Review
Ecology
Beatrice Nussberger, Soraia Barbosa, Mark Beaumont, Mathias Currat, Sebastien Devillard, Marco Heurich, Jo Howard-McCombe, Federica Mattucci, Carsten Nowak, Claudio Sebastian Quilodran, Helen Senn, Paulo Celio Alves
Summary: Preserving natural genetic diversity and ecological function of wild species is a major goal in conservation biology. Anthropogenic hybridization poses a threat to wild populations by changing their genetic makeup and potentially causing extinction. The impacts of gene flow from domestic cats on European wildcats are largely unknown, but it has been shown to overwhelm wild genomes in small and isolated populations. Understanding hybridization dynamics is crucial for managing and preserving the genetic diversity and integrity of the European wildcat. This paper aims to provide an overview of anthropogenic hybridization in European wildcats, clarify evaluation methods, and propose management and research guidelines.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Marika Grillini, Giulia Simonato, Cinzia Tessarin, Giorgia Dotto, Donato Traversa, Rudi Cassini, Erica Marchiori, Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono
Summary: Knowledge on Cytauxzoon sp. and Hepatozoon spp. presence in Italy is limited, with this study updating the current epidemiological scenario by investigating the occurrences in domestic cats from three regions of North-Eastern Italy. Hepatozoon silvestris prevalence was found to be significantly higher in Friuli Venezia Giulia region and in stray cats.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexandra Jamieson, Alberto Carmagnini, Jo Howard-McCombe, Sean Doherty, Alexandra Hirons, Evangelos Dimopoulos, Audrey T. Lin, Richard Allen, Hugo Anderson-Whymark, Ross Barnett, Colleen Batey, Fiona Beglane, Will Bowden, John Bratten, Bea De Cupere, Ellie Drew, Nicole M. Foley, Tom Fowler, Allison Fox, Eva-Maria Geigl, Anne Birgitte Gotfredsen, Thierry Grange, David Griffiths, Daniel Gross, Ashleigh Haruda, Jesper Hjermind, Zoe Knapp, Ophelie Lebrasseur, Pablo Librado, Leslie A. Lyons, Ingrid Mainland, Christine McDonnell, Violeta Munoz-Fuentes, Carsten Nowak, Terry O'Connor, Joris Peters, Isa-Rita M. Russo, Hannah Ryan, Alison Sheridan, Mikkel-Holger S. Sinding, Pontus Skoglund, Pooja Swali, Robert Symmons, Gabor Thomas, Theis Zetner Trolle Jensen, Andrew C. Kitchener, Helen Senn, Daniel Lawson, Carlos Driscoll, William J. Murphy, Mark Beaumont, Claudio Ottoni, Naomi Sykes, Greger Larson, Laurent Frantz
Summary: Domestic cats originated from the Near Eastern wildcat and may have interbred with European wildcats. Despite cohabitating for over 2000 years, most modern domestic cats have less than 10% ancestry from European wildcats, while ancient European wildcats have little to no ancestry from domestic cats. The reproductive isolation between introduced domestic cats and local wildcats has been longstanding and strong, but is currently being eroded in some areas due to human activities.
Article
Ecology
Sara Savazza, Paolo Rossi, Nicola Rebora, Fabrizio G. Lioy, Donato Franculli, Andre Roveyaz, Alfredo Bruno, Antonio Sicuro, Giuseppe Dino, Erica La Placa, Lorenzo Gaudiano, Luciano Cicognani, Franca Monti, Gianluca Serra, Giovanni Gallipo, Vanessa Draksler, Claudio Vecchietti, Lorenzo Filoni, Andrea Cairone, Egzon Krodaliu, Alex Nardone, Fabio Dartora, Maurizio Scotti, Filippo Rimassa, Carlo Vecchiolli, Simone Calandri, David Francescangeli, Girolamo Parretta, Simone Giosso, Ludovica Barbieri, Daniele Ecotti, Federico Piolanti, Gianni Piolanti, Stefano Comazzi, Stefano Filacorda, Clayton K. Nielsen, Stefano Anile
Summary: This study aims to create an independent network of citizen scientists to gain a deeper understanding of European wildcat ecology. The research reveals the expansion of wildcats in Northern Italy and the detection of different cat types in new regions. The study also observes behavioral differences among cat types and highlights the potential of citizen science combined with camera trapping in wildcat conservation.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Scott R. Loss, Brooke Boughton, Samantha M. Cady, David W. Londe, Caleb McKinney, Timothy J. O'Connell, Georgia J. Riggs, Ellen P. Robertson
Summary: A vast global literature shows that free-roaming domestic cats have negative effects on wildlife, including predation, fear, disease and competition-related impacts. This study aims to synthesize the existing literature on cat impacts on wildlife and identify biases and gaps. The research focuses on oceanic islands, Australia, Europe, and North America, with an emphasis on predation, impacts of unowned cats, and impacts at population and species levels. Further research is needed in underrepresented regions such as Africa, Asia, and South America, exploring impacts other than predation and developing methods to mitigate cat impacts on wildlife.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
N. Gajdos-Kmecova, B. Petkova, J. Kottferova, V. Halls, C. Haddon, L. Santos de Assis, D. S. Mills
Summary: Social interactions in domestic cats can be categorized as affiliative or agonistic, but distinguishing between play and true aggression can be challenging. This study observed and analyzed 105 unique dyadic interactions, finding evidence for an intermediate category between playful and agonistic behavior.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Peter Szenczi, Andrea Urrutia, Robyn Hudson, Oxana Banszegi
Summary: The study found that kittens retain a long-lasting memory of their mother's body odour acquired before weaning, and as adults they can still distinguish their mother's odour from others. This suggests that familiarity with odours plays a role in olfactory-guided behavior even in other contexts.
Review
Ecology
Martina Cecchetti, Sarah L. Crowley, Robbie A. McDonald
Summary: Domestic cats, distinct from other domesticated animals, retain the ability to survive independently as feral animals. Various factors such as evolutionary origins, diet, personality, and environment influence their hunting behaviors. Cat management approaches range from lethal methods like poisoning to non-lethal methods such as surgical sterilisation, with welfare and effectiveness being key considerations.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Beatrice Nussberger, Stefan Thomas Hertwig, Tobias Roth
Summary: Monitoring the population dynamics of elusive hybridizing species in human-dominated landscapes is important for conservation and management. In Switzerland, the European wildcat population in the Jura region has doubled within ten years, expanding to areas with higher human presence and domestic cat population. The gene flow from domestic cats into the wildcat gene pool has increased, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and genetic surveys.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariaelisa Carbonara, Roberta Iatta, Giovanni Sgroi, Elias Papadopoulos, Clara Lima, Emilie Bouhsira, Guadalupe Miro, Yaarit Nachum-Biala, Gad Baneth, Domenico Otranto
Summary: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of apicomplexan parasite infections in domestic feline populations from Mediterranean countries, and found a high prevalence of Hepatozoon spp. infection, primarily in Greece, Portugal, Spain, and Israel, with a correlation to geographical origin, housing condition, and age.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Giulia Simonato, Vittoria Franco, Giovanna Salvatore, Simone Manzocchi, Giorgia Dotto, Simone Morelli, Marika Grillini, Laura Cavicchioli, Maria Elena Gelain, Eric Zini
Summary: This article describes the first case of symptomatic hepatozoonosis in a domestic cat in Italy. The study found that domestic cats are more susceptible to Hepatozoon infection compared to wild felids. It is also the first report of Hepatozoon silvestris localized in the intestinal epithelium and associated with intussusception in a domestic cat.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Peter Szenczi, Daniel Gonzalez, Sandra Martinez-Byer, Heiko G. Rodel, Robyn Hudson, Oxana Banszegi
Summary: This study explores the individual differences among littermates in competitive behavior when weaning, finding that lighter kittens were more competitive in obtaining meat. Gender did not affect behavioral measures, suggesting the importance of motivational factors in shaping behavior differences during early development.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Magdalena Krajcarz, Wim Van Neer, Maciej T. Krajcarz, Danijela Popovic, Mateusz Baca, Bea De Cupere, Quentin Goffette, Hans Christian Kuchelmann, Anna Grezak, Urszula Lwaszczuk, Claudio Ottoni, Katrien Van de Vijver, Jaroslaw Wilczynski, Anna Mulczyk, Jan Wiejacki, Daniel Makowiecki, Herve Bocherens
Summary: This study uses isotopic analysis of archaeological cat bones to investigate the trophic ecology of domestic cats. The researchers found regularities in isotopic patterns and emphasized the impact of regional factors on the isotopic signal. They provide a guide for interpreting cat isotopic ecology.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Simone Morelli, Anastasia Diakou, Donato Traversa, Elisa Di Gennaro, Giulia Simonato, Mariasole Colombo, Dimitris Dimzas, Marika Grillini, Antonio Frangipane di Regalbono, Frederic Beugnet, Lenaig Halos, Barbara Paoletti, Angela Di Cesare
Summary: This study investigated the occurrence of Hepatozoon spp. in domestic cats from various regions in Greece, finding high infection rates in different areas. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis supports the idea of a species-complex classification for H. felis, highlighting the need for further research on the genetic makeup and geographic distribution of Hepatozoon populations. Continuous epidemiological monitoring is crucial for implementing preventative and control measures to protect the health of cats in enzootic areas.
TICKS AND TICK-BORNE DISEASES
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Jennifer F. Moore, Kylie Soanes, Diego Balbuena, Christopher Beirne, Mark Bowler, Farah Carrasco-Rueda, Susan M. Cheyne, Opale Coutant, Pierre-Michel Forget, Jessica K. Haysom, Peter R. Houlihan, Erik R. Olson, Stacy Lindshield, Jonathan Martin, Mathias Tobler, Andrew Whitworth, Tremaine Gregory
Summary: Arboreal camera trapping is a new and effective technique for studying various ecosystems, with potential applications in urban areas and a wide range of taxa. However, challenges such as correct camera placement, site access, and factors affecting species detection need to be considered and improved to make this method more reliable and robust.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
M. Molfini, M. Zapparoli, P. Genovesi, L. Carnevali, P. Audisio, A. Di Giulio, M. A. Bologna
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2020)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Alessandra Riccieri, Emiliano Mancini, Mattia Iannella, Daniele Salvi, Marco A. Bologna
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luca Stellati, Jennifer Mirabasso, Luca Luiselli, Marco A. Bologna, Leonardo Vignoli, Alessandra Maria Bissattini
Summary: This study focused on the trophic spectrum and interactions of three newt species in artificial wells in Central Italy, revealing that these artificial aquatic sites play an important role in newt ecology and conservation by providing suitable conditions for their diet and cohabitation.
Article
Zoology
Marco Molfini, Andrea Di Giulio, Emiliano Mancini, Marco A. Bologna
Summary: This study redescribed the larvae of two European species of the genus Pyrochroa, based on Italian samples, and identified new relevant and distinctive characters, especially in P. serraticornis. These new characters, such as the presence of a single urogomphal pit between urogomphi, open up new questions about the current taxonomic status of the European species.
Article
Zoology
Zhao Pan, Marcoa Bologna
Summary: A morphological revision of Meloe species from the Palaearctic Region was conducted, defining groups and subgroups for the first time and discussing their relationships with other regions. Ten new species from China and the Himalayan region were described.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Emiliano Fratini, Marco Salvemini, Fabrizio Lombardo, Maurizio Muzzi, Marco Molfini, Silvia Gisondi, Elia Roma, Veronica D'Ezio, Tiziana Persichini, Tecla Gasperi, Paolo Mariottini, Andrea Di Giulio, Marco Alberto Bologna, Manuela Cervelli, Emiliano Mancini
Summary: The study suggests that blister beetles may avoid auto-intoxication by sequestering CA precursors into accessory glands through transporters like ABC and MFS, and mitigating CA reactivity in the haemolymph with lipocalins. Additionally, over-representation of protein domains related to coagulation and integument repair mechanisms in the haemolymph reflects the need to limit fluid loss during reflex-bleeding.
Article
Entomology
Maurizio Muzzi, Emiliano Mancini, Emiliano Fratini, Manuela Cervelli, Tecla Gasperi, Paolo Mariottini, Tiziana Persichini, Marco Alberto Bologna, Andrea Di Giulio
Summary: This study comparatively analyzed the accessory glands of several representative blister beetle species to provide morphological evidence for the debate on the production of cantharidin. The results showed the complexity of the accessory gland system and identified one gland as a potential candidate for the production and/or concentration of cantharidin. Different species exhibited unique features in their accessory glands, and the vasa deferentia also showed variability. However, the third pair of accessory glands displayed a remarkable constancy in ultrastructural features.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Alessandra Riccieri, Emiliano Mancini, Monica Pitzalis, Daniele Salvi, Marco A. Bologna
Summary: This study investigates the phylogeny of the tribe Lyttini in the beetle family Meloidae and tests for its monophyly. The study uses a comprehensive molecular dataset and finds 11 phylogenetically distinct lineages within Lyttini. The boundaries of this tribe prove to be hard to define. Based on the results, the tribe is restricted to specific genera and new nomenclatural acts are proposed.
SYSTEMATIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Zoology
R. Szadziewski, M. Gwizdalska-Kentzer, M. A. Bologna, M. Molfini
Summary: The new species Atrichopogon (Atrichopogon) tolfensis n. sp. from Tolfa Mountains in Italy is described and illustrated. Both male and female individuals were collected using cantharidin-baited traps between June 2020 and January 2021. This new species is an atypical member of the Atrichopogon genus.
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Marco Molfini, Emiliano Mancini, Marco A. Bologna
Summary: This study investigates the phylogeny of European Pyrochroa species, including the identification of subspecies and a new species. The results suggest historical survival and post-glacial spread of P. coccinea and P. s. kiesenwetteri in Italy, while the distribution of P. s. serraticornis likely originated from western European relict populations. Additionally, P. bifoveata is speculated to have survived in eastern glacial refugia. More comprehensive data is needed to further understand the taxonomy, ecology, and biogeography of Pyrochroa species.
Article
Entomology
Andrea Di Giulio, Takumasa Kondo, Marco A. Bologna, Alessandra Riccieri
Summary: This article documents the occurrence of Meloetyphlus Waterhouse in Colombia, providing the first confirmed record for this country. The parasitization process of Eulaema nigrita Lepeletier by Meloetyphlus is described and illustrated. The first-instar larva of M. fuscatus is described in great detail and compared with the closely related species Tetraonyx fulvus. Molecular data is used to support the attribution of Meloetyphlus to the tribe Tetraonycini.
ANNALS OF THE ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Riccardo Poloni, Marco A. Bologna, Alessandra Riccieri
Summary: This study investigated the phylogeny and evolutionary history of the false blister beetle tribe Stenostomatini using both morphological and molecular data. A new key for species identification and new information on adult and larval ecology were proposed. The current distribution of the species was explained based on their evolutionary history.
ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Zoology
M. Molfini, G. Nardi, M. Gwizdalska-Kentzer, E. Mancini, A. Di Giulio, R. Szadziewski, M. A. Bologna
Summary: Canthariphilous species are attracted to cantharidin, a defensive compound produced by beetle families. A systematic sampling in Italy has never been performed to detect canthariphilous species. This study provides a list of seven canthariphilous species from the Tolfa Mountains, including new species and previously unrecorded species in the Italian fauna. It also speculates on the ecological significance of cantharidin in the sexual selection of one species and suggests potential natural sources of cantharidin.
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Marco Molfini, Luca Stefanuto, Silvia Gisondi, Tecla Gasperi, Andrea Di Giulio, Emiliano Mancini, Marco A. Bologna
Summary: The study investigated canthariphilous interactions between a checkered beetle species and a CTD-producing species. Results showed that T. transversalis only attacks CTD-producing species and can sequester CTD from them, but does not appear to show a high attraction to pure synthetic CTD. Other unknown signals may be involved in triggering canthariphilous behaviors of T. transversalis.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
M. A. Bologna, A. Riccieri
Summary: The Afrotropical genus Zonitodema is reported for the first time in Madagascar, with the new species Zonitodema madagascarensis sp. nov. described. This paper also includes taxonomic remarks, new faunistic records, and a new key to the species. Biogeographic remarks on the blister beetles of Madagascar are also provided.
EUROPEAN ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL
(2021)