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A geological, geomorphological and geo-touristic map, at 1:5000 scale, has been produced for the most representative area of the regional ‘Special Nature Reserve of Montalbano Jonico Badlands’, with the aim to represent the scientific and landscape features which allowed the establishment of the Reserve. The area is located in the Province of Matera (Basilicata), on the southwestern sector of the Apennines Quaternary foredeep, in Southern Italy. The map highlights stratigraphic signatures of international interest and badland landscapes, imprinted on a clayey marine succession straddling the Early-Middle Pleistocene boundary. This stratigraphic interval can be considered as an international reference section for global paleoclimatic signatures during Marine Oxygen Isotopic Stages 20–18 and for the base of the Middle Pleistocene Subseries/Subepoch. With the goal to disseminate these knowledges, to improve future research and to promote sustainable geo-tourism, the map allows visitors to enjoy the scientific features and scenery of the Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While being relatively protected from the direct costs of the COVID-19 pandemic measured in terms of human losses, in Italy, rural and natural areas have been instead severely hit by the negative impacts of the subsequent socioeconomic crisis. In this scenario, food and wine local tourism could be a key driver in supporting Italian rural territories, during and after the pandemic outbreak, as culinary traditions are an important part of the territorial identity, and also a vehicle for experiencing natural and cultural amenities. Based on a data collection that highlights the main characteristics of a sample of small municipalities located in natural and rural areas of Southern Latium, an evaluative exercise was implemented to identify opportunities and limits for developing a culturally sustainable local tourism offer based on a mix of culture, food and wine, rural, and natural amenities. The evaluative exercise was based on the analysis of ten elementary indexes aggregated in two composite indexes measuring tourism attractiveness and territorial development. The results of this study may contribute to reinterpreting local excursions toward regional peripheries as enhancers of the culturally sustainable development of rural and natural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this work was to monitor the ornithic community of the forest of Vallombrosa Biogenetic National Nature Reserve, in the Florence area. The forest covers about 1273 hectares, at an altitude of 470 to 1440 m above sea level (a.s.l.). The main forest types are coniferous woodland, mixed woodland of coniferous and deciduous trees with a prevalence of beech, and open areas. The bird monitoring was carried out using the point count method. Forty-one listening points were considered. The results of the counts allowed the calculation of abundance per station (n), richness (S), Shannon–Wiener diversity (H'), evenness (J') and non-passerine incidence (NP). The data were analysed using the Kruskal–Wallis non-parametric test and principal component analysis, considering the forest type, season and altitude as sources of variability. Forty-seven bird species were identified. Abundance was higher in open areas, in the pre-reproductive period and at 800–1000 m a.s.l. Richness was higher in open areas, in reproductive and pre-reproductive periods and at lower altitudes. Diversity index was higher in open areas, in the reproductive period and at lower altitudes. Evenness was greater in the reproductive period, lower in the broadleaved-tree woodland and lower at higher altitudes. Non-passerine incidence was lower in deciduous areas, higher in the pre-reproductive and reproductive periods and higher at lower altitudes. Seventeen species registered more than 100 contacts each. The highest average values of richness, abundance, diversity and non-passerine incidence were found in the open areas and at high altitudes. Considering the ornithical community throughout the year, the ecological indices taken together showed the highest values in the pre-reproductive and reproductive periods. Because of the area's high richness and biodiversity, and the significant presence of species that are rare and of naturalistic interest, Vallombrosa forest is confirmed to be of high ornithological value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep-seated gravitational slope deformation (DsGSD) represents a relevant geological-geomorphological feature of the landscape and has drawn scientific attention for the past several decades. During a detailed fieldwork in the Ligurian Alps, we identified areas (larger than ca 5 km2), characterized by very low percentage of outcrops, with rock blocks on the watershed and many morpho-tectonic evidences. Through the integration of geological-geomorphological mapping, structural data, photo interpretation, GIS-based analyses, we identified a number of typical DsGSDs. The example here described is one major complex-sagging-type DsGSD that is not present in national land planning and/or management databases but that is likely at the origin of the large-scale landslides which affected the villages of the area. This DsGSD is also located within the Beigua UNESCO Global Geopark, in an area of unique natural and historical value. This study once again highlights the importance of ground truth observations as the basis for further investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasive alien plant species (IAPs) represent one of the main biological threats to biodiversity worldwide. Information about their phenotypic plasticity are needed to increase awareness about their future invasive potential. A study about phenotypic plasticity in response to contrasting light regimes and its quantification by a plasticity index (PI) of two IAPs (Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia) inside a Strict Nature Reserve was conducted. R. pseudoacacia showed a 70% higher PI, with a strongly greater value at morphological leaf level, associated with a greater ability to survive and grow in forest understory, explaining its greater widespread. Otherwise, A. altissima showed its highest PI at physiological level, which was associated with the ability to colonize and grow in environments with high-light regimes. Based on these results, the conservative management has limited the presence of A. altissima by its lower ability to grow in forest understory. In fact, the small-scale gaps in the forest infrastructure, that could allow its recruitment, are originated only from the death of a single tree or small group of trees. Regarding R. pseudoacacia, it is critical to maintain this type of management because any disturbances resulting in large openings could further promote its presence inside the Reserve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This is the first known record of a male of Lethocerus patruelis (Stål, 1855), a predator giant water-bug, in Italy and the first record in the Basilicata Region, in Southern Italy. The specimen was found in 2015 in Calciano (Matera Province), a small village in a local protected natural area. The possible occurrence of stable populations of the species is discussed. Further investigations are needed to verify if the species is spreading and the possible impacts for northern Mediterranean freshwater habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Mediterranean mountains, the abandonment of traditional land-uses is promoting a rapid forest expansion. This trend may be exacerbated by nature reserves, which further limit human disturbance in mountain contexts. We investigated whether ecological parameters, landscape structure, and management policy influenced vegetation cover/dynamics over a 14-year period in the Pollino National Park, a large protected area in southern Italy. Based on remote sensed and field data we obtained land-cover maps referred to 2004, 1997, and 1990. Canonical ordination related patterns of vegetation cover/dynamics to ecological (elevation, slope, climate) and structural (spatial heterogeneity) landscape traits. Higher change rate regarded scrublands (decrease) and forests (expansion). Spatial heterogeneity declined over the study period, while the average area of forest patches increased. A non-spatial transition matrix model revealed that the decline of pastures/scrublands, and forest recovery accelerated in the 1997-2004 period compared to the 1990-1997 interval. Since the Pollino National Park was established in 1993, the protection regime may have favored the reduction of open habitats in the second timeframe. The recognized trends suggest a future reduction of both landscape complexity and dynamics in the Pollino National Park, a factor that could possibly be detrimental for the conservation of biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aims to develop a sampling methodology, based on soil invertebrates, to provide a reliable and easy-to-perform measure of environmental quality. Hand-sorting and pitfall-trapping were the main sampling systems adopted because they are quick and easy to use and do not require particular skills or tools. Both agroecosystems (organic and conventional) and seminatural environments (planted woods, hedgerows, flooded areas) have been monitored in a coastal lagoon area reclaimed to farmland in North Eastern Italy. Taxa at high hierarchical levels proved to be useful in separating different type of habitat, but were unable to provide information about the type of rural management. Carabidae (Coleoptera) seem particularly useful in studying agroecosystems: 23 species have been collected, mainly in the organic farm and in the hedgerow. The earthworm population was mainly affected by type of soil. In agroecosystems, cultivated fields had fewer individuals with respect to hedgerow, probably due to disturbance caused by soil management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal exposure may affect the structure of littoral fish assemblages. To evaluate its effects, fish assemblages associated with shallow (0-3 m depth) rocky reefs were investigated by visual census at the Asinara Island National Park (northwestern Sardinia, Italy, Mediterranean Sea) during autumn 2003. Distribution patterns of ichthyofauna in sheltered and exposed rocky reefs were assessed over the spatial scales of locations (i.e. kilometres) and sites (i.e. hundreds of metres). Overall, 38 fish taxa belonging to 17 families were recorded, with Labridae, Sparidae and Serranidae being the families with the most species. Univariate analyses showed that the average density of Labridae and Serranidae was significantly greater at sheltered locations, while particulate organic matter feeders (i.e. Mugilidae) were more abundant at the exposed ones. Significant differences in species richness, total fish abundance and densities of Labridae and planktivorous fish were observed at the spatial scale of sites. Multivariate analyses revealed that whole fish assemblages differed more at the scale of locations than among sites. Planktivorous species contributed most to the dissimilarity between fish assemblages associated with exposed and sheltered stretches of coast. Direct and indirect effects of coastal exposure were hypothesized to explain the potential role of wave action in structuring fish assemblages associated with shallow rocky reefs. In particular, direct effects could affect the distribution patterns of fish, depending on their swimming ability, while indirect effects could include changes in the benthic cover (especially macroalgae) caused by wave action, which then had a repercussion on the fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]