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Aim: High‐elevation specialist species are threatened by climate change and habitat loss, and their distributions are becoming increasingly reduced and fragmented. In such a context, dispersal ability is crucial to maintain gene flow among patches of suitable habitat. However, information about dispersal is often lacking for these species, especially for those taxa that are usually considered as good dispersers such as birds. We adopted a landscape genomics approach to investigate dispersal in a climate‐sensitive high‐elevation specialist bird. Our aims were to assess the levels of gene flow within a wide mountain area, and to assess the effects of geographic distance and landscape characteristics on dispersal, by testing the isolation by distance (IBD) hypothesis against the isolation by resistance (IBR) hypothesis. Location: European Alps. Taxon: Montifringilla nivalis. Methods: We sampled individuals from several breeding areas and obtained single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data by ddRAD sequencing. We then calculated site‐ and individual level genetic distances and individual inbreeding coefficients. To test IBD versus IBR, we related genetic distances to both geographic distances and different measures of landscape resistance by using maximum likelihood population effects models. Results: Gene flow among breeding areas was partly restricted, and we found support for IBD, indicating that geographic distance limits snowfinch dispersal. Spatial patterns of genetic distances suggested that philopatry strongly contributed to determine the observed IBD. High inbreeding coefficients in several individuals indicated frequent mating among relatives. Main Conclusions: Restricted dispersal and frequent inbreeding within 'sky island' systems can also occur in highly mobile species, because their potential ability to cover very large distances can be counteracted by high philopatry levels that are likely related to high dispersal costs. IBD and philopatry will increasingly hinder snowfinch dispersal among suitable areas within the future more restricted and fragmented breeding range, increasing the risks of local extinctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Barred Warbler Sylvia nisoria is a critically endangered breeding species in Italy, given the severe decline suffered in the last decades and the reduced population size. South Tyrol, an inner Alpine region, is the northernmost Italian breeding area of this warbler, but we lacked recent information about the distribution and population size. In this study, based on surveys carried out in the year 2019 and other recent observations, we assessed a very restricted current distribution of this warbler, and we estimated a population size of 10-30 pairs. We also observed a singing male at unusually high elevation. A comparison of our results to historical data suggests a strong reduction in distribution compared to the 1980s 1990s. The changes in agricultural practices of the last decades might have contributed to determine such decline. Appropriate conservation measures are urgently needed to try to avoid the local extinction of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salamandra atra atra is the most widespread subspecies of the Alpine Salamander, both in Italy and in the other parts of the species distribution range. However, in particular for Italian populations, its ecology and demographic parameters are poorly known. We studied biometry (length, mass, body condition index) and demography (population density, sex ratio, proportion of gravid females) of this fully terrestrial salamander in the "Paneveggio- Pale di San Martino" Natural Park in the Dolomites. We used removal methods to estimate abundance on a surface of about 1000 m2. Density estimate of adults was 472 salamanders/ha, which falls within the density estimates that are available for this taxon. Sexes did not differ significantly in size and body mass. Body sizes of adults included the maximum sized salamander recorded in Italy. There was a high rate of gravid females (50%), which were comparable in size with non-gravid females. Males and non-gravid females did not show significant differences in their body condition index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black grouse were once widespread in England, but have declined over the past 150 years due largely to habitat changes. In 1998, 773 males remained and following the instigation of conservation measures population size increased to 1029 in 2006, but population range remained similar. We hypothesized that range expansion was limited by the short dispersal ranges of males (up to 1 km) relative to females (up to 19 km), resulting in yearling females dispersing into areas without males. We tested this hypothesis by moving males to establish new leks and to stimulate range expansion. Three release sites were chosen beyond the southern edge of the male range, but were within the perceived dispersal distance of females, and where habitats were considered suitable and generalist predators were controlled. Between 2006 and 2010, 17 males were released at the first site, and a further 18 and 27 respectively at two sites between 2011 and 2014. Males were caught at night, fitted with radio‐transmitters and hard released. In the first spring following translocation, 98% of males were observed displaying. Males displayed an average 3.6 km (range 0.6 to 27.1 km) from their release point. Leks were established at all sites, with 14 different leks occupied in spring 2015 contributing to the re‐colonisation of seven 10 km grid squares. Mean annual survival in the first year following translocation was 0.77 (0.63–0.86, 95% CL) and was similar to that of birds measured in previous studies in the core northern England range. This suggests that under appropriate circumstances translocation can be a helpful conservation tool in stimulating range expansion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]