Davide Sogliani

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the occurrence and phylogenetic diversity of Hepatozoon spp. in small mammals from the Emilia-Romagna region, northern Italy, and to assess their genetic relationships with previously described lineages. Methods Tissue samples (spleen and ear) from wild animals belonging to eight small mammal species were examined. Molecular screening was performed using PCR targeting the 18 S rRNA gene of Hepatozoon spp. Positive amplicons were sequenced and analyzed using phylogenetic methods to determine their taxonomic placement, and one positive fresh sample was additionally subjected to histopathological characterization. Results Hepatozoon DNA was detected in two rodent species, the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus) and the European edible dormouse (Glis glis). Sequences showed high identity (98.9–100%) with Hepatozoon sp. previously reported in rodents from Spain and Tanzania, and 98.32–98.9% identity with Hepatozoon ophisauri. Phylogenetic analysis placed the sequences from R. norvegicus within a rodent-associated clade, whereas those from G. glis formed a distinct lineage related to Hepatozoon detected in a great gerbil. Histopathological analysis in a European edible dormouse revealed multifocal pulmonary granulomatous inflammatory lesions associated with intracytoplasmic parasitic zoites and developmental stages consistent with type I and type II meronts. Conclusion This study provides molecular evidence of distinct Hepatozoon lineages in European rodents, potentially representing undescribed taxa, and highlights the need for integrative studies combining molecular, morphological, and ecological data.

Globalisation has resulted in the introduction of alien species into new regions at an unprecedented rate. Some of these species become naturalised and pose a risk to the environment, agriculture, and human health. Insects represent one of the most invasive taxa with several disease vectors as well as agriculture and forest pests. Amongst the latter, Corythucha species are considered emerging pests since their life-history traits and host plant trade are helping their rapid spread. Therefore, early monitoring and reporting of highly invasive insect species are fundamental to implement pest management actions aimed at curtailing environmental and socioeconomic damage caused by these species. To this end, I updated the currently known distribution of alien Corythucha species invading Italy using a citizen-science approach, which is an easily repeatable approach that can be applied to other invasive species. In total, 234 records were retrieved from online databases/platforms, including five from the recently arrived invader C. marmorata. Most observations were made in summer and autumn in the months of August and September. The presence of Corythucha species was confirmed in newly invaded areas of Italy, demonstrating that citizen-science repositories are useful first-line tools to detect biological invasions, thus favouring rapid management.

Assessing spatiotemporal activity patterns of carnivores and prey, and their overlaps, provides key insights into behavioural adaptations for mitigating competition and predation. Camera-trapping has improved our potential to conduct systematic studies of activity patterns and spatiotemporal niche overlap on mammalian guilds and, particularly, to monitor the presence and the spatiotemporal behaviour of species of conservation concern. In this study, we used 30 fixed camera traps to investigate spatiotemporal partitioning among two lagomorphs and their shared terrestrial predators (i.e., the grey wolf Canis lupus , the red fox Vulpes vulpes , the pine marten Martes martes , the European badger Meles meles and the wildcat Felis silvestris ), in two similar natural reserves located in Apennine forests of central Italy. We obtained 10,043 independent videos in six months of monitoring, including the two target hare species, i.e. the European brown hare Lepus europaeus and the protected endemic Apennine hare L. corsicanus , and their predators. Our results indicate a high temporal overlap between hares, particularly at dusk and dawn, which suggests potential competition for shared resources. Conversely, moderate spatial overlap and distinct habitat preferences suggest habitat partitioning as co-existence mechanism between European brown hares and Apennine hares. Apennine hares are strongly associated with wooded areas, whereas European brown hares favour open habitats. Both species avoided bright moonlight nights, as an anti-predatory strategy. The higher spatial overlap of Apennine hares with predators suggests that this Italian endemic species may face higher predation pressure, potentially exacerbating competition with the more abundant European brown hare.

Urbanisation significantly reshapes ecosystems, affecting biodiversity and profoundly altering wildlife behaviour. Nonetheless, our understanding of the environmental drivers of behavioural changes, as well as the concurrent effects upon interspecific interactions, remains limited. Here, we investigated the spatiotemporal adaptations of wildlife to urban environments, with a focus on predator–prey dynamics in response to urban‐specific environmental characteristics, adopting a year‐round camera‐trapping campaign within the metropolitan area of Florence, Italy. Temporal and spatial activity patterns of predators, prey, humans and domestic animals, as well as their relative overlaps, were quantified, revealing a marked increase in nocturnal behaviour amongst most wildlife species compared to their conspecifics in rural areas. A wide temporal overlap was recorded between predators and most of their prey (70%–93%), yet limited to night hours. Contrary to more natural settings, the effects of moon phases were negligible upon urban mammals, and the occurrence of humans was a strong driver of wildlife spatiotemporal behaviour. Species richness was also shaped by environmental factors, with artificial light negatively impacting diversity, whereas the presence of herbaceous edges enhanced the diversity of local mammal assemblages. Suburban regions emerged as biodiversity hotspots, highlighting the critical role of green corridors and thoughtful urban planning in mitigating biodiversity loss. Practical implication: Our findings analysed the complex interface between human activity and wildlife in urban landscapes, showing how urbanisation reshapes predator–prey dynamics and ecological interspecific interactions. Camera trapping proved to be a fundamental tool, addressing observational challenges and providing an unbiased, detailed perspective on urban wildlife adaptations.

In the arboviral vector Aedes aegypti, adaptation to anthropogenic environments has led to a major evolutionary shift separating the domestic Aedes aegypti aegypti (Aaa) ecotype from the wild Aedes aegypti formosus (Aaf) ecotype. Aaa mosquitoes are distributed globally and have higher vectorial capacity than Aaf, which remained in Africa. Despite the evolutionary and epidemiological relevance of this separation, inconsistent morphological data and a complex population structure have hindered the identification of genomic signals distinguishing the two ecotypes. Here we assessed the correspondence between the geographic distribution, population structure and genome-wide selection of 511 Aaf and 123 Aaa specimens and report adaptive signals in 186 genes that we call Aaa molecular signatures. Our results indicate that Aaa molecular signatures arose from standing variation associated with extensive ancestral polymorphisms in Aaf populations and have been co-opted for self-domestication through genomic and functional redundancy and local adaptation. Overall, we show that the behavioural shift of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes to live in association with humans relied on the fine regulation of chemosensory, neuronal and metabolic functions, as seen in the domestication processes of rabbits and silkworms. Our results also provide a foundation for the investigation of new genic targets for the control of Ae. aegypti populations.