Biology subjects

Nelli, L.

Publications and source records attributed to Nelli, L..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Bird-assisted sampling of air temperature reveals three-dimensional cooling effects of urban vegetation

Air temperature in cities is highly variable horizontally and vertically, reflecting the complexity of the urban landscape. Yet, studies of urban temperature still depend largely on ground-based meteorological stations and satellite-derived surface temperature products, both of which provide limited information on near-surface air conditions and vertical structure. We tested a bio-assisted monitoring approach to characterise fine-scale three-dimensional patterns of summer air temperature in the city of Rome, Italy, using homing pigeons (Columba livia) equipped with lightweight GPS loggers air-temperature sensors. Flight data collected during summer sampling campaigns between 2023 and 2025 revealed pronounced spatial, vertical, and temporal variability in air temperature over the urban area. Modelling results showed that vegetation had a measurable cooling influence within the lower urban atmosphere with grass cover and wooded patches were both associated with lower air temperatures. Thermal contrasts between land-cover types were the strongest at low altitudes and during morning hours, when air above artificial surfaces was up to approximately 5 {degrees}C warmer than above vegetated areas. We also observed a buffering effect associated with green areas: air temperature, particularly near wooded vegetation, remained relatively stable up to approximately 300 m from the patch edge before increasing by as much as 3 {degrees}C. These findings suggest that animal-borne sensing can complement conventional monitoring by capturing air temperature variability across urban landscapes and heights, while also helping to identify when and where urban vegetation most effectively mitigates heat exposure. This approach offers new opportunities to support climate-resilient urban planning and targeted heat mitigation strategies.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2026

Ecology of mosquitoes in Scottish wetlands and confirmation of Culex molestus and hybrids in Scotland

BackgroundThe recent spread of mosquito-borne pathogens and their vectors within Europe highlights the impact of climate change on vector-borne disease (VBD) distributions. Mosquito surveillance has been implemented in many European countries to monitor expansion of vector populations and VBDs, but ability to predict disease risk is constrained by geographic data gaps, particularly in northern areas. In the United Kingdom, wetland mosquito surveillance has been conducted extensively in England, with a knowledge deficit for Scotland. Here, we addressed this gap through a nationwide survey of mosquitoes at Scottish wetlands, with aims of 1) confirming the geographic distribution and environmental drivers of mosquito occurrence and abundance, and 2) identifying the presence of vector species of epidemiological concern, including the Culex pipiens molestus biotype, an important vector of emerging VBDs in mainland Europe. MethodsMonthly mosquito sampling was conducted between June and October 2023 at 22 sites across Scotland comprising six wetland types: coastal saltmarsh, wet grassland, wet woodland, reedbeds, ponds and blanket bog. Adult and larval populations were sampled using Biogents BG-Pro traps and larval dipping respectively. Microclimatic and hydrological variables were recorded at collection sites and used in generalised linear mixed models to identify predictors of mosquito presence and abundance. Results1951 adults (17 species/ groups) and 860 larvae (six species/ groups) were collected from wetlands over 183 and 164 sampling events respectively. Mosquitoes were widely distributed across the Scottish mainland including up to the northern coast, being found at all but one site. Several potential vector species including Culex pipiens s.l. and Anopheles claviger were common. Amongst the adult Culex pipiens s.l. specimens, approximately 8% were Culex pipiens biotype molestus or hybrid forms. Total mosquito abundance and that of key vector species were positively associated with temperature and rainfall. ConclusionsWe report the widespread distribution of mosquitoes in wetlands throughout Scotland, including potential vector species previously unconfirmed in Scotland. Predicted associations between mosquito abundance, rainfall and temperature indicate that climate change could favour mosquito populations in Scotland. Our results provide the first comprehensive description of mosquito ecology in Scotland, as required to update assessment of VBD risk under climate change.

ecology↗

bioRxiv2022

Forest fragmentation drives zoonotic malaria prevalence in non-human primate hosts

Zoonotic disease dynamics in wildlife hosts are rarely quantified at macroecological scales due to the lack of systematic surveys. Non-human primates (NHPs) host Plasmodium knowlesi, a zoonotic malaria of public health concern and the main barrier to malaria elimination in Southeast Asia. Understanding of regional P. knowlesi infection dynamics in wildlife is limited. Here, we systematically assemble reports of NHP P. knowlesi and investigate geographic determinants of prevalence in reservoir species. Meta-analysis of 6322 NHPs from 148 sites reveals that prevalence is heterogeneous across Southeast Asia, with low overall prevalence and high estimates for Malaysian Borneo. We find that regions exhibiting higher prevalence in NHPs overlap with human infection hotspots. In wildlife and humans, parasite transmission is linked to land conversion and fragmentation. By assembling remote sensing data and fitting statistical models to prevalence at multiple spatial scales, we identify novel relationships between P. knowlesi in NHPs and forest fragmentation. This suggests that higher prevalence may be contingent on habitat complexity, which would begin to explain observed geographic variation in parasite burden. These findings address critical gaps in understanding regional P. knowlesi epidemiology and indicate that prevalence in simian reservoirs may be a key spatial driver of human spillover risk.

ecology↗