Publications by authors named "Marta Biaggini"
Background: Hotspots of intraspecific genetic diversity represent invaluable resources for species to cope with environmental changes, and their identification is increasingly recognized as a major goal of conservation ecology research. However, even for iconic and endangered species, conservation strategies are often planned without thorough information on the geographic patterns of genetic variation. Here, we investigated the spatial patterns of genetic variation of the endangered Hermann's tortoise Testudo hermanni in the Italian Peninsula by genotyping 174 individuals at 7 microsatellite loci, with the aim to contribute to planning effective conservation strategies.
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- Habitat anthropization negatively impacts global biodiversity, but some species show adaptive life-history responses, like increased reproduction, to cope with these changes.
- The study focused on the yellow-bellied toad and utilized a large dataset of over 21,000 individuals from various European populations to examine the effects of anthropogenic environments on their survival and reproduction.
- Results indicated that while adult toads had lower survival and shorter lifespans in human-modified habitats, their increased reproductive output compensated for these losses, helping to maintain stable population growth rates despite habitat alterations.
The trophic niche of a species is one of the fundamental traits of species biology. The ideal trophic niche of a species is realized in the absence of interspecific competition, targeting the most profitable and easy-to-handle food resources. However, when a competitor is present, species adopt different strategies to reduce competition and promote coexistence.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis data set collects capture-mark-recapture data, biometric data, and stomach contents of seven populations of the Italian cave salamander (Speleomantes italicus), one of the strictly protected European plethodontid species endemic to mainland Italy. We monitored six subterranean populations inside caves, and one fully epigean population living in a forest, surveying a total area of >5200 m . Data collection was performed 24 times throughout a year for each of the subterranean populations, and seven times in late winter-early spring for the epigean population.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessing Stress Response in Lizards from Agroecosystems with Different Management Practices.
Bull Environ Contam Toxicol
February 2022
Despite the importance of reptiles in agroecosystems, little is known about the effects of agricultural intensification and pesticide use on these animals. We compared antioxidant and haematological biomarkers in the wild Italian wall lizards Podarcis siculus from three olive groves representing a gradient of management intensity. Lizards from the conventional grove showed induced antioxidant defences relative to those from the organic field.
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- The illegal trade in tortoises has been a significant threat to their populations for years, but new DNA typing techniques are now enabling better tracking of their geographic origins.
- Researchers developed a microsatellite marker panel to help identify the genetic structure of Mediterranean land tortoises and to assist in locating confiscated individuals in recovery centers.
- The study found six major genetic clusters corresponding to different regions and was able to trace about 70% of confiscated tortoises back to specific geographic areas, highlighting the effectiveness of these genetic tools in wildlife conservation efforts.