Marco Cucco

The Greater Noctule is a threatened bat species characterized by a fragmented distribution and limited documented observations in Italy. During a census using ultrasound detectors, foraging Greater Noctules were identified in 2024 and 2025. Echolocation calls were recorded in Santena, Valdieri, and the Bosco dell’Alevè woodland in Val Varaita, NW Italy. The first localization in Alevè was made at 1,500 m a.s.l. on 30/07/2024. In the following year, sampling was performed across five sites in the surrounding area. The species was recorded again at the original site at 1,500 m on 11/07/2025, as well as at a new location at 1,900 m a.s.l. on 11/08/2025. The habitat in these areas is dominated by Arolla Pines Pinus cembra of uneven ages, featuring many ancient trees with numerous cavities or advanced decay. In Santena, localization occurred on 24/06/2024 at 240 m a.s.l. The habitat was characterized by a private garden in the periurban area, close to an ancient castle park with old trees. The observation of Valdieri occurred in autumn, on 14/10/2025 at 790 m a.s.l., in an area characterized by vertical rocky slopes within open arid grassland and broadleaf woods. The observations of Santena and Alevè represent the first verification of this rare bat’s occurrence during the summer reproductive season, and prompt further investigation regarding the regular presence of the species in NW Italy.

Introduction: Limestone quarries impact natural areas, and they are spreading in relation to human population growth. Little is known about the impact of limestone quarries and their restoration on biodiversity. Objectives: This review aims to provide an overview of how biodiversity is assessed in limestone quarries, how it impacts biodiversity, and the restoration practices applied after mining. Methods: We reviewed the published literature, including a total of 140 studies. Results: Very few studies were designed to include more than one quarry or different control areas. Few studies examined the role of quarries as open habitats during mining operations, while the majority focused on habitat restoration after excavation. Restoration can occur through active or natural processes. Although active restoration, such as soil amendments and planting, was preferred, natural processes may better support communities that resemble those inhabiting natural calcareous grasslands. Even natural recovery often requires active management. Most studies focused on plants and arthropods, with very few addressing vertebrates. The impact of dust emission was mainly analyzed on plants and lichens. Conclusion: There is a significant knowledge gap regarding biodiversity in active quarries and limited data on animal communities. Restoration efforts should integrate both active and passive strategies, with improved monitoring programs and broader taxonomic coverage.

In the Western Palaearctic, ice ages played an important role in shaping the genetic diversity of birds, yet the phylogeography of species that persisted in the Mediterranean basin is understudied. Thus, we investigated the genetic diversity, phylogeography and demographic history of the Sardinian Warbler ( Curruca melanocephala ), a widespread Mediterranean songbird from the Canary Islands, North Africa, across southern Europe, to Turkey and the Middle East. Our study integrated mitochondrial (cytochrome C oxidase subunit I[(COI], cytochrome b [cytb]) and nuclear transforming growth factor‐beta 2 (TGFB2) markers, single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) derived from a genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) approach and species distribution models (SDMs). Both single markers and genomic SNPs identified four major clades. Several widespread haplotypes, extending from Iberia to Turkey and North Africa, indicate a panmictic pattern across the range of C. m. melanocephala . Among the remaining groups, one corresponds to C. m. momus , another includes individuals ascribable to subspecies valverdei and leucogastra , while the last consists of a highly divergent leucogastra haplotype. The ambiguity in subspecies range is further supported by nuclear markers and SNPs, which highlighted great levels of gene flow among populations. Phylogenetic reconstruction showed that the divergence of the clades within C. melanocephala occurred during the Pleistocene in the Middle East region. Demographic analyses suggest that the species maintained relatively stable effective population sizes ( N _e ) through time, findings supported by SDMs projections, which identify suitable habitats across the Mediterranean during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), implying broad persistence rather than contraction to isolated refugia. This study offers new insights into the historical processes that have shaped the apparent panmixia observed today in C. melanocephala and reveals that bird species originating in the Mediterranean may have partially escaped the constraints traditionally associated with glacial refugia along the region’s coasts. The findings also emphasise the value of combining molecular and ecological approaches to disentangle the complex evolutionary dynamics of avian biodiversity hotspots.

Swifts (Apodidae) are an unusual group of birds that spend most of their lives in flight, landing only when breeding. Although this aerial lifestyle greatly reduces their likelihood of being bitten by vectors and infected by vector-born parasites, swifts can still be heavily infested during breeding by nest-based vectors such as louse flies (Hippoboscidae). Here, we investigated host, vector, and vector-borne parasite relationships in the three most widespread swift species in the Western Palearctic (WP): common swifts (Apus apus), pallid swifts (A. pallidus), and alpine swifts (Tachymarptis melba), their nest-based louse flies (Crataerina pallida and C. melbae) and avian haemosporidians (genera Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, and Leucocytozoon). Studies of haemosporidian infections in Apodidae remain limited, with clear evidence of infection found to date in just four Neotropical and one Australasian species. The possible role of louse flies in transmitting haemosporidian infections has never been tested in swifts. We assessed the occurrence of haemosporidian infection by PCR screenings of DNA from blood samples from 34 common swifts and 44 pallid swifts from Italy, and 45 alpine swifts from Switzerland. We also screened 20 ectoparasitic louse flies present on 20 birds and identified them by both morphological features and cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 (COI) barcodes. Our results provide no evidence of haemosporidian infection in the 123 swifts tested or in the two louse fly species we identified. Our findings are consistent with available knowledge showing no haemosporidian occurrence in WP swift species and that the most likely infection route for these highly aerial species (via louse fly ectoparasites during nesting) is unlikely.

Implementing efforts to understand biogeographic distribution patterns and taxonomic limits within animal groups is crucial for addressing several challenges of modern zoology. Although avian phylogeography has been extensively investigated within the Western Palearctic, several families, such as shrikes, still display unresolved or neglected biogeographic patterns both between and within species, thus requiring further investigations. The Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator) is a long-distance migratory species that exhibits three morphologically well-recognizable subspecies, whose boundaries have never been phylogenetically investigated. Here, we aimed to define the phylogeographic structure of Lanius senator throughout its breeding range and assess the genetic coherence with respect to the phenotypically described subspecies. We assembled a collection of 34 samples mainly from breeding populations of each subspecies and analysed them using four mtDNA and two nuDNA markers. We did not find clear phylogenetic structure in nuclear Ornithine Decarboxylase (ODC) and Myoglobin intron 2 (MYO), but all the four mtDNA loci (i.e., ND2, COI, cytb and CR) highlighted two main haplogroups: one including both the nominate subspecies L. s. senator and L. s. badius and a second one consisting of L. s. niloticus (the easternmost part of its range). Surprisingly, individuals phenotypically assigned to L. s. niloticus from Israel were genetically assigned to the senator/badius haplogroup. Moreover, genetic distances between haplogroups showed intermediate values between inter-intraspecies diversity usually reported for Passerines. We estimated a divergence time at ca. 890 kya (554–1.259 kya HPD). Our findings showed a mismatch in subspecies assignment using morphology and genetic information and a marked differentiation between the eastern L. s. niloticus and all other L. senator populations sampled.

Caves play an important role in bat ecology, offering natural roosting and wintering sites. In the reproductive period, bats need to find an effective foraging environment away from the cave entrance, but only few studies have considered the use of foraging habitats in the immediate proximity of the caves. We provide a list of 18 bat species and 5 bat acoustic groups observed in a system of 81 caves in NW Italy. Winter censuses carried out during 17 years showed an increase of the Greater Horseshoe bat, a species of conservation concern. In the summer period this rare species was also observed foraging in nearby areas. Recording of bat calls in the summer period was performed both at cave entrances and in three foraging habitats present in the area surrounding the cave (woods, agricultural mosaic with artificial light, dark mosaic). Light mosaics and woods showed the highest foraging activity (160.3 and 72.0 pass/hour), while woods and cave entrances were accessed by the largest number of bat species. Our survey improves the inventory of bat species in a poorly sampled area, and we recommend a reduced tourism access, thereby promoting preservation of bats.

Implementing the effort in understanding biogeographic distribution patterns and taxonomic limits within animal groups is crucial for addressing several challenges of modern zoology. Although avian phylogeography has been deeply investigated within Western Palearctic, several families, such as shrikes, still display complicated or neglected biogeographic patterns both between and within species, thus requiring further investigations. The Woodchat Shrike ( Lanius senator ) is a long-distance migratory species that exhibits three morphologically well-recognizable subspecies, whose boundaries have never been molecularly investigated. Here, we aimed to define the phylogeographic structure of Lanius senator throughout its breeding range and assess the genetic coherence with the phenotypically described subspecies. We assembled a collection of 34 samples mainly from breeding populations of each subspecies and analyzed them at four mtDNA and two nuDNA markers. We did not find a clear phylogenetic structure with nuclear Ornithine Decarboxylase (ODC) and myoglobin intron 2 (MYO), while all the four mtDNA loci (i.e., ND2, COI, cytb and Control Region) highlighted two main haplogroups, one including both the nominate subspecies L. s. senator and L. s. badius and the second consistent with L. s. niloticus only from the easternmost part of the range. Surprisingly, individuals phenotypically assigned to L. s. niloticus from Israel were genetically assigned to the senator/badius haplogroup. Moreover, genetic distances showed intermediate values between inter-intraspecies diversity usually found in Passerines. We estimated a divergence time among the two haplogroups around 800 kya (549 - 1.259 kya HPD). Our findings showed a mismatch in subspecies assignment using morphology and genetic information and a marked differentiation between the eastern L . s. niloticus and all the other L. senator populations.

In Odonates, female colour polymorphism is common and implies the presence of two or more female types with different colours and behaviours. To explain this phenomenon, several hypotheses have been proposed that consider morph frequency, population density, the presence of parasites, and mating behaviour. We studied the blue-tailed damselfly Ischnura elegans, a species with a blue androchrome morph and two gynochrome morphs (the common green infuscans, and the rare orange rufescens-obsoleta). The size of adult males and females, the presence of parasites, and pairing behaviour between males and the three female morphs was assessed in field conditions throughout the reproductive season in NW Italy. Moreover, growth and emergence success of larvae produced by the different morphs was analyzed in standardized conditions. In the field, males showed a preference for the gynochrome infuscans females, despite a similar frequency of androchrome females. In test conditions, male preference for the infuscans females was also observed. Paired males and paired androchrome females were larger than unpaired individuals, while there were no differences in size between paired and unpaired infuscans females. Males and androchrome females were more parasitized than infuscans females. The survival and emergence success of larvae produced by androchrome females was higher than those of offspring produced by the infuscans females. Our results suggest that a higher survival of progeny at the larval stage could counterbalance the higher parasitism and the lower pairing success of andromorph adult females and highlight the importance of considering the whole life-cycle in polymorphism studies.