Biology subjects

Bertolino, S.

Publications and source records attributed to Bertolino, S..

6 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Haplotype-resolved genome and population genomics of the threatened garden dormouse in Europe

Genomic resources are important for evaluating genetic diversity and supporting conservation efforts. The garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) is a small rodent that has experienced one of the most severe modern population declines in Europe. We present a high-quality haplotype-resolved reference genome for the garden dormouse, and combine comprehensive short and long-read transcriptomics datasets with homology-based methods to generate a highly complete gene annotation. Demographic history analysis of the genome revealed a sharp population decline since the last interglacial, indicating an association between colder climates and population declines prior to anthropogenic influence. Using our genome and genetic data from 100 individuals, largely sampled in a citizen-science project across the contemporary range, we conducted the first population genomic analysis for this species. We found clear evidence for population structure across the species core Central European range. Notably, our data shows that the Alpine population, characterized by strong differentiation and reduced genetic diversity, is reproductively isolated from other regions and likely represents a differentiated evolutionary significant unit (ESU). The predominantly declining Eastern European populations also show signs of recent isolation, a pattern consistent with a range expansion from Western to Eastern Europe during the Holocene, leaving relict populations now facing local extinction. Overall, our findings suggest that garden dormouse conservation may be enhanced in Europe through designation of ESUs.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2021

Tapping into non-English-language science for the conservation of global biodiversity

The widely held assumption that any important scientific information would be available in English underlies the underuse of non-English-language science across disciplines. However, non-English-language science is expected to bring unique and valuable scientific information, especially in disciplines where the evidence is patchy, and for emergent issues where synthesising available evidence is an urgent challenge. Yet such contribution of non-English-language science to scientific communities and the application of science is rarely quantified. Here we show that non-English-language studies provide crucial evidence for informing global biodiversity conservation. By screening 419,680 peer-reviewed papers in 16 languages, we identified 1,234 non-English-language studies providing evidence on the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation interventions, compared to 4,412 English-language studies identified with the same criteria. Relevant non-English-language studies are being published at an increasing rate, and can expand the geographical (by 12-25%) and taxonomic (by 5-32%) coverage of English-language evidence, especially in biodiverse regions, albeit often based on less robust study designs. Our results show that synthesising non-English-language studies is key to overcoming the widespread lack of local, context-dependent evidence and facilitating evidence-based conservation globally. We urge wider disciplines to rigorously reassess the untapped potential of non-English-language science in informing decisions to address other global challenges.

scientific communication and education↗

bioRxiv2020

Artificial feeding of invasive grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) at urban parks: a social norms approach to understand its drivers and to guide behavioral interventions

Artificial wildlife feeding might contribute to the successful establishment of some invasive alien species, like the Eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) in Europe and the UK. Reducing squirrel feeding at urban parks can be important to reduce squirrel populations while avoiding social conflicts. From April to October 2018, we conducted interviews and administered factorial surveys to two samples of visitors at the Valentino urban park in Torino (Italy). We established whether squirrel feeding can be regarded as an independent or an interdependent behavior, by eliciting visitors moral beliefs, and their empirical and normative expectations. Most respondents did not regard artificial feeding as something neither intrinsically positive nor negative. Satisfaction, the need for a connection with nature and the presence of children were its main causes. On the other hand, feeding squirrels was deemed to be potentially dangerous for squirrel health, and leading to high squirrel densities and to confident squirrels. Factorial surveys indicated that empirical expectations about the behavior of other visitors, altogether with their past behavior, lead visitors to feed squirrels, while the availability of suboptimal food types (e.g. sweets), was deemed to made people less prone to forage squirrels. Our findings indicate that supplementary feeding is an interdependent behavior, governed by descriptive norms. It might be reduced by means of informative panels containing descriptive information about the fact that most visitors indeed do not feed squirrels, as well as by panels emphasizing the potential damage that squirrels could suffer from eating suboptimal food provided by humans.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

Graphical factorial surveys reveal the acceptability of wildlife observation at protected areas.

Approaching large ungulates at protected areas is dangerous both for visitors and the animals. Nudging interventions can mitigate this issue, but conservationists need to be sure about which factors influence the acceptability of human-wildlife encounters, to design them.\n\nIn summer 2018, we recruited a sample of visitors (n = 205) at the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy). They evaluated the acceptability of 9 digitally modified pictures, depicting a group of visitors observing an alpine ibex (Capra ibex) close to a trail. Pictures were characterized in terms of group size and distance from the ibex.\n\nObserving ibexes was deemed to be acceptable if visitors were further than 25 meters from animals and when groups included less than 3 people. Approaching ibexes at 5 meters was always deemed to be unacceptable. Potential for Conflict Index (PCI) was constant across distance classes and it was generally low.\n\nOur findings indicate that visitors share normative beliefs about the optimal distance and group size, that should characterize encounters with large ungulates, when visiting the park. These normative beliefs are crystallized, because previous encounters with ibexes did not affect the evaluation of each scenario and because the PCI was constant and low. We believe that behavioral interventions aimed at promoting respectful and safe human-ibex interactions can be enforced in areas where this interaction is critical, mostly in form of panels on hiking trails introducing normative pressures on visitors and motivating them to comply with rules.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2019

Invasive Siberian chipmunks Eutamias sibiricus in Italy: a socio-ecological analysis indicates that they could, and should, be removed

BACKGROUNDEradication of invasive alien species is a form of pest control linked to biodiversity conservation that usually involves killing animals. Squirrels are prominent among invasive alien species in Italy with four species introduced. Three of them are included within the list of alien species of European concern and their eradication and control is recommended. However, their local control is not an easy task, being highly appreciated by the general public. We propose a socio-ecological approach to evaluate the feasibility of eradicating Siberian chipmunks (Eutamias sibiricus) populations. We performed a structured questionnaire to assess the social perception of invasive Siberian chipmunks in urban parks where they occur and to identify groups of visitors who might oppose eradication. We also carried out geographic profiling to test for the spatial expansion of chipmunk populations. RESULTSOverall, park visitors regarded chipmunks positively and appreciated to see them, but human-chipmunk interactions were still rare. We did not identify any group of visitors with a strong attachment to chipmunks, who might oppose future control programs. Geographic profiling showed that chipmunks in Valeggio sul Mincio are starting to expand outside of their introduction site. CONCLUSIONSData from questionnaires show that chipmunks eradication, coupled with adequate communication initiatives, might be feasible. Moreover, geographic profiling indicates that time for a rapid removal is running out. Socio-ecological approaches, combining the analysis of structured questionnaires administered to stakeholders and statistical modeling of pest observations, could be a valuable tool to decide the feasibility and the urgency of invasive pest control.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2018

Population genetic structure of the bank vole Myodes glareolus within its glacial refugium in peninsular Italy

It is now well established that Southern European peninsulas have been major glacial refugia for temperate species during Pleistocene climatic oscillations. However, substantial environmental changes occurred also within these peninsulas throughout the Pleistocene, rising questions about the role and interplay of various of micro-evolutionary processes in shaping patterns of intraspecific diversity within these areas. Here, we investigate the patterns of genetic variation in the bank vole Myodes glareolus within the Italian peninsula. By using a panel of 13 microsatellite loci, we found more intra-specific variation than expected based on previous assessments. Indeed, both Bayesian and ordination-based clustering analyses of variation recovered five main geographic/genetic clusters along the peninsula, with three clusters geographically restricted to the southern portion of the study area. This pattern supports the occurrence of multiple sub-refugia for the bank vole in peninsular Italy, likely promoted by the major paleo-environmental changes which affected forested habitats within this area during the Pleistocene. Thus, our results support a scenario whereby the high levels of intraspecific diversity observed within major glacial refugia are better explained by dynamic micro-evolutionary processes occurred within these areas, rather than by long-term demographic stability of refugial population. Finally, the narrow and isolated distribution of some of the identified lineages, suggest the need for future assessments of their conservation and taxonomic status.

evolutionary biology↗