Article
Entomology
Irene Piccini, Viviana Di Pietro, Simona Bonelli
Summary: The study investigated oviposition choices and larval development of the protected butterfly Zerynthia polyxena on different host plant species. The species was found to be locally monophagous on Aristolochia pallida in the Susa Valley.
ENVIRONMENTAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Rocco Labadessa, Leonardo Ancillotto
Summary: Wild boar, through their rooting activity, can have positive effects on the habitat suitability of threatened butterflies, including foraging opportunities, host plant occurrence, and oviposition site selection. This suggests that wild boars may play a beneficial role in improving habitat quality and availability for endangered butterflies, highlighting the importance of studying their role as ecosystem engineers for species and habitat conservation.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nathan L. Haan, M. Deane Bowers, Jonathan D. Bakker
Summary: The study found that despite largely switching to a novel exotic host and generally performing better on it, the population of Taylor's checkerspot butterflies has retained breadth in preference and ability to use other hosts.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
N. Alpuente, M. A. Miranda, J. Cursach
Summary: This study investigated the floral biology and pollination strategy of Aristolochia bianorii, an endemic plant species in the Balearic Islands. It was found that the species exhibits both autonomous self-pollination and cross-pollination, with Oscinomorpha longirostris flies being the main pollinators. The study showed that reproductive success depends on cross-pollination, while autonomous self-pollination serves as a backup mechanism in the potential absence of pollinators.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zohreh Abolhassanzadeh, Simin Ansari, Zahra Lorigooini, Maryam Anjomshoa, Elham Bijad, Pantea Ramezannezhad, Mohammad Hadi Zarei
Summary: In recent years, there has been a growing trend in the usage of traditional medicine and herbal treatments. This study investigated the potential renal toxicity of Zaravand Gerd, a commonly used drug in Iran's traditional medicine and pharmacy. The results showed that high doses of Zaravand Gerd extract led to kidney damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in rats. These findings underscore the importance of considering the potential risks associated with herbal medicines and the necessity of usage based on scientific evidence.
Article
Entomology
Kazuko Tsuchihara, Takuma Takanashi, Kiyoshi Asaoka
Summary: This study found that the tarsal contact chemosensilla in adult butterflies are classified into long- and short-type sensilla, which show different taste responses to extracts from different plants. The results suggest that adult butterflies can discriminate the taste of host plant components using long-type sensilla during oviposition and may recognize diets containing sugar and salts using short-type sensilla during feeding.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alessandro Cini, Fulvia Benetello, Leonardo Platania, Adele Bordoni, Sara Boschi, Emiliano Franci, Gea Ghisolfi, Lorenzo Pasquali, Riccardo Negroni, Leonardo Dapporto
Summary: The abandonment of agricultural land and afforestation of grassland pose major threats to butterflies in European and Mediterranean regions. To conserve the Italian endemic butterfly Zerynthia cassandra, a habitat management strategy was developed, focusing on environmental factors influencing oviposition and implementing data-driven interventions to increase habitat suitability. By conducting experimental studies and monitoring, effective vegetation cuts were identified to increase oviposition, demonstrating the importance of fine-tuning interventions based on local micro-habitat features. This data-driven and sustainable strategy can serve as a model for managing other species with similar ecological requirements and facing similar threats.
INSECT CONSERVATION AND DIVERSITY
(2021)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Simon Braem, Hans Van Dyck
Summary: Local adaptation, early developmental experience, and behavioral plasticity all contribute to behavioral variation in a butterfly species that recently expanded its habitat from forest to anthropogenic areas. Natal habitat preference induction and short-term memory learning also influence oviposition behavior. The agricultural ecotype displays a more risk-aversive oviposition strategy.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jay E. Diffendorfer, Ryan G. Drum, Greg W. Mitchell, Eduardo Rendon-Salinas, Victor Sanchez-Cordero, Darius J. Semmens, Wayne E. Thogmartin, Ignacio J. March
Summary: This paper discusses the elements and successful practices of interdisciplinary teams in addressing complex conservation issues caused by various social and environmental factors, with a focus on the conservation science of the monarch butterfly in North America.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Elena Rosa, Marjo Saastamoinen
Summary: The study found that female Glanville fritillary butterflies prefer open habitats for oviposition and do not change their oviposition strategy based on the thermal conditions experienced at night. Exposure to warmer nights did not impact female lifespan, but reduced the hatching success of their offspring. Interestingly, males exposed to warm nights sired larger clutches with higher hatching rates, albeit at the cost of reduced lifespan, suggesting a shift in resource allocation strategy towards increasing offspring quality.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jinze Ren, Shuying Li, Mengdi He, Yalin Zhang
Summary: The study analyzed the changes in butterfly diversity and community structure in 12 counties in the middle Qinling Mountains, based on butterfly taxa and factors such as natural climate, altitude gradient, and season. The results showed differences in species richness between the southern and northern slopes of the mountains, as well as the highest diversity at mid-altitudes. Seasonal and abundance variations were also observed. The study highlighted the impact of human disturbance and climate/environmental changes on butterfly diversity in the region.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Shabnum Khursheed Wani, Muzafar Din Ahmad Bhat, Rabia Malik
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Aristolochia rotunda Linn in Hyperuricemia. The results showed that Aristolochia rotunda Linn effectively lowers serum uric acid, indicating its potential for the treatment of Hyperuricemia.
CLINICAL NUTRITION ESPEN
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Visheshni Chandra, Simon Hodge
Summary: The swallowtail butterfly Papilio schmeltzi prefers to lay eggs and feed on the Micromelum minutum plant, which is also the most suitable for larval survival and growth. The study shows that the preference of oviposition by female butterflies is consistent with larval feeding preference, indicating a close relationship between oviposition choice and subsequent larval development.
AUSTRAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Stephanie D. Preston, Julia D. Liao, Theodore P. Toombs, Rainer Romero-Canyas, Julia Speiser, Colleen M. Seifert
Summary: The study found that people often described encounters with monarchs in childhood and as adults, expressing strong positive emotions and awe at their beauty and lifecycle. Sharing personal encounters was associated with current efforts to save the species and more past financial donations, while more donations were tied to awe at the monarch's mass migration.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Michael S. Crossley, Olivia M. Smith, Lauren L. Berry, Robert Phillips-Cosio, Jeffrey Glassberg, Kaylen M. Holman, Jacquelin G. Holmquest, Amanda R. Meier, Sofia A. Varriano, Maureen R. McClung, Matthew D. Moran, William E. Snyder
Summary: The study found that there is great heterogeneity in abundance and biodiversity trends for North American butterflies, mainly influenced by recent precipitation and temperature. Different regions show different changes in butterfly populations, with a slight increase in abundance observed around urban areas. Overall, changes in butterfly numbers are primarily driven by climate factors.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dirk Maes, Rudi Verovnik, Martin Wiemers, Dimitri Brosens, Stoyan Beshkov, Simona Bonelli, Jaroslaw Buszko, Lisette Cantu-Salazar, Louis-Francis Cassar, Sue Collins, Vlad Dinca, Milan Djuric, Goran Dusej, Hallvard Elven, Filip Franeta, Patricia Garcia-Pereira, Yurii Geryak, Philippe Goffart, Adam Gor, Ulrich Hiermann, Helmut Hoettinger, Peter Huemer, Predrag Jaksic, Eddie John, Henrik Kalivoda, Vassiliki Kati, Paul Kirkland, Benjamin Komac, Adam Koroesi, Anatolij Kulak, Mikko Kuussaari, Lionel L'Hoste, Suvad Lelo, Xavier Mestdagh, Nikola Micevski, Iva Mihoci, Sergiu Mihut, Yeray Monasterio-Leon, Dmitry V. Morgun, Miguel L. Munguira, Tomas Murray, Per Stadel Nielsen, Erling Olafsson, Erki Ounap, Lazaros N. Pamperis, Alois Pavlicko, Lars B. Pettersson, Serhiy Popov, Milos Popovic, Juha Poeyry, Mike Prentice, Lien Reyserhove, Nils Ryrholm, Martina Sasic, Nikolay Savenkov, Josef Settele, Marcin Sielezniew, Sergey Sinev, Constanti Stefanescu, Giedrius Svitra, Toomas Tammaru, Anu Tiitsaar, Elli Tzirkalli, Olga Tzortzakaki, Chris A. M. van Swaay, Arne Lykke Viborg, Irma Wynhoff, Konstantina Zografou, Martin S. Warren
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Francesca De Luca, Elena Fanelli, Monica Oreste, Gianluca Scarcia, Alberto Troccoli, Alessio Vovlas, Nicola Trisciuzzi, Eustachio Tarasco
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2019)
Article
Ecology
Stefano Scalercio, Alessandro Cini, Mattia Menchetti, Raluca Voda, Simona Bonelli, Adele Bordoni, Luca Pietro Casacci, Vlad Dinca, Emilio Balletto, Roger Vila, Leonardo Dapporto
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Emilio Balletto, Francesca Barbero, Simona Bonelli, Luca P. Casacci, Leonardo Dapporto
Article
Ecology
Federico Riva, Giorgio Gentile, Simona Bonelli, John Acorn, Francisco Denes, Andrew Crosby, Scott Nielsen
Article
Ecology
Alfredo Santovito, Michela Audisio, Simona Bonelli
Article
Entomology
Enrico de Lillo, Elena Fanelli, Domenico Valenzano, Rosita Monfreda, Alberto Troccoli, Alessio Vovlas, Francesca De Luca
EXPERIMENTAL AND APPLIED ACAROLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mattia Menchetti, Gerard Talavera, Alessandro Cini, Vania Salvati, Vlad Dinca, Leonardo Platania, Simona Bonelli, Emilio Balletto, Roger Vila, Leonardo Dapporto
Summary: This study examined the co-occurrence of endemics in different centres in the region from Alps to Sicily by studying butterfly populations. The results showed that endemics from different centres exhibited differences in ecological traits, divergence time, and distribution patterns. The Alpine and Southern Italian regions were identified as high-incidence zones for endemics, highlighting the importance of considering multiple endemicity centres in the region's biogeography.
Article
Ecology
Irene Piccini, Marco Pittarello, Viviana Di Pietro, Michele Lonati, Simona Bonelli
Summary: In mountain ecosystems, butterfly conservation is crucial to prevent local extinctions. This study found that adult and larval butterflies have different ecological preferences in terms of altitude, tree cover, and litter plant features. Analyzing vegetation dynamics and butterfly monitoring data can help identify appropriate local conservation measures.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Francesca Martelli, Federica Paradiso, Silvia Ghidotti, Ramona Viterbi, Cristiana Cerrato, Simona Bonelli
Summary: Alien species introduction is a global phenomenon, with C. marshalli being the only alien butterfly in Europe, introduced through the trade of ornamental plants, posing a potential threat to native species. The distribution of C. marshalli in Europe is mainly concentrated in the Mediterranean basin, with Italy being the most heavily invaded country experiencing different phases of invasion and spread rates. The comparison of native and invasive niches of C. marshalli shows a shift indicating its invasion into new ecological and climatic spaces beyond its native range in Africa.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Diana Mauri, Simona Bonelli, Laura Ozella
Summary: This study used the Social Network Analysis (SNA) approach to investigate the social interactions of rats in a laboratory animal care facility. The results showed that rats preferred to interact with individuals of the same strain and laboratory of origin, as well as with littermates. The study also found that social interactions were relatively stable over time, although the introduction of new individuals caused some social rearrangements initially.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL WELFARE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Federico Riva, Francesca Barbero, Emilio Balletto, Simona Bonelli
Summary: Understanding the impacts of land use on biodiversity is crucial for ecology and conservation science. A new analytical framework combining niche models, multi-grain analyses, and species traits was proposed to assess the effects of agriculture and urbanization on Italian butterflies. The study found scale-dependent and pervasive impacts, with agriculture and urbanization negatively affecting small butterflies and those with short flight curve. The research highlights the importance of considering large-scale patterns in land use for effective conservation efforts.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Marco Bonifacino, Lorenzo Pasquali, Ginevra Sistri, Mattia Menchetti, Luca Santini, Cecilia Corbella, Simona Bonelli, Emilio Balletto, Roger Vila, Vlad Dinca, Leonardo Dapporto
Summary: This study investigated the geographic distribution and genetic diversity of the narrow-ranged mountain species, Lasiommata petropolitana, and its susceptibility to climate change. The research found that the species has shifted uphill at an average rate of 6.3 meters per year in the past few decades and predicted a possible extinction in the Apennines region by 2060. The study highlights the importance of insect conservation as the loss of this species may lead to homogenization and loss of functional diversity in high-altitude biotas. Maintaining habitat heterogeneity through ecological management is crucial for population persistence.
JOURNAL OF INSECT CONSERVATION
(2022)
Article
Entomology
Alessandro Cini, Francesca Barbero, Simona Bonelli, Claudia Bruschini, Luca Pietro Casacci, Sandro Piazzini, Stefano Scalercio, Leonardo Dapporto
JOURNAL OF INSECT BIODIVERSITY
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Elena Fanelli, Alessio Vovlas, Simona Santoro, Alberto Troccoli, Giuseppe Lucarelli, Nicola Trisciuzzi, Francesca De Luca