Marcello Franchini

This study investigated how the lactation stage and the main behavioral activities of dairy cows influence enteric methane emissions. The research trial was conducted on 39 Italian Simmental dairy cows reared in a commercial dairy farm. Each animal was monitored during early, mid, and late lactation. Methane emissions were measured using LaserMethaneSmart (LMS® - Tokyo Gas Engineering Solutions Ltd.) device. Simultaneously, eating, rumination, and resting times were continuously recorded using activity monitoring collars. Furthermore, milk yield and composition and feed samples were collected throughout the experiment. Methane emissions were significantly affected by both behavioral activity and its interaction with the lactation stage. The highest methane intensity values were observed during rumination in late lactation, while resting consistently showed the lowest emissions. Emissions estimated by considering only eating activity tended to overestimate total daily methane output compared with estimates weighted across all behaviors. These findings underscore that behavioral patterns, particularly rumination and resting, contribute substantially to daily methane emissions and should be included in emission models to improve the accuracy of environmental assessments and mitigation strategies in dairy production systems.

The decline of large carnivores and the overabundance of livestock practices contribute significantly to ecosystem degradation. Large carnivores, through livestock depredations, can cause substantial economic damage leading to resentment among herders and retaliatory killings. Understanding herders' attitudes toward large carnivores and implementing effective non‐lethal prevention measures is thus crucial to enhancing human‐carnivore coexistence. Through structured interviews, we assessed attitudes of 58 herders toward the gray wolf Canis lupus and the snow leopard ( Panthera uncia ) in the Bayan‐Ölgii province, Mongolia, where livestock practices form the mainstay of livelihood for local communities. Furthermore, we characterized carnivore depredations and tested the use of Foxlights as carnivore deterrents at night. To achieve this goal, 20 herders were randomly selected as ‘treatment’ groups while 18 as ‘control’ groups. Herders' attitudes toward carnivores were explored using a Bayesian cumulative logit mixed‐effects model, while the effectiveness of Foxlights was assessed using Bayesian generalized linear mixed‐effects models, as well as a Bayesian generalized linear model. Our findings revealed that attitudes toward the wolf were entirely negative, while those toward the snow leopard were more positive. In terms of livestock losses, sheep and goats were the most affected by both snow leopards and wolves. However, in relation to availability, yaks and horses were the preferred prey. When comparing ‘treatment’ and ‘control’ groups, the use of Foxlights was associated with an approximately 30% reduction in night‐time depredation events on sheep and goats, that is, n = 11 in ‘treatment’ groups versus n = 31 in ‘control’ groups. To reduce the magnitude of human‐carnivore conflict it is crucial to encourage collaboration among various institutions and stakeholder groups. Additionally, implementing non‐lethal prevention measures alongside efficient husbandry practices should be encouraged.

The study investigated differences in ruminal and fecal microbiota composition, fermentation traits, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in Simmental dairy cows classified as high (HME) or low (LME) methane emitters. Methane emissions from 48 cows were quantified using the Laser Methane Smart portable gas detector. The 12 animals with the highest and lowest emissions were selected and assigned to the HME and LME groups, respectively, balanced for body weight, days in milk, and body condition score. Rumen fluid and fecal samples were analyzed for pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acids (VFA), VOC, and microbiota composition. As expected, CH₄ emissions were significantly higher in HME than in LME cows (22.5 vs. 13.2 g/kg DMI; 16.9 vs. 8.4 g/kg FCM). The neutral detergent fiber digestibility was higher in HME cows (51.4% vs. 47.9%). The valeric acid concentration and the acetate-to-propionate ratio were significantly higher in HME cows (3.53 vs. 3.31). The VOC profiles significantly differed between groups in both feces and rumen fluid. The microbiota analysis revealed a significant difference between groups at the order and genus levels (Bray–Curtis dissimilarity). The Shannon index was higher in LME cows (2.08 vs. 1.95). HME cows exhibited a higher abundance of Methanosphaera and Methanobacteriales. Overall, the results indicate that re-shaping the rumen microbial community can play a key role in reducing methane emissions, strengthening the case for microbiome-driven approaches and offering insights that can support mitigation strategies across dairy production systems.

Livestock predations along with damages to croplands and beehives, are some of the main drivers of human-bear conflicts in shared landscapes. In the North-Eastern Italian Alps, the only brown bear Ursus arctos breeding population persists in the Autonomous Province of Trento, reintroduced via the LIFE Ursus program (1999–2004), while in Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) few dispersing males are detected annually. Both areas report damages mainly to agro-livestock activities near human settlements. This study aimed to: (i) describe bear-related damages to livestock (sum of preyed, injured, and missing individuals), agriculture, beehives, and structures using 15 years of claims data; (ii) assess temporal trends in damages near human settlements; and (iii) evaluate the spatial expansion of damages. We analysed official compensation claims from 2009 to 2023 in the Autonomous Province of Trento and FVG. Generalized Additive Models assessed proximity trends, while spatial expansion was analysed using 5 × 5 km grid-based hotspot analysis. Findings revealed that livestock and structural damages occurred significantly closer to human settlements across years; but a significant spatial expansion of damages was observed only in the Autonomous Province of Trento. Results highlight the need for effective prevention to reduce conflicts and support human-bear coexistence.

Background and Research Aims: The Democratic Republic of Congo is among the leading timber exporters in Africa. Over the past two decades, human-driven deforestation has brought forest elephants Loxodonta cyclotis into closer contact with humans, leading to increased human-elephant conflicts. Understanding the attitudes of communities that predominantly depend on livestock farming and agriculture for their livelihoods is essential for designing effective conservation interventions. This study aims to assess those factors influencing farmers’ attitudes towards the presence of forest elephants in the Western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Methods: We conducted interviews with a random sample of n = 45 farmers across five small villages in the Lukula territory. The effect of gender, age, education, and per capita income on the attitude towards the presence of forest elephants was analysed using a Bayesian ordinal regression mixed model to account for the small sample size. Farmers’ opinions regarding the most effective preventive measure/s to protect croplands were explored using Fisher’s exact test. Results: The results showed no significant effects of gender, age, or education in terms of attitudes towards the presence of forest elephants. In contrast, negative attitudes were significantly more prevalent among farmers with higher per capita incomes. Reforestation and beehive fences were most frequently quoted by farmers as effective methods of preventing human-elephant conflicts. Discussion: The perceived future losses due to elephant-related damages may drive more negative attitudes towards the presence of forest elephants. Notably, our study revealed that the species is still present in the Western transboundary area of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where, according to the farmers interviewed, it has never disappeared. Implications for Conservation: To enhance forest elephant conservation, it is essential to implement effective prevention measures, engage government authorities and local communities in conservation activities, and develop educational campaigns to foster human-elephant coexistence in shared landscapes.

Within ecological communities, larger predators typically limit mesocarnivore populations. On a continental scale, this may be the case for the gray wolf ( Canis lupus ) over the golden jackal ( Canis aureus ) in Europe. North‐eastern Italy represents one of the first areas in Western Europe to experience golden jackal colonization, followed by wolf recolonization. Since few studies have investigated the spatial relationship between these two wild canids, this work aimed to analyze their distribution dynamics and investigate whether the wolf and environmental factors may have influenced golden jackal distribution. We used systematic and opportunistic data collected over 11 years (2013–2023) to assess the presence of both species on a 10 × 10 km square grid system. A multinomial logistic mixed model (MLMM) was applied to test whether the study period and landscape metrics (terrain ruggedness and habitat fragmentation indices) influenced both species' presence at a broad scale (i.e., square grid units). Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) were used to test whether the wolf and landscape metrics influenced jackal presence at a finer scale (i.e., jackal howling calling stations). Both species showed an increase in their former distribution, with a small growth in sympatric areas. Models revealed that jackals preferred less rugged and more fragmented areas typical of the lowland, whereas wolves preferred rugged terrain with extensive forested patches in the Alpine range. Furthermore, our results showed that, at a local scale, golden jackal presence was negatively related to wolf presence. This study provides further insights into the coexistence of these two competing wild canids, suggesting a potential top‐down effect of the wolf on golden jackal colonization dynamics. However, the wolf influence may vary in intensity depending on environmental context, with a weaker effect in areas of higher human pressure, such as the lowlands.

This study documents the recolonization of the wolf using opportunistic and systematic data, including camera trapping and scat surveys in south-eastern Italy. Wolf distribution was mapped using a 10 × 10 km grid, and Generalized Linear Models (GLMs) were applied to identify environmental and anthropogenic drivers of stable presence. Camera trapping and scat analyses were used to provide the first insights into the activity patterns and feeding habits of the species. The results showed a significant expansion in wolf range, with occurrence increasing by 120%, especially in areas with high forest cover. During 1402 camera-trap nights, wolves and wild prey species displayed primarily nocturnal activity, reducing overlap with human presence, though prey activity peaks were offset from those of wolves. Diet analysis of 75 scats revealed a high occurrence of livestock and pets, along with all wild species living in the area (i.e., ungulates, medium-sized and micromammals). These findings underscore the wolf’s ecological adaptability and ability to thrive in heavily altered landscapes. Indeed, this study shows how wolves were able to occupy even suboptimal areas, taking advantage of both anthropogenic and wild trophic resources, still displaying nocturnal activity to lower the probability of encounters with humans.