Search

The Central Apennine brown bear population, that has been ascribed to the subspecies Ursus arctos marsicanus Altobello, 1921 and is endemic to Central Italy, actually survives as an isolated, small population potentially at high risk of extinction. The population of U. a. marsicanus is mostly located in Abruzzo, Lazio and Molise National Park (Central Apennines). However, the Central Apennine peripheral distribution area of this subspecies is less known and it is presumed that bear presence occurs at lower density. The purpose of this study is to provide a new contribution to the knowledge of bear presence in this peripheral area, in order to enable its protection in the Central Apennines. The monitoring of bear presence was carried out in Sirente Velino Natural Regional Park and surrounding areas (600 km2) from January 2000 to December 2014. Monitoring was conducted by collecting data along opportunistic survey trails in areas where the presence of bears had been previously confirmed by direct observations. A total of 237 records of bear presence were collected during the study period. Distribution of historic bear data reported for the period 1900–1991 for the study area (n = 61) and present data are compared. Data show a continuous presence of bears in the study area during the last 15 years. The monitoring program has also provided evidence of the stable presence of wintering bears and a more or less continuous presence of breeding bears in the study area, although observations of females with cubs were not available every year. Results led us to speculate about a wider than previously expected stable presence of brown bears in the peripheral Apennine range. These peripheral areas of bear distribution, both inside and outside protected areas, are crucial for conservation and more effort must be made to estimate bear occurrence outside the core range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Colonial waterbirds, a major biodiversity element occurring in the core of ultra-anthropized Europe, are ideal indicators of the wellness of inland wetlands. Nonetheless, there is a critical knowledge gap in their trend and population status. We present an uninterrupted 47 years-long dataset of the breeding populations of 12 species of colonial waterbirds (Ardeidae, Phalacrocoracidae, Plataleidae, Threskiornitidae) throughout a 58,000 km 2 agricultural region in the higher Po basin (NW Italy). A trained team of collaborators censused with standardized field techniques the number of nests of each species at 419 colonies in the 1972-2018 period, summing up a total of 236,316 records. Data cleaning and standardization were performed for each census year, ensuring robust and consistent data. This dataset is among the largest ever collected for a guild of European vertebrates. It has already been used to describe the factors influencing population trends, and still offers opportunities to explore a wide range of key ecological processes such as biological invasions, global change consequences and biodiversity impact of agricultural practices., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: To carefully examine the features of controlled ovarian stimulation performed with recombinant FSH-alpha or hMG., Design: Controlled, prospective, randomized comparison of fixed gonadotropin regimens., Setting: Academic research institution., Patient(s): Fifty infertile patients who were candidates for IUI., Intervention(s): Patients were randomized to receive a fixed regimen of recombinant FSH-alpha (150 IU/day, 25 patients) or hMG (150 IU/day, 25 patients), after GnRH-agonist suppression (long regimen)., Main Outcome Measures: Daily measurements of serum LH, immunoreactive FSH, hCG, E(2), P, and T. Transvaginal pelvic ultrasound every 2 days. Pregnancy and abortion rates. Cost of medications. Two recombinant FSH-alpha-treated patients did not respond. Despite matched daily FSH dose, duration of treatment (hMG 10.8 +/- 0.4 vs. recombinant FSH-alpha 12.4 +/- 0.5 days), gonadotropin dose (21.7 +/- 0.8 vs. 25.3 +/- 1.3 ampoules), gonadotropin cost (288 +/- 10 vs. 1,299 +/- 66 /cycle), serum P levels, and small preovulatory follicle number were significantly lower, and LH, hCG, immunoreactive FSH levels, and larger follicles on day 8 were significantly higher in hMG-treated patients. The pregnancy, abortion, and twin pregnancy rates did not differ., Conclusion: The hMG administration was associated with: [1]. increased serum LH activity and immunoreactive FSH levels during treatment; [2]. reduced signs of premature luteinization; [3]. differential modulation of folliculogenesis; [4]. lower treatment duration, gonadotropin dose, and cost; and [5]. clinical outcome comparable to recombinant FSH-alpha.