, characterized, instead, by shoals of

"Panchina" quite compact.

The lithological study of the drilling revealed

peculiar stratigraphic characteristics partly different

from those previously reported (Barsottietal. 1974;

Ciampalini et al., 2006; Ciampalini et al., 2014b).

The drilling of “via M anasse” shows, in fact, only

one level of “Panchina” (lithological interval 4),

whereas former studies have often described two

levels, separated by a layer of clay and silt of

continental environment (Barsotti et al. 1 974;

Zanchetta et al., 2004; Ciampalini et al., 2006). On

the other hand, only one level has been observed in

the successions close to the ancient cliffs and at

higher altitudes. The presence of the Lower Pleisto-

cene, at the bottom of the drilling, enriches our

knowledge on the stratigraphy of the area that,

to day, is still poo rly known. As already repo r ted, in

stratigraphic levels below the "Panchina” it is pos-

sible to found sediments of both Pliocene and

Lower or M id die Pleistocene.

CONCLUSIONS

The lithological study of the drilling revealed

seven major lithological intervals. M icropalaeonto-

logical and lith o s tr atig r ap h ic analyses allowed to

attribute the intervals 7-5 to the Form ation of

Morrona (Lower Pleistocene, Calabrian) and the

lithological interval 4 to the Formation of the

“Calcareniti of C a s tig lio n c e llo ” (Upper Pleisto-

cene), also known as "Panchina".

The intervals 3 and 2 are attributed, on the basis

of observations on site, to the formation of con-

glomerates of Rio Maggiore, while interval 1 refers

to the “Sabbie di Donoratico”, present throughout

the Terrace of Leghorn. On the top of the drilling

was identified a soil rich in coal.

In the drilling analysed in this work, was ob-

served only one level of "Panchina" just above the

clay sediments of the Lower Pleistocene.

The analysis of malacofauna present in the

"Panchina" confirms data already known for an

advanced part of the Tyrrhenian cycle. Conversely,

no tropical molluscs, typical of the coasts of N W -

Centre Africa, and characteristic of the Tyrrhenian

baseline (MIS 5e), have been found. Since their

discovery was reported by Malatesta (1 942) at a

depth of about 6 meters (about 12 meters above sea

level), in a well near the present hospital and less

than one km away from “via Manasse”, this result

raises some questions. If for the section of “via

Gramsci”, adjacent to the hospital we could hypo-

thesize the failure in finding the African species

due to the shallow depth of the drilling, little more

than three meters, the same cannot be said for the

drilling of ’’via Manasse”, up to 20 meters above

the ground. At the depth of 6 meters from ground

level “via M anasse” sediments and malacofauna are

attributable to the Lower Pleistocene, sample

MAN3, while in the hospital area both sediments

and malacofauna are Tyrrhenian (Malatesta, 1 942).

The scantiness of recovered materials due to the

nature itself of the sampling carried out, i.e. only a

single drilling, could be the cause of the failure in

finding or recognizing the Tyrrhenian level M IS 5e.

Nevertheless, it is also possible that this level is not

always present in the subsoil of Leghorn.

On the other hand, the lack of the second cal-

carenitic level, probably eroded and replaced by

sediments of the river-type (Conglomerates of Rio

M aggiore), currently occurring above the fossil level,

Andrea Guerrini etalii

attests the possibility that important variations in the

stratigraphy of the terrace Leghorn have occurred.

In conclusion, it is not easy to find in the subsoil

of Leghorn the initial part of the transgressive

Tyrrhenian cycle and, consequently, to establish its

relationship with the underlying lithological units.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Mr. Enrico Ulivi (Lastra a Signa, Flo-

rence, Italy) for the making photographs of

molluscs and Dr. Paolo Russo (Venice, Italy) for

confirmation of the determination of FliSiliUS

pulchellus.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 27-40

Stream’s water quality and description of some aquatic

species of Coleoptera and Hemiptera (Insecta) in Littoral

Region of Cameroon

SimeonTchakonte 1 *, Gideon A. Ajeagah 1 , Nectaire Lie NyamsiTchatcho 1,3 , Adama Idrissa Camara 2 , Dramane

Diomande 2 & Pierre Ngassam 1

'Laboratory of Hydrobiology and Environment, Faculty of Science, University of Yaounde I, P.O. BOX 812 Yaounde, Cameroon.

2 Laboratory of Environment and Aquatic Biology, Nangui Abrogoua University, 02 P.O. BOX 801 Abidjan 02, Ivory Coast.

'Department of Aquatic Ecosystems Management, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences at Yabassi, University of Douala,

P.O. Box 7236 Douala, Cameroon.

* Corresponding author, e-mail: tchakontesimeoon@yahoo.fr

ABSTRACT Aquatic insects are the dominant taxon group in most freshwater ecosystems and are particu-

larly suitable for large scale and comparative studies of freshwater community responses to

human-induced perturbations. Understanding these responses is crucial for establishing con-

servation goals. In this study, we used three families of aquatic insects (Coleoptera Gyrinidae,

Hemiptera Gerridae and Veliidae) as surrogates to measure the aquatic health of urban streams

in the city of Douala, and we described eight characteristic species. Aquatic insects were

sampled monthly over a 13-month period in two forested sites and ten urbanized sites.

Meanwhile, measurements of the environmental variables were taken. Overall, 20 species

were identified; the family Gerridae was the most diversified with 1 1 species, followed by

Veliidae (5 species), and Gyrinidae (4 species). All these species were present only at the two

forested sites; no species was found in the urbanized area all over the study period. Morpho-

logical description of the eight best indicator species ( Orectogyrus specularis Aube, 1838,

Orectogyrus sp.l, Orectogyrus sp. 2, Eurymetra manengolensis Hoberlandt, 1952, Eurymetra

sp. 1, Eurymetra sp. 2, Rhagovelia reitteri Reuter, 1884 and Rhagovelia sp.) revealed not

described characteristic features and potentially new species. This testified that in Cameroon,

biodiversity of aquatic insects is yet entirely to be investigated, and that there is an urgent need

in their taxonomic revision. Physicochemical analyses revealed the very poor health status of

urban streams with highly polluted water, while suburban streams have unpolluted water. The

results of redundancy analysis revealed that the presence of Gyrinidae, Gerridae and Veliidae

species is undoubtedly favored by the high rate of dissolved oxygen, important canopy cov-

erage and very low organic matter input. It is thus clear that polluted status of urban streams

due to human activities is the primary cause of the extinction of aquatic insect species.

KEY WORDS Aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera; morphological features; sensitive species; water pollution.

Received 31.01.2015; accepted 28.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Climate change, loss of biodiversity and the

growth of an increasingly urban world population

are main challenges of this century (Muller et al.,

2010). In developing countries, urban population

and anarchic urban land use have dramatically in-

creased over the past few decades. Such population

Simeon Tchakonte etalii

growth and urban expansion are placing greater

stresses on the natural environment (Cohen, 2003),

leading to a strong variability on the physical and

chemical features of lotic ecosystems by clearing

riparian vegetation and opening canopy, increasing

inputs of sediments, nutrients, organic matter and

pollutants (i.e., heavy metals), altering flows and

reducing habitat heterogeneity (Xu et al., 2013;

Zhang et al., 2013). Such modifications result into

drastic changes in the biological component and the

ecological functioning of urban streams, with a

deterioration of water quality and loss of sensitive

aquatic biota (Tchakonte et al., 2014). There is

therefore a growing need to better understand and

predict how biotic communities respond to these

disturbances.

As an important functional group in stream eco-

systems that sustains the stability and complexity

of aquatic communities, insects have frequently

been used to indicate changes in the composition of

stream communities that respond to anthropogenic

disturbances since they are sensitive indicators of

long-term environmental changes in water and

habitat quality (Rosenberg & Resh, 1993; Song et

al., 2009; Zhang et al., 2013). Within the insects,

Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera are well

known as good bioindicators in stream ecosystems

(Rosenberg & Resh, 1993; Foto Menbohan et al.,

2013; Nyamsi Tchatcho et al., 2014), whereas the

use of aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera in bio-

monitoring studies is rare. Despite their limited use

in stream biomonitoring, some aquatic Coleoptera

and Hemiptera taxa have been shown as being

sensitive to increase in sediment and organic pollu-

tion (e.g., Hauer & Resh, 1996; Zettel & Tran,

2004). Furthermore, most Hemipteran’s species are

endemic to particular islands or continental regions

and often have extremely limited distributions,

issuing them a bioindicator identity.

In the city of Douala which is the most densely

populated and industrialized area of Cameroon,

urbanization is anarchical with precarious sanitation

systems in shanty quarters; household disposals,

municipal and industrial wastewater and solid wastes

are discharged directly in the environment without

preliminary or adequate treatment (Tening et al.,

2013; Tchakonte et al., 2014).To our knowledge, no

study has so far dealt with diversity, morphological

description and ecological requirement conditions

of aquatic insect of the families Gyrinidae, Gerridae

and Veliidae in Douala rivers. Indeed, these Cole-

optera and Hemiptera accomplish their entire live

cycle in aquatic milieu (except pupal stage of Gyrin-

idae); they are therefore in permanent contact with

the aquatic environment and might reflect even the

most subtle changes occurring in the medium.

This study aimed thus to inventory and to describe

characteristic species of Gyrinidae, Gerridae and

Veliidae in urban and forest streams of Douala city,

in order to provide further information on the

systematic of these families and to offer hypotheses

as to how the species are distributed.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area and sampling stations

Douala city is located at the bottom of the Gulf

of Guinea, along the estuary of the Wouri River.

This city extends between 3°58’- 4°07’ of latitude

North and between 9°34’ - 9°49’ of longitude East,

and presents a flat topography with altitudes

varying between 1.6 and 39 m (Olivry, 1986). The

climate of this region was classified by Suchel

(1972) as a wet tropical type, characterized by a

short dry season (December to February) and a long

rainy season (March to November). Rainfalls are

abundant and regular with the annual average

values varying between 2596 mm and 5328 mm.

The air temperature is relatively high with a monthly

average of approximately 28 °C (Suchel, 1972).

Samplings were carried out monthly, from Septem-

ber 2012 to September 2013 in 12 stations located

in the three larger contiguous watersheds (Nsape,

Tongo’a-Bassa and Mgoua) situated at the left bank

of the Wouri River (Fig. 1).

The watershed of Nsape is located in a peri-

urban area situated at about 30 km away from the

urban centre. This watershed is particularly covered

by vegetation of a secondary dense forest type,

composed of high trees, shrubs and tall grasses (un-

dergrowth) which alternate with some cleared spaces

used for traditional farming purposes. This forested

area is uninhabited and sheltered of any urban/

industrial activity. Two stations identified as N ] and

N 2 were selected in this forested area. Inversely,

Tongo'a-Bassa and Mgoua basins are located in

industrialized areas and are highly polluted by

human activities. Five sampling stations (Tj, T 2 ,

Stream’s water quality and description of aquatic species of Coleoptera and Hemiptera in Littoral Region of Cameroon 29

T 3 , ATj, and AT 2 ) were selected in the Tongo'

a-Bassa catchment. The stations Tj and T 2 are

localized respectively at 350 m upstream and 200

m downstream from the outlet of the effluent of an

industry of chocolate factory and confectionery.

Stations AT ^ and AT 2 are located respectively at

100 m and 3.5 km downstream from the outlet of

effluents coming from a brewery industry, a textile

industry and an industry of manufacture of glasses.

While station T 3 is situated at 500 m downstream

from the junction of the two preceding arms. The

five other stations (M 1? M 2 , AM 1? AM 2 and AM 3 )

were chosen in Mgoua river basin. The stations M 3

and M 2 are respectively localized at 350 m upstream

and 250 m downstream from the outlet of effluents

coming from the great Industrial Centre of Bassa.

Stations AM| and AM 2 are located respectively at

300 m upstream and 150 m downstream from the

outlet of the effluent of a soap and cosmetic factory,

while station AM 3 is situated at approximately 2.4

km downstream of this effluent.

Measurement of environmental variables

At each sampling station, 15 environmental

variables were taken into account. Three physical

parameters were determined to characterize the

habitat. The mean water depth (WD) was measured

Simeon Tchakonte etalii

on transects with equal distance interval across the

river sections (Song et al., 2009). Current velocity

(CV) was measured by timing the front of a neutral

non-pollutant dye (blue of methylene) over a

calibrated distance. At each sampling station,

canopy coverage (%) was estimated visually (Rios

& Bailey, 2006).

The measurements of physicochemical paramet-

ers of water at each sampling station were done fol-

lowing APHA (2009) and Rodier et al. (2009)

standard methods. Water temperature, pH, and dis-

solved oxygen (DO) were measured in situ using an

alcohol thermometer, a HACH HQ lid pH-meter,

and a HACH HQ14d oxymeter, respectively. Like-

wise, electrical conductivity (EC) was measured in

situ using a HACH HQ 14d conductimeter. Suspen-

ded solids (SS), turbidity, ammonium (NH 4 + ), ni-

trites (N0 2 ‘), nitrates (NO3'), and phosphates

(PO4 3 ) were measured in the laboratory using

HACH DR/2800 spectrophotometer. The Bioche-

mical Oxygen Demand (BOD5) was measured

using a Liebherr BOD analyzer. In order to assess

the organic pollution level at each sampling station,

the Organic Pollution Index (OPI) was calculated

according to the protocol described by Leclercq

(2001). OPI is based on three ions concentrations

resulting from organic pollution (NH 4 + , N0 2 ", and

P0 4 3 ") and one synthetic parameter (BOD5).

Sampling, identification and representatio-

nof aquatic insect species

Insect samples were collected at each station

using a long-handled kick net (30 cm x 30 cm side,

400 pm mesh-size, 50 cm depth). For each station,

samplings were done in a 100 m stretch following

protocol described by Stark et al. (2001). At each

station, 20 drags of the kick net were done in dif-

ferent micro-habitat, each corresponding to a

surface of 0.15 m 2 (30 cm x 50 cm). The materials

that were collected in the sampling net were rinsed

through a 400 pm sieve bucket and all macroinver-

tebrate individuals were sorted and preserved in

plastics sampling bottles with 70% ethanol. In the

laboratory, all aquatic insects belonging to the

families Gyrinidae (Coleoptera), Gerridae and

Veliidae (Hemiptera) were identified under a

stereomicroscope using appropriate taxonomic keys

(Dejoux et al., 1981; Durand & Leveque, 1981; De

Moor et al., 2003; Stals & De Moor, 2007; Tachet

et al., 2010), and counted.

The specimens intended for representation were

prior immersed in 10% sodium hydroxide

overnight, so as to soften their chitin and lighten

their body. The drawings of general morphology of

characteristic species were carried out under a

stereomicroscope equipped with a drawing tube.

Details of key appendages were drawn using an

optical microscope 100x magnification, equipped

with a drawing tube.

Data analyses

Insect richness, abundances and occurrence

frequencies were used to classify species according

to Dajoz (2000). In order to study the relationships

between environmental variables and the distribu-

tion and dynamic of the eight characteristic insect

species, Canonical Redundancy Analysis (RDA)

was performed based on the data matrix of species

abundances and physicochemical parameters. RDA

is a constrained ordination method, efficient in

directly revealing relationships between the spatial

structure of communities and environmental factors

that might be responsible for that structure (Le-

gendre et al., 2011). Monte Carlo permutations (499

permutations) were done so as to identify a subset

of measured environmental variables, which exer-

ted significant and independent influences on insect

species distribution at p < 0.05. CANOCO for

Windows 4.5 software (Ter Braak & Smilauer,

2002) was used for this analysis.

RESULTS

Environmental variables

The mean values and standard deviation (SD) of

environmental variables measured at each sampling

station are shown in Table 1 . The lower mean val-

ues of water temperature were observed at forested

sites (25.9° C), whereas at urbanized sites, higher

values were recorded, especially downstream from

the outlet of industrial effluents. The mean values

of pH varied between 6.10 (NQ and 8.16 (AM 2 ).

The percentage of dissolved oxygen was overall

higher at suburban sites (>75%) compared to urban

sites, where waters were closed to the hypoxic con-

dition, with mean values oscillating between 2.95%

(T3) and 21.3% (AMQ. Mean values of electrical

conductivity ranged between 13.1 pS/cm (N 2 ) and

Stream’s water quality and description of aquatic species of Coleoptera and Hemiptera in Littoral Region of Cameroon 3 1

1559 pS/cm (ATj). Turbidity and suspended solids

were globally veiy low at forested sites, with mean

values ranging froml4 to 26 NTU and from 4.2 to

7.7 mg/L, respectively. Where as in urban zone,

mean values of these parameters varied between

94.2 NTU ( AM { ) and 259.7 NTU (ATj), and

between 47.9 mg/L (AMj) and 163.5 mg/L (AT|),

respectively for turbidity and suspended solids. The

lowest mean values of nitrates (0.11 mg/L), nitrites

(0.006 mg/L), ammonium (0.09 mg/L) and phos-

phates (0.08 mg/L) were recorded at suburban sta-

tion N j , whereas the highest were registered at the

urban stations ATj (6.98 mg/L), AM 2 (0.26 mg/L),

M | (5.19 mg/L) and AT | (2.2 mg/L), respectively.

Concerning BOD, the lowest value (13.08 mg/L)

was observed in station N | , while the highest values

(218.1 mg/L) were obtained at station AT ] . Mean

values of water’s depth and current velocity fluc-

tuated between 0.22 m (M 3 ) and 0.75 m (AM 3 ), and

between 0.22 m/s (AM 3 ) and 0.89 m/s (ATj),

respectively. At the level of all the sampling stations

situated in urban area, canopy was absent; mean-

while it was estimated to 69% and 73% respectively

at the level of stations N 1 and N2 located in forested

sites. The organic pollution index (OPI) revealed

that organic pollution ranged from low to null at the

forested sites; whereas in urban streams, organic

pollution level was veiy high.

Composition and distribution of species

Overall, 20 species were identified for the three

studied aquatic insect families (Table 2). The family

Gerridae (Hemiptera) was the most diversified with

1 1 species, followed by the family Veliidae (Hemi-

ptera) with 5 species, and the family Gyrinidae (Co-

leoptera) which accounted 4 species. All these

species were caught only at the two forested sites

(N 1 and N2); no species were found at any of the

ten sampling stations located in urban streams, all

over the study period. Among the taxa identified 3

species of Gyrinidae ( Orectogyrus specularis Aube,

1838, Orectogyrus sp. 1 and Orectogyrus sp.2), 5

Variables

Forested sites

Urbanized sites

AT,

M :

AM,

AMj

Temperature (°C)

Mean

25.9

25,9

29.4

29.2

30.1

32.7

30.54

29.1

29.54

28.8

29.23

29.4

0.79

0.98

1.7

1.61

2.36

2.24

2.12

2.63

2.23

1.78

1.73

2.28

pH(UC)

Mean

6.10

6.19

7.01

6.98

6.72

7.93

6.71

6.92

6.79

6.75

8.16

7.01

0.71

0,93

0,52

0.53

0.73

1.11

0.84

0.63

0.72

0.66

0.91

0.86

DO (%)

Mean

75.4

80.3

14.6

17.7

2,95

4.65

5.5

6.32

5.7

21.3

10,51

5.64

10.9

10.!

11.8

1.66

2.47

8.73

5.89

7.86

6.62

EC (pS/cm)

Mean

132

13,1

397.9

401.1

4753

1559

624.2

403.1

677.5

291.3

478.9

443.7

6.82

3.09

115

117

152

1159

277.5

148

636.6

417.1

170

Turbidity (NTU)

Mean

102.2

116.3

131.6

259,7

173

125.1

119.9

94.2

122.6

106.9

10,5

17.2

108

187.4

100.6

69.6

18.7

86.59

SS (mg/L)

Mean

4.2

7,7

62.9

54.9

100.5

163.5

99.2

71.62

47,9

72.69

86,9

3.8

4.09

101

85.5

112.3

66.1

39.7

27.3

25.9

41.72

72.7

NO/ (mg/L)

Mean

0.11

0,2

2.79

1.53

3.7

6.98

4.43

2.24

3.22

1.91

3.24

3.1

0.16

0,17

5.26

0.58

2.92

4,9

332

2.14

1.49

1.18

3.99

1.3

NO/ (mg/L)

Mean

0,006

0.008

0.23

0.21

0.13

0.21

0.041

0.04

0.08

0.12

0.26

0.2

0.0

0,0

0.46

0.39

0.26

0.31

0.025

0.06

0.1

0,15

0.65

0.29

NHf (mg/L)

Mean

0.09

0.1

4.5

4.56

4.4

4.04

3.12

5.19

4.15

3.1

Z49

3.29

PO/‘(mgfl.)

0.07

0.08

2.53

2.73

2.3!

2.93

1.04

3.16

0.32

2.39

1.86

1.52

Mean

0.08

0.14

1.21

1.06

1.3

2.2

1.4

1.53

1.17

0.9

0.88

1.39

0.13

0.2

0.41

0.38

0.58

1.73

0.69

0.91

0.73

0.43

0.37

0.45

BOD 5 (mg/L)

Mean

13.08

16.2

96.9

156.2

158.5

218.1

176.2

89.6

105

94.6

121.15

139.6

6,9

10,2

63,23

46.24

31.3

27.39

WD (m)

Mean

0.31

0,66

0.37

0.48

0.65

0.26

0,62

0.22

0.43

0.35

0.26

0.75

0.07

005

0.07

0.06

0.04

0.05

0.03

0.05

0.06

0,05

0.03

CV (m/s)

Mean

0,64

0,48

0.75

0,78

0.57

0.89

0.71

0.38

0.37

0.46

0.45

0.22

0.04

0.05

0.04

0,05

0.04

0.03

0.05

0,04

0,05

OPI Values

Mean

4.63

4.14

1.67

1.73

1.69

1.48

1.81

1.87

1.98

1.94

1.77

0.53

0.55

0.30

0.26

0.31

0.37

0.25

0.37

0.32

0.31

0.34

0.40

Pollution level

Null

Low

Very high

Table 1. Mean values and standard deviation (SD) of environmental variables measured

at each sampling station during the study period.

Simeon Tchakonte etalii

species of Gerridae ( Eurymetra manengolensis

Hoberlandt, 1952, Eurymetra sp. 1, Eurymetra sp.

2, Limnogonus chopardi Poisson, 1941 and Limno-

gonus sp.) and 3 species of Veliidae (Microvelia sp.,

Rhagovelia reitteri Reuter, 1884 and Rhagovelia

sp.) were present simultaneously at the two sub-

urban stations and are considered as characteristic

species. Each of the other species was caught either

at the station N| or at the station N 2 , exclusively.

Morphological description of some charac-

teristic species

Description of species of the genus Orecto-

GYRUS REGIMBART, 1884 (COLEOPTERA GYRINIDAE).

The aquatic insects of the family Gyrinidae are all

holometabolous. Adult Gyrinidae (whirligig beetles)

are highly adapted to the aquatic environment,

being the only beetles that normally use the water

surface film for support. They are, however, equally

at home under the water. Both adults and larvae of

all Gyrinidae are strictly aquatic. The adult gyrinids

are true water beetles with medium-sized to moder-

ately large, ranging from 4-17 mm in length. The

body shape of the adults is ovate or elongate-ovate,

convex, with a sharp lateral edge around the whole

body. This edge separates the hydrofuge dorsal

surface of the insect from its wettable ventral

surface. The lateral edge divides the compound eyes

into dorsal and ventral halves (Fig. 7), with the

dorsal part looking up out of the water, whereas the

ventral part looks down into the water. The antennae

of adult gyrinids are short, stout and highly sens-

itive (Fig. 5). The front legs of gyrinids are long and

adapted for seizing prey. The middle and hind legs

are adapted for swimming: they are shot and dorsov-

entrally compressed, with fringes of swimming

hairs (Fig. 6).

The adult specimens of the genus Orectogyrus

are recognized with their elongate-ovate-convex

body and their last abdominal segment elongate

extending beyond the elytra edge.The upper side of

ORDERS/FAMILIES

SPECIES

n 2

All urban

stations

COLEOPTERA GYRINIDAE

Aulonogyrus sp.

Orectogyrus specular is Aube, 1838

9 *

6 *

Orectogyrus sp. 1

8 *

15*

Orectogyrus sp.2

27 **

19*

HEMIPTERA GERRIDAE

Aquarius distanti Horvath 1 899

2 *

Eurymetra manengolensis Hoberlandt, 1952

Eurymetra sp. 1

18*

13*

Eurymetra sp.2

4 *

6 *

Gerris swakopensis Stal, 1858

Gerris sp.

2 *

Hynesionella aethiopica Poisson, 1949

2 *

Limnogonus chopardi Poisson, 1941

9**

Limnogonus sp.

2 *

g**

Neo gerris sp.

Tenagogonus sp.

HEMIPTERA VELIIDAE

Carayonella hutchinsoni Poisson, 1948

1 *

Microvelia gracillima Reuter, 1882

2 *

Microvelia sp.

12 **

6 *

Rhagovelia reitteri Reuter, 1884

162***

90**

Rhagovelia sp.

31**

42**

Table 2. Distribution, abundances and occurrence frequencies of insect species of the families Gyrinidae, Gerridae and Ve-

liidae in different sampling stations; * = rare, ** = accessory, *** = frequent, (-) = absent. For undefined species, the de-

scriptor author’s name of the genus is given.

Stream’s water quality and description of aquatic species of Coleoptera and Hemiptera in Littoral Region of Cameroon 33

elytra is glabrous or (partly) pubescent, black in

color, with distinct metallic shiny portions used as

systematic character. The specimens that we recor-

ded have a pale yellow lateral border on the pro-

notum and elytra. The hindmost two abdominal

sternites are more-or-less laterally compressed and

movable, with a ventral median row of long hairs

used as a rudder for swimming. Three species,

Orecto gyrus specularis Aube, 1838, Orectogyrus

sp. 1 and Orectogyrus sp. 2 were identified. In O.

sp. 1 (Fig. 4), only the last abdominal segment is

extended beyond the elytra, whereas in O. specu-

laris and O. sp. 2 (Figs. 2, 3), it is the two last ones.

Moreover, the ornateness of elytra permitted to

clearly separate these three species. The specimens

of O. specularis measure 9.4 ±0.1 mm in length

and 4. 1 6 ± 0.02 mm in width; the inter-ocular space

measures 1.6 ± 0.001 mm and the pronotum is 1.2

± 0.02 mm in length. For O. sp.l, the body is 7.08

±0.11 mm in length and 3.6 ± 0.01 mm in width;

the inter-ocular space measures 1.12 ± 0.002 mm

and the pronotum is 0.92 ± 0.08 mm in length.

Concerning O. sp. 2, the specimens caught measure

9.54 ± 0.26 mm in length and 4.2 ± 0.02 mm in

width; the mean length of the inter-ocular space is

1.4 ± 0.01 mm and the pronotum is 1.2 ± 0.04 mm

in length. The median silky swimming hairs of the

last abdominal stemite are longer in O. specularis

and O. sp. 2 (800 - 850 pm) as compared to O. sp. 1

(520-680 pm).

Description of species of the genus Rhagove-

lia Mayr, 1865 (Hemiptera Veliidae). The Veliidae

are hemimetabolous insects gliding or treading on

the surface of the water. They are typically charac-

terized by their jointed mouthparts, modified to form

a rostrum or “beak”, which is adapted for piercing and

sucking. The head is short, less than two times longer

than wide, bent downward, and triangular. It has a

distinct longitudinal sulcus mid-dorsally, a jointed

rostrum with 3 segments, a pair of four-segmented

antennae longer than the head, and no ocellus. The

legs are nearly equidistant and the hind-coxae are

distinctly moved apart from each other, with mid-

femora not exceeding or very slightly the end of the

abdomen. The tarsal claws are subapical.

The adult specimens of the genus Rhagovelia

Mayr, 1865 are distinguishable with their body

surface matt and blackish or brownish; all tarsi

three-segmented with the basal segment very short;

mid-tarsi deeply cleft with leaf like claws and hairy

swimming fans arising from the base of the cleft

(Fig. 10). The mesoscutellum is not exposed, covered

by posteriorly-extended pronotal lobe. Two species,

Rhagovelia reitteri Reuter, 1884 and Rhagovelia sp.

were identified for this study.

Adult specimens of R. reitteri collected are mac-

ropterous and their fore-wings (hemelytra) are not

divided into corium and membrane (Fig. 8). How-

ever, these hemelytra can detach during sampling

or identification processes. The specimens of R.

reitteri measure 4.15 ± 0.15 mm in length and 1 .05

± 0.002 mm in width; the inter-ocular space

measures 0.24 ± 0.001 mm and the pronotum is

0.82 ± 0.02 mm in length. Inversely, the individuals

of Rhagovelia sp. are apterous, with stout hind

femora bearing small distinct spines on the inner

margins (Fig. 9). Their body is 4.12 ± 0.2 mm in

length and 1 .2 ± 0.01 mm in width; the inter-ocular

space measures 0.23 ± 0.01 mm. The lengths of the

pro-, meso- and metanotum are 0.81 ± 0.03 mm,

0.24 ± 0.001 mm and 0.24 ± 0.004 mm, respect-

ively. The body is mainly black; pronotum anteri-

orly completely yellow, posteriorly variably

colored, usually black, but in some specimens with

yellowish hind margin, and in smallest specimens

uniformly light reddish brown; connexiva (most

lateral areas of sternites and laterotergites) usually

brown, in smaller specimens yellow; anteclypeus,

rostrum, and proepisterna mainly yellowish;

antenna and legs mainly black, basal half of first

antemiomere, all coxae and trochanters, basal half

of all femora, inner margins of hind femora yellow.

Description of species of the genus Euryme-

tra Esaki, 1926 (Hemiptera Gerridae). The

Gerridae are hemimetabolous insects gliding or

treading on the surface of the water. They are typ-

ically characterized by their jointed mouth parts,

modified to form a rostrum or 'beak', which is

adapted for piercing and sucking. The head is short,

less than two times longer than wide, bent down-

ward, and triangular; it has no longitudinal sulcus,

a jointed rostrum with 4 segments, a pair of four-

segmented antennae longer than the head, and no

ocellus. The mid and hind-legs are distant from

fore-legs and longer than these formers, and their

femora are clearly extended beyond the abdomen.

The hind-coxae are distinctly moved apart from

each other.

Simeon Tchakonte etalii

1 mm

0.2mm

Femur

Elongte, grasping

from legs

Compound eyes

Clypeus

Pronotum

Scute Hum

Glabrous & shining

areas

Primrose yellow

Lateral borders

Elytral sutures

Short, flattened

swimming hind legs

Sharp lateral edges

Last abdominal segments elongate

l mm

Trochanter

Enlarged

pedicel

Scape

Tarsus

Tibia

Long, silky

swimming

hairs

0.5 mm

Divided compound eye

0.6mm

Lateral edge of the body

Figures 2-7. Orectogyrus adult. Morphology in dorsal view of O. specularis (Fig. 2), O. sp. 2 (Fig. 3) and

O. sp. 1 (Fig. 4); Fig. 5, antenna; Fig. 6, hind leg; Fig. 7, lateral view of the head showing divided compound eye.

Stream’s water quality and description of aquatic species of Coleoptera and Hemiptera in Littoral Region of Cameroon 35

The adult specimens of the genus Eurymetra

Esaki, 1926 are apterous and distinguishable with

their short, stout and rounded abdomen. Their body

is shiny and rounded, and generally does not exceed

4.5 mm in length. The meso and metanotum are

well distinct and separated by a lateral suture,

whereas the metasternum is reduced to a small

triangular plaque. All tarsi are two-segmented and

the tarsal claws are modified (straight or 'S'-shaped)

in some specimens. At the level of fore-tarsi,

segment 1 is shorter than segment 2 (Fig. 15), whe-

reas in the mid- and hind-tarsi, segment 1 is 3 to 4

times longer than segment 2 (Fig. 14). Three species,

Eurymetra manengolensis Hoberlandt, 1952, Eury-

metra sp. 1 and Emymetra sp. 2 were identified for

this study (Figs. 11-13). The specimens of E.

manengolensis and E. sp.l measure 4.1 ±0.1 mm

in length over 2.48 ± 0.04 mm in width, and 4.04 ±

0.12 mm in length over 2.76 ± 0.07 mm in width,

respectively. For E. manengolensis , the lengths of

the pro, meso- and metanotum are 0.23 ± 0.01 mm,

0.94 ± 0.006 mm and 0.24 ± 0.02 mm, respectively.

Where as in E. sp. 1, the pro-, meso- and metanotum

are 0.25 ± 0.02 mm, 0.94 ± 0.01 mm and 0.22 ±

0.04 mm in length, respectively. For these two

species, 8 abdominal segments are visible in dorsal

view; the edges of thoracic and abdominal tergites

are black in color; a mid-dorsal longitudinal band

is observed on the thoracic and the first two abdom-

inal tergites. Abdominal pleura are well developed

in E. manengolens as compared to E. sp. 1. Con-

cerning E. sp. 2, the individuals caught measure

3.11 ± 0.41 mm in length and 2.17 ± 0.02 mm in

width; 9 abdominal segments are visible in dorsal

view. Their pro-, meso- and metanotum measure

0.22 ± 0.02 mm, 0.97 ± 0.04 mm and 0.23 ± 0.02

mm in length, respectively. Their body is pale

yellow with median sulcus on thoracic tergites.

fore-wing

0.6 mm

Mid-tarsal

segment 3

Mid-tarsal

segment 2

Hairy swimming-

fans

Cleft 0.1 mm

Antennae

Hind-femora

Fore-legs

Longitudinal

sulcus

Compound eyes

Pronotum

Mesonotum

Metanotum

Mid-legs

Abdomen

Figures 8-10. Rhagovelia adult. Morphology in dorsal view of R. reitteri (Fig. 8),

R. sp. (Fig. 9) and detail of mid-tarsal fan (Fig. 10).

Simeon Tchakonte etalii

lateral

suture

1.3 mm

Fbia

0.53 mm

Femora

Trochanters

Coxae

Segment 1

Segment 2

Tibia

0.7 mm

Antennae

lore-legs

Compound eyes

Pronotum

Mesonotum

MctanoLum

Abdomen

Abdominal pleura

Mid-legs

Hind-legs

Lateral suture

.3mm

Tarsus

Claw

Segment 2

Segment 1

Taisus

Figures 11-15. Eurymetra adult. Morphology in dorsal view of E. manengolensis (Fig. 11), E. sp.l (Fig. 12)

and£. sp.2 (Fig. 13); Fig. 14, mid-leg; Fig. 15, fore-leg.

Stream’s water quality and description of aquatic species of Coleoptera and Hemiptera in Littoral Region of Cameroon 37

Relationships between environmental vari-

ables and insect species

The results of redundancy analysis (RDA)

revealed that the relationships between the 8

characteristic aquatic insect species and their habitat

conditions follow mainly the first two axes

(F 1=94.9 %; F2=3.6 %) which accounted for 98.5

% of the total variance expressed (Fig. 16). Follow-

ing the first axis (FI) in positive coordinates the

presence and abundances of the 8 characteristic

insect species {Orecto gyrus specularis, Orecto gyrus

sp. 1, Orectogyrus sp. 2, Rhagovelia reitteri,

Rhagovelia sp., Eurymetra manengolensis, Eury-

metra sp. 1 and Eurymetra sp. 2) are positively and

significantly influenced by water depth, high

dissolved oxygen content, important canopy cover-

age and higher values of OPI (i.e., very low organic

matter input). Rhagovelia sp. seems to quite appre-

ciate moderate water flow. Inversely, in negative

coordinates, the presence of these sensitive aquatic

insects is impeded by the polluted status of water

with high values of temperature, pH, turbidity,

electrical conductivity, suspended solids, am-

monium, nitrites, nitrates, phosphates and BOD.

DISCUSSION

This study achieved in Douala watershed

permitted to identify 20 species, all present only at

the two forested sites (N 1 and N2); no species being

found in urban streams. The absence of these

Figure 16. Redundancy analysis biplot showing gathering

of characteristic aquatic insect species in response to envir-

onmental variables; NH4 = ammonium, N02 = nitrites,

N03 = nitrates, and P04 = phosphates. See “Materials and

methods” section for other abbreviations.

Hemiptera (Gerridae Veliidae) and Coleoptera

(Gyrinidae) families in Douala’s urban waterways

is undoubtedly due to their polluted status caused

by the uncontrolled discharge of domestic, muni-

cipal and industrial wastes and sewages in the rivers.

Indeed, the hypoxic condition of water, the very

high values of water temperature, conductivity, tur-

bidity, suspended solids, diverse ions (N 03 ',NH 4 + ,

P0 4 3 '), organic matter input and BOD were re-

gistered at urban stations, and could have been re-

sponsible for the extinction of these aquatic insects.

These observations allowed us to assume that

species of these families might be sensitive to water

pollution and in-stream habitat degradation, since

we hypothesized that these taxa would have histor-

ically been present at these streams before urban-

ization, as they do in suburban streams. Similarly,

Foto Menbohan (2012) reported that species of

these aquatic insect families were absent (or very

rare) in the most of urban streams of the Mfoundi

river basin in Yaounde (Cameroon). Our results are

consistent with those of Compin & Cereghino

(2003) and Song et al. (2009) who showed that a

decrease in Coleoptera species richness in human-

impacted streams is clearly related to changes in

water quality and habitat suitability. Moreover,

aquatic Coleoptera species, especially those belong-

ing to Elmidae, Gyrinidae, and Haliplidae have also

been recognized as good water quality indicators

(Hilsenhoff, 1988; Bote et al., 2002; Sanchez-

Fernandez et al., 2006). Hauer & Resh (1996)

added that many species of these Coleoptera fam-

ilies have been shown to be sensitive to increase in

sediment and organic pollution. Concerning the

aquatic Hemipteran’s families (Gerridae Veliidae),

their use in stream biomonitoring programs is still

worldwide limited.

In this study, these aquatic bugs occurred only

at forested sites and presented high diversity; we

believe that these Hemiptera could be sensitive to

water pollution and their use as bioindicators might

enhance the accuracy of water quality assessments

in urban impaired streams. Our results are in line

with those of Zettel & Tran (2004) who found that

in Vietnam, Rhagovelia polymorpha a congener

species of R. reitteri and Rhagovelia sp. identified

in Douala forested stream, also inhabit small stream

in a forested area, with a moderate to slow water

flow, in partial shade, bottom with rock or sand.

Moreover, the canonical redundancy analysis

Simeon Tchakonte etalii

(RDA) revealed that the presence and abundance of

the most characteristic species of these aquatic bugs

are positively and significantly influenced by high

dissolved oxygen content, important canopy cover-

age, low mineralization, very low organic matter

input and current velocity.

Concerning morphological features of the Gyrin-

idae, this study revealed that Orectogyrus sp. 1 and

O recto gyrus sp. 2 differ from the Afrotropical Orec-

togyrus specularis Aube, 1838 and O. camerunensis

Ochs, 1924 known to occur in Cameroon, particu-

larly by the distinct metallic shiny omateness of the

elytra. However, these species are to be compared

to other Afrotropical allotype or paratype occurring

elsewhere, to know whether we are face to new

records or new species. As for the Veliidae, Rhagov-

elia sp. described here differs drastically from R.

reitteri, as it lacks wings. Additionally, Rhagovelia

sp. has stout hind femora bearing short distinct

spines on the inner margins. This former character

makes Rhagovelia sp. to be closer to R. polymorpha

describe by Zettel & Tran (2004), but in R. poly-

morpha the body including legs is silky, with nume-

rous black, semi-erect setae and with short,

appressed yellow pubescence; legs with very long

black setae. Moreover, R. polymorpha is smaller in

size (body length 3. 2-3. 6 mm) as compared to our

specimen (body length 4.12 ± 0.2 mm). The speci-

mens of Eurymetra sp. 1 and Eurymetra sp.2 that we

recorded in this study differ significantly from the

typical E. manengolensis described by Hoberlandt

(1952) in Cameroon Manengouba mount. Abdom-

inal connexiva (pleura) are well developed in E.

manengolensis as compared to E. sp. 1 .

In addition, mid- and hind-coxae are larger in E.

sp. 1 than in E. manengolensis. As for E. sp. 2, the

specimen described here shows some similarities

with the genus Eurymetropsis examined by Poisson

(1965) in terms of morphology (especially size and

color). However, in Eurymetropsis body is more

flattened and often lustrous above, the lateral suture

between the meso- and metanotum is not so keeled,

all tarsal segments are also nearly equal in length,

what distinguish it from our specimen.

CONCLUSIONS

This biological assessment permitted to identify

20 species, all present only at the forested sites; no

species being found in urban streams. This study

highlights that species richness and distribution of

aquatic insect of the families Gyrinidae, Gerridae

and Veliidae in Douala watershed are highly and

negatively influence by polluted status of its urban

streams due to anthropogenic activities which cause

the extinction of the sensitive taxa.We thus believe

that these aquatic Coleoptera and Hemiptera species

are sensitive to water pollution and we suggest that

their use as bioindicators might enhance the accur-

acy of water quality assessments in Cameroon.

Morphological description of our specimens

revealed many undescribed taxa which are probably

new records or new species. This testified that in

Cameroon, biodiversity of aquatic insects is yet

entirely to be investigated, and that there is an

urgent need for a modern taxonomic revision and

establishment of a complete key to the Cameroon-

ian species.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This study was made possible through the pro-

vision of funding by the International Foundation

for Science (IFS) as well as facilities by the Intra-

African Mobility Program Scholarship (PIMASO).

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 41-52

High frequency components of the songs of two Cicadas

(Hemiptera Cicadidae) from Sardinia (Italy) investigated by

a low-cost USB microphone

Cesare Brizio

CIBRA - Centro 1 n te rd is c ip lin are di Bioacustica e Ricerche Ambientali d e 11’ U n i v e rs ita di Pavia, ViaTaramelli 24, Pavia, Italy:

e.-mail: cebrizi@ tin.it

ABSTRACT During August 2013, a low-cost ultrasonic USB microphone (Ultra mic 250 by Dodotronic),

was field-tested for its first application ever in C icadom orphan bioacoustics studies. Two

different species were recorded in the ultrasonic domain, with 250 kHz sampling frequency,

one of them also with 96kHz audio recordings for comparison purposes. Ultra mic 250 proved

suitable for field use, while the recording campaign provided the opportunity to con firm the

presence in South-Western Sardinia of two species (Hemiptera Cicadidae), TibicJlCl COTSiCQ,

Corsica B o u 1 a rd , 1 98 3, endemic to Sardinia and Corse, and the widespread Cicada Omi

Linnaeus, 1758. To the best knowledge of the author, those reported are the first field record-

ings of Cicadidae songs encompassing the ultrasonic domain up to 125 kHz and, in particular

for C. Omi, display sound emissions at frequencies above those previously reported in

literature. Even though conceived for the study of C hiropterans, self-contained, low-cost

USB ultrasonic microphones proved usefulin insect bioacoustics investigations.

KEY WORDS Cicadomorpha; ultrasound; bioacoustics.

Received 31.01.2015; accepted 8.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

It has been known for several years that many

insects species do hear ultrasounds, as for example

in the papers by Conner (1 999), Barber & Conner

(2007), Pollack (2007), Nakano et al. (2008), Sueur

et al. (2008), Corcoran et al. (2009), Nakano et al.

(2009), Takanashi et al. (2010) and Yager (2012),

that successfully demonstrate that ultrasounds play

a sig n ific an t ro le in many contexts, including prey-

predator interaction and male-female communica-

tion. Despite this widely acknowledged fact,

spectral components well above human hearing are

seldom included in field studies about insect songs,

although investigations and description of animal

sounds restrained to a specific frequency window

(such as the human hearing range), may result in an

incomplete or improper representation of their

actual harmonic structure, leading to disputable

conclusions.

Generally speaking, with the notable exception

of the study of Chiropterans, bioacoustics of the

sub-aerial fauna, including insect sounds, has been

fie Id - s tu d ie d mainly within the human hearing

range (conventionally ranging from 20 Hz to 20

kHz - herein under, “audio range”), both for

comparability with published materials, that we

may deem as “historical anthropocentrism”, and for

technical reasons including high cost and complex

handling of the equipment for ultrasound recording,

Cesare Brizio

that may require a specific technological stack

including dedicated microphones, preamplifiers,

power sources and recorders, that may prove unsuit-

able for field use.

A recent field expedition of the author to SW

Sardinia, F lu m in im ag g io re ( C a rb o n ia - Ig le s ia s

Province), provided the opportunity to field-test an

in n o v ativ e , lo w cost USB microphone, Dodotronic

Ultramic 250, and resulted in the ultrasound record-

ings here presented to improve bioacoustic know-

ledge on local C icadom orpha, as well as to

document what appears, to the best knowledge of

the author, as the first application of a new class of

cheap, self-contained USB microphones with ultra-

sonic threshold, epitomized by Ultramic 250, in the

field of Hemiptera scientific bioacoustics. As a

further note of interest, the cicada fauna of Sardinia

is still not particularly well studied (J. Sueur, pers.

comm.), and the recordings themselves may con-

tribute to filling this gap.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Brizio & Buzzetti (2014) reported about the suc-

cessful usage of Ultramic 250 (Fig. 1) in the field

of Orthopteran bioacoustic studies. To test whether

Ultramic application to Cicadomorphan bioacous-

tics would prove equally valid, in August 2013 two

species of cicada from Sardinia were recorded.

All the species reported were recorded within a

15 km range from F lu m in im a g g io re (Carbonia-

Iglesias Province, Sardinia, Italy) (Fig. 2), although

additional recordings of Ciccidci OVVli Linnaeus,

1 758 were subsequently taken in mainland Italy. All

the audio material was obtained by field recording.

Specimens were not captured nor recorded in

constrained conditions.

The capability ofUltramic 250 to deliver accur-

ate recordings of Orthopteran songs was demon-

strated in a separate study (Brizio & Buzzetti,

2014), also by collecting 96 kHz, 16 bit stereo

recordings for comparison purposes. Available

equipment for audio re co rd in g sin clu d ed a Zoom H 1

handheld digital Micro-SD recorder, coupled with

a self-built stick stereo microphone using Panasonic

W M - 64 capsules from an Edirol R-09 digital re-

cord er. A c o u Stic recordings were taken in stereo, 16

bit, with 96 kHz sampling frequency, and thus

capable of covering frequencies up to 48 kHz.

Fig ure 1 . U ltra sound USB re cording set: A s u s Eee PC 1225B

no te book personal computer, USB cable and Dodotronic U 1-

trarnic 250. On the display, SeaWave software by the Uni-

versity of Pavia’s Interdisciplinary Center for Bioacoustics.

Ultrasound monophonic recording at 250 kHz

sampling frequency was performed via a Dodotronic

Ultramic 250 microphone connected via USB cable

to an Asus Eee PC 1 225B notebook personal com-

puter, using SeaWave software by CIBRA-Univer-

sity of Pavia’s “Centro Interdisciplinare di

Bioacustica e R icerche A m bientali” (http ://w w w -3 .

unipv.it/cibra/). Originally received as amplitude

data (mV) by the recording apparatus, software-

normalized spectral energy is expressed in decibels.

Sound pressure is expressed in dB Full Scale, even

though the dB symbol will be used.

Oscillograms, spectrograms and frequency ana-

lysis diagrams were generated by Adobe Audition

1.0 software. All the illustrations refer to Ultramic

250 monophonic recordings unless otherwise noted.

In the recent paper by Brizio & Buzzetti (2014),

some technical requirements of Ultramic 250 (such

as the need to keep the USB cable length under 1 m)

are addressed in more detail. The same paper

proposes a specific operating protocol to ensure

comparability between Ultramic recordings and

audio range recordings available in literature, and

supports the consistency of recordings obtained by

Ultramic and by conventional microphones, while

some cautions are needed due to the poorer fre-

quency response of the ultrasonic-threshold micro-

phone capsule if compared to ordinary microphones.

In day time condition unaffected by Chiropteran

or Orthopteran sounds, background noise floor level

in the ultrasonic domain can be empirically determ-

High frequency components of the songs of two Cicadas from Sardinia (Italy) investigated by a low-cost USB microphone 4 3

ined from frequency analyses as the average level

of the spectral components not attributable to the

sounds emitted by the recorded specimen, and can

easily be measured by recording environmental

sounds in quiet, no wind conditions, pointing the

microphone towards the specimen during silence

pauses. For the recordings here analysed, and for a

“medium gain” setting of Ultramic 250 (see Brizio

& Buzzetti, 2014), noise floor level in spectral

frequency analyses can be placed at around -80 dB

for the entire unaudible range.

In the recording station of Capo Pecora, a 71

kHz, very narrow band continuous emission up to -

65 dB was recorded even in silent conditions and,

being unrelated with the animal sounds here de-

scribed, shall be reported but excluded from any

kind of analysis and will be considered as part of the

background noise, its plausible origin being tele-

communication antennas in the vicinities that may

directly originate the noise, or may induce a spurious

harmonic component in the Ultramic circuitry.

When using Ultramic in the field, it is particu-

larly uneasy to find the ideal recording distance

from a singing specimen (even more so when, as in

the case of the recordings presented here, the

specimen was out of sight) for reasons that include

the incapacity ofthe human ear to take into account

the volume of the inaudible components (as a

consequence, volumes perceived as relatively low

by the unaided ear may saturate the recording) and

the variable intensity of inaudible components

during song emission. As a consequence, even the

smallest variation in the direction of the handheld

microphone pointing towards an unseen specimen

may result in more or less sharp volume changes,

that compose with the natural pattern of volume

variations. Consistent with the scope of this study,

the author strived to attain the closest possible range

and the most precise and constant microphone

heading that could provide a high volume input, as

near as possible to 0 dBfs, from which even the

faintest high frequency harmonics, the most direc-

tional and prone to attenuation even at relatively

short distance - could be extracted and analyzed.

For those reasons, although the oscillogram,

generated in real time by SeaWave, was constantly

monitored during the recording, small oscillations

in volume can be observed.

Adobe Audition software settings, such as

resolution in bands, windowing function and

O Capo P-acora, Horn a$l (Tibicina c, torstca, Cicada omO

Soqai. road for Grugua, approx. 550m as I { Tibicin* c. Corsica)

HKKffl

¥ MW*

Figure 2. Recording stations in southwestern Sardinia, in the territory of the Communes ofArbus

(Capo Pecora) and Flum inim aggiore (Grugua).

Cesare Brizio

logarithmic energy plot range (in our case, respect-

ively 16384, Welch Gaussian and 100 dB) used to

generate time-frequency spectrograms were selec-

ted as the best compromise for an accurate graph-

ical rendition unaffected by over-representation of

background noise. As a consequence of the settings

chosen, the lowest significant energy level visual-

ized in the time-frequency spectrograms generated

by Adobe Audition is around -70 dB. In all the

frequency analyses, a heavy line was superimposed

to the illustration at the -70 dB level (Figs. 7, 11

14), marking the level above which spectral

components emerge in the tim e - fre q u e n c y spectro-

grams, and constituting a very conservative threshold

for the safe attribution of those components, well

above the background ultrasonic noise, to the singing

anim al.

To give more evidence even to the faintest

significant spectral components, screenshots from

time-frequency spectrograms (Figs. 8, 12, 13) were

c o n tra s t- e n h a n c e d with Adobe Photoshop by a

procedure involving in sequence: color removal,

image inversion, brightness and contrast adjust-

ment, shadows/highlights adjustment. Those inter-

ventions did not affect the accuracy of time-

frequency rendering, and allowed to highlight the

95 kHz “tail” (see below) to C. OYYli sound units.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Tibicina Corsica Corsica Bouiard, 1 9 8 3

Evidence collected. B io aco u stic al and photo-

graphic.

Figure 3. One of the recorded specimens of Tibicina Cor-

sica Corsica, Genna Bogai, 1 6 . V 111 .2 0 1 3 .

Examined Material. Italy, Sardinia, Genna

Bogai (C arbonia-Iglesias Province), Latitude

39.37373, Longitude 8.49732, 549 m asl and Capo

Pecora (Medio Campidano Province), Latitude

39.450908, Longitude 8.396298, 20 m asl.

Distribution. This subspecies (Lig. 3) is distrib-

uted in Sardinia and Corse (its type locality), while

in mainland Europe (Southern Lrance) it's substi-

tuted by T. Corsica farmairei Bouiard, 19 84.

Remarks. Identification of this species, based

also on visual recognition supported by photo-

graphic evidence, posed no doubt.

Ultrasound recordings took place near Capo

Pecora, in the low shrubs (garrigue) with air

temperatures in the range of 27 °C at around

1 6.00. 96 kHz recordings collected around 11

a.m., in comparable air temperature, along the

road from the Genna Bogai pass to the locality

called Grugua, allowed to verify the consistency

between U ltram ic and ordinary recordings also in

the case of C icadom orphan songs (Pigs. 4, 5). It's

noteworthy that the latter samples include an acous-

tic aggression behaviour as reported by Sueur &

Aubin (2003) for the same species in Corse: the

loud, competitive interaction between two male

specimens, one of them "clicking" and the other

"buzzing" in answer to the "clicks".

The male calling song (oscillogram, Pigs. 4-6)

is typical of T. COYSica. It’s currently believed that

the two subspecies, T. COYSica COYSica and T.

Corsica farmairei can not be separated based on

their songs, that show no appreciable differences

between the insular and the continental subspecies

(J. Sueur pers. comm.).

The whole frequency scope spectrum analysis

(Pig. 7) allows to observe that, besides the cluster

of audible frequency peaks centred around 10 kHz,

the sound pattern can be quite clearly made out up

to around half of the spectrogram , before hitting the

background noise floor observed at around -78 dB.

As explained above, the intensity peak at around 71

kHz is a peculiar noise component to be ignored.

To give evidence of the song’s spectral structure,

figure 7 includes five brackets, C 1/C5, correspon-

ding each to a specific frequency band limited by a

sharp decrease in sound pressure. Within each

cluster (with the exception of C4) two main sub-

clusters can be made out, with the lower frequency

sub-cluster containing the highest sound pressure

High frequency components of the songs of two Cicadas from Sardinia (Italy) investigated by a low-cost USB microphone 4 5

peaks. Components above the background noise

and attributable to the singing specimen can be

made out with sufficient clarity up to 56 kHz.

Although the complexity and peculiarities of

the Cicadomorpha sound apparatus do not allow

for a song with clearly outstanding fundamental

frequencies, as those observed in Orthopteran

songs in Brizio & Buzzetti (2014), it can be easily

recognized how the song acoustic signature, in

frequency bands if not in clearly observable high-

order harmonic frequencies, is observable well

above the audible range.

The time-frequency spectrogram (Fig. 8) gives

further evidence of the presence of ultrasonic, struc-

tured higher- order components replicating the main

audible band centered around 11 kHz.

Cicada orni Linnaeus, 1758

Evidence collected. B io aco u stic al evidence.

Examined Material. Italy, Sardinia, Capo

Pecora (Medio Campidano Province), Latitude

39.450908, Longitude 8.396298, 30 m asl, approx-

imate nearest re cor ding distance 15 m . Italy, Em ilia

Romagna, Poggio Renatico (Ferrara Province),

Latitude 44. 761475, Longitude 11. 473074, 10 m asl,

approximate nearest recording distance 20-25 m.

D is T R ib u T 10 N .T h is species is distributed in all

the Italian territory.

Remarks. The ultrasound recordings took place

near Capo Pecora, collecting the sound of speci-

mens singing from the pine trees and from the

highest shrubs. The following year, further recor-

dings for comparison purposes were obtained in

P o g g io R e n a tic o , in the Padan Plain of mainland

Italy, from specimens singing from English Oaks,

Laurel Oaks, Tree of Heaven AilanthuS ClltissilTlCl

(Mill.) Swingle in an urban private park.

The u nm istakeable calling song (oscillogram,

Figs. 9, 1 0) of C. orni , based on repetitive echemes

and well described in literature (for example by

Sueur et al. (2008)) substantially differs from the

mo re or less continuous, hissing and higher pitched

emission by T. Corsica Corsica.

The frequency analysis of the whole spectral

range of a single echeme (Fig. 11), shows a song

whose conventional subdivision in “bands”, here

proposed as an aid in the observation of the song

structure, isn't as evident as in the song of T.

Corsica Corsica. Apart showing a less defined

pattern, components above the background noise

and attributable to the singing specimen can be

clearly made out up to approximately 80 kHz. By

rescaling the illustration above, one can find a sub-

stantial agreement with Figure 2C in Sueur et al.

(2008), with vibration spectra displaying an higher

relative amplitude around 50 kHz and an increase

towards 80 kHz. As reported by Sueur et al. (2008),

in the high frequency domain the tympanal mem-

brane (TM) of the female C. OWli is driven at its best

re son an ce freq u ency at 50 kHz, a frequency domain

represented by bands C4 and C 5 in Fig. 11 and

Table 2.

Two excerpts from C. orni songs U ltram ic

recordings were compared with frequency analyses

from Sueur et al. (2008), as illustrated in Fig. 12.

Although obtained in different ambient conditions,

the two examined excerpts show some consistent

features w ith the s am pie of C. OfTli tympanal mem-

brane vibration spectra obtained by Sueur et al.

(2008)

- two or three "humps" between 40 kHz and 50

kHz, consistent with some of the male specimens

(faint blue lines)

- sharp energy increase at around 50 kHz

- three "humps" between 50 and 60 kHz, consistent

with several of the female specimens (faint red

line s)

- gradual energy increase towards 80 kHz

Frequencies above 80 kHz were not reported in

Sueur et al. (2008)

Time-Frequency spectrogram (Fig. 13), allows

to observe the sy nchronicity in the emission of the

high-frequency and the audible frequency compon-

ents of the song. Components attributable to the

singing specimen can be made out with sufficient

clarity up to 80 kHz.

As a novelty from an higher frequency range

than that explored by Sueur et al. (2008), a faint

“tail” (a frequency cluster roughly centred at 95 kHz)

lasting around 300 msec was observed immediately

following some of the better defined emissions

(lasting around 100 msec) in the 80 kHz band. By

further contrast enhancement of the time-frequency

spectrogram, and by extending the spectral analysis

to a lapse of time of around 300 msec, encompassing

the “tail”, the presence of this further emission band

can be observed in Fig. 14 and in Fig. 15, emerging

Cesare Brizio

Figure 4. Song of Tibitina Corsica Corsica. Oscillogram, calling song -500 msec. Figure 5. Song of T. Corsica Corsica. Calling

song -500 msec. This oscillogram from a 96 kFIz recording of another specimen, obtained by a non-ultrasonic microphone

based on Panasonic WM-64 capsules, is very similar to Fig. 4, and shows an overall good oscillogram consistency between

Ultramic and ordinary recordings. Figure 6. Song of T. Corsica Corsica. Oscillogram, calling song: Sound unit (echerne) -19

msec. Figure 7. Song of T. COfSicCl Corsica. Frequency spectrum analysis of the calling song. Black mann-Harris window type,

FFT size 4096 bytes, 0-125kFlz. Volume window -12dB / - lOOdB. C1/C5: main “bands” or “freq ue nc y clu sters” ob serv ed .

High frequency components of the songs of two Cicadas from Sardinia (Italy) investigated by a low-cost USB microphone 47

Figure 8. Song of Tibidna COVSica COVSiCd. Time-frequency spectrogram, 0-125kHz. The faint peak at 7 1 kHz is a

spurious artifact from an unidentified external source. Figure 9. Song of Cicada OCni. Oscillogram, calling song -870

msec. Figure 10. Song of C. Omi. Oscillogram, calling song: Sound unit (echeme) -120 msec. Figure 11. Song of C.

orm. Frequency spectrum analysis of a single soung unit, B lackm ann-H arris window type, FFT size 4096 bytes,

0-125kHz. Volume range below -20dB. Volume window -12dB / - 1 0 0 d B . C1/C9: main “bands” or “frequency clusters”

observed.

Cesare Brizio

Band

Frequency

Volume

Band

Frequency

Volume

Band

Frequency

Volume

C 1

8483

-23 .24

C 1

1 9470

-38.24

C 3

40460

-57.98

C 1

95 82

-20.58

C 1

2 0 3 2 0

-43.16

C 3

44250

-65.95

C 1

103 10

-1 9.98

C 2

22270

-44.30

C 4

463 80

-58.94

C 1

1 0980

-19.18

C 2

25690

-39.33

C 4

5 1080

-60.76

C 1

11960

-29.91

C 2

27280

-41 .60

C 5

54320

-64.69

C 1

1 2690

-33.94

C 2

3 3690

-50.17

C 5

565 1 0

-63.45

C 1

175 10

-37.67

C 3

39420

-61 .36

C 5

56430

-68.53

Table 1 . Song of Tibidna COVSiCd Corsica. Frequency spectrum analysis of the calling song, a selection of the nr ain

observed frequency peaks above -70 dB and their sound pressures from the Ultranric 250 recording.

Band

Frequency

Volume

Band

Frequency

Volume

Band

Frequency

Volume

C 1

2563

-36.98

C 1

1 9770

-50.64

C 5

54500

-63.30

C 1

4882

-1 9.53

C 2

25930

-55.13

C 5

61090

-66.48

C 1

73 85

-24.84

C 3

37900

-66.48

C 7

7 1280

-68.45

C 1

952 1

-33.42

C 4

48090

-63.05

C 8

787 30

-65.22

C 1

10490

-35.22

C 4

49010

-63.78

C 8

795 80

-64.11

Table 2. Song of Cicada Omi. Frequency spectrum analysis of the calling song, a selection of the nr ain observed

frequency peaks above -70 dB and their sound pressures from the Ultranric 250 recording.

Figure 12. Song of Cicada Orni. Two frequency analyses of 300 msec excerpts, centered at -72 dB, from C. Orni U ltranr ic

recordings (solid black lines) are superimposed to average C. Omi male tympanal membrane vibration spectra (blue lines:

male songs, red lines: female songs) measured in laboratory conditions. Illustration modified from Fig. 2 C from Sueur et

al. (2008) - frequency range 20 kFIz- 110 kHz ca.

above the limit of -70 dB and thus becoming observ-

able in the time-frequency spectrogram.

The 80 kHz components do not appear re gularly.

Similarly, the 95 kHz band does not follow every

echeme containing the 80 kHz band. Having not

observed any of the following:

- a total decoupling of the 80 kHz and 95 kHz com-

ponents fro m th e c. Omi ec h e m e s ,

- 80 kHz and 95 kHz components in other Ultramic

rec ord in g s ,

- 80 kHz and 95 kHz components in Ultramic

recordings from the same stations during the pauses

High frequency components of the songs of two Cicadas from Sardinia (Italy) investigated by a low-cost USB microphone 4 9

between C. OTYli song bouts, the author finds much

more probable that those components are an integ-

ral, although occasional, part of C. orni song units

rather than software artefacts emerging at spectro-

gram rendering level, or artefacts from Ultramic.

The s y n c h ro n ic ity of the 80 kHz emission with

some of the echemes, and the appearance of the

highest frequency emissions here reported both

in the frequency analysis mode and in time-

frequency spectrograms corroborate this prelim-

inary conclusion.

In August 20 14, recordings of C. OTYli song,

including the highest frequency components, were

obtained in Poggio Renatico (mainland Italy, Padan

Plain) for comparison purposes, in particular to

investigate the high frequency “tail”. Specimens

were recorded from a slightly higher distance

(around 20 m) than the previous year in Sardinia.

The recordings showed frequent occu rre nces of the

same pattern of irregular high frequency “tails”

observed in August 2013 in Sardinia, affecting a

band of about 20 kHz from around 75 kHz to

around 95 kHz.

For comparison purposes, in the subsequent

night and morning the acoustic/ultrasound back-

ground was recorded in the same location (Poggio

Renatico) of the recordings described above, with

the same settings used during the day, avoiding the

lapse of time from around 9 a.m. to around 9

p . m . when C. orni sings. Screenshots from Adobe

Audition were c o n tra s t- e n h a n c e d with the same

procedure as in figures 16 and 17 for comparison

purposes.

Background recordings taken at around midnight

(Fig. 19) and morning recordings taken at around 8

a.m. (Fig. 20) were examined for any occurrence of

the discontinuous yet well recognizable pattern

observed in the 75 kHz-95 kHz band of C. Omi

recordings. The author observed that:

- none of the background ultrasound components

above 70 kHz exceeded the -70 dB threshold

- the 70 kHz-100 kHz band from the background

recordings doesn't bear any resemblance to the

same band in C. orni recordings. At the same time,

C. orni recordings seem unaffected by the features

appearing in the background recordings.

Background night recordings displayed Chirop-

teran echolocation calls and Orthopteran songs,

with singing species including EumodicOgryllllS

burdigalensis burdigalensis (Latreiiie, 1 804),

Eupholidoptera schmidti (F ieb er, 1 8 6 1 ) , Oecanthus

pellucens (Scopoli,1763). Ultrasounds from passing

bats can be made out at around 30 kHz, while the

regular pattern of Orthopteran songs can be made

out under 30kHz. Frequencies around 68 kHz and

98 kHz display feeble regular pulses of different

duration whose probably anthropogenic origin was

not investigated .

The ultrasound background above 70 kHz recor-

ded in the morning resembled quite closely the

night recording from the same location, with a

persistence of the feeble pulses at around 68 kHz

and 98 kHz. Their regularity in the 8 p.m.-8 a.m.

period may hint at a n o n -b io lo g ic al source.

Surely, a more detailed investigation beyond the

scope of this paper may corroborate or disprove the

author's findings.

CONCLUSIONS

The songs by two cicadas from Sardinia have

been recorded in the field, by a low-cost USB

microphone capable of generating very wide band

(0 to 125 kHz) monophonic recordings, including

both audible and inaudible frequencies. This device,

Ultramic 250, by generating results consistent with

other recording methods and by providing useful

information about the high-frequency components

above 20 kHz and up to 125 kHz, proved as useful

for the investigation of Cicadom orphan songs, as it

proved to be in the study of Orthopteran songs.

The song by T. COTSiCQ. COTSiCQ. showed har-

monic components (bands) up to 56 kHz, while the

song by C. OTlli seems to exceed the lim it o f 8 0 kHz

previously explored in literature, and may include

frequencies in the 100 kHz range.

Getting a full grasp of the intraspecific and

interspecific significance of the ultrasound compon-

ents is beyond the scope of this contribution: it is

reasonable to suppose that the species whose song

is here described may have a sound generating and

receiving capability even in ranges above those

previously reported in literature. Q uestions that can

be addressed include a possible role of ultrasound

components in the evaluation of song direction and

distance by con specifics: a sound source may

be considered omnidirectional when it emits

wavelengths longer than its biggest linear dimen-

sion, while directivity is inversely proportional to

Cesare Brizio

Figure 13. Song of Cicada Omi. Enhanced contrast picture of a time-frequency spectrogram , 0-125kHz. White lines give

evidence to the sy nchronicity of audible and inaudible spectral components, up to the frequency cluster centered at around

79 kHz and including a very faint 300 msec “tail” in the 95 kHz range. Figures 14-15. Enhanced contrast spectrogram and

frequency spectrum analysis of 300 msec including the 95 kHz “tail” band. Black mann-Harr is window type, FFT size 4096

bytes, 0-125kHz. Volume range below -20 dB. Volume window -19 dB / - 1 0 2 d B . Figure 16. Song of C. OVVli , comparison

specimen from Poggio Renatico, Padan Plain. Enhanced con trast picture of a time-frequency spectrogram, 0-125 kHz. Black

lines border the frequency cluster centered at around 79 kHz and including a very faint 300 msec “tail” in the 95 kHz range.

High frequency components of the songs of two Cicadas from Sardinia (Italy) investigated by a low-cost USB microphone 5 l

Figures 17-18. Song of Cicada Omi from Padan Plain. Enhanced contrast spectrogram and frequency spec tr urn analysis of

1 800 msec including the 95 kHz “tail” band, B lackm ann-H arris window type, FFT size 4096 bytes, 0-125 kHz. Volume

range below -20 dB. Volume window -15dB/-102 dB. Figure 19. Ultrasound background recording taken at 11:55 p.m. in

the night following the recordings in Poggio Renatico, Padan Plain. Enhanced contrast picture of a tim e -fre q u en c y

spectrogram, 0-125 kHz. See text for comments. Figure 20. Ultrasound background recording taken at 7:55 a.m. in the

morning following the recordings in Poggio Renatico, Padan Plain. Enhanced contrast picture of a time-frequency

spectrogram, 0-125 kHz. See text for comments.

Cesare Brizio

wavelength. As reported for example by Miller

(2000, 2002) in the case of K iller W hales OvtiYlUS

OYCa Linnaeus, 1 75 8 (Mammalia Cetacea), as well

as by Jakobsen et al. (2013) for echolocating bats,

for a constant energy and emitter size, an increase

in frequency, that is decrease in wavelengths, fo-

cuses the energy in a beam that is narrower (thus,

more directional) but longer, which at short dis-

tances counteracts the decrease in range due to

increased atmospheric attenuation at higher

frequencies. Unfortunately, field recording condi-

tion and uncontrollable specimen position in the

wild did notallow to draw any conclusion about the

orientation of the singing specimen relative to the

microphone axis, neither to measure the different

relevance of ultrasound components at different

angles between the singing specimen and the

m ic ro p h o n e .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Dr. Jerome Sueur and Prof. Gianni Pavan kin-

dly reviewed the original draft and provided some

important suggestions. This does not imply that

the contributors fully endorse the author's conclu-

sions.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 53-72

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalo-

cera) of a defined area of theTriestine karst, Italy

Peter F. McGrath

IAP/TWAS, ICTP campus, Strada Costiera 11, 34151 Trieste, Italy; e-mail: mcgrath@twas.org

ABSTRACT A photographic survey of butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) was carried out over a period

of three years (2011, 2012 and 2013) in an area around the villages of Malchina, Ceroglie

and Slivia, the municipality of Duino-Aurisina near Trieste, in the Friuli Venezia-Giulia

region, northeast Italy. Historically, this area of the Triestine karst has been influenced by

human activities. Grazing intensity, however, has declined over the past 50-100 years, leading

to encroachment of the forested areas over previously more open grasslands. During the three-

year survey period, sampling intensity, measured as the number of days during which butter-

flies were observed and/or photographed, increased from year to year. In 2012 and 2013,

especially surveys began in February and continued into December. During the three years,

a total of 79 species (Papilionidae, 3; Pieridae, 11; Lycaenidae, 17, Riodinidae, 1; Nymphal-

idae, 37, including 15 Satyrinae; and Hesperiidae, 10), including seven listed as either

endangered or near-threatened in Europe, were identified. Among the species of European

conservation value recorded were: Scolitantides orion, Melitaea aurelia, Melitaea trivia,

Argynnis niobe, Hipparchia statilinus , Coenonympha oedippus and Carcharodus floccifera.

Strong local populations of the following regionally threatened, declining and/or protected

species were also recorded: Euphydryas aurinia , Brintesia circe , Arethusana arethusa,

Hipparchia fagi, Pyronia tithonus and Coenonympha arcania. Such intensive surveys cover-

ing several months of each year provide in-depth knowledge of butterfly fauna in an area of

changing land use, and can provide a benchmark for future surveys against a background of

continued land-use change, as well as other pressures such as climate change.

KEY WORDS Butterflies; Rhopalocera; Triestine karst; environmental change; biodiversity.

Received 31.01.2015; accepted 28.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

The character of the Triestine karst is determi-

ned by its climate and geology. Climatically, it

represents a transitional area between the Mediter-

ranean and Continental/pre-alpine zones. Geologic-

ally, the underlying limestone rocks contribute to

features such as exposed rocky outcrops, dolinas

(depressions caused by the collapse of underground

caves), thin soils and little surface water (although

some artificial ponds have been created) (Poldini,

1989).

These physical conditions have combined with

historic land-use changes to create the patchwork of

habitats for which the Triestine karst is known today.

The original oak forest was felled in historic times

and for many years the area was heavily grazed.

With a general cessation in grazing, regrowth has

occurred and currently mixed woodlands dominated

by Ostrya carpinifolia Scop., while Carpinus

Peter F. McGrath

betulus L., Fraxinus ornus L., Quercus petraea

(Matt.) Liebl. and Q. pubescens Willd. are also wi-

despread. Many areas of open grassland exist, includ-

ing some considered as Mediterranean maquis and

some cut for hay. Other areas are decreasing in size,

however, as bushes and trees, including Cotinus

coggygricL Scop, and Primus mahaleb L., encroach

on formerly grazed or cultivated areas. The grassy

areas that remain contain a mixture of xerothermic

herbaceous species with a peak flowering period

between mid May and mid June (Poldini, 1 989). Nat-

uralised areas of Pinus nigra J.F. Arnold, introduced

for timber in the 1850s, also survive in pockets.

In the dolinas, where temperature inversions

mean that a depth of 60 m is equivalent to an

elevation of 1,500 to 1,600 m above sea level in

winter and 500 m in summer (Touring Club

Italiano, 1999), tree species other than O. carpini-

folia dominate and the microclimate ensures the

survival of glacial relict plant communities.

Meanwhile, close to the villages, small-scale

vineyards and vegetable plots provide mainly for

local consumption. The combination of these phys-

ical and biological conditions has created a unique,

biodiverse environment. Paolucci (2010), for ex-

ample, includes 214 species in his guide to the

butterflies of northeast Italy, including the regions of

Trentino Alto Adige, Veneto and Friuli Venezia

Giulia (the Triveneto) - or some 44% of the 482

European species, the karst playing host to well over

a hundred species.

The encroachment of woodland into open grassy

areas due to the abandonment of formerly grazed

areas, however, continues to change the character

of the Triestine karst, impacting on the fauna and

flora. Van Swaay & Warren (2001), for example,

have noted that the abandonment of agricultural

land and/or changing habitat management affects

some 65% of threatened butterfly species in Europe,

while widespread loss and reduction in size of breed-

ing habitats resulting in habitat isolation and

fragmentation affects 83% of Europe’s threatened

species. Many species listed by Paolucci (2010)

thus exist in fragmented habitats or at the edge of

their ranges.

Overlayed across such biological and anthropo-

genic influences, climate change is also having

noticeable effects on the distribution of many

European butterfly species (Roy & Sparks, 2000;

Roy et al., 2001; Warren et al., 2001; Stefanescu et

al., 2003), and will continue to do so for the fore-

seeable future (Settele et al., 2008).

Given the importance of several Italian locations

for butterfly diversity and conservation (van Swaay

& Warren, 2006), alongside the lack of any sys-

tematic recording scheme in the country (van

Swaay et al., 2012a), this study set out, through

surveying the butterfly fauna of a restricted area of

the Triestine karst, to establish a benchmark against

which future surveys to determine the ongoing

impacts of local land-use and/or climate-induced

changes can be compared.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

A photographic survey of butterflies (Lepidoptera

Rhopalocera) was earned out over a period of three

years in an area around the villages of Malchina,

Ceroglie and Slivia, the municipality of Duino-

Aurisina near Trieste, in the Friuli Venezia-Giulia

region, northeast Italy, close to the border with

Slovenia (Fig. 1). The highest elevation in the region

is Monte Ermada (323 m) to the west of the surveyed

zone, which is crossed by several rough tracks and

paths. The main paths included in the surveys de-

scribed herein mostly either start from or pass

through Malchina, and include parts of the Gemina

path, the Vertikala, CAI 3 1 and other marked paths

(Fig. 1; Anonymous, 2005), and pass through

various habitats, including vegetable plots, vine-

yards, woodlands, dolinas, and grassland that may

or may not be cut for hay. There are also several

ponds in the study area, in particular one at

Malchina and two close to Slivia.

In Malchina itself, many gardens have nectari-

ferous plants such as Lavandula L., Mentha L. and

Origanum L. that flower especially in July and

attract butterflies from the surrounding areas. The

author’s south-facing garden is one such example.

Equipment

During sampling sessions, pictures were taken

of as many butterflies encountered as possible - if

possible including both upper- and under-wing

views to assist with accurate identification. For the

most part, a Pentax K-k digital camera (typically set

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Figure 1 . Study area. Left: location of the area surveyed in this study in relation to the rest of Italy, the Friuli Venezia Giulia

region and the city of Trieste. The area highlighted in green is shown in more detail to the right. (Outline maps courtesy of

d-maps.com). Right: details of roads plus key tracks and paths and other features of the survey area between Ceroglie, Mal-

china and Slivia north to the border between Italy and Slovenia.

to 200 ASA) was used in tandem with a Sigma 105

mm macro lens. On other occasions, other digital

devices such as a compact camera or smartphone

were used to record specimens. In addition, espe-

cially in 2013 and for those species that are easier

to identify definitively (e.g. Iphiclides podalirius ,

male Anthocharis cardamines , male Colias croceus

or Vanessa atalanta), butterflies identified without

being photographed were recorded as ‘observed’.

Sampling technique/intensity

Surveys were undertaken over three consecutive

years by following the rough tracks, footpaths and

field margins in the survey area. No attempt was made

to quantify the numbers of a given species observed.

Sampling intensity increased during the course of

the three years, as outlined in Table 1 . In most cases,

surveys were carried out for at least 30 minutes and

usually for between 60 to 120 minutes. Surveys were

also typically carried out on hot (for the time of year),

sunny days with minimal cloud cover.

In 2011, photographs were taken ad hoc, with

no attempt to systematically record all sightings,

rather just a few notable occurrences. In addition,

in most cases, the actual sampling actual dates were

not precisely recorded, just the month. In nine

sampling instances, the month is recorded only as

either June or July (Table 1).

In 2012, more intense efforts were made to

photograph or identify all butterflies observed.

Survey dates (59 in total) were accurately recorded

(Table 1).

In 2013, attempts were made to photograph or

identify all butterflies observed. As in 2012,

sampling occasions noted in Table 1 as being under-

taken in the author’s garden often lasted just a few

minutes and tended to be limited to the period of flo-

wering of the Lavandula, Mentha and Origanum

plants. In other cases, butterflies observed during

days when no specific (photographic) survey was

undertaken were also recorded (12 such occasions).

In 2013, including sampling occasions when either

only observations were recorded or when no butter-

flies were seen (despite favourable conditions), a

total of 61 sampling sessions were undertaken

(Table 1).

Identification and analysis

To identify the species recorded, various guide

books were consulted, especially Paolucci (2010)

Peter F. McGrath

and Tolman & Lewington (1997). In cases of

uncertainty, experts belonging to the Forum

Entomologi Italiani (http://www.entomologiitaliani.

net) were consulted by posting suitable photographs

online. The author also gratefully acknowledges the

assistance of Lucio Morin, a local butterfly expert,

for help with either the identification or confirm-

ation of the identification of a number of specimens.

Among those species that can be difficult to

distinguish from photographs, L. Morin (pers.

comm.) also confirms that the species found in the

sampling area are Leptidea sinapis, not L. reali,

Colias alfacariensis Ribbe, 1905, not C. hyale

(Linnaeus, 1758), and Plebejus argus, not PI. idas

(Linnaeus, 1761). In the case of white Pieridae,

especially when no suitable photograph was ob-

tained, individuals could often only be identified to

the genus level ( Pieris ). In 2011 or 2012, Pieris

spp. were not regularly recorded, either as photo-

graphs or as ‘observed’. Species names are valid as

per the listing on Fauna Europea (www.faunaeur.

org). It should be noted, however, that Fauna

Europea considers Hamearis lucina (Linnaeus,

1758) as a member of the family Riodinidae,

whereas it is now included among the Lycaenidae

by many authors. The conservation status of the

species observed is based on the European Red List

of Butterflies (van Swaay et al., 2010), the list

provided by van Swaay et al. (2012b) for the

European Habitats Directive, and the list for the

Triveneto region provided by Paolucci (2010).

RESULTS

Environmental variables

A total of 482, 1,208 and 1,657 photographs

were retained from sampling surveys carried out in

2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively. These photo-

graphs accounted for 156, 479 and 738 individual

butterflies in each of the three years, respectively.

In addition, in 2013, some 128 individuals were

recorded as ‘observed’ but not photographed.

During these three years, 79 butterfly species

were recorded. Of these, 45 were recorded in 201 1

when sampling was less intensive, 63 in 2012, and

70 in 2013 (Tables 2, 3 and 4).

Of the 79 species recorded, 3 belonged to the

family Papilionidae; 11 to the Pieridae; 17 to the

Lycaenidae; one to the Riodinidae; 37 to the

Nymphalidae, of which 15 were Satyrinae; and 10

to the Hesperiidae.

In early 2012, no butterflies were observed or

photographed during the single sampling date in

February (12th), although they were on two of three

dates in March (on 1 1th and 24th, but not on 26th).

Likewise, in 2013, no butterflies were observed or

photographed on the February sampling date (16th),

while they were recorded on one of the two

sampling dates in March (on 3rd, but not on 22nd),

and on nine of 10 dates in April (not on 15th).

Among the early-season (up to mid April) species

recorded were Pieris rapae , P. napi, Gonepteryx

rhamni, Libythea celtis , Nymphalis polychloros,

Pararge aegeria and Erynnis tages.

In the second half of April, 15 species were

recorded in 2012 (including one specimen of Zeryn-

thia polyxena on 30 April) and 16 in 2013 (Tables 3

and 4). Among these in 2013 was V. atalanta, which

was also regularly recorded in early March 2014.

With regard to late-season records, in 2012,

butterflies were recorded on 2 and 3 November, but

not 22nd. No sampling was undertaken in Decem-

ber 2012. In 2013, butterflies were recorded on

three of four dates in November (1,10 and 17th, but

not on 24th), and on one of two dates in December

(on 14th but not on 7th). These late-season species

(observed in November and into early Decem-

ber), included C. crocea, L. celtis , V atalanta and

Cacyreus marshalli.

The highest number of species recorded in a

single day was 24 (on 24 August 2013), with more

than 20 species also being recorded on six other

occasions in 2013 (22 June, 13 and 20 July, 16 and

18 August and 9 September). In 2012, the max-

imum number of species recorded in a single day

was 17 (on 17 July).

Comparing the number of species observed

during half-month periods (Tables 2, 3 and 4), 37

species were recorded in the second half of July

2013, with 50 species recorded for the month as a

whole (Table 4). Similarly, in 2012, more species

were recorded in July than any other month (37),

although the diversity was greater in the first half

of the month (29 species compared to 19 in the

second half of the month) (Table 3).

Among the species most commonly recorded

(depending on their respective flight periods) were

I. podalirius , P. rapae and P. mannii, PI. argus,

Polyommatus icarus, Po. bellargus, V. atalanta.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Melanargia galathea, f. procida, Maniola jurtina

and Coenonympha pamphilus. Among the most

commonly recorded Hesperiidae were E. tages,

Hesperia comma and Ochlodes sylvanus.

Other species were relatively common in some

years, but not recorded in other years. Aporia

crataegi, for example, was recorded in 2011 and

2013 but not in 2012. Likewise, Hipparchia stat-

ilinus and Coenonympha oedippus were recorded

only in 2012, and Aricia agestis and Pontia edusa

only in 2013 (Tables 2, 3 and 4).

Also of note were variant forms of some species.

M. galathea was always present as M. galathea

f. procida, along with a small percentage of f.

leucomelas. Likewise, a small percentage of Argyn-

nis paphia, were f. valesina.

Species recorded rarely (i.e. no more than two

individuals recorded in any one year) in the area

surveyed include Z. polyxena, Callophtys rubi,

Leptotes pirithous, Cupido argiades, Cyaniris

semiargus, Po. daphnis, Scolitantides orion,

Nymphalis antiopa, Aglais io, Polygonia c-album,

Melitaea aurelia, Brenthis hecate, Argynnis adippe,

A. niobe, C. oedippus, Carcharodus alceae,

Carcharodus floccifera and Spialia serorius.

Among these, Z polyxena, S. orion, N. antiopa, M.

aurelia, B. hecate and C. oedippus are notable

owing to their conservation status (see below).

Of particular interest are seven species recorded

in the survey area that are included in the European

Red List of Butterflies (van Swaay et al., 2010). The

conservation status of these species is outlined in

Table 5. In addition, van Swaay et al. (2010) also

note that Euphydryas aurinia, C. oedippus and Z.

polyxena are listed in 1 6, 2 and 1 European LIFE

projects (see http://ec.europa.eu/ environment/life/),

respectively, with special efforts being made

towards their conservation.

A number of other species recorded in the three-

year survey are also of regional conservation in-

terest (Table 6). Other than species such as Callophrys

rubi, N. antiopa and Melitaea trivia that were

recorded infrequently, healthy populations of

vulnerable and locally protected species (including

L. celtis, E. aurinia, Brintesia circe, Arethusana

arethusa, Hipparchia fagi and Coenonympha

arcania ) were recorded in the survey area.

The case of E. aurinia is interesting in that no

individuals were recorded south of the road that

bisects the village of Malchina (SS4); although

never abundant, it was observed in reasonable

numbers in localized areas north of SS4, but never

far (no more than 500 m) from Malchina itself.

Likewise, all individuals of C. oedippus were recor-

ded within an area of radius no more than 150 m,

also to the north of Malchina.

In addition to those species highlighted in Table

6, a further five species found in the survey area are

recorded by Paolucci (2010) as being lower

risk/near threatened (LR/NT) in the Triveneto

region: Cupido alcetas, S. orion, Hamearis lucina,

Melitaea athalia and Minois dryas. Of these, H.

lucina and M. dryas are also relatively common and

well distributed throughout most of the survey area

(Tables 2, 3 and 4).

Likewise, Paolucci (2010) records the following

species as data deficient (DD) in the Triveneto

region: P. mannii, Favonius quercus, C. argiades,

N. polychloros, M. aurelia, A. niobe and C. flocci-

fera. Of these, P mannii and, early in the season,

N. polychloros both maintain reasonable popula-

tions in the survey area (Tables 3 and 4). Thus, the

three-year survey undertaken by the author helps to

fill some of these data gaps.

DISCUSSION

The total of 79 species recorded during the three-

year survey period compares favorably with other

areas of Europe. In the whole of the United King-

dom, for example, there are just 57 resident plus two

regular migrant species (Asher et al., 2001). Wagner

et al. (2013) recorded 49 butterfly species from 27

sites along an altitude gradient in Bavaria, Germany;

while Veronivnik et al. (2011 a) recorded between 42

and 61 species each year during a five-year survey

(2007-2011) of a disused army base at Mlake in Slov-

enia, recording a total of 95 species overall. In north-

ern Italy, Marini et al. (2009) recorded 60 butterfly

species through sampling 44 hay meadow parcels

during a single year (2007) in the Trento region,

while Boriani et al. (2005) sampled nine sites of

three different rural habitat types in Emilia-Ro-

magna in 2002 and 2003, identifying 39 species. The

total also compares well with the 91 butterfly

species recorded by Carrara (1926) following many

years of collection and study in the area around

Trieste (immediately to the east of the area that is

the focus of this study and covering a much larger

area).

Peter F. McGrath

Month-

Dates/

Year

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

16-28

1-15

16-31

1-15

16-30

1-15

16-31

1-15

16-30

1-15

16-31

2011

5 1

3 2

9 3

2012

l 4

6 5

7 1

9 1

8 6

2013

l 4

8 io

5 11

3 11

6 11

4 11

5 11

77,11

Month-

Dates/

Year

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Total

1-15

16-31

1-15

16-30

1-15

16-31

1-15

16-30

1-15

2011

2012

4 7

0 8

O 8

2013

l7, 11

3 4

2 11

2 9

2 12

Table 1. Sampling intensity broken down into half- month intervals. Sampling occasions marked as ‘in author’s garden’ or

‘observations only’ (see footnotes) were less intense than other occasions that involved excursions along the various paths

highlighted in Fig. 1. 1 Of which 3 occasions in author’s garden, Malchina. 2 Of which 2 occasions in author’s garden,

Malchina. 3 Refers to June and July together, of which 7 occasions in author’s garden, Malchina. 4 No butterflies observed. 5

One sampling date included two periods (30 April, a.m. and p.m.). 6 Of which 6 in author’s garden, Malchina. 7 Of which 1

occasion in author’s garden, Malchina. 8 Owing to other commitments, no surveys were undertaken during October 2012. 9

No butterflies observed. Sampling earned out in evening (17:50-18:20) after warm sunny day. 10 Of which 2 occasions:

‘observations’ only (no photographs) - within Malchina itself. 11 Of which 1 occasion: ‘observations’ only (no photographs)

- within Malchina itself. 12 Of which 1 occasion: ‘observations’ only (no photographs) (14 December) within Malchina itself.

No butterflies recorded on other sampling date (7 December).

TOTAL SPECIES 45

April (l) 1

May (5)

June (3)

June-

July (9)

Aug (5)

Sept (3)

Oct (2)

PAPILIONIDAE

Iphiclides podalirius (Linnaeus, 1758)

X X

Papilio machaon Linnaeus, 1758

X X

PIERIDAE

Anthocharis cardamines (Linnaeus, 175 8)

Aporia crataegi (Linnaeus, 1758)

_X_

Pieris mannii (Mayer, 1851)

_x_

Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758)

_x_

Leptidea sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Colias croceus (Fourcroy, 1785)

Gonepteryx rhamni (Linnaeus, 1758)

_x_

LYCAENIDAE

Favonius quercus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Satyrium ilicis (Esper, 1779)

_x_

Lycaena phlaeas (Linnaeus, 1761)

_x_

Cacyreus marshalli Butler, 1898

Cupido argiades (Pallas, 1771)

Table 2 (1/2). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in 2011. 1 Figures in brackets indicate no.

of sampling sessions per month (or June/July period). 2 Actual sampling session not recorded, x = Either one or two individuals

photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but

not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) = Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Species

April (l) 1

May (5)

June (3)

June-

July (9)

Aug (5)

Sept (3)

Oct (2)

Plebejus argus (Linnaeus, 1758)

X_Xx_

Plebejus argyrognomon (Bergstrasser, 1779)

Polyommatus bellargus (Rottemburg, 1775)

_X_

xx_

Xxx

Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)

_X_

_xx

RIODINIDAE

Hamearis lucina (Linnaeus, 1758)

NYMPHALIDAE

Vanessa atalanta (Linnaeus, 1758)

Vanessa cardui (Linnaeus, 1758)

_x_

Limenitis reducta Staudinger, 1901

Melitaea aurelia Nickerl, 1 850

Melitaea didyma (Esper, 1778)

XX_

Euphydtyas aurinia (Rottemburg, 1775)

Issoria lathonia (Linnaeus, 1758)

X_X

Argynnis paphia (Linnaeus, 1758)

X X

Argynnis adippe (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1775)

Boloria dia (Linnaeus, 1767)

X 2

Brenthis hecate (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1775)

Melanargia galathea procida (Linnaeus, 1758)

NYMPHALIDAE, Satyrinae

Minois dryas (Scopoli, 1763)

xxx_x

Brintesia circe (Linnaeus, 1775)

_x_

Arethusana arethusa (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1775)

xxx_x

_x_

Hipparchia fagi (Scopoli, 1763)

xxx_x

Hipparchia semele (Linnaeus, 1758)

Lasiommata maera (Linnaeus, 1758)

_x_

Pararge aegeria (Linnaeus, 1758)

Pyronia tithonus (Linnaeus, 1767)

_x_

Maniola jurtina (Linnaeus, 1758)

_x_

Coenonympha arcania (Linnaeus, 1761)

_X_

Coenonympha pamphilus (Linnaeus, 1758)

xx_

_xXx_

_xx

HESPERIIDAE

Erynnis tages (Linnaeus, 1758)

Hesperia comma (Linnaeus, 1758)

_xx

Ochlodes sylvanus (Esper, 1777)

No . of species/month

Table 2 (2/2). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in 2011. 1 Figures in brackets indicate no.

of sampling sessions per month (or June/July period). 2 Actual sampling session not recorded, x = Either one or two individuals

photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but

not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) = Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

Peter F. McGrath

TOTAL SPECIES 63

Feb

(l) 1

March

1-15(1)

March

16-31(2)

April

1-15(1)

April

16-30(6)

May

1-15(4)

May

16-31(3)

June

1-15(1)

June

16-30(6)

PAPILION ID AE

Iphiclides podalirius

Zerynthia polyxena (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1 775 ) 2

PIERIDAE

Anthocharis card amines

Pieris mannii

Pieris napi Linnaeus, 1758

Pieris rapae

x_x_xx

Pieris sp.

Leptidea sinapis

_xx

Colias alfacariensis Ribbe, 1905

Colias croceus

Colias sp.

Gonepteryx rhamni

LYCAENIDAE

Favonius quercus

Satyrium ilicis

xx_

Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Lycaena phlaeas

Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767)

Cacyreus marshalli

Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cupido alcetas (Hoffmannsegg, 1 804)

X X

Scolitantides orion (Pallas, 1771)

Plebejus argus

Plebejus argyrognomon

Polyommatus bellargus

_x_

Polyommatus icarus

Polyommatus sp.

RIODINIDAE

Hamearis lucina

xx_

xxx_

NYMPHALIDAE

Libythea celtis (Laicharting, 1782)

Vanessa atalanta

Vanessa cardui

Nymphalis polychloros (Linnaeus, 1758)

Table 3 (1/4). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in II-VI.2012. Legend: 1 Figures in

brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 (Table

2). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals photographed

during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) = Neither photo-

graphed nor observed during a sampling session.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Species

Feb

(l) 1

March

1-15(1)

March

16-31(2)

April

1-15(1)

April

16-30(6)

May

1-15(4)

May

16-31(3)

June

1-15(1)

June

16-30(6)

Polygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)

Limenitis reducta

_x_

Melitaea athalia (Rottemburg, 1775)

Melitaea aurelia

Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758)

X X

Melitaea didyma

X x_

Melitaea trivia (Denis et Schiffermuller, 1775)

X X

Euphydryas aurinia

xxx_

_xx_

Issoria lathonia

Argynnis paphia

_X X_

Boloria dia

xxxx

Brenthis daphne (Bergstrasser, 1780)

Brenthis hecate

Melanargia galathea procida

xx_xx_

Minois dryas

Brintesia circe

Arethusana arethusa

Hipparchia fagi

Hipparchia statilinus (Hufnagel, 1766)

Hipparchia semele

Lasiommata maera

X X

Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)

Pararge aegeria

Pyronia tithonus

Maniola jurtina

xx_xx_

Coenonympha arcania

_X_

Coenonympha oedippus (Fabricius 1787)

Coenonympha pamphilus

xxx_x_

xX_x

HESPERIIDAE

Carcharodus alceae (Esper, 1780)

Erynnis tages

Hesperia comma

Ochlodes sylvanus

Spialia sertorius (Hoffmannsegg, 1 804)

Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer, 1808)

Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda, 1761)

Total spp. for period

Total spp. for month

Table 3 (2/4). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in II-VI.2012. Legend: 1 Figures in

brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 (Table

2). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals photographed

during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) = Neither photo-

graphed nor observed during a sampling session.

Peter F. McGrath

Species

July

1-15(9)!

July

16-31(8)

Aug

1-15(4)

Aug

16-31(4)

Sept

1-15(3)

Sept

16-30(2)

Oct

(0)

Nov

1-15(2)

Nov

16-30(1)

PAPILIONIDAE

Iphiclides podalirius

_x_x

Zerynthia polyxena (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1 7 7 5 ) 2

FIERI DAE

Anthocharis cardamines

Pieris mannii

x X

Pieris napi

Pieris rapae

X XX

Pieris sp.

_x_x_

Leptidea sinapis

X X

Colias alfacariensis Ribbe, 1905

Colias croceus

Colias sp.

Gonepteryx rhamni

LYCAENIDAE

Favonius quercus

Satyrium ilicis

Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Lycaena phlaeas

xx_

Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767)

Cacyreus marshalli

_x_

Celastrina argiolus (Linnaeus, 1758)

_xxxx_

x_x_

Cupido alcetas (Hoffmannsegg, 1 804)

X X

Scolitantides orion (Pallas, 1771)

Plebejus argus

_X_Xx

_Xx_xXxx

_X_

Plebejus argyrognomon

Polyommatus bellargus

_XX_

_xXx

Polyommatus icarus

_X_X_X

xx_x

x_X

Polyommatus sp.

RIODINIDAE

Hamearis lucina

X X

NYMPHALIDAE

Libythea celtis (Laicharting, 1782)

Vanessa atalanta

Vanessa cardui

Nymphalis polych loros (Linnaeus, 1758)

Table 3 (3/4). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in VII-XI.2012. Legend: 1 Figures in

brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 (Table

2). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals photographed

during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) = Neither photo-

graphed nor observed during a sampling session.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Species

July

1-15(9)!

July

16-31(8)

Aug

1-15(4)

Aug

16-31(4)

Sept

1-15(3)

Sept

16-30(2)

Oct

(0)

Nov

1-15(2)

Nov

16-30(1)

Polygonia c-album (Linnaeus, 1758)

Limenitis reducta

x_x_

X_X

Melitaea athalia (Rottemburg, 1775)

Melitaea aurelia

Melitaea cinxia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Melitaea didyma

Melitaea Mvia (Denis et Schiffermuller, 1775)

Euphydryas aurinia

Issoria lathonia

Argynnis paphia

xx_x

Boloria dia

Brenthis daphne (Bergstrasser, 1780)

Brenthis hecate

Melanargia galathea procida

_xxXX_xx

Minois dryas

xxx_

Brintesia circe

_x_x

X_X

Are thus ana are thus a

_Xxx

xx_

Hipparchia fagi

_X_

Hipparchia statilinus (Hufnagel, 1766)

Hipparchia semele

Lasiommata maera

_x_x

Lasiommata megera (Linnaeus, 1767)

Pararge aegeria

Pyronia tithonus

X xxxx

xxx_

Maniola jurtina

x_xxx_

_x xx_

XXx_

x_x

Coenonympha arcania

X X

Coenonympha oedippus (Fabricius 1787)

Coenonympha pamphilus

_XX_

X_x

HESPERIIDAE

Carcharodus alceae (Esper, 1780)

Erynnis tages

Hesperia comma

Ochlodes sylvanus

XX_XX_X_

Spialia sertorius (Floffmannsegg, 1 804)

Thymelicus lineola (Ochsenheimer, 1808)

Thymelicus sylvestris (Poda, 1761)

Total spp. for period

—

Total spp. for month

—

Table 3 (4/4). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in VII-XI.2012. Legend: 1 Figures in

brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 (Table

2). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals photographed

during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) = Neither photo-

graphed nor observed during a sampling session.

Peter F. McGrath

TOTAL SPECIES 70

Feb

16-28(1)‘

March

1-15(1)

March

16-31(1)

April

1-15(2)

April

16-30(8)

May

1-15(5)

May

16-31(3)

June

1-15(6)

June

16-30(4)

July

1-15(5)

PAPILION ID AE

Iphiclides podalirius

_x_oo_

xO_xo

o_x

oXxXx

Papilio machaon

PIERIDAE

Anthocharis cardamines

_xx

Aporia crataegi

xoxxoo

Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Pieris mannii

_XXo_

Pieris napi

Pieris rapae

x_xxo_

Pieris sp.

0 _

ox_o

Pontia edusa (Fabricius, 1777)

Leptidea sinapis

_oo_ox

x_xox

_xx

x_x

Colias alfacariensis

o_x

Colias croceus

o_x

000

oxx_o

Colias sp.

Gonepteryx rhamni

LYCAENIDAE

Favonius quercus

Satyrium ilicis

_xxXx

o_xx

Callophrys rubi

Lycaena phlaeas

Cacyreus marshalli

_ 0 _

Celastrina argiolus

_xxxx

Cupido alcetas

Scolitantides orion

Aricia agestis (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1775)

Plebejus argus

_ox_

oXx

X_XxX

Plebejus argyronomon

Plebejus sp.

Cyaniris semiargus

(Rottemburg, 1775)

Polyommatus bellargus

_Xx

_oxxx_

o_xx

Polyommatus daphnis (Denis

et Schiffermuller, 1775)

Polyommatus icarus

_xx

x_xX_x

_xxx

Polyommatus sp.

Table 4 (1/6). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in II-15.VII.20 13. Legend: 1 Figures

in brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 or

2012 (Tables 2 and 3). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals

photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) =

Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Species

Feb

16-28(iy

March

1-15(1)

March

16-31(1)

April

1-15(2)

April

16-30(8)

May

1-15(5)

May

16-31(3)

June

1-15(6)

June

16-30(4)

July

1-15(5)

RIODINIDAE

Ham ear is lucina

oo X

NYMPHALIDAE

Libythea celtis

Vanessa atalanta

0_0_

_X_00

Vanessa cardui

_xx

Agalais io (Linnaeus, 1758)

Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)

_x_

Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Nymphalis polychloros

Polygonia c-album

_x_

Limenitis reducta

XXX

Melitaea athalia

Melitaea cinxia

_xX

Melitaea didyma

X X

_x_x_

Melitaea trivia

Euphydtyas aurinia

X X

_xx

Issoria lathonia

Argynnis paphia

Argynnis niobe ( Linnaeus, 1758)

Argynnis sp.

Boloria dia

Brenthis daphne

Melanarga galathea procida

Xxx

oxXxX

Minois dryas

Brintesia circe

_xxxX

Arethusana arethusa

Hipparchia fagi

Hipparchia semele

Lasiommata maera

_xx

xoXXxx

Lasiommata megera

X X

o_xxX

Pararge aegeria

x_xx_oo_

Pyronia tithonus

Maniola jurtina

_XX

x_Xxxx

_xXxo

Coenonympha arcania

_XX

x_XxXx

o_xx

0 xo

Coenonympha pamphilus

x_X

_Xx

x_xxxx

_xx_x

Table 4 (2/6). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in II-15.VII.20 13. Legend: 1 Figures

in brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month (or June/July period). 2 Author provided only for those species not

recorded in 201 1 or 2012 (Tables 2 and 3). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X =

3 or more individuals photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling

session; _ (or blank) = Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

Peter F. McGrath

Species

Feb

16-28(iy

March

1-15(1)

March

16-31(1)

April

1-15(2)

April

16-30(8)

May

1-15(5)

May

16-31(3)

June

1-15(6)

June

16-30(4)

July

1-15(5)

HESPERIIDAE

Carcharodus floccifera

(Zeller, 1847)

Erynnis tages

xox_x

Hesperia comma

Ochlodes sylvanus

oXxxx

Pyrgus amoricanus

(Oberthiir, 1910)

Pyrgus malvoides (Elwes

et Edwards, 1 897)

Spialia sertorius

Thymelicus lineola

Xxx

Thymelicus sylvestris

Total spp. for period

Total spp. for month

Table 4 (3/6). Summaiy of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in II-15.VII.2013. Legend: 1 Figures

in brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 2011 or

2012 (Tables 2 and 3). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals

photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) =

Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

Species

July

16-31(7)i

Aug

1-15(1)

Aug

16-31(3)

Sept

1-15(2)

Sept

16-30(2)

Oct

1-15(3)

Oct

16-31(1)

Nov

1-15(2)

Nov

16-30(2)

Dec

1-15(2)

PAPILIONIDAE

Iphiclides podalirius

oX_Xx_x

Papilio machaon

_X_

_x_

PIERIDAE

Anthocharis cardamines

Aporia crataegi

Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)

Pieris mannii

_xxxx_x

Pieris napi

Pieris rapae

Pieris sp.

oox

Pontia edusa (Fabricius, 1777)

Leptidea sinapis

_xx

x_x

Colias alfacariensis

_x_x_

Table 4 (4/6). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in 16.VII-XII.20 13. Legend: 1 Figures

in brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month (or June/July period). 2 Author provided only for those species not

recorded in 201 1 or 2012 (Tables 2 and 3). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X =

3 or more individuals photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling

session; _ (or blank) = Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Species

July

16-31(7)‘

Aug

1-15(1)

Aug

16-31(3)

Sept

1-15(2)

Sept

16-30(2)

Oct

1-15(3)

Oct

16-31(1)

Nov

1-15(2)

Nov

16-30(2)

Dec

1-15(2)

PIERIDAE

Colias croceus

Colias sp.

Gonepteryx rhamni

LYCAEN1DAE

Favonius quercus

Satyrium ilicis

Callophrys rubi

Lycaena phlaeas

Cacyreus marshalli

_x_

Celastrina argiolus

xx_

Cupido alcetas

Scolitcintides orion

Arid a agestis (Denis et

Schiffermuller, 1775)

_X_

x_x

Plebejus argus

_x_XxXx

xxX

Plebejus argyronomon

Plebejus sp.

Cyaniris semiargus

(Rottemburg, 1775)

Polyommatus bellargus

XXX

Polyommatus daphnis (Denis

et Schiffermuller, 1775)

Polyommatus icarus

XXx

XXX

Polyommatus sp.

RIODINIDAE

Ham ear is lucina

O X

NYMPHALIDAE

Libythea celtis

Vanessa atalanta

X_0

oxx

Vanessa cardui

Agalais io (Linnaeus, 1758)

Aglais urticae (Linnaeus, 1758)

XX_

Nymphalis antiopa (Linnaeus, 1758)

Nymphalis polychloros

Polygonia c-album

Limenitis reducta

oo_xx_x

XXX

Melitaea athalia

Table 4 (5/6). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in 16.VII-XII.20 13. Legend: 1 Figures

in brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 or

2012 (Tables 2 and 3). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals

photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) =

Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

Peter F. McGrath

Species

July

16-31(7) 1

Aug

1-15(1)

Aug

16-31(3)

Sept

1-15(2)

Sept

16-30(2)

Oct

1-15(3)

Oct

16-31(1)

Nov

1-15(2)

Nov

16-30(2)

Dec

1-15(2)

Melitaea cinxia

Melitaea didyma

X_X

Melitaea trivia

Euphydryas aurinia

Issoria lathonia

_o_x_

Argynnis paphia

Argynnis niobe (Linnaeus, 1758)

Argynnis sp.

_ 0 _

Boloria dia

Brenthis daphne

Melanarga galathea procida

ox_xx_

Minois dry as

XXX

Brintesia circe

OX XX X

Arethusana arethusa

XxX

Hipparchia fagi

Xox

Hippar chia semele

x_x

Lcisiommata maera

Lasiommata megera

xx_

xxX

Pararge aegeria

XXX

0_0

Pyronia tithonus

Xx_

x_x

Maniola jurtina

xxX

Coenonympha arcania

Coenonympha pamphilus

xx_x

XXX

_xx

HESPERIIDAE

Carcharodus floccifera

(Zeller, 1847)

Erynnis tages

_xXXx_

_x_

Hesperia comma

XXX

Ochlodes sylvanus

ooxXx

Pyrgus amoricanus

(Oberthiir, 1910)

Pyrgus malvoides (Elwes

et Edwards, 1 897)

Spialia sertorius

Thymelicus lineola

Thymelicus sylvestris

Total spp. for period

Total spp. for month

Table 4 (6/6). Summary of butterfly species recorded and observed in the study area in 16.VII-XII.20 13. Legend: 1 Figures

in brackets indicate no. of sampling sessions per month. 2 Author provided only for those species not recorded in 201 1 or

2012 (Tables 2 and 3). x = Either one or two individuals photographed during a sampling session; X = 3 or more individuals

photographed during a sampling session; o = Observed (but not photographed) during a sampling session; _ (or blank) =

Neither photographed nor observed during a sampling session.

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

Among the species not recorded by Carrara

(1926) is C. marshalli, a South African species

introduced into Italy in 1997 via horticultural trade

in its host plant, Pelargonium (Balletto et al., 2005).

C. marshalli has been recorded from nearby Udine

and Tarcento as well as Slovenia since 2008

(Bemardinelli, 2008; Verovnik et al., 2011b) and

thus is likely to have arrived in the province of

Trieste around the same time.

Some 13 European countries, including France,

Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK, are

implementing butterfly recording schemes in at-

tempts to build long-term data sets on species abun-

dance. To date, however, Italy is not among these

countries (van Swaay et al., 2012a, Butterfly Con-

servation Europe: http://www.bc-europe.eu/index.

php?id=339, accessed 14 March 2014). Such

schemes, which also record abundance, are valuable

for detecting population changes over the long-

term, including those influenced by climate change

(Roy & Sparks, 2000; Roy et al., 2001; Warren et

al., 2001; Stefanescu et al., 2003). However, a case

has also been made for recording schemes that meas-

ure presence rather than abundance (Casner et al.,

2014), as is the case in the current study (although

some inferences on abundance can perhaps be made

based on repeated sightings over a short time

period). This study has also identified several species-

rich 1 km transects that could be used as standard

transects in a regular recording scheme for the area

as per current guidelines (van Swaay et al., 2012a).

Among the 79 species recorded in this survey,

some 14 are of conservation concern either in the

region or more widely in Europe (Tables 5 and 6).

Of particular note are E. aurinia and C. oedippus.

In the case of E. aurinia , a number of individuals

were recorded in each of the three years of the sur-

vey, indicating a stable, healthy population, even if

it did not cover the whole of the survey area. While

C. oedippus was recorded only in 2012, several in-

dividuals were found, indicating a relatively small

but potentially healthy population that appears,

however, to be isolated from any other local popu-

lations. Both species were found in patches of rough

vegetation and field margins of the cultivated area

close to Malchina. It can also be noted that neither

species was recorded from the Trieste area in the

early 20th century (Carrara, 1926). Targeted sur-

veys timed to coincide with peak flight periods of

these two species and across a wider area than the

areas identified by the author in this survey would

provide useful additional information on the im-

portance of the location for these two species.

These two species are also among the 34 species

considered by van Swaay & Warren (2006) when

developing a list of Prime Butterfly Areas (PBAs)

for conservation priority in Europe. When selecting

their 43 1 PBAs, van Swaay & Warren (2006) took

into account two types of area: discrete sites that

support one or more target species; and wider areas

(such as mountain ranges or valley systems) where

a target species occurs as scattered populations that

may well be connected as a single metapopulation.

Indeed, a possible C. oedippus metapopulation has

been recorded at sites around Komen, some 8 km

from Malchina across the border in Slovenia (Celik

& Verovnik, 2010). In Italy, C. oedippus is known

from around 100 sites, although many are con-

sidered under threat, mostly by natural reforestation

(Bonelli et al., 2010). Further studies in and around

the survey area would also help to confirm if other

species recorded only rarely in the area were part

of other significant metapopulations.

Given the presence of both E. aurinia and C.

oedippus in the survey area, the area of the Triestine

karst around Malchina could be considered for pos-

sible inclusion as a PBA. This would add to the

cluster of PBAs already identified in the Friuli

Venezia Giulia/Slovenia/Istria region. The fact that

the area also habours a number of other species at

risk regionally, including strong populations of L.

celtis , B. circe , An arethusa, //. fagi and C. arcania,

as well as populations of other species such as H.

statilinus and Pyronia tithonus (Tables 2, 3, 4, and

6) adds to the value of the area.

Species

European

(EU25) status

EU27 status 1

Scolitantides onion

Melitaea aurelia

Melitaea trivia

Argymnis niobe

Hipparchia statilinus

Coenonympha oedippus

Carcharodus floccifera

Table 5. European-level conservation status of endangered

and threatened butterfly species recorded in the survey area

(from van Swaay et al., 2010 and 2012b). LC = Least

concern; NT = Near threatened; EN = Endangered. 1 EU27

includes also Bulgaria and Romania

Peter F. McGrath

As a designated Natura 2000 site (see Natura Net-

work Viewer: http://natura2000.eea.europa.eu/#),

much of the survey area is theoretically protected

from development. In practice, however, the on-

going abandonment of agricultural fields and succes-

sion to more overgrown/wooded areas (Poldini,

1989) or other threats such as construction of new

housing continue to erode suitable butterfly habitats.

As mentioned earlier, the abandonment of agricul-

tural land and/or changing habitat management

affects many of Europe’s threatened butterfly

species, while other important threats include climate

change, increased frequency and intensity of fires

and tourism development (van Swaay et al., 2010).

Indeed, in 2012, several areas close to the survey area

were affected by fire (Tosques, 2012a; 2012b).

Habitat loss is, however, regarded as the greatest

threat to butterflies. Van Swaay & WaiTen (2006), for

example, highlight that even species targeted for con-

servation are declining not only within PBAs, but also

within protected areas. Likewise, in the UK, Warren

et al. (2001) demonstrated that, despite the positive ef-

fects of climate change on range expansion, for three-

quarters of 46 species considered, these gains were

outweighed by the negative effects of habitat loss.

Van Swaay & Warren (2006) conclude that le-

gislation alone is not enough to maintain threatened

populations, but that practical conservation meas-

ures are also urgently needed. Such measures

should include sound habitat management of key

sites allied with sympathetic management of sur-

rounding areas, such as the continuation of tradi-

tional agriculture and forestry practices. They also

recommend that populations of target species are

monitored and that research is conducted to identify

appropriate habitat management techniques - with

appropriate financial support. In contrast, Navarro

& Pereira (2012) argue that ‘rewilding’ (defined as

“the passive management of ecological succession

with the goal of restoring natural ecosystem pro-

cesses and reducing human control of landscapes”)

of abandoned farmland should be considered as a

possible land management option in Europe, partic-

ularly on marginal areas. However, they also recog-

nize that such passive forest regeneration will cause

some species to decline in abundance while others

would increase, i.e. there would be both ‘winner’

and ‘loser’ species.

In the survey area considered here, the greatest

Species

Status in Triveneto region

Comments re: area surveyed 1

Zerynthia polyxena

Very local, EN, protected at EU level

One individual photographed in 2012

Callophrys rubi

LR but in decline

Rare. Recorded once in 2012 and once in 2013

Libythea celtis

Scarce, VU

Good local populations

Nymphalis antiopa

DD/EN - population at lower altitudes EN

One individual observed in 2013

Melitaea trivia

VU, protected in FVG 2

Never common. Recorded twice in 2012 and

once in 2013

Euphydryas aurinia

NT, protected in FVG at EU level

Reasonable population localized to parts of

survey area

Bren this hecate

Very rare. Recorded twice in 2012 only

Brintesia circe

EN, threatened, very local

Good local population

Arethusana arethusa

NT, protected in FVG

Good local population

Hipparchia fagi

VU, locally common , EN in Alto Adige

Good local population

Hipparchia statilinus

DD/LR, can be locally common

A few individuals recorded in 2012 only

Pyronia tithonus

Very local distribution, VU/EN

Found regularly, but never more than one or

two individuals

Coenonympha arcania

ER/NT, common - populations in hill/

mountain areas of FVG less threatened

Good local population

Coenonympha oedippus

VU, protected at EU level

A few individuals recorded in 2012 only

Pyrgus amoricanus

NT, only local populations

Recorded intermittently in 2013 only

Table 6. Triveneto-level conservation status of protected, endangered, threatened and vulnerable butterfly species recorded

in the survey area (from Paolucci, 2010). LR = Lower risk; NT = Near threatened; VU = Vulnerable; EN = Endangered;

DD = Data deficient. 1 For additional details, refer to Tables 2, 3 and 4. 2 FVG = Friuli Venezia Giulia

A multi-year survey of the butterflies (Lepidoptera Rhopalocera) of a defined area of the Triestine karst, Italy

threat to local butterfly populations and diversity of

species remains the natural reforestation that is on-

going since the decline of grazing in the area. Similar

effects are occurring to local bird communities, with

specialist grassland species such as the rock partridge

Alectoris graeca (Meisner, 1804), grey partridge

Perdix perdix (Linnaeus, 1758) and ortolan bunting

( Emberiza hortulana Linnaeus, 1758) having gone

locally extinct, populations of skylark (Alcmda

arvensis Linnaeus, 1758) and tawny pipit Anthus

campestris (Linnaeus, 1758) under threat, and num-

bers of com bunting ( Emberiza calandra Linnaeus,

1758), red-backed shrike ( Lanius collurio Linnaeus,

1758) and nightjar ( Caprimulgus europaeus Lin-

naeus, 1758) much reduced. Concomitantly there

have been increases in species frequenting scmb and

woodland, such as the nightingale, blackcap, black-

bird, chaffinch and melodious warbler (Parodi,

1999). However, exactly which type of management

practices are most suited for maintaining both faunal

and floral diversity in the area, is unknown.

Based on research in Germany on a comparable

grassland site with shallow soil in a warm, dry tem-

perate climate, Romemiann et al. (2009) concluded

that neither mowing nor various mulching regimes

properly conserved the structure of wildflower pop-

ulations developed over many years of grazing in

species-rich semi-natural grasslands. However, they

did recommend mulching twice per year, as this gen-

erated the most similar floristic and functional plant

community compared to the original grazing regime.

In contrast, regarding the conservation of another

endangered grassland-specialist insect species, Saga

pedo (Pallas, 1771) (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae) that

is also present in the survey area (Fontana &

Cussigh, 1996; author’s observations), from their stu-

dies in the Czech Republic, Holusa et al. (2013) re-

commended either extensive rotational grazing or

using scythes to cut grass in a traditional way to main-

tain open areas of natural grassland. Alternatively,

partial machine mowing (one-third to one-half of

specific areas) each September could be considered.

Unfortunately it is more than likely that the cur-

rent situation of abandonment and neglect of once

grazed and cultivated areas is likely to continue in

the survey area for the foreseeable future. Similarly,

Bonelli et al. (2010), discussing the conservation of

C. oedippus populations across Italy, note that nat-

ural reforestation is best prevented by developing suit-

able, but costly, management plans, “which for the

moment remain only on paper, in the best of cases.”

The same is likely true for large parts of the

Triestine karst, despite the undoubted conservation

value for butterfly species, as reported here.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author gratefully acknowledges the as-

sistance of Lucio Morin, a local butterfly expert, for

help with the identification of a number of speci-

mens and for providing valuable comments on the

text. In addition, a number of other members of the

Forum Entomologi Italiani assisted with identifica-

tion of various specimens via photographs posted

to the online forum (www.entomologiitaliani.net).

Paul Tout and Rudi Verovnik also provided valuable

comments on the text. The contents of this article

represent the views of the author and do not reflect

the official opinion of TWAS or IAP.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 73-78

First observations on the herpetological and theriological

fauna of Alimia Island (Rhodes Archipelago, Aegean Sea)

Mauro Grano 1 *, Cristina Cattaneo 2 & Augusto Cattaneo 3

'Via Valcenischia 24, 00141 Roma, Italy; e-mail: elaphe58@yahoo.it

2 Via Eleonora d’Arborea 12, 00162 Roma, Italy; e-mail: cristina.cattaneo76@libero.it

3 Via Cola di Rienzo 162, 00192 Roma, Italy; e-mail: augustocattaneo@hotmail.com

'Corresponding author

ABSTRACT This note is a preliminary study on the herpetological and theriological fauna of Alimia Is-

land (Rhodes Archipelago, Aegean Sea). Are described seven species of reptiles and three

of micromammals. Is also provided a short botanical characterization of the island.

KEY WORDS Alimia; Dodecanese; Aegean island; Rhodes.

Received 02.02.2015; accepted 05.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Currently there is no scientific literature regard-

ing herpetological and theriological fauna of Al-

imia Island (Rhodes Archipelago, Aegean Sea), and

the following reported data are completely new.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Alimia Island has been the subject of a partial

survey in August 2014. Since this island is uninhab-

ited, the authors stayed in the nearby island of

Chalki.

Due to the great difficulties in reaching Alimia,

surveys were carried out only in two days, and, for

the discontinuity and precariousness of the con-

nections, the authors of this paper, in the study

of theriological fauna, could not use live-traps

(Sherman) and photo-traps. Therefore were carried

out exclusively field research, by examining osteo-

logical remains and inspecting glass bottles found

in situ.

Study area

Alimia is a small island essentially calcareous,

located in the Aegean Sea, north of Chalki and west

of Rhodes and is one of the 1 63 islands that com-

pose the Dodecanese Archipelago (Sokratis, 2006).

It is part of Peripheral Unit of Rhodes and adminis-

tratively belongs to the Municipality of Chalki.

Its geographical coordinates are: longitude

27°42’24.11” E; latitude 36°16’26.26” N. The

island has an area of 7.42 km 2 , a coastline of 2 1 km

and a maximum height of 274 m above sea level

(Fig. 1). Alimia is provided of two large creeks:

Imborios and Agios Georgios. Just for the presence

of these two natural harbors, in ancient times Alimia

was called Eulimna (from Greek limen = harbor)

(Blackman et al., 2014).

The island is split in two unequal parts by a fail

(Stefanini & Desio, 1928). In southern part a nar-

row strip of land connects the peninsula of Tigani

to the rest of the island (Rackham & Vemicos,

1991). Alimia lacks superficial hydrography; there’s

only a small retrodunal pond of brackish water in

Mauro Grano etalii

the bay of Agios Georgios (Fig. 2). Together with

the surrounding small islands and Chalki, it’s in-

cluded in the European Network “Natura 2000” as

SPA, Special Protection Area, with GR42 10026

code. Moreover, with the Official Gazette 991

GG/B of 27 May 1999, Alimia was officially de-

clared archaeological site of national interest for the

presence of remains belonging to the Neolithic,

such as the Paleochristian Basilica in the bay of

Imborios and the Post-Byzantine church of Agios

Georgios. The uncontaminated nature of the coasts

is testified by the presence in this island of the now

rare monk seal, Monachus monachus (Di Turo,

1984; Marchessaux & Duguy, 1977). Currently the

island is uninhabited and is used by the inhabitants

of Chalki, as in the past, for sheep and goats grazing

(Iliadis, 1950). Regular connections either with

Chalki or with Rhodes are not provided, indeed,

Alimia knows only a sporadic tourism made by

private boats.

Botanical aspects. Alimia is characterized by

wide low shrubs in which Juniperus phoenicea L.

and Pistacia lentiscus L. are the most distinctive

elements. These species have pulvinated aspect,

especially near the coast. In places where shrubs

becomes more thin and open, thrives a phiygana

almost exclusively characterized by Thymbra cap-

itata (L.) Cav., to which sometimes is associated

Teucrium capitatum L. and more sporadically

Salvia fruticosa Mill.; Origanum onites L. and

Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach were infre-

quently observed. The scarcity of the arboreal

element is highlighted by the presence of scarce and

localized clusters of Pinus brutia Ten. The steepest

zones of Alimia have terraces once used for olive

growing, now hardly visible as covered by the

current vegetation. Iliadis (1950) informs that once

this island was used not only as grazing land, but

also for the production of fodder plants, grain, oil

and figs (Cattaneo & Grano, in press).

RESULTS

REPTILIA

Hemidactylus turcicus turcicus (Linnaeus, 1758)

This gecko has a Mediterranean chorotype

(Sindaco & Jeremcenko, 2008). Populations intro-

duced by humans are also known for some states

in United States and South America. Essentially

nocturnal species, is often visible in trophic activity

during evening hours. The few individuals ob-

served at Alimia were found among the ruins of

Ag. Georgios village, under wood planks in shaded

sites with relative humidity. Due to the lack of elec-

tricity in the island, the species could not be ob-

served near light sources.

Mediodactylus kotschyi (Steindachner, 1870)

This species, until a short time ago known as

Cyrtopodion kotschyi , has been recently subject of

taxonomic review (Rosier, 2000). It has an E-

Mediterranean chorotype (Sindaco & Jeremcenko,

2008). Are currently recognized 27 subspecies and

in Chalki and Alimia should be present Mediodac-

tylus kotschyi beutleri (Baran et Gruber, 1981). This

subspecies is typical of southwest Turkey and

eastern Aegean islands. However, the validity of

such subspecies could be under discussion by

modern molecular genetic studies (Kasapidis et al.,

2005). This gecko carries out semidiurnal activities,

choosing stony and arid habitats. It is usually found

on soil and on dry-stones walls (Beutler, 1981). At

Alimia Mediodactylus kotschyi was observed into

Ag. Georgios village, on dry-stone walls used as

enclosures for sheep and goats grazing.

Stellagama stellio daani (Beutler et Fror, 1980)

The chorotype of this reptile is Mediter-

ranean/Arabian (Sindaco & Jeremcenko, 2008).

The recent genus Stellagama is considered mono-

specific and includes the only species S. stellio

(Baig et al., 2012). Seven subspecies are currently

acknowledged, two of which are present in Greece:

S. stellio stellio (Linnaeus, 1758) and S. stellio

daani. The first one has been found in five Cyclades

islands (Delos, Mikro Rhematiaris, Mykonos, Rinia

and Tinos) and in the Ionian islands of Corfu and

Paxi (Spaneli & Lymberakis, 2014); the second one

was found in other Cyclades islands (Paros, Naxos,

Despotico e Antiparos), in most of the eastern

Aegean islands and in Thessaloniki, in the north of

mainland Greece (Spaneli & Lymberakis, 2014). In

Alimia S. stellio daani (Fig. 3) was found relatively

frequent. Adult and young specimens have been

observed during activity and thermoregulation

First observations on the herpetological and theriological fauna ofAlimia Island (Rhodes Archipelago, Aegean Sea) 75

Figure 1. Alimia Island, Rhodes Archipelago, Aegean Sea.

between rocks and among the mins of Ag. Georgios

village.

Ablepharus kitaibelii kitaibelii (Bibron et

Bory, 1833)

A single specimen of this lizard, with a Balcanic

and W- Anatolic chorotype (Sindaco & Jeremcenko,

2008), was observed near a dry-stone wall, close

Ag. Georgios beach. Ablepharus kitaibelii appears

to be a mainly hygrophilous species (Cattaneo,

1998), as generally lives on wet soil and in under-

wood bedding of conifers forest (Broggi, 2002;

Wilson & Grillitsch, 2009). However, both to Al-

imia and to nearby Chalki island, A. kitaibelii has

been found in extreme aridity. In Chalki indeed it

has been very often observed on rocky and arid soil

and also on stone walls inside Imborios village. In

this latter case, however, the research by the above

mentioned species of a degree of humidity inside

the village is plausible.

Anatololacerta oertzeni pelasgiana (Mertens,

1959)

Anatololacerta oertzeni (Werner, 1904) is a

lizard with a Mediterranean chorotype (Sindaco &

Jeremcenko, 2008). It consists of six subspecies. At

Rhodes and in the adjacent islands there’s the sub-

species A. oertzeni pelasgiana (Fig. 4). Like most

Mediterranean reptiles, this lizard is particularly

active in springtime, while in summer exposes one-

self less frequently. However the young, very typ-

ical for the blue color of the tail (Fig. 5), are also

Figure 2. Ag. Georgios village, Alimia Island.

active in the summertime and in the hottest hours

(Wilson & Grillitsch, 2009). Indeed, in Alimia the

young specimens have been seen more frequently,

especially observed up on the walls of the houses

of Ag. Georgios village and on dry stone walls. On

the contrary adults not exposed oneself to direct

sunlight, but stayed inside abandoned houses in

conditions of light and shadow.

Ophisops elegans (Menetries, 1832)

Small lizard with Mediterranean/Iranian choro-

type (Sindaco & Jeremcenko, 2008). Eight sub-

species are currently recognized including one for

Greece: O. elegans macrodactylus (Berthold,

1842). Ophisops elegans (Fig. 6) resulted the most

common reptile in Alimia, generally observed on

soil and especially at the basis of juniper bushes.

Dolichophis sp.

Regarding snakes only a partial exuvia was

found at the basis of a dry stone wall bordering the

abandoned Ag. Georgios village. Stmctural and

chromatic features of the specimen (dark scales with

a light middle strip) assign it unequivocally to the

genus Dolichophis Gistel, 1868. Even if was im-

possible to make a more detailed meristic examina-

tion of the specimen (being the exuvia incomplete),

however, for exclusive biogeographic considera-

tions, we can assume that the exuvia is attributable

to D. jugularis and more precisely to D. jugularis

zinneri Cattaneo, 2012. This subspecies is indeed

present in Rhodes and in the islands of its ar-

Mauro Grano etalii

chipelago, such as Chalki, Simi and Tilos (Cattaneo,

2012). Therefore the presence of D.jugularis zinneri

also at Alimia could be argued with good probability.

MAMMALIA

Rattus sp.

hi the immediate surroundings of the big boulders

which form the basis of Kastro (180 m s.l.m.) have

been found two long bones of Rattus sp.: a femur

and a tibia. The failure to find other osteological

remains didn’t allow the distinction between Rattus

rattus Linnaeus, 1758 and R. norvegicus Berkenhout,

1769. Both species live in Rhodes and R. rattus is

present also in the nearby islands of Chalki

(Massed, 2012). In the Dodecanese area is reported

the presence of R. norvegicus for Kos and R. rattus

for Tilos, Karpathos, Kos and Astypalaia (Angelici

et al., 1992; Masseti & Sara, 2002).

Mus musculus Schwarz et Schwarz, 1943

Mus musculus commonly called house mouse, is

an anthropocore and highly invasive regarded

species. This species native of Asia, is present in all

continents, except Antarctica (Masseti, 2012).

Figures 3-6. Reptiles from Alimia Island. Figure 3. Stellagama stellio daani. Figure 4. Anatololacerta oertzeni

pelasgiana (adult). Figure 5. A. oertzeni pelasgiana (young). Figure 6. Ophisops elegans.

First observations on the herpetological and theriological fauna ofAlimia Island (Rhodes Archipelago, Aegean Sea) 77

Mus musculus is included in the list, compiled by

IUCN, of 100 world’s worst invasive alien species

(Lowe et al., 2000). This small rodent can live in

very diversified habitat due to the presence of

human’s commensals populations so-called “indoor”

and wild populations called “outdoor” (Amori et al.,

2008). The osteological remains related to this

species, which consist of the skull, a hemimandible,

a scapula, some vertebrae and some ribs, were found

inside a dark glass bottle of beer among the ruins of

the Ag. Georgios village. Some peculiar features,

such as the presence of the notch on the external side

of the upper incisors, the presence of only two rows

of tubercles on the molars of the hemimandible and

of a single root in the upper molar and, moreover,

the dimension of various finds, the appearance and

the reduced sizes of the braincase, have allowed the

attribution of these finds to the species M. musculus

(Toschi, 1965; Amori et al., 2008).

Suncus etruscus Savi, 1822

Suncus etruscus is the smallest living terrestrial

mammal, characterized by a weight of about 2 g

and by a length which rarely reaches to 5 cm (ex-

cluding tail). It is a typical species of Mediterranean

bio-climatic zones, where it lives in environments

characterized by dry stone walls and rocks (Amori

et al., 2008), situation which moreover has also

been found at Alimia. The distribution range of this

species includes countries of the Mediterranean

basin and extends to Pakistan and India. In the

African continent reaches Natal and Tanzania. Has

been found a single find of this small mammal, a

hemimandible, in the same bottle where the remains

relating to Mus musculus were found. The shape

and size of hemimandible and the height mandibu-

lar coronoid, less than 3.2 mm, were the distinctive

features for the attribution to the species S. etruscus

(Amori et al., 2008).

CONCLUSIONS

As already noted, due to difficulties in reaching

Alimia, the survey on the island may not have been

capillary. It seems that because the arid nature and

lack of active watercourses of this island, Amphi-

bians are totally absent. A comparable situation is

also in the nearby island of Chalki, which has very

similar environmental features (Buttle, 1995; Cat-

taneo, 2009). All specimens of various species of

reptiles were found in Ag. Georgios bay, among the

ruins of the abandoned village. Some specimens of

S. stellio and A. oertzeni have also been observed

in close proximity of a group of military buildings

abandoned in the peninsula of Tigani. The herpeto-

fauna of Alimia has proved to be interesting anyway

and, considering the small size of the island, sub-

stantially consistent. The species that hosts are

clearly of Rhodian matrix; includes two taxa more

than the nearby and much bigger (about six times)

island of Chalki (A. oertzeni and Ophisops elegans )

(Buttle, 1995; Cattaneo, 2007, 2009), but the latter

is more distant from Rhodes. The coexistence of

seven species of reptiles in this small island, dry and

without human presence, represents a perfect model

of sympatry and of optimal utilization of resources.

It is also worth noting that the dense interactive

network of the island (to whom contribute four

species of lizard and at least three of micromammals)

could also allow the survival to a second ophidic

species. In this regard is worth remembering that

Boettger (1888) reported the news, provided by von

Oertzen, about the possibility of the existence of

Montivipera xanthina in Chalki. Researches carried

by us and by others (Joger & Nilson, 2005) have

ruled out this possibility, but fact remains that the

indication of von Oertzen could refer to another

nearby island (in this instance Alimia), assimilated

to Chalki or confused with this, following a lapsus

linguae. Besides the authority and reliability of the

German author don’t put doubts about the authen-

ticity of the news. So that’s why is desirable in the

future that researches are carried out in this direc-

tion, in order to clarify the enigma.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors wish to thank Flavio Rocchi and

Giuliano Milana for helping in the determination of

the finds related to micromammals.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 79-82

First record of Rugulina fragilis (Sars G.O., 1878) from the

Mediterranean Sea (Mollusca Gastropoda Pendromidae)

Francesco Giusti 1 , Carlo Sbrana 2 & Luigi Romani 3 *

'Via 25 Aprile 19 /E , 57017 Colle Salvetti, Leghorn, Italy; e-mail: jojcub@yahoo.it

2 Via Sette Santi 1, 57100 Leghorn, Italy; e-mail: car letto.nicchi@tisca li.it

3 Via delle ville 79, 55013 Lam mari, Lucca, Italy; e-mail: luigir omani78@gmail.com

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Several shells of RllguUnCl fragilis (Sars G.O., 1 878) (Mollusca Gastropoda Pendromidae)

are reported from the Tuscan Archipelago. This is the first record of the species from the

Mediterranean Sea.

KEY WORDS Mediterranean Sea; new records; Pendromidae; Rligulina fragilis ; Tuscan Archipelago.

Received 02.02.2015; accepted 05.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Pendromidae Waren, 1991 is a small family of

vetigastropods whose systematic position is not yet

well understood (Bouchet P. & Rocroi J.P., 2005).

It includes two genera, Pendwma Dali, 1927 and

Rugulina Palazzi, 1 988. The latter comprises few

species (Gofas, 2014), only two of them belong to

the European fauna: Rugulina fragilis (Sars G.O.,

1 87 8) and R. UlOUteWSatoi (van Aartsen & Bogi,

1987). Their troubled nom enclatural and taxonomic

histories are well documented by Waren (1991).

Only R. monterosatoi has previously been found in

the Mediterranean Sea.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All material was picked up from bottom samples

trawled by local fishermen. Shells were studies with

a stereomicroscope. Photos were taken with a di-

gital photocamera. The protoconch whorls are

counted according to the method of Verduin (1977).

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. Dp:

total diameter of the pro to conch (in pm); H: max-

imum height (in mm); Nwp: number of whorls of

the protoconch; Nwt: number of whorls of the

teleoconch; W: maximum width (in mm); APC:

Attilio Pagli collection (Lari, Italy); CBC: Cesare

Bogi collection (Leghorn, Italy); CSC: Carlo

Sbrana collection (Leghorn, Italy); LCC: Lrancesco

Chiriaco collection (Leghorn, Italy); LGC:

Lrancesco Giusti collection (Leghorn, Italy);

RRC: Romualdo Rocchini collection (Pistoia,

Italy).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Taxonomy

Class Gastropoda Cuvier, 1795

Subclass Vetigastropoda S alvini-Plaw en , 1980

Lamily Pendromidae Waren, 1991

G enus Rugulina P alazzi, 198 8

Francesco Giusti et alii

Rugulina fragilis (Sars G .0 1878) (Figs. 1-3,5)

Adeorbis fragilis G.O. Sars, 1878: 2 1 3, tab. 22, figs.

1 9a-c (Fig . 4)

Rugulina fragilis-. Waren, 1991: 71—73, figs 11A-E,

1 3 A , B

Rugulina fragilis-. Beck et al., 2006: 47

Rugulina fragilis-. Hoffman et al., 2010: 49, figs. 1-3

Original description. " Testa tenuis et fragilis,

albida, leviter rufescens, exacte trochiformis, spira

elevata, anfractibus 4 convexis, ultimo permagno

et amplo basi leviter applanata, sutura profunda,

apertura patula, oblique expansa, forma ovato-

elliptica, labro externo tenuissimo, obliquo,

columella cequaliter incurvata, umbilico magno et

projundo crista nulla a basi difinito. Superficies vix

nitida, lineis spiralibus, elevatis, regularibus

obducta. Diam. basis 2,0 mm; altit. 1,7 mm."

[The shell is thin and fragile, whitish, slightly

reddish, perfectly trochiform, with elevated spire, 4

convex whorls, the last is large and wide with the

base slightly flattened, suture deep, aperture wide,

obliquely expanded, ovate-elliptic, the external lip

is very thin, oblique, the columella is regularly

curved, the umbilicus is large and deep, there is no

keel on the base. Surface barely shining, regularly

covered with raised spiral lines. Diameter at the

base 2.0 mm; height 1.7 mm.]

Examined material. Rugulina fragilis : off

Capo Corso (Corsica, France) 600 m, 2 shells in

CSC, 6 shells in FG C , 1 shell in A PC . Rugulina cf .

fragilis-. off Capo Corso (Corsica, France) 600 m,

l shell in csc. Rugulina monterosatoi-. off

Gorgona Island (Feghorn, Italy) 400 m, 4 shells in

RRC, 1 shell in CSC, 1 shell in FCC; 3 shells off

Gorgona Island (Feghorn, Italy) 300 m, in APC; 13

shells, Alboran Sea (Spain) 160 m, in CBC; 4

shells off Giglio Island (Grosseto, Italy) 400 m, in

CBC; 4 shells off Capraia Island (Feghorn, Italy)

500 m , in FG C .

Description of the examined shells. Small,

thin and fragile, broadly conical (height: 1.00-1.65

mm;width: 1.15-2.05 m m ), w hitish and semitrans-

parent. Protoconch (0.5-0. 6 whorls; diameter about

185 pm) protruding, paucispiral, smooth, tilted,

border with the teleoconch clear. Teleoconch whorls

(2. 2-2. 6) convex, fairly expanding, suture deep.

Aperture broad, ovate, prosocline (seen laterally).

Outer lip sharp. Columella curved, simple. Base

quite flattened. Umbilicus wide. Sculpture of subtle

spiral threads (9-14 on the last whorl), more close-

set in the periumbilical zone. Shell surface further

ornamented with a somewhat net-shaped micros-

culpture of irregular discontinuous lines.

Remarks. The mediterranean shells match R.

fragilis in all respects. The only similar species is

the cogeneric R. monterosatoi, which is constantly

smaller (maximum W : 0.85 mm; maximum H: 0.80

mm). Its spiral sculpture has only 2 strong perium-

bilical cords forming a sort of keel and 1 adapical

thread. The protoconch are comparable in size (Dp:

about 185 pm) (Aartsen van & Bogi, 1987; Waren,

1991; pers. obs.) (Figs. 7-9). Comparing similar-

sized shells of R. fragilis and R. monterosatoi, the

latter has a more globular outline, a more depressed

spire, less expanded whorls, the outline of the last

whorl appears more squarish due to the spiral

sculpture, the umbilicus is smaller, and the proto-

conch less tilted (Figs. 5-6). Note that the shell in

fig. 6 is gerontic, being larger for the species and

having the last whorl slightly loose. It is neverthe-

less clearly different from R. fragilis.

A shell sim ilar to R. fragilis (Figs. 1 0- 1 3) w as

found in the same bottom sample (H: 1.20 mm;

W: 1.40 mm; Nwt: 1.7). It differs from the latter

in having a less conical outline, a stronger micros-

cultpure, a protoconch not tilted, larger in dia-

meter (Nwp: 0.6; Dp: about 270 pm). Being an

unique specimen, we prefer to leave its status

open .

Rugulina fragilis is previously known from the

Northern Atlantic Ocean, ranging from E Greenland

to Norway (Waren, 1991; Hoffman et al., 2010),

and the Seine seamount, off the morroccan coasts

(Beck et al., 2006). This is the first record from the

Mediterranean Sea. Although no living specimens

were found, the shells are in good conditions.

Rugulina fragilis should be added to the recent

mediterranean malacofauna.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are grateful to Cesare Bogi

(Feghorn, Italy), Romina Rocchini (Pistoia, Italy),

Attilio Pagli (Fari, Italy), Alessandro Raveggi

(Florence, Italy), Francesco Chiriaco (Feghorn,

Italy), Stefano Bartolini (Florence, Italy) for the

First record of Rugulina fragilis from the Mediterranean Sea (Mollusca Gastropoda Pendromidae)

Figures 1-3: Rugulina fragilis , off Capo Corso, 600 m, 1.90 mm x 1.50 mm; Fig. 1: frontal view; Fig. 2: apical view; Fig.

3: basal view. Fig. 4: AdeOfbis fragilis (from Sars, 1878, pi. 22, figs. 19a, modified). Fig. 5: R. fragilis, off Capo Corso, 600

m, 1.15 mm x 1.00 mm. Fig. 6: R. lllOllteWSatoi, off Giglio Island, 400 m, 1.00 mm x 1.00 mm. Figs. 7-9: R. monte WSatoi,

off Gorgona Island, 400 m, 0.77 mm x 0.77 mm; Fig. 7: frontal view; Fig. 8: apical view; Fig. 9: pro to conch. Figs. 10 - 13 :

R. c f. fragilis , same locality as Figs. 1 - 3 , 1.40 mm x 1.20 mm; Fig. 10: fro n tal view; Fig. 11: apical view; Fig. 12: pro to conch;

Fig. 13: details of the sculpture.

Francesco Giusti et alii

loan of material. Sincere thanks are due to Cesare

Bogi for useful advices, to Stefano Bartolini for di-

gital photographs and to Enzo Campani (Leghorn,

Italy) for reading the manuscript. Thanks to Patrick

LaFollette (Cathedral City, U.S.A.) for editing the

English manuscript.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 83-86

Colinatys Ortea, Moro et Espinosa, 20 1 3 from Eastern Medi-

terranean Sea (Opisthobranchia Haminoeidae)

Luigi Romani 1 *, Stefano Bartolini 2 & Alessandro Raveggi 3

'Via delle ville 7 9, 55013 Lammari, Lucca, Italy; e-mail: luigir omani78@gmail.com

2 V ia Ermete Zacconi 16, 50137 Flo re nee, Italy; e-mail: stefmaria.bartolini@alice.it

3 V ia Benedetto Varchi 67, 50132 Florence, Italy, e-mail: sandro. firenze@ libero.it

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Two shells of the genus ColillCltyS Ortea, Moro et Espinosa, 2013 (Opistobranchia Hami-

noeidae), similar to ColillCltyS Cllciyoi (Espinosa et Ortea, 2004), type species of the genus,

are reported from Larnaca, Cyprus. The presence of the species in the Mediterranean Sea

is discussed.

KEY WORDS Colinatys ■ H am inoeidae; new records; Mediterranean Sea.

Received 02.02.201 5; accepted 05.03.20 1 5; printed 30.03.20 1 5

Colinatys sp.

Examined material. 2 shells from Larnaca, Cy-

prus, depth 43 m, May, 2011, picked from bioclast ic

bottom samples collected by SCUBA near wreck of

ferry MS Zenobia, 34°53'52"N 33°39'25"E. Spe-

cimen 1 , H = 1.35 mm,W = 0.85 mm. (Figs. 1-4),

in Alessandro Raveggi collection; specimen 2, H =

1.60 mm,W = 1.20 (Figs. 1-6), in Stefano B artolini

co llec tio n .

Description. Shell small, translucent, colorless,

involutely coiled, subey lindrical-py riform , trun-

cated, periphery below center of the smoothly roun-

ded body whorl.Aperture longer than spire, narrow

posteriorly, widening anteriorly. Umbilicus narrow,

partially obscured by the slightly flared columellar

lip. Spire concave, nearly covered by final whorl,

leaving a narrow opening through which the proto-

conch can be seen. Outer lip sharp, straight to

slightly concave above periphery, convex below.

Sculpture of weakly encised, whitish spiral bands

of irregular widths, interrupted by stronger closely

packed orthocline axial growth lines, dividing the

bands into of rows of squared to elongated pits.

Within the apical depression only axial sculpture is

evident. The shell surface has a wrinkled, weakly

reticulated appearance. The whitish appearing

spiral bands are visible within the aperture through

the translucent shell (Figs. 1-6).

DISCUSSION

No European O pisthobranchs nor alien indo-

pacific species recorded from Cyprus (Ozturk et al.,

2004; Tsiakkiros & Zenetos, 2011) have similar

shells.

Considering that many alien marine organisms

have settled in the Eastern Mediterranean during

recent years (Zenetos et al., 2010), an extensive

bibliographic survey was carried out of shelled

opisthobranchs of the Indo-Pacific and neighboring

areas but was unsuccessful in finding similar

species (Issel, 1 869; Hedley, 1 899a-c; Habe, 1964;

Luigi Romani et alii

Maes, 1967; Keen, 1971; Kay, 1979; Powell, 1979;

Kilburn & Rippey, 1 982; Sharabati, 1984; Lin &

Qi, 1 985; Springsteen & Leobrera, 1 986; Kay &

S choenberg-D ole, 1991; Higo et al., 1 999, 200 1;

Jansen, 2000; Okutani, 2000; Hasegawa, 2001,

2005; Hasegawa et al., 2001a-b; Qi, 2004; Dharma,

20 0 5; Thach, 2005; Poppe, 2008; Sasaki, 2008;

Valdes, 2 0 08; Yonow, 20 0 8, 2012; Zenetos et al.,

2010 ).

Surprisingly, we found that our shell most closely

resem ble ColiflCltyS Cllciyoi (Espinosa et O rtea, 2004)

(Figs. 7-11), known from Cuba, Florida and

Bahamas (Espinosa & Ortea, 2004; Ortea et al.,

2013; Red fern, 2013). The genus ColinatyS Ortea,

Moro et Espinosa, 2013 was erected for this species

on anatomical grounds, which was originally as-

signed to AtyS Montfort, 18 10, then transferred to

RetUSCl T. Brown, 1827 (Valdes et al., 2006; Rosen-

berg et al., 2009). No other species have been assigned

to the genus.

Figures 1-6. Colincitys sp.,Larnaca (Cyprus).Figs. 1-4: 1.35 m m , Fig s. 5 , 6 : 1.60 mm; Figs. 7-11. Colincitys aluyoi (E spino sa

et Or tea, 2004), Bahamas, Figs. 7, 8: 1.50 mm, Figs. 9, 10: 1.00 mm. Figs. 11: 2.00 mm (from Redfern, 2013, modified).

Colinatys Ortea,Moro et Espinosa, 2013 from Eastern Mediterranean Sea (Opisthobranchia Haminoeidae)

Our shells match agree with the conchological

characters of Colinatys, but we prefer not to assign

them to alayoi as doubts on conspecificity remain

due to differencens of the shell colour pattern (C.

Cllayoi has a more marked “checkerboard” pattern),

absence of anatomical information and very long

distance from typical range. Additional material,

particularly live collected specimens for anatomical

comparison, are needed to establish the presence of

an established population and to clarify its status

and relationships. Whether the present species is

Mediterranean, Lessepsian, or of other origin is

unknown, so we prefer to consider Colinatys sp. a

cryptogenic species (Carlton, 1996).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thanks Maria Scaperrotta (Florence, Italy)

who sorted the sediment samples and A ttilio Pagli

(Lari, Italy) for his help in searching for biblio-

graphical sources. We are grateful to Leopoldo

Moro (Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain), Jesus Ortea

(Oviedo, Spain) and Enzo Campani (Leghorn,

Italy) for useful suggestions, Thanasis Manousis

(Epanomi, Greece), John Varnava (Dhekelia,

Cyprus), Costantinos Kontadakis (Athens, Greece)

for providing information. We are endebted to

Patrick I LaFollette (Cathedral City, U.S.A.) for

the critical reading and the english revision of the

manuscript. Colin Redfern (Boca Raton, U.S.A.)

kindly has given permission to use the photos of

Colinatys alayoi.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 87-94

Reports of Haliotis Linnaeus, 1 758 (Mollusca Vetigastropoda)

from the Middle Miocene of Ukraine

Maurizio Forli 1 *, Alexander Stalennuy 2 & Bruno Dell’Angelo 3

'Via Grocco 16, 59100 Prato, Italy; e-mail: info@dodoline.eu

2 Bandem 90/4, 46011 Ternopil, Ukraine; e-mail: stalenmiy@rambler.ra

3 Via Santelia 55, 16153 Genoa, Italy; e-mail: brano.dellangelo@chitons.it

’Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Two species of Haliotidae are described and illustrated from the Maksymivka quarry near

Ternopil (Ukraine), a site characterized by its peculiar Middle Miocene (Badenian) coralgal

facies. The first species, Haliotis volhynica Eichwald, 1829, has a wide geographical

distribution that extends from the Paratethys of Central Europe to the Ukraine, and is quite

common in the Maksymivka site. Another different species of Haliotis Linnaeus, 1758 was

recently found at Maksymivka, only two specimens in several years of research. This

species was already reported by Krach (1981) from Poland as Haliotis tuberculata tauro-

planata Sacco, 1897, a species from the Burdigalian of Piedmont that differs from the

Maksymivka species by several characters. We leave this rare species indeterminate at

specific level because of the scarcity of material known to date.

KEY WORDS Gastropoda; Haliotidae; Haliotis', Miocene; Ukraine.

Received 02.02.2015; accepted 05.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Haliotidae Rafinesque, 1815 is a family of

marine gastropods consisting of 56 living species

and at least 35 fossil ones (Geiger & Groves, 1999;

Geiger, 2000). The genus Haliotis Linnaeus, 1758

is the only one for the family and is known from

Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) (Sohl, 1992) to

Recent. Strausz (1966) and Geiger & Groves

(1999) proposed to refer all the 11 fossil European

taxa known at that time (Haliotis anomiaeformis

Sacco, 1896; H. benoisti Cossmann, 1895; H.

lamellosa Lamarck, 1822; H. lamellosoides Sacco,

1896; H. monilifera Bonelli, 1827; H. neuvillei

Bial de Bell, 1909; H ovata Bonelli, 1827; H

tauroplanata Sacco, 1897; H. torrei Ruggieri,

1989; H. tuberculata Linnaeus, 1758; H. volhynica

Eichwald, 1829) to H. tuberculata volhynica ,

because the Recent species (H. tuberculata tuber-

culata) with its Atlantic and Mediterranean popu-

lations is known to be extremely plastic in its shell

morphology, and most material of European fossil

specimens fall within the range of variation within

the Recent species.

Aim of the present work is to illustrate some

specimens of Haliotis recently found at the Mak-

symivka quarry (Ukraine) from the Middle

Miocene (Badenian). A revision of the fossil cited

species of Haliotis is needed to define the status of

the described taxa. The reports of Haliotis from the

Miocene of Ukraine are scarce, relating to H.

volhynica or H. tuberculata volhynica (Zelinskaya

et al., 1968; Krach, 1981) and H. tuberculata tauro-

planata (Krach, 1981).

Maurizio Forli et alii

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The Maksymivka quarry near Ternopil

(Ukraine) (Fig. 1) is well known in literature for its

peculiar Middle Miocene (Badenian) coralgal facies

and its fauna (Radwanski et al., 2006; Studencka &

Jasionowski, 2011; Gorka et al., 2012). It embraces

an area of several square kilometers over a distance

of about one kilometer (Radwanski et al., 2006: fig.

3). The reef exposed in this quarry is a member of

the unique reef structure (almost 300 km long)

formed within the Paratethyan realm, and distribu-

ted widely in the north-eastern and eastern borders

of the Carpathian Foredeep Basin in Western

Ukraine, Moldova and north-east Romania (Gorka

et al., 2012: fig. 1). The coralgal facies at Mak-

symivka is characterized by a complex structure:

particular coralgal buildups of variable size (from

centimetres of rodolith forms, to several metres

thick), composed of red-algal (lithothamnian)

colonies associated locally with sparse hermatypic

corals. A survey of all these peculiar features/com-

ponents is well reported by Radwanski et al., 2006.

Other organisms associated with reefs are represen-

ted by mollusks (bivalves and gastropods), crabs,

foraminifera, annelids, bryozoans and echinoderms.

Almost all of the organisms of originally aragonitic

shells were dissolved as a result of post sedimentary

diagenesis and are now preserved in the form of

moulds and/or imprints (see Gorka et al., 2012: fig.

7A for a massive coralline-algae boundstone with

embedded Haliotis shells).

The shells were collected manually inside the

reef structure, paying particular attention to

prevent breakage, and after were cleaned and

measured (Table 1). The measurements are in

millimeters (mm) and in degrees for the angle.

About the references we considered only those

works where species have been not only recorded,

but also figured.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. AS:

Alexander Stalennuy collection, Temopil, Ukraine;

BD: Bruno Dell’Angelo collection, Genoa, Italy;

BS: Bellardi and Sacco collection, Museo di Geo-

logia e Paleontologia, University of Turin (now

stored at the Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali

BELARUS

UKRAINE

Matj|ymivka/Temopirs'ka oblSs^craina^ Maksymivka

RUSSIA

49'36’1 3.49"N 25'54'32.70"E elev 364 m Alt 3.48 km

Figure 1. Maksymivka quarry near Ternopil (Ukraine), from Google earth.

Reports of Haliotis Linnaeus, 1 758 (Mollusca Vetigastropoda) from the Middle Miocene of Ukraine

of Turin), Italy; MF: Maurizio Forli collection,

Prato, Italy; MZB: Museo di Zoologia, University

of Bologna, Italy; L: length; W: width; H: max-

imum height of the shell, measured from the base to

the top of the spire; a: angle of inclination of the ini-

tial part of the spire; LAV: ratio between L and W.

SYSTEMATICS

Classis GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1795

Ordo VETIGASTROPODA Salvini-Plawen et

Haszprunar, 1987

Familia HALIOTIDAE Rafmesque, 1815

Genus Haliotis Linnaeus, 1758

Type species: Haliotis asinina Linnaeus, 1758

Haliotis volhynica Eichwald, 1829

Figs. 2-14

1829. Haliotis volhynica Eichwald: 294, pi. 5, fig. 18.

1856. Haliotis volhynica Eichw. - Hornes: 510, pi.

46, fig. 26

1928. Haliotis volhynica Eichw. - Friedberg: 530,

pi. 34, figs. 8, 9

1937. Haliotis volhynica Eichwald - Davidaschvili:

540, pi. 1, fig. 5

1954. Haliotis tuberculata lamellosoides Sacco -

Csepreghy-Meznerics: 10, pi. 1, fig. 24

1955. Haliotis (Haliotis) volhynica Eichw. - Korob-

kov: pi. 2, fig. 3

1960. Haliotis (Haliotis) tuberculata var. lamel-

losoides Sacco - Kojumdgieva & Strachimirov:

84, pi. 28, fig. 9

1966. Haliotis tuberculata volhynica Eichwald-

Strausz: 26, fig. 16c

1967. Haliotis volhynica Eichw. - Bielecka: 132, pi.

8, figs. 3, 4 (fide Bahik, 1975).

1968. Haliotis volhynica Eichwald - Zelinskaya et

al.: 95, pi. 27, fig. 1

1979. Haliotis (Sulculus) volhynica Eichwald -

Jakubowski & Musial: 61, pi. 5, fig. 5

1981. Haliotis tuberculata Eichwald - Krach: 39,

pi. 11, figs. 1-3

2012. Haliotis tuberculata Linnaeus - Gorka et al.:

163, figs. 7a, 15a, b

Table 1 . Measurements of the examined specimens and their repository. See in Abbreviations and Acronyms.

Maurizio Forli et alii

Figures 2-14. Haliotis volhynica Eichwald, 1829 from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) of Maksymivka quarry (Ukraine).

Figures 2-4: specimen 4 from Table 1. Figure 5: specimen 10 from Table 1. Figures 6, 7: specimen 1 1 from Table 1. Figures

8-10: specimen 6 from Table 1. Figures 11-14: specimen 1 from Table 1.

Reports of Haliotis Linnaeus, 1 758 (Mollusca Vetigastropoda) from the Middle Miocene of Ukraine

Figures 15-18. Haliotis sp. from the Middle Miocene (Badenian) ofMaksymivka quarry (Ukraine). Fig. 15: specimen 1 from

Table 1. Figures 16-18: specimen 2 from Table 1. Figures 19-22. Haliotis tuberculata tauroplanata Sacco, 1897, Early

Miocene (Burdigalian) of Torino hills (Piedmont, Italy), BS. 082.01.004.

Maurizio Forli et alii

Examined Material. Maksymivka: 15 specimens

(MF, BD, MZB) (Table 1).

Description. Shell of medium size (L max about

70 mm), widened-oval, spire slightly raised, tilted

about thirty degrees relative to the plane formed by

the edge of the shell (a). Apex positioned on the

left, moved to the center, about a third of the spiral

width corresponding to that point. Regularly con-

vex outer surface, with ornamentation spiral consti-

tuted by main cords detected, which develop at the

beginning almost intermittently and then, becoming

evident and irregularly wavy both in the sense of

the spire and in height, form knobs scattered or

aligned in radial folds more or less signed. The

spiral cords are separated by evident furrows,

sometimes side by side, giving rise to spiral cords

of smaller width of the main, intersecting with

growth striae more or less marked, form small

imbricated lamellae, arranged irregularly. Openings

with marginal conical-tubular protrusions pro-

nounced, regularly spaced from each other by

spaces almost equal to that of the size of the base

of the next opening, which maintain the propor-

tions, as the size of the shell, of which the last four

open. Outer lip, from the edge of the keel formed

by the openings up to the basal cords more

pronounced, tilted and slightly concave. Columellar

callus flattened with weak concavity.

Distribution. Haliotis volhynica Eichwald, 1829

is a species with a wide geographical distribution

that extends from the Paratethys of Central Europe

(Austria, Romania, Bulgaria, Poland) to the

Ukraine, with chronostratigraphic distribution lim-

ited to the Middle Miocene. It is particularly abund-

ant in organogenic limestones of Ukraine related to

sediments deposited at depths corresponding to the

infralitoral.

Remarks. The morphological characteristics of H.

volhynica , at least of the specimens we examined

and compared to those from the literature, are fairly

constant, in particular the position of the apex and

the spiral evolution, which is more rounded and

closed with respect to that of Haliotis sp., as well

as the ornamentation consisting of marked and

tubercolate spiral cords (Csepreghy-Meznerics,

1954; Zelinskaya et al., 1968; Krach, 1981; Gorka

et al., 2012). Even by the drawings can be found

the same morphological characters that seem

peculiar to H. volhynica , such as in Strausz (1966)

or in Friedberg (1928) by the shape of the internal

moulds of the shell.

Specimens found at Maksymivka are well char-

acterized and show a small degree of variability,

and are different from the Recent species H. tuber-

culata tuberculata L., 1758 with its Atlantic and

Mediterranean populations, contrary to what

previously expressed by many authors about H.

volhynica, considered as a subspecies H. tubercu-

lata volhynica (Strausz, 1966; Geiger & Groves,

1999) or directly as H. tuberculata (Gorka et al.,

2012). Agreeing to Landau et al. (2003) we consider

H. volhynica a separable species from the Recent

H. tuberculata.

Haliotis sp.

Figs. 15-18

1981. Haliotis tuberculata tauroplanata [non Sacco,

1897] - Krach: 40, pi. 11, figs. 4-7.

Examined Material. Maksymivka: 2 specimens

(AS, MF) (Table 1).

Description. Shell of small size, elongate-oval, with

width about half the length. Spire little high with

apex positioned a little more to the left than H.

volhynica, about a quarter of the spiral width cor-

responding to that point. Regularly convex surface

of the shell, with spiral ornamentation of the first

two whorls consisting of 4-5 slender main cords

spaced between them, which then become about ten

or so, just signed, sometimes forming very small

knobs, which disappear as increasing the spiral size,

leaving the remaining surface of the shell, smooth

or with sparse spiral cords just signed. Openings, of

which the last four open, with marginal conical-

tubular protrusions less raised. Outer lip, from

under the keel of the openings to the edge columel-

lar, with slightly convex profile. It was not possible

to examine the internal part because it is filled with

cemented limestone.

Distribution. Paratethys, Middle Miocene (Bad-

enian): Poland, Weglinek (Krach, 1981); Ukraine,

Maksymivka (this work).

Remarks. Only two specimens of a second species

of Haliotis were recently found at Maksymivka,

and this despite the numerous samples taken in

recent years by one of the authors (AS). This second

Reports of Haliotis Linnaeus, 1 758 (Mollusca Vetigastropoda) from the Middle Miocene of Ukraine

species may therefore be considered quite rare,

unlike H. volhynica which instead is found quite

commonly, although it is hard to find complete and

in fair condition specimens.

Haliotis sp. from Maksymivka differs from H.

vohlynica mainly by a different ratio L/W (1.34-

1.58 for H. volhynica vs. 1.79 for Haliotis sp.) that

gives rise to a more open spire and by the different

ornamentation, without radial folds and evident

spirals cords, if not in the early part of the spire. The

similarity with H. tuherculata tauroplanata Sacco,

1897 from the Early Miocene (Burdigalian) of

Turin hills (Piedmont, Italy) (Figs. 19-22) is

evident when considering the general shape of the

shell, but it is a bit less when comparing the two

different spiral ornamentations. In Haliotis sp. the

first part of the spire shows some slender spiral

cords and small tubercles which disappear as

increasing the spiral size, while there are not present

in H. tuberculata tauroplanata which has also a

spiral ornamentation made up of flattened cords

which extend over the entire surface of the shell.

Moreover Haliotis sp. has the anterior margin

almost straight, while that of H. tuberculata tauro-

planata is more convex and gives a more ellipsoid

profile to the shell.

We consider the specimen reported by Krach

from Weglinek (Poland) as H. tuberculata tauro-

planata conspecific to the present species.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of H. volhynica from Maksymivka

confirm that abalone species, as taxa typical for

high-energy, rocky environments, are one of

the most characteristic and abundant group of

gastropods among Late Badenian free-living

reef-dwellers. Particularly important is to be con-

sidered the recent discovery of a second species of

Haliotis from the same site, only two specimens in

several years of research that led to the discovery

of many specimens of H. volhynica. This latter

seems the more frequent species of gastropods

found at Maksymivka, though most of the speci-

mens are not complete or are so matted in the rock

that they can not be extracted.

This second species, already reported in the past

by Krach (1981) from Poland as H. tuberculata

tauroplanata , show differences with the species of

Sacco from the Burdigalian of Piedmont, and must

be considered as a different species. We leave it

indeterminate at specific level because of the

scarcity of material known to date, waiting for more

material to give a specific determination and to

confirm or not the differences with the species from

the Miocene of Italy.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors wish to thank Daniele Ormezzano

(Museo Regionale di Scienze Naturali of Turin,

Italy) for helping during the visit to the Bellardi

Sacco collection.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 95-104

Planktonic and Fisheries biodiversity of Alkaline Saline crater

lakes of Western Uganda

Mujibu Nkambo 1 *, Fredrick W. Bugenyi 2 , Janet Naluwayiro 1 , Sauda Nayiga 3 , Vicent Kiggundu 1 , Godfrey

Magezi 1 &Waswa Leonard 4

'Aquaculture Research and Development Center-Kajjansi, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), Uganda

department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences (CONAS), Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

3 Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU)

4 Katwe Kabatoro community, Uganda

^Corresponding author, email: mnkambo@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT Eight (8) selected saline crater lakes in Western Uganda were sampled for fish biodiversity.

Water samples collected from each of these lakes were analysed for zoo- and phyto-

planktonic composition and abundance. In situ, physico-chemical parameters including

average depth, salinity, temperature, conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen and pH were taken at

each sample collection point. The Mean ± SD of the different parameters ranged between

0.2±0.0 m and 2.3±0.3 m for average depth, 0.0±0.0 mgl' 1 and 205.0±15.3 mgl" 1 for salinity,

27.9±0.3°C and 34.4±2.4°C for temperature, 18.6±0.1 mscm-1 and 106.3±3.5 mscm-1 for

conductivity, 1.7±0.4 mgl 1 and 6.0±1.0 mgf 1 for Dissolved Oxygen and 9.6±0.1 and 11.5±1.0

for pH. With the exception of the Lakes Bagusa, where Anabaena circinalis Rabenhorst ex

Bornet et Flahaulwas found to dominate the algal biomass, and Bunyampaka and Nyamunuka

where no Spirulina platensis (Nordstedt) Gomont was found, the rest of the studied lakes had

S. platensis dominating their algal biomass. All lakes showed very low zooplankton abund-

ances and biodiversity, with Lake Kikorongo (the one with the highest zooplankton biod-

iversity) having Brachionus calyciflorus Pallas, 1766 as the most abundant, only ranging

between 50 to 100 individuals/litre. None of the lakes had fish at the time of sampling.

KEY WORDS Zooplankton; Phytoplankton; Fish; saline; alkaline; lakes.

Received 11.02.2015; accepted 18.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Minute free-floating organisms found in various

water bodies can be referred to as planktons and

have been reported to be the main food for fish

(Lind, 1965). Planktons have been reported to play

pivotal roles in the biosphere in terms of both primary

and secondary production (Boero et al., 2008).

Plant-like minute organisms continuously drifting

in the water are referred to as phytoplankton while

the minute animal-like organisms, unable to syn-

thesize food are referred to as zooplankton. Plank-

tons are not only food organisms for fish fry, fin-

gerlings and adult fish but also influence key abiotic

features in aquatic systems (Joshi, 2009).

Saline systems have been reported to have a

generally low biodiversity (Hammer, 1986), with

diatoms being more dominant among algal biomass

in alkaline saline systems (Stenger-Kovacs et al.,

2014). Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda and Anostraca

species generally are the dominant zooplankton in

saline systems with their biodiversity decreasing

Mujibu Nkambo etalii

with increasing salinity (Hammer, 1993). In partic-

ular, East African saline lakes have been reported

to show more rotifers in their zooplankton as-

semblages than either Copepods or Cladocerans,

with the dominant species of Rotifera, Copepoda

and Cladocera reported to change with the salinity

gradient (Green, 1993). Alkaline saline crater lakes

are considered very productive environments

(Harper et al., 2003; Grant, 2006), with prokaryotic

photosynthetic primary production suggested to be

the driving force behind nutrient recycling in these

systems (Jones & Grant, 1999). Community even-

ness decreases with increasing nutrient concentra-

tion, with the few favored species being dominant

(Harper et al., 2003). Abundance of certain species

like Dunaliella sp. dominate the saline waters of

Utah lake in the USA (Larson & Belovsky, 2013),

while ‘ SpirulincC Arthrospira fusiformis (Voronikhin)

Komarek et J.W.G.Lund has been reported to be

dominant in lake Bogoria which is a hypersaline

lake in Kenya, east Africa (Harper et al., 2003;

Matagi, 2004) with no macro-zooplankton and

lesser flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor (E. Geoffroy

Saint-Hilaire, 1798), as the only grazers (Harper et

al., 2003).

Several fish species more especially amphi-

haline species have been described to have physiolo-

gical mechanisms which enable them to migrate

between freshwater and sea water, with many other

species with ability to tolerate, adapt or even accli-

mate to salinity, alkalinity and ionic compositions

levels outside the conventional freshwater and sea-

water conditions (Brauner et al., 2013). Whereas

both native and exotic species were found in waters

with salinities less than 30 mgU in a study of fish

distribution in inland saline waters in Victoria,

Australia, no inland fish species were found at salin-

ities above 30 mgl' 1 (Chessman & Williams, 1974).

Flamingo lakes with salinity levels below 20 mgl 1

are reported to have fish species of commercial

value (Hadgembes, 2006). Several species were

said to tolerate salinities as high as 15,000 mgl 1

with only the nine-spined stickle back resisting at

salinities of 20,000 mgl' 1 (Rawson & Moore, 1944).

Oreochromis alcalicns alcalicus (Hilgendorf,

1905), O. alcalicus grahami (Trewavas, 1983), and

O. amphimelas (Hilgendorf, 1905), have been

reported to be endemic in lakes Magadi and Natron

which are among the East African saline lakes

(Matagi, 2004).

A number of environmental factors including

salinity and nutrients in hypersaline systems may

be potential factors which do affect biodiversity in

saline environments (Larson & Belovsky, 2013).

Saline lakes show limited species complement in

micro-organisms contrary to the considerable biod-

iversity in micro-organisms (Harper et al., 2003).

Larson & Belovsky (2013) reported salinity and

nutrient concentration in hypersaline lakes as

among the strong determinants of phytoplankton

diversity, with species richness decreasing with

increasing salinity and increasing with increasing

nutrient concentration. Despite the inverse propor-

tionality between saline and aquatic biodiversity,

the relationship between salts is still not well

understood (Derry et al., 2003; Rios-Escalante,

2013). Contrary to the numerous fish and plank-

tonic biodiversity studies in fresh water systems,

very little of such studies has been conducted in

these unique saline systems (Jones & Grant, 1999;

Larson & Belovsky, 2013). The aim of this study

is, therefore, to investigate fish and planktonic bio-

diversity in selected saline crater lakes of western

Uganda as a way of providing more information on

fish and planktonic biodiversity in saline systems.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

Lakes considered in this study are small unique

water bodies found in Katwe-Kikorongo volcanic

field in western Uganda. Lake Katwe

(029.87033°E, 00.13217°S), is the largest among

these lakes with an average area of 2.5 km 2 (Nixon

et al., 1971). Other lakes considered in this study were

Katwe Munyanyange (029.8859 1°E, 00. 1351 3 °S),

Nyamunuka (029.98743°E, 00.09344°S), Bagusa

(030.17958°E, 00.09793°S), Murumuri (029.99186°E,

00.07323°S), Maseche (030.19019°E, 00.09355°S),

Bunyampaka (030.12819°E, 00.03765°S) and Kiko-

rongo (030.01228°E, 00.01 190°S). Among the

studied lakes, Bagusa and Kilcorongo were at the

lowest and highest altitude, 884 m and 939 m,

respectively, above sea level (a. s. 1). The majority

of these lakes are alkaline and saline in nature with

dominant anions being carbonates and sulphates

(Nkambo et al., 2015). These lakes exhibit consid-

Planktonic and Fisheries biodiversity of Alkaline Saline crater lakes of Western Uganda

erable temporal variations in volume and surface

area, with their total depth ranging between <1-6

m (Kirabira et al., 2013).

Zooplankton and phytoplankton diversity

Data collection in this study was done between

the 26th of February and 3rd of March, 2014, a

period towards the end of the dry season in this

region. A Global Positioning System (GPS) unit

(GARMIN 12XL) was used to take GPS coordin-

ates and the Altitude / elevation above sea level of

the different sampling points.

Zooplankton samples were obtained by filtering

four liters of water collected from every set geo-

referenced sampling point through a 50 pm mesh

zooplankton net. The samples obtained after filtra-

tion were preserved in 95% ethanol and earned to

the National Fisheries Resources Research Institute

(NaFIRRI) laboratory, Jinja, for identification to

the lowest possible taxonomic level and counted

under an inverted microscope. Using a Van Dorn

water sampler, water samples for phytoplankton

analysis were collected at a depth of 0.5 m in lakes

whose average depth was more than 1 m. For the

very shallow lakes (depth < 0.5 m), surface water

samples were collected for zoo and phytoplankton

analysis. 500 ml of the collected water samples

were preserved using Lugol’s solution in pre-rinsed

Nalgene bottles which were kept in a cooler box

containing dry ice and later transferred to the

National Fisheries Resource Research Institute

(NaFIRRI) laboratory in Jinja. In the laboratory,

phytoplanktons in the collected water samples

were identified to the lowest possible taxonomic

level and the wet biomass of each of the identified

group determined.

Selected physical and chemical parameters

(depth, temperature (T°C), dissolved oxygen

concentration (DO), pH, Conductivity (Cond) and

salinity) were also measured in-situ at the lake

surface and bottom. Where lakes were too shallow,

physico-chemical measurements were taken at the

lakes surface. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen

concentration and conductivity were measured

using a YSI oxygen/temperature/conductivity meter

(Model YSI 5 50 A), pH was determined using an

OAKTON pH Tester 30, while salinity was meas-

ured with a refractometer. The depth was determ-

ined using a portable depth finder (Hondex PS-7).

Fish diversity

All the study lakes, deeper than 0.5 m were

sampled for fish by setting gill nets and seine nets

in the evening at 5 pm and removing them in the

following morning at 7 am. In addition we also

asked to the people belonging to the communities

around each of the studied lakes whether they have

ever seen or got any fish from these lakes.

RESULTS

Physico-chemical parameters

Lakes Munyanyange, Nyamunuka, Murumuri,

and Bunyampaka were found to be very shallow

(depth<0.5 m) at the time of sampling, whereas,

lake Kikorongo was the deepest. The highest

measured dissolved oxygen (DO) was 6.0±1.0 mgl' 1

in Lake Kikorongo while Munyanyange and Muru-

muri had the lowest and second lowest DO (1 .7±0.4

and 1.7±0.5 mgl" 1 , respectively). All the sampled

lakes were found to be alkaline with pH ranging

between 9.58±0.1 (lake Bunyampaka) and 11.5±1.0

(Nyamunuka). The highest temperatures ranged

between 28.9±0.4°C and 34.4±2.4°C. Salinity was

between 0 mgl' 1 ( lake Kikorongo) and 205.0±15.3

mgl' 1 (Nyamunuka) Conductivity ranged between

10.5±0.6 mscm' 1 (Nyamunuka) and 106.3±3.5

mscm' 1 (Murumuri) (Table 1).

Phytoplankton diversity

A total of twenty nine (29) phytoplankton

species were found in the eight study lakes. Out of

them, nineteen (19) belonged to Cyanophyceae,

commonly known as Cynobacteria (blue-green

algae (BG)) which are predominantly photosynthe-

tic prokaryotes containing a blue pigment in addi-

tion to the chlorophyll (WHO, 1999). Six (6)

belonged to Chlorophyceae commonly referred to

as Chlorophyta (green algae (G)). Four (4) be-

longed to Bacillariophyceae, commonly referred to

as diatoms (D). Lakes Maseche (912,347 pgL" 1 ) and

Bagusa (210,290 pgL' 1 ) were found to have the

highest and second highest algal biomass. These

were followed by lakes Katwe and Murumuri

which had algal biomass of 90,653 pgL 1 and

86,240 pgL 1 , respectively. Lakes Katwe and

Mujibu Nkambo etalii

Lake

Depth (m)

D.O (mgl 1 )

Temp. (°C)

Salinity (mgl 1 )

Cond (mscm 1 )

Katwe

2.1±0.7

2.6±0.2

9.9±0.1

27.9±0.3

180±67.8

104.5±6.4

Munyanyange

0.2±0.1

1.7±0.4

10.8±0.4

34.4±2.4

101.0±7.1

59.7±8.2

Nyamunuka

0.2±0.2

2.6±0.3

11.5±1.0

30.5±3.1

205.0±15.3

10.5±0.6

Murumuri

0.2±0.0

1.7±0.5

ll.lil.3

32.0±0.8

162.8±34.2

106.3±3.5

Bunyampaka

0.2±0.1

2.20±0.6

9.6±0.1

30.33±1.5

199.50±16.4

103.90±4.3

Bagusa

1.9±0.5

3.2±0.8

10.5±0.4

32.1±2.0

199.5±16.4

103.9±4.3

Maseche

1.3±0.2

2.9±0.4

10.9±0.4

30.0±0.7

92.3±7.6

71.2±1.3

Kikorongo

2.3±0.3

6.0±1.0

10.4±0.0

28.9±0.4

0 . 0 ± 0.0

18.6±0.1

Table 1. Mean±SD of the selected measured physico-chemical parameters in the selected studied saline crater lakes.

Bunyampaka showed the highest algal biodiversity

while lakes Maseche and Nyamunuka had the

lowest biodiversity. Cyanophyceae (BG) dominated

the algal composition of all the studied lakes. With

the exception of Lake Munanyange, were no Chloro-

phyceae species (G) were found, the other lakes

showed Chlorophyceae and Bacillariophyceae (D)

species in relatively small abundances in compar-

ison to Cyanophyceae. With the exception of Lake

Bagusa where Anabaena circinalis was found to be

dominant, and Bunyampaka and Nyamunuka where

no Spirulina platensis was found, in the rest of the

lakes S. platensis was dominant (Table 2).

Zooplankton diversity

Lakes Kikorongo, Maseche, and Katwe were

found to have zooplanktons belonging to Rotifera.

Lakes Maseche and Kikorongo showed also

zooplanktons belonging to Copepoda and none of

the studied lakes was found to have cladocerans at

the time of sampling. Lakes Munyanyange, Maseche,

Murumuli, Katwe and Nyamunukahad small cysts

which could not be identified. Water samples

from lakes Bunyampaka and Bagusa had neither

zooplankton nor un-identified cysts (Table 3).

Fish diversity

N one of the selected saline crater lakes con- si-

dered in this study had fish at the time of sampling.

With the exception of Lake Kikorongo, in which the

African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell,

1822), was observed (sometimes) during the rainy

season, none of the other studied lakes was reported

to have fish, ever.

DISCUSSION

Phytoplankton diversity

In the present study, blue-green (Cyanobacteria)

algae are dominant in all the lakes, with Spirulina

R J.F. Turpin ex M. Gomont being the most domin-

ant phytoplankton in the majority of them (Table 2).

This is in agreement with earlier studies done in

alkaline, saline crater lakes which reported Spirulina

platensis to be the most dominant (Hecky &

Kilham, 1973) in constrast with the reported domin-

ance of algal biomass by diatoms in anthroposaline

lakes in Romania and Bolivia (Stenger-Kovacs et

al., 2014). The dominance of Cyanobacteria in

these harsh environments can be attributed to their

ability to withstand extreme water conditions like

very high temperatures, pH and salinity. Some

Cyanobacteria species have got special adaptations

like ultraviolet absorbing sheath pigments which

increase their fitness in relatively exposed environ-

ments; indeed they have been reported to occur in

waters that are salty, brackish or fresh, in cold or

hot springs and in environments where no other

Planktonic and Fisheries biodiversity of Alkaline Saline crater lakes of Western Uganda

Taxa

Group

Taxa

Bagusa

Buny-

ampaka

Munya-

nyange

Maseche

Katwe

Kiko-

rongo

\va mu-

ii uka

Mil ru-

in uri

Planktolyngbya limnetica

(Lemmermann) Komarkova-

Legnerova et Cronberg

15845

2,773

8,216

7,343

7,805

Aphanocapsci sp.

522

274

548

342

365

730

Spirulina platensis

(Nordstedt) Gomont

12,324

25,880

879,909

66,856

43,133

69,012

Anabaena sp.

15,649

219

3,286

Stichococcus sp.

3.912

787

Centric diatoms

104

292

146

730

292

Planktolyngbya circumcreta (G.S.

West) Anagnostidis et Komarek

440

411

1,438

205

411

Chroococcus sp.

391

137

365

Anabaena circinalis

Rabenhorst ex Bomet et Flahault

157,273

11.867

9,859

5,112

6,207

548

38,085

913

Stichococcus sp.

3,668

342

274

479

2,465

1,575

1,404

Nephrochlamys rostrata

Nygaard, Komarek, J.Kristiansen

et O.M. Skulberg

162

1,506

Tiny blue green

101

151

228

Anabaenopsis tanganyikae (G.S.

West) Woloszynska et V. V.Miller

Pseudoanabaena sp.

411

103

308

Anacystis limnetica

(Lemmermann) Drouet et Daily

183

365

274

137

342

297

Romeria sp.

Nitzschia acicularis

(Kiitzing) W. Smith

274

137

Closterium acerosum

Ehrenberg ex Ralfs

411

205

411

Oscillatoria tenuis

C. Agardh ex Gomont

17,253

Aphanocapsa nubila

Komarek et H.J. Kling

456

183

Coelosphaerium kuetzingian um

Nageli

1,826

4,747

Planktolyngbya undulata

Komarek et R. Kling

103

Ankistrodesmus falcatus

(Corda) Ralfs

103

Chroococcus dispersus

(Keissler) Lemmermann

Cyclostephanodiscus sp.

Navicula gastrum

(Ehrenberg) Kiitzing

856

Merismopedia tenussima

Lemmermann

292

Monoraphidium contortum

(Thuret) Komarkova-Legnerova

Aphanizomenon flosaquae Ralfs

ex Bomet et Flahault

365

Total

210,290

17,488

39,372

912,347

90,653

48,065

44,698

86,240

Table 2. Mean Wet biomass (pg/1) concentrations of the different phytoplanktons in the selected Alkaline,

saline lakes considered in this study. BG = Blue green algae, G = green algae, D = Diatoms.

100

Mujibu Nkambo etalii

microalgae occur (WHO, 1999). Allelopathy can

be another factor to explain the dominance of Cy-

anobacteria in these lakes. Freshwater Cyanobac-

teria like Oscillatoria sp. have been reported to

have exudates which can inhibit green alga

Chlorella vulgaris Beyerinck [Beijerinck] (Leao et

al., 2010). In the same way Cyanobacteria in these

saline crater lakes might be influencing the algal

biodiversity through allelopathy. Matagi (2004)

reported Spirulina ( Arthrospira fusiformis ) to be the

most successful algae in colonizing alkaline, saline

lakes found in the Eastern Rift valley. Lake Lonar,

an inland alkaline saline crater lake in India was

reported to have its phytoplankton biomass domin-

ated by Spirulina platensis (Satyanarayan et al.,

2007; Siddiqi, 2007; Yannawar & Bhosle, 2013).

Lakes Nakuru, Bogoria and Elmenteita, which are

alkaline-saline lakes in Kenya, were characterized

by mass growth of Cyanobacteria including Arth-

rospira fusiformis (Harper et al., 2003; Ballot et

al., 2004). The Presence of Cyanobacteria in these

alkaline-saline lakes is in conformity with the

findings of the present study where Spirulina domi-

nates the phytoplankton biomass. Jones & Grant

(1999) reported Spirulina spp. to be among the

main contributors to primary production in moder-

ately saline lakes while studies by Hadgembes

(2006) documented Spirulina to be one of the unique

Cyanobacteria occurring in East African saline lakes.

The extreme inhospitable conditions in alkaline,

saline crater lakes mean that the biodiversity in

these systems is limited to organisms with special

adaptations to survive such extreme conditions

(Matagi, 2004). Primary production in Flamingo

lakes of East Africa was reported to be dominated

by A. fusiformis with Ecloth iorhodospira sp. some-

times playing a key role (Jones & Grant, 1 999; Ma-

tagi, 2004). Nitzchia sp. and Navicula sp. are some

of the other algal species found in these lakes

(present study) or in other highly alkaline and saline

environments (Matagi, 2004). Chroococcus sp. is

another species of Cyanobacteria recorded in this

Munya-

yange

Kiko-

rongo

Maseche

Murumuli

Bunyam-

paka

Katwe

Bagusa

\va mu-

ii u ka

ROTIFERA

Brachionus calyciflorus

Pallas, 1766

+++

Brachionus angularis

Gosse, 1851

Lecane lima

(Muller, 1776)

Trichocerca cylindrica

(Imhof, 1891)

Synch eat a sp.

COPEPODA

nauplii

cyclopoid copepodite

CLADOCERA

Moina micrura

Kurz, 1874

unidentified cysts

Table 3. Mean zooplankton abundance (Individuals per litre) in the different studied saline crater lakes.

+ = 1 to 10 individuals /l, ++ = 10 to 50 individuals/1, +++ = 50 to 100 individuals/1, - = 0 individuals/1.

Planktonic and Fisheries biodiversity of Alkaline Saline crater lakes of Western Uganda

101

study which was reported by Jones & Grant (1999)

to play a key role in primary production in soda

lakes of East Africa.In studies aimed at reconstruct-

ing relationships between diatoms assemblages

with salinity, it was observed that salinity might not

be the primary cause of the shift in the diatom

assemblage but a factor highly related to drivers of

species shift (Saros & Fritz, 2000).

In the same way salinity might be playing a key

role in determining the Cyanobacteria species

occurring in the alkaline saline environments, but

other possible drivers should not be overlooked. In

a study to determine the extent to which salinity

influences community structures in saline systems,

salinity was reported to play a less significant role

in the determination of composition, species

richness and biodiversity (William, 1998). For

example, the highest algal biodiversity observed in

lakes Katwe and Bunyampaka and the least algal

biodiversity (in lakes Maseche and Nyamunuka)

might be attributed to the daily anthropogenic

disturbances experienced by the first two lakes

during the process of salt extraction, while the other

two are lakes with no daily anthropogenic disturb-

ance. It should be noted that communities around

lakes Katwe and Bunyampaka continuously extract

salt from these lakes on a daily basis and such

disturbances might be impacting various algal

species differently.

Zooplankton diversity

All the studied lakes showed a very low zoo-

plankton biodiversity, with only Brachionus calyci-

florus in lakes Kikorongo and Katwe; Brachionus

angularis in Fake Maseche, and Syncheata sp. in

lakes Kikorongo and Murumuli (the only species of

the phylum Rotifera present, see Table 3). Brachio-

nus plicatilis (Muller, 1786) and Paradiaptomas

africanus (Daday, 1910) (= Lovenula africana)

have already been reported to be characteristic zo-

oplankton in alkaline saline crater lakes (Hecky &

Kilham, 1973). Matagi (2004) listed Lovenula afri-

cana (Daday, 1910), Brachionus dimidiatus (Bryce,

1931), B. plicatilis (Muller, 1786) and chironomids

as the dominant macro-invertebrates in the highly

alkaline, hypersaline flamingo lakes of east Africa.

All of these were absent in our study. Nauplii in Fake

Kikorongo and cyclopoid copepodites in Fake Ma-

seche were the only Copepoda members observed.

Other macro-zooplanktons like cladocerans, neck-

ton fauna, and crustacean decapods were conspicu-

ously absent, probably due to the highly alkaline

pH. Fake Bogoria in Kenya which is an alkaline,

saline lake was reported to have no macro-zooplank-

ton with lesser Flamingo, Phoeniconaias minor as

the only grazer occasionally visiting these lakes in

high numbers (Harper et al., 2003). The absence of

crustacean decapods in a limnological study of lake

Fonar an alkaline, saline crater lakes in India was

attributed to a pH shock (pH > 10-11, alkaline

death point) (Siddiqi, 2007). An inverse proportion-

ality between biodiversity and salinity was reported

by Deny et al., (2003); Farson & Belovsky (2013),

and Rios-Escalante (2013); this might be the explan-

ation for the slightly high zooplankton biodiversity

in Fake Kikorongo since its salinity was found to

be very low at the time of sampling (Table 1). In

field and laboratory experiments designed to exam-

ine the consequences of climate-induced salinity

increases on zooplankton abundance and diversity

in coastal lakes, severe disturbances in zooplankton

community structure and abundance were caused

by even veiy small salinity changes, with even very

small increments in salinity capable of leading to

biodiversity depletion (Schallenberg et al., 2003).

Similarly, the low zooplankton biodiversity in these

lakes might be attributed to the high salinity levels

(see Table 1).

The unidentified cysts found in some of the

lakes might be dormant stages of zooplanktons

released as a mean of surviving extreme environ-

mental conditions. These dormant stages return to

life on the set of suitable conditions within the

lakes. Some zooplanktons, particularly members of

the order Anostroca lik eArtemia Feach, 1819, have

been reported to release dormant embryos in form

of cysts. Indeed, all Artemia species and strains

reproduce ovoviviparously (by generating live

nauplii) under favorable conditions, and oviparously

when dormant embryos are released in form of

cysts to withstand the harsh unfavorable envir-

onmental conditions (Ghomari et al., 2011; Ben

Naceur et al., 2012).

Fish diversity

Although some fish species like Oreochromis

alcalicus alcalicus, O. alcalicus grahami, and O.

amphimelas were reported to inhabit lakes Magadi

102

Mujibu Nkambo etalii

and Natron which are both alkaline and saline in

nature (Matagi, 2004), no fish were found in these

lakes during the study. Hecky & Kilham (1973)

also reported cichlid fish like Alcolapia grahami

(Boulenger, 1912) to occur in some of the alkaline,

saline lakes. The absence of fish in the different

studied lakes at the time of sampling can be attrib-

uted to the extreme environmental conditions like

the very high temperatures, salinity and alkalinity.

Previously, the complete absence of fish in Lake

Lonar was reported to be correlated with extreme

environmental physico-chemical parameters (Siddiqi,

2007). Many lakes, being shallow, experience very

high variations in volume and surface area with

some of these lakes reported to evaporate to dryness

during the extreme dry seasons (Nkambo et al.,

2015). This makes difficult, if not impossible, for

fish to survive during the dry seasons. Moreover,

the absence of appropriate food organisms in form

of zooplankton (i.e. Brachionus plicatilis ) could be

another probable reason for the absence of fish (see

Table 3).

Some of the Cyanobacteria found in these lakes

lik q Anabaena sp, Anabaenopsis V.V. Miller, 1923

and Oscillataria Vaucher ex Gomont, 1892, have

been reported to release cyanotoxins with lethal

effects on mammals (WHO, 1999; Lyra et al.,

2001). Although several research works on cyano-

toxins have focused on humans and other livestocks

(Leao et al., 2010), it is possible that these cyano-

toxins have similar toxic effects on aquatic organ-

isms including fish. Anabaena sp. have been

reported to release anatoxin-a which is a neurotoxin

reported to have lethal effects when tested on

Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, 1758 larvae (Oswawald

et al., 2007). The presences of toxic Cyanobacteria

might be hindering fish occurrence in these lakes

considered under this study. With the exception of

Lake Kikorongo, which sometimes receives flood

waters from the neighboring lake Gorge (Hecky &

Kilham, 1973; Mungoma, 1990; Nkambo et al.,

2015), the rest of the lakes considered under this

study are located in closed basins with no connec-

tions to other lakes or rivers. This implies that these

lakes have no possibilities of being seeded with fish

by inflowing waters from other natural systems.

The reported occurrence of the African Catfish,

Clarias gariepinus, in Lake Kikorongo in the rainy

season might be due to flood waters from Lake

Gorge. In fact, Nkambo et al., (2015) reported

incoming flood waters from Lake Gorge to cause a

reduction in the salinity of Lake Kikorongo. A

reduction in salinity might make this lake condu-

cive for fish survival during the wet season. It is

possible that catfish brought along with floods

remain in this lake during the rainy season and die

off in the dry season as the water conditions become

extremely unbearable.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings are in agreement with earlier

studies by Hecky & Kilham (1973), Matagi (2004),

Satyanarayan et al., (2007), Siddiqi (2007) and Yan-

nawar & Bhosle (2013) which reported Cyanobac-

teria to dominate algal biomass in saline systems,

in contrast with earlier studies by Stenger-Kovacs

et al., (2014), which reported diatoms to dominate

the algal biomass in saline lakes in Romania and

Bolivia. Lakes considered under this study had

very low zooplankton abundance and diversity with

Lake Kikorongo, which had the highest zooplank-

ton biodiversity, showing the rotifer Brachionus

calyciflorus, the most abundant, ranging only

between 50 to 100 individuals /litre. None of the

study lakes had fish at the time of sampling.

In our opinion, this information on fish and

planktonic biodiversity in these alkaline, saline

systems is very useful in providing the ecological

basis for the management of the lakes. Data on

dominant zoo and phytoplanktons in the lakes can

be used as bio-indicators in assessing the ecological

status, as well as the impact of climate change on

these unique systems.

Recommendations

Further comprehensive studies are needed to

assess the effect of season variability on fish and

planktonic biodiversity. Detailed studies of the daily

anthropogenic disturbances on the algal and

zooplankton biodiversity in these lakes during the

salt extraction process are required to give a better

understanding of the changes in planktonic compos-

ition, species abundance and biodiversity due to

anthropogenic disturbances.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Special thanks are reserved for the following

Planktonic and Fisheries biodiversity of Alkaline Saline crater lakes of Western Uganda

103

institutions of Uganda: National Agricultural Re-

search Organisation (NARO), National Fisheries

Resources Research Institute (NaFIRRI), Kajjansi

Aquaculture Research and Development Center

(KARDC), Department of Biological Science,

Makerere University and Katwe-Kabatoro Com-

munity, for the various supports offered will

carrying out this research.

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Derry A.M., Prepas E.E. & Herbet P.D.N., 2003. A

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2011. Artemia biodiversity in Algerian Sebkhas.

Faboratoire de Technologie et Nutrition. Mostaganem,

Algeria, Universite de Mostaganem.

Grant W.D., 2006. Alkaline Environments and Biod-

iversity, in extremophiles. Encyclopedia of Fife

Support Systems (EOFSS). Charles G. & Nicolas G.

(Eds.), Oxford, UK, Eolss Publishers.

Green J., 1993. Zooplankton associations in East African

lakes spanning a wide salinity range. Developments

in Hydrobiology, 87: 249-256.

Hadgembes T., 2006. Environmental Threats to East

African Saline Lakes and their likely conservation

strategies. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, academia.ed.

Hammer U.T. (Ed.), 1986. Saline Ecosystems of the

World, Dordrecht Publishers.

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Hickley P., Mills S.C., Otieno N., Drane T., Vareschi

E., Nasirwa O., Mwatha W.E., Darlington J.P.E.C &

Escute-Gasulla X., 2003. Aquatic biodiversity and

saline lakes: Lake Bogoria National Reserve, Kenya.

Hydrobiologia, 500: 259-276.

Hecky R.E. & Kilham P., 1973. Diatoms in Alkaline,

Saline lakes: Eology and Geochemical Implications.

Limnology and Oceanography, 18: 53-71.

Jones E.B. & Grant W.D., 1999. Microbial diversity and

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 105-106

New species of the genus Cyclostremiscus Pilsbry et Olsson,

1 945 from Central Philippines (GastropodaTornidae)

Ivan Perugia

via Roncalceci n.152, 48125 Ravenna (Filetto), Italy; e-mail; ivanperugia@virgilio.it

ABSTRACT Cyclostremiscus Pilsbry et Olsson, 1945 is a genus of the family Tornidae (Gastropoda

Rissooidea) established for very small shells of prosobranch molluscs generally living in

tropical seas. The new species here described was found in Cebu, Philippine, locatity Tongo

Point near Moalboal, in a modest quantity of seagrass beached after a windy day.

KEYWORDS Gastropod a; Tornidae; Cyclostremiscus-, Moalboal; Philippines.

Received 19.02.2015; accepted 21.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Cyclostremiscus Pilsbry et Olsson, 1945 is a

genus of the family Tornidae established for very

small sells of prosobranch molluscs generally living

in tropical seas. The family Tornidae from Carib-

bean area has been extensively studied and illus-

trated by Rubio et al. (2011).

A new species of this genus from Philippine is

described in the present paper.

ACRONYMS. MHNUK: Natural History Mu-

seum of London, United Kingdom. MNHN: Mu-

seum National d'Histoire Naturelle Paris, France.

PC: I. Perugia collection, Ravenna, Italy.

SISTEMATICS

Superfamily TR U N C ATE LL O ID E A Gray, 1840

Family TORNIDAE Sacco, 1896

Subfamily V IT R IN ELL IN A E Bush, 1897

Genus Cyclostremiscus Pilsbry et Olsson, 1945

Type species: Vitrinella panamensis C.B. Adams,

1852

Cyclostremiscus albachiarae n. sp.

Examined material. Holotype, Cebu (Philip-

pine), locatity Tongo Point near Moalboal,

29. XI. 2007, I. Perugia legit, in a modest quantity

of seagrass beached after a windy day, MNHN -IM -

30079. Paratypes 1-5, same data of holotype,

M N HN -IM -3 00 80 . Paratypes 6-26, same data of

holotype (PC ).

Description of holotypus. Shell of small size

(Figs. l-4),diam eter 1.5 mm, height 1.0 mm, much

wider than high, discoid, rounded, relatively strong,

vitreous, colourless. Protoconch of 1.5 whorls,

rough, not elevated, max about 350 microns in dia-

meter. Teleoconch: spire with 2 whorls, umbilicus

open and deep, spiral and axial sculpture present on

the entire surface. Spiral sculpture formed by strong

prominence keels placed one on dorsum, one on

periphery, one on base and another delimiting the

umbilicus. Axial sculpture of numerous thin thick

arcuate riblets, surmounting the keels, itself inter-

sected by almost obsolete spiral lines. Aperture

rounded, outer lip with 3 prominences caused by

the end of spiral keels; anal sulcus well defined.

106

Ivan Perugia

Figures 1-4. CyclostremiscUS albachiarae n. sp., holotype from Moalboal, Cebu, Philippines.

Variability. The paratypes do not show sub-

stantial morphological differences compared to the

holotype. 36 specimens found have all the same

size, diameter 1.5 mm, height 1.0 mm.

Etymology. Dedicated to my granddaughter

Albachiara Perugia (Ravenna, Italy).

Remarks. For Cyclostremiscus albachiarae n. sp.

was possible a single comparison with Cyclostvema

gyalum Melvill, 1904 (MHMUK 1904.7.29.13)

which presents three similar keels on body-whorl

but is larger (about 5 mm in diameter), has a fine

spiral sculpture, not axial and the peripheral keel is

slightly waved at the margin (giving a slightly

stellate outline when viewed from above).

Besides the work of Rubio et al. (2011), other

contributions to the knowledge of the family

Tornidae were made by Melvill (1904), Adam &

Knudsen (1969), Bosch et al. (1995), and Bouchet

& Rocroi (2005).

REFERENCES

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lusques prosobranches rnarins inconnu ou peu connus

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Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, 44: 1-69.

Bosch D.T., Dance S.P., Moolenbeek R.G. & Oliver

P.G., 1 995. Seashells of eastern Arabia. Motivate

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Melvill J.C., 1904. Descriptions of Twenty-eight

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Society, 6: 158-1 69.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 107-114

New taxonomic data on some populations of Carabus

Macrothorax} morbillosus Fabricius, 1 792 (Coleoptera Cara-

bidae)

Ivan Rapuzzi 1 & Ignazio Sparacio 2

'via Cialla 47, 33040 Prepotto, Udine, Italy; email: info@ronchidicialla.it

2 via E. Notarbartolo 54, 90143 Palermo, Italy; email: isparacio@inwind.it

ABSTRACT In this work we give new taxonomic data on some, little known, populations of Carabus

( Macrothorax ) morbillosus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae). In particular, C. morbil-

losus lampedusae Bom, 1925 described from Lampedusa Island (Sicilian Channel, Italy) is

reconsidered a valid subspecies and are designated the lectotype and paralectotypes. Similarly,

Carabus morbillosus bruttianus Bom, 1906 described from Southern Calabria is considered

a distinct subspecies, including the populations of C. morbillosus from North-Eastern Sicily.

KEY WORDS Coleoptera; Carabus ; taxonomy; W-Mediterranean.

Received 11.02.2015; accepted 18.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

Carabus ( Macrothorax ) morbillosus Fabricius,

1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae) locus typicus

"Mauretania" is a widely W-Mediterranean distrib-

uted species (La Greca, 1964; 1984; Vigna Taglianti

et al., 1993; Parenzan, 1994) including several

populations, even insular, more or less fragmented

and differentiated, widespread in Southern France,

southern Spain, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Corse,

Sardinia, Tyrrhenian central Italy, Southern Ca-

labria, Sicily, Sicilian islands, and Malta.

From the biogeographic point of view, as the

whole subgenus Macrothorax Desmarest, 1850, C.

morbillosus is considered a "Tyrrhenian" element

(Jannel, 1941 Antoine, 1955; La Greca, 1964; 1984;

Casale et al., 1982) with all connected hypotheses

and opinions on the origin and spread of the group.

Some populations also seem to be originated from

passive transport and, later, acclimatized (see Ca-

sale et al., 1989).

Currently, in Italy, are reported: C. morbillosus

morbillosus in Sardinia, Lampedusa and some

stations in Central Italy; C. morbillosus alternans

Palliardi, 1825 (locus typicus: Sicily) in Sicily,

Sicilian islands, and Calabria (Casale et al., 1982;

Vigna Taglianti, 1995; Vigna Taglianti et al., 2002).

In the "European Fauna" (Vigna Taglianti, 2015) the

populations of North Africa, Sardinia and Lampedusa

are attributed to C. morbillosus constantinus

Kraatz, 1899 (locus typicus: Constantine, Algeria).

Carabus morbillosus is an euriecious species

living in open areas or with sparse vegetation, often

in ruderal areas, urban gardens and crops, under

stones and debris, from the sea level up to about

1000 m a.s.l. Carabus morbillosus alternans is

found in forests and wooded fields, as oak and eu-

calyptus groves (Bosco Ficuzza, Piazza Armerina,

Bosco di Santo Pietro, etc.). It is present almost all year

long, mainly active from September to April-May.

In this work we provide new taxonomic data on

some little known populations of C. morbillosus.

108

Ivan Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio

In particular, C. morbillosus lampedusae Bom,

1925 described from Lampedusa Island, is recon-

sidered as "bona subspecies" and its Lectotype and

Paralectotyes are designated; the same is also for C.

morbillosus bruttianus Born, 1906, described from

Southern Calabria to which we attribute also the

populations of C. morbillosus alternans from

North-Eastern Sicily.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. ETZH:

Entomological Collection of ETH, Zurich, Switzer-

land; ex/s: exemplair/s; RC: Ivan Rapuzzi collec-

tion, Prepotto, Italy; SC: Ignazio Sparacio collec-

tion, Palermo, Italy.

SYSTEMATICS

Carabus ( Macrothorax ) morbillosus lampedusae

Bom, 1925

Examined material. Carabus morbillosus lam-

pedusae. ETZH: male (Fig. 1). Length: 30.10 mm;

width elytra: 10.85 mm; length elytra: 18.80 mm;

width pronotum: 7.80 mm; length pronotum: 6.20

mm. Three labels: "Insel Lampedusa" (handwritten

by Bom on circular label); "53.565" (print label),

"Carabus morbillosus lampedusae?" (handwritten

in blu color, more recent and different calligraphy

than original labels from Born); red label with

present designation of the “Lectotype”. Paralecto-

types, 2 males (ETZH), two labels each specimens:

"53.566" (print label); length: 30.50 mm; width

elytra: 11.70 mm; length elytra: 19.00 mm; width

pronotum: 7.60 mm; length pronotum: 6.20 mm.

"Carabus morbillosus lampedusae?" (handwritten in

blu color, more recent and different calligraphy

than original labels from Born). "53.567" (print

label); length: 30.30 mm; width elytra: 11.35 mm;

length elytra: 18.80 mm; width pronotum: 7.95

mm; length pronotum: 6.00 mm. "Carabus mor-

billosus lampedusae?" (hand- written in blu color,

more recent and different calligraphy than original

labels from Bom); red label with present designa-

tion of the “Paralectotype”.

Other examined material. Carabus morbillosus

lampedusae. ITALY, SICILY. Lampedusa Island

(Agrigento), 15.V.1983, I. Sparacio legit, 3 males

and 2 females (CS); idem, 10.11.2013, G. Mara-

ventano legit, 2 males and 2 females (CS); idem,

III.2014, T. La Mantia legit, 2 males and 4 females

(CS); Lampedusa (RC), 1 female; Lampedusa

Island, 4.II.1994, M. Romano legit, 2 males and 1

female (RC); Lampedusa Island, XI.2012, A. Corso

legit, 3 males and 1 female (RC).

Carabus morbillosus costantinus. TUNISIA.

Saouaf-El Fahs, 10. V. 1992, 1 female (CS);

Hammamet, 25.IV. 1998, 2 males (CS); El Fahs-

Zaghouan, 28. IV. 1998, 2 females (CS); Tabarka,

3/9.VI.1996, 10.V.1992, 5 males and 6 females

(CS); Tunisi, Cap Gammarth, 4.IV.2014, 5 males

and 4 females (CS), Tunisia, Bezeste, III. 1982, 1

male (RC); Tunisia, Ain Draham, 11/20. VI. 2008,

G. Sama & R Rapuzzi legit, 1 female (RC).

Remarks. Carabus lampedusae was originally

described by Bom (1925) as a subspecies of C.

morbillosus from Lampedusa Island (Sicilian

Channel, Italy) without designation of the holotype.

We had the opportunity to examine three male spe-

cimens preserved in the Entomological Collection

of ETH Zurich, ex Bom collection from Lampedusa

Island, and we have designated the lectotype and

paralecto types. All the three specimens are well

preserved.

From the systematic point of view, C. morbil-

losus lampedusae was considered mostly a variety

or a synonym of the nominate subspecies of North

Africa (Luigioni, 1929 sub morbillosus v. lampedu-

sae ; Breuning, 1932-36: sub natio costantinus ;

Porta, 1949 sub var. constantinus; Magistretti, 1965

sub C. morbillosus morbillosus natio costantinus ;

Casale et al., 1982 sub C. morbillosus morbillosus ;

Deuve, 2004 sub costantinus ).

Based on the examined material, we believe

"lampedusae" a valid subspecies of C. morbillosus ,

separate either from North African populations,

which is related to, or from the Sicilian ones, that

are more differentiated in morphology. In particular,

C. morbillosus lampedusae differs from the popu-

lations of North Africa by its squat and convex

body-shape, a darker and less bright color, with a

dominant chromatic variety characterized by dark

pronotum and dark green elytra in the middle, and

red on the sides; pronotum has wider and deeper

basal dimples with hind angles more sinuate

on the sides; the 1st elytral interstria shows

shallow points, well distinct and little confluent.

Hence, C. morbillosus lampedusae would be

comprised within the group of autochthonous

species of Lampedusa, of apparent North African

origin, morphologically differentiated in insularity

New taxonomic data on Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae)

109

/a Ml

Tk&JU F

■^rz iJutC-OAXllA Q&U)

Figure 1. Carabus ( Macrothorax ) morbillosus lampedusae Bom, 1925, lectotype with original labels.

Figure 2. Carabus (M) morbillosus bruttianus Bom, 1906 lectotype with original labels.

conditions. In the Conclusion section (see below),

we report morphological characters that distinguish

these populations to each other and those charac-

terizing the populations under study in this work.

Carabus {Macrothorax) morbillosus bruttianus

Bom, 1906

Examined material. ITALY, CALABRIA.

Carabus morbillosus bruttianus. Lectotype male,

Sta Eufemia d’Aspromonte, Calabrien (ETHZ)

(Fig. 2); idem, Paralectotype female (ETHZ).

Other examined material. Calabria. Reggio

Calabria dintomi, I. Sparacio legit, 8.XI.1999, 5

males (RC); Reggio Calabria dintomi, 5.III.2004,

I. Sparacio legit, 2 males and 1 female (RC);

Reggio Calabria dintomi, 8.XI.1999, 6 males and 5

females (SC); Reggio Calabria: Campo Calabro,

8.XI.1999, 6 males and 2 females (SC); Torrente

Zagarella, 8.XI.1999, 8 males (Fig. 5) and 11 fe-

males (SC); Gioia Tauro, 9.XI.1999, 13 males and

10 females (SC). ITALY, SICILY. Messina dintomi,

4.XI.2001, 13 males (Fig. 4) and 9 females (SC);

Messina, Monte Ciccia, 4. III. 2004, 7 males and

7 females (SC); Messina: Colle San Rizzo,

4.XI.2001, 3 males and 1 female (SC); Messina:

Faro, 4. III. 2004, 2 males and 2 females (SC); 3

males (SC); Messina, Torrenova, VIII.2013, A.

Tetamo legit, 1 male (SC); Messina dintomi,

4.XI.2001, I. Sparacio legit, 1 male and 1 fe-

male (RC); Messina, Monte Ciccia, 4.III.2004, I.

Sparacio legit, 2 males (RC); Lipari, Isole Eolie,

V.2014, R Lo Cascio legit, 3 males and 1 female (SC).

Carabus morbillosus alternans. ITALY, SICILY.

Palermo . Carini, 9.X.1978, 3 males and 4 females;

idem, 1.V.1979, 1 male (SC); Palermo, 18.X.1978,

1 male and 1 female; idem, 7.II.1979, 1 male; idem,

30.III.1980, 1 female (SC); Palermo: Sferracavallo,

Grotta Conza, 3.XI.1978, 2 females (SC); Godrano,

25.XI.1978, 1 male and 2 females (SC); Palermo:

Sferracavallo, 14.1.1979, 2 males; idem, 13.V.1980,

1 female (SC); Piana degli Albanesi, 8.II.1979, 3

males and 3 females; idem, 6.II.1992, 1 male and 3

females; idem, 15.IV. 1995, 1 female (SC); Palermo:

Favorita, Vallone del Porco, 3.III.1979, 1 male and

2 females (SC); Bosco Ficuzza, 21. XI. 1979, 1 male

(Fig. 3) and 1 female; idem, 9.II.1987, 1 female;

110

Ivan Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio

idem, 28.1.1989, 1 female (SC); Altofonte,

1. III. 1981, 1 male and 1 female (SC); Altofonte:

Poggio San Francesco, 13. III. 1981, 1 male (SC);

Cefalu, 7.XI.1987, 1 female (SC); Palermo:

Mondello, 18.IX.1988, 1 male (SC); Capaci,

25.11.1989, 1 female (SC); Monreale: Giacalone,

12.1.1992, 3 males and 1 female (SC); Ficuzza:

Bivio Lupo, 25.11.1992, 1 male; idem, 13.XI.2001,

2 males (SC); Santuario di Gibilmanna, 23. X. 1994,

1 male (SC); Lercara Friddi: S. Caterina A.D.,

24.X.2004, 2 males (SC); Bagheria: Monte Catal-

fano, 14.X.2006, 1 female (SC); Roccamena: Maran-

fusa, 25.IV.2008, 1 female (SC); Prizzi, 12.VI.2009,

1 male and 1 female (SC); Palermo: Micciulla,

4.IV.2010, T. La Mantia legit, 1 male (SC); Rocca

Entella, 18.XI.2011, 3 males (SC); Ficuzza: Gorgo

del Drago, 25.XI.2012, 2 females (SC); Diga Poma,

10.XI.20 13, 1 male and 1 female (SC); Trabia: Pizzo

Cane, XI.2014, 2 males and 1 female (SC); Cefalu,

Settefrati, VI. 1984, 1 male (RC); Ficuzza, Godrano,

XI/XII.2010, I. Rapuzzi & L. Caldon legit, 70 exs

males and females (RC); Palermo, 13.III.1992, 1 fe-

male (RC); Gibilmanna, 500 m, VII. 1984, 1 exs

(resti) (RC); Piana d. Albanesi, 700/800 m, III. 1988,

1 male and 1 female (RC); Isnello, 700 m, III. 1988,

2 males (RC). Trapani . Erice, 12.XI.1972, M. Romano

legit, 1 male and 1 female (RC); Campobello di Maz-

ara, Cave di Cusa, 28.XI.2009, 3 males and 3 females

(RC); Mazara costiera, 13.1.1985, 1 male and 2 fe-

males (RC); Capo Granitola, 30.1.1986, V. Castelli

legit, 2 males and 3 females (RC); Mazara,

3.II.1985, V. Aliquo’ legit, 1 male and 1 female

(RC); Selinunte, 24.XI.2002, I. Rapuzzi & L. Cal-

don legit, 2 males and 6 females (RC); Segesta,

15.11.201 1, 1. Rapuzzi & L. Caldon legit, 4 males and

2 females (RC); Santa Ninfa, XI.2009, 1. Rapuzzi &

L. Caldon legit, 1 male and 1 female (RC); Mazara

del Vallo, 28.XI.1979, 2 males and 3 females (SC);

San Vito Lo Capo (Trapani), 14.X.1984, 3 males

(SC); Monte Cofano, 14.X.1984, 1 female (SC); Cas-

tellammare del Golfo, 12.XII.1984, 2 males and 1

female (SC); Cave di Cusa, 14.XII.2003, 2 males;

idem, 3 1 .XII. 1 988, 3 females (SC); Foci Fiume Belice,

20.IV. 1989, 1 female (SC); Foci Fiume Birgi,

6.XI.1993, 1 female (SC); Selinunte, 3.XII.1995, 1

male and 1 female (SC); Valderice, 1.2014, 4 males

Figure 3. Carabus ( Macrothorax ) morbillosus alternans male, Bosco Ficuzza, Palermo, Sicily. Figure 4. Carabus morbillosus

bruttianus male, Messina surroundings, Sicily. Figure 5. Carabus morbillosus bruttianus male, Torrente Zagarella, Reggio

Calabria, Calabria (Photos by M. Romano).

New taxonomic data on Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae)

111

Figure 6. Scatterplot of the relationship between length and

width of elytra (upper) and pronotum (bottom) for three po-

pulations examined. Are shown the regression lines with the

associated confidence intervals (95%). Values of Correlation

coefficents for width/length of elytra in the three populations

are: Calabria 0.68*, Messina 0.25, Sicilia 0.78*. Those for

width/length of pronotum are: Calabria 0.15, Messina 0.42*,

Sicilia 0.46*. (* P< 0.05).

Pronotum Standardized

coefficients

Pooled- within-groups

correlations

Root 1

Root 2

Root 1

Root 2

Elytra Lenght -0.782

1.007

-0.971

0.239

Pronotum Width -0.305

-1.238

-0.790

-0.613

Eigenval 1.346

0.038

Cum. Prop 0.973

Table 1. Standardized coefficients (left) e Pooled-within-

groups correlations (right) for the two variables selected by

correspondence analysis.

Means of Canonical

Variables

Pop. Root 1 Root 2

Calabria 1.480 0.256

Messina 0.570 -0.235

Sicily -1.283 0.067

Table 2. Means of Canonical Variables for the three

examined populations.

Cases

Percent correct

Calabria

Messina

Sicily

Calabria

56.3

Messina

73.1

Sicily

76.7

Total

70.8

Table 3. Classification Matrix. The first column shows the per-

centages of observations properly attribuited to each popula-

tion using discr im inant analysis. The remaining columns show

the number of cases falling into each population (diagonally,

cases correctly classified).

and 3 females (SC). Agrigento . Agrigento,

21.1.1973, 1 male (RC); Agrigento: Valle dei Templi,

1.1972, 1 male and 1 female (RC); Agrigento: Valle

dei Templi, 9.II.1987, 1 female; idem, 2.1.1989, 1

male and 1 female (SC). Caltanissetta . Monte Ca-

podarso: F. Imera meridionale, 5.VI.2006, 1 male

(SC); Ponte Cinque Archi, 14.11.2015, 2 males (SC).

Enna . Valguamera (Enna), 25.IX.1979, 1 male (SC);

Piazza Armerina: Monte Rossomanno, 10. III. 2008,

1 female (SC); Piazza Armerina, XI.2009, 1. Rapuzzi

& L. Caldon legit, 1 female (RC). Syracuse . Vendi-

cari, 18.VIII.1993, 2 males and 1 female (SC);

Priolo, 28.XI.2010, 3 males; idem, 5 .111.2011, 1 fe-

112

Ivan Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio

10 . 5 -

10.2

9 . 9 -

9.6

I =:■

7.75

7.50

7 25 -

7.00

6.75

Elytra Width (EW)

Calabria Messina Sicily

18 . 0 -

17 . 5 -

17 . 0 -

16 . 5 -

16 . 0 -

Elytra Length (EL)

a J

Calabria Messina Sicily

Pronotum Width (PW)

\_r

►

6.0

5.8 -

6 6 -

Pronotum Length (PL)

Calabria Messina Sicily

Figure 7. Comparison of means, and confidence intervals (95%) among the three popultions for the four variables examined.

For the variables selected by discriminant analysis (PW and EL) are shown the values of significance in multiple compar-

isons. PW: Messina/Calabria t = 3.211**; Sicilia/Calabria t = 7.426***; Sicilia/Messina t = 4.772***. EL: Messina/Calabria

t = 2.412*; Sicilia/Calabria t = 8.520***; Sicilia/Messina t = 6.983***.

male (SC); Magnisi, 28.XI.2010, 2 males and 1 fe-

male (SC); Palazzolo Acreide, 5 .111.20 1 1 (SC);

Vizzini, 14.11.2015, 1 male (SC). Messina . Nebrodi

Mts., North from Capizzi, 1250 m, 23 .VII. 1991, 1

male (RC).

Discriminant analysis. We also made a biome-

tric study on 30 male specimens of C. morbillosus

alternans from Sicily, with the exception of the north-

easternmost regions, 16 male specimens of C. mor-

billosus bruttianus from Southern Calabria and 26

males attributed to C. morbillosus bruttianus from

Messina surroundings. The following measures

were examined: pronotum width (PW), pronotum

length (PL), elytra width (EW), and elytra length

(EL). In figure 6 are shown the graphs of the rela-

tionships between length and width of elytra and

pronotum for the three populations. Our findings

showed significant results when comparing C. mor-

billosus alternans and C. morbillosus bruttianus

(Calabria and Messina); whereas slight differences

were observed between the two populations of C.

morbillosus bruttianus from Calabria and Messina.

In order to identify which one of the four

morphometric characters used allows to distinguish

the three populations of C. morbillosus it was used

the discriminant functions analysis. Variable selec-

tion was done by the "Forward stepwise". The res-

New taxonomic data on Carabus (Macrothorax) morbillosus Fabricius, 1792 (Coleoptera Carabidae)

113

ulting model shows a discriminating value not high

but still significant (Wilks' Lambda: 0.4107060

approx. F (4.136) = 19.05342; p <, 0000). Variables

selected from the analysis are: EL and PW. Partial

lambda values (0.761599 and 0.932681, respect-

ively) indicate that EL followed by PW have the

most discriminating power among the three popu-

lations examined. The analysis produced two linear

functions, Rootl and Root2, the first appears negat-

ively correlated mainly with “elytra length” and, to

a lesser extent, with “pronotum width” (Table 1)

and discriminates the population of Calabria from

that of Sicily (Table 2). The second is negatively

correlated with pronotum width (Table 1) and,

although possess a low discriminatory power,

partially contributes to distinguish the population

of Calabria from that of Messina (Table 2).

In addition, the Mahalanobis distance between

the centromeres of the three populations, although

it is significant for all comparisons, shows high

values only between Calabria and Sicily (Mess-

ina/Calabria 1,116 *; Sicily/Calabria 8,004 ***; Si-

cily/Messina 3,673 *** . (P: *** < 0.001; ** < 0.01;

* < 0.05). The classification matrix (Table 3) shows

that more than 70% of the specimens from Messina

and the rest of Sicily are properly classified, while

this percentage drops to around 56% for specimens

from Calabria.

To assess whether the averages of each of the

two variables identified with the discriminant ana-

lysis significantly differ among the three popula-

tions, it has been carried out the analysis of variance

(Fig. 7). Multiple comparisons were performed with

the correction of Turkey. For both characters

ANOVA was significant (pronotum width: Df =

2/62, F = 23.61, P <le-04 ***. Elytra Length Df =

2/62, F = 37.14, P <le-04 * **). Multiple compar-

isons between populations are highly significant

except for the comparison Messina/Calabria for EL

that is barely significant (p = 0.0477).

Remarks. Born (1906) describes Carabus mor-

billosus bruttianus from Calabria, locus typicus St.

Eufemia d'Aspromonte, distinguishing it from the

Sicilian populations of Palermo known as C. mor-

billosus servillei (= C. morbillosus alternans). Sub-

sequently both Porta (1923) and Luigioni (1929)

report it as a distinct "variety" of C. morbillosus

from Calabria. In particular, Porta (1923) reiterates

the morphological differences already reported by

Born (1906) in its original description. However,

latest Authors consider C. morbillosus bruttianus as

a synonym of C. morbillosus alternans of Sicily

(Magistretti, 1965; Casale et al., 1982; Vigna

Taglianti, 1995; Vigna Taglianti, et al., 2002).

The examination of numerous specimens from

different places near Reggio Calabria (Southern Ca-

labria), allowed us to confirm the morphological

characteristics of this taxon, which results morpho-

logically distinct from the neighboring populations

of C. morbillosus alternans of Sicily. Populations

attributable to C. morbillosus bruttianus are also

present near Messina (north-eastern Sicily), de-

scribed as C. borni Krausse, 1908 (= sicanus Csiki,

1927; nom. pro borni Krausse). Porta (1923) reports

this taxon as a distinct "variety" of North-Eastern

Sicily, thus distinguishing it, geographically, from

the remaining populations of South-Western Sicily.

The populations of Messina are, in fact, mor-

phologically distinct from the remaining Sicilian

ones attributed to C. morbillosus alternans and,

rather, similar to the Calabrian populations of C.

morbillosus bruttianus from which differ only in a

few minor characters, especially by color and shape

of pronotum.

CONCLUSIONS

Actually, the C. morbillosus population of

Sicily, Sicilian islands, and the nearby Southern Ca-

labria, turns out to be more diversified than con-

sidered up to now. In most of the islands, is con-

firmed the presence of C. morbillosus alternans

which is very well-differentiated and distinct from

all the other races of the species; C. morbillosus

bruttianus is present in Southern Calabria, in the

territories of North-Eastern Sicily (Messina and

surrounding area) and, as to our knowledge, even

in Lipari in the Aeolian Islands. In Lampedusa

Island there is an island subspecies, C. morbillosus

lampedusae , similar to North African populations

of C. morbillosus .

At the moment, the populations covered by this

work can be distinguished as outlined below:

1 . Pronotum wider and arched forward with ma-

ximum width in the fore third. Primary intervals sa-

lient and very short, secondary ribs raised and wide,

tertiary intervals broken down into lines of evident

granules, 1st elytral interstria with small tubercles

114

Ivan Rapuzzi & Ignazio Sparacio

and confluent points in the form of irregular furrow.

Aedeagus apex distinctly more elongated, narrow

and slightly curved morbillosus costantinus

-. Squat and convex body-shape, less bright in

color and dark. Pronotum with basal dimples large

and deep, sinuate at sides before hind angles.

Primary intervals wider, 1st elytral interstria with

points on the surface, well separate from each

other morbillosus lampedusae

2. Pronotum distinctly narrower forward with

maximum width at the center. Primary intervals

elongated and slightly salient, secondary ribs de-

pressed, tertiary intervals less raised than secondary

ones; 1st elytral interstria with wide points, deep,

very distinct, sometimes juxtaposed with each

other. Apex of aedeagus shorter, wider and curved.

Shape great and flattened on the back, brilliant;

elytra elongate, rounded and dilated in the rear

third; elytra apex short and sightly sinuate at sides...

morbillosus alternans

-. Smaller and convex on the back of the elytra,

less shine; pronotum narrower and slightly rounded

forward with maximum width in the fore half; disc

with evident points and transverse wrinkles thin and

sparse; elytra short and ovalish, primary intervals

in granules shorter and less raised; elytral apex

stretched and clearly sinuate at sides

morbillosus bruttianus

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. Andreas Muller (ETHZ) and Dr.

Franziska Schmid (ETHZ) for the loan of the type

specimens from Born Collection of Carabus

{Macrothorax) morbillosus lampedusae and C. (M.)

morbillosus bruttianus', Dr. Antonio Adorno

(University of Catania, Italy), Dr. Andrea Corso

(Syracuse, Italy), and Dr. Marcello Romano

(Capaci, Italy).

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Vigna Taglianti A., Casale A. & Fattorini S., 2002. I

Carabidi di Sicilia ed il loro significato biogeografico

(Coleoptera, Carabidae). Bollettino dell' Accademia

Gioenia di scienze naturali, 35 (361): 435M64.

Vigna Taglianti A., Audisio P.A., Belfiore C., Biondi M.,

Bologna M.A., Carpaneto G.M., De Biase A., De

Felici S., Piattella E., Racheli T., Zapparoli M. & Zoia

S., 1993. Riflessioni sui corotipi fondamentali della

fauna W-paleartica ed in particolare italiana. Biogeo-

graphia, 16: 159-179.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 115-117

About the presence of the Haifa Grouper Hyporthodus haifen-

sis (Ben-Tuvia, 1 953) (Perciformes Serranidae) in the Strait of

Messina, Italy, Mediterranean Sea

Rosi Barbagallo 1 , Francesco Turano 2 & Riccardo Delle Fratte 3 *

'Via A lcantara 11, 95045 Misterbianco, Catania, Italy; e-mail: lailar@live.it

2 ViaAliquo Taverriti 28, 89131 Reggio Calabria, Italy; e-mail; cicciotura no@gmail.com

3 Via dell’Imbrecciato 95, 00149 Rome, Italy; e-mail: riccardodellefratte@gmail.com

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT In this paper is reported for the first time the presence of the Haifa Grouper, HyporthodllS

haifensis (B en-Tuvia, 1953) (Perciformes Serranidae) in the w aters of the Strait of M essina,

Italy which confirms the expansion process of the species toward the northern part of the

Mediterranean Sea.

KEYWORDS Epinephelinae; HyporthodllS haifensis', Lampedusa; Pellaro; Serranidae.

Received 26.12.2014; accepted 09.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015

INTRODUCTION

The subfamily Epinephelinae belonging to the

family of marine bony fish Serranidae includes

many genera, among which Hyporthodus Gill,

1861. The species belonging to this genus are com-

monly called "groupers" as some of their close re-

latives of the genus EphinephelliS Bloch, 1793.

Haifa Grouper, Hyporthodus haifensis (Ben-

Tuvia, 1953) is a marine fish, demersal and gen-

erally present in water depths between 90 and 220

meters (Froese & Pauly, 2014; Heemstra & Randall,

1993). The body has large pelvic and pectoral fins,

often bordered with white, tail shape rather roun-

ded, body color dark brown. Its distribution area

appears to be the Eastern Atlantic from the coast of

Angola in the south, to those in the southern part of

Portugal.

Hyporthodus haifensis is also present in the

southern part of the Mediterranean Sea (where the

species arrived entering through Gilbraltar) from

the coast to the south of Spain, along almost all the

Mediterranean coast of North Africa to Lebanon,

Israel, Turkey and southern Greece (Heemstra &

Randall, 1993). The only indication of its presence

in Italian waters was published in 2000 for the

Lampedusa Island, Pelagie Archipelago, Sicily

Channel (Azzurro et al., 2000). Considering the

characteristics of Lampedusa and its geographical

location, we can say that the island represents

a bridge between the Italian and North African

territory. This led to assume, even at the tim e of the

report of H. haifensis in Lampedusa, a future

movement of the species in the direction of the

waters of Sicily and the Italian mainland (Heemstra

& Randall, 1993).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The sighting occurred during a dives with scuba

equipment. The camera equipment consisted of

Canon G-15, Fantasea housing and Sea & Sea

flashes.

116

Rosi Barbagallo et alii

Figures 1-3. Young specimen of Epinephelus haifensis (Pellaro, Reggio Calabria, Italy), 35 m deep, XI. 2014,

photographed by day (Figs. 1, 2) and during the night (Fig. 3).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The discovery of this species has occurred in

Pellaro (Reggio Calabria, Italy) in the month of

November 2014 on a backdrop of mixed sand and

mud, 35 meters deep and with a water temperature

of about 23 °C. The animal was a young specimen

(Fig. 1) of about 25 cm in overall length, stationing

around a small wreck of about 3 meters in length.

The identification was made possible by count-

ing the number of soft rays in the anal fin, which is

not less than nine; another distinctive character of

the species (but only valid for young specimens) is

that the pelvic fins are not long enough to reach the

anus. No wonder for the low depth at which the

specimen was found infact, despite belonging to a

species which prefers stationing at depths beyond

90 meters, it is well known the habit of young grou-

pers to colonize shallow waters, within 30 meters.

Also in the Strait of Messina, thanks to its weather

and sea conditions or currents, peculiar at all, many

species, such as the Longspine snipefish MaCWratfl-

phosUS scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758) (Syngnathi-

formes C entriscidae), generally station at depths

About the presence of the Haifa Grouper Hyporthodus haifensis in the Strait of Messina, Italy, Mediterranean Sea 1 1 7

much lower than those where they are usually found

in other areas of the Mediterranean Sea.

The specimen was found in the same spot in

three separate dives performed during the same

month of November and then photographed by day

(Fig. 2) and during the night (Fig. 3). The latter

photo was taken in a subsequent night dive, during

which it was found the same specimen in the same

place. The image depicts the specimen during sleep

and is interesting because, as is well known, fish

change their colors at night using special cells

called chrom atophores. This picture shows exactly

the colors taken at night by Haifa’s grouper, which

is rarely documented.

This new record of H. haifensis is in continuity

with the previous one recorded in Lampedusa,

confirming the expansion process of the species

toward the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea.

This expansion was predicted by some authors

(Heemstra & Randall, 1993) and will therefore be in-

teresting to continue to monitor future developments.

It is also very likely that often the presence of

specimens of this species may not be noticed, as

they may be easily confused with specimens of

other M editerranean species.

REFERENCES

Azzurro E., Andaloro F. & Marino G., 2000. Presenza

della cernia di Haifa, Epiliephelus haifensis (Serran-

idae: Epinephelinae), nel Mediterraneo centrale.

Biologia marina m editerranea, 7: 786-789.

Froese R. & Pauly D., 2014. Fish Base. W orld W ide Web

electronic publication, www.fishbase.org, (08/2014).

http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Epinephelus-

haifensis.html (last accessed: 20.12.2014).

Heemstra P.C . & Randall J.E., 1993. FAO Species

Catalogue. Vol. 16. Groupers of the world (family

Serranidae, subfamily Epinephelinae). A n annotated

and illustrated catalogue of the grouper, rockcod,

hind, coral grouper and lyretail species known to date.

FAO Fisheries Synopsis, Rome, 125 (16), 382 pp.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 119-120

Monograph

Preface

Speciation and Taxonomy:

Neotropical Primate diversity

Marc Van Roosmalen 1 & Mason Fischer 2

Tstr. do CETUR, 2445 Tarama Manaus- AM CEP 69.022-155, Brazil; email: marc.mvrs@gmail.com

2 Mason Fisher Photograhy; email: mason@masonfischerphotography.com

Received 14.01.2015; accepted 25.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

During the last three decades Dr. Van Roos-

malen has surveyed by boat, canoe, and on foot

entire basins of some major tributaries of the

mighty Amazon River in order to study primate

diversity and distributions across the entire Amazon

Basin (including large parts of the Precambrian

Guiana and Brazilian Shields).

This way he tested and empirically came to

fully validate Alfred Russel Wallace's river-barrier

hypothesis first laid down in his 1852 account On

the Monkeys of the Amazon. Wallace points at the

larger rivers he sailed as the principal evolutionary

cause of the Amazon's uniquely rich extant primate

diversity and complex biogeography, for many

rivers together with their floodplains effectively

block off gene flow between populations along

opposite riverbanks.

As the Amazon represents a largely pristine and

vast natural realm not (yet) modified by human

interference, no better place to retrace evolutionary

processes that may have acted upon primates

(including our own ancestors) and other mammals

since the Pliocene. Moreover, Van Roosmalen's

biodiversity surveys revealed a number of new

monkeys from all over the Amazon (described

elsewhere) and other megafauna (somefrom the

Rio Aripuana Basin described here), among which

even a new genus - the dwarf marmoset Callibella

humilis M. van Roosmalen, T. van Roosmalen,

Mittermeier et de Fonseca, 1998.

This peaceable, non-territorial, enigmatic,

second smallest monkey in the world (here depicted

in the upper left corner) occupying the smallest

distribution of any monkey on the planet stands at

the base of the phylogenetic tree of all extant

marmosets. Interestingly, the whole family of

advanced Callitrichidae (i.e., the genera Cebuella

Gray, 1866 Callithrix Erxleben, 1758, Mico

Thomas, 1920, Saguinus Hoffmannsegg, 1807,

Leontopithecus Lesson, 1840) exhibits social group-

ings that fiercely defend a common living space or

territory (Fig. 1).

Speciation, radiation and rate of metachromic

bleaching among primatesseem to be related to ter-

ritoriality and social rather than sexual selection (as

is the case in other mammals and birds). Con-

sequently, the strictly territorial Amazonian mar-

mosets (Mico), tamarins (Saguinus), lion tamarins

(Leontopithecus), ouistitis (Callithrix), titis (Cal-

licebus Thomas, 1903) and howling monkeys

(Alouatta Lacepede, 1799) are the most diversified,

species-rich and colorful genera among a total of

19 New- World monkeys, in striking contrast to

Goeldi's Monkey Callimico and dwarf marmoset

120

Marc Van Roosmalen& Mason Fischer

Figure 1. Neotropical Primate diversity - Amazon Basin, Brazil.

Callibella - the only two Neotropical primate coat coloration (eumelanin black, brown and/or

genera being monotypic and archetypic in skin and agouti).

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 121-122

Monograph

Introduction

Speciation and Taxonomy: digressions at the

edge of a meeting

Pietro AN cata

Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, sez. Biologia Animale, Universita di Catania, via Androne 81,

95124 Catania, Italy

Received 18.02.2015; accepted 02.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

The title of the meeting organized by the Biod-

iversity Journal leads itself to reflections upon the

cognitive relation between man and nature. Two

different ways of looking at biodiversity are

approached: explanation of its origin and classific-

ation of its diversity. The first looks into the pro-

cesses that have led to the formation of that

extraordinary, wonderful, tragic and cruel world

that we call life. The result has been the impressive

system of knowledge of the biological evolution.

We are confident, on the other hand, that the pro-

cesses of life are independent of any our interpreta-

tion. The second meets our need to name and

describe the living beings appearing as separate

discrete entities. The outcome of this activity is

taxonomy, an object of our mind, whose first sys-

tematic form dates back to the Systema Naturae,

elaborated by Linnaeus far before the emergence

of the evolutionary theory, nearly actualizing the

first job of Adam (Genesis 2, 19).

Speciation is a crucial event of evolution: ge-

netic variations and adaptations to different envir-

onmental contexts have produced a multiplicity of

species and a great diversity of living organisms.

Taxonomy is able to represent only a time confined

image of the result of this process; however its sys-

tem becomes a new subject of our knowledge with

implications on our perception of the diversity of

life. May rules and methods of taxonomy affect the

comprehension of the life evolution? Indeed, we

can suppose that, in the interaction between the

static description of biodiversity and the analysis of

its development, the mechanism of our mind plays

a relevant role in guiding the thoughts towards the

established knowledge.

Phylogenetic analys is try to connect taxonomy

to speciation and contributes to its redefinition.

However both phylogeny and taxonomy respect a

tacit postulate whose rational foundation is not

considered problematic: similarity among beings

indicates a common origin and the chain of repro-

ductive events brings us to the common life origin.

And, if life, in the famous primordial soup, had

originated uncountable times, as an unavoidable

consequence of the properties of inorganic matter,

as the inorganic molecules arise from chemical

reactions rigorously determined by their context?

Should we hypothesize that at least a part of biod-

iversity was determined by distinct origins in the

primordial soup?

Removing this heretic thought, arisen from the

hesitations of my mind, let us consider a less worry-

ing problem of our taxonomic system: the indefin-

iteness of taxonomic categories, detectable from a

comparison between different phyla, classes or

orders. Are taxonomic categories pure classifica-

tion tools or they attempt to measure some aspect

of diversity? Molecular analysis has allowed the

122

Pietro Alicata

measurement of the genetic distances among taxa

and to calculate the time of their separation, even

in absence of paleontological data. But, the results,

despite the sophisticated mathematical methods

utilized, are grossly inadequate: solution of

problems at the species or subspecies level is

possible, but the phylogenetic trees remain highly

hypothetical.

Current taxonomy tries to represent the surpris-

ing phenotypic diversity of beings that has a

magnitude many times larger than the diversity of

genetic material. It would be most likely possible

to redefine the taxonomic categories according to

the level of phenotypic diversity. This would

require a free access to an exhaustive species’ docu-

mentation (description, figures, ecological notes,

and so on). Some farseeing scientists are pursuing

this aim for a few taxa.

However there are good reasons to preserve the

stability of taxonomy. For example, the great role

of taxonomy in nature conservation strategies: one

cannot preserve any living organism that does not

have a name. The prerequisite for the creation of

the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is precise

taxonomic knowledge and changes in taxonomy

(for example variation in synonymy) can determine

changes in the status of a species. Also the level of

nature protection in a territory may be increased by

a new taxonomic evaluation of a biological species.

Of course there is a great need for taxonomy experts

to monitor the populations of protected species and

to evaluate the status of habitats relevant for nature

conservation. But, may these considerations of

mine reveal a conflict of interest?

At the end, we will have a good solution if,

while many mathematical minds endeavor to elab-

orate models to resolve evolutionary puzzles, tradi-

tional taxonomy continues to fulfil the biblical job of

giving a name to animals and plants, whose shapes,

colours and adaptations always attract the interest

of numerous enthusiastic scientists, as proven by

the success of this journal and of the meeting.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 123-138

Monograph

Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading

out of the species?

Alessandro Minelli

Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58 B, I 35131 Padova, Italy; email: alessandro.minelli@unipd.it

ABSTRACT Efficient field sampling and new investigation tools, including barcoding and other molecular

techniques, are bringing to light an unexpected wealth of new species, including sets of

morphologically quite uniform, but genetically distinct cryptic species. On the other hand,

increasing appreciation of the dynamic nature of the species and a better knowledge of

speciation processes and introgression phenomena challenges the taxonomists’ efforts to

shoehorn all diversity of life into a formal classification of which the species would be the

basic unit. Unfortunately, there is probably not a single best notion of species, either in theory

or in practice.

KEY WORDS barcoding; cryptic species; hybridization; speciation; species concepts.

Received 25.01.2015; accepted 26.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

THE SPECIES - A SOLID PILLAR OF

OUR REPRESENTATION OF LIVING

NATURE?

A substantial percentage of recent books and art-

icles in zoology, botany, palaeontology, biogeo-

graphy and ecology may suggest that the species has

passed undamaged through the Darwinian revolu-

tion. Although everybody, or so, in these disciplines

is likely ready to accept that species are products of

evolution, in practice a great many professionals

describe and analyze the living world of the past and

present time in terms not that different from those

of Linnaeus and the other pre-Darwinian authors.

In the title-page of his magnum opus, Linnaeus

(1758) announced an arrangement of his Systema

naturae per regna tria naturae, secundum classes,

ordines, genera, species. Firmly placed at the

bottom of the hierarchy, the species category was

thus proposed as the fundamental unit of classifica-

tion. In the author’s creationist and largely fixist

views, species have been created at the beginnings

of time and the naturalist’s job is to piously explore

Nature with the aim of completing their inventory.

What does survive to our time, of this reassuring

pre-Darwinian conception of biological diversity?

Little, if anything, in theoiy, but quite a lot in practice.

This is true both of the approach with which taxonom-

ists continue Linnaeus’ project for a global inventory

of biodiversity and of the perspective from which

most of their colleagues in biology, ecology, biogeo-

graphy and stratigraphy look at the extant or extinct

forms of life that are the object of their studies.

To be sure, there are also the ‘professionals of

the species problem,’ that is, biologists - but also

philosophers of biology - who take very seriously

the Darwinian challenge and specifically focus on

all those contexts where the boundaries between

species are less precise or less complete, and often

largely arbitrary.

The species problem has, in fact, two main

aspects. One is conceptual, the other is practical. The

124

Alessandro Minelli

conceptual aspect of the species problem is how the

species can, or should be defined, provided that this

question can be eventually answered to the general

satisfaction of biologists and philosophers alike. The

practical aspect is, how species are recognized by

taxonomists working on the different groups of

organisms and, most important, whether taxonom-

ists can all agree on a single species concept, to be

adopted as the universal currency in describing the

diversity of life. A comparison of taxonomic practice

as performed by leading specialists in a diversity of

taxa, from mammals to fungi, from bacteria to

flowering plants, has abundantly demonstrated that

the entities called species in a group have little in

common with the entities called species in another

group (Claridge et al., 1997). Unfortunately, this

heterogeneity is concealed under the (nearly)

universal use of Linnaean binomens. It is thus all too

easy to take taxonomic species as a set of broadly

comparable units, of which we can make statistics

for the most different purposes, e.g. biodiversity

assessments and comparisons of extant or extinct

faunas and floras. This practice should be best

avoided (Minelli, 2000) but we do not have a real

substitute for it; the global biodiversity estimates

offered below are not exempt from this ‘original sin.’

In this article I will focus on this practical aspect

to the species problem, mostly taking examples from

papers published in 2014: with this temporal restric-

tion I only wish to stress the lively interest surround-

ing these questions. The relevant literature is

enormous, and rapidly increasing with the increas-

ing availability of morphological and especially

molecular methods, and their massive application to

the most diverse kin ds of organisms. Enormous is

also the literature about the conceptual aspects of the

species problem, but I will only mention here two

articles (Bemardi & Minelli, 2011; Mallett, 2013) to

which I refer the interested reader and summarize in

Table 1 the most important among the more than 20

different species concepts proposed to date.

HOW MANY SPECIES?

Even if we temporarily ignore the problems

caused by the lack of a satisfactory species concept

applicable to every kind of living things and thus

simply frame the question in terms of taxonomic

(named) species, it is difficult to say how many

species we know at present and, still worse, how

many species still await description. Estimates of

‘valid’ described species range between 1.5 million

and 2 millions; a document issued in 2011 by the

International Institute for Species Exploration gave

a figure of 1,922,710 species as described through-

out 2009.

Something, however, must be wrong with many

of these estimates. In the last few decades, the

number of new species described each year has

been in the order of 17500 (International Institute

for Species Exploration, 2012). This means that

since 1985 about half a million new entries have

been added to the list of described species. The net

increase has been sensibly smaller, because of the

number of nominal species that in the same time

interval have been recognized to be just synonyms

of other species. However, the net increase has been

probably in the order of 350 000-400 000, whereas

the most recent estimates of the number of de-

scribed species are not correspondingly larger than

the estimates produced 30 years ago.

In the last two decades of the XX century a

number of papers offered estimates of the number

of living species that still await description, one of

the first and most often cited being May (1988).

Some estimates were based on the percentage of

undescribed species in small but dense samplings

in areas and habitats with high diversity, e.g.

Hodgkinson & Casson (1991) for tropical insects

and Grassle & Maciolek (1992) for deep-sea

animals. Other estimates included ecological

considerations, such as the degree of hostplant spe-

cialization of phytophagous insects, as in Erwin’s

(1982) pioneering paper or Stork’s (1988) revisita-

tion of the same. One of the most recent papers on

the subject adjusts the estimates to ~8.7 million (±1 .3

million SE) eukaryotic species globally, of which

~2.2 million (±0.18 million SE) are marine (Mora et

al., 2011); another, more sensible one (Scheffers et

al., 2012) acknowledges the plurality of unknown or

poorly known factors, as a consequence of which

uncertainty remains between a global total as low as

2 million species, microbes excluded, and estimates

as high as 50 millions and over.

PROLIFERATION OF NEW SPECIES

Strong catalysts favouring the description of

new species are the new megajoumals specifically

Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species?

125

devoted to taxonomy. In zoology, the leading role

of Zootaxa and ZooKeys is by now unrivalled and

undisputed. According to the journal’s editor-

in-chief, in 2010 Zootaxa contributed about 20% of

all animal taxa described that year as new, that is, a

number in the order of 4000 (Zhang, 2011).

Launched a few years after their zoological

equivalents, Phytotaxa and PhytoKeys have been

also rapidly growing and by now outcompete the

biggest journals long established in the field.

According to Zhang et al. (2014), the total number

of new plant taxa described in 2011 was 6024 (of

which 575 in Taxon, 473 in Phytotaxa, 183 in

Novon, 169 in the Botanical Journal of the Linnean

Society); in 2012, the total was 6647 (of which 632

in Phytotaxa, 465 in Systematic Botany, 340 in

Phytoneuron, 301 in the Kew Bulletin, 267 in

Taxon); in 2013 the number decreased to 5116 (of

which 501 in Phytotaxa, 248 in PhytoKeys, 199 in

Biodiversity Research and Conservation, 196 in the

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society). In

discussing these numbers, it is necessary to consider

that these include taxa proposed at any taxonomic

rank.

Despite the large and largely unknown

degree of uncertainty surrounding the estimates

mentioned above, these are nevertheless

important. Besides the fact that these figures help

bringing the urgency of biodiversity conservation

to the public attention, estimates of gaps of

knowledge to be filled can stimulate targeted

efforts aiming at filling them.

Some research groups are currently addressing

this specific problem through well-planned field

work in lesser investigated and species-rich areas,

with special regard to hyperdiverse taxa such as

weevils. For example, a German team, supported

by local investigators in tropical areas, has recently

produced a couple of excellent papers on the

wingless weevils of the genus Trigonopterus .

Previous to the most recent researches, this

genus included 9 1 described species ranging from

Sumatra to Samoa and from the Philippines to

New Caledonia. Of these, 50 species of Trigonop-

terus had been described from New Guinea, the

center of the genus’ diversity. But new targeted

samplings in seven localities across New Guinea

have resulted in the recognition of 279 Trigonop-

terus species, most of which new to science;

of these, a first set of 101 species have been

described by Riedel et al. (2013). Another 98 new

species of Trigonopterus have been described in a

paper (Riedel et al., 2014) devoted to materials

recently collected in Indonesia (Sumatra, Java,

Bali, Palawan, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores), a large

area from where only one species of Trigonopterus

was previously known.

Perhaps less expected, there are also large num-

bers of undescribed species in the Lepidoptera,

especially among the so-called micros. A recent

study of the gelechioid genus Ethmia in Costa Rica

revealed the presence of 22 undescribed species

in addition to 23 described in the past (Phillips-

Rodriguez et al., 2014).

Virtually unfathomed is, in some specialists’

view, the world of Fungi, of which the number of

existing species is estimated between 1.5 and 5

million, i.e. 15 to 50 times the number of currently

described species. The wealth of undescribed fungal

diversity is not limited to the microscopic forms: a

recent study reported the identification of at least

126 species (and potentially up to 400) within a

taxon of macrobasidiolichens currently regarded as

one species ( Dictyonema glabratum (Sprengel) D.

Hawksw. also known as Cora pavonia E. Fries)

(Lucking et al., 2014).

The use of new investigation tools such as

barcoding (discussed below) is precious, indeed, in

revealing the existence of a multiplicity of cryptic

species hitherto shoehorned under one species

name. I give here four examples, three of which

from papers published last year.

In polychaetes, for examples, cryptic species

crop up with virtually every accurate study. The

detailed review published by Nygren (2014)

includes several dozen examples, of which only the

most conspicuous ones (those with >5 cryptic

species inferred to be present within a taxon curren-

tly treated as a single species) are listed in Table 2.

The taxonomic complexity revealed by this study

is probably nothing more than the tip of a huge

iceberg of species diversity in the annelids. Most of

the ciyptic diversity discovered to date in poly-

chaetes is still formally undescribed, one of the few

exceptions being the five species of Archinome

listed in the Table.

Impressive are the results of some studies focus-

ing on individual genera, where a systematic use of

barcoding procedures has revealed an astonishing

diversity of species, morphologically very uniform,

126

Alessandro Minelli

as in some amphipods living in desert spring of the

southern Great Basin of California and Nevada,

USA, where 33 ‘provisional species’ have been

recognized within a clade hitherto referred to the

one species, Hyalella azteca Saussure, 1858 (Witt

et al., 2006).

A cornucopia of cryptic species, to use the

words of the authors (Winterbottom et al., 2014) has

been discovered in a DNA barcode analysis of the

gobiid fish genus Trimma. Here, 473 specimens

initially assigned to 52 morphological species

revealed the presence of 94 genetic lineages sep-

arated by a sequence divergence usually typical of

inter- rather than intraspecies differences.

To a quite smaller extent, but still worth men-

tioning here, new species are still being described

at a sensible rate even in groups such as mammals,

where a long tradition in taxonomy could be expec-

ted to have adequately accounted for extant species

diversity. Taxonomic unrest is obviously larger in

species-rich clades such as rodents or bats. For

example, several new species of the bat genus

Miniopterus have been recently described from

Madagascar and the neighbouring Comoros

archipelago, and at least seven out of the 18

species-level taxa recognized in the most recent

study still require formal taxonomic treatment

(Christidis et al., 2014).

TESTING THE BARCODE

“In 2003, Paul Hebert, researcher at the Univer-

sity of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, proposed “ DNA

barcoding” as a way to identify species. Barcoding

uses a very short genetic sequence from a standard

part of the genome the way a supermarket scanner

distinguishes products using the black stripes of the

Universal Product Code (UPC). Two items may look

very similar to the untrained eye, but in both cases

the barcodes are distinct. [. . .] The gene region that

is being used as the standard barcode for almost all

animal groups is a 648 base-pair region in the mi-

tochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene (“COl ”).

COI is proving highly effective in identifying birds,

butterflies, fish, flies and many other animal groups.

COI is not an effective barcode region in plants be-

cause it evolves too slowly, but two gene regions in

the chloroplast, matK and rbcL, have been approved

as the barcode regions for plants.”

This is the way this technique is described, in

very simple terms, in the official Barcode of Life

website http://www.barcodeoflife.org/.

During the last few years, DNA barcoding has

become a popular method for the identification of

species. How efficient and reliable is it? The ques-

tion can be reasonably asked in respect to groups

and areas for which an exhaustive taxonomic treat-

ment was already available, based on morphology,

and the recent barcoding effort has covered a large

percentage of the species recognized thus far.

In the case of insects, most published DNA bar-

coding studies focus on species of the Ephemerop-

tera (Ball et al., 2005; Stahls & Savolainen,

2008), Trichoptera (Zhou et al., 2011), Lepidoptera

(deWaard et al., 2009; Hausmann et al., 2011a,

2011b; Strutzenberger et al., 2011), Hymenoptera

(Smith & Fisher, 2009; Zaldivar-Riveron et al.,

2010) and Coleoptera (Raupach et al., 2010, 2011;

Greenstone et al., 2011; Astrin et al., 2012;

Woodcock et al., 2013).

Raupach et al. (2014) have recently tested the

efficiency of DNA barcoding for the Heteroptera

of Central Europe. Based on a conventional quant-

itative threshold currently accepted as a minimum

molecular difference between two species, they

found that species identification based on barcod-

ing sequences is correct in a 91.5% of cases. In 21

cases, the molecular distance between two tradi-

tionally accepted species is lower (in ten cases,

actually zero). To the contrary, intraspecific dif-

ferences larger than the conventional species-level

threshold have been found for 16 species tradi-

tionally regarded as valid. These results suggest

that the barcode cannot be blindly accepted as a

tool that allows quasi-automatic identification of

all species, but at the same it turns to be a useful

tool to discover taxa, or groups of closely related

taxa, that are in need of in-depth revision. In

particular, Raupach et al.’s study has provided

evidence for ongoing hybridization events within

various genera (e.g. Nabis, Lygus, Phytocoris ) as

well as the putative existence of cryptic species, e.g.

within the aradid Aneurus avenius (Dufour, 1833)

and the anthocorid Orius niger (Wolff, 1811).

Much larger success was obtained by Huemer

et al. (2014) in the identification via barcode

of 1004 species of Lepidoptera shared by two

European countries, Austria and Finland, ca. 1600

km apart. Correct identification was possible for

Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species?

127

98.8% of the taxa. However, deep intraspecific

divergence, larger than the conventional threshold

accepted as separating intra- from interspecific dif-

ference, was detected in as many as 124 taxonomic

species hitherto recognized based on morphology.

Authors concluded that despite the intensity of past

taxonomic work on European Lepidoptera, nearly

20% of the species shared by Austria and Finland

require further work to clarify their status.

The information obtained by systematically

applying the barcoding method to groups for which

traditional taxonomy is inadequate has different

consequences. For example, this technique has

been applied to the biting midges (Ceratopo-

gonidae) of the county of Finnmark in northern

Norway. Results indicated the presence of 54

species, of which 14 likely new to science, 16 new

to Norway, and one new to Europe (Stur &

Borkent, 2014). Another study involved a New

World genus of Curculionidae ( Conotrachelus ).

Two sets of specimens were compared, those emer-

ged from some 17 500 seeds collected in six

Central American rain forests and those collected

in the same forests using interception traps that

capture flying insects. Barcoding data suggested

the presence of 17 species in the trapped samples,

and 48 species among the specimens obtained from

the attacked seeds. Tittle hope to use previous

knowledge to identify them, however, as the

barcoding of representatives of 24 species from

museum collections provided matches for only

three of the 1 7 species from the traps and no match

at all for the putative 48 reared species (Pinzon-

Navarro et al., 2010).

Overall, barcoding methods have proven much

less informative for plants than the results obtained

from animals would have allowed to hope. A near

complete failure has been a study on willows ( Salix )

species, using two to seven plastid genome regions.

Of the 7 1 Holarctic species in that study, only one

has a unique barcode (Percy et al., 2014)!

THEORY-DRIVEN SPECIES INFLATION

This legitimate, welcome progress in the appre-

ciation of species diversity in lesser investigated

groups contrasts, to some extent, with a recent pro-

liferation of ‘new species’ proposed by some au-

thors in a revisitation of the taxonomy of popular

mammal clades such as carnivores and ungulates.

The theoretical background advocated by the

zoologists responsible for this ‘taxonomic inflation’

is the phylogenetic species concept, according to

which any arguably monophyletic and practically

diagnosable lineage deserves to be considered (and

eventually named) as a distinct species. With the

increasing use in taxonomy of molecular techniques

(e.g. barcoding), finding a differential trait between

two populations, e.g. a single nucleotide difference,

has become all too easy.

A first application to mammals of the phylogen-

etic species concept led Cracraft et al. (1998) to

raise the Sumatran tigers to species status {Pan-

ther a sumatrae Pocock, 1929) based on three dia-

gnostic sites in the mitochondrial cytochrome b

gene. Shortly thereafter, Mazak & Groves (2006)

added a third tiger species, the Javan tiger P. sonda-

ica (Temminck, 1844), to the previously estab-

lished P tigris (Finnaeus, 1758) and P. sumatrae.

Similarly, based on mtDNA and their analysis of

morphological diagnosability, Groves & Grubb

(2011) distinguished three species of European red

deer: Cervus elaphus Finnaeus, 1758 (West European

red deer), C. pannoniensis Banwell, 1997 (East

European red deer) and Cervus corsicanus Er-

xleben, 1777 (Corsico-Sardinian and North- African

red deer). Moreover, these are only a fraction of

the total of 12 species recognized by these authors

for the entire red deer/wapiti complex. Further

examples of oversplitting caused by the applic-

ation of the phylogenetic species concept include

the 1 1 species of klipspringer recognized within

one traditional species, Oreotragus oreotragus

(Zimmermann, 1783), based on size differences

and different sexual dimorphism, and the splitting

of the mainland serow Capricornis sumatraensis

(Bechstein, 1799) into six species (Groves &

Grubb, 2011). Zachos et al. (2013), who are very

critical of this trend in mammal taxonomy, acknow-

ledge however that in other groups more than one

species must be in fact recognized, as in the case

of the African elephants (the forest elephant

Loxodonta cy clods Matschie, 1900 and the

savanna elephant Loxodonta africana (Blumen-

bach, 1797); cf. Rohland et al., 2010), and the

giraffe, within which six or more distinct species

should be probably recognized (Groves & Grubb,

2011).

128

Alessandro Minelli

Agamospecies Concept

an operational, morphologically defined

unit in organisms that reproduce

asexually or by uniparental repro-

duction (without fertilization)

Cain (1954)

Biological Species Concept

a group of interbreeding natural

populations, reproductively isolated

from other similar groups

Dobzhansky (1935, 1937, 1970),

Mayr (1940, 1942, 1963, 1970),

Mayr & Ashlock, 1991)

Cladistic Species Concept

a group of organisms bounded by

two events of speciation or by a

speciation and an extinction event

Ridley (1989)

Cohesion Species Concept

the most inclusive group of organ-

isms within which genetic and/or

demographic exchange can occur

Templeton (1989)

Ecological Species Concept

a set of populations isolated through

occupation of a specific ecological

niche

Van Valen (1976).

Evolutionary Species Concept

an evolutionary lineage of popula-

tions in ancestor-descendant relation-

ship, that maintains its identity vs.

other lineages so defined, and with

its own specific evolutionary trends

and historical destiny

Simpson (1951, 1961)

Genetic Species Concept

the largest reproductive community

of sexual interfertile individuals that

share a common gene pool; or a

field for gene recombination

Dobzhansky (1950),

Carson (1957)

Hennigian Species Concept

a reproductively isolated natural pop-

ulation, or group of natural popula-

tions, issued from the dissolution of

a stem species in a speciation event,

that ceases to exist for extinction or

speciation

Meier & Willmann (2000)

Least Inclusive Taxonomic Unit

a taxonomic group defined on the

basis of apomorphies

Pleijel & Rouse (1999),

Pleijel (2000).

Morphological Species Concept

a community or a number of related

communities, whose distinctive mor-

phological characters are, in the opin-

ion of a competent systematist, suf-

ficiently defined to qualify it or them

with a specific name

Regan ( 1 926)

Phylogenetic Species Concept -

diagnosable version

the smallest diagnosable grouping of

organisms, within which there is a

pattern of ancestor-descendant rela-

tionship

Cracraft(1983)

Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species?

129

Phylogenetic Species Concept -

a monophyletic group of individuals

Rosen (1978), De Queiroz &

monophyly version

characterized by one or more auta-

pomorphies

Donoghue (1988)

Phenetic Species Concept

a set of organisms that are pheno-

typically similar and that look

different from other sets of organisms

Sneath (1976)

Recognition Species Concept

a group of organisms that share a

common fertilization system, or

better, a Specific Mate Recognition

System

Paterson (1979, 1985)

Table 1. A selection of species concepts, with short definitions, mainly in accordance with Bemardi & Minelli (2011) and

Mallett (2013), and some key references. Concepts that specifically apply to extinct organisms (the Successional Species

Concept in the two versions: George’s (1956) Chronospecies Concept, and Simpson’s (1961) Paleospecies Concept) are

not included.

Current taxon name(s)

Inferred number

of species

Archinome jasoni Borda et al., 2013, A. tethyana Borda et al., 2013, A. levinae Borda

et al., 2013, A. rosacea (Blake, 1985), A. storchi Fiege et Bock, 2009

Branchiomma spp.

Capitella capitata (Fabricius, 1780)

12+

Eumida sanguinea (Orsted, 1843)

Harmothoe imbricata (Linnaeus, 1767)

Leitoscoloplos pugettensis (Pettibone, 1957)

Marenzelleria viridis (Verrill, 1873), M. bastropi Bick, 2005, M. neglecta Sikorski et

Bick, 2004, M wireni Augener, 1913, M. arctia (Chamberlin, 1920)

Marphysa sanguinea (Montagu, 1815)

Ophryotrocha labronica Bacci et La Greca, 1961

Owenia fusiformis Delle Chiaje, 1844

Palola spp.

Sabellastarte spp.

Scoloplos armiger (Muller, 1776)

5-6

Syllis alternata Moore, 1908

Table 2. Cryptic diversity revealed in some polychaete ‘species’ taxa by recent molecular investigations

(data compiled from Nygren, 2014, Table SI).

130

Alessandro Minelli

TRICKY SPECIES COMPLEXES

Better investigated groups reveal a complexity

of interrelationship within which any formal taxo-

nomic arrangement is likely to remain provisional,

or at least arbitrary. Species complexes are particu-

larly intractable when the reproductive behavior of

some of the forms involved deviates from the typ-

ical biparental scheme. Exemplary in this respect is

the complex of the European green frogs, which

includes a number of hybridogenetic entities whose

survival strictly depends on an uninterrupted

availability of sperm from a closely related bipar-

ental species, as in the case of the Edible Frog, i.e.

the hybridogenetic Pelophylax lclepton esculentus

(Linnaeus, 1758). This hybrid between the Pool

Frog Pelophylax lessonae (Camerano, 1882) and

the Marsh Frog Pelophylax ridibundus (Pallas,

1771) is fertile, but usually unable to produce

balanced gametes of the two sorts, whereas it

usually survives by female hybrids mating with

males of one of the parental species, usually P.

lessonae (e.g., Spolsky & Uzzell, 1986; Christiansen,

2009). Local conditions are indeed extremely

diverse and are hardly amenable at a conventional

taxonomic treatment. In Central and Western

Europe the hybrid P. esculentus lives in sympatry

with the parental species P. lessonae (LE-system),

but there are also gamete-exchanging systems of P

ridibundus/P. esculentus (RE) and P. ridibundus/

P. lessonae/P. esculentus mixed populations (RLE)

(reviewed by Gunther, 1991; Plotner, 2005), and

also rare all-hybrid populations (EE-system) repro-

ductively independent of the parental forms (Graf &

Polls Pelaz, 1989) but dependent for sperm on the

presence of triploid individuals; the latter are

obtained when diploid eggs produced by diploid

hybrid females (LR) are fertilized by haploid sperm

of diploid or triploid males (LR, LLR, LRR) (Arioli

et al., 2010).

The taxonomic treatment of uniparental organ-

isms is generally difficult and controversial. Lin-

naean species are quite pacifically recognized in

some groups, e.g. in bdelloid rotifers, but in this

group thelytokous parthenogenesis is a very old

phenomenon and a number of largely fixed differ-

ences among strains have been fixed, that allow

recognizing species- and genus-level taxa around

which there is not much dispute. Things are differ-

ent in groups where parthenogenesis, or apomyxis,

is a recent phenomenon and phenotypic differences

between clonal strains are much more subtle and

their taxonomic evaluation much more subjective.

In the case of brambles ( Rubus spp.) and dandelions

( Taraxacum spp.) thousands of names have been

introduced to accommodate slightly divergent phen-

otypes at what some specialists consider the taxo-

nomic rank of species. In many instances, however,

uniparental reproduction is accompanied by vari-

ation in ploidy level and/or by morphological and

molecular distances comparable to those ordinarily

existing between related bisexual species, or even

larger. An interesting example has been recently

illustrated by Marotta et al. (2014) in the freshwater

oligochaetes of the genus Tubifex. Despite the

occurrence of different reproductive mechanisms

(biparental reproduction vs. thelytoky), many

populations referable to this genus have been tradi-

tionally classified as a single species Tubifex tubifex

(Muller, 1774). Under this name, however, is con-

cealed an unexpected diversity, as suggested by a

careful karyological and molecular analysis of

samples collected in just one limited area, the

Lambro River near Milano. Alongside a diploid

form, for which a distinct name ( T. blanchardi

Vejdovsky, 1891) is available in the literature, the au-

thors found several polyploid lines (3n, 4n, 6n), with

karyological differences matching with large molecu-

lar divergence in the 16S rRNA and COI sequences.

It will be no surprise if this diversity will eventually

emerge as just the tip of a still unfathomed iceberg.

The identification of gene flow between related

species is very important when taxa of economic and

especially medical or veterinary importance are

involved. Fontaine et al. (2015; see also Clark &

Messer, 2015) have recently demonstrated introgres-

sion in a medically important group of sibling species

of Afrotropical mosquitos ( Anopheles gambiae

Giles, 1902, A. coluzzii Coetzee et al., 2013 and A.

arabiensis Patton, 1905) that differ in behaviour and

thus in medical importance. Allele exchanges

between these malaria vectors have been found to

involve most of their autosomal genes, it is therefore

possible that traits enhancing vectorial capacity may

be gained through interspecific gene flow.

SPECIATION

Sooner or later, the taxonomist must confront

the issue of speciation, traditionally a focal issue

Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species?

131

in evolutionary biology, thus basically approached

through the tools of population genetics. Even-

tually, even the good practicing taxonomist who is

happy applying Regan’s (1926) morphological

species concept (cf. Table 1) is brought by the

intricacies of his/her study material to admit how

right was Darwin when he acknowledged that ‘Wo

line of demarcation can be drawn between species

... and varieties' ’ (Darwin, 1859, p. 469). It is

beyond the scope of this article to present here

even a short summary of current awareness, and

current debates, on the issue of speciation. The

interested reader is referred to Coyne & Orr’s

(2004) monograph, which is both a synthesis of

modern understanding of speciation problems, a

guide to older literature and a solid background

against which to read the literature of the last

decade. I will thus skip the traditional main issues,

beginning with the geographic scenarios of spe-

ciation (allopatric, parapatric, sympatric). I will

only glean from the very recent literature some

exemplary cases that show how cautious should

be the taxonomist in front of the temporal and

spatial change to which natural populations are

subjected. The more we know about these aspects,

the more critical should be our attitude towards a

taxonomic delimitation of species.

A first warning concerns the tempo of evolu-

tion. An unwarranted generalization of Darwin’s

depiction of evolution as proceeding through the

gradual accumulation of changes happening at a

very slow and essentially uniform pace led in the

past to assume that a speciation event should take

on the average some hundred thousand years or

more. There is no reason, however, for us to expect

that living nature adopts an essentially uniform

pace of change. Indeed, we have now well-docu-

mented proofs of very rapid speciation events, and

also of extremely conservative species pairs whose

remote splitting is concealed under an amazing

degree of morphological stasis. As a consequence,

the taxonomist must be cautious in inferring related-

ness from morphological, ecological or biogeo-

graphic evidence without the further support of

molecular estimates of divergence times.

Consider, for example, that the divergence

between two species of amphioxus, both currently

classified in the same genus, Branchiostoma

floridae Hubbs, 1922 and B. lanceolatum (Pallas,

1774), has been estimated at 186-189 million

years (Canestro et al., 2002), whereas the origin

of the whole radiation of extant Brassicaceae

(3709 species; Warwick et al., 2006) is probably

not older than 40 million years (Couvreur et al.,

2010; Franzke et al., 2011), and perhaps even

younger, around 16 million years (Franzke et al.,

2009). This can be compared to the 22.4 million

years through which the hummingbirds (338 living

species) have been apparently radiating from their

last common ancestor (McGuire et al., 2014). Still

very long times, indeed, if compared to the 100

000 years, or so, within which the cichlids of Fake

Victoria have radiated into a species flocks of five

hundred species at least (Verheyen et al., 2003;

Genner et al., 2007).

GENES INVOLVED IN SPECIATION

Research on the genes more directly involved

in speciation is attracting increasing interest, but

convincing generalizations are still difficult to

obtain.

Problems in fixing the boundary between two

closely related taxa that broadly, but not completely

exhibit the character of distinct species are often

due to the fact that some parts of their genome are

more readily and extensively affected by introgres-

sion, whereas other parts are much more resilient.

A classic case - Carrion Crow ( Corvus corone

Linnaeus, 1758) vs. Hooded Crow ( Corvus cornix

Linnaeus, 1758) - has been carefully investigated

by Poelstra et al. (2014). These authors have found

that only a small number of narrow genomic islands

are not affected by gene flow. As mirrored by these

birds’ livery, gene expression divergence between

them is concentrated in pigmentation genes ex-

pressed in gray versus black feather follicles.

Despite its limited genetic basis, this trait is critic-

ally important, however, as it affects mate choice

and thus color-mediated prezygotic isolation.

In pairs of stick insect populations adapted to

different host plants and undergoing parallel speci-

ation, Soria-Carrasco et al. (2014) found thousands

of small genomic regions, most of which unique to

individual population pairs, to be significantly

diverging between populations. These authors have

also detected parallel genomic divergence across

population pairs involving an excess of coding genes

with specific molecular functions.

132

Alessandro Minelli

STABILITY OF SPECIES IN THE FACE

OF INTROGRESSION

While the existence of introgression between

locally sympatric related species is well docu-

mented in a large number of animals and plant

species pairs, very little is known about the long-

term effects of a gene flow continuing over centur-

ies. A recent study of two widely hybridizing tree

species, the white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench)

Voss) and Engelmann spruce (P. engelmannii Parry

ex Engelm.) in western North America, suggests

that these two species have a long history of hybrid-

ization and introgression, dating to at least 2 1 000

years ago, nevertheless they still maintain their

distinct species identity (De La Torre et al., 2014).

The boundaries between closely related species

are sometimes permeable in one direction only. For

example, brown bear ( Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758)

and polar bear ( Ursus maritimus Phipps, 1774) are

genetically distinct, but evidence of polar bear

genes has been found in the brown bear population

of the Admiralty, Baranof and Chicagof Islands off

Alaska, whereas no evidence of brown bear genes

has been found in the local polar bear population

(Cahill et al., 2015). Another example of asym-

metric introgression has been recently described

between a pair of freshwater fish, the North Amer-

ican darters Etheostoma caeruleum Storer, 1845

and Etheostoma spectabile (Agassiz, 1854) (Zhou

& Fuller, 2014).

HYBRIDIZATION

Opportunities for hybridization between closely

related biological species are not restricted to

species pairs that have being diverging only in recent

time, witness a fern from the French Pyrenees

( Cystocarpium x roskamianum Fraser-Jenk), a re-

cently formed hybrid whose parental lineages

diverged from each other ca. 60 million years ago,

and are currently classified in different genera (Cys-

topteris and Gymnocarpium) (Rothfels et al., 2015).

Due to both climatic and biological reasons,

hybrid zones are not fixed in space. Detailed

evidence of moving hybrid zones has summarized

by Buggs (2007) for the following pairs of taxa

(nomenclature updated where necessary):

MAMMALIA

Cervus nippon nippon Temminck, 1838 - Cer-

vus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758

AVES

Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) - Poecile

atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Hippolais polyglotta (Vieillot, 1 8 1 7) - Hippolais

icterina (Vieillot, 1817)

Vermivora pimis (Linnaeus, 1766) - Vermivora

chrysoptera (Linnaeus, 1766)

Corvus corone corone Linnaeus, 1758 - Corvus

corone cornix Linnaeus, 1758

Quiscalus quiscula quiscula (Linnaeus, 1758) -

Quiscalus quiscula versicolor Vieillot, 1819

SQUAMATA

Pholidobolus montium (Peters, 1 863) - Pholido-

bolus affinis (Peters, 1863)

Sceloporus tristichus (Cope, 1875) - Sceloporus

cowlesi Lowe et Norris, 1956

AMPHIBIA

Pseudophryne bibroni Gunther, 1859 -

Pseudophryne semimarmorata Lucas, 1892

Triturus cristatus Laurenti, 1768 - Triturus

marmoratus (Latreille, 1800)

Plethodon glutinosus (Green, 1818) - Plethodon

jordani Blatchley, 1901

OSTEICHTHYES

Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel,

1846) - Pseudorasbora pumila Miyadi, 1930

INSECTA

Heliconius hydara Hewitson, 1867 - Heliconius

erato petiverana (E. Doubleday, 1847)

Anartia fatima (Fabricius, 1793) - Anartia

amathea (Linnaeus, 1758)

Solenopsis invicta Buren, 1972 - Solenopsis

richteri Forel, 1909

Orchelimum nigripes Scudder, 1875 - Orche-

limum pulchellum Davis, 1909

Allonemobius socius (Scudder, 1877) - Allonemo-

bius fasciatus (De Geer, 1773)

Limnoporus dissortis (Drake et Harris, 1930) -

Limnoporus notabilis (Drake et Hottes, 1925)

Geomydoecus aurei Price et Hellenthal, 1981 -

Geomydoecus centralis Price et Hellenthal, 1981

Taxonomy faces speciation: the origin of species or the fading out of the species?

133

CRUSTACEA

Orconectes rusticus (Girard, 1 852) - Orconectes

propinquus (Girard, 1852)

ANGIOSPERMAE

Helianthus annuus L. - Helianthus bolanderi A.

Gray

Mercurialis annua L. diploid - Mercurialis

annua L. hexaploid

Occasionally, the peculiar geographical distri-

bution of a set of populations offers the opportunity

to investigate different stages of an ongoing speci-

ation process. This happens with the so-called ring

species, where the two extremes, say A and E, of a

series of progressively differentiated populations

have recently come in contact but fail to interbreed.

This happens generally when the whole complex is

distributed, ring-like, around an inhospitable area,

such as very high mountains, or an exceedingly arid

area. Ring species are extremely rare in plants:

recently, Cacho & Baum (2012) have presented the

Caribbean slipper spurge ( Euphorbia tithymaloides)

as the first example among the flowering plants.

More numerous are the zoological examples, as

summarized by Irwin et al. (2001). These authors

listed seventeen examples where the populations at

the opposite ends of the chain overlap without any

sign of hybridization, or nearly so. In many cases

the two extreme forms have been given distinct

specific names, whereas in other cases taxonomists

still treat all the populations involved in the ring as

belonging to the same Linnaean species: one ex-

ample, among a number of possible ones, of the

danger of inferring evolutionary status from simply

considering the current taxonomic status (i.e., the

nomenclature) of a set of populations.

Irwin et al.’s (2001) list includes a number of

birds: Crested Honey-buzzard Pernis ptilorhyncus

(Temminck, 1821) and Barred Honey-buzzard P.

celebensis Wallace, 1868; Herring Gull Larus

argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763 and Lesser Black-

backed Gull L. fuscus Linnaeus, 1758 (with some

hybridization); Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula

Linnaeus, 1758 and Semipalmated Plover C. semi-

palmatus Bonaparte, 1825; Collared Kingfisher

Todiramphus chloris (Boddaert, 1783) andMicrone-

sian Kingfisher T. cinnamominus (Swainson, 1821);

Eurasian Skylark dGw<7<2 arvensis Linnaeus, 1758,

Japanese Skylark A. japonica Temminck et Schle-

gel, 1848 and Oriental Skylark (A. gulgula Franklin,

1831); Greenish Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides

(Sundevall, 1837); Chi ffchaff Phylloscopus colly-

bita ( Vieillot, 1817) and Mountain Chiffchaff {P.

sindianus W. E. Brooks, 1880); Sulawesi Triller

Lalage leucopygialis Walden, 1872, Pied Triller L.

nigra (J. R. Forster, 1781), and White-shouldered

Triller L. sueurii (Vieillot, 1818); Brown Thornhill

Acanthiza pusilla (Shaw, 1790) and Tasmanian

Thornhill d. ewingii Gould, 1844; Large Tree-finch

Camarhynchus psittacula Gould, 1837 and Medium

Tree-finch C. pauper Ridgway, 1890.

The other taxa in the list are rodents (Deer Mouse

Peromyscus maniculatus (Wagner, 1845); Pocket

Mice Perognathus amplus Osgood, 1900 and P.

longimembris (Coues, 1875), a bee Hoplitis producta

(Cresson, 1864), a group of butterflies Junonia

coenia Hiibner, [1822] and J. genoveva (Cramer,

1780)//. evarete (Cramer, 1782)) and a fruit fly {Dro-

sophila paulistorum Dobzhansky et Pavan, 1949).

In the case of the salamander Ensatina

eschscholtzii Gray, 1850, some hybridization

between the end forms of the ring has been

reported, and past but still recognizable hybridiza-

tion has been found in the ring of the Japanese pond

frogs Rana nigromaculata Hallowell, 1861 and R.

brevipoda Ito, 1941.

In still other cases, there is no reproductive isol-

ation between the two, now overlapping, terminal

forms of the ring; as a consequence, a hybrid zone

is formed. The cases listed by Irwin et al. (2001)

include birds Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans

(Gmelin, 1788), Adelaide Rosella P adelaidae

Gould, 1841, Yellow Rosella P jlaveolus Gould,

1837, Great Tit Parus major Linnaeus, 1758, a

mammal House Mouse Mus musculus Linnaeus,

1758 and two millipedes Rhymogona silvatica

(Verhoeff, 1894) and R. cervina (Verhoeff, 1910).

Several ring species (putative ones as well as

confirmed ones) have been extensively studied over

the last few years. No wonder, the actual interrela-

tionships among the involved populations are often

more complex than in the simple model outlined

above. For example, in the case of the Greenish

Warbler Phylloscopus trochiloides (Sundevall,

1837) species complex Alcaide et al. (2014) have

recently revisited the status, and the history, of the

ring of populations distributed around Tibet. The

two extreme, reproductively isolated forms co-

existing in central Siberia are connected through a

134

Alessandro Minelli

southern chain of populations showing a gradient of

genetic and phenotypic traits. The authors demon-

strate that the gene flow has been interrupted in the

past at more than one location around the ring,

whereas the two Siberian forms have occasionally

interbred. Eventually, this little bird displays a con-

tinuum from slightly divergent contiguous popula-

tions to almost fully reproductively isolated species.

RETICULATION

Patterns of hybridization and introgression

among closely related taxa take sometimes a

reticulated structure. A recently investigated ex-

ample involving the biogeographical history of the

Eurasian species of Fraxinus has revealed the

occurrence of an ancient reticulation between

European and Asian species as well as other ancient

reticulation events between F. angustifolia Vahl and

F. excelsior L. and the other species of the section

Fraxinus. Some of these events would have oc-

curred during the Miocene, following climatic

variations that may have led these species to expand

their distribution range, eventually coming into

contact (Hinsinger et al., 2014).

SPECIATION REVERSED

Incomplete speciation and ongoing gene flux

between partially isolated populations may cause

divergence to be stopped and even reversed. Well-

documented cases of reversed speciation are, how-

ever, very limited. An example has been described

by Bhat et al. (2014) for the European whitefish

Coregonus lavaretus (Linnaeus, 1758), of Lake

Skrukkebukta in Northern Norway. This freshwater

fish is highly polymorphic and in several lakes it

has independently differentiated into sympatric

morphs that specialize on different food (plankton

vs. benthos) and are to some extent reproductively

isolated and genetically differentiated. In 1993,

Lake Skrukkebukta was invaded by another Core-

gonus species, the vendace Coregonus albula

(Linnaeus, 1758). A zooplanktivorous specialist,

this fish displaced the planktivorous whitefish from

the pelagic niche pushing it into the benthic habitat

already inhabited by the benthivorous whitefish

morphs. As a consequence, within three generations

(15 years) the genetic differentiation between the

two whitefish morphs has dramatically dropped: the

invasion of a superior trophic competitor has thus

caused incipient speciation to reverse. An overview

of cases of speciation reversal was provided a few

years ago by Seehausen et al. (2008).

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Monograph

The town as a concentrated source of redaimable water and

materials. Opportunities for an engineered conservation

strategy

Salvatore Nicosia

Universita degli Studi di Palermo, DICAM - Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile, Ambientale, Aerospaziale e dei Materiali, Viale

delle Scienze Ed. 8, 90128 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: salvatore.nicosia@ unipa.it

ABSTRACT A fierce theoretical debate is ongoing about the human species’ existence itself being sustain-

able for Earth and for living world. In the meanwhile cities, which are considered to concen-

trate the mankind's ecological footprints, are steadily growing and gathering huge populations

worldwide. This paper assumes that margins do exist to relieve man’s burden on Nature to

some extent, and that, regardless of our general concept of the matter, these margins should

be exploited. The focus of this note is on beneficial use of waste water and waste to spare

new resources and to create filter areas close to towns or belts around them. A brief reference

is made to some official declarations and indices published on biodiversity in anthropic

environments, such as the one from UNEP.

KEY WORDS Anthropic environments; Biodiversity; City planning; Resources; Urban Ecology.

Received 28.12.2014; accepted 30.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, M ay 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Exactly forty years have elapsed since the issue

of the ever most popular synthesis of criticism to

unrestrained use of resources (Meadows et al.,

1974). Pressure and unbalancing actions on natural

cycles have not relented yet; and much of them are

debited to cities, the exemplar man-made environ-

ment. It is documented that actually cities are

steadily growing worldwide (WHO, 2014). The

urban population in 2014 accounted for 54% of the

total global population, up from 3 4% in 1 9 60; w ith

all the related needs for areas, for every kind of

supplies and for waste management.

At least relieving measures are due and urgent,

and some of them were envisaged as early as 1971

by Odum E.P. (1969) and by Odum H.T. (1983). It

is still a matter of debate whether a urban ecology

can exist, and, if it can, whether it obeys to the

general laws of ecology or to its own special rules.

Anyway, in a pragmatic approach at least some

indicators and indices ought to be agreed, in order

to give a transparent measure of the environmental

benefits achieved trough certain actions.

CITIES, MANKIND AND RESOURCES

Historically, villages, towns and cities have been

made by men for themselves

- to develop broader and more free exchanges of

goods, manpower and skills

- to find customers for technological artefacts

- to benefit of more qualified services; of medical

care; of higher education

- to build up wealth

- to feel safer, etc .

140

Salvatore Nicosia

Cities obviously use land that often formerly

belonged to some other species. The ratio (covered

area/people living in) can actually be lower in

towns made of tall buildings than in sprawled ones;

indeed, this was the concept of Le Corbusier and

other architecture M asters. Denser tow ns, how ever,

have less possibilities of growing orchards, veget-

able gardens, firewood lands, fisheries, etc.; so they

need to fetch resources from far, unless flat roofs

are used to this purpose. The two arrangements can

obviously coexist in different quarters of the same

town (Fig. 1 ).

Cities necessarily draw most of the resources

they need from far; freshwater first. Figure 2 shows

the orders of magnitude of the materials and energy

exchanges of a middle capital town peopled by

about 600 000, per annum.

Is hardly possible that the used resources can be

given back to their sources or original places or

states. Restitution is usually not feasible because,

for instance: water is drawn from higher elevation

sources and discharged into lower water bodies;

foodstuffs are partly simply eaten, partly discarded;

energy is downgraded in its use.

DOES URBAN CIVILIZATION NECES-

SARILY THREATEN BIO DIVERSITY?

COULD IT BE HELPFUL IN SOMEWAY?

It is likely that diversity decreases where and

when

- a portion of a vital primary resource, e.g., high

quality water, is diverted;

- great amounts of secondary resources such as

wastewater and organic matter, although treated,

are discharged into limited seawater volumes;

- nuisances like warming; lighting; noise; men’s

stamping on, or walking through; traffic; navig-

ation etc. advantage opportunistic species like

rats, wasps, seagulls, ravens, magpies and drive

away the most sensitive ones.

Some blames to towns, however, appear still

ill-founded. As for now it looks more an article of

faith than a demonstrated and explained fact, that

at sea the outfall of a constant - discharge sewer

after treatment; or a storm sewer;would generate

more harmful gradients of salinity and turbidity,

than a river with its natural alternation of dry-

weather flows and flood flows.

Some positive effects that a well intentioned

town can develop towards wildlife are:

- Storing fresh water and, possibly, treated wastewa-

ter, smoothening floods/droughts

- Mitigating climate through managed green areas,

leading to less ecological stress

- Providing shelter to timid species

- Pouring organic matter in oligo-trophic biotopes,

resulting in an enhanced food pyramid.

The debate on urban civilization against bio-

diversity urges us to define - in a really scientific

and consistent way - what the civilization could be

like; how much of resources it strictly ought to

require/use; and how bio-diversity is to be quantified

(©suitable Indicators and Indices).

The concept of integrating town and nature

through filter ecosystems was enunciated and

gradually better defined in the Seventies by Odum

Figure 1. A historical walled town (left) with its circular gradient of buildings, green belt and surrounding

countryside; a modern town (right) with regulated quarters planned for different functions.

The town as a source of reclaimable water and materials. Opportunities for an engineered conservation strategy 1 4 1

Waste: 300 000 t

Freshwater: 60

million cubic meters

Foodstuff,

diverse materials

Energy: 720 000

MWhe + 54 10*

meters methane (=

600 000 MWht)

Low-temperature

Energy

Waste water: 50 million

cubic meters w ith 2 600 1

nitrogen and 440 1

compounds

Figure 2. The city of Palermo as a case-study: some major flows of materials and energy (civil uses only).

Figure 3. Left: The reservoir Piana degli Albanesi (610 m above sea level) is a multi-purpose water source for uses

in the plain of Palermo. Right: Example of heat losses in old-fashioned, low-tech town heating systems.

Figure 4. Plume of suspended solids at the mouth of a river (left) and flowing out from an on-shore outfall (right).

142

Salvatore Nicosia

E.P. (1969) and by Odum H.T. (1983). Naveh

(1982) used the term techno-ecosystem to represent

systems where technology and ecology are associ-

ated. These are the realm of ecological engineering.

Figure 5 suggests a possible application of these

concepts.

THE ACTUAL ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE

A medium-large town can provide, to itself and

to its surroundings, treated wastewater enough to

turn a squalid channel into a 2 m 3 /s steady flow

watercourse; or 100 hectares brownfield into a

wetland. This benefit is not entirely free, since 1 m 3

treated wastewater contains the embedded energy

of about 0.4 kWh; but most of this amount should

have been expended anyway, just to meet the

quality requirements at the discharge point.

The same town can also provide to itself and to

its surroundings 40 000 t compost: enough for 2 -f-

4 000 hectares soil being annually amended. What

to do with such engineered ecosystems is to the

environmental biologists’ expertise.

Two vast chapters apart are those of green roofs

and of underwater barriers laid for aquatic fauna

breeding and growing.

Green roofs can control urban climate; reduce

and smoothen water runoff; give shelter and ecolo-

gical corridors to animals and spontaneous plants,

and more; provided that mechanical energy (usually

drawn as electrical, actually) is supplied to lift

stored rainwater from the underground reservoirs.

Underwater barriers have been experienced, invest-

igated and discussed too much for requiring treat-

ment here .

RESHAPING TOWNS AND SETTING

THEM TO WORK FOR NATURE. INDICAT-

ORS AND INDICES OF ACHIEVEMENTS

Since urbanization is fundamentally changing

the nature of our planet, preserving biodiversity on

this new urban world requires going well beyond

the traditional conservation approaches of protect-

ing and restoring what we think of as “natural eco-

systems,” and trying to infuse or mimic such

elements in the design of urban spaces.

After two official sources: CBD - the UN’s Con-

vention on Biological Diversity; and the Working

Group CBO - Cities and Biodiversity Outlook; “...

unprecedented opportunities lie ahead in making

urban expansion greener. Cities have a large

Waste recycle

facilities

Water and

waste-water

treatment

plants

Groundwater

recharge areas

Playgrounds, parks

civic amenity sites

Civic allotments for

vegetables and

fruit-trees growing

Wetlands and vast

parks, wildlife-

oriented

Figure 5. A urban area featuring an inner and an outer ecological filter areas, plus one filter belt in between.

The town as a source of reclaimable water and materials. Opportunities for an engineered conservation strategy 1 4 3

potential to generate innovations and governance

tools and therefore can, and must, take the lead in

sustainable development. Many of the opportunities

can be found in nature based solutions, using ecosys-

tems in novel ways to address some of the most pres-

sing challenges, such as climate change, water and

food security, and poverty relieving. The way forward

involves reimagining cities as places of biodiversity,

and as sources for unique valuable services, rather

than only sinks that mark large ecological footprints .”

After CB O (based at S toe kholm U niversity, SE),

rich biodiversity can exist in cities; but it cannot be

taken for granted that it will be the same as before

urbanization. Habitat conversion often leads to the

loss of “sensitive” species dependent on larger,

more natural clusters of habitat for survival.

Cities already represent in themselves a new

class of ecosystems shaped by the dynamic interac-

tions between ecological and social systems. There

is a suite of “cosmopolitan” species, skilled gener-

alists that are present in most cities around the

world. The net result is sometimes termed “biotic

homogenization.”

It is still a matter of debate whether a urban eco-

logy can exist, and, if it can, whether it obeys to

the general laws of ecology or to its own special

rules. Anyway, in a pragmatic approach at least

some indicators and indices ought to be agreed, in

order to give a transparent measure of the environ-

mental benefits achieved trough certain actions.

Among the indicators of diversity we will cite

here the Singapore Index (SI), 2008.

This is a self-assessment tool for cities to

benchmark and monitor the progress of their biod-

iversity conservation efforts against their own

individual baselines.

It comprises:

a) the “Profile of the City”, which provides com-

prehensive background information on the city;

b) 23 indicators based on the guidelines and

methodology provided.

The scoring of the Index is quantitative in nature;

a maximum score of 4 has been allocated to each

indicator, and with the current count of 23 indicat-

ors, the total possible score of the Index is 92 points.

The year in which a city first undertakes this

scoring program will be taken as the baseline year.

The future applications of the index will be meas-

ured against the baseline to chart its progress in

conserving biodiversity.

For 7 of the indicators, a statistical treatment

will be applied to sample data sets coming from

Figure 6. A possible ecological succession for derelicted land turned into wetland.

144

Salvatore Nicosia

Figure 7. Left to right, clockwise: windrow composting; compost handling; plant germination.

several cities, to ensure the scoring ranges estab-

lished are unbiased and fair to a broad spectrum of

cities of different characteristics, over a wide

geographical range.

URBAN ECOLOGY; GOVERNING BIOD-

IVERSITY IN CITIES: A NOBLE COM-

MITMENT OR A PURE DREAM?

We have now to look at the frame within which

the actions for a sustainable town are developed, in

order to judge about the theoretical substantiation

of them and to forecast how far the pragmatic

approach outlined above can arrive.

Among the optimistic sources we are quoting

here a statement from CBO: “ There is a need far

redefining the role of cities so that they increasingly

provide stewardship of marine, terrestrial and

freshwater ecosystems elsewhere. Developing the

concept of nature based - solutions entails exploring

a deeper dimension of how attributes of ecosystems,

such as diversity, modularity and redundancy may

be interpreted, applied and used ’ .

Another affirmative statement comes from Jari

Niemela (1999): “ The question arises whether a

distinct theory of urban ecology is needed for

understanding ecological patterns and processes in

the urban setting. The answer is no; however, due

to the intense human presence approaches that

include the human aspect are useful in studying

urban systems ” .

Collins et al. (2000) raise serious doubts and

develop a strong criticism of these perspectives. For

these Authors, in studying urban systems the intense

human presence certainly obliges to approaches that

include the human aspect; still, even such tentative

integrated approaches could reveal themselves a

dead way. Quoting the Collins’ words: “ From the

perspective of a fieldecologist examining a natural

ecosystem, people are an exogenous, perturbing

force. Human beings - and especially their cities,

seemingly so "artificial"- fail to fit neatly into eco-

logical theory. People mobilize some nutrients and

deplete others, produce pollutants, drive species

extinct, promote the survival of others, change the

composition of the atmosphere and alter land-

scapes. In cities people create habitats that never

before existed, divert water, increase temperatures

and, by intent or by accident, manipulate the

communities of other species found within city

boundaries and beyond (...)”.

Still after Collins and coworkers, “ We lack a

method of modelling ecosystems that effectively

incorporates human activity and behaviour. And the

processes and dynamics within cities largely elude

The town as a source of reclaimable water and materials. Opportunities for an engineered conservation strategy 145

COMPONENTS

INDICATORS

VARIABLES

SCORE

MAXIMUM

■ L\D.: ■ Diversity of ecosystems

'INI'.! t Diversity of

1ND.I » Diversity of ecosystems

ecosystem;

BASIS OF SCORING

irvD.:i

Diversity of

ecosystems

rationale for selec tion of

INDICATOR

HOW TO CALC IX ATT

A) Eased on the estimation that

INDICATOR

realisticallv. nycttycan accommodation

The number of natural ecosystems found in

to about 10 natural ecosystems, within us

a cm 1 saves an ladic anon of the (favors

Number of na tural

boundaries the scoriae would be

MAXTMIM

ran re of niches for native flora and fauna

ecosystems found in the citv

SCORE

Since different ecomtem; are found in

0 point * 0 natural ecosystem

l Native

different geographical regions any

1 point * 1-5 ecosystems

Biodiversity in

sciennikallv acceptable tertetmil and

WHERE TO GE T DATA

2 points - -L6 ecosystems

the City

tninne ecosystems including fosests

(tropical subtropical monsoon temperate

FOR C ALC ULATIONS

a points - T -9 ecosystems

4 points * 10 and more ecosystems

lowland montane, primary secondary.

Possible sources of data on

lTND.:i

etc ). mangroves freshwater swamp; peat

sutural areas include

swamp; natural grasslands mers steam:

government aeenr.es m

B) Baseline of 100

lake;, rocky shores, beach, mud-flats, sand

charge of biodiveraty, cits-

dunes sea zrsss beds, corals, etc . can be

municipalities, urban

C] Traffic hoe ssstem of increase, neutral

computed in die calculation of this index

p! arming agencies

biodiversity ceitres. nature

and decrease

groups. uniseisittes.

publications. etc

Table 1. The Singapore Index (SI): example of the working tables: a local ecosystems inventory.

producers; 1st

order consumers

producers; 1st

order consumers

Figure 8. Three types of heterotrophic system (the one upper left in every picture) and their relationships with the

surroundings. Tapping of fossil fuels to feed mechanical farming makes the main difference between the three.

146

Salvatore Nicosia

an understanding based on traditional ecological

theories.

For most [natural] ecosystems the overall

calculation is fairly well balanced between inputs

and outputs. Urban energy budgets [instead],

dominated as they are by deliberate human energy

imports and by losses via fossil-fuel burning, do not

resemble the energy budgets of any other ecosystem

on earth ” .

Figure 8 is an attempt to depict this concept.

CONCLUSIONS

Much of the blame put on town ought actually

to be put on the human way of life.

We believe that man, as a second-level or vertex

consumer, is by no means the only species on Earth

whose life is heterotrophic, or that lives in crowded

com m unities.

It is true that his weaknesses (like the need for

shelter and warmth and the inability to nourish

himself of raw food) and his strengths (such as his

unique ability to handle fire, and to make, build up

and transfer knowledge, etc.) are peculiar. All this

increases the singularities of mankind, but in our

opinion does not entail any definition of supposed

peculiar human ecological niches.

The only fundamental difference that we see

stays in that, that men are not innocent in their be-

haviour, and ecological feedbacks to their actions

are usually overbalanced by their obstinacy. Man-

kind usually neglects or denies the biosphere’s

response to its actions, and, if compelled, is more

willing to force further than to ease. The renounce

to such unjustified self-exemption from taking feed-

backs into account; and a consistent commitment in

respecting and saving the other species’ lives and

spaces, even in towns, at least as a mitigation meas-

ure, is the tribute that mankind still owes to Nature.

The Author’s speech was dedicated to the luminous

memory of Giovanni Falcone and Francesca

Morvillo Falcone, and of the men of their escort.

Fallen at Capaci, Palermo, May the 23rd, 1992.

REFERENCES

CBO - Cities and Biodiversity Outlook - Stockholm

Resilience Centre. Stockholm University (SE).

www.cbobook.org.

Collins J.P., Kinzig A., Grimm N.B., Fagan W.F., Hope

D.,Wu J. & BorerE.T., 2000. A New Urban Ecology

- Modeling human communities as integral parts of

ecosystems poses special problems for the develop-

ment and testing of ecological theory. American

Scientist, September- October, Volume 88, Number 5.

Meadows D.H., Meadows D.L., Randers J. & Behrens

W.W.III, 1974. The Limits to Growth: A Report for

the Club of Rome's Project on the Predicament of

Mankind. Potomac Associates, Virginia (U.S.A.).

Naveh Z., 1982. Landscape ecology as an emerging

branch ofhuman ecosystem science. In: Advances in

Ecological Research 12. Academic Press, London,

pages 189-237. See especially Section D.

Niemela J., 1999. Texts posted in the website ofUniver-

sity of He Is in ki (SF) - D epartm ent of E nvironm ental

Sciences (www. helsinki.fi/urbanecologyresearch/

m ember s/niem ela.htm )

Odum E.P., 1969. The Strategy of Ecosystem Develop-

ment. An understanding of ecological succession

provides a basis for resolving man's conflict with

nature. Science, 164, 3877: 262-270.

Odum H.T., 1 983. Systems ecology; An introduction.

John Wiley and Sons, New York.

WHO-OMS Global Health Observatory www. who.

int/gho/urban_health/situation_trends/urban_

p op u la tion_gro w th_ text/e n.

World Resources Institute, World Conservation Union,

and United Nations Environment Programme -

"Global Biodiversity Strategy", Rio de Janeiro

Earth Summit 1992. http://www.cbd.int/authorities/

getting in volved/cbi.shtm 1.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 147-160

Monograph

Pest management of citrus fruits in Sicily (Italy) through in-

terventions of biological control. The example of the biofact-

ory of Ramacca, Catania

Giuseppe Greco

Ente di Sviluppo Agricolo della Regione Siciliana (E.S.A.). via Liberta 203, 90 1 43 Palermo, Italy

ABSTRACT Since 2007, in Sicily, plant health protection against citrus mealybugs is taking place through

the Biofactory of Ramacca, in the Plain of Catania, a property of the Institute for Agricultural

Development of the Sicilian Region (i.e. Ente per lo Sviluppo Agricolo, E.S.A.). The

Biofactory is unique being aimed to produce industrial quantities of auxiliary insects and is

a center of European interest because it is fully organized to provide means ofbiological fight

imposed by the Directive 1 28/2009/EC, which requires, from 1 January 2014, farms to

comply with the application of general principles of integrated pest management. In this paper

we examine structural features of the Biofactory, breeding techniques empoyed and results

obtained in the period 2007-201 3, which allowed many companies, from 200 to 360 ( i.e.

20% -35% of the regional surface operating in organic citrus production) to be able to employ

biological weapons against pest insects. We analyze dynamics and results of production

deriving from the approval and adoption, by the owner (E.S.A.), of a new "discipline" that

governs the assignment of insects to farmers at a very low price to balance E.S.A.'s purposes,

which is both to ensure adequate performance in order to pursue institutional support to

agriculture and, considering the Insitute’s economic nature, to partially cover the production

costs incurred to ensure the service. The continuity of the project is assured by the ongoing

program for the period 20 1 3-2020 with an enlargement of the array of entomological

production aimed at intercepting the needs of new productions (i.e. greenhouse horticulture,

vines, ornamental and fruit trees).

KEY WORDS pest management; biological control; Biofactory; Ramacca; Sicily.

Received 05.07.20 1 4; accepted 12.10.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Interna tional Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th-18th 2 0 14, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

A biofactory (or commercial insectary) is a

structure in which takes place the breeding of

arthropods on an industrial scale, aimed at the

production of living organisms to be released in

large amounts into the environment in the context

of techniques of biological control and integrated

pest management. On the contrary, the insectary is

a breeding realized for scientific purposes.

The multinationals of chemistry have never seen

welcome the birth of b io fa c to r ie s , because the

organic product stands as alternative to the use of

pesticides (Tremblay, 1988; Pollini et al., 1988;

Goidanich et al., 1990; Flint, 1991; Grafton-

C ard w ell & Reagan, 1995; Pollini, 1998;Ferrariet

al., 2000, 2006; M asutti & Zangheri, 200 1; Muc-

cinelli, 2006; Penny & Cranston, 2006).

148

Giuseppe Greco

There are reports of a first biofactory already in

1916 in Santa Paula, California, the “Lim oneira

Company”. In 1931, there were 16 and produced

especially insects antagonist to citrus mealybugs

like the coc cine Hid ClJptolaemUS montrOUZieri that

is bred and successfully launched today.

In Northern Europe biofactories are used for

biological control in greenhouses: here the chemical

control had shown its serious limitations in the

effectiveness of and compatibility with healthy

products. In fact, the glass or plastic covers are an

insurmountable physical barrier for antagonists of

harmful species, warming accelerates the develop-

ment of both plants and pests, the collection of the

products can not be reconciled with respect to the

"waiting period" fixed by law between chemical

treatment and collection and, not least, greenhouses

turn out to be "gas chambers” for the farmers who

w ork therein .

A careless use of chemical products in agricul-

ture with the aim to maximize the production has

led over the years to a number of disorders that have

resulted in considerable damage to the environment

and to humans. Many chemicals have been banned

and the defense of the plants has been oriented to

the use of alternative methods equally effective and

safeguarding the ecosystems (De Bach etal., 1969;

Viggiani, 1 977; Chiri, 1 987; Walde et al., 1 9 89;

Celli et al., 1991; Hoffmann & Frodshan, 1993;

Luck et al., 1996; Murdoch et al., 1996; Ferrari, et

al., 2000; Vacante & Benuzzi, 2004; So r ribas et al.,

2008, 2010; Tena & Garcia-M ari, 2011).

Figure 1. Biofactory of Ramacca, Catania, Italy, Institute for

Agricultural Development of the Sicilian Region (E.S.A.).

The first biofactories in Europe born in England

and Holland around 1960 and, since then, have

always grown both in number and in quantity of

species bred and used. Today in Europe there are 26

biofactories with more than 30 species raised and

excellent qualitative-quantitative standards.

In Italy there are only two biofactories: the

first (in order of construction) is in Cesena

(1 987/90) while the second is in Sicily, in the Plain

of Catania (Figs. 1, 2) in the territory of Ramacca

(200 1 /03) (Greco 2014a, b). The latter is mainly

distinguished by the quality and quantity of its

products supplied aiming more at the diffusion of

breeding techniques rather than for commercial

purposes. Both biofactories serve an agricultural

area which is considerably increasing in size, and

achieve agricultural productions with the least

possible impact on the territory, sustainable for the

planet, whereas in other parts of the world, biolo-

gical control has totally replaced chemical poisons.

Yet here, in the Mediterranean, people are not

deeply aw are of the benefits of this resource and the

many solutions it offers, but the products of a

biofactory are going to become even more relevant

in the light of Directive 128/2 009 / EC establishing

a framework for Community action to achieve a

sustainable use of pesticides.

This Directive was transposed into Italian law

by Legislative Decree 150 of 14 August 2012. Since

1 January 2014, professional users of p h y to s an itary

products (art. 19) should apply the general prin-

ciples of integrated pest management required

Figure 2. Biofactory of Ramacca, Catania, Italy:

biofactory corridor.

Pest management of citrus fruits in Sicily through interventions of biological control: the biofactory of Ramacca, Catania 1 4 9

among which is reported, as technical and funda-

mental element, the use of biological means of

struggle.

EXPERIENCE IN SICILY, AT THE CENTER

OF THE MEDITERRANEAN: THE BIOFACT-

ORY OF RAMACCA

In 1 996 the Sicilian Region has commissioned

the Institute for Agricultural Development (i.e.,

Ente per lo Sviluppo Agricolo, E.S.A.) to study the

possibility of implementing attive interventions of

biological control. From that date until today

E.S.A. carried out:

1) a preliminary plan for measures ofbiological

control of Ceratitis CQ.pitQ.tCl (Mediterranean fruit

fly) atregional scale, prepared in collaboration with

the FA O / IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology

L aboratory.

2) the planning of a biofactory alternative to the

first one, to be built in Ramacca (Catania), aimed

at the production of 3 species of insects beneficial

to citrus cultivation {Aphytis melinus, Cryptolaemus

montrouzerii , Leptomastix dactylopii) and 1 insect

to be employed in horticulture. DiglipHuS iSQeQ

Walker, 1 8 3 8 (H ym enoptera: Eulophidae).

Actually, it was funded and implemented only

the second project in which the biofactory of

Ramacca is designed to be a flexible pole of pro-

duction of material (insects) to be used in agricul-

ture for most programs of biological or integrated

control. For its start-up phase of production, have

been considered, as reference, those crops that,

more than others, are susceptible to these kinds of

initiatives for their technical and economic charac-

teristics: citrus and protected horticulturals. There-

fore the biofarm has been designed and equipped

for the production of:

a) 3 insect species beneficial to biological

control programs for citrus cultivation (Aphytis

melinus , Criptolaemus montrouzerii , Leptomastix

dactylopii)-,

b) 1 insect used for integrated pest management

of vegetables and flowers grown under cover

( Diglyphus isaea).

The facto ry is located in the territory of

Ramacca (Catania), Margherito district, on a total

area of approximately 3.5 hectares that can be

potentially increased and improved in case of

changed conditions of the market.

The biofactory is composed of:

a) 1 shed of2,500 sqm (72 ml, 10.00 mix 34,30)

which houses cells in a controlled and conditioned

environm ent;

b) 6 greenhouses, each of 100 sqm ca. (10.00

ml x 10.00 ml), five of which are used for the

production of Diglyphus isaea and one for Lyri-

Omiza (guest of Diglyphus), this latter room is

placed at a safe distance to avoid contamination

between competitors since both species are raised

in purity.

The 6 greenhouses are heated, to prolong the

production season even in the coldest months

(January and February), and equipped with an

adequate irrigation system to allow the cultivation

of bean plants in pots placed on anti-algae cloths;

c) 1 office building of 350 sqm (ml 34.30 ml x

10.00 ml).

The shed is composed of 36 rooms including

cells, work rooms, service corridors, warehouse,

workshop, toilets and trasformer room, central

cooling and boiler. Cold storage and processing

rooms are 28, divided as follows:

9 for Aphytis melinus-,

6 fo r Criptolaemus montrouzerii

4 fo r Leptomastix dactylopii

9 in common for Criptolaemus montrouzerii

and Leptomastix dactylopii.

BREEDING TECHNIQUES OF INSECT

PRODUCTS IN BIOFACTORY

Aphytis melinus De Bach, 1959

H ym enoptera Aphelinidae

Aphytis melinUS (Figs. 3, 4) is a parasitoid of

Aonidiella aurantii Maskell, 1 8 79 (Rhynchota

Homoptera D ia sp id id ae ) , or California red scale, a

major pest of citrus, but it can also parasitize other

species such Diaspididae Aonidiella citrina

(Coquillett, 1891) and AspidiotUS nerii Bouche,

1 8 3 3 (Flanders, 1 953; De Bach & Argyriou, 1 967;

Abdelrahm an, 1974; Rosen & Eliraz, 1978; Rosen

et al., 1 979; Fuck et al., 1 982; Orphanides, 1 984;

Yu et al., 1986; Opp & Fuck, 1986; Reeve, 1987;

Yu & Fuck, 1 98 8; Rodrigo & Garcla-Marl, 1990,

150

Giuseppe Greco

Figure 3 . Aphytis melinus

(Photo by “Centrale O rto fru ttic o la of Cesena, Italy).

Figure 4. Climate cabinets with AspidiotUS nerii br e d on

pumpkins for developing of Aphytis tnclinUS.

1992; Hare & Luck, 1994; Heimpel & Rosenheim,

1995;Tumminellietal., 1996; Gottlieb etal., 1998;

Pekas et al., 2003; Pasotti et al., 2004; Rodrigo et

al., 2004; Pina, 2007; Pina T. & Verdu M.J., 2007;

Vacas et al., 2009; Vanaclocha et al., 2009).

Agricultural use of the insect: A. tfieliflUS is

launched at the adult stage and disperses easily in

all the citrus grove, possessing excellent research

skills. In citrus infected is good practice to make a

winter treatment with white oil at 2-2.5%; this

allow s to reduce, albeit only partially, the wintering

population of the cochineal. The parasitoid is

launched following a pattern that includes a series

of consecutive launches after the flightdetection of

cochineal males in late April-early May. When the

plan of biological control is set up, in the first year

are expected about 10-12 launches, 2/3 of which to

be carried out in A p ril-M ay - Ju n e until mid-July,

while the remaining 3 or 4 launches take place from

m id - S e p te m b e r to throughout October. In the

months of April, May and June, launches can be

made every two weeks, moving on to a weekly

frequency when temperatures increase. 8,000 to

1 2,000 parasitoids per hectare, for a total of 100 to

150,000 / ha for production season are launched. In

2-3 years the intensity of the pest is reduced so that

is possible to reduce proportionally the number of

lauches, limiting them exclusively to the spring-

summer period. It is very im portant to pay attention

to chemical treatments performed before and to

those that will take place.

Breeding techniques and production cycle in

biofactory: breeding of Aphytis IfielinUS is made in

climate cabinets, using the p arth e n o g e n e tic strain

of Aspidiotus nerii bred on pumpkins.

Pumpkins are kept in cells furnished with metal

shelves; the environment of the cells is adjusted so

as to have 13 ± 1 °C and 50 ± 5% RH; pumpkins

are previously washed and disinfected.

The production process has a duration of about

60 days, breeding is carried out in two areas: one

for the multiplication of the host and one for the

production of the parasitoid. Even the AspidiotUS

nerii (host) is reared in cells whose furniture is

made of metal shelving with lozenges. The nymphs

of AspidiotUS are then collected and placed in a jar

before inoculating other pumpkins. The environ-

m ental conditions for the breeding of AspidiotUS are

the following: temperature 26 ± 1 °C, RH 50% ± 5.

At the 4 5th day, before the spill of nymphs, 10%

of pumpkins are brought in the cells for develop-

ment of AspidiotUS for harvesting nymphs to be

used for the inoculation of pumpkins, whereas the

remaining 90% is iplaced in plastic bins for

the production of A. TUoUnUS. Pumpkins are put in

contact with A. 1716 Un US for 2 4 h.

The adults are taken after 24 h, blowing carbon

dioxide to saturation. After inoculation, pumpkins

can be placed in the two cells intended for the pro-

duction deirA. melinus, air-conditioned to 26 ± 1

°C and 50 ± 5% RH. After 10-15 days, A. melinus

newborn are collected after release of carbon dio-

xide. Insects fall to the bottom of the cabinets and

are put within cylinders where are measured volu-

metrically. Adults collected are packaged in trays

of 10,000 or 25,000 insects containing honey as

Pest management of citrus fruits in Sicily through interventions of biological control: the biofactory of Ramacca, Catania 1 5 1

Figure 5. Leptomastix dactylopii

Figure 6 . PlaUOCOCCUS dtri

(Photo by “Centrale O rto fru ttic o la of Cesena, Italy).

feed. Packages can be stored for a few days in the

refrigerator ventilated at 15 °C. The production

ratio is 1 : 3 .

Leptomastix dactylopii Howard, 1 8 8 5

Hymenoptera Encyrtidae

Parasitoid (Fig. 5). Endophagous of PlatlOCOC-

CUS citri Risso, 1 8 1 3 (Rhynchota Homoptera

P s eu d o c o c c id ae) (Fig. 6) (Chandler et al., 1 9 80;

Tingle & Copland, 1 98 8, 1 989). The United States

are its country of origin and its cycle in nature takes

place on mealybugs, P. ficUS Signoret, 1 8 7 5, P. vitis

Ezzat et McConnell, 1963 and, in laboratory

conditions, spread also over other hosts.

Natural cycle and agricultural use o f the insect:

at 25 °C, and 75% humidity, the cycle of L. daC-

tylopH takes about 21 days. Adults, 12 hours after

the flicker, begin to mate. Females move on the

pseudococcid colony seeking - measuring them by

antennas - for the nymphs with appropriate shape

and age where to inject the eggs (one for each

victim). From each egg comes out a larva that, in

13 days, making three mutes and th rough four larval

stages, becomes pupa, at first light in colour, then

darker. After a week from 'pupation, the adult

flickers. Particularly remarkable it is that the larva

produces chitin and hardens the outer wall by an

aeroscopic plate from which it breathes atmospheric

oxygen. At the end of metamorphosis, by the

chewing apparatus severs an operculum placed in

anal position of the host and flickers. L. dactylopii

is an insect yellow honey with three simple eyes.

Its sizes range from 0.5 to 6 mm (11 an tenno meres).

Males have longer and silky antennae with 10

antennomeres, females shorter and hairless (11

antennom eres). L. dactylopii is marketed at the

adult stage and can be used on citrus fruits in com-

bination with Criptolaemus montrouzieri and on

ornamental plants infested by PlaUOCOCCUS dtri.

Breeding techniques and production cycle in

biofactory: the production cycle of L. dactylopii

takes place entirely in climate cabinets. The host is

P. dtri ( mealybugs) which is bred on potato sprouts

etiolated in areas separate from those of the para-

sitoid. For storage of potatoes are used cells condi-

tioned to 5 °C and 50 +/- 5% relative humidity.The

breeding cycle of the parasitoid lasts 9-10 weeks.

In the first stage, are produced etiolated shoots of

potato which, after 2-3 weeks, are infested with the

citrus mealybug. When nymphs are ready, L.

dactylopii is inoculated. After 20 days the adults

are collected with aspirators and packed in jars of

100 individuals. Insects can be stored at 15 ° C, if

well fed with appropriate diets.

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri m u is ant, 185 0

Coleoptera C occinellidae

Polyphagous predator (Hodek & Honek, 1 996.

Milan Vargas, 1999) thatcan live at the expense of

several P seu d oc o c c id s or even other insects (Figs.

7, 8). The adult measures about 5-6 mm has

black elytra, while the head, chest, abdomen and

152

Giuseppe Greco

Figure 7. Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

(Photo by “Centrale O rto fru ttic o la of Cesena, Italy)

extremities of the elytra are orange. At a constant

temperature of 25 °C females live about 60 days

and, during this time, lay 60 to 120 eggs.

Eggs are located close to the cottony ovisacs of

the prey so that and the young larva, just shelled,

can easily reach its preferred food: eggs and young

nymphs of the pest.

The Coccinellidae larva goes th rough four

stages before pupating (by attaching to a support)

after which it becomes an adult. It has a waxy

coating to camouflage itself onto the colonies of P.

CltVl, but cannot be mistaken for its larger size and

its mobility.The cycle from egg to adult lasts, at 25

°C, 35 days. It is an insect native to Australia and

therefore sensible to harsh winters; it has already

acclimatized in many areas of southern Italy and, in

the islands, winters as an adult.

Agricultural use of the insect: Cryptolaemus is

sold at the adult stage. On citrus fruit it is used in

association with Leptomastix daCtylopii e specially

in the hotbeds of infestation, which are out of

control of the parasitoid. In the field, it is employed

from June up to August (3 months). Cryptolaemus

could be used also on ornamental crops in green-

houses or in potted plants; on this item, it is devel-

oping an interesting market in northern Europe.

The production cycle of Cryptolaemus takes

place entirely in climate cabinets. The host is P.

citri ( mealybugs) which is bred in purity on

etiolated shoots of potato in a separate room. As

P. dtri is used as host also by LcptOIflClStix, room s

designated for P. dtvi production are used for both

insects.

Figure 8. Larvae of Cryptolaemus montruozierii on

potato sprouts infested by PlttnOCOCCUS citVl.

In particular, in a section of the biofactory, there

are cells for the storage of potatoes (at 13 °C and

60% RH); and in another section, cells for the

development of the tubers and, still, other cells for

the development of P. dtvi (at 25 °C and RH of 60

± 5%) that will serve to feed both the auxiliaries

( Leptomastix and Cryptolaemus ) .

In another area of the building there are cells

for development of P. dtri, cells for collection of

Cryptolaemus and processing room s. The breeding

cycle of predator lasts 10-13 weeks. In the first

ph ase P. dtri is bred in purity on etiolated sprouts

of potato. In breeding cells, potatoes are made

germinate in the dark for 2-3 weeks; the shoots are

infested with P. dtri and the infestation is let to

develop for 3-4 weeks; finally there is the inoculum

with Cryptolaemus. Adults, collected after 35 days

with vacuum cleaners, are packaged in cans from

100 to 200 units. They are then counted volumet-

ric ally . Insects can be s to red at 15 ° C, even up to a

month if well fed with an appropriate diet.

MANAGEMENT BIOFACTORY

In 2006, the managing of the biofactory of

Ramacca began with the finding of the head-

breeding strains (Aphytis melinus, Cryptolaemus

montrouzieri Leptomastix dactylopii and Diglyphus

ISaea ) and of interm ediate entomological m ate rials

(. Aspidiotus , Planococcus , Liriomyza , etc.) of which

such insects are parasitoids or predators. As

planned, entomological breeding aimed, from the

Pest management of citrus fruits in Sicily through interventions of biological control: the biofactory of Ramacca, Catania 1 5 3

beginning, at the production of Aphytis lUelUlUS,

Leptomastix dactylopii and Cryptolaemus mon-

tWUZien. At first it was even started a production

of DiglyphliS isciea (greenhouse parasitoid on Livi-

omyza trifolii , L. bryoniae and L. huidohernsis ) then

abandoned because of the uneconomic production

cycle.

Until 2011 the entomological material was

distributed free to farmers th rough per ip heral com-

panies belonging to E.S.A. (i.e. SOPAT, Offices for

the A ntiparasitic Fight) and to the Department of

Agriculture and Forestry (SOAT, OMP).

The criteria developed by the Administrative

Department of biofac to ry included a distribution of

the product to farmers cultivating citrus, to organic

or converting to organic farms, and to farms that

apply and implement criteria of integrated pest man-

agement, according to a programming technique

agreed with local Institutes that provide agricultural

technical assistance (ESA, SOAT and the Office of

Agriculture and Forestry).

The reaching of full production was expected by

the third year (29 March 2009), during which it has

been programmed the full activity of the building

with the following annual production levels:

Aphytis melinus 6 7,200,000 individuals;

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri 350,000 individuals;

Leptomastix dactylopii 1,0 0 0,0 0 0 individuals;

Diglyphus isaea 1,9 0 0,0 0 0 individuals.

Data management in the period 2006-2011

During the period 2006-20 1 1 (Fig. 9), insects

have been distributed free to regional farms and

other applicants who had a purpose in the public in-

terest, including regional and national Universities,

Trends observed in citrus treated with insects of the Biofactory of Ramacca in 2006-2011

4.000

3500

t 3.000

| 2 500

M 2.000

1.500

1.000

500

orange groves lemon groves mandarin groves clementines groves

□ 2006

R 2007

□ 2008

□ 2009

■ 2010

□ 2011

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Leptomastix dactylopii in 201 1

0<x<5 5 <x<10 >10

Size classes (in hectares)

Number of launches of Leptomastix dactylopii car lied

out by the companies served by the biofactory,

grouped by size classes. Data processing 2(11 1

No, of

launches

Size classes (in hectares)

Figure 9. Data management in the period 20 0 6- 201 1 (Source E.S.A.).

154

Giuseppe Greco

Regional Departments, Development Services,

Institutes or Development Agencies of other Italian

regions.

M axim um productions were distributed in 20 10-

2011, mostly to citrus farms, for a total of more than

4,300 hectares distributed in 325-355 entities.

Noteworthy, as for the 20 10-20 1 1 data, there is a

significant increase in production ( + 50% compared

to 2010), correlated with a stabilization of the

“protected” area, amounting to 4,361 hectares (-28

hectares compared to 2010); the maintenance of the

substantial number of seasonal launches can be

explained by a kind of loyalty of the users who, in

manifesting an appreciable degree of satisfaction,

show confidence in using alternative means of

organic production.

Data management in the period 2012-2013

In 2011, it was suggested to apply a reduced

price to Sicilian farms. This is to contribute to the

costs of production that, every year, E.S.A. supports

to ensure its performance. So it was approved and

put into effect a new "Discipline" which regulates

the sale of insects to farmers at a "price of contri-

bution", in order to proceed, gradually, to com-

pensate production costs. The "price of contribu-

tion", which ranks, by definition, below the values

of the free market, reconciles the needs of the

Istitute, which has to ensure adequate performance

in providing institutional support to agriculture,

with its financial nature aimed to partially cover the

costs of production. This regulation does not

exclude the transfer of beneficial insects also in

favor of other subjects, in different places (extra-

regional) and, possibly, for different purposes

(agricultural as well as commercial or public). In

this case, the above mentioned constraints do not

apply, so thatE.S.A. can set the products at different

prices (to be considered net of shipping), commen-

surate with market values.

Application of new "Rules" recorded a drop in

distribution in 201 2-201 3, and, during a period of

6 years of free distribution, it obviously resulted in

a big change of the demand of the three species. A

first effect of the new regime can be seen in the

production levels of 20 12-2013. In particular (Fig.

io), the amount of Aphytis melinus, Leptomastix

dactylopii and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri -

although often reached high profiles above those of

feasibility - stood at levels significantly lower than

those of2011,i.e. 139-149 million, 672-1766 thou-

sand and 233-277 thousand individuals, respect-

ively. In 2012, production reached 119% of what

expected in steady-state c o n d itio n s ,(i.e . +19% ).

Briefly, these results can be explained with a

production trend that had to take into ac c o u n t u ser s ’

requests, which resulted in a change of strategies

and productive quality (when possible) that af-

fected, for example, the extent and availability of

traditional raw materials to be acquired (potatoes,

Observed production of Aphytis melinus compared

with expected production

250.000 000

£ 200.000.000

-5 150.000.000

—♦—observed production

t 100000.000

p ex per Ini prodiiclUm

Ji 4 1

50.000.000

2006 2007 2000 2009 2010 2011

sears

Observed production of Cryptolaemus montrouzieri

compared with expected production

oWnnl prwbHrllwi

rXprflrd JiiothirUnr

years

Observed production of Leptomastix dactylopii

compared with expected production

6 . 000.000

w 5.000 000

S 4,000.000

o 3.000.000

* 2.000 000

1 . 000.000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2Qn

years

■ observed prodnri ion

expected production

Figure 10. Development of production of Aphytis melinUS ,

Leptomastix dactylopii and Cryptolaemus montrouzieri than

expected feasibility (Source E.S.A.).

Pest management of citrus fruits in Sicily through interventions of biological control: the biofactory of Ramacca, Catania 1 5 5

var. “Spunta” and “Desiree” and pumpkins var.

“ B u ttern u t”). Another cause is to be found in distri-

bution fees, which were fixed in the absence of

solid experience of huge productions and, therefore,

of necessary and useful market information. F in ally,

the price of each insect certainly influenced the

users’ choise. For example the price / effectiveness

or cost/utility ratio for Aphytis melinUS was con-

sidered, by the regional users, more convenient

than those fixed for CryptolaemUS montWUZieri and

Leptomastix dactylopii.

Profile of user companies in 2012-2013

Quantitative aspects of each entomological

entity distributed to regional farms are of course

also reflected on land statistics. In fact, Users (i.e.

farms), primarily engaged in citrus cultivation, were

more than 200 (213 to 298), for an area of at least

2,300 Ha. Just to quantify, 2,152 Ha of orange

groves, 313 ha of lemon groves, 91 Ha of m andarin

groves and 5 1 of clem entine groves took advantage

from the service provided by E.S.A.

The new payment system had a negative impact

not only on the lemmon groves of Syracuse: also

other citrus groves suffered a regression of land

extensions which reached its peak in the areas

planted with orange trees. It also follows, that the

biological defense against the citrus mealybug, (P

citri) and red scale (A. aurantu ) by Aphytis melinus,

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri and Leptomastix dac-

tylopii , decreased to 2, 4 41, 1,0 27 and 540 Has, re-

spectively, Siracusa and Catania remain the

provinces where biological fight is mainly per-

formed, followed by an increasing number of far ms

in Agrigento province. Hence it is indirectly con-

firmed that the location of the Bio factory (Ramacca,

Catania) is in line with the geographical distribution

of its real users.

The profile of the more than 298 farms that, in

2012, took advantage of the service of the Biofact-

ory of Ramacca is best represented in figure 11.

Companies that follow programs of integrated

biological defense or integrated fight in citrus and

benefit of the insects provied by the biofactory have

predominantly a size less than 5 hectares (161, 48

and 27 farms can be listed for A. melinUS , L. daC-

tylopii an d C. montrouzieri, respectively). M edium-

sized companies were those that, in 2012,

performed more seasonal launches of Aphytis

melinUS w ith an average of about 3.8; but also the

other companies showed average values (3-4

seasonal launches).

For C. montrouzieri the number of launches is

inversely proportional to the company size, ranging

fro m ab o u t 1 for sm a 11 fa rm s to 0.6 fo r larg er ones.

A sim ilar pattern was confirm ed for Leptomastix

dactylopii w ith about. 0.8 launches for companies

under 5 Ha and. 0.4 launches for larger ones.

Average launches < 1 reveal a partial use of insects

(for organic control) that, in these cases, are not

employed on the entire surface of the citrus grove.

The new payment system had an impactalso on the

number of launches that, with reference to 2006-

2011 data, appear in decline. This could be due to

a more parsimonious use of the “organic product”

but also to a kind of “users’ loyalty” (i.e., farmers

despite the new regulation, continue to show a

certain degree of satisfaction).

EVOLUTION OF SERVICE AND PRO-

SPECTS FOR SEVEN YEARS FROM 2013

TO 2020.

The last items briefly discussed in the previous

paragraph, led E.S.A. to review the current huge

production and proceed, after an initial experi-

mental phase, to the diversification of production,

to improve the bouquet offered. In this contest

E.S.A. has already started a project that will be

developed in the period 20 1 3-2020. In particular,

the service aimed at breeding and producting huge

quantities of Aphytis melinus, Criptolaemus

montrouzerii and Leptomastix dactylopii is con-

firmed, re-thinking of new production levels, based

on all the variables mentioned before. Moreover,

seven additional experimental activities have also

been designed one for each year, to be held simul-

taneously with the aforementioned base production,

aimed at increasing the entomological list to be

employed in other contests, as v itic u ltu r a 1, orna-

mental and floricoltural. Each experiment involves

the development of procedures for the breeding of

the following auxiliaries (see below) to be per-

formed, in proper conditions, for the production of

huge quantities of insects.

1 ) Cryptolaemus montruozierii larvae (predators

of P. dtri, citrus mealybug);

156

Giuseppe Greco

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Aphytis melinus in 2011

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Aphytis melinus in 2012

£ 00

* 50

(m 40

J. 30

= 20

0<x<5 5<x<10 >10

Size classes (in hectares)

0<xc5 5*x«lO >10

Size classes (in hectares)

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Cn ptolaem us nwntrou zieri in 2(111

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Cryptolaemus montrouzieri in 2012

<*>

0<X<5 Scx-clQ >10

Size classes (in hectares)

2 50

s 10

<5 30

o s

(KM 5**<1S >10

Size classes (in hectares)

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Leptomastix dactylopii in 2011

Number of farms, by size classes, that used

Leptomastix dactylopii in 2012

S 60

0*x<5 6<x<10 >10

Size classes (in hectares)

GA M

s ■

■s ..

o ,

>10

Size classes (in hectares)

Figure 11 . Number of companies, sorted by size classes, th at used Aphytis fflclinUS,

Criptolaemus montrouzerii and Leptomastix dactylopii in 2011 and 2012 (Source e .s .a .).

2) Chrysoperla earned Stephens, 1 836 (Neurop-

tera Chrysopidae) predator of aphids (Benuzzi &

Nicoli, 1988; Osservatorio agroambientale di

Cesena, 1991; Nicoli & Galazzi, 2000);

3) Anagyrus pseudococci (Girault 191 5) (Hy-

menoptera Encyrtidae) parasitoid of PldllOCOCCUS

vitis and ornamental mealybugs, P. ficUS, Pseudo-

coccus longispinus, Ps. affinis , Rhizoecus falcifer

(Avidov etal., 1967; Rosen & Rossler, 1966; Islam

& Jahan, 1993a, b;Blumberg etal., 1995; Islam &

Copland, 1 997, 2000).

4) Encarsia formosa Gahan, 1924 (Hymenop-

tera A phelinidae), parasitoid of w hiteflies as Tridleur-

odes vaporarorium (Westwood, 1 8 5 6 ) (H em ip ter a

A ley rod id ae);

5) Lindorus lophantae (Biaisdeii, 1 8 9 2 ) (Coie-

optera C occinellidae) (generic predator of mealy-

bugs, also active against Aonidiella aurantii) -,

Pest management of citrus fruits in Sicily through interventions of biological control: the biofactory of Ramacca, Catania 1 5 7

6) OrilAS laevigatus (Fieber, 1 8 60) (Flemiptera

A n th o c o rid ae ) predator of thrips (Tawfik & Ata,

1 973; Tavella et al., 1991; Villevieille & Millot,

1991; Chatnbers et al., 1 993; Vacante & Tropea

Garzia, 1993a-b;Meir acker van den, 1994;Alauzet

et al., 1994; Tavella et al., 1994; Frescata & Mexia,

1 995 ; Tom m asini & Nicoli, 1 995);

7) larvae of ChUoCOrUS bipUStlllatUS (Linnaeus,

1758) (Coleoptera Coccinellidae)(predators of

Coccus esperidum (brown soft scale), Ceroplastes

sinenesis (Chinese wax scale), Ceroplastes rusci

(fig wax scale), SflisSCtifl olcUC (Black scale),

Carnuaspis bekii (Purple scale), Aspidiotus blacks

(Oleander scale), Chrisomphalus dictyospermi

(Morgan’s scale), AoYlidlclla aUVantii (California

red scale).

REFERENCES

Abdelrahm an I., 1 974. Growth, development and innate

capacity for increase in Aphytis ell iyS O Hipll Clli M ercet

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scale , Aonidicllci Cllirantii (M ask .) in relation to tem-

perature. Australian Journal of Zoology, 22: 2 1 3-230.

AlauzetC., Dargagnon D. & M alausa J.C., 1994. Bionom-

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(Het.: A n th o co rid ae) . Entomophaga, 39: 3 3-40.

Avidov Z., RosslerY. & Rosen D., 1967. Studies on an

Israel strain of, AnagyruS pseudoCOCCi (G irault) (Hy-

menoptera: Encyrtidae). II. Some biological aspects,

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Blum be rg D., Klein M . & Mendel Z., 1995. Response by

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insetti. Franco Muzzio Editore, Padova, 3 3 3 pp.

Chandler L.D., Meyerdirk D.E., Hart W.G. & Garcia

R.G., 1 980. Laboratory studies on the development

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on in sec tary -reared , PICUIOCOCCUS dtvi (Risso),

Southwest Entomology, 5: 99-103

Chatnbers R.J., Long S. & Helyer N.L., 1993. Effective-

ness of OviuS loCVigUtUS (Hem.: A nthocoridac) for

the control of F rotlkl UliclUl OCCidciltClUs on cucumber

and pepper in the UK. Biocontrol Science and

Technology, 3: 295-307.

Chili A. A., 1987. Enemigos natu rales de los Afidos:

D epredadores. Manejo Integrado de Plagas. En:

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 161-164

Monograph

Implantation of Stagg beetles hostels in the city of Geneva

(Switzerland)

Giulio Cuccodoro* & Mickael Blanc

Museum d’histo ire naturelle, Departement d’Entomologie, route de Malagnou 1, 1208 Geneva, Switzerland

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Brief presentation of our ongoing project of implementation of a network of “Stagg beetles

hostels” in the city of Geneva (Switzerland) aiming at consolidating the last large populations

of big woodboring beetles CerCllTlbyX Cerdo L innaues, 1 758 (Coleoptera C eram by cidae) and

LuCCinilS C6WUS L innaues, 1 75 8 (Coleoptera Lucanidae) in Switzerland.

KEYWORDS stagg beetles hostels; Geneva; woodboring beetles; LuCCMUS CerVUS; CCYCUTlbix C6rdo.

Received 05.12.2014; accepted 1 5.02.20 1 5; printed 30.03.20 1 5

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The large woodboring beetles Cercimbyx CCvdo

Linnaeus, 1 75 8 (Coleoptera C eram by cidae) and

LllCCinuS cervus Linnaeus, 1 75 8 (Coleoptera Lu-

canidae) are associated to oaks and beechs. Their

larvae feeding on decaying wood take 3 to 5 years

to develop into imagoes, which live only one Sum-

mer and hardly disperse further that half kilometer

from their native tree. In North and Central Europe,

they can complete their life cycle only in trees big

enough to protect larvae from the Winter frosts.

During the 20th century their distribution has

however drastically regressed due to intensive

exploitation of those trees for timber as well as

changes in agriculture techniques.

Because of the large array of other useful and

more elusive organism s benefiting of their favoured

habitat (i.e. senescent oaks and beechs), they are

considered ombrella species and received therefore

protected status in Europe since 1992. In Switzer-

land, where they received federal protected status

only in 2011 (OFEV, 2011), they can be found

today essentially in the southern part of the country,

CerCUnbyX Cerdo with only sc arse populations in the

cantons of Geneva, Valais and Tessin.

Despite a limited and rather urbanized territory,

the canton of Geneva has the privilege to host the

most abundant Swiss populations of both of these

emblematic beetles. Amazingly, they are essen-

tially found in the hearth of the city itself rather

than in the surounding countryside, where most

old trees were cut in the early 20th century for tim-

ber and adaptation of the landscape to mechanized

agriculture.

Renewal of suitable natural habitats better

distributed in space and time in the countryside is a

matter of several decades. Meanwhile, as falling

branches put citizens and other park’s users at risk,

senescenth oaks and beechs in town are gradually

cut and removed. Asa result, despite their apparent

abundance in the city of Geneva, these urban popu-

lations of large wood-boring beetles are each day

less abundant and more fragmented, in such a way

that their disapparition seems programmed if

nothing is attempted today.

162

Giulio Cuccodoro & Mickael Blanc

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We thus decided to try to consolidate the urban

populations of these protected beetles by promoting

in the city of Geneva the set up of a network of

“stagg beetles hostels”. Already implemented

successfully in several other places elsewhere in

Switzerland and Europe, « woodboring beetles

hostels» consist basically in 1 meter long logs half

buried in the ground recreating artificially the

appropriate conditions for female oviposition and

subsequent developpem ent of the larvae.

However installation of such large and lasting

structures in the heart of a densely urbanised city

faces various technical and social problems. In first

instance stagg beetles hostels are more cumbersome

than birdhouse: they require several square meters

of land, should remain over a decade to be really

efficient, and as such mustbe installed only in close

concertation with all relevant city services (urban-

ists, gardeners, maintenance, etc.). Therefore we

dedicated a lot of time and energy explaining urban-

ists, gardeners and maintenance workers that stagg

beetles hostels were as necessary as easy to build,

but moreover that they consist indeed in an inev-

itable new element of the urban furniture of the

Geneva of the 21th century.

Second and certainly mostchallenging problem

is that most citizens perceive insects as a nuisance,

a source of danger (punctures, vectors of diseases)

or as revelators of defective sanitary conditions.

Lucanus Scopoli, 1 763 and CevCDTlbyX Linnaeus,

1 75 8 unfortunately don’t escape this “rule”, which

is even exacerbated by their quite impressive size

in such a way that they are often mistaken as

dreadful exotic beasts fallen off a plane from Africa

or elsew here.

Therefore we accompanied our project from the

beginning with a real campaign for « social rehab-

ilitation » of these large woodboring beetles. In first

instance we made a call to the citizens for observa-

tions in the frame of a participatory inventory

aiming at 1) bringing presence of these beetles to

the knowledge of citizens, 2) teaching to recognize

them, 3) explaining they role, 4) drawing attention

to their patromonial status and the responsibility of

Geneva citizens regarding their respect and protec-

tion, and 5) offering people the possibility to con-

tribute directly to this issue by the transmitting their

own observations.

Besides we took every opportunity to talk to

school classes and publish in daily newspapers

small articles declining these thema. A WEB page

specially dedicated to that project and relaying per-

manently our call for observations was also created

(www .ville-ge.ch/m hng/coleopteres_bois_geneve.php).

RESULTS

It took some two years from the origin of our

project in 2011 to the construction of the first stagg

beetle hostel in Geneva, which was achieved on the

17th of April 2013 by gardeners of the city of

Geneva assisted by childrens. Installed at the foot

of three big senescent oaks colonized by both

Cerambyx and Lucanus in the “Parc La Grange”,

the most scenic and visited pare of the city of

Geneva, this Stagg beetles hostel is agremented

with a graphic pannel summarizing the biology, role

and status of these beetles, with a flash code address-

ing smartphone users directly to ourWEB page for

further informations. The device was completed

with an attractive giant oak LuCdUUS sculpted by a

local artist aiming both at catching attention of the

visitors and favouring perenniality of the hostel,

which symbolizes to us the participatory involve-

ment of the Geneva citizens for a more rational

management of their environment.

CONCLUSIONS

This realisation will take all its meaning only if

drawn in the future. In effect to modify the social

perception of large woodboring beetles from the

status of unwanted frightening pests to majestic

useful animals being integral part of the environ-

mental identity of the citizens will be certainly a

long-term process. In this perspective participatory

involvement of the public in a “continuous asses-

ment” via regular calls for inform ations in the daily

media seems very important to us. However it’s

obvious to our eyes that the best way to accelerate

adhesion rate to the cause of large woodboring

beetles w ill consist in penetreting public education

programs, and that from the earliest school

classes.

Nevertheless it appeared that once explained

the environmental issues and technical feasability

Implantation of Stagg beetles hostels in the city of Geneva, Switzerland

163

Figure 1. First Stagg beetles hostel of Geneva (Switzerland): co n s tru c tio n w ith ch ildre n .

Figure 2. First Stagg beetles hostel of Geneva (Switzerland): sculpture by Sylvio Asseo.

164

Giulio Cuccodoro & Mickael Blanc

Figure 3. First Stagg beetles hostel of Geneva (Switzerland) as completed (logs, sculpture, and didactic pannel).

of the project, most professional actors of the city

services concerned were enthousistic to contribute

at their level to its realization. The best proof we

can present is that additional 7 stagg beetles hostels

have been installed by the gardeners in other parks

of the city in 2014, and more are planned for 2015.

Next steps will be to increase the density the

network of stagg beetles hostels with a target of

one each 300 m in order to enhance gene flows

between each individual population, then to imple-

ment corridors of stagg beetles hostels favoring

natural dispersal of these beetles through the

suburban crown toward the country side they used

to belong. Meanwhile we already work with fore-

stal autorities in order to promote the plantation of

oaks and beeches in the contryside with a better

scaling in space and time of suitable habitats for

these magnificent insects.

The project received the “Geneva cantonal

award forsustainable developmentedition 2014”.

REFERENCES

OFEV, 2011. Liste des especes prioritaires au niveau

national. Especes prioritaires pour la conservation au

niveau national, etat 2010. Office federal de 1 ’ en-

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pp.

CEE, 1 992. Directive 92/43/CEE du Conseil, du 21

mai 1992, concern ant la conservation des habitats

naturels ainsi que de la faune et de la flore sauvages.

CEE. Journal officiel n° L 206 : 0007-0050.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 165-170

Monograph

Requalification of coastal plant landscape of South-Eastern

Sicily, Italy: the case of Marina di Priolo

Angelo Zimmitti 1 , Rosaria Mangiafico 2 & Pietro Pitruzzello 3 *

'Via Garibaldi 2 1, 96010 Melilli, Syracuse, Italy

! A ssociazione Anteo, via Concerie 52, 96010, Syracuse. Italy

Universita degli Studi di Catania, Cutgana, Polo Biotecnologico via Santa Sofia 98, 95123 Catania, Italy

Corresponding author, e-mail: p itr u z z e llo p iero @ gmail.com.

ABSTRACT In this paper the A uthors examine the psarn m ophilous vegeta ti on and the degrees ofnaturalness

of the coastal plant landscape of a part of the South-Eastern littoral in Sicily. This area is char-

acterized by considerable human pressure due to the presence of a large industrial center and

beach tourism. The recent construction of the garden next to the beach, made mainly with

ornamental plants has contributed to further amend the original physiognomy of the coastal

landscape. Were analyzed, with phy to sociological me thod, psamm ophilous plant com m unities

and zonation of vegetation. The results of the analysis show a impoverishment of flora and a

progressive decline in the psam m ophilous communities mainly due to the constant leveling

the beach in summer. The authors propose a series of actions aimed at the requalification and

conservation of coastal vegetation landscape of the investigated area.

KEY WORDS plant landscape; re q u alific a tio n ; littoral; human pressure.

Received 15.10.2014; accepted 30.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, M ay 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

In the present work we analyzed the plant land-

scape of M arina di Priolo, a stretch of sandy coast

between Marina di Melilli and Magnisi peninsula,

about 6 km north of Syracuse (Sicily, Italy) (Fig. 1).

In a not too distant past the area was used for the

production of salt in the salt marshes of Magnisi,

placed in a large basin behind the dunes adjacent to

the study area. A lthough reduced from its original

e x ten t, this im p o rta n t hum id e n v iro n mentis p rote c -

ted through the establishmentofthe R.N.O. "Saline

di Priolo" managed by the L.I.P.U. (D.A. n. 807/44

of 1 2/2 8/2000). Since the 50s of last century, the

area has undergone significant environmental

change mainly due to the progressive establishment

of one of the largest petrochemical industrial cen-

ters of Europe. The massive industrialization of the

area has also led to the growth of urban centers and

neighboring persistent anthropogenic coastal envir-

onment that, in recent years, was also affected by

the profound transformations related to the increase

in to u rism .

The recent creation of a green area called

"Garden of the Sea", adjacent to the beach, consists

mainly of ornamental species, some exotic, helped

to further modify the original structure of the

coastal landscape. The purpose of this research is

the cognitive analysis of the dune environment,

spatial seriation of psamm ophilous plant com-

munities and their state of preservation. Based on

the results obtained, we propose actions for the

rehabilitation and protection of plant landscape of

the site investigated.

166

Angelo Zimmitti etalii

The area of study. From the perspective of geo-

log ic a 1- s tr u c tu r a 1 the area of Marina di Melilli,

Syracuse (Sicily, Italy) is part of the Hyblean Plat-

eau and the local stratigraphic succession is repres-

ented by ceno-neozoic carbonate rocks (Carbone et

al., 1 9 8 6). Examining the th erm o - p lu v io m e trie data

fro m th e n e arb y statio n of Syracuse, the dim a te o f

the study area is Mediterranean, with mild, rainy

winters and hot, dry summers (Zampino et al.,

1997). While, as evidenced by Scelsi& S p am p in a to

(1 998) bioclimate is in the range inferior thermo-

mediterranean dry type.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The methodological approach used for phytoso-

ciological study of the psam m ophilous vegetation

is that of the Sigmatista School of B raun-B lanquet

(B raun-B lanquet, 1964), while for syntaxonomical

framing were followed proposals of Brullo et al.

( 2002 ).

The collected samples were determined accord-

ing to the Flora of Italy (Pignatti, 1 9 82 ), prepared

and preserved in the herbarium of the Ecomuseo dei

Monti Climiti Melilli (Laboratory of Nature and

E n v iro n m e n tal) .

RESULTS

Despite the heavy distortions of anthropogenic

nature, the investigations carried out m ade it possible

to identify, in the least disturbed stretches of coast-

lin e , d ifferen tcomm un itie s of psammoph ilo u s plan ts

that, despite impoverished of m any typical elements,

hint at some aspects of the original plant landscape

and suggest effective conservation measures for the

protection and rehabilitation of ecosystem s. Through

the observations made could be detected, proceed in g

from the aphytoic zone inland, a first strip of tero-

phitic h alo nitro p h ilo u s vegetation, parallel to the

coast-line, which is closely pioneer, ascribable to the

Salsolo-Cakiletum maritimae, characterized by the

dominance of Ccikile maritima Scop, associated with

Salsola kali l . and Polygonum maritimum l .

The next strip, attributable to the CyperO-

AgVOpy return juncei, is characterized by herbaceous

perennial plants of low embryo dunes. The associ-

ation p h y sio g n o m ic ally is characterized by the do-

minance of Elytrigia juncea ( l . ) n evskiwhich is as-

sociated with Sporobolus virginicus { L.) K until and

Achillea maritima (L .) Ehrend. et Y.P. Guo. The ve-

getation parallel to the latter strip is dominated by

Centaurea sphaerocephala l. and Onosis natrix

subsp. ramosissima (D esf .) Batt.; are also present

Pancratium maritimum l., Euphorbia terracina l.

and LotUS CytisoideS. It is a plant comm unity ascrib-

able to the Centaureo-Ononidetum ramosissimae,

chain aephytic and h em ic rip to p h y tic vegetation nor-

mally c o n fin ed on th e dunes furth er in lan d with little

movement, the expansion of which is favored by

human disturbance (M in is s ale & Sciandrello, 2010).

Proceeding inland, the psam m ophilous series

is interrupted by a road parallel to the coastline.

The analysis also revealed a degradation of the

psam m ophilous vegetation due to the leveling and

trampling of the dunes in the vicinity of the holi-

day season. The persistent action of scraping in

sandy shore led to the demise of mobile dunes with

typical vegetation with Ammophila arenaria (L.)

Link, therefore, observing the current vegetation

con firm s th e absence of th e typical z o n a tio n of dune

environments like those along the Ionian coast of

south-eastern and far less degraded (see Brullo et

al., 1988; M inissale & Sciandrello, 2010). The plant

communities found are ranked according to the

following syntaxonomical scheme:

CAKILETEA MARITIMAE R.Tx & Preising in

Br.-B 1. & R.Tx 1952

CAK1LETALIA IN T E G R IF O L I A E R.Tx ex

Oberd. 1 949 corr. R iv as -M artin ez , Costa &

Loidi 1992

CAKILION MARITIMAE Pignatti 1953

Salsolo-Cakiletum maritimae Costa & m ansanet

1981 corr. Rivas-M artinez et al. 1992

AMMOPHILETEA Br.-B 1. & R.Tx ex Westhoff et

al. 1946

AM M OPHILETALIA Br.-Bl. 1933

AM M OPHILION AUSTRALIS Br.-Bl. 1921 em.

Gehu, Rivas-M artinez & R.Tx in Rivas-M artin ez

et al. 1980

Cypero capitati-Agropyretum juncei Kuhnhoitz-

Lordat (1 923 ) Br.-Bl. 1933

CRUCIANELLETALIA MARITIMAE Sissing

1974

ON ON ID IO N RAMOSISSIMAE Pignatti 1952

Centaureo-Ononidetum ramosissimae Br.-B 1 . &

F re i in F re i 19 3 7

Requalification of coastal plant landscape of South-Eastern Sicily, Italy: the case of Marina di Priolo

167

Figure 1. The area of study: Marina di Priolo, Syracuse

( S ic ily , Italy ) .

Figure 3. Marina di Priolo, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy):

p s am m o p h ilo u s vegetation.

CONCLUSIONS

The research suggests a number of measures

aimed at the improvement and protection of plant

landscape of the study area:

- allocation of a minimum unit of surface pro-

tection to the progressive development of natural

v e g e ta tio n . T h e "minimun dynamic area " is d e fin e d

as the balance between the effects of disturbance

and the area required for the development of the

psam mophilous community. In our case, the situ-

ation found suggests to preserve space as widely as

possible to enable us to reconstruct the seriation of

vegetation and restore the dune system.

Figure 2. Marina di Priolo, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy):

waste left along the beach.

Figure 4. Marina di Priolo, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy):

the green area caled “Garden of the Sea”.

This could be achieved by:

- elimination of non - native flora, both spontan-

eous and ornamental, present in the area concerned

with habitat restoration through the use of native

species from propagation material (seed), local

germ plasm collected in a special center or in a

neighboring area less anthropized and comparable

with the examined site. It is therefore proposed a

renaturalization especially in the "Garden of the

Sea", by converting the area into a natural garden

characterized by the recovery of plant comm unities

typical of dune environments having a dual role:

eco-functional and didactic educational.

- development of a seaside tourism compatible

with the environmental restoration of the site.

168

Angelo Zimmitti etalii

Salsolo-Cakiletum maritimae

Releve Number

S urfac e (m q )

Slope (% )

Char. Ass.

Salsola kali l .

Char. Euphorbion peplis & Cakiletea maritimae

Cakile maritima scop.

Polygonum maritimum l .

Xanthium strumarium italicum (m oretti) d . Love

Chamaesyce peplis (L . ) p ro k h .

Companions

Sporobolus virginicus (L .) k unth

Achillea maritima (l .) Ehrend. & y.-p. Guo

Table 1. The area of study, Marina di Priolo, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy):

Salsolo-Cakiletum maritimae (Date 2 0 .x .2 0 1 2 ) .

Cypero capitati-Agropyretum juncei

Releve Number

S urfac e (m q )

Slope (% )

Char. Ass.

Elytrigia juncea (l .) Nevski

Sporobolus virginicus (L .) k unth

Achillea maritima (L.) Ehrend. & y.-p. Guo

Char. Ammophilion & Ammophiletea

Eryngium maritimum l .

Pancratium maritimum l .

Echinophora spinosa l .

Silene nicaeensis ah.

Companions

Cakile maritima Scop.

Polygonum maritimum l .

Table 2. The area of study, M arina di Priolo, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy):

Cypero capitati-Agropyretum juncei (Date 20.x. 2012).

Requalification of coastal plant landscape of South-Eastern Sicily, Italy: the case of Marina di Priolo

169

Centaureo- Ononidetum ramosissimae

Releve Number

S urfac e (m q )

1 5

Slope (% )

100

Char. Ass.

Ononis hispanica ramosissima (Desf.)FortheretPodiech

Centaurea sphaerocephala l .

Char. Crucianelletalia & Ammophiletea

Euphorbia terracina l .

Pancratium maritimum l .

Elytrigia juncea (L .) Nevski

Silene nicaeensis a 11 .

Sporobolus virginicus (L .) k unth

Ononis variegata l .

Cyperus capitatus v a n d e 1 .

Companions

Anisantha rigida (Roth) h y 1 .

Silene colorata Poir.

Lagurus ovatus l .

Vulpia fasdculata (Forssk.) Fritsch

Scolymus liispanicus l .

Glebionis coronaria (l.) Spach

Dittrichia viscosa (L .) g reuter

Cutandia maritima (L .) b arbey

Table 3. The area of study, Marina di Priolo, Syracuse (Sicily, Italy):

Centaureo-Ononidetum ramosissimae (d ate 1 5 .iv.20 1 3 ).

The recommended actions will help restoring

psammophilous communities also improving the

ecological continuity between the dune environ-

ment and the wetland of RNO "Saline di Priolo"

permitting, at the same time, visitors to perceive a

higher degree of naturalness of the environment

compared to the current situation of degradation.

The proposed objectives are part of a broader scope

of environmental restoration of the examined area,

connecting with an ongoing project concerning the

work of restoring of the f o rm e r tenement E S P E S I ,

located on the peninsula M agnisi, to be allocated to

the visitor center and guest house (PO FESR 2007-

2013 axis 3 ob. specific 2.1; program agreement

31/08/2011 between Department of Environment

and Regional Authorities of the “Enti gestori delle

Riserve Siciliane”).

REFERENCES

Braun-BlanquetJ., 1964. Pflanzensoziologie. 3 ed, Springer

Verlag, Wien, 865 pp.

170

Angelo Zimmitti etalii

Brullo S.,De SantisC.,FurnariF.,Longhitano N.& R onsis-

valle G 1 988. La vegetazione dell’Oasi della Foce del

S im e to (S ie ilia orien tale). B rau n - B lan qu etia, 2 : 165-1 88.

Brullo S., Giusso Del Galdo G., Minissale P., Siracusa

G. & Spam pinato G., 2002. Considerazioni sintasso-

nomiche e fito g e o g rafic h e sulla vegetazione della Si-

cilia. Bollettino Accademia Gioenia di Scienze

Naturali, 3 5 (3 6 1 ): 3 25-3 5 9.

Carbone S., Grasso M . & Lentini F., 1 9 86. Carta geolo-

gica del settore n o rd -o rie n ta le ibleo. Scala 1:50.000.

S.E.L.C.A., Firenze.

Minissale P. & Sciandrelo S., 2010. Flora e vegetazione

terrestre della Riserva Naturale di Vendicari (Sicilia

Sud-Orientale). L'Area Protetta di Vendicari. Atti del

Convegno Celebrativo per il 35° anno di fondazione

dell'Ente Fauna Sicilia 8°, pp.128.

Pignatti S., 1982. Flora d 'Italia . I — 1 1 1 , Edagricole,

Bologna, 2324 pp.

Scelsi F. & Spam pinato G ., 1 998. C a ra tte ris tic h e biocli-

matiche dei Monti Iblei. Bollettino Accademia

Gioenia di Scienze Naturali, 29 (35 3 ): 27-43.

Zampino S . , Duro A., Piccione V. & Scalia C., 1997.

Fitoclima della Sicilia. Termoudogrammi secondo

W alter & Lieth. Atti 5° W orkshop Prog. Strat. C .N .R.

"Clima, Ambiente e Territorio nel M ezzogiorno"

A m alfi. 2: 7-54.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 171-174

Monograph

The use of flora, vegetation and habitats in the studies of

Environmental Impact Assessment

Pietro Minissale

Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Sez. Biologia Vegetale, Universita di Catania, via A. Longo 19,

95125 Catania (Italy); e-mail: p.minissale@unict.it

ABSTRACT The paper examines local flora, vegetation and habitats in order to highlight the plant

component’s role as not only an indicator of the quality and state of the environment, but also

as an extremely useful element in restoration activities required by environmental impact

studies. Some methodological proposals have been done as objective criteria in the assessment

procedures.

KEY WORDS local flora; biodiversity; indicators; restoration.

Received 18.06.2014; accepted 08.09.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th- 18th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

In the studies of environmental impact, the bi-

otic component as a whole (and which includes

man) is normally the cornerstone on which the im-

pact generated from plans and projects is assessed.

This paper examines the plant component (limited

to the vascular flora and plant communities) in

order to highlight the way it plays a key role as in-

dicator of the quality and state of the environment,

as an accurate sensor of the impacts but also as an

extremely useful element in restoration activities

required or proposed by environmental impact stud-

ies. It also intends to make a few methodological

proposals for the use of objective criteria in the

assessment procedures.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The paper is a brief methodological review,

resulting from experience gained on several impact

assessments developed in recent years on the island

of Sicily, which is representative of the Mediter-

ranean region. These assessments have allowed sa-

lient features of plant biodiversity to be recognized

and taken into account in an impact assessment

study in order to minimize the effects of exploitation

of plant biodiversity in favour of conservation policies.

INDICATORS OF THE QUALITY AND

STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT

The assessment of the quality or the degree of

naturalness of a study area is crucial in making a

considered judgment on the quality and intensity of

the impact that the implementation of a plan or pro-

ject leads to. Plants species and plant communities

fully comply with these requirements.

Plant species are, in fact, indicators of the qual-

ity and state of the environment since each taxon

of the flora of a study area is placed into specific

habitats. The narrow endemic species, or otherwise

rare or included in the national or regional red lists,

are usually associated with the most natural and

172

Pietro Minissale

sensitive habitats effected by human actions. In this

way, they indicate the presence of important hab-

itats to be protected. Furthermore, these plants are

the preferred subjects for appropriate impact as-

sessments (Rossi et al., 2014). In contrast, the most

trivial synanthropic species are present in habitats

with predominantly anthropogenic determinism

such as farmland, edges of the road, landfills, etc.

and therefore they are not veiy useful in the context

of environmental assessments or, at the very least,

they indicate the lack of floristic elements to be

protected. In this case traditional agricultural

landscape as a whole, rather than the natural one,

will be focused on for the impact assessment

(Barbera & Cullotta 2012).

Plant communities, better than single species,

are very fine and accurate indicators of the type,

quality and state of the environment since they are

an expression of ecological factors such as climate,

soil, and anthropogenic influence which allows

them to exist within the framework of the vegeta-

tion series (1), where discrete units (with statisti-

cally uniform floristic composition) can usually be

recognized (Pott, 2011). Plant communities are also

the most characteristic and diagnostic element of

habitat, which is considered as a uniform parts of

the ecosystem and is almost always detectable in

large to small scale on cartography.

In most cases, their identification is easier than

a single species whose presence may be due to

chance. For this reason, plant communities are the

driving elements for impact assessments as they

may have different value in the conservation policies

and different sensitivity to human actions. The spa-

tial mosaic of habitats is also useful in assessing the

potential fauna of an area and therefore, it allows

an opinion on the ecosystem as a whole to be

expressed (Sabella, 2015).

A topic generally not highlighted for environ-

mental impact studies is the great local diversity of

the indicators mentioned above. In Italy, for example,

it is possible to recognize at least three biomes,

(1) A series of vegetation is made up of all the plant com-

munities related by dynamic relationships that could occur

in a ecologically homogeneous space with the same poten-

tial vegetation, having the same physical conditions (i.e.

meso-climate, soil type, geomorphology). It is dependent on

processes of vegetational succession, management and

extreme events (e.g. fire, storm damage, volcanic eruption).

Mediterranean, Alpine and Temperate. There are

also significant differences in the flora and vegeta-

tion which exist in smaller territories as highlighted

by several authors (Greuter, 2010; Blasi et al., 2010;

Blasi & Frondoni, 2011). Due to this fact and al-

though the method of investigation and assessment

may be the same, the contribution of regional

specialists who can better understand or highlight

floristic and vegetational peculiarities is required.

With regard to the assessment methodologies and

to be able to converse with other specialists, it is

necessary to use objective and quantifiable criteria

as much as possible. One of these is the “floristic

vegetational value” for plant species with endemism,

rarity, and/or endangered taxa, while for plant com-

munities and habitat the evaluation depends on

vegetation series position and biogeographical

significance. A proper scale of values, to be assigned

to these biotic elements, must be compared with the

induced changes by a plan or project, allowing more

calibrated matrices to be created.

As explained regarding indicators, the botanist

works on two main levels: plant species and plant

communities, recognizable as habitats. A third level,

the landscape, and in particular plant landscape,

should be considered but this competence is to be

shared with other specialists such as agronomists,

geologists and architects. However, if we consider

the natural plant landscape for which the recogni-

tion of vegetation series is key, the environmental

analyst with a botanical background remains the

only acceptable specialist.

The sources for plant species are the national

and regional floras, the red lists, and the lists of pro-

tected species by laws and directives. However,

these lists are often deficient because they ignore

many important species. The most striking case is

that of Annex 2 of the European Directive 92/43 in

which many rare endemic species are not men-

tioned. A likely reason is that in the 1990s the spe-

cialists involved in making up this list did not fully

understand its importance. At the level of plant

communities, the list of habitats of Community

interest is very useful (listed in Annex 1 of the

above mentioned directive) where the deficiencies

seem fairly small. As highlighted above, the need

to know the vegetation series of each area is of great

importance in order to safeguard and properly

assess any mature stages if present. In Italy, a refer-

ence element is Blasi (2010a, 2010b) who indicates,

The use of flora, vegetation and habitats in the studies of Environmental Impact Assessment

173

based on the collaboration of many regional spe-

cialists, all the vegetation series of the national ter-

ritory. Also in this case, the general pattern must be

checked and adjusted for each individual case study.

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPENSATIONS

The main purpose of providing environmental

compensation for the damage caused to nature

through building and construction projects is to

maintain the quality of the environment (Persson,

2013). This approach has been used to a large extent

in Germany and the USA since the 1970s, and the

EU has adopted several directives dealing with

environmental compensation. Therefore, if environ-

mental impact assessments show even a modest loss

to the habitats or ecosystems, this gives the analyst

the opportunity to propose compensatory actions

that should result in the recovery of damaged hab-

itats or improvement of neighbouring ones not

directly affected by the plan or project. These com-

pensatory activities, when related to environmental

restoration, cannot be wasted or nullified by the

planting of species that are not relevant to the site

but they require a highly skilled design as will be

explained in the following paragraph.

RESTORATION ACTIVITIES

The use of plant species for environmental

restoration is an opportunity, not only to mitigate

or compensate the impact of construction or infra-

structure work but also to trigger or facilitate the

recovery of habitats often in decline. This assertion

is valid only if the restoration activities are set in a

rigorous way, i.e. taking into account the vegeta-

tion series and local potential vegetation. Once

again, the local plant diversity is the driving

element of the interventions. These assumptions

are widely accepted in northern Europe and North

America (Persson, 2013), but it is hard for them to

be established in the Mediterranean region, and in

Italy in particular.

At present, most of the infrastructure work

(especially linear ones such as roads and railways)

are marked by sometimes alien invasive plants.

The presences of these alien plants are, in many

cases, a legacy of the past (i.e. work created

decades ago) but in recent cases, such as the

Catania-Siracusa highway completed in 2009, on

the slopes, potentially invasive species such as

Cortaderia selloana have been planted with

some native plants (Basnou, 2009; Domenech et

al., 2005).

Nevertheless, there are some pioneering activit-

ies developed in Sicily, which are following the new

direction of environmental restoration (La Mantia

et al., 2012; Barbera et al., 2013) and bodes well for

the future.

CONCLUSIONS

With the present paper, an attempt to highlight

what the salient points in an environmental impact

assessment regarding the flora and vegetation has

been carried out. The outlined framework emphas-

izes the importance of taking into account the

above-mentioned elements (species, communities,

habitats) in all evaluations and proposal steps of

a work as they are the perfect sensors of any

positive/negative impact, the indicators of environ-

mental quality, and the main protagonists in envir-

onmental restoration and mitigation activities.

On these basis, the environmental analyst must

be able to better guide or mitigate the project’s

actions, considering that, in spite of any attempt to

contain the rate of destruction or alteration of nat-

ural resources, the transforming activity of man and

its resulting impacts on the biosphere, both large

and small-scale, will never end.

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T., Zappa E., Zotti M., Tartaglini N., Ardenghi

N.M.G., Blasi C., Raimondo F.M., Venturella G.,

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Perrino E.V., Stmmia S., Iberite M., Lucchese F.,

Fabrini G. & Orsenigo S., 2014. Are Red Lists really

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Sabella G., 2015. The use of the entomo fauna in the stud-

ies of Environmental Impact Assessment and Eval-

uation of Impact. Biodiversity Journal, 6: 175-184.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 175-184

Monograph

The use of the entomofauna in the studies of the Environmen-

tal Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact

(A.I.)

Giorgio Sabella , Oscar Lisi & Fabio Massimo Viglianisi

Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, sez. Biologia Animale, Universita di Catania, via Androne 81,

95124 Catania, Italy; e-mail: sabellag@unict.it; olisi@unict.it; fabiovgl@unict.it

’Corresponding author

ABSTRACT The paper highlights the entofauna’s role as not only as an indicator of the environmental

quality, but also as an useful component in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assess-

ment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.). Some approaches and tools, with particular

emphasis on Sicily, are proposed in regards to the use of the entomofauna in the assessment

procedures.

KEY WORDS Environmental Impact Assessment; Impact Assessment; Entomofauna; tools; Sicily.

Received 09.01.2015; accepted 19.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 20 1 4, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

This paper is a brief methodological review, res-

ulting from the experience gained on several impact

assessments elaborated in the recent years in Sicily.

In Europe there are three different types of en-

vironmental impact assessment: 1) S.E.A. (Stra-

tegic Environmental Assessment), based on the

Directive 2001 /42/EC on the assessment of the ef-

fects of certain plans and programs on the environ-

ment; 2) E.I.A. (Environmental Impact Assessment)

based on the Directive 2014/52/UE, concerning the

impacts assessment of public and private projects

on the environment. The Directive determines the

authorization of certain projects affecting the envir-

onment to an assessment by the competent national

or regional authority. This assessment must identify

the direct and indirect effects of these projects on

the following: human, fauna, flora, soil, water, air,

climate, landscape, material resources and cultural

heritage, and the interaction between these compon-

ents; 3) A.I. (Assessment of Impact), regarding the

assessment of plans and projects significantly

affecting the sites of the Natura 2000 Network.

This evaluation is based on the Directive

92/43/EEC (Habitat Directive), on the conservation

of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, and

on the Directive 2009/1 47/EC on the conservation

of wild birds (ex Directive 79/409 EEC). Particu-

larly, the Assessment of Impact is defined and regu-

lated by the article 6, of the Habitat Directive, that

in the third paragraph reads: “Any plan or project not

directly connected with or necessary to manage the

site but likely to have a significant effect, individu-

ally or in combination with other plans or projects,

is subjected to impact assessment on the site respect

to the conservation objectives of this site”. Through

these guidelines the EU seeks to ensure biodiversity

by conserving natural habitats, wild fauna, vegeta-

tion and flora in the territory of the Member States.

176

Giorgio Sabella etalii

In the studies of evaluation of environmental

impact, the analysis of the biotic component is

fundamental to asses the impact generated from

plans and projects; therefore it is obvious that the

fauna is one of the minimum contents required for

the preparation of environmental impact studies,

together with vegetation, flora (see Minissale,

2015) and ecosystems.

THE FAUNA IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACT STUDIES

Before delving into the issues related to the

wildlife analysis in the environmental impact

studies, the definition of the fauna's concept is

necessary. According to La Greca (1995), the fauna

is: “A set of species and subspecies of vertebrates

and invertebrates, each divided into one or more

populations, living in a certain territory not captive

or farmed (indigenous species) and included in

natural ecosystems, the presence of which in that

area is due to historical events (paleogeographic

and paleoclimatic), or to evolutionary processes in

situ (autochthonous species or subspecies), or to

indigenation of exotic species”.

The study of wildlife shows numerous and com-

plex problem: a) veiy large number of animals,

especially invertebrates (over 80% of the animals

belong to the phylum Arthropoda, inside of which

more than 75% belong to the class Hexapod); b)

basic knowledge in general unsatisfactory, even for

protected areas; c) difficulty of making a quick

faunistical list of a region, even with small

extension; d) necessity to adopt different and very

specialized sampling methods related to the animals

mobility and the different habitats they occupy; e)

difficulty in developing maps for wildlife.

In relation to these issues, two methodologies

are used for the study of fauna in the environmental

impact studies: 1) Ecosystem approach (review of

certain natural habitats of particular interest in

relation to the associated fauna component); 2) List

of species (for a more detailed discussion of the

topic see Sabella & Petralia, 2012). Really, the

zoologists must interpret the territory as a mosaic

of areas that provide real or potential opportunities

(trophic, reproduction, shelter, etc.) for the various

wildlife species.

The attention of the zoologists involved in the en-

vironmental impact studies, generally, focuses on the

terrestrial vertebrates (especially birds), because it is

the best known component of the wildlife and

responds to the needs to assess the environmental

quality in relation to the targets of the impact studies.

THE USE OF ENTOMOFAUNA: AP-

PROACHES AND TOOLS

The insects are generally poorly used in the en-

vironmental impact studies. This component,

instead, on account of its species richness (more

than 1 million of taxa known heretofore), of its

ubiquitous occurrence and very different diet

(predators, phytophagous, saprophagous, parasites,

pollinators, etc.) and of its diverse and articulated

ecological requirements is suited for the environ-

mental impact studies (Rosenberg et al., 1986). The

study of entomofauna, in many cases, provides

more detailed information on the fine structure and

functioning of the ecosystems and/or allows to

study in more detail the habitats or the microhabit-

ats of particular naturalistic value (dunes and back-

shore, springs, ripicolous environments, soil, caves,

rotting stumps, hollow of old trees, etc.), which are

sometimes very important in the environmental im-

pact studies, and also in the territorial planning and

in the nature conservation policy (Gobbi, 2000).

In relation to the high species number and to the

great diversity of the environments in which they

occur, the study of insects present all the problems

outlined above in a more accentuated, so much so

that, at first glance, it would seem almost impossible

to use the insects in the assessment procedures. For

this reasons guidelines for the use of insects in im-

pact evaluation are, generally, lacking, with excep-

tion regarding the freshwater ecosystems (Adham et

al., 2009; Walters, 2011; Barman, 2014) and the agro

ecosystems (see for example Caoduro et al., 2014).

To do this you have, first, to give up the idea of

establishing a more or less full list of insect species

of a territory, even if small. In any case, this idea is

unworkable for all faunistical studies. But ignoring

entomofauna cannot solve this problem. In the last

years, however, many tools have become available

for use the insects in the environmental management

and also in the impact assessment studies. For a

review of the various sampling methodologies of

entomofauna used in environmental monitoring and

a case study see Burgio et al. (2013).

The use of the entomofauna in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.) 177

It is clear that for assessment studies can be used

only a small fraction of all insect species that occur

in the study area and should be considered those

with conservation problems (IUCN status, inclusion

in international conventions or European directive

annexes) and/or scientific value (endemic, sten-

oecious, at the areal limit, etc.).

Below are briefly treated the main tools usable

for the evaluation of the environmental quality

based on the presence of insects species.

They, substantially, consist of the European,

national and regional red list drafted according to

IUCN criteria, of the annexes of different interna-

tional convention and European directive, of the

checklists (sometimes georeferenced), and of the

Standard Data Form and the Management Plan of

the Natura 2000 site.

SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE ANNEXES

OF DIRECTIVE 43/92 EEC

Insects species of Annex II to Directive 43/92 EEC

present in Sicily

The taxa listed in Annex II are named as “ Com-

munity interest species whose conservation

requires the designation of special areas of conser-

vation''’ (with an asterisk priority species are

indicated). All these species are very important for

Assessment of Impact because it is mandatory to

take them into account and considering the possible

negative effects induced by the territory's trans-

formation linked to realize a project. Only if you

can exclude negative effects on these species, or in

the presence of negative impacts proposing effect-

ive mitigation measures, it is possible to give a

positive evaluation of the environmental compatib-

ility of the project.

The insect species included in the Annex II to

Directive 43/92 EEC present in Sicily are show in

Table 1 , and briefly commentated on below, em-

phasizing the most important threat factors to

consider for their conservation.

Coenagrion mercuriale (Charpentier, 1 840)

The larvae live in streams, usually on limestone

substrates. Sicilian populations (Fig. 1) are very loc-

alized. The species is rare in Italy and must be con-

sidered vulnerable. The major threats are: river

straightening, water harnessing, swamps and soil

drainage, water table lowering through irrigation,

field destruction or conversion into other agricul-

tural practices, water pollution (IUCN, 2014).

ODONATA

Coenagrionidae

Coenagrion mercuriale (o) - in Italy C. mercuriale castellani

Roberts, 1948

Cordulegastridae

Cordulegaster trinacriae

ORTHOPTERA

Gryllidae

Brachytrupes megacephalus

Myrmecophilus haronii - only Pantelleria island

COLEOPTERA

Lucanidae

Lucanus cerx’us (?) (o)

Geotrupidae

Bolbelasmus unicornis - in Sicily B. romanorum

Cetoniidae

* Osmoderma eremita - in Sicily O. cristinae

Cerambicidae

Cerambyx cerdo

*Rosalia alpina

LEPIDOPTERA

Arctiidae

*Callimorpha quadripunctaria (now Euplagia ) (o)

Satyridae

Melanargia arge

Table 1. Insects species of Annex II to Directive 43/92 EEC present in Sicily. All species listed in Annex II are present also

in Annex IV excluding those followed by symbol (o). The symbol * highlights the priorities species, while the symbol (?)

indicates the uncertain presence of the species in Sicily.

178

Giorgio Sabella etalii

Cordulegaster trinacriae Waterston, 1976

The larvae live in clean streams with sandy

bottom, shaded by tree vegetation. The species is

threatened by chemical and physical water pollution,

by water extraction for human use and by removal of

riparian vegetation. Desiccation due to climate change

is a further threat for this species (IUCN, 2014).

Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefevre, 1 827)

Large cricket that lives in dune and back-dune

environments, showing strong burrowing habits.

It builds a long one -meter burrow using a spectacular

technique of excavation. The species (Fig. 2) is

threatened by habitat changes due to agricultural

practices and touristic exploitation of beach (see

Petralia et al., 2015).

Myrmecophilus baronii Baccetti, 1966

Endemic species to Pantelleria Island. It is a

mirmecophilous Grillidae generally enfeoffed with

the ants of the genus Lasius Fabricius, 1804.

Lucanus cervus cervus (Linnaeus, 1758)

The presence of this taxon in Sicily is to be con-

firmed. It lives in forests of oak and chestnut,

sometimes, on the trunks and branches of willows

and mulberries. The female lays the eggs at the foot

of the trees; the larvae feed on humus and then

penetrate into the trunk, but generally they dig their

tunnels in the stumps remaining in ground and their

development requires up to 5 years. The species is

threatened by the coppicing of the forests and

cleanliness of the undergrowth. The taxon not yet

assessed for the IUCN Red List. In Sicily is

certainly presents L. tetraodon sicilianus Planet,

1899, showing similar ecological requirements but

is not listed in any Annex to the Habitats Directive.

Bolbelasmus romanorum Amone et Massa, 2010

Bolbelasmus unicornis (Schrank, 1789) is in-

cluded in Annex II of the Habitats Directive and also

B. romanorum, endemic to Sicily, should be inserted

into Annex II. B. romanorum is relatively rare and

localized species. Its biology is still poorly known.

It can be occasionally observed wandering on the

ground or under stones and during crepuscular flight.

The taxon not yet assessed for the IUCN Red List.

*Osmoderma cristinae Sparacio, 1994

The genus Osmoderma Le Peletier de Saint-

Fargeau et Serville, 1828 includes species very

sensitive to environmental changes and everywhere

in rarefaction. O. eremita (Scopoli, 1763) is included

in Annex II of the Habitats Directive as priority

species. Even O. cristinae (Fig. 3), endemic to

northwestern Sicily, and O. italicum Sparacio, 2000,

endemic to Central and Southern Italy, with a

biology entirely comparable with that of O. eremita,

should be inserted into Annex II and regarded as

priority species. O. cristinae is a silvicolous species.

The larvae develop in old rotting trunks of oaks or

maples. The main overall threat is likely to be

degradation or loss of habitat quality, involving

structural changes in the tree populations arising

from changing land use - affecting age structures

and trees density. Exploitation from forestry is often

a key immediate issue, but equally damaging can be

long-term changes towards canopy closure and loss

of old trees as a result of non or minimum interven-

tion management systems which all too often ex-

clude grazing by large herbivores. Fragmentation

and increasing isolation of beetle populations are

also key factors. The restricted area of occupancy

combines limited population size with reduced hab-

itat availability, bird predation, fires, and frequently

unsuitable local techniques of forest management

(Audisio et al., 2007).

Cerambyx cerdo cerdo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Silvicolous species. The adult feeds on leaves,

fruit and lymph and actively flies in the twilight

hours. After mating, which occurs between June and

August, the female lays her eggs in the cracks of the

bark of big oak trees. The saproxylic larva begins to

dig tunnels in the cortical layers and then penetrates

into the wood and its development requires 3-4

years. It is a species threatened by coppicing of oak

trees and by the removal of old decaying plants.

* Rosalia alpina (Linnaeus, 1758)

The species (Fig. 4) lives preferentially in mature

forests with a predominance of beech, especially

The use of the entomofauna in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.) 179

those characterized by very rainy or oceanic climate.

Adults are active during the day on logs felled or

inflorescences of Umbrelliferae. After mating, eggs

are laid in the wood; the larval development takes 3

years, and it is preferably done in dead or decayed

wood of beech exposed to the sun. The larva can

develop also on alder, ash, hawthorn, linden and

maple or conifers. The species is threatened by

excessive cleaning the forest area; perhaps even by

air pollution and by the general contraction of beech

forests, especially mature ones.

*Euplagia quadripunctaria (Poda, 1761)

The only European species of this genus. It can

be found in the cool forests and, in the Mediter-

ranean region, most often in narrow valleys bounded

by mountains with steep slopes with perennial

streams and continuous woodlands, characterized by

a microclimate cooler and wetter than the surround-

ing areas. Adults have primarily nocturnal habits and

spending the day in the dense vegetation. The larvae

emerge after 8-15 days after spawning and feed on

various plants for a short time (like several Ros-

aceae, and other species such as black locust and

eastern plane tree, vines and mulberry trees, honey-

suckle) then they go into hibernation. After the 5th

molt, the caterpillar spins a slight cocoon in the litter.

The pupal stage lasts about 1 month; the imago

emerges between June and August, most often in

July, according to the altitude and the seasons.

Melanargia arge (Sulzer, 1776)

The species is distributed in peninsular Italy and

northern Sicily. Its habitat is represented by arid

steppes with scattered bushes and isolates trees with

outcropping rocks. Most of the sites are located in

the valleys sheltered from the wind or in hilly areas

inland. The fires favored by shepherds and the

Figure 1. Coenagrion mercuriale castellani, Sicily, Palermo, stazione Montemaggiore Belsito, 30.IV.2010. Figure 2.

Brachytrupes megacephalus, Sicily, Trapani, Capo Feto, 1.V.2011. Figure 3. Osmoderma cristinae, Sicily, Madonie

Mountains, Gibilmanna, 2.VII.2014. Figure 4. Rosalia alpina, Nebrodi Mountains, Biviere di Cesaro, 6.VII.2014 (Photos

by C. Muscarella).

180

Giorgio Sabella etalii

ORTHOPTERA

TETTIGONIIDAE

Saga pedo

LEPIDOPTERA

PAPILIONIDAE

Papilio alexanor

Parnassius apollo

Parnassius mnemosyne

Zerynthia polyxena

SPHINGIDAE

Proserpinus proserpina

Table 2. Insects species of Annex IV to Directive 43/92 EEC not listed in Annex II, present in Sicily.

overgrazing can have serious negative effects on

this species along with other habitat alterations.

This species is not believed to face major threats at

the European level.

Insects species of Annex IV to Directive 43/92

EEC not listed in Annex II, present in Sicily

The taxa listed in Annex IV are named as

“Community interest species in need of strict

protection”.

Most of the species listed in Annex II are also

mentioned in Annex IV, so in Table 2 are shown

only the insects species present in Sicily and

listed in Annex IV, but not in Annex II. They are

briefly commentated on below, emphasizing the

most important threat factors to consider for their

conservation.

Saga pedo (Pallas, 1771)

Species distributed from central-southern and

southeastern Europe to central Asia and north-

western China. In Italy it is present in a few areas

of the Alps and Apennines, Sardinia and Sicily.

Saga pedo colonizes areas with more or less open

herbaceous vegetation or shrubs. It can be observed

on the ground or on bushes, where moves rather

slowly. Predator species, feeding mainly on other

Orthoptera (grasshoppers and locusts) that captures

thanks to the long and strong forelegs armed with

spines. Never common in areas where it is present,

is threatened by habitat degradation.

Papilio alexanor Esper, 1800

This butterfly is mostly found on warm and dry

calcareous slopes with flower-rich vegetation and

low-growing bushes. It prefers slopes that are steep

and rocky and it is especially active during the

hottest hours of the day. Different foodplants are

known, all of them umbellifers. Although this

species shows a decline in a part of its European

range, it is not believed to face major threats at the

European scale.

Parnassius apollo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Species widely distributed in the mountains of

Western Europe and Southern and Fennoscandia,

although it is extinct in some areas such as central

Germany, Czechoslovakia and Denmark and it is

absent in Britain. In Sicily, the species is at the

southern limit of its distribution range and is

extremely localized, it is in fact known only from a

few stations on the Madonie Mountains and accor-

ding to some authors belongs to a subspecies P.

apollo siciliae Oberthiir, 1899 (Fig. 5). Parnassius

apollo is linked to stony and mountainous areas

poor of vegetation. It shows a preference for cal-

careous soils and for some plants such as Cardus

spp., Cirsium spp., Origanum spp., Centaurea spp.,

Scabiosa spp. and Knauzia spp.

Parnassius mnemosyne (Linnaeus, 1758)

In Central Europe the species (Fig. 6) lives in

hill and mountain areas up to 1,500 m of altitude,

in Northern Europe in plain areas. In Italy he

attends the clearings and the edges of deciduous

forest (beech, turkey oak). Adults are attracted to

many vegetal species, with a preference for red,

purple and blue flowers as Centaurea spp., Knauzia

spp., Geranium spp. and Lychnis spp. The two main

The use of the entomofauna in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.) 181

causes of its decline are the reforestation and the

changes in traditional agricultural practices, which

have caused the disappearance of many meadow

areas.

Zerynthia polyxena (Denis et Schiffermuller, 1775)

The only Italian species of this genus. It attends

the plain near wetlands, the hilly and mountainous

areas with arid terrain or rocky areas up to 900 m.

It has a single annual generation, usually adults

appear in April-May, but in Sicily may be active

already at the end of February. The caterpillars feed

on various species of Aristolochia L. The disappear-

ance of this species, observed throughout Europe,

is due to the reforestation and the habitat destruc-

tion. Locally may be threatened by excessive

collection.

Proserpinus proserpina (Pallas, 1772)

The only European species of the genus. It lives

from the sea level up to 1 ,500 m in different biotopes

such as valleys, forest edges, clearings and banks of

the streams, in rich sites of Epilobium angustifolium

L. Adults are primarily nocturnal and prefer nectar-

rich flowers, such as the common oregano, several

species of fireweed, wild pink and honeysuckle. The

species has disappeared from many localities in re-

cent times, but the causes are not known. Some po-

pulations seem to disappear for a few years and

reappear suddenly, for no apparent reason.

SPECIES INCLUDED IN THE RED LIST

BASED ON IUCN CRITERIA

One other very useful tool is represented of the

Red Lists based on IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2012).

On the site http://www.iucnredlist.org/ can be check

the Red List of Threatened Species, which are men-

tioned all insect species considered threatened at the

global level. For each of them, informations on tax-

onomy, assessment, geographic range, population,

habitat and ecology, and major threats are provided.

However, there are European red lists among which

are to mention those of saproxylic Coleoptera

(Nieto & Alexander, 2010), of butterfly (Van Swaay

et al., 2010), and of dragonflies (Kalkman et al.,

2010). Also to be mentioned some national red lists

such as those on Italian invertebrates (Cerfolli et al.,

Figure 5. Parnassius apollo, Sicily, Madonie Mountains,

Pizzo Carbonara, 15.VII.2006. Figure 6. Parnassius mnemo-

syne, Sicily, Madonie Mountains, Piano Battaglietta,

12.VI.2012 (Photos by C. Muscarella).

2002), on butterflies (Prola & Prola, 1990) and the

recent red lists of Italian saproxylic Coleoptera

(Audisio et al., 2014) and Italian dragonflies

(Riservato et al., 2014). For Sicily, currently, there

are not regional red lists of insects, the only work,

that concerns only Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, is

a list of species present within the Regional Parks,

in which, for each species, informations on assess-

ment, geographic distribution, and habitat are

provided (Sabella & Sparacio, 2004).

SPECIES LISTED IN THE ENTOMOLEX

A very useful tool, drawn up under the auspices

of the Italian Entomological Society, is represented

182

Giorgio Sabella etalii

by Entomolex (Ballerio, 2004). It is a review that

aims to provide an overview of all the rules concern-

ing the conservation of the Italian insects. For each

mentioned species is considered its inclusion in the

annexes of international conventions (Conventions

of Washington and Bern), of EU legislation

(Directive 43/92 EEC), and of national and regional

(Regions Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Liguria, Lombardy,

Piedmont, Tuscany, and Veneto and the autonomous

provinces of Trento and Bolzano) laws.

CKMAP OF ITALIAN FAUNA, FAUNA

D’lTALIA AND REGIONAL CATALOGUE

The CKmap project (Ruffo & Stoch, 2005) and

its database have made available information on the

punctual distribution in Italy of approximately

10,000 terrestrial and freshwater species selected

from the checklist because protected, threatened,

with scientific or biogeographical interest, or bioin-

dicators. The project represents an important tool

for a correct and scientific management of the biod-

iversity and the natural habitats, as from Checklist

of the Italian fauna (Minelli etal., 1993-1995), that

comprises about 55,000 species. In the CKmap, for

each species, geo-referenced data of the Italian

localities, of the distribution, of the ecology, and its

value as a bioindicator are provided. The analysis

of so large sample of species has allowed to identify

the most important areas in terms of the number of

species, of the concentration of endemic species, of

the species with restricted distribution and/or of

particular biogeographical interest. All that permit

to draw a picture of the overall distribution of

animal biodiversity in Italy with a level of accuracy

and detail unthinkable a few years ago.

The CKmap can provide, therefore, detailed

information on many species of Sicilian entomo-

fauna, and must be integrated with the many mono-

graphes of the series "Fauna d'ltalia" dedicated to

insects, some regional checklist (see for example

Pilato et al., 2007 for Iblean region) and many

regional faunistic catalogs concerning various taxo-

nomic groups such as Ephemeroptera (Belfiore et

al., 1991), Plecoptera (Fochetti & Nicolai, 1987;

Ravizza & Gerecke, 1991), Neuroptera (Pantaleoni,

1986), Coleoptera Cerambycidae (Sanaa &

Schurmann, 1980), Coleoptera Staphylinidae

(Sabella & Zanetti, 1991), Coleoptera Pselaphidae

(Sabella, 1998), Coleoptera Tenebrionidae (Aliquo

& Soldati, 2010; Aliquo & Soldati, 2014), etc. Of

course many other citations of Sicilian insect

species are dispersed in numerous scientific public-

ations, it would be better to know, but the use of the

tools suggested previously can be deemed suffi-

cient to estimate the environmental quality of an

area and assess the impact of the implementation of

a project.

STANDARD DATA FORM AND MANAGE-

MENT PLAN OF NATURA 2000 SITES

At each site Natura 2000 is associated a standard

data form, available, for Italian sites, on the official

website of the Ministry of Environment and Protec-

tion of Land and Sea (http://www.minambiente.it/

pagina/schede-e-cartografie). The standard data

form, which is still required in an Annex when

processing a report of Impact Assessment, listing

all habitats and species of Community interest

whose conservation requires the designation of

special areas of conservation (for the invertebrates

see the section 3.2.f.) and also all other important

species (see the section 3.3), because listed in the

national red list (motivation A), endemics (motiva-

tion B); included in the international conventions

(motivation C) or for other reasons (motivation D).

In regards to the Sicilian Region, on the official

website of the Regional Ministry of Land and

Environment (http://www.artasicilia.eu/old_site/

web/natura2000/index.html) most of the Manage-

ment Plans of the Sicilian Natura 2000 sites are

available and downloadable in pdf format. In these

plans can be find detailed information on the animal

species including their distribution in the site

habitats and their ecological requirements.

BRIEF CONCLUSIVE CONSIDERATIONS

This paper attempts to emphasize the import-

ance of the insect fauna study in environmental

impact assessment and more generally in the ter-

ritory planning and nature conservation.

The numerous problems related to the study of

the entomofauna should not discourage, because by

a reasonable approach, it can get to a list of species

that, far from being exhaustive, may represent a

The use of the entomofauna in the studies of the Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A.) and Assessment of Impact (A.I.) 1 83

good basis for the assessment, in terms of fauna, of

the environmental quality and thus to assess any im-

pacts. In another article in this volume, a study case,

in which were used the approach and tools previou-

sly treated, is proposed (Sabella et al., 2015).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to Calogero Muscarella

(Palermo, Italy) for the photos.

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Monograph

A study case of Assessment of Impact using the invertebrates

Giorgio Sabella", Antonio Alicata & Fabio Massimo Viglianisi

Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, sez. Biologia Anim ale, Universita di Catania, via Androne 81,

95124 Catania, Italy; e-mail: sabellag@unict.it; antonioalicata@g mail. com; fabiovgl@unict.it

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT A study case of Assessment of Impact (A. I.) in regards to the project of achieving diaphragm

containment for homogeneous areas T and V of the Gela Refinery is explained. The inver-

tebrates were used to evaluate the environmental quality and also to identify appropriate and

effective mitigation measures and for preparing a post-operam monitoring. Some methodo-

logical proposals and an index of faunistic habitat value have been proposed.

KEY WORDS Assessment of Impact; Invertebrates; Sicily; Faunistic value index.

Received 29.11.2014; accepted 21.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Cong re ss “Speciation and Taxonomy”, M ay 1 6 th- 1 8 th 20 14, Cefalit-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The article 6 of the Directive 92/43 EEC estab-

lishes the rules, which govern and regulate the con-

servation and management of the Nature 200 0

network sites, and determines the guidelines to be

adopted by the member states for proper relation-

ship between the protection of natural resources and

the land use. In particular, the paragraphs 3 and 4

establish procedures governing the approval of

plans or projects that insist on SCI or SPA, and not

directly related to their management. Essentially,

any transform at ion that interests a Natura 2000 site,

as well as areas adjacent thereto must be subjected

to a procedure for Assessment of Impact, which

excludes negative effects on the site, or, if it recog-

nizes them, proposes corrective measures (mitiga-

tion or compensation).

The realization of a diaphragm containment of

some areas of the Gela Refinery (Sicily), fell back

within the perimeter of the SCI and S PA ITA050001

- Biviere and Macconi of Gela. Therefore, in com-

pliance with the requirements of the aforemen-

tioned legislation, the project proposer has decided

to proceed to the elaboration of the Assessment of

Impact to verify if the project could have the

adverse effects on habitats and species in Annexes

I and II Directive 92/43 EEC and species of Annex

I to Directive 2009/147 EC of the Natura 200 0 site.

The project involved the construction of a bar-

rier to excavation with composite diaphragm (self-

hardening mud and HDPE sheet) associated to a

system of pumping wells of groundwater, already

pre-existing for much, built upstream of the

diaphragm. For its realization the excavation of a

trench, about 1 meter wide, 25 meters on average

deep, and about 2.5 kilometers long was foreseen,

and so effects on soil fauna, which concerns

substantially invertebrates, were expected.

Although invertebrates are little used in environ-

mental impact assessments (Sabella et al., 2015), in

this case, for project evaluation their study was

necessary, given their importance in determining

the composition and structure of the soil fauna. For

this reason, at the study of terrestrial Vertebrates it

is added that of the invertebrates, with particular

attention to the Insects.

186

Giorgio Sabella etalii

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

The study area includes a territory in which it is

believed, on the basis of the project data, are pos-

sible impacts on wildlife induced by its realization.

The area is located in the district of “Piana del

Signore”, in the municipality of Gela, within the

larger territory of "Piana di Gela". It is bordered to

west by the Priolo Channel, to the east by the New

Priolo Channel and is between the coast and the

south side of the Gela Refinery (Fig. 1).

Sampling and analysis

The species list refers to the study area identified

in figure 1. The annotated catalogue of the ter-

restrial Vertebrates was based on the Nature 2000

site's Standard Data Form, and also on literature

references believed to be accurate, on personal

observations and/or on the presence of potentially

suitable habitat for the species. The annotated cata-

log of theArthropods was based on the Natura 20 0 0

site's Standard Data Form, on literature references

believed to be accurate, on a faunistic sampling

campaign, with a monthly intervals, from June to

November, with various techniques (collection on

view, mowing, and sifting). For the purposes of an

biocoenotic investigation on soil fauna, was also

used the method of pit-fall traps, which allowed

to sample many species, not detected by other

sampling methods.

For each species were reported data on: 1) sci-

entific name, author and year, according to the

nomenclature adopted by the check-list of Italian

fauna (Minelli et al., 1993-1 995) and Ckmap of

Italian fauna (Ruffo & Stoch, 2005), considering

Figure 1. Study area. Red line: perimeter of the Natura 2000 site; in green: study area; in yellow: remediation area of basin

A zone 2 of Gela Refinery, Sicily; in gray: affected area in the project of the diaphragm containment for homogeneous

areas T and V of the Gela Refinery.

A study case of Assessment of Impact using the invertebrates

187

the subsequent changes in the nomenclature of the

recent literature; 2) the chorologic category, accord-

ing to Vigna Taglianti et al. (1992, 1 999), while for

birds according to Brichetti (1997); 3) the habitats

potentially utilized by the species in the area; 4) if

known, the phenology of the species; 5) the trend

of European and Italian populations.

Particular attention was given to measures of

protection and conservation of which the species

is the subject, indicating its presence in the fol-

lowing annexes:

- II (strictly protected species of fauna) and III

(protected fauna species) of the Berne Convention,

law 5 August 1981 n. 503, on the Conservation of

European Wildlife and NaturalHabitats in Europe;

- I (endangered migratory species) and II

(migratory species to be the subject of agreements)

of the Bonn Convention, law 25 January 1 983 n.

42, on the Conservation of migratory species of

w ild an im als ;

-A (species threatened with extinction which are

ormay be an action of the trade) and B (species not

necessarily threatened with extinction at the present

time, but that may become so unless trade is not

subject to regulation close) of the Washington

Convention, law 19 December 1975 n. 874, on

international trade in animal and plant species

threatened with extinction (CITES) and subsequent

amendments and additions;

- II (animal and plant species of Community in-

terest whose conservation requires the designation

of special areas of conservation), IV (animal and

plant species of Community interest in need of strict

protection) and V (animal and plant species of

Community interest whose taking in the wild and

exploitation may be subject to management meas-

ures) of EEC Directive 92/4 3, D.P.R. 8 September

1997 n. 357, on the conservation of natural habitats

and of wild fauna and flora in Europe.

As for the birds, for each species was specified

inclusion in the Annexes (I, II/A , II/B , III/A and

II I/C of the Directive EC 2009/147 and the conser-

vation status according the Species of European

Conservation Concern of Birdlife International,

2 0 04 (SPEC1, SPEC2, SPEC3, Non-SPEC E and

Non-SPEC).

For Mammals and Birds species, their possible

protection established by the law 11 February 1992,

n. 157 (rules for the protection of homeotherme

wildlife and for hunting) and their inclusion in

article 2, which provides for such species specific

protective measures, was also considered.

The species conservation status, inferred by the

website IUCN 2014 and by the various national

(Prola & Prola, 1990; C erfo lli et al., 20 0 2;

Rondinini et al., 2013; Audisio et al., 2014; Riser-

vato et al., 2014) and regional (AA.VV., 2008) red

lists, based on IUCN criteria (IUCN, 2012), was

also indicated.

Species of Annex II to Directive 43/92 EEC = 1.5 +0.50 if prior itary

Species of Annexes to international convention, or to national or regional laws — 1

Species included in national red lists based on IUCN criteria

M CR = 1

■ EN = O.SO

*vu = 0.60

■ NT = 0.40

■ LC = 0.20

Species of binge ographical interest

■ Sicilian endemic species = 1+ 0.20 if present only in southern Sicily

■ Sicilian endemic subspecies =0.50 +0.20 if present only in southern Sicily

■ Species with restricted distribution — 0.50

* Species at the northern end of their distribution = 0.70

■ Species which in Italy are present only in Sicily — 0.50 (1.00 if in Europe are present only in Sicily)

■ Species at the southern end of their distribution — 0.50

Species relevant for ecological aspects

■ Stenotops or stenoecious = 0.70

■ Susceptible to human disturbance — 0.70

0 Localized — 0.50

0 Restricted populations =0,50

Table 1. Criteria used for the faunistic value attribution to the invertebrats species.

188

Giorgio Sabella etalii

A faunistic value (see for example M assa &

Canale, 2008) to each species is assigned, for inver-

tebrates it was based on the criteria showed in

Table 1. If a species fell within in more than cat-

egories, the values were summed. Within the study

area, based on the vegetation and the land use

Habitat

Acronym

Shoreline and sandy shore

BAR

Aquatic environment and riparian zone

ACQ

Sand dune

DUN

Juniperus maritimus scrub

MAG

Retama raetam scrub

MAR

Tama fix g ro u p in g s

TAM

Back dune open environment

APR

Saccarum monophytic g ro u p in g s

SAC

Eucalyptus rostrata reforestation

EUC

Acacia saligna reforestation

ACA

Pinus pinea reforestation

Table 2. Habitat types within the study area and

used acronym s.

maps, the following 11 natural and seminatural

habitat types have been identified (Table 2):

In order to compare the faunistic values of the

habitats aforementioned, considering the specific

biodiversity level in each habitat, and the faunistic

value of each species, an index of the faunistic

I Aj)

/<*) = £— x 100

Z>0)

1(h) = Index of habitat faunistic value

j = species

h = habitat

v(j) = faunistic value of species

nh(j) = number of habitats in which the species is present

S= species of all habitat

Figure 2. Formula used to calculate the faunistic

value of the habitat.

value of the habitat, 1(h), calculated with the for-

mula showed in Fig. 2.

Each species contributes to the ecosystems

functioning, becoming part of the trophic netw orks,

and using, at various levels, the habitat resources,

so none of them can take a null faunistic value.

Therefore, it was considered appropriate to assign

a minimum value of 0.01 to each taxon. This value

has been estimated as half of the minimum value of

W/) found .

nhti)

RESULTS

A total of 273 animal taxa were counted, of

which 198 were Arthropods, and 186 Insects.

The study of the invertebrate fauna of a geo-

graphical area, although of limited size, requires

very long times and the use of many specialists of

different taxonomic groups, in consideration of its

great richness and of its articulation, which allow s

it to occupy most part of habitats, and in any case,

can not be exhaustive (Sabella et al., 2015). Just

remember that the check-list of Italian fauna

(Minelli et al., 1 993-1 995 ) cites for Sicily over

I 2,000 terrestrial taxa, with the Order of the

Coleoptera which includes about 4,400 species

and subspecies.

The study of the invertebrate fauna, therefore,

was aimed to examine only some of the fauna

components considered important to establish the

environmental quality and to identify the potential

impacts related to modifications of the environ-

ment. So, some groups were considered relevant to

the study of the fauna of the soil, and of the sub-

aerial environments. In particular, were considered,

among the Chelicerata, Araneidae, and among the

M andibulata, Crustacea (terrestrials amphipods and

isopods) and Insecta (Odonata, Orthoptera, B lat-

toidea, Heteroptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera and

Hymenoptera Form icid ae ). A m on g these 96 species

were Coleoptera, 14 Lepidoptera, and 22 Hymenop-

tera Form icidae.

Among collected Insects taxa, three ( OvthetVWTl

trinacria (Seiys, 1 8 4 1 ) , Ochrilidia sicula Saifi,

1931 and Carabus faminii faminii Dejean, 1826)

have already been proposed for inclusion in Annex

II to Directive 92/43 EEC, while two (CalOTYievCl

littoralis nemoralis (Olivier, 1 7 90), and Eurynebria

COTTiplciVlCltCl ( Linnaeus, 1767) are included in annex

A of regional law 6 April 2000 n. 56 of Tuscany

A study case of Assessment of Impact using the invertebrates

189

Total

BAR

ACQ

DIN

MAG

MAR

TAM

APR

SAC

EUC

ACA

N of species

273

12!

105

109

135

faunistic value (VF)

89.75

9.017

13.623

14.510

7.540

10.115

7.682

12,959

2.811

4.723

3281

3.490

N of species with VF = 0.00!

169

N of species with VF> 0.001

104

N of species exclusives of habitat

1(h)

944

J4.59

15.87

8.67

i lit

8,74

14.44

338

549

3.89

4.17

Table 3. Distribution per habitat of species number, faunistic value, and fa unis tic value index. BAR = Shoreline and sandy

shore; ACQ = Aquatic environment and riparian zone; DUN = Sand dune; MAG = JllYlipeVUS YYUJLvitimUS scrub ; MAR =

Retama raetam scrub; tam = Tamarix groupings; a pr = Back dune open environment; sac = Saccarum monophytic

groupings; EUC = Eucalyptus WStrata reforestation; ACA = Acadd SClligna reforestation; PIN = PinUS pined reforestation .

VF = Faunistic value. 1(h) = Habi tat fa unis tic value index.

Region (Ballerio, 2004). DocioStaUYUS minutUS L a

Greca, 1 962 is endemic to southern Sicily, while

five species (Ochrilidia sicula, Isomira paupercula

(Baudi, 1883), NotOXUS siculliS L a Ferte -S en ec tere ,

1 849, Temnothorax laestrygon (Sants chi, 1 9 3 1 ),

and Temnothorax lagrecai (Baroni Urbani, 1964),

and six subspecies ( Euchorthippus albolineatus

siculus Ramme, 1927, ErodiuS Siculus Siculus

Solier, 1 834, TaSgiuS falcifer aliquoi (Bordoni,

1 976), Tasgius globulifer evitendus (Tottenham,

1945), Tasgius pedator siculus (Aube, 1 842), and

Pimelia rugulosa sublaevigata Solier, 1 8 3 6 ) are

endemic to S icily.

Twelve taxa show a distribution restricted to the

Mediterranean basin. Among these, one species,

Pimelia grossa Fabricius, 1792, has a Sardinian-Si-

cilian-M aghrebian geonem y, four species, Ocneridia

nigropunctata (Lucas, 1 849), Platycranus putoni

Reuter, 1 8 79, Bl'OSCUS politUS (Dejean, 1 828), and

Carabus faminii faminii, show a Sicilian-M aghrebian

geonemy, while Cylindera trisignata siciliensis ( w .

Horn, 1891) has a S ic ilian -Tun isian distribution,

and Temnothorax kraussei (Emery, 19 16) shows a

Sicilian-Sardinian-Corsican geonemy. Also, two

taxa, Brachygluta aubei (Tournier, 1 867) and

Plagiolepis schmitzi F orel, 1 895 in Italy are known

only to Sicily, while two other, Orthetrum trinacria

and Hypocacculus elongatulus (Rosenhauer, 1856)

are known only to Sicily and Sardinia.

Twenty four species could be considered steno-

topes and/or stenoecious, sometimes with a strict

and exclusive binding to a particular type of habitat.

They often show populations of a few specimens

and they are very localized and very sensitive to the

an tropic disturbance (e.g. Orthetrum trinacria,

Pterolepis annulata (Fieber, 1853), Ochrilidia sicula ,

Masoreus aegyptiacus Dejean, 1828, and Myrmica

Sabuleti M e inert, 1861). Therefore, the insect fauna

shows remarkable faunistic emergencies, which are

related essentially to the dune and back-dunes eco-

systems and to the open environments.

In Table 3 are shown, for each habitat, its

species number, its faunistic value, and its faunistic

value index, while figure 3 shows, in decreasing

order, the 1(h) values of each habitat.

Figure 3. Histogram of 1(h) values of the different habitats

in the study area. DUN = Sand dune; ACQ = Aquatic envir-

onment and riparian zone; APR = Back dune open environ-

ment; MAR = Retdnid raetam scrub; BAR = Shoreline and

sandy shore; TAM = Tdmdrix gro up ing s ; MAG = JimiperUS

maritimus seru b ; e u c = Eucalyptus rostrata re f o re s ta tio n ;

pin = Pinus pinea reforestation; aca = Acacia saligna

reforestation; SAC = Saccarum monophytic groupings .

190

Giorgio Sabella etalii

The richest habitat in species has been the back

dunes open environment (APR), followed by the

sand dune (DUN), and by the scrub habitats (MAR

and MAG). The reforestations (EUC, ACA, and

PIN) are relatively poor in species, while the

shoreline and sandy shore (BAR) is the habitat with

the least number of taxa.

The faunistic value of each habitat is equivalent

to the sum of the faunistic values (VF) of the

species present in its interior. The highest faunistic

value is found in the sand dune (DUN), followed

by the aquatic environment and riparian zone

(ACQ), by the back dune open environment (APR),

by the RetCUTlO. VCietCllfl scrub (MAR), and by the

shoreline and sandy shore (BAR). These habitats

take a particular value precisely in relation to the

invertebrates fauna component, while the species of

terrestrial Vertebrates not would have highlighted

the importance of these habitat from the wildlife

point of view.

The lowest values are found, instead, in the

Saccarum monophytic groupings (SAC) and in the

reforestations (EUC, ACA, and PIN).

The 1(h) values have been subdivided into 4

classes :

- Class 1 Habitat of low faunistic value for 1(h)

values ranging between 0.01 and 4.

- Class 2 Habitat of medium faunistic value for

1(h) values ranging between 4.01and 8.

- Class 3 Habitat of high faunistic value for 1(h)

values ranging between 8.01 and 12.

- Class 4 Habitat of very high faunistic value for

1(h) values ranging between 12.01 and 16.

Relying on these classes, a map of the faunistic

value of the study area was processed (Fig. 4); for

some useful methods to the identification of

the areas of faunistic interest see also Giunti et

al. (2008), Sabella et al. (2009), Petralia (2010),

Ingegnoli (2011), Petralia (2012).

Figure 4. Map of the faunistic value of the study area (Gela Refinery, Sicily).

A study case of Assessment of Impact using the invertebrates

191

The analysis of this map showed as the most

part of the realization of the containment diaphragm

concerned the areas of low or medium faunistic

interest. On this base, the identification of the

project potential impacts, and the propositions of an

optimal allocation of building sites and of the safe-

guard of the neighboring habitats with high natural-

istic value were also possible.

Were also proposed appropriate and effective

m itigation measures, based on criteria, not aesthetic,

but scientific and naturalistic. Specifically, renatura-

tion actions with the restoration and the extension of

the habitats of particular naturalistic interest, as back

dune open environments and RetCllTlCl TCietCllTl scrubs

in place of reforestations, have been provided.

CONCLUSIONS

The level of knowledge about the ecological

responses of species and communities to environ-

mental changes not still allows an accurate and

precise quantification of their effects.

The study of the invertebrate fauna, in relation

to its great species richness and the various and

articulated ecological requirements of the latter,

allows a more detailed assessment of the environ-

mental quality and a mo re accurate prediction of the

changes that may occur in the structure and in the

dynamics of the zoocoenosis in response to perturb-

ations induced by the realization of a project. So

this study, together with that of the Vertebrates,

enables better the identification of the areas of

faunistic interest and the evaluation of their value.

Then it is possible a more accurate assessment of

potential impacts of the project on wildlife and the

proposal for suitable and effective mitigation

measures and the post-operam monitoring the

actual effectiveness of these latter.

The study highlighted that, in unsuitable en-

vironmental conditions to the stay of the vertebrates

community, in relation to their high levels of

anthropic disturbance and/or to the limited exten-

sion of the territory, the study of invertebrates com-

munities for the environmental quality assessment

from the faunistic point of view can be very useful.

In fact, confined habitats can retain good levels of

animal biodiversity and represent a refuge for many

rare species of invertebrates, and so they have a

relevant importance for the wildlife conservation.

Unfortunately, in impact assessment studies, the

invertebrates are often completely neglected and the

evaluations are based solely on the vertebrate

species. When "Umbrella SpedeS " or habitats of

community interest are lacking, the communities of

invertebrates are, therefore, at risk.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 193-196

Monograph

Diversity in the population of Brassica incana Ten.(Cruciferae)

in Sicily

Francesco Maria Raimondo &Vivienne Spadaro

Dipartimento STEBICEF, Sezione di Botanica ed Ecologia Vegetale, Universita degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 38, 90123

Palermo, Italy

ABSTRACT Phenotipic diversity in Sicilian populations of Brassica incana Ten. (Cruciferae) is here ana-

lyzed in comparison with the only one known population of B. raimondoi Sciandrello et al.,

taxonomic close species recently described from the coastal relief of eastern Sicily. The analysis

of diagnostic characters of these two taxa does not reveal significant differences that justify a

treatment at species level of the population of B. raimondoi. On this base, the authors deemed

to include this taxon in the infraspecific variability of B. incana and consider most appropriate

the rank of subspecies. Therefore is here proposed the establishment of the trinomial com-

bination B. incana subsp. raimondoi.

KEY WORDS Mediterranean flora; wild cabbage; Brassicaceae; taxonomy.

Received 02.03.2015; accepted 21.03.2015; printed 30.05.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th- 18th 20 14, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The Brassica Sect. Brassica (Cruciferae), is a

taxon represented by numerous forms described

both at specific and infraspecific level. The Sicilian

floristic district (sensu Fenaroli & Giacomini, 1968)

is considered the diversity center of this group,

because its geographical area, including Sicily, its

archipelagos and the islands of Malta and Gozo,

expresses the greatest biodiversity of this Section

seen that 70% of species related to it, not counting

the many infraspecific taxa, is concentrated in this

district. (Raimondo, 1997; Raimondo 2001). The

flora of Sicily includes in this section: B. macro-

carpa Guss., B. insularis Moris, B. rupestris Raf.,

B. villosa Biv., B. trichocarpa Brallo C. et al. and

B. incana Ten. To these, recently, has been added

B. raimondoi Sciandrello et al. (Fig. 1) very close

to B. incana and described from around Castelmola

(Messina), restricted area above the village of

Taormina, locus classicus of the taxon (Sciandrello

et al., 2013), next to one of the most classic coastal

localities known of B. incana (Capo S. Alessio)

(Fig. 2).

As part of the taxonomic review of the different

Sicilian populations of Sect. Brassica (Mazzola &

Raimondo, 1988; Raimondo et al. 1 99 1 ; Raimondo

& Mazzola, 1997), some taxa - previously considered

at specific level as B. tinei Lojac., B. drepanensis

(Caruel) Damanti and B. bivonana Mazzola et Rai-

mondo were included in B. villosa at subspecific

level. Similar treatment was given to some popula-

tions of B. rupestris differing from the type of the

species by phenotypic, ecological and distributive

characters; they were directly assigned the rank of

subspecies ( B . rupestris subsp. hirsuta Raimondo

et Mazzola and B. rupestris subsp. brevisiliqua Rai-

mondo et Mazzola) (Raimondo & Mazzola, 1997).

Based on these premises, and on the discovery

of a new population of B. incana s.str. (Tenore,

194

Francesco Maria Raimondo & Vivienne Spadaro

1812) on the Madonie Mountains (Raimondo in

PAL), we wanted to deepen the analysis of the

variability of this taxon foreseeing to include in it

B. raimondoi, taxon for which we propose the rank

of subspecies within B. incana.

MATERIAL AND METODHS

We studied the topotypical population of B.

incana Ten. and of B. raimondoi (Sciandrello et al.,

2013). Diagnostic characters of the two taxa repor-

ted in Sciandrello et al. (2013) are analyzed and

evalueted. In addition to morphological characters,

the spatial distribution in comparison with the

Sicilian populations of B. incana , in order to

exclude possible genetic interferences between the

populations, spatially but not orographic close,

then, subjected to two different bioclimates.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Based on the analysis and evaluation of morpho-

logical characters and the criteria followed in the

interpretation of the variability occurring in the

other species of the same group previously treated,

the distinctive characters of the taxon are not suffi-

ciently discriminating to interspecific level. The

color of the petals is not a character that is distrib-

uted continuously in B. incana. In Sicily, on the

Tyrrhenian coast, between Capo d'Orlando and

Gioiosa Marea (Messina), there are populations of

this species with individuals with yellow or white

flowers, respectively (Fig. 3), maintaining constant

the other characters. In contrast, the same color of

petals and lenght of siliques - given as discriminant

of B. raimondoi by the authors - on the basis of the

study of the topotypical population are not constant.

In fact, although the white flowered individuals are

prevalent, yellow flowered individuals occur

scattered (Figs. 5, 6). The indumentum of flowering

pedicel and sepals (Fig. 4), of stem and adult leaf

hairless or weakly pubescent, are variable charac-

ters in B. incana and therefore are not considered

stable enough to be discriminating. Also in

Brassica, the different characters of the siliqua,

Mazzola & Raimondo (1988) distinguished B.

bivonana from B. villosa, then reduced to the rank

of subspecies of B. villosa by the same authors (Rai-

mondo & Mazzola, 1997) [B. villosa subsp.

bivonana (Mazzola & Raimondo) Raimondo &

Mazzola].

Similarly, on the same characters and their

variability was based the distinction, within B.

rupestris, of a new subspecies occurring in the

western limit of the distribution end of this species

including the Tyrrhenian coast between the

promontory of Cefalu (Palermo ) to the east, the

promontory of Macari (Trapani) to the west and the

inland of the Madonie and Palermo Mountains,

including Rocca Busambra, to the south; it is the

case of B. rupestris subsp. brevisiliqua Mazzola et

Raimondo.

In light of the above considerations and of the

knowledge of the group, the authors believe that B.

raimondoi is not sufficiently distinctat specific level

and consider the population of Brassica of the cliffs

of Castelmola (Messina) as part of the variability of

B. incana, close and spatially overlapping to this

taxon, present in the underlying Ionian coast, near

Cape S. Alessio. Therefore, we give to it the follow-

ing arrangement:

Brassica incana Ten. subsp. raimondoi

(Sciandr., C. Brullo, Brullo, Giusso, Miniss. et

Salmeri) Raimondo & Spadaro stat. & comb. nov.

Bas. Brassica raimondoi Sciandrello, C. Brullo,

Brullo, Giusso, Minissale & Salmeri in PI. Biosyst.

147(3): 813 (2013).

CHOROLOGICAL AND TAXONOMIC

REMARKS

In the Mediterranean Region, among the species

of Brassica sect. Brassica, there are many endemic

taxa. Two in particular have a distribution almost

specular from north to south. They are B. insularis

Moris and B. incana Ten. The first, to the west,

from the French coast, via Sardinia, goes south to

Pantelleria and Tunisia; the second extends its dis-

tribution throughout the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic

coasts to Sicily, includingin this trajectory the

eastern and western sides of the Italian peninsula to

Sicily where B. incana occupies the eastern sector;

the Madonie Mountains represent the southern-

western limit.

In the south-eastern part of the distribution of

this species, an isolated population of the Ionian

coastal sector of the Island, described sub B.

Diversity in the population of Brassica incana Ten. (Cruciferae) in Sicily

195

Figure 1. Brassica raimondoi in flower (white): locus classicus, Castelmola, Jonian coast of Sicily. Figure 2. Brassica

incana in flower (yellow): Capo S. Alessio, Taormina, Jonian coast of Sicily. Figure 3. Brassica incana at S. Gregorio, Capo

d’Orlando, Tyrrenian coast of Sicily: plants with yellow and white flowers respectively. Figure 4. Comparison between

Brassica raimondoi and B. incana s.str.: a (flower) and b (siliquae) of B. raimondoi ; c (flower) and d (siliquae) of B. incana

(recomposed from Sciandrello et al., 2013).

196

Francesco Maria Raimondo & Vivienne Spadaro

Figure 5. Brassica raimondoi, rarely with yellow flowers, in his locus classicus (Castelmola).

Figure 6. Brassica raimondoi in the locus classicus (Castelmola): plants with white and yellow flowers respectively.

raimondoi , has not significantly discriminant

phenotypic characters which suggest to include the

taxon within B. incana. For the small size of the pop-

ulation and the spatial isolation of the population of

B. raimondoi remains taxonomically distinct and

still subject to subspecific level.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Study carried out as part of a project funded by

the University of Palermo with the financial support

of the Fondazione internazionale pro Herbario

mediterraneo.

REFERENCES

Brullo C., Brullo S., Giusso del Galdo G. & Ilardi V.,

2013. Brassica trichocarpa (Brassicaceae), a new

species from Sicily. Phytotaxa, 122: 45-60.

Fenaroli L. & Giacomini V., 1968. La Flora. Milano,

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Mazzola P. & Raimondo F.M., 1988. A new species of

Brassica from Sicily. Lagascalia, 15 (extra): 249-

251.

Raimondo F.M., 1997. Les membres italiens du com-

plexe de Brassica oleracea: leur distribution et spe-

cificites ecologiques. Bocconea, 7: 103-106.

Raimondo F.M., 2001. Conservazione della flora in Ita-

lia. II caso dei cavoli selvatici della Sicilia. Pp. 229-

241 in: Gomez-Campo C., Conservation de especies

vegetales amenazadas en la region mediterranea oc-

cidental. Madrid, Fondacion Areces.

Raimondo F.M. & Mazzola P, 1997. A new taxonomic

arrangement in the Sicilian member of Brassica L.

sect Brassica. Lagascalia, 19: 831-838.

Raimondo F.M., Mazzola P. & Ottonello D., 1991. On

the taxonomy and distribution of Brassica sect. Bras-

sica (Cruciferae) in Sicily. Flora Mediterranea, 1 : 63-

86 .

Sciandrello S., Brullo C., Brullo S., Giusso del Galdo G.,

Minissale P. & Salmeri C., 2013. A new species of

Brassica sect. Brassica (Brassicaceae) from Sicily.

Plant Biosystems, 147: 812-820.

Tenore M., 1812. Flora Napolitana, Prodromus. Stampe-

ria Reale, Orto Botanico, Napoli.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 197-204

Monograph

Taxonomy and conservation in Higher Plants and Bryophytes

in the Mediterranean Area

Gianniantonio Domina*, Giuseppe Bazan, Patrizia Campisi & Werner Greuter

Orto botanico ed Herbarium Mediterraneum dell’Universita di Palermo, via Lincoln 2, 90133 Palermo, Italy

■"Corresponding author

ABSTRACT The Mediterranean Region is among the areas of the world richest in wild and cultivated taxa.

Extinctions in the Mediterranean area are bound to have occurred in historical times but they

are not documented. The probable and documented cases of plant extinction in specific areas

within the Mediterranean are equivalent to 0.25% of total species-by-area records. Species

with a large range are more prone to local population size fluctuations and eventual extinction

than species with a reduced population. Small islands floras are more prone to extinction than

those on large islands and on the mainland. Reliability of our data on Mediterranean plant ex-

tinctions is poor. New emphasis on floristic research is needed to boost our deficient knowledge

of the Mediterranean flora. A closer collaboration between scholars and amateurs can increase

floristic knowledge and also help unravel taxonomic problems.

KEY WORDS vascular plants; mosses; extinctions; nomenclature.

Received 11.01.2015; accepted 02.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The Mediterranean Region is among the areas

of the world richest in wild and cultivated taxa. The

vascular flora comprises about 25.000 species. 50%

of the Flora (about 12.500 species) are endemic

(Medail & Quezel, 1999). This richness is not due

to high local species density but to small mean dis-

tributional areas reflected in a remarkable number

of narrow endemics (Greuter, 1991; 2001). In spite

of this high biodiversity, not all Mediterranean

countries have their own Red List of endangered

plants as yet; it is therefore quite difficult to make

between-country comparisons. An overview was

offered by Leon et al. (1985), who summarised the

risk status of endemics in Mediterranean countries.

More recently new lists were prepared for single

countries. The red list of the flora of Greece (Phitos

et al., 2009) is an outstanding example. Global

summaries for Europe have been presented by

Sharrock & Jones (2009), Bilz et al. (2011), and

Heywood (2012), but for the extra-European parts

of the Mediterranean they are still wanting.

MEDITERRANEAN VASCULAR PLANT

EXTINCTIONS

Extinctions in the Mediterranean area are bound

to have occurred in historical times, with the advent

of agriculture and the profound transformation of

the biota it entailed; but they are not documented.

Even the alleged extinction of the famous

“silphium” is not proven with certainty. The plant,

probably a Ferula or other giant umbellifer, was

used in classical antiquity in medicine and was also

198

Gianniantonio Domina etalii

fed to sheep and cattle. It was an essential item of

trade with the ancient North African city of Cyrene

(Fig. 1). By the first century A.C. the species, due

to overgrazing and over-collection, was considered

extinct in nature (Applebaum, 1979). However,

from extant written documents and paintings it is

not possible to name the plant with certainty. Its

identity with several species has been suggested in

lively and long-lasting debates, but it is still not

possible to know for certain whether or not the plant

is indeed extinct (Parejko, 2003).

The probable and documented cases of plant ex-

tinction in specific areas within the Mediterranean,

as recorded in Med-Checklist volumes 1,3, and 4

(Greuter et al., 1984-1989), are 116, equivalent to

0.25% of 47,298 total species-by-area records

(Greuter, 1991). The reported cases of total extinc-

tions of taxa are 22 (0.17 % of 12,886 taxa), of

which: 7 are “mystery cases”, 5 are cases of pos-

sible or actual rescue, and 10 are genuine cases of

(presumed) extinction (Greuter, 1991). Since 1991,

continuing field research has resulted in even more

reassuring figures: the 7 “mystery cases” remain the

same, 4 cases of possible or actual rescue were

added ( Coincya monensis subsp. puberula, Salvia

peyronii, Silene rothmaleri, Silene tomentosa),

bringing the total to 9; and of the genuine cases of

(presumed) extinction, only 6 remain.

The 7 “mystery cases” are: 1) Alyssum panicu-

latum Desf. (Cruciferae), based on a painting by

Aubriet, allegedly representing a Cretan plant found

by Tournefort in 1700 that matches no species

known to grow in that area. 2) Armeria arcuata

Boiss. et Reuter (Plumbaginaceae), once collected

by Welwitsch in Portugal and never again found;

according to Nieto Feliner (1987) it may well have

been an occasional intersectional hybrid. 3) Cam-

panula pyrenaica A. DC. (Campanulaceae), based

on two specimens, one allegedly from the Balearic

islands, the other from the Pyrenees. It has recently

been considered a synonym of Campanula sch-

euchzeri Vill. (Castro viejo et al., 2010). 4) Genista

melia Boiss. (Leguminosae), described from Milos

(Cyclades, Greece) and once doubtfully reported

from the Troad (Anatolia). The origin of the type,

which may well belong to the W Mediterranean

Genista scorpius complex, is in doubt. 5) Lathyrus

allardii Batt. (Leguminosae), described from near

Alger (Algeria) in 1879 and never seen since then.

Its native status has already been doubted by its

author. Perhaps it is only a form of Lathyrus gor-

goni Park, native further east and occasionally in-

troduced. 6) Quercus sicula Lojac. (Fagaceae),

described from a tree cultivated in the Botanical

Garden of Palermo of unknown, probably not Si-

cilian origin. An altogether doubtful taxon, perhaps

a mere variant of the Quercus pubescens complex.

7) Silene vulgaris subsp. aetnensis (Strobl) Pignatti

(Caryophyllaceae), described in 1885, at varietal

rank, from a single spot on Mt. Etna (Sicily).

Considered an enigmatic plant not recently seen

(Giardina et al., 2007).

The 9 cases of possible or actual rescue are: 1)

Coincya monensis subsp. puberula (Pau) Leadlay

(Brassicaceae), described in 1902 from Sanijan in

Galicia (Spain) but looked for unsuccessfully in its

locus classicus by Castroviejo (1982), was reported

from 4 localities in 1995 (Vioque & Pastor, 1995).

2) Diplotaxis siettiana Maire (Brassicaceae), an

endemic of Alboran island (Spain) where its only

population has recently been destroyed. It survives

in cultivation and seed banks, and reintroduction

into its native habitat looks promising (Perez

Latorre & al., 2013). 3) Erodium astragaloides

Boiss. et Reuter (Geraniaceae), described from

Sierra Nevada (Spain) where it has always been rare

and was not again found in this century, was re-

cently rediscovered in the Sierra de Cazorla

(Gomez-Campo, 1987). 4 ) Lysimachia minoricensis

Rodr. (Primulaceae), an endemic of Menorca

(Balearic Islands, Spain) that has disappeared from

its natural habitat but survives in cultivation. Rein-

troduction into its original habitat has been attemp-

ted (see Gomez-Campo, 1987) but so far has not

been successful, although attempts continue

(Galicia Herbada & Fraga Arquimbau, 2011). 5)

Onobrychis aliacmonia Rech. f. (Leguminosae),

described from Greek Macedonia, had its single loc-

ality, on the banks of Aliakmon River, flooded by

an artificial lake in c. 1975. A very similar plant, dis-

covered in Laconia (Peloponnesus), was first iden-

tified with it but later described as a distinct

subspecies then species, O. peloponnesiaca (Iatrou

et Kit Tan) Iatrou et Kit Tan. The genuine O. aliac-

monia was rediscovered in 1985 close to its clas-

sical locality, where it managed to colonise new

habitats (Greuter, 1987). 6) Limonium dufourii

(Girard) Kuntze (Plumbaginaceae), an endemic of

the Albufera de Valencia (Spain), first described in

1842, last seen in 1972, was considered a victim of

Taxonomy and conservation in Higher Plants and Bryophytes in the Mediterranean Area

199

Fig. 1. Sylver Coin of Cyrene dating back late 6th-early 5th centuries BC. depicting the silphium © Trustees of the British

Museum (Reproduced by kind permission of the British Museum of London) on the left and Ferula communis on the right.

reclamation of its native wetland areas. At present,

6 small populations are known to have survived

(Laguna et al., 1994). 7) Salvia peyronii Post

(Lamiaceae), discovered in 1883 on cliffs near

Feitroun (Lebanon) and never seen until recently,

although it is showy and had been looked for re-

peatedly, was found again in the same area (Jabal

Moussa) in 201 1 (Tohme & Tohme, 2011). 8) Silene

rothmaleri Pinto da Silva (Caryophyllaceae), de-

scribed in 1945 from Cabo S. Vicente (Algarve,

Portugal) and not seen since in spite of a thorough

search by Jeanmonod (Greuter & Raus, 1984), was

rediscovered in 2000 (Dinter & Greuter, 2004). 9)

Of Silene tomentosa Otth (Caryophyllaceae) a few

1 9th-Century specimens were known, all from the

E side of the Gibraltar rock (Spain), but until 1984

none had been collected in the 20th Century (Jean-

monod, 1984). In 1994 the species was rediscove-

red growing in the wild and is since cultivated in

the Alameda Botanical Gardens (Linares, 1998).

The 6 remaining cases of (presumed) extinction

are: 1) Cephalaria kesruanica Mouterde (Dip-

sacaceae), discovered in 1939 in Lebanon. Its type

locality was probably destroyed; a record from a

further locality requires confirmation (Mouterde,

1980). 2) Trachelanthus foliosus (Paine) Tristram

(Boraginaceae), discovered in Jordan in 1973 and

found in a second locality in 1886. It has not been

seen again (Feinbrun, 1978). 3 ) Dianthus multinervis

Vis. (Caryophyllaceae) discovered by Botteri on the

isolated islet of Jabuka (Porno, Croatia) where it

was not collected again and has probably disap-

peared (Greuter, 1995). 4) Fibigia heterophylla

Rech. f. (Brassicaceae), discovered in 1911 between

Homs and Palmyra in Syria and never again collec-

ted (Mouterde, 1970). 5) Morina subinermis Boiss.

(Dipsacaceae), described from plants collected in

Bithynia (Anatolia) without exact locality and never

seen since, although it is a showy species. 6) Trifo-

lium acutiflorum Murb. (Leguminosae). Described

from Murbeck’s own gathering made at Marrakesh

(Morocco), but never collected again in spite of

thorough searches (Fennane & Ibn Tattou, 1998).

The above figures do not refer to the entire

Mediterranean vascular flora but only to that part

(ca. 45 %) covered by the first three published

volumes of Med-Checlclist (Greuter et al., 1984-

1989). An attempt has subsequently been made by

Greuter (1994) to produce a similar list for the entire

Mediterranean flora, using various other sources.

The result was a table with 33 names, not taking

into account the “mystery cases” and redeemed

species. Of the taxa in this second list 21 are addi-

tional to the first, of which 12 were included bit not

200

Gianniantonio Domina etalii

considered extinct in Med- Checklist and 9 have not

yet been treated in that work. Focusing on the

former, we find that not all are worthy additions to

the extinct (Ex) category. One represents an inter-

specific hybrid ( Thalictrum simplex subsp. gallicum

(Rouy et Fouc.) Tutin = T.xtimeroyi Jord., see Hand

2001). Limonium dubyi (Gren. et Godr.) Kuntze,

described from France, is currently included in the

synonymy of L . bellidifolium (Gouan) Dumort. T

ephrosia kassasii Boulos, from the borders of the

Nile in Egypt, is not considered as extinct in that

country’s recent floristic and conservational literat-

ure. Thymus oehmianus Ronniger et Soslca obvi-

ously survives in its locus classicus in the Treska

gorge, as its live portrait appears on a recent (2003)

postage stamp of the FYR Makedonija. Of the 7

Turkish endemics listed on the faith of Ekim et al.

(1989), 4 apparently survive according to recent

assessments of that country’s flora (Ekim et al.,

2000, Eken et al., 2006): Campanula oligosperma

Damboldt, Onosma affinis Riedl, Sedum polystri-

atum R.T. Clausen, and Silene oligotricha Hub.-

Mor. This leaves us with a reduced number of 4

genuine, additional presumed extinctions: Local

and Global extinctions

Species with a large range are more prone to

local population size fluctuations and eventual

extinction than species with a reduced population.

Neslia paniculata (L.) Desv. (Brassicaceae) is an

example of a species with large distribution that

registered important local extinctions at the borders

of its range (Fig. 2). Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.)

Schleid. (Lemnaceae), a species distributed almost

world-wide, was considered extinct in Catalonia

but has been found in the lower course of the Ebro

River and in the Vallvidrera reservoir (Curto et al.,

2013). Rhamphidium purpuratum Mitt. (Bryophyta,

Ditrichaceae), known to be widely distributed in

Macaronesia and Crete, had its only mainland site,

known since 1940, in the north of Portugal. The

Fig. 2. Distribution of Neslia paniculata from Jalas et al. (1996). The crosses in the NW part

of the distribution indicate the extinction of the plant in that area.

Taxonomy and conservation in Higher Plants and Bryophytes in the Mediterranean Area

201

species was considered as vulnerable in the

European Red List (www.bio.ntnu.no/ECCB/ RDB

Taxon.php), and later considered extinct in Portugal

by Sergio et al. (1994, 2001). After more than 60

year it was found again in south-west Portugal near

the Monchique mountains (Sergio et al. 2011).

For taxa with a single locality destruction of the

habitat implies its complete loss: Adenostyles

alpina subsp. nebrodensis (Wagenitz et I. Mull.)

Greuter (Asteraceae) is known from a single loc-

ality in a canyon of the Madonie Mountains (Sicily);

the capture of a source, c. 50 years ago, has aridified

the area and brought the taxon to the brink of

extinction, with but a single individual still alive.

Limonium catanense (Lojac.) Brullo (Plumba-

ginaceae), at the beginning of the 20th century, was

only known in an area that now belongs to the

harbour of Catania.

Small islands floras are more prone to extinction

than those on large islands and on the mainland

(Greuter, 1995). This may be due to the greater fra-

gility of island habitats due to their smaller surface

and higher human pressure (Domina & Mazzola,

2011). The population of Daucus rupestris Guss.

(Apiaceae) on Lampione is extremely depleted and

faces im min ent extinction due to high concentration

of nitrogen from gull droppings, of which the plant

is intolerant (Lo Cascio & Pasta, 2012). Limonium

intermedium (Guss.) Brullo (Plumbaginaceae) was

growing on Lampedusa in a salt marsh near the

harbour, now converted to a soccer field (Fig. 3); at

present only some individuals survive in the Bota-

nical Garden of Catania, grown from seed sampled

in the field about 40 years ago (Brullo, pers. comm.).

Cistus xskanbergii Lojac. (Cistaceae) is the

natural hybrid between C. monspeliensis and C.

parviflorum and occurs in scattered localities in the

Mediterranean, wherever the two parents meet. It

was described from the island of Lampedusa (Italy),

where today but a single individual is known and

only one parent still occurs. Efforts to conserve that

individual would be a futile exercise.

There are several cases of old, unconfirmed

records, due perhaps to misidentification, and of

taxa of uncertain taxonomic position, that must be

taken into account in management and conservation

plans for endangered species. Orobanche aegyp-

tiaca Pers. (Orobanchaceae) was reported in error

from Italy (Monte Gallo and Lampedusa). It was re-

corded in Scoppola & Spampinato (2005) as being

Fig. 3. The soccer field in Lampedusa on the place of

the salt marsh near the harbour locus classicus et unicus of

Limonium in termedium .

very rare and endangered. The study of specimens

from both sites showed that they had been misiden-

tified and belong to O. mutelii F.W. Schultz

(Domina et al., 201 1). Euphrasia mendoncae Samp.

(Orobanchaceae) was described by Sampson in

1936 from specimens collected in 1932 by F.

Mendonga and thought to be endemic to Braganga

(Portugal). It was never found again despite extens-

ive searches in 1990 and 1996. In Flora Iberica

(Vitek, 2009) now it is treated as a synonym of E.

minima Jacq. ex DC. The presence of such non-

species in lists of plants requiring protection diverts

attention from others that are really threatened.

Among the mosses there are also cases of taxa

considered as extremely rare or extinct, only to be

later included in other, widely distributed taxa.

Clasmatodon parvulus (Hampe) Sull. (Bra-

chytheciaceae) was believed to occur in North

America and very rarely in Germany and Spain.

Meinunger (1992) deemed it as extinct in Germany

because it had not been found again since 1851, and

it came to be known as one of the rarest mosses of the

European continent (Frey et al., 1995; Dull, 1985),

being so was included as endangered (EN) in the

Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (Schu-

macker & Martiny, 1995). Eleras et al. (2006) found that

both the German and Spanish records were based

on misidentified plants of Pseudoleskeella tectorum

(Funck ex Brid.) Kindb. ex Broth, and must be ex-

cluded from the European and Mediterranean bry-

oflora. Thamnium cossyrense Bott. (Neckeraceae),

described by Bottini (1907), was considered en-

demic to Pantelleria until 2001, when Mastracci

202

Gianniantonio Domina etalii

(2001) included it in Scorpiurium sendtneri

(Schimp.) M. Fleisch., a species widely distributed

in Mediterranea area. Fissidens exiguus Sull. (Fis-

sidentaceae), considered rare in France and Greece

(Schumacker & Martiny, 1995), is now synonymised

with F. bryoides Hedw., a common taxon in

Temperate areas (Pursell, 2007). Likewise, Trichosto-

mopsis aaronis (Lorentz) S. Agnew & C. C. Towns

(Pottiaceae), thought to be a rare taxon of Spain and

Turkey (Schumacker & Martiny, 1995), has recently

been synonymised with Didymodon australasiae

(Hook, et Grev.) R. H. Zander, a common taxon

throughout the Mediterranean area (Ros et al., 2013).

DELIMITATION OF TAXA

Different delimitation bear on the range and the

conservation status of taxa (Lastrucci et al., 2014).

A glaring example is Thymus herba-barona Loisel.

that can either be considered to comprise a single

taxon, occurring in the Balearic islands, Corsica and

Sardinia (Molins et al., 2011), or split into different

taxa based on chromosome number: the diploid

Thymus herba-barona subsp. bivalens Mayol et al.

(2n = 28), endemic to a single locality in Serra

D’Aljabia (Mallorca) with only about 50 mature

individuals; Thymus herba-barona subsp. herba-

barona , tetraploid (2n = 56) growing in Corsica,

and T. catharinae Camarda, hexaploid (2n = 84),

restricted to Sardinia.

Arenaria bolosii (Canig.) L. Saez et Rossello

(Caryophyllaceae), a critically endangered taxon

only known from a single site on the island of Mal-

lorca (Bibiloni & Mus, 2006), was first described

as a variety, Arenaria grandiflora var. bolosii

Canig., then considered a subspecies, A. grandiflora

subsp. bolosii (Canig.) Colom, eventually to be

recognised a as a separate species.

Some taxonomists, called lumpers, tend to fa-

vour a broad taxon concept, whereas others, known

as splitters, emphasize minute differences. These

preferences depend in part on the size of the area on

which a researcher is working. Those who study

plants of a restricted territory will likely search for

differences whereas botanists with a broad geogra-

phical interest may favour a synthetic approach.

Several taxa considered to be narrow endemics can

just as well be interpreted as local expressions of

wide-ranging taxa. However, as long as there can be

reasonable doubt it is better to maintain the local

taxa rather than letting them disappear in synonymy.

As an example, in Pancratium maritimum L., some

populations may not deserve the status of separate

species yet they possess a well-diversified genome

that deserves being preserved (Giovino et al., 2015).

CONSIDERATIONS

New emphasis on floristic research is needed to

boost our deficient knowledge of the Mediterranean

flora. Amateurs, if well directed, can play an impor-

tant role in this endeavour. Many academic scholars

spend much of their time and efforts in the laborat-

ory, to the detriment of field research, yet they may

dispose of funds for networking that allow combin-

ing the efforts of amateurs over a wider geograph-

ical area than they might cover individually. A

closer collaboration between scholars and amateurs

can, by promoting field research by the latter, not

only increase floristic knowledge but also help

unravel taxonomic problems.

Lists of taxa that are part of laws or regulations

and their annexes should be updated at regular

intervals. In order to apply to the originally intended

taxa they must use their currently correct names;

but they should also, in addition, include synonyms

to reflect historical usage and accommodate altern-

ative taxonomic views. For higher plants, syn-

onymic checklists now exist that are widely accep-

ted by the scientific community, notably Euro+Med

Plantbase (http://www.emplantbase.org/), resulting

from a project funded within the V and VII Frame-

work Programme of the European Community.

Likewise, the checklists published by Ros et al.

(2007, 2013) provide a sound basis for channeling

conservation measures of Mediterranean hepatics,

anthocerotes and mosses.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 205-214

Monograph

Diversity in the genus Hieracium Linnaeus s. str. (Asteraceae)

in Sicily

Emilio Di Gristina 1 ’*, Francesco Maria Raimondo 1 & Pietro Mazzola 2

'Dipartimento STEBICEF, Sezione di Botanica ed Ecologia Vegetale, Universita degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 38, 90123

Palermo, Italy; e-mail: francesco.raimondo@unipa.it

2 Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Forestali, Universita degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 38, 90123 Palermo, Italy; e-mail:

pietro.mazzola@unipa.it

’Corresponding author, e-mail: emilio.digristina@unipa.it

ABSTRACT The present taxonomic and floristic knowledges on Hieracium L. s. str. in Sicily are commen-

ted. In total, 1 1 taxa occur in this island, 10 of which are endemic and 1 has a wider range. For

each of these taxa, biological form, phenology, distribution, ecology, chromosome number,

conservation, and taxonomy are taken in consideration. A key to the taxa is also provided.

KEY WORDS Apomixis; conservation; endemism; taxonomy; vascular plants.

Received 02.11.2014; accepted 13.02.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Hieracium Linnaeus (1753) s. str. (Asteraceae)

is well known as one of the most species-rich plant

group in the world. It includes perennial herbs

distributed predominantly in temperate regions of

Europe, Asia and North America (Chrtek et al.,

2006). Hieracium belongs to a group of genera in

which diplosporous agamospermy and polyploidy

seem to prevail (Chrtek et al., 2006). The great

majority of Hieracium taxa are triploid (2n=27) or

tetraploid (2n=36) apomicts (Mraz et al., 2001).

Sexuality is extremely rare and confined to a few

diploid species, mostly distributed in South Europe

(Merxmuller, 1975; Chrtek et al., 2004).

Hybridization also appears as a very rare

phenomenon and is most likely confined to crosses

between diploid sexual species (Chrtek et al., 2006).

Agamospermy together with sexuality and hybrid-

ization in the past have given rise to a very large

number of variants that have been described as sub-

species, as has traditionally been the case in Central

Europe (Zahn, 1921-1923), or at rank of species

(British Isles, Scandinavia, East Europe) (Mraz et

al., 2001; Chrtek et al., 2006).

The Sicilian taxa (Fig. 1) have recently been

revised as for as taxonomy and distribution are con-

cerned (Raimondo & Di Gristina, 2004, 2007a, b;

Di Gristina et al., 2005, 2006; Geraci et al., 2007;

Di Gristina et al., 2012; Gottschlich et al., 2013; Di

Gristina et al., 2013; Caldarella et al., 2014).

These studies have already resulted in the

description of five new taxa: Hieracium racemosum

subsp. pignattianum (Raimondo & Di Gristina,

2004) Greuter (2007), H. schmidtii subsp. madoni-

ense (Raimondo & Di Gristina, 2007b) Greuter

(2007), H. pallidum subsp. aetnense Gottschlich,

Raimondo & Di Gristina (2013), H hypochoeroides

subsp. montis-scuderii Di Gristina, Gottschlich,

Galesi, Raimondo & Cristaudo (2013) and H.

busambarense Caldarella, Gianguzzi & Gottschlich

(2014).

206

Emilio Di Gristina etalii

Furthermore, the names of four taxa described

by Michele Lojacono (1903), H. cophanense, H.

crinitum var. caulescens , H. crinitum var. eriosta-

chyum and H. nebrodense, have been typified by

Aghababyan et al. (2008). The remaining five

accepted taxa described from Sicily, H. crinitum

Smith (1813), H. lucidum Gussone (1825), H. atro-

virens Froelich (1838), H. pallidum Bivona-

Bernardi (1838), H. symphytifolium Froelich

(1838), and three other names usually treated as

synonyms, H. racemosum subsp. todaroanum Zahn

(1922), H. siculum Gussone (1844) and H. siculum

var. minus Gussone (1844), have been typified by

Di Gristina et al. (2012).

On the whole, at present, several taxonomic and

chorological questions still remain open. Among

these, several issues of biodiversity conservation

are important especially for some strictly local

apomictic endemics, that are often considered of

secondary relevance respect to sexual species (Rich

et al., 2008) and, then overridden as for as conser-

vation is concerned.

Presently, an extensive field survey on the Sici-

lian territory is carried. The programme includes:

(1) field surveys in order to verify the occurrence

of the taxa known only from old reports or herbar-

ium data but not recently observed, (2) the collec-

tion of data of biological, ecological or phyto-

geographical interest for in situ and ex situ con-

servation.

A molecular approach using “DNA barcoding”,

in order to define the phylogenetic and systematic

relationships among the Sicilian taxa, and a cyto-

geographical analyses at population level, are also

in full progress. Waiting for a comprehensive

update account of the genus, the framework of

present knowledge is here summarized for each

taxon.

Figure 1. Distribution of the Sicilian Hieracium taxa. A) Hieracium busambarense; B) H. hypochoeroides subsp. montis-

scuderii; C) H. lucidum ; D) H. lucidum subsp. cophanense ; E) H. murorum subsp. atrovirens; F) H. pallidum', G) H. pallidum

subsp. aetnense; H) H. racemosum subsp. crinitum; I) H. racemosum subsp. pignattianum; L) H. schmidtii subsp. madoni-

ense; M) H. symphytifolium.

Diversity in the genus Hieracium Linnaeus s. str. (Asteraceae) in Sicily

207

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Floristic, herbarium, and literature research

carried out between 1999 and 2014 are surveyed

here. Specimens collected in the respective loci

classici and some other Sicilian localities are stored

in PAL. Zahn’s species and subspecies concept

(Zahn, 1921-1 923) has been adopted for taxonomic

nomenclature. Biological forms, following

Raunkiaer’s classification (1934), are abbreviated

as proposed by Pignatti (1982). Chromosome

numbers come from our karyological analyses and

other literature data. Conservation status follows

the IUCN (2010) criteria.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In Sicily Hieracium s. str. is so far represented

by 1 1 taxa. 1 0 of them ( H . busambarense, H. hy-

pochoeroides subsp. montis-scuderii, H. lucidum,

H. lucidum subsp. cophanense, H. murorum subsp.

atrovirens, H. pallidum , H. pallidum subsp.

aetnense , H. racemosum subsp. pignattianum, H.

schmidtii subsp. madoniense and H. symphytifo-

lium ) are endemic to the island; the remaining (//.

racemosum subsp. crinitum ) has a wider range.

These taxa are well differentiated from morpholo-

gical point of view and belong to sections Bifida

(Arv.-Touv.) Clapham, Grovesiana Gottschl., Italica

(Fr.) Arv.-Touv., Hieracium (Pulmonaria Monnier),

Oreadea (Fr.) Arv.-Touv. Most of them are chasmo-

phytes confined to vertical cliffs or rocky slopes.

Their chorology and ecology testify the relict state

of the genus Hieracium in Sicily.

The island is indeed situated at the southern

border distribution of the genus (see map in

Brautigam, 1992) and its climatic conditions are

suitable for only a few taxa of Hieracium

(Gottschlich et al., 2013). However, among them,

the diploid H. lucidum , according to Pignatti (1979,

1982, 1994), ascribes the interesting role of likely

differentiation centre of the genus to Sicily.

Most of the taxa are endemic to restricted areas

(one population with an estimated area of occu-

pancy less than 1 0 km 2 ) in which periodical wild-

fires occur. Therefore, according to the IUCN

(2010) criteria for the conservation status assess-

ment, they should be classified as “Critically

Endangered” (CR). Their phytogeographical and

taxonomical relevance, together with the extreme

conservation status require special protection meas-

ures. Unfortunately, the current status and priorities

for conservation of the Hieracium taxa, as for many

other Sicilian endemics, are poorly known, and

consequently they are neglected by local admin-

istrations.

Taxonomic list

Hieracium busambarense Caldarella, Gianguzzi et

Gottschl., PL Biosystems, 148: 439. 2014.

H. sect. Grovesiana Gottschl.

Biological form. H ros/ H scap.

Phenology. Flowering from second half of

June to first decade of July; fruiting in July (Cal-

darella et al., 2014).

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to Rocca Busambra (PA) (CW-Sicily) (Fig.

2). Calcareous-dolomite vertical cliffs between

1500 and 1600 m a.s.l, in shaded localities (Cal-

darella et al., 2014).

Chromosome number. Unknown.

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): C2ab(i) (Caldarella et al., 2014).

Taxonomical notes. H. busambarense belongs

to the H. Sect. Grovesiana, recently described from

Italy (Gottschlich, 2009). Its distribution area is

located at the extreme southern limit of the

Apennines range of that section, therefore it could

be interpreted as an endemo-vicariant unit, probably

originated after the long geographical isolation of

the population on Rocca Busambra (Caldarella et

al., 2014). Among the taxa of H. Sect. Grovesiana,

H. busambarense appears very close to the

Calabrian endemic H. terraccianoi Di Gristina,

Gottschlich & Raimondo (2014), but it differs from

this species in having no spotted leaves, more acute

involucral bracts and in the bract indumentum (less

stellate hairs and more glandular hairs) (Di Gristina

et al., 2014).

Hieracium hypochoeroides subsp. montis-scuderii

Di Grist., Gottschl., Galesi, Raimondo et Cristaudo,

FI. Mediterr., 23: 49. 2013.

208

Emilio Di Gristina etalii

H. sect. Bifida (Arv.-Touv.) Clapham

Biological form. H ros.

Phenology. Flowering June; fruiting from June

to the first decade of July.

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to Mt Scuderi (ME) (NE-Sicily) (Fig. 3).

NW-facing carbonate rocks and vertical cliffs

between 1 145 and 1180m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. Unknown.

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): Bla+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomical notes. H. hypochoeroides s.l. is

a young aggregate of apomictic microtaxa with

often local distribution, that have evolved during

the post-glacial period. The map given by

Brautigam (1992, under the name H. wiesbauri-

anum) indicates a very disjunct area. Only in

southern France an extensive closed area exists. In

southern Europe one can only find local popula-

tions, most of them seem to be relict (Di Gristina

et al., 2014). H. hypochoeroides subsp. montis-

scuderii is also such relict endemic taxon.

Hieracium lucidum Guss., Index Sem. Hort.

Boccadifalco 1825: 6. 1825.

FI. sect. Italica (Fr.) Arv.-Touv.

Biological form. Ch suffr.

Phenology. Flowering from October to Novem-

ber; fruiting in November.

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to Mt Gallo (PA) (NW- Sicily) (Fig. 4).

NW-facing calcareous rocks and vertical cliffs

between 220 and 310 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 18 (Merxmiiller,

1975; Brullo & Pavone, 1978; Brullo et al., 2004).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): Bla+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomical notes. H. lucidum is one of the

few diploid species in the whole genus. Therefore

it could be considered as a probable ancestor for

many European Hieracium taxa (Pignatti 1979,

1982, 1994).

Hieracium lucidum subsp. cophanense (Lojac.)

Greuter, Willdenowia, 37: 164. 2007.

= H. cophanense Lojac., FI. Sic. 2(1): 218.

1903.

H. sect. Italica (Fr.) Arv.-Touv.

Biological form. Ch suffr.

Phenology. Flowering from October to Novem-

ber; fruiting in November.

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to Mt Cofano and Mt Passo del Lupo (TP)

(NW-Sicily) (Fig. 5). NW-facing calcareous rocks

and vertical cliffs between 220-280 and 670-710 m

a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 18 (Brullo et al.,

2004; Geraci et al., 2007).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): Bla+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomical notes. It differs from H. lucidum

in having few to moderately dense simple hairs on

the stem and on the margin, along the midrib at the

lower surface of the basal and cauline leaves.

Hieracium murorum subsp. atrovirens (Froel.)

Raimondo et Di Grist., Willdenowia, 37: 165. 2007.

= H. atrovirens Froel., in Candolle, Prodr. 7:

231. 1838.

H. sect. Hieracium (Pulmonaria Monnier)

Biological form. H scap/ H ros.

Phenology. Flowering June; fruiting from June

to first decade of July.

Distribution and Ecology. Endemic to the

Madonie Mountains (PA) (N-Sicily) (Fig. 6), along

the NW-facing carbonate rocks and stony slopes of

the Passo della Botte and Rocca di Mele (Petralia

Sottana, PA), in clearings of the beech forest,

between 1350 and 1580 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 3x = 27 (Geraci et

al., 2007).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): B 1 a+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomical notes. In the past, the taxonomic

rank has been rather controversial. It was described

as an species (Froelich, 1838), but it was sub-

Diversity in the genus Hieracium Linnaeus s. str. (Asteraceae) in Sicily

209

Figures 2-7. Blooming individuals in nature of: Fig. 2) Hieracium busambarense (from Caldarella et al., 2014); Fig. 3) H.

hypochoeroicles subsp. montis-scuderii; Fig. 4) H. lucidum; Fig. 5) H. lucidum subsp. cophanense; Fig. 6) H. murorum

subsp. atrovirens; Fig. 7) H. pallidum.

sequently considered as synonym of H. murorum

Linnaeus (1753) (Fries, 1862; Belli, 1904) or of H.

glaucinum Jordan (1848) (Zahn, 1921;Fiori, 1928).

Recently, the Sicilian population has been con-

sidered distinct and treated at subspecific rank of

H. murorum (Raimondo & Di Gristina, 2007).

Hieracium pallidum Biv., in Bivona-Bernardi,

Nuove piante: 11. 1838.

H. sect. Grovesiana Gottschl.

Biological form. H ros/ H scap.

Phenology. Flowering from second half of June

to first decade of July; fruiting in July.

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to Mt Etna (CT) (E-Sicily) (Fig. 7).

Shaded volcanic rocks and stony slopes of Mt.

Pomiciaro, Mt Zoccolaro and Serra del Salifizio fa-

cing the Valle del Bove (Zafferana Etnea, CT),

between 1550 and 1900 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 4x = 36 (Brullo et

al., 2004; Di Gristina et al., 2005).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): B 1 a+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomic al notes. According to Greuter

(2008), it should be placed in the “collective

species” (Zahn, 1921-1923) H. schmidtii. Never-

theless, the presence of 2 cauline leaves with

winged petioles (in H. schmidtii s.l. 0-1 not winged

leaf per stalk) allow to treat it as a local endemic

species to Sicily belonging to H. sect. Grovesiana

(Gottschlich et al., 2013).

Hieracium pallidum subsp. aetnense Gottschl.,

Raimondo et Di Grist., PI. Biosystems, 147: 826.

2013.

H. sect. Grovesiana Gottschl.

210

Emilio Di Gristina etalii

Biological form. H scap.

Phenology. Flowering from second half of

June to first decade of July; fruiting in July.

Distribution and Ecology. Endemic to Mt

Etna (CT) (E-Sicily) (Fig. 8). Volcanic soil, on the

border and in clearings of scrubland in a very

restricted area on Mt Pomiciaro (Zafferana Etnea,

CT), between 1580 and 1650 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 4x = 36 (Di Gristina

et al., 2014).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): B2ab(iii, v); C2a(ii), D.

Taxonomical notes. Closely related to H.

pallidum , but different by morphology of basal

leaves (more lanceolate and dentate), number of

cauline leaves (up to 3) and by peduncles and bracts

indumentum (more simple hairs and stellate hairs

only at the margin of the bracts).

Hieracium racemosum subsp. crinitum (Smith)

Rouy, FI. France, 9: 410. 1905.

= H. crinitum Sm., FI. Graec. Prodr., 2: 134.

1813.

= H. crinitum var. caulescens Lojac., FI. Sic.,

2(1): 219. 1903; H. crinitum var. eriostachyum

Lojac., FI. Sic., 2(1): 219. 1903; H. racemosum

subsp. todaroanum Zahn, in Engler, Pflanzenr., 79:

979. 1922.

H. sect. Italica (Fr.) Arv.-Touv.

Biological form. H scap/ H ros.

Phenology. Flowering from second half of

August to first decade of November; fruiting from

September to second decade of November.

Distribution and Ecology. Corsica, Italy,

Balkan Peninsula and Turkey (Fiori, 1928; Pignatti,

1982). In Sicily (Fig. 9), the taxon frequently occurs

in shaded stony slopes and in clearings of woods on

the main mountains of north-east (Nebrodi,

Peloritani and Etna) and on the islands of Salina and

Lipari (Lojacono, 1903), between 350 and 1750 m

a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 3x = 27 (Brullo et

al., 1997, 2004; Geraci et al., 2007).

Conservation status. “Least Concern” (LC).

Taxonomical notes. Taxon highly polymorph-

ous. Sicilian and southern Italy populations appear

very differentiated and need critical revision.

Hieracium racemosum subsp. pignattianum (Rai-

mondo et Di Grist.) Greuter, Willdenowia, 37: 171.

2007.

= H. pignattianum Raimondo & Di Grist., PI.

Biosystems, 17: 314. 2004.

H. sect. Italica (Fr.) Arv.-Touv.

Biological form. H scap/ H ros.

Phenology. Flowering from second half of

August to October; fruiting from September to first

decade of November.

Distribution and Ecology. Endemic to the

Madonie Mountains (PA) (N-Sicily) (Fig. 10),

along the NW-facing carbonate rocks and stony

slopes of Mt Mufara (Isnello, Polizzi Generosa,

Petralia Sottana, PA), Mt Quacella (Polizzi Gen-

erosa, PA), Mt Daino, Cozzo del Filatore, Pizzo

dellTnferno and Rocca di Mele (Petralia Sottana,

PA), in clearings of the beech forest, between 1300

and 1700 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 3x = 27 (Raimondo

& Di Gristina, 2004).

Conservation status. “Vulnerable” (VU): Bla

+ 2a.

Taxonomical notes. Similar to subsp. crinitum

but the two subspecies show marked differences

regarding indumentum, leaf morphology and size

of the bracts (Raimondo & Di Gristina, 2004).

Hieracium schmidtii subsp. madoniense (Rai-

mondo & Di Grist.) Greuter, Willdenowia, 37: 173.

2007.

= H. madoniense Raimondo & Di Grist., Boc-

conea, 141: 86. 2007.

H. sect. Oreadea (Fr.) Arv.-Touv.

Biological form. H ros.

Phenology. Flowering second half of June;

fruiting from June to first decade of July.

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to the Madonie Mountains (PA) (N-Sicily)

(Fig. 11). NW-facing carbonate rocks and stony

Diversity in the genus Hieracium Linnaeus s. str. (Asteraceae) in Sicily

211

Figure 8-12. Blooming individuals in nature of: Fig. 8) Hieracium palliclum subsp. aetnense; Fig. 9) H. racemosum

subsp. crinitum; Fig. 10) H. racemosum subsp. pignattianum; Fig. 11) H. schmidtii subsp. madoniense; Fig. 12) H.

symphvtifol ium .

slopes of Rocca di Mele (Petralia Sottana, PA), in

clearings of the beech forest, between 1520 and

1700 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 3x = 27 (Di Gristina

et al., 2005).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): B 1 a+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomical notes. For a long time confused

with H. pallidum but easily distinct by leaf, stem,

bract indumentum (short simple crisp hairs) and

more lanceolate and dentate leaves (Raimondo &

Di Gristina, 2007).

Hieracium symphytifolium Froel., in Candolle, 7:

232. 1838.

= H. siculum Guss., FI. Sicul. Syn., 2(1): 404.

1844; H. siculum var. minus Guss., FI. Sicul. Syn.,

2(1): 404. 1844.

H. sect. Italica (Fr.) Arv.-Touv.

Biological form. H ros/ H scap.

Phenology. Flowering from end of June to July;

fruiting in July.

Distribution and Ecology. Chasmophyte

endemic to the Madonie Mountains (PA) (N-Sicily)

(Fig. 12). NW-facing carbonate rocks and stony slopes

of the highest reliefs, between 1250 and 1800 m a.s.l.

Chromosome number. 2n = 4x = 36 (Brullo et

al., 2004; Di Gristina et al., 2006).

Conservation status. “Critically Endangered”

(CR): Bla+2a; C2a(ii).

Taxonomical notes. The status of this plant has

only recently been clarified. According to Zahn

(1921-1923), the taxon represented an “interme-

diate species” between H. lucidum and H. crinitum

{Hieracium racemosum subsp. crinitum ). However,

morphological and genetic studies showed that it

is not a hybrid, but an independent species (Di

Gristina et al., 2006).

212

Emilio Di Gristina etalii

Key of the Sicilian taxa

1. Achenes dark when mature. Flowering June-

July 2

Achenes pale when mature. Flowering end of

August-November 3

2. Bracts with rather dense glandular hairs and

sparse or no simple hairs

H. murorum subsp. atrovirens

- Bracts with few to moderately dense glandular

hairs and moderately dense to rather dense

simple hairs 4

4. Cauline leaves 3-6. Bracts 0.9- 1.3 mm wide

H. symphytifolium

Cauline leaves 0-3. Bracts 0.4-1 mm wide

5. Plants with 1-4 mm long, denticulate soft or

crisp simple hairs 6

- Plants with 4-10 mm long, denticulate rigid

simple hairs 7

6. Basal leaves unspotted; cauline leaves 1-2(3)

H. busambarense

- Basal leaves few to intensely dark spotted;

cauline leaves 0-1 8

8. Leaves denticulate above, on the margin and

along the midrib with crisp simple hairs

H. hypochoeroides subsp. montis -scuderii

- Leaves dentate to serrate-dentate only on the

margin and along the midrib with crisp simple

hairs H. schmidtii subsp. madoniense

7. Basal leaves ovate, denticulate, truncate or

cuneate at base; cauline leaves 2 H. pallidum

- Basal leaves lanceolate, denticulate or serrate-

dentate, long attenuate at base; cauline leaves

up to 3 H. pallidum subsp. aetnense

3. Leaves coriaceous, glabrous or with few to

moderately dense simple hairs 9

- Leaves soft with moderately dense to rather

dense simple hairs 10

9. Leaves glabrous H. lucidum

- Leaves with few to moderately dense simple

hairs on the margin and along the midrib

H. lucidum subsp. cophanense

10. Basal leaves with moderately dense stellate

hairs on both surfaces. Bracts 0.7-1 mm wide

H. racemosum subsp. pignattianum

11. Basal leaves without stellate hairs on both

surfaces. Bracts 0.8- 1.3 mm wide

H. racemosum subsp. crinitum

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Financial support by the International Founda-

tion pro Herbario Mediterraneo and by Universita

degli Studi di Palermo (Fondi di Ateneo per la

Ricerca) is acknowledged.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 215-218

Monograph

Lycopodiidae for the “Flora Critica d’ltalia”: material and

methods

Angelo Troia 1 *, Francesco Maria Raimondo 1 & Werner Greuter 2

1 D ip artim e n to STEBICEF, Sezione di B otanica ed Ecologia Vegetale. Universita degli Studi di Palermo, via Archirafi 3 8. 90 1 23

P ale rm o . Italy

2 Herbarium M editerraneum Panorrn itanum . Universita degli Studi di Palermo, Orto Botanico, via Lincoln 2, 90133 Paler mo. Italy

Corresponding author, e-mail: an g e lo .tro ia @ unipa.it

ABSTRACT Procedures are presented that were followed during the preparation of the first pteridophyte

family treatments for the “Flora Critica d’ltalia”: Lycopodiaceae.Isoetaceae, Selaginellaceae.

The work was mainly based on the study of literature and herbarium specimens. In some

cases SEM observation of spores has proved useful. Data collected from herbarium specimens

and other verified sources were loaded into a database, from which a distribution map was

prepared for each taxon. Several preliminary papers have been published, and foreach family

a taxonomic conspectus, with type designations, maps and an identification key, has been

prepared. The treatment of these three families for the “Flora Critica d’ltalia” (in Italian) is

about to be published or (Isoetaceae) has already been published.

KEY WORDS Italy; flora; vascular plants; pteridophytes; lycopodiophytes; herbarium; SEM ; taxonomy.

Received 21.12.2014; accepted 12.03.2 0 15; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Interna tional Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, M ay 16 th -18th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The need for an up-to-date “Flora Critica

d’ltalia” has long been recognized. About 10 years

ago the Societa Botanica Italiana (Italian Botanical

Society) endorsed the project and prepared a model

(Pignotti, 2006). The project, after the estab-

lishment of the Fondazione per la Flora Italiana

(Foundation for the Italian Flora), has now entered

its active phase of implementation: a few months

ago the first preliminary results have been publi-

shed (Cecchi & Selvi, 2014; Troia & Greuter,

20 14). Procedures are presented that w ere follow ed

during the preparation of the first pteridophyte

family treatments for the “Flora Critica d’ltalia”:

L y c o p o d iac e ae , Isoetaceae, Selaginellaceae.

Accor ding to recent literature, these three famil-

ies (known as lycopodiophytes or “ ly c o p h y te s ” )

constitute the Lycopodiidae, the first of the five

major subclasses of pteridophytes recognized by

Christenhusz et al. (2011) and Christenhusz &

Chase (2014) (Fig. 1).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The treatment is mainly based on the study of

literature and herbarium specimens. It encompasses

all Lycopodiidae taxa that grow spontaneously in

the National territory, either native or naturalized.

We studied all Italian and selected foreign

Lycopodiidae specimens kept in the Herbarium

Centrale Italicum (FI) and Herbarium M editer-

raneum Panormitanum (PAL, including PAL-Gr);

several specimens, notably original material for

2 1 6

Angelo Troia et alii

relevant names, were supplied by the Herbarium of

the Botanischer Garten und Botanisches Museum

Berlin-Dahlem (B ). Each specimen has been docu-

mented photographically. In addition, we examined

high-resolution digital images, available online or

provided on request, from the following herbaria:

APP, BOLO, CAT, GDOR, MFU, MRSN, MSNM ,

PAD, RO, ROV, SIENA, TO, TR, and K, LINN, P,

PH, UPS (abbreviations according to Thiers, 2014),

and had the presence of selected specimens verified

by colleagues in others (e.g. MI). Specimens con-

served in the private collections of Bonafede

(Bologna, Italy), Selvi (Florence, Italy), Tondi

(Rome, Italy) have also been studied.

For mapping the distribution, reports based on

photographs have been considered only when

species identification was not in doubt; in particu-

lar, data from popular websites such as Acta

Plantarum (www.actaplantarum.org) have been

taken into consideration. However, literature

reports not supported by herbarium vouchers have

been discarded for mapping purposes; comments

have been added for those of special historical or

phy togeographical interest.

Data (both original data and metadata) were

loaded into a specific spreadsheet. Data fields in-

cluded not only the scientific name and geograph-

ical parameters but also biological aspects, so as to

enable future searches on, for example, phenology

or altitudinal range. All specimens with sufficient

locality data have been georeferenced and plotted

on a base map of Italy (Cecchi & Selvi, 2014).

Lycopodiidae

Ophioglosstdae

Equisetidae

Marattiidae

Polypodl idae

Pi n i dae

Gnetidae

Gink goo idae

tycadidae

Magnoliidae

Figure 1 . The main subclasses of living vascular plants, cladogram based on Schuettpelz & Pryer (2 0 0 8), Pryer et al. (2009),

and Grewe et al. (2013); clade names according to Christenhusz et al. (201 1) and Christen husz & Chase (2014) for pterido-

phytes. Chase & Reveal (2009) for sperm atophytes. Figures 2-4. Example of SEM images prepared for the “Flora Critica

d'ltalia”: IsOCtCS gymVlOCQ,rpCl (G ennari) A . Braun, megaspores and microspores from the type specimen in TO (see Troia

& Greuter, 2014). Figure 2: megaspore in proximal view. Figure 3: detail of Fig. 2. Figure 4: microspores.

Lycopodiidae for the “Flora Critica d’ltalia”: materials and methods

217

Figure 5. Example of a distribution map prepared for

the Flora Critica d’ltalia: Isoetes longissima Bory.

Currently, a map is used that shows physiogra-

phical rather than administrative territorial units,

following the model proposed by Cecchi & Selvi

(2014). In a firstphase, only a selection of specimens

have been mapped: 1 to 3 preferably recent speci-

mens for each territorial units, so as to avoid excess-

ive c ro w d in g o f th e d o ts ; territo rial u n its in which th e

species in question is present were shaded.

For some critical taxa, particularly in the genus

Isoetes, scanning electron micrographs were pro-

duced to illustrate and document megaspore and

microspore features (Figs. 2-4).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

W ith regard to Isoetaceae, a synthetic paper w ith

a taxonomic conspectus, type designations and an

identification key has been published in the journal

Plant Biosystems (Troia & Greuter, 2014), and

similar papers for Lycopodiaceae and S e 1 a -

ginellaceae, including distribution maps (Fig. 5),

are ready for publication. Preliminary results were

presented by Troia et al. (2012, 2014b) and Troia &

Greuter (2013), as well as a paper with a SEM study

of spores of the IsOCtCS longissilflCl group (Troia et

al. 2014a).

The treatment (in Italian) for the Flora Critica

d’ltalia of these three families, following guidelines

prepared by the Editorial Committee, has just been

published (Isoetaceae: Troia & Greuter, 2015) or is

about to be published (Lycopodiaceae and Selagi-

nellaceae: Troia & Greuter, in prep.).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the staff of the consulted herbaria for

their assistance, Lorenzo Cecchi (FI) for his valu-

able support during the preparation of the distribu-

tion maps, and Carmela Di Liberto (D ip artim en to

STEBICEF, Universita degli Studi di Palermo) for

technical assistance with scanning electron micro-

scopy. This study is part of the “Flora Critica d’

Italia” project and as such was funded by the

Societa Botanica Italian a onlus, the Fondazione per

la Flora Italiana, and the International Foundation

Pro Herbario Mediterraneo.Additional support was

provided by the Universita degli Studi di Palermo

(Fondi di Ateneo per la Ricerca).

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Cecchi L. & Selvi F., 2014. A synopsis of Boraginaceae

subfam . H y d ro p h y 1 1 o id e a e and H e lio tro p io id e a e in

Italy. Plant Biosystems, 148: 2-12.

Chase M .W. & Reveal J.L., 2009. A phylogenetic classi-

fication of the land plants to accompany APG III. Bo-

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2 1 8

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diopsida Cronquist, Takht. & Zimmerm. 1966. Ferns.

Version 14 January 2009 (under construction).

http://tolweb.org/Polypodiopsida/20615/2009. 01. 14

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University Press, Cambridge, 395-416.

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of public herbaria and associated staff. New York

Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. h ttp ://s w ee t-

gum.nybg.org/ih/ [continuously updated].

Troia A. & Greuter W., 2013. Towards a Critical Flora of

Italy. Assessing the Lycopodiophyta. In: Abstracts of

the XIV OPTIMA Meeting, Palermo, September 9-

15,2013 (ISBN: 978-88-903108-8-1): 151.

Troia A. & Greuter W., 2014. A critical conspectus of Ita-

lian IsOeteS (Isoetaceae). Plant Biosystems, 148: 13-

20 .

Troia A. & Greuter W ., 2015. Isoetaceae (vers. 1.0). In:

Peruzzi L., Cecchi L., Cristofolini G., Domina G.,

Greuter W., Nardi E . , Raimondo F.M., Selvi F. &

Troia A. (Eds.), Flora critica d’ltalia. Fondazione per

la Flora Italiana, Firenze. Published online on

25 february 2015 at: http://www.floraditalia.it/pdf/

Isoetaceae.pdf

Troia A., Greuter W., Nardi E. & Raimondo F.M ., 2012.

Contributo alia Flora Critica d’ltalia: i generi della

famiglia Lycopodiaceae. In: Riassunti di relazioni,

com unicazioni e poster del 107° Congresso

della Societa Botanica Italiana. Benevento, 18-22

Settembre 2012, 142.

Troia A., Raimondo F.M . & Campisi P., 2014a. The ISOC-

teS longissimCl complex (Isoetaceae) in Italy: obser-

vations on the morphology of spores and leaves, and

taxonomic implications. Phytotaxa, 174: 149-156.

Troia A., Raimondo F.M. & Greuter W., 2014b. On the

presence, distribution and conservation status of

Lycopodium Icigopus (Lycopodiaceae) in Italy. In:

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September 2014, Proceedings: 64.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 219-244

Monograph

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon

(Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

Marc G.M.van Roosmalen

‘MVRS Marc van Roosmalen Stichting, Leiden, The Nether lands; e-mail: marc.mvrs@gmail.com

ABSTRACT Here I announce the discovery of a whole new ecosystem in the central-southern part of the

Brazilian Amazon: the RioAripuana Basin. Overall, it seems to have created mo re ecological

niches than any other river basin in the Amazon, in particular so to aquatic and non-volant

terrestrial mammals. This is plausibly explained for by the unique geo-morphological history

of the region. During the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene the entire area to the southeast of

the Rio Madeira contained one huge clear-water system that was drained toward the south

into the Atlantic Ocean. In the course of several million years a biome quite different from

the rest of Amazonia could evolve in this drainage system. Living relicts from ancient times

that happened to survive in isolation here, are: a dwarf manatee here described as TrichechllS

pygmueUS n. sp., a dolphin locally called “boto roxo” that is suspected to be closer related to

marine Rio Plata dolphins Pontoporici blciiiivillei (Gervais et d'Orbigny, 1 844) than to

Amazonian dolphins of the genus Illici (d'Orbigny, 1834), a black dwarf tapir ( TcipivilS

pygmaeus Van Roosmalen, 2013, with T. k.Clb OinCllli C ozzuol et al., 2013 as junior name), a

dwarf marmoset Ccillibcllci hWTlilis Van Roosmalen et Van Roosmalen, 2003, a new mono-

specific genus of C allitrich id ae that stands at the base of the phylogenetic tree of all extant

m arm o sets (i.e ., Cebuellci Gray, 1866, Mico Lesson, 1840, and Cullithrix Erxleben, 1777), a

giant striped paca here described as AgOllti silvClgCLVCicie n. sp., and an arboreal giant anteater

spotted in the wild but remains to be collected and described (MymieCOphagCl n. sp.). A

number of other, more advanced mammalian species discovered in the Rio Aripuana Basin,

among which a third specie s of brocket here d escribed as MCLZCIJTICI tieJlllOVeni n. sp., evolved

after a dramatic vicariance took place about 1-1.8 MYA (million years ago), the break-through

of the continental watershed by the proto-Madeira River during one of the glacial epochs of

the Middle Pleistocene. It marked the birth of the modern fast- fl owing Rio Madeira, in terms

of total discharge the biggest tributary of the Amazon proper and the second strongest river

barrier in the entire Amazon Basin. Furthermore, current threats to the environment in this

sparsely inhabited and poorly explored river basin will be addressed. We intend to have this

‘lo st w orld ’ preserv ed as a UNESCO N atural W orld H eritage Reserve through the div ulgation

of new, hitherto not yet identified mammals that it appears to harbor.

KEY WORDS Brazilian Amazon; nova species; Rio Aripuana Basin.

Received 15.06.2014; accepted 12.12.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Internatio nal C ongre ss “S p ec iatio n and Taxonomy”, May 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION any other basin in the Amazon, in particular to

aquatic and terrestrial mammals. In terms of spe-

cies evolution and p h y lo g e o g r ap h y the Rio

Aripuana Basin distinguishes itself from Amazo-

Overall, the Rio Aripuana Basin (Fig. 1) seems

to have created more ecological niches than

220

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

nia west of the Rio Madeira and north of the Rio

Amazonas by harboring:

- Five sympatric species of peccaries (Tayas-

s u id ae : TayClSSU G. Fisher, 1814; PeCClri L inn aeu s ,

1 75 8 ), instead of two species elsewhere in the

Amazon;

- Three sympatric species of brocket deer

(C ervidae: MflZCUflCl Rafinesque, 18 17), including a

new species we here describe as M. tieilhoveilin. sp.,

instead of two species elsewhere in the Amazon;

- Two sympatric species of coati (Procyonidae:

NdSUCl Storr, 1 780), including a newly identified

red-coated pair-living coati we here resurrect as N.

solitaria Schinz (ex Wied, MS), 1821, as Spix &

Martius (1 823-1 83 1 ) refer to it in their account

“Reise in Brasilien in den Jahren 1 8 1 7-1 820”,

instead of only one gregarious species elsewhere in

the A m azon ;

- Two sympatric species of giant anteater

(E den tata: MyVJYieCOphcigCL Linnaeus, 1758),includ-

ing a new species being tree-dwelling and climbing

by its hind feet, instead of only one ground-

dwelling species elsewhere in the Amazon;

- Two sympatric species of lowland tapir (Ta-

piridae: TapiruS Briinnich, 1 772), including a new

species in 2013 described by me as T. pygtnaeUS

(w ith T. kab OVncmi Cozzuol et al., 2013 as a junior

synonym), instead of only one species elsewhere in

lowland Amazonia;

- Two sympatric species of jaguar (Felidae: PcM-

thera. Oken, 1 8 1 6 ) , including a new larger-sized

species reported to hunt in pairs, its coat being all-

black but a white throat, instead of only one species

elsewhere in the Amazon;

- Two sympatric species of paca (Rodentia:

AgOUti Lacepede, 1 799), including a new species

here described as A. silVQgClTcicie n. sp., being

larger-sized, its coat orange-brown with white

stripes instead of dots, instead of only one species

elsewhere in the Amazon;

- Two sympatric species of porcupine (Rodentia-

Erethizontidae: Coendu L acepede, 1 799), includ-

ing a new species described as C. ( SphiggUTUS )

roosmalenorum Voss et Da Silva, 2001 belonging

to the vestltUS gro up of sm all-bodied dwarf porcu-

pines form erly known only from the Andean Moun-

tains in Colombia, instead of only one species

elsewhere in lowland Amazonia;

- Two sympatric species of woolly monkey

(Primates: LagOtHvix FI um b oldt, 1 8 1 2 ), including

L. nigra n. sp. that is all-black, small, and ranging

in atypical small social groups (Van Roosmalen,

2013a; 2014; 2015; Van Roosmalen & Van Roos-

malen, 2014), instead of only one species elsewhere

in lowland Amazonia;

- Two sympatric species of Amazonian mar-

moset (Primates, C allitrichidae), including a new

species, first described as Callithrix huinilis Van

Roosmalen, Van Roosmalen, Mittermeier et De

Fonseca, 1998, and later as a new genus, Callibella

Van Roosmalen et Van Roosmalen, 2003, which is

much smaller, does not show any territorial beha-

vior, and occurs in sympatry with MicO WianicOVen-

SIS Van Roosmalen, Van Roosmalen, Mittermeier

et Rylands, 2000, instead of only one species

elsewhere in the Amazon east of the Rio Madeira;

- Two sympatric species of a large-bodied river

dolphin (D elphinidae ), including a new species

locally called “boto roxo” that we suspect to belong

to the m arine genus P ontopovia G ray, 1 8 7 0 , it being

smaller, having an overall bluish-grey colored skin,

lacking a distinct melon (and therefore maybe

foraging by eye-sight and not by echo location),

living in pairs with a single offspring, and restricted

to the clear-water habitat of the lower Rio A rip u ana,

instead of only one species elsewhere in the

Amazon Basin;

- Two sympatric species of freshwater manatee,

including a new species described in this work as

TrichechuS pygniaeus n. sp., it being less than half

the size and one-fifth of the body weight of com-

mon Amazonian manatees T. inunguis (N atterer,

1 8 8 3 ), and its skin deep black instead of grey,

instead of only one species elsewhere in lowland

Amazonia downstream of rapids and waterfalls;

- A number of newly identified large-fruited,

large-seeded, sy nzoochorically dispersed trees and

lianas that are dem ographically confined to the terra

firm e forests east of the Rio Madeira (Van Roos-

malen, 2013b). These woody plants seem to have

co-evolved with scatter hoarding rodents belonging

to the genera DdSypWCta Illiger, 18 11 (agoutis) and

Myoprocta Thomas, 1903 (ac ouch is), among which

we identified some possibly new species;

- Primate diversity, here defined as the total

number of taxa that occur in sympatry within a

10x10 km quadrant of land overlying both banks of

a river at certain latitudes, is the highest for the Rio

Madeira at the longitude of the mouth of the Rio

Aripuana, reaching at least 25 (!) valid species. That

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower Rio Aripuana Basin

221

Figure 1. Study area. Central Amazon (Brazil): the Rio

Aripuana Basin (shaded area).

exceeds with at least two species the hitherto

highest primate diversity (in total 23 valid species)

found west of the Madeira River, along the Rio

Purus at its confluence with the Rio Tapaua (Van

Roosmalen, 2013a; 2015; Van Roosmalen & Van

Roosmalen, 2014).

- The Rio Aripuana is a clear-water river drain-

ing the area north of the Chapada dos Parecis, a

mountain range that is part of the crystalline

Pre-Cambrian Brazilian Shield. Together with the

clear- water Rios Tap ajo s - Ju r u en a , Teles-Pires,

and Xingu, the Rio Aripuana seems to harbor

relicts of a highly species-rich endemic Miocene

freshwater mollusk (shellfish or bivalve) fauna

with extant shells, oysters and mussels only to

be found east of the Madeira River (Hoorn &

W esselingh , 20 10).

RESULTS

New mammalian species descriptions from

the Rio Aripuana Basin, Brazilian Amazon

1. New species of living brocket deer (Mam-

malia Cervidae) from the Rio Aripuana Basin

Up to recently, only two members of the Neo-

tropical Odocoileinae (brocket deer), a subfamily

of the Cervidae (deer), from lowland Amazonia

were known to science, belonging to the extant

genus Mazama (Wilson & Reeder, 1 993): the red

brocket M. americana (Erxleben, 1777), and the

grey brocket M. nemorivClgCl (F. Cuvier, 1817). The

latter has being recently (Rossi, 2000) distinguished

from M. gouazoupira (G. Fischer, 18 14), which

species is said to range south of Amazonia on the

open savannas and shrub savannas (cerrado) of

Central Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, N Argentina and

Uruguay. Although the evolutionary history of

brocket deer dates back almost 20 million years ago

(M YA), Duarte etal. (2008) suggest that in the Fate

Pliocene, approximately 2.5-3 MYA, the uplift of

the Panamanian land bridge allowed deer to spread

south, as participants in the “great American inter-

change” between N orth and S outh A m erica. A ccord-

ing to Duarte et al. (2008), these were the first deer

to enter the S o u th - A m eric an continent, and their

surprising success in South America may be attrib-

uted to the absence of other ruminants (Webb,

2000).

Class Mammalia

OrderArtiodactyla or Cetartiodactyla (if w hales are

to be included)

Family Cervidae Goldfuss, 1820

Subfamily Odocoileinae Pocock, 1923

Genus Mazamci Rafinesque, 1817

Mazama tienhoveni V an Roosmalen et Van Hooft

Examined material. Two skins in possession of

hunters from the village of Tucunare along the

lower Rio Aripuana were examined. Moreover, a

complete skull and mandible still in the flesh from

an adult female specimen, and one spike from an

adult male specimen were obtained from them in

the course of the year 2006. The settlement of

Tucunare is situated along the Parana do Santa

Maria, a shortcut from the community of Santa

Maria to that of Tucunare, along the left bank of

the middle Rio Aripuana, State of Amazonas,

Brazil (05°45'S, 60°15'W). Holotypus: Specimen

MR204, complete head with partly damaged

mandible (Fig. 3), adult female, on May 1 2, 2006

killed for food by a local hunter along the left bank

of the Rio Aripuana near the settlement of

Tucunare, skull, spike (Fig. 4) and skin (Fig. 5). The

type specimen MR204 is deposited as INPA4273,

Mammal Collection of the National Institute for

Amazon Research, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

222

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

Figures 2-9 . MUZCLTHCL tieflhovevii n . sp . Figure 2 . M. tieflhoveTli n. sp. drawing reconstructed from plate depicting M. TieTTlOVi-

VClgCl (Eisenberg, 1989). Fig. 3. Skinned head of a holotype female fair brocket deer M. tiCTlhoVCTli n . sp. Fig. 4. Two spikes

of M. nemorivaga and one (the smallest) of M. tienhoveni n. sp. Fig. 5. Skin of M. tienhoveni n. sp. from Tucunare village,

Rio Aripuana. Figs. 6-8. skull and mandible of gray brocket deer M. neniorivOgCL (MPEG 1969). Fig. 9. Distribution map for

M. tienhoveni n. sp.

Description of holotypus. Measurements.

Two skins obtained from hunters along the lower

Rio Aripuana were measured. Body weight not

taken but according to local hunters ranges from 20-

25 kg. Skull length 185 mm, mandible length 145

mm. Diastema length in skull 53 mm. Condylobasal

length 167 mm. Palatal length 114 mm. Length of

nasals 55 mm. Interorbital constriction 41 mm. Zy-

gomatic breadth (= breadth across zygomatic ar-

ches) 80 mm. Breadth ofbraincase 55 mm. Length

of upper tooth-row 53 mm. Length oflower tooth-

row 58 mm. Breadth of M 2 12 mm, breadth of M2

8 mm. Dental formula: I 0/3, C ( 1 )/ 1 , P3/3, M 3/3.

Length of spikes (including the coronet) 55 mm.

Variability. No paratypes have been collected

thus far.

Etymology. We would like to name the species

for Dutch lawyer and naturalist Pieter Gerbrand

van Tienhoven (1875-1953), co-founder of a main-

stream conservation organisation in the Netherlands

(N atu u rm o n u m en te n ) and one of the founding

fathers of the International Union for the Conser-

vation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN):

Van Tienhoven's fair brocket deer, M. tienhoveni

n . sp .

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower Rio Aripuana Basin

223

Van Tienhoven's fair brocket deer M. tiCYlhoVCVli

n. sp. is locally known as “veado branco”, which

means “white brocket deer”. This way locals distin-

guish it from M. americana commonly known as

“veado vermelho” or “veado capoeira”, which

means “red brocket” or “secondary-growth

brocket”, referring to its overall orange-red color

and preference for edge habitats and forest clear-

ings, and from M. nemorivaga locally known as

“veado roxo”, which means “purplish-grey brocket”.

Distribution. The geographical distribution of

Van Tienhoven's fair brocket is thought to be

restricted to the lower and middle part of the Rio

Aripuana Basin, but it might well be distributed

across the entire interfluvium delineated by the Rio

Madeira in the west, the Rio Tapajos-Juruena in the

east, the Rio Amazonas in the north and the Rio

Guapore in the south. Since it seems to be confined

to terra firme rainforest habitat, we assume that

its real distribution is much smaller and does not

extend into the northern part of the Rios

M adeira/Tap ajo s interfluvium, where many open

savannas and extensive floodplains are found. We

have observed the species in the wild only along

both banks of the Rio Aripuana.

Ecology. Van Tienhoven's fair brocket, M. tien-

hoveni n. sp., seems to be restricted to dense terra

firme (upland) rain forest, where it lives solitary or

in pairs. It occupies rather small territories and

occurs in the Rio Aripuana Basin in sympatry with

the locally much rarer grey brocket .M. nemorivaga,

and the greater red brocket M. americana. The lat-

ter, however, occurs more frequently in disturbed

areas with secondary growth and edge habitats, and

in open areas such as white-sand savannas, which

are common in the region. Nothing is known about

Van Tienhoven’s fair brocket, its ecology, and habits

in the wild. The author has seen it only a few times

in the wild during the dry season, while it was visit-

ing the BaCtris maraja (palm) dominated margins

of muddy ponds, mud pools and saltlicks. These can

be found locally in the middle of the rain forest at

sometimes long distances from any substantial

water supply, such as rivers, streams, lakes and

ponds.

Phylogeny. DNA was extracted from a skin

sample from each of the two brocket species, M.

tienhovenin. sp. and M. nemorivaga, both collected

from the forests along the left bank of the Rio

Aripuana. Partial mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA

sequences of 233 bp (sites 1 33-365) and 295 bp

(sites 108-402) in length were obtained for respect-

ively Mazama tienhovenin. sp. and M. nemorivaga

with the conserved primers L 1484 1 and H15149

(Kocher et al., 1989). DNA extractions, PCR reac-

tions, and DNA sequencing were performed accord-

ing to standard laboratory protocols. The sequences

are deposited in Genbank under the accession

numbers: GQ 268320 {M. tienhoveni n. sp.) and

GQ268321 (M. nemorivaga) . Unfort unate ly, we did

not have a skin sample from a specimen of the third

sympatric brocket M. americana. However, differ-

ent cytochrome b DNA sequences from this species

and all other currently known Amazonian deer

species could be obtained from Genbank (Genbank

accession numbers given in Fig. 10). Most of these

sequences have been used in a recent phylogenetic

study on the South American deer (Duarte et al.,

2008). We generated a m inim um -evolution (ME)

distance tree by adding our two sequences to those

used in Duarte et al., 2008. Furthermore, we in-

cluded Genbank sequences not used in that study,

belonging to various S outh-A m erican deer species,

and excluded those with a large number of missing

data in the 1 33-365 bp region of cytochrome b. The

ME- tree was constructed with MEGA 4 (Tamura et

al., 2007). We used the substitution model K2P

(Kimura, 1 980) with a constant rate applied and

w ith Rangifer tarandus (Linnaeus, 1758)being out-

group, as has also been done in Duarte et al., 2008.

The tree is based on the 1 33-365 bp region of cyto-

chrome b with unresolved nucleotides deleted by

pairwise deletion. Divergence times were estimated

assuming separation between BlastOCemS/ Pudli and

Mazama/ Odocoileus 5 MYA (Duarte et al., 2008).

Mazama tienhoveni n. sp. and Genbank se-

quence AY 886753, not being used in Duarte et al.

(2008) although being from a brocket classified as

M. gOliazOUpira, formed a distinct clade that diver-

ged from the other South American deer species

(average sequence divergence: 8.3%) 5 MYA (Fig.

10). This w o u Id im p ly th at M. tienhoveni n . sp . di-

verged already before the uplift of the Panamanian

land bridge and invaded South America during the

“great A m erican interchange” between both contin-

ents. A distinct clade not only supports the separate

species status of M. tienhovenin. sp., it also indic-

ates that Genbank sequence AY 8 86753 was

wrongly identified as M. gOliazOUpira. The latter

224

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

observation is not unlikely, as low levels of mor-

phological differentiation in the genus MdZCltflCl

have caused numerous errors in species identifica-

tion in the past (Duarte et al., 2008). Genbank

sequence AY 886753 should either be attributed to

M. tienhovenin. sp. or to a separate species in its

own right, which is very well possible considering

the fact that it diverged 2-3 M YA from the M. tien-

hoveni n. sp. sequence. This divergence seems to

have occurred, more or less coinciding with the

uplift of the Panamanian land bridge.

Remarks. Mazama tienhoveni n. sp. differs

from the two other known Amazonian species, the

ion

IPV

H r

1Q3

ffl 1

92 l

96 r

BI L

“C

□E

Mazama gouazoupira DQ7S9181

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789203

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789189

Manama gouazoupira DQ789229

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789188

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789183

Mazama gouazoupira DO7890Q2

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789179

Mazama gouazoupira DQ786GQ0

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789186

Mazama gouazoupira DQ789194

Blastoceros dichotomic AY326234

Blastoceros dichotomus DQ789176

Blastoceros dichotomus DQ789175

Hippocamelus beulcus DQ739173

Hippocamelus be ulcus DG789177

Mazama gouazoupira DQ379303

Mazama nemorrvaga DG789226

Mazama nemorivaga 0Q789205

# Mizamanemorwagafrioaripuana)

Mazama nemorivaga DQ789213

Mazama nemorivaga D Q789206

Pudu pud a DG3793Q9

Pudu pud a L.43435

Hippocamelus antisense DQ379307

Qzotoceros bezoartious L43434

Ozotocercs bezoartious DQ789198

□zotoceros bezoartious DQ789199

Ozotoceros bezoartious D Q7S9193

Ozcdoceros bezoartious DQ789196

Odocoileus hemionus FJ188800

Odocoileus hemionus FJ 188781

Odocoileus hemionus FJ 188768

Odocoileus hemionus FJ 188874

Odocoileus hemionus FJ188805

Odocoileus hemionus FJ188764

Mazama bororo DQ789231

Mazama nana DQ 73C214

Mazama nana DQ789227

Mazama nana DQ789210

Mazama sp. AJ 1X0027

Mazama sp, DQ789180

Mazama americana DG789217

Mazama americana DQ780218

Mazama americana DQ789209

Mazama americana DQ 789211

Mazama americana DQ 789219

Mazama americana DQ7BS220

Mazama americana DQ 789223

MEama americana DQ789221

Mazama americana DQ789230

Mazama americana DQ789215

Mazama americana DQ 78022*4

Mazama americana DQ 78 9208

Mazama gouazoupira AY886753

0 Mazama tienhoveni

Rangifer tarandus NC007703

Rangifer tarandus AJ0CCO2 9

Rangifer tarandus AYD90 106

Rangifer tarandus AY090107

Rangifer tarandus L49403

Rangifer tarandus AF 4941 96

Rangifer tarandus AF 4941 95

7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

005 J 005 0O4 ' 003 002 001 OQO

Fig are 1 0 . L inearized minimum-evolution tree showing phylogenetic relationships among South American deer derived fro m

a 2 3 3 bp fragm entofthem ito chondrial cy to chrome b. The scale on top correspo nd s to the time scale in millions of years while

the scale below corresponds to the observed mean sequence divergence using the substitution model K2P. Bootstrap values

(1000 re plica tes, > 50%) are denoted above nodes. Numbers behind taxon names c orresp o nd to Genbank accession numbers.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower Rio Aripuana Basin

225

Greater Red Brocket M. americana and the Gray

Brocket M. nemorivaga, in being intermediary in

size, but with 55 mm total length and coronet dia-

meter 24x30 mm having the shortest but most ro-

bust spikes (mean spike length 74 mm and coronet

diameter 21x22 mm in M. nemorivaga) . M ost of the

body is overall light brown colored, grading toward

almost white on the sides and ventrally, whereas the

dorsal parts of M. Cline ricCMCl are of a (deep) reddish

brown color, grading ventrally into a more rusty

color, and those of M. nemorivaga are dull or pale

yellowish or grayish brown to chestnut brown, grad-

ing ventrally into yellowish or whitish (Husson,

1978). The males of M. tienhoveni n. sp. do not

have the distinct crest of hairs on the forehead as

M. nemorivaga has, neither do the males of

Mazama americana. Head-body length is not

known yet, but M. tieilhoveTli n. sp. is said to be in-

term e diary in size between M. nemorivClgCl, being

760-1015 mm (N = 6) (Rossi, 2000), with shoulder

height 480 mm (Duarte, 1 99 6), and M. americana

being 1120-1135 mm. The short tail is 75 mm long,

dorsally has the same color of the back but shows a

conspicuous white tuft at the end, being predomin-

antly white below, whereas the tail in M. americana

is 1 60-200 mm long, including the tuft, and 60-106

mm in M. nemorivaga. Furthermore, hind foot

length (w ith hoof) in M. americana is 313-318 mm

and ear length is 94-100 mm, and 82-93 mm in M.

nemorivaga (Husson, 1 978; Rossi, 2000). Weight

of adult specimens is reported less than 15 kg in M.

nemorivaga, 25-40 kg in M. americana, and about

20-25 kg in M. tienllOVeni n . sp., according to local

hunters. M. tienhoveni n . sp. can be distinguished

from other brocket deer by its intermediary-sized

head and various other intermediary skull charac-

ters (Table 1 ). O verall, the cranium of M. tienhoveni

seems more related to that of M. nemorivaga than

that of M. americana, but it differs clearly from Ma-

Zama nemorivaga in the following mean cranial

measurements: greatest skull length 185 versus 174

mm; palatal length 114 vs. 105 mm; length of nasals

55 vs. 50 mm; interorbital constriction 41 vs. 39

mm; zygomatic breadth 80 vs. 73 mm; braincase

breadth 55 vs. 53 mm; alveolar breadth of the upper

second molar 12 vs. 11.3 mm; alveolar breadth of

the lower second molar 8 vs. 7.4 mm; and length of

mandible 145 vs. 134 mm.

The divergence time between M. tienhoveni n.

sp. and the two other brocket deer, derived from

partial cytochrome b DNA sequences, is estimated

Skull

Greatest orcondylobusa! length (-length

anterior lip of I 1 to rear ofcondyles)

iimt’rirtiiiii

(n-l 1)

221

nemorivaga

<n=S)

174

tienlwvetil

(n=l)

1K5

Hiisal length (= length anterior lip of l‘

to proximal end afetmdylcs)

210

162

Ib7

Palatal length

127

102

114

Length of nasals

Inte [orbital eons met mil

Zygomatic breadth (breadth across

zygomatic arches)

Breadth oTbra incase

Length of diastema

Alveolar length of upper moth -tow

Alveolar breadth of M 1

14,6

11.3

Length of mandible (^length from 1' to

rear of processus condylieus)

172

134

145

Alveolar length of lower tooth •row

Alveolar breadth of M2

9,7

7,4

Length of spikes

Hit (n=5)

74 (n=2)

D isla nee between spikes

3b (n=5)

35 (n=2)

Diameter of coronet

21-22 RA

(n=2)

24-30 RA

Table 1. Skull measurements (in mm) of Mazaina ameri-

cana (N = ii; nhml), M. nemorivaga (N = 5; nhml), and

M. tienhoveni ; M. tienhoveni n . sp. is represented by the ho-

lotype - an adult female from Tucunare, Rio Aripuana, State

of A m azonas.

at 5 million years before present, which is well

before the uplift of the Panamanian land bridge. As

in other brocket deer, Van Tienhoven's fair brocket

seems to live solitary or in pairs. In view of recent

developments in the Rio Aripuana Basin where it

lives and due to its limited distribution, we consider

Van Tienhoven's fair brocket highly endangered.

Conservation status. All three brocket species,

occurring in sympatry in the Rio Aripuana Basin,

are favorite game to the locals. Hunting the ‘blond’

or fair brocket M. tienhoveni n. sp. is said to be

more successful. Along the lower Rio Aripuana, it

is said to be the most commonly encountered type

of brocket, at least in terra firm e (upland) rain

forest, whereas greater red brocket are more often

226

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

found near forest edges and clearings, such as fields

and plantations. A lthough human occupation in this

part of the Amazon is very low nowadays, this

situation might soon change. In the Rio Aripuana

region unprecedented illegal extraction of timber,

gold and gravel is taking place, ironically after the

whole lower Rio Aripuana region was declared a

State of Amazonas Sustainable Development

Reserve (Reserva de D esen volvim ento Sustentavel

- RDS do Baixo Rio Aripuana). Recent road build-

ing through the area has as objective to connect the

town of M anicore on the right bank of the Rio

M adeira with the now booming town ofApui at the

border of the Tenharim Savanna and the State of

Mato Grosso, areas of large-scale industrialized

soybean agriculture. As recently as the year 2006,

gold was found where the road from Novo

Aripuana crosses the Rio Juma, a clear-water tribu-

tary of the right-bank Rio Aripuana. A crowd of

over 10,000 gold diggers then settled in. Locals told

us that ever since commercial hunters flocked into

the area.

They use trained dogs for the hunt on game

species as giant peccary PeCCUl maximUS Van Roos-

malen et al., 2007, Van Tienhoven's fair brocket M.

tienhoveni n. sp., and both dwarf tapir TcipiruS

pygmueUS Van Roosmalen, 2013 (also known as T.

kaboTnani Cozzuol et al., 2013 - ajunior name) and

lowland Brazilian tapir TcipiriiS tewestvis (Linnaeus,

1758) to feed hungry settlers and gold-miners.

Taking increasing hunting pressure and the species's

limited distribution into account, M. tieYlhoV£Yli n.

sp. is considered highly endangered. It is recom-

mended to include this new species in the IUCN

Global Red List, based on criterion D (very small

or restricted population). Besides Van Tienhoven's

fair brocket, the Rio Aripuana region seems to

harbor a number of other faunal elements new, or

possibly new, to science. Identified so far are a new

species of peccary Pecciri JfldXilflUS (Van Roos-

malen et al., 2007), a new species of dwarf porcu-

pine Coendu ( Sphig gurus) roosmalenorum (Voss &

Da Silva, 200 1 ), and at least four new primate

species (Van Roosmalen et al., 1 998; Van Roos-

malen et al., 2000; Van Roosmalen et al., 2002; Van

Roosmalen and Van Roosmalen, 2003). Among

these primates, the black-crowned dwarf marmoset

Callibella humilis Van Roosmalen et al., 199 8

represents a complete new genus first seen and

collected by me in 1 996. Most surprisingly, up to

today not a single area exists in the region that is

effectively protected by Brazilian environmental

law. Given the uniqueness of the region in terms of

biodiversity and its current status of biological terra

incognita, we here suggest UNESCO to urge

the Brazilian Government to declare the entire

lower Aripuana Basin a Natural World Heritage

R eserve.

2. New species of living rodent from the Rio

Aripuana Basin: the giant striped paca

( Mammalia Agoutidae)

Up to recently only two members of the Neo-

tropical family Agoutidae (pacas), synonymous to

Cuniculidae, were known to occur in the Americas

belonging to the extant genus AgOUti (Wilson &

Reeder, 1993): the spotted common paca AgOUti

paCd (Linnaeus, 1 766), which species ranges in

C + S America from San Luis Potosi, SE Mexico, to

Paraguay, the Guianas, and S Brazil (the species

was introduced into Cuba) and occupies suitable

lowland habitats, and the mountain paca A.

taczanowskii (Stolzmann, 1865), a species from

the high cloud forest (altitudes between 2,000-3,000

m) of Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia,

and NW Venezuela (Eisenberg, 1 989; Eisenberg

& Redford, 1999).

Class Mammalia Order Roden ti a

Family Agoutidae Gray, 1821

Subfamily Agoutinae or Cuniculinae

Genus AgOUti Lacepede, 1799

Agouti silv agar ciae \ an Roosmalen et Van Hooft

Examined material. Holotypus: adult female,

complete head (Fig. 13), killed for food by a local

hunter on May 28, 2006, along the left bank of the

Rio Aripuana near the settlement of Tucunare.

Paratypus: stuffed specimen found under number

MPEG 22302 in the mammal collection of the

Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belem, Para,

Brazil, its provenance not given (Fig. 14). Head-

body length 750 mm. The heads were preserved on

spirit (Fig. 13). Grain shot had severely damaged

the skull of the giant paca specimen making it

impossible to take cranial measurements.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

227

Figures 11-16. Fig. 11. Plate from Eisenberg (1989) depicting the common spotted paca AgOUti pCLCCL', Fig. 12. The common

spotted paca A. pCICCI as depicted in Emmons & Feer(1990).Fig. 13. Heads offreshly killed common spotted paca A. pOCCl

(at bottom) and Silva Garcia’s striped giant paca A. silvCLgClTCicie n . sp. (at top). The skulls and mandibles of these specimens

are stored at Tucunare village, Rio Aripuana, State of Amazonas, Brazilian Amazon. Figs. 14, 15. Stuffed specimen of

striped giant paca A. silvCLgarcicie n . sp. found by the first author in the collection ofMuseu Paraense Emilio Goeldi under

MPEG 22302 - with out locality and misidentified as A. pCLCCL. Fig. 16. Skull of the common spotted paca A. pCLCCL fo und by

the firstauthor in the collection ofMuseu Goeldi under MPEG 5418, from the locality ofTapirinha. Skull length 147 mm,

skull width 97 mm.

Description of holotypus. The general dorsal

pelage color of the common spotted paca AgOUti

pCICCI is uniformly chestnut or mummy brown to

almost black, usually with a striking pattern of four

horizontal lines of white or light yellowish dots on

each side of the body, the two middle ones at least

extending all the way from the neck to the rump. In

these two middle rows, the spots in the middle part

may be fused to an uninterrupted stripe. The lower

of the rows of spots is only visible in the extreme

anterior and posterior parts, as the middle part is

fused with the white ventral surface of the body.

One or two of the upper rows of spots are shorter

than the other rows; they are visible only in the

posterior half of the body. The hairs are stiff and

shiny. The dark brownish hairs show a lighter

median line. The dorsal surface of the head is of the

same color as the back, but the hairs are shorter and

less stiff. On the snout, there are long stiff whiskers.

The upper whiskers are blackish and the lower are

white, the color difference being quite striking.

Similar stiff whisker-like hairs, though fewer, are

implanted below and slightly in front of the ears;

here too, upper hairs are blackish brown, lower ones

white. The ears are relatively large; a tuft of

blackish and yellowish longer hairs is implanted

before the opening of the ear. The throat and the

cheeks are uniformly cream -colored, as is the entire

ventral surface of the body. The line of demarcation

between the dark dorsal and the whitish ventral

color is distinctly marked. The outside of the legs

is of the same brown color as the dorsal surface of

228

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

the body; the inside of the legs is yellowish white

basally, brown or brownish distally. The tail is ve-

stigial, very short, and hardly noticeable. There

are four toes with nails both on the fore- and hind-

feet. In the forefeet, the nail of the thumb is very

small, the others are well developed and of equal

size. In the hind-feet, the three middle nails are

large and of about the same size, while the nails of

the inner and outer toes are markedly smaller and

implanted higher, the inner nail being again some-

what smaller than the outer one. In the female there

is on each side one pectoral mamma, at about the

level of the bases of the front legs. Dental formula:

1 1/1, CO/1, P 1/1, M 3/3. The skull of an adult com-

mon paca is immediately characterized by the zy-

gomatic arch that has grown out to an enormously

swollen, distinctively sculpted bony plate, which is

about two-third the length of the palate; this plate

is strongly produced downward, in lateral view ob-

scuring the teeth and the basal part of the mandible.

Anteriorly, this plate encloses a deep and very large

cavity at each side of the very narrow palate in front

of the tooth-rows. In comparison to other rodents,

the teeth are placed far backward. The palate ends

at the line between the last and the penultimate

molars. The infra-orbital opening has become a

narrow canal aim ost entirely enclosed by bone. The

outer surface of the zygomatic arch is covered with

a honey-comb of irregular bony ridges, giving it a

strongly rugose appearance. These rugosities extend

also onto the larger parts of the nasals, frontals and

parietals; in full-grown specimens the sutures

between these bones are not or only partly visible.

Even in newborn and juvenile specimens, the zy-

gomatic arch is relatively high, but still smooth. The

external measurements of three adult specimens of

AgOUti paca from Suriname on which the above

mentioned description is based, are: head-body

length 650; 676; 662 mm; tail length 18; 17; 19

mm; hind foot (including nail) 119; 117; 113 mm;

ear length 46; 41; 48 mm; weight 9.2; 9.1; and 9.5

kg (Husson, 1 978). Eisenberg (1 989) gives head-

body length averages 600-795 mm, vestigial tail

length 19 mm, hind foot 188 mm, ear length 45 mm

and weight 7. 5 kg. He also states that the adult male

is about 15% larger than the adult female. Silva

Garcia’s giant paca A. silvagarciae n . sp. from the

Rio Aripuana Basin has been reported by locals to

weigh between 12-15 kg, its general color is bright

orange brown. Average weight of the sympatric

common paca A. paca in the Rio Aripuana Basin is

reported to be 5-6 kg. The head of the giant paca

shot near Tucunare settlement measures 155 x 80

mm (compared to 115 x 80 mm in the common paca

specimen shot the same night at the same locality

of Tucunare) (Fig. 13). The eight upper whiskers

are black and about 110 mm long, the eight lower

whiskers are white, stronger and stiffer than the

upper ones and 105-110 mm in length (similar to

those in the common paca). Three out of four lateral

rows show the white spots (almost) completely

fused (Figs. 14, 15).

Measurements. Body weightwas not taken from

the holotype specimen of A. silvagarciae n . sp ., but

according to local hunters body weight ranges from

12-15 kg. The head of the giant paca shot near

Tucunare settlement measured 1 55 x 80 mm,

whereas that of the adult common paca shot at the

same locality the same night measured only 115 x

80 mm (Fig. 13).

Variability. Paratype: stuffed specimen of

striped giant paca A. silvagarciac n. sp. found under

numberMPEG 22302 in the mammal collection of

the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi, Belem, Para,

Brazil, misidentified as A. paca, its provenance not

given (Figs. 14, 15). Head-body length 750 mm.

Etymology. This paca is named in honor of the

author’s spouse Antonia Vivian Silva Garcia.

During our visit to the community of Tucunare she

heard the villagers talk about the two types of paca

the locals there distinguish, one specimen of each a

local hunter had shot for food that very night.

Undoubtedly, the two species of paca must there-

fore be considered (m icro)-sym patric.

Vernacular name: A. silvagarciae n. sp. is

known locally as “paca concha”, which means

“shellfish paca”. This way, locals distinguish it from

the common paca A. paca that is known as “paca

pintada” (“spotted paca”).

Distribution. Members of the genus AgOUti are

distributed from southern Mexico to northern

Argentina in suitable lowland habitats. The geo-

graphical distribution of the giant paca is thought

to be restricted to the interfluvium confined by the

Rio Amazonas in the north, the Rio Madeira in the

west, the Rio Ji-Parana or Rio Guapore in the south,

and the Rio Tapajos-Juruena in the east (Fig. 1). We

have observed the species in the wild only along

both banks of the Rio Aripuana. Type locality of

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower Rio Aripuana Basin

229

Agouti paca Rg n°

Sex

Greatest length mm

Condylobasal length

Basal length

Palatal length

Length of nasals

Zygomatic breadth

Hght zygomatic arch

Lgth zygomatic arch

Intero rb ital constr,

Braincase breadth

Mastoid breadth

Bullae lgth x bdth

Height of rostrum

Diastema

Alveolar length P-M 3

Breadth of m 2

Length of mandible

Alveolar length P-M 3

Breadth of M3

23902

18233

17756

139

143

129

138

144

123

131

136

fused

104

102

20x15

18x14

18x17

7.1

7.2

7.9

103

7.5

6.8

8.5

21889

21891

21892

142

148

136

145

139

128

138

133

100

21x17

17x14

20x18

8.0

7.4

7.3

18013

18017

136

141

143

128

137

121

129

130

20x14

19x17

19x16

7.0

7.6

7.4

7.2

8.0

7.6

Table 2. Cranial measurements (in mm) of eight specimens of the common spotted paca AgOUti paca from Suriname (zoolo-

gical collect ion of the NHML, Leiden, the Netherlands) on which our description is based. With “height of zygoma tic arc h’ -

is meant the greatest height; with “breadth of the braincase’" is meant the width of the skull at the leveljust above the external

auditory meatus. Also, the total length of the zygomatic arch is noted being the distance between the extreme anterior and

posterior borders. The length of the mandible was measured from the processus angularis. Mean skull length 143 mm, mean

mandible length 95 mm. Diastema length in skull 47mm. Condylobasal length 137 mm. Palatal length 82 mm. Length of

nasals 48 mm. Interorbital constriction 42 mm. Zygomatic breadth (= breadth across zygomatic arches) 95 mm. Breadth of

bra incase 45 mm. Bread th of M 2 7.4 mm, breadth of M ’ 7.6 mm. Dental formula: I 1/1, C 0/0, Pl/1, M 3/3.

A. silvagarciae n . sp. is the Rio Aripuana, close to

the settlement of Tucunare, situated along the

Parana do Santa Maria, a shortcut from the com-

munity of Santa Maria to that of Tucunare, sitting

on the left bank of the middle Rio Aripuana, State

of Amazonas, Brazil (05°4 5'S,60°15'W).

Ecology. Pacas of both species are nocturnal

and have their hiding-places in hollow fallen tree

trunks. They always carefully make two entrances

to their burrows, so that they can escape when

hunted down by dogs. Pacas usually live close to

rivers and creeks. When pursued by dogs, they

frequently take refuge in the water. Notw it h standing

its fat body, it manages to walk on the bottom of

any substantial water body. The formidable teeth

and enormous masticatory muscles of pacas enable

them to break open the hardest fruits and seed

kernels. In contrast to the agouti, the paca digs

burrows that are sometimes interconnected with

others.

The giant paca A. silvagCircicie n. sp. is assumed

to be restricted to dense terra firme upland rain

forest, where it lives solitary or in pairs. It occupies

rather small territories and occurs in the Rio

Aripuana Basin in sympatry with the locally much

more common spotted paca A. pCICCl. The latter,

however, is more frequently found along edges,

such as roadsides, streams and creeks, in disturbed

areas with secondary growth, and in open areas on

white-sand savannas common in the region.

Nothing is known about its ecology and habits in

the wild. I myself have seen it in the wild only a

few times during the dry season while visiting the

Bactris vnarcijci M art (palm) d o m in ated m arg in s o f

muddy ponds, mud pools and saltlicks. These can

be found locally in the middle of the rain forest,

230

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

often at long distances from any substantial water

body, such as rivers, streams, lakes or ponds.

Phylogeny. One complete mitochondrial D-

loop and two nuclear SINE PRE-1 DNA sequences

of Silva Garcia’s giant paca were carried out and

compared with Genbank sequences of the sympatric

common paca (A. paCO.) . The results (15.5% dif-

ference between species) clearly support the distinc-

tion into valid species. As genetic distances based

on partial mtDNA cytochrome b sequences (283

bp) in Bovidae are estimated 1.25% = 1 MYS, di-

vergence tim e betw een A. pciCCl and A. silvagarciae

n. sp. is estimated at about 10 million years. The

giant paca therefore seems to have derived from an-

cestral pacas in the Late Miocene to Early Pliocene.

Remarks. This second species of paca from the

Brazilian Amazon is distinctly bigger than the

morphologically most related species that occurs in

the Amazon, the common spotted paca A. pacci.

One complete mitochondrial D-loop and two

nuclear SINE PRE-1 DNA sequences of the giant

paca compared with that of the sympatric common

paca {A. paca) supports the distinction. Divergence

time is estimated at 10 million years. As in the com-

mon paca, giant pacas are nocturnal and reported to

live solitary or in pairs. In view of recent develop-

ments in the interfluves where it lives, due to its

limited distribution and for being a prime target to

local hunters, we consider Silva Garcia’s giant paca

on the verge of extinction.

Several specimens of stuffed pacas in the zo-

ological collection of Museu Paraense Emilio

Goeldi, Belem, Para, identified as common pacas,

are suspected to represent giant pacas, hereafter

named A. silvagarciae n. sp. (Figs. 14, 15). This

assumption is based on the orange-brown skin

color, the pattern of horizontal white stripes instead

of spots, total body length, weight, and cranial

measurements. Unfortunately, none of them has

been given a proper geographic locality.

Conservation status. The two paca species oc-

curring sy m p atric ally in the Rio Aripuana Basin are

favorite game to the locals. Although human occu-

pation in this part of the Amazon is very low

nowadays, this situation may change in the near

future. In the Rio Aripuana region unprecedented

extraction of timber and gravel is taking place.

Recent road building through the area is intended

to connect the town of Manicore on the right bank

of the Rio Madeira with the boomtown of Apuf

located at the border of the Tenharim Savanna and

the State of Mato Grosso, areas oflarg e-scale indus-

trialized soybean agriculture. In view of these

developments, we fear that commercial hunters

using trained dogs will focus first on large animals,

such as the giant paca AgOUti silvagavtiaC n . sp ., to

feed hungry settlers and gold-diggers. Taking

increasing hunting pressure and the species's li-

mited distribution into account, I consider A. silvag-

arciae n. sp. on the verge of extinction. It is

recommended to include this new species in the

IUCN Global Red List, based on criterion D (very

small or restricted population). Besides the giant

paca, the Rio Aripuana region is thought to harbor

a number of other mega-faunal elements new to

science. I have identified so far a new species of

peccary Pecari lTiaxilTIUS (Van Roosmalen et al.,

2007), a new species of dwarf porcupine Coendu

( Sphiggurus ) roosmalenorum (Voss & Da Silva,

2001 ) - and seven new primate species, four of

which are already officially described [Van Roos-

malen et al. (1 998); Van Roosmalen et al. (2000);

Van Roosmalen et al. (2002); Van Roosmalen &

Van Roosmalen (2003)]. Among these primates, the

dwarf marmoset Callibclla hlATTlilis represents a new

primate genus first seen and collected by me in

1 996. Most surprisingly, not a single area protected

by Brazilian environmental law exists in the region.

Given the uniqueness of the region in terms of biod-

iversity and its current status of biological terra

incognita, we here suggest UNESCO to urge the

Brazilian Government to declare the entire region

a Natural World Heritage Reserve.

3. New species of living manatee ( Mammalia

Trichechidae) from the Rio Aripuana Basin

- shallow clear -water adapted dwarf manatee

is on the verge of extinction

Manatees (Mammalia Trichechidae) are fully

aquatic mammals of the ancient Order Sirenia.

Worldwide there are two extant genera, TrichechuS

Linnaeus, 1758 and DugOVlg Lacepede, 1 799. The

Amazonian manatee T. inunguis (N atterer in

Pelzeln, 1 8 83 ) is the only species strictly adapted

to fresh-water environments. However, here we

announce the discovery of a second taxon from the

Amazon that is also adapted to fresh-water habitat.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower Rio Aripuana Basin

23 1

Class M am m alia

O rder Sirenia

Family Trichechidae

Genus TvichechuS Linnaeus, 1758

Trichechus pygmaeus Van Roosmalen et Van der

V list

Examined material. Holotype: skull with lower

jaw of adult male is numbered CCM181, Zo-

ological Collection of the Brazilian Institute for

Amazon Research (INPA), M an a u s- A m azo n as ,

Brazil, collected eight km upstream from the m outh

of the Rio Arauazinho (Fig. 17), a left bank tributary

of the lower Rio Aripuana, State of Amazonas,

Brazil (06°16'94”S, 6 0 ° 2 0 ' 8 7 ” W ), 25. IX. 2002,

M.G.M. van Roosmalen legit.

Description of holotypus. Holotype skull

length 24 cm, greatest width 15 cm. Mandible

length 15.5 cm. Rostrum length 6.5 cm. Frontal

bones convex, greatest width 5.1 cm. Cheek teeth

(fully erupted molars) 4, maxillar molars 0.9 x 0.9

cm (Fig. 18), mandibular molars 0.8 x 0.6 cm.

Skull roof 5 cm wide, lacking parasagittal crests.

Braincase volume approximately 210 cc.

Variability. The species description is based on

two adult males and generalized in accordance with

reports from local hunters. Both adult male dwarf

manatees have been examined, each measuring 130

cm in length, 90 cm in circumference, and weighing

about 60 kg. The skin is overall pitch-black with a

circular to tear-shaped white patch on the abdomen

reported to be so in both the sexes, measuring in the

captive male ca. 52 cm long and 26 cm in diameter.

The flippers measured 32x11 cm and the paddle

36x40 cm. Snout comparatively short, circumf-

erence 46 cm, 19 cm in diameter, beset with long,

stiff bristle hairs. Whole body is thinly beset with

bristle-hairs (see also Fig. 19).

Etymology. Pygmaeus in Fatin means “short”,

“very small” or “dwarf”, reflecting as such the fact

that the new taxon of manatee is a dwarf compared

with the common Amazonian manatee T. iflUTlguis.

Vernacular name: “Dwarf manatee”, or “peixe-

boi anao”. It is locally known as “pretinho”, which

means “little black fellow”. This way, the locals

distinguish it from the common Amazonian fresh-

water manatee T. ifiungliis widely known as

Figure 17. Landsat images of the Rio Arauazinho, bran-

ching off in three directions, one lengthy branch coming

from the south running parallel with the Rio Aripuana, one

short branch coming straight from the north, and one main

branch coming from the northwest. The latter drains the ex-

tensive wetlands along the watershed with the upper Rio

Mariepaua, which harbor the last remaining population of

T- pygmaeus.

Figure 18. (Above) Maxillary molars of a young juvenile

male T. inunguis (Inpa Pb248) compared with those of the

holotype adult male T. pygmaeus n . sp. (below).

232

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

“peixe-boi comum” (Portuguese for “common fish

cow”).

Distribution. Currently known distribution

restricted to the Rio Arauazinho Basin, a dear-

water tributary of the left-bank Rio Aripuana, State

of Amazonas, Brazil. Dwarf manatees may also

occur in the headwater region of the Rio Mariepaua,

the wetlands of which are interconnected with those

of the northernmost branch of the Rio Arauazinho.

Comparisons. The new taxon is assigned to the

genus TrichechllS, because it possesses a number of

traits in common with the parapatric, though in eco-

logical respect allopatric Amazonian manatee, T.

inunguis, from which it differs by its total adult

body length 130 cm (280-320 cm in T. inunguis),

and weight ca. 60 kg (350-500 kg in T. inunguis )

(Domning & Hayek, 1986). Growth curves of free-

ranging Amazonian manatees ( T. inunguis ) in B razil

are described by Vergara-Parente et al., 2010. Age

estimates and biometrics from 60 Amazonian

manatees captured between 1 993 and 2006 by local

residents of the mid-Solimoes and Pirativa Rivers

in the Brazilian Amazon are given as follows:

length at birth for T. inunguis is estimated at 13 3.2

cm (average = 113.0 cm; SD = 34.4 cm) for males,

and 13 1.0 cm (average = 124.7 cm; SD = 22.0 cm)

for females. A maximum length of 299.4 cm is

given in males, and 256.1 cm in females. Therefore,

both the adult male holotype T. pygmueUS n. sp. and

the adult male dwarf manatee that we kept alive for

over four months in an enclosure by fencing off a

bend in the Rio Arauazinho, had the same total

body length as just-born infants of the common

manatee T. inunguis. Moreover, the skin in T. inun-

gUlS is evenly dark grey colored, with individually

very variable irregular elongated white stripes

on the abdomen in females and only a few small

Figure 19. Adult dwarf manatee male kept for over four months in a fenced-off river bend of the Rio Arauazinho where it

was fed with its local natural food; note the saturated eumelanin black skin, relatively short head, short trunk and flippers, the

bristle hairs on the snout, and the large, tear-shaped albinotic white patch on the abdomen.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

233

irregular white blotches in males (Da Silva, pers.

comm.). Dwarf manatees, in contrast, are saturated

eumelanin coal black, the black pigmentation most

likely being an adaptation to its preferred habitat,

fast flowing shallow clear-water streams, protecting

them from skin burn by UV radiation (Fig. 19).

Common Amazonian manatees that are evolu-

tionarily adapted to murky silt-laden w hite-w ater or

low visibility dark-brown stained black-w ater, kept

in clear-water tanks at IN PA , Manaus, have to be

protected from severe skin burn by blocking off any

direct sunlight (Da Silva, pers. comm.). Male T.

pygmaeus n. sp. have a white tear- shaped, ca. 52 cm

long patch on the abdomen, greatest width 26 cm

(Fig. 19). Flippers of the captive male measuring

32 x 11 cm were too short to reach the mouth. In

contrast, the flippers of T. inunguis are proportion-

ately longer in the animals kept at IN PA . They are

used to push floating stems and foliage toward the

trunk and into the mouth. The snout of adult T.

pygmaeUS n. sp. is beset with long bristle hairs (Fig.

19), whereas that of infants T. UlUYlguis kept at

IN PA is smooth lacking bristle hairs. The large

white ventral patches reported in both sexes of

T pygmaeUS n. sp. perhaps have been selectively

evolved as protection against stingray attacks (an

irregular black-and-white belly pattern may deceive

its visual perception) during horizontal browsing of

pastures of Eleocharis minima K unth (C yperaceae)

and Thuvnia spp. (Thurniaceae). These aquatic

herbs grow on the sandy bottom of the mostly

shallow cle ar- w ater A rau az inho River. Those pas-

tures offer ideal hiding places for stingrays of all

sizes (Fig . 2 2).

The holotype skull of T. pygmaeus n. sp. is 24

cm long and 15 cm wide, the rostrum is 6.5 cm in

length and lacks the expanded nasal basin of adult

T. inunguis. The skull of T. inunguis measures 34 x

19 cm and the rostrum 11.5 cm (Figs. 20, 21).

Frontal bones in the holotype skull of an adult male

T. pygmaeus n. sp. are convex and 5.1 cm wide,

whereas in T. inunguis they are concave and only 4

cm wide (Fig. 21 - note that the skull of the juvenile

male T. inunguis , IN PA Pb248, is not damaged, but

falls apart along the fissures). The skull roof lacks

the parasagittal crests of T. inunguis, and the brain-

case volume in both taxa is about equal being ca.

210 cc. Therefore, it is much larger in T. pygmaeus

relative to its total body size. The total number of

cheek teeth (fully erupted molars) in each jaw

quadrant is 4 in the holotype T. pygmaeus n. sp.

(indicating a trend to neotony), but 6 ( - 8 ) in T.

inunguis (Domning & Hayek, 1986). Fu rth erm ore ,

they are much smaller-maxillary molars are 0.9 cm

in diameter in T. pygmaeus, and 1.3 cm in diameter

in T. inunguis (Fig. 2 1 ) . While the 3-4 anterior

molars in juvenile T. inunguis are hardly worn in

comparison to the just erupted posterior molar, this

is strikingly different in the holotype T. pygmaeus

with the 3 anterior molars strongly worn, thus

showing indisputably its adult status (Fig. 18). The

skull of the holotype male T. pygmaeus compared

with a similar-sized skull (23 x 15 cm) of a young

male T. inunguis (IN PA Pb24 8) reveals the

following major differences: 1/ the skull of T.

pygmaeus n. sp. is thick, robust and solid (the

cranial sutures, especially the basisphenoid-

basioccipital one, are fully fused), whereas the skull

bones of the young T. inunguis are thin and not

fused yet, so that its skull falls apart along the

fissures; 2/ the frontal bones in T. pygmaeus n. sp.

are convex and 5.1 cm wide, whereas in T. inunguis

they are concave and only 3.8 cm wide; and 3/ the

3-4 anterior molars in T. pygmaeus are fully worn,

whereas in young T. inunguis only three cheek teeth

are fully erupted .

The latter are sharply crested and do not show

any rate of abrasion (Figs. 18, 21). We have se-

quenced a fragment of 410 bp of the left domain of

the mitochondrial control region (D-loop), using

DNA extracted from a skin sample of a living

specimen. We used the same primers as were used

for T. manatUS and T. inunguis in Garcia-Rodriguez

et al. (1998). The resulting sequence was identical

to the most frequent T. inunguis h ap lo ty p e -h ap lo -

type T, frequency 31% (Garcia-Rodriguez et al.,

1 998). At first sight, this result seems to be dis-

crepant with the valid species status allocated by us

to the dwarf manatee. We first thought this result

could be explained by the relatively slow control

region mutation rate in manatees, being only

1.5%/1 million years (equivalent to 1 point muta-

tion/163,000 years) between lineages as compared

to 8-15%/lmillion years in most terrestrial

mammals (Garcia-Rodriguez et al., 1 998). This

would indicate a maximum divergence time of

485,000 years before present (p = 0 .0 5 ). W ithin such

a long space of time, sub-specific and even specific

dwarfism is possible. For example, episodes of

invasion and subsequent dwarfing affected many

234

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

tnunguts

pygmaeus

tnunguts

pygmae

Figure 20. Comparing skull and mandible of TrichechuS ifiunguis adult female Inpa Pbl97; T. pygmaeus adult male holotype

Inpa CCM181; and T. fflClUCltUS ( ill u stratio n taken from Husson, 1978). Note the convex and wider frontals in T. pygmaeus,

and the comparatively greater resemblance of its skull to that of T. lYlClYlCltUS.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

235

ad.

inunguis

Figure 21. Comparing skull, mandible and cheek teeth (fully erupted molars) of TrichechuS inungliis adult female Inpa Pbl97;

T. pygmaeus n. sp. adult male holotype Inpa CCM 181; and T. inungliis juvenile male Inpa Pb 24 8 . N o te the strikingly d iff e rent

wearing pattern when comparing the cheek teeth of the adult male T. pygmaeUS n. sp. and the juvenile T. inunguis.

tnvnguis

ad. ,

munguis

ad.

pygmaeus

r ad.

pygmaeus

juv.

inunguis

236

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

insular fossil Elephantidae species from islands in

the Mediterranean and W allacea Seas. Some of

these have become dwarfs in less than 5,000 years

(Lister, 1 993; Lahr & Foley, 2004). Also, Wrangel

Island mammoths diminished by about 65% in

body size within at most 5,000 years after the

severing of the Late Pleistocene land bridge to

Eurasia (Lister, 1 993). Early Pleistocene large ele-

phants, with which the Sirenians are closely related,

swam and walked from the European mainland to

the island of Crete. There, they evolved into a 90

kg weighing dwarf species ElephciS CTCticUS Bate,

1907 (Caloi et al., 1 996). It could be hypothesized

that common Amazonian manatees once acciden-

tally got trapped in the Rio Arauazinho Basin isol-

ated from the main population in the Rio Aripuana

Basin. Forced to survive in (to the species inappro-

priate) clear-water habitat, these colonizers may

have drastically changed their diet and adopted a

different foraging technique. In addition, they might

have dwarfed under strong selective pressure of

limited food resources. Nowadays, hybridization

between the two extant taxa will not take place

easily, for dwarf manatee’s preferred habitat, diet

and foraging strategy is completely different from

that of the common Amazonian manatee. However,

a local from San Antonio village once reported

having seen twenty years ago a group of seven

dwarf manatees (“Pretinhos”) swimming along the

fishing nets he had put up along a sandy beach at

Prainha, right bank of Rio Aripuana, during the

peak of the dry season. If true, in theory female

dwarf manatees that accidentally drift into the

Aripuana River during the flood season and are not

able to return to the Rio Arauazinho (because its

mouth has fallen dry earlier than expected), may be

fertilized by male T. inilTlguis. The latter are said to

hibernate during the dry season in deep pools in the

main Aripuana River. Even if hybridization would

take place only once in the course of tens of thou-

sands of years, some gene flow between popula-

tions of both taxa would significantly obscure their

true divergence time. Accordingly, we believe that

the dwarf manatee should be placed at the base of

the phylogenetic tree of all fre sh w ate r- ad ap te d

manatees. In this quadrant of the Amazon Basin

south of the Rio Amazonas and east of the Rio

Madeira, it might have adapted to clear-water we-

tland habitat already in Late M iocene to Early Plio-

cene, times in which the landscape east of the

proto-Madeira was predominately drained by clear-

water rivers and streams - until the Late Pleistocene

vicariance that marked the birth of the modern fast-

flowing Rio Madeira.According to this geophysical

scenario, common Amazonian manatees may have

derived from archetypical ancestral dwarf manatees

during the Pliocene by adapting to black- and

white-water floodplain systems. This could have

happened after the Amazon reversed its course

about 8 M YA and began to drain the East-Andean

region into the Atlantic Ocean. At the same time,

this evolutionary scenario would explain for the

horizontal feeding posture of dwarf manatees in

which they stand on their flippers while browsing

on aquatic vegetation growing on the bottom of

fast-flowing clear-water streams. The horizontal

posture of dwarf manatees during feeding and

foraging resembles that of marine manatees from

which they could have derived during Late Miocene

to Early Pliocene, when the Andean uplift was

crucial for the evolution of Amazonian landscapes

and ecosystems reconfiguring drainage patterns,

creating a vast influx of sediments into the Amazon

Basin, and boosting its biodiversity (Hoorn &

W esselingh, 2010).

Ecology and conservation. Along the lower

and middle Rio Aripuana T. inUYlgllis is during the

flood season commonly found in the deep, slow-

moving, rather turbid dark waters of the Rio

Aripuana, its floodplain and deep back-water lakes.

The latter are filled with black-water coming from

local streams that drain nearby alluvial sand savan-

nas. T. pygmaeus n. sp., on the contrary, occurs ex-

clusively in the shallow, fast-flowing, clear waters

of the Rio Arauazinho Basin. During the rainy

season, the water level of the lower Arauazinho

rises over 7 m annually, and the dark rather turbid

waters from the Aripuana River then inundate the

riparian forest (igapo) fringing the lower Araua-

zinho. Dwarf manatee’s preferred food, most

importantly Eleochciris IflinilTlCl R. B r. grass (Cyper-

aceae), dies off for lack of sunlight. Its rhizomes

survive and hibernate in the dark during the flood

season. According to locals living in a small

community at the mouth of the Arauazinho, and

confirmed by us during surveys of the entire Rio

Arauazinho Basin in 2006 (on foot) and 2011 (by

dugout canoe), shortly before the Rio Aripuana

starts flooding the igapos, a number of dwarf

manatees migrate back to the headwater wetlands.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

237

Figure 22. The lower Rio Arauazinho showing the dwarf manatee’s pre ferred habitat: shallow fast-flowing transp a rent w aters

w ith Eleocharis minima, meadows growing on arenite white-sand subs tr ate. At places shown above, where the river becomes

shallow and flows faster, abundantly growing meadows ol E. minima attract dwarf manatees from as far upriver as the head-

w ater wetlands in the northwest (see Fig. 17). During the entire dry season (July to January), this amphibian herb belonging

to the family of Cyperaceae provides the dwarf manatee with its preferred staple food. Then, the Rio Arauazinho is teeming

with stingrays in all sizes re presenting a true danger, for dwarf manatees expose their bellies while standing on their flippers

browsing pastures of E. minima. Dwarf manatees are reported to associate with “jaraqui” fish Scmapmchilodus insignis (in

a picture above seen swimming near a PaleOSUchuS caiman). The fish’s sharp eye-sight together with the manatee’s ex-

traordinarily keen sense of hearing seem to provide both species with the perfect audio-visual protection against electric eel

and potential predators, such as anaconda, jaguar and man fishing with bow and arrow or harpoon.

swamps and lakes located in the northwest (Fig.

17). From there, they had wandered down during

the dry season while feeding upon Eleochcifis

minima meadows that grow locally on a thin layer

of arenite sand overlying the pre-Cambrian

sandstone bedrock (Fig. 22). During the wet season

the entire population is believed to hibernate there

while feeding upon Eleocharis minima, two aquatic

coarse-leaved Thuvnia H o ok. f. species belonging

to the aquatic plant family Thurniaceae, one

Cabomba Aubl. (Cabombaceae) species locally

called “camarao”, a wild variety of rice ( Oryza sp.)

and several algae (called “sulape”). All these aquatic

food plants grow abundantly in the narrow but

locally deep river itself and in the wetlands it

drains, that contain numerous clear-water lakes,

ponds and swamps dominated by MauritiafleXUOSa

L.f. palms. During the dry season, some animals

browsing Eleocharis minima meadows may

descend as far as seven km from the mouth of the

Rio Arauazinho. Before it flows into the Rio

Aripuana, the Arauazinho widens into a 0-30 cm

deep lake. During the summer T. inunguis cannot

enter and T. pygmaeilS cannot leave the mouth and

lower course of the Rio Arauazinho. Therefore, the

two parapatric manatee taxa cannot hybridize.

238

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

Performing above-substrate browsing in a hori-

zontal feeding posture, dwarf manatees appear to

have adapted to feeding on (sem i - ) a q u atic herbs

that grow attached to the sandy bottom of shallow,

fast-flowing clear-water streams. Its seasonally

available preferred staple food is Eleocharis

minima, a Cyperaceae grass that grows in sub-

mersed pastures up to 1 m below the surface on a

shallow arenite -sandy substrate overlying the

sandstone bedrock.

It has edible leaves and rhizomes that the dwarf

manatee easily pulls whole from the sandy substrate

with its trunk and lips. Chewing the entire plant in-

cluding the sand-containing rhizomes seems to be

responsible for the strong abrasion of the molars as

seen in adult T. pygmaeus n. sp. (Figs. 20, 2 1). In

contrast, T. inunguis feeds on floating and sub-

merged plants in deeper waters (>2 m deep), being

consumed in situ or, in the case of floating plants,

taken below the surface and manipulated into the

mouth by the flippers, preferentially if depth allows

in a vertical position. While foraging in shallow

waters, dwarf manatees when detecting people

walking or canoeing along the riverbank immedi-

ately seek seclusion in the deep pools found in river

bends. There, they stay underwater for three

minutes at the most. When on ease, they slowly

come to the surface and take a breath every 30-55

seconds.

TrichechuS inunguis, when persecuted, can stay

underwater up to 20 minutes without breathing.

According to the locals and confirmed by our own

observations, dwarf manatees tend to associate with

schools of “jaraqui” fish (Semaprochilodus insignis

- Prochilodontidae) while browsing on Eleocharis

minima. This polyspecific association helps to

protect them against defensive shocks from electric

eels, and attacks of potential predators such as over

8 m long anacondas and spotted jaguars (Fig. 22).

Dwarf manatees are considered critically en-

dangered due to their most restricted geographical

and ecological range, small population size (we

estimate it to be less than 100 individuals), value as

game, and their extremely vulnerable and delicate

preferred habitat, clear-water streams and wetlands.

The skull of the type specimen is recovered from

game occasionally killed with bow and arrow and

eaten by the locals. Habitat favorable to dwarf

manatees occurs, aside of the Rio Arauazinho, only

in the basins of two other clear-water tributaries of

the lower Rio Aripuana - Rio Aracu and Rio Juma.

Trichechus pygmaeus n. sp., though, is not

reported to exist there. The Rio Aracu Basin has

been completely destroyed after a colonization

scheme was implanted by the local government in

the late 1970s. The Rio Juma Basin has been signi-

ficantly affected after a goldmine was opened in

2006. Over 10,000 people flocked into the area

polluting the Juma and Aripuana Basins using high-

pressure hose-pipes and large amounts of mercury.

Illegal mining of gravel and gold, timber extraction,

commercial hunting and fishing in the Rio Aripuana

Basin pose serious threats to the survival of both

Amazonian manatee species. The discovery of T.

pygmaeUS adds to the uniqueness of the lower

Aripuana Basin and shows once more that it is a

poorly explored hotspot of biodiversity and

endemism. My biodiversity surveys conducted after

the year 2000 indicate that the region harbors at

least seven primates new to science, four of which

being described, including the new genus Callibella

never reported orcollected before (Van Roosmalen

et al., 1998; Van Roosmalen et al.,2000; Van Roos-

malen et al., 2002; Van Roosmalen & Van Roos-

malen, 2003; 2014; Van Roosmalen, 2013b; 2015).

Disturbingly, there is not a single officially protec-

ted area in the entire basin.

Conclusion. Trichechus pygmaeus n . s p . , th e

dwarf manatee, represents a second taxon of living

fresh-water manatees and the smallest (130 cm in

length) of all extant sirenians. The new species

differs from the other known western Atlantic

manatees, T. inunguis and T. manatUS, in being two

to three times smaller, with a more streamlined, less

bloated appearance, a deep black instead of dark

greyish skin, a large symmetrical, circular to tear-

shaped white patch on the abdomen in at least the

males (and reported equally in the females), a

shorter head and shorter flippers, the tips of which

do not reach the mouth (Fig. 19).

In September 2002, the author collected a

complete skull of a recently killed adult male. Two

years later, he could film, photograph, examine, and

study for the first time an adult male dwarfmanatee

while keeping it alive for over four months in its

natural habitat. It then escaped and returned to its

natural environment. Figure 23 shows the fenced-

off river bend along the lower course of the Rio

Arauazinho in which we kept, fed and observed for

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

239

over four months a solitary adult male dwarf

manatee that was captured by a local from Araua-

zinho while feeding on Eleocharis minima at ab o u t

seven km from the confluence with the Aripuana

River. Floating vegetation was systematically re-

fused. Food plants we brought in from the nearby

river consequently had to be fixed onto the sandy

bottom of his pan in order to be recognized as food,

browsed and eaten in a horizontal feeding posture.

Nine years later, Van Roosmalen and Van der

Vlist conducted an expedition by canoe and found

the last existing population of dwarf manatees in

the wetlands situated along the northern branch

of the upper Rio Arauazinho near the watershed

with the Rios Urua and Mariepaua (Figs. 17, 22).

Dwarf manatees were found to be fully adapted to

foraging in fast-flowing shallow clear-water

streams. Standing on their flippers they browse in

a horizontal position on aquatic grasses and other

non -floating plants that grow on or near the bottom.

In contrast, the three times bigger common fresh-

water manatee T. iviUTlguis is restricted to calm

Figure 23. The fenced-off river bend along the lower course of the Rio Arauazinho. Here we kept, fed, filmed and observed

for over four months a solitary adult male dwarf manatee that was cap tu red at seven km fro m the mouth of the Rio Arauazinho

by a local from Arauazinho village.

240

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

waters of rivers and lakes of the black- and white-

water types offering limited visibility.

It feeds on floating aquatic plants and sub-

mersed foliage of floodplain (igapo and varzea)

plant species. Mitochondrial control region DNA

sequences revealed a haplotype identical to T.

lYlUYlglllS. We believe that this resulted from some

gene flow that must have taken place in the past,

as the two taxa are parapatric and only allopatric

in ecological respect.

We consider the dwarf manatee at the verge

of extinction, for only the headwaters of the

northernmost branch of Rio Arauazinho, a 120

km long left-bank clear-water tributary of the Rio

Aripuana, are thought to harbor a viable relict

pop u latio n .

DISCUSSION

In phy to-sociological respect, the many scrub

and open savannas on white-sand alluvial soils in

the entire Rio Aripuana Basin are unique and found

nowhere else in the Amazon. Together with the

adjacent low savanna forests their branching pattern

seen on satellite images does indicate that the entire

basin preceding the Late Pleistocene was drained

southward - instead of northward like the Rio

Aripuana and its tributaries nowadays drain the area

into the Madeira River, and through the Rio

M adeira into the Amazonas and eventually into the

Atlantic Ocean. The alluvial sand deposits of

former Pliocene and Early Pleistocene creeks and

rivers show a branching pattern in their headwaters,

mean in g toward their northernmost end. Toward the

southernmost end of the basin, where the Rio

Aripuana later in the Pleistocene originated, is situ-

ated nowadays the Tenharim Savanna, a large con-

tinuous savanna area. It is located east of the city

of Porto Velho, close to the Rio Jl-Parana, a river

that together with the Rio Guapore drains the

western part of the Brazilian Shield into the Rio

Madeira. The huge Tenharim Savanna has been

interpreted by geo-morphologists as the result of

sedimentation in a Quaternary long-lived clear-

water inner lake. If we look at the geo-morpholo-

gical history of the Rio Aripuana Basin, it is

assumed that during part of the Miocene a large

freshwater inland lake existed, called the Beni

Lake.

This lake stretched westward across the

Bolivian Amazon. The brackish-w ater marine

molasses-lakes from the Oligocene might have

turned in the Miocene into the fresh-watermolasses-

lakes, and in the Pliocene into the sub-andine inner

or inland lakes. During the Pliocene and Pleistocene

these lakes filled with rainwater flowing down from

the eastern foothills of the (by then) higher Andes

Mountains (Hoorn & Wesselingh, 2010). In the

Pleistocene era, three main drainage systems or

basins were formed in form er A m azonia: the white-

water basin influenced by the eroding volcanic

Andes in the western part of Am azonia, drained by

the proto-Amazon River flowing toward the At-

lantic Ocean; the clear-water basin draining the

so u th -east A m azonian crystalline Brazilian Shield

with the watershed running across the Chapada dos

Parecis toward the south through the proto-Beni,

proto-M am ore, and proto-G uapore Rivers; thirdly,

the black-water basin draining the northern Amazo-

nian alluvial white-sand area through the proto-Rio

Negro. During the Late Pleistocene oceanic levels

repeatedly have dropped on a global scale and the

sub-andine inner lakes were quickly emptied by the

much stronger eroding power of the proto-Amazon

rushing toward the Atlantic Ocean - its surface

lying 100-120 m lower during the subsequent ice

ages of the Pleistocene.

During the glacial periods of the Late Pleisto-

cene (1-2 M YA) the ancient continental watershed

running across the Chapada dos Parecis has been

broken through by the proto -M adeira River, which

in turn was connected with the mighty Amazon

River. The M adeira /Amazonas drainage system, as

a way of speaking, then ‘sucked’ its way through

the watershed powered by huge water volumes on

their way to the up to 120 m lower lying water table

of the Atlantic Ocean. The vortex holes in what a

geologist would call an “unripe riverbed” - in the

400 km long stretch of the upper M adeira River and

a shorter stretch in the middle Rio Aripuana, as well

as in the Rio Roosevelt - tell the tale about a former

battle over one watershed between two drainage

systems, each draining one side of it. The proto-

Madeira and Amazonas Rivers thus conquered the

clear-water catchment area of the Brazilian Shield.

From then on, they made a connection with what

was left of the former Pantanal/C haco Lake through

the Mamore, Beni, and Abuna Rivers. Thereafter,

these white-water rivers began to leak the sub-

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower Rio Aripuana Basin

241

andine Bolivian drainage system, this time to the

north instead of to the east, connected as they now

were with the Madeira and Amazon Rivers. The

P an tan al/C h ac o Lake was quickly emptied out to

the east through the Madeira flowing into the

Amazon and then into the Atlantic Ocean. In the

northern part of the former Pantanal/C haco Lake

one or more clear- water lakes that had formed there

since the Pliocene, were now also emptied out by

the combined Rios Madeira/Amazonas drainage

sy stem .

One of these large clear- water lakes was situated

exactly where nowadays the Tenharim Savanna is

located, just north of the pre-andine watershed

running across the Chapada dos Parecis. This

Tenharim Lake was so far fed by rivers running in

a north-south direction within what is nowadays the

larger Rios M adeira/A m azonas/Tapajos-Juruena

in te rflu v i- u m (the Tenharim Lake was drained

southward toward the Pantanal through the proto-

Guapore River). After the conquest of the water-

shed by the combined Madeira/Amazonas drainage

system, rivers such as the Ji-Parana, Roosevelt,

Guariba, and Aripuana began to flow north- and

westward, this way draining the entire Aripuana

Basin directly into the Rio Madeira. Clear evidence

that rivers like the Aripuana and Roosevelt origin-

ated in a more recent geological era (the Late Plei-

stocene) is the occurrence of so-called

“ S tru d ello ch e rn ” in the crystalline bedrock of

the middle and upper courses of these rivers. In the

Rio Aripuana, south of Prainha, are nowadays

found the unsurpassable Periquito Falls, among

other extensive stretches of rapids and waterfalls.

Moreover, the very deep deposits of gravel in the

form of small brown rounded-off, polished pebbles

that are laid down in calmer waters downstream of

the rapids, assign to the afore-mentioned geological

(vicariance) event of a Pleistocene watershed

break-through.

Once the complex history of S o u th - A m eric a ’s

continental landscape and river systems, and, in

particular, the relatively recent (Pliocene through

Pleistocene) geo-morphological model of the

Aripuana River’s drainage system is clearly under-

stood, about all demographic and evolutionary odds

of this river basin, that were hitherto considered ‘hit

and miss’ distributions, may now be plausibly

explained for. It seems that during a large part of

the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene eras the entire

pre-Aripuana river drainage system with its pre-

dominantly clear-water habitats was effectively

blocked off from Amazonia west and north of the

proto-Madeira River, for it was drained by rivers

flowing southward toward the eastern part of the

late-Miocene sub-andine Pantanal/C haco Lake, and

from there into the Atlantic Ocean. The continental

watershed built from pre-Cambrian crystalline

rock, together with the (those days) extensive lacus-

trine habitats, effectively isolated this peripheral

drainage system from sub-andine w hite-w ater river

systems, that were drained by the p ro to -M ad e ira

and Amazon Rivers. Over millions of years oppor-

tunities for allopatric divergence were provided, for

no gene flow could take place between non-volant

terra firm e and aquatic fauna of the clear-water

drainage system and the rest of Amazonia, which

was drained to the far northeast into the Atlantic

Ocean. A number of ground- as well as tree-

dwelling vertebrates, but also aquatic (mostly mam-

malian and mollusk) fauna, could therefore evolve

in seclusion. The first vicariance must have taken

place already in the E arly -Plioc en e , about 5 MYA,

when ancestral proto/archetypical forms of a 1 1 -

Amazonian generic groups (i.e., the marmosets,

spider-, woolly-, capuchin-, saki-, tit i- , night- and

howling monkeys, tapirs, anteaters, rodents like

porcupines, pacas, agoutis, and acouchis, manatees,

and ‘botos’) have diverged from closely related

species found in the rest of the Amazon - to the west

and north of the proto-Madeira and Amazon Rivers.

A second, more dramatic vicariance took place

during one or more of the glacial epochs of the

Middle Pleistocene, about 1-1.8 MYA, the break-

through of the continental watershed by the proto-

Madeira, being in turn powered by the modern Rio

Amazonas drainage system in times that ocean

levels had dropped over 120 m. So far, this water-

shed had run across the Serra dos Parecis in the

Brazilian State of Rondonia. This way, the modern

M adeira River originated and, at the same time, the

Rios Aripuana, Ji-Parana, Tapajos-Juruena, and,

perhaps, also the Rios Xingu and Araguaia,

although the headwaters of the latter two rivers are

found in the ‘cerrado’ (white-sand savannas) of

Mato Grosso. These rivers also cleared themselves

a way through the watershed of the former clear-

water north-south directed drainage system and

242

Marc G.M. van Roosmalen

began to empty their waters into the modern

Madeira and Amazonas Rivers. From then on, the

Rio Madeira became the rather straight and fast-

flowing, second largest river barrier in the entire

Amazon Basin, after the Amazon proper.

Ever since, no gene flow of terrestrial mega-

fauna could take place to and from the western and

northern Amazon. The RiosAripuana and Ji-Parana

first emptied out the former Tenharim Lake into the

modern Madeira, there where for a long time lacus-

trine environments and wetlands had deposited

white sand. The former clear-water drainage system

left behind, aside of the Tenharim Savanna, many

smaller patches of white-sand savanna and savanna

forest on alluvial sandy soils deposited by former

Pliocene and Early Pleistocene rivers and streams.

Locally, new rivers arose and began to drain these

areas dotted with white-sand savannas and stretches

of savanna forest. That explains why they are of the

black-water type. To name a few: the Rios Araua,

Mariepaua, Urua, Manicore,Atininga, Canuma, Su-

cunduri, AcarL Some local rivers draining areas that

do not contain alluvial white-sand deposits, but

instead having heavily weathered pre-Cambrian

arenite (sandstone) reaching the surface, remained

of the clear-water type, such as the Rios Aracu,

Arauazinho, and Juma. The entire former (Plio-

cene) clear-water drainage system, from then on,

was intersected by new rivers draining the system

in opposite ( so u th -n o rth ) direction, most import-

antly the Rios Aripuana, Tapajos- Juruena, Xingu,

Teles-Pires, and Araguaia. In the course of several

millions of years, a different biome could develop

in this SE Amazon clear-water drainage system

harboring a mixture of endemics and newcomers.

The latter were ancestral forms of non-volant

terrestrial mammals that, after cros- sing the

Panamanian land bridge formed between 2.5-3

MYA, had migrated into the northern and western

sub-andine regions of the Amazon. Subsequently,

some managed to traverse the proto-M adeira River

and established themselves in most of this ancient

clear-water drainage system.

As such, newcomers such as ancestral collared

and white-lipped peccaries, jaguars, pumas, small

cats, canids, coatis and mustelids, lived side by side

with endemics such as primates, rodents (squirrels,

pacas, agoutis, acouchis, capybaras, spiny rats),

marsupials (D idelphidae), edentates (anteaters.

armadillos, sloths), tapirs, and porcupines. Not

before the last glacial period of the Holocene, about

10,000 YA, some modern mega-fauna elements,

among which the common spotted paca A. pdCd,

that had evolved west and north of the strong

geographic barrier formed by the non-meandering

Rio Madeira, managed to circumvent the head-

waters of the Rio Madeira. Thereafter, they mi-

grated into the Rios Madeira/Tapajos inter fluvium.

They took either the northwestern route following

the western border of the Tenharim Savanna, or the

southeastern route circumventing the Tenharim

Savanna along the southern border, or they mi-

grated into the Rios Madeira/Tapajos interfluvium

along both paths. So, they entered a different eco-

system full of phylogenetically related but for-

merly allopatric species endemic to the region.

Consequently, the new-comers may then have out-

competed closely related species that occupied

similar ecological niches, causing their extinction.

Or, one species may have become genetically

absorbed by the other through cross-breeding. Or,

allopatric species may have diverged that much

from one another in habitat and dietary preferences,

foraging strategy and/or social and sexual behavior,

that they were able to co-exist and live on in sym-

patry. The latter scenario may well explain, for

instance, the sympatric occurrence in the Rio

Aripuana Basin of two different species of brocket

deer (i.e., Mazamci nemorivdgd and M. tienhoveni

n. sp.) and two different species of paca (i.e., the

common spotted paca A. pdCd and Silva Garcia’s

striped giant p ac a A. silvdgdvtide n . sp.).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Molecular analyses were co-financed by the

Treub Stichting (Society for the Advancement

of Research in the Tropics), and performed at

the Animal Breeding and Genomics Centre of

Wageningen University, The Netherlands. The

author received a grant for conducting biodiversity

fieldwork in the Aripuana region from the Van

Tienhoven Foundation for International Nature

Conservation. We are grateful to Rene Dekker and

Hein van Grouw of The Netherlands Natural

History Museum Naturalis in Leiden, who kindly

provided their museum specimens for our com-

parative research on the genus MdZdlTld.

Hotspot of new megafauna found in the Central Amazon (Brazil): the lower RioAripuana Basin

243

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 245-252

Monograph

The diversity of wild animals at Fezzan Province (Libya)

Mohamed Faisel Ashour Essghaier, Ibrahim MoftahTaboni & Khaled Salem Etayeb*

Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tripoli University, P.O.Box:13227, Tripoli, Libya

Corresponding author, e-mail: khaledetayeb@ yahoo.com

ABSTRACT Fezzan province (Libya) is a segment of true Sahara, is characterized by diverse habitats

that are utilized as shelters and feeding ground for many desert wildlife species. Oases with

water table near the surface are the most prominent feature in the Libyan desert. The diversity

in habitats resulted in diversity in wildlife, as well as the plant cover (trees and bushes) is

the most effective factor for the existence and the abundance of wild animals, in particular

bird species. This study observed many species of reptiles, birds and mammals. In the study

is also reported the rock hyrax PWCCIVICI CCipensis Pallas, 1 766 (Hyracoidea Procaviidae) a

rare and endemic species at the area.

KEY WORDS Oases; diversity; endemic; wild animals.

Received 25.06.2014; accepted 30.08.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Cong re ss “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Libya is mostly characterized by arid climatic

conditions, except the coastal strip and the northern

hills toward the east and the west, while the rest of

the country is located under the conditions of desert

and semi-desert because of its geographical location

in terms of latitude. This resulted in the presence of

environments with distinct characteristics in terms of

temperature, humidity and rainfall that reflected on

the biological components of the plants and the

animals that are able to co-exist in various ways with

those difficult environmental conditions (Hufnagel,

1972).

In Libya there are a lot of ecosystems that range

from the coastal environment with all its scattered

salt marshes along the coastline, to green plains in

the northeastern region and northwest highlands

(which include N afusa Mountains), to desert and

semi-desert ecosystem showing its content of oases

and valleys (Toschi, 1 969). The desert is ecologic-

ally sensitive and very important in terms of

wildlife (flora and fauna), which coexist in this

habitat in spite of the harsh living conditions as

much heat, especially during the summer months

in addition to water scarcity and drought. However,

these systems include a few diversity and abund-

ance of species particularly those that have the

capacity to live under these circumstances and

some of them are endemic.

Fezzan province is a segment of true Sahara, is

characterized by many habitats that are utilized as

shelters and feeding ground for many desert wild-

life species (Bundy, 1 976). It is situated in the

southwest of Libya within the desert ecosystem,

which includes desert wadis, oases, palm planta-

tions and irrigated cropland. Studies and reports,

which are relatively scarce since the period of

Italian occupation until the present, concluded that

the wildlife in this region has declined in terms of

number of species and individuals to alarming

situation where some taxa are either subject to

246

M.F.A. Essghaier et alii

extinction or already had disappeared from their

previous range. The reason of it can be attributed

to: (i) urbanization in some areas on the expense

of natural resources and natural vegetation; (ii)

construction of roads leading to the open areas

where the shelters and habitats for wildlife are; (iii)

modern vehicles which facilitated access to rugged

areas; (iv) overhunting; (v) explorations and oil

investments and activities associated with this

industry; (vi) establishment of some sites for the

purpose of various agricultural activities which led

to the presence of human activity with a negative

impact on wildlife communities and, (vii) desert

tourism that led to the emergence of some negative

effects (Sbeta et al., 2006).

In spite of all the mentioned circumstances met

in this region, either due to Nature (high temper-

atures and scarcity of water surfaces and precipita-

tion), or to different activities of humans that have

negative effects on wildlife, especially those onset

early in the sixties, there still are a number of

species inhabiting the desert wadis and oases.

In this study we report some examples of animal

species which were recorded in the region, and

whose presence we hope to continue to record in

some areas of the region, even if they are few in

number. However, wildlife studies in the province

of Fezzan need to focus on areas that may be

susceptible of urbanization and Industrial sprawl,

in order to save (for future generations) what can

be saved of wildlife that still inhabit some of these

sites. This study is based on a review of available

publications and reports since the last decades until

now, supported by field visits to the selected sites

of the region to investigate the species of reptiles,

birds and mammals.

Study area

This study was focused on the diversity of

animals in eight sites (Wadi Al-shati, Sebha,

Traghen, Murzuq, Ubari, Al-awenat, Ghat and

Akakus) at Fezzan region (Fig. 1).

The habitat type is mainly arid (72% of the total

area of the region) whith very harsh environmental

conditions which are unsuitable for the growth of

plants (Sbeta et al., 2006). The rest of the region

can be classified into; irrigated crops area, planta-

tions of palm trees, pastoral land and salt marshes

(Table 1).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Field visits were conducted in summer 2006 by

the authors of the present paper. Observations,

collection of samples and bird watching started from

dawn to dusk. Opticron binoculars (with magnifica-

tion 10x50) and Optolyth spotting-scope were used

for accounting of birds, as well as for some wild

mammals. Field guides (Heinzel et al., 1 998;

Figure 1. Map of Libya showing the study area.

Habitat type

Area in

hectare

Irrigated agricultural land

1 37.500

0.25

Plantation of palm trees

39.675

0.07

Pastures and dry valleys

80.65 1

0.15

Arid land

40,137.1 85

72.25

Sands and sand dunes

15,109.334

27.20

Salt marshes (Sobkhas)

36.536

0.07

U rban areas

1 1 .949

0.02

Total

55,552.830

100.00

Table 1. The percentage of each habitat type in Fezzan

province. Source: Project of natural resources mapping for

agricultural use and planning (Libya/04).

The diversity of wild animals at Fezzan Province (Libya)

247

Mullarney et al., 2001) were used to identify birds.

However, the status of bird species was assigned by

their frequency of occurrence.

The following categories were adapted from

Bundy (1 976) and Toschi (1 969): MB - Migrant

breeder; PV - Passage visitor; RB - R esident breeder;

W V - Winter visitor. Reptiles were collected by us-

ing rubber bands, while life traps were fitted for

overnight to catch rodents species.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Amphibians and Reptiles

Despite the harsh climatic conditions in the

whole province, which is inappropriate for the

presence of life, the streams and cultivated areas,

including some wetlands easily available, provided

an opportunity for some amphibian species to

inhabit the area.Amphibian diversity in the Mediter-

ranean basin is much lower than reptile diversity.

This being largely a reflection of the extent to

which arid and semi-arid habitats predominate in

large parts of the region (Cox et al., 2006). In this

study two species of amphibians and fourteen

species of reptiles were encountered (Table 2).

The sub desert Toad Amietophrynus xeros,

previously known as Bufo XeWS, was observed in

pools and farms in Sebha and Ghat, this finding is

in accordance with the results of Ibrahim (2008).

We also observed Green Toad Bufo viridis in either

COMMON NAME

SCIENTIFIC NAME

SITE OF OBSERVATION

S ub desert Toad

Amietophrynus xeros

(Tandy, Tandy, Keith et

D uff-M acKay, 1976)

S ebha. Ghat

Green Toad

Bufo viridis (Laurenti, 1768)

Sebha, Murzuq, Al-awenat

and Ghat

B ib ron’s agam a

Agama impalearis b oettger, 18 74

Al-awenat, Akakus

D esert agam a

Trapelus mutabilis

(M errem , 1 8 2 0)

Ubari, Al-Awenat

B ell’s dabb-lizard

Uromastyx acanthinura

B ell, 1825

Al-shati, Traghen, Al-awenat

Ragazzi’s fan-footed gecko

Ptyodactylus ragazzii

A nderson, 1898

T raghen

Elegant gecko

Stenodactylus sthenodactylus

(Lichtenstein, 1 823)

T rag hen

Moorish gecko

Tarentola mauritanica

Linnaeus, 1758

Al-shati, Sebha, Traghen,

M urzuq

Tripoli dwarf gecko

Tropiocolotes tripolitanus

Peters, 1880

Al-Shati, Sebha, Traghen

N idua lizard

Acanthodactylus scutellatus

(Audouin, 1827)

Traghen, M urzuq, Ubari

Leopard Fringe-fingered Lizard

Acanthodactylus pardalis

(Lichtenstein, 1 823)

M urzuq

Red-Spotted Small Lizard/

D esert-Racer

Mesalina rubropunctata

(Lichtenstein, 1 823 )

Traghen, Murzuq

O cellated skink

Chalcides ocellatus

Lorsskal, 17 75

Al-Shati, Sebha, M urzuq

Sand fish

Scincus scincus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Al-Shati, Traghen, Ubari

Schokari Sand Snake

Psammophis schokari

(Forskal, 1775)

Traghen, Ubari

Horned viper

Cerastes cerastes Linnaeus, 1758

Al-shati, Sebha, Traghen,

M urzuq

Table 2. Species of amphibians and reptiles recorded in study area.

248

M.F.A. Essghaier et alii

cultivated lands or wetlands in Sebha, M urzuq, Al-

awenat and Ghat. Scortecci (1935) mentioned the

presence of this species in the province of Fezzan.

Studies on reptiles are very rare, but the desert

valleys and some habitats in the region are the most

important areas for some species of lizards, such as:

Desert monitor VcirCMUS griseUS (Daudin, 1803),

Chameleon CHaniaeleO chcilflUeleon Linnaeus, 175 8

and Spiny-tailed lizards UromClStyX ClCanthinura.

Furthermore, the most important species of snakes

that live in this environment is the Florned desert

viper Cerastes cerastes (Bennett, 1 970; Awami,

1976; Ibrahim, 2008). A total of 14 species of rep-

tiles were recorded in the present paper in the

province (Table 2). However, the majority of them

are mentioned in some previous studies (e.g.

Kramer & Schnurrenberger, 1963; Schleich et al.,

1996; Frynta et al., 2000; Ibrahim, 2008), except

the Desert agama TrapelliS YYllltabUis which was

observed in Al-Awenat and Akakus and recorded

for the first time in these sites (Fig. 2). Schleich et

al. (1996) reported the presence of this species in

Cyrenaica (east to Tubruk) and Wagner et al. (2011)

mentioned another record of this species in Tripoli.

Birds

The present study accounted a total of 2975 in-

dividuals belonging to 26 bird species; the majority

of them were non-w aterbirds species with a disparity

in numbers of species and individuals between sites

(Table 3). A total of 12 species were reported as

resident breeders (Bundy, 1976). However, many

previous studies during decades ago reported the

presence of more than 100 species as winter visitors

during their migration from Asia and Europe to

Africa, where they stop for few days and then

continue to the south. While around 20 species we re

recorded as residents along the year seasons such as;

Sandgrouses Pteracles orientalis, Pteracles senegal-

lus, Owls Bubo bubo. Partridge Alectoris barbara

and some species of raptors (Toschi, 1969; Bundy,

1976; Brehme e t al. , 2002 a, b , 2 00 3 a , b , 2004 ).

Fezzan province is composed of many oases,

cultivated areas, irrigated crop sites, urban and res-

idential areas, these may provide roosting sites and

shelters for many bird species, particularly, those

who adapted to live within and adjacent to anthro-

pological environments. This reflects the large num-

bers of sparrows that inhabit the urban areas

(Spanish sp arro w andDesertsparrow;fig.3),whilst

those species were absent in Akakus.

Furthermore, there was a difference in species

diversity among the study sites depending on habitat

types. Five w aterbirds species ( Ardea dtierea,

Egretta garzetta, Ardeola ralloides, Anas quer-

quedula and Gallinula chloropus) were observed in

Sebha (sewage site) and Ubari (oases); while the rest

of species were found on plant covers (bushes,

shrubs and trees; pers. obs.).

Mammals

The province of Fezzan is reasonably character-

ized by good diversity of Mammal species. During

this study a total of 11 species were recorded.

Order Erinaceomorpha and Chiroptera

Two species of hedgehogs belong to the family

Erinaceidae were observed: Long-eared hedgehog,

Hemiechinus auritus S.G. Gmelin, 1770 and desert

hedgehog, ParaechinUS aethiopicus (Ehrenberg,

1 832) close to the farmlands in Traghen and

M urzuq. These two species are common in the area

(H ufnagel, 1 972).

A bat species from family Vespertilionidae ( Pipis -

terellus sp.) was observed just after the sunset at all

visited sites. As all species of mammals in the south

of Libya, bats need to be addressed in a comprehens-

ive study in order to identify the extant species and

their relations to other bats populations in the north.

Order Carnivora

Of this group of mammals, only two species

where recorded, the Jackal CaYlis aureus Linnaeus,

1 758 was only identified by tracks left in sites in

Traghen. It usually inhabits areas with optimum

food and shelter. This species is reported in different

types ofLibya habitats (Hufnagel, 1972). However,

IUCN classified this species as Least Concern, due

to its widespread range, but due to the urbanization

and destruction of natural habitats, these animals

were no longer seen in the nature (pers. observa-

tions). Lurthermore, a Caracas of Lennec, VulpeS

Zmfl Zimmermann, 1 780 was found on the road

between Al-awenat and Ghat. Despite, this species

is very common in the province; especially close to

human dwellings.

The diversity of wild animals at Fezzan Province (Libya)

249

Scientific name

Common

name

Wadi

Al-shati

Sebha

Traghen

Murzuq

Ubari

Al-

awenat

Ghat

Akakus

Status

Ardea cinerea

Linnaeus, 1758

Grey heron

Egretta garzetta

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Little egret

Ardeola ralloides

Scopoli, 1769

S quacco

Heron

Ciconia ciconia

Linnaeus, 175 8

W hite stork

1 died

Anas querquedula

Linnaeus, 1758

G arg aney

Circus aeruginosus

Linnaeus, 1758

M arsh

harrier

Falco biarmicus

Temminck, 18 2 5

Lanner

Falcon

Gallinula chloropus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

M orhen

Pterocles coronatus

Lichtenstein, 1823

Crowned

S andgrouse

Columba livia

G m elin, 1789

Rock dove

S treptopelia turtur

(Linnaeus, 1758)

T urtle dove

M B

Streptopelia

senegalensis

(Linnaeus, 1 7 76)

Laughing

Dove

M B

Apus pallidus

Shelley, 1870

Pallid sw ift

M B

Galerida cristata

(Linnaeus, 1 758)

Crested lark

Ammomanes

deserti

(Lichtenstein, 1 823)

D esert lark

Riparia riparia

(Linnaeus, 1758)

S and m artin

Cercotrichas

galactotes

(Temminck, 1820)

R u fo u s

Bush Robin

1 7

Oenanthe leucopyga

(Brehm, 1855)

W hite-

cro w ned

W heatear

1 1

Acrocephalus

scirpaceus

(H erm an n , 1 8 04)

Reed

w arb ler

Iduna pallida

(H em prich et

Ehrenberg, 1 833)

O livaceous

W arb ler

1 1

M B

Table 3. Numbers of birds species observed in Fezzan province and their status (continued).

250

M.F.A. Essghaier et alii

Scientific name

Common

name

Wadi

Al-shati

Sebha

Traghen

Murzuq

Ubari

Al-

awenat

Ghat

Akakus

Status

Lanius meridionalis

(Temminck, 1 820)

G reat grey

shrike

Turdoides fulva

(D esfontaines, 1789)

Fulvous

Babbler

Corvus ruficollis

Lesson, 1830

B ro w ii-

ii e c k e d

Raven

100

Passer

hispaniolensis

Temminck, 1820

Spanish

Sparrow

150

200

120

150

160

300

W V

Passer simplex

(Lichtenstein, 1 823)

D esert

Sparrow

100

Emberiza sahari

Levaillant, 1850

House

B unting

TOTAL

322

450

309

382

524

277

636

2975

Table 3 (continued). Numbers of birds species observed in Fezzan province and their status.

o rder Hyracoidea

One of the most important finding of this study

is the observation of Rock hyrax, PwCdVid Cdpeiisis

Pallas, 1 766. It occurs throughout most of Africa

from the southernmost tip north to a line from

Senegal throughout southern Algeria, Libya and

Egypt into the Middle East, except Congo and

Madagascar (Olds & Shoshani, 1 982). The rock

hyrax is one of the four living species of the order

Hyracoidea, and the only living species in the genus

PrOCClvici Storr, 1780. However, the distribution of

this species in Libya is limited to the far southern

mountains (Hufnagel, 1 972). Study on distribution,

density and biology of this species in Libya is

needed. We had a visit to Akakus mountains, where

usually this species had been found, but we could

not observe any individuals in the area. However,

our observation of this animal is based on four

captives of this species kept in an old rocky house

of a local family (Fig. 4).

o rder Artiodactyla

Even-toed ungulates are more or less rare in the

province. In this study two species of family Bo-

vidae were sighted; Barbary sheep, AnWIOtVdgUS

lervia Pallas, 1 777 and Dorcas gazelle, GdZelld

doTCCIS Linnaeus, 1 75 8 ). Only horns of barbary

sheep were recovered in Al-Awenat (Fig. 5a). It was

a clear evidence of the presence of this species

around the area. Moreover, locals emphasized that

this species still exists in the region. A total of 12

Dorcas gazelle were observed in Al-jaza’a protected

area in Al-Shati (Fig. 5b). This species cover a wide

range in Libya (Bennett, 1 970; Hufnagel, 1 972;

Essghaier, 1980), but population trend has recently

declined due to overhunting and habitat destruction.

Order Lagomorpha

R ab bit, LepUS sp. is the most common widely

distributed species in Libya (Hufnagel, 1 972);

usually inhabits macchia-type vegetation, grass-

land, bushveld, and semi-desert areas. This species

was observed in the most study sites (WadiAl-shati,

Sebha,Traghen,Murzuq and Ubari).

o rder Rodent ia

Two species of rodents were reported by the

present study, Jerboa JdCulliS jdClluluS (Linnaeus,

1758) of family Dipodidae and Gerbil, GerbilluS sp .

of family M uridae, which is in accordance with the

findings ofHufnagel (1972). A total of 5 specimens

The diversity of wild animals at Fezzan Province (Libya)

25 1

Figure 2. Desert agama TrapeluS llUlt-

abilis (Akakus).Figure 3. A female of

Desert sparrow. Figure 4. Rock hyrax

in an old house in Al-Awenat.

Figure 5. Horns ofBarbary sheep. Figure 6. Dorcas gazelle in Aljaza’a protec ted area in Al-Shati.

252

M.F.A. Essghaier et alii

of Gerbil were caught by life traps at the area

between Wadi Al-shati and Sebha. However, the

distribution of these species can be estimated by

their w holes.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, the present study, conducted

during summer 2006 , documented some species

from different orders of vertebrates. It is also high-

lighted the importance of biodiversity in Fezzan

province. Altough the survey was in summer, and

thus few numbers of species and individuals were

observed, nevertheless, it is emphasized the wild

animal diversity and urged the need to implement a

comprehensive study for the province in different

seasons of the year.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors of this paper are grateful to the

Engineering Consul ting Bureau,Ministry of Hous-

ing and U tilities.

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Authority ofArchaeology, Libya, 65 pp.

Bennett C., 1970. W ild animals of Libya. Department of

Zoology, Faculty of Sciences. Field notes, 11 pp.

Brehme S., Thiede W. & Borges E., 2002a. Beitrage zur

vogewelt Libyens, II: P o d ic ip ed id ae bis Anatidae.

O rnithologische M itteilungen, 6: 202-2 12.

Brehme S., Thiede W. & Borges E ., 2002b. Beitrage zur

vogewelt Libyens, III: Accipitridae bis C h aradriid ae .

O rnithologische M itteilungen, 2: 54-66.

Brehme S., Thiede W. & Borges E. 2003a. Beitrage zur

vogewelt Libyens, IV: Scolopacidae bis Ptero-

clididae.OrnithologischeMitteilungen, 11: 391-399.

Brehme S ., Thiede W. & Borges E ., 2003b. Beitrage zur

vogewelt Libyens, V: Columbidae bis Hirundinidae.

Ornithologische M itteilungen, 7/8: 277-287.

Brehme S., Thiede W. & Borges E., 2004. Beitrage zur

vogewelt Libyens, VI: Motacillidae bis Turdidae.

Ornithologische M itteilungen, 6/7: 207-219.

Bundy G ., 1 976. The Birds of Libya. British Ornitholo-

gists Union, 1976, London, NW1 4RY, 102 pp.

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Status and Distribution of Reptiles and Amphibians

of the Mediterranean Basin. IUCN, Gland, Switzer-

land and Camb ridge, UK. vii + 51 pp.

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Frynta D., Kratochvil L., Moravec J., Benda P., Dandova

R., Kaftan M ., Klosova K., Mikulova P., Nova P. &

Schwarzova L., 2000. Amphibians and reptiles re-

cently recorded in Libya. Acta Societatis Zoologicae

Bohemicae, 64: 1 7-26.

Heinzel H., R.S.R. Fitter & Parslow J., 1995. Birds of

Britain and Europe with N orth A frica and the Middle

East. Harper Collins, London, 384 pp.

Hufnagel E., 1 972. Libyan Mammals. The oleander

press, 85 pp.

Ibrahim A .A ., 2008. Contribution to the herpetology of

southern Libya. Acta Herpetologica, 3: 35-49.

Kramer E. & Schnurrenberger H., 1963. Systematik,

Verbreitung und Okologie der Lybischen Schlangen.

Revue suisse de zoologie, 70: 453-568.

Mullarney K., Svensson L., Zetterstrom D. & Peter J.

Grant., 200 1. The most complete field guide to the

birds ofBritain and Europe. Harper Collins, London,

400 pp.

Olds N. & Shoshani J., 1982. ProCClvid Capensis. M am -

malian Species, 171: 1-7.

Schleich H., Kastle W. & Kabisch K. 1996.Amphibians

and Reptiles of North Africa. Koenigstein, Koeltz

Scientific Books, 627 pp.

Sbeta A., Mansour S., Essghaier M. & Al-hamali K .,

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The third generation project plans. Engineering

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bians and Reptiles of North Africa. Koenigstein,

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Wagner P., Melville J., Wilms T.M . & Schmitz A., 201 1.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 253-262

Results of the eighth winter waterbird census in Libya in

January 20 1 2

Khaled Salem Etayeb 1 *, Ali Berbash 2 , Wajeeh Bashimam 3 , Mohamed Bouzainen 2 , Ashrof Galidana 2 ,

Mokhtar Saied 2 ,JaberYahia 2 & Essam Bourass 2

'Tripoli University, Department of Zoology, P.O. Box 13227, Lybia

2 Environment General Authority, (EGA-Libya), Lybia

3 Libyan Society for Birds (LSB), Lybia

‘Corresponding author

ABSTRACT After sporadic observations and reports on Libyan birds during the last century, a regular census

of wintering birds at Libyan coastal wetlands started in January 2005. Results of each winter

census till 2011 have been published. The survey of 2012 was carried out by the authors of

the present paper. The general aim was to continue the census of wintering waterbirds in Libya,

despite the difficulties that faced the team after the War of Liberation, and the fact that certain

areas, very important for birds, have been declared military areas. A total of 29,3 14 individuals

belonging to 69 waterbird species was counted. Comparatively, the number of sites covered in

2012 was less than that in previous years of the survey. The majority of individuals counted

belong to seven gull species. This survey also observed a total of 56 individuals of Ay thy a

nyroca Guldenstadt, 1770, a Near Threatened species, as well as, for the first time, a single

individual of Canada Goose Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) in eastern Libya.

KEY WORDS Waterbirds; Aythya nyroca; Canada Goose; Libya.

Received 16.07.2014; accepted 15.10.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th- 18th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

After sporadic observations and reports of

Libyan birds during the last century, a regular

census of wintering birds at Libyan coastal wet-

lands started in January 2005. Results of each winter

census till January 2011 have been published (e.g.

Azafzaf et al., 2005, 2006; Etayeb et al., 2007;

Hamza et al., 2008).

These field surveys resulted in the publication

of the Atlas of Wintering Waterbirds of Libya 2005-

2010. In addition, 2005 and 2006 results were

published in Wildfowl (Smart et al., 2006) and

recently, results of the seventh winter waterbird

census in Libya (January-February 2011) were

published (Bourass et al., 2013).

The Environment General Authority (EGA),

the official Libyan body responsible for the

implementation of international agreements relat-

ing to biodiversity, co-sponsored the previous

ornithological surveys of wetlands in Libya,

under a Memorandum of Agreement with the

RAC/SPA and AEWA, and with support from

Wetlands International, the Instituto Nazionale

per la Fauna Selvatica INFS (Italy) and the Office

National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage

ONCFS (France).

254

K.S. Etayeb et alii

The survey of 2012 was carried out by the

authors of the present paper. The general aim was

to continue the census of wintering waterbirds in

Libya, despite the difficulties that faced the team

after the War of Liberation and the declaration of

certain very important areas for birds as military

areas. The study also aimed to compare the present

results with the previous results (2005-2011) and

to report on whether there were records of any new

species.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The survey was principally focused on the far

eastern and western regions, and very few sites in

the middle region of the country were covered (Fig.

1). A total of 42 sites was covered (Table 1); the

survey was carried out in two periods, 3rd-8th Jan

and 22nd-31st Jan. Moreover, unlike previous

years, the survey of 2012 excluded some important

bird sites, because of their declaration as military

sites during the Libyan War of Liberation.

Unfortunately, there was no access to the

Tawergha complex (Qaser Ahmed, Tawergha

Spring and A1 Hisha; 32°00T2,9" N; 15°08'41,9"

E) one of the most important sites for waterbirds,

where numerous species and individuals were ob-

served in previous years (2005-2011). In order to

examine the population trend of waterbirds winter-

ing in Libya from 2005 to 2012, the Living Planet

Index (LPI) was used. The use of LPI was started

in 1997 by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)

to investigate the changes of global biodiversity

over time, especially for measuring the average

trends of vertebrate populations (Loh et al., 2005).

In this paper, the Chain method was used to

calculate the index, where the logarithm of the ratio

of the population of each pair of years was calcu-

lated using the formula:

d t = log(N t /N t . 1 )

where N= population size and t= years (time).

The specific values of dt were generated for nt as:

n t

dt = l Id it

n t i-i

Finally, the index for waterbird populations in

Libyan wetlands in a standard year t was calculated

as:

I t = I t _i 10

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The overall number of species and individuals

of waterbirds and non-waterbirds was lower than

"i A

MALTA

MEDITERRANEAN SEA

CRETE

TUNISIA ~

■

♦ • •

. . -

• •

•

A TT TV T A

LIBYA

EGYPT

Figure 1. Sites included in the winter census in January 2012.

Results of the eighth winter waterbird census in Libya in January 2012

255

S.n

site name

Ajdabiyah GMMR reservoir

30.58

20.34694

Ajdabiyah sewage farm

30.69472

20.25889

Al Labadia

32.50472

20.89306

Al Mallahah

32.89972

13.28694

Al Maqarin karstic lakes

32.15917

20.13861

Assabri beach

32.13667

20.07278

Ayn Taqnit

32.125

12.80722

Ayn Zayyanah

32.21389

20.15556

Bab al Bahr coast

32.89667

13.16417

Benghazi harbours

32.10472

20.05778

Bin Jawwad dam

30.80028

18.06694

Bou Dzira

32.16833

20.13194

Coast Abu Kammash to Ras

Ajdir

33.11139

11.63639

Farwah Lagoon

33.08806

11.76028

Sabkhat Abu Kammash

33.08389

11.59389

Sabkhat al Kuz

32.44083

20.43333

Sabkhat al Manqub

32.90944

12.12639

Sabkhat al Thama and

Sabkhat Esselawi

32.14944

20.10278

Sabkhat ash Shuwayrib

30.72361

20.12972

Sabkhat at Tamimi

32.35917

23.07528

Sabkhat Ayn ash Shaqiqah

32.81444

21.47972

Sabkhat Ayn az Zarqa

32.80444

21.45917

Sabkhat Fairuz

32.04333

20.02222

Sabkhat Julyanah

32.09028

20.05944

Sabkhat Karkurah

31.40111

20.055

Sabkhat Millitah

32.83083

12.28278

Sabkhat Qaminis and

Sabkhat Jaruthah

31.74528

19.93444

Sabkhat Qanfudhah

32.00028

19.98861

Sabkhat Ras at Tin

32.60917

23.12222

Sea off Farwah Island

33.11639

11.74861

Tajura coast

32.89583

13.37

Tobruk harbour

32.06861

23.98583

Tripoli harbour

32.90167

13.19194

Umm al Jarami

32.52444

23.09361

Wadi al Mujaynin dam

32.29

13.2525

Wadi al Qusaybat and Ain al

Wahsh

32.31639

23.09694

Wadi at Tut dam

32.11722

12.42083

Wadi Ghan dam

32.23778

13.13083

Wadi Ka’am dam

32.39667

14.32917

Wadi Ka’am mouth

32.52667

14.44639

Wadi Zaret dam

32.10611

12.80333

Zuwarah harbour

32.92306

12.12139

that in all years between 2005 and 201 1, as well as

the number of sites covered (Table 2). A total of

29,3 14 individuals belonging to 69 species from 20

families of waterbirds and wetland-dependent

raptors was recorded during January 2012 (Table

3). This survey was mainly focused on the eastern

and western regions, but included some sites in the

middle region of the country.

The population index of wintering waterbirds

in Libya showed fluctuations throughout the years

of census (2005-2012), with peaks of up to more

than 50% in January of 2006, 2008 and 2010 (Fig.

2). Furthermore, the Living Planet Index showed a

population decline in January 2012 of up to 0.3%

for the above mentioned reasons.

Family PODICIPEDIDAE

Three species from this family were counted:

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis, Little

Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis and Great Crested

Grebe Podiceps cristatus (Table 3). These species

were reported in the previous surveys from 2005 to

2011 (Azafzaf et al., 2005, 2006; Etayeb et al.,

2007; Hamza et al., 2008; Bourass et al., 2013). The

largest number was of the Black-necked Grebe with

a total of 495 individuals.

Family PROCELL ARIIDAE

A total of fourteen Yelkouan Shearwater

Puffinus yelkouan was counted during this survey.

Since the start of wintering survey in 2005, Yelko-

uan Shearwater was only observed in winters 2005

(EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird Census Team, 2012),

and 2011 with a total of five individuals (Bourass

et al., 2013).

Family SULIDAE

Six individuals of Gannet Morus bassanus were

observed in winter 2012 (four in Wadi Ka'am, one

at Tajura Coast and one at Farwah Island). The

number of Gannets ranged from 3 to 40 individuals

during the previous surveys 2005-2011, and the

peak was in January 2011.

Table 1 . Number of sites covered in

January 2012, Libya.

256

K.S. Etayeb et alii

Years

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

No. WB

29,996

51,698

39,303

53,632

40,369

51,652

34,842

29,314

No. WB sp.

No. NWB

301,60

146,621

39,130

13,378

13,047

60,000

506,155

2,054

No.

NWB sp.

Covered

sites

Period of

census

3-17 Jan

19-31 Jan

3-15 Feb

20-31 Jan

26 Jan-

7 Feb

24 Jan-

3 Feb

29 Jan-

13 Feb

3-8 Jan,

22 Jan-1 Feb

Table 2. Numbers of birds (species and individuals) counted during winters 2005 to 2012, Libya.

WB=Waterbirds, NWB= Non-Waterbirds

Family PHALACROCORACIDAE

In January 2012 this family was represented

only by the Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo, with

a total of 1357 individuals counted in 25 different

sites. The highest numbers were observed in Wadi

Ka'am and Farwah Lagoon (313 and 236, respect-

ively). Since winter 2005 the total has ranged from

987 to 2606, with a peak in 2010 (EGA-RAC/SPA

Waterbird Census Team, 2012).

Family ARDEIDAE

Five species belonging to this family were ob-

served during the current survey: Cattle Egret,

Squacco Heron, Little Egret, Great Egret and Grey

Heron (Table 3). The highest number was of Cattle

Egret, with a total of 61 1 individuals, and the lowest

of Squacco Heron where only two individuals were

observed in Wadi Ka'am. However, from 2005 to

2010 the number of Squacco Heron ranged from 2

to 5 (EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird Census Team,

2012). Relatively, the numbers of the other species

of this family were at the same levels for the years

2005 to 2011 (Bourass et al., 2013; EGA-RAC/SPA

Waterbird Census Team, 2012).

Family CICONIDAE

Five individuals of White Stork Ciconia ciconia

Results of the eighth winter waterbird census in Libya in January 2012

257

were counted in A1 Labadia in eastern Libya (Table

1). Bourass et al. (2013) reported a total of 86 indi-

viduals in winter 2011. From 2005 to 2010 numbers

ranged from 4 to 50 (EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird

Census Team, 2012). However, White Storks are

more common in farmland than in coastal wetlands

(Bundy, 1976).

Family THRESKIORNITHIDAE

The current survey counted 61 Eurasian Spoon-

bills Platalea leucorodia, the lowest total so far; the

peak was in 2011 with a total of 145 individuals

(Bourass et al., 2013).

Family PHOENICOPTERIDAE

A total of 219 individuals of Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus was counted in six sites (Al

Mallahah, Sabkhat Millitah, Sabkhat Abu Kam-

mash, Sabkhat Qanludhah, Sabkhat al Kuz and Far-

wah Lagoon). This observation is the lowest among

the years from 2005 to 201 1 . Moreover, the highest

number of Flamingos was observed in 2009 with a

total of 3292 individuals (EGA-RAC/SPA Water-

bird Census Team, 2012).

Family ANATIDAE

A total of 1 1 species belonging to this family

was observed in this survey (Table 3). The highest

numbers were of Shoveler Anas clypeata and Teal

Anas crecca, with totals of 747 and 394 individuals,

respectively. Other species of the family Anatidae

numbered from 1 to 193 (Table 3). However, indi-

vidual numbers of these species were the lowest

recorded, in comparison to the numbers in previous

surveys (2005-2011). Unexpectedly, during count-

ing of birds in Al Labadia on 29th Jan 2012, mem-

bers of the census team observed an individual of

Canada Goose Branta canadensis with a flock of

111 Shoveler, seven Pintail Anas acuta and four

individuals of Ferruginous Duck Ay thy a nyroca.

This is the first record of this species in Libya,

although two other species of geese have been

reported in Libya: White-fronted Goose Anser

albifrons (Bundy, 1976) and Greylag Goose Anser

anser (Bundy, 1976; EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird

Census Team, 2012). Description of Canada Goose:

Larger than all species of duck, long neck, brownish

body, black head and neck and white patches on the

face. This observation was in early morning. The

team was able to observe this species at a distance

of 100-120 m for more than one hour, using

Swarovski Telescope and Svensson et al. (2010)

guide.

Family PANDIONIDAE and ACCIPITRIDAE

A total of 20 Marsh Harriers Circus aeru-

ginosas was observed in different wetlands along

the coastline and inland. This observation is the

lowest so far as the range was 21-74 individuals

from 2005 to 2011 (EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird

Census Team, 2012; Bourass et al., 2013).

Although it is mentioned as a winter and passage

visitor (Bundy, 1976), and there is no evidence of

breeding, our observations from field visits to dif-

ferent sites in Libya recorded the presence of

Marsh Harrier in all months of the year. Further-

more, this species is reported as a resident breeder

in Tunisia which is the neighbouring country to

Libya (Isenmann et al., 2005). A solitary Osprey

Pandion haliaetus has been observed during winter

2012 in Tajura Coast. However, a total of four

individuals was observed in 2005 (Smart et al.,

2006) and only one in 2008 (Hamza et al., 2008)

and 2010 (EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird Census

Team, 2012). The Osprey is reported as a winter

and passage visitor in Libya (Bundy, 1976).

Family RALLIDAE

Unlike previous years, Moorhen Gallinula

chloropus was counted at only three sites (Al Mal-

lahah, Wadi Ka'am and Al Labadia), with a total of

297 individuals (Table 3). However, this number

was in the range of Moorhens (38-701) counted

during the previous years 2005-20 11; the peak was

in 2009 (EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird Census Team,

2012). Coot Fulica atra was observed in 13 sites,

mostly freshwater wetlands. The total of 901 indi-

viduals is the highest among the previous winter

surveys where the range was 211-763.

Family HAEMATOPODIDAE

A total of 22 Eurasian Oystercatcher Haema-

topus ostralegus was recorded, as usual, at the

westernmost wetlands on the Libyan coastline. The

previous annual maximum was 56 in 201 1 (Bourass

et al., 2013).

258

K.S. Etayeb et alii

Family

Scientific name

Common name

Total

ANAT1DAE

Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Canada Goose

Tadorna tadorna (Linnaeus, 1758)

Shelduck

Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758

Mallard

Anas strepera (Linnaeus, 1758)

Gadwall

Anas acuta Linnaeus, 1758

Pintail

Anas clypeata Linnaeus, 1758

Shoveler

747

Marm aron etta angustirostris

(Menetries, 1832)

Marbled Duck

Anas crecca Linnaeus, 1758

Teal

394

Aythyaferina (Linnaeus, 1758)

Pochard

193

Ay thy a nyroca Guldenstadt, 1770

Ferruginous Duck

Anas sp.

Duck sp.

PROCELLARIIDAE

Puffinus yelkouan Acerbi, 1827

Yelkouan Shearwater

SUL1DAE

Morus bassanus Linnaeus, 1758

Gannet

PHALACROCORAC1DAE

Phalacrocorax carbo (Linnaeus, 1758)

Cormorant

1357

ARDEIDAE

Bubulcus ibis Linnaeus, 1758

Cattle Egret

611

Ardeola ralloides Scopoli, 1769

Squacco Heron

Egretta garzetta (Linnaeus, 1776)

Little Egret

116

Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Great Egret

Ardea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758

Grey Heron

CICONIDAE

Ciconia ciconia Linnaeus, 1758

White Stork

THRESKIORNITHIDAE

Platalea leucorodia Linnaeus, 1758

Spoonbill

PHOENICOPTERIDAE

Phoenicopterus roseus Pallas, 1811

Flamingo

219

POD1CIPED1DAE

Podiceps nigricollis Brehm, 1831

Black-necked Grebe

495

Tachybaptus ruficollis (Pallas, 1764)

Little Grebe

Podiceps cristatus Linnaeus, 1758

Great Crested Grebe

ACCIP1TRIDAE

Circus aeruginosus Linnaeus, 1758

Marsh Harrier

PANDIONIDAE

Pandion haliaetus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Osprey

RALLIDAE

Gallinula chloropus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Moorhen

297

Fulica atra Linnaeus, 1758

Coot

901

HAEMATOPOD1DAE

Haematopus ostralegus Linnaeus, 1758

Oystercatcher

RECURVIROSTR1DAE

Himantopus himantopus

Linnaeus, 1758

Black-winged Stilt

550

Recurvirostra avosetta Linnaeus, 1758

Avocet

BURHINIDAE

Burhinus oedicnemus Linnaeus, 1758

Stone Curlew

CHARADR11DAE

Charadrius hiaticula Linnaeus, 1758

Ringed Plover

Table 3. Number of waterbird species and individuals counted in January 2012, Libya (continued).

Results of the eighth winter waterbird census in Libya in January 2012

259

Family

Scientific name

Common name

Total

CHARADR11DAE

Charadrius alexandrinus

Linnaeus, 1758

Kentish Plover

339

Pluvialis squatarola Linnaeus, 1758

Grey Plover

Pluvialis apricaria Linnaeus, 1758

Golden Plover

430

Vanellus vanellus Linnaeus, 1758

Lapwing

263

SCOLOPAC1DAE

Calidris alba Pallas, 1764

Sanderling

Arenaria interpres (Linnaeus, 1758)

Turnstone

Calidris alpina Linnaeus, 1758

Dunlin

1781

Calidris ferruginea Pontoppidan, 1763

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris minuta Leisler, 1812

Little Stint

231

Tringa glareola Linnaeus, 1758

Wood Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus Linnaeus, 1758

Green Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos Linnaeus, 1758

Common Sandpiper

Tringa totanus Linnaeus, 1758

Redshank

696

Tringa erythropus Pallas, 1764

Spotted Redshank

Tringa nebularia Gunnerus, 1767

Greenshank

Tringa stagnatilis Bechstein, 1 803

Marsh Sandpiper

Limosa limosa Linnaeus, 1758

Black-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica Linnaeus, 1758

Bar-tailed Godwit

Numenius arquata Linnaeus, 1758

Curlew

340

Numenius phaeopus Linnaeus, 1758

Whimbrel

Gallinago gallinago Linnaeus, 1758

Snipe

110

Philomachus pugnax Linnaeus, 1758

Ruff

LAR1DAE

Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Linnaeus, 1776

Black-headed Gull

11981

Chroicocephalus genei Breme, 1839

Slender-billed Gull

804

Larus melanocephalus Temminck, 1820

Mediterranean Gull

1035

Larus argentatus Pontoppidan, 1763

Herring Gull

Larus michahellis Naumann, 1840

Yellow-legged Gull

1398

Larus audouinii Payraudeau, 1826

Audouin's Gull

Larus fuscus Linnaeus, 1758

Lesser Black-backed Gull

2374

Larus sp.

Gull sp.

STERN ID AE

Sterna sandvicensis Latham, 1787

Sandwich Tem

362

Hydroprogne caspia Pallas, 1770

Caspian Tem

Sterna bengalensis Lesson, 1 82 1

Lesser Crested Tem

Chlidonias hybridus Pallas, 1811

Whiskered Tem

Table 3 (continued). Number of waterbird species and individuals counted in January 2012, Libya.

260

K.S. Etayeb et alii

Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE

At eight Libyan coastal wetlands, 550 Black-

winged Stilts Himantopus himantopus were counted

(previous maximum 753 in 2011). This species is

mentioned as a passage visitor (Bundy, 1976), but re-

cently has been recorded as a breeder at A1 Mallahah

wetland (Etayeb et al., 2013). A total of eight Avo-

cets Recurvirostra avosetta was observed in two sites

in eastern Libya (Al Labadia and Ayn Zayyanah).

The previous annual maximum was 193 in 2006

(EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird Census Team, 2012).

Family BURHINIDAE

Eurasian Stone Curlew Burhinus oedicnemus

was counted in two sites: Wadi Ka’am dam and

Tajura Coast with totals of 1 0 and 25 individuals

respectively. The total of 35 Stone Curlews is the

highest so far, with the range in the previous years

of 1-12 individuals.

Family CHARADRIIDAE

Five species belonging to this family were obser-

ved along the coastline: Ringed Plover 61 individuals

(previous maximum 101 in 2011), Kentish Plover

339 individuals (previous maximum 1797 in 2007),

Grey Plover 44 individuals (previous maximum 195

in 2006), Golden Plover 430 individuals (previous

maximum 645 in 2006) and Lapwing 263 individuals

(previous maximum 96 in 2011) (Table 3; Smart et

al., 2006; Etayeb et al., 2007; EGA-RAC/SPA

Waterbird Census Team, 2012; Bourass et al., 2013).

Family SCOLOPACIDAE

In different sites along the Libyan coast, partic-

ularly those with shallow water, we counted a total

of 18 species belong the family Scolopacidae. This

family was the largest during this survey (see Table

3). The number of individuals varied from species

to species, and the highest was 1781 for Dunlin

Calidris alpina , while the lowest was a solitary

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus in Farwah Lagoon.

Moreover, Redshank Tringa totanus numbered 696

(previous maximum 1544 in 2010). Only three

Black-tailed Godwits Limosa limosa (previous

maximum 10 in 2005, 2006) and two Bar-tailed

Godwits Limosa lapponica (previous maximum 1 7

in 2011) were observed at the westernmost part of

Libya (Coast Abu Kammash to Ras Ajdir). How-

ever, other species fluctuated in numbers through

the years from 2005 to 201 1 , and showed a relative

decrease in 2012, in relation to the reduced number

of sites covered.

Family LARIDAE

A total of seven species of gull was observed

(Table 3). In comparison to the previous years, the

number of individuals was very low, for instance

Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus in

2012 numbered 1 1,980 individuals, whereas the pre-

vious maximum was 25,352 in 2008. A total of 87 of

the Near Threatened Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii

(IUCN Red List) was counted in seven sites around

Tripoli and Benghazi. However, this number was the

lowest so far (previous maximum 670 in 2006).

Family STERNIDAE

Four species were observed from this family

(Table 3). The highest number was for the Sandwich

Tern Sterna sandvicensis with a total of 362 indi-

viduals. This number was in the range of the pre-

vious counts (83 in 2007 and 395 in 2010). Although

this species existed in good numbers compared to

the other Sterna species, there is no evidence so far

of breeding in Libya. It is reported as a winter visitor

(Bundy, 1976). Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia

and Whiskered Tern C hlidonias hybridus were more

or less in the range of previous counts (Table 3). A

solitary individual of Lesser Crested Tern Sterna

bengalensis was observed in Tajura Coast. This

species is a summer breeder in some sites in eastern

Libya. The population of Lesser Crested Tern can

be seen in good numbers in Libya from late April

till August (Hamza & Azafzaf, 2012).

Family ALCEDINIDAE

10 individuals of Kingfisher A leedo atthis were

observed at different sites along the coastline (pre-

vious maximum 19 in 2005).

Non-waterbird species

Although this census did not target non-water-

bird species, some species were occasionally recor-

Results of the eighth winter waterbird census in Libya in January 2012

261

Family

Scientific name

Common name

Total

ACCIPITRIDAE

Buteo rufinus (Cretzschmar, 1827)

Long-legged Buzzard

FALCONIDAE

Falco tinnunculus Linnaeus, 1758

Kestrel

STRIGIDAE

Bubo ascalaphus (Savigny, 1809)

Pharaoh Eagle Owl

UPUPIDAE

Upupa epops Linnaeus, 1758

Hoopoe

ALAUDIDAE

Galerida cristata Linnaeus, 1758

Crested Lark

Melanocorypha calandra

(Linnaeus, 1766)

Calandra Lark

H1RUNDIN1DAE

Riparia riparia (Linnaeus, 1758)

Sand Martin

Hirundo fuligula (Lichtenstein, 1 842)

Rock Martin

Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758

Bam Swallow

TURD1DAE

Phoenicurus ochruros (Gmelin, 1774)

Black Redstart

MOTACILLIDAE

Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758

White Wagtail

TURD1DAE

Erithacus rubecula (Linnaeus, 1758)

Robin

Saxicola torquata (Linnaeus, 1766)

Stonechat

SYLVIIDAE

Sylvia melanocephala (Gmelin, 1789)

Sardinian Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

(Hermann, 1804)

Reed Warbler

Phylloscopus collybita (Vieillot, 1817)

Chiffchaff

LANIIDAE

Lanius excubitor Linnaeus, 1758

Great Grey Shrike

TIMAL1IDAE

Turdoides fulvus (Desfontaines, 1789)

Fulvous Babbler

CORVIDAE

Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758

Raven

STURNIDAE

Stum us vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758

Starling

1725

PASSERIDAE

Passer domesticus Linnaeus, 1758

House Sparrow

FRINGILLIDAE

Carduelis carduelis Linnaeus, 1758

Goldfinch

Serinus serinus Linnaeus, 1766

Serin

Table 4. Number of non-waterbird species and individuals counted in January 2012, Libya.

ded in and around wetlands. A total of 2054 indi-

viduals belonging to 23 species from 16 families

was observed during this survey (Table 4). How-

ever, these numbers were the lowest among the pre-

vious years (2005-2011, see Table 2).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We sincerely acknowledge Mr. Shawki Moamer

for hosting the team in Zwara. Our special thanks

to Mr. Mike Smart for reviewing and proofreading

the manuscript.

REFERENCES

Azafzaf H., Baccetti N., Defos du Rau P., Dlensi H.,

Essghaier M.R, Etayeb K., Hamza A. & Smart M.,

2005. Report on an Ornithological Survey in Libya

from 3 to 17 January 2005. Cyclostyled report to

Regional Activities Centre/Special Protected Areas

262

K.S. Etayeb et alii

(MAP/UNEP), Tunis, Environment General Author-

ity, Libya, and African-Eurasian Waterbird Agree-

ment (UNEP/AEWA).

Azafzaf H., Baccetti N., Defos du Rau P., Dlensi EL,

Essghaier M.F., Etayeb K., Hamza A. & Smart M.,

2006. Report on an Ornithological Survey in Libya

from 19 to 3 1 January 2006. Cyclostyled report to the

Regional Activity Centre/Special Protected Areas

(MAP/UNEP), Environment General Agency, Libya

and to the African-Eurasian Waterbird Agreement

(UNEP/AEWA).

Bourass E., Baccetti N., Bashimam W., Berbash A.,

Bouzainen M., De Faveri A., Galidan A., Saied A.M.,

Yahia J. & Zenatello M., 2013. Results of the seventh

winter waterbird census in Libya, January-February

2011. Bulletin of the African Bird Club, 20: 20-26.

Bundy G., 1976. The Birds of Libya: An Annotated

Check-list. BOU Check-list No. 1. London, UK:

British Ornithologists’ Union.

EGA-RAC/SPA Waterbird Census Team. 2012. Atlas of

Wintering Waterbirds of Libya, 2005-2010. Tunis:

Imprimerie COTIM. Temporarily available at:

http ://ww w. isprambiente . gov. it/files/pubblicazioni/

pubblicazionidipregio/Atlas_of_wintering_waterbird

in_Libya_20052010.pdf.

Etayeb K.S. & Essghaier M.F.A., 2007. Breeding of

marine birds on Farwa Island, western Libya.

Ostrich, 78: 419-421.

Etayeb K., Essghaier M.F., Hamza A., Smart M., Azafzaf

H., Defos du Rau P. & Dlensi H., 2007. Report on an

Ornithological Survey in Libya from 3 to 15 February

2007. Cyclostyled report to the Regional Activities

Centre/ Special Protected Areas (MAP /UNEP) and

Environment General Authority, Libya.

Etayeb K.S., Yahia J., Berbash A. & Essghaier M.F.A.,

2013. Ornithological importance of Mallaha wetland

in Tripoli, Libya. Bulletin de la Societe zoologique

de France, 138: 201-211.

Hamza A. & Azafzaf H., 2012. The Lesser Crested Tern,

Sterna bengalensis, State of knowledge and conser-

vation in the Mediterranean Small Islands. Initiative

PIM, 20 pp.

Hamza A., Saied A., Bourass E.M., Yahya J., Smart M.,

Baccetti N., Defos du Rau P., Dlensi H. & Azafzaf

H., 2008. Report on a fourth winter ornithological

survey in Libya, 20-31 January 2008. Cyclostyled

report to the Regional Activities Centre/ Special

Protected Areas (MAP/UNEP) and Environment

General Authority, Libya.

Isenmann P., Gaultier T., El-Hili A., Azafzaf H., Dlensi

H. & Smart M., 2005. Oiseaux de Tunisie. Societe

d’ Etudes Ornithologiques de France, Museum Na-

tional d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France.

Loh J., Green R.E., Ricketts T., Lamoreux J., Jenkins M.,

Kapos V. & Randers J. 2005. The living planet index:

using species population time series to track trends

in biodiversity. Philosophical Transactions of the

Royal Society B, 360: 289-295.

Smart M., Essghaier M.F., Etayeb K., Hamza A., Azafzaf

H., Baccetti N. & Defos Du Rau R, 2006. Wetlands

and wintering waterbirds in Libya, January 2005 and

2006. © Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust, 56: 172-191.

Svensson L., Mullamey K., Zetterstrom D. & Grant P.J.,

2010. Collins Bird Guide. 2nd Revised edition.

Harper Collins Publishers, United Kingdom, 448 pp.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 263-270

New knowledge on diet and monitoring of a roost of the long-

eared owl, Asio otus (Linnaeus, 1 758) (Strigiformes Strigidae)

on Mount Etna, Sicily

Agatino Maurizio Siracusa*, Elisa Musumeci, Vera D’Urso & Giorgio Sabella

'Depart ment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences - Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, via Androne

8 1, 95 1 24 Catania, Italy

Corresponding author, e-mail: ant sir a@unict.it

ABSTRACT A study during autumn and winter in Monte Serra area (Mount Etna) was performed on the

pellets of a roost of long-eared owl, Asio OtUS (Linnaeus, 1 75 8) (Strigiformes Strigidae).

Besides, in order to better understand the feeding habits of this species on Mount Etna, the

data from Monte Serra were integrated with those from Linguaglossa Pin eta (breeding period).

The study was performed through the analysis of 1,724 preys. The species most preyed was

the Mammalia Microtidae MiCTOtllS SCIVii (de Selys-Longchamps, 1838). The average weight

of the preys was 23.48 g, while the average meal was 36.63 g. Besides, the results of the yearly

monitoring of the roost studied are given.

KEY WORDS Asio otus ■ trophic niche; roost; Sicily.

Received 03.11.2014; accepted 0 9.02.2 0 15; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd Interna tional Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The trop hie n ic he of Asio OtUS (Linnaeus, 1758)

(S trigiform es S trig id ae) during a u turn n and w inter in

a site of Mount Etna was studied in order to better

understand that niche during all the year. The literat-

ure data concern in g Sic ily consistonly on the in form -

ation by Siracusa et al. (1 996) focalized on the diet

during the reproductive period in two localities (Lin-

guaglossa and Roccapalumba). Up to now, no inform-

ation on the roost monitoring in Sicily are known.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The studied site lies on the “Monte Serra”, one

of the volcanic cones of Mount Etna, at an altitude

of 450 m a.s.l., which originated on the side south-

east during 122 B .C . It has a characteristic shape

of a horseshoe, as a result of the collapse of the

summit of the crater and of the volcano slope.

In recent centuries the landscape, due to human

settlement and agricultural activities, has been

progressively modified and the natural vegetation

was represented just by some residual strips

unevenly distributed. After the abandonment of

cultivation, has started a new and slow recolonisa-

tion of the Mediterranean natural vegetation. This

vegetation consists mainly in the bushes of ever-

green holm oak, QuCVCUS HeXL., wild olive, OleO.

europaea l ., and carob, Ceratonia siliqua l .

The slopes of Monte Serra are covered with a

shrubby in which are present the common broom,

Spartium junceum l., and the Etna broom, Genista

aetnensis (Raf. ex Biv.) DC, as the predominant

sp ec ie s (Fig. 1 ) .

264

Agatino Maurizio Siracusa etalii

At the base of the mountain, lies a forest left in

its natural state, the "Forest of Cyclamen" in which

the essence most represented is the tree oak,

Quercus virgilicinci Ten o re , followed by hornbeam,

Ostrya carpinifolia Scopoli, and flowering ash,

Fraxinus ornus l .

The climatic characteristics of the study area

are derived on the data of the time series of the

Viagrande term oplu viom etric station (Fig. 2),

which is located on the slope mostaffected by rain-

fall (annual rainfall higher than the whole of Etna),

because invested by the moisture deriving from

the Ionian Sea, which it overlooks. The study area

falls within the Mediterranean B io g e o g r ap h ic a 1

Region, in the range of the m eso-M editerranean

climate (Brullo et al., 1 996). The data on diet of

long-eared owl in autumn and win ter were obtained

from the analysis of pellets collected in a roost

located at “Parco di Monte Serra”, in the period

between September 2012 and March 2013.

The pellets were weekly collected. The collec-

ted material was provided on-site of a label re-

porting a detailed tagging, as well as the date and

time of collection, the GPS coordinates of indivi-

dual roost sites, weather conditions, information

on the presence/absence and number of specimens

observed.

The pellets were dried in the open air for a few

days, wrapped in polythene bags containing cam-

phor (to prevent any damage caused by the attack

Figure 1 . Land use in area of “Monte Serra" and neighboring areas (from Angelinietal., 2009, modified). Legend according

to Corine Biotopes Code: 31.81(brown) Middle-European scrubs; 32.215 (orange) low scrub w ith CalicOtOHie sp.; 34.8 1 (light

brown) M editerranean subnitrophilous meadows; 41 .732 (green) peninsular and insular Italy oak deciduous woods; 45.3 1A

(light green) Southern Italy and Sicilian holm oak woods; 82.1 (light yellow) arable intensive and continuous; 82.3 (yellow)

cultures of extensive type and complex agricultural systems; 83.11 (azure) groves; 83.21 (blue) vineyards; 83.3 22 (dark

green) plantations of EuCCllyptllS ; 83.16 (ocher brown) citrus orchards; 86.1 (gray) towns.

New knowledge on diet and monitoring of a roost of the long-eared owl, Asio otus on Mount Etna, Sicily

265

of scavenging arthropods) and then transported to

the laboratory to be analyzed.

The content of each intact pellet was noted

separately and the number of prey items concerned

was taken to equal to the greatest number of identi-

fied fragments of one species (greatest number of

low er jaw s, etc .).

For the study of the pellets was used the pellets

analysis technic (Contoli, 1 9 80). The pellets were

opened by dry technique, with the aid of a tweezers

and of an entomological brush. For those too com-

pact it was preferred the immersion in hot water

for a few minutes in order to more easily separate

th e bones.

Before opening, were taken measures, with a

digital gauge, relating to the length and the width

of pellets. For the sorting of the content was used a

stereoscopic microscope for better visibility of the

alveoli of the molars and of the bones of small

mammals.

To count the preyed specimens is considered

their minimum number (Chaline et al., 1 974). The

jaws of the rats and the synsacrum of birds collec-

ted were measured with a digital caliper, in order to

estimate the weight of the preyed specimens.

The identification of small mammals was based

on the cranium features and dichotomous keys

(Toschi & Lanza, 1 959; Toschi, 1 965; Chaline et

al., 1 974; Amori et al., 2008), while for the larger

prey was used the morphology of the long bones.

The calculation of the biomass was carried out

by assigning to each species an average weight,

relative to the species of small mammals and Cole-

optera in Sicily (Table 1), provided by Di Palma &

Massa, 198 1, and for savi’s pine vole ( MicwtliS

Savii) provided by Catalisano & Massa, 1987.

Using the equation of Di Palma & Massa

(198 1), the calculated average weight of the brown

rat ( RattUS llOrVegicUS B erkenhout, 1 769) results

102.6 j_ 2 7 .0 (SD) g (number of sampled specimens

n = 46), and 94.5 j_26.4 (SD) g (n = 14) regarding

RattUS sp. The weight of 94.5 g, equivalent to that

of RattUS sp., has been assigned also to RattUS VttttUS

(Linnaeus, 1 75 8 ), considering that only 2 speci-

mens were collected and no measurable jaws were

av ailab le .

Using the equation of Di Palma & Massa

(1981), the calculated average weight of the birds

results 14.1 j_ 5 . 2 (SD) gr (n = 187) based on

synsacrum found in the pellets.

Figure 2. Climogramma of Viagrande term o p lu v io m e trie

station (from Zampino et al.. 1 997).

Th*

Weight |g)

References

Aftw domeltfctt*

12.3

IM Palma & Massa. 19*1

Apnkmiit ,n/i«rfrni

2o.h

JJi Palma & Massa. 19*1

flfjrtfr.i

1026

RjuatlonofDi Palma 6! Massa, 19* t

Mil) bp

94.5

Equation of Di Palma & Mava. 19* L

Raft its rtUltis

94.5

Same weight of Ruimx bp.

Mit'rtHm

Lalalisani) & Massa, 19*7

C rfH'idtirn j icutu

6.7

Ui Palma Jit Massa. 1 9*1

t’oleopter*

0.)

Di Palma & Massa, 19*1

C hiraplera

l/tyrilre/fos sp. Il average wcighl of sampled species

Avti

14,1

EHiiaiion of Di Ftiliru £ Massa, I9SI ( ss n sacrum I

del.

34,1

As erairo wclghl uf all allegories uf pres

1 irscEud iim fttillns mu-region and L'l'ks'plcrj I

Table 1. Values used for the calculation of the biomass.

Besides the study of the trophic niche based on

the collected pellets, the monitoring of the presence

of the owls in the roost from May 2012 to June

2013 was performed (Fig. 3).

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

A total of entire 875 pellets were collected and

examined in the Monte Serra area. The pellets have

an average lenght of 32.2 +_ 7 .9 (SD) mm and an

average width of 18.8 j^3.2 (SD) mm. A total of

1,421 prey have been identified (Table 2, Fig. 4),

with an average of 1.62 prey/pellet; 1 or 2 prey/

pellet were found in most cases, 3 sometimes, 4

266

Agatino Maurizio Siracusa etalii

occasionally. During the study period, mammals are

the most represented group (about 67% of the prey)

followed by birds (about 32%). MicWtUS SCIVU

represents the most preyed species (50.2% of the

catch), while Apodemus sylvaticus (L innaeus,

Figure 3. Specimen of Asio OtllS o n QuCTCUS sp .

(October 2012, photo by E. Musumeci).

Monte Serra

Category of prey

% weight {g>

biomass (g)

Microtus savii

714

50.25

14280

41,88

Microtidae

714

50.25

14280

41.08

Mus domesticus

1.34

12.2

231.8

0.68

Apodemus sylvaticus

100

7.60

20.8

2246.4

6.59

Rattus rattus

0.14

94,5

189

0.55

Rattus norvegicus

5.28

102,6

7695

22,57

Rattus sp.

1,83

94.5

2457

721

Muridae

230

16.19

12819.2

37.6

Rodentia

944

66.43

27099.2

79.48

Croodura sicula

0.07

6.7

0.02

Soricidae

0,07

6.7

0.02

Soricomorpha

0.07

$.7

0.02

Chiroptera

0.49

0.21

MAMMALIA

952

2717S.9

79.66

AVES

452

31.81

14.1

6373.2

18.69

INSECTA Coleoptera

0.07

0.1

Mot det.

1.13

34.1

545.6

1.6

Total prey

1421

Pellets

875

Prey/peltets

1.62

Total biomass (g>

34094,8

Average weight prey (g) 23.99

Average meal (g) 38 .86

Table 2. Results of the pellets analysis in the study area.

1758), generally the main trophic resource in wooded

areas, shows the frequency of only 7.6% . A 1 though

Monte Serra is a suburban park in a discretely

anthropized area, MllS domeSticUS Linnaeus, 1758

is very little represented (only 1.3%), but about

7.2% of prey (about 30% of biomass) belongs to

RattUS spp. (Table 2): this latter result could be

justified with the energetic advantage obtained by

long-eared owl feed on rats, because these have a

greater weight than other prey and owls could save

energy by reducing the hunting with an equal gain

of biomass. Soricom orpha and Chiroptera, as well

as Insecta, are present in very low percentages of

prey, less than or equal to 0.5%. The only found

specimen of Soricidae, CwcidlirCl siciilci Miller,

1 900, could be due to a selective choice of prey as

well as environmental factors, like the pressure of

the human presence in the area of Monte Serra. It

should be emphasized that, although it is uncom-

mon the predation of birds, in the examined site the

percentage of this prey is significant and this is in

agreement with some studies conducted on winter-

ing sites in Northern Italy and in Spain (Albufera

de Valencia) which recorded a presence of birds

even higher, 50% of the total num her of individuals

preyed (M as trorilli, 2000; Escala et al., 2009). The

discrepancy between these results is likely attrib-

utable to the opportunistic habits of the long-eared

owl that, when possible, implements group hunting

strategies able to ferret out and in some cases cut

off entire dormitories of passerines (Mikkola,

1 983).

The data of the present study were compared

with those of the long-eared owl diet during the

reproductive period, detected always by the pellets

analysis technic, in two Sicilian sites, Pineta di Lin-

guaglossa and R o cc ap alu m b a, characterized by dif-

ferent environmental features (Siracusa et al., 1996):

an old pinewood and a cultivated area respectively.

A total of 191 pellets were collected and ex-

amined in Linguaglossa Pineta station (Table 3).

Mammals are the most represented group (about

94% of the prey) followed by birds (about 6%).

ApodemUS sylvaticus was the most preyed species

(60% of the catch) and with MicrOtUS Savii ( 32.67%

of prey) represent about 93% of the preys. MuS

domesticus is very little represented (only 0.66%),

while no species of RattUS were collected. Sorico-

rnorpha and Chiroptera were present in very low

percentages equal to 0.33% (Siracusa et al., 1996).

New knowledge on diet and monitoring of a roost of the long-eared owl, Asio otus on Mount Etna, Sicily

267

m.js*

Coteopiera

0.07%

Noi del. 1.13%

Chiioptera

1 .49%

Crocitfitm

sicuta

Mus domesticus 1 . 34® »

Roll ns sp,

I 83%

Rama norwgicus

5.28%

0.14%

Figure 4. Graphical results of the pellets analysis

in the study area.

A total of 21 pellets were collected and examin-

ated in Roccapalumba station (Table 3). Mammals

are the most represented group (about 93% of the

prey) followed by birds (more than 3%), arthropods

(more than 2%) and amphibians and reptiles (about

1 . 5 %). Microtus savii was the most preyed species

(89.42% of the catches), while the other species of

mamma is (Apodemus sylvaticus, Mus domestic us,

RattUS rattus and Crocidura sicula ) were present

in very low percentages, less than 2% (Siracusa et

al., 1996).

In order to identify the trophic niche of the

species in the piedmont areas of the Etna eastern

slope, the stations of M onte Serra and Linguaglossa

(a pinewood), were considered as a single sample

MONTE SERRA

LINGUAGLOSSA

ROCCAPALUMBA

Category of

prey

biomass

(g)

biomass

(g)

biomass

(9 1

Microtus savii

714

50.25

14280

41.88

32,67

1683

26.34

245

89,42

4165

89.93

Mus

domesticus

1,34

231,8

0 68

0.66

0.39

1.09

37.50

0.81

Apodemus

sylvaticus

108

7.60

2246.4

6 59

182

60,07

4277

66.94

0.36

23.50

0.51

Rattus rattus

0.14

189

0.55

0.36

118

2.55

Rattus

norvegicus

5.28

7695

22.57

Rattus sp.

1,83

2457

7.21

•

Crocidura sicula

0.07

6.7

0.02

0.33

6.5

0.10

1.82

32.50

0.70

Chlroptera

0,49

0.21

0.33

0.31

MAMMALIA

952

27175.9

79.66

285

94.06

6011.5

94,08

255

93.06

4376.50

94.50

AVES

452

31.81

$373.2

18.69

5.94

378

5.92

3.28

189

4.08

AMPHIBIA +

REFT ILIA

1.46

1.30

ARTHROPOD A

0.07

0.1

ifli

■

2.19

0.13

Not del

1.13

545.6

1.6

Total

875

303

274

LINGUAGLOSSA

ROCCAPALUMBA

Total prey

303 (243 on entire pellets}

Total prey

274 (66 on entire pellets )

Pellets

191

Pellets

Prey/peilets

1,27*

Prey/pellets

3.14*

Total biomass (g)

6389.50**

Total biomass (g)

4631.5 **

Average weight prey (g)

21.09**

Average weight prey (g)

16.9**

Average meal (g)

26.78*

Average meal (g)

53.07*

Table 3. Comparison of results of pellets analysis during w inter period (M t. Serra) and during breeding period of long-eared

owl from Pineta di Linguaglossa and from Roccapalumba (* calculated only on prey on en tire pellets; ** calculated on total

prey ) (from Siracusa et al.. 1 996, modified).

268

Agatino Maurizio Siracusa etalii

(Table 4), although the first case concerns the diet

in the autumn and winter, while the second case

regards the trophic niche in the reproductive period.

It must be emphasized that the two sites, with

different vegetations, are located both in the foothill

region of Etna Mountain.

A total of 1,066 pellets were processed (Table

4). Also in this case, mammals are the most rep-

resented group (about 72% of the prey) followed

by birds (about 27%), while arthropods are almost

absent. MicWtUS SClvii is the most preyed species

(more than 47% of the catches), while the

Muridae provide the greatestcontribution in terms

of biomass (42.30% of total). Soricomorpha and

Chiroptera are present in very low percentages

less than or equal to 0.46%. The average weight

of the preys is 23.48 g, while the average meal is

36.63 g.

The roost of Mt Serra was observed by the end

of May 2012, when a young specimen has been

TOTAL MS+L

Category of prey

biomass fg)

Microtus savii

813

47.16

15963

39.43

Microtidae

813

47.16

15963

39.43

Mus domesticus

1.22

256 8

0.63

Apodemus sylvaticus

290

16.82

6523,4

16,11

Rattus rattus

0.12

189

0.47

Rattus norvegicus

4.35

7695

Rattus sp.

1.51

2457

6.07

Muridae

414

24.01

17121.2

42.30

Roden tia

1227

71.17

33084.2

81.72

Crocidura sicula

0.12

13.2

0.03

Sortcidae

0.12

13.2

0,03

Soricomorpha

0.12

13.2

0.03

Chiroptera

0.48

0.22

MAMMALIA

1237

71.75

33187.4

81.97

AVES

470

27.26

6751.2

16.68

INSECT A Coleoptera

10.06

0.1

Notdet.

0.93

545.6

1.35

Total prey 1724 {1664 on entire pellets)

Pellets 1066

Preylpellets 1.56*

Total biomass {g} 40484. 30**

Average weight prey (g) 23.48“

Average meal (g) 36.63*

Table 4. Sum of results of the pellets analysis of long-eared

owl during breeding period in Pineta di Linguaglossa and

during autumn in Monte Serra. * calculated only on prey on

entire pellets (n=1664); * * calculated on total prey (n = 1 7 24).

sighted among GcflistCl, at the end of June 2013

(Fig. 5). Although traces of their presence (as

plumage and very few pellets) were evident from

June to August, only in early September 2012 were

observed 7 specimens on an oak near the structure

used by the Butterfly House as Information Point.

This same roost was used by the group for most of

the autumn season. During the sightings were coun-

ted from 1 to a maximum of 7 specimens, with

greater presence during the afternoon hours. The

owls we re quite confident and they tolerated human

presence. In November sporadic observations of

owls were recorded and no pellets were found. The

causes of this absence could, at least partially, be

attributed to human disturbance or it might have

been a time of reorganization of the roost. In late

November (29th), after many days of absence, a

roost of mo re than 11 specimens occupied the pines

located inside the playground for children of the

butterfly house. This roost, that throughout the

winter period was composed of about 20 speci-

mens, was present until the end of February. From

late February to mid-March, were observed no

more than 7 specimens as to restore the situation of

Septem ber-N ovem ber. No specimens were spotted

from middle M arch to the end of June.

This study has allowed us to integrate know-

ledge about the trophic niche of the long-eared owl

in Sicily for which was known a single study that

refers to the diet of this species in the breeding

season; however, were not known data concerning

the trophic niche during the autumn-winter period

and concerning the roost in wintering period. The

data obtained from the pellets analysis of about 20

specimens and the analysis of the characteristics of

the study area, have confirmed the selective beha-

vior o f Asio otus in the choice of prey, specifically

the Microtids (as shown by the high percentage of

MicWtUS SQVii found). It also highlighted a certain

plasticity of the species that, if necessary, takes

advantage of favorable situations such as the

presence of dormitories of birds that are flushed out

with a technique of group hunting. The above

explains the significant number of birds found in

the pellets, which is not a data usually reported in

bibliography. This study is also useful for the

increase ofknowledge on the wintering sites of the

long-eared owl in Italy and can be inserted in the

national register of the roosts, set up by the project:

"Gufiamo: count the long-eared owls wintering in

New knowledge on diet and monitoring of a roost of the long-eared owl, Asio otus on Mount Etna, Sicily

269

Figure 5. Histogram date/number of long-eared owl specimens observed.

Italy", started a few years ago from the collabora-

tion of GIC & EBN Italy, with the Global owl

project that provides for the establishment of a net-

work containing data on the presence of the roosts

in Italy. From the analysis of the monitoring of the

roost of Monte Serra, one might assume the

presence oftwo differentpopulations.The first one,

in the Park throughout the year, although with

changes in the choice of the roost and possibly with

nesting site located not many miles away.

The other population, more numerous, would

take advantage of the Monte Serra Park as a

wintering site. Specimens of this second population

may be resident in the territory of Etna and make

seasonal vertical migrations or could be migratory

specimens that stop to winter. The hypothesis of

two different populations is supported by the owl

attitude observed in the days of collecting pellets.

Whenever the collector approached at the roost,

systematically, part of specimens are alerted and

receding in flight; however, remained always 5-7

specimens, very confident, as if they were already

accustomed to the environment and the presence of

visitors to the park. Because the site is regularly

occupied, this would allow regular long-term mon-

itoring of the roost; furthermore, the use of mo-

lecular studies of feathers collected throughout the

year could also clarify the phenology of the species

in Sicily, whose presence as a nesting species has

been established only recently.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Pierangela Angelini (ISPRA) for al-

lowing the use of the shape file of Carta N atura

1:50.000 of Sicily for the characterization of the

study area.

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Oriolo G ., 2009. G li habitat in Carta della N atura -

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Amori G., Contoli L. & N appi A ., 2008. Mammalia II:

Erinaceomorpha, Soricomorpha, Lagomorpha, R o -

dentia. Fauna d 'Italia, 44. C alder ini, Bologna, 754 pp.

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C ara tte ris tic h e b io c lim atic h e della Sicilia. Giornale

Botanico Italiano, 1 30: 1 77- 1 8 5.

Catalisano A. & Massa B ., 1 98 7. Considerations on the

structure of the diet of the Barn Owl ( TytO albtt) in

Sicily ( Italy). Bollettino di Zoologia, 54: 69-73.

Chaline J., B audvin H., JammotD. & Saint Giron M.C.,

1974. Les proies des rapaces. Doin ed., Paris, 141

pp.

Contoli L., 1 980. Borre di Strigiformi e ricerca teriolo-

gica in Italia. Natura e Montagna, 3: 73-94.

Di Palma A.M.G. & Massa B., 1981. Contributo m e to -

dologico perlo studio dell’alimentazione deiRapaci.

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Escala C., Alonso D., Mazuelas D., Mendiburu A.,

Vilches A. & Arizaga J., 2009. W inter diet of Long-

eared Owls AsiO OtllS in the Ebro valley (NE Iberia).

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Mastrorilli M., 2000. The importance of birds in the

winter diet of Long-eared Owls ( AsiO OtllS ) in the

Bergamo district in (Lombardy, northern Italy).

Proceedings International Symposium "Ecology and

Conservation of European Wood Owls", Harz: 45.

Mikkola H., 1983. Owls of Europe. Poyser ed., 397 pp.

Siracusa M ., Sara M ., La Mantia T. & Cairone A., 1996.

Alimentazione del Gufo com une ( Asio OtllS) in

Sicilia. II Naturalista siciliano, 20: 3 1 3-320.

Toschi A., 1 965. Mammalia. Lagomorpha, Rodentia,

Carnivora, Ungulata, Cetacea. Fauna d' Italia, 7.

Calderini, Bologna, 647 pp.

Toschi A. & Lanza B ., 1 959. Mammalia. Generality,

Insectivora, Chiroptera. Fauna d'ltalia, 4. Calderini,

Bologna, 485 pp.

Zampino D ., Duro A., Piccione V. & Scalia C ., 1 997.

Fitoclima della Sicilia. Termoudogrammi secondo

Walter e Lieth delle stazioni te rm o p 1 u v io m e trie h e

della Sicilia occidentale. In: Guerrini A. (Ed.), Atti

del 6° Workshop del Progetto Strategico C. N. R.

"Clima Ambiente e Territorio del Mezzogiorno"

(Taormina, 13-15 Dicembre 1995), I: 229-292.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 271-284

Monograph

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Spotted

Flycatcher Muscicapa striata (Pallas, 1 764) (Passeriformes

Muscicapidae)

Michele Vigano 1 & Andrea Corso 2

'MISC- Via Ongetta, 5-21010 Germignaga, Varese, Italy; e-mail: mikivigano@yahoo.com

2 MISC- Via Camastra, 10- 96100 Siracusa, Italy.

* Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Four subspecies of Spotted Flycatcher {Muscicapa striata Pallas, 1764) (Passeriformes Mus-

cicapidae) are usually recognized within the Western Palaearctic. We carefully analysed two

of these in order to determine and quantify their morphological differences: M. striata striata

(inhabiting most of continental Europe east to the Ural mountains and a small portion of

north-western Africa) and M. striata tyrrhenica Schiebel, 1910 (breeding on the Tyrrhenian

islands of Corsica, Sardinia and the Tuscan Archipelago). We examined total of 58 Spotted

Flycatcher specimens from Italian museums (of which 18 M. striata tyrrhenica ) and obtained

data about morphological features such as wing point, length and formula, and bill length,

width and depth; furthermore, we investigated plumage colour using a spectrometer. Biomet-

ric measurements and an analysis of plumage streaking confirmed the presence of important

differences between the two taxa; the colorimetric analysis did not produce the expected res-

ults, although it had some interesting implications concerning the preservation of museum

specimens and their use in studies of plumage colour.

KEY WORDS Spotted Flycatcher; Muscicapa striata tyrrhenica', morphology; museum specimens.

Received 26.01.2015; accepted 01.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 20 1 4, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The Spotted Flycatcher {Muscicapa striata Pal-

las, 1764) is a songbird in the family Muscicapidae

and is the only member of its genus in Europe, with

at least twenty more species in Asia and Africa. The

Spotted Flycatcher is found through most of the

Palaearctic, with a continuous distribution from the

Iberian peninsula to the Mongolia-China border. It

is a long-distance, trans-Saharan migrant, and most

of the population winters south of the Equator

(Cramp & Perrins, 1993).

Seven subspecies are currently recognized in

this extensive range (del Hoyo et al., 2006): M.

striata striata (Pallas, 1764) (Figs. 1, 2) breeds in

Europe east to the Ural mountains and in north-

western Africa, and winters south of the Sahara;

M. striata balearica von Jordans, 1913 (Fig. 1),

breeds in the Balearic islands and winters in west-

ern and south-western Africa; M. striata tyrrhe-

nica Schiebel, 1910 (Figs. 1, 2), breeds in Corsica

and Sardinia and presumably winters in Africa; M.

striata inexpectata Dementiev, 1932, breeds in

Crimea and winters in Africa; M. striata neumanni

Poche, 1904, breeds in the islands of the Aegean

Sea east to the Caucasus and northern Iran and

south to Cyprus and the Fevant, in addition to cent-

ral Siberia, and winters in eastern and southern

Africa; M. striata sarudnyi Snigirewski, 1928,

breeds from eastern Iran to northern and western

272

Michele Vigano & Andrea Corso

Pakistan and presumably winters in southern and

eastern Africa; M. striata mongola Portenko,

1955, breeds from the south-eastern Altai moun-

tains to northern Mongolia, and presumably win-

ters in southern and eastern Africa.

Only two (M. striata striata and M. striata

tyrrhenica) of these seven subspecies are regularly

found in Italy, while M. striata neumanni, which

could potentially occur in migration, has not yet

been confirmed (Corso, 2005; Brichetti & Fracasso,

2008). The nominate subspecies breeds throughout

continental Italy and Sicily, where it is considered

common and widespread, although its distribution

is somewhat patchy with gaps in high mountain

areas. The core breeding range of M. striata tyrrhe-

nica comprises Corsica and Sardinia, but contra del

Hoyo et al. (2006) and Cramp & Perrins (1993), it

also breeds in the Tuscan Archipelago (Brichetti &

Fracasso, 2008), while its presence along a narrow

band of the Tyrrhenian coast remains to be con-

firmed (Brichetti & Fracasso, 2008; Tellini et al.,

1997). The authors provide some interesting in-

formation on the abundance of Spotted Flycatcher

subspecies in Italy.

Although the nominate subspecies breeds al-

most throughout continental Italy, it is never abund-

ant, with population densities that rarely exceed 0.2

pairs/hectare. On the other hand, as many as 0.6

pairs/hectare have been found in M. striata tyrrhe-

nica (VV. AA. in Thibault & Bonaccorsi, 1999); so

the species seems to fit the usual pattern on islands

of densisty inflation due to lower species richness

(eg MacArthur & Wilson, 1967; George, 1987;

Blondel et al., 1988). Interestingly, high population

densities have been recorded along the Tyrrhenian

coast in Tuscany; densities are far lower only 50 km

inland (Tellini et al., 1997).

There are currently no reliable data on the win-

tering range of M. striata tyrrhenica (Cramp &

Perrins, 1993, del Hoyo et al., 2006). The

M. striata tyrrhenica subspecies of the Spotted

Flycatcher was described for the first time by

Schiebel (1910) in a paper on the Corsican avi-

fauna and a syntype taken in Aitone, Corsica, on

19 May 1910 is currently held at the Zoologisches

Forschungs institut und Museum Alexander

Koenig in Bonn, Germany. The identification of

this subspecies is generally dealt with very super-

ficially in the ornithological literature, with limited

discussion of its distinguishing characteristics.

Several examples are below:

- Arrigoni degli Oddi (1929): “ similar to the pre-

vious species [ authors ’ note: the subspecies

Figure 1. In Western Europe three subspecies of Spotted Flycatcher are found: Muscicapa striata striata (blue), M. striata

tyrrhenica (red) and M. striata balearica (green). Figure 2. Two subspecies of Spotted Flycatcher breed in Italy: M. striata

striata (blue) and M. striata tyrrhenica (red); M. striata tyrrhenica could be present in the yellow area too, but further

research is needed.

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Muscicapa striata (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)

273

striata]; central spots on the cervix and streaking

on breastless distinct ”;

- Cramp & Perrins (1993): “ more warm brown

on upperparts, distinctly less streaked on breast,

streaks replaced by broader, coalescing spots''’',

- Brichetti & Fracasso (2008): “ upperparts

browner and warmer-toned, and streaking on the

underparts less well-defined and tending to merge

into spots ”;

- van Duivendijk (2010): “Primary -projection

slightly shorter that striata; upperparts warmer

brown, underparts almost unstreaked but with

broad, faint spots'”.

Over the last ten years we have carried out in-

depth field and museum studies on the morpholo-

gical differences between the two taxa in question

(Figs. 3-6). In the field, the immediate impression

given by M. striata tyrrhenica is of a paler bird with

wanner tones to the back and more homogeneous

underparts. The breast markings, which are gener-

ally well defined streaks in M. striata striata, appear

faded and more spot-like. The streaking on the nape

is also less well defined compared to the nominate

subspecies, due to the lower contrast between the

streaks and the nape’s background colour. Primary

projection is one of the most important characters:

while the primary projection beyond the tertials is

longer that the tertials themselves in continental

birds, individuals from Corsica and Sardinia have

a primary projection that is shorter than, or at most

equal to the length of the tertials.

This paper mainly reports the results of our

museum studies, while an article on field identific-

ation criteria is forthcoming (Vigano et al., personal

data).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Our first observations on the morphological dif-

ferences between the two subspecies were made in

the field: M. striata tyrrhenica was studied in

southern Sardinia near Villasimius (Cagliari) in July

2004, August 2005, July 2006, and May 2011 and

on the island of Elba in July 2014. We have studied

this taxon in Corsica as well, in the area of the Gulf

of Calvi, in July 2007, July 2008, and May 2012.

Our studies of M. striata striata have taken place

continuously during the breeding season since 2005

in northern Italy; additionally, we have studied this

taxon during spring migration on various small

islands off central and southern Italy, especially

Ventotene (Latina) in April 2010 and 2011 and

Linosa (Agrigento) in May 2006, April 2007, and

April 2009, where on good days hundreds or even

thousands of individuals can be seen.

Other observations took place opportunistically

elsewhere in the Western Palaearctic, both during

the breeding season and in migration. Studies of

museums skins complemented our field observa-

tions and were of fundamental importance for this

paper (Figs. 7, 8; Table 1). There are very few spe-

cimens of M. striata tyrrhenica in Italian and

foreign museums; indeed, there are none at all in

the largest bird collection in Europe at the Natural

History Museum at Tring, U.K. We arranged for all

of the M. striata tyrrhenica specimens held at the

Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Milan, Italy

(MCSM), Museo Civico di Zoologia in Rome, Italy

(MCZR), and Museo di Scienze Naturali in Forli,

Italy (MSNF) to be sent on short-term loan to the

Museum of the Institute for Environmental Protec-

tion and Research (Istituto Superiore per la Pro-

tezione e la Ricerca Ambientale - ISPRA) in

Ozzano dell’ Emilia (Bologna, Italy) so that they

could be studied side-by-side along with the speci-

mens held in the last-named institution.

We took the following measurements: wing

chord, longest primary (P3), distance of each

primary from P3, bill length from the nostrils, bill

height and thickness at the nostrils. Measures that

are generally taken during ringing activities such as

tail, tarsus, and bill-to-cranium length were not

taken since they vary depending on the way the spe-

cimen was prepared (Winker, 1998; Eck et al., 2011;

Kuczynski, 2003). The measurements considered

here are also subject to some degree of variation

depending on specimen preparation; measurements

taken on live animals may add a degree of precision

and some additional information, but we felt that

museum specimens were better suited to taking

biometrical and plumage colour data together.

As concerns wing chord length, one study that

looked at the wings of Rooks ( Corvus frugilegus )

measured upon capture, after 8 weeks, and again

after 144 weeks found a difference in length

between fresh and dried wings of about 1.84%

(Knox, 1980). Measurements were taken using a

stopped ruler (to the nearest 0.5 mm), callipers (to

274

Michele Vigano & Andrea Corso

Figures 3, 4. Spotted Flycatcher ( Muscicapa striata tyrrhenica), Villasimius (Cagliari), Sardinia, May 2011. Note the quite

pale and warm general colour, the subtle head and breast markings and the short primary projection compared to tertials

length. Figures 5, 6. Spotted Flycatcher ( Muscicapa striata striata ), Ventotene, Latina, Italy, April 2011 (Fig. 5) and Pan-

telleria, Trapani, Sicily, May 2009 (Fig. 6, photo by Igor Maiorano). The overall impression is of a colder and less homo-

geneous bird, with bold markings on breast and head; primary projection is longer than tertials length.

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Muscicapa striata (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)

275

the nearest 0.1 mm) and a thin strip of graph paper

(to the nearest 0.5 mm) strengthened by an equally

thin strip of transparent plastic.

The latter tool was necessary to measure P3: this

feather is usually measured using a special ruler, but

due to the specimens’ age, their rigidity, and their

historic value, some are from the prized Arrigoni

degli Oddi collection, we decided to use graph

paper as it is thinner and less invasive. Colour

analysis of the upperparts of Spotted Flycatcher

specimens was undertaken using an Ocean Optics

USB 2000 spectrometer at ISPRA.

Before proceeding with the spectrometer ana-

lysis of Spotted Flycatcher plumage we had to

calibrate the instrument and its associated software,

Ocean Optics Spectrasuite, which is provided by the

manufacturer of the spectrometer and the lamp. The

spectrometer was calibrated by reading and record-

ing on the software two values that were to corres-

pond with white and black. In order to do so we

used Ocean Optics’ WS1 Diffuse Reflectance

Standard for white, while for black we placed the

lighting fibreover the black square on X-Rite’s

Color Checker’s colour scale.

Once the programme was launched, only two

parameters needed to be set. Scan-to-average was

set at 5: for each colour reading of a given point,

five scans are automatically made, and their average

is recorded as the final value. Integration time was

set at 300 in order to prevent peaks in the graph

above the upper margin when the scanner was

placed above the white standard; in other words, to

ensure that reflectance on a white standard would

not return excessively high values that would have

led to a loss of information on the portion of the

graph falling outside the margins.

Once calibration was completed, we sampled

colours on each specimen as follows: three meas-

urements were taken from the mantle (usually two

from the right-hand side and one from the left) and

three more from the rump (by moving the scanner

along a vertical line from the top to the bottom of

the rump).

This means that for each specimen, the data

reported in the Table 2 comprises the averages of

15 measurements on the mantle and 15 on the

rump. In accordance with the instructions reported

by Hill & McGraw (2006) we selected and ranked

the data before analyzing them: we only considered

values with wavelengths between UV and red

(299.74 <X> 700.28), then sub-divided them into

intervals of approximately 10 nm, e.g. from 410nm

to 420nm.

The values we calculated (for both mantle and

rump) are as follows:

- Total Reflectance: the sum of all intervals

- UV Component: the sum of values falling

between 300nm and 400nm

Figure 7. The provenience of the museum specimens analysed. Figure 8. The number of birds collected per decade.

276

Michele Vigano & Andrea Corso

Museum

M. striata

striata

M. striata tyr-

rhenica

MCSM

MCZR

MSNF

ISPRA

Total

Table 1 . This table summarizes the number of specimens

studied, the museum they belong and their subspecific iden-

tification.

- UV Chroma: UV Component to Total Reflect-

ance ratio

- RED Component: the sum of values falling

between 600nm and 700nm

- RED Chroma: RED Component to Total Re-

flectance ration

The results are reported in the Tables 2 and 3 in

the following chapter. In order to better investigate

the results obtained with the colorimeter, we made

subsets of the original data (Figs. 9-20): we began

by removing from the sample of M. striata striata

all individuals from the narrow strip of Tyrrhenian

coastline in Tuscany, Latium, and Campania where

M. striata tyrrhenica may be breeding; we did not

remove two individuals captured on Ventotene

Island (Latina) and Capri (Naple) because they

matched M. striata striata in every regard and we

considered them to be spring migrants of M. striata

striata with a reasonable degree of certainty. A

second subset was made comparing the usual

sample of Sardinian specimens with a subset (n=6)

of M. striata striata specimens that show particu-

larly cold plumage tones on visual inspection. We

also divided the sample into old “pre-1960” and

recent “post- 1960” subsets, meaning that ‘recent’

specimens were no more than fifty years old, fol-

lowing Annenta et al. (2008).

In order to evaluate the differences in nape and

breast streaking between the two subspecies, we

compared the specimens visually (see, for example,

Galeotti et al. 2009). After an initial evaluation of

all specimens, we established categories that could

represent in sufficient detail the variability present

in the two taxa. We scored breast streaking on a 0

to 6 scale (0 indicating no streaking and 6 the heav-

iest streaking) and nape streaking on a 0 to 5 scale.

We assigned those values to each specimen; when

necessary, we compared the specimen under obser-

vation directly with the reference specimens.

RESULTS

Biometric analyses found significant differences

in wing morphology. Differences in maximum wing

chord were found to be statistically significant using

a t-test (t = 9.4407, p = 6.079e-12), confirming our

field observations of a shorted primary projection

in M. striata tyrrhenica.

Similar wing measurement data are reported in

the literature (e.g. Cramp & Perrins, 1993; Brichetti

& Fracasso, 2008). On the other hand, in a study of

birds ringed between mid- April and mid-May at

Capo Caccia, Sardinia (Marchetti & Baldaccini,

1995) did not report such a difference, although the

authors themselves suggested that such compar-

isons were better made using birds caught on their

breeding grounds during the reproductive season in

order to ensure correct subspecific identification. In

addition to the wing chord, significant differences

were found in the wing formula as well. The values

calculated for each primary are summarized in

figure 22, which shows wing formula for each

taxon. The most significant difference concerns the

relative distance between the longest primary (P3)

and P2; this characteristic is also depicted in figure

2 1 , which shows the distance (in mm) between P2

and P3 in each taxon. The t-test reveals significant

differences between the two subspecies concerning

this character (t = -5.1674, p = 6.536e-06), as well

as in the distance between P3 and P4 (t = 5.8634, p

= 6.768e-07). Differences in wing shape of this type

and extent are highly interesting. Similar discrepan-

cies have been found between sister species in

which one is a short-distance migrant and the other

a long-distance migrant (Chandler & Mulvihill,

1988;Monkkonen, 1995), or where there is a

gradient between more or less migratory subspecies

of the same species (Arizaga et al., 2006; Winkler

et al. 2010) or again in similar species where one is

migratory and the other sedentary (Chandler &

Mulvihill, 1990; Mila et al., 2008).

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Muscicapa striata (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)

277

Figures 9-14. A value for underpart markings was given to each specimen; seven categories were determined

(one central category not depicted), ranging from least marked (value 0) to boldly marked (value 6).

278

Michele Vigano & Andrea Corso

Figures 15-20. A value for head streakings was given to each specimen; six categories were determined,

ranging from least marked (value 0) to boldly marked (value 5).

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Muscicapa striata (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)

279

This phenomenon is known as “Seebohm’s

rule” and can be summed up as follows: long-

distance migrants have more pointed wings (shorter

inner primaries and longer outer primaries) com-

pared to short-distance migrants or noil-migratory

species, since longer and more pointed wings make

for more powerful flight compared to shorter, more

rounded wings (Seebohm, 1901; Calmaestra &

Moreno, 2001).

We also found differences in bill length meas-

ured from the distal end of the nostrils to the tip of

the bill, with p = 0.01582 and t = 2.5203, with M.

striata striata showing on average a longer bill; we

did not use the commonest bill measurement

method, from the tip of the bill to the base of the

skull, because for museum specimens it is less

reliable than the parameter used in this study

(Winker, 1998; Kuczynski et al., 2003). Our scores

for breast and nape streaking also confimied our field

observations, namely that nape and breast streaking

is less well defined in Sardinian and Corsican birds.

Colour analysis did not reveal any statistically

significant differences except in the sum of X fall-

ing between 300 and 400nm, or within the UV

spectrum. These differences fade away if one con-

siders the UV chroma, namely by dividing the UV

value by total reflectance. In order to better under-

stand the reasons for this, we carried out a number

of tests by modifying the data sample used in the

analysis in an attempt to remove the effect of certain

parameters that may have generated background

noise and muddled the results. The first subset

excludes all individuals from the narrow strip of

Tyrrhenian coastline where M. striata tyrrhenica

may breed: using this sample, differences in mantle

UV are no longer significant, but differences

emerge in terms of total reflectance and the red

component of the mantle, with M. striata tyrrhenica

slightly redder and paler than M. striata striata,

albeit with low statistical significance. However,

further manipulation of the sample for colorimetric

analysis, comparing M. striata tyrrhenica speci-

mens with six particularly cold plumaged M. striata

striata specimens did not find statistically signific-

ant differences for any variable.

This unexpected result, involving striata speci-

mens that showed clear differences in mantle tones

compared to M. striata tyrrhenica on visual inspec-

tyrrhenica

sffiaia rynrttenics « « ” « « « *

striata

Figure 21 . Chord values (in mm) recorded on Muscicapa. striata striata and M. striata tyrrhenica specimens.

Figure 22. Wing formula for both subspecies; note the rounder shape of M. striata tyrrhenica birds.

280

Michele Vigano & Andrea Corso

Muscicava striata striata Muscicava striata txrrhenica

variable

mean + sd

range

mean + sd

range

13.75926 ±

1.931572

9.3-17.4

12.67500 ±

1.438286

10.2-15.1

1.9448

0.05868

59.57778 ±

2.469247

55.0-64.4

55.33125 +

1.520841

52.9-57.8

6.2002

2.245e-07

62.96429+

1.914509

60-67

60.12500 +

1.258306

58-63

5.3003

3.996e-06

61.64074 +

2.176670

58.0-66.5

60.06250 +

1.223043

58.0-62.5

2.6544

0.01126

57.36667 ±

2.300000

53.8-62.2

56.26154±

1.413352

54.2-59.1

1.5879

0.1206

50.97407±

2.695094

47.5-59.5

49.61250±

1.433353

47.4-52.4

1.8645

0.06943

45.86667±

1.840568

42.9-50.2

45.67333±

1.258381

43.7-48.1

0.3616

0.7195

42.66296±

1.784581

39.7-46.6

42.35625±

1.175284

40.2-44.9

0.6118

0.544

39.69259±

1.836369

36.9-43.8

39.73125±

1.151068

36.9-43.8

- 0.0757

0.9401

P10

36.84074±

1.727662

34.3-40.9

37.56000±

1.136913

35.2-40.4

-1.444

0.1565

chord

86.14286+

1.603567

83-90

81.50000 +

1.505545

79-84

9.4407

6.079e-12

bill L

8.392593+

0.2758566

8.0-8.9

8.140000 +

0.3680062

7.2-8.6

2.5203

0.01582

bill W

3.496429±

0.1990387

3. 1-3.9

3.420000±

0.1373213

3.2-3. 7

1.3244

0.1927

billT

4.357143±

0.2379365

3. 6-4.8

4.353333±

0.3888934

3.6-5. 1

0.0399

0.9683

breast

4.096774+

0.7897189

3-6

1.466667 +

0.9904304

0-3

9.7384

1.504e-12

head

3.586207+

0.7327659

2-5

1.333333 +

0.8164966

0-3

9.2998

9.361e-12

f R tot refl

385.2981±

74.04245

263.55-

603.68

397.1140±

55.03810

316.97-

486.38

-0.556

0.5807

f R UV

59.08778±

15.51324

36.00-99.42

61.77267±

13.38254

41.97-85.83

-0.5849

0.5613

f R CROM

A UV

0.151982±

0.0151761

0.11943-

0.18782

0.154283±

0.0155461

0.1324-

0.1910

-0.49

0.6263

f R RED

141.8281±

22.45401

100.9-200.3

148.8973±

20.66444

114.11-

181.89

-1.0476

0.3

fRCHRO

MA RED

0.370492±

0.0201814

0.331798-

0.41221

0.375287±

0.0162703

0.35564-

0.4098

-0.815

0.419

f M tot refl

303.9143±

33.40160

236.78-

344.78

329.1888±

40.71543

290.13-

405.80

-1.5784

0.1302

f_M_UV

44.53722+

6.774240

31.52-57.73

49.10250+

7.547965

39.27-65.49

-2.1659

0.03512

f M CHRO

MA UV

0.144340±

0.0137475

0.11600-

0.171272

0.147015±

0.0119409

0.13113-

0.1696

-0.6728

0.5042

f M RED

112.1264±

9.672242

92.18-

126.12

120.3400±11

.764493

108.76-

141.91

-1.773

0.09145

f M CHRO

MA RED

0.376839±

0.0175326

0.338173-

0.40683

0.375442±

0.0206807

0.34161-

0.4047

0.2508

0.803

Table 2. All the statistical results from our study are here summarized; the variables highlighted

in boldface are those for which the t-test found values <0.05.

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Muscicapa striata (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)

281

Muscicapa striata striata Muscicava striata txrrhenica

variable

mean + sd

range

mean + sd

range

M tot refl

309.2468 ±

236.78-365.09

329.1888 ±

290.13-405.80

-2.2777

0.0279

31.11327

40.71543

45.6875 ±

49.10250 ±

M UV

35.20-56.61

39.27-65.49

-1.6468

0.1071

6.037829

7.547965

M CHROMA

0. 1476630 ±

0.123644-

0.147015 ±

0.13113-

0.179

0.8588

0.0113407

0.171272

0.0119409

0.1696

115.6518 ±

120.3400 ±

M RED

92.18-126.12

108.76-141.91

-2.5046

0.01623

10.24447

11.764493

M CHROMA

0.3748562 ±

0.338173-

0.375442 ±

0.34161-

-0.0983

0.9222

RED

0.0180199

0.399920

0.0206807

0.4047

R tot refl

388.8814 ±

263.55-603.68

397.1140 ±

316.97-486.38

-0.3589

0.7215

78.95214

55.03810

R UV

60.81893 ±

36.00-99.42

61.77267 ±

41.97-85.83

-0.1947

0.8466

16.22125

13.38254

R CHROMA

0.1549453 ±

0.121704-

0.154283 ±

0.1324-0.1910

0.1413

0.8884

0.0141347

0.187822

0.0155461

141.9193 ±

148.8973 ±

R RED

100.9-200.3

114.11-181.89

-0.9519

0.3468

23.99409

20.66444

R CHROMA

0.3674105 ±

0.331798-

0.375287 ±

0.35564-

-1.3203

0.1941

RED

0.0197631

0.408994

0.0162703

0.4098

Table 3. Same colorimetric variables analyzed in the previous table, but with a different subset of data: birds collected from

the narrow strip of Tyrrhenian coastline in Tuscany, Latium, and Campania, where M. striata tyrrhenica could occur, were

removed.

tion, suggests that the method we used for our

colorimetric analysis is not ideal for detecting such

subtle differences in plumage pigmentation.

Additional comparisons looked at the effects of

time on the state of preservation of specimen. In

accordance with other works that tested colour

deterioration in museum specimens (Armenta et al.,

2008; Doucet & Hill, 2009), we found highly

significant differences between old (pre-1960) and

recent (post- 1960) specimens.

We used this data to build a linear model to

identify the variables that most affected colour

variation. As expected, taxon did not have a stat-

istically significant effect, while year of collection

did (F(1.46) = 7, P = 8.408e-05). In other words,

specimens that were more than fifty years old

showed a statistically-significant higher total re-

flectance, and thus appeared paler.

The biometric and colorimetric data collected

in this study is summarized in Table 2, which also

indicates sample size (n), the minimum and max-

imum values recorded (range) and the t and p va-

lues for the t-test as applied to each variable for the

two taxa. The variables highlighted in boldface are

those for which the t-test found values <0.05, mean-

ing that the differences between the two taxa for

282

Michele Vigano & Andrea Corso

the variable in question were statistically signific-

ant. The variables “PI” to “P10” indicate primary

length from the outermost to the innermost; “chord”

indicates the length of the maximum wing chord,

namely the closed wing measured from the carpal

joint; “bill L, H, and T” respectively indicate bill

length, height, and thickness; “breast” and “head”

indicate the amount of streaking in these two areas

scored after a visual examination.

Colorimetric data follows: variables initialed

with an M refer to the mantle, and those with an R

to the rump; tot_refl refers to total reflectance, UV

and RED respectively refer to the sum of X falling

between 300 and 400 and between 600 and 700;

UV CHROMA and REDCHROMA indicate the

ratio between these two variables and total reflec-

tance.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The objective of this study was to test the dif-

ferences observed in the field between the M.

striata striata and M. striata tyrrhenica subspecies

of Spotted Flycatcher as objectively as possible, by

using methods that would not be influenced by dif-

ferences in perception of colour and proportions on

the part of different observers. The results con-

firmed the morphological differences observed in

the field and cited in the literature, and the different

intensity and extent of streaking on the underparts

and the nape. Nevertheless, to better assess these

parameters a larger sample, in both quantitative and

qualitative terms, would be preferable, and would

ideally include a larger number of birds captured on

their breeding grounds. Differences in wing-shape

are important not only from an identification per-

ceptive, but also in light of the relationship between

wing morphology and migratoiy distance (Baldwin

et al., 2010; Monkkonen, 1995).

The shorter, more rounded wings of M. striata

tyrrhenica suggest that birds breeding in Corsica

and Sardinia may have a shorter migration com-

pared to birds from continental Italy and Europe.

This is all the more interesting given that there is

no solid data in the literature on the non-breeding

range of M. striata tyrrhenica (Cramp & Perrins,

1993; del Hoyo et al., 2006), that should anyway be

sub-saharan, given the absence of evidence of

winter sightings north of the Sahara.On the other

hand, our colorimetric analyses failed to confirm

the differences observed in the field and reported in

the literature. To conclude, biometric measurements

and an analysis of plumage streaking confirmed the

presence of some important differences between the

two taxa, including characters that can be seen in

the field, while the colorimetric analysis did not

produce the expected results, although it had some

interesting implications concerning the preservation

of museum specimens and their use in studies of

plumage colour.

There are several other instances of taxa that

have similar distributions to M. striata tyrrhenica

Spotted Flycatchers and are morphologically very

similar to the taxa breeding elsewhere in Italy and

Europe being recognized as full species after

in-depth analyses of morphology, voice, ecology

and DNA: examples include Corsican Finch

( Carduelis corsicana ) (Cramp & Perrins, 1993;

Sangster, 2000; Forschler & Kalko, 2007, Forschler

et al. 2009) and Moltoni’s Warbler ( Sylvia sub-

alpina ) (Brambilla et al., 2008), both recently re-

cognized as full species; further research on M.

striata tyrrhenica Spotted Flycatcher is needed.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Professor Giuseppe

Bogliani (Pavia, Italy) for his advice and his

constant support throughout this study. We also

thank Giorgio Chiozzi of the Museo Civico di

Storia Naturale of Milan (Italy), Carla Marangoni

and Maurizio Gattabria of the Museo Civico di

Zoologia of Rome (Italy), the staff of the Museo

di Storia Naturale of Forli (Italy), and Lorenzo

Serra, Simone Pirrello and Adriano de Faveri of

the Institute for Environmental Protection and

Research, ISPRA (Italy); without their help this

study would not have been possible. For their help

fulsuggestions and advice we thank Giacomo

Assandri (Turin, Italy), Mattia Brambilla (Milan,

Italy), Monica Clerici (Milan, Italy), Andrea

Galimberti (Milan, Italy), Ottavio Janni (Naples,

Italy), Igor Maiorano (Trieste, Italy), Violetta

Longoni (Milan, Italy), Diego Rubolini (Milan,

Italy), and Roberto Sacchi (Pavia, Italy). We are

very grateful to Ottavio Janni (Naples, Italy) who

translated this paper from Italian to English.

Morphological differences between two subspecies of Muscicapa striata (Passeriformes Muscicapidae)

283

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 285-296

Monograph

A quantitative morphological geographical study from a

widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumann

Fleischer, 1818 (Falconiformes Falconidae)

Andrea Corso 1 *, Lorenzo Starnini 2 , Michele Vigano 3 & Justin J.F.J. Jansen 4

'Via Camastra 10, 96100 Siracusa, Sicily, Italy; e-mail: zoologywp@gmail.com

2 Via Cavour 71, 06019 Umbertide, Perugia, Italy; e-mail: lorenzo.stamini@gmail.com

3 Via Ongetta 5, 21010 Germignaga, Varese, Italy; e-mail: mikivigano@yahoo.com

4 c/o Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden, the Netherlands; e-mail: justin.jansen@naturalis.nl

"■Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Fleischer, 1818 (Falconiformes Falconidae) is considered a

monotypic species. F. naumanni pekinensis Swinhoe, 1870 was described from Beijing, China.

Although considered valid for most of the 20th century, some authors treated F. naumanni

pekinensis as a synonym of F naumanni naumanni, and subsequent authors have since regarded

“ pekinensis ” as an invalid taxon. Recent field observations in Asia and Europe and museum

studies have confirmed diagnosable differences in (fresh) adult males. Comparing morphology

between nominate “ naumanni ” and “ pekinensis ”, with the latter invariably showing more

extensive grey on the wing coverts and darker and more saturated colours on both the under-

parts and upperparts, with all grey areas, including the hood, being a darker, deeper lead-grey.

Females often have more extensive dark markings and a better-defined dark eye-line but

apparently are indistinguishable in most cases. This study aims to re-evaluate F. naumanni

pekinensis and to discuss geographic variation in the subspecies in a widely distributed raptor.

KEY WORDS Lesser Kestrel; pekinensis', naumanni', subspecies; geographical variation.

Received 25.05.2014; accepted 30.06.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 20 1 4, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Today, Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni Flei-

scher, 1818 (Falconiformes Falconidae) is conside-

red a monotypic species (cf. Cramp & Simmons,

1980; Snow & Perrins, 1998; Forsman, 1999;

Clark, 1999; Corso, 2000, 2001a; Ferguson-Lees &

Christie, 2001). After a few years, was described F.

chenchris pekinensis Swinhoe, 1870 from two birds

(adult male and immature male) (cf. Swinhoe,

1870; Dresser, 1871-1881). Currently, F. naumanni

pekinensis is regarded as a synonym of F. naumanni

naumanni (cf. Vaurie, 1965; Dickinson & van

Remsen, 2013).

In September-October 2003, two authors (AC,

JJ) were at Chokpak Ornithological Station, Jambyl

Province, Kazakhstan together with Wim Nap and

Arend Wassink, studying raptors and other birds in

collaboration with Andrei and Edward Gavrilov as

Vladimir Kolbinsev. AC was intrigued by the up-

perwing pattern of several adult male Lesser Ke-

strels that were caught in the large Heligoland-traps

onsite (and subsequently ringed) as in birds obser-

ved in the field. They appeared consistently diffe-

rent from birds AC observed within the Western

Palaearctic. The past twelve years, in addition to our

field studies of Lesser Kestrel, we have studied

286

Andrea Corso et alii

skins from museums worldwide and photos from

throughout their breeding range. We have found

that eastern populations, especially the well-isolated

breeding grounds in China, are phenotypically stri-

kingly different from western populations. This

suggests that F. naumanni pekinensis may be a well

identifiable taxon, although it’s breeding and win-

tering distribution remains to be fully elucidated.

This paper reports the preliminary results of our stu-

dies concerning western and eastern populations,

with a focus on the latter, particularly “ pekinensis ”.

In this paper we describe plumage colour and pat-

tern, in special fresh adult males, of both Western

(. F. naumanni naumanni ) and Eastern Lesser Kestrel

(Chinese Lesser Kestrel F. naumanni pekinensis and

intermediate populations). Their field identification

and plumage variability will be discussed separately

(Corso et al., personal data).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study we investigated in detail adult birds

in the field within the borders of the Western Pala-

earctic, and to a more limited extent in Asia. Bet-

ween 2003 and 2014, we studied birds from Africa

(Egypt, Eritrea, Kenya, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan,

Tanzania and Tunisia), Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Burma, China, Georgia, India, Israel, Kazakhstan,

Laos, Mongolia, Russia, Oman, Turkey, Turkmeni-

stan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen) and Europe (France,

Greece, Portugal, Spain and Italy) in field, museum

or photographs. During fall 2003, AC and JJ studied

tens of Lesser Kestrels in the hand during ringing

operations in Kazakhstan as in the field (up to 1 .000

birds were observed during their stay). Particular

attention was given to the adult males and to a lesser

extent to adult females. Juveniles were not studied

in much detail.

The skins we studied are held in the following

museums and bird collections: American Museum

of Natural History, New York, U.S.A. (AMNH);

Institute of Zoology, Almaty, Kazakhstan (IZA);

Museo Civico di Scienze Naturali “Angelo Priolo”,

Randazzo, Italy (MCR); Museo Civico di Storia

Naturale of Milan, Italy (MCSM); Museo Civico of

Terrasini, Italy (MCT); Museo Civico dell’Univer-

sita di Scienze Naturali of Catania, Italy (MCUCT);

Museo Civico di Zoologia of Rome, Italy (MCZR);

Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris,

France (MNHN); Museo Regionale di Scienze Na-

turali of Turin, Italy (MRSN); Museo di Storia Na-

turale “Giacomo Doria”, Genoa, Italy (MSNGD);

Museo di Storia Naturale “La Specola”, Florence,

Italy (MSNLS); National Zoological Museum of

China, Beijing, China (NZMC); Naturalis Biodiver-

sity Center, Leiden, the Netherlands (NBC); Natural

History Museum, Tring, England (NHM); Naturhi-

storisches Museum Wien, Vienna, Austria (NMW);

Peabody Yale Museum of Natural History, New

Haven, U.S.A. (PMNH); Museo Civico di Storia-

Naturale di Carmagnola, Italy (SNCa); Museum fur

Naturkunde, Berlin, Germany (ZMB) and in thir-

teen private collections.

Other abbreviations: AC: Andrea Corso; JJ: Ju-

stin J.F.J. Jansen; MV: Michele Vigano.

The list of the specimens (both skins and moun-

ted) examined from the museums and private col-

lections were, after objective examination, divided

into four groups (Figs. 1, 2):

Group A: Falco naumanni pekinensis : one of

two syntypes of the subspecies (Figs. 8, 9); 20 adult

males and 8 adult females (China). For Figs. 3, 4, 5

and 6 we used only fresh breeding plumage males

from China (N=13).

Group B: Falco naumanni ssp.: 28 adult males,

25 females (age combined) (Asia: Mongolia, Altai

Mountains breeding area as well as Burma, India

and Laos wintering area). For Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 we

used only fresh breeding plumages males from

Mongolia (N=13).

Group C: Falco naumanni ssp.: 87 adult males;

60 (age combined) females (Asia: Arabian Penin-

sula (unspecified countries), Afghanistan, Azerbai-

jan, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Turkmenistan;

Africa: Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania). For

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 we used only fresh breeding plu-

mage males from Kazakhstan (N=9), Turkmenistan

(N=6), Azerbaijan (N=7) and Afghanistan (N=4).

Group D: Falco naumanni naumanni : 349 adult

males; 172 (age combined) females (Europe: Alba-

nia, Czech Republic, France, Greece, Italy, Mace-

donia, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain; Africa: Algeria,

Angola, Botswana, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, Mauri-

tania, Morocco, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Tan-

zania, Tunisia; Asia: Annenia, Georgia, Iran, Iraq,

Israel, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Palestine,

Syria, Turkey). For Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 we used only

fresh breeding plumage males from Turkey (N=5),

Greece (N=12), Albania (N=5), France (N=5) and

Spain (N=29).

A quantitative morphological geographical study from a widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 287

Figure 1. Plumage types as indicated in the text: upper 2 birds (group D), ssp. naumanni, among this group, left bird is an

example with least grey extension on upperwing coverts and tertials, and on the right typical nominate naumanni. Note the

grey extension on wing, plumage colour saturation and bare parts colour. Central bird, intermediate bird, plumage group B

and C in the text. Lower 2 birds, classic “ pekinensis ”, plumage group A, from China breeding populations and allegedly

from India, Laos and Burma during winter and on passage. The slight variation found is shown (artwork by Lorenzo Stamini).

Note on pekinensis that the plumage colour, chiefly mantle and grey tones, is darker, more saturated than nominate naumanni,

and that the upperwing coverts are entirely grey as well as the bare parts are more orange-ochre.

288

Andrea Corso et alii

Additionally, to test the reliability of plumage

colour and pattern in discriminating between popu-

lations, we took four photographs of each Lesser

Kestrel skin. We sampled: upperside, underside and

lateral sides (in order to check if there were diffe-

rences between upperwing pattern of both wings)

(Figs. 10-19). We only used indirect sunlight. All

specimens were photographed with the same ca-

mera at a fixed distance, with a Kodak Gray Scale

(Kodak, 2007) in the background (a standard scale

of grey values ranging from 0, white to 19, jet

black) (Fig. 7). This is an objective way of measu-

ring the grey colours in bird plumages (cf. Adriaens

et al., 2010; Bot & Jansen, 2013). The grey card in

the background enabled us to calibrate the colours

in the photograph, using Adobe Photoshop 10.0.1.

We used brightness as a measure to assess the grey

and red parts in adult males. To quantify the bri-

ghtness of the red parts we measured its median

spectral reflectance of red, green and blue (RGB)

by using Photoshop. To assess the amount of grey

and red on the head and upperparts, we measured

the saturation. This was calculated by using the for-

mula: saturation = 1 00 x ((MAX-MIN) / MAX),

where MAX and MIN are the maximum and mini-

mum of the median RGB values as measured by

Photoshop. A low saturation value corresponds to

much grey in the head and upperparts and vice

versa. Forthe analysis of colours we used the plates

in Ridgway (1912: plate II and III). In particular,

we compared the following:

1 . Grey value of rump and tail;

2. Grey value of head (hood);

3. Percentage of grey coloured upperwing coverts.

To sample the upperwing coverts, we measured

the percentage of grey coloured coverts (versus rus-

set-brown coverts), therefore, how many coverts

(median MC+ greater GC+ lesser LC) were grey.

On skins, we considered the coverts visible on clo-

sed wing by using Photoshop to calculate the per-

centages. All statistical analysis was performed

using R version 2.15.1 (R Development Core Team

2013). Numerical variables (Grey hood and % of

grey UPW covers) were tested for normality using

the Shapiro-Wilk test. Tests were significant which

indicates that these variables do not come from a

normally distributed population. Therefore we used

a non-parametric approach (Kruskall- Wallis test) to

test for a significant difference between groups for

these 2 variables. To test for differences between

groups in the other 2 variables (colour_of_upper-

parts and deep_intensity_of_underparts) we used

generalized linear models (GLM).

Regarding the specimens and photos of adult fe-

males under investigation, we focused on the bol-

dness, width and distribution/demarcation of the

dark markings on the head, underwing, tail, mantle

and breast. We arbitrary divided specimens on the

basis of the extent and boldness of these marking

without looking at the label (no geographical pre-

indication), and subsequently checked if these fea-

tures were related to the classified groups (Fig. 2).

After that, we assigned a numerical code to the pre-

sence, definition and boldness of the dark markings

on the face:

1 . no dark eye-line and weak moustache mark;

2. weak eye-line and bolder moustache;

3. obvious and bold dark eye-line as well as moustache.

The Falco naumanni pekinensis syntypes

Swinhoe (1870: 442) described “ pekinensis ”

using an adult male collected on Septemberl8th

1868 at the hills overlooking the Ming Tombs (40°

25’ 05” N, 116° 22’ 41” E) (42 kilometres north-

northwest of Beijing) (Figs. 8, 9) and an juvenile

male collected at the Western Hills (roughly in

Miyun County about 93 kilometres northeast of

Beijing (indicative 40°31’40.8”N, 116°48’02.5”E)

between 10-12 August 1868 (Swinhoe, 1870: 436).

Specimens from Swinhoe became spread, and

the syntype now present in NHM, arrived as part of

a load of 480 Accipitres and Striges in three loads

in 1886 (Sharpe 1906) donated by Henry Seebohm.

Amongst these specimens is the adult male, now la-

belled as BMNH. 1886.3.25.272, and regarded as

syntype (Warren 1966: 222). This specimen has

been collected according to Warren (1966) and it is

labelled as collected on October 18th (sic!) 1868.

Henry E. Dresser noted that both specimens in his

‘A history of the birds of Europe' (1871-82, VI: 135)

were still in Swinhoe’s private collection, and col-

lected in August and September 1868 near Beijing.

A request at electronic Bulletin for European

Avian Curators (EBEAC - September 2014) and re-

quests elsewhere did not help in locating the imma-

ture male. By chance, a juvenile and adult Amur

Falcon Falco amurensis Radde, 1863 were collec-

ted near Beijing by Swinhoe in August 1868 (Tri-

A quantitative morphological geographical study from a widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 289

stram Collection Liverpool T2824 (Tristram, 1889:

67) was reported (Clem Fisher in litteris). Their plu-

mage is notably different, but strangely enough not

reported by Swinhoe (1870).

Description: Swinhoe described the types rather

briefly: “ Large numbers of Kestrels were flying and

hovering about. Their movement struck me as pe-

culiar; and on shooting a male we found the species

to be a race of Falco cenchris, Naumann. We pro-

cured on this occasion an adult male, and in the We-

stern Hills a young male. They agree in size and

form with Falco cenchris of Europe; but the adult

male has all the wing-coverts grey right up to the

scapulars, most of them narrowly edged with ru-

fous. The adult has the inner or short primaries

broadly bordered at their tips with whitish, rufous

in the immature, and wanting in the European bird.

Both adult and immature have the white on the

under quills 3 V 4 inches short of their tips; in the

European bird it advances one inch nearer the tips.

I will note this Eastern race as var. pekinensis. It

will probably be the bird that winters in India.”

RESULTS

We sampled 108 fresh adult males from the

breeding ranges for this analysis. We sampled the

percentage of grey upperwing coverts, grey value

in the hood as for the colouration of the colour of

Falco naumanni naumanni

Group D

Falco naumanni ssp

Group C and B Fako naumanni pekinensis

Group A

Group D

— ?

Group A (and B?)

Group C and B

Figure 2. World distribution (breeding range - red, wintering area - green) of the two subspecies discussed in this paper

(plumage group A and D), and of intermediate populations and pekinensis-type birds (B/C) as found during this study and

according to past literature. Delimitation of the range is roughly indicated and should be considered as solely indicative.

290

Andrea Corso et alii

the upperparts and intensity of underparts. The pro-

portion of Group A is 12 %, group B 12 %, group

C 24 % and for group D 52 %. Although the pro-

portion of group D is well out of proportion we

think the number is sufficiently large to allow good

comparison as shown in the results. The results of

testing four characters among the four defined areas

is summarized in Fig. 2 and also outlined below.

Group A. The adult males collected in China

(N=13) show a mean of 1 1 .46 (min. 10; max. 12) on

the Kodak Grey Scale (Kodak, 2007) in hood colou-

ration (Figs. 3.7). For grey in the upperwing coverts

the mean is 93.5 % (min. 85; max. 99) of grey (Figs.

4, 8, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16). The intensity of underparts

is 100 % Mikado-orange mars yellow (Fig. 5). The

colouration in upperparts varies slightly as show in

Fig. 6, but the mean colouration was Burnt Sienna

(8 out of 13 birds). Breeding adult females: 62.5%

of the specimens from China (N=8) showed a well-

defined dark eye-line (code 3). The remaining (N=3)

showed a weaker marking (code 2). Flowever, juve-

niles of both “ pekinensis ” and “ nanmanni show a

bolder and better-marked moustache and eye-line,

compared to adult female, making any relevant use

in the field to identify “ pekinensis ” from “ nau -

manni ” of these characters extremely hard. Concer-

ning the underwing pattern, the outer primaries

(wing-tip) as well as the trailing edge of the wing

(inner primaries and secondaries) are more extensi-

vely and conspicuously dark in all Chinese females

than in adult female “naumanni” in group D. Also,

although rather variable, on average the black bar-

like marks on the mantle were wider and more con-

spicuous than in typical adult female “naumanni ” .

Birds from photographs shown a higher amount of

variability, with several individuals lacking dark

eye-line thus being almost identical to European fe-

males but a little darker and more patterned. As for

adult male, also in adult female, the cere and the bare

skin of the eye-ring, is brighter, deeper coloured and

more orange-ochreous than in adult female “ nau -

mannF.

Group B. The adult males collected in Mongolia

(N=13) shows a mean of 8.8 (min. 7; max. 10)on

the Kodak Grey Scale (Kodak, 2007) in hood co-

louration (Fig. 3, 7). For the wing coverts the mean

is 71.9 % (min. 50 %; max. 90 %) of grey (Fig. 4)

(Kodak, 2007). The intensity of underparts is

mixed, as 7 birds are mikado-orange-mars-yellow

and 6 are orange -buff (Fig. 5). The colouration in

upperparts is mixed, as seen in Fig. 6.

Group C. The adult males collected in Kaza-

khstan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan

(N=26) show a mean of 8.07 (min. 7; max. 10) on

the Kodak Grey Scale in hood colouration (Fig. 3,

9) (Kodak, 2007). For the wing coverts the mean is

56.5 % (min. 40 %; max. 86 %) of grey (Fig. 4).

The intensity of underparts is mainly orange-buff

(20 out of 26) (Fig. 5). The colouration in upper-

parts varies as shown in Fig. 6.

Group D. The adult males collected Turkey,

Greece, Albania, France and Spain (N=56) show a

mean of 7. 14 (min. 6; max. 1 0) on the Kodak Grey

Scale in hood colouration (Figs. 3, 7) (Kodak,

2007). For the wing coverts the mean is 30.2 %

(min. 15; max. 45) of grey (Figs. 1,4, 17). Notable

is the differentiation in western and eastern birds of

the distribution are of this population. As we found

a certain variability on the extension of the grey co-

loured upperwing coverts. Some as typical birds as

shown in every field guide and handbooks as well

as birds showing almost no grey on coverts or only

some tinged grey (Figs. 1, 17) in the western part

of the distribution area. The intensity of underparts

is mostly buff-yellow or capucine-yellow (46 out of

56) (Fig. 5). The colouration in upperparts varies as

shown in Fig. 6.

For what concern the female, only 5% of adult

females showed a dark eye-line (code 3) (higher

percentage when looking at juvenile; Corso, 2000,

2001a; AC pers. obs.). Dark markings on the mantle

were on average narrower and less striking than in

the most marked adult female pekinensis. However,

we failed to find relevant differences. In juvenile

naumanni we found them being darker and with

bolder/wider dark markings than adult females, ad-

ding to the difficulty to the separate them. Bare

parts were less orange and paler, andalways yello-

wer than “ pekinensis ”.

DISCUSSION

The four groups (adult males in fresh plumage)

were significantly different when considering the

features: hood and % of grey UPW covers (Kru-

skall- Wallis test) (Table 1). This can be seen in Figs.

3, 4. These figures report averages and standard er-

rors (SE) for each group. The four groups were also

significantly different when considering the other

two variables (Table 2). Figures 5 and 6 represent

A quantitative morphological geographical study from a widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 291

Plot of Means

Figure 3. This figure represent averages

and standard errors (SE) for the four

groups in grey colouration in Lesser Ke-

strel hood. Fig. 4. This figure represent

averages and standard errors (SE) for the

four groups in the % of grey coloured in

Lesser Kestrel upperwing coverts. Fig.

5. Represent the % within the group of

the considered colouration of the upper-

parts within each variable. Fig. 6: repre-

sent the % within the group of the

considered intensity of colouration in the

underparts within each variable. Fig. 7.

Kodak Grey Scale value of the hood in

fresh adult male Lesser Kestrel Falco

naumanni showing the range encounte-

red in the specimens studied: range 10-

12 in “ pekinensis ” (mean 11.46); range

6-10 in nominate “ naumanni ” (mean

7.14). In fact, grey hue and intensity is

on average deeper and darker in Chinese

Lesser Kestrel compared to Western Les-

ser Kestrel.

292

Andrea Corso et alii

Figure 8. Falco naumanni pekinensis, adult male Reg. no. BMNH. 1886.3.25.272. Near Ming Tombs, north of Peking,

18.X. 1868, syntype, R. Swinhoe leg. (H. van Grouw, NHM, Tring). No illustration in any modern field guide is available of

such a plumage, with no description or illustration reporting these characters. Fig. 9. F. naumanni pekinensis, same bird as

plate 5 (H.van Grouw, NF1M, Tring). Note the very richly coloured underparts, much richer than any nominate “naumanni” .

Fig. 10. F. naumanni pekinensis, adult male, Hebei, China, 27.IV. 1937 (He Peng, NZMC). A fresh adult male “ pekinensis ”

from the typical breeding range of the taxon, showing very intense brick-red (Burnt Sienna) mantle and sooty-led grey plumage

areas. Fig. 11. A naumanni pekinensis, adult male, Hebei, China, 27. IV. 1937 (He Peng, NZMC). Same bird of Figs. 10, 12.

Note that the entire upperwing coverts are typically solidly dark sooty led-grey, as never shown by any nominate “naumanni”.

Fig. 12. F. naumanni pekinensis, adult male from Hebei, China, 27. IV. 1937 (He Peng, NZMC). Same bird of Figs. 10, 11

Note the very richly coloured underparts, more saturated and extensively coloured than in typical nominate “naumanni ” .

A quantitative morphological geographical study from a widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 293

Figure 13. Falco naumanni pekinensis, adult male, Bejing, China, 4.IV.1961 (He Peng, NZMC). Note the typically entirely

grey upperwing coverts of this male from the terra typica of the pekinensis taxon. Fig. 14. F. naumanni pekinensis, adult

male, Bejing, China, 4.1V. 1961 (He Peng, NZMC). Same bird of Fig. 15. Note intensely coloured underparts, with very

saturated colour. Fig. 15. Falco naumanni pekinensis, adult male, Hebei, China, 8. X. 1965 (He Peng, NZMC). Note that

the entire upperwing coverts are typically solidly dark sooty led-grey, as never shown by any nominate naumanni. Fig.

16. F. naumanni pekinensis, adult male, Hebei, China, 27.IV. 1937 (He Peng, NZMC). Same bird of Figs. 10,12 to show

a close up view of the upperwing coverts pattern. Compare to Fig. 17. Fig. 17. F. naumanni pekinensis, ad. male, Spain

(A. Corso, NHM, Tring). Plumage type D according to description given in the text. Note that in many European birds

(ca.20%) the grey on wing coverts is very limited and pretty hard to be seen in the field or even in the hands. Note that the

plumage is paler, less intense and less deep in both the grey of hood and wing-coverts and of the mantle and underparts.

294

Andrea Corso et alii

the percentage within group of the considered cate-

gory within each variable. The analyses showed that

the groups are significantly different. The largest

difference was found between group A and D (Ta-

bles 1, 2).

These groups, possibly, connect in winter/mi-

gration areas, but more study is necessary. Also the

wintering areas for the individual groups are un-

known, but in Fig. 2 we displayed the supposed

wintering areas. The differences between group A

and D is large and both phenotypes differ 86.2%

taken into account the four sampled morphological

features. We did not investigate whether there are

genetic differences among “ naumanni ” and “ peki -

nensis ”, something that surely should be the target

of future studies. The mean differences between

other groups are A vs. B 49 %, A vs. C 75 %, B vs.

C 14.7%, B vs. D 67.8% and C vs. D 39.3 %.

According to the criteria to show discrete cha-

racter differences (Rolan- Alvarez & Rolan, 1995;

Corbet, 1997; Johnson et al., 1999; Garnett & Chri-

stidis, 2007; Rising, 2007; Winker et al., 2007; Ci-

cero, 2010; Remsen, 2010) 86.2 % fall well in the

criteria set by Amadon (1949), Simpson & Roe

(1939) and Mayr (1969) (George Sangster in litte-

ris). We advise that the Chinese population known

under the synonym “ pekinensis ” should be conside-

red valid, despite the apparent intermediate zone bet-

ween this and nominate “ naumanni ” . For the Lesser

Kestrel the same applies as for other polytypic spe-

cies of raptor with a wide breeding distribution area

that it has a certain amount of clinal variation (Fer-

guson-Lees & Christie, 2001). Examples are Com-

mon Buzzard Buteo buteo ssp., Black Kite Milvus

migrans ssp., Saker Falco cherrug and Peregrine

Falco peregrinus ssp. (Vaurie, 1961; Ellis & Garat,

1983; Brosset, 1986; Dixon et al., 2012; White et al.,

2013). The distributional areas are often poorly de-

fined and a large variability applies in subspecies

(Dementiev, 1957; Corso, 2001b; Eastham et al.,

2001; Brichetti & Fracasso, 2003; Eastham & Ni-

cholls, 2005; Karyakin & Pfeffer, 2009; Pfeffer,

2009; Zuberogoitia et al., 2009; Karyakin, 2011; Ro-

driguez et al., 2011). To meet the criteria as set by

Amadon (1949), Simpson & Roe (1939) and Mayr

(1969) most currently recognised subspecies fall

short when assessed on the overlap between pheno-

types.

To simplify, we are faced with two choices: 1)

we consider the currently recognized subspecies of

Variable

Chi squared

Pr(>Chi

Kodakhood

53,62

<0.01***

percentageofgreyUP

Wcoverts

89,2

<0.01***

Table 1 . Showing the Kruskall-Wallis test at all four groups,

considering hood and % of grey upperwing coverts.

Variable

Chi squared

Pr(>Chi

colourofupperparts

30,73

<0.01***

deep_intensity_of_

underparts

94,79

<0.01***

Table 2. Showing GLM test, on the colouration of

upperparts and the intensity of underparts.

a forementioned raptor species and other wide-

ranging raptors as representatives of clinal variation

only. And therefore unworthy of taxonomic rank, in

which case we would not consider “ pekinensis ” as

a valid taxon in light of the intermediate birds found;

2) we believe all these taxa, including “pekinensis ” ,

to be worthy of taxonomic rank. In any case, as the

Chinese population of Lesser Kestrel is always iden-

tifiable, and geographically isolated. It is therefore

worthy of taxonomic rank, which will also help

focus attention on its conservation (Patten, 2015).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

For this research, we relied heavily on speci-

mens preserved in public museums, and in thirteen

private collections, either by visiting them or on

loan. Our sincere gratitude goes to (in no specific

order): Mark Adams, Hein and Katrina van Grouw,

Robert Prys-Jones (NHM); He Peng (NZMC); An-

drei Gravilov (IZA); Anita Gamauf (NMW); Ste-

ven van der Mije (NBC); Patrick Bousses, Anne

Previato (MNHN); Giorgio Chiozzi (MCSM); the

late Vittorio Emanuele Orlando (MCT); Rosario

Grasso (MCUCT); Carla Marangoni (MCZR);

Claudio Pulcher (MRSN); Enrico Borgo (MSNG);

Marta Poggesi and FaustoBarbagli (MSNF); Gio-

vanni Boano (SNCa); the late Angelo Priolo

(MCR); Paul Sweet, Mary Le Croy, Matthew

Shanley, Tomas Trombone (AMNH), Kristof Zy-

A quantitative morphological geographical study from a widely distributed raptor: the Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 295

skowski (PMNH), SylkeFrahnert (ZMB). Henry

McGhie (The Manchester Museum, Manchester,

England) and Clem Fisher (Liverpool Museum, Li-

verpool, England) supplied additional information.

For help with photos and discussions we are grate-

ful to: Mark Andrews, Aurelien Audevard, Arnoud

B. van den Berg, Claudio Carere, Wouter Faveyts,

Peter Kennerly, Fumin Lei, Zhi-Yun Jia, Jonathan

Martinez, Gerald Oreel, Ran Schols, Manuel

Schweizer, Xuky Summer, Terry Townshend, Pirn

Wolf and Arend Wassink. JJ is grateful to the ‘Sti-

chting P.A. Hens Memorial Fund’ for funding his

ZMB visit. AC and MV are indebted to Ottavio

Janni who was pleasant company in the field (as

part of the MISC group) as in museum studiesand

also improved the final manuscript. Finally we

thank Francesco Angeloni for his help with the sta-

tistics and reading the final manuscript. George

Sangster supplied us with information on taxono-

mic difficulties.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 297-304

Monograph

Current knowledge on the Sicilian tardigrade fauna

Oscar Lisi

Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Section of Animal Biology, University of Catania, Via Androne

81, 95124 Catania, Italy; e-mail: olisi@unict.it

ABSTRACT Based on the literature, and adding personal contribution, the author takes stock of the know-

ledge about the species of limno-terrestrial tardigrades present in Sicily and the main small

islands around it (Aeolian Islands, Ustica, Egadi Islands). In total 111 species are reported:

108 from Sicily (main island), 35 from the Aeolian Islands, 17 from Ustica and 11 from the

Egadi Islands. Two species are new records only for the respective islands, 13 are new records

for the whole studied area, four of which are new also for the Italian fauna. A good 1 3 species

(11.7%) are at present endemic for the studied area. The zoogeographic spread of the 111

Sicilian tardigrade species confirms the modern ideas about tardigrade zoogeography.

KEY WORDS Tardigrada; Sicilian fauna; zoogeography; taxonomy.

Received 25.10.2014; accepted 07.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

In the Surveys on the Sicilian tardigrade fauna

(Ustica, Aeolian and Aegadean archipelagos in-

cluded) until 2009 allowed to recognize 94 terrestrial

and freshwater species (Arcidiacono, 1962; 1964,

Binda, 1969; 1978; Binda & Pilato, 1969a,b, 1971,

1972, 1984, 1985, 1987; Binda et al., 1980; Pilato,

1969, 1971a, b,c, 1973, 1974, 2009; Pilato & Catan-

zaro, 1988, 1989; Pilato et al., 1982, 1989, 2000).

Though that a number may have appeared high,

the variety of Sicilian environments considered, the

composition of Sicilian tardigrade fauna may be

considered far away from being completely known;

for this reason, I have recently carried out, in col-

laboration with G. Pilato and G. Sabella, new stud-

ies that until now have led us to describe four

species new to science (Pilato et al., 2014; Lisi et

al., 2014). The total number of limno-terrestrial

tardigrade species up to now reported from Sicily

(and surrounding small islands) is 98.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The current study has been based only on the re-

examination of abundant old material, from the

Pilato and Binda collection (Museum of the Depart-

ment of Biological, Geological and Environmental

Sciences, section of Animal Biology “Marcello La

Greca”, University of Catania), collected and

partially identified in the far past but the results had

remained unpublished; in some cases the old

diagnosis had to be updated revealing new records,

and even new species, which is not surprising con-

sidering that past tardigrade taxonomy was based

on less strict criteria and some wrong convictions,

so that little differences between populations, when

noticed, were more easily attributed to individual

variability within a single species rather than con-

sidered as an indication that the two populations be-

longed to distinct species. About the new records

reported in Table 2, all the data about localities and

samples are the only available, due to the fact that

298

Oscar Lisi

at the time of collection it was not in use to take

note of more detailed information.

All the studied specimens were mounted in

polyvinyl lactophenol. Specific diagnosis was based

on the original descriptions and eventual redescrip-

tions (Plate, 1889; Cuenot, 1929; Marcus, 1936;

Binda, 1971; Pilato & Sperlinga, 1975; Dastych,

1984; Binda & Rebecchi, 1992; Bertolani &

Rebecchi, 1993; Pilato & Binda. 1997/1998; Pilato

et al., 2003; Tumanov, 2006; Pilato et al., 2011) and

on the monograph by Ramazzotti e Maucci (1983);

by comparison, specimens of the Pilato and Binda

collection of the following species were examined:

Hypsibius scabropygus Cuenot, 1929, Diphascon

pingue (Marcus, 1936),/). biggins i Binda, 1971 and

D. chilenense Plate, 1889. All observations and

measurements were made under xlOO oil immersion

using a Leica Phase Contrast Microscope equipped

with a micrometer.

RESULTS

The progression of those studies has led to

recognise other 13 species that represent new

records for the studied area, and four of them are

new records for the Italian fauna as well. The total

number of limno-terrestrial tardigrade species for

that area then raises to 111.

The updated checklist of limno-terrestrial tardi-

grade species present in Sicily (and surrounding

small islands) is reported in Table 1, where the

island in which each species was found is reported;

I found it interesting to take into consideration also

the presence of each species in north Africa, for hav-

ing an idea of the faunal affinity with that region.

In total 111 species are reported (98 already

known, plus 13 new findings): 108 from Sicily

(main island), 35 from the Aeolian Islands, 17 from

Ustica and 11 from the Egadi Islands. Two species

are new records only for the respective islands, 13

are new records for the whole studied area, four of

which are new also for the Italian fauna (Table 2).

A special mention has to be made about the tardi-

grade fauna of North Africa, with which a remarkable

affinity has come out: it shares with Sicily 40 species,

representing a good 36.0% of the Sicilian species.

Thirteen species (11.7%) today result to be

endemic for the studied area. Nine “terrestrial” more

or less recently described, and 4 already reported

freshwater species: Carphania fluviatilis Binda,

1979 (the only freshwater species of the class Het-

erotardigrada), Isohypsibius tubereticulatus Pilato et

Catanzaro, 1990, 1. verae Pilato et Catanzaro, 1990,

and Macroversum mirum Pilato et Catanzaro, 1989.

As regards possible biogeographic evaluations,

the geographic distribution of the 111 Sicilian tar-

digrade species seems to confirm the modem ideas

about tardigrade biogeography. It was very hard in

the past to make biogeographic evaluations about

the species of this group, due to wrong convictions

about species individual variability and poorly strict

criteria for specific diagnosis, and an overestimated

effect of passive dispersal; these had great impact

on the believed geographic distribution of the

species creating great confusion and making very

difficult to study tardigrade species from a biogeo-

graphic point of view. However, thanks to a change

in the evaluation of individual variability and the

taxonomic criteria for specific diagnosis (eg. Pilato,

1975; 1979), as well as a reevaluation of the pos-

sibility of passive dispersal (Pilato, 1979) which

reflected into a reconsideration of the geographic

distribution of the species, many old diagnosis

mistakes have been corrected (and this correction

still continues today), and starting with Mclnnes

(1994) and Pilato & Binda (2001), it is today

universally accepted to consider tardigrade species

from the biogeographic point of view.

Limiting myself to use the available data from

the literature, in which old diagnosis mistakes very

probably still hide, it is possible to notice that tardi-

grade species tend to have a limited geographic

distribution, at the level of zoogeographic region,

not cosmopolitan, or nearly such, as believed in the

far past. In Table 3 the zoogeographic spread of the

111 Sicilian tardigrade species is reported and the

data confirms the above expressed idea.

As regards the relatively high number of

species reported from the literature as present in 7

zoogeographic regions, it must be stressed that

those 1 7 species are mostly represented by species

described in the far past (even about a century ago),

so that there had been all the time, before the

“revolution” of the last decades, for various authors

to report the same species from all over the word;

as a matter of fact, the correction of such diagnosis

mistakes has been in the last decade one of the

great goals of tardigrade taxonomists, and much

still remains to be done.

Current knowledge on the Sicilian tardigrade fauna

299

rank

Sicily

Aeolian

Archipel.

Ustica

Aegadean

Archipel.

North

Africa

CARPHANIIDAE

Carphania fluviatilis Binda, 1978

ECHINISCIDAE

Biyodelphax tatrensis Weglarska, 1959

Biyodelphax weglarskae Pilato, 1972

Cornechiniscus lobatus (Ramazzotti, 1943)

Echiniscus blumi Richters, 1 903

Echiniscus trisetosus Cuenot, 1932

Echiniscus mediantus Marcus, 1930

Echiniscus bisetosus Heinis, 1908

Echiniscus canadensis Murray, 1910

Echiniscus testudo (Doyere, 1 840)

Echiniscus merokensis Richters, 1904

Echiniscus granulatus (Doyere, 1 840)

Echiniscus qucidrispinosus (Richters, 1902)

*nr

Echiniscus carusoi Pilato, 1972

Echiniscus ramazzottii Binda et Pilato, 1969

Parechiniscus chitonides Cuenot, 1926

Pseudechiniscus pseudoconifer Ramazzotti, 1943

MILNESIIDAE

Milnesium almatyense Tumanov, 2006

NRI

Milnesium tardigradum Doyere, 1 840

EOHYPSIBHDAE

Bertolanius weglarskae (Dastych, 1972)

HYPSIBIIDAE

Astatumen trinacriae (Arcidiacono, 1962)

Bindius triquetrus Pilato, 2009

Diphascon belgicae Richters, 1911

Diphascon brevipes Marcus, 1936

Diphascon carolae Binda et Pilato, 1969

Diphascon chilenense Plate, 1888

NRS

Diphascon higginsi Binda, 1971

NRS

Diphascon nelsonae Pilato, Binda, Bertolani et

Lisi, 2005

Diphascon nobilei Binda, 1 969

Diphascon patanei Binda et Pilato, 1971

Diphascon pingue Marcus, 1936

NRS

Diphascon procerum Pilato, Sabella et Lisi, 2014

Diphascon recamieri (Richters, 1911)

Diphascon serratum Pilato, Binda, Bertolani et

Lisi, 2005

Diphascon scoticum Murray, 1905

Table 1. Limno-terrestrial tardigrade species from Sicily; Ranks: NRS = new record for the whole studied area (Sicily and

surrounding islands); NRI = new record also for the Italian fauna; E = endemic. In the geographic region column, “nr”

indicates new record only for the single island/arcipelago. Taxonomy according to Bertolani et al. (2014).

300

Oscar Lisi

rank

Sicily

Aeolian

Archipel.

Ustica

Aegadean

Archipel.

North

Africa

HYPSIBIIDAE

Diphascon serratum Pilato, Binda, Bertolani et

Lisi, 2005

Diphascon scoticum Murray, 1905

Diphascon ziliense Lisi, Sabella et Pilato, 2014

Hypsibius convergens (Urbanowicz, 1925)

Hypsibius conifer Mihelcic, 1938

Hypsibius dujardini (Doyere, 1840)

Hypsibius microps Thulin, 1928

Hypsibius pallidoides Pilato, Kiosya, Lisi,

Inshina et Biserov, 2011

NRI

Hypsibis pallidus Thulin, 1911

Hypsibius ragonesei Binda et Pilato, 1985

Hypsibius scabropygus Cuenot, 1929

NRS

Mixibius saracenus (Pilato, 1973)

Mixibius parvus Lisi, Sabella et Pilato, 2014

Platicrista angustata (Murray 1905)

RAMAZZOTTIIDAE

Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri (Doyere, 1840)

Ramazzottius thulini (Pilato, 1970)

ISOHYPSIBIIDAE

Doiyphoribius dory p horns (Binda et Pilato, 1969)

Doiyphoribius macrodon Binda, Pilato et Dastych,

1980

Doiyphoribius zappalai Pilato, 1971

Eremobiotus alicatai (Binda, 1969)

Hexapodibius micronyx Pilato, 1969

Isohypsibius arbiter Binda, 1980

NRS

Isohypsibius austriacus (Iharos, 1966)

Isohypsibius dastychi Pilato, Bertolani et Binda, 1982

Isohypsibius deconincki Pilato, 1971

Isohypsibius elegans Binda et Pilato, 1971

Isohypsibius granulifer Thulin, 1928

Isohypsibius kristenseni Pilato, Catanzaro

et Binda, 1989

Isohypsibius longi unguis Pilato, 1974

Isohypsibius lunulatus (Iharos, 1966)

Isohypsibius marcellinoi Binda et Pilato, 1971

Isohypsibius monoicus Bertolani, 1981

Isohypsibius nodosus (Murray, 1907)

Isohypsibius pappi (Iharos, 1966)

Isohypsibius prosostomus Thulin, 1928

Isohypsibius reticulatus Pilato, 1973

Table 1. Limno-terrestrial tardigrade species from Sicily; Ranks: NRS = new record for the whole studied area (Sicily and

surrounding islands); NRI = new record also for the Italian fauna; E = endemic. In the geographic region column, “nr”

indicates new record only for the single island/arcipelago. Taxonomy according to Bertolani et al. (2014).

Current knowledge on the Sicilian tardigrade fauna

301

rank

Siciliy

Aeolian

Archipel.

Ustica

Aegadean

Archipel.

North

Africa

Isohypsibius ronsisvallei Binda et Pilato, 1969

Isohypsibius sattleri Richters, 1902

Isohypsibius silvicola (Iharos, 1966)

Isohypsibius tetractyloides Richters, 1907

Isohypsibius tubereticulatus Pilato et Catanzaro,1990

Isohypsibius verae Pilato et Catanzaro, 1989

Parhexapodibius lagrecai (Binda et Pilato, 1969)

Pseudobiotus matici (Pilato, 1971)

Pseudobiotus kathmanae Nelson, Marley et

Bertolani, 1999

Thulinius ruffoi (Bertolani, 1982)

Thulinius stephaniae (Pilato, 1974)

MACROBIOTIDAE

Macrobiotus diffusus Binda et Pilato, 1987

Macrobiotus echinogenitus Richters, 1904

Macrobiotus harmsworthi Murray, 1907

Macrobiotus hufelandi Schultze, 1834

Macrobiotus insuetus Pilato, Sabella et Lisi, 2014

Macrobiotus islandicus Richters, 1 904

Macrobiotus macrocalix Bertolani et Rebecchi,1993

NRS

Macrobiotus nuragicus Pilato et Sperlinga, 1975

NRS

Macrobiotus pallarii Maucci, 1954

Macrobiotus patiens Pilato, Binda, Napolitano et

Moncada, 2000

*nr

Macrobiotus persimilis Binda et Pilato, 1972

Macrobiotus pilatoi Binda et Rebecchi, 1992

NRS

Macrobiotus polonicus Pilato, Kaczmarek,

Michalczyk et Lisi, 2003

NRI

Macrobiotus sapiens Binda et Pilato, 1984

Macrobiotus simulans Pilato, Binda, Napolitano et

Moncada, 2000

Macrobiotus terminalis Bertolani et Rebecchi, 1993

NRS

Paramacrobiotus areolatus (Murray, 1907)

Paramacrobiotus csotiensis (Iharos, 1966)

Paramacrobiotus richtersi (Murray, 1911)

Minibiuotus furcatus (Ehrenberg, 1859)

Minibiotus intermedins (Plate, 1889)

Minibiotus pseudofurcatus (Pilato, 1972)

Minibiotus weinerorum (Dastych, 1984)

NRI

Richtersius coronifer (Richters, 1903)

Tenuibiotus tenuis (Binda et Pilato, 1972)

Xerobiotus pseudohufelandi (Iharos, 1966)

Table 1. Limno-terrestrial tardigrade species from Sicily; Ranks: NRS = new record for the whole studied area (Sicily and

surrounding islands); NRI = new record also for the Italian fauna; E = endemic. In the geographic region column, “nr”

indicates new record only for the single island/arcipelago. Taxonomy according to Bertolani et al. (2014).

302

Oscar Lisi

rank

Siciliy

Aeolian

Archipel.

Ustica

Aegadean

Archipel.

North

Africa

MURRAYIDAE

Dactylobiotus parthenogeneticus Bertolani, 1982

Dactylobiotus dispar (Murray, 1907)

Macroversum minim Pilato et Catanzaro, 1989

Murray on pullari (Murray, 1907)

NECOPINATIDAE

Necopinatum mirabile Pilato, 1971

Table 1. Limno-terrestrial tardigrade species from Sicily; Ranks: NRS = new record for the whole studied area (Sicily and

surrounding islands); NRI = new record also for the Italian fauna; E = endemic. In the geographic region column, “nr”

indicates new record only for the single island/arcipelago. Taxonomy according to Bertolani et al. (2014).

MILNE SIIDAE

Milnesium almatyense Tumanov, 2006 NRI

Cesaro (Messina) “Portella Femmina Morta”; moss sample.

Ramacca (Catania); moss sample.

HYPSIBIIDAE

Diphascon chilenense Plate, 1889

Belpasso (Catania) “Contrada Milia”; chestnut leaf litter

Diphascon higginsi Binda, 1971

Belpasso (Catania) “Contrada Milia”; chestnut leaf litter

Diphascon pingue (Marcus, 1936)

Belpasso (Catania) “Contrada Milia”; chestnut leaf litter

Hypsibius pallidoides Pilato, Kiosya, Lisi, Inshina et Biserov, 2011 NRI

Belpasso (Catania) “Contrada Milia”; chestnut leaf litter

Hypsibius scabropygus Cuenot, 1929

Isnello (Palermo) “Pizzo Antenna” Madonie Mountains; lichens on tree trunk.

ISOHYPSIBIIDAE

Isohypsibius arbiter Binda, 1980

Belpasso (Catania) “Contrada Milia”; chestnut leaf litter.

Bronte (Catania) “Contrada Rinazzo”; moss sample.

MACROBIOTIDAE

Macrobiotus macrocalix Bertolani et Rebecchi, 1993

Contessa Entellina (Palermo), Contrada Mazzaporro, - Nebrodi Mountains; moss sample

Macrobiotus nuragicus Pilato et Sperlinga, 1975

Mandanici (Messina), Madonie Mountains; moss sample

Macrobiotus pilatoi Binda et Rebecchi, 1992

Madonie Mountains; Sphagnum sample

Macrobiotus polonicus Pilato, Kaczmarek, Michalczyk et Lisi, 2003 NRI

Maletto (Catania) “Sciara St. Venera”; moss sample - Catania; moss sample

Macrobiotus terminalis Bertolani et Rebecchi, 1993

Cesaro (Messina), Mt. Soro (Nebrodi Mountains); moss sample

Minibiotus weinerorum D astych, 1984 NRI

Isnello (Palermo) “Pizzo Antenna” Madonie Mountains; lichens on tree trunk.

Table 2. New records of limno-terrestrial tardigrade species for Sicily and surrounding islands.

NRI = new record also for the Italian fauna.

Current knowledge on the Sicilian tardigrade fauna

303

Palearctic

(of which

endemic)

Present in 2

zoogeographic

regions

Present in 3

zoogeographic

regions

Present in 4

zoogeographic

regions

Present in 5

zoogeographic

regions

Present in 6

zoogeographic

regions

Present in 7

zoogeographic

regions

Total

40(13)

111

36.0% (11.7%)

17.1%

13.5%

4.5%

9.9%

3.6%

15.3%

100%

Table 3. Zoogeographic spread of the limno-terrestrial tardigrade species of Sicily.

CONCLUSIONS

As it can be seen, a limited study of old material

may reveal new records and even new species, also

with the change of old diagnoses, not correct in the

light of the modem criteria; this, as well as improv-

ing knowledge in general, allows to go ahead in the

progress of tardigrade taxonomy and biogeography.

The current study, thanks to the promising results

obtained, still goes on and intends to proceed with

the correction of very old literature mistakes (which

affect the correct knowledge of tardigrade biod-

iversity and species geographic distribution), enrich

faunistic and biogeographic knowledge, and put in

evidence the variety and eventual peculiarity of

Sicilian tardigrade fauna, with repercussions on

general knowledge of Sicilian biodiversity.

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Arcidiacono R, 1964. Secondo contributo alia cono-

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Bertolani R., Guidetti R., Marchioro T., Altiero T.,

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digrada: new molecular data and their morphological

support lead to the identification of new evolutionary

lineages. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 76:

110-126.

Bertolani R. & Rebecchi L., 1993. A revision of the

Macrobiotus hufelandi group (Tardigrada, Macrobio-

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characters of eutardigrades. Zoologica Scripta, 22:

127-152.

Binda M.G., 1969. Nuovi dati su Tardigradi di Sicilia con

descrizione di due nuove specie. Bollettino delle

Sedute dell’Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali

di Catania, S. IV, 9: 623-633.

Binda M.G., 1971. Su alcuni Tardigradi muscicoli del

Nord- Africa. Bollettino delle sedute dell'Accademia

Gioenia di Scienze Naturali in Catania, 10: 759-765.

Binda M.G., 1978. Risistemazione di alcuni Tardigradi

con l’istituzione di un nuovo genere di Oreellidae e

della nuova famiglia Archechiniscidae. Animalia, 5:

307-314.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1969a. Su alcune specie di

Tardigradi muscicoli di Sicilia. Bollettino delle

Sedute dell’Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali

di Catania, S. IV, 10: 159-170.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1969b. Ulteriore contributo alia

conoscenza dei Tardigradi di Sicilia con descrizione

di due nuove specie. Bollettino delle Sedute dell’

Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania,

S. IV, 10:205-214.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1971. Nuovo contributo alia

conoscenza dei Tardigradi di Sicilia. Bollettino delle

Sedute dell’Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali

di Catania, S. IV. 10: 896-909.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1972. Tardigradi muscicoli

di Sicilia (IV Nota). Bollettino delle Sedute dell’

Accademia Gioenia di Scienze Naturali di Catania,

S. IV, 11:47-60.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1984. Macrobiotus sapiens ,

nuova specie di Eutardigrado di Sicilia. Animalia, 1 1 :

85-90.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1985. Hypsibius ragonesei,

nuova specie di Eutardigrado di Sicilia. Animalia, 12:

245-248.

Binda M.G. & Pilato G., 1987. Tardigradi dell’Africa.

V. Notizie sui Tardigradi del Nordafrica e descrizione

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14: 177-191.

Binda M.G., Pilato G. & Dastych H., 1980. Descrizione

di una nuova specie di Eutardigrado: Doryphoribius

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De Barros, 1942, and description of two new species

of the harmsworthi group (Eutardigrada). Bollettino

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Macrobiotus polonicus, a new species of Tardigrada

from Polan (Eutardigrada: Macrobiotidae, " hufelandi

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 305-308

Monograph

On the presence of Campodea majorica sicula Conde, 1 957

(Diplura Campodeidae) in the "Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia"

cave (Mount Pellegrino, Palermo, Italy)

Alessandro Marietta 1,2 *, Giuseppe Nicolosi 2 &Tiziana Grech 2

'Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences - section ofAnimal Biology “ M . La Greca”. University of

Catania, via Androne 81, 95124 Catania, Italy; entail: am arlet@ unict.it

2 Centro Speleologico Etneo, via Valdisavoia 3, 95123 Catania, Italy; entail: gnicolosi@hotmail.it, tizianagrech@hotmail.it

* C o rre sp o n d in g author

ABSTRACT W e report for the first tim e the presence of Cdlfipoded UldjoriCd sicillci Conde, 1957 (Insecta,

Diplura, Campodeidae) in the "Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia", a vertical karst cave situated in

the southern slope of Mount Pellegrino, adjacent to the city of Palermo (Sicily). This hypogean

subspecies is considered endemic of Sicily and up to now it was known only forthe “A ddaura

Caprara” cave, located at the opposite slope (north-east) of Mount Pellegrino. During a spe-

leological excursion in the "Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia" cave, organized by “Centro Spe-

leologico Etneo” (Catania, Italy), 14 specimens of this subspecies were collected in the bottom

of the cave, at -170 m. The bottom is one of the few humid areas of the cave, whereas the rest

is very dry, dusty and apparently without Diplura. In addition to C. ITlClj OVicd siculd, currently

are known the following C. fflCljoricd subspecies, all hypogean: C. Hldjoricd llUljoricCl C o n d e ,

1 9 5 5, C. mdjoricd intcrjectd Conde, 1955, both endemic of some caves of Majorca Island

(Balearic Islands, Spain) and C. ffldjoricd VdleYltUld Sendra et Moreno, 2004, found inside 7

caves located in the karstic area of M ount M onduver and Sierra de Corbera (SE of Valencia,

Spain).

KEY WORDS Diplura; b io s p e le o lo g y ; karst cave; hypogean fauna; Sicily.

Received 22.07.2014; accepted 30.10.2014; printed 30.03.20 1 5

Proceedings of the 2nd Interna tional Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, M ay 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu - Caste lb uono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Diplura is a poorly investigated order wich con-

tains small and wingless species. They are unpig-

mented and eyeless. The antennae are long and

moniliformis.The abdomen ends with a pair of cerci

that can be long and thin or short and pincer-like.

The majority of the species usually are 2-5 mm long,

although some species can reach 50 mm. There are

about 94 known species in Italy, 19 of which occur

in Sicily (Thibaud, 2013). The most part of the

species belong to the Campodeidae family, that

includes epigean and hypogean species.

Campodea majorica sicula Conde, 1957 wasde-

scribed on 4 specimens collected by P. Strinati on

21 August 1 956 in the A ddaura Caprara III cave

(Conde, 1 957), located in the NE slope of Mount

Pellegrino, near the city of Palermo (Sicily). Until

now this was the only record in Sicily for the taxon.

In the present paper we report for the first time the

306

Alessandro Marletta et alii

presence of this subspecies also in the "Abisso della

Pietra Selvaggia", a vertical karst cave situated in

the southern slope of Mount Pellegrino.

U p to now, in addition to C. ITldjoricd siculd,

other three subspecies are known: C. tl'ldjoricd tTld-

jorica Conde, 1955 , C. mdjoricd interjectd Conde,

1955, both endemic of some caves of M ajorca Island

(Balearic Islands, Spain) and C. lTldjovicd VdleYltUld

Sendra et Moreno, 2004, found inside 7 caves loc-

ated in the karstic area of Mount Monduver and

Sierra de Cor her a (SE of Valencia, Spain). All these

taxa are strictly hypogean (Conde, 1 955b, 1 957;

Sendra, 1985, Sendra & Moreno, 2004) .

MATERIAL AND METHODS

During the sampling in the "Abisso della

Pietra Selvaggia" cave, 14 specimens of this sub-

species were collected by hand and preserved in

7 0 % ethanol.

The “Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia" cave is loc-

ated in the Mount Pellegrino massif, within the

"Riserva Naturale Orientata Regionale Monte Pel-

legrino" (managed by Rangers d'ltalia), in the

North-West Sicily, at the northern side of Palermo

(Figs. 1, 2). The Reserve covers about 1020 ha and

was created in 1996 to protect the Mount Pellegrino

massif and the "Tenuta Reale della Favorita". It is

also a Site of Community Importance (SCI)

ITA020014. Mount Pellegrino is a car bona tic mas-

sif (606 m a.s.l.) made up of rocks originated in

shallow seas from Trias to Eocene. The mount is

subjectto k ars t p h e n o m e n a and counts 134 caves

of both marine and karst origin.

The "Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia", is a ver-

tical karst cave situated in the southern slope of

M ount Pellegrino at an elevation of 425 m a.s.l. It

is 171 m deep (Fig. 3) and itconsists of a sequence

of four shaft, respectevely of 31 m, 6 m, 38 m, 62

m (Mannino, 1 985).

The specimens were collected in the bottom of

the cave (-157/-171 m), on the moist soil, among

the stones and near stalagmites (Fig. 4). The hot to m

is one of the few humid areas of the cave, the rest

is very dry, dusty and apparently without Diplura.

The specimens were examined in laboratory

using a Feica M 205A stereom icroscope equipped

with a Feica DFC 450 digital camera and a multi-

focus image acquisition software (Feica Applica-

tion Suite v.4.2.0). Moreover some macrophotos

have been made on-site using digital SFR camera.

Taxonomical reference are based on the checklist

of "Fauna Europaea", version 2.6 (Thibaud, 2013).

ABBREVIATIONS: ma: medial anterior m a c -

rochaeta; la: lateral anterior macrochaeta; lp : lat-

eral posterior macrochaeta.

Figure 1. Location of Mount Pellegrino (Palermo, Sicily). Figure 2. Satellite image of Mount Pellegrino, with location of

the investigated caves. Red square: Addaura Caprara; yellow square: Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia (from Google Earth)

Campodea majorica sicula (Diplura Campodeidae) in theAbisso della Pietra Selvaggia” cave (Mount Pellegrino, Italy) 307

Figure 3. Longitudinal section and plan of“Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia” cave (M . Panzica survey, from M annino, 1985).

Figure 4. Bottom of “Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia” (Photo by F. Fiorenza).

Figure 5. C. lliajoriCQ. sicula ad ult female from “Abisso della

Pietra Selvaggia”, body length 8 mm (Photo by F. Fiorenza).

Campodea majorica sicula Conde, 1957

Examined material. Italy, Sicily, Palermo,

“Abisso della Pietra Selvaggia” cave,

38°09’33.2”N ; 1 3 °2 1 ’ 2 5 .6 ”E ; 16. III. 2014, 3 fe-

males, 2 males; 11. V. 2014, 5 females and 4 males,

Marietta A., Nicolosi G., Grech T. legit.

Description. Body length: 7mm male; 8 mm fe-

rn ale (Fig. 5). Head (Fig. 6): Antennae with 41-43

antennom eres, cupuliform organ with 9-12 sensilla.

Insertion line of antennae bordered by 3 + 3 macro-

chaetae. Sensillum of third antennomere bacilliform

and in latero -stern al position. Thorax: the typical

notal macrochaetae distribution is similar to the

o ther C. majorica subspecies with 3 + 3 (ma, la, lp)

pronotal macrochaetae, 3 + 3 (ma, la, lp) mesonotal

macrochaetae and 1 + 1 (nr a) nretanotal macro-

chaetae (Fig. 7). Notal macrochaetae and setae

similar to the other C. majorica subspecies, but

slightly longer and thinner. The posterior-marginal

setae are thick and crenellated. Mesonotal macro-

chaetae lp/ma ratio is 1.74-2.21. Abdomen (Fig. 8):

urotergite VI with 1 + 1 la macrochaetae, lp macro-

chaetae absent. Urotergite VII with 1 + 1 la macro-

chaetae and 1 + 1 lp macrochaetae. Urotergite VIII

with la macrochaetae absent and 3 + 3 lp macro-

chaetae. Posterior margin of urosternite I of males

with 2-3 rows of glandular setae. Cerci 1.5 times

longer than body length, with about 20 elongated

articles with long macrochaetae and setae (Conde,

1957; Send r a & Moreno, 2004).

308

Alessandro Marletta et alii

Remarks. According to Conde (1948, 1955a,

1957) and Sendra & Moreno (2 004), C. maj OHCd

subspecies, together with C. CymeCl Conde, 1948

and C. blandinae Conde, 1948 (both hypogean

species endemic of Corsica island), are considered

closely related with C. gVCISSi Silvestri, 1912, an

epigean species w id e spread in the western Mediter-

ranean area (Italy mainland, Corsica, Sicily,

Tunisia, Algeria and north-eastern of Iberian

Peninsula) (Silvestri, 1912). They form a group of

related species that share following common

characters: elongated appendages, hypertrophic

cupuliform organ of antennae, robust and short

notal m ac ro c h ae tae , lateral posterior (lp) macro-

chaetae absent or reduced, short clothing setae,

body surface densely covered with thin micro-

denticles and abdomen with 1 + 1 lateral anterior

(la) macrochaetae from urotergites V or VI, 1 + 1

lp from VII and 3 + 3 lp in VIII. The phylogenetic

history of these species and their adaptation pro-

cess in the hypogean environment are still uncer-

tain, thus more investigation would be necessary,

also with mitochondrial DNA-based analysis.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We would like to thanks Dr. Alberto Sendra

(Valencia, Spain) for his precious advices on iden-

tification of this taxon; Dr. Salvatore Palascino

(Director of Mount Pellegrino Natural Reserve)

Figure 6. Campodea

majorica sicula-. head

(dorsal view ).

Figure 7. Thorax (dorsal

view ).

Figure 8. Abdomen,

urotergites V-X (for ab-

breviations see text).

for allowing us to conduct this study. And also the

speleologists of “Centro Speleologico Etneo” for

their technical support into the cave.

REFERENCES

Conde B ., 1 948. Campodeides hypoges de Corse. Bul-

letin de la Societe des Sciences de Nancy, N. S. tome

V II, no 3 .

Conde B., 1 955 a. Campodeides cavernicoles des

Baleares. Notes biospeologiques, 9: 121-132.

Conde B ., 1 955b. Sur la faune endogee de Majorique

(P e n ic ilia te s , Protoures, Diploures Campodeides,

P a lp ig ra d e s ) . Bulletin du Museum d' Histoire

naturelle, 2e serie, 26: 674-677.

Conde B., 1957. Campodeides recoltes en Sicile par P.

Strinati. Fragmenta Entomologica, II (14): 137-141.

Mannino G., 1 9 8 5. L e grotte di Monte Pellegrino. Edizioni

Etna Madonie del Club Alpino Siciliano: 212-225.

Sendra A ., 1985. Campodeidos caver nicolas de Baleares.

Endins, 10-11: 33-35.

Sendra A. & Moreno A., 2004. El subgenero CttlTipodcCl

s.str. en la Peninsula Iberica (Hexapoda: Diplura:

C am podeidae). Boletin Sociedad Entomologica

Aragonesa, 35: 1 9-3 8.

Silvestri, F. 1912. Contribuzione alia conoscenza dei

Campodeidae (Thysanura) d’Europa. Bolletino del

Laboratorio di Zoologia generale ed agraria del R.

Istituto superiore agrario di Portici, 6: 110-147.

Thibaud J.M., 2013. Fauna Europaea: Diplura, Cam-

podeidae. Fauna Europaea version 2.6, http:// www.

faunaeur.org

Biodiversity Journal, 2015 , 6 ( 1 ): 309-322

Monograph

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna

in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

Adalgisa Guglielmino 1 & Christoph Buckle 2

'Department ofAgriculture, Forests, Nature and Energy, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy

"Neckarhalde 48, D-72070 Tubingen. Germany

Corresponding author, e-mail: guglielm@ unitus.it

ABSTRACT A list of 84 Auchenorrhyncha species collected from field excursions in the province of Lecce

(Southern Apulia) in June 2011 and April 2012 is given. Prevalently three areas were studied:

the Regional Natural Park “Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio”, the Protected Oasis “LaghiAlimini”

and the State Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”. Four species ( DdphciX lYlCridiOYlQlis (Haupt, 1924),

Delphacodes capnodes (Scott, 1 8 7 0), Parapotes reticulatus (Horvath, i 897)and Calamotettix

taeniatus (Horvath, 19 11) are recorded for the first time for Italy, five (Steiiokslisici CUlgUStCl

Ribaut, 1934, Eludes basUmeCl ( Germar, 1821), ChlorionCL glciucescens F ieb er, 1 866, Hecalus

Storai ( Lindberg, 1 936) and Melillaia desbrochersi ( Lethierry, 1 899) are new records for the

Ape n nine Peninsula (“S” in the checklist of the Italian fauna) and 26 new for Apulia. For some

species of special interest their ecology and distribution is discussed. The investigated areas

are of high relevance for nature conservation as they constitute small relics of formerly vastly

extended coastal marshes, where several stenotopic Auchenorrhyncha species occur, associated

particularly with moist vegetation. Interesting is a group of taxa that are known only from the

Balkan region and South Italy. Possibly the isolated occurrence of some other A uchenorrhy ncha

taxa in Apulia is connected rather with the Balkan Peninsula than with Central Europe.

KEY WORDS Faunistics; Ecology; Biogeography.

Received 15.07.2014; accepted 30.09.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, M ay 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

As the knowledge on the distribution of many

species of Auchenorrhyncha in Italy is still rather

fragmentary, and recent data for the southern

regions of the peninsula are almost completely

lacking, it may be useful to publish some data deri-

ving from two sampling trips in June 2011 and April

2012, respectively, in some moist areas in the

province of Lecce in Southern Apulia (Fig. 1).

Especially three zones of notable naturalistic

importance were investigated: the Regional Natural

Park “Bosco e Paludi diRauccio”,the State Natural

Reserve “Le Cesine” and the Protected Oasis

“L ag h i A lim in i” .

The Regional Natural Park “Bosco e Paludi di

Rauccio” (Figs. 2-5) comprises many different

habitats: forest of QueVCUS USX L . (residue of the

“Foresta di Lecce”, a forest area that in the M iddle

Ages extended between Lecce, the Adriatic coast,

Otranto and Brindisi), a swampy area named

Speech i a della Milogna, small ponds and moist

areas, two coastalbasins (Id um e and Fetida), sandy

seashore, som e zones of M editerranean m aquis and

garigue, ruderal areas and pastures. The State Nat-

ural Reserve “Le Cesine” (Figs. 6, 7) is an area of

extreme envir on mental value. Even if prevalently a

3 10

Adalgisa Guglielmino & Christoph Buckle

humid area, it includes in addition a large variety of

habitats and transitional zones, which create a vast

ecological mosaic. A part fro m extended reed areas,

numerous canals, swamps and marshes and the

basins of Pantano Grande and Salapi, there are

many other habitats as pine forest, Mediterranean

maquis, QuerCUS il6X forest and ruderal areas. The

reserve includes 620 ha, defined as “moist zone of

international value” (RAMSAR convention, 197 1);

out of these 620 ha, 34 8 are “natural reserve of ani-

malrepopulation” administrated by the W W F-ltaly.

The Alim ini lakes (Fig. 8) consist of two basins:

Alim ini Grande and Alimini Piccolo, named also

Fontanelle, with the former being a salt water, the

latter a fresh water lake. The oasis includes valuable

areas of M editerranean m aquis and costal retrodunal

lagoons of great naturalistic interest. The protected

area is one of the most important natural sites of the

Salento region, with an ecosystem rich of plant and

animal species. It constitutes a “Zone of Special

Protection” (ZPS), proposed as Site of European

Community Importance (pSIC). The protected

Oasis of Alimini lakes is a very important place

where birds can rest and winter.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The samplings were carried out in June 2011

and April 2012 at 18 localities (two of them

s am pled tw ice).

Figure 1. Map of the investigated areas in South Apulia. 1 =

Bosco e PaludidiRauccio; 2 = Le Cesine; 3 = LaghiAlimini.

We applied two collection methods: a) by en to -

mological net and aspirator, b) directly by sight of

single specimens by means of the aspirator.

List of collecting sites

In order to facilitate the comparison of data in

our different papers on the Italian A uchenorrhyncha

fauna we maintain the number system of collecting

localities applied already in other publications.

- St. 5 5 2: Torre Chianca, Bosco di Rauccio;

N 40°27’52.4” E 1 8 ° 1 0 ’ 0 0 .4 ” ; 3 m; 1 9/06/20 1 1;

ruderal area with shrubs of PistdCid lentisCUS L . an d

Phillyrea l . (Fig. 2 ).

- St. 5 5 3: Torre Chianca, Bosco di Rauccio;

N40°28’11.8” E18°10’10.7”; 2 m; 20/0 6/2 011;

Phragmites australis (c a v.) T rin . on th e m arg in of a

field and moist areas with JuYlCUS L., BolboSChoenUS

maritimus (L.) Palla, Cyperaceae (Fig. 3).

- St. 554: Torre Chianca, Bosco di Rauccio;

N 4 0 °2 8 ’ 0 2 .0 ” E18°10’19.8”; 6 m; 20/06/20 1 1;

margin of Quercus ilex- forest, Pistacia lentiscus ,

Phillyrea and open areas.

- St. 555: Torre Chianca, south of Bosco di

Rauccio; N40°27’09.0” E 1 8 ° 1 1 ’ 5 7 .6 ” ; 3 m;

20/06/2011; moist area with CdreX L ., JuriCUS,

Cyperaceae, Poaceae (Fig. 4).

- St. 556: Torre Chianca, Bosco di Rauccio;

Speech i a della Milogna; N40°28’09.6”

E 1 8° 1 0’29.9 ”; 3 m; 2 1 /06/20 1 1; moist area with

Bolboschoenus (Asch.) Palla in H allier & Brand,

Carex, Tamarix l . , Phragmites a d a n s , June us. and

dry ruderal area.

- St. 557: Torre Chianca, Bosco di Rauccio;

N40°27’56.5” E 1 8 ° 1 0 ’ 0 7 . 8 ” ; 7 m; 2 1 /06/20 1 1;

forest of Quercus ilex with Pistacia lentiscus ,

Phillyrea , Clematis l ., Hedera l . etc .

St. 558: Torre Chianca, Bacino Idume;

N40°28’08.0” E 1 8 ° 1 1 ’2 1 .8 ”; 5 m; 2 1/06/20 1 1;

vegetation near the sea and the basin with ElymUS

l ., Phragmites , etc.

- St. 5 5 9: L ag h i A lim in i, no rth o f L ag o Grande;

N40°12’31.6” E 1 8°25 ’4 1 .4”; 10 m; 22/06/20 1 1;

moist area with J uncus, Phragmites, Cyperus l .

St. 560: Laghi Alimini, L ago Piccolo;

N40°10’50.9” E 18°27’04.7”; 4 m; 22/06/20 1 1;

m oist area w ith CdreX ( Fig. 8).

- St. 561: Torre Chianca, south of Bosco di

Rauccio; N40°27’08.9” E 1 8 ° 1 1 ’ 5 7 .4 ” ; 6 m;

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

3 1 1

Figure 2. Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio: St. 5 52. Figure 3. Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio: St. 55 3. Figure 4. South of Bosco e

Paludi di Rauccio: St. 555. Figure 5. South of Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio: St. 561. Figure 6. Le Cesine: St. 563. Figure 7.

Le Cesine: St. 562. Figure 8. LaghiAlimini: St. 560. Figure 9. Porto Badisco: St. 564.

3 1 2

Adalgisa Guglielmino & Christoph Buckle

22/06/2011; open dry stony area, Phillyrea ,

P o a c e a e , Ca VeX , RubllS L., thistles (Fig. 5).

St. 5 62: Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”;

N40°21’16.7” E 1 8 ° 2 0 ’ 2 6 .2 ” ; 4 m; 23/06/20 1 1;

shore of lagoon, Phragmites , Bolboschoenus ,

Carex, Tamarix (Fig. 6 ) .

St. 563: Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”;

N 4 0 °2 1 ’ 0 3 .9 ” E 1 8°2 1 ’05 .4”; sea level;

23/06/20 1 1; shore of lagoon, Bolboschoenus ,

Carex, Cyperaceae (Fig. 7).

- St. 5 64: between Porto Badisco and Santa

Cesarea; N 4 0 ° 0 4 ’ 0 8 .0 ” E 1 8 °2 8 ’44 .8 ” ; 45 m;

24/0 6/20 1 1; dry rocky area and srn all pine forest w ith

Brachypodium p . B eau v., Carex, Poaceae (Fig. 9).

- St. 622: Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”; sea

level; 1 7/04/20 1 2; forest, shore of lagoon, shrubs,

herbaceous vegetation.

- St. 623: West ofNatural Reserve “Le Cesine”;

N40°20’50.3” E 1 8 ° 1 9 ’3 3 .8 ” ; 20 m; 1 7/04/20 1 2;

olive grove, herbaceous vegetation with prevalently

Fabacae, Poaceae.

St. 624: road S. Cataldo - Frigole;

N 40°23’38.6” E 1 8 ° 1 5 ’ 2 3 .4 ” ; 20 m; 1 7/04/20 1 2;

open dry area with Poaceae and maquis vegetation.

- St. 625: Torre Chian ca, Bosco di Rauccio;

N40°27’23.6” E 1 8 ° 1 0 ’ 0 0 . 7 ” ; 6 m; 1 8/04/20 1 2;

meadow, herbaceous vegetation.

- St. 626: Torre Chianca, Bosco di Rauccio;

N40°27’56,5” E18°10’07.8”; 7 m; 18/0 4/2 012;

forest of Quercus ilex w ith Pistacia lentiscus,

Phillyrea, Clematis, Hedera e tc .

- St. 627: Torre Chianca, south of Bosco di

Rauccio; N40°27’09.0” E 1 8 ° 1 1 ’ 5 7 .6 ” ; 3 m;

1 8/0 4/20 1 2; moist area with Mentha L., CareX,

J UnCUS, Cyperaceae, Poaceae.

- St. 628: coast between Frigole and Torre

Chianca; N40°2 7 , 3 3.8 ” E 1 8 ° 1 2 ’ 5 0 .9 ” ; 2 m;

18/04/2012; open area near seashore with Poaceae,

CareX, herbaceous vegetation.

in the - List of collected specimens" are indicated

for each species: the collection locality and in

parentheses the number of males, females and (if

present) nymphs, separated by semicola, respecti-

vely. For some species brachypterous (b) and

macropterous (m ) specimens are listed separately;

ifboth forms were present they are divided by com-

rnata. New records for Italy are indicated by N I, new

records forpeninsular Italy (“ S ” in D’Urso, 1995a)

by N P I, and new records for A p u lia by N R A .

RESULTS

List of collected specimens

Fam ilia C IX IID A E

Pentastiridius suezensis (Matsumura, 1 9 1 o )

555 (1; 0) 558 (1; 0) 562 (26; 13) 563 (1; 1)

Familia DELPHACIDAE

Asiraca clavicornis (Fabricius, 1 7 9 4 )

552 (0; 1 ) 627 (0; 1 )

Kelisia guttula (G erm ar, 18 18)

556 (1 ; 1 )

Kelisia guttulifera (Kirschbaum, 1 8 6 8 )

552 (1; 0) - NRA

Kelisia gr. ribauti Wagner, 193 8

559 (2; 3) 628 (1 ; 0) - NPI

Stenocranus fuscovittatus (Stai, 1 8 5 8 )

556 (1; 1 ) - N R A

Stenokelisia angusta Ribaut, 1934

554 (1; 0) 555 (7; 3; 9) 556 (0; 1) 560 (6; 0; 2)

Eurysanoides rubripes (Matsumura, 1 9 1 o )

624 (3b; 5b) - N R A

Delphax inermis Ribaut, 1934

555 (0; lb) - N R A

Delphax meridionalis (Haupt, 1924)

556 (1 ; 0) - N I

Euides basilinea (G erm ar, 1 8 2 1 )

5 6 2 ( 1 m ; 0 ) - NPI

Chloriona glaucescens Fieber, 1 8 6 6

558 (2m; 0) 562 (3m; lm) - NPI

Chloriona sicula M atsum ura, 19 10

553 (8m; 3b, 4m) 554 (4m;2b)555 (14m;4b,2m; 1)558

(lm; 0) 559 (11m; 2m) 627 (12m; 2b) - NRA

Laodelphax striatella (Fallen, 1 8 2 6 >

552 (0; 2m) 553 (lm; 0) 559 (2m; 3m) - NRA

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

3 1 3

Delphacodes capnodes (Scott, 1 8 70)

555 (1 m ; 0) - N I

Muirodelphax aubei (Perris, 1 857)

556 (2 b , lm;lb,2m),558 (7b; 3b; 2) 624 (0; lb) 628 (0; lb)

Florodelphax leptosoma (Fior, 1 8 6 1 )

556 (0; lb) 559 (4b,2m;4b,2m)-NRA

Toya obtusangula (Linnavuori, 1 95 7)

553 (lm; lm)

Toya propinqua (Fieber, 1 866)

552 (lm; lm) 559 (3m; 2m) 564 (3m; 0) 623 (lm; 0)

N R A

Flastena fumipennis (Fieber, 1 866 )

559 (lb; lb) - N R A

F am ilia TROPIDUCHIDAE

Trypetimorpha sp.

556 (0 ; 0 ; 1 ) - N R A

Figure io. Pentastiridius suezensis. Figure li. Stenokelisia angusta. Figure 12. Delphax meridionalis. Figure 13.

Mocydiopsis oranensis. Figure 14. Melillaia desbrochersi. Figure 15. Adarrus reductus. Photos by m a s s im o Vo llaro .

3 14

Adalgisa Guglielmino & Christoph Buckle

F a m ilia CALISCELIDAE

Caliscelis bonellii (Latreille, 1 8 0 7 )

56 1 (1 ; 0)

Homocnemia albovittata a. Costa, 1 8 5 7

556 (0; 0; 1 )

Peltonotellus quadrivittatus (Fieber, 1 8 7 6 )

564 (0; 1)

Ommatidiotus dissimilis (Fallen, 1 8 o 6 )

556 (0; 0; 1 ) 628 (0; 0; 2) - N R A

Familia ISSIDAE

Agalmatium bilobum (Fieber, 1 8 7 7 )

552 (1 ; 0)

Agalmatium flavescens (Olivier, 1 7 9 1 )

552 (2; 1) 561 (1; 0)

Issus lauri Ahrens, 1818

552 (0; 1)554 (6; 1)557 (2;4)622 (2; 0; 2)

Latissus dilatatus (Fourcroy, 1 78 5 )

55 7 (2; 1)

Familia CERCOPIDAE

Cercopis sanguinolenta (Scopoii, 1 7 6 3 )

624 (2; 0) 625 (3; 1)

Fam ilia APHROPHORIDAE

Lepyronia coleoptrata (Linnaeus, 175 8)

553 (1; 1) 554 (2; 0) 555 (0; 1) 556 (1; 0) 562 (2; 0)

Neophilaenus campestris (Fallen, 1 805)

552 (0; 1 ) 5 5 7 (0; 1 ) 564 (1 ; 1)

Neophilaenus lineatus (Linnaeus, 175 8)

559 (9; 1) 561 (5; 1) 564 (1; 0) 622 (0; 1)

Philaenus spumarius (Linnaeus, 1 758 )

552 (0; 2) 554 (1; 0) 557 (1; 0) 624 (0; 1) 625 (2; 3)

Familia CICADELLIDAE

Agallia consobrina Curtis, 1 8 3 3

552 (0; 1 ) 557 (3; 13)

Anaceratagallia laevis (Ribaut, 1935)

552 (2; 2) 556 (3; 4) 559 (3; 0) 562 (3; 0) 564 (2; 2)

Austroagallia sinuata (M ulsant etRey, 1 855)

552 (0; 2) 553 (1; 1) 558 (8; 3) 564 (0; 5) 625 (0; 2)

Bugraia ocularis (M ulsant et Rey, 1 855)

552 (1; 1) 554 (1; 2) 557 (2; 2; 1) 622 (2; 13) 626 (0; 7)

Hecalus Storai (Lindberg, 1 9 36)

561 (2; 0) - NPI

Stegelytra cf. erythroneura Haupt, 1924

557 (0; 0; 1) - N R A

Empoasca alsiosa Ribaut, 1933

628 (1 ; 2) - N R A

Lindbergina (Youngiada) sp.

557 (0; 9) - N R A

Ribautiana tenerrima (Herrich-s chaffer, 1 8 3 4 )

554 (0; 1 ) - N R A

Eupteryx thoulessi Edwards, 19 26

622 (1 ;0) - N R A

Eupteryx zelleri (Kirschbaum, 1 8 6 8 )

564 (1 ; 6) 622 (0; 1 ) 624 (1 ; 0)

Zyginidia adamczewskii d worakowska, 1970

564 (2; 0) - N R A

Zyginidia gr. ribauti d worakowska, 1970

552 (20; 1 8) 55 3 (2; 4) 554 (2; 2) 556 (1; 2) 561 (0; 1)

559 (7; 13) 562 (2; 1) 564 (9; 0) 624 (1; 1) 628 (7; 3)

Arboridia parvula (B ohem an, 1 845 )

552 (1 ; 1 )

Grypotes staurus ivanoff, 18 85

55 7 (3; 4; 2)

Opsius lethierryi Wagner, 1942

556 (3; 0) 562 (1; 3)

Opsius stactogalus Fieber, 1866

555 (1 ; 5 ) 556 (2; 0)

Neoaliturus fenestratus (Herrich-Schaffer, 1 8 34)

552 (0; 1) 553 (0; 1) 556 (1; 0) 559 (0; 2)

Circulifer sp.

552 (0; 1)

Balclutha nicolasi (Lethierry, 1 8 76 )

559 (6; 10; 1) - NR A

Balclutha rosea (Scott, 1 8 7 6 )

55 3 (0; 1 ) 562 (0; 1) - N R A

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

3 15

Macrosteles ossiannilssoni Lindberg, 1954

555 (1 ; 3) - N R A

Macrosteles quadripunctulatus (Kirschbaum, 1 8 6 8 )

623 (2; 1)

Maiestas sp.

557 (0; 2) 559 (0; 1)

Varta rubrostriata (Horvath, 1 9 o 7 )

554 (7; 4) - N R A

Doratura g r. paludosa M elichar, 1 897

556 (1 ; 2) 564 (2; 1 ; 1)

Fieberiella florii (Stai, 1 8 6 4 )

552 (0; 1 ) 554 (0; 1 ) 55 7 (1; 0; 1)

Synophropsis lauri { Horvath, 1 897 )

55 7 (1 ; 0) - N R A

Anoplotettix sp.

552 (0; 1)

Selenocephalus stenopterus signoret, 1 8 8 o

56 1 (1 ; 0)

Cicadula lineatopunctata (m atsumura, 1 9 o 8 )

559 (4; 7) - NRA

Mocydia crocea (Herrich-Schaffer, 1 8 3 7)

627 (0; 1)

Mocydiopsis oranensis (M atsumura, 1 908 )

56 1 (4; 4)

Thamnotettix dilutior ( Kirschbaum, 1 8 68 )

55 7 (1 ; 0)

Thamnotettix zelleri (Kirschbaum , 1 8 68)

623 (7; 8; 7)

Conosanus obsoletus (Kirschbaum, 1 8 5 8 )

552 ( 1 ; 0 ) 55 3 (2;5 ) 555 (2;4) 556 (2 ; 3 ) 559 (0;2)

Euscelis alsius Ribaut, 1952

55 3 (1 ; 0) - N R A

Euscelis lineolatus Bruiie, 1 8 3 2

552 (10; 10)553 (5 ; 0 ) 5 5 4 (2;4)555 ( 1 ; 0 ) 5 5 6 (1 ; 2)

55 7 (5; 6) 559 (7; 5) 564 (3; 1)

Streptanus josifovi Diaboia, 1957

624 (5; 1 1 ) 626 (2; 2)

Artianus manderstjernii (Kirschbaum, 1 8 68)

556 (2; 0)

Melillaia desbrochersi (Lethierry, 1 889)

623 (32; 17) 624 (0; 1) 626 (1; 5) - NPI

Paramesus obtusifrons (Stai, 1 8 5 3 )

553 (9; 3) 555 (1; 2) 556 (2; 3 ) 562 (8; 2; 1) 563 (5; 2)

Parapotes reticulatus (Horvath, 1 8 9 7 )

563 (1 0; 3) - NI

Paralimnus phragmitis (Boheman, 1 847)

555 ( 1 ; 2 ) 556 (1 ;2) 562 (2; 14) - NRA

Psammotettix alienus (D ahibom , 1 8 5 o )

552 (6; 6) 553 (2; 9) 554 (0; 7) 556 (0; 2) 558 (2; 3) 559

(11; 0) 5 62 (2 ; 0 ) 5 6 4 ( 7 ; 8 ) 6 2 2 ( 7 ; 7 ) 6 2 3 (5 ; 2 ) 6 2 4 (3;

2) 625 (3; 1) 627 (1; 0) 628 (18; 18; 18)

Psammotettix confinis (D ahibom, 1 8 5 o )

559 (4; 0)

Adarrus reductus (m elichar, 1 897)

561 (25; 22) 564 (17; 9) 627 (0; 1)

Jassargus latinus (Wagner, 1942)

624 (0; 1)

Arthaldeus striifrons (Kirschbaum, 1 8 68 )

556 (0; 3) - NRA

Calamotettix taeniatus (Horvath, 1 9 1 1 )

562 (2; 14) - NI

The investigated areas

1. Bosco di Rauccio and adjacent areas (St. 5 5 2-

558, 561, 625-627) (Figs. 2-5): 67 taxa collected.

The high number of collected species is due to

the m ajor collecting intensity in relation to the other

two investigated areas. Ten localities with different

ecological features were studied, two of them in two

different seasons. Particular importance have the

reed areas with six species of PhrClginiteS fe e d ers ,

among them Pentastiridius suezensis, Chloriona

glaucescens, Delphax inermis and D. meridionalis.

In other moist areas, characterized by Cyper-

aceae and Juncaceae, further inter esting species

were discovered: Stenokelisia angiista, Delphacodes

capnodes , Ommatidiotus dissimilis (ail on Carex

s p p . ) , Florodelphax leptosoma (on J uncus), Toya

3 1 6

Adalgisa Guglielmino & Christoph Buckle

obtusangula (on Poaceae?) and Eupteryx thoulessi

(on Mentha aquatica l.)- Varta rubrostriata lives

on tussocks of a tall Poaceae species (probable

Erianthus ravennae ) which is present on field

margins west of Specchia della Milogna. In the

central forest area nine (unfortunately female)

specimens of an interesting Ty p h lo c y b in ae species,

Lindbergina ( Youngiada ) sp., were collected on

QuerCUS ilex , and the brachypterous Deltocephal-

in ae Melillaia desbrochersi on the low vegetation

of small clearings. The dry areas south of the Nat-

ural Reserve with a garigue like vegetation furni-

shed very interesting results as well. Among other

species there were found AdarrUS redliCtUS , HecaluS

storai and Mocydiopsis oranensis.

2. Le Cesine and adjacent areas (St. 562, 563, 622,

623 ) (Figs. 6, 7): 22 taxa collected.

Only four localities in this area were investig-

ated. Again, the reed areas along the lagoons are

particularly rich of interesting Auchenorrhyncha:

on PhragUliteS the following species were collec-

ted: Pentastiridius suezensis , Euides basilinea ,

Chloriona glaucescens , Paralimnus phragmitis and

Calamotettix taeniatus. Parapotes reticulatus

was found not far from the PHvagniiteS sites on

Schoenoplectus lacustris , Eupteryx thoulessi on

Mentha aquatica. a rich population of Melillaia

desbrochersi was collected in spring on the herb-

aceous vegetation of an olive grove.

3. Laghi Alim ini (St. 559, 560) (Fig. 8): 18 taxa

collected .

Only two sites were studied in this area. A rich

population of Stenokelisia angusta w as observed on

tall sedges near the reed belt around Lago Piccolo.

Kelisia g r . ribauti ( o n Carex s p . ) , Florodelphax lepto-

soma ( o n June us) . Flastenafumipennis and Balclutha

nicolasi {on Cyperus ) were collected in a moist area

with different small Cyperaceae and Juncaceae.

Observations on some taxa of special interest

Pentastiridius suezensis (M atsumura, 1910)

(St. 555, 558, 562, 563) (Fig. 10)

a ii Pentastiridius specimens collected in

201 1/2012 in Apulia (and a population found some

years before in northern Apulia, province of Foggia,

Lago di Lesina) belong to this taxon. Their aedeagus

shape corresponds to the figures given by Van Stalle

(1991), and by Wagner (1954), who probably had seen

the type material. The species shares apparently the

ecological preferences with P. lepOHUUS (Linnaeus,

1761) and was found in abundance on PhragmiteS

australis in coastal lagoon areas and sim ilar h ab itats .

In D’Urso (1995a) the presence of this species

in Italy is regarded as doubtful with records of

Oliarus pollens (Germar, 1821) possibly referring

to P. suezensis. ah Pentastiridius Kirschbaum,

1868 specimens we collected in other parts of Italy

including Sardinia and all Pentastiridius sp e c im e n s

in the S erv a d e i c o lie c tio n under the name OliarUS

leporinus l. and O. pollens , which were checked

by the authors, belong to P. leporinUS. Thus, it

seems that P. Suezensis is present only in a part of

southeastern Italy, where it replaces P. leporinus,

which is present and common in all other regions

of peninsular Italy. P. SU£Zensis is described from

Egypt, and has a wide distribution primarily in

many parts of southern, southeastern and eastern

Europe, but also in Africa and Asia until India and

Philippines (Van Stalle, 1991).

Until now, there are unresolved taxonom ical

problem s in this species group (see Holzinger et al.,

2003, Webb et al., 2013).

Kelisia gr. ribauti w agner, 193 8

(St. 5 5 9, 62 8 )

There are some doubts about the identity of

Kelisia ribauti in Central Europe and the popula-

tions in the M editerranean regions (see Guglielmino

et al., 2005). Italian populations of this species

group were found in many different habitats from

localities near the seashore until moderately high

mountain areas, always in moist environments

on different small Ca rex species. At least at low

altitude they hibernate in the adult stage.

Steno cr anus fuse ovittatus (Stai, 1 8 5 8 )

(St. 5 5 6) (Fig. 16) - NR A

Species widely distributed in the Palaearctic

region. In Italy it is recorded from Trentino Alto

Adige (Servadei, 1 967), Veneto (Minelli &

Mannucci, 1 979), Lazio (Castellani, 1 95 3 ). The

record for Lazio is doubt ful and may refer rather to

S. major (K irschb aum , 1 8 6 8). In A p u lia th e species

is found in marshes on tall sedges. This is in con-

gruence with the observations in Nickel (2003).

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

3 1 7

Figure 16 . Stenocranus fnscovittatus. Figure 17 . Euides basilinea. Figure is. Chloriona glances cens. Figure 19. Delphacodes

capnodes. Figure 20 . Ommatidiotus dissimilis. Figure 21. Varta rubrostriata. Figure 22. Parapotes reticulatus. Figure 23.

Calamotettix taeniatus. p hotos Gemot Kunz.

3 1 8

Adalgisa Guglielmino & Christoph Buckle

Stenokelisia angusta Ribaut, 1934

(St. 554. 555, 556, 560) (Fig. 11) - NPI

The species is recorded from Sicily (A sc he,

1 98 5) and Sardinia (Guglielmino et al., 2000). It is

It is indicated in Della Giustina & Remane (1991)

as therm o-xer op hilous and feeding possibly on

Carex flucca S c h ieb er. Habitat and host plant of th e

populations found in Apulia do not coincide with

this characterization . The host plant in Apulia is a tall

sedge like Carex dCUtifOYTYlis E hrh the habitats are

moist areas in marshes. In Sardinia the species was

found in a spring fen at an altitude of about 1000 m.

Delphax inermis Ribaut, 1934

(St. 5 5 5 ) - NR A

The species is widely distributed in the Mediter-

ranean area. In Italy it seems to be rather rare and is

recorded only from Lazio and Sicily (Servadei, 1968;

D’Urso, 1995a). The record forLazio should be con-

firmed. The host plant is PhmgmiteS australis.

Delphax meridionalis (Haupt, 1924 )

(St. 5 5 6) (Fig. 12) - NI

This species is recorded until now only from

Greece. In Italy it is replaced apparently by the

close related D. vibciUticinUS Asche et Drosopoulos,

1982. The new record for Italy represents one of

several examples in which taxa present on the

Balkan Peninsula occur also in southern or south-

eastern Italy. The specimen in Apulia was collected

o n Phragmites australis in a marsh area.

Euides basilinea (Germar, 1 8 2 1 )

(St. 562) (Fig. 17) - NPI

Also this species is a Phragmites fee A tv. In Italy

it w as recorded until now only from Trentino Alto

Adige (Servadei, 1968) and Veneto-Lom bardia

(O sella, Pagliano-O sella, 1989). The specimen from

Apulia was found on the shore of a lagoon together

w ith Pentastiridius suezensis, Chloriona glauces-

cens and Calamotettix taeniatus.

Chloriona glaucescens Fieber, 18 66

(St. 5 5 8, 5 62) (Fig. 18) - NPI

The species is distributed in Europe (except for

the Iberian Peninsula) and in Central Asia. In Italy

it is recorded by Servadei (1967) from Trentino Alto

Adige. This record is dubious in view of the prefer-

ence of this Chloriona Fieber, 1 866 species for

brackish habitats. The habitats in Apulia were reeds

on the seashore or along the shore of lagoons. Host

plant is Phragmites australis.

Delphacodes capnodes (Scott, 1 8 7 o )

(St. 5 5 5 ) (Fig. 19) - NI

The species is widely distributed in central and

southeastern Europe. Tall sedges are recorded as

host plants. This coincides with our observations in

Apulia.

Trypetimorpha sp

(St. 5 5 6) - N R A

Only one nymph was co lie c te d fro m th is g e n u s ,

the identification of which at species level is at

present impossible. In the past there was some

nom enclatural confusion in this genus (see Huang

& Bourgoin, 1993; Guglielmino et al., 2005). In

Italy, two Trypetimorpha Costa 1 8 6 2 species are

present: T. occidentalis h uang et Bourgoin, 1993

widespread and common in Central Italy, and T.

fenestrata C o sta , 1 862 described from Campania

and recorded also from Basilicata by Servadei

(1 967; as T. piloStt Horvath, 190 7 now a synonym

of T. fenestrata). We checked the s p e c im e n s fro m

Basilicata in the S er v ad e i-c o lie c tio n and confirmed

the identification as T. fenestrata.

Ommatidiotus dissimilis (Fallen, 1 8 o 6 )

(St. 5 5 6, 62 8) (Fig. 20) - NR A

The species is widespread in the Palaea retie

region. In the past it was considered ty rp h o p h ilo u s

and monophagous on Eriophorum vaginatum L .

(Nickel, 2003). However, in the meantime it was

found also on other Eriophorum L. taxa and on

several CareX species in quite diverse habitats. In

Italy it is recorded from Trentino Alto Adige and

Veneto (Servadei, 1967), Toscana (M azzoni, 2005),

Abruzzo and L azio (G uglielm ino e t al., 2 0 0 5 ) . H o s t

plants in Apulia are small sedges in moist areas near

the coast. This coincides with the habitats in Lazio.

In Abruzzo, however, the species was found on dry

mountain pastures at an altitude of 1900 m (on

Carex cf. kitaibeliana Degen ex B e c h . ) . No mor-

phological differences were observed between these

different populations.

Hecalus storai (Lind berg, 1 93 6)

(St. 56 1) - NPI

The species is described from the Canary

Islands and recorded also from France. Our identi-

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

3 19

fication is based on Ribaut’s description and fig-

ures. In Italy there is only a record from Sicily (Pan-

teller ia) (D’Urso & Guglielmino, 1995). HecaluS

Stal, 1864 species may be rather variable in size and

vertex shape, whereas there are only slight differ-

ences in the genital morphology. Therefore it is

difficult to define specific characters. Linnavuori

(1975) made an importantcontribution to the know-

ledge of the genus, but many problems are left. The

specimens in Apulia were found in a dry and stony

habitat south of Bosco di Rauccio.

Stegelytra cf. erythroneura Haupt, 1924

(St. 5 5 7 ) - N R A

Un til now this genus was not recorded forApulia.

We found only one nymph (on QueVCUS ileX) .The

authors collected in central and Southern Italy (and

Sardinia) only S. erythroneura (on Quercus ilex an A

Q. Cervis L . ) . Probably also the nymph from Bosco

di R auccio belongs to this taxon. The other Stegelytra

Ghauri 1972 taxon present in Italy, S. pUtOlli (M u Is an t

et Rey, 1875), was collected by the authors in Liguria

(on Q. ilex ) (Guglielmino & Buckle, 2007), and was

later recorded by M azzoni (2005) from Toscana.

Lindbergina (Youngiada) sp.

(St. 5 5 7 ) - N R A

No species of YoUUgiada Dlabola, 1959 was

recorded before from Apulia. We collected only fe-

rn ales, an identification of which on species level is

not possible. They present the sam e colouration as

a fern ale collected in Southern Lazio (Guglielmino

etal.,2005) and were found like the specimen from

Lazio on QueVCUS Hex. In Italy until now two

species of this subgenus are recorded: Lindbergina

loewi (Lethierry, 1884), a doubtful record from

Friuli Venezia Giulia, (see D’Urso, 1 995 a) and L.

chobauti { Ribaut, 1952) (Vidano & Arzone, 1987;

M azzoni, 2005).

Zyginidia adamczewskii Dworakowska, 1970

(St. 564) - N R A

The species is described from Croatia and recor-

ded also from Greece (Drosopoulos et a 1. , 1986).

The first and only record in Italy is from Campania

(Vidano, 1 982). Vidano (1 982) indicates Cynodon

dactylon (L.) Pers., Agropyron repens (L.) p.

Beauv. and other Poaceae as host plants. The

specimens in Apulia were collected in a dry rocky

garigue like habitat.

Zyginidia gr. ribauti Dworakowska, 1970

(St. 552-554, 556, 5559, 561, 562, 564, 624, 628)

Very common taxon throughout peninsular

Italy; it is replaced in Sardinia by Z. SCUtellaris

(H e rr ic h - S c h affer, 1 8 3 8 ), and in Northern Italy

p artly by Z. pullula (Bo hem an, 1845). The relatio n -

ships betw een Z. ribauti, Z. Serpentina (M atsum ura,

1908) and Z. italica (Ribaut, 1947) should be clari-

fied (see also Guglielmino et al., 2005). Z. gr. ri-

bauti displays a remarkable variability in its

aedeagus morphology, not only between different

populations, but also within the same population.

Circulifer s P

(St. 5 5 2)

Only one female of this genus was collected in

a maquis like area of Bosco di Rauccio. The genus

(often inserted in NeoaHturUS D istan t, 19 18) is very

problematic in respect of species discrimination.

Italian populations are quite diverse in colouration

and size. However, no distinct differences in the

genital morphology of males and females were

observed. In males, the shape of the genital plates

corresponds to that given by Ribaut (1 952) for c.

HaematOCepS (Mulsant et Rey, 1855). The habitats

are generally dry places in low and median altitude,

also sandy seashores. The host plants are in some

cases apparently CistUS sp., in others Chenopodi-

aceae. In Germany Circulifer c f . haematOCepS w a s

found on Sedum L. (Crassulaceae) (Nickel, pers.

c o m m . ) .

Maiestas sp

(St. 5 5 7, 5 59)

The females of this genus found during our

study in Apulia belong with great probability to M.

Schmidt geni (Wagner, 1939), which is very wide-

spread and common in dry ruderal lowland places

in peninsular Italy.

Varta rubrostriata (Horvath, 190 7)

(St. 5 54) (Fig. 2 1) - NR A

After the revision of the Varta- StyniphaluS g e n -

eric complex ( V iraktam ath , 2004) the distribution

of v: rubrostriata should be checked. In Italy it is

recorded from Lazio and Basilicata (Servadei,

1967). The presence in both regions was con firm e d

by the authors. The host plants in Italy are appar-

ently Erianthus ravennae (L.) p. Beauv. and Im-

perata cylindrica (L.) p. b eauv., in Bulgaria and

Greece it occurs also on SorghuiTl Halepense (L .) Pers.

320

Adalgisa Guglielmino & Christoph Buckle

Doratura gr paludosa Melichar, 1897

(St. 5 5 6, 5 64)

The group of species close to D. paludoSQ. is in

need of revision. A paper on the topic is in prepara-

tio n . The Doi'CltUVCl J. Sahib erg, 1871 pop u latio n s

fo u n d in southern A p u lia belong to the same species

that is found in other Adriatic parts of peninsular

Italy. In the past those populations were recorded

sometimes as D. pClludoSCl, sometimes as D. veneta

D lab o la , 1 95 9.

Mocydiopsis oranensis (Matsumura, 190 8)

(St. 561) (Fig. 13)

W estm editerranean species, in Italy recorded only

from Apulia (Gargano) and Sicily (Guglielmino,

1993). A small localized population was found

during the recent study in Apulia in a dry and stony

garigue like habitat together with AdarrUS VedllCtUS

(M elichar, 1 89 7).

Melillaia desbrochersi (Lethieny, 1 8 8 9 )

(St. 623, 624, 626) (Fig. 14) - NP1

Mediterranean species, in Italy recorded only

from Sicily (D’Urso, 1995b). In Apulia, we collec-

ted it only in spring. It was found in a olive grove

near the Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”, and in the

Natural Park “Bosco e Paludi di Rauccio” in a

ruderal place and on so me small clearings. Probably

the species is widespread and not uncommon in

southern Italy, but until now it was never found

because of its particular life cycle: adults occur only

in the early (and late?) parts of the year.

Parapotes reticulatus (Horvath, 1 8 9 7 )

(St. 563 ) (Fig. 22) - N I

The discovery of this species in Apulia was

quite unexpected. It is distributed in several coun-

tries of central, northern and southeastern Europe,

including Ex-Yugoslavia. As host plants are recor-

ded Schoenoplectus lacustris (L .) Palla and possibly

S. tabernaemontani (Gmei.) Paiia (Nickel, 2003 ).

A quite abundant population of this species was

found in the lagoon area of the Natural Reserve “Le

Cesine”, on Schoenoplectus lacustris.

Adarrus reductus (M elichar, 1 897)

(St. 56 1, 564, 627) (Fig. 15)

The species is described from Croatia. In Italy it

is recorded only from Apulia (Servadei, 1967). It

was collected in two very dry stony garigue like sites

(south of Bosco diRauccio and near Porto Badisco).

Calamotettix taeniatus (Horvath, 191 1 )

(St. 562) (Fig. 23) - NI

The species is recorded from central and eastern

Europe. In Apulia, it was found on the shore of the

Pantano Grande in the Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”

on its host plant, Phragmites australis, in moder-

ately high abundance.

CONCLUSIONS

During our research in Apulia 84 A uchenor-

rhyncha species were found on the whole. Four

species ( Delphax meridionalis, Delphacodes

capnodes , Parapotes reticulatus and Calamotettix

taeniatus ) are recorded for the first time for Italy,

five ( Stenokelisia angusta , Euides basilinea ,

Chloriona glaucescens, Hecalus storai and Melil-

laia desbrochersi) are new records for the A pennine

Peninsula (“S” in the checklist of the Italian fauna),

and 2 6 are new records for Apulia ( Kelisia gUt-

tulifera , Stenocranus fuscovittatus, Eurysanoides

rubripes , Delphax inermis , Chloriona sicula ,

Laodelphax striatella, Florodelphax leptosoma ,

Toya propinqua, Flastena fumipennis , Trypeti-

morpha sp ., Ommatidiotus dissimilis, Stegelytra cf.

erythroneura, Empoasca alsiosa , Lindbergina

( Youngiada ) sp., Ribautiana tenerrima , Eupteryx

thoulessi , Zyginidia adamczewskii. Balclutha ni-

colasi, B. rosea, Macrosteles ossiannilssoni, Varta

rubrostriata , Synophropsis lauri, Cicadula lineato-

punctata, Euscelis alsius, Paralimnus phragmitis,

Arthaldeus striifrons ) .

The high number of new records for Apulia, and

the fact that some of these records regard species

that are widespread and quite common throughout

Italy, show that the knowledge on this region is

presently very scarce. In addition to the here

presented data, many further research is necessary

to achieve to a sufficient understanding of the

A uchenorrhy ncha fauna in southeastern Italy.

Even if the three studied areas furnished very

im portant results, w e are far from aN approximately

complete knowledge on the Auchenorrhyncha of

these areas. Additional in vestigations should include

more localities, biotopes and collecting seasons.

The distribution of some taxa collected during

our recent study in Apulia is particularly interesting:

Apparently these species are present only in the

Balkan region and in South Italy. Delphax ITieridi-

Onalis was considered an endemic species of

Remarks on the composition of the Auchenorrhyncha fauna in some moist areas in Southern Apulia (Italy)

32 1

Greece before it was discovered in Apulia; AdciVVUS

redliCtliS is recorded only from Croatia and Apulia;

and Zyginidia cidcunczc wskii is known fro m Croatia,

Greece and South Italy (Campania, Apulia). In con-

trast to these three cases, other taxa display a wide

distribution in Europe. In Italy, however, they were

found until now only in Apulia and not in the cent-

ral and northern parts of this country. This group in-

cludes Pentastiridius suezensis , Calamotettix

taeniatus. Parapotes reticulatus and Delphacodes

capnodes. we may add Chloriona glaucescens as

well, a halophilous species, the record of which

from Trentino Alto Adige (Servadei, 1967) is

probably erroneous. A molecular study of these

species in order to clarify the relation ships between

populations from central Europe, southern Italy and

the Balkan region would be very interesting.

Unlike most other regions of Italy, a great part

of Apulia consists of plains and low hills, which

nowadays are almost completely cultivated. Thus,

moist habitats (freshwater lakes or springs and

brackish lagoons), and the dry maquis and garigue

areas, have become extremely rare and harbour the

last relics of a flora and fauna, which in former

times were typical for the whole region, but are now

nearly extinct. The protection at least of the few

natural sites left is therefore of particular impor-

tance. Each of the three investigated areas has

its own special characteristics, each is unique but

fragile and vulnerable.

In the case of the Natural Park of “Bosco e

Paludi di Rauccio” we observed some negative im-

pact of agricultural activity on the protected area.

Whereas the central QuCVCUS UcX forest and the

Specchia della Milogna area in the northeastern

sector of the reserve display more or less safe

conditions, there are other zones around the forest

and above all in the southwestern partof the Natural

Park that seem to be conspicuously compromised.

Apparently, the main problem consists in frequent

arsons of vast extension, easily visible in recently

burnt CareX meadows, but also in green areas where

a glance at the soil between the fresh grasses re-

vealed everywhere the black charred remnants of

the plants burnt in the years before. The almost

completely black colouration of populations of

Lepyronia coleoptrata specimens in these areas

may be interpreted as adaptive character to these

particular conditions (a similar case is documented

in Philaenus spumarius fro nr Great Britain (Wilson,

p e r s . comm.).

Finally we point out the interesting area south

of Bosco di Rauccio, off the Natural Park (St. 555,

561, 627). This site, consisting of quite extended

wet meadows and reeds along a central channel

and adjacent dry garigues, has a great value for

plants, birds and insects. We think it very import-

ant to warrant the conservation of this habitat as

a highly valuable addition to the nearby located

N atural P ark .

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to Carmine A n n ic c h iaric o for

his help concerning the collecting permission in the

Natural Reserve “Le Cesine”. We thank Vittorio De

Vitis for useful advice and information during our

research in the Natural Park “Bosco e Paludi di

Rauccio”. Many thanks also to Massimo Vollaro

and Gemot Kunz for the photos.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 323-326

Monograph

Presence's mapping of Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefebvre,

1827) (Orthoptera Gryllidae) within the Natural Reserve of

Vendicari (Noto, Siracusa, Italy)

Alfredo Petralia 1 *, Ettore Petralia 2 , Giorgio Sabella 3 , Filadelfo Brogna 4 & Corrado Bianca 1

*Ente Fauna Siciliana Onlus, Noto, Italy

2 Sud & Dintomi Onlus, Catania, Italy; Studio Oikos, Catania, Italy

’Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, sez. Biologia Animale, Catania University, Italy

4 Regione Siciliana, Dipartimento Azienda Regionale Foreste Demaniali, Siracusa, Italy

’Corresponding author, e-mail: alfredo.petralia@yahoo.it

ABSTRACT Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefebvre, 1827) (Orthoptera Gryllidae) is a species included in

the Annexes II and IV of EU Directive 92/43 as taxon requiring strict protection. The authors

summarize the researches aimed to recognize the localization of this species within the natural

reserve of Vendicari, protected area along the south eastern Sicilian coast in the territory of

Noto (province of Siracusa). The presence of the specimens was ascertained by detecting its

holes on the soil surface. The holes position was recorded using GPS and utilized for mapping

the presence of the species as tool for its protection management in the reserve territory.

KEY WORDS monitoring; wildlife management; protected areas; mapping.

Received 25.07.2014; accepted 30.11.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefebvre,

1827) (Orthoptera Gryllidae) (Figs. 1, 2), described

on specimens from Sicily, is a South-Mediterranean

species widespread in the sandy environments of

Sicily, Aeolian Islands, Maltese Islands, southern

Sardinia, Northern Africa (included the Saharan

oases): it is an exclusively sandy adapted cricket.

This species is considered as a biodiversity ele-

ment of particular interest thanks to its complex

eco-biology. Previous works (see Conti et al.,

2014) investigated the biological cycle, swimming

ability and digging technique, reproductive mode,

coupling pattern and more. Due to its current rar-

efaction in Europe, this species has been included

in the Annexes II and IV of EU Directive 92/43 as

a species requiring strict protection.

The reserve of Vendicari lies in the south-

eastern extremity of Sicily and is part of a vast

wetlands system that is one of the most important

of the island; it extends for about 8 km of coastline

and 0.3- 1.5 km inland and includes a series of dif-

ferent environments (sweet-water wetlands, coastal

lagoons, garrigue scrubland, Mediterranean ma-

quis) and a very rich biodiversity: a wide descrip-

tion of the reserve was edited by Petralia (2010).

B. megacephalus , having been already monitored

in Vendicari a little bit more than ten years ago

(Petralia et al., 2003), is one of the main com-

ponent of the artropodological fauna in the reserve

(Petralia & Russo, 2010).

324

Alfredo Petralia etalii

This research was aimed to map the localization

of the species in order to provide basic information

useful to manage the protection of the species itself.

The study was carried out during the breeding

season (from March to early May of 2012) when

the digging activity of the specimens (surface active

again after the winter suspension, for mate) is

particularly intense and easily detectable: the

location of individuals was carried out by detecting

the position of the holes that the animals burrow

into the sand and where the animals remain for most

of their life, also where they die after spawning. The

traces that indicate the presence of the animals are

two (Figs. 3,4): the mouths of the burrows and the

little sandy cones occluding those; also the piercing

sound-calls emitted by the males to attract the

females provide further information about the

presence of individuals.

The survey in the reserve was conducted in the

sandy sectors of the A zone (integral reserve) in the

potential habitats for the presence of B. megacepha-

lus (Figs. 5, 6). The concerned areas are: 1, the

mouth of the Tellaro river (Eloro) at the extreme

north of the reserve; 2, the sandy dunes of Calam-

osche; 3, the sandy south western area of the Vendi-

cari island; 4, the southern dune belt where the GPS

position of each detected burrow was recorded.

RESULTS AND COMMENTS

The presence of the species was ascertained

within the areas marked with numbers 1 and 4

(Fig. 6).

In the latter the GPS burrow records (290 in 18

ha) allowed to obtain the representation of the area

were the species localizes (Fig. 7) using gvSIG

program: the animals dwell exclusively on the

sandy belt and do not intrude both the sandy beach

(seaward) and inland; it is also possible to observe

particular concentrations of burrows in the extreme

north of the sandy belt (Fig. 8).

In the Vendicari island were not found speci-

mens of the monitored species. Probably that is due

Figures 1, 2. Specimens of B. megacephalus photographed before their release: on the male's forewings (Fig. 1) is visible

the stridulatory organ, absent on the female (Fig. 2). Figures 3, 4. Examples of burrow's mouth of B. megacephalus (Fig.

3) and little sandy cone that close the burrow on the soil surface (Fig. 4) (Photos by A. Petralia).

Presence's mapping of Brachytrupes megacephalus within the Natural Reserve of Vendicari (Noto, Siracusa, Italy) 325

Figure 5. Localization (jellow star) of the reserve of Vendicari along the south western Sicilian coast. Figure 6.

In dark-green the A zone of the reserve, in light-green the B zone; 1 to 4 the potential habitats of B. megacephalus.

A i\

VJft I

r marshes

■ v "i t yi y | -i.

sea

Figure 7. Mapping of the B. megacephalus presence along

the dune belt in the southern part of the reserve of Vendicari.

to the not good condition of the sandy habitat: too

narrow extension of the sandy surface in the island,

too windy and not protected because of scarce

vegetation, too brackish.

Also in the area marked with number 2 (Calam-

osche) the species was not detected: it is important

to emphasize that in the previous monitoring carried

out in 2003 (Petralia et al., 2003) the species was

present in these sandy dunes. Probably the disap-

pearance here of this species can be related with the

strong anthropic pressure on the dunes just behind

the beach of Calamosche: in particular the anarchic

trampling on the sand (and the consequent destruc-

tion of nests, eggs and young specimens of B.

megacephalus especially during the early stages of

development) to reach the beach for swimming in

the summer months, which increased over time,

could have acted as a decisive factor in habitat

degradation and, as consequence, in disappearance

of the species.

We can conclude that the protection of B. mega-

cephalus depends on a very severe protection of the

stability of his habitat. The results of the mapping

here described, indicate the areas in which is oppor-

tune to concentrate the actions aimed to ensure the

safeguard of the species: firstly a veiy strict prevention

326

Alfredo Petralia etalii

Figure 8. Northern sector of the

dune belt referred to the Fig. 4 to

show the particular concentra-

tions of burrows highlighted by

red dots.

Figure 9. Calamosche in winter

(photo by www.temioggi.it) and

in summer (Figure 10, photo by

www.itineraricamper.it): the very

heavy human pressure on the

beach in summer could had gen-

erated negative effects on the

conditions for the survival of B.

megacephalus in the back dunes,

from which the species has dis-

appeared.

of the trampling (by humans and by cars) on the

dune, given its destructive effects on the sandy hab-

itat integrity.

The Calamosche situation (Figs. 9, 10) (in par-

ticular the disappearance of the species in this area)

represents in this sense a clear warning signal that

induces a very careful control in the Eloro area (num-

ber 1 in Fig. 6) and along the dune belt also exposed

to trampling in violation of the protection rules

provided for the A area where the dunes are located.

REFERENCES

Conti E., Costa G., Petralia A. & Petralia E., 2014.

Eco-ethology of Brachytrupes megacephalus

(Orthoptera, Gryllidae), protected specie in UE. In:

Petralia A. & Bianca C. (Eds.), 2nd Djerba Interna-

tional Mediterranean Environment Sustainability

Conference, Djerba Tunisia, 22-25. April 2012,

Proceedings. © Atti e Memorie dell'Ente Fauna

Siciliana, 11: 51-56.

Petralia A. (a cura di), 2010. L'area protetta di Vendicari.

Atti del Convegno celebrativo per il 35° anno di

fondazione dell'Ente Fauna Siciliana, "Case Citta-

della", Vendicari-Noto (SR) 25-26 ottobre 2008.

432 pp.

Petralia A. & Russo C., 2010. Artropodofauna e

biowatching. In: Petralia A. (a cura di) - L'area

protetta di Vendicari. Atti del Convegno celebrativo

per il 35° anno di fondazione dell'Ente Fauna

Siciliana, Vendicari-Noto (SR) 25-26 ottobre 2008,

209-226.

Petralia A., Russo C. & Cartarrasa S., 2003. Topology

of Brachytrupes megacephalus (Lefebvre, 1827)

(Orthoptera, Gryllidae) in some Sicilian Natural re-

serves. Proceedings Fifth International Symposium

on GIS and Computer Cartography for Coastal Zone

Management, Genova, 2003.

Biodiversity Journal, 2014, 5 (4): 327-340

Monograph

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean

environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary

results

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

National Museum of Natural History, 1 Tsar Osvoboditel Blvd, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria; e-mails: bekchiev@nmnhs.com;

bobivg@yahoo.com

jj*

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT So far, special attention to the endogean and MSS (Mesovoid Shallow Substratum) fauna was

not paid in Bulgaria, though typical subterranean species of the Coleoptera have been described.

The aim of present study is to put on record the results of a broad-scale study of the coleopteran

fauna from the MSS and lower (euedaphic) soil horizons in the country. We carried out invest-

igations in the period April 2006-July 2014, manly in the Vitosha Mt., Pirin Mt., Stara Planina

Mts., Slavyanka Mt., Belasitsa Mt., Erma and Kresna Gorge, Western Rhodopes Mts., and

Srednagora Mts. For the time being, material from the following families was identified to the

genus and species levels: Anobiidae, Aphodiidae, Carabidae, Clambidae, Corylophidae,

Curculionidae, Endomychidae, Histeridae, Leiodidae, Monotomidae, Scyrtidae, Silvanidae,

Silphidae, Staphylinidae (Pselaphinae) and Zopheridae. We report for the first time the sub-

genus A ntisphodrus Schaufuss, 1865 (Carabidae) and Zustalestus Reitter, 1912 (Curculionidae)

from Bulgaria. Blemus discus discus (Fabricius, 1792) is recorded for the second time from

the country.

KEY WORDS Coleoptera; endogean and MSS fauna; Bulgaria; news records.

Received 13.12.2014; accepted 01.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The superficial, cave and hemiedaphic inver-

tebrate fauna in Bulgaria has been an object of

comprehensive investigations for almost 120 years

already. In the same time still very little is known

about invertebrates living in the lower soil layers

(so called euedaphic or endogeic environments) and

especially in the network of fissures and crevices in

the maternal rock below the soil horizon.

The latter environment is usually referred to as

Mesovoid Shallow Substratum (MMS), according

to the works of Juberthie et al. (1980, 1981), or

superficial subterranean habitats (SSHs), according

to Culver & Pipan (2008). In regard to the Cole-

optera, it seems that this specific environment has

been widely discussed by southwest Europe authors

(Ruffo, 1959; Laneyrie, 1960; Coiffait, 1963) prior

to its formal introduction by Juberthie et al. (1980).

At present, at least four basic types of MSS habitats

are discriminated (Juberthie, 2000, Ortuno et al.,

2013), based on different combinations of abiotic

and biotic factors.

Typical endogeic species can be found in most

of the soil-dwelling groups of Arthropoda: the

Lower insects (Japygidae), beetles (Carabidae,

Leiodidae), myriapods (Diplopoda, Chilopoda),

isopods (Isopoda), spiders (Araneae), etc.

328

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting groups

among them are the beetles represented by a relat-

ively high number of endemic species. Special at-

tention to the endogean and MSS fauna in Bulgaria

has been paid only recently (Deltchev et al., 2011;

Langourov et al., 2014). Typical endogean or

hypogean beetles, excluding those collected in

caves and precipices, were found occasionally

(Knirsh, 1930; Genest & Juberthie, 1983; Genest,

1983; Hurka, 1990; Janak & Moravec, 2008).

The aim of present study is to put on record the

results of a broad-scale study of the coleopteran

fauna inhabiting MSS and lower (euedaphic) soil

horizons in Bulgaria. Here we give a list of the

collecting localities and a register of the taxa found

in the different sites.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The investigation was carried out in the period

April 2006- July 2014, manly in the Vitosha Mt.,

Pirin Mt., Stara Planina Mts., Slavyanka Mts.,

Belasitsa Mt., Erma and Kresna Gorge, Western

Rhodopes Mts., and Sredna gora Mts (Fig. 1.,

Table 1).

The traps were made from PVC pipe with

diameter of the holes 8 cm and length of 60 and 80

cm. One hundred and eight holes were drilled on

each pipe, at 10 cm distance from its end. Traps

were put into 60 or 80 cm deep hole dug as deep

as the limestone or silicate layer. Ten centimeters

high plastic cup tied to polythene rope, and filled

with solution of ethilenglycol or ethilenglycol with

few drops of formalin was put into the end of the

pipe. Traps were covered by solid plastic covers in

order to avoid penetration of superficial fauna into

the pipe and infiltration of water during heavy

rains. In some cases we also used olphactory

attractant (fish).

The identificationof the taxa has been made as fol-

lows: Curculionidae (Luigi Magnano), Histeridae

(Evgeni Chehlarov), Pselaphinae (first author), and

all other families (second author).

BULGARIA

Plovdiv

MACEDONIA

Vania

BLACK

SEA

TURKEY

Sea of Marmara

Figure 1. Distribution of localities with MSS traps in Bulgaria.

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary results 329

TRAP NO.

DATE OF

SETTING

SITE DESCRIPTION

LENGTH

OF TUBE

V-N-l

29.IV.2006

Vitosha Mts., northern slope, above Boyana, Boyanski kamak place, at

the bottom of a 4-5 m deep microcave; dry, alt. 847 m.

70 cm

V-N-2&3

30.IV.2006

Vitosha Mts., northern slope, two traps set ca. 30-35 m above Boyanski

kamak, in a scree in mixed forest of Fagus silvestris and Carpinus

betulus; alt. 847 m.

60 cm

V-E-l

13.V.2006

Vitosha Mts., eastern slope, approx. 28 km south of Sofia, on the road Sofia-

Samokov, Yarema place; forest of Fagus sylvatica, in a brown soil, humid,

close to a small river, alt. 1363 m

80 cm

V-W-l

10.VI.2006

Vitosha Mts., western slope, village of Bosnek, near the cave Duhlata, karst,

stony substrate mixed with clay, alt. 964 m

80 cm

V-W-2

24.VI.2006

Vitosha Mts., western slope, village of Bosnek, near the cave Duhlata,

karst, stony substrate, clay, alt. 992 m

60 cm

V-W-3

24.VI.2006

Vitosha Mts., western slope, village of Bosnek, near the cave Duhlata,

karst, stony substrate, clay, alt. 992 m

70 cm

V-SL-1-2

06.VI.2013

Vitosha Mts., Bosnek Vill., near Akademik cave,

N 42°29'28.28" E 23°11T8.28"

60 cm

V-SL-3

06.V1.20 13

Vitosha Mts., Bosnek Vill., scree on the road to Chuipetlyovo

60 cm

V-SL-4

06.VI.2013

Bosnek Vill., Popov Izvor Karst spring

60 cm

V-SL-5

02.X.2013

Bosnek Vill., near Pepelyankata Cave

60 cm

V-SL-6

02.X.2013

Bosnek Vill., near Duhlata Cave

80 cm

BK-mssl

29.IV.2006

Vitosha Mt., above Boyana, Boyanski kamak place, at the bottom of a

4-5 m deep microcave; dry, alt. 847 m.

80 cm

Du-mss4

24.VI.2006

Vitosha Mt., near Bosnek Village, near Duhlata Cave, karst, stony

substrate, clay, alt. 992 m

80 cm

P-W-2

7.V.2006

Pirin Mts., western slope, above village of Ilindentsi, Zandana Area, karst,

in a scree, dry soil/ sandy substrate, alt. 492 m

70 cm

P-W-4

14.V.2006

Pirin Mts., western slope, village of Gradeshnitsa, near Gradeshnichka

banya, at the base of stony/ sandy cliff, dry, sandy/ stony substrate, alt.

312 m

60 cm

P-N-l

24.V.2006

Pirin Mts., northern slope, approx. 6 km before Predela Area, humid ravine,

Fagus sylvatica forest, at the base of Fagus tree, thick layer of leaf litter,

humid soil mixed with stones, alt. 676 m,

60 cm

P-N-2

24.V.2006

Pirin Mts., northern slope, approx. 6 km before Predela Area, humid

ravine, Fagus silvatica forest, humid soil and gravel, alt. 676 m

80 cm

P-E-1&2

25.V.2006

Pirin Mts., eastern slope, 3 km before village of Gospodintsi, Gotse Deltshev

District, approx. 30 m away of the main road Bansko-Gotse Deltshev and

approx. 5-6 m of a small river; in scree at the base of a limestone rocks,

close to broad-leaf tree; alt. 585 m

60 cm

P-S-l

25.V.2006

Pirin Mts., southern slope, approx. 900 m after Popovi livadi Hut on the

main road Gotse Deltshev-Katuntsi, ca. 40-50 m away of the road, marble

stone debris on a small meadow; alt. 1367 m

50 cm

P-S-2&3

18.VI.2006

Pirin Mts., southern slope, approx. 1700 m away of the main road Gotse

Deltshev-Katuntsi, on the secondary road to Orelyak Peak; in a small

valley, Fagus forest, alt. 1560 m

60 cm

Table 1. Distribution of localities with MSS traps in Bulgaria (continued).

330

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

TRAP NO.

DATE OF

SETTING

SITE DESCRIPTION

LENGTH

OF TUBE

P-S-4&5

8.VL2006

Pirin Mts., southern slope, St. Iliya Site near village of Kalimantsi; close

to the chapel, under the venerable Quercus coccifera trees, alt. 494 m

60 cm

P-S-6

27.VI.2006

Pirin Mts., southern slope, Peshtemik Site near village of Kalimantsi;

against the large travertine, under the double willow, alt. 380 m

70 cm

P-S-7

27.VI.2006

Pirin Mts., southern slope, Peshtemik Site near village of Kalimantsi;

close to the large travertine, in a smaller travertine, under a hazel bush

60 cm

WR-1

23.IV.2006

West Rhodopes Mts., central parts, approx. 1 100 m after the crossroad to

village of Borovo towards village of Belitsa; on the left side of the road, in

a small rocky valley, overgrown with bushes and Pinus nigra, ca. 50 m of

the road, alt. 657 m

55 cm

WR-2

23.IV.2006

West Rhodopes Mts., central parts, approx. 1100 m after the crossroad to

village of Borovo towards village of Belitsa; on the left side of the road,

in a small rocky valley, overgrown with bushes and Pinus nigra, ca. 100

m of the road, alt. 666 m

80 cm

WR-3&4

23.IV.2006

West Rhodopes Mts., central parts, on the way to village of Belitsa;

narrow valley on the right side of the road, ca. 80 m of the road, Pinus

nigra and deciduous bushes, alt. 666-668 m

60 cm

WR-5

14.VII.2007

West Rhodopes Mts., southern parts, near village of Koshnitsa, below

the cave Uhlovitsa; right slope, above the trek, at the foot of hornbeam

bushes, not far from a old beech tree, humid and shady place, gravels in

the soil, alt. 928 m

80 cm

EG-1&2

11.VI.2006

Rui Mts., Erma Gorge, ca. 30 m before the tunnel, on the slope over-

grown with hazel bush, ash-trees; rocky substrate, at the foot of rocks;

685 m

60 cm

SP-1

6.VI.2006

Stara Planina Mts., Toplya Site near village of Golyama Zhelyazna; ca.

20 m of the entrance of Toplya Cave; ca. 25-30 m of the river; karst

slope overgrown with scarce bushes and deciduous trees; 460 m

70 cm

SP-2

7.VI.2006

Stara Planina Mts., Toplya Site near village of Golyama Zhelyazna; ca. 5

m of the entrance of Yalovitsa Cave; karst slpe inca. 25-30 m of the river;

karst slope in young Quercus forest; 608 m

50 cm

S-l

4.VII.2006

Slavyanka Mts., Livade Site near village of Goleshevo in Alibotush Reserve;

karst slope in Pinus forest; ca. 1700 m, N 41°23'532" E 23°36'307"

60 cm

SG-1

29.IV.2006

Sredna gora Mts., St. Ivan Site near Panagyurishte, abandoned vineyard

overgrown with scattered Prune trees and blackberries in close proximity

to forest of Pinus nigra', deep soil layer, lower horizon mixed with stones,

584 m

100 cm

SG-2

29.IV.2006

Sredna gora Mts., same coordinates and site description; situated ca. 30

m apart of SG- 1 .

60 cm

SG-3

29.IV.2006

Sredna gora Mts., situated ca. 30 m apart of SG-1. Trap set in young

artificial forest of Pinus nigra; brown forest soil mixed with stones; 5-7

cm thick layer of pine needles

80 cm

SG-4

29.IV.2006

Sredna gora Mts., same coordinates and site description; trap is situated

ca. 10 m apart of SG-3. Trap set in young artificial forest of Pinus

nigra; brown forest soil mixed with stones; 5-7 cm thick layer of pine

needles

60 cm

DH-1&2

10.V.2007

Derventsky Heights, village of Dennitsa, crossroad to Stefan Karadzhovo,

Yambol District, sink-hole in Quercus forest, at the base of a big stone;

alt. 365 m

60 cm

Table 1 (continued). Distribution of localities with MSS traps in Bulgaria.

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary results 331

RESULTS

Up to now, material from the following families

was identified to genus and/or species level:

Anobiidae, Aphodiidae, Carabidae, Clambidae,

Corylophidae, Curculionidae, Endomychidae,

Histeridae, Leiodidae, Monotomidae, Scyrtidae,

Silvanidae, Silphidae, Staphylinidae (Pselaphinae),

and Zopheridae (Table 2).

DISCUSSION

Carabidae

Thirty one ground-beetle taxa at the species

level were collected in the traps. Eight of them, in-

cluding one undescribed species from the genus

Laemostenus, are Balkan endemic species. The sub-

genus Antisphodrus Schaufuss, 1 865 is a new taxon

to the fauna of Bulgaria. So far, no species of this

group was known from the core area of the Balkan

Peninsula. Antisphodrus display scattered distribu-

tion in the Northern Mediterranean as its species

occur from Spain in the west to Iran in the east.

They have restricted distribution by loci and are

confined to endogean and hypogean, primarily lime-

stone habitats. The only female specimen we col-

lected from this subgenus belongs to a new species

for the science. Currently, the description of this

form is prevented for the lack of enough material.

The ground-beetles collected might be divided

condicionally in three categories in view of their de-

gree of specialization to underground way of life.

The first group includes three true endogean

species. Trechus subacuminatus and Laemostenus

( Antisphodrus ) sp. are hither to found only in the

MSS-niche in Bulgaria. The two species are partly

depigmented, and possess small, but functioning

eyes. With certainty, both are very rare and strictly

localized everywhere since they were not caught

before using the standart methods of collecting. To

the same group belongs also Duvalius regisborisi,

which formerly was found only in caves. It is an

eyeless beetle well-adapted to life in the under-

ground environment. The second group contains

seven species (. Blemus discus discus , Laemostenus

cimmerius weiratheri, L. plasoni, L. terricola

punctatus, Trechus austriacus, T. irenis, and T. sub-

notatus),thQ most of them found repeatedly in caves

but now also caught in MSS-traps. That category

occupies an intermediate position between the eu-

eadiphic (endogean) species and the soil-inhabiting

species.

The separation of this group is evidenced from

their frequency and number of individuals found in

the MSS-traps we put. The third group includes

edaphic (or soil) species, which are primarily forest

dwellers. This species complex is the dominant one

with respect to the number of species-twenty

species from fiftheen genera (Table 2). Most of those

species are forest dwellers, except for Bembidion

dalmatinus and Syntomus pallipes , which are char-

acteristic of open and ecotone habitats. It is worth

noting that the dominant species in the MSS-traps

in the Vitosha Mt. is Aptinus bombarda. We did not

find it in the traps put in other places. Blemus discus

discus is recorded here for the second time for the

country (see Hieke & Wrase, 1988).

Leiodidae

Twenty three taxa of the species level from

Leiodidae have been identified till now. This figure

excludes the species of Colon Herbst, 1797 and

Leiodes Latreille, 1796 which identification is still

unaccomplished. The most typical example of the

MSS -environment is the endogean Guerguievella

petrovi. This very small, blind and depigmented

beetle belongs to a monotypic genus and species that

was discovered not long ago (Giachino & Gueor-

guiev, 2007).The type series of this species includes

three dozens of specimens made available by hand-

collecting in six separate visits of the Kraypatnata

Peshtera” Cave near Smilyan Village. The visits

were carried out in the period 1962-2004.

Recently, we collected Guerguievella petrovi

twice in MSS-traps in a mass, as the samples signi-

ficantly differ to each other in the number of indi-

viduals. The first sample, exposed in the dry

summer-autumn season, contained three specimens,

while the next one, exposed in the wet autumn-

winter season, contained more than 60 specimens.

The cholevine species, like Choleva angusara, C.

glauca, Nargus badius, Ptomaphagus sericatus, and

Sciodrepoides watsoni, are detritophagous. They are

sometimes collected in caves in Bulgaria and now

they were found in MSS-traps. Other species, such

as the leiodines ( Agathidium spp., Hydnobius spp.,

Leiodes spp.), eat fungi and live above the ground

or underground (Newton, 1998).

332

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

Family

Species and subspecies

Trap No.

Collection date

References

Familia

ANOB1IDAE

Ptinus sp.

V-N-l

P-W-2

P-S-4&5

30.4-3.6.2006

7.5.-18.6.2006

7.12.2006-19.4.2007

Present paper

Familia

APHODIIDAE

Ataenius horticola

Harold, 1869 -Fig. 2.

P-W-2

14.05.-6.07.2006

Gueorguiev &

Bekchiev, 2009

Oxyomus sylvestris

(Scopoli, 1763)

P-W-4

7.05.-18.06.2006

Present paper

Familia

CARAB1DAE

Abax ( Abacopercus )

carinatus carinatus

(Duftschmid, 1812)

SP-2; V-N-2

P-N-l;

V-SL-4

6.6.-6.9.2006; 30.4.-

3.6.2006; 7.9.2006;

6.6-02.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014;

present paper

Amara (s.str.) saphyrea

Dejean, 1828

SG-1

SG-2

29.4.-29.5.2006

28.12.2006-20.04.2007

Present paper

Aptinus (s.str.) bombarda

(Illiger, 1800)

V-N-l

V-N-2&3

3.6.-25.7.2006; 30.4.-

3.6.2006; 5.11.2006-

6.6.2007

Langourov et al.,

2014

Bembidion ( Peryphanes )

dalmatinum dalmatinum

Dejean, 1831

V-SL-3

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Blemus discus discus

(Fabricius, 1792) - Fig. 3

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Carabus ( Procrustes )

coriaceus cerisyi

Dejean, 1826

SG-1

6.8.2006-18.11.2006

Present paper

Cychrus semigranosus

balcanicus

Hopffgarten, 1881

V-SL-3

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Duvalius ( Paraduvalius )

regisborisi (Buresch, 1926)

SP-1

6.6.-6.9.2006

Present paper

Harpalus (s.str.)

atratus Latreille, 1804

SP-2

6.6.-6.9.2006

Laemostenus (Actenipus)

plasoni ( Reitter, 1885)

P-N-l

P-S-l

P-S-2&3

7.9.2006- 3.7.2007;

9.2006- 4.7.2007;

4.7.-17.10.2007

Present paper

Laemostenus

( Antisphodrus ) sp.

EG-1&2

25.06.-2.12.2006

Present paper; new

subgenus to the

fauna of Bulgaria

Laemostenus ( Pristony -

chus) cimmerius weira-

theri J. Muller, 1 932

V-SL-1-2

V-SL-4

6.6- 2.11.2013;

6.6- 2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Laemostenus ( Pristony -

chus) terricola punctatus

(Dejean, 1828)

V-N-l; V-N-l;

V-W-2; V-W-3;

SG-4; BK-mssl

Du-mss4

3.06. -25.7.2006;

5.11.2006-6.6.2007;

26.8. -3.12.2006;

26.8.2006;

6.8. -18.9.2006;

3.06. -25.07.2006

26.08. -3.12.2006

Langourov et al.,

2014 and present

paper

Leistus ( Pogonophorus )

rufomarginatus

(Duftschmid, 1812)

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Table 2 (1/6). List of the registered edaphicolous and hypogeicolous Coleoptera from MSS- traps.

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary results 333

Family

Species and subspecies

Trap No.

Collection date

References

Familia

CARAB1DAE

Leistus ( Pogonophorus )

spinibarbis rufipes

Chaudoir, 1843

V-SL-5

2.11.2013-26.6.2014

Present paper

Molops (s.str.)

alpestris rhilensis

Apfelbeck, 1904

P-N-l

P-S-l

WR-2

7.9.2006- 3.7.2007;

9.2006- 4.7.2007;

3.4.-9.6.2006

Present paper

Molops (s.str.) dilatatus

dilatatus Chaudoir, 1 868

WR-1

23.4.2006-9.6.2006

Present paper

Molops (s.str.) piceus

bulgaricus Maran, 1938

V-N-2&3

5.11.2006-6.6.2007

Langourov et al.,

2014

Myas (s.str.) chalybaeus

(Palliardi, 1825)

SP-2

6.6.-6.9.2006

Present paper

Platynus proximus

(J. Frivaldszky, 1879)

SP-1

06.06.-06.09.2006

Present paper

Pterostichus (s.str.) mer-

klii (J. Frivaldszky, 1879)

SP-1

6.6.-6.9.2006

Present paper

Pterostichus (Petrophi-

lus) melanarius melana-

rius (Illiger, 1798)

V-SL-4

V-SL-5

V-SL-6

6.6-2.10.2013;

2.10- 2.11.2013;

2.10- 2.11.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Pterostichus (Platysma)

niger (Schaller, 1783)

V-N-l

V-N-2&3

3.6.-25.7.2006;

5.11.2006-6.6.2007

Langourov et al.,

2014

Syntomus pallipes

(Dejean, 1825)

SG-1

29.4.-29.5.2006

Present paper

Synuchus vivalis

(Illiger, 1798)

SG-4

6.8.-18.9.2006

Present paper

Tapinopterus (s.str.)

balcanicus

Ganglbauer, 1891

V-N-l

V-N-2

V-N-2 & 3

WR-1

WR-3 & 4

3.6. -25.07.2006;

30.4. -3.6.2006;

5.11.2006-6.6.2007;

9.6. -17.7.2006;

23.4. -9.6.2006

Langourov et al.,

2014: present

paper

Tapinopterus (s.str.)

cognatus kalofirensis

Maran, 1933

SP-2

6.6.-6.9.2006

Present paper

Trechus (s.str.)

austriacus Dcjean, 1831

V-W-l

P-E-2

SG-1

SG-2

V-SL-1-2

V-SL-4

V-SL-5

24.6.-3.12.2006;

7.9.2006-4.7.2007;

29.4.-29.5.2006;

18.9.-28.12.2006;

6.6-2.11.2013;

2.10- 02.11.2013;

2.10- 02.11.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014; present

paper

Trechus (s.str.) irenis

Csiki, 1912

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Trechus (s. str.)

subacuminatus A. Fleischer,

1898

EG-1&2

11.06.-25.06.2006/

2.12.2006-18.04.2007

Present paper

New species for

Bulgaria.

Trechus (s. str.) subnotatus

Dejean, 1831

SG-3

18.11.-28.12.2006

Present paper

Table 2 (2/6). List of the registered edaphicolous and hypogeicolous Coleoptera from MSS- traps.

334

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

Family

Species and subspecies

Trap No.

Collection date

References

Familia

CLAMBIDAE

C Iambus sp.

EG-1&2

P-S-4&5

2.12.2006- 8.4.2007;

7.12.2006- 9.4.2007

Present paper

Familia

CORYLOPH I DAE

Sericoderus lateralis

(Gyllenhal, 1827)

SG-3

20.4.-1.5.2007

Langourov et al.,

2014

Familia

CURCULIONIDAE

Acalles sp.

P-E-1&2

7.9.2006-4.7.2007

Present paper

Brachysomus sp.

WR-1

1.4.-25.11.2007

Present paper

Dodecastichus geniculatus

(Germar, 1817)

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.7.2006

Present paper

Dodecastichus obsoletus

(Stierlin, 1861)

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.7.2006

Present paper

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

albidus Stierlin, 1861

P-S-4&5

19.8.-15.11.2007;

19.5.-13.7.2007

Present paper

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

balcanicus Stierlin, 1861

V-W-3

P-S-4&5

26.8.2006; 23.6.-

7.7.2006; 7.12.2006-

19.4.2007;

13.7. -19.8.2007;

19.8. -15.11.2007

Langourov et al.,

2014; present

paper

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

bisulcatus (Fabricius, 1781)

V-W-2

EG-1&2

26.7-26.8.2006;

25.6.-2.7.2006

Langourov et al.,

2014;

present paper

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

coarctatus Stierlin, 1861

V-W-2

26.7.2006

Langourov et al.,

2014

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

corneolus Weise, 1906

V-W-l

V-W-2

V-W-3

EG-1&2

24.6. -3.12.2006;

26.7-26.8.2006;

4-16.6.2007;

25.6. -2.7.2006

Langourov et al.,

2014;

present paper

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

crataegi Germar, 1 824

V-W-2

26.7.2006

Langourov et al.,

2014

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

juglandis Apfelbeck, 1 895

V-W-2; V-W-3

SG-1

SG-2

P-E-1&2

P-S-2&3

P-S-4&5

WR-3&4

26.7.2006; 26.8.2006;

5-20.8.2007; 29.5-

17.6.2006; 7.9.2006-

4.7.2007;

4.7.-17.10.2007;

23.6.-7.7.2006;

1.4.-25.11.2007

Langourov et al.,

2014;

present paper

Otiorhynchus (s.str.)

ovalipennis Boheman, 1 843

P-S-4 & 5

23.6.-7.07.2006;

7.12.2006-19.4.2007;

19.5.-13.7.2007;

19.8.-15.11.2007

Present paper

Otiorhynchus ( Podoro -

pelmus) aff. metsovensis

Magnano, 1999

P-S-2 & 3

4.7.-17.10.2007

Present paper;

probably new

species

Otiorhynchus ( Zustalestus )

consobrinus Reitter, 1913

P-S-l

4.7.-17.10.2007

Present paper;

new subgenus

for Bulgaria

Table 2 (3/6). List of the registered edaphicolous and hypogeicolous Coleoptera from MSS- traps.

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary results 335

Family

Species and subspecies

Trap No.

Collection date

References

Familia

Stomodes rotundicollis

P-S-2&3

4.7.-17.10.2007

Present paper

CURCULIONIDA E

Frivaldszky, 1880

Sitophilus ory’zae

(Linnaeus, 1763)

P-S-2&3

4.7.-17.10.2007

Present paper

Tychius sp.

P-S-4&5

23.6.-7.7.2006

Present paper

Familia

Hylaia reissi

WR-2

9.06.-19.07.2006

Present paper

LNDOMYCHIDAL

Csiki, 1911

EG-1&2

25.06.-2.12.2006

P-S-2&3

4.07.-17.10.2007

V-N-l; V-SL-3

5.11.2006-6.06.2007

02.11.2013-30.07.2014

Lycoperdina pulvinata

Reitter, 1884

S-l

9.6.2007

Present paper

Familia

Abraeus perpusillus

DH-1&2

10-20.5.2007

Present paper

HISTER1DAE

(Marsham, 1802)

Familia

Agathidium ( s.str. )

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006

Gueorguiev &

LEIOD1DAE

bohemicum Reitter, 1884

Belcchiev, 2009

Apocatops nigrita

(Erichson, 1837)

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006

Present paper

Catops chrysomeloides

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

(Panzer, 1798)

2014

Catops fuliginosus

V-W-3

26.8.-3.12.2006;

Langourov et al.,

Erichson, 1837

P-N-2

16.6.2006;

2014;

P-S-4&5

27.06.-7.12.2006;

present paper

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006;

V-SL-4

2.10-2.11.2013

Catops grandicollis

SG-1; SG-2

29.04.-29.05.2006;

Present paper

Erichson, 1837

1.05.-25.05.2007

Catops neglectus

P-N-2

7.9.2006-3.7.2007;

Gueorguiev &

Kraatz, 1852

WR-2

23.4.-9.6.2006;

Bekchiev, 2009;

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006;

Langourov et al.,

SG-3

18.11.-28.12.2006;

2014

V-N-2&3

5.11.2006-6.6.2007

Catops picipes

V-SL-4

2.10-02.11.2013

Langourov et al.,

(Fabricius, 1792)

2014

Catops subfuscus

P-N-2

24.5.-16.6.2006

Gueorguiev &

Kellner, 1846

Bekchiev, 2009

Catops tristis

P-N-l

7.9.2006-3.7.2007;

Present paper

(Panzer, 1794)

P-S-l

9.2006-4.7.2007

Choleva (s.str.) agilis

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

(Illiger, 1798)

2014

Choleva (s.str.) angustata

SG-1

29.4.-29.5.2006;

Langourov et al.,

(Fabricius, 1781)

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

2014;

present paper

Choleva (s.str.) glauca

P-S-l

9.2006-4.7.2007;

Langourov et al.,

Britten, 1918

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

2014 and present

paper

Choleva (s.str.)

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

macedonica

Karaman, 1954 - Fig. 4

2014

Table 2 (4/6). List of the registered edaphicolous and hypogeicolous Coleoptera from MSS- traps.

336

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

Family

Species and subspecies

Trap No.

Collection date

References

Choleva (s.str.) oblonga

Latreille, 1807

SG-2

20.4.-1.5.2007

Present paper

Choleva (s.str.) reitteri

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006;

Langourov et al.,

Petri, 1915

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

2014 and present

paper

Choleva ( Cholevopsis )

P-E-2; P-S-2;

7.09.2006-4.07.2007;

Present paper

paskoviensis

SG-1

11.2006-4.07.2007;

Reitter, 1913

6.08.-18.09.2006

Colon sp.

P-E-2;

7.9.2006-4.7.2007;

Present paper

P-S-4&5;

7.12.2006-19.4.2007;

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006; 18.4.-

17.6.2007

Guerguievella petrovi

Giachino et Gueorguiev,

2007

WR-5

14.7.-13.10.2007

Present paper

Hydnobius punctatus

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006

Gueorguiev &

Flampe, 1861

Bekchiev, 2009

Leiodes sp.

P-W-2

7.5.-18.6.2006;

Present paper

P-S-4&5

7.12.2006-19.4.2007;

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006

Liocyrtusa nigriclavis

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006

Gueorguiev &

(Hlisnikovsky, 1967)

Bekchiev, 2009

Nargus (s.str.)

V-E-l

16.4.-15.7.2007;

Langourov et al.,

badius rotundus

P-N-l

7.9.2006-3.7.2007;

2014 and present

Karaman, 1954

EG-1&2

17.6.-9.7.2007;

paper

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Nargus ( Demorchus ) sp.

V-W-3

26.08.-3.12.2006

Present paper

Ptomaphagus (s.str.)

P-S-l

11.06.-25.06.2006;

Langourov et al.,

sericatus

EG-1&2

9.2006-4.07.2007;

2014;

(Chaudoir, 1845)

V-SL-4

25.06.-2.12.2006; 17.06.-

9.07.2007; 02.10-

02.11.2013

present paper

Sciodrepoides watsoni

EG-1&2

25.6.-2.12.2006; 30.4.-

Langourov et al.,

watsoni (Spence, 1815)

V-N-2

3.6.2006; 7.9.2006-

2014 and present

P-N-l

3.7.2007; 7.9.2006-

paper

P-N-2

3.7.2007; 29.05.-

SG-3

17.6.2006; 17.6.-

6.8.2006

Familia

Rhizophagus

DH-1&2

6.09-3.11.2007

Present paper

MONOTOMIDAE

( Rhizophagus )

ferruginous (Paykull, 1 800)

Rhizophagus

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

( Rhizophagus ) perforatus

Erichson 1845

2014

Familia

SCIRTIDAE

Cyphon sp.

SG-1

29.04.-29.05.2006

Present paper

Familia

Oryzaephilus surinamen-

V-SL-4

6.6-2.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

SILVANIDAE

^(Linnaeus, 1758)

2014

Table 2 (5/6). List of the registered edaphicolous and hypogeicolous beetle (Coleoptera) taxa from MSS- traps.

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary results 337

Family

Species and subspecies

Trap No.

Collection date

References

Familia

SILPHIDAE

Silpha obscura orientalis

Brulle, 1832

P-S-2&3

4.07.-17.10.2007

Present paper

Familia

STAPH YL1NI DAE

(PSELAPH1NAE)

Batrisodes elysius

Reitter, 1884

P-W-4

6.7.2006

Present paper

Bryaxis dalmatinus

(Reitter, 1881)

P-S-4&5

V-SL-1-2

27.6.-7.12.2006;

6.6-2.11.2013

Bekchiev, 2008;

Langourov et al.,

2014

Bryaxis beroni Karaman,

1969 -Fig. 5

EG-1&2

23.06.2008

Present paper

Bryaxis islamitus

(Reitter, 1885)

P-N-2

4.07.-16.11.2007

Present paper

Bryaxis roumaniae

Raffray, 1904

P-E-1&2; P-N-2;

V-SL-3

4.07.-17.10.2007;

4.07-16. 11. 2007/P.S;

02.10-02.11.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014;

present paper

Bryaxis nodicornis

Aube, 1833

V-SL-4

06.06-02.10.2013

Langourov et al.,

2014

Bythinus acutangulus

lunifer Karaman, 1948

P-N-2

4.07-16.11.2007

Present paper

Claviger cf. elysius

Reitter, 1884

P-E-l

07.09.2006- 04.07.2007

Present paper

Trimium caucasicum

Kolenati, 1846

P-S-4&5

P-S-6

19.04.-19.06.2007

15.11.2007

Present paper

Trimium puncticeps

Reitter, 1880

V-SL-6

07.2014

Present paper

Trimium expandum

Reitter, 1884

P-S-4&5

27.06.-7.12.2006

Bekchiev, 2008

Tychus apfelbecki

Karaman, 1955

P-E-l

7.9.2006- 4.7.2007

Bekchiev, 2008

Familia

ZOPHER1DAE

Langelandia sp.

P-W-2

P-E-l &2

P-S-4&5

DH-1&2

6.7.2006

7.9.2006- 4.7.2007

7.12.2006- 19.4.2007

10-20.5.2007

Present paper

Table 2 (6/6)285-296. List of the registered edaphicolous and hypogeicolous Coleoptera from MSS- traps.

Choleva macedonica is worth mentioning. It has

been described by a single male specimen collected

from the cave of Bela Voda (Karaman, 1954), in the

south of Republic of Macedonia. The cave lies on

the left bank of Vardar River, close to the archeolo-

gical site Proselc at the Demir-Kapija Canyon.

Szymczalcowski (1976) expressed doubts about the

status of C. macedonica and listed it as questioned

synonym of C. sturmi Brisout de Bameville, 1863.

Subsequently the species status of the former was

confirmed (Nonveiller et al., 1999) and since then it

is considered distinct species (Perreau, 2004). C.

macedonica was recently announced from Bulgaria

(Langourov et al., 2014). Based on two male speci-

mens (one of them without head and pronotum), the

record at Popov Izvor Karst Spring (see Table 2)

represents the second finding of the species after the

description and the first one out of Republic of

Macedonia. The study of the aedeagus supports the

view of Karaman (ibid.) that it is a distinct species,

not synonym of C. sturmi.

From an ecological point of view, the most

striking fact to us seems the coexistence of five

species of Choleva (s. str.) at the same place and

probably in the same time (Popov Izvor Karst

spring, N42.50275 E23. 15317, 06.VI-02.X.2013):

Choleva agilis, Ch. angustata , Ch. glauca, Ch.

macedonia, and Ch. reitteri.

338

Rostislav Bekchiev & Borislav Gueorguiev

Figure 2. Habitus of Ataenius horticola ; Figure 3. Habitus of Blemus discus ; Figure 4. Habitus of Choleva macedonica

(scale figs. 2-4: 2.5 mm); Figure 5. Habitus of Bryaxis beroni (scale: 1.0 mm).

First purposive study of beetles (Coleoptera) from endogean environments in Bulgaria: collection sites and preliminary results 339

Staphylinidae ( Pselaphinae )

All species that were captured with MSS traps

usually can be found in leaf litter, rotten wood or

under bark of trees and under stones. Apparently

these species penetrate deep in the soil and some of

them ( Bryaxis islamitus, Batrisodes elysius) can be

found also in caves (Besuchet, 1978, 1993;

Bekchiev, 2011). We could suppose that the reason

for this vertical migration is the alteration of appro-

priate microclimatical conditions (temperature,

humidity) on the surface of the soil during the dif-

ferent seasons. Interesting fact is the founding of

Bryaxis beroni in MSS, up to now this species was

known only from caves (Bekchiev, 2008; Hlavac et

al., 2008).

Curculionidae

Seventeen species of weevils have been caught in

the MSS -trap as eleven of them belong to the genus

Otiorhynchus Germar, 1822. The representatives of

this genus are usually known as wingless rhizopha-

gous. It is worth noting the finding of two taxa. The

first of them is Otiorhynchus consobrinus. It be-

longs to the Balkan endemic subgenus Zustalestus

Reitter, 1912 and is new to the Bulgarian fauna. So

far, this species was known only from Croatia. The

second species deserving attention is Otiorhynchus

(. Podoropelmus ) sp. aff. metsovensis Magnano,

1999. This taxon might belong to a new species for

the science, but additional material and works are

needed to prove it.

other families

Besides species of the above discussed four

families, we found in the traps also representatives

of other twelve families (Table 2).

Among the last species, the most characteristic

endogean element seems to be the genus Lan-

gelandia Aube, 1842. The species from this genus

are always blind and partially depigmented, and

they are collected sometimes sifting soil litter. We

have distinguished at least three morphospecies of

Langelandia as only L. anophtalma Aube, 1842

was hitherto reported for Bulgaria. The material

from this genus will be object of a separate study.

The representatives of Hylaia Guerin-Meneville,

1857 and Lycoperdina Latreille, 1807 (both

endomychids) have been collected also in Bulgaria

shifting leaf litter, and rarely they fall in the pitfall

traps “Barber”. These beetles eat fungi and live in

the ground, so their finding in the MSS-traps was

not a surprise. An interesting fact is the collection

of Ataenius hordeola. The only species from sub-

family Euparinae in continental Europe was only

recently recorded from Bulgaria with detailed data

(Gueorguiev & Bekchiev, 2009).

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work was made possible with funding from

the Ministry of Education and Science, The Na-

tional Science Fund project No. B- 1523/05 “First

investigation of the "milieu souterrain superficiel"

(MSS) in Bulgaria: comparative analysis of the

fauna of silicate and limestone regions based on

selected groups of invertebrate animals”and from

an Operational Programme "Environment 2007-

2013” grant No 5103020-C-001 “State of the

cave fauna with a view to protection of the caves,

superterestrial, subterranean karstic forms and relief

in the south part of Natural Park Vitosha

(Bosneshkikarstic region)”.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 341-352

Monograph

Ground beetles (Coleoptera Carabidae) diversity patterns in

forest habitats of high conservation value, Southern Bulgaria

Rumyana Kostova

Sofia University, Faculty of Biology, Department of Zoology and Anthropology, 8 “DraganTzankov” blvd., Sofia 1164, Bulgaria;

e-mail: mmy.kostova@gmail.com

ABSTRACT The study presents a comparison between the diversity of the carabid beetles taxocoenoses and

their spatial distribution in different forest types of high conservation value in Strandzha (8

sites), the Rhodopes (4 sites) and Belasitsa (6 sites) mountains. The diversity indices have

demonstrated the highest species richness and the highest diversity values in the riverside sites

of Strandzha Mountain. The lowest species richness has been found in the tertiary relict forest

of oriental beech with undergrowth of rhododendron (Strandzha Mountain) and in the century-

old sweet chestnut forest (Belasitsa Mountain). The lowest values of diversity and evenness

have been found in the beech forest sites in Strandzha and the Rhodopes due to the prevalence

of the Aptinus species. This low diversity is a natural condition for the studied sites. The

classification of the ground beetles complexes from the studied sites by similarity indices and

TWINSPAN has been made. A high level of dissimilarity among the sites has been found,

showing unique species composition and abundance models in each site. Carabid beetles

taxocoenoses in the forests of Strandzha Mountain have shown a low similarity level by species

composition and abundance even in the range of the same mountain. Indicator species have

been shown. The ordination of the carabid complexes has showed that the sites have been

distributed continuously along two significant gradients. The first gradient has been found to

be the altitude (probably due to the temperature conditions) in a combination with the hydro-

logical regime. The second significant gradient probably has been under the complex influence

of the climate conditions and vegetation type.

KEY WORDS Carabidae; diversity; conservation; Bulgaria.

Received 07.09.2014; accepted 30.11.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The present study is a part of the pilot studies of

some indicator species groups as a basis for a long

term monitoring in different forest types of high

conservation value (Natura 2000 sites) in the

Rhodopes, Belasitsa and Strandzha Mountains.

In order to assess the ecosystems before taking

some management decisions there is a need of basic

knowledge of the species compositions and succes-

sional processes of the species assemblages occup-

ying the habitats (Szyszko et al., 2000).

Ground beetles could be a very useful group as

an indicator of the habitat disturbance as well: they

are abundant in most ecosystems; some species

possess strong habitat preferences; most of the

ground beetle species are associated with specific

landscapes and microclimate conditions; they show

rapid response to environmental changes (Pearsal,

2007). Until this study there was scarce information

342

Rumyana Kostova

about carabid beetles’ fauna of Strandzha and

Belasitsa Mountains (Gueorguiev & Gueorguiev,

1995). The diversity patterns and spatial structure

of the ground beetles communities from these

habitats have been unknown as well.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area and sampling methods

The studied sites have been chosen in order to

be representative habitat types for the Rhodopes,

Belasitsa and Strandzha Mountains. The total num-

ber of the studied sites has been eighteen (Table 1,

Fig.l). The description of the sample sites and their

code according to Habitats Directive (Directive

92/43 EEC, EC, 1992) are given in Table 1.

At each site 10 pitfall traps (diameter = 80 mm,

length =110 mm) were set in a line. The conserving

fluid in the traps was propylene glycol. The material

was collected from May to October in the corres-

ponding years shown in Table 2.

Data Analysis

The species richness-number of collected species

in each sample site (S); Shanon’s (H) and Evenness

indexes have been calculated to compare alfa-di-

versity. Chao 1 procedure has been applied to

calculate the expected species richness in the

studied sites (Chao, 2005).

The dominance of the species has been determ-

ined using Pesenco’s logarithmic scale (Pesenko,

1982) and the categories names have been adapted

to Tischler’s dominance categories, (1949): eudom-

inants (very hight abundance), dominants (high

abundance), subdominants (average abundance),

recedents (low abundance) and subrecedents (single

individuals) (Kostova, 2009). Multidimensional

non-parametric scaling (MDS) has been applied to

visualize is similarity distances between the dom-

inance curves of the studied taxocoenoses (Clarke,

1993). Chi-square test has been used to test the

goodness of fit of the studied taxoconoses’ abun-

dance models to the theoretical ones.

Czekanowski-Sorensen and Bray- Curtis simil-

arity coefficients have been used to calculate simil-

arity between carabid taxocoenoses, by species

composition and by relative abundance of the

species respectively. UPGMA method for clustering

has been applied for constructing the dendrograms

(Krebs, 1999). Two way indicator species analysis

(TWINSPAN) for classification of the carabid

beetle complexes has also been performed.

Figure 1. A map of the location of the study sites, S-Bulgaria (Source: Google Earth, 2014).

Coleoptera Carabidae diversity patterns in forest habitats of high conservation value, S-Bulgaria

343

Mountain

Site

Altitude

Characteristic trees

Code HD 92/4 3

Belasitsa

B PI

450

Pia tanus orien talis L inn ae us

92C0 - Platan us orien talis and Liquidambar

oriental is woods

BPICast

400

Pia tonus orien talis

Linnaeus, Casta nea sativa

Miller

92C0 - Platan us orien talis and Liquidambar

oriental is woods

B_Cast_Pl

400

Pia tanus orien talis

Linnaeus, Casta nea sativa

Miller

92C0- Platan us oriental is and Liquidambar

orien talis woods

B Cast

750

Cos tan ea sativa Miller,

Fa gits sylvatica Linnaeus

9260 Ca sta n ea sativa wood s

700

Fa gits sylvatica Linnaeus

(along waterfall)

9110 Luzulo-F age turn beech forests

B_F2

1500

Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus

9110 Luzulo-Fagetum beech forests

Rhodopes

RhQ

1054

Quercus d alec ham pit

Tenore

9 IM0 Pannoman-Balkanic turkey oak-

sessile oak forests

Rh F

1133

Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus

9130 Asperulo-Fagetum beech forests

Rh_F_Ab

1401

Fagus sylvatica Linnaeus,

single trees Picea a hies

K ar s ten , A hies alba Miller

9 130 A sperulo -Fagetum beech forests

Rh_Pic_Ab

1596

Picea a hies Karsten,

Abies alba Miller

9410 AcidophilousP/cea forests of the

montane to alpine levels

Strandzha

S_Q

324

Quercus h artwissiana

Steven, Quercus cerris

Linnaeus

91 M0 *P anno nian-B alkanic turkey oak-

sessile oak forests

S_Q2

Quercus frainetto T enore,

Quercus cerris Linnaeus

91 M0 *P anno nian-B alkanic turkey oak-

sessile oak forests

S_Q _F

271

Quercus polycar pa Schur,

single trees Fagus orinetalis

Lipsky

91 M0 *P anno nian-B alkanic turkey oak-

sessile oak forests

S F

401

Fagus orien talis Lipsky

91 SO * Western Pontic beech forests

S_F_Rhod

183

Fagus orien talis Lipsky,

udergrowth Rhododendron

ponticum Linnaeus

91 SO * Western Pontic beech forests

S_Rip

224

Alnus glutinosa Gaertm,

Quercus cerris Linnaeus

9 1 E0 * Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa

and Fraximts excelsior

S_Rip2

meadow with single trees

Ain us glutinosa G aertn

Salt's sp . , Uglans regia

Linnaeus, Rubussp. near

Quercus sp. forest

91E0 ^Alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa

and Fraximts excelsior

SLongoz

Fraximts angusti folia subsp.

oxycarpa (M.Bieb, ex

Willd.), Alnus glutinosa

Gaertn.

9 1 FO Riparian mixed forests of Quercus

robur , Vim us laevis and Vlmus minor ,

Fraximts excelsior or Fraximts angustifolia,

along the great rivers

Table 1 . Description of the sample sites, S-Bulgaria.

344

Rumyana Kostova

This method makes classification of the

samples, and then uses this classification to obtain

a classification of the species according to their

ecological preferences. It also makes a dichotomy

based on ordination identifying the direction of

variation. It gives an indicator pseudospecies, i.e.

transforms abundance into pseudospecies (Hill &

Smilauer, 2005).

Detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) has

been applied for ordination of the beetle complexes

by sample sites. Data standardization has been

applied for the analysis due to the different duration

of the collecting time. The relative abundance (pro-

portion of the total number of caught individuals)

of the species from a given sample site has been

used to calculate alfa-diversity indices, two way

indicator species analysis and dominant structure

analysis. Mean number of caught individuals per

100 trap/days has been used for cluster and ordina-

tion analysis. The following statistical softwares

were used: Microsoft Excel (Office 2010), Past 3.01

(Hammer & Harper, 2001), Estimate S9.1.0

(Colwell, 2013), Primer 6 (Clarke & Gorley, 2006),

WinTWINS 2.3 (Hill & Smilauer, 2005).

RESULTS

Eleven thousand eight hundred and seventy-six

individuals belonging to one hundred twenty-eight

species have been collected (Tables 2, 3). Only six

species have been common to the three mountains:

Calosoma sycophanta, Carabus convexus, C. in-

tricatus, C. coriaceus, Pterostichus niger and Myas

chalybaeus (Fig. 2).

The highest species richness of ground beetles

has been shown in the riparian site with meadow

and single trees (Strandzha)- 45 species. Relatively

high species richness has also been demonstrated in

the riparian sites of Strandzha with rich herbaceous

undergrowth. The lowest species number has been

found in the tertiary relict forest of Fagus orientalis

with undergrowth of Rhododendron ponticum

(Strandzha), 8 species and in the centuries-old

forest of Castanea sativa (Belasitsa), 9 species.

Relatively low species richness has also been found

in the carabid taxocoenoses from the sample sites

with altitude above 1400 m (the Rhodopes and

Belasitsa Mountains) (Fig. 3). The species number

of the ground beetles at each site has been actually

Mountain

Year of study N exemplars

NSpecies

Rhodopes

2006,2007 5062

Belasitsa

2008,2009 1810

Strandzha

2009 5004

Total

11876

128

Table 2. A summary table of the collected material, S-Bulgaria.

Figure 2. Species richness (empirical and estimated by Chao 1

procedure) of the ground beetle complexes in the studied sites.

greater, because there have been species that do not

fall into the traps. The estimated species number by

Chaol procedure has been almost the same only for

four of the carabid taxocoenoses with relatively low

species richness. The highest species number has

been estimated for the riparian sites, the oak forests

at the seashore in Strandzha and for the oriental

plane forests in Belasitsa (Fig. 3).

Shanon’s diversity index, fairly sensitive to

actual site differences (Krebs, 1999), has demon-

strated relatively high ground beetles diversity for

all of the studied sites (Figs. 4, 5). An exception has

been the beech forests of the Rhodopes and

Strandzha Mountains due to the prevalence of one

species: Aptinus bombarda and A. cordicollis re-

spectively. The carabid taxocoenose of the century-

old sweet chestnut forest in Belasitsa has shown the

highest value of evenness -0.8. The lowest evenness

has been estimated for the carabid taxocoen-

oses from the beech forest of Strandzha and the

Rhodopes due to the above mentioned prevalence

of the Aptinus species (Fig. 6).

Coleoptera Carabidae diversity patterns in forest habitats of high conservation value, S-Bulgaria

345

O.T

Sites

Figure 3. Diversity of the ground beetle complexes in

the studied sites, estimated by Shanon’s index.

Figure 4. Evenness of the ground beetle complexes

in the studied sites.

s. Hip:

J_Hfp

S^l

i.f

i_QJ

s_Q

l_F

SL«_Cirt

s_(i_w.a<s

■ EuftcunlrUrtti

■ □osninifltJ

■ Subdtjmina ntS

■ Setedenll

a S*jbr*e*denti

5 10 H> » 49 SO

Numbtrs{l|i«l(i

SO Stress- 0.02

• 5_Kip2

S F*

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RF« #B_F •S_Q

• BP!

S_F Rh* / 3 -PLCast

B_Casl« •R_Pic_Ab

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R_F_Ab*

• S_Rip

Figure 5. Dominance structure of the ground beetle

complexes, based on Pesenko’s logarithmic scale.

Figure 6. Dissimilarity distances between the dominance

curves of the studied taxocoenoses, an MDS method.

The dominance structure of the riparian site with

meadow in Strandzha has differed strongly from all

the other with many species represented by single

individuals (Figs. 7, 8). The riparian forest of

Strandzha (S_Rip) has showed a dominance struc-

ture close to the chestnut with oriental plane trees

in Belasitsa (B_Cast_Pl) without eudominants and

more species as dominants and subdominants.

These two sites have one thing in common- through

both of them pass eco-trails. They have demon-

strated Log-series model of the abundance, charac-

teristic for disturbed habitats (B_Cast_Pl: Chi

square = 0.97, p = 0.94; S_Rip: Chi square = 0.98,

p = 0.91). The beech woods with prevalence of the

Aptinus species have also represented a close domin-

ant structure, so as the century-old and the tertiary

relict forests with a small number of species and

high evenness. The classification of the carabid

beetles’taxocoenoses by qualitative and quantitative

similarity coefficients has demonstrated low levels

of similarity for the mountains in general. Four

main clusters have been formed by species compos-

ition (Fig. 9). The similarity by species composition

has been relatively high for the studied carabid as-

semblages from the Rhodopes where they have

formed a separate cluster. A separate cluster, al-

though with low similarity, has been formed by the

periodically flooded riparian sites of Strandzha with

thick herbaceous undergrowth (S_Rip; S JLongoz).

The beech and the chestnut forests of Belasitsa

have also represented a separate cluster. The rest of

the studied ground beetle assemblages have formed

a cluster with low to average similarity between

them. The picture of the clustering based on Bray-

Curtis coefficient has shown more differences bet-

ween the studied carabid assemblages.

346

Rumyana Kostova

ffl

trt

0-r

20 - -

40--

60--

eo--

100 ^-

e 20 +

.£

100 -L

Samples

Figure 7. A dendrogram for hierarchical clustering of the similarity by species composition of the carabid beetles’ complexes,

an UPGMA method, based on Chekanovski- Sorensen coefficient of similarity. Figure 8. A dendrogram for hierarchical

clustering of the similarity by species abundance of the carabid beetles’ complexes, an UPGMA method, based on Bray-

Curtis coefficient of similarity.

The levels of similarity have been much lower

than by species composition only. There have been

three main clusters: one of the riparian sites of

Strandzha; one of the sites of the Rhodopes and one

of all the other sites. At first level of division TWIN-

SPAN analysis of the ground beetles’taxocoenoses

by sample sites has shown separation of the

Strandzha and Belasitsa low altitude sites from the

other sample sites. The following groups of sites

have been formed at second level of division: 1 .the

Rhodopes sites with altitude above 1000 m and

Belasitsa sites above 700 m; 2. Belasitsa and

Strandzha forest sites up to 450m; 3. the period-

ically flooded riparian sites of Strandzha. The clas-

sification of the species based on their habitat

preferences has also been obtained (Table 3).

The ordination of the carabid assemblages by

DCA has demonstrated two significant gradients

(Eigenvalues: first axis = 0.97, second axis = 0.63,

third axis = 0.34, fourth axis = 0.15). The sample

sites have been arranged along the first axis as

follows: the sites from the Rhodopes (above 1000

m) have been followed by the sites from Belasitsa

in direction higher to lower altitude sites, then the

forest sites from Strandzha and the riparian sites

from the same mountain ending with the period-

Coleoptera Carabidae diversity patterns in forest habitats of high conservation value, S-Bulgaria

347

ically flooded forest along the estuary of Veleka

river with altitude almost at the sea level. The

arrangement along the second axis (gradient) has

separated the Norway spruce forests with altitude

above 1400 meters from all the other sites (Fig. 11).

DISCUSSION

The studied carabid beetles’ taxocoenoses have

demonstrated high species richness and diversity as

a whole. There have been some exceptions like the

low species richness of ground beetles in the old

stable forest ecosystems, which is a natural condi-

tion. The higher species number of carabids in the

open area habitats and cleared forests than in

the old forests is typical for the temperate zone

(Kryzhanovsky, 1983). The low values of diversity

indices and evenness of the beech forests of the

Rhodopes and Strandzha Mountains have been due

to the prevalence of one species: Aptinus bombarda

and A. cordicollis, respectively. This natural condi-

tion had also been found for the beech forests in

Vitosha Mountain, Bulgaria (Popov et al., 1998).

The dominance structure and the abundance mod-

els of the carabid beetles’ associations could be im-

portant indicators for the statement of succession

and disturbance (Hill & Hamer, 1998). Only two of

the studied habitats have shown disturbance by this

estimators, probably due to an anthropogenic disturb-

ance of the often visited by tourists eco-trails in

them. However, the use of the abundance models for

assessment of the ground beetles status, respectively

habitat status, is controversial. One of the reasons is

that there are taxocoenoses with natural conditions

differing from log-normal abundance model, which

is an indicator of natural undisturbed communities.

When chi-square test is used for estimating good-

ness of fit to the theoretical models, there appears

another problem. This test has low power and cannot

be used for small samples (for example sites with

low species number cannot be tested), so as for the

different abundance models it has a different power,

and the results of p - value should not be used for

comparisons between the goodness of fit to the

different models (Hammer et al., 2001). Then

Kolmogorov-Smimov one sample test could also be

used. The classification of the studied sites has

shown unique species composition and abundance

of the ground beetle assemblages even within the

range of one mountain. The unique indicator

carabid species and pseudospecies (with trans-

formed abundance) for the studied sites have been

estimated by TWINSPAN analysis. An indicator

pseudospecies could be those with category above

2 (abundance above 5 %), they have to be abundant

enough to be easily found and collected.

As a result, the following indicator species could

be used for the studied taxocoenoses: Cychrus

semigranosus balcanicus and Carabus hortensis

have been found as indicators for the high altitude

beech and Norway spruce forests, Calathus metal-

400 ^h

350 -

300

</>

250 -

3 200

150

100

Pic Ab

*kh F Ab

^_F2

% F

*8 p

^_Cast*s_G

f e?2 d

S_Q_F

*^_Rip2

^S_lorgoz

*Rh F

160

320

480

640

Axis 1

800

960

1120

1280

Figure 9. Detrended

correspondence ana-

lysis (DCA) ordina-

tion diagram of the

carabid beetles’ com-

plexes.

348

Rumyana Kostova

Species

—

' !

j£ f

3C I

Sample sites

it.

Ll.

tf; 1

“

a£

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c/5

Species

division

levels

Platydents ruftts Du ft schmid, 1812

- !: 4

Op ho ruts laticollis

Mannerhdm, 1 825

Carabus mtricatus Linnaeus, 176 1

Tapinopterus bakanicus

beiasicensis M aran , 1 933

—

tout

Laemostenm t err kola pane fat us

Dei can. 1828

lom

PterostU ch us vecors ( T sch i t seller i ne,

1 897)

101 HI

Pferost kbits truck i Scftaum, 1859

* IOT 10

Pferost ic 7j i ts brevis

(Duftschmid. 1812)

*10110

Plat y nus scrobiculatus

( Fahricius, 1801}

lOtIO

Opium us schaubergerianus

(Pud, 1937)

* 101 to

Mo fops ntfipes beiasicensis

Mlynar, 1977

! 5

*10110

L eistus magn ico 1 1 is

Motschuisky, 1 866

*10110

Lebia cyanocephala

(Linnaeus, 1758)

101 to

Harpalus t riser iat us Fiieseher, 1 897

*10110

Harpalus griseus ( Panzer, 1797)

*10110

Synuchus viva l is (Miger, 1 798)

JOtOll

C ye hr us semigranosus haicankiis

HopfTgartcn, 1881

r m i o 1 1

Pterostkhus oblongopunctatus

( Fabric i us, 1787)

KHOIO

Carabus violaceus azurescens

Dejcan. 1826

101010

MVJWOIU I

Carabus ho/ tens is Linnaeus, 1758

Xenion ignition (Kraal/, 1875)

1 Ik J I -■» If 1 i r 3 I » ■ J ri / M i. 11 I .-I ■ f mn

101010

m ■ lb- p i 1 m * r v w ■ pit ■ «p ■ ■ Y K ® .■ is,

Aphmpterus ha lean kus

Ganglbauer, 1891

5 j

— r -

101001

Notioph i fits b iguttati is

(Fabricius, 1779)

JOIdOi

Mo lops rhodopens is

Apfclbeck, 1904

loioot

Mo lops diktat us Chaudoir. 1 868

5 ! -

101001

Molops alpestris (Dejean. 1 828)

101001

Mkro/esfes ininufu/us (Goeze, 1777)

101001

Laemostenas t err kola l lerbsl. 1 784

101001

Clivina fbssor (Linnaeus, 1758)

101001

Carabus montivagus bid gar tens

Csiki, 1927

2 ! -

101001

Cola thus mollis (Marsha m. 1802)

10 1 001

Calathus met all kus Dejean, 1828

5 !

101001

Apt inns bombarda (llliger. 1800)

10(001

A box oralis (Dnfischmid. 1812)

101001

Table 3.TWINSPAN analysis’ table of the studied ground beetles’taxocoenoses. Species abundance has been represented

by pseudospecies. Doubled line has shown the first level of division, dotted line has shown the second level of division

(continued).

Coleoptera Carabidae diversity patterns in forest habitats of high conservation value, S-Bulgaria

349

Species

it 1

Q _

Sam pie sites

£2

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i ^

r (

Species

division

levels

Pterostidms wjgc-r (Schaller. 1930)

hi moo

Amaru communis (Panzer, [ 797)

'to 1000

Harpalus rufipes (De Geer 1 774)

* i 3

'too

Ca la thus fuscipes (Gocze, 1777)

2 ; 5

*011

Anisodactil i is hi > lot a fits

(Fabricius, 1787)

*011

Amara aenea (De Geer, 1774)

*011

Trechus quadristriatus

(Schrank, 1781)

2 i 2

*0101

Myas chcilybaetts (Palliardi, 1825)

*0101

Cara bus con vex us Fabric ins, 1775

3 ! 2

*0101

A box ccirinatm ( Du Itsehtn i d, 1812)

* 010 )

Not ioph Hus nip pcs Curl is, 1829

*0100

Cara hits coriaceus Linnaeus, 1758

*0100

Cal osoma sycophant a

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Harpalus atratus Latreille, 1804

-* — *

—

*0100

*001

Amara saphyreu Dejean, 1828

*001

Amara convex tor Stephens. 1 828

*001

Trechus crucifer B ruled e, 1875

*0010

Pterostich i is properans

(Chaudoir, 1868)

2 ;

*0010

Harpai us calceafi is

(Duftschmid, 1812)

*0010

Molops p teens byz a minus

Apfelbeck, 1902

*0010

Lie jnu.s eass ideas (Fabricius. 1792)

*0010

Laemostenus^ venus fits ( Dejean, 1828)

- ! l

*0010

Laemostenus cimmerius

( F isc her- Wald he i m , 1 82 3 }

*0010

Harpalus sulphitripes Germar, 1824

*0010

Harpai us smaragdimts

(Duftschmid, 1812)

*0010

Harpalus honest us

(Duftschmid, 1812)

*0010

Harpalus froelichi Sturm, 1818

*0010

Chlaenius aenocephctlm Dejean,

1826

*0010

Carabus marietti

Cri stofori et J an , 1837

*0010

Carabus scahrosus Olivier, 1795

*0010

Calosoma inquisitor (Linnaeus,

1758)

*0010

Ca la thus longico/l is M ol sehu I sky,

1864

*0010

Amara tricuspuiata tricuspidata

Dejean. 183 1

*0010

Pterostichus nigrita ( Paykull, 1790)

*0010

Harpalus tardus (Panzer, 1797)

*0010

Dram itts q uadrimaculatus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

*0010

Table 3. TWINSPAN analysis’ table of the studied ground beetles ’taxocoenoses. Species abundance has been represented

by pseudospecies. Doubled line has shown the first level of division, dotted line has shown the second level of division

(continued).

350

Rumyana Kostova

Species

Lb'

Sample sites

lx,

Lb'

v; 1

,E-'%

2£ i V

Species

division

levels

Acupalpus suturalis Dejean, 1829

*001010

i'rcchus sp, {suhnoUitus group}

3 ;

*001001

Parophor ms n mci il icornis

(Duftschroid, 1812)

2 !

*001001

Ophonus simi/is (Dejean, 1 829)

*001001

Ophnnus nithint i ^Stephens, IK2S

2 !

*001001

Notioph i tus patustris

(Duiftschmid, 1812)

2 ;

*00100!

Lets tus rt t fomargina tus L>u ft sc h in i d,

1812

4 ;

*001001

Harpalus jlavicornis Dejean, 1829

*001001

Aptinus cord tool l is Chaudoir. 1 843

*001001

Amara ant hob la Villa, 1833

2 ;

*001001

Harpalus ntbripes

(Duftschmid. 1812

"001000

Ncbria brcvhoUis ( Fabric i us, 1 792)

* 000 ]

Cara bus wiedenun mi

Mcnclrics, 1836

i i 3

*0001

Amara ova fa (habrieius, 1 792)

*0001

/ larpulus serripes (Qucnsel, 1 806)

*(>0001

Harpalus ditniduuus (Rossi. 1790)

- 1 4

*00001

■Si atom us pal iipes ( Dejean, 1825)

2 - 2

*000010

Harpalus alhqnicus Re i tier, 1 900

I ! t

*000010

Bembidion lampros (Herbs!, 1 784)

4 ; 5

* 0000)0

Agon i mi ass ini i la ( Pay kull, 1790)

*000010

Asaphidion jlavipes (Linnaeus. 1761)

4 ! S

*00000 I

Agon um dorsalis

(Pontopippidian, 1763)

4 ; 5

*000001

Trechus obtusus thracicus

Pawiowski, 1973

*000000

Tachys bis trig tus (Duftschmid. 1812)

*000000

Symomus obscurogmtatus

(Duftshmid, 1812)

*000000

Stenolophu smixtus(\ lerhst., 1784)

*000000

Pterostichus stromas (Panzer, 1797)

| 2

*000000

Pterostichus wc/mfCreirtzer, 1799)

*000000

Ft ci -os tick i is melai ran us bulgaric us

Lutshnik, 1915

*000000

Pterostichus icon is i Apfelbeek, 1 904

*000000

Pterostich i ts anthravin us

(llliger, 1798)

*000000

Poecilus cupreus (Linnaeus, 1758)

*000000

Parophot ms com pi at latus

(Dejean, 1829)

! 2

*000000

Fanagaeus entxmajor

(Linnaeus, 1758)

*000000

Ophonus sabulicoia (Panzer, 1 796)

I 5

*000000

Ophon us me/ let i ( H ee r , 1837)

*000000

Oodes gi acilis Villa, 1833

*000000

Harpalus tcnchrasus Dejean, 1829

*000000

Table 3. TWINSPAN analysis’ table of the studied ground beetles ’taxocoenoses. Species abundance has been represented

by pseudospecies. Doubled line has shown the first level of division, dotted line has shown the second level of division

(continued).

Coleoptera Carabidae diversity patterns in forest habitats of high conservation value, S-Bulgaria

351

Species

Sai

e sites

Species

division

levels

■C

0£

“l

ifi

fis'

se‘

—

®i

■P

-3

Harpalus cupreus Dejean, 1 829

*000000

Harpal i is mi turn mil is

{Duftsehmid, 1812)

*000000

Harpalus off in is ( Schrank, 1781)

*000000

Gynandromorphus etruscus

(Quensel, 1806)

*000000

Dyschirius globosus { i icrbst, 1 783)

*000000

Diachrom t is germartus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

*000000

Chlaenius mgricorn is

(Fabricius, 1787)

*0000101

Carabus granulatus Linnaeus, 1758

*000000

Calathus melanocephalus

(Linnaeus, 1758)

*000000

Brack inns elegans Chaudoir, 1 842

*000000

Brachinus crepitans

(Linnaeus, 1758)

*000000

Bembidion inoptatum Schaum, 1 857

*000000

Ben i b id ion eiongan t m

*000000

Bern b id ion andreae ( F a br i e i us 1787)

*000000

Bern b id ion tethys N eto 1 i tzk y 1926

•

*000000

Bad is ter bipustulatus (Fabricius,

1 792)

*000000

A n isodactil i is signal! is

(Panzer, 1797)

*000000

Agomun viduuni (Panzer, 1797)

*000000

Agon n in nigrum Dejean, 1 828

*000000

Agomun nut Her i Herbst. 1 785

*000000

Division levels of the sites

■*

•fc

—

Table 3. TWINSPAN analysis’ table of the studied ground beetles ’taxocoenoses. Species abundance has been represented

by pseudospecies. Doubled line has shown the first level of division, dotted line has shown the second level of division.

licus has been an indicator for the Norway spruce

forest above 1500 m, Molops rhodopensis has been

found as an indicator species onlyfor the high

altitude Norway spruce forest of the Rhodopes,

Pterostichus brucki, for the high altitude beech

forest of Belasitsa, Platyderus rufus has been uni-

que for the low altitude oriental plane woods,

Pterostichus melanarius bulgaricus, Bembidion

andreae, Calathus melanocephalus, Harpalus

cupreus and Ophonus sabulicola have been an

indicator species for the open area grassy habitats

(S_Rip2), Bembidion andreae has also been an

indicator species only for the riparian meadow,

Poecilus cupreus has also been found as an indic-

ator species for wet grassy habitats like the period-

ically flooded riparian sites of Strandzha, Leistus

rufomarginatus and Trechus sp. (subnotatus group)

have been indicator species for the riparian forest

of Strandzha (S_Rip), Carabus granulatus,

Chlaenius nigricornis, Dyschirius globosus and

Oodes gracilis have been found as indicator species

for the periodically flooded estuary forest of

Strandzha (S_Longoz), Calathus longicollis has

been an indicator species for the Black sea coastal

oak forest, Carabus scabrosus, for the oriental

beech woods of Strandzha.

352

Rumyana Kostova

The ordination of the carabid beetles’ taxocoen-

oses has demonstrated continuous arrangement of

the sites along the first axis (the first gradient). The

first gradient has been found to be the altitude

(probably due to the temperature conditions) in

combination with the hydrological regime

(for example, the periodically flooding of the last

two sites). On this gradient, probably there is a

complex influence of the climate conditions and the

vegetation type. Continuous arrangement according

the temperature conditions had also been found for

the carabid associations of different altitude in

Vitosha Mountain by Popov et al. (1998).

The high conservation value of the studied sites

in the Rhodopes, Belasitsa and Strandzha Moun-

tains has also to be concerned due to the great

diversity of the ground beetles that should be

preserved and monitored. Only the Rhodopes sites

have been under high level of protection as a part

of natural reserves, so as two of the sites in

Strandzha as a part of protected localities. The rest

of the studied habitats from Strandzha and Belasitsa

Mountains have been with low protection status and

therefore threatened by logging.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Field work has been supported by research pro-

jects of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and

Science (BY-E-8/05, BM-6/2007, DO 02-159/

2008). I would like to thank Dr. Borislav Georgiev

(National Museum of Natural History, Sofia) for

collaboration on the collecting, identification and

counting the ground beetles from Belasitsa Moun-

tain. Thanks also to Dr. Rostislav Bekchiev and Dr.

Elena Tasheva for their company and help in collect-

ing the material. Thanks to Maria Gargova (New

Bulgarian University) for the language revision.

REFERENCES

Chao A., 2005. Species richness estimation. In: Balakrish-

nan N., Read C.B. & Vidakovic B. (Eds.), 2005.

Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences, Vol. 12, 2nd

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Clarke K., 1993. Non-parametric multivariate analyses

of changes incommunity stmcture. Australian Journal

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Clarke K. & Gorley R., 2006. PRIMER v6: User

Manual/Tutorial. PRIMER-E, Plymouth.

Colwell R., 2013. Estimate S: Statistical estimation of

species richness and shared species from samples.

Version 9. Available at: http://purl.oclc.org/estimates

European Commission, 1992. Council Directive 92/43

EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural

habitats and of wild fauna and flora. Official Journal

L 206, 22/07/1992: 7-50.

Gueorguiev V. & Gueorguiev B., 1995. Catalogue

of theground-beetles of Bulgaria (Coleoptera: Cara-

bidae). Sofia, Pensoft, 279 pp.

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tological statistics software package for education

and data analysis. Palaeontologia Electronica 4: 9 pp.

Available at: http://palaeo-electronica.org/2001_l/

past/issue 10 1 .htm

Hill J. & Hamer K., 1998. Using species abundance

models as indicators of habitat disturbance in trop-

ical forests. Journal of Applied Entomology, 35:

458-460.

Hill O. & Smilauer R, 2005. TWINSPAN for Windows

version 2.3. Centre for Ecology and Hydrology &

Universityof South Bohemia, Huntingdon & Ceske

Budejovice

Kostova R., 2009. The Ground Beetles (Coleoptera,

Carabidae) in Two Biosphere Reserves in Rhodope

Mountains, Bulgaria. Acta Zoologica Bulgarica, 61:

187-196.

Krebs Ch., 1999. Ecological Methodology, 2nd ed.

Addison- Welsey Educational Publishers, Inc., Menlo

Park, CA. 620 pp.

Kryzhanovsky O., 1983. Beetles of suborder Adephaga:

families Rhysodidae, Trachypachidae; family Cara-

bidae (introduction, survey of the fauna of SSSR).

Fauna SSSR, Coleoptera (Volume I, Ed. 2). Nauka

publishers, Leningrad, 342 pp. (in Russian).

Pearsal A., 2007. Carabid beetles as Ecological indicat-

ors. Paper presented at the “Effectiveness of Biolo-

gical Conservation” conference, 2-4 November

2004, Richmond, BC.

Pesenko J., 1982. Principles and methods of quantitative

analysis in faunistic studies. Nauka publishers,

Moscow, 287 pp. (In Russian).

Popov V., Krusteva I. & Sakalian V., 1998. Some aspects

of coexistence pattern in forest carabid guilds

(Coleoptera: Carabidae) on Vitosha mountain. Acta

Zoologica Bulgarica, 50: 79-88.

Szyszko J., Vermeulen H., Klimaszweski K., Abs M. &

Schwerk A., 2000. Mean Individual Biomass (MIB)

of ground beetles (Carabidae) as an indicator of the

state of the environment. In: Brandmayr R, Lovey G.,

Zetto Brandmayr T., Casale A. & Vigna Taglianti A.

(Eds.), 2000 Natural History and Applied biology of

Carabid beetles. Pensoft, Sofia-Moscow, 289-294.

TischlerW., 1949. GrundzugederterrestrischenTieroko-

logie. Friedr.Vieweg & Sohn, Braunschweig, 220 pp.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 353-364

Monograph

Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: a com-

parison between two coastal typologies

Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe*

Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres 31, 98166 S. Agata-Messina, Italy

^Corresponding author, email: sgiacobbe@unime.it

ABSTRACT The mollusc assemblages of subtidal fringe from two different coastal typologies are described

in their qualitative and quantitative features. The large-scale spatial investigation has been

carried out in the lava cliffs of Catania and the conglomerate “beach-rocks” of Capo Peloro

(Messina), whose assemblages have been compared by fourteen shallow sampling stations,

spaced out hundred/thousand meters apart. The similarity/dissimilarity levels of the two

assemblages have been evaluated throughout a set of eighty-six species, exclusive or common

between the two areas. Both the assemblages were characteristic of an impoverished and

highly variable photophilic taxocoenosis. The area was the main discriminating factor that

determined the highest richness and abundance in the rough lava surface. The Catania as-

semblage was more constant in species composition, with presence of exclusive bivalves, cue

of a micro-sedimentary environment. The Messina assemblage was very variable in species

composition, and its structure, dominated by motile gastropods, was evidence of a high energy

environment. Differences in the structure and micro-topography of the natural substratum

from the two areas, besides possible secondary influence of freshwater inputs and wave

exposure, were factors mainly responsible for the observed patterns. The whole data set, with

dominant and accessory taxa, involves a relevant contribution from the deeper subtidal as-

semblage; despite of their ephemeral character, these assemblages contribute to maintain the

local biodiversity on a broader spatial scale.

KEY WORDS Biodiversity; Geographical trend; Mediterranean Sea; Molluscs; Rocky shores.

Received 21.02.2015; accepted 20.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

It is known that species distribution and related

biodiversity levels are stressed by the interaction

between biotic and abiotic factors, which detennine

a hierarchy of processes that operate at different

spatio-temporal scales (Underwood & Chapman,

1996). Spatial patterns of intertidal hard bottom

assemblages have been widely investigated in the

past, both on a broad geographic (Blanchette et al.,

2008) and local scale (Reichert et al., 2008). In the

Mediterranean basin, despite of the prevalent

microtidal regime, the intertidal zone has received

much attention (Benedetti-Cecchi, 2001; Fraschetti

et al., 2001). By contrast, rocky subtidal as-

semblages have been investigated to a lesser extent,

except for the impacted sessile communities

(Fraschetti et al., 2001) and few groups of vagile

invertebrates, such as polychaetes (Giangrande,

1988; Giangrande et al., 2003).

The mollusc taxocoene, notwithstanding its

relevant diversification and wide geographic and

354

Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe

ecological distribution, has been poorly investigated

in its quantitative aspects, and patterns of spatial

distribution have been rarely described (Chemello

& Milazzo, 2002; Terlizzi et al., 2003). Mollusc

spatial patterns and relationships with substratum

complexity have been locally investigated, for

example in the Aegean Sea (Antoniadou et al.,

2005). Within the subtidal zone, the upper level (the

fringe) has received a scanty interest in the past, and

the associated mollusc assemblages are probably the

less known from the Mediterranean phytal zones.

The subtidal fringe, characterized by strong

environmental constrains and high levels of envir-

onmental disturbance, shows different degrees of

substratum complexity which might affect the

spatial patterns of flora and fauna (Guichard et al.,

2001). Furthermore, the ephemeral character of the

algal covering might accentuate the spatial and

temporal dynamics of the associated vagile fauna,

as proved for shallower as well as deeper subtidal

assemblages (Benedetti-Cecchi & Cinelli, 1992). In

this respect, the Ionian coasts of Sicily might rep-

resent an appropriate case-study, due to rocky cliff

typologies that are quite different from the northern

coastline (of metamorphic and sedimentary origin)

to the central (of mainly volcanic origin) and

southern (carbonatic origin) coastlines. In this paper

mollusc assemblages of subtidal fringe are investig-

ated from two rocky coasts of different origin,

volcanic and sedimentary, respectively located in

the Strait of Messina and in the northern side of the

Gulf of Catania.

Aims of the present investigation are: i) to de-

scribe the mollusc assemblages, which characterise

the upper subtidal fringe from two different coastal

typologies; ii) to investigate their similarity/

dissimilarity at different spatial scales (kilometers,

hundreds of kilometers); iii) to highlight the main

(a)biotic constrains which may affect the as-

semblage composition and structure.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study areas

The study area, which corresponds to the

northern segment of the Ionian coast of Sicily (Fig.

1), has a regular N 30°-trending shoreline, extend-

ing for a total length of 1 07 km from Capo Peloro

(North) to Catania (South). On the basis of geolo-

gical and morphological characters, two sub-

provinces can be distinguished. The northern seg-

ment, consisting of the Ionian side of the Peloritani

chain from Capo Peloro to the city of Riposto (first

75 km), is characterized by Kabilo-Calabride

terraces; the southern segment, made up of the vol-

canites from the eastern flank of Mt Etna, reaches

the city of Catania (Longhitano & Zanini, 2006).

Since it represents a microtidal oceanographic

framework, coastal dynamics are mainly influenced

by waves that approach the coast obliquely, and by

long-shore southward currents, controlled by the

complex hydrological dynamics of the Messina

Strait. Such hydrodynamics interact with clockwise,

offshore circulation of the Ionian Sea.

Wave energy affects the coastline differently,

since northwards it is mitigated by the action of the

Messina Strait tidal currents, whilst southwards the

near shore circulation is often diffracted and inhib-

ited by the great complexity of the volcanic

shoreline, marked by small coastal promontories

and indentations (Figs. 2, 3). In the Sicily side of

the Messina Strait the coastline is almost homogen-

eous with a mid-Pleistocene conglomerate out-

crops, along almost two kilometers of shoreline

(Bottari et al., 2005). Such so-called “beach-rock”,

which represents the sole hard substratum of natural

origin, is frequently connected to artificial break-

waters and other concrete structures (Figs. 4, 5).

Rivers, as the main points of sedimentary input,

are localized in the southern part and don’t affect

the Messina Strait. Freshwater inputs are mostly of

phreatic origin in Catania, whilst in Messina sta-

tions they are mediated by the Capo Peloro Lagoon,

throughout the two canals “Faro” and “Due Torri”.

Sampling and analysis

The sampling strategy has been based on two

levels at different spatial scale (Fig. 1). The first

level (100 km scale) distinguished the two areas of

Messina (Capo Peloro) and Catania (Ognina). At

the second level, seven stations per area have been

located along 1.9 km (Messina) and 5 km of coast

(Catania) respectively, according to the two main

substratum typologies (natural vs. artificial), wave

exposures (exposed vs. sheltered), slope (vertical

vs. horizontal). The presence or absence of fresh-

water inputs was also considered. In spring 2002

Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: a comparison between two coastal typologies

355

Figure 1. Study area. Messina (upper pane) and Catania (lower pane) coastlines with sampling distribution.

Figures 2-5. Study site. Figs. 2, 3. Messina shoreline with conglomeratic “beach-rocks”.

Figs. 4, 5. Catania shoreline with basaltic rocks.

356

Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe

two random replicates of 25x25 cm scraped surface

were carried out for each station, ten meters spaced

out (pooled data), in a shallow subtidal fringe from

0 to 0.3 m depth. Substratum typology and algal

covering were preliminarily recorded on field. In

laboratory, samples were washed throughout a

0.250 mm mesh sieve and the retained mac-

robenthic fauna was separated from algae throu-

ghout a manual centrifuge. Particles smaller than

0.250 mm were considered as “sediment” and their

amount evaluated as volume and dry weight

(80°C/24 h). Algae were investigated in their

structure by dominant taxa, fresh and dried total

biomass, total fresh volume and degree of branching,

in accordance with Edgar (1983). Besides, the charac-

terising algae were distinguished in the main func-

tional groups of encrusting, thread-like and

branched thallii, according to Littre & Arnold (1982).

The macro-zoobenthos (>0.250 mm sieved frac-

tion) has been sorted out under the stereomicro-

scope at the Phylum/Classis/Ordo levels. Molluscs

have been determined at the species level, and

respective abundances evaluated. The univariate

and multivariate statistical parameters have been

elaborated by means of PRIMER 6.0 software

package. Main factors potentially affecting as-

semblage composition and structure were selected

a priori and tested by the analysis of similarity

procedure (ANOSIM) for one way and two way

crossed designs. The selected abiotic factors were

the sampling area (two fixed levels), the sampling

station (six random levels), the site exposure (two

fixed levels), the substratum typology (two fixed

levels), slope (two fixed levels), freshwater inputs

(two random levels), entrapped sediment (two

random levels).

The selected biotic factors were the algal cover-

ing (three fixed levels), algal volume (three random

levels), dominant algal taxa (seven random levels)

and the algal functional groups (three random

levels). The similarity percentage analysis (SIMPER)

highlighted for those species that were more

responsible for dissimilarity between areas.

RESULTS

The whole examined sample set provided a total

of 86 species, 46 of which were exclusively collec-

ted in Catania and 2 1 were exclusively recorded in

Messina, while 22 species were common to the two

areas (Table 1). Gastropod species were the most

numerous, with 63 species, 34 of which were col-

lected only in Catania and 18 only in Messina, plus

11 shared species; half of the 18 bivalve species

were exclusively found in Catania, with respect to

the two species exclusively recorded in Messina,

whilst other 7 species were collected in both areas.

Polyplacophora accounted one shared species plus

three taxa exclusively found in Catania and one in

Messina (Fig. 6).

The number of species found in each station

ranged from 7 (MEB) to 24 (MEE1) in Messina

with a tendential north-to-south increase; such trend

was more irregular in Catania, with 15 species in

CT12 up to 37 species in CT6. Likewise the number

of species, the abundances per station were higher

in Catania (min 244, max 1960 individuals) than in

Messina (min 27, max 1349), but they were irregu-

larly distributed and not clearly related to the

number of species, except for MEE1 where the

peaks of the two parameters matched (Fig. 7).

The trend of Margalef’s richness agrees with the

number of species. Univariate diversity indexes

showed different trends between the two areas.

Shannon diversity and species equitability had more

remarkable fluctuations in Messina, ranging from

0.52 (MEE1) to 2.04 (MEC) and from 0.16 to 0.89,

respectively. Diversity in Catania was meanly 1.5

in most stations, except for values 2.1 and 2.2 in

■ Gastropoda BivaMa Polyplacophora

Figure 6. Numbers of Polyplacophora, Bivalvia and Gastro-

poda species exclusively recorded in Messina or Catania,

and shared between the two areas.

Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: a comparison between two coastal typologies

357

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Figure 7. Trends of species number, abundance, Margalef richness, Shannon diversity, Pielou equitability observed in Ca-

tania and Messina. For each area, sampling stations are ordered from North (left) to South (right).

Figure 8. Nm-MDS ordination plot with superimposed cluster

classification of Catania and Messina stations. Presence (Y)

and absence (N) of freshwater inputs is also showed.

CT6 and CT4 respectively; equitability was meanly

low, likewise in Messina, but with a more regular

trend (Fig. 7).

The multivariate analysis highlighted further

differences in the mollusc assemblages from the

two areas. The Bray-Curtis similarity index and the

related cluster analysis (square root transformed

data, average linkage) discriminated, at lower 28%

level, a first group A of all Catania stations plus two

Messina stations, from a second homogeneous

group B of five stations of Messina (Fig. 8). At a

higher level of 37%, the former group was consti-

tuted by a further sub-group A1 of six Catania

stations, which were separated from a small sub-

group A2 of stations from both areas. Such indica-

tion of a different composition/structure of the

Messina and Catania mollusc assemblages was sup-

ported by the ANOSIM test, which indicated such

area-related discrimination as a statistically signifi-

cant factor (Global E 0.78, p-level 0.1%; number of

permuted statistics greater than or equal to Global

R: 0). Among the other factors that potentially

affected the mollusc taxocoenosis within each area

group, the occurrence/absence of freshwater inputs

(Fig. 8) and “exposure” (exposed/sheltered), were

the most significant.

The ANOSIM test (two way crossed) for differ-

ences between areas across all stations with fresh

water inputs, also resulted statistically significant,

358

Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe

with a Global R of 0.87 (p-level 0.4%; number of

permuted statistics greater than or equal to Global

R: 3). A 2D multi-dimensional scaling better

clustered the stations submitted or not to such con-

straint inside the Messina area, with respect to a

weaker separation inside the other clusters (Fig. 8).

Similarly, test for differences between the

factor “area” across the factor “exposure” provided

a Global R of 0.82, but with a lower significance

level of 1.3% (number of permuted statistics

greater than or equal to Global R: 1). The hypo-

thesis of a possible interaction of the two local

affecting factors was less strictly supported by test

for differences between “freshwater inputs” across

all “exposure”, which provided a Global R of 0.79,

but with p-level 4% (number of permuted statistics

greater than or equal to Global R:l); in this

respect, the general absence of freshwater inputs

in the medium and high exposed stations should

be noted. All the other abiotic and biotic factors,

tested with ANOSIM, did not produce significant

differences among the selected levels.

The Messina assemblage, with a lower average

similarity of 32.9% (Table 1), was characterized by

a small number of species, nine of which accounted

for 9 1 .4% intra-group similarity. Most of similarity

(49.1%) was due to two sole species, Pisinna

glabrata (Megerle von Miihlfeld, 1 824) and Setia

amabilis (Locard, 1886), with 33.7% and 15.4%

respectively. The contribution of other species r api-

dly declined down to 3.1% for Columbella rustica

(Linnaeus, 1758). A residual 8.6% cumulative sim-

ilarity was due to 3 1 rare or occasional species. The

Catania assemblage showed a higher 41.5% sim-

ilarity and was due to a small group of frequent

species, eleven of which accounted for 91.2 cumu-

lative percentage. Most of such a cumulative con-

tribution was due to the species Cardita calyculata

(Linnaeus, 1758), Pisinna glabrata and Barleeia

unifasciata (Montagu, 1803), with an average con-

tribution of 25.7%, 16.6% and 10.8%, respectively.

Differently from Messina, the contribution of other

species slowly declined, down to a minimum of

1.9% of Crisilla galvagni (Aradas et Maggiore,

1844). A consistent group of 54 less common

species covered the residual 8.8%.

The same three species that were main respons-

ible for the internal similarity of the Catania area,

(Cardita calyculata , Pisinna glabrata, Barleeia

unifasciata ) had a primary role to determine the

Figure 9. Nm-MDS ordination bubble-plots for some abundant and rare species which characterized the Messina

and Catania mollusc taxocoenosis with superimposed cluster classification of the two areas.

Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: a comparison between two coastal typologies

359

inter-group dissimilarity, although at lower extent,

accounting respectively for 13.5%, 8.9% and 9.5%

of the 79.3% average dissimilarity. Over a total of

86 species, just 40 accounted for 90% cumulative

dissimilarity. It is of interest to note that a small

group of species, Setia amabilis, Crisilla semis-

triata (Montagu, 1808), Lasaea aclansoni (Gmelin,

1791), that weakly contributed to the intra-group

similarity, played a significant role in determining

inter-group dissimilarity (Table 1). Such repartition

of species per area is well represented in the bubble

plots of figure 9, showing the abundances of Setia

amabilis and Barleeia unifasciata, which are highly

characterizing species for the Messina and Catania

assemblages, respectively. Other two less abundant

species, which might be linked to a particular area,

were Crisilla galvagni, exclusively found in

Catania, and Gibbula philberti (Recluz, 1843)

which characterized the Messina area.

More in general, qualitative differences were

recognized in some less frequent taxa that were

exclusively or prevalently found in a single area

(Table 2). Between the Rissoacea, for example,

the genus Alvania Risso, 1826 and Crisilla

Monterosato, 1917 best characterized the area of

Catania (with eight and three species respectively)

with respect to Messina (with two and none species

respectively), whilst the genus Rissoa Desmarest,

1814 (two species) and Setia Adams H. & A., 1854

(two species) were exclusively found in Messina.

Similarly, the genera Granulina Jousseaume, 1888

(three exclusive species) and Gibbula Risso, 1826

(five exclusive species) best characterised Catania

and Messina shorelines, respectively. A possible

vicariant distribution between some congeneric

species was also noted, such as for Tricolia

deshampsi Gofas, 1993 and T. miniata (Monterosato,

1884) sampled only in Messina, with respect to T.

landinii Bogi et Campani, 2007 collected exclus-

ively in Catania.

DISCUSSION

In this investigation, which provided the first

quantitative data on mollusc assemblages from the

Ionian subtidal fringe, a comparison between two

areas, Messina and Catania, quite different in the

typology of the natural substrata, has been carried

out. Their spatial separation (almost 100 Km) and

station distribution (less than 1 km spaced), replic-

ated similar investigations on intertidal communit-

ies which have put in evidence a highest grade of

variability on a ten meter spatial scales (Kelaher et

al., 2001) and even among replicates (Reichert et

al., 2008). Such a local variability, in the present in-

vestigation has been considered in terms of

stochastic patchiness and resolved by replicate

pooling. Such procedure allowed a better discrim-

ination of assemblages per stations and areas.

The fringe, as a peculiar aspect of photophilic

habitat submitted to high levels of environmental

stress (e.g. hydrodynamism, insulation, desiccation,

freshwater inputs), was expected to be characterized

by impoverished assemblages; in contrast, the total

number of recorded species was high, in compar-

ison with deeper subtidal assemblages both from

western (Poulicek, 1985), central (Richards, 1983)

and eastern Mediterranean (Antoniadou et al.,

2005). Number of species and abundance were

markedly higher in Catania with respect to Messina,

probably due to the rough lavic substratum and a

more irregular/uneven shoreline, which increases

space availability, habitat complexity and shelter,

with respect to the smooth conglomeratic beach-

rock and connected concrete blocks.

Although richer in species number and indi-

viduals, the lava cliff did not substantially overlie

the conglomeratic beach-rock in terms of mollusc

diversity, that was moderately high in both substrata

typologies. By contrast, equitability was low, thus

testifying for a generalised de-structured condition

of both the assemblages. In general, the studied

mollusc assemblages showed a high grade of

stochastic variability, especially in Messina, accord-

ing to the wide fluctuation of univariate diversity

indices and to the low internal similarity of each

sample group. Nevertheless, statistically significant

differences between the two areas, mainly due to a

small number of dominant species (Kelaher et al.,

2001) were found. Such differentiation of the two

mollusc assemblages was moderately altered by the

“intrusion” of two Messina stations in the Catania

group, which might be viewed as an evidence of a

cenotic affinity, rather than as an ecological trans-

ition. In this respect, we note that most of the recor-

ded molluscs are known to be ecologically related

to the Mediterranean photophilic algal assemblage

complex, with diversified preference in terms of

depth, light, exposure.

360

Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe

sh. CA

Polyp! acophora

Gastropoda

Cadochiton calculus Dell'Angelo & Palazzi,

1994

Haminoea hydatis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Acanthochitana err nit a (Pennant, 1 777)

A ca n t ft oc hi ton a fascicu la to (Linnaeus,

Haminoea navicula (da Costa, 1778)

1 767)

Lepidochrtona monterosaioi Kaas & Van Belle.

* OK as to mia imp roba hi Its O be r li ng , 1970

1981

Leptochiton cimicoides (di Monterosato,

* Mi tra co rnicuta (Linnaeus, 1758)

•

1879)

* Nat tea rius h ebra ms ( Mart yn . 1786)

•

Gastropoda

Ocinebrina hispidula ( Pall ary, 1 904)

A Ivans a ca need ata (da Costa, 1 778)

* OK as to nidi a Koliofuni (Philippi, 1844)

Ah 'an ia cimex ( Linnaeus, 1758)

* Omatogyra atom us (Philippi, 1841 )

Alvania clathrellti (Segucnza L., 1903)

Partitions i ndeco ra (Bergh, 1881)

A l vania lanciae (Cal car a, 1845)

Part hen in a c lath rata (Jeffreys, 1848)

Pisinna glabra tit (Megerle von Miihlfcld,

Alvania sea bru (Philippi. 1844)

- 1824)

Alvania simulans Locard, 1 886

* Pho reus rich ardi (Payraudeau, 1826)

•

Alvania subcrenula fa (B.D.D., 1884)

* Pusil Una margin ata (Michaud, 1830)

•

Alvania Zetland tea ( Montagu. 1815)

Ammonicera fischerima (Monterosato,

* Rissoa similis Scacchi, 1836

•

1869)

li issoa i r arl ah i lis (Von M uh 1 fc Id l , 1824)

Aplysia parvula Mdrch, 1 863 *

Setia a ma hi lis (Locard, 1886)

Aplysia fasciat a Poiret, 1789

* Setia sc id tie (A rad as & Benoit, 1 876)

Ba fleet a un ifasd ata (Montagu, 1803)

* Sinezona cingulata (O.G. Costa, 1861)

•

Bit Hum lacteurn (Philippi, 1836)

* Tri col ia ties 1 7? ampsi G ofas , 1993

Bit titan reticula turn (da Costa, 1778)

Tricvlia miniata (Montcrosato, 1884)

Bulla striata Bruguicre, 1 792

* Tricolia lan Kind Bogi & Campani, 2007

•

Centhiopsis nofronii Amati. 1 987

* Vexidum ebenus (Lamarck, 1811)

Cerithium vulgatum Rruguiere, 1792

•

Vitreolina incurva ( B, D.D.. 1883)

Vitreolina philippi (de Rayneval & Ponzi.

•

Coiumbeda rustica (Linnaeus, 1758)

Conus veutri cos its G me 1 in , 1791

•

1854)

* Wi Ilia mi a gussoni (Costa O. G. , I 829)

•

Crisilla ben lamina (Monterosato, 1884)

* Bjvajvia

Crisilla gafaagni (Aradas & Maggiorc, 1 844)

* Anonu’a ephippium Linnaeus, 1758

•

CrisiUa semi striata (Montagu, 1808)

* Area noae Linnaeus, 1 758

•

Eaton in a pumila (Monterosato, 1884)

Barb alia barhatu (Linnaeus, 1758)

•

Epi torn u in p niched lutii ( B i v on a , 1832 )

* Bruch id antes pharaonis (P. Fischer, 1870)

Fissured a mt bead a (Linnaeus, 1758)

* Card it a cahvuluta (Linnaeus, 1 758)

Fossa rus am hi git us (Linnaeus, 1758)

* Cha ma grypho id es Linnac u s, 1 75 8

Gibber til a Janssen i van Aa risen ct al., 1984

* Hiateda arctica (Linnaeus, 1767)

Gib hula ad an son ii (Payraudeau, 1826)

Hiatefla rugosa (Linnaeus , 1767)

Gihbuta ardens (Salts Marschlins, 1 793) *

bus irus (Linnaeus, 1758)

G ib h ul a ph ilberti (Recluz, 1843) *

La sue a adansoni (Gmelin, 1791)

•

G ib b ula racket t i ( Pa yr aud eau , 1826) *

Lima lima (Linnaeus, 1 758)

Gib bid a turbi unities ( Dcshay cs, 1 835)

Muscat us cos tula tus ( Risso, 1 826)

Gib b ula um hi hearts ( Lin nae us. 1 758) *

My ti taster minimus (Poli, 1 795)

•

Gib but a varia (Linnaeus, 1758) *

Myfi luster sol i dus M ontcro sato , 1883

Gran a lino haucheti Gofas. 1 992

* Mvtilus gal lap ravine ia lis Lamarck, 1819

G ran 1 1 li rut m arg in ata ( B i vona , 1832)

Grunulina vanhareni (van Aartsen et al..

* Ost t ea edufis Linnaeus, 1758

1984)

* Ostrea stentina Payraudeau. 1826

Gy rosea la lamellosa (Lamarck, 1822)

St ri urea lav tea (Linnaeus, 1758)

•

Table 1. Similarity Percentage analysis for species contribution to Bray-Curtis similarity (5”) and dissimilarity ( ' ) within

each area and between the two areas respectively. Av., average; SD, standard deviation; N, abundance of individuals.

Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: a comparison between two coastal typologies

361

SIMPER

withm/between

Area-Groups

Group

av. S'

Group

S’

Croup

av. S'

Group

S’

av. 6

5/SD

contr.%

32.92

41.53

av. N

av, N

Cardita ca /yen lata

2.51

2.73*

15.64

10.68*

10,65

1,48

13.47

Barleeia un if a sc iata

0.00

—

9.96

4.48*

7.53

1,11

9.51

Pisinna g! a brat a

10.90

1 1 .09*

11.12

6.89*

7.09

1 .37

8.96

A mmonicera fischerian a

0,25

6.53

3.68*

5.22

0,94

6.59

Acantho chiton a crin i ta

0,29

—

4,53

3.79*

3.29

2,57

4.16

Myti /aster solidus

1,69

0.14

5.24

2,4*

3.21

0.84

4.06

Gib hula turb in aides

3,54

0.15

0.47

—

2.73

0,87

3.45

Setia amabilis

3.23

5.07*

0.00

—

2.71

0.87

3.43

Cris i lia sem is tri at a

0.00

—

3.79

—

2.62

0.49

3.32

Lasaea adansoni

0.00

—

2.57

—

2.29

0.46

2.89

Bittium reticulatum

0,34

—

2.62

1.43*

1.93

1.11

2.44

Eaton ina pit mi /a

1.05

0.07

3.37

1.35*

1.90

1.07

2.40

Cris ilia ga/vagni

0.00

—

2.71

0.06

1.81

0.97

2.29

Cris ilia beniamina

0.00

—

2.30

—

1.80

0.83

2.27

C a lum bell a n tsti ca

1.69

0.04

2.58

1.3*

1.73

l .36

2.19

Si n ez ana c i ngu la ta

0.00

—

1.94

—

1.12

0.51

1.41

Gib hula adamomi

1,1 1

—

0.40

—

1.03

0.77

1.30

Fissure! la it ubecula

0.00

—

1.45

—

0,98

1.01

1.24

Mitscu las cost it la (us

1.06

0.07

1.68

1.06*

0.93

1,17

1.18

Area noae

0.74

—

0.98

—

0.90

0.95

1.14

Gib hula ardetis

1.10

—

0.00

0.81

0.75

1.02

Bra chid antes ph ara onis

0.14

—

1.10

0.77

1,05

0.98

Myti las ga l lopro v inc 7 a l is

0,00

—

0,99

—

0.75

0,50

0.95

Aplysia panada

0.90

0.05

0.00

—

0.68

1.08

0.86

Alvania sc ah r a

0.00

—

1.01

—

0.65

0.68

0,83

Cham a gryph aides

0,29

0.57

—

0.56

0,74

0.71

Alvania lanciae

0.29

—

0.64

—

0.54

0.70

0.68

Gy rose ala lamellosa

0.29

—

0.52

—

0.46

0.84

0.58

A ca nthochi ton a fast * icu laris

0.00

—

0.69

—

0.45

0.40

0.57

G ih bul a ph Uberti

0.49

—

0.00

—

0.44

0.79

0.56

Omalogyra atom us

0.00

—

0.78

—

0.42

0.40

0.53

Aplysia fascia ta

0.00

0.53

0.42

0.40

0.53

Trie alia landinii

0.00

—

0.39

—

0.39

0.58

0.50

Alvania Simula ns

0.00

—

0.73

—

0.39

0.40

0.50

Inis irus

0.00

—

0.39

0.59

0.49

Gib hula racke d i

0.55

—

0.00

—

0.37

0.61

0.47

Ostrea edulis

0.00

—

0.40

—

0.36

0,60

0.45

Tricolia m in iata

0.49

0.00

—

0.35

0.60

0.44

Alvania can cel lata

0.00

—

0.49

—

0.35

0.81

0.44

Gran id ina v an ha re n i

0.00

—

0.52

—

0.34

0,60

0,43

Table 2. Distribution of mollusc species in the shallow sublittoral zones of Messina (ME), Catania (CA)

and shared (sh.) between the two areas.

362

Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe

Such melange of species tied to different envir-

onmental conditions is explicated in literature as a

trapping effect exerted by the branching algae

towards the settling larvae and early juveniles

(Poulicek, 1985). This supposed “branching effect”

did not significantly affect the composition and

structure of the mollusc assemblages, which

clustered independently from typology and extent

of algal covering. Such evidences do not agree with

literature data that indicate a significant effect of

algal architecture on the mollusc assemblage discrim-

ination (Chemello & Milazzo, 2002; Pitacco et al.,

2014; Antoniadou et al., 2005). By contrast, the

hypothesis that redundant algal-associated assem-

blages can play a key role for the maintenance of

biodiversity of the broader geographical area

(Antoniadou et al., 2005) is here supported.

Moreover, contrasting effects of algal covering

towards zoobenthic larvae should be considered,

since the wave exposed fringe is submitted to a

highest sediment/nutrient resuspension that is

known to favour spores with respect to benthic lar-

vae in space competition (Richmond & Seed, 1991;

Oigman-Pszezol et al., 2004). Once developed,

algae might favour larval recruitment and

juvenile/adults surviving, providing food and pro-

tection from predators and desiccation (Poulicek,

1985; Antoniadou et al., 2005), but limitedly to a

short time period, due to their ephemeral character.

Mollusc assemblages that were dominated by

small sized species with a short life span reflected

such an irregular and transient availability of

resources in their high densities and low or-

ganization levels. The algal assemblage, in turn,

is driven by the substratum type and its (micro)to-

pographic complexity, both of which directly and

indirectly affect the settlement and persistence of

benthic organisms. In this respect, the geo-litho-

logical structure of the natural substrata and the

related texture might be explicative for the ob-

served patterns of diversity among the two areas

far apart. The conglomeratic rocks of the Messina

Strait is more even and less porous with respect

to the basaltic surface of Catania cliffs, which is

more irregular and richer in hollows and crevices.

The more uneven surface, promoting phyto-

benthic colonization, in turn improves shelter and

sediment trapping, that is in accordance with the

higher richness of the bivalve species observed in

the Catania area.

The less fluctuating Shannon H’ and equitab-

ility of species/abundance of the Catania mollusc

assemblage with respect to the Messina area, also

support the hypothesis that substratum roughness

acts as structuring factor. Other local factors, both

related or not with the natural substratum typo-

logy, do not play a recognizable role, except for

freshwater inputs combined with shelter expos-

ure. The effects of geographical distance, that

might be more important than substratum type or

roughness in determining assemblage structure

(Guarnieri et al., 2009), might be also considered,

in reason of the latitudinal gradient between the

two areas.

Such a gradient determines a southward temper-

ature increase that near Catania marks the crucial

15°C seawater winter isotherm (Bianchi et al.,

2012). In our opinion, the climatic gradient was not

directly responsible for the quantitative differences

between the two areas, but may partially explicate

the different species composition. Some of the

forty-six (Catania) and twenty-one (Messina) not

shared species have a limited Mediterranean distri-

bution, and some of these species are known from

a restricted area, as the recently “rediscovered”

Crisilla galvagni (Scuderi & Amati, 2012).

CONCLUSIONS

The mollusc assemblages from two subtidal

fringes of eastern Sicily configure as an impover-

ished aspect of the photophilic associated fauna,

submitted to some strong environmental constraints

that limit the number of characteristic species but

allow the transient recruitment of opportunistic and

occasional taxa.

The investigated areas, although submitted to

similar climatic and edaphic conditions, have dif-

ferently structured substrata which result more or

less favourable to species settlement and survival

in accordance with high (Catania) or low (Messina)

cliff roughness. The respective assemblages,

although characterized by a high local variability,

show some common traits that allow to recognize

a real taxocoenosis.

Some scarcely known species, mainly localized

in the lava cliff, may be preferentially tied to such

peculiar environment. The accessory taxa that are

partially supplied by other nearby communities

Mollusc assemblages of hard bottom subtidal fringe: a comparison between two coastal typologies

363

testify for the role of shallow fringe assemblages to

maintain the biodiversity at local and at broader

geographical scale.

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Andrea Cosentino & Salvatore Giacobbe

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 365-370

Monograph

On the rediscovery of the vermetid “ Siphonium ” gaederop

Morch, 1861 (Gastropoda Vermetidae) with systematic and

ecological observations on the early juveniles stages

Danilo Scuderi

Via Mauro de Mauro 15b, 95032 Catania, Italy; e-mail: danscu@tin.it

ABSTRACT Some specimens of a not identified Dendropoma Morch, 1862 were collected in the Mediter-

ranean. Further taxonomical studies allowed to identify this material as “ Siphonium ” gaederopi

(Morch, 1861), a species never recorded again after its first description. It is here redescribed

and figured on the basis of the mentioned collected material and after the study of the type

material of Morch’s collection, among which the syntype is here selected. This species is

assigned to Dendropoma , according to the morphological characters of the shell, radula, ex-

ternal soft parts and operculum. The shell, the soft parts and the juvenile stage of D. gaederopi

are here figured for the first time and compared to congeners and to Vermetus granulatus

(Gravenhorst, 1831), similar only in shell morphology. The new findings of this species rep-

resent the first certain record, after the doubtful locality of the original description.

KEY WORDS Mollusca; Vermetidae; Siphonium ; rediscovery; Dendropoma', ecology; juveniles.

Received 03.11.2014; accepted 21.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 16th- 18th 20 14, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

The genus Siphonium Morch, 1859 [not Link,

1807] was synonymysed by Keen (1961), who

restored Dendropoma Morch 1861 as a good name

for the genus, with D. lituella Morch, 1861 as type

species.

Scuderi (1995) had been recently reviewed the

systematyc position of the two known Mediter-

ranean species of the genus Dendropoma : D. pet-

raeum (Monterosato, 1878) is synonymysed with

D. glomeratum Bivona, 1832, while the studied

type material of D. anguliferum (Monterosato,

1884) in the ZMR was not enough to establish

whether this latter is a good species, so it still

continues to have an uncertain systematyc position

because of the lacking of recent material. Some spe-

cimens of a third species of Dendropoma, markedly

different from the two congeneric, has been recently

recorded in the Mediterranean sea. This species

corresponded to the description of “ Siphonium ”

gaederopi Morch, 1861, which was described on

material doubtfully reported from Spain and never

cited in the recent time. The comparison of the spe-

cimens found with the type material of this latter

species, housed in ZMUC, confirmed the previous

diagnosis. A syntype is here selected among the

material of the lot GAS-216.

The shell of adult specimens of D. gaederopi

has a close morphological resemblance with that of

another Mediterranean species, Vermetus granu-

latus (Gravenhorst, 1831).

366

Danilo Scuderi

In particular the former is very similar to a

morphotype of the latter, called “form A” (Scuderi,

1999), but has different protoconch and operculum

and the colour pattern of external soft parts is

peculiar too. Differences on the shell sculpture of

sub-adult shells of the two species (see remarks) are

discriminating too.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Living samples of D. gaederopi were collected

by undermining the shells from hard substrates at

-4/18 m depth; empty shells and juveniles stages

were collected among the shell grit drawn at -35 m

depth collected handly with ARA. Pictures of the

external soft parts were obteined by observing the

living animals in aquarium.

Type material of “ Siphonium ” gaederopi were

examined from the Morch’s collection stored in

ZMUC.

ACRONYMS. AGC: Alfio Germana collection,

Catania, Italy; ARC: Agatino Reitano collection,

Catania, Italy; DISTEBA: Department of Biolo-

gical and Environmental Science and Technologies,

University of Salento, Lecce, Italy; ISMAR-CNR:

Istituto di Scienze Marine, Consiglio Nazionale

delle Ricerche, Genoa, Italy; ZMR: Zoological

Museum, Rome, Italy; ZMUC: Zoological Museum,

University of Copenhagen, Denmark.

SYSTEMATICS

Dendropoma gaederopi (Morch, 1861)

Examined material. Type material. Four lots

in ZMUC labelled GAS 215/216/217/218, with

two labels, probably in Morch’s handwriting

(Figs. 13, 14) and the label of the Museum (Fig.

15), were constituted by several tens of speci-

mens; one specimen on Spondylus gaederopus

Linnaeus 1758 is here selected as syntype among

the lot GAS 216 (Fig. 1).

Other examined material. Agrigento, SW-Sicily,

Italy: Linosa Is., “Cala Pozzolana di Levante”, -4/6

m, on ancient earthenwares; same locality, 7 living

specimens, -18m, on the shell of a living Charonia

tritonis variegata (Lamarck, 1816); “Faro”, -35 m,

shell-grit, 2 shells; “Punta Arena Bianca”, infralit-

toral shell-grit, 1 shell. Siracusa, SE-Sicily, Italy:

Vendicari, beached shell-grit, 1 shell on the upper

valve of Spondylus gaederopus Linnaeus, 1758;

Marzamemi, 3 living specimens on calcareous

stones, -5/6m (ARC and AGC). Lecce, S-Apulia,

Italy: Otranto, 1 specimen with operculum and 4

protoconchs, on calcareous stones, -5/1 Om.

Description. Shell solid, generally funnel

involved, with the last tele-whorl rounded and

equal to the half of the entire shell (Figs. 2-5).

Sculpture constituted by dorsal longitudinal keels,

variable in number (often 2), which could produce

striking spiny formations in large specimens.

Between the keels, numerous and concentric

lamellae cover the surface of the shell, particularly

in young specimens (Figs. 3, 4). The mouth is

rounded and has a diameter of 2-2.5 mm in adult

specimens (Fig. 5): in the syntype here selected

the external diameter of the aperture is 5.8 mm.

Like in many species of Dendropoma , an eroded

scar is often visible on the substratum around the

apertural opening. The basal portion of the ex-

ternal side of the tube forms a second labial lip,

that leans on the substratum. Dense mass of indi-

viduals were not observed, except one little cluster

among type material (GAS 2 1 6) of about 20 shells

of various size on a fragment of a large Bivalve,

maybe a Spondylus Linnaeus, 1758.

The living animal (Fig. 8) is yellow-cream in

colour, becoming red-orange on the anterior part of

the cephalo-thorax, metapodium and foot, around

the operculum; very small black spots are visible

too. Black shade are present on the dorsal part and

around the base of the cephalic tentacles and the

mouth, wich are both yellow in colour; the mantle

edge is yellow with black alternate lines.

The operculum (Figs. 6, 7) is large as the aper-

ture and is quite different from that of all the

congeners, being reverse-cone shaped, with the

concave part upward, relatively deep and brown

in color, often occupied by encrusting calcareous

algae. The convex downward part is glossy and

red-chestnut in color and do not present, unlike

the two congeners, any depression around

the central large button, but only a thin, almost

undetectable scar.

Protoconch (Figs. 9-11) 0.5 mm high and 0.6

mm wide, swollen, but compressed superiorly and

inferiorly, constituted by 1 and U smooth whorls.

Rediscovery of t/ie“Siphonium” gaederopi (Gastropoda Vermetidae) with observations on the early juveniles stages 367

A first embrional shell, separated from the rest of

the protoconch, is distinguishable (Fig. 10).

Early developmental stages. Usually D.

gaederopi has a not polygirate protoconch: the

presence of a first embryonic nucleus, separated

from the rest of the protoconch shell, suggest that

this species could have a planctonic stage, which

allow the diffusion of the species. Few juveniles

found among shell grit and undoubtedly belong-

ing to D. gaederopi , however, show one or two

additional protoconch whorls (Fig. 12), confirm-

ing the possibility of some vermetids to produce

more than one type of larval stage depending on

seasons (Scuderi & Cantone, 2007). Moreover the

first protoconch whorl seem to have a different

coiling axis, differing of about 45° from that of

the rest of the protoconch. This character, ob-

served on other species of the same genus, could

have phylogenetic implications. This changing of

axis coiling in the protoconch seem to anticipate

the subsequent changing of 90° of the first tele-

whorl, which allow vermetids to settle on the sub-

stratum.

Distribution. Except for the doubtful locality

reported in the original description (“...probably

from Spain ”), this species is known only from the

material here examined, from S-Italy to Pelagie

Is., between Sicily andN-African coasts of Libya.

Not full grown specimens are easily mistakable

with other congeners or with V. granulatus and this

could reduce the real geographical distribution of

the species along the Mediterranean and the E-

Atlantic.

Remarks. Dendropoma gaederopi was collec-

ted from the very shallow to the deeper fringe of

infralittoral, 4/35 m depth, often on big shells, like

Spondylus or Charonia Gistel, 1847: this habit ap-

pear not similar to the Mediterranean congeneric

species, which are present on rocks in intertidal

and upper infralittoral zones. Further findings of

this species in S-Apulian, cited as Dendropoma

sp. (Terlizzi et al., 2003; Scuderi & Terlizzi,

2012), seem to suggest that it could be present

in a wider geographical area, mainly in South

Mediterranean, but it probably still remain unre-

cognized, due to taxonomical difficulty in its

identification.

Morch well described D. gaederopi , clearly

distinguishing it from the other species of

“ Siphonium ” (= Dendropoma ). The Mediterranean

congeneric D. cristatum (Biondi, 1857) results

quite different on the basis of teleoconch’s shell

sculpture mainly constituted by more dense and

thin axial lamellae and only one spiral chord, the

not smooth protoconch, the colour pattern of ex-

ternal soft parts (Fig. 20) and the feature of the

operculum (Figs. 16, 17) (see Scuderi, 1995 for

further details). The analysis of the type material

of the second Mediterranean species of Dendro-

poma, D. anguliferum Monterosato, 1884, housed

in ZMR (n. 21295), have stated the differences

between this latter and gaederopi, even if the

question of the validity of the Monterosato’s

species remain opened (Scuderi, 2002).

Moreover, D. gaederopi seem not to be a

gregarious vermetid, like some congeneric

species, which could produces wide “trottoir” in

some localities (Hadfield et al., 1972; Safriel,

1975; Barash & Zenziber, 1985; Chemello et al.,

1990; Scuderi et al., 1998), and seem to prefere

deeper waters.

Another Mediterranean vermetid is close sim-

ilar to this species: except for the protoconch and

the external characters of the soft parts, D. gae-

deropi differs from V granulatus “form A” (Scuderi,

1999) by having a shell ambrate in color, with

spiral sculpture constitued by only two (rarely

more) axial ribs, which, in adult shells, produce

spiny excrescences. In V. granulatus the basal

portion of the external side of the tube never forms

a second lip and no lamellae between the keels, nor

scar eroded into the substratum are present.

Moreover, as could be argued by pictures here

presented, the operculum (Figs. 18, 19) is smaller

and thin, the protoconch (Fig. 22) and external soft

parts (Fig. 21) are different.

DISCUSSION

Dendropoma gaederopi is not reported in any

recent checklist of the Mediterranean malacofauna

(Bruschi et al., 1985; Sabelli et al., 1990-92; Bodon

et al., 1995), even if it was cited as valid species by

Monterosato (1892) fide Morch (1861-1862).

The syntype here selected among the type series

from ZMUC carries a black cross on the upper part

of the shell, maybe to marck the semple from which

368

Danilo Scuderi

k , ,

ZOOLOGISK MUSEUM, K0BENHAVN.

1 C% ^p r C ' rjcc ' 1

LoC ' /&&■/ f,. /9

Datum: svyb*

cc^/ /3?

Fig. 1-14. Dendropoma gaederopi. Fig. 1. Syntype (ZMUC), on Spondylus gaederopus. Fig. 2. Shell, Linosa, aperture 0 1mm.

Fig. 3. Shell, Linosa, aperture 0 1.5 mm. Fig. 4. Shell, not full grown specimen, Linosa, aperture 0 0.5 mm. Fig. 5. Shell, Linosa,

aperture 0 3 mm. Figs. 6, 7. Operculum in downward and lateral (a) view, 0 1.5 mm. Fig. 8. Drawing of the animal 0 1.5 mm.

Fig. 9. Protoconch and first tele-whorl, upward view, Linosa, 0.5 mm x 0.6 mm. Fig. 10. Same, detail of the nucleus. Fig. 1 1 . Pro-

toconch and first tele- whorl, side view, Linosa, 0.5 mm x 0.6 mm. Fig. 12. Multispiral protoconch and first tele- whorl, side view,

Linosa, 1.5 mm x 0.85 mm. Fig. 13, 14. Original labels in Morch’s handwriting (ZMUC). Fig. 15. Label of ZMUC. Fig. 16, 17.

D. cristatum. Operculum in downward and lateral view 03.5 mm. Fig. 1 8 , 1 9. Vermetus granulatus. Operculum in downward and

lateral (a) view 0 0.25 mm. Fig. 20. Drawing of the animal 03.5 mm. Fig. 2 1 . Drawing of the animal 01.5 mm. Fig. 22. Protoconch

and first tele-whorl, lateral view, Vendicari, 0.6 mm x 0.5 mm.

Rediscovery of t/ie“Siphonium” gaederopi (Gastropoda Vermetidae) with observations on the early juveniles stages 369

the operculum, preserved in a separate glass-tube,

was obtained (the shell is breacked probably to

draw out the soft parts). All the material was accom-

panied by two series of labels: one original, prob-

ably in Morch’s hand-writing; the second label of

the ZMUC. An additional label reports: “ Following

Bieler (1996) possible type(s) of Siphonium gae-

deropi March, 1861”.

With D. gaederopi the number of known

Mediterranean species of this genus increase to

three, but further and more exaustive studies

should regard D. anguliferum to ascertain if it is

really a good species.

All vermetid species have normally gastropod-

like coiled early developmental stages: some spown

as free swiming larvae; others are crowling juven-

iles at hatching. Hadfield et al. (1972) stated that

nurse yolk assumption by the embryos influences

the larval mode of life and dimensions, but only in

Vermetus rugulosus both type of larvae could be sim-

ultaneously produced (Scuderi & Cantone, 2007).

The finding of more than one type of juveniles

suggest that this species could take advantage from

the planktonic lifestyle to settle on islands rocky

environments and from the direct development to

ensure specimen’s enlargement to the established

population.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I am grateful to Tom Schioette (ZMUC) for the

kind loan of Morch’s type material; my friend

Marco Faimali (ISMAR-CNR, Genoa, Italy) fur-

nished logistic accommodation in Linosa Island;

Agatino Reitano and Alfio Germana loaned their

material and foumished accommodation in Mar-

zamemi, Sicily. I am grateful to Antonio Terlizzi

(DISTEBA, Lecce, Italy), who allowed the study of

the Apulian materials. Finally, I am indebted to Jose

Templado (Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales,

Madrid) and Alberto Villari, for their hepful sug-

gestions and the critical review of the text.

REFERENCES

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adaptations of Vermetidae (Gastropoda). Bollettino

Malacologico, 21: 145-176.

Bieler R. 1996. Morch's worm-snail taxa (Caenogastro-

poda: Vermetidae, Siliquariidae, Turitellidae).

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Giusti F., Manganelli G., Melone G., Oliverio M.,

Sabelli B. & Spada G., 1995. Gastropoda Proso-

branchia, Heterobranchia Heterostropha. In: Minelli

A., Ruffo S. & La Posta S. (eds.), Checklist delle

specie della fauna italiana, 14. Calderini, Bologna,

60 pp.

Bruschi A., Cepodomo I., Galli C. & Piani P., 1985.

Catalogo dei molluschi conchiferi viventi nel

Mediterraneo. ENEA, Collana di studi ambientali:

XII + 111 pp.

Chemello R., Pandolfo A. & Riggio S., 1990. Le

biocostruzioni a Molluschi Vermetidi nella Sicilia

Nord-Occidentale. Atti 53° Congresso UZI, Palermo:

88 .

Hadfield M.G., Kay E.A., Gillette M.U. & Lloyd M.C.,

1972. The Vermetidae (Mollusca Gastropoda) of the

Hawaiian Islands. Marine Biology, 12: 81-98.

Keen A.M., 1961. A proposed reclassification of the

Gasteropod family Vermetidae. Bulletin of the British

Museum (Natural History). Zoology, 7: 181-213.

Morch O.A.L., 1 861-62. Review of the Vermetidae (Part

I-II-III), Proceedings of the Zoological Society of

London (1860): 145-181; (1861): 326-365; (1862):

54-83.

Monterosato A.T., 1892. Monografia dei Vermeti del

Mediterraneo. Bullettino della Societa di malacologia

italiana, 17: 7-48.

Sabelli B., Giannuzzi-Savelli R. & Bedulli D., 1990-92.

Catalogo annotato dei Molluschi marini del Mediter-

raneo, vol. I— III, Libreria Naturalistica Bolognese,

Bologna, 781 pp.

Safriel U., 1974. Vermetid gastropods and Interdital

Reefs in Israel and Bermuda. Science, 186: 1 1 13—

1115.

Scuderi D., 1995. II genere Dendropoma (Gastropoda:

Vermetidae) nel Mediterraneo. Bollettino Malacolo-

gico, 31: 1-6.

Scuderi D., 1999. Contributo alia conoscenza dei Ver-

metidae mediterranei: Vermetus granulatus (Graven-

horst, 1831) e suoi principali morfotipi. Bollettino

Malacologico, 35: 45-48.

Scuderi D., 2002. La famiglia Vermetidae Rafinesque,

1815 (Mollusca: Gastropoda): i tipi della collezione

Monterosato serviti per la compilazione della

“Monografia dei vermeti del Mediterraneo”. 63°

Congresso Unione Zoologica Italiana. Rende (CS).

Scuderi D., Terlizzi A. & Faimali M., 1998. Osservazioni

su alcuni tratti della biologia riproduttiva di vermeti

biocostruttori e loro ruolo nella edificazione dei

“trottoir”. Biologia Marina Mediterranea, Atti XXVIII

Congr. SIBM, 5: 284-289.

370

Danilo Scuderi

Scuderi D. & Cantone G., 2007. Simultaneous ambival-

ent reproductive strategy in the sessile gastropod

Vermetus rugulosus Monterosato, 1878 (Gastropoda:

Prosobranchia). 16th World Congress of Malacology,

20 July 2007- Antwerp, Belgium, 15.

Scuderi D. & Terlizzi A., 2012. I molluschi dell’ Alto

Jonio. Guida teorico-pratica di malacologia mediter-

ranea. Ed. Grifo, Lecce. 108 pp., 41 Tavole.

Terlizzi A., Scuderi D., Fraschetti S., Guidetti P. & Boero

F., 2003. Molluscs on subtidal cliffs: patterns of spa-

tial distribution. Journal of The Marine Biological

Association of The United Kingdom, 83: 165-172.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 371-376

Monograph

First assessment of the vermetid reefs along the coasts of

Favignana Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

Paolo Balistreri 1 *, Renato Chemello 2 & Anna Maria Mannino 1

1 D ip artim e n to di Scienze e Tecnologie Biologiche Chimiche e Farm aceutiche, Universita di Palermo, Via Archirafi 38. 90 1 23

Palermo, Italy; e-mail: requin.blanc@hotmail.it; anna m aria, m annino@unipa.it

2 D ip artim e n to di Scienze della Terra e del Mare, Universita di Palermo, Via Archirafi 28, 90 1 23 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: renato.

chemello@ unipa.it

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Intertidal vermetid reefs, particularly vulnerable to environmental changes and human

activities, are now experiencing high mortality in several areas of the M editerranean Sea. Since

the increase of knowledge on this habitat is important for conservation purposes, we provide

a first baseline assessment of the vermetid reefs along the coasts of the Favignana Island

(Marine Protected Area “Egadi Islands”). Preliminary results showed the presence of a true

reef, similar to a fringing reef, displaying at least three local patterns, distinguishable for width

(from 2.3 to 15.5 m), height of the outer and of the inner marg in (from 5.6 to 18 cm and from

8.3 to 26 cm, respectively) and number, width and depth of cuvettes. Moreover, significant

differences in topographic complexity among the areas were evidenced whereas no correlation

between coastal exposure and topographic complexity was found.

KEY WORDS Bioconstruction; Favignana Island; habitat and topographic complexity; vermetid reef.

Received 25.08.2014; accepted 30.01.2015; printed 30.03.2 0 15

Proceedings of the 2nd Interna tional Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6 th - 1 8 th 2014, Cefalu - Caste lb uono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Vermetid reefs are b io c o n s tru c tio n s built up by

the gastropod mollusc Dendropoma petmeum

(Monterosato, 1884) in association with some coral-

line algae such as Neogoniolithon brass ica-florida

(Harvey) Setchell & M ason. These bioconstructions

are unique and highly diverse systems that play a

fundamental structural role, as they protect coasts

from erosion, regulate sediment transport and

accum ulation, serve as carbon sinks, make the habitat

more complex and heterogeneous and provide

numerous habitats for animal and vegetal species

thus increasing intertidal biodiversity (Pandolfo et

al., 1 992; Pandolfo et al., 1996; Badalamenti et al.,

1998). In the M editerranean Sea their distribution is

restricted to the warmest part of the basin with the

largest formations generally found off the coasts of

Israel and Lebanon, but they have also been reported

in Turkey, Crete, continental Spain and Baleari

Islands, A lgeria, Morocco, along Maltese and Italian

shores (Peres & Picard, 1 952; Molinier & Picard,

1 953; Molinier, 1 955; Safriel, 1975; Boudouresque

& Cinelli, 1976; Dalongeville, 1977; Kelletat, 1979;

Richards, 1 983; Laborel, 1 987; Azzopardi, 1992;

Garcia-Raso et al., 1992; Templado et al., 1992;

Bitar & Bitar-Kouli, 1 995a, 1 955b; Azzopardi &

Schembri, 1997).

In Sicily, large and mo re or less continuous ver-

metid reefs are present along the north/northwestern

372

Paolo Balistreri et alii

coasts between Zafferano Cape and Trapani and

within the Marine Protected Area (MPA) “Egadi

Islands” (Chemello, 1 989; Chemello et al., 1990a,

1990b; Badalamentietal., 1992a, 1992b; Chemello

et al., 2000; Dieli et al., 200 1; Chemello, 2009).

Isolated reefs are found at M ilazzo Cape and only

small reefs are found around Taormina and Syra-

cuse, on the eastern coast of Sicily, and on the

Islands of Lampedusa and U stica, th at represent the

limit of distribution respectively on the south and

on the north of the Sicilian coasts (Chemello et al.,

1990a; Chemello et al., 2000; Dieli et al., 2001;

Consoli et al., 2008; Chemello, 2009). These

biogenic constructions, enclosed in the SPA/BIO

Protocol (B arcelona C onvention) are now threatened

by environmental changes and human activities

(e.g. pollution, climate change, ocean acidification)

thus experiencing high mortality in several areas of

the Mediterranean Sea (D i Franco et al., 2011;

G alii, 2013; M ilazzo et al., 2014).

Due to the high vulnerability of these habitats,

action plans for their conservation should be a

priority. We know that the increase of know ledge is

essential for the conservation and protection of this

highly valuable habitat. Since only a low percentage

of Sicilian vermetid reefs are subjected to conser-

vation and many of them are not yet investigated

(Chemello, 2009; Chemello & Silenzi, 2011), with

this study we provide a first baseline assessment

of the vermetid reefs present along the coasts of

Favignana Island (MPA “Egadi Islands”).

The aim s o f the p re sen t stu dy were: i) to p ro vid e a

first description of the reef typology and ii) to test the

effect of the coastal exposure on the topographic

complexity of the reefs.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Study area

The study was carried out at Favignana Island

(MPA “Egadi Islands”), located approximately five

kilometersfrom the west coast of Sicily. The Island,

part of the Aegadian Archipelago, represent an

example of a lower Pleistocene bioclastic cal-

car enite, characterized by a typic association known

as foramol (K il, 2010). The west side is character-

ized by the presence of the calcareous Monte Santa

Caterina (300 metres high), flanked by areas with

lower relief. The mechanical and chemical erosion

Figure 1. Location of the study areas: Favignana Island.

produced detritic deposits that partially mask the

abrasion platform. The eastern side of the mountain

shows a high cliff in the northern part, that

gradually dips to the south. The coastline is highly

rugged and not very high. The south dipping surface

might be the result of either depositional or

erosional processes. From a geological point of

view, two main tectonic units can be recognized:

the Monte Santa Caterina and the Punta Faraglione.

Vermetid reef analysis

A preliminary survey allowed us to locate six

study areas characterized by the presence of a

vermetid reef: Faraglione, Pozzo, A rre Turinu,

Grotta Perciata, Cala Rotonda and Stornello (Fig. 1).

The areas were chosen in such a way to also test

the effects of the coastal exposure on the vermetid

reef topographic complexity. Three along the

northern side: Faraglione, Pozzo and Arre Turinu,

and three along the southern side: Grotta Perciata,

Cala Rotonda and Stornello. In each area the reef

topographic complexity was measured using a lm

x lm quadrat (three random replicates). The 4 sides

and the 2 diagonals of the quadrat were measured

using a meter with a resolution of 0.01m. Topo-

graphic complexity was calculated as the ratio

between the registered measures (real measure, Xi)

and the known measures of the used quadrat (Xn):

X i/X n (Graziano et al., 2009 ).

The more the ratio is far from 1, the more com-

plex is the substrate. To describe the reef typology

the following variables were considered: the reef

width from the inshore towards the open sea (meas-

ured using a meter with a resolution of 0.01m), the

height of the inner and the outer marg in and the slopes

of the margins (measured using a goniometer).

First assessment of the vermetid reefs along the coasts ofFavignana Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

373

Data analysis

Differences in reef topographic complexity

were analysed using per mutational multivariate

analysis of variance (PERMANOVA, Anderson,

200 1). For the topographic complexity, the design

consisted of three factors: Coastal exposure (Sd;

two levels, fixed factor), Area (Ar; three levels,

random, nested in Sd) and Site (St; three levels,

random, nested in ArxSd).All multivariate analyses

were based on Bray-Curtis dissimilarities of log(x

+ 1) transformed data and each term in the analyses

was tested using 9999 random permutations of the

appropriate units. The analyses were performed

using the software package PRIMER 6 (Clarke &

G orley, 2006).

RESULTS

Reef typology

All the vermetid reefs are consistent with a true

reef (according to Antonioli et al., 1999), displaying

at least three local patterns, distinguishable for

width, height of the outer and of the inner margin

and number, width and depth of cuvettes. A descrip-

tion of the different patterns are reported below.

Pattern 1: Pozzo and Faraglione (northern side,

Fig s. 2-5 ).

Outer margin: wide, flattened and irregular. In

the inner side, crevices were also present. Some-

times at Faraglione are present two outer margins.

Inner margin: Dendropoma petraeum is absent.

Cuvettes: not many, not deep and with a variable

width. At Faraglione they are mainly present near

the outer margin. At Pozzo some of them are

fullfilled of sediment.

Study

Width

Height of

the inner

Height of

the outer

Slope of

the inner

Slope of

the outer

Areas

(m)

margin

(cm)

margin

(cm)

margin

(°)

margin

(°)

Fara-

7.03 ±

8.66 ±

1 8 ±

38.3 ±

45 ±

glione

0.23

0.2 3

Pozzo

15.46 ±

1 7.33 ±

1 5.33 ±

45 ±

0.23

Pattern 2: Grotta Perciata and Stornello (south-

ern sid e, Figs. 6 -9 ) .

Outer margin: thin and not continuously ar-

ranged. inner margin: Dendropoma petraeum is

absent. Cuvettes: not many and not deep.

Study

Areas

Width

(m)

Height of

the inner

margin

(cm)

Height of

the outer

margin

(cm)

Slope of

the inner

margin

(°)

Slope of

the outer

margin

(°)

Grotta

7.3 1 ±

1 0.33 ±

1 5.66 ±

27.5 ±

42.5 ±

Perciata

0.23

Stor-

5.10 ±

8.33 ±

8 ±

33.3 ±

29.16 ±

nello

0.23

Pattern 3: A rre Turinu (northern side) and C ala

Rotonda (southern side, Figs. 10-13).

The reef is damaged. Outer margin: it has a

variable height and sometimes it is absent. Some

crevices can also be present togetherwith regrow th

areas. Inner margin: Dendropoma petraeum is

absent. Cuvettes: many and sometimes very deep.

Study

Areas

Width

(m)

Height of

the inner

margin

(cm)

Height of

the outer

margin

(cm)

Slope of

the inner

margin

(°)

Slope of

the outer

margin

(°)

Arre

6.38 ±

26 ±

1 7 ±

26.6 ±

45 ±

Turinu

0.23

CalaRo-

2.30 ±

12 ±

7.6 ±

4 1 .6 ±

38.3 ±

tonda

0.23

0.2 3

Reef topographic complexity

The PERMANOVA on the reef topographic

complexity provided an evidence of significant

differences in topographic complexity among the

areas whereas no differences were recorded between

the two coastal exposures (Fig. 14; Table 1).

Source

Pseudo-F

P(MC)

8 627

8627

0.349

0.77 1

Ar(Sd)

9 8876

247 1 9

9.1486

0.000 1

St [Ar

(Sd)]

1 2

32423

270 1 .9

1 .8084

0.0098

Res

5 3 789

1494.1

Total

1 .9 3 7 2E 5

Table 1. PERMANOVA on the topographic

com p lex ity data.

374

Paolo Balistreri et alii

Figures 2-5.

Scheme of the

pattern 1 (Fig .

2 ) , F arag lio n e

(Fig. 3), Pozzo

(Fig. 4), Pozzo:

outer margin

(Fig. 5).

Figures 6-9.

Scheme of the

p attern 2 (Fig.

6), Grotta Per-

ciata (Fig . 7 ),

S to rn ello (Fig.

8), Grotta Per-

ciata: outer m ar-

gin (Fig. 9).

Figures 10-13.

Scheme of the

p a ttern 3 (Fig.

1 0), A rre T urinu

(Fig. 11), C ala

Rotonda (Fig.

1 2 ), A rre T urinu :

outer margin

(Fig. 13).

First assessment of the vermetid reefs along the coasts of Favignana Island (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea)

37 5

Hprtlwm £rff $airth#f n Side

NT HP NRT HT Ht

Figure 14. Topographic complexity in the studied areas.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The vermetid reefs along the coasts of Fav-

ignana are consistent with a true reef described

along the north-western Sicilian coasts (Antonioli

et al., 1999). The reef distribution around Favignana

confirms the need of carbonatic substrates and of

an abrasion platform for the form ation of true reefs

(Dieli et al., 2001 ). All the reefs are characterized,

along a transect from the inshore towards the open

sea, by the tipical patches recognized for other

Sicilian reefs (Chemello et al., 2000; Dieli et al.,

200 1). The reefs width were in agreement with the

values reported for other Sicilian reefs whereas the

height values were lower (Dieli et al., 2001). Some

differences were highlighted locally in the con-

sidered variables, in particular in the m argins, in the

depth and in the number of cuvettes. Data on topo-

graphic complexity showed significant differences

among the areas (small scale) but no relationship

between the coastal exposure (large scale) and the

reef topographic complexity was evidenced.

Vermetid reefs play an important role as modu-

lators of morphological coastal processes and as

ecological “engineers”, making the habitat more

complex and tridimensional and promoting marine

biodiversity (Pandolfo et al., 1996; Chemello et al.,

2000; Bressan et al., 2009). Therefore, much more

attention should be paid to the study of the reef

morphology and distribution together with the

associated communities and the trophic processes

within associated species.

Moreover, since the easy accessibility of ver-

metid reef makes it highly vulnerable to coastal

human activity (Franzitta et al., 2006; Graziano et

al., 2007), a correct planning in the areas where

reefs are present, in order to minimize all potential

environmental threats, should be a priority.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 377-392

A preliminary checklist of the species of non-marine Molluscs

from theAlbumi Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy (Mol-

lusca Gastropoda Bivalvia)

Agnese Petraccioli 1 , Paolo Crovato 2 , Ivano Niero 3 , Laura De Riso 4 , Camillo Pignataro 5 , Gaetano Odierna 1

& Nicola Maio 1 *

'Dipartimento di Biologia, Complesso Universitario di Monte S. Angelo, Universita degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Edificio 7,

via Cinthia 21, 80126 Napoli, Italy

2 Via S. Liborio 1, 80134 Napoli, Italy

3 Via Cici 17/1, 30038 Spinea (Venezia), Italy

4 Ente Parco Nazionale del Cilento, Vallo di Diano e Alburni, Via Montesani, 84078 Vallo Della Lucania (Salerno), Italy

5 Fondazione I.RI.DI.A. - Museo Naturalistico, via Forese 16, 84020 Corleto Monforte (Salerno), Italy

‘Corresponding author, e-mail: nicomaio@unina.it

ABSTRACT An annotated checklist of the species of non-marine molluscs from the Alburni Mountains

(Salerno Province, Campania, Southern Italy) is reported. The research was carried out

from 2010 to 2013 inside a Site of Community Importance (SCI) and a Special Protection

Area (SPA), of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park. The non-marine

molluscs sampled on the field were compared with data available from the literature and

malacological collections. Up to now, only 12 non-marine Mollusc species were known

from the Alburni Mountains through bibliographical data. In all, the malacofauna of Alburni

Mountains is composed by 83 non-marine Mollusc species (73 species of land snails, and

10 species of freshwater molluscs). The presence of nine species (six species of land snails

and three species of freshwater snails) was confirmed by our field investigation, four species

(3 species of land snails and 1 species of allochthonous freshwater snails) were recorded

only by bibliographical data and were not yet found. Our analysis identifies 70 species of

non-marine Molluscs (64 species of land snails, 6 species of freshwater molluscs) recorded

on the basis of field data which were not previously recorded from the study area. At least

1 1 species are new records for the Campania Region. Extremely interesting is the record

of Vertigo angustior Jeffreys, 1830 a species protected in European Union by the Annex

II of the “Habitats Directive” and listed as “Vulnerable” at the European level. A Red List

of Threatened Species is proposed and the species were classified with the code of I.U.C.N.

(Version 2014.3). Five allochthonous species were surveyed for the first time in the study

area: 3 land snails: Lucilla scintilla (Lowe, 1852), Lucilla singleyana (Pilsbry, 1829) and

Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852), and 2 freshwater snails: Potamopyrgus anti-

podarum (J.E. Gray, 1843) and Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863). Four species are known

exclusively from the literature: Vertigo ( Vertigo ) moulinsiana (Dupuy, 1849), Macrogastra

(Pyrostoma) plicatula (Draparnaud, 1801), Cernuella virgata (Da Costa, 1778), and Haitia

acuta (Draparnaud, 1805).

KEY WORDS Non -marine Molluscs; Alburni Mountains, Campania; faunistics; conservation.

Received 18.07.2014; accepted 29.11.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

378

Agnese Petraccioli etalii

INTRODUCTION

The knowledge of the malacofauna of Campania

(about 150 species, personal data; 13,595 sq Km)

is far below than that of other regions. This is even

more evident when we consider the protect areas of

this territory as those of the Alburni Mountains

whose malacofauna is virtually unknown (Fig. 1).

In all Campania Region, only papers on check-

list of Capri Island and Vesuvius National Park are

known in the last 10 years (Petraccioli et al., 2005a,

2005b, 2006a, 2006b, 2007; Picariello et al., 2011);

moreover there are only historical reports, nearly

100 years old, concerning the most common species

and quoted with obsolete names. The purpose of

this paper is, therefore, to help bridge this gap by

increasing the malacofauna knowledge of this

group in an important area of the Campania Region

as the Alburni Mountains, with particular reference

to the species listed in the Annex of the Habitats

Directive, in the Index of the protected fauna of

Italy and in the various red lists (Manganelli et al.,

2000a; Cerfolli et al., 2002; I.U.C.N., 2014).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The Alburni Mountains are a calcareous massif

in the Salerno Province (Campania Region) belong-

ing to the Lucan Sub Apennines chain, located in the

Eastern area of Cilento, near the borders between

Campania and Basilicata. In North-East the range de-

grades into the plain of Vallo di Diano between the

valleys of the Calore Lucano, Tanagro and Sele

rivers. The massif extends for about 250 km 2 . The

study area (SCI IT8050033 named: “Monti Alburni”,

and SPA IT8050055 named: “Alburni”) is included

in Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park

and covers 14 administrative municipalities (Aquara,

Auletta, Castelcivita, Controne, Corleto Monforte,

Ottati, Petina, Polla, Postiglione, San Pietro al Tana-

gro, San Rufo, Sant' Angelo a Fasanella, Sanf Arsenio,

and Sicignano degli Alburni) (see TEMI, 2010).

A detailed investigation on the historical and cur-

rent literature and a comprehensive study of Neapol-

itan public and private molluscan collections were

preliminarly performed. We also inspected the

original sites reached by Costa (1874) 140 years ago.

From 2010 to 2013 the field surveys were con-

ducted in 127 sampling points (stations or plots)

between 100 and 1742 meters above sea level (sum-

mit of Monte Albumo/Panormo) in all suitable hab-

itats present on the territory of the Alburni Moun-

tains in accordance with the vegetation types

reported in the land use map (1 : 25.000) available by

the “Ente Parco”. Adult specimens and shells of non-

marine molluscs were hand-collected through visual

search, leaf litter and soil collecting and sorting.

Samples were then air dried and sieved down to 0.5

mm mesh. Samples of sediment were screened with

calibrated sieves. The cleaned up material was

examined under lens and/or stereo microscope to

sort the smallest fraction, namely. Fractions above 1

cm were searched by a Leica EZ4 stereo microscope

(Leica Microsystems GmbH, Wetzlar, Germany),

both incident and transmitted, and then photo-

graphed with a digital camera. The specimens for ana-

tomical exams were drowned in water and fixed in

75% ethanol. The reproductive apparatus was extrac-

ted by means of scalpel, scissors and forceps. The

illustrations of genitalia were sketched using a camera

lucida mounted on the above stereomicroscope.

The sampled specimens were collected with

permission of the “Ente Parco Nazionale del Ci-

lento e Vallo di Diano” (Permit no. 16341/

19.10.2010). Two sampled specimens for species

were deposited in the Museo Naturalistico of

Corleto Monforte (Salerno Province), a museum

acknowledged as an “institution of regional in-

terest” (Decreto dalla Giunta Regionale Campania

n. 2010 del 29/12/2008). In addition, when other

specimen/species were collected, we preserved

them in the private collection of the authors. The

species identification was based on qualified dicho-

tomickeys (Giusti & Pezzoli, 1980; Girod et al.,

1980; Bech, 1990; Giusti et al., 1995; Kerney &

Cameron, 1999). The taxonomic order and nomen-

clatural arrangement of the list follow: Bodon et al.

(1995), Manganelli et al. (1995, 1998, 2000b),

Castagnolo (1995), Ponder & Lindberg (1996),

Nordsieck (2002) and Bank (2011); the common

names were based on Janus (1982) and on the web

site: http://media.eol.org.

For each species a brief note on the abundance

in the study area is reported according to the fol-

lowing classification: Very rare (sampled in 1-5

stations), Rare (sampled in 6-10 stations), Uncom-

mon (sampled in 11-19 stations), Common (

sampled in 20-35 stations), Widespread (sampled

in over 35 stations). The bibliographical and

museological data were then reported. If present in

the I.U.C.N. Red List, each species is classified

A preliminary checklist of non-marine Molluscs from the Alburni Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy

379

with the code of Red List of Threatened Species

(I.U.C.N., 2014) and Cuttelod et al. (2011).

data from 1986. Classified as “EC” by Cuttelod et

al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014).

RESULTS

Species surveyed on the field

Phylum MOLLUSCA Cuvier, 1795

Classis GASTROPODA Cuvier, 1795

Subclassis ORTHOGASTROPODA Ponder et

Lindberg, 1996

Ordo ARCHITAENIOGLOSSA Haller, 1890

Familia COCHFOSTOMATIDAE Kobelt, 1902

Cochlostoma montanum (Issel, 1866)

Cochlostoma montanum cassiniacum (Saint-Simon,

1878)

Common, 34 plots, locally abundant. Museal

Familia ACICULIDAE J.E. Gray, 1850

Platyla talentii Bodon et Cianfanelli, 2008

Rare, 10 plots, locally abundant (Figs. 2, 3). En-

demic of Southern Apennine. Bodon & Cianfanelli,

2008. Classified as “NT” by Cuttelod et al. (2011)

and “NT” by I.U.C.N. (2014).

Ordo NEOTAENIOGFOSSA Haller, 1892

Familia POMATIIDAE Newton, 1891 (1828)

Pomatias elegans (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Round-mounted Snail

Common, 28 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Figure 1. The study area: Albumi Mountains, S-Italy.

380

Agnese Petraccioli etalii

Familia HYDROBIIDAE Stimpson, 1865

Mud snails

Pseudamnicola ( P. ) cfr. moussonii (Calcara, 1841)

Very rare, 1 plot. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod

et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic

species in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Belgrandia minus cula (Paulucci, 1881)

Very rare, 2 plots. Bodon et al. (2005). Classi-

fied as “DD” and Endemic species in Europe by

Cuttelod et al. (2011) and “DD” by I.U.C.N. (2014).

Potamopyrgus antipodarum (J.E. Gray, 1843)

New Zealand mud snail, Jenkins' Spire Snail

Very rare, 2 plots (Fig. 4). Allochthonous species,

introduced from New Zealand (Lori et al., 2005;

Lori & Cianfanelli, 2007; Cianfanelli, 2009; Cutte-

lod et al., 2011). Classified as “LC” by I.U.C.N.

(2014).

Bythinella opaca (M. von Gallenstein, 1848)

Bythinella schmidtii (Kiister, 1852)

Very rare, 4 plots. Bodon et al. (1999) in an

adjacent locality; Bodon et al., 2005. Classified as

“LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N.

(2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cuttelod et al.,

2011 ).

Familia ELLOBIIDAE Pfeiffer, 1854

Carychium tridentatum (Risso, 1826)

Long-toothed Herald Snail

Uncommon, 14 plots, locally abundant.

Familia LYMNAEIDAE Rafinesque, 1815

Galba truncatula (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Dwarf Pond Snail

Very rare, 2 plots. Museal data from 1986. Clas-

sified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014).

Radix labiata (Rossmassler, 1835)

Lymnaea {Radix) peregra (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Radix peregra (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Wandering Snail

Very rare, 3 plots. Costa (1874): sub Limnaeus

Gibilmannicus (see O. G. Costa, 1839). Museal data

from 1986. Radix peregra is classified by I.U.C.N.

(2014) as synonym of Radix balthica (Linnaeus,

1758). Radix labiata is classified as “LC” by

Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Ordo PULMONATA Cuvier in Blainville, 1814

Subordo BASOMMATOPHORA Keferstein, 1864

Familia ANCYLIDAE

Ancylus fluviatilis O.F. Muller, 1774

River Limpet

Rare, 7 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et

al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014).

Ferrissia fragilis (Tryon, 1863)

Ferrissia wautieri (Mirolli, 1960)

Fragile Ancylid

Very rare, 1 plot (Fig. 5). Classified as “LC” by

I.U.C.N. (2014). Cryptic invader of Italian fresh-

water ecosystems from North America (Cianfanelli

et al., 2007; Lori & Cianfanelli, 2007).

Subordo STYLOMMATOPHORA A. Schmidt, 1855

Familia PYRAMIDULIDAE Kennard et B.B.

Woodward, 1914

Pyramidula pusilla (Vallot, 1801)

Rock Snail

Common, 24 plots, locally abundant.

Pyramidula rupestris (Drapamaud, 1801)

Rock Snail

Very rare, 1 plot. Costa (1874).

Familia VERTIGINIDAE Fitzinger, 1833

A preliminary checklist of non-marine Molluscs from the Alburni Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy

381

Vertigo ( Vertigo ) pygmaea (Drapamaud, 1801)

Common Whorl Snail, Crested vertigo

Very rare, 1 plot. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod

et al. (2011)

Vertigo ( Vertilla ) angustior Jeffreys, 1830

Vertigo sinistrorso minore, Narrow-mounthed

Whorl Snail

Very rare, 1 plot (Fig. 6). Species protected in

European Union by the Annex II of the “Habitats

Directive”, and in Italy by the D.P.R. n. 357/1997

than modified by D.P.R. n. 120/2003. In Europe,

this species is listed as Vulnerable (VU) (criteria:

A2ac+3c) at the European level and at the level

of the 27 member States of the European Union

(Cuttelod et al., 2011). The species is regionally

protected in Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia-Ro-

magna. The species has been regarded in Italy as

“NT” by Manganelli et al. (2000a). Classified as

“LR” by Cerfolli et al. (2002), and “NT” by

I.U.C.N. (2014).

Columella edentula (Drapamaud, 1805)

Toothless Chrysalis Snail

Very rare, 2 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic

species in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Truncatellina callicratis (Scacchi, 1833)

Rare, 10 plots. Endemic species in Europe clas-

sified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Familia ORCULIDAE Pilsbry, 1918

Sphy radium doliolum (Bruguiere, 1792)

Uncommon, 12 plots. Classified as “LC” by

Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Pagodulina pagodula (des Moulins, 1830)

Very rare, 1 plot. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod

et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic

species in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Familia CHONDRINIDAE Steenberg, 1925

Rupestrella philippii (Cantraine, 1840)

Very rare, 4 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011).

Chondrina avenacea (Bruguiere, 1792)

Widespread, 36 plots. Museal data from 1874.

(Costa, 1874). Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al.

(2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species in

Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Familia LAURIIDAE Steenberg, 1925

Lauria sempronii (Charpentier, 1837)

Rare, 8 plots.

Familia ARGNIDAE Hudec, 1965

Argna biplicata (Michaud, 1831)

Very rare, 4 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic

species in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Familia VALLONIIDAE Morse, 1864

Acanthinula aculeata (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Pricly Snail

Common, 21 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011).

Gittenbergia sororcula (Benoit, 1859)

Rare, 9 plots. Locally very abundant. Classified

as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Familia ENIDAE B.B. Woodward, 1903 (1880)

Chondrula tridens (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Very rare, 2 plots. Classified as “NT” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011).

382

Agnese Petraccioli etalii

Jaminia quadridens (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Uncommon, 17 plots. Locally very abundant.

Museal data from 1986. Classified as “LC” by

Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014).

Merdigera obscura (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Ena obscura (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Lesser Bulin

Uncommon, 11 plots. Classified as “LC” by

Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014).

Endemic species in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Familia PUNCTIDAE Morse, 1864

Pune turn pygmaeum (Drapamaud, 1801)

Dwarf Snail

Common, 33 plots.

Paralaoma servilis (Shuttleworth, 1852)

Paralaoma caputspinulae (Reeve, 1852)

Pinhead Spot

Very rare, 2 plots. Allochthonous species, intro-

duced from New Zealand (Lori et al., 2005; Lori &

Cianfanelli, 2007; Cianfanelli, 2009; Christensen,

2012 ).

Familia DISCIDAE Thiele, 1931 (1866)

Discus rotundatus (Muller, 1774)

Discus Snail, Rounded Snail

Rare, 7 plots.

Familia HELICODISCIDAE H.B. Baker, 1927

Lucilla scintilla (Lowe, 1852)

Oldfield Coil

Very rare, 1 plot (Fig. 7). Allochthonous species.

The indigenous distribution for this species includes

North America (Lori et al., 2005; Lori & Cianfan-

elli, 2007; Cianfanelli, 2009).

Lucilla singleyana (Pilsbry, 1889)

Smooth Coil

Very rare, 1 plot (Fig. 8). Allochthonous species.

Originally probably from North America, intro-

duced to Europe (Lori et al., 2005; Lori & Cianfan-

elli, 2007; Cianfanelli, 2009).

Familia VITRINIDAE Fitzinger, 1833

Vitrina cfr. pellucida (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Pellucid Glass Snail

Uncommon, 11 plots. Classified as “LC” by

Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Familia PRISTILOMATIDAE T. Cockerell, 1891

Vitrea subrimata (Reinhardt, 1871)

Common, 26 plots.

Vitrea etrusca (Paulucci, 1878)

Very rare, 4 plots.

Vitrea contracta (Westerlund, 1871)

Milky Crystal Snail

Common, 26 plots.

Familia ZONITIDAE Morch, 1864

Aegopis verticillus (Ferussac, 1822)

Very rare, 1 plot (Fig. 9).

Familia OXYCHILIDAE P. Hesse, 1927 (1879)

Retinella olivetorum (Gmelin, 1791)

Retinella olivetorum olivetorum (Gmelin, 1791)

Common, 33 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Oxychilus ( Oxychilus ) cfr. draparnaudi (Beck, 1837)

Drapamaud's Glass Snail, Dark-bodied Glass snail

Uncommon, 16 plots. Museal data from 1986.

A preliminary checklist of non-marine Molluscs from the Alburni Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy

383

Mediterranea hydatina (Rossmassler, 1838)

Very rare, 1 plot.

Daudebardia rufa (Drapamaud, 1805)

Widespread, 42 plots. Locally very abundant

(Figs. 10, 11, 12, 13).

Familia MILACIDAE Ellis, 1926

Tandonia sowerbyi (A. Ferussac, 1823)

Keeled Slug, Sowerby's Slug

Uncommon, 11 plots.

Familia LIMAC1DAE Lamarck, 1801

Limax maximus Linnaeus, 1758

Leopard Slug, Great Grey Slug, Giant Garde Slug

Rare, 6 plots.

Lehmannia marginata (O. F. Muller, 1774)

Tree slug

Very rare, 1 plot.

Limacus flavus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Yellow Slug, Tawny Garden Slug

Very rare, 2 plots.

Familia AGRIOLIMACIDAE H. Wagner, 1935

Deroceras reticulatum (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Netted Slug, Gray Fieldslug

Rare, 6 plots.

Deroceras invadens Reise, Hutchinson, Schun-

ach et Schlitt, 2011

Chestnut Slug, Brown Field Slug, Longneck

Fieldslug, Widespread Pest Slug

Familia EUCONULIDAE Baker, 1928

Euconulus fulvus (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Tawny Glass Snail, Brown Hive

Rare, 8 plots.

Familia FERUSSACIIDAE Bourguignat, 1883

Cecilioides acicula (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Blind Snail

Very rare, 5 plots.

Cecilioides ( Cecilioides ) veneta (Strobel, 1855)

Cecilioides janii (De Betta et Martinati, 1855)

Very rare, 5 plots.

Familia SUBULINIDAE P. Fischer et Crosse, 1877

Rumina decollata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Decollate Snail

Very rare, 4 plots.

Familia OLEACINIDAL H. Adams et A. Adams, 1855

Poiretia dilatata (Philippi, 1836)

Common, 31 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Familia TE S TACELLID AE J.E. Gray, 1840

Testacella scutulum G.B. Sowerbyi, 1821

Shield Shelled Slug

Very rare, 4 plots.

Familia CLAUSILIIDAE J.E. Gray, 1855

Door Snails

Medora sp.

Very rare, 4 plots.

Very rare, 3 plots.

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Agnese Petraccioli etalii

Cochlodina ( Cochlodina)laminata (Montagu, 1803)

Plaited Door Snail

Rare, 6 plots. (Costa, 1874).

Charpentieria ( Stigmatica ) paestana (Philippi,

1836)

Siciliaria paestana (Philippi, 1836)

Widespread, 42 plots. Locally abundant.

Charpentieria ( Stigmatica ) cfr. ernae (Fauer, 1978)

Very rare, 2 plots. Museal data from 1970.

Endemic of Southern Appennine. (Fauer, 1978;

Welter- Schultes, 2012; Nordsieck, 2013).

Macrogastra ( Pyrostoma ) attenuata (Ross-

massler, 1835)

Macrogastra ( Pyrostoma ) attenuata iriana (Pol-

lonera, 1885)

Lined door snail

Very rare, 2 plots.

Clausilia cruciata (S. Studer, 1820)

Clausilia cruciata bonellii E. Von Martens, 1873

Very rare, 3 plots. Museal data before 1950.

Familia HYGROMIIDAE Tiyon, 1866

Xerotricha conspurcata (Drapamaud, 1801)

Very rare, 2 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Hygromia cinctella (Drapamaud, 1801)

Girdled Snail

Rare, 8 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et

al. (201 1) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species

in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Cernuella ( Cernuella ) cisalpina (Rossmassler,

1837)

Common, 21 plots. Locally abundant. Museal

data from 1986. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et

al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species

in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Cernuella (Xerocincta) neglecta (Drapamaud, 1 805)

Luddesdown Snail, Neglected dune snail

Very rare, 3 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cutte-

lod et al., 2011).

Cernuellopsis ghisottii Manganelli etGiusti, 1988

Very rare, 3 plots. Hallgas, com. pers., 2013.

This species is endemic to Italy. Classified as “VU”

by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014)

(IUCN Criteria (Europe) (version 3.1):

Blab(iii)+2ab(iii). Endemic species in Europe

(Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Trochoidea ( Trochoidea ) pyramidata (Dra-

parnaud, 1805)

Very rare, 2 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011).

Trochoidea ( Trochoidea ) trochoides (Poiret,

1789)

Very rare, 2 plots. Museal data from 1985. Clas-

sified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011).

Monacha ( Monacha ) cfr. cartusiana (O.F.

Muller, 1774)

Chartreuse Snail, Carthusian Snail

Common, 35 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Classified as “LC”by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cutte-

lod et al., 2011). Regarded as “Edible species” in

Tuscany and Umbria Region.

Monacha ( Eutheba ) cfr. parumcincta (Menke,

1828)

Common, 26 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic

species in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Familia HELICODONTIDAE Kobelt, 1904

Helicodonta obvoluta (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Helicodonta obvoluta obvoluta (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Cheese Snail

A preliminary checklist of non-marine Molluscs from the Alburni Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy

385

Figures 2-9. Non-marine Molluscs from the Albumi Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy. Figure 2. Platyla talentii alive

(Photo by N. Maio). Figure 3. Shell of Platyla talentii'. view. 3A. Particular of dorsal view. 3B. Particular of the mouth

(Photos by N. Maio). Figure 4. Potamopyrgus antipodarum alive (Photo by N. Maio). Figure 5. Shell of F errissia fragilis'.

dorsal, lateral and ventral view (Photo by I. Niero). Figure 6. Shell of Vertigo ( Vertilla ) angustior : apertural view (Photo by

I. Niero). Figure 7. Shell of Lucilla scintilla', umbilical, dorsal and apertural view (Photo by N. Maio). Figure 8. Shell of

Lucilla singleyana : dorsal, apertural and umbilical view (Photo by N. Maio). Figure 9. Shell of Aegopis verticillus dorsal,

umbilical and apertural view (Photo by N. Maio).

386

Agnese Petraccioli etalii

Rare, 7 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et

al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species

in Europe (Cuttelod et al., 2011).

Familia HELICIDAE Rafmesque, 1815

Chilostoma ( Campylea ) cfr. planospira (Lamarck,

1822)

Uncommon, 18 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Classified as “DD” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cutte-

lod et al., 2011).

Marmorana ( Ambigua ) fuscolabiata fuscola-

biata (Rossmassler, 1842)

Widespread, 27 plots. Costa (1874), Degner

(1927). Museal data from 1874. Classified as

“DD” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N.

(2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cuttelod et

al., 2011).

Marmorana {Ambigua) cfr. fuscolabiata wullei

Kobelt, 1903

Common, 25 plots. Kobelt (1903a; 1903b), De-

gner (1927), Bacci (1951), Alzona (1971). Museal

data from 1903.

Eobania vermiculata (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Chocolate-band snail

Very rare, 3 plots. Museal data from 2006. Re-

garded as “Edible species” in Tuscany and Umbria

Region.

Cantareus apertus (von Bom, 1778)

Green Garden Snail

Very rare, 2 plots. Museal data from 1986. Re-

garded as “Edible species” in Tuscany and Umbria

Region.

Cornu aspersum (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Cantareus aspersus (O.F. Muller, 1774)

Garden Snail, Common Snail, Brown Garden Snail

Very rare, 4 plots. Museal data from 1986. Re-

garded as “Edible species” in Tuscany and Umbria

Region.

Helix (Helix) cfr. delpretiana Paulucci, 1878

Rare, 9 plots. Museal data from 1986. This

species is endemic to the Central Appenines in Italy.

Classified as “DD” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cutte-

lod et al., 2011).

Helix (Helix) cfr. ligata O.F. Muller, 1774

Ligate Snail

Uncommon, 11 plots. Museal data from 1986.

Classified as “LC” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014). Endemic species in Europe (Cutte-

lod et al., 2011).

Classis BIVALVI A Linnaeus, 1758

Ordo VENEROIDA H. et A. Adams, 1857

Familia SPHAERIIDAE Deshayes, 1855 (1820)

Pisidium casertanum (Poli, 1791)

Caserta Pea Mussel

Very rare, 5 plots. Classified as “LC” by Cutte-

lod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014).

Species exclusively known from the literature

Familia VERTIGINIDAE Fitzinger, 1833

Vertigo (Vertigo) moulinsiana (Dupuy, 1849)

Vertigo of Demoulins, Demoulins’ Whorl Snail

Manganelli et al. (2001), Bodon et al. (2005).

Find only in debris of Fiume Calore, near Grotta di

Caste lcivita, Salerno Province, by S. Cianfanelli

and E. Talenti on 1994. Species protect in European

Union by the Annex II of the “Habitats Directive”

and in Italy by the D.P.R. n. 357/1997 than modified

by D.P.R. n. 120/2003. The species is regionally

protect in Tuscany, Umbria and Emilia-Romagna.

The species has been initially classified as

“LRcd”(= Lower risk, conservation dependant) by

Bouchet et al. (1999), then the species has been re-

garded in Italy as “VU”(criteria: B2a, B2b) by

Manganelli et al. (2000b, 2001). Classified as “LR”

by Cerfolli et al. (2002), “VU” (criteria: A2ac) by

Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by I.U.C.N. (2014).

A preliminary checklist of non-marine Molluscs from the Alburni Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy

387

Figure 10. Shell of Daudebarclia rufa: dorsal, apertural and umbilical view (Photo by I. Niero). Figure II. D. rufa alive

(Photo by N. Maio). Figure 12. Genitalia of D. rufa (Sant’Angelo a Fasanella (SA), 1 160 m, 17.0V.20 13, N. Maio, P. Crovato

& I. Niero legit. Figure 13. Internal structure of the penis. Acronyms in figures: AG= albumen gland; DBC= duct of the

bursa copulatrix; E= epiphallus; EP= epiphallic pore; FO= free oviduct; GA= genital atrium; HD= hermaphroditic duct;

F1G= hermaphroditic gland; P= penis; PPL= penis pleats; PR= penial retractor; Pro= prostate; PVG= perivaginal gland; PS

= penis sheath; RS = reservoir of spermatheca; T= talon; UOS= uterine ovispermiduct; Va= vagina, VD= vas deferens.

(Drawn by I. Niero).

388

Agnese Petraccioli etalii

Familia CLAUSILIIDAE J.E. Gray, 1855

Macrogastra cfr. plicatula (Drapamaud, 1801)

Costa (1874: sub Clausilia plicatula Drap.).

Museal data before 1950.

From the South of Italy are cited 3 subspecies,

in addition to M. plicatula plicatula : M. p. amiaten-

sis Nordsieck, 2006; M. p. apennina Gentiluomo

1868, and M. p. aprutica Nordsieck, 2006 (Nord-

sieck, 2006).

Familia HYGROMIIDAE Tryon, 1866

Cernuella cfr. virgata (Da Costa, 1778)

Banded Snail

Kobelt (1907). Museal data from 1986. Regarded

as “Edible species” in Tuscany and Umbria Region.

Familia OXYCHILIDAE P. Hesse, 1927 (1879)

Oxychilus sp.

Capasso (1958), Capolongo & Cantilena (1974).

Ordo HYGROPHILA A. Ferussac 1822

Familia PHYSIDAE Fitzinger, 1833

Haitia acuta (Drapamaud, 1805)

Acute Bladder Snail, European physa, Tadpole

Snail, Bladder Snail, Pewter physa

Sacchi (1964): sub Physa acuta. Allochthonous

species. The oldest alien species of Italy probably

native to northeastern North America (Lori et al.,

2005; Lori & Cianfanelli, 2007; Cianfanelli, 2009).

DISCUSSION

Up to now, only 13 non-marine Mollusc species

were known from the Albumi Mountains through

bibliographical data (nine species of land snails and

four species of freshwater snails), to which we add

the new species listed in this paper for the study

area. The presence of nine species (six species of

land snails and three species of freshwater

molluscs) are confirmed by our field investigation.

Only four species (the land snails Macrogastra

plicatula , Vertigo moulinsiana, Cernuella virgata

and the allochthonous freshwater snails Haitia

acuta ) were documented exclusively by biblio-

graphical data and have not been confirmed by the

field surveys yet (Fiorentino et al., 2008; Reise et

al., 2011). Our analysis identifies 79 species of non-

marine molluscs (69 species of land snails, ten

species of freshwater molluscs) recorded on the

basis of field data. In total the occurrence of 83

species of non-marine molluscs (73 species of land

snails, 10 species of freshwater molluscs) was

herein attested in the survey area representing

approximately the 56% of the estimated fauna of

Campania Region (about 150 species, personal

data).

At least 1 1 species are new records for the Cam-

pania Region ( Aegopis verticillus, Cernuellopsis

ghisottii, Lucilla scintilla, Argna hiplicata,

Cernuella neglecta, Daudebardia rufa, Helix

delpretiana, Pagodulina pagodula, Vitrina pellu-

cida, Vitrea etrusca and Macrogastra attenuata). M.

attenuata (sub M. lineolata ) and D. rufa were

generically recorded from Matese Mountains

(probably Molise) by Giusti et al. (1985). 70 species

of non-marine molluscs (64 species of land snails,

six species of freshwater molluscs), recorded on the

basis of field data, have not been previously re-

corded from the study area.

Extremely interesting is the finding of samples

of Medora sp.: it seems to be the second record of

this genus for the region. The systematics of the

genus Medora Adams, 1855 is in fact complex and,

in many respects, still controversial. Regarding

Italy, Nordsieck (1970) considered M. italiana

(Kiister, 1 847) of the Central-Southern Apennines

distinct from M. albescens (Menke, 1830) of the

Balkan peninsula. In addition, he assigned to M.

italiana various subspecies: only one from Cam-

pania: M. i. italiana (Kiister, 1847) (locus typicus:

Piedimonte d'Alife (= Piedimonte Matese, Caserta,

Campania). Giusti et al. (1986) suggested that it

was not possible to distinguish M. italiana from M.

albescens with the subspecies M. a. italiana in the

central part of Italy. The populations reported for

Italy as M. dalmatina (Manganelli et al., 1995) were

described by Nordsieck (2012) as a distinct sub-

A preliminary checklist of non-marine Molluscs from the Alburni Mountains, Campania, Southern Italy

389

species. Preliminary data by Colomba et al. (2012)

suggest that the genus Medora shows a much more

complex and articulate differentiation than hitherto

hypothesized by morphological surveys so far. An

attempt to clarify its organization and internal struc-

ture, at various taxonomic levels, a more detailed

analysis including a higher number of molecular

markers and additional Medora populations from

Italy are required.

Other interesting records are: Vertigo angustior,

a species protected in the European Union by the

Annex II of the Council Directive 92/43/EEC of

May 2 1th 1992 on the conservation of natural

habitats and of wild fauna and flora known as

“Habitats Directive”, that includes “animal and

plant species of community interest whose conser-

vation requires the designation of special areas of

conservation (SPA)” and listed as “Vulnerable” at

the European level and Platyla talentii, an endemic

species of Southern Apennine, recently described

by Bodon & Cianfanelli (2008), classified as “Near

Threatned” by Cuttelod et al. (2011) and by

I.U.C.N. (2014).

Five allochthonous species were surveyed for

the first time in the study area: three land snails

(Lucilla scintilla, L. singleyana and Paralaoma

servilis ) and two freshwater snails ( Potamopyrgus

antipodarum and Ferris siafragilis). L. scintilla and

L. singleyana are native in North America; they

were probably introduced into Europe in the second

half of the 20th century (Horsak et al., 2009). L.

singleyana, P. servilis and F.fragilis are the second

records for the Campania Region, the first is Bodon

et al. (2004) sub Flelicodiscus singleyanus (Pilsbry,

1890), Bodon et al. (2004) sub P. caputspinulae

(Reeve, 1852) and D' Antonio & Bravi (1990) sub

F. wautieri (Mirolli, 1960).

In the past, three endemic taxa had been de-

scribed as new for the Alburni area: Helix ( Iberus )

wullei first described by Kobelt (1903a: 14-15, taw.

1766-1768) from “Monte Alburno circa vicum

Postiglione prov. Salernitanae” and later as Iberus

wullei (Kobelt, 1903b: pag. 4-5, fig. without num-

ber); Xerophila ( Xerolauta ) peninsularis forma

“ alburnF described by Kobelt (1907: pp. 59-60,

Tafel 357 Fig. 2221) from “Monte Postiglione, des

alten Albumus” and Siciliaria ernae described by

Fauer (1978: 265, abb. 1) from “Passo Sentinella

im SO der Monti Abumi” [municipality of Corleto

Monforte], and “6 km West of San Rufo”. Today X.

peninsularis is considered a junior synonym of

Cernuella virgata (Da Costa, 1778) but the taxo-

nomic status of Iberus (= Marmorana ) wullei and

of S. ernae need to be confirmed. The Demoulins’

Whorl Snail, listed in the Standard Data Form of

the SCI of “Monti Alburni” is not confirmed by our

field surveys.

A Red List of Threatened Species is also pro-

posed and the species were classified with the code

of I.U.C.N. (Version 2014.3).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was funded with the support of the

Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni National Park.

Authors wish to thank: the National Park Authority

of the Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni for

collaboration as well as advising on technical and

administrative aspects. In particular: Amilcare

Troiano (President), Corrado Matera (Vice-President)

and Angelo De Vita (Director). A special thank goes

to Pasquale and Pietro Cappelli (Ottati, Salerno) for

the trekking guide. We want to thank: Mario

Cuomo, Sergio Duraccio, Gianni D’Anna, Franco

Izzillo, and Massimo Cretella (Naples) and Aless-

andro Hallgass (Rome) for the unpublished data

given; Antonio Pietro Ariani for the malacological

collection consultation of the Zoological Museum

of Naples; Monica Leonardi (Conservator) for the

malacological collection consultation of the Museo

Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, Maria Tavano

(Conservator) and Giacomo Doria (Director) for the

malacological collection consultation of the Museo

Civico di Storia Naturale di Genova “Giacomo

Doria”. Furthermore we thank: Domenico Davolos

(Dipartimento di Biologia, Universita di Napoli

Federico II), Antonietta Mordente (Banca Monte

Pruno, Credito Cooperative di Roscigno e Laurino)

and Nicola Auricchio (President of Fondazione

I.RI.DI.A. - Museo Naturalistico of Corleto

Monforte) and Antonio Sicilia (Mayor of Municip-

ality of Corleto Monforte) for administrative sup-

port and cooperation.

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Monograph

Distribution of two Amphiope L. Agassiz, 1 840 (Echinoidea

Clypeasteroida) morphotypes in the Western-Proto-Mediter-

ranean Sea

Paolo Stara 1 *, Federico Marini 2 , Giuseppe Carone 3 & Enrico Borghi 4

'Centro Studi di Storia Naturale del Mediterraneo, Museo di Storia Naturale Aquilegia, Via Italia 63, Pirri-Cagliari and Geomuseo

Monte Arci, Masullas, Oristano, Sardegna, Italy; e-mail: paolostara@yahoo.it

2 University of Florence, Earth Sciences Department, Via la Pira 4, 50121 Florence, Italy; e-mail:

federico.marini.87@gmail.com

3 Civico Museo Paleontologico di Ricadi, Palazzo Fazzari, Via Strada Provinciale, 89866 Santa Domenica di Ricadi (W),

Italy; e-mail: p.carone@libero.it

4 Societa Reggiana di Scienze Naturali, Via Tosti 1, 42124 Reggio Emilia, Italy; e-mail: enrico.borghi20@teletu.it

^Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Several species belonging to the genus Amphiope L. Agassiz, 1 840 (Echinoidea Astriclypeidae)

from the Mediterranean Oligo-Miocene have been synonymised with A. bioculata (Des

Moulins, 1835), the type-species of the genus, based on the interpretation given by Philippe

(1998) as a taxon characterized by a large amount of morphological variability. A recent study

introduced the characters of the internal test structure and the plating patterns as taxonomic

tools in this genus. That paper indicated the occurrence of at least five different species in the

examined sample from the Oligo-Miocene of Sardinia, thus pointing to a previous over-

estimation of the variability-range of the type-species and to the need of a review of the largely

unresolved taxonomy of Amphiope. According to a recent study, Amphiope is considered as a

shallow-water echinoid, inhabiting sandy bottoms with high hydrodynamic energy; so it

represents a coastline marker, useful for the study of the paleo-geographic changes occurred

in the Proto-Western-Mediterranean during the Miocene. The diffusion and speciation of

Amphiope were highly influenced by those changes. In particular, the speciation rate of this

genus was likely favored by the occurrence of isolated populations created when islands (e.g.:

Baleares, Calabria, Corse, Kabylies, Sardinia) separate from the mainland, above all in the we-

stern part of that Basin, because of the opening of the Balearic Basin during the Late Oligo-

cene-Early Miocene and of the Tyrrhenian Sea during the Burdigalian-Tortonian (references

in this work). Two main morphotypes of Amphiope sensu Stara & Sanciu (2014), developed

in the Western Mediterranean from the late Oligocene to the late Miocene. They are herein

called the “ bioculata ” group, characterized by roundish to broad elliptical lunules with major

diameter/minor diameter ratio (SI) < 1.59, and the "nuragica" group, with more or less narrow

lunules and SI > 1.6. According to this authors, most Miocene forms with narrow elliptical

lunules would derive from A. nuragica (Comaschi Caria, 1955), late Oligocene-early Miocene

of Sardinia, the most archaic form so far known of this genus. The forms belonging to the

“ bioculata ” group likely derived from a different common ancestor bearing round to broad

ovoidal lunules. “A. bioculata ” described by Cottreau (1914), from the Burdigalian (Philippe,

1998) of Saint Cristol (Nissan, Herault, France), is so far the most ancient known form belong-

ing to this group. This work proposes a possible speciation sequence of the “ nuragica ” group.

KEY WORDS Amphiope ; Western-Proto-Mediterranean Sea; Paleogeography.

Received 12.07.2014; accepted 09.11.2014; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

394

Paolo Stara et alii

INTRODUCTION

Paleogeography and paleoecology

Amphiope L. Agassiz, 1840 (Echinoidea Ast-

riclypeidae) is considered as a shallow- water echin-

oid, typical of sandy settings characterized by high

hydrodynamic energy (Stara et al., 2012). According

to Stara & Rizzo (2013, 2014) and Stara & Sanciu

(2014) it represents also a valid coastline marker.

On the basis of the fossil record and the avail-

able paleoecological data it is herein hypothesized

that the diffusion of Amphiope was highly influ-

enced by the paleogeographic (Doglioni et al.,

1998; Rosenbaum et al., 2002; Carminati et al.,

2012, Stara & Rizzo, 2014) and paleoecological

(Popescu, 2009) changes occurred in the Western

Proto-Mediterranean during the Miocene. In partic-

ular the opening of the Balearic and Ligurian Basins

during the Late Oligocene-Early Miocene and

of the Tyrrhenian Sea during the Burdigalian-

Messinian (Doglioni et al., 1998; Rosembaum et al.,

2002; Carminati et al., 2012) originated islands

(e.g.: Baleares, Calabria, Corse, Kabylies, Sardinia)

separated by deep water, thus leading to the occur-

rence of isolated populations and favoring speci-

ation within this Astriclypeid genus.

The orogenetic trend in the Mediterranean area

mainly derived from the differential movement

between the Adria microplate, belonging to the

African plate, and the European one.

The geodynamic and paleogeographic evolution

of the Western Mediterranean may be divided into

two distinct phases: the first occurred during the

Chattian-Burdigalian, the second started in the

Burdigalian and it is still active today.

First phase - The migration of the Sardinia-

Corsica microplate and the Calabrian block, with

respect to the more stable European plate, likely

began 25-23 My ago, with a general translation

towards SE. This drift was accompanied by a 45°

counterclockwise rotation of the Sardinia-Corsica

microplate between 20.5 and 15 Ma, with a broad

oceanic domain in the Li guro- Provencal basin (up

to 400 km in te southern part) between 20.5 and 18

Ma (Gattacceca et al., 2007). These evidences

firstly improved the presence of a connection

between the Liguro-Pro venial Basin and the Valencia

trough before 20.5 Ma, then the connection between

the Alboran and the Algerian basins. Based on the

available paleontological data it is here hypothes-

ized that the transcurrent belt located to the north

of the Sardinia-Corsica microplate and the

Calabrian block led to the formation of a neritic sea,

occasionally connecting for short periods the

Ligurian-Provencal Sea to the Po Basin.

Second phase - Further translation towards SE,

with a rotation of about 15° of the Calabrian block

(Gueguen, 1995), led to the opening of the Tyrrhe-

nian Basin, in the Late Miocene. As a result of these

changes the Mediterranean began to take on an

appearance more similar to the current one.

Doglioni et al. (1998) has affirmed that the Apen-

nine orogenetic front kept on migrating towards E

leading to the emersion of the Apennine Chain, thus

separating the Tyrrhenian Sea from the Adriatic after

the Burdigalian. On the other hand, based on the

opinion by Rosembaum et al. (2002) and on the

available macro-paleontological data (Stara &

Rizzo, 2013; 2014), it seems likely that the connec-

tion between the Tyrrhenian and the Adriatic basins

had been realized in the Plio-Pleistocene when the

Calabrian block reached the Apennine Arc, with the

exception of the Ligurian Channel (the Val Bormida

Channel of Stara & Rizzo, 2013). The crustal

thinning of the back-arc areas located W to the

Sardinia-Corsica microplate led to extensive flows

of basaltic lava (indicated by magnetic field anom-

alies) in the Balearic and the Tyrrhenian basins; both

of them were deep water seas with a maximum

depth of 3000 and 3700 m, respectively.

Kotsakis et al. (2004) prospected the occurrence

of a Sardinia-Tuscany bio-paleoprovince during the

Serravallian, on the basis of the close similarity of

the vertebrate fauna present in these areas. This

would imply the existence of landmass bridges or

shallow water basins separating lands, important

factors conditioning the diffusion of Amphiope

between the two sides of the Tyrrhenian Basin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The studied material consists of 78 Amphiope

specimens, preserved as whole coronas deprived of

the spines, from 5 Oligo-Miocene localities of

Western-Mediterranean Basin. 44 A. lovisatoi

Cotteau, 1895 (inventory code: (PL1301-03,

PL1317, PL1413, PL1418- 20, PE1422-24, PL1427,

PL1429, PL1567-70, PL1572-80, PL1583, PL1585-

Distribution of two Amphiope (Echinoidea Clypea steroid a) morphotypes in the Western-Proto-Mediterranean Sea 395

87, PL1692-99, PL1700-07, PL1709-14, PL1715-

18, PL 1720- 23, PL 1726) from Chiaramonti

(Sassari province); 1 Amphiope sp. from Capo

Frasca (Medio Campidano Province); 19 A. nur-

agica from Cuccuru Tuvullao (Cagliari Province)

MAC (PL1590-91, PL1678-80, PL1684, PL1727,

PL 1820, PL 1829; PL 1835-44); 1 A. montezemoloi

Lovisato 1901 from Bonnanaro, Sassari; 5 Am-

phiope sp. from Calabria (Vibo Valentia Province,

Italy), no code; 2 from Alicante (unknown locality);

1 from Torrent, Valencia Province (Spain) are

housed at the Museo di Storia Naturale “Aquilegia”

(MAC code) of Cagliari; the Holotype of A. nur-

agica, at the University of Cagliari Sardinia (Italy),

UNICA code, inventory 9CC.8- 10504. 10 Am-

phiope specimens from Calabria (Vibo Valentia

Province, Italy) number 104/E 101-110, are housed

at the Civico Museo Paleontologico di Ricadi (Vibo

Valentia province), Calabria, Italy. 3 specimens

from Torrent, Valencia Province (Spain) were stud-

ied in private collections. One sintype of A.

bioculata from Sure-Pres-Bollene today “Suze-la-

Rousse” near “Bollene”, France, housed at the

Museum d’Histoire Naturelle of Bordeaux (code

MFINB), France, inventory number MFINBx

2014.6.317.

The plate pattern of the sintype of A. bioculata ,

variety A of Des Moulins (1835), is not visible, but

the two lunules are clearly rounded, as described by

the author (“foraminibus subrotundis

Morphological abbreviations (Fig. 1) TL = test

length; TW = test width; TH = test height; PL =

petalodium length; LI = lunule length; L2 = lunule

width. The measure of TL is reported in mm; other

data in % TL; SI= lunule shape index (L2/L1);WI=

lunule width index (Ll+L2)/2.

Biometric analyses were carried out and data

analyzed using the software PAST-version 3.2

(2014) (Hammer, 2014), to help the interpretation

of the samples collected from Sardinia and

Calabria. Systematic palaeontology follows Kroh

& Smith (2010).

TWO MAIN AMPHIOPE MORPHOTYPES

The genus Amphiope sensu Stara & Sanciu

(2014) developed from the end of the Oligocene to

the late Tortonian- early Messinian in the Proto-

Westem-Mediterranean Sea.

A. nuragica (Comaschi Caria, 1955), from the

Oligo-Miocene of Sardinia, is the more ancient

species so far known belonging to this genus (Stara

& Borghi, 2014), though the genus Amphiope looked

like already well differentiated in the Aquitanian.

Based on the phylogenetic hypothesis proposed

by Stara & Borghi (2014) most forms with narrow

transversely elongate lunules derived from A. nur-

agica , whereas those with sub-rounded to broad

elliptical lunules as A. bioculata (including “A.

Figure 1. Set of morphometric measurements used in this work.

396

Paolo Stara et alii

bioculatcT from the Aquitanian of Carry, France, as

inteipreted by Cottreau, 1914 and Philippe, 1998)

originated from a different common ancestor.

Two main morphotypes of the genus Amphiope

are here proposed: the “ nuragica ” group (PL 1 Figs.

3-4), characterized by narrow transversely elongate

lunules with SI > 1.6, and the “ bioculata ” group (PL

1 Figs. 1-2), with roundish to broad ovoid lunules

and SKI .59. Both these groups are well represented

in the study area, however in this paper we’ll go deep

into the “ nuragica ” forms only, since clear structural

data are so far available only for this group.

DISTRIBUTION OF THE TWO MAIN

MORPHOTYPES IN THE WESTERN ME-

DITERRANEAN

Amphiope has been recorded from more than 30

localities both in Sardinia (Comaschi Caria, 1955,

1972; Stara et al, 2012) and in the Rhone Basin

(France) (Cottreau, 1914; Philippe, 1998). This ech-

inoid has been cited in Italy also in Tuscany (Gian-

nini, 1957; present paper), Campania (Barbera &

Tavernier, 1989), Calabria (Cottreau, 1914; Carone

& Domning, 2007), Sicily (Garilli et al., 2010). In

Spain Amphiope was recorded in Catalogna (Lam-

bert, 1928), Mallorca (Llompart, 1983), Valencia

(personal communication of Bajo Campos, July

2012) and Alicante (present paper). Amphiope has

also been recorded from Algeria (Pomel, 1887-88

and Cotteau et al., 1891) and Corse (Cotteau, 1877).

The finding localities corresponding to these

records are reported in Table 1 and figure 2, with

the attribution to the “ nuragica' ’ or to the “biocu-

lata” group. The asterisc marks the species not

directly examined by the authors.

The syntype of A. bioculata from the Bollene

area has the SI = 1; the sample of A. bioculata

described by Cottreau (1914) has a mean value of

PL = 53 and SI ranges from 0.95 to 1.47, with a

mean of 1.22. The studied sample of A. nuragica

from Sardinia has a similar mean value of PL (51),

however SI ranges from 2 to 3 with a much higher

mean value (2.4) than that of A. bioculata sensu

Cottreau (1914).

Based on its small sized petalodium (PL = 40-

47, with a mean value of 43.3) the sample from the

Tortonian of Calabria clearly differs from all the

others belonging to the “ nuragica ” group (Fig. 3),

with the exception of the few specimens from the

Tortonian of Valencia (mean PL = 44).

In the sample from Calabria SI ranges from 2.4

to 4.3, with a mean value of 3.

A specimen from Sicily shows the lowest value

for the “ nuragica ” group (SI = 1.6), whereas a

specimen of A. hollandei Cotteau, 1877(the holo-

type) from Corse has the highest value (SI = 6.5).

Plate 1. Main Amphiope morphotypes. Figure 1-2, “ bioculata ” group; Figure 1 : A. bioculata syntype MHNBx 2014.6.317;

Figure 2: A. montezemoloi MAC.PL1676. Figure 3-4, “ nuragica ” group; Figure 3: A. nuragica MAC.PL. 1680; Figure 4.

Amphiope sp. from Calabria, MAC.PL 1672.

Distribution of two Amphiope (Echinoidea Clypea steroid a) morphotypes in the Western-Proto-Mediterranean Sea 397

TYPE

PL % TL

LI % TL

L2 % TL

Amphiope bioculata ,

sintype MHNB20I4.6

—

A cf. bioculata (in

Cottreau. 1914)*

10.2 (9-12.6)

1.22 (0.95-1.47)

A montezemoloi, San

Giorgio

16.8

16.4

0.95

A w/rogie^holotype

13.5 (11.5-15)

2.4 (2-3)

A. sp., Sicilia

1.6

A deydieri, France*

? 47

5.5

15.5

10.5

2.8

A. sp. 1, Calabria

2.6

5.5

9.7

2.5

5.5

11.7

3.3

11.5

2.8

11.5

3.2

A sp. 2, Calabria

14.5

9.2

3.6

4.5

9.2

3.1

8.5

2.4

3.5

9.2

4.3

A sp. 1, Valencia

2.6

4.5

7.7

2.4

A depressa, Algeria*

7.5

A sp., Capo Frasca

7.5

11.7

2.1

A. sp. 2, Valencia

9.5

2.8

A. sp., Alicante

10.5

4.5

A hollandei , Corsica*

11.5

6.6

A sarasini , France*

9.5

2.1

A. palpebrata, Algeria*

6.5

10.2

2.1

Table 1. Data PL, LI, L2, WI and SI of species included in the “ nuragica " group, present in the area under study.

For comparison, in the first three rows are reported the data of syntype of A. bioculata and two other forms of the group.

398

Paolo Stara et alii

Figure 2. Distribution of two main moiphotypes in the Western Mediterranean basin.

Red dot = “ bioculata ” group; blue dot = “ nuragica ” group; square dot = insufficient data.

However the last two are border-line cases rep-

resented by single specimens; additionally the spe-

cimen from Corse is poorly preserved (fide Cottreau,

1914) and the drawing may be not reliable.

The shape index of lunules is not discriminant

between the forms of the “ nuragiccT group, how-

ever comparison based on the values of LI and L2

is more significant. In the large sample from

Sardinia (Stara & Borghi, 2014) the range of LI is

6-16.7 (6-11.2 in A. nuragica), that of L2 is 11-23.5

(14.1-23.5 in A. nuragica). The samples from

Calabria and Valencia show much lower values of

the lunule length (LI ranges from 3.5 to a maxi-

mum of 6), L2 ranges from 11 to 18.

Based on these observations the sample from

Calabria is characterized by:

1 . the smallest petalodium so far known for the

genus Amphiope; only some specimens from Valen-

cia and A. depressa Pomel, 1887, from Algeria

show similar values of PL (see Fig. 3)

2. lower values of L2, WI and above all LI

when compared to the species described from

Sardinia by Stara & Borghi (2014): Amphiope

lovisatoi and A. nuragica (Fig. 4). A larger sample

is needed to confirm the same results also for the

examined specimens from Valencia.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary study indicates clear morpho-

logical differences within the “ nuragica ” group,

with respect to the size of the petalodium (PL) and

of the lunules. In particular the samples from the

late Miocene of Calabria (Southern Italy) and

Valencia (Spain) show much smaller petalodium

and smaller lunules when compared to the other

known species belonging to this group.

It is presumable that in some nearshore areas of

the Mediterranean (e.g. along the coasts of Calabria,

Balearic, Kabilyes, Sardinia, Corsica), separated by

deep water, different species of Amphiope de-

veloped independently, adapting to the environ-

mental changes occurred through the Miocene,

mainly climate, due also to the latitudinal migration

of lands, and ecology.

On the other hand, during the Miocene

Amphiope showed also structural modifications

Distribution of two Amphiope (Echinoidea Clypea steroid a) morphotypes in the Western-Proto-Mediterranean Sea 399

Figure 3. Petalodium comparison data on some species be-

longing to the “ nuragiccT group (PL in% TL). A = A. lovi-

satoi; B = A. nuragica; C = Amphiope sp. Calabria.

l? s 5-

1 M-

ii.&-

iaa-

7 . 5 '

M-

2 . 5 -

Figure 4. Size of lunules (WI) comparison on some species

belonging to the “ nuragica ” group. A = A. lovisatov, B = A.

nuragica ; C = Amphiope sp. Calabria.

common to almost all of the Mediterranean forms,

such as the decreasing number of plates and a

progressive lightening of the test- structure (Stara

& Borghi, 2014; Stara & Sanciu, 2014).

Future studies focusing on paleoecology will be

probably able to explain these dynamics and in

particular why some populations underwent signi-

ficant morphological modifications (e.g. the de-

creasing in the petalodium size seen in the samples

from Calabria and Valencia).

The results of this study indicate the occurrence

of different species in the “ nuragica ” group, that is

Amphiope characterized by narrow and transversely

elongate lunules. All these forms likely derived from

a common ancestor living in the Archipelago formed

during the Oligocene-Miocene boundary between

the Provencal and the Sardinian-Corsica coasts.

A similar differentiation is expected to be also

in the “ bioculata ” group and also this argument

will be the object of future studies.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Ildefonso Bajo Campos (Museo de

Alcala de Guadaira, Seccion de Paleontologia,

Sevilla, Spain), Fabio Ciappelli (Calenzano) and

Piero Frediani (Castelfiorentino, Firenze), for in-

formation on specimens from Tortonian of Valencia

(Spain) and Tuscany respectively; Paolo Cutuli and

the other people associated to the Gruppo Paleon-

tologico Tropeano (Vibo Valentia, Calabria), for

information about the A mph /opc-beari ng localities

in the Vibo Valentia Province. We warmly thank

Roberto Rizzo (Parco Geominerario, Storico e

Ambientale della Sardegna) for critical reading of

the geologic-structural evolution of the Western

Mediterranean. We also warmly thank Charles

Laurent (Museum d’Histoire Naturelle de Bor-

deaux, France) for providinge us information and

photos of the syntypes of A. bioculata.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 401-411

The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1 894: new molecular evid-

ence (Pulmonata Stylommatophora Helicidae)

Maria Stella Colomba 1 *, Armando Gregorini 1 , Fabio Liberto 2 , Agatino Reitano 3 , Salvatore Giglio 4 & Ignazio

Sparacio 5

'Universita di Urbino, Dipartimento di Scienze Biomolecolari (DiSB), via Maggetti 22, loc. Sasso, 61029 Urbino, Pesaro-Urbino, Italy;

e-mail: mariastella.colomba@uniurb.it, armando.gregorini@uniurb.it

2 Strada Provinciale Cefalu-Gibilmanna n° 93, 90015 Cefalu, Palermo, Italy; email: fabioliberto@yahoo.it

3 Via Gravina 77, 95030 Tremestieri Etneo, Catania, Italy; email: tinohawk@yahoo.it

4 Contrada Settefrati, 90015 Cefalu, Palermo, Italy; email: hallucigenia@tiscali.it

5 Via E. Notarbartolo 54 int. 13, 90145 Palermo, Italy; email: isparacio@inwind.it

’Corresponding author, email: mariasteha.colomba@uniurb.it

ABSTRACT In this paper we report on new molecular data (COI sequences) of different and represent-

ative populations of Erctella mazzullii (De Cristofori et Jan, 1832), E. cephalaeditana Gian-

nuzzi-Savelli, Oliva et Sparacio, 2012 and E. insolida (Monterosato, 1892) (Pulmonata,

Stylommatophora, Helicidae). Present results are compared with those from recent literature

and the current knowledge on phylogenetic relationships among Helicidae pulmonate

gastropods is reviewed. Obtained results suggest that: i) Cornu Born, 1778 and Cantareus

Risso, 1826 are separate and well distinct from Helix Linnaeus, 1758; ii) Erctella

Monterosato, 1894 is a valid and independent genus rather than a subgenus of Cornu; iii)

Cornu aspersion (O.F. Muller, 1774) is a group of species (i.e. " aspersum" group) whose

taxonomic status needs to be defin further studies; iv) Cornu , Cantareus and Erctella

might belong to the same tribe that, still, remains to be defined.

KEY WORDS Erctella; Helicidae; mitochondrial markers; phylogenetic reconstruction.

Received 11.02.2015; accepted 18.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress “Speciation and Taxonomy”, May 1 6th- 1 8th 2014, Cefalu-Castelbuono (Italy)

INTRODUCTION

Colomba et al. (2011) reported on a multidiscip-

linary study based on genital morphology, DNA

analysis, distribution, ecology and fossil records of

Cornu mazzullii (De Cristofori et Jan, 1832), a

species endemic to North-Western Sicily. Obtained

results supported the hypothesis that C mazzul-

lii should be attributed to the genus Erctella

Monterosato, 1894 and that this genus was probably

structured in three discrete clades (i.e., the mazzullii

group) recognized as species including: (i) the

populations living in Monte Pellegrino (Palermo)

and nearby mountains, E. mazzullii s. str., (ii) the

endemic population of Cefalu, La Rocca, E. ceph-

alaeditana Giannuzzi-Savelli, Oliva et Sparacio,

2012, and (iii) the populations living in the

mountains of Trapani surroundings, E. insolida

(Monterosato, 1892).

Based on the phylogenetic reconstruction

obtained by the multigenic analysis of nuclear

(ITS2) and mitochondrial (16S rDNA, 12S rDNA)

molecular markers, Colomba et al. (2011) strongly

suggested that the genus Erctella should be kept

distinct from the closely related genera Cornu

Born, 1778 and Cantareus Risso, 1826. In the

402

M.S. COLOMBA ET ALII

same paper, this hypothesis was also corroborated

by the analysis of several 16S rDNA partial

sequences downloaded from GenBank for other

genera representatives of Western Palaearctic

Helicidae taxa; noteworthy, the phylogenetic tree

topology clearly showed Cornu and Cantareus

distinct from Helix Linnaeus, 1758 (see Colomba

et al., 20 11, fig. 42).

Cornu Bom, 1778 (type species: Cornu copiae

Bom, 1778) was reintroduced as distinct genus by

Walden (1976) with Cryptomphalus De Charpen-

tier, 1837 (type species: Cryptomphalus aspersum

O.F. Muller, 1774) as junior synonim; it was some-

times considered as subgenus of Helix Linnaeus,

1758 (type species: Helix pomatia Linnaeus, 1758)

and sometimes as a distinct genus. The description

of Cornu copiae was based on a teratological

specimen of 'Helix” aspersa; due to different

interpretations of the Article 1.3.2 of the Code, a

request for conservation of the name Cornu is still

pending a mling of the International Commission

on Zoological Nomenclature.

Cantareus Risso, 1826 (type species: Cantareus

apertus Born, 1778) was sometimes considered as

subgenus of Helix and sometimes as a distinct

genus.

Schileyko (1978) was the first one who de-

scribed the internal structure of male sexual organs

of "Helix" aspersa characterized by a penial papilla

and a prominent semicircular fold in the distal part

of the penis (see also Nordsieck, 2013). Because of

these anatomical differences, the Author attributed

this species to the genus Cryptomphalus.

Giusti et al. (1995) showed a close similarity

between genitalia of "Helix" aperta and "Helix"

aspersa and, therefore, attributed these two

species to the same genus, Cantareus , morpholo-

gically well distinct from Helix. Moreover, they

reported that Helix has a real penial papilla inside

the penis and, distally, an accessory penial papilla,

whereas Cantareus shows a system of a real penial

papilla, a false penial papilla and, distally, an

"annular pad".

Neubert & Bank (2006) mainly confirmed these

morphological differences and concluded in con-

sidering Cornu and Cantareus as related but distinct

genera. One year later, similar observations were

reported by Alonso & Ibanez (2007).

At the same time, findings of scientific studies

based on molecular data were in line with the taxo-

nomic frame showing Helix distinct from Canta-

reus and Cornu , the latter two considered the same

genus (Manganelli et al., 2005; Koene & Schu-

lenburg, 2005; Wade et al., 2006, 2007).

Nevertheless, despite all these anatomical and

molecular evidence, recently Welter-Schultes et al.

(2011) and Welter-Schultes & Audibert (2012) con-

sidered Cornu and Cantareus to belong to the genus

Helix. Bank (2012) argued that such a systematic

position is wrong, and, above all, it does not take

into account a number of studies (cited above)

suggesting a taxonomic choice closer to the real af-

finities among these taxa. Welter-Schultes et al.

(2012), however, reaffirmed their beliefs and,

besides, Welter-Schultes (2012) reported Erctella

as synonym of Helix.

Nordsieck (2013), reviewing the papers, pub-

lished in the last decades, dealing with anatomical

and molecular data, concluded, in summary, that:

“ According to genital morphology and DNA ana-

lysis, ‘‘Helix “ aspersa and relatives are not more

related to Helix than Eobania and other genera of

the Helicinae [. . .] These species must therefore be

generically separated from Helix. The shell and the

genital differences, especially those of the penis

(Giusti et al. 1995, Neubert & Bank 2006,

Colomba et al. 2011), are sufficient for the generic

separation of Cantareus and Cornu (or Cryptom-

phalus, if the name Cornu is not valid because of

Art. 1.3.2 ICZN, cf. Giusti et al. 1995: 491).

Erctella is regarded as a subgenus of Comu instead

of a genus, because it is more closely related to

Comu than to Cantareus”.

More recently, detailed molecular genetics

studies (Korabek et al., 2014; 2015; Razkin et al.,

2015) confirmed Cornu and Cantareus as two

distinct genera forming a group with no sign of a

close relationship with Helix. In addition, Erctella

DNA sequences, when included in such analysis

(see Korabek et al., 2015), confirmed this item, in

line with Colomba et al. (2011).

At present there seems to be broad agreement in

considering Cornu and Cantareus distinct genera,

while on the position of Erctella opinions are still

diverging. In order to be able to further test the

“genus hypothesis” ( Erctella as a distinct genus,

Colomba et al., 2011) versus the “subgenus hypo-

thesis” ( Erctella as a Cornu subgenus, Nordsieck,

2013), we performed an additional molecular ana-

lysis to characterize and define even better, from a

The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1 894: new molecular evidence (Pulmonata Stylommatophora Helicidae)

403

molecular standpoint, the identity and reliability of

Erctella.

In particular, phylogenetic relationships among

taxa under study were analysed by comparing par-

tial sequences of the gene encoding for the cyto-

chrome oxidase subunit I (COI) - which is one of

the most commonly used mitochondrial markers in

molecular evolution and molecular phylogeny.

Besides, to provide a little contribute in sheding

some more light on Helicidae systematics, the ana-

lysis was extended to hundreds of specimens of the

family Helicidae whose COI sequences were down-

loaded from GenBank database. A similar analysis

was carried out including 16S rDNA partial

sequences of the same taxa. Molecular analyses

have been performed either with single (16S or

COI) or combined (16S+COI) molecular datasets.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Specimens and Collection sites

For each population, 2-5 Sicilian Erctella spe-

cimens were analysed. Please note that each loc-

ality and/or collection site is named in the original

language (Italian). Collected samples were iden-

tified and [labelled] as follows: Erctella insolida

(from Trapani province: Custonaci, Trapani [CU],

M.te Cofano, Trapani [COF]; San Vito lo Capo:

cala Mancina, Trapani [SV]); Erctella mazzullii

(from W-Palermo surroundings: M.te Pellegrino

[MP]; Sferracavallo, Palermo [CMS]; Carini:

M.te Columbrina, Palermo [COL]; Cinisi: M.te

Pecoraro, Palermo [PEC]); Erctella cephalaed-

itana from Cefalu: la Rocca, Palermo [CM];

Cornu aspersum (= H. aspersa ) [CA] from Ce-

falu, Palermo, Sicily; and Cantareus apertus

[CAP] from Cefalu, Palermo, Sicily and Assoro,

Enna, Sicily.

DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing

Samples were stored separately at -20 °C in test

tubes. Of each individual, a piece of foot tissue was

used for total DNA extraction (by Wizard Genomic

DNA Purification Kit, Promega). COI fragments

(581-663 bp) were amplified using LCO_1490 (5’-

GGT C AACAAAT C ATAA AG ATATT GG-3 ’ ) andHCO_

2198 (5 ’-TAAACTTCAGGGTGACCAAAATCAG ’)

(Folmer et al., 1994). PCR cycles were as follows:

95 °C for 5 min; 95 °C for 1 min, 42°C for 1 min,

72°C for 1 min (35 cycles); 72°C for 5 min. To

remove primers and unincorporated nucleotides,

amplified products were purified with the Wizard

SV gel and PCR Clean-up kit (Promega). Sequen-

cing of purified PCR products was carried out using

automated DNA sequencers at Eurofins MWG

Operon (Germany). All COI sequences generated

in this study were uploaded in GenBank (accession

numbers: KR921883-KR921914).

Phylogenetic analyses

The analysis was conducted on two partial gene

sequences: COI and 16S rDNA, integrating our data

with those obtained from GenBank database. In

particular, in addition to the sequences obtained

from specimens tested directly in this study

(KR921883-KR921914), to further expand the ana-

lysis and refine its resolving power, we included

16S rDNA sequences of Erctella mazzullii , E. insol-

ida, E. cephalaeditana. Cornu aspersum and Can-

tareus apertus previously generated by our research

group (GQ402393-GQ402396, GQ402398-

GQ402402, GQ402403-GQ402405, GQ402407-

GQ402409, GQ402410-GQ402411, GQ402412-

GQ402414, GQ4024 1 7-GQ4024 1 9, GQ402420-

GQ402422, GQ402387-GQ402389, GQ402390-

GQ402392, see Colomba et al., 2011), joined to

both COI and 16S rDNA sequences downloaded

from GenBank of the following taxa: Eobania

vermiculata (O.F. Muller, 1774) (KJ458509,

KJ458510, KJ458511, JF277395, JF277393,

JF277391), Theba geminata Mousson, 1857

(KJ458559, HM034468), T. subdentata (Ferussac,

1821) (KJ458562, HM034496), T. pisana

(O.F. Muller, 1774) (KJ458561, JX911311), T. an-

dalusica Gittenberger et Ripken, 1987 (KJ458558,

KF582631), Murella muralis (O.F. Muller, 1774)

(GU391399, JX827154), Helix lucorum Linnaeus,

1758 (AF 126 144, GU784803), Helix pomatia Lin-

naeus, 1758 (AF208297, JX91 1304), Helix secern-

enda Rossmassler 1847 (KP072386, KP072387,

KP072388, KP072086, KP072087, KP072088),

Helix vladika Kobelt, 1898 (KP072303,

KF823104), Helix melanostoma Drapamaud 1801

(KJ458524, KP072 1 07), Iberus gualtierianus (Lin-

naeus, 1758) (AY928605,AY928606, DQ822123,

DQ822165, DQ822166, AY546285), Hemicycla

404

M.S. COLOMBA ET ALII

bidentalis (Lamarck, 1822) (KJ45 8528, HM 147 180),

Pseudotachea splendida (Draparnaud, 1801)

(KJ458552, AY546292), Levantina caesareana

(Mousson, 1854) (KP072332, KP072181) Otala

lactea (O.F. Muller, 1774) (AY937264, AY937263),

O. punctata (O.F. Muller, 1774) (JF717823,

JF717824, KJ458545, JF717805, JF717806,

JF717807), Helix aspersa (AF126139, AF126135,

AF 126 134, AF126140, AF126136, JN701926,

JN701927, GU598217, AY546283, HQ203051,

HQ203052, JX911287), Cantareus apertus

(KJ458491, JX911286). Finally, Limax maximus

Linnaeus, 1758 (Family Limacidae) (KF894386),

L. cinereoniger Wolf, 1803 (KF894380), Limacus

flavus (Linnaeus, 1758) (FJ896815), Muticaria

syracusana (Philippi, 1836) (Family Clausiliidae)

(HQ696868, AY425597) and M. neuteboomi

Beckmann, 1990 (FIQ696866, HQ696867) were

employed as outgroups.

All sequences were visualized with BioEdit

Sequence Alignment Editor 7 (Hall, 1999), aligned

with the ClustalW option included in this software

and refined by eye. As far as concerns single (COI

or 16S rDNA) molecular data sets, phylogenetic

analyses were conducted in MEGA 5 (Tamura et al.,

2011) by Maximum Likelihood algorithm. Substi-

tution models, selected according to the “Find Best

DNA model” option included in the software, were:

HKY+G (COI) and GTR+G (16S rDNA); support

for the intemodes was assessed by bootstrap

percentages (BP) (1000 replicates). For the com-

bined (COI+16S rDNA) datasets, phylogenetic ana-

lyses were conducted in BEAST 1.6.1 (Drummond

& Rambaut, 2007) using the *BEAST implement-

ation (Heled & Drummond, 2010). A series of

initial runs were performed to optimize priors and

runtime parameter choice to obtain effective

sampling sizes (ESS) above 500 for all estimated

parameters. The best-fit evolution models of

nucleotide substitution were: HKY+G (COI) and

GTR+G (16S rDNA) with empirical base com-

position; the Yule Process tree prior for mitochon-

drial data with piecewise linear population size

model was applied with a UPGMA-generated tree

as starting point. Trees from all mns were combined

to produce an ultrametric consensus tree using

TreeAnnotator 1.6.1. The first 10 3 trees were dis-

carded as bumin. Support for nodes was expressed

as posterior probabilities.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

COI and 16S rDNA consensus trees and the

multi-genic (COI+16S rDNA) tree included 69

molecular sequences, each. Obtained results al-

lowed to make a few observations of some interest.

In particular, COI consensus tree (Fig. 1), showed

three separate clusters for (A) Erctella (discussed

in detail below), (B) Cantareus apertus and (C)

Cornu aspersum clearly distinct. Similarly, (D)

Eobania vermiculata , (E) Levantina caesareana,

(F) Helix spp. (including several species), (G)

Otala spp. (O. punctata and O. lactea), (H)

Murella muralis, (I) Hemicycla bidentalis,

Pseudotachea splendida, Iberus gualtierianus and

(L) Theba spp. ( T. geminata, T. subdentata, T.

pisana, T. andalusica ) are separated. With regard

to Erctella, the three taxa are clearly distinct and

separated as E. insolida (SV1-SV3, CU4-CU5,

COF2-COF4, from Trapani province), E. mazzullii

(CMS1-CMS5, COL1-COL3, PEC1-PEC3, MP1-

MP3, comprising specimens sampled on M.te

Pellegrino and the nearby mountains of sur-

roundings of Palermo), and E. cephalaeditana

(CM1-CM4, from Cefalu, La Rocca).

The 16S rDNA consensus tree topology (Fig. 2)

is similar to that shown in figure 1 . In fact, also in

this case, Erctella is clearly distinct and well struc-

tured in three taxa, Erctella insolida , E. cephalaed-

itana and E. mazzullii. Once again, it is confirmed

a distinction between the (closely related) genera

Erctella, Cornu and Cantareus ; based on 16S

rDNA sequences analysis, Erctella appears closer

to Cornu, while in the COI tree Cornu is closer to

Cantareus.

Mean molecular distances among the three taxa

of Erctella (assessed by the maximun composite

likelihood method), range from nearly 6 to 10%

(16S rDNA) and about 4 to 7.5% (COI). These

values, despite the issues of using mean molecular

distances (see Meier et al., 2008), nevertheless,

compared with those reported for other species,

including Pulmonata (e.g. Hebert et al., 2003a,

2003b; Steinke et al., 2005; Nekola et al., 2009)

can, in our opinion, justify the separation of

Erctella populations into three species.

Genetic distances between different species

within various animal groups, especially inverteb-

rates, are variable (see for example Meier et al.,

2008 and references therein). This is because they

The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1 894: new molecular evidence (Pulmonata Stylommatophora Helicidae)

405

Figure 1. COI consensus tree. The evolutionary history was inferred by using the Maximum Likelihood method based on

HKY model. The percentage of replicate trees in which the associated taxa clustered together in the bootstrap test (1000 re-

plicates) are shown next to the branches. A discrete Gamma distribution was used to model evolutionary rate differences

among sites [5 categories (+G, parameter = 0.6175)].

406

M.S. COLOMBA ET ALII

Figure 2. 1 6S rDNA consensus tree. The evolutionary history was inferred by using the Maximum Likelihood method based

on GTR model. The percentage of replicate trees in which the associated taxa clustered together in the bootstrap test (1000

replicates) are shown next to the branches. A discrete Gamma distribution was used to model evolutionary rate differences

among sites [5 categories (+G, parameter = 0.7920)].

The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1 894: new molecular evidence (Pulmonata Stylommatophora Helicidae)

407

are function of different parameters among which:

different rates of nucleotide substitution, different

types of environmental pressure, or different types

of mutation which the nucleotide sequences are sub-

ject to, which at times (e.g. for retro-mutations)

cannot be detected a-posteriori. Moreover, generally

speaking, genetic distances per se are not sufficient

to discriminate between different species and, for

pulmonates, a few cases have been documented

where distances turned out to be misleading, neces-

sitating to be integrated with additional data (see

Davison et al., 2009; Sauer & Hausdorf, 2012).

In Erctella , molecular data combined with other

significant data such as morphological, biological,

ecological and paleontological features allow us to

consider it a genus with three different species,

endemic to northwestern Sicily (Liberto et al.,

2010; Colomba et al., 2011).

Concatenated-gene analysis was better resolved

than single-gene analysis and thus represents, prob-

ably, more accurately present relationships among

taxa. It resulted in a tree topology (Fig. 3) which is

quite superimposable to that of the ML trees (Figs.

1, 2) and, for the most part, in line with a recent

review of the molecular phylogeny of the Western

Palaearctic Helicoidea by Razkin et al. (2015). In

particular, it is visible the group including Eobania

vermiculata , Otala lactea and O. punctata (tribe

Otalini, in pink), the group including Iberus gual-

tierianus, Pseudotachea splendida and Hemicycla

bidentalis (Allognathini, in red), Theba species

(Thebini, in yellow), and several species of Helix

and Levantina caesareana (Helicini, in lilac).

In the concatenated-gene analysis, Erctella and

Cornu , considered two distinct genera, are sister

groups.

<3 0 (*

S3, US

Muticaria syracusana

Muticaria neuteboomi

Limacus flavus

Eobania vermiculata (n= 26)

Otala lactea (n=26)

Otala punctata (n=26)

Iberus gualtierianus (n=22)

Pseudotachea splendida (n=22)

Hemicycla bidentalis

Theba geminata

Theba pisana (n=30)

Theba andalusica

Theba subdentata

Can tareus apertus ( n =2 7)

Erctella mazzullii (n=27)

Erctella cephalaeditana

Erctella insolida

Cornu aspersum (n=27)

Murella muralis

Helix melanostoma (n=27)

Helix vladika

Helix lucorum

Helix pomatia (n=27)

Helix secernendo

Levantina caesareana

Otalini

Allognathini

Thebini

Helicini

Figure 3. Phylogenetic annotated tree based on Bayesian inference analysis of the concatenated data set including 16S rRNA

and COI sequences. Numbers correspond to BI posterior probabilities (in %).

408

M.S. COLOMBA ET ALII

Regarding relationships within the group

Cantareus-Erctella-Cornu our data differ from

Razkin et al. (2015). In fact, while for Erctella it is

not possible to make a comparison because the

Authors did not include this taxon in their analysis,

on the other hand, in our tree, neither Cornu nor

Cantareus can be considered Otalini, rather belong-

ing to a distinct cluster (attributable to the “tribe”

level) including Erctella.

Therefore, although Cornu and Cantareus show

a certain degree of affinity particularly with Eo-

bania for genitalia architecture (see Giusti et al.,

1995) and share with Otalini similar biogeographic,

ecological and evolutionary items typical of

Western Mediterranean areas where these terrestrial

molluscs differentiated (see Colomba et al., 2011),

nevertheless, the consideration of Cornu , Cantareus

and Erctella as a separate tribe, which still remains

to be defined, is suggested. Furthermore, Cornu ,

Cantareus and Erctella share the same chromosome

number (n = 27) (Vitturi et al., 1982; Vitturi et al.,

2005) (see Fig. 3), while Eobania and other Otalini

examined up to now have n = 26 (Burch, 1965;

Thiriot-Quievreux, 2003). Finally, Otalini show in

genital organs a relatively little dart sac and well-

developed digit-like appendiges, Cornu-Cantareus-

Erctella, instead, show a massive dart sac and two

groups of digitiform glands with short base and

numerous and short digit-like appendiges.

On the other hand, the separation between

Cornu-Cantareus-Erctella and Helix is supported

by: (i) the different geographical distribution of the

genera: Cornu and Cantareus are widespread in

North Africa and Southern Europe, with Erctella

endemic to Northwestern Sicily, while Helix is

mainly distributed in Central and Eastern Europe

and, to a lesser extent, North Africa; (ii) the dif-

ferent morphology of genital organs (Schileylco,

1978; Giusti et al.,1995; Neubert & Bank, 2006,

Alonso & Ibanez, 2007) showing in Cornu-Can-

tareus-Erctella a different form of dart sac and of

digitiform glands (see above); and (iii) molecular

data (see Korabek et al., 2015 and quotes therein).

Comparing the three phylogenetic trees an inter-

esting consideration about Cornu aspersum can be

made. In fact, in line with other studies (Guiller et

al., 2001; Guiller & Madec, 2010), in our study as

well, this taxon seems to be not a single species but

rather a species group (ie " aspersum " group)

showing a taxonomic situation more complex and

heterogeneous than previously hypothesized within

its area of origin and diversification (Southern

Italy, Sicily and NW Africa). This result is further

confirmed by personal unpublished morphological

and molecular data of numerous Italian, Maltese

and North African C. aspersum populations.

Finally, the position of Murella muralis remains

to be clarified. In fact, it is not only different in all

phylognetic trees but, above all, discordant with

what reported in other papers. This issue, which is

beyond the aim of the present paper, requires further

study and investigation, possibly increasing the

number of specimens (joining to sequences down-

loaded from the database also sequences obtained

from new samples collected directly in the field),

increasing the number of genes analyzed and, above

all, including in the analysis other taxa represent-

atives of subfamilies more closely related to Murel-

linae, such as Ariantinae.

Overall, present results correspond well to

several previous molecular studies carried out by

nuclear and mitochondrial markers (Koene &

Schulenburg, 2005; Colomba et al., 2011; Korabek

et al., 2014; Razkin et al., 2015) and confirm that

Erctella species lie always outside the clusters of

Cornu and Cantareus.

CONCLUSIONS

New molecular evidence provided in this study

suggested also several comments on Erctella

closely related genera. Hence, on this basis, despite

the difficulties that the argument implies, some con-

clusions can be drawn.

The groups comprising Cornu-Cantareus-

Erctella on one hand, and Helix on the other hand,

appear separate and distinct from each other. In line

with most of the papers reporting on anatomical and

molecular characteristics observed in these animals,

there seems to be no evidence that "aperta",

"aspersa" and / or "mazzullii" may belong to the

genus Helix.

Considering Cornu and Cantareus as Otalini, as

assumed by Razkin et al. (2015) is not confirmed

in our analysis. However, as mentioned above, the

issue certainly needs further study in view of their

aforementioned anatomical and biogeographical

affinities.

The genus Erctella Monterosato, 1 894: new molecular evidence (Pulmonata Stylommatophora Helicidae)

409

We suggest considering Cornu , Cantareus and

Erctella as related but distinct genera belonging to

independent lineages; as hypothesized, they might

be included into a new tribe (between Otalini and

Helicini).

Cornu aspersum complex is in need of a thor-

ough taxonomic revision in its area of origin.

Finally, it is appropriate to reiterate that our de-

cision to consider Erctella a distinct genus including

three different species (Colomba et al., 2011) was not

only made on the basis of some, although import-

ant, molecular evidence, but also by the analysis of

many other data that allowed us to assign to the

various Erctella populations morphological, biolo-

gical, paleontological and biogeographical peculiar

characters, amplified by the particular distribution

of the taxon, endemic to Northwestern Sicily. In this

regard it is worth remembering that in the charac-

terization of a taxon, at different levels, while

gathering as many informations as possible (in-

cluding morfological, ecological, molecular data,

etc ...) is necessary, taxonomic reconstmctions ob-

tained with a methodology not always correspond

to the ones obtained with another method (see

Schileyko, 2013); for Erctella, instead, all (numer-

ous) data are consistent with the hypothesis of dif-

ferentiating it from other (similar, closely related)

genera.

So that it seems appropriate to conclude with the

words reported by A. Schmidt (1868) who claimed

that, in taxonomy : “ Kilnstliche Systeme entstehen

durch consequentes Geltendmachen eines einzelnen

Princips ” [“the application of a single criterion

produces artificial classifications”].

In more contemporary terms, we could say with

Poins et al. (2014): “Molecular phylogenetics is an

irreplaceable tool for taxonomists, but interpreta-

tion of the results must be based on clear taxonomic

concepts corroborated by all available resources -

that is, the primary reference, the subsequent taxo-

nomic literature and the type specimens of the

organisms of interest. Otherwise, molecular phylo-

genetics can cause confusion with detrimental con-

sequences to follow-up studies (e.g. ecological and

evolutionary )”.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We are grateful to Eike Neubert, Research

Institute Senckenberg, Senckenberganlage, Frank-

furt am Main, Germany; Giuseppe Pocaterra, San

Pietro in Casale, Bologna, Italy; Fernando Scarlas-

sara, Melego di Sarego, Vicenza, Italy.

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Monograph

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a

revision of types

Pasquale Micali 1 *, Italo Nofroni 2 , Riccardo Giannuzzi Savelli 3 , Francesco Pusateri 4 & Stefano Bartolini 5

'Via Papiria 17, 61032 Fano, Pesaro-Urbino, Italy; e-mail: lino.micali@virgilio.it

2 Via B. Croce 97, 00142 Roma, Italy; e-mail: italo.nofroni@uniromal.it

3 Via Mater Dolorosa 54, 90146 Palermo, Italy; e-mail: malakos@tin.it

4 Via Caste liana 64, 901 35 P alerm o, Italy; e-mail: francesco@pusate ri.it

5 Via E. Zacconi 1 6, 50 1 37 Florence, Italy; e-mail: stefmaria.bartolini@libero.it

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Coen introduced several new nominal taxa in the Pyramidellidae and in most Mollusca

families. The Coen types, now at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have been examined;

most of them are holotypes or lectotypes. Some lectotypes were already selected by van

Aartsen. as stated in the label, therefore we have not done any further selection of types. The

new pyramidellid species have been practically identified and named by Monterosato, and

were all found in shell grit collected on the beach of Lido (a small island in front of Venice).

None of the Coen’s new species seems to be valid.

KEY WORDS Coen collection; Pyramidellidae;Adriatic Sea; Mediterranean Sea.

Received 29.10.2014; accepted 20.12.2014; printed 30.03.20 1 5

Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4 th- 5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

INTRODUCTION

Giorgio Silvio Coen (1 873-1 95 1 ) was born in

Venice, graduated as a civil engineer in the presti-

gious University of Padua and spent his life in

Venice. The malacology was for him a hobby,

because his main work was as civil engineer. Any-

way he had contacts with most of the eminent ma-

lacologists of the period, wrote several works and

arranged a rich collection of molluscs. He was

a victim of the anti-Semitic laws during fascist

age and being banned from publishing in Italian

magazines, during the years 1 939-1 944 he pub-

lished on theActa PontificiaAcademia Scientiarum,

Civitate Vaticana. After the II World War he re-

turned in Venice, where he died. More informations

on Coen’s life are in Piani et al. (1 990).

The first Coen’s work is dated 1914, when he

was about 40 years old, but his name was already

present in the malacological world, because there

was a Turb onilla coeni Preston, 1 905 possibly

(because the Author did not indicate the origin of

the name) dedicated to him. When Coen was initi-

ating his malacological activity, Tommaso di M aria

(1 84 1 -1927), universally known as Monterosato,

was one of the best known Italian malacologists and

Coen used to send material to him for determina-

tion. Since the first publication, Coen uses names

with indication “Monterosato ms”, to indic-

ate the name, normally specific, was assigned by

M o n tero sa to .

Really the aged Monterosato was quite a “split-

ter”, with an attitude to create new species and

varieties, at the same time it is surprising that all the

416

Pasquale Micali et alii

new Pyramidellidae names, based on Monterosato’s

determ ination are synonyms of well known species.

We may suppose that the bad quality of Coen’s spe-

cimens examined by Monterosato, as well as

possible age-related problems of the Author are

cause of this. The names dictated by the aged

Monterosato, together with Coen’s attitude, some-

time referred as B ourguignat’s “Nouvelle Ecole”,

resulted in the creation of hundreds specific and

varieties names. Possibly Coen, interested to civil

architecture, was attracted by the details and loved

to collect, and name, the various forms of shells.

In some cases Coen understands that even if

Monterosato considered that shell as a variety, and

assigned a variety name, the differences are so

small that should not be the case. This is the case

of Pyrgulina b re vie u la v ar. rejecta M o n tero s a to ms.

for which the Author states “ Forma poco diversa

da lla tipica, cost nominata p ere he trovata nel

detrito [Form slightly different from the typical, so

named because found in shell grit]”. In the case of

Turbonilla ( Tragula ) fen e strata var. turbifacta

M onterosato ms. the A u thor states “ Q uesta fo rm a ,

dal Monterosato consider ata come specie,

turbifacta, mi par piuttosto varieta della fenestrata

[This form, considered by Monterosato a valid

species, turbifacta, looks to me a variety of fe ties -

trata ]”, practically he considers as a variety what

Monterosato considered a separate species. A final

consideration on the pyramidellid species: it is

strange that notwithstanding the Coen’s research in

the northern Adriatic, and the obvious contacts with

local fishermen, all the described species have been

found in the shell grit from Venice-Lido. Possibly

he was not much interested in micro molluscs and

all the species have been found in a sample of shell

grit given by to M onterosato.

Coen published more than sixty m alacological

works (Piani et al., 1 990), the most extensive

and interesting is the “Saggio di una Sylloge Mol-

luscorum A driaticorum ” published on 1933, a com-

mented list of north Adriatic molluscs, with descrip-

tion of several species and varieties. The work was

enriched and published again on 1 937, always as a

“Memoria” of the “Real Comitato Talassografico

Italiano” with the title “Nuovo Saggio di una

Sylloge Molluscorum A driaticorum ”.

The names created for varieties are to be con-

sidered subspecific, according to art. 45.6.4 of

IC ZN (4th. Edition) .

Coen’s collection was very rich, with material

obtained by various m alacologists (Mienis, 2012),

because he established a Museum in Venice, which

attracted the donations. Possibly due to the memory

of the anti-Semitic persecution in Italy, Coen

decided that after his death the collection had to be

donated to the Hebrew University of Jerusalem,

where it was shipped on 1953. Piani’s opin-

ion (Piani, 1 9 83 ) about the presence of many

Monterosato’s types in Coen collection is disputed

by M ien is (2012).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The Coen’s collection is preserved at the

Hebrew University of Jerusalem and has been

loaned thanks to the courtesy of Dr. Henk K.

Mienis, Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Most of

the type specimens are worn and difficult to de-

termine without a previous knowledge of the local

forms and variability. Photos has been taken using

a DigitalSLR Canon EOS 400D.

Sometimes in the labels the term “co-typus” is

abbreviated in “c-t”. The term “co-typus” is used

by Monterosato and Coen to indicate even the

types, anyway it is no more accepted by ICZN.

RESULTS

The species are listed in the same order of

description, to be clear, in case of synonymy, which

name has precedence. Plate IV, showing the pyr-

amidellid is the same in both works (Coen, 1 933,

1 937), therefore the comments are the same. The

locality “Lido” is the name of the long and narrow

island in front of Venice, that is exposed to open sea

and where is possible to collect fresh shell grit. For

each bibliographic reference it is indicated the used

name, because this is sometime different.

Quality of Coen’s drawing is very bad, much

worse than drawing of shells having some dimen-

sion, done a century before by other Authors

(Philippi, Hoernes, Wood, Deahayes, etc.). All the

drawings show a pointed apex, while some of the

described species have a blunt apex!

In addition to the species dealt with in the

present work, there is a Pyrgulina praecisa Coen,

1914 ex Monterosato ms, of which theAuthorgives

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

417

only a very bad photo at pi. IV, fig. 19. This name

is not mentioned in the following w orks . A ccording

to art. 12.2.7 ofICZN, a species name based on an

illustration of the taxon being named to be treated

as not having been published, therefore this is a

nomen nudum.

Tiberia ( Tiberiella ) pretiosa Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

Tiberia ( Monterosato ) pretiosa Monterosato (sic) -

Coen, 1933: 5 1 (n° 336), 1 64 (note 97), pi. IV,

fig. 3 2

Tiberia ( Tiberiella ) pretiosa Monterosato - Coen,

1 937: 3 8 (n° 261), 148 (note 92 bis), pi. IV, fig.

Labels. • Coen’s label with number 730 1.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Tiberiella ,

Mont. ms. T. pretiosa, Mont. Lido!!! ombelicata!”

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Tiberia

Mont. S ezio n e di Pyra m idella , p ub blic ata” [ T ib e ria

Mont. S ection of P y ram id e l la , published]

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HU J

53798” and “Coen 7301”.

Remarks. Coen (1 933, 1 64) describes the new

species as: “ Vale la pena di rich iam are V attenzione

su questa rarissima, minuta specie, di cui il mio

esemplare fu determinato dall’Autore medesimo.

La specie tipo di un sotto genere Tiberiella, non

pub blic a to, del Monterosato stesso, e ombilicata

(fig. 3 2)”. [It is worthwhile to call the attention on

this very rare, minute species, of which, my only

specimen was determined by the Author himself.

It is the type species of the subgenus Tiberiella, not

published, of M onterosato’s himself, and is umbil-

ic ate d ] .

Really the species is listed as Tiberia pretiosa

and the new genus Tiberiella is mentioned only in

the note 97. This overlook will be rectified later on

(Coen, 1 937) and the species listed as Tiberia

( Tiberiella ) pretiosa. Author draws one specimen

whose height, derived by the indicated scale factor

is 2.5 mm. Note is unchanged in the second work

(Coen, 1 937). Therefore both the species and the

genus were named by Monterosato, but published

by Coen. The holotype is a worn specimen, 2.4 mm

high (Fig. 1). The Coen’s label indicates as locality

“Lido”. The conical shape, and weak axial sculpture

of the holotype suggest that could be P arthenina

m onte rosatii (Clessin, 1900), that is not rare in the

area. This specimen is the same mentioned by

Aartsen et al. (1998: 7), who refers it to P arthenina

obtusa (Brown, 1 827).

Genus Tiberiella Coen, 1 933 is considered by

Aartsen et al. (1998: 7) and Schander et al. (1999:

151) a junior synonym of P a rth enina Bucquoy,

Dautzenberg etDollfus, 1883, because both have as

type species P arthenina obtusa. Based on our

determination of holotype, the two genera do not

have the same type species, but we agree that shall

be considered synonyms.

The specific name Tiberia ( Tiberiella ) pretiosa

Coen, 1933 ex Monterosato ms. shall be con-

sidered junior synonym of P arthenina m o nte ro s a tii

(C less in , 1 9 00).

Odostomia litoris Coen, 1933

Odostomia litoris Coen - Coen, 1933: 52 (n° 345),

164 (note 98), pi. IV, fig. 33

Odostomia litoris Coen - Coen, 1937: 40 (n° 293),

149 (note 103), pi. IV, fig. 33

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7311 Odostomia

acuta veil eta typus (ms). Lido!”.

• M o n tero s ato ’s handwritten label “Odostom ia

gruppo dell ’acuta”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

20846” for lectotype and 53797 for paralectotype,

both with “Coen 73 11”.

• A label stating that “lectotype chosen

AARTSEN, 1 982 - middle one with embryonic

whorls preserved”

Remarks. Coen (1933) describes the new

species as: “La nuova specie, da me trovata nel

detrito di Lido, e sottoposta a l M o nte ro s ato , fu da

Lui riconosciuta come una nuova “Odostomia del

gruppo dell’ acuta (sic). Analog a a questa, lie

differisce perd per i giri piatti anziche convessi; per

la sutura line a re fortemente impress a; infill e per

una carena, ottusa ma ben p ro nunziata , che appare

suU’ultimo anfratto (fig. 33). Venezia-Lido” . [The

new species, found by me in the shell grit from

Lido, and submitted to Monterosato, was con-

sidered by him as a new “Odostomia of the acuta

418

Pasquale Micali et alii

group”. It is similar to this, but differs for the flat

instead of convex whorls; for the lineas suture

strongly impressed; at last for a keel, obtuse but

well pronunced, present on the last whorl (fig. 33).

Venice-Lido].

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1 937). Author draws one specimen whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 2.9

mm. In this case the specific name was not assigned

by M on te ro s ato .

The lectotype is a worn specimen, 2.3 mm high

(Fig. 6), fixed with the p arale c to ty p e on a black

paper strip. The Coen’s label indicates as locality

“Lido”. The specimen is Odostomia unidentata

(Montagu, 1 803 ), a species not rare in the area.

Odostomia acuta Jeffreys, 1 848 is normally ombel-

icated, has rounded, instead of angulated peri-

phery, oblique instead of angulated columella,

lower first teleoconch whorl and slightly rounded

w horls.

Pyrgulina denticulus Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

Pyrgulina denticulus Monts. - Coen, 1914: 12, pi.

IV, fig. 17 nomen nudum

Pyrgulina denticulus Monterosato mss. - Coen,

1 933: 52 (n° 355), 1 64 (note 99), pi. IV, fig. 34

Chrysallida ( Babella ) denticulus Monterosato-

Coen, 1 937: 3 8 (n° 274), 149 (note 99), pi. IV,

fig. 34

Labels. • Coen’s label “N 0 7 3 1 8 Chrysallida

(Pyrgulina) denticulus Monts, c. t. Ven ezia -L ido” .

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “Pyrgulina

denticulus Mont. Lido!”

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “La piu

comune tra le Pyrgulina del Lido” [The most com-

mon Pyrgulina at Lido].

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

53792” for lectotype and 53793 for paralectotype,

both with “Coen 7318”.

• A label stating that “lectotype selected by van

Aartsen in glass vid”

Remarks. Coen (1933, 164) describes the new

spec ie s as : “ A ssai sim He ad una Turbo n ilia, e m olto

vicina alia P. interstincta Montagu per la forma

nettamente turriculato -conica, a profilo quasi

rettilineo. Le pieghe oblique degli anfratti sono

molto accentuate; ognuna di esse porta un tuber-

colo sotto la sutura eel e solcata alia base, onde la

conchig lia tie appare clatrata, in sen so inverso,

sub suturalm ente eel al posto della carena (fig. 34).

Venezia-L ido” . [Very similar to a Turbonilla, it is

very close to P. interstincta Montagu for the tur-

riculate-conical shape, with an almost straight

profile. The oblique costae are very strong; each

one has a tubercle below the suture and is sulcate

at the base, giving to the shell a clathrate appear-

ance in reverse way, subsuturally and at the

place of the keel (fig. 34). Venice-Lido]. The boi

ded part of translation is doubtful because meaning

of the sentence in original description is not clear.

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1 937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 3 mm.

The lectotype is a 3 mm high (Fig. 11), a little

worn and is P arthenina tereb ellum (Philippi, 1 844),

a species very common in the shell grit of Venice

are a .

Pyrgulina alabastrum Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

P y rg ulin a alab a strum M o n ts . - C o en , 1 9 1 4 : 12, pi.

IV, fig. 18 nomen nudum

Pyrgulina alabastrum Monterosato mss. - Coen,

1 933: 52 (n° 35 8), 1 64 (note 99), pi. IV, fig. 36

Chrysallida (P arthenina) alabastrum Monterosato

mss. - Coen, 1937: 3 8 (n° 275), 149 (note 96),

pi. IV, fig. 36

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 732 0 Chrysallida

(Pyrgulina) alabastrum Monts, c -t Ve n ezia Lido”.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

alabastrum M o n ts . L id o ! ! ”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

53786” for holotype, with “Coen 7320”.

Remarks. Coen (1933, 164) describes the new

species as: “ Unico esemplare di una forma vera-

mente turb onillo ide . Conchiglia esilissim a, turricu-

lata, ottusa all’ a pice, composta di 6-7 giri

pianeg g ianti, un poco allargata verso la base, or-

nata di pieghe longituclinali non oblique, solcate

sp ir aim ente sotto la sutura, che e fortemente

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

419

impressa (fig. 36). Detrito di Lido”. [A single spe-

cimen of a maredly turbonilloid shape. Shell very

thin, turriculate, blunt at the apex, consisting of 6-

7 flat whorls, a little enlarged toward the base,

sculptured by longitudinal ribs, not oblique, spirally

furrowed below the suture, that is strongly im-

pressed (fig. 36). Shell grit from Lido].

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1 937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 2.8

m m .

The lectotype is a fresh specimen, 2.7 mm high

(Fig. 17); the presence of two spiral cords on upper

whorls and the lack of columellar plica, indic-

ates that the specimen is a P arthenina indistincta

(Montagu, 1 808), a species quite frequent in the

area, even at low depth.

Pyrgulina ordita Coen, 1933 ex M onterosato ms.

P yrgulina ordita M onterosato - Coen, 1 933: 52 (n 0

360), 1 65 (note 100), pi. IV, fig. 41

C hrysallida ( Trabecula ) ordita M on tero sato - Coen,

1 937: 3 8 (n° 280), 149 (note 1 0 2 ) , p 1. IV, fig . 4 1

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7321 C hrysallida

( Pyrgulina ) ordita Mont. Co-types Venezia Lido”.

• M onterosato ’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

ordita Monts. Lido!!” and “una delle piu merav-

igliose per la scultura”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

53783” for holotype, with “Coen 732 1 ” number.

Remarks. Coen (1 933: 1 65) describes the new

species as: “ Conchiglia rissoiforme, tenuissim a ,

jalina; ultimo giro grande; scultura consistente in

strie long itudinali sottili, estese a tutta la superficie,

anche has ale; peristoma norm ale; fessura ombel-

icale apparente (fig. 41). Detrito di Lido”. [Shell

ris so id -like , very thin, translucent; last whorl large;

sculpture consisting of thin spiral striae, covering

the whole surface, including the base; peristoma

norm al; false ombelical slit (fig. 41). Shell grit from

L id o ] .

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 1.6

m m .

The holotype is a broken specimen having the

last three whorls, 1.6 mm high (Fig. 21). The

flexuous and crowded axial ribs and the numerous

spiral cords clearly indicates that the holotype is a

P arthenina juliae (d e F o lin , 1 872), a sp ec ie s com-

mon in the area at low depth.

Pyrgulina coeni Coen, 1933 ex M onterosato ms.

Pyrgulina coeni Monts. - Coen, 1914: 1 2 , p 1. IV, fig .

21 nomen nudum

Pyrgulina coeni M onterosato mss. - Coen, 19 3 3: 52

(n° 36 1), 1 64 (note 99), pi. IV, fig. 37

C hrysallida (P artulida) coeni M onterosato - Coen,

1937: 38 (n° 278), 149 (note 98), pi. IV, fig. 37

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7322 C hrysallida

(P y rgulina) Coeni M o n ts . ty p e s Ven ezia-L ido ” .

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

Coeni , Monts, ms. Lido!! Non esti (unclear) P.

turhonilloides , Brusin, apice etc.!”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

53 7 87” for lectotype and 5 37 88 for paralectotype,

both with “Coen 7 3 22”.

• A label stating that “two species! Left one was

selected by van Aartsen as the lectotype of P. coeni,

right one is too badly preserved to allow identi-

fication”

Remarks. In the first mention of the name

(Coen, 1914: 12) add the note: “non = turbonil-

loides Brus.”, meaning that it is similar, but dif-

ferent from turhonilloides (Brusina, 1 869).

Coen (1933: 164) describes the new species as:

“Essa si differenzia dalle precedents per essere

ovoide, di habitus veram ente rissoiforme, conser-

vando perd tutti i c a ratte ri del gruppo. Le pie g he

longitudinals, non oblique, ne tub ercolate , ne

solcate, cessano b ruscam ente nella regione car-

enale, cost che la base dell’ultim o giro e per- fet-

tamente liscia e lucente. B ian co -latte a (fig. 37).

Detrito di Lido”. [This species differs from the

formers for the ovoid shape, of really rissoid-like

habitus, maintaining anyway all the characters of

the group. The longitudinal ribs, not oblique,

neither tuberculate nor sulcate, abruptely ending at

the periphery of last whorl, so the base of the last

whorl is perfectly smooth and bright. Milky-white

(fig. 37). Shell grit from Lido],

420

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labels. Fig. 5 . Museum’s label. Fig. 6 . P arthenina m ontero satii (C le s sin , 1900). Figs. 7 , 8 . O dostom ia lit or is Coen’s collec-

tion, lectotype and paralectotype, HUJ 20846, H: 2.3 mm, Venice-Lido. Figs. 9-10. Original labels. Fig. 11. Museum’s label.

Fig. 12. O do sto m ia un id entata (Montagu, 1803). Fig. 13. P yrgulina den tic ulus Coen’s collection, lectotype HUJ 53792, H:

3 mm, Venice-Lido. Figs. 14, 15. Original labels. Fig. 16. Museum’s label. Fig. 17. P arthenina te re b e llum (Philippi, 1844).

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

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Figure 18. Pyrgulina a lab a strum Coen’s collection, lectotype, HUJ 53786, H: 2.7 mm, Venice-Lido. Figs. 19, 20. Original

labels. Fig. 2 1. M useum’s label. Fig . 2 2. P a rthen in a in d is tin eta (Montagu, 1 808). Fig . 23. Pyrgulina ordita Coen’s collection,

holotype, HUJ 53783, H: 1.6 mm, Venice-Lido. Figs. 24, 25. Original labels. Fig. 26. Museum’s label. Fig. 27. P a rthen in a

juliae (de Folin, 1 872). Fig. 28. Pyrgulina coeni Coen’s collection, lectotype, HUJ 5 3 787, H: 1.9 mm, Venice-Lido. Figs.

29, 30. Original labels. Fig. 31. Museum’s label. Fig. 32. P artulid a incerta (Milaschewitsch, 1916)

422

Pasquale Micali et alii

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1 937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 2 mm.

The lectotype is a worn specimen, 1.9 mm high

(Fig. 25). Its shape leaves no doubt that it is a

P artulid a incerta (Milaschewitsch, 1916) of which

are synonyms P. turb o nillo id e s (Brusina, 1869)

and P. brusinai (Cossmann, 1921). This species is

frequent in the area, at low depth.

Pyrgulina pyrgulella Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

Pyrgulina pyrgulella Monterosato - Coen, 1933: 52

(n° 363), 1 65 (note 101), pi. IV, fig. 42

C hrysallida (O do s to m e l la) pyrgulella M onterosato

mss. - Coen, 1 937: 3 8 (n° 269), 148 (note 94),

pi. IV, fig. 42

Labels

• Coen’s label “N 0 7 3 2 3 C hrysallida (P yrgulina)

pyrgulella Monts, (unclear) Venezia Lido”.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

pyrgulella Monts. Lido!!”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

5 3 79 1” for holo type with “Coen 7323”.

Remarks. Coen (1933: 164) describes the new

species as: “ Conchiglia tu rricu lata , ottusa alia

sommita, com posta di 6-7 giri, lisci gli apicali, gli

altri solcati lo ng itudinalm ente , salvo una zona sub-

suturale di ogni giro e la base dell’ultimo, die

rim angono liscie; columella obliquam ente e forte-

mente ritorta; peristoma sinuoso alia base. Bianca

(fig. 42). Detrito di Lido”. [Shell turriculate, blunt

at the apex, consisting of 6-7 whorls, the apicals are

smooth, the others longitudinally costate, except

one subsutural zone of each whorl and the base of

the last whorl, that are smooth; columella markedly

and obliquely folded; peristome sinuose at the base.

White (fig. 42). Shell grit from Lido].

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 2 mm.

The holotype is 2.1 mm high (Fig. 30), worn and

partially broken. The first teleo conch whorl appears

smooth and this character suggests that specimen

could be P arthenina terebellum (Philippi, 1 844)

(Clessin, 1900), a species quite frequent in the area,

even at low depth.

Pyrgulina vixstriata Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

Pyrgulina vixstriata Monterosato mss. - Coen,

1 933: 52 (n° 364), 1 65 (note 99), tav. IV, fig. 38

C hrysallida (O do stom ella) vixstriata Monterosato

mss. - Coen, 1 937: 3 8 (n° 267), 148 (note 93),

tav. IV, fig . 3 8

Labels

• Coen’s label “N 0 7 3 24 C hrysallida ( Pyrgulina )

vix striata M onts. c-t Venezia Lido”.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “Pyrgulina

vix-striata, Mont, buon tipo Lido!! N . B. la gomma

non fa apparire le strie ” [ Pyrgulina vix-striata ,

Mont, valid type Lido!! N. B. the glue prevents the

observation of the striae].

• Museum’s label with Lectotype register num-

bers “HUJ 5 378 1 ” and Paralectotype “HUJ 53782”,

both with “Coen 7324”.

• A label stating that: “the single shell was

selected as lectotyp e by van A arisen, 25.8.1987”.

Remarks. Coen (1933: 148) describes the new

species as: “Ha un habitus ov o ide-ris soifo rm e ;

molto ottusa all’ a pice, const a di 4-5 giri convessi,

ornati di pieghe longitudinali ondulate, che sono

solcate trasv ersalm ente sopra la sutura, eel evanes-

centi (non troncate) sulla base dell’ultimo giro.

B ianca (fig . 3 8). D etrito di Lido” . [It has an o v o id ,

rissoid-like profile; very blunt at the apex, with 4-5

convex whorls, sculptured by longitudinal ondu-

lated ribs, that are transversally sulcate above the

suture and evanescent (not truncated) at the base of

the last whorl. White (fig. 38). Shell grit from Lido]

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1 937). Author draws one specimen from Venice,

whose height, derived by the indicated scale factor

is 1.5 mm.”

The lectotype is a specimen 1.3 mm high (Fig.

35). The flexuous and crowded axial ribs and the

numerous spiral cords clearly indicates that both the

specimens are P arthenina juliae (de Folin, 1 872),

a species common in the area at low depth.

It is intersting to note that the subgenus has been

corrected in Coen’s label to Pyrgulina , that is not

the one used in the second publication. Unfortu-

nately it is not possible to identify the erased word.

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

423

Pyrgulina brevicula var. rejecta Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

Pyrgulina brevicula var. rejecta Monterosato -

Coen, 1 933: 54 (n° 367), 1 65 (note 99), pi. IV,

fig- 39

Chrysallida ( Partulida ) brevicula rejecta Monterosato

mss.- Coen, 1 937: 3 8 (n° 279), 149 (note 98),

pi. IV, fig. 39

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7326 Chrysallida

( Pyrgulina ) tu rb o nillo id e s rejecta Monterosato c-t

Venezia Lido!”.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “Pyrgulina

rejecta, Monts. Lido!! Gruppo della turbonilloides”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

53779” for lectotype and 53780 for paralectotype,

both with “Coen 7326”.

• A label stating that “Specimen to the extreme

right was selected as the lectotype by van Aartsen

25.8.1 987”.

Remarks. Coen (1933: 164) describes the new

species as: “ Forma poco diversa da lla tipica, cost

nominata perche trovata nel detrito: carattere, id

solco spirale alia base delle pieghe longitudinali,

molto p rofo nd am ente impresso. Bianca (fig. 3 9).

Detrito di Lido”. [Shape a little different from the

typical, so called because found in the shell grit:

characterised by very deeply impressed spiral

groove at the base oflongitudinal ribs. White (fig.

39). Shell grit from Lido],

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 1.6 mm.

The lectotype is a worn specimen, 1.8 mm high

(Fig. 41). Its shape leaves no doubt that it is a

Partulida incerta (Milaschewitsch, 1916) of which

are synonyms turbonilloides (Brusina, 1 869) and

b rusinai (Cossmann, 1 9 2 1 ) . T his specie s is freq uen t

in the area, at low depth.

The lectotype has been selected by Aartsen (see

above its label) from a set of four specimens fixed

on a black paper strip (Fig. 42). The specimen at

extreme left of the strip seems to be a P arthenina

inclistincta (Montagu, 1 808).

It is surprising to note that both M onterosato’s

and Coen’s label correctly refer the variety

“ rejecta ” to turbonilloides, while in both publica-

tions Coen uses a different specific name.

The real identity of Chrysallida brevicula

(Jeff re ys, 1883), originally described as O dostomia

brevicula, has been clarified by Giannuzzi Savelli

et al. (2011), who studied the type material with the

result that the species was based on an immature

specimen of Turbonilla amoena (Monterosato,

1 878).

Pyrgulina cylindracea Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

Pyrgulina cylindracea Monterosato mss. - Coen,

1933: 54 (n° 368), 1 65 (note 1 02), p 1. IV, fig . 4 3

Chrysallida (O dostom elda) cylindracea Monterosato

mss. - Coen, 1937: 38 (n° 271), 149 (note 101),

pi. IV, fig. 43

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7327 Chrysallida

(Pyrgulina) cylindracea Monts, c - t Ven ezia-L ido ! ” .

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

cylindracea Monts. Lido!!”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

5 3 784 ” for le c to typ e and 53785 for paralectotype,

both with “Coen 73 27”.

Remarks. Coen (1933: 165) describes the new

species as: “C onchiglia turriculata, m elaniifo rm e ,

vitrea, con 5-6 giri poco, ma re g o la rm e rite ,

convessi, de i quali i p rim i so no glob ulo si e lis c i, g Id

altri deb olm ente solcati. Base liscia. Apertura alia

base a cu tarn e rite svasata, come in una Melania (fig.

43). Detrito di Lido”. [Shell turriculate, melania-

like, vitreous, with 5-6 whorls, slightly and regu-

larly convex, the formers are globose and smooth,

the latters weakly sulcate. Base sm ooth. A perture

acutely expanded at the base, like in a M elan ia (fig.

43). Shell grit from Lido].

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 1.8 mm.

The lectotype is a worn and partially broken

specimen, 1.9 mm high (Fig. 48) and seems to be

P arthenina te reb ellurn (Philippi, 1 844), a species

very common in the shell grit of Venice area. The

figured specimen is fixed to a black paper strip (Fig.

49) with the final portion (about 2.5 whorls) of a

much larger specimen that seems to belong to same

species.

424

Pasquale Micali et alii

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Figure 33. P yrgulin a pyrgulella Coen’s collection, holotype, HUJ 53791, H: 2.1 mm, Venice-Lido. Figures 34, 35. Ori-

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Coen’s collection, lectotype, HUJ 5 3 7 8 1, H: 1.3 mm, Venice-Lido. Fig. 39. P. vixstriata , paralectotype HUJ 5 3 7 82,

H: 1.5 mm, Venice-Lido. Figures 40, 41. Original labels. Fig. 42. Museum’s label. Fig. 43. Parthenina juliae (de Folin,

1 872).

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Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

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Figures 44, 45. Pyrgulina b revicula var. rejecta Coen's collection, lectotype, HUJ 5 3779, H: 1.8 mm, Venice-Lido and

paralectotypes HUJ 53780, the specimen applied on paper strip at extreme left is a P a rthen in a indistincta (M ontagu, 1808).

Figs. 46, 47. Original labels. Fig. 48. Museum's label. Fig. 49. Partulida incerta (M ilasche w itsch, 1916). Figs. 50, 51.

Pyrgulina cylind racea Coen’s collection, lectotype, HUJ 53784, H: 1.9 mm, Venice-Lido and paralectotype HUJ 5 3785.

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426

Pasquale Micali et alii

Pyrgulina canaliculata Coen, 1933 ex Monterosato

m s .

Pyrgulina canaliculata Monterosato ms. - Coen,

1 933: 54 (n° 369), 1 65 (note 99), pi. IV, fig. 40

C hrysallida (P arthenina) canaliculata Monterosato

mss. - Coen, 1 937: 3 8 (n° 276), 149 (note 97),

pi. IV, fig . 4 0

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7328 C hrysallida

{Pyrgulina) canaliculata co-types. Venezia Lido”.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

canaliculata M onts. Lido ! !”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “HUJ

5 3 7 94 ” fo r holo typ e , with “Coen 7328”.

Remarks. Coen (1933: 165) describes the new

species as: “Conchiglia turricu lato -m etafo rm e ,

con giri piani, di cui i primi lisci, gli altri con

pieghe longituclinali profonde, tagliate sopra la

sutura da un solco trav ersale , e sull’ultimo giro

clatrate fino alia meta; base liscia, apertura

normale. II nome viene clalla sutura, p ro fonda-

nt ente imp ressa . Bianca {fig. 40). Detrito di Lido”.

[Shell turriculate, whorls flat, the formers smooth,

the following with deep longitudinal ribs, crossed

above the suture by a spiral groove and, on the

last whorl, clathrate up to the middle; base smooth,

aperture normal. The name derives from the

deeply impressed suture. White (fig. 40). Shell grit

fro m Lido].

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draws one specimen, whose

height, derived by the indicated scale factor is

about 1.9 mm.

The holotype is a worn specimen, 1.8 mm high

(Fig. 5 1). The presence oftwo spiral cords on upper

whorls and the lack of columellar plica, indic-

ates that the specimen is a P arthenina indistincta

(Montagu, 1 808), a species quite frequent in the

area, even at low depth.

Pyrgulina mitis Coen, 1 933 ex Monterosato ms.

Pyrgulina mitis Monterosato ms. - Coen, 1933:

54 (n° 370), 1 65 (note 103), pi. IV, fig. 44

C hrysallida (O d o s to m e lla) mitis Monterosato

mss. - Coen, 1937: 38 (n° 270), 149 (note 100), pi.

IV, fig. 44

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7329 C hrysallida

( Pyrgulina ) mitis Mont, c-t Venezia - Lido”.

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Pyrgulina

m itis Monts. Lido!!”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “ HUJ

5 3 7 8 9 ” fo r lectotyp e and 53 790 for pa ralecto typ e ,

both with “Coen 73 2 9”.

• A label stating that “ most right hand specimen

se lected as lectotyp e by van Aartsen 25.08.1989 ”

Remarks. Coen (1933: 165) describes the new

species as: “ Conchiglia turriculata, ad apice ottuso,

giri piani, lisci i primi, gli altri con forth solchi per

lungo, cess anti alia meta dell’ ultimo giro eel ivi

clatrati; sutura p rofo ndis sim a ; apertura allungata,

svasata acutam ente alia base; la columella porta

una piega dentiform e mediana molto pronunziata

eel una p rofo n d a fe s s u r a ombilicale lungo la cal-

losita colum e Ida re . B ianca (fig . 44 )” . [Shell turricu-

late, apex blunt, whorls flat, the initials are smooth,

the following with strong ribs, ending at the middle

of the last whorl, where are clathrate; Suture very

deep; aperture elongate, acutely expanded at the

base; on the central part of the columella there is a

strong tooth-like fold and a deep umbilical chink

along the columellar callus. White (fig. 44).].

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 1.8 mm.

The lectotype is 1.8 mm high (Fig. 57); it is

P arthenina te re b e llum (Philippi, 1 844), a species

very common in the shell grit of Venice area. The

figured lectotype (the one selected by van Aartsen)

is fixed to a black paper strip (Fig. 58) with other

three specim ens.

Eulimella curtata Coen, 1 93 3 ex Monterosato

m s .

Eulimella curtata Monterosato ms. - Coen, 1933:

54 (n° 375), 1 65 (note 104), pi. IV, fig. 45

Eulimella curtata Monterosato mss. - Coen, 1937:

40 (n° 300), 149 (note 104), pi. IV, fig. 45

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7 3 3 1 Eulimella

curtata Monts, c-t Venezia Lido”.

• M onterosato ’s handwritten labels “Eulimella

com m utata = acicula Lido!!” and “ non e commut-

ata m a curtata a Lido anche la non comm utata”.

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

427

Figure 56. P yrgulina ca n a lieu la ta Coen’s collection, holotype, HUJ 52794, H: 1.8 mm, Venice-Lido. Figures 57, 58. Original

labels. Fig. 59. Museum’s label. Fig. 60. P arthenina indistincta (Montagu, 1 808). Figs. 61, 62. Pyrgulina mitis Coen’s

collection, lectotype, HUJ 5 3789, H: 1.8 mm, Venice-Lido and paralectotypes HUJ 5 3790. Figs. 63, 64. Original labels.

Fig. 6 5. Museum’s label. Fig. 66. P arthenina terebellum (Philippi, 1 844).

428

Pasquale Micali et alii

Figure 67. Eulimella curtata Coen’s collection, holotype, HUJ 20847, H: 2.7 mm, Venice-Lido. Figs. 68, 69. Original

labels. Fig. 70. Museum’s label. Fig. 71. Eulimella flagellum Coen’s collection, holotype, HUJ 20848, H: 2.7 mm,

Venice-Lido Figs. 72, 73. Original labels. Fig. 74. Museum's label. Fig. 75. Eulimella acicula (Philippi, 1836).

M eaning of the second label not clear, therefore not

translated.

• Museum’s label with register numbers “ HUJ

Remarks. Coen (1933: 165) describes the new

species as: “Poco lontana clalla E. acicula Philippi,

se ne distingue per I’habitus piii m etafo rm e ed ot-

tuso all’ ap ice , per i giri piii convessi, e sop rattutto

2 08 47” for ho lo ty p e , w ith “Coen 7331 ”

Coen’s Pyramidellidae (Gastropoda Heterobranchia): a revision of types

429

per I’apertura che, anziche allungata e regolar-

m ente curva alia base, vi e abbreviata e di forma

trap ezo idale . J a lina (fig . 4 5) . D etrito di Lido" . [Not

far from E. acicula Philippi, may be separated for

the profile more regular and blunt at the apex, the

more convex whorls, and mainly for the aperture,

which instead of elongate and regularly curved at

the base, is abbreviated and trapezoidal. Jaline (fig.

45). Shell grit of Lido],

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937).Author draws one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 2.3

m m .

The holotype is a little worn specimen, 2.7 mm

high (Fig. 63), the protoconch is coiled at right

angle with respect to teleoconch axis, the profile is

slightly cyrtoconoid, whorls are flat, suture inclined

and columellar plica is very weak or absent. The

holotype seems to be Eulimella acicula (Philippi,

1 836).

Eulimella flagellum Coen, 1933

ex Monterosato ms.

E u Urn ella flag ellu m Monterosato ms. - Coen, 1933:

54 (n° 377), 1 65 (note 105), pi. IV, fig. 46

Eu Urn ella flagellum M on tero sato ms. - Coen, 1937:

40 (n° 30 1 ), 149 (note 105), pi. IV, fig. 46

Labels. • Coen’s label “N° 7333 Eulimella

flag ellu m Monts, co - ty p u s (ms). Venezia L id o ! ” .

• M onterosato’s handwritten label “ Eulimella

flagellum Monts, oppure: (Unclear)! Lido ”

• Museum’s label with register numbers “ H U J

2 0 8 4 8 ” fo r ho lo typ e , w ith “Coen 7333”.

Remarks. Coen (1 933: 1 65) describes the new

species as: “ Forma stretta, allun g atiss im a , con 10

giri piatti lisci lucenti, sutura profonda, apertura

piriforme stretta ed allungata (fig. 46). D etrito di

Lido". [Shell narrow, very elongate, with 10 flat,

smooth and bright whorls, deep suture, aperture

pyriform, narrow and elongate (fig. 46). Shell grit

fro m L id o ] .

Note is unchanged in the second work (Coen,

1937). Author draw one specimen, whose height,

derived by the indicated scale factor is about 2.4

m m .

The holotype is 2.7 mm high (Fig. 67), the

protoconch is coiled at right angle with respect to

teleoconch axis, the profile is slightly cyrto-

conoid, whorls are flat, suture inclined and

columellar plica is very weak or absent. The

holotype could be a freak of Eulimella acicula

(Philippi, 1836), or an E u Urn e l la c lav a tula Sacco,

1 892, a pliocenic species (see Chirli & Micali,

2 0 11). The presence of a fossil specimen in the

shell grit collected on the beach of the Lido is

however unlikely.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank Dr. Henk K. Mienis, TelAviv Univer-

sity, Department of Zoology, Israel, manager of

m ollu skscollection for the loan of C oen ’sm aterial.

REFERENCES

A artsen J. J. van, Gittenberger E. & Goud J., 1998.

(Mollusca, Gastropoda, Heterobranchia) collected

during the Dutch CANCAP and Mauritania expedi-

tions in the south-eastern part of the North Atlantic

Ocean (part 1). Zoologische Verhandelingen, 321:

3-57.

Clessin S., 1 899-1902. Die Familie der Eulimidae. (Vol.

1, part 28: [4] + 273 pp., 41 pis.), in: Kiister H.C. (ed.),

1837-1919 [1918]. System atisches Conchylien-

Cabinet von Martini und Chemnitz. Bauer & Raspe,

N urn berg (the page concerning P. monterosati was

published in 1900).

Chirli C. & Micali P., 2011. Malacofauna Pliocenica

Toscana. Vol. 8. Pyram idelloidea. X + 131 pp, 40 pi.

Coen G., 1914. Contributo alio studio della Fauna mala-

cologica Adriatica. Regio Comitato Talassografico

Italian o . Memoria XLVI, Venezia, 34 pp., 7 pi.

Coen G ., 1 93 3. Saggio di una Sylloge Molluscorum

A driaticorum . Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche.

Regio Comitato Talassografico Italiano. Memoria

C X C II, Venezia, vii+ 186 pp., 10 pi.

Coen G ., 1 93 7. N uovo Saggio di una Sylloge Mol-

luscorum A driaticorum. Consiglio Nazionale delle

Ricerche. Regio Comitato Talassografico Italiano.

M e m oria CCXL, Venezia: vii+ 173 pp., 10 pi.

Giannuzzi Savelli R., Micali P., Nofroni I. & Pusateri F.,

2011. Odostomia b re vie it la Jeffreys, 1 883 junior

synonym of Turbonilla am oen a (Monterosato,

1 878 ) (Gastropoda, Heterobranchia, Pyramidellidae).

Biodiversity Journal, 2: 2 17-220.

430

Pasquale Micali et alii

MienisH.K., 2012. Four important contributed mollusc

collections their histories and contents. l.Giorgio S.

Coen (1873-1951) and his mollusc collection.

Haasiana, 6: 11-37.

P ian i P. 1 9 8 3. Della <<collezione M o n tero sa to > > , di G .S .

Coen e di altre cose ancora. Bollettino Malacologico,

19: 273-278.

Piani P.. Bouchet Ph. & Ghisotti F., 1990. Lavori Mala-

cologici di G.S. Coen. Bollettino Malacologico, 26:

148-152.

Schander C . , A arts e n J. J. van & Corgan J., 1999. Famil-

ies and genera of the Pyramidelloidea (Mollusca:

Gastropoda). Bollettino Malacologico, 34: 145-

166.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 431-440

Monograph

Additional notes on the systematics and new records of East

Atlantic species of the genus Sorgenfreispira Moroni, 1979

(Gastropoda Mangeliidae)

Paolo Mariottini 1 , Andrea Di Giulio 1 , Carlo Smriglio 1 * & Marco Oliverio 2

1 Dipartimento di Scienze, Universita di “Roma Tre”, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy; e-mail: paolo.mariottini@uniroma3.it;

andrea.digiulio@uniroma3 .it

2 Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie “Charles Darwin”, Universita di Roma “La Sapienza”, Viale delLUniversita 32, 00185

Rome, Italy; e-mail: marco.oliverio@uniromal.it

^Corresponding author, e-mail: csmriglio@alice.it

ABSTRACT The Recent species currently ascribed to the Bela brachystoma-complQx, Gastropoda

Mangeliidae, (i.e.: Bela brachystoma (Philippi, 1844); Bela africana Ardovini, 2004; Bela

ardovinii Mariottini et Oliverio, 2008; Bela exilis (Ardovini, 2004) should better be allocated

in the genus Sorgenfreispira Moroni, 1979. Based on numerous samples, the distribution of

the Recent species is summarised. Sorgenfreispira brachystoma (Philippi, 1844) comb. nov.

ranges from Scandinavia to southern Morocco. Sorgenfreispira africana (Ardovini, 2004)

comb. nov. is first recorded from Western Sahara, Ivory Coast, Angola and Ghana; Sorgen-

freispira ardovinii (Mariottini et Oliverio, 2008) comb. nov. is first recorded from Ivory

Coast; S. exilis (Ardovini, 2004) comb. nov. is first recorded from Mauritania, Western

Sahara, Ivory Coast, Angola. Based on the study of the type material, Bela brachystoma

apicalis Nordsieck, 1977, was actually based on specimens of B. taprurensis Pallary, 1904.

Bela taprurensis is here first recorded from Libya.

KEY WORDS Gastropoda; Mangeliidae; Bela; Sorgenfreispira; Recent; first records; new combinations.

Received 12.11.2014; accepted 19.01.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th- 5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

INTRODUCTION

After the revision by Mariottini et al. (2008,

2009), four morphologically similar Recent species

are included in the Bela brachystoma-complex: Bela

brachystoma (Philippi, 1 844), originally described

from the Mediterranean Sea, and three eastern

Atlantic species, namely B. africana Ardovini, 2004,

B. ardovinii Mariottini et Oliverio, 2008 and B. exilis

Ardovini, 2004, all described, and so far known only

from the type locality in Senegal. The species of this

complex have been so far conservatively included

in the genus Bela Gray, 1847, despite their very

peculiar sculpture of both protoconch and teleo-

conch as compared to the other species traditionally

ascribed to Bela [e.g. Bela zonata (Locard, 1892) or

B. menkhorsti van Aartsen, 1988; see Scarponi et al.,

2014]. However, they certainly belong to a morpho-

logically very homogeneous group, to which also

several fossil species belong. Among them the Mio-

cene Cythara ( Mangelia ) moronii Venzo et Pelosio,

1964, is the type species of the genus Sorgenfre-

ispira Moroni, 1979, which was proposed to allocate

those fossills, and is veiy similar to B. exilis. There-

fore, we propose hereby to include Pleurotoma bra-

chystomum Philippi, 1844 and the three eastern

432

Paolo Mariottini etalii

Atlantic species of the complex in Sorgenfreispira.

We have examined numerous samples of this com-

plex from the East Atlantic, mostly at the Museum

National d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France), and

summarized the known geographic ranges of each

species, with new records for most species. For

detailed morphological comparisons among the

species see Mariottini et al. (2008).

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. CS-

PM: Carlo Smriglio and Paolo Mariottini collec-

tion (Rome, Italy); lv: live collected specimen(s);

MCZR: Museo Civico di Zoologia di Roma

(Rome, Italy); MMP: Museo Malacologico Piceno

(Cupra Marittima, Italy); MNHN: Museum Na-

tional d’Histoire Naturelle (Paris, France); MO:

Marco Oliverio collection (Rome, Italy); RA:

Roberto Ardovini collection (Rome, Italy); Scan-

ning Electron Microscopy (SEM); sh: empty

shell(s); SMF: Senckenberg Museum (Frankfurt,

Germany); sta: station.

SYSTEMATICS

Sorgenfreispira Moroni, 1979: 2

Type species: Cythara ( Mangelia ) moronii Venzo

et Pelosio, 1964, by original designation

Description. Shell very small for the genus,

height 3.4-3. 8 mm, width 1.5-1. 6 mm, biconical,

turriculate elongate, solid. Protoconch multispiral,

dome shaped, of2.6-2.7 convex whorls. Protoconch-

I (embryonic shell) of 0.4 whorls, separated by a de-

marcation from protoconch-II (larval shell). First

1 .7-1 .8 apical whorls apparently smooth, the nucleus

with very fine striae, the remaining with reticulated

sculpture of 5-6 granulose spirals (3 major, 1-2

smaller subsutural, 1 smaller suprasutural), crossed

by oblique axial riblets. Maximum diameter of proto-

conch 760-780 pm. Protoconch-teleoconch trans-

ition not well marked. Teleoconch of 2.5-3 whorls,

rounded, sutural ramp convex, whorl sides gently

convex. Fast whorl about 3/5 of shell length. Axial

sculpture of 8-9 prominent, narrowly rounded axial

ribs fading out at the base, regularly spaced, with

equally sized interspaces. Spiral sculpture of 17-18

granulose cords, regularly spaces, with larger inter-

spaces. Smaller granulose cordlets in most inter-

spaces. Entire surface covered by microgranules.

Aperture narrow, ovate, about 2/5 of the shell height.

Siphonal canal short, broad and open, very slightly

deviating on the left. Inner lip with a weak parietal

callus. Outer lip not varicose. Anal sinus marked, ar-

cuate on shoulder slope. Colour yellowish with white

axial ribs, darker brown band in the middle of teleo-

conch whorl, base milk white, parietal callus brown.

Remarks. Moroni (1979) introduced this genus

level taxon for a species of the Italian Miocene,

comprising also a group of species of the Jutland

Miocene, that Sorgenfrei (1958) had ascribed to the

genus Neoguraleus Powell, 1939 (type species

Drillia sinclairi Gillies, 882, Recent, New

Zealand): Pleurotoma tenella Mayer, 1858,

Daphnella Calais Kautsky, 1925, and Mangelia

gurichi Kautsky, 1925. Although the actual sys-

tematics of the three latter species may be debated,

Sorgenfreispira moronii is undoubtedly related to

B. exilis. Therefore, we propose hereby the transfer

of B. brachystoma, B. africana, B. ardovinii and B.

exilis to the genus Sorgenfreispira (for the distribu-

tion of this species see Fig. 1).

Sorgenfreispira africana (Ardovini, 2004) comb,

nov. (Figs. 1, 2-5)

Bela brachystoma africana Ardovini, 2004: 7, Fig.

unnumbered.

Type locality. South of Dakar, Senegal. Type Ma-

terial. Holotype (MMP) and 1 paratype (RA).

Examined material. Western Sahara: sta.

12385-3, 22°33.9’N 16°54’E, 54-58 m 8 sh

(MNHN); sta. 12[3]88-3, 22°30.5’N 16°53.8’E, 56-

57 m 3 sh (MNHN); sta. 12381-1, 22°32.2’N

17°04’E, 58 m 42 sh (MNHN).

Mauritania. R/V N’Diago sta. 204, 17°30’N

16°24’W, 88 m 1 sh (MNHN); sta. 218, 17°36’N

16°26’W, 99 m 2 sh (MNHN); sta. 244, 17°54’N

16°32’W, 200 m 1 sh (MNHN); sta. 245, 17°54’N

16°29’W, 145 m 1 sh (MNHN); sta. 289, 18°54’N

16°32’W, 60 m 1 sh (MNHN); 365, 19°30’N

16°55’W, 78 m 1 sh (MNHN); Miss. P. Etienne 1965

sta. 19, 20°20’N 16°22’W, 10 m 5 sh (MNHN).

Senegal. Region of Dakar: Goree, 95 m 4 sh

(MNHN), 95-110 m 1 sh (MNHN), 100 m 9 sh

(MNHN); 14°51’N 17°30’W, 180-165 m 2 sh

(MNHN); 14°32’N 17°25’W, 50 m 11 sh (MNHN);

off Saloum, 50 m 9 sh (MNHN); 30 miles South of

Dakar, Senegal, 45 m, 12 lv in the gut content of

Astropecten cfr. auranciacus (CS-PM coll).

On the systematics and new records of East Atlantic species of the genus Sorgenfreispira (Gastropoda Mangeliidae) 433

Ivory Cost, unknown locality, plateau contin-

ental [no further data], 107 sh (MNHN).

Ghana. R/V Calypsol953 sta. 25, 4°36.5’N

1°31’W, 4 sh (MNHN).

Angola. Corimba, Luanda, 10-20 m, 3 sh (MNHN).

Distribution. Western Sahara, Mauritania,

Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Angola (Fig. 1).

Remarks. The valid introduction of this taxon

is by Ardovini (2004), although subsequently

(Ardovini, 2008) its author redescribed it as a new

species, having realised that it was worth of species

rank. Sorgenfreispira africana is not uncommon in

East Africa, and it is here first recorded from

Western Sahara, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, Ghana

and Angola.

Sorgenfreispira ardovinii (Mariottini et Oliv-

erio, 2008) comb. nov. (Figs. 1, 6-9)

Bela ardovinii Mariottini et Oliverio, 2008: 8, Figs.

97-99, 102, 119-126, 149-150, 166

Type locality. South of Dakar, Senegal. Type mate-

rial.

Figure 1. Map of the records of Sorgenfreispira africana,

S. ardovinii and S. exilis. The area of their type locality and

of records in Mariottini et al. (2008), off Senegal, is enclosed

in the grey circle.

Holotype (MNHN 21321) and paratype K (MNHN

21322); paratypes A-F (RA); paratypes G-J, L

(CS-PM); paratypes M-N (MO).

Examined material. The type material, all from

30 miles South of Dakar, -45 m: Ivory Cost: un-

known locality, plateau continental [no further

data], 8 sh (MNHN).

Description. Shell very small for the genus,

height 3.7 mm, width 1.4 mm, biconical, turriculate

elongate, solid. Protoconch multispiral, dome

shaped, of 3. 2-3. 3 convex whorls. Protoconch-I

(embryonic shell) of 0.8 whorls, separated by a

demarcation from protoconch-II (larval shell). First

1. 0-1.1 apical whorls densely covered by micro-

granules, next 0.7-0. 8 whorl apparently smooth, the

remaining with reticulated sculpture of 5 spiral

series of tubercles (3 major, 1 smaller subsutural, 1

smaller suprasutural), crossed by weak opisthocline

axial riblets, more evident subsuturally. Spiral cords

corresponding to each spiral series of tubercles

gradually appearing on the last protoconch whorl.

Maximum diameter of protoconch 690-710 pm.

Protoconch-teleoconch transition not well marked.

Teleoconch of 2. 5-2. 7 whorls, rounded, sutural

ramp convex, whorl sides very gently convex. Last

whorl about 3/5 of shell length. Axial sculpture of

8-10 rounded axial ribs fading at base, regularly

spaced, with narrower interspaces. Spiral sculpture

of one major granulose cord, and 20-28 granulose

cordlets, irregularly spaced. Smaller granulose

threads in most interspaces. Entire surface covered

by microgranules. Aperture narrow, ovate, about 2/5

of shell height. Siphonal canal short, broad and

open, slightly deviating to the left. Inner lip with a

weak parietal callus. Outer lip not varicose. Anal

sinus marked, arcuate on shoulder slope. Colour

uniformly reddish-brown.

Distribution. Senegal, Ivory Coast (Fig. 1).

Remarks. Sorgenfreispira ardovinii remains the

least common among the species of this complex.

The 8 shells from Ivory Coast represent a remark-

able range extension for the species, which was

found there syntopic with S. exilis and S. africana.

Sorgenfreispira exilis (Ardovini, 2004)

comb. nov. (Figs. 1, 10-13)

Bela exilis Ardovini, 2004: 8, Figs, unnumbered

434

Paolo Mariottini etalii

Type locality. South of Dakar, Senegal. Type

material. Holotype (MMP); paratypes 1-3 (RA).

Examined material. Western Sahara: sta.

12[3]88-3, 22°30.5’N 16°53.8’E, 56-57 m 1 sh

(MNHN); sta. 12381-1, 22°32.2’N 17°04’E, 58 m

2 sh (MNHN).

Mauritania. R/V N’Diago sta. 229, 17°42’N

16°131’W, 40 m 1 sh (MNHN); sta. 309, 19°06’N

16°31’W, 24 m 1 sh (MNHN).

Senegal. Region of Dakar: 30 miles South of

Dakar, 45 m, (in the gut content of Astropecten cfr.

auranciacus ) 18 lv; Goree, 95 m 9 sh (MNHN); off

Saloum, 50 m 5 sh (MNHN).

Ivory Cost. Unknown locality, plateau contin-

ental [no further data], 38 sh (MNHN).

Angola. Corimba, Luanda, 10-20 m 15 sh

(MNHN).

Description. Shell very small for the genus,

height 3. 4-3. 6 mm, width 1.3-1. 5 mm, biconical,

turriculate elongate, solid. Protoconch multispiral,

dome shaped, of 2. 8-2. 9 convex whorls. Proto-

conch-I (embryonic shell) of 0.7-0. 8 whorls, sep-

arated by a demarcation from protoconch-II (larval

shell). First 1.6-1. 7 apical whorls apparently

smooth, covered with microgranules, the remaining

with reticulated sculpture of 4 granulose spirals (3

major, 1 smaller subsutural), crossed by oblique

axial riblets. Maximum diameter of protoconch

710-720 pm. Protoconch-teleoconch transition not

well marked. Teleoconch of 2.5-3 whorls, rounded,

sutural ramp convex, whorl sides gently convex.

Last whorl about 3/5 of shell length. Axial sculpture

of 10-11 prominent, flexuous and narrowly

rounded axial ribs, regularly spaced, with broader

interspaces. Spiral sculpture of 2 major granulose

cords, with 25-36 irregularly alternating smaller

granulose cordlets and interspaces of variable size.

Each cordlet actually consisting of a rows of

densely packed rounded granules. Aperture narrow,

ovate, about 2/5 of the shell height. Siphonal canal

moderately long, broad and open, deviating on the

left. Inner lip with a moderately developed parietal

callus. Outer lip not varicose. Anal sinus marked,

arcuate on shoulder slope. Colour yellowish-

brownish with two dark brown bands, one subsu-

tural and the second on the middle of the last whorl;

parietal callus brownish with siphonal canal white.

Distribution. Western Sahara, Mauritania,

Senegal, Ivory Coast, Angola (Fig. 1).

Remarks. Present records represent a remark-

able range extension for the species, which was so

far known only from the type locality (Senegal). It

is here first recorded for Western Sahara, Maurit-

ania, Ivory Coast and Angola.

Sorgenfreispira br achy stoma (Philippi, 1844)

comb. nov. (Figs. 14-17)

Pleurotoma brachystomum Philippi, 1844: 169,

176, pi. XXVI, Fig. 10

Type locality. P. brachystomum , Naples, Central

Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. Type material. Type ma-

terial of Pleurotoma brachystomum is probably

housed in the National Museum of Natural

History (Santiago del Chile).

Examined material. Recent. [Atlantic] France:

Gulf of Gascogne, CAPBRETON 88 sta. DE-01,

43°39.99’N 1°48.11’W, -134 m, 25 sh (MNHN);

idem, sta. DR-29, 43°46.51’N 2°00.58’W, -165

m, 3 sh (MNHN); idem, DR-11, 43°22.77’N

1°59.18’W, -94 m, 16 sh (MNHN); idem, sta. DE-

05, 43°57.42’N 2°05.16’W, -164 m, 8 sh (MNHN);

Arcachon, [no further data], 3 sh (MNHN), 9 sh

(Locard coll., MNHN); Brest, [no further data] 5 sh

(Locard coll., MNHN); Capbreton, [no further

data], 3 sh (Locard coll., MNHN).

Morocco. Agadir, R/V Vanneau 1923-1929 sta.

10, 29°54’N 9°58’W, -110 m, 16 sh (MNHN);

idem, sta. 32, 34°01’N 7°32’W, -145 m, 3 sh

(MNHN); idem, sta. 101, 30°39’N 10°03’W, 129

m, 3 sh (MNHN); sta. 39, 33°44’N 7°45’W, -85 m

1 sh (MNHN); idem, sta. 9, 30°05’N 09°50’W, -110

m 2 sh (MNHN); idem, sta. 30, 33°55’N 7°34’W, -

75 m 17 sh (MNHN); Tangier, 5-10 m, 1 sh

(MNHN). Mauritanie - R/V N.Diago sta. 239,

17°48’N 16°2UW, -79 m,. 1 lv (MNHN); Mission

Gravel 25.03.08 sac 406, 13 sh (MNHN).

Sweden, [no further data], 1 sh (coll. Jousseaume,

MNHN).

England, [no further data], 3 sh (coll Jousseaume,

MNHN).

[Mediterranean] France. Gulf of Lion, IFREMER/

DEPRO 96 (R/V Europe) sta. chalut-10, 42°24.6’N

3°16.2’E, -100/151 m, 40 sh (MNHN); idem, sta.

chalut- 1 1 , 42°09.4’N 3°22.5’E, -350 m, 5 sh

(MNHN). Cap Bear, ECOMARGE 1984 sta. A61,

42°29.30’N 3°10.30’E, -42 m, 5 sh (MNHN); off

Rhone delta, -50/100 m, 2 sh (MNHN). St Raphael,

On the systematics and new records of East Atlantic species of the genus Sorgenfreispira (Gastropoda Mangeliidae) 435

Figures 2, 3. Sorgenfreispira africana. 6 x 1.7 mm, Corimba, Luanda, Angola, West Africa, 10-20 m (MNHN). Figures

4, 5. S. africana. 5.7 x 1.9 mm, Corimba, Luanda, Angola, West Africa, 10-20 m (MNHN). Figures 6, 7. S. ardovinii.

4.6 x 1.7 mm, Corimba, Luanda, Angola, West Africa, 20 m (MNHN). Figures 8, 9. S. ardovinii. 5.5 x 1.6 mm, Corimba,

Luanda, Angola, West Africa, 20 m (MNHN). Figures 10, 11. S. exilis. 4.4 x 1.3 mm, Corimba, Luanda, Angola, West

Africa, 10-20 m (MNHN). Figures 12, 13. S. exilis. 4.5 x 1.4 mm, Corimba, Luanda, Angola, West Africa, 10-20 m

(MNHN).

436

Paolo Mariottini etalii

Scnckfiiberg-Mus 332619 1 2 . Franfcfurt/M

Fehria taprurensis (PalJary 1904)

syntype* Bela brae hystoma apicalis F. Nordsieck I <57 7

Tunesien: Sfax

Slg, F. Nordsieck cx SMF

Figure 14. Drawing of “Bela brachystoma brachy stoma” by Nordsieck (1977: pi. XI, fig. 85). Figs. 15-17. Sorgenfreispira

brachystoma. 5.2 x 1.8 mm, San Vincenzo, Leghorn, Italy, 43°05’N 10°24'E, 34 m (CS-PM) (Fig. 17 SEM photograph). Fig.

18. Drawing of B. brachystoma apicalis by Nordsieck ( 1 977: pi. XI, fig. 86). Figs. 19-21.5. brachystoma apicalis. Syntype A,

SMF33269/2. 5.2 x 1.9 mm, Sfax, Tunisia, 34°47’N 10°53’E, 15 m (SMF) (Fig. 21 SEM photograph). Figs. 22, 23. Details of

the protoconch of Syntype A, SMF33269/2, SEM photographs. Figs. 24, 25. B. brachystoma apicalis. Syntype B, SMF33269/2.

5.2 x 1.9 mm, Sfax, Tunisia, 34°47’N 10°53’E, 15 m (SMF). Fig. 26. SMF label of B. brachystoma apicalis syntypes.

On the systematics and new records of East Atlantic species of the genus Sorgenfreispira (Gastropoda Mangeliidae) 437

Figures 27, 28. Ginannia taprurensis. Lectotype (MNHN-IM-2000-32699), 7.3 mm, Sfax, Tunisia (MNHN). Figures 29,

30. G. taprurensis. 6.6 x 2.2 mm, Sfax, Tunisia (MCZR). Figures 31, 32. G. taprurensis. 6.6 x 2.3 mm, Sfax, Tunisia

(MCZR). Figures 33, 34. G. taprurensis. 6.1 x 2.3 mm, A1 Khums, Libya, 15 m (CS-PM).

[no further data], 3 sh (Couturier coll., MNHN), 4

sh (Locard coll., MNHN). Marseille, [no further

data], 5 sh (Locard coll., MNHN).

Spain. Estepona, 36°25’N 5°09’W, -150 m, 2 sh

(SR); Baleares, [no further data], 1 sh (MNHN);

Alboran, BALGIM sta. 143, 35 0 57’N 3°07’W, -252

m 1 sh (MNHN); Malaga, beach nourishment [from

-20/40 m] 1 sh (MNHN).

Italy. Off San Vincenzo, 43°05’N 10°24’E, -34

m, 78 sh (CS-PM); off S. Marinella, -150/200 m,

sediment in an old Roman dolium, 41°54.00’N,

011°47.66’E, 1 sh (MO); off Fiumicino, 41°43’N

12°06’W, -80 m, 38 sh (CS-PM); off Fiumicino,

41°38’N 12°11’W, -140 m, 27 sh (CS-PM); off

Fiumicino, [no further data] (in the gut content of

Astropecten irregularis ), 16 juveniles (MO); 5 nm

South of Fiumicino, -25 m (in mud), 2 lv (MO); Tor

Patemo shoal, -150 m, 5 lv, lsh (MO); Ponza Is.,

40°51’N 12°55’W, -40 m, 24 sh (CS-PM); off

Civitanova Marche, 43°18’N 13°46’E, -45 m, 11 sh

(CS-PM); off Pescara, 42°31’N 14 0 12’E, -50 m, 24

sh (CS-PM); Sicily, [no further data], 2 sh (coll.

Letellier, MNHN).

Croatia. Brae Island, 43°24’N 16°30’E, -50 m,

5 sh (CS-PM).

Libya. Unknown locality, -110/150 m, 19 sh

(CS-PM).

Fossil. Italy: Guidonia, 42°00’N 12°43’E

(Pliocene), 2 sh (CS-PM); Gallina, 38°05’N

15°41’E (Pliocene), 3 sh (CS-PM); Ficarazzi,

38°04 , N 13°29’E (Upper Pliocene-Lower Pleisto-

cene), 125 sh labelled "P. granuliferum var. parva"

(coll. Monterosato, ex coll. Brugnone, MCZR);

Monte Pellegrino, 38°04’N 13°29’E (Upper

Pliocene-Lower Pleistocene), 48 sh labelled "var.

striiselevatioribus" (coll. Monterosato, ex coll.

Brugnone, MCZR).

Description. Shell small for the genus, height

4.5-7 mm, width 1.7-2. 5 mm, biconical, turricu-

late elongate, solid. Protoconch multispiral, dome

shaped, of 2. 3-2. 4 convex whorls. First 1.6-1. 9

apical whorls smooth, the remaining with reticu-

438

Paolo Mariottini etalii

lated sculpture of 4-5 granulose spirals (3 major

spirals in the middle of whorl, 1 smaller subsutural

and 1 smaller above the teleoconch suture) crossed

by oblique axial riblets. Maximum diameter of

protoconch 510-650 pm. Protoconch-teleoconch

transition not well marked. Teleoconch of 5-6

whorls, rounded, sutural ramp straight or very

slightly convex, whorl sides gently convex. Last

whorl about 2/5 of shell length. Axial sculpture of

8-9 prominent, slightly opisthocline, flexuous and

narrowly rounded axial ribs, regularly spaced, with

broader interspaces. Spiral sculpture of 9-15 major

cordlets, with irregularly alternating smaller

cordlets and interspaces of variable size. Each

cordlet consists of a rows of densely packed roun-

ded granules. Aperture narrow, ovate, about 1/3 of

the shell height. Siphonal canal short, narrow and

open, deviating on the left. Inner lip with a mod-

erately developed parietal callus. Outer lip varicose.

Anal sinus marked, arcuate on shoulder slope.

Animal with short head and two short tentacles.

Black eyes on the external, thickened basal part of

the tentacles, located on the distal third of their

total height. Foot broad and long, slightly lobate

anteriorly, tapering posteriorly. Background colour

of the head-foot pinkish, semi-transparent, with

light yellow spots, and light yellow speckles on the

proximal part of the tentacles. Siphon pinkish,

semi-transparent, with light yellow spots bordered

by orange.

Distribution. Sorgenfreispira brachystoma is

known from the northeastern Atlantic and from the

entire Mediterranean Sea. Based on literature data

and on the material we have examined, it ranges

from Norway (Hoisseter, 2009), Sweden (Dyntaxa,

2013), United Kingdom and British Isles (Hayward

& Ryland, 1990), to southern Morocco (Lat 34° N),

and the entire Mediterranean Sea. Fossil shells are

known from several Plio-Pleistocene European

outcrops (England, France, Spain, Italy: see Chirli

& Richard, 2008).

Remarks. Sorgenfreispira brachystoma is a

continental shelf species, easily distinguishable

from all other members of the group by its very

distinct shell sculpture (Mariottini et al., 2008). It

has a multispiral protoconch with characteristic

densely granulated spiral ribs. Bela brachystoma

apicalis Nordsieck, 1977 is a synonym of B.

taprurensis (Pallary, 1904) (see below).

Bela Gray, 1847: 270

Type species: Murex nebula Montagu, 1803, by

subsequent designation (Gray, 1847).

=Fehria van Aartsen, 1988 (type species: Ginnania

taprurensis Pallary, 1904, by original designa-

tion)

Bela taprurensis (Pallary, 1904) (Figs. 18-46)

Ginnania taprurensis Pallary, 1904: 218, pi. VII,

Fig. 1

Bela brachystoma apicalis Nordsieck, 1977: 44, pi.

11, Fig. 86

Type locality. Ginnania taprurensis Pallary: Sfax,

Tunisia, Mediterranean Sea. Bela brachystoma

apicalis Nordsieck: Sfax, Tunisia, Mediterranean

Sea. Type material. Ginnania taprurensis Pallary:

Lectotype (MNHN-IM-2000-3269).

Bela brachystoma apicalis Nordsieck: 2 syntypes

(SMF33269/2)

Examined material. The type material and:

Tunisia: Sfax, 34°47’N 10°53’E, 15 m, 25 sh

(CS-PM), 2 sh (coll. Monterosato, MCZR).

Libya: Al Khums, 32°43’N 14°18’E, 15 m, 4 sh

(CS-PM).

Distribution. Southern Mediterranean Sea,

Gulf of Gabes (Pallary, 1 904) and Libya; Aegean

Sea (Manousis, 2012: 169) and Levant Sea (Bogi

et al., 1989).

Remarks. Nordsieck (1977: 45, pi. XII, fig.

90) redescribed Ginnania taprurensis Pallary and

depicted a shell from Karpathos (Greece). Proto-

conch (2 convex whorls, rather blunt) and teleo-

conch description match the species as

represented by the lectotype (Figs. 27, 28) and the

two specimens in coll. Monterosato, presumably

ex Pallary (Figs. 29-32). Nordsieck (1977) also

described B. brachystoma apicalis, differing from

the nominal species mainly for its paucispiral

“protoconch [of] 11/2 very inflated whorls, which

leads to the conclusion of a quite other life of

larves” (Nordsieck, 1977: 44, pi. 11, Fig. 86). The

examination of two syntypes (Figs. 19-23) of B.

brachystoma apicalis revealed that this taxon was

actually based on shells of B. taprurensis (Pallary,

1904) (Figs. 27-46). Present sample from Libya

(Figs. 33, 34) is the first record for the waters of

that country.

On the systematics and new records of East Atlantic species of the genus Sorgenfreispira (Gastropoda Mangeliidae) 439

Figures 35-38. Bela taprurensis. 4.8 x 1.8 mm, Sfax, Tunisia, 34°47’N 10°53’E, 15 m (CS-PM) (Figs. 37, 38 SEM

photographs). Figures 39-46. Details of the shell of figs. 35-38 (SEM photographs).

440

Paolo Mariottini etalii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to express our gratitude to Vir-

ginie Heros and Philippe Maestrati (MNHN),

Ronald Janssen (SMF) and Massimo Appolloni

(MCZR) for the help in the study of the materials

under their care, and Cesare Tabanelli with Cesare

Bogi for the bibliographic assistance.

REFERENCES

Ardovini R., 2004. Due nuove specie e una nuova sotto-

specie di Turridae dal Senegal, West Africa. Malaco-

logia, 43: 7-9.

Ardovini R., 2008. Bela africana n. sp. (Gastropoda

Turridae) West Africa, Senegal. Malacologia, 58: 12-

13.

Bogi C., Cianfanelli S. & Talenti E., 1989. Contributo

alia conoscenza della malacofauna dell'isola di Cipro.

Atti prima giornata Studi Malacologici C.I.S.Ma.,

187-214.

Chirli C. & Richard C., 2008. Les mollusques plaisan-

ciens de la Cote d’Azur. Devaye Imprimeurs, Z.I. la

Frayere, Cannes, 128 pp.

Dyntaxa, 2013. Swedish Taxonomic Database. Ac-

cessed at www.dyntaxa.se [5-02-2015], at http://www.

dyntaxa.se

Gray J.E. 1847. A list of the genera of recent Mollusca,

their synonymia and types. Proceedings of the Zo-

ological Society of London, 15, 129-206.

Hayward P.J. & Ryland J.S. (Eds.), 1990. The marine

fauna of the British Isles and North-West Europe: 1.

Introduction and protozoans to arthropods. Clarendon

Press, Oxford, 627 pp.

Hoisaster T., 2009. Distribution of marine, benthic, shell

bearing gastropods along the Norwegian coast. Fauna

norvegica, 28: 5-106.

Manousis T., 2012. The seashells of Greece. Publishing

House Kyriakidis Brothers S.A., Thessaloniki, 381 pp.

Mariottini P., Di Giulio A., Smriglio C. & Oliverio M.,

2008. Notes on the Bela brachystoma complex, with

description of a new species (Mollusca, Gastropoda:

Conidae). Aldrovandia, 4: 3-20.

Mariottini P., Smriglio C., Di Giulio A. & Oliverio M.,

2009. A new fossil conoidean from the pliocene of

italy, with comments on the Bela menkhorsti complex

(Gastropoda; Conidae). Journal of Conchology, 40:

5-14.

Moroni M.A., 1979. Sorgenfreispira , nuovo genere di

Turridae (Gastropoda, Prosobranchia) del Miocene

europeo. Lavori dell’Istituto di Geologia della

Universita di Palermo, 16: 1-11.

Nordsieck F., 1977. The Turridae of the European Seas.

La Conchiglia Ed., Roma, 131 pp.

Pallary P., 1904. Addition a la faune malacologique du

Golfe de Gabes. Journal de Conchyliologie, 52: 2 12—

248, pi. 7.

Scarponi D., Landau B., Janssen R., Morgenroth H. &

Della Bella G., 2014. Lectotype designation for

Murex nebula Montagu 1803 (Mangeliidae) and its

implications for Bela Leach in Gray 1847. Zootaxa,

3884: 045-054

Sorgenfrei Th., 1958. Molluscan assemblages from the

marine Middle Miocene of South Jutland and their

environments. Danmarks Geologiske Undersogelse,

Series 2, 79: vol. 1 1-355, text figs. 1-7; vol. 2 356—

503, pis. 1-76. Kobenhaven.

Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 441-448

Monograph

Description of a new species of the genus Trophonopsis Bucquoy

et Dautzenberg, 1 882 (Gastropoda Muricidae Pagodulinae)

from the Mediterranean Sea

Carlo Smriglio*, Paolo Mariottini & Andrea Di Giulio

1 D ip artim e n to di Scienze, Universita di “Roma Tre”, Viale Marconi 446. 00146 Rome. Italy; e-mail: csmriglio@alice.it; paolo.

mariottini@ uniroma3.it; andrea.digiulio@ unirom a3.it

Corresponding author

ABSTRACT Based on shell characters, a new species of the gastropod family Muricidae, Trophonopsis

spciracioi n. sp., from Mediterranean Sea is described. Shells of the new taxon were collected

from bathyal bottoms, in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The new taxon is compared with others species

of the genus Trophonopsis Bucquoy et Dautzenberg, 1882, occurring in northeastern Atlantic

and Mediterranean Sea.

KEYWORDS Trophonopsis spciracioi n . sp.; M uricidae; Pagodulinae; M editerranean Sea.

Received 17.0 9.2014; accepted 12.03.2 0 15; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th- 5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

INTRODUCTION

The genus Trophonopsis B u c q u o y et Dautzen-

berg, 1 8 82 has been traditionally included in the

subfamily Trophoninae (Muricidae), while recently

Barco et al. (2012) have included this genus in their

newly erected subfamily Pagodulinae, based on

clear evidence from the radular morphology.

Five Recent species of the genus TrophoYlopsis

were so far recognised in northeastern Atlantic and

Mediterranean Sea according to Houart(2001) and

CLEMAM (G o fas & Le Renard, 2014): T. alboran-

ensis (Smriglio e al., 1 997) (Figs. 1-5, 39, 40), T.

barvicensis (Johnston, 1825) (Figs. 6-10, 41, 42),

T. breviatus ( J e ffre y s , 1882 ) (Figs. 11-15,43,44),

T. droueti (Dautzenberg, 1 8 8 9 ) and T. muricatUS

(Montagu, 1803) (Figs. 16-20, 45, 46). These taxa

have been reviewed by H o u a r t (2001), who con-

sidered T. alboranensis in the original genus

Houartiella S m rig lio , M ario ttin i et B o n fitto , 1 9 9 7,

later synonym ized with Trophonopsis by Penas et.

al. (2006). In particular, two Trophonopsis species

have an Atlantic distribution, being T. droueti

endemic to the bathyal bottoms of the Azores

(Bouchet & Waren, 1 985; Houart, 2001 ), while T.

barvicensis , which occurs at 50-1.000 m depth, is

distributed from Morocco and the Azores, to the

British Isles and West Scandinavia (Houart, 200 1;

Segers et al., 2009 ). Trophonopsis barvicensis w a s

recently reported in the Mediterranean Sea from El

Garraf (Spain), as a W iirmian fossil, by Giribet &

Penas (1997) and from the Djibuti bank (Spain),

which could represent the extreme limit of its

distribution into the M editerranean, by Gofas et al.

( 2011 ). Furthermore, T. alboranensis and T. brevi-

atUS are endemic to A lb ora n and Black Sea, respect-

ively (Smriglio et al., 1997; Houart, 2001; Gofas et

al., 20 11). Trophonopsis breviatus has been also re-

corded from (Tanakkale and Bozcaada Isle, Turkey

(Panayotis O valis, pers. comm.). Only T. muricatUS

442

Carlo Smriglio etalii

displays both a wide distribution, occurring in the

Mediterranean and in the northeastern Atlantic up

to the northern Great Britain, and a wide batimetric

range (0.5-300 m) (Rolan, 1983; Houart, 2001;

Gofas et al., 2011).

Recently, we had the chance to examine shells

of Trophonopsis from a spot located in the Tyrrhe-

nian Sea, inhabited by rich bathyal benthic inver-

tebrate communities (molluscan assemblages have

been partially characterized in the past by Smriglio

et al., 1 989; Smriglio & Mariottini, 1 996, 2000,

200 1; Smriglio et al., 1 999). After morphological

comparison with the species of Trophonopsis

occurring in northeastern Atlantic and Mediter-

ranean, the studied shells have been regarded as

belonging to a distinct, unnamed species, which is

here described as new to science: Trophonopsis

sparacioi n. sp.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. The

materials used for this study are deposited in the

following private and Museum collections, BA:

Bruno Arnati collection, Rome, Italy; CS-PM : Carlo

Smriglio-Paolo Mariottini collection, Rome, Italy;

H: height; MO: Marco Oliverio collection, Rome,

Italy; MTC: Monterosato collection; MCZR:

Museum of Zoology of Rome (section collections

of Malacology); MNHN: Museum National

d’Histoire N aturelle, Paris, France; M ZB : M useum

of Zoology Bologna (collection of the Laboratory

of Malacology, University of Bologna, Italy); sh:

empty shell(s); W : width.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Samples consisted mainly of empty shells, in a

few cases with dried softparts, from CS-PM private

collection and material stored in the MTC at the

MCZR.

Sediment sampling was collected by fishermen

trawlers from m u d d y - b a th y a 1 bottoms located off

the coasts of Latiurn (C entral Tyrrhenian Sea). Sedi-

ment samples were sieved through a 1 mm mesh

and sorted under a s te r e o m ic r o s c o p e . Scanning

Electron Microscopy (SEM) observations were car-

ried out by a Philips XL30 at the Interdepartmental

Laboratory of Elec tr on Microscopy (LIM E, U niver-

sity of “Roma Tre”, Rome, Italy). Current system a-

tics is based on WoRMS (2013), that for

Trophonopsis species treated in this work is in

accordance with CLEMAM (Gofas & Le Renard,

2014). Sculpture of the teleoconch was described

according to the notation ofMerle (2001, 2005).

SYSTEMATICS

Family MURICIDEA Rafinesque, 1815

Subfamily Pagodulinae B arc o , Schiaparelli, Houart

et O liv erio ,2012

type genus Pogodlilci Monterosato, 1 884 (by ori-

ginal designation)

Genus Trophonopsis Bucquoy, Dautzenberg et

D ollfus, 1882

type species Mlirex nturicCltllS M on tag u, 1 8 03 (by

original designation)

Trophonopsis sparacioi n . s p .

Examined material. The type material (Figs. 21-

33, 47, 48) consists of 100 shells, 27 of them with

dry soft parts, from the Central Tyrrhenian Sea, off

coasts of Latium, 500/600 m (4 1 °5 1 ’ N 1 1 ° 2 8 ’ E ) .

Holotype, MNHN IM-2000-27897; paratype 1,

MNHN IM -2000-27898; paratypes 2, MZB 60093

and 3, M ZB60094; paratypes 4, M CZR00222a and

5, M CZR00222b; paratypes 6 and 7, M O ; par a types

8 and 9,BA;paratypes 10-99, CS-PM.

Other examined material. Trophonopsis Cllbor-

ancnsis: from CS-PM collection (Rom e): paratypes

“A-B-D” and 13 sh,Alboran Sea (type locality), 80-

150 m; 1 sh,Alboran Island, 180 m.

Trophonopsis barvicensis-. from MTC collec-

tion: 2 sh, Bergen, Norway; 2 sh, Oban, Scotland,

25 fathoms; 4 sh. She tl and , England; 3 sh, England;

42 sh,NorthAtlantic Ocean, 226 m;60 sh. Paler mo,

Italy. From CS-PM collection (Rome): 4 sh, Aber-

deen Bank (57°13’N 0 1 ° 0 5 ’ W ) , Scotland, 59-68 m.

Trophonopsis breviatus-. f r o m cs-pm collection

(Rome): 2 sh Bozcaada Island, Turkey 85 m; 4 sh

from Marmara Island, Marmara Sea.

Trophonopsis muricatUS: from MTC collection:

2 sh, Northumberland coast, Scotland; 5 sh,

England; 10 sh,Le Croisic (Saint-Naza ire), France;

4 sh, Villefranche sur M er (Nige), France; 2 sh,

Minorca, Baleares, Spain; 3 sh, Corsica; 4 sh,

Sardinia, Italy; 4 sh, Positano (Naples), Italy; 3 sh,

Golfo di Napoli, Italy; 1 sh, Naples, Italy; 192 sh,

Palermo, Italy 1 sh, Algeria; 15 sh, Ficarazzi

Description of a new species of the genus Trophonopsis (Gastropoda Muricidae) from the Mediterranean Sea 443

(Palermo), Italy, fossil; 3 sh, Ficarazzi (Palermo),

Italy, fossil; 3 sh, Giannettilla (C altanissetta), Italy;

3 sh,Babbaurra(Caltanissetta),Italy; 1 sh,Magnisi

(Siracusa), Italy; 3 sh, Sciacca (Agrigento), Italy; 1

sh, Morocco. From CS-PM collection (Rome): 3 sh,

Algeciras, Spain, 20-35 m; 4 sh, Capo Corso,

Corsica, France, 70 m; 8 sh, Capraia Island

(Leghorn), Italy, 80-200 m ; 1 sh, Capraia Island

(Leghorn), Italy, 400 m; 14 sh, Elba Island,

Tuscany, Italy, 300 m ; 3 sh, Elba Island (Leghorn),

Italy, 50 m; 2 sh, Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, 40

m; 3 sh,Fiumicino (Rome), Italy, 160 m; 8 sh,Circeo

(Latina), Italy, 90 m; 108 sh, Ponza Island (Latina),

Italy, 125-165 m; 1 sh, C apo Portiere (La tina), Italy,

unspecified depth; 3 sh, Golf of Carini (Palermo),

Italy, 120 m ; 48 sh, 60 miles offshore Sfax, Tunisia,

100 m; 11 sh, Libyan coasts, 110-150 m .

Pagodula echinata (Kiener, 1 8 4 0 ) : from CS-

PM collection (Rome): about 600 sh, offshore

Fiumicino (Rome), Central Tyrrhenian Sea

(4 1 °5 1 ’N 1 1 °2 8 ’E), Italy, 5 00-600 m .

Description of the holotype. Shell of small size

forthe genus, H = 5.6, W = 2.9 mm, fusiform, elong-

ate, with high spire and siphonal canal open and

moderately long, last whorl about three quarter of

entire shell length. Protoconch paucispiral, with a

diameter of 5 80 pm and 1.5 rounded whorls, orna-

mented with narrow, irregular spiral threads. Teleo-

conch with 3.5 whorls, axial sculpture consisting of

11 lamellate ribs, slightly spiny at the shoulder.

Infrasutural ramp without cords (cords 1 and 2

absent), convex part of the last w horl w ith 6 prim ary

cords (cords 3-8).Aperture small, ovate with a thin,

knife-edge outer lip, to some extent undulate.

Columellar lip narrow, smooth and adherent.

Siphonal canal narrow, with evident growth ridges.

Shell uniformly white or g re y is h - w h ite , vitreous.

Operculum corneous, ovoid, planispiral with lateral

nucleus.

Variability. Shell height ranging from 5.8 to 6.3

mm with an average of 6.10 mm (50 sh measured),

while the width is ranging from 2.9 to 3.1 mm (50

sh measured), with an average of 2.95 mm. Proto-

conch diameter from 550 to 650 pm, with an

average of 589 mm (11 sh measured by SEM

analyses). Teleoconch always comprising 3.5

whorls, which can be considered as a diagnostic

character, and 6 (rarely 7) primary cords in the

convex part of the last whorl. Number of lamellate

ribs of the axial sculpture ranging from 1 1 to 14,

with an average of 12.24.

Etimology. This species is dedicated to Ignazio

Sparacio (Paler mo, Italy), for his great contribution

to scientific research and his editorial work for the

biodiversity of the Mediterranean region.

Distribution and biology. Locus typicus: Central

Tyrrhenian Sea off the coasts of Latiurn (4 1 0 5 1 ’ N

11°28’E). Habitat: Biocoenosis CB (sensu Peres &

Picard, 1964), 360-600 m depth.

Remarks. All shells of T. spcircidoi n. sp. (Figs.

21-33, 47, 48), some of them with soft parts, were

sorted out from sediment samples collected at

bathyal depths. In particular, empty shells from

muddy bottoms (biocoenosis VB, sensu Peres &

Picard, 1 964), while shells with soft parts from

deep-sea coral banks (biocoenosis CB, sensu Peres

& Picard, 1 964). The benthic communities of this

Tyrrhenian Sea area have been investigated since

the late eighties, and have been partly characterized

(Smriglio etal., 1989; Smriglio & Mariottini, 1996,

2000, 200 1; Smriglio et al., 1999). The analysis of

the accompanying dredged organogenic sediment

revealed many fragments of alive a zo o x an te Hate

corals like DeSlflOphyllum cristagalli Milne

Edwards etHaime, 1848 and MadvcpOVCl OCUlatO.

(Linne, 1 758), indicating that this species belongs

to the biocoenosis CB. Furthermore, together with

the empty shells of the new taxon, we collected

another abundant pagoduline, Pdgodulci echinata

(Kiener, 1 840) (Figs. 34-38, 49, 50), which typic-

ally inhabits c ir c alitto r a 1/b a th y a 1 muddy bottoms

(Smriglio et al., 1 989; Houart, 200 1; Gofas et al.,

2011 ). For P. echinata , it is interesting to recall that

the fossil P. Vaginata (De Cristofori et Ian, 1 832)

differs by presenting “a distinct difference in the

larval shell, which in the recent form consist of

about 1.5 whorls while the Pliocene form has more

than 2.5 whorls, and possibly planktotrophic larval

development” (Bouchet & Waren, 1985 p. 138).

Moreover, La Perna (1996) remarked “at that time,

the two species lived in ecologically segregated

populations, P. Vaginata b ein g linked to deep-shelf

and upper- slope bottoms, and P. echinata to deeper

bathyal bottom s”. Possibly, this difference in habitat

has enabled P. echinata to be protected during the

Quaternary climatic cooling, which instead caused

444

Carlo Smriglio etalii

Figures 1-5. Twphonopsis ulboVUVLCnsis . ParatypeD,Fl 4.7 xW 2.8 mm. Alboran Sea, 80-150 m depth. CS-PM. Figures

6-10. T. barvicensis. H 7. 4 x W 3.7 mm. Aberdeen Bank, E. Scotland, 59-68 m depth, 57°13'N-01°05'W. CS-PM.

Figures 11, 12. T. bvevitttUS . H 7.6 x W 4.2 mm. Marmara Island, Marmara Sea. CS-PM. Figuresl3-15. T. bvevicitUS.

H 9.5 x W 5.2 mm. Bozcaada Island, Turkey, 85 m depth. CS-PM. Figures 16-20. T. niUVicdtUS . H 7.6 x W. 3.7 mm.

Circeo, Italy, 90 m depth. CS-PM .

Description of a new species of the genus Trophonopsis (Gastropoda Muricidae) from the Mediterranean Sea 445

Figures 2 1- 25. Tvophoviopsis Spavadoi n. sp. Paratype 10, H 6.2 x W 3.3 mm. Central Tyrrhenian Sea. CS-PM. Figures 26,

2 7.7] Spavadoi n. sp. Paratype 2, FI 5.8 x W 2.9 mm. Central Ty rrh en ian Sea. MZB60093. Figures 28, 29. T. Spavadoi n . sp .

Holotype,H 5.6 x W 2.9 mm. Central Tyrrhenian Sea. MNHN IM-2000-27897.Figures30,31.7] Spavadoi n . sp. Paratype 4,

H4.5xW 2.9 mm.Cen tral Ty rrh en ian Sea. M CZR00222a. Figures 32, 33. T. Spavadoi n . sp. Paratype 11, FI 6.1 xW 2.8 mm.

CentralTyrrhenian Sea. CS-PM . Figures 34-38. Pagodllla Cchifiata. FI 10.7 x W 5.4 m m ; C entral Tyrrhenian Sea. CS-PM .

446

Carlo Smriglio etalii

Figures 39, 40. T. alboranensis . Same as Fig. 1. Figures 41, 42. T. barvicensis. S ame as Fig. 6. Figures 43, 44. T.

breviatus. Same as Fig. 11. Figures 45, 46. T. YYlUriCdtUS . Same as Fig. 16. Figures 47, 48. T. SpUYUCioi n . sp . Same

as Fig. 34. Figures 49, 50. Pagodllla echinata. S ame as Fig. 11.

the extinction of P. VClginCltd. We think that P. Vd~

gillCltCl represents the sister species of P. echinCltd.

that has lost the planktotrophic larval stage showing

a different successful adaptive strategy, as described

for other Recent couples of sibling species (Pusateri

et al., 2012; Pusateri et al., 2013). Trophonopsis

sparacioi n. sp. clearly differs from all other

Trophonopsis occurring in Northeastern Atlantic

and Mediterranean Sea mainly for its small size and

shell sculpture. Only T. dlbOYCinensis has s i m i 1 a r

Description of a new species of the genus Trophonopsis (Gastropoda Muricidae) from the Mediterranean Sea

447

dimensions, but this species shows a totally dif-

ferent shell sculpture consisting of nodulose axial

ribs with a higher number of spiral cords (compare

Figs. 1-5 and 39, 40 to Figs. 21-25 and 47, 48)

(Smriglio et al., 1997; Houart, 200 1; Gofas et al.,

2011 ). Trophonopsis barvicensis possesses both

protoconch and teleoconch of bigger size and its

shell sculpture shows less axial ribs and spiral

cords, also less spiny at intersections (compare

Figs. 6-10 and 41, 42 to Figs. 21-25 and 47, 48).

Trophonopsis sparacioi n . sp. clearly differs from

T. breviatus in many respects, the latter having a

more convex shell outline, being less sculptured,

and having a bigger protoconch (compare Figs.

11-15 and 43, 44 to Figs. 21-25 and 47, 48).

Trophonopsis muricatus is bigger in size, shows a

more convex shell outline, a more reticulated

sculpture, less spiny at the intersections, and a

longer siphonal canal. The protoconch of this species

is similar in size, but shows less spiral threads,

coarser in the last part of the whorl (compare Figs.

16-20 and 45, 46 to Figs 21-25 and 47,48).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to express our gratitude to

Massimo Appolloni (MCZR) for the examination

of the Pagodulinae material stored in the MTC.

Sincere acknowledgments are due to Marco Oliv-

erio (University of Rome “La Sapienza”, Rome,

Italy) and RafaelLa Perna (University ofBari, Bari,

Italy) for their critical suggestions. We would like

to thank the reviewers for their helpful comments

and the resulting improvements in the paper.

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Pusateri F., Giannuzzi-Savelli R. & Oliverio M ., 2013. A

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Raphitoma smriglioi n . sp. (Gastropoda, Conoidea).

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luscs of Madeira. Snoeck publishers, 612 pp.

Smriglio C. & Mariottini P., 1996. Molluschi del Mar

Tirreno Centrale: Contributo XII. Descrizione di una

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(P ro sob ran c h ia , Rissoidae), a new gastropod from the

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a new bathyal species from the Mediterranean Sea.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 449-466

Monograph

The family Cypraeidae (Gastropoda Cypraeoidea) an unex-

pected case of neglected animals

Marco Passamonti

Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche Geologiche e Ambientali (BiGeA), Via Selmi 3, 40126 Bologna, Italy; e-mail: marco.

passant onti@ unibo.it

ABSTRACT The family Cypraeidae Rafinesque, 1815 (Gastropoda Cypraeoidea), common ly called

Cowries, are particularly well-known among shell collectors, because of their beauty and

relative availability. W hile most species are common in shallow reef environments, some other

are quite hard to find, because they may come from remote or hardly accessible habitats, or

they are in fact just rarely found. Because of this rarity and beauty, several cowries get high

market values among collectable shells. This relevant economic interest produced two kind of

outcomes: a proliferation of taxonomic complexity, and a very detailed knowledge of every

variation of a given species, making cowries collection one of the most specialized ones.

Notwithstanding this, it is quite remarkable that cowries had attracted very little interest by

biologists and professional m alacologists. Few scientific studies are available to date. This

review attempts to overview some of the major biological highlights of the Family, to pro mote

future researches in this diverse group of gastropods.

KEYWORDS Cypraeid ae; Evolution; Biogeography; Speciation.

Received 18.02.2015; ac c ep ted 1 4 .0 3 .2 0 1 5 ; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th- 5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

INTRODUCTION

The family Cypraeidae Rafinesque, 1815,

cowries (Gastropoda Cypraeoidea) comprises about

220 species of marine gastropods (but this figure

may vary with different taxonomies, see f.i. Moretz-

sohn, 2014), widespread along the tropical and sub-

tropical seas. Many species are commonly found in

tropical shallow water reefs, although others are

adapted to temperate waters and/or deep water en-

vironments. Most species are herbivorous grazers,

but some are carnivorous, being more commonly

sponge eaters.

The main characteristic of cowries (which is

however shared by some other gastropods) is the

presence of a retractable mantle that covers the

entire shell, when in full extension (Figs. 1-6). This

makes the cowrie shell particularly shiny, because,

at variance to most gastropods, shell layers are

continuously deposited outside the shell itself, rather

than in the aperture and inside. The mantle is seldom

richly branched, with protrusions known as papillae

(Figs. 1, 2, 4-6), that may have both respiratory and

mimetic functions. When disturbed, the animal can

quickly retract the mantle showing off the brilliant

shell.

The amazing richness of shell and mollusk colors

in cowries (as in many other mollusks as well) has

been always an evolutionary puzzle.

450

Marco Passamonti

Cowries are not toxic animals, as far as we

know, so the brilliant colors of shells and mantles

could not be considered as warning signals for

predators (apo sem atism ). Sometimes, the mantle,

when fully expanded, may camouflage the shell

itself (see f.i. the genus Novia Broderip, 1837, with

fully branched mantle that m ay resemble algae tufts

or coelenterate colonies) (Fig. 7).

In some other cases, the mantle is quite thin and

almost transparent, so the shell is easily visible

below (see f.i. the genus Zoilo Jousseaume, 1884).

Cowries are commonly cryptic (i.e. they hide) and

nocturnal, and this is of course a clear adaptation to

reduce predation. Nevertheless, some species, in

their adulthood, graze freely in the open during

the day (see f.i. the genera Zoilci, Bo.rycypTQ.eQ.

Schilder, 1927; and Cyproea tigris Linnaeus, 1 758).

Such cowries tend to have heavy big shells, which

is a clear adaptation to avoid predation by fishes

and/or crustaceans. Some may also have deltoid

shells, with a flat base, another clear adaptation to

stick to rocky surfaces (thanks to a foot acting as a

sucker) and prevent easy predation [see f.i. Mauri-

tia mauritiana (Linnaeus, 1758), Monetaria caput-

Serpentis (Linnaeus, 1758), etc.J.

Another environmental factor affecting shell

structure is sea current and/or waves action. Gener-

ally cowries with thick and heavy shells are typical

of turbulent waters. This feature is also variable

among individuals of the same species, since

lightweight shells tend to be more common in calm

lagoons or in deeper waters, while heavy calloused

shells are more easily found in the open ocean or in

high surf w aters.

THE UNUSUAL DEVELOPMENT OF A CO-

WRIE SHELL

The cowrie shell follows a developmental

pattern that is quite different from most mollusks.

The first shell to be produced is the larval shell of

the veliger (Fig. 8). While most species spend their

larval time in the plankton, others have a direct

intracap sular development (direct developers).

Once metamorphosed, the shell keeps growing by

adding whorls around its columella (Fig. 9). Even-

tually, during this growth, the shell may first re-

semble an Olivo shell (Fig. 10; i.e. ‘oliva stage’), or

a Bulla (i.e. ‘bulla stage’).

In both such stages, the spire is well visible and

the shell is very different from the adult one, both

for its structure and color. The shell is very thin

and all cowries are cryptic at this stage. This is

easily interpreted as an adaptation to prevent

predation. Although no secure data are available,

many personal observations and info obtained

from shell divers may point to the fact that cowries

get to adulthood very fast, perhaps within few

months from birth.

At the end of the juvenile stage, cowries

undergo a deep change in their shells: the last whorl

usually covers the entire shell, so the spire gets

included in it, and it eventually bends over the

columellar side to tighten the shell aperture (Fig. 1).

This tightening is even more pronounced by the

deposition of shell teeth, one of the most typical

features of cowries (Fig. 12).

Cowries have no operculum, so teeth are an

alternative strategy to make the aperture as narrow

as possible, to prevent access to soft parts when the

mollusk is retracted. Soon after teeth formation, the

shell stops growing, and it starts thickening by

deposition of shell and glaze layers, ending up into

the typical thick and glossy shell (Fig. 12). The fact

that cowries stop growing at adulthood is quite un-

usual among gastropods, which rather tend to have

an undetermined growing pattern. Moreover, the

growing rate and/or time to adulthood seem to be

quite variable, even among the same species, end-

ing up with a remarkable variability in adult shell

sizes (see f.i. Okon, 2013a, b; 2014).

The shell of a cowrie mollusk is therefore quite

different from most gastropod shells, as it evolved

several unusual characteristics, including a relevant

thickness, a very glossy surface, and a very narrow

aperture. Moreover, many cowrie shells are brightly

colored, making them quite visible to predators.

Notwithstanding this, cowries are among the most

successful gastropods in coral reefs, and they

perform quite well in many other marine environ-

ments. As mentioned, some do not even hide at

adulthood (see f.i. Fig. 13).

In the attempt to understand the peculiar adapt-

ations of cowries, we first have to consider that the

shell of Cypraeidae is generally thick and very com-

pact, hard to brake, with a very narrow aperture, and

the mollusk is usually very mucous, which makes

the cowrie quite slimy. These joined characteristics

are likely a good adaptation against predation.

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

45 1

because the thickness of the shell, the absence of

possible holds, the slimy surface, and the relative

unreachability of soft parts, may discourage most

predators. In fact, such characteristics make preda-

tion by small fishes and crabs very difficult.

Actually, cowries are often wholly swallowed

by big fishes, since they cannot easily crack them,

although it sometimes happens with strongly

beaked fishes. Another important source of preda-

tion are octopuses, that drill the cowrie shell and

Figures 1-6. Examples of man ties and papillae in Cypraeidae (all from Hawaii). Fig. 1. Lyncind Cdmeold pVOpUlCjUQ. (G arrett,

1 879); Fig. 2. Tdlpciria talpa (Linnaeus, 1758); Fig. 3. Lurid tessellata (S w ainson, 1 822); Fig. 4. Lyncind fyriX (Linnaeus,

1 758); Fig. 5. Ndrid pOTdvid (Linnaeus, 1 758); Fig. 6. OvdtipSd chinensi dmiges ( M elvill et S tanden, 1915). Photos

courtesy David Lum.

452

Marco Passamonti

Fig u re 7 . Narici efOSa (Linnaeus, 1758) showing its extended

mantle resembling an algae tuft (Zanzibar, Tanzania). The

shell is barely visible in the middle of the dorsum, since the

mantle is not fully extended.

Figures 8-12. Developmental stages of Ndvid Spurca

(Mediterranean Sea). Fig. 8. Veliger shell; Fig. 9. Young

shell (just metamorphosed); Fig. 10. L OlivCf stage; Fig. 11.

Subadult; Fig. 12. Adult. Photos courtesy And re a Nappo and

Dario Marcello Soldan.

digest the mollusk, and eventually use cowrie shells

(and others) to adorn their dens. Predations by shell

drilling gastropods (e.g. Naticidae or Muricidae)

seem to be much more rare.

COWRIES’ REPRODUCTION

Cowries reproduction is quite remarkable too.

Females lay eggs in clusters of capsules on hard

surfaces and, at variance to many other gastropods,

they hatch eggs by covering them with the foot

(Fig. 14). Abandoned eggs may dye quite soon.

This commitment in parental cares is unusual in

marine gastropods, and it may be another reason

for the success of this Family. When intracapsular

development ends, planktotrophic larvae hatch and

swim in the water column until they metamorph-

ose. The length of larval stages may be different,

and could be somehow related to the capacity of a

given species to undergo local genetic diversifica-

tion (i.e. subspecies and/or geographic races).

Some species seem to have quite few divergent

races, while others have a much higher geo-

graphically structured pattern.

On the other hand, direct developers seem to

show different morphologies in different areas. In

direct developers, young mollusks undergo intra-

capsular development and, since they feed at the

expenses of accessory eggs in the capsule, they

keep growing until they hatch as crawling snails.

This development, evolved many times in cowries,

especially in some temperate water genera ( Zoila ,

Cypraeovula Gray, 1 824, Notocypraea Schiider,

1 927), has been often considered as an adaptation

to improve the chances of larvae to find specific

foods, like sponges they feed on. In fact, most

direct developers are fully depending over limited

food supplies, and they need to hatch as close

as possible to their food, to increase chances of

reaching adulthood.

DISTRIBUTION AND BIOGEOGRAPHY

Cowries are subtropical marine animals (Fig.

15), so most of them live in the oceans between the

two tropics. The highest number of species is found

in the Indo-Pacific Ocean, and far less species live

in theAtlantic (and the Mediterranean). Paulay and

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

453

Figure 13. Two Zoila friendH jeaniana (Cate, 1 968) (f.

sherylae L. Raybaudi M assilia, 1990) grazing their host

sponge in the open (Point Qobba, W - Australia).

Photo courtesy Daniel Edinger.

Figure 14. Erronea caurica cfr. quinquefasciata (p.f. Ro-

ding, 1798) on eggs (Oman, Marisah Island).

Photo courtesy Massimo Scali & Beautifulcowries Maga-

zine.

Figure 15. Distribution map of the living species of cowries. Photo courtesy Mirco Bergonzoni.

Meyer (2006) proposed a species richness map of

the Indo-Pacific cowries. The highest species

richness is in the region going from the Philippines

to M elanesia, especially along the boundary between

East Indian Ocean and West Pacific. Species

richness significantly decreases going westtowards

Africa (although it locally increases again there), or

east along the Pacific Ocean towards Polynesia and

West Am erica. Quite significantly, similar species-

richness patters have been found in reef-building

corals, as in other reef-related organisms (see f.i.

Malay & Paulay, 2010). In fact, the region comp ris-

ing the ocean territories of Indonesia, the Philip-

pines, Malaysia (Sabah), East Timor, Papua New

Guinea and the Solomon Islands, is known as ‘the

coral triangle’, hosting more than 500 species of

reef-building corals (Veron, 1995). The reasons for

these similar species distribution patterns could be

both environmental and historical. Apparently the

thousand of islands and reefs in South EastAsia, as

well as their highly diverse habitats, were central to

a rich species radiation in cowries and other reef-

related animals. So that, probably, most of the wide-

spread Indo-Pacific cowries have once originated

in this area, and migrated (with different success)

outwards by larval dispersion.

As mentioned, the duration of veliger stages has

been again related to dispersion and speciation rates

454

Marco Passamonti

Figure 1 6 . G eographic diversification of the Erronea O YiyX species group. From left to right: Erronea adllSta adusta ( East

Africa); Erronea adusta nymphae (M auritius; Chagos); Erronea adusta persica (India, Oman, Persian Gulf); Erronea adusta

andamanensis (East Indian Ocean); Erronea ClduStCl melatiesiae { South West Pacific); Erronea onyx (N orth West Pacific).

Photo courtesy Mirco Bergonzoni.

Indian Ocean

West pacific

,‘rPuY.

- ^ ft

East pacific

Figure 17. Examples of the variability of the Leporicypraea mappa species complex from different basins.

Photo courtesy Mirco Bergonzoni & Cypraea.net.

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

455

Figures 18-27. Examples of the variability of the Zondrid pyVWfl species complex. Figs. 18-21. Z. pyruifl pyvwn (G m elin,

1791): M editerranean Sea to M au ri tan ia -Senegal (N orth of Dakar); Fig. 22. Z. pyrUYYl inSuldTWTl Schilder, 1928:Algarve (Por-

tugal), Cadiz (Spa in), Morocco, Canary Is.; Figs. 23-25. Z. pyVWTl petiticiHCl (Crosse, 1872): South of Dakar (Senegal), Ivory

Coast, Gabon, C. Verde; Fig. 26. Z. pyrUYYl angelicas (Clover, 1974): N orth Gabon, Guinea Gulf (?); Fig. 27. Z. Cltlgolensis

(Odhner, 1923): South Gabon, Luanda area (Angola). Photos c o urte sy Mirco Bergonzoni & Beautifulcowries Magazine.

456

Marco Passamonti

Figures 28-39. Examples of close relative couples of taxa of Cypraeidae. The one on the left is always the one with a wide

distribution range, the right one is the endemic relative with its range limited to peripheral locations. Above the line, the

couples considered as subspecies; below the line, the couples considered as different species, from left to right. Figs. 28,

29: Lurid lurida (Mediterranean Sea) and L. luridd OCeanica (Ascension Is.); Figs. 30, 31: Ndrid helvold and N. helvold

hawaiiensis (Hawaii); Figs. 32, 33: Ndrid cernicd and N. cernicd leforti (Easter Island); Figs. 34, 35: Ndrid dCWuldris and

N. dciculdris Sdnctdhelende (Ascension and Saint Helena); Figs. 36, 37: Moiietdrid Cdputserpentis and M. CdpiltdrdCOnis

(Easter Island and Sala Y Gomez); Figs. 38, 39: Cribrdruld dStdryi (f. lefditi ) and C. gdrcidi (Easter Island). Photos courtesy

B eautifulco w ries Magazine.

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

457

by Paulay and Meyer (2006). Although duration of

veliger stages is only weakly correlated to species

range, it is significantly related to the diversification

of cowries along the Indo-Pacific basin: i.e. the

lower the veliger time is, the most is the

geographic/taxonomic diversification. In fact, it is

quite evident that some Indo-Pacific cowrie species

show very little geographic variation, see f.i. Monet-

aria caputserpentis, Monetaria annulus (Linnaeus,

175 8), while others are much more prone to produce

local races/subspecies. Only because they have been

recently analyzed in detail, I can mention here the

Erronea onyx (Linnaeus, 1 75 8) species complex

(Bergonzoni, 2013a), which appeared to differen-

tiate in allopatric races (Fig. 16), and the Lepori-

Cypraea niappa (Linnaeus, 1758) species group

(Fig. 17), one of the most biogeographically and

evolutionary complex cases among cowries (Ber-

gonzoni & Passamonti, 2014). By analyzing such

complexes in detail, very interesting cases on evol-

utionary history of marine organisms became

evident, including allopatric speciation events,

incipient speciation, relevance of genetic flow for

morphological diversification, etc. More case studies

are really interesting, but they still have to be ana-

lyzed in detail, as f.i. the genera Cribvarula Strand,

1929 and TaloStolida Ire dale, 1931, and the Bistolida

Stolida (Linnaeus, 1 75 8) and Erronea CUUrica ( Lin-

naeus, 1758) species complexes,justto name some.

As mentioned, cowries also colonized the At-

lantic, although their species richness is much lower

in this Ocean. Most likely, this colonization was

rather old, since at present the cold currents of

South West America (Humboldt Current) and South

West Africa (Benguela Current) are evidently a

strong barrier for larval dispersion and cowries set-

tling. At present, no species seems to be able to

spread from the Indo-Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean

north of Namibia, or in South America. Of course

no one lives in the Arctic Ocean as well. Neverthe-

less, Atlantic cowries have evident affinities with

Indo-Pacific ones. For instance, the genus MaCW-

Cypraea Schilder, 1930 is present at both sides of

Figure 40. Represen tatives of the South African genus CypraeOVulu. Photo courtesy Goncalo Rosa and Mirco Bergonzoni.

458

Marco Passamonti

the Isthmus of Panama, as it likely originated loc-

ally before the Isthmus was closed. On the other

side of the Atlantic, we have examples of couples

of allied species found in the Mediterranean and the

Red Sea/North West Indian Ocean [Lliria luvida

(Linnaeus 17 58)/Luria pulchva (Gray, 1 824)],

maybe a Thetyan residue. Some other genera are

end em ic to this reg io n ( ZonClria Jousseaume, 1884;

Schilderia Tomlin, 1930). Finally, a peculiar distri-

bution is given by the Nana spUVCO. complex of

species: this com prises three species, Nciria SpUTCCl

(Linnaeus 1 7 5 8), Narid aticularis ( G m e lin , 1791),

and Nciria cernica (Sowerby, 1 870). The first is

distributed in the Mediterranean/WestAtlantic, the

second along the East American coastlines, the lat-

ter is one of the most widely dispersed indopacific

cowries. Although the exact colonization tempos

and modes of Atlantic cowries are hard to speculate,

Figures 41-45. Ext re me variability in Zoila from Western and South Australia. Figs. 41-43: Zoila friendii subspecies /forms.

Fig . 44 : Z. ketyana sub spec ie s/form s . Fig . 45 : Z. VenUStCl sub spec ie s/form s . P ho to s co urtesy M ire o B ergo nzo ni & C ypraea.net.

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

459

their phylogenetic relatedness to Indo-Pacific ones

is evident. Detailed phy logeographic analyses are

potentially of great interest to reconstruct the geo-

logical history of the Atlantic basin, its past connec-

tions and/or geological changes.

Again, as for Indo-Pacific cowries,in theAtlantic

as well the duration of cowries larval stages has

been correlated by the rate of morphological diver-

sification. One paradigmatic example comes from

the Zonaria pyrwn (Gmelin, 1 7 9 1 ) species complex

(Figs. 18-27), spreads in the Mediterranean and

West Africa region. Again, a short larval stage has

been related to the extreme capacity to differentiate

geographically, with different taxa spreading along

the African coast (Bergonzoni, 2013b).

Another interesting case of evolution comes

from cases of species/subspecies couples in which

one has a wide range, and the allied one has a

Figures 46-47. The genus Umbilici (South and East A ustralia). Fig. 46: Umbilici hesitCltCl Species complex.

F ig . 46 : U. armeniaca. Photos courtesy Mirco Bergonzoni & Cypraea.net.

460

Marco Passamonti

Figure 48. Barycypraea teulerei (Oman). Two males ap- Figure 49. Barycypraea fultoni fultoni (Natal, S. Africa),

proaching a female hatching eggs into a empty bivalve shell. Photo courtesy Felix Lorenz & B eautifulco w ries Magazine.

peripheral endemic distribution. Figures 28-39

show some cases. Most of them are isolated

endemics, likely arisen p arap h y le tic ally . Quite

remarkably, they are treated much differently in

established taxonomy: some are actually con-

sidered as full species, some other as subspecies,

although no evident reason (besides A uthors’ opin-

ion) has been produced so far.

As mentioned, cowries were able to colonize

temperate waters as well. This is particularly evid-

ent for South Africa and West/South Australia, in

which endemic genera evolved. In South Africa, the

most striking evolutionary radiation is the genus

Cypraeovula (Fig. 40), including different closely

related species that sometimes hybridize too. On the

other side of the Indian Ocean, in Western Australia,

another striking example of colonization of tempe-

rate waters is the genus Zoila (Lorenz, 2001;

W ilson and Clarkson, 2004) (Figs. 41-45). The Zoila

cowries are sponge eaters and direct developers,

and this caused a flourishing of local races, making

them one of the most taxonom ically complex

groups of marine organisms. Along with Zoila,

another similar case is the genus NotOCypraea,

which is however much less known in detail. Fi-

nally the genus UlYlbili(X Jousseaume, 1884 (W ilson

and Clarkson, 2004) is another sticking Australian

endemism of temperate waters, as it is distributed

along the East and South coast (Figs. 46, 47).

Other cases of direct developers are found as

well, such as the genera Barycypraea and Mura-

cypraea Woodring, 1 957, and few others. In all

cases, these species have a very limited range. F.i.

Barycypraea teulerei ( Cazenavette, 1 846) (Fig. 48),

a shallow water direct developer (Scali, 2013;

2014), seems to be found in a limited area of Oman

only, while the deep water relative Barycypraea

fultOlli (Sowerby III, 1 903) is found between

Mozambique and SouthAfrica (Bergonzoni, 2012)

(Fig. 49). Another case of direct developer with

little dispersal capacity is Muracypraea 171US

(Linnaeus, 1758), limited to the Gulf of Venezuela

coasts and Guajira Peninsula in Colombia.

THE MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS

OF COWRIES AND THEIR TAXONOMY

This is probably the field of cowries biology that

has been more thoughtfully investigated. In fact, a

huge phylogenetic reconstruction, based on DNA,

have been proposed by Meyer (2003; 2004). The

primary outcome of this pivotal work is an ultimate

tuning of the so vrasp ecific taxonomy of the family.

Quite remarkably, most of the subfamilies and ge-

nera proposed by older A uthors on morphology (see

f.i. S childer & Schilder, 1 938; Schilder, 1 939;

1 966;) have been confirmed by DNA.

The family Cypraeidae is now subdivided

into 7 subfamilies ( A rch ic y p raein ae , Erosariinae,

Umbiliinae, Cypraeinae, Bernayinae, Luriinae and

C y p raeo v u lin ae ) and 48 genera (Moretzsohn,

2014), and this arrangementhas gained a very good

agreement among cowrie experts.

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

461

Even if a relatively stable sovraspecific tax-

onomy has been reached in the Family, this is

certainly untrue for species level and, even more,

below it. Most of the proposed taxonomies are

based on morphological analyses, as well as on

Authors’ opinions. Only few DNA data and/or

detailed evolutionary studies are available to date.

Moreover, a certain degree oftaxonomic prolifera-

tion has been certainly triggered by economic

factors: in fact, many cowrie collectors want new

names, so that a new named cowrie gets a much

higher value in the marked. This cause what I’d call

‘economic speciation’, with some humor, of course!

This approach should be strongly stigmatized for

two reasons: 1st, it produces an unnecessary prolif-

eration of taxonomic names; 2nd, it has no biolo-

gical bases in most cases.

Another problem comes from the rules of tax-

onomy, and this is particularly evident for species

and subspecies names, which are under the provi-

sions of the International Code of Zoological

Nomenclature. In my opinion, new species and sub-

species names should not be introduced in tax-

onomy if not based on rigorous biological and

evolutionary analyses. Nevertheless, specialized

collectors need to have names to refer to morpho-

logies that are just not so important for evolutionary

biologists, like local variants, unstable morphs,

aberrations, etc. The use of ‘forma’ names should

be a good compromise, because they, one side, meet

collectors’ needs for names, and, the other do not

increase taxomonic complexity (i.e., infrasub-

specific names are not under the provisions of the

Code). This approach is not without problems, of

course, but it seems to me the only possible

compromise between two different, and sometimes

contrasting, needs.

MUTATIONS AND ABERRATIONS

Albinism and rufinism

As it happens in all living beings, cowries may

show some interesting mutations and aberrations.

Some of them, being rare, may produce some of the

most sought-after and priced cowries, so all collect-

ors know them very well. On the other hand, their

biological causes are quite unknown or neglected.

I try to highlight some of them here.

F ig ure 5 0. ZoUa dedpieUS from Broome area, W-Australia. From left to right: black (normal), alb in o and rufinistic shells.

Photo courtesy Drew Strickland.

462

Marco Passamonti

The first example comes from rare recessive

mutations, such as cowries’ albinism (producing

white shells) or rufinism (producing orange shells)

(Fig. 50). These phenotypes are evidently due to

rare mutations affecting the genes for shell color. It

is quite remarkable that white or orange shells are

not necessary associated to white and orange

animals, respectively. This clearly points out to the

observation that genes for shell color are different

from the ones of the soft parts. For this reason, it

would be inaccurate to call such specimens ‘albino’

or ‘rufinistic ’ , but I use these terms here for simpli-

city. Both rufinistic and albino cowries have been

proposed to be the result of mutations over the same

metabolic pathways producing brown/black

pigments (melanin?). For a detailed discussion see

Passamonti and Hiscock (2013).

Besides their high collecting value, the appear-

ance of rare mutants within a population represents

an interesting case to study the dynamics of allele

frequencies, and the effects that collecting pressure

may have on the variability of natural populations.

A paradigmatic example is that of Zoilci WSSelli

SCltiatCl Lorenz, 2002, from Fitzroy Reef, Quobba

Point, North West Australia. This once quite large

population was an important source of rosselli spe-

cimens, and many hundreds have been collected

over the years. Among normal shells, around 40

rufinistic specimens were found (f. edingeri

Raybaudi M assilia, 1 990) (Beals, 2013) (Fig. 51).

These shells were collected over a limited time-

lapse, as the first ones were collected in 1 988, and

they disappeared soon after 1997. Why the mutant

disappeared so fast? One may think that this is

because all orange shells were collected, so they

Figure 51. Zoila rosselli satiata and Z. rosselli satiata

f. edingeri (rufinistic). Both found at Point Quobba,

W-Australia. Photo courtesy Daniel Edinger and Beautiful-

cowries Magazine.

could not produce orange progeny anymore. Howe-

ver, this is not fully the case: since rufinistic muta-

tions are likely recessive (i.e. they may ‘hide’ in

eterozygous individuals), two heterozygous black

mates may well produce 14 of orange shells, accord-

ing to M endelian proportions. So, the overall col-

lecting pressure (on both black and orange

specimens) is rather the reason of this disappear-

ance: by reducing dramatically the number of

individuals, the population underwent a strong

‘bottleneck’, which is well known in evolutionary

biology to reduce genetic variability. Because chances

for rare alleles to pass throughout a population bot-

tleneck are very scarce, the rufinistic allele was

soon lost from the population, and no edingeri was

found since then. This also means that the chances

that this allele will appear again in Quobba are quite

low, and the edingeri rufinistic mutation is simply

no longer existing. However, rufinistic shells are

found within many other Zoila species, as well as

in some other cowries. So rufinism is likely a case

of recurrent mutation. F.i. an independent rufinistic

morph has been recently evidenced in another Zoilci

WSSelli population (see Lorenz, 2011; 2014).

Albinos are much more rare among cowries.

Although many cowries may be white or whitish,

the rare albino mutants are only known for very few

cowries [f.i. in Cyproeo tigris (Fig. 5 2), and Zoila

dedpienS Smith, 1 8 8 0 (Fig. 5 0 ) J . What is quite

interesting is that albino morphs may became fixed

in some populations (i.e. all the shells are albinos),

hence they are not rare mutants anymore: two

paradigmatic examples are Ncirici ebume Cl B a rnes ,

1 824 (Fig. 53) and Erronea nymphae J ay , 1 8 5 0 (see

Fig. 16). Both are clearly related to non-albino

relatives, Narici miliaris (Gm eiin, 1791) and Erronea

adllSta, (Lamarck, 1810), respectively. These are

likely cases in which the ‘albino’ allele was fixed

into a new population because of a ‘founder effect’,

i.e. when a new population had established in a new

area the albino allele become by chance the unique

one (i.e. it was fixed).

Niger and rostrated cowries

This is another interesting feature, which ap-

pears to be unique to some cowries and only one

ovulid species, CalpumuS VerriiCOSUS (Linnaeus,

1758). It is evident that these two characteristics are

the outcome of the unusual developmental scheme

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

463

Figure 52. Two normal CypraeCL tigris along with an albino

one (Madagascar and Philippines). Photo courtesy Mirco

B ergonzoni & Cypraea.net.

Figure 53. Two species of the genus Naria. N avid miliavis

from China (left) and N. eblimeci from New Caledonia

(right).

of cowries’ shells. As mentioned, adult cowries stop

growing, since the deposition of shell layers and

pigments stops or strongly reduces. However, in

some specimens, the signal to stop seems not to

work properly, and the shell keeps growing by

adding layers of shell and/or pigment. Hence such

cowries quickly get a ‘gondola shape’ (rostrated),

as well as a deep black color (melanic or ‘niger’

cowries). Both phenomena may appear together, or

not, depending on species. Some species become

melanistic and rostrated altogether, others may only

be rostrated (these are the ones that do not have

brown/black colors in normal adults). Also, the

degree of rostration and melanism may vary among

individuals (Figs. 54, 55 ).

Even if such phenotypes are occasionally

found over the entire range of some cowrie

species, it is quite remarkable that they get much

more common in two specific areas: the southern

reefs of New Caledonia, and the Keppel Bay area

in Queensland. The biological causes of such aber-

rations are still unknown, and some have linked

these phenomena to the presence on heavy metals

(nickel?) in the water (see, f.i., Pierson and

Pierson, 1975). What I think it is interesting is the

presumable genetic base of melanism and rostra-

tion: as mentioned, both could easily be inter-

preted as a malfunctioning of genetic regulation of

shell development. The pattern of expression of

developmental genes is somehow affected (by

metals? by other environmental factors? by muta-

tions?), and the genes for deposition of shell color

and layers just fail to stop at adulthood, as it hap-

pens in normal cowries. Needless to say that we

have no clue on which genes are involved in such

processes, and this would certainly be a nice case

study for developmental biologists.

CONCLUSIONS

In this paper I tried to highlight some biological

peculiarities of cowries, making them interesting

case studies to many aspects of evolutionary bio-

logy, not only for taxonomy. Cowries are very inter-

esting marine organisms, and, even if they have

been studied by very few professional biologists,

they are well known by amateurs, and a huge

amount of ‘first-hand’ data are available. This

manuscript is far to be complete, and many other

interesting cases could be highlighted; nevertheless

I hope that this short review has attracted your

interest to this amazing group of animals, that

certainly deserves more studies. The collection of

cowries, which is unfortunately so deeply money-

driven, is certainly a restraint to biological studies,

since some species are hardly accessible and col-

lecting data are often vague (to preserve a relevant

464

Marco Passamonti

Figures 54, 55. Examples of different degrees of melanism and rostration in New Caledonian cowries.

Fig. 54: Mauritia ( Arabica ) eglantina-. Fig. 55 . Bistolida stolida.

The family Cypraeidae: an unexpected case of neglected animals

465

source of income for divers/dealers). On the other

hand, an important collecting effort is a precious

help for biologists, since maybe for no other group

of gastropods we have such a huge amount of know-

ledge ‘in the field’. We should therefore try to build

a ‘bridge’ between the two words (cowries amateurs

and biologists) that both may benefit: collectors will

start to consider cowries not as just precious and

beautiful objects, and evolutionary biologists/

professional m alacologists as interesting animals to

study. Only this way, the preconception that cowries

are just pretty but uninteresting animals will be

definitively overcome.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This paper is the written transposition of my

invited talk at the ‘VII Pontine M alacological

Congress’, held in San Felice Circeo (Latina,

Italy). I wish to thank you very much the organ-

izers, Silvia Alfinito and Bruno Fumanti, as well

as the M alakos 2002 association and members, for

this nice opportunity, their lovely welcome and the

beautiful conference location. A special thanks

goes to friends who provided some of the images

of this paper (in alphabetical order): Mirco Ber-

gonzoni (Calderara, Italy), Daniel Edinger (Man-

durah, Western Australia), David Lum (Honolulu,

Hawaii, U.S.A.), Andrea Nappo (Quartu Sant’

Elena, Italy), Goncalo Rosa (Lisboa, Portugal),

M assimo Scali (Imola, Italy), D ario Marcello So Id an

(Milan, Italy), Drew Strickland (Geraldton,

Western Australia).A special thanks goes to Mirco

Bergonzoniforthe numerous evening spent talking

about our beloved cowries.

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1 : 4-11.

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creased molecular sampling with Cypraeidae and its

phylogenetic implications. Malacologia, 46: 127-

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tifulcowries Magazine, 4: 60-62.

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8-18.

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across the greatest ocean region: do larvae matter?

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28 1.

Pierson R. & Pierson G., 1975. Porcelaines mysterieuses

de Nouvelle-C aledonie. Self printed, Noumea. 122

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Scali M., 2013. Barycypraeci teulerei (C azenavette,

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their allies. The Veliger, 9: 31-35.

Veron J.E.N., 1995. Corals in space and time: biogeo-

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 467-480

Monograph

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the

genus Onoba s.s. H. Adams et A. Adams, 1 852 (Gastropoda

Prosobranchia)

Bruno Amati 1 & Italo Nofroni 2

'Largo Giuseppe Veratti 37/D, 00146 Rome, Italy; e-mail: bmno_amati@yahoo.it

2 Via Benedetto Croce 97, 00142 Rome, Italy; e-mail: italo.nofroni@uniromal.it

"■Corresponding author

ABSTRACT The Mediterranean species belonging to the genus Onoba H. Adams et A. Adams, 1852 as

currently conceived, are reviewed. With the exception of O. semicostata (Montagu, 1803)

and O. aculeus (Gould, 1841) that range mostly in the European North-Eastern Atlantic and

are rarely found in the Western Mediterranean, this genus is represented by six species

with rather limited ranges: O. dimassai Amati et Nofroni, 1991; O. josae Moolenbeek et

Hoenselaar, 1987; O. guzmani Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek, 1987; O. tarifensis Hoenselaar

et Moolenbeek, 1987; O. gianninii (Nordsieck, 1974) and O. oliverioi Smriglio et Mariottini,

2000. A further possibly undescribed species is figured. For all species comparative

morphometries are provided. Onoba josae Moolenbeek et Hoenselaar, 1987 is here recorded

for the first time in Italy, with the easternmost locality in this range.

KEY WORDS taxonomy; Rissoidae; Onoba; Recent; Mediterranean Sea; first record.

Received 21.02.2015; accepted 23.03.2015; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th- 5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

INTRODUCTION

The genus Onoba H. Adams et A. Adams, 1852

has been frequently discussed in the malacological

literature (e.g. H. & A. Adams, 1852: 358; Jeffreys,

1867: 37; Watson, 1873: 387; Verril, 1884: 182;

Friele, 1886: 28; Dautzenberg, 1889: 52; Waren,

1973: 4; Waren, 1974: 130; Rolan, 1983: 139;

Ponder, 1985: 54; Templado & Rolan, 1986: 117;

Bouchet & Waren, 1993: 659; Ponder & Worsfold,

1994: 26; Rolan, 2008: 233; Nekhaev et al., 2014:

269) and has a global distribution, ranging in both

hemispheres from the poles to at least the subtropics

(Ponder, 1985: 55; Rolan, 2008: 233; Avila et al.,

2012:4).

It is currently subdivided into some few sub-

genera: Onoba (type species Turbo striatus J.

Adams, 1797), Ovirissoa Hedley, 1916 (type

species Rissoa adarensis Smith, 1902), Subestea

Cotton, 1944 (type species Alvania seminodosa

May, 1915) and Manawatawhia Powell, 1937 (type

species M. analoga Powell, 1937).

Seven central-western Mediterranean species,

most of which have been described during the last

forty years, are currently ascribed to the nominal

subgenus (Rolan, 1983: 139; Aartsen et al., 1984:

20; Templado & Rolan, 1986: 117; Oliverio et al.,

1986: 35; Moolenbeek & Hoenselaar, 1987: 153;

Hoenselaar & Moolenbeek, 1987: 17; Amati &

Nofroni, 1991: 30; Smriglio & Mariottini, 2000: 15;

468

Bruno Amati & Italo Nofroni

Giannuzzi-Savelli et al., 2002: 80; Rolan, 2008:

233; Gofas et al., 2011: 193; Avila et al., 2012: 5;

Bouchet, 2014); these species are: Onoba semicost-

ata (Montagu, 1803), O. gianninii (Nordsieck,

1974), O. tarifensis Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek,

1987, O. guzmani Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek, 1987,

O.josae Moolenbeek et Hoenselaar, 1987, O. dimas-

sai Amati et Nofroni, 1991 and O. oliverioi Smriglio

et Mariottini, 2000. Another species, O. aculeus

(Gould, 1841), geographically ranging typically on

both sides of northern Atlantic including Greenland,

has been reported only once from the Mediter-

ranean Sea (Giannuzzi-Savelli et al., 2002: 80).

The missing of new further records convinced

some Authors to exclude this species from the main

Mediterranean check-lists (Rolan, 2008: 241;

Nekhaev et al., 2014: 272). A further possibly

undescribed species has been recorded ( Onoba sp.:

Amati & Nofroni, 1991: 34), but never formally

named. The anatomy of the genus Onoba has been

studied by Ponder (1985: 56). Here we utilize the only

shell morphology for the description and comparisons

of the Mediterranean species. The most important

iconographic references are reported for each species.

ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS. BA:

Bruno Amati collection, Rome, Italy. CS: Carlo

Smriglio collection, Rome, Italy. IN: Italo Nofroni

collection, Rome, Italy, lv: live collected specimen.

MCZR: Museo Civico di Zoologia, Rome, Italy.

MNHN: Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle,

Paris, France. MO: Marco Oliverio collection,

Rome, Italy. MZB: ‘Museo di Zoologia’ of the Uni-

versity of Bologna, Italy. PM: Paolo Mariottini col-

lection, Rome, Italy. RAMM: Exeter’s Royal Albert

Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter, Devon,

UK. SB-MS: Stefano Bartolini-Maria Scaperotta

collection, Florence, Italy. SEM: Scanning Electron

Microscope, sh: empty shell, v.: versus. ZMA: Zo-

ological Museum, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

SYSTEMATICS

Family Rissoidae Gray, 1847: 152 (as Rissoaina)

Genus Onoba H. Adams et A. Adams, 1852: 358

Type-species: Turbo striatus J. Adams, 1797 non

Da Costa, 1778 = Onoba semicostata (Montagu,

1803: 326 (by monotypy)

Morphology. Diagnosis shell of genus Onoba

(from Ponder, 1985: 54): “Shell: minute to small,

ovate-conic to elongate-ovate, non-umbilicate to

narrowly umbilicate, smooth or with weak to strong

spiral sculpture, with a few spiral keels. Axial

sculpture usually rather weak to very weak; some-

times axial ribs present but do not extend over base;

sculpture rarely clathrate. Aperture with simple

peristome, oval, weakly angled and channelled

posteriorly, simple and rounded anteriorly; outer

lip opisthocline, varix weak to heavy. Protoconch

dome-shaped, sometimes with 1 or more spiral

keels; smooth (Ovirissoa) or with microsculpture of

granules, anastomosing or spirally aligned raised

threads or, sometimes, wavy, spirally arranged

rows of granules. Periostracum very thin to well

developed ’ ’.

Diagnosis shell of subgenus Onoba : (from

Ponder, 1985: 56): “Shell: broadly ovate-conic to

elongate ovate, rather solid, non-umbilicate,

usually with many well developed spiral cords and,

sometimes, weak axial ribs; microsculpture of fine

spiral lirae usually present. Strong spiral cords in

a few species and, in some species, surface smooth.

Aperture subcircular, subangled and weakly chan-

nelled posteriorly, varix on outer lip strong to mod-

erate. Protoconch domeshaped of about 11/2

whorls in nearly all species, rarely up to 2 2/4

whorls (as in O. 'semicostata '); sculptured vari-

ously, for example, with exceedingly weak to moder-

ately strong spiral lines with either parallel to

oblique wrinkles or granules between, as in O.

aculea (Gould) and O. moreleti Dautzenberg and in

Fretter & Graham's (1978) figure of O. 'semi-

costata'; with irregular, raised, wavy threads, as in

O. foveauxiana. (Suter); with scattered granules, as

in O. fumata, O. kermadecensis (Powell) and sev-

eral other southern species, as well as O. n. sp.from

the Eocene of France; (see also Thiriot Quievreux

& Babio, 1975; Fretter & Graham, 1978 ).”

Onoba semicostata (Montagu, 1803) (Figs. 1-6)

Turbo striatus J. Adams, 1797: 66 non da Costa,

1778: 86

Turbo semicostatus Montagu, 1803: 326, pi. XXI,

fig. 5

Rissoa ecostata Michaud, 1830 (WoRMS: Bouchet,

2014)

Rissoa minutissima Michaud, 1830 (WoRMS:

Bouchet, 2014)

Rissoa peticularis Menke, 1830 (WoRMS: Bouchet,

2014)

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the genus Onoba s.s. (Gastropoda Prosobranchia)

469

Onoba Candida (Brown, 1827) (Giannuzzi-Savelli,

2002: 80)

Iconographic references. Montagu (1803:

326, pi. XXI, fig. 5); Reeve (1878: pi. V fig. 40 as

Rissoa striata)', Rolan (1983: 139, 140, 3 un-

nambered figures as Onoba aculeus and 5 un-

numbered figures as Onoba striata)', Rolan (2008:

234, figs. 1-12); Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. (2002: 80,

fig. 255 as Onoba Candida (Brown, 1827));

Nekhaev et al. (2014: 269, figs. 1 A-B, 4 A, D).

Type locality. Atlantic Ocean, south coast of

Devonshire, United Kingdom.

Type material. Not seen. Probable syntypes in

Montagu collection (RAMM)

Examined material. Norway: Grande, Viken, -

100/200 m, 07.1974, 1 sh (BA); Spain: Vigo-

Baiona, North-West Atlantic, beached, 08.1982, 1

sh (IN); Vigo Bay (Atlantic) -15 m (legit Palazzi,

1982), 11 juv. sh (IN); Fuengirola, (Malaga)

beached (ex coll. Bogi), 1 sh (IN); France: Carteret,

Normandy, (Atlantic, 1976), beached, 1 sh (IN);

Binard (Atlantic, 1975) among littoral seaweeds, 2

lv (IN); no locality, 1 sh (IN).

Original description. Montagu, 1803: “Z with

a short, conic, white shell, obtusely pointed: volu-

tions four or five, rounded, well defined by the sep-

arating line, and wrought with fait ribs, and fine

obsolete transverse striae on the body whorl, both

of which are inconspicuous on the superior spires:

the ribs do not extend to the lower part even of the

body, where the spiral transverse striae become

most conspicuous: aperture suborbicular; pillar lip

a little reflexed, Columella smooth. Length half a

line; breadth one half its length. Found in sand on

the south coast of Devonshire, but very rare. This

at first sight might be confounded with Turbo

Spiralis, but differs in the volutions being more

rounded, in the ribs being coarser, and in being des-

titute of the tooth-like plication of the columella.'’'’

Distribution and habitat. Eastern Atlantic,

Madera (Avila et al., 2012), Spain (Rolan, 2008),

British Isles (Jeffreys, 1867: 37; Fretter & Graham,

1978), Faroe Islands (Waren, 1996; Sneli et al.,

2005), Iceland (Waren, 1996), Norway (Hoisseter,

2009). Barents Sea, Kola Peninsula (Golikov

& Kussakin, 1978; Nekhaev et al., 2014: 271).

Mediterranean Sea (Avila et al., 2012), Alboran

Sea, Fuengirola (Giannuzzi-Savelli et al., 2002: 80).

Common and abundant under rocks and among

algae, from the intertidal to -1000 m depth (Tem-

plado & Rolan, 1986: 120); common on rocks in

-8 m, less common in -80 m, rare under -200 m in

the Zelenetskaya Bay, Barents Sea (Nekhaev et al.,

2014: 272).

Remarks. Onoba semicostata is the only Mediter-

ranean Onoba with a planktotrophic larval develop-

ment, and is therefore easy to identify (Rolan, 2008:

35, figs. 3-6; Nekhaev et al., 2014: 276, figs. 4 A,

D). Shells tend to be curved (var. distorta Marshall

fide Jeffreys, 1887: 35) and occasionally may have

an additional labial varix. Shells collected in the

central Mediterranean are probably fossils (Wurm).

Onoba aculeus differs from O. semicostata in

having a paucispiral protoconch (indicating a non

planktotrophic development), a slightly scalariform

suture with more convex whorls without subsutural

axial ribs. Onoba breogani Rolan, 2008, known, at

moment, for Galicia (Spain, Atlantic), is very

similar to O. semicostata in shell morphology,

having also subsutural axial ribs, but differs in its

paucispiral protoconch.

Onoba aculeus (Gould, 1841) (Figs. 7, 8)

Cingula aculeus Gould, 1841: 266, fig. 172

Rissoa saxatilis Moller, 1842: 9

Rissoa artica Foven, 1846: 156

Rissoa multilineata Stimpson, 1851: 14

Onoba aculeus (Gould, 1841) (Giannuzzi-Savelli

et al., 2002: 80)

Iconographic references. Gould, (1841: 172,

fig. 172) (not a good picture); Bouchet & Waren

(1993: 660, fig. 1507); Delongueville & Scaillet

(2001: 12, fig. 10); Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. (2002:

80, fig. 254); Nekhaev et al. (2014: 272, figs. 2

C-D, 4 B, E).

Type locality. East Boston, Massachusetts

(USA).

Type material. Not seen. Originally deposited

at the Boston Society of Natural History (BSNH:

State Coll., No. 32. Soc. Cab., No. 2359. Gould,

1841: vi, 266).

Examined material. Bergen (Norway, At-

lantic), -1 m, 2 lv (IN).

470

Bruno Amati & Italo Nofroni

Original description. Gould, 1841: “ Shell

minute, sub- cylindrical; whorls convex, covered

with regular, microscopic revolving lines; aperture

ovate; umbilicus partial. Shell minute, ovate-cyl-

indrical, elongated, light yellowish horn-color;

whorls six, convex, and separated by a deep sutural

region; the two upper ones forming a blunt apex,

the lowest rather more than half the length of the

shell; the whole covered with regular, crowded, mi-

croscopic revolving lines; aperture one third the

length of the shell, oval, oblique, angular behind,

the margin simple and entire, barely touching the

preceding whorl, somewhat expanded, and on the

left side elevated, and slightly turned over an

Figures 1-6. Onoba semicostata (Montagu, 1803): Figures 1, 2. Grande, Viken (Norway, Atlantic), height 2.9 mm (BA).

Figures 3, 4. Binard (France, Atlantic), height 2.3 mm (IN). Figures 5, 6. Fuengirola, (Spain, Mediterranean Sea), height

2.7 mm (IN).Figures 7, 8. Onoba aculeus (Gould, 1841), Bergen (Norway, Atlantic), height 3.05 mm (IN).

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the genus Onoba s.s. (Gastropoda Prosobranchia)

471

umbilical depression or chink; operculum horny.

Length 3/20 inch, breadth 1/15 inch, divergence

23°. Found sparingly on the partially decayed

timbers of an old wharf, and plentifully on stones,

about low-water mark, at East Boston .”

Distribution and habitat. Western Atlantic

(Gould, 1841), Greenland (Moller, 1842; Schiotte

& Waren, 1992), Eastern Atlantic, Faroe Islands

(Sneli et al., 2005), Iceland (Ingolfsson, 1996;

Waren, 1996), British Isles (Fretter & Graham,

1978), Northern Norway (Hoisseter, 2009). Barents

Sea, Kola Peninsula and White Sea (Golikov,

1987), Galicia (Templado & Rolan, 1986: 121).

Mediterranean Sea, Alboran Sea (Giannuzzi-Savelli

et al., 2002: 80). Very common in the Barents Sea

in 0/-3 m on sandy bottoms (Nekhaev et al., 2014:

272). The species seems to prefer shallow waters

with algae, and can tolerate brackish waters (Tem-

plado & Rolan, 1986: 121).

Remarks. The record from Ria de Vigo (Galicia:

Templado & Rolan, 1986: 121) is the southernmost

occurrence in the Atlantic Ocean, whilst the Al-

boran Sea record (Giannuzzi-Savelli et al., 2002:

80) should represent the southern limit overall.

Shells tend to be curved. O. aculeus is very similar

to O. galaica Rolan, 2008, from Galicia (Spain).

Whilst some measurements of teleoconchs (e.g.

number of spirals cords on the penultimate and the

body whorl) and protoconchs (maximum diameter)

are similar in the two species (Rolan, 2008), the

different protoconch sculpture (with fine spiral

cords in O. aculeus and almost smooth in O.

galaica) (Fretter & Graham, 1978; Waren, 1996;

Rolan, 2008) and the less marked teleconch micros-

culpture, along with other minor differences (e.g.

deeper suture, larger size according to Waren, 1996)

allow an easy separation of O. aculeus and O.

galaica. See below under Onoba semicostata for

the differences from Onoba aculeus.

Onoba dimassai Amati et Nofroni, 1991 (Figs. 9-12)

Onoba dimassai Amati & Nofroni, 1991: 30, figs.

Iconographic references. Amati & Nofroni

(1991: 30, figs. 1-4); Giannuzzi-Savelli et al.

(2002: 82, 83, fig. 256)

Type locality. San Felice Circeo, Central

Tyrrhenian Sea , Italy -30/50 m.

Type material. Holotype (MCZR), 9 paratypes

(loc. type) (BA), 2 paratypes (type loc.) (IN), 1

paratype (type loc.) (coll. Di Massa, Trieste), 2

paratypes Ventotene Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea -25

m (MCZR ex coll. Pizzini), 7 paratypes Ventotene

Is., Fe Sconciglie Shoal, Central Tyrrhenian Sea,

-41m (MO), 3 paratypes Ponza Is., Central Tyrrhe-

nian Sea, bioclastic sand sample Posidonia ocean-

ica -15 m, 04.1979 (coll. A. Fugli, MO), 1

paratype Ponza Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -35 m,

05.1983 (coll. Di Massa TS), 1 paratype S. Stefano

Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -40 m (MZCR ex coll.

Pizzini), 1 paratype Giannutri Is., Central Tyrrhe-

nian Sea, -27 m (MZCR ex coll. Pizzini), 1 paratype

Giglio Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -30 m, 06.1983

(coll. Di Massa, Trieste).

Examined material. Type material; Italy: Ponza

Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -35 m, 1982-83, 3 sh

(BA); Giglio Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -30 m,

05.1983, 1 sh (BA); Ventotene Is., Central Tyrrhenian

Sea, -40 m, Summer 2000, 9 sh (BA); 3 sh (topo-

types) (BA); Zannone Is., Central Tyrrhenian Sea,

-36.5 m, about 60 sh (IN). Egypt: Port Said, 1 sh (IN).

Original description. Amati & Nofroni 1991:

“ Conchiglia di piccole dimensioni, ovato-conica,

elongata, fragile, semitrasparente, non ombelicata.

Protoconca ottusa di 1,20-1,25 giri convessi, lisci;

dimensioni: diametro del nucleo mm 0,13-0,18,

diametro del primo mezzo giro mm 0,25-0,28;

diametro massimo mm 0,30-0,38. Teleoconca di 2-

3 giri convessi, separati da una linea di sutura evi-

dente e leggermente canalicolata. Ultimo giro

abbastanza ampio, pari a circa i 2/3 dell ’altezza

totale. Apertura ovale, angolata posteriormente,

arrotondata e leggermente svasata anteriormente;

labbro ortoclino semplice, tagliente, liscio, legger-

mente inspessito esternamente. Scultura costituita

da numerosi cordoncini spirali (24-30 sull ’ultimo

giro); a forte ingrandimento tutta la superficie, sia

i cordoncini che lo spazio tra gli stessi, appare

percorsa da strie spirali filiformi. Sono presenti

deboli strie di accrescimento ortocline. Colore

biancastro, ma gli esemplari piu freschi appaiono

leggermente giallastri. Opercolo e parti modi

sconosciuti: Dimensioni: h. mm 1,40-2,10; d.mm

0,90-1,15; Rapporto d/2h 0,273-0,343.”

472

Bruno Amati & Italo Nofroni

Distribution and habitat. Central Mediter-

ranean Sea in the infralittoral zone in algal facies

-15/50 m, also reported for Port Said (Egypt).

Remarks. Onoba dimassai may have occasion-

ally an additional labial varix on teleoconch. Com-

pared to that of O. dimassai , the shell of O. josae is

larger and stronger (H 2. 2-3. 2 mm v. H 1.4-2. 2

mm in O. dimassai), deeper suture v. canaliculate

in O. dimassai ; stronger and more spaced spiral

sculpture than in O. dimassai ; outer lip slightly

opisthocline v. orthocline in O. dimassai ; proto-

conch sculptured with 8 thin and irregular spiral

cordlets v. an apparently smooth protoconch (also

at SEM) in O. dimassai. Onoba tarifensis has a

more slender shell with a more cylindrical outline

and a finer, less incised sculpture, consisting in a

higher number of spiral cordlets both on the penul-

timate and on the body whorl (18-24 and 31-38,

respectively v. 8-15 and 18-30 in O. dimassai)', a

protoconch sculptured with 7 thin and irregular

spiral cordlets v. an apparently smooth protoconch

(also at SEM) in O. dimassai. Onoba gianninii has

a larger shell (H 2. 2-2. 6 mm v. H 1 .4-2.2 mm in O.

dimassai), is usually collected at greater depths

(-93/500 m v. -15/50 m for O. dimassai), has a finer

teleoconch sculpture, with a higher number of spiral

cordlets on the body whorl (30-40 v. 18-30 in O.

dimassai), and finally differs in having a clear

umbilical chink, absent in O. dimassai.

Onoba josae Moolenbeek et Hoenselaar, 1987

(Figs. 13-15,27)

Onoba moreleti sensu van Aartsen et al. (1984: 20

fig. 81), not Dautzenberg, 1889

Onoba josae Moolenbeek & Hoenselaar (1987: 153

figs. 6-8)

Iconographic references, van Aartsen et al.,

1984: 20, fig. 81; Moolenbeek & Hoenselaar, 1987:

153, figs. 6-8; Giannuzzi-Savelli et al., 2002: 82,

83, figs. 260-261; Gofas et al., 2011: 193, two un-

numbered figures; Scaperrotta et al., 2013: 62, five

unnumbered figures.

Type locality. Getares, Bay of Algeciras, Spain.

Type material. Not seen. Holotype (ZMA

Moll. no. 3.87.034), 40 paratypes (ZMA Moll. no.

3.87.035), 40 paratypes (coll. H.J. Hoenselaar), 1

paratype (MNHN of Parigi), 1 paratype (IRScNB),

4 juv. paratypes Spain, Getares, 3 paratypes Geta-

res, 28 paratypes Getares (coll. H.J. Hoenselaar),

19 paratypes Getares (ZMA no. 3.87.036 and coll.

H.P.M.G. Menkliorst).

Examined material. Italy: S. Felice Circeo,

Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -30/50 m, 07/1982, 1 sh

(BA); Spain: North of Getares (Cadiz - Mediter-

raneo), legit Gubbioli, 09/1987, 3 sh and 9 frag-

ments, beached (IN); Tarifa -30 m, 1 sh (SB-MS).

Original description. Moolenbeek & Hoense-

laar, 1987: “ Description of the holotype. - Length

2.5 mm, width 1.3 mm (fig. 6 ). Shell oval-conical,

semitransparent with some gloss on the surface,

umbilicum closed. Protoconch dome-shaped, with

about 1 V 4 whorls and with 8 weak and irregular

spirals, protruding very little. Teleoconch about 3

Z 4 whorls with smooth spiral cords. The interstices

are broader than the spiral cords (ratio 1 : 2 ) and

are covered with 7-8 very fine, somewhat undulat-

ing spiral striae. Penultimate whorl with about 9

spiral cords. The upper half of the penultimate

whorl with very weak costae. Body whorl somewhat

convex, with about 22-24 spiral cords. Aperture

subcircular below and rather angular above

(angle about 90°), weakly channeled posteriorly.

Peristome simple, sharp and continuous. Outer lip

clearly opisthocline. Colour white. Operculum,

periostracum and soft parts unknown.’’'’

Distribution and habitat. Strait of Gibraltar,

-30 m. One specimen without soft parts from Latial

coast (Italy), in bioclastic sediment, -30/50 m.

Remarks, van Aartsen et al. (1984) erroneously

identified specimens from Getares (Spain) with O.

moreleti Dautzenberg, 1889 (Ponder, 1985: 162,

figs. 113c, d; Moolenbeek & Hoenselaar, 1987:

155, figs. 1-5), currently considered endemic to the

Azores (originally reported as living at great depths,

but later collected also in shallower waters: Gofas,

1990: 125). So far, O. josae was never reported

from outside the area of Gibraltar Strait. The speci-

men collected in the Central Tyrrhenian and herein

reported is the first record from outside that area.

The record is based on a single, partly broken and

empty adult shell (Fig. 13) so it does not provide

information on the local population viability. The

shell was sorted out from a sample collected by fish-

ing nets residuals from -30/50 m depth, along with

many specimens of O. dimassai. Onoba moreleti

differs from O. josae in having a more slender and

smaller shell, (1.7-1. 9 mm v. 2. 2-3. 2 in O. josae).

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the genus Onoba s.s. (Gastropoda Prosobranchia)

473

less convex spire, smaller aperture, more or less

dark yellowish colour v. white colour in O. josae,

and a lower number of spiral cordlets both on the

penultimate whorl and on the body whorl (respect-

ively 8-9 and 16-17 v. 9-14 and 22-26 in O. josae).

Onoba josae may have thin subsutural axial ribs

and, very rarely, an additional labial varix.

Onoba guzntani Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek, 1987

(Figs. 21, 22)

Onoba guzmani Hoenselaar & Moolenbeek 1987:

19, figs. 7-12

Iconographic references. Hoenselaar &

Moolenbeek (1987: 19, figs. 7-12); Giannuzzi-

Figures 9-12. Onoba dimassai Amati et Nofroni, 1991: Figures 9, 10. San Felice Circeo, Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy) pa-

ratype, height 2.05 mm (BA). Figure. 1 1 . San Felice Circeo, Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy) paratype, height 1.85 mm (BA).

Figure. 12. Port Said (Egypt), height 1.7 mm (IN). Figures 13-15. O. josae Moolenbeek et Hoenselaar, 1987: Figure. 13.

San Felice Circeo, Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), height 2.57 mm (BA). Figures 14, 15. Getares Nord, Cadiz (Spain, Me-

diterranean Sea), height 2.6 mm (IN).

474

Bruno Amati & Italo Nofroni

Savelli et al. (2002: 82, 83, fig. 258); Gofas et al.

(2011: 193, 1 unnumbered figure).

Type locality: Tarifa, Spain.

Type material. Not seen. Holotype (ZMA

Moll. no. 3.87.003), 10 paratypes (ZMA Moll. no.

3.87.004) , 25 paratypes (coll. Hoenselaar), 3 para-

types, Spain, Tarifa, IV. 1985 (ZMA Moll. no.

3.87.005) .

Examined material. Spain: Getares North,

Cadiz (Mediterranean) legit Nofroni, 08/1985, 1 sh,

beach (IN); Tarifa -30 m, 1 sh (SB-MS).

Original description. Hoenselaar & Moolen-

beek, 1987: “ Description of the holotype. - Length

1.8 mm, width 0.80 mm (fig. 7). Shell minute, elong-

ate-conic, non-umbilicate, fragile, semitransparent

with some gloss on its surface. Protoconch dome-

shaped, 1 'A whorls, smooth. Teleoconch with 2 3 A

whorls with microscopical pit-marks more or less

forming spirals (fig. 9). Suture deep; whorls

concave. On the base 4 shallow spirals (fig. 10).

Aperture ovate or drop-shaped, with an opistho-

cline outer lip, varix small or lacking, peristome

simple (figs. 10, 12). Operculum, periostracum and

soft parts of the animal unknown.’’''

Distribution and habitat. Reported for the

Strait of Gibraltar and Tangier (Atlantic Morocco)

and Tarifa (Spain) -30 m.

Remarks. Onoba guzmani is very similar to O.

lincta (Watson, 1873), endemic to Madeira (At-

lantic) (Watson, 1873: 387), which has a different

teleoconch sculpture of fine spiral threads and some

strong cords on the base (v. numerous series of

microtubercles spirally arranged, and 4 spiral

cordlets on the base) and the suture more incised,

canaliculated. The protoconch of O. tarifensis it is

sculpted by 7 weak spiral cordlets (v. smooth in O.

guzmani ), a different teleoconch sculpture of 3 1-38

fine spiral cordlets on the last whorl (v. numerous

series of microtubercles spirally arranged, and 4

spiral cordlets on the base) (Hoenselaar & Moolen-

beelc, 1987, figs 3 and 9) and a stronger labial varix.

Onoba tarifensis Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek, 1987

(Figs. 23, 24)

Onoba tarifensis Hoenselaar & Moolenbeek, 1987:

17, figs. 1-6

Iconographic references. Hoenselaar &

Moolenbeek (1987: 17, figs. 1-6); Giannuzzi-

Savelli et al. (2002: 82, 83, fig. 259); Gofas et al.

(2011: 193, 1 unnumbered figure).

Type locality. Tarifa, Spain.

Type material. Not seen. Holotype (ZMA

Moll. no. 3.87.001), 8 paratypes (ZMA Moll. no.

3.87.002), 15 paratypes (coll. Hoenselaar), 1 para-

type, Tarifa, IV. 1985 (coll. Hoenselaar).

Examined material. Spain: Tarifa, Cadiz, legit

Gubbioli, 1988, beach, 1 sh (IN); Tarifa -30 m, 1 sh

(SB-MS); Punta Camero, Getares, 1 sh (CS); Cala

Cica, Getares, 1 sh (CS).

Original description. Hoenselaar & Moolen-

beek, 1987: “ Description of the holotype. - Length

1.55 mm, width 0. 76 mm (figs. 1-4, 6). Shell minute,

elongate-conic, non-umbilicate, fragile and semi-

transparent, some gloss on its surface. Protoconch

dome-shaped, a little less than 1 V 2 whorls with

about 7 smooth spiral cords (fig. 6). Between these

cords there is a microsculpture of rows of exceed-

ingly minute irregular pits, except for the first V 2

whorl which looks smooth. Teleoconch with 2 V 2

whorls, with a very fine spiral sculpture of more or

less smooth spiral cords/ribs; in between these

cords a spongy sculpture of irregular pits (fig. 3).

Penultimate whorl with about 20 spiral cords, body

whorl with about 38 spiral cords. Suture deep, whorls

concave. On the base a strong spiral columel-

lar twist (fig. 4). Aperture ovate with an opistho-

cline outer lip and a strong varix (fig. 5), peristome

simple, weakly angled and channeled posteriorly,

simple and rounded anteriorly. Operculum, peri-

ostracum and soft parts of the animal unknown .”

Distribution and habitat. Reported for the

Strait of Gibraltar (Spain) 0/-30 m.

Remarks. Onoba josae compared to O. tarifen-

sis , has a stronger and larger shell with fewer spiral

cordlets both on the penultimate whorl and on the

body whorl (9-14 and 22-26 respectively v. 18-24

and 31-38 respectively in O. tarifensis). See under

O. guzmani for distinction from O. tarifensis.

Onoba gianninii (Nordsieck, 1974) (Figs. 18-20)

Setia (Crisillosetia) gianninii Nordsieck, 1974: 11,

% 4

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the genus Onoba s.s. (Gastropoda Prosobranchia)

475

Cingula gianninii (Nordsieck, 1974) (See Verduin,

1984: 61, fig. 25)

Setia gianninii Nordsieck, 1974 (See Amati &

Nofroni, 1991: 32)

Iconographic references. Nordsieck (1974:

11, fig. 4); Verduin (1984: 61, fig. 25); Oliverio

(1988: 113, fig. 1 (operculum and radula)); Amati

& Nofroni (1991 : 32, figs. 6-10); Bouchet & Waren

(1993: 662, figs. 1518, 1519); Ardovini & Cossig-

nani (1999: 38, fig. 035); Smriglio & Mariottini

(2000: 17, figs. 7, 8); Giannuzzi-Savelli et al. (2002:

82, 83, fig. 257); Scaperrotta et al. (2012: 63, 5 un-

numbered figures).

Type locality. Strait of Bonifacio, Corsica,

‘station Kl’, -200/220 m.

Type material. Lectotype (designated by Amati

& Nofroni, 1991) MCZR, 1 paralectotype (coll.

Giannini, Empoli). Bouchet & Waren (1993: 662)

reported some “paratypes” in coll. Carrozza, coll,

van Aartsen and coll. SMNH (not listed in the

original work), which should be more correctly

defined as “paralectotypes”.

Examined material. Lectotype (MCZR);

France: Bastia, Corsica, depth (unprecised) bio-

clastic sands sample, 1 sh (BA); Italy: Capraia Is.,

Northern Tyrrhenian Sea , -400 m, 1 sh (BA); off

Fiumicino, Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -300 m, 4 sh

(BA); Capraia Is., Northern Tyrrhenian Sea, -350

m, 3 sh (IN); Capraia Is., Northern Tyrrhenian Sea,

1 sh (Bogi collection, Livorno).

Original description. Nordsieck, 1974: “Setia

(Crisillosetiaj gianninii n. sp. 3/1,7 mm. Olotipo

nella collezione Giannini. Pallida, semitrasparente;

5 giri molto convessi, il primo (protoconca) at-

tenuate). Sutura profonda. Circa 30/40 strie spirali

sull ’ultimo giro, 15 sul penultimo. Sottile plica

ombelicale. Comparando questa indubbiamente

nuova specie con tutte le altre del sottogenere (v.

tavola R IV del Vol. Ill) ci si avvede che non esiste

alcuna altra specie ad essa avvicinabile sia per la

convessitd dei giri, il numero delle spirali e le

misure della conchiglia.”

Distribution and habitat. Central Mediter-

ranean Sea: Corsica (France), Sardinia, Tuscany

and Latium (Italy), Algeria -93 m. (Bouchet &

Waren, 1993: 663). In bioclastic sediments from

-93/500 m depth.

Remarks. O. gianninii may sometimes have an

additional labial varix. O. oliverioi and O. gianninii

have been found sympatric in the Central Tyrrhe-

nian Sea, in the deepest bathymetric range of O.

gianninii (-200/600 m O. oliverioi v. -93/500 m of

O. gianninii). The shells of these two species are

very similar; O. oliverioi differs mainly for the

smaller size (H 1.6-2. 3 mm at 2.5-3 whorls v. H

2. 5-2. 6 mm at 2.5-3.25 whorls in O. gianninii), the

flatter more sculpted and slightly smaller proto-

conch, (maximum diameter 0.40-0.44 mm v. 0.46

mm (fide Bouchet & Waren, 1993: 663 in O. gian-

ninii), the less slender outline (H/W = 1.44/1.65 v.

H/W = 1.66-1.80 in O. gianninii), and the larger

aperture (H/Ha = 1 .84-2. 16 v. FI/Ha = 2.1 8-2.22 in

O. gianninii). See under O. dimassai for distinction

from O. gianninii.

Onoba oliverioi Smriglio et Mariottini, 2000

(Figs 16, 17)

Onoba oliverioi Smriglio & Mariottini, 2000: 16,

figs. 1-6

Iconographic references. Bouchet & Waren

(1993: 663, figs. 1520, 1521) (sub nomine Onoba

gianninii)', Smriglio & Mariottini (2000: 16, figs.

1 - 6 ).

Type locality. Central Tyrrhenian Sea (41° 5 1 ’

N, 11° 28’ E) off coast of Latium -350/600 m.

Type material. Holotype (MZB 14000); 1

paratype, type locality (MCZR); 9 paratypes, type

locality (CS); 1 paratype, type locality (MO); 1

paratype, type locality (PM).

Examined material. Type material partly ex-

amined: type locality, 9 paratypes (CS), type loc-

ality, 1 paratype (MCZR).

Original description. Smriglio & Mariottini,

2000: “ Shell small (from 1.61 to 2.32 mm in height),

conical-ovate, with a large aperture, blunt apex.

Protoconch dome-shaped consisting of about 1.5

whorls, with a diameter of 400-440 um, sculptured

with 6-8 fine and irregular spiral cordlets. Among

them, several other interrupted fine furrows create

a sort of micro-tuberculated sculpture. Teleoconch

of about 3. 0 rounded convex whorls, the last one is

about 2/3 of the entire length, average ratio H/W =

1.55, average ratio H/Ha = 1.99. Suture pronounced

and shallowly channeled, axial growing lines evid-

476

Bruno Amati & Italo Nofroni

ent, spiral sculpture consisting of about 27 evenly

spaced ribs, with about 2-3 much smaller furrows in

the interspaces. Aperture ovoid, umbilical crevice

slightly visible. Colour milky-white or yellowish

translucent. Operculum and animal unknown

Distribution and habitat. Italy: Central Tyrrhe-

nian Sea: Latium and Sardinia. France: Corsica. On

muddy bottom in a deep-sea coral biocoenosis (bio-

coenosis VB and CB sensu Peres & Picard, 1964)

at a depth of -200/600 m (Bouchet & Waren, 1993:

663; Smriglio & Mariottini, 2000: 16).

Remarks. Onoba oliverioi is characterized by

having a shell with a low H/W ratio and to live at a

maximum depth of -600 m. O. oliveriori differs

Figures 16 17. Onoba oliverioi Smriglio et Mariottini, 2000, Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Latium (Italy) paratype H, height 1.8

mm (CS). Figure 1 8. O. gianninii (Nordsieck, 1 974): Fiumicino, Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), height 2.6 mm (BA). Figures

19, 20. O. gianninii : Bastia, Corsica (France), height 2.5 mm (BA).

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the genus Onoba s.s. (Gastropoda Prosobranchia)

All

from O. dimassai for the deeper habitat (-200/600

m v. -15/50 m in O. dimassai ), by its higher number

of protoconch whorls (about 1.5 v. 1.2-1.25 in O.

dimassai ), the protoconch sculptured with 6-8 fine

irregulars spiral cordlets v. an apparently smooth

protoconch (also at SEM) in O. dimassai and a larger

maximum diameter of the protoconch (0.40-0.44

mm v. 0.30-0.38 mm in O. dimassai). The number

of the spiral cordlets on the teleoconch is boradly

similar in the two species (about 25-30). See under

O. gianninii for distinction from O. oliverioi.

Onoba sp. (Figs. 25, 26)

Onoba sp. A. Amati & Nofroni, 1991: 34, fig. 5

Figures 21, 22. Onoba guzmani Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek, 1987, Tarifa (Spain), height 2.1 mm (SB-MS). Figures 23, 24.

O. tarifensis Hoenselaar et Moolenbeek, 1987, Tarifa (Spain), height 1.6 mm (SB-MS). Figures 25, 26. Onoba sp. San

Felice Circeo, Central Tyrrhenian Sea (Italy), height 1.7 mm (BA). Figure 27. O.josae Moolenbeek et Hoenselaar, 1987,

Tarifa (Spain), height 2.8 mm (SB-MS).

478

Bruno Amati & Italo Nofroni

Character

Onoba

semicostata

Onoba

aculeus

Onoba

dimassai

Onoba

josae

Onoba

guzmani

Onoba

tarifensis

Onoba

gianninii

Onoba

oliverioi

1. 8-3.5

2. 0-4.5

1. 4-2.2

22-3.2

1.4-2. 1

1.45-1.75

2. 5-2. 6

1.61-2.32

1.15-1.35

1.35-2.0

0.9-1.15

1.3-1. 5

0.7-1. 1

0.75-0.82

1.5-1.55

1.08-1.4

1.0-1.15

1.08-1.1

0.75-0.95

1. 1-1.2

0.59-0.95

0.72-0.75

1 .2-1.3

0.85-1.11

R.H/W

2.0-2.59

2.25-2.36

1.56-1.82

1.63-1.81

1.9-1.98

2.0-2.06

1.66-1.8

1.44-1.65

R.H/Ha

2.30-3.04

2-77-2.96

1.88-2.21

2.0-2.22

2.21-2.37

2.22-2.39

2.18-2.22

1.84-2.16

Tcs

yes

deep, and

channeled

deep, slightly

to scalanform

slightly

channeled

deep

pronounced

and shallow

channeled

2.8-3. 8

(5/5.5)*

3.8 (4.5/5. 6)*

2-3

3.25-3.5

2.75-3

2.5-2.75

2.5-3.25

2.5-3

Nspw

12-15

10-14

8-15

9-14

microscopical

pit-marks more

or less forming

spirals

18-24

15-17

11-12

Nslw

25-29

22-24

18-30

22-26

4 shallow spi-

rals on the base

31-38

30-40

23-31

Asc

yes

occasionally,

pronounced

striae of growth

occasionally

Table I. Ranges of morphometric characters of the teleoconch in Mediterranean species of the genus Onoba. Measurements

in mm. H: height; W: width; Ha: height aperture; R.H/W: ratio height/width; R.H/Ha: ratio height/height aperture; Tcs:

Tendency to curved shells; St: Suture; Nw: number of teleoconch whorls; Nspw: Spiral cords on the penultimate whorl;

Nslw: number of spirals cords on the last whorl; Asc: Axial subsutural cords. *( ) Da Nekhaevet al., 2014. Probably also

include the whorls of the protoconch.

Iconography References. Amati & Nofroni

(1991: 34, fig. 5)

Examined material. Italy: San Felice Circeo,

Central Tyrrhenian Sea, -30/50 m, VIII. 1982, legit

Angelo Amati, 1 sh (BA).

Description. Shell small, fragile, ovate-conical

shape, semi-transparent, non umbilicated. Proto-

conch dome-shaped, paucispiral, with sligthly

twisted nucleus, consisting of just over one whorl

(estimate uncertain, protoconch-teleoconch bound-

ary not clearly visible), 0.25 mm high, with a nuc-

leus diameter of 0. 1 3 mm and a maximum diameter

of 0.32 mm without microsculpture as seen at a

magnification of 90x. Teleoconch of 2.8 convex

whorls with deep suture. Outer lip not tickened

(probably the specimen was not fully adult) ortho-

cline. Sculpture of 24 fine and flat spiral cordlets

on the body whorl, 12 of which above the aperture.

Finer threads covering the entire surface, visible at

a magnification of 90x. Color white. Operculum

and soft parts unknown.

Dimensions: H = 1.7 mm, W =1.05 mm, Ha =

0.84 mm, H/W ratio = 1.619; H/Ha ratio = 2.023.

Distribution and habitat. San Felice Circeo,

Central Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy, a single shell in or-

ganogenic detritus in the infralittoral at -30/50m.

Found sympatric with O. dimassai and O.josae.

Remarks. The single shell, so far known, is pe-

culiar among the European Onoba , in its particular

apex, with a paucispiral protoconch and a twisted

nucleus. It is easily recognizable from all other

species. Onoba dimassai is similar in the fragile

shell, the white colour, the orthocline outer lip and

the teleoconch spiral sculpture. It differs, however,

in the different (not twisted) apex and the wider and

more spaced teleoconch spiral cordlets. O. nunezi

Rolan et Hernandez, 2004, endemic to the Canary

Islands, is slightly smaller (about H 1 .3 mm v. H

1.7 mm in Onoba sp.), is more slender, has a teleo-

conch spiral sculpture of about 10 weak well-

spaced cordlets and the whole teleoconch surface is

covered with finer and more numerous threads

(Rolan & Hernandez, 2004: 174). Manzonia vigoen-

sis (Rolan, 1983) was described as belonging to the

genus Onoba but later Moolenbeelc & Faber (1987)

The Recent Rissoidae of the Mediterranean Sea. Notes on the genus Onoba s.s. (Gastropoda Prosobranchia)

479

and Moolenbeek & Hoenselaar (1992) assigned it

to the genus Manzonia Brasina, 1870; it resembles

Onoba sp. for the general shape of the shell and the

paucispiral protoconch with a twisted nucleus; but

differs for the different sculpture of the teleoconch,

with aligned micro-perforations a thickened outer

lip both typical of the genus Manzonia.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We wish to thank our friends Stefano Bartolini

and Maria Scaperrotta (Florence, Italy) and Carlo

Smriglio (Rome, Italy) for the loan of some material

of their collections and Emilio Rolan (Vigo, Spain)

and Ermanno Quaggiotto (Longare, Vicenza, Italy)

for the bibliographic help. Stefano Bartolini

(Florence, Italy) made some of the light photo-

graphs (Figs. 21-24 and Fig. 27). Marco Oliverio

(La Sapienza Rome University, Italy) commented

an early draft of the manuscript.

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Biodiversity Journal, 2015, 6 (1): 481-490

Monograph

The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily,

Italy): Siciliaria ( Siciliaria ) scarificata (L. Pfeiffer, 1 856) (Pulmo-

nata Clausiliidae)

Fabio Liberto 1 , Maria Stella Colomba 2 ,Agatino Reitano 3 , Salvatore Giglio 4 & Ignazio Sparacio 5

1 S tra d a Provinciale Celafu-Gibil manna, 93 - 90015 Cefalu, Palermo, Italy; email: fabioliberto@ yahoo.it

"Universita di Urbino, DiSB, via Maggetti 22 (loc. Sasso), 61029 Urbino, Italy; e-mail: mariastella.colomba@ uniurb.it

'ViaGravina, 77 - 95030 Tremestieri Etneo, Catania, Italy; e-mail: tinohawk@yahoo.it

4 C ontrada Settefrati - 90015 Cefalu, Palermo. Italy; e-mail: hallucigenia@ tiscali.it

'via E. Notarbartolo, 54 int. 13 - 90145 Palermo. Italy; e-mail: isparacio@ inwind.it

ABSTRACT The door snail Sicilicirici ( Siciliaria ) scarificata (L. Pfeiffer, 1856) (Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

is re d e s c rib e d . The species is endemic to Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy) and it is

the only one of the genus Siciliaria V e st, 1 867 living in this island. Siciliaria Scarificata c an

be morphologically identified by the presence of a high columellar lamella, ascending in a

double “S” curve, a wide anterior upper palatal plica, long basal plica, sulcalis present;

clausilium plate distally less narrowed; genitalia are characterized by very short bursa

copulatrix duct; short diverticulum of bursa copulatrix; penial papilla conic and short. Notes

about its taxonomy, biology and conservation status are also provided.

KEY WORDS Door snail; Siciliaria', island endemism; taxonomy; conservation status.

Received 21.02.2015; accepted 23.03.2 0 15; printed 30.03.2015

Proceedings of the Eighth Malacological Pontine Meeting, October 4th- 5th, 2014 - San Felice Circeo, Italy

INTRODUCTION

Vest (1867) d e sc rib ed the genus Sicilicirici for a

group of door snail species from Sicily with S.

grohmanniana Rossmiissler, 1 836 type species.

Adolf Schmidt (1 86 8 ) classified the seven Si-

cilian species known so far, into two groups which

mainly differ by the formation of the clausilium

plate and by sculpture,developmentoflamellae (in-

serta, inferior lamella) and palatal plicae. The first

group is reported as: “Form enkreis of Septem-

plicata ” which includes ClausUia grohmanniana,

C. septemplicata Philippi, 1 8 3 6 , C. calcarae Phil-

ippi. 1 844, C. confinata Benoit, 1 859 (= scarificata

L . P fe iffer, 1 8 5 6), and C. tiberii A. Schmidt, 1868;

the second group as “Form enkreis of CrdSSicOStdtd”

with C. CrdSSicOStdtd L . Pfeiffer, 1 85 6 and C. Yiobilis

L . P fe iffer, 1 8 4 8.

O. Boettger (1877) named as Sicilidrid Vest,

1 867 sensu stricto the “Form enkreise of Septeifl-

plicdtd" , and as TrindCrid O. Boettger, 1 8 77 the

“Form enkreise of CrdSSWOStdtd” . Nordsieck (1979)

listed the same species as O. Boettger (1 877) and

reunited the species groups (Siciliaria s . str., TrindC-

rid (preoccupied) = Sicddid To m lin ) because S. Cdl-

CdCdC has an intermediate morphological position.

Nordsieck (2002) listed 12 species of Sicilidrid

s.str., sub Chdrpentierid ( Sicilidrid ), and classified

them in two species groups, based on some shell

characters.

Nordsieck (2007), in his catalog on world

Clausiliidae, listed 12 species with 7 subspecies of

Sicilidrid s.str., even as Chdrpentierid ( Sicilidrid ) ■.

Sicilidrid {Sicilidrid) cdlcdrae cdlcdrae, S. cdlcdme

belliemii (Brandt, 1 9 6 1 ) , S. crdssicostdtd, S.

eminens (A. Schimdt, 1 8 6 8 ) , S. ferrox (Brandt,

482

Fabio Liberto et alii

196 1 ), S. grohmanniana , S. leucophryna (L.

Pfeiffer, 1 8 62), S. YlobiUs, S. ribewthi (Brandt,

196 1), S. scarificata (L . Pfeiffer, 1 85 6), S. septem-

plicata septemplicata , S. septemplicata alcamoensis

(Brandt, 1961 ), S. septemplicata hemmeni Beck-

m ann, 2004, S. spezialensis (H . N ordsieck, 1 984), S.

tiberii tiberii, S. tiberii scalettensis Beckmann, 2004 .

This checklist is confirmed by Bank (2011) and

by N ordsieck (2013).

The genus Sidliarias. str. is endemic to Western

Sicily, from Caccamo in the East to the island of

M arettim o in the West, and from San Vito lo Capo

in the North, to C a s te 1 v e tr an o and Ribera in the

South. The hot spot of biodiversity are the moun-

tains in the northern part, whereas in the central and

southern area (Sicani Mountains) the presence of

Siciliaria is discontinuous. The genus Sidliarias. str.

is reported in Quaternary deposits of Palermo (D e

Gregorio, 1 886: Monte Pellegrino; 1 927: Pietrazzi,

Bellolampo; our personal data: Mount Catalfano)

and in the Qua ternary deposit ofWied tal-Bahrija in

the Island of M alta (Giusti et al., 1 995).

Siciliaria scarificata w as discovered by the Si-

cilian naturalistLuigiBenoit (1804-1890) who dis-

tributed shells of this door snail to his m alacologists

colleagues under the name of Clausilia COnfinata.

Luis Pfeiffer (1856) published the first valid d e scrip -

tion w ith th e name C. Scarificata (Fig. 1) reporting

its distribution as “Habitatin Sicilia”. Subsequently,

L. Pfeiffer ( 1 859) specified the distribution as “ in

insula Maretima Siciliae” . h owever in the course of

1800s and up to about the 1970s most authors used

the nam e C. COllfinata B enoit or the incorrect spelling

C. Sacrificata Benoit, 1875 (see below). The original

description and all subsequent descriptions were

based on shell features; while genitalia were never

described and illustrated.

This paper is intended to redescribe this species

in detail (shell and genitalia) and also provided notes

about its taxonomy, biology and conservation status.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

All living specimens were relaxed in water and

then preserved in 80% ethanol. Five specimens

were anatomically investigated under a Leica

MZ12.5 s tere o m ic r o s c o p e using scalpel, scissors

and needles. Empty shells were kept dry, and have

been measured with a digital gauge. The plicae and

lamellae were studied breaking the shells with a

scalpel. The method of calculating the number of

whorls by Kerney & Cameron (1979) was used.

Shell measures were based on the study of 20 spe-

cimens. Photos were carried out with a Panasonic

Lurnix DMC-FZ20 digital camera. Anatomical

details were drawn using a W ild camera lucida. The

collection data are listed as follows: State, region,

municipality, locality, altitude, dates, collection and

number of specimens in parentheses. Toponyms

(place-names) are reported following M ap “IGM 1 :

25000, Isola di Marettimo, sheet 256 IV - N.O.”.

Each locality and/or collection site is named in the

original language (italian).

Voucher specimens were stored in the following

Museums and private collections: F. Liberto,

Cefalu, Italy (LC); Museo N aturalistico F. Mina

Palumbo, Castelbuono, Italy (MNMP);A. Reitano,

Tremestieri Etneo, Italy (RC); I. Sparacio, Palermo,

Italy (SC).

CONCHOLOGICAL ACRONYMS. AUPP:

Anterior upper palatal plica; CL: columellar

lamella; D: shell width; H: shell height; L: lunella;

LPP: lower palatal plica (basal plica); PL: parietal

lamella; PLL: parallel lamella; PP: principal plica;

PUPP: posterior upper palatal plica; SCL: sub-

columellar lamella; SL: spiral lamella; SUL:

sulcalis; SP: sutural plica. ANATOMICAL AC-

RONYMS. BC: bursa copulatrix; BCD: divertic-

ulum of bursa copulatrix; DBC: duct of the bursa

copulatrix; E: epiphallus; FO: free oviduct; G:

penial papilla; GA: genital atrium; P: penis; PR:

penial retractor muscle; V: vagina; VD : vas deferens.

SYSTEMATICS

Family CLAUSILIIDAE J.E. Gray, 1855

Genus Siciliaria vest, 1867

Type species: Clausilia grohmanniana Ross-

m assler, 18 3 6

Siciliaria ( Siciliaria ) scarificata (l . p feiffer, 1 8 5 6 )

Clausilia scarificata, L. Pfeiffer, 1856: 1 8 5 , PI. 2,

figs. 20-22 - Habitat in Sicilia

Clausilia scarificata, L. Pfeiffer, 1 8 5 9 : 765-766 -

Habitat in insula Maretima Siciliae

Clausilia confinata, Benoit, 1 8 5 9 : PI. 6, fig. 6

Clausilia scarificata, Kuster, 1860-1861: 298, pi.

34, figs. 1-3 - Insel M aretima

The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy): Siciliaria scarificata (Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

483

Marettimo

Island

/ J\

is* »

Mediterranean Sea

y , m

\ 1

^ ° r

Egadi r

\rehipelagoS^

Sicily

V — S

Figure i. Reproduction of original drawing of SiciHcirici ( Siciliaria ) Scarificata (L . Pfeiffer, 1 856). Figure 2. Map of

Western Sicily, the arrow shows the position of Marettimo. Figures 3, 4. Siciliaria SCa.rifiCQ.ta in natural habitat. Figures 5,

6. Landscape of Marettimo, slope with Mediterranean maquis.

Claus ilia confmata, vest, 1 8 6 7 : 1 6 7

Clausilia confinata, A . Schmidt, 1 8 6 8 : 40-42

Claus ilia confinata, Appeiius, 1 8 6 9 : 1 7 3

Medora scarificata, Kobe it, 1 8 7 1 : 39

Clausilia sacrificata, Benoit, 1 8 7 5 : 1 5 2 - isola di

M are tim o

Siciliaria confinata, m oiiendorff, 1 875: 17

Clausilia confinata, L. Pfeiffer, 1 8 77: 523 - Ins.

M a re tim a Siciliae

Clausilia {Siciliaria) confinata, o. Boettger, 1 8 7 7 :

33, “gruppe Siciliaria ” - Sicilien

Clausilia confinata, W esterlund, 1 8 7 8 : 2 0 - Sicilia

Clausilia sacrificata, O. Boettger, 1 8 7 9 : 89, PI. 172,

fig . 1731 -InselM are tim o im Wes ten von S icilien

Clausilia ( Siciliaria ) sacrificata, Kobe it, 1 8 8 1 : 78 -

M aretim o

Clausilia confinata, Benoit, 1 8 8 2 : 1 05 - isola di

M are tim o

484

Fabio Liberto et alii

Clausilia confinata, Westerlund, 1 8 84: 46 - Mare-

tim o b e i S ic ilie n

Clausilia ( Siciliaria ) confinata, Monterosato, 1 8 9 2 :

28 - Isola di Maretimo

Clausilia ( Siciliaria ) confinata, westerlund, 1892:48

Clausilia (Siciliaria) confinata, westerlund, 1 9 0 1 :

39-40, 180 - I. Maretimo

Delima ( Siciliaria ) scarificata, Wagner, 1924: 124

- Insel M aretim o im w . Von Sizilien

Clausilia (Siciliaria) confinata, Sacchi, 1 9 5 5 : 23

Siciliaria confinata, Sacchi, 1956 : 8-9

Siciliaria Confinata, Sacchi, 1957: 673

Delima (Siciliaria) confinata , Aizona, 1 97 1 : 91 ,

sectio Siciliaria - Is. M arettimo

Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata, n o rd s ieck , 1979 :

259

Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata, Manganeiiietai.,

1995: 24,47 - Isola diMarettimo (Egadi)

Charpentieria (Siciliaria) scarificata, Nordsieck,

2002: 33-34

Charpentieria (Siciliaria) scarificata, Beckmann,

2004: 186, 188 - Insel M are ttimo

Siciliaria scarificata , Fiorentino et ai., 2004 -

M arettim o

Charpentieria (Siciliaria) scarificata, Nordsieck,

2007: 54

Charpentieria (Siciliaria) scarificata, Bank, 20 1 1 :

2 3 - S ic ily

Siciliaria scarificata, Weiter-Shuites, 2012 : 342 -

S. Italy, M arettim o island

Siciliaria (Siciliaria) scarificata, n 01 -dsieck, 2013 :

1-14

Type locality. M arettimo (Egadi Islands,

Sicily, Italy). This species was comunicated by the

naturalist Luigi Benoit to L. Pfeiffer who published

the first valid description reporting its distribution

as “Habitat in Sicilia” (L. Pfeiffer, 1 85 6).

Examined material. Italy, Sicily, Favignana,

Island of Marettimo (Egadi Islands), Punta Troia,

50 m, VIII. 1997, 3 shells (RC); idem, Case

Romane, 200 m, VI. 2005, 23 shells (RC); idem,

VI. 2005, 4 shells (RC); idem, from Case Romane

to Monte Falcone 300-680 m, 30. V. 2010, 11 spe-

cimens, 60 shells, (LC 802 1-8096); idem,

VI. 2005, 3 shells (MNMP); idem, contrada Pelosa,

60 m, 30. V. 2010, 16 specimens and 42 shells (SC);

idem, Case Romane, 200 m, 30. V. 2010, 18 shells

(SC).

Original description. L. Pfeiffer (1 85 6): “ T.

rimata,fusiformis, truncata, solida, confertim plicato-

costulata, purpurascenti-fusca; spira ventrosa,

sublate decollata; sutura albo-papillata; anfr.

superst. 7 1/2 convexiusculi, ultimus basi breviter

cristatus; apertura piriformis; lamella supera

exigua, marginem non attingens, infera valida,

arcuatim ascendens; lunella distincta, angusta,

flexuosa; plicae palatales 3, suprema elongata,

secunda brevior, antice callosa, tertia infera, sub-

columellari parallela; perist. hepaticum, con-

tinuum, breviter solutum, undique expansum et re-

flexiusculum. - Long, (trunc.) 17, diam. 5 mill. Ap.

5 mill, longa, 4 lata ” .

Diagnosis. Terrestrial pulmonate snail with

shell sinistral, fusiform, b r o w n -p u rp lis h in color;

aperture with five lamellae (on parietum and

columellar side) and lunella and five plicae (on

palatum); in particular high columellar (lower

parietal) lamella, ascending in a double “S” curve;

a wide anterior upper palatal plica; long basal plica;

short sulcalis; genitalia are characterized by very

short bursa copulatrix duct, short diverticulum of

bursa copulatrix; penial papilla conic and short.

Description (Figs. 7-14). Shell sinistral, fusi-

form, elongated, generally decollated, rather thick

and robust, b ro w n -p u rp lis h in color, with apertural

margin light brownish; obtuse apex; external sur-

face with transverse ribs, 8.5 ribs per 2 mm of the

penultimate whorl (10 specimens); spire with 9-10

slightly convex whorls (7 in decollate shells),

slowly and regularly growing; sutures shallow, with

slightly evident papillae (papillae more numerous

along sutures from level with first 3-7 whorls);

basal keel little distinct; umbilicus closed; aperture

oval, with five lamellae (on parietum and columel-

lar side) and lunella and five plicae (on palatum).

On palatum there is a short lunella and starting from

suture: a thin sutural plica very close to suture; a

well raised principal plica; a wide anterior upper pal-

atal plica, separated from or connected with upper

palatal plica; long basal plica, internal beginning of

which is joined to the base of lunella; a short sul-

calis (Figs. 15, 16). A relatively conspicuous callos-

ity on the upper external border of palatum

embedding external apexes of upper palatal plica

and principal plica. On parietum, starting from su-

ture; there are: parallel lamella very thin or absent;

non emergent spiral lamella in the centre of pari-

The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy): Siciliaria scarificata (Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

485

Figures 7-10. Shells of SiciUcirici (SiciliCLfici) SCCLrifiCQ-tCl (L . Pfeiffer, 1 856), Island of Marettimo, S icily, Italy

(CL 8032), H: 17.8 m m , D : 5 mm. Figures 11-14. idem, (CL 8033), H: 18.1 mm, D : 4.6 mm.

486

Fabio Liberto et alii

AUPP

PLL

■ta

SCL

Figures 15-2 1. SiciUarid (SiciUariO) scarificata (L . Pfeiffer, 1 8 5 6), Island of Marettimo, S icily, Italy. Figures 15, 16

palatum (CL 8083, 8084). Figures 17, 18: parietum (CL 8085, 8088), Figures 19-21: clausilium (CL 8094-8096).

The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy): Siciliaria scarificata (Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

487

Figure 22. Genitalia o f Siciliaria ( Siciliaria > scarificata (L. Pfeiffer, 1 856), island of m arettimo, Sicily, Italy. Figure 23. Internal

ornam entation of penis, w ith penial papilla (same specimen of Fig. 22). Figure 24. Internal ornamentation of epiphallus (CL 8022).

488

Fabio Liberto et alii

etum ; tooth-like (upper) parietal lamella; high

columellar (lower parietal) lamella, ascending in a

double “ S ” curve; scarcely emergent subcolumellar

lamella (Figs. 17, 18). Peristome continuous,

thickened,reflected, fused above to last who rl w all.

Normal type clausilial apparatus, with palatal edge

of clausilium plate somewhat bent up, outer corner

more or less pointed, sutural angle bent up (Figs.

19-21). The outer edge of the clausilium plate rests

against the lunella and the sulcalis in the closed

p o sitio n .

Body. Animal narrow, posteriorly pointed, skin

yellowish in color with bro w n-greysh tubercles;

foot narrow with sole paler than body, bipartite by

an indistinct longitudinal central groove and with

margins divided by small parallel radial groove (5

specim. in alcohol preserved).

Genitalia (Figs. 22-24). General scheme of

semidiaulic monotrematic type. Gen it alia consisting

of large ovotestis with many close acini; long thin,

convoluted hermaphrodite duct; very large, albumen

gland; well developed o v isp e rrn id u c t, formed by

female portion externally regularly subdivided and

spaced by annular constrictions, large prostatic

portion and seminal groove externally not visible;

slender free oviduct (2.6 mm); bursa copulatrix

comp lex consist of slender copula to ry duct (2.9 mm)

which branches in very short bursa copulatrix duct

with leaf-like bursa copulatrix (2 mm), and slight

longer diverticulum of bursa copulatrix (3.6 mm in

length); vagina (1.8 mm in length) uniform in

diameter for almost its entire length; vas deferens

long and slender, entering epiphallus; epiphallus (3.9

mm) divided by point of insertion of robust penial

retractor muscle into conical proximal portion and

shorter cylindrical distal portion; a swelling is

present at the transition p e n is-ep ip h allu s ; cylindrical

penis (2.4 mm in length) slightly wider than vagina.

Internal walls of penis with two furrows; relatively

short, conic penial papilla with rounded apex (Fig.

23). Internal walls of epiphallus covered with small

papille and crossed by two low pleats (Fig. 24).

Distribution and Biology. Siciliaria SCari-

ficata is endemic of the Island of Marettimo, the

wes tern most of the Egadi Islands, in Wes tern Sicily

(Fig. 2). It lives in limes to ne habitat with Mediter-

ranean maquis, on walls and in the crevices of cal-

careous rocks, under stones, in conoids of debris

and at the base of cliffs (Figs. 3-6).

Remarks. Nordsieck (2002) classified the 12

species of Siciliaria s. str. in two groups, based on

some shell characters. The first group is named

“ flobiliS-CCllcCirCie” and is characterized by:

columellar lamella (inferior lamella) low to mod-

erately high, mostly only one anterior upper palatal

plica present, clausilium plate distally not m arkedly

narrowed, outer corner blunt to pointed. This group

is further divided into two subgroups: “ tlobiUs” sub-

group (S. nobilis, S. spezialensis , S. crassicostata ,

and S. eminens) has palatal edge of clausilium plate

not upbent; “ CCllcGrCl6” subgroup ( S . CCllcClVCie, S.

tiberii, and S. leucophryna) has palatal edge of

clausilium plate more or less upbent. The second

principal group is named “ grohmanniana” ( S .

grohmanniana , S. septemplicata , and S. scari-

ficata), it is characterized by columellar lamella

high, two anterior upper palatal plicae present,

clausilium plate distally narrow ed with outer corner

more or less pointed. Sidlicirici ferrOX and S.

riberothi were not included in none of these groups

because of ambiguous character combinations.

Siciliaria scarificata is considered transitional

to the two principal groups, because it has inferior

lamella less high, second anterior upper palatal

plica missing, clausilium plate distally less nar-

rowed. Nordsieck (2013) re affirm s S. Scarificata is

closely related to the other species of the “ grohman-

niana ” group.

At present it is difficult to establish the real

affinity between these species using only morpho-

logical observations. Consequently, discussion of

the relationships o f S. Scarificata is postponed to

when more data (molecular data in particular) will

b e a v ailab le .

Here we add some morphological data for the

“ grohmanniana ” group not considered by

Nordsieck (2002; 2013 ). Siciliaria grohmanniana

has a small "inserta lamella" (0.7 mm) placed

between the columellar lamella and the spiral

lamella, running from the point of arrest of clausil-

ium outward. This lamella, reported by A. Schmidt

(1868) for S. grohmanniana and also for S. septem-

plicata, is absent in S. scarificata. Siciliaria

grohmanniana and S. septemplicata have a shorter

sulcalis compared with S. Scarificata. Welter-

Shultes (2012) reports on a su b c lau s tr alis , which we

don’t recognize.

The genitalia of S. Scarificata are similar to

those of other species of Siciliaria s. str. known: S.

The endemic door snail of Marettimo (Egadi Islands, Sicily, Italy): Siciliaria scarificata (Pulmonata Clausiliidae)

489

septemplicata { Wagner, 1 9 1 3 , pi. 572, fig. 14), S.

grohmanniana (Wagner, 1925 , pi. 1 , fig. 8) S.

calcarae (w agner, 1925 , pi. 3 , fig. 25 ), S. ferrox

(Brandt, 1961, p. 7, 13, fig. 1). The duct of the

bursa copulatrix is very short, and the diverticulum

is slightly longer of the duct of the bursa copulatrix

+ bursa copulatrix; cylindricalpenis; slight swelling

at the conjunction p e n is -ep ip h allu s .

Westerlund (1 892) described two varieties of S.

scarificata (sub confinata )■. C. confinata merens

Westerlund, 1 8 92, locus typicus “Sicilien, in der

Provinz Palermo”, which is a synonym of S.

leucophryna (see Nordsieck, 2013), syntype in

Goteborg Natural History Museum n° 2638, and C.

confinata commeata westerlund, 1 892, locus

tipicus “Sicilien, bei Trabia” which is a probable

older synonym of S. fCTYOX B randt, 1961 (Reitano

et al., 2007, Nordsieck, 2013).

Conservation status. Although S. scarificata

has a scattered distribution over the whole island,

its limited distribution to Marettimo justified an

assessment as Lower Risk (Near Threatened) [NT,

nt]. The Island of Marettimo is included in the

SICp “Isola diMarettimo” (ITA 010002) and in the

ZPS “Arcipelago delle Egadi - area marina e ter-

restre” (ITA 0 1 0027), however S. Scarificata is not

protected by any specific regulam entation or law,

although it should be strongly reco mended. Sug-

gested measures include sympathetic habitat man-

agement and population monitoring.

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