Article
Entomology
Yantao Xue, Congtian Lin, Yaozhuo Wang, Wanxue Liu, Fanghao Wan, Yibo Zhang, Liqiang Ji
Summary: Climate change may have different impacts on the potential distribution of invasive cryptic species, which is of practical significance for future regional management strategies.
Article
Entomology
Hossam Abou-Shaara, Sara A. Alashaal, Eslam M. Hosni, Mohamed G. Nasser, Mohammad J. Ansari, Sulaiman Ali Alharbi
Summary: Large Hive Beetles (LHBs) are common pests of honeybee colonies, especially in Africa. This study highlighted the potential invasion of LHBs in North Africa and Europe in the future, emphasizing the need for early monitoring strategies. Predictive risk maps based on species distribution modeling techniques can help prevent the expansion of this pest outside its natural range.
Article
Agronomy
Beatriz de N. G. dos Santos, Manuel Anguita-Maeso, Helvecio D. Coletta-Filho
Summary: Symptomless olive tree sprouts can transmit X. fastidiosa bacteria, highlighting the importance of disease control in nursery tree production. The study found that X. fastidiosa is systematically distributed within diseased olive plants, even in those with mild symptoms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing Guo, Longhui Lu, Yingying Dong, Wenjiang Huang, Bing Zhang, Bobo Du, Chao Ding, Huichun Ye, Kun Wang, Yanru Huang, Zhuoqing Hao, Mingxian Zhao, Ning Wang
Summary: This study focused on the grasshopper potential habitat (GPH) in Xilingol, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. By using the MaxEnt model and multisource remote sensing data, the distribution and spatiotemporal characteristics of GPH in meadow and typical steppes were analyzed. The results indicated that suitable areas for grasshoppers were mainly located in the southern part of the meadow steppe and the eastern and southern parts of the typical steppe.
Article
Ecology
Anderson A. Eduardo, Alexandre Liparini, Pablo A. Martinez, Sidney F. Gouveia, Pablo Riul
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) rely on assumptions of equilibrium distribution with the environment and conserved climatic niche over geological time. Multitemporal calibration improves the temporal transferability of SDMs, allowing for integration of fossil and recent occurrence data.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Marco Scortichini
Summary: A disease called olive quick decline syndrome (OQDS), caused by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca sequence type 53, has been found to spread extensively among olive trees in the Gallipoli area of Salento. The disease may have been introduced through ornamental coffee plants from Central America, and drought events and low soil nutrient content could have contributed to its initial outbreaks. The main vector of the bacterium in the area is the polyphagous insect Philaenus spumarius L., with the adults efficiently spreading the bacteria during spring and early autumn.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
A. Mukherjee, Achyut Kumar Banerjee, S. Raghu
Summary: Biological control of invasive weeds involves releasing host-specific natural enemies from the weed's native range to its invaded range, but a lack of ecological and biogeographic information poses challenges for developing distribution models. Researchers used a 'model tuning' approach within the MaxEnt framework to develop testable projections of moth species distributions for biological control agents, identifying new areas for targeted surveys and potential distribution patterns in the invaded range. Further research and model refinements will be guided by data from native range surveys and population establishment in the invaded range.
BIOLOGICAL CONTROL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
S. Bajocco, E. Raparelli, S. Bregaglio
Summary: The plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) poses a significant threat to economically important tree cash crops. It was first detected in Apulia, Italy, in 2013 and has since spread to approximately 54,000 ha of olive trees in the region. The study found that the anthropogenic component, particularly the road system, significantly influenced the distribution of Xf-infected olive trees, while natural and seminatural areas hindered its spread. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the effects of human landscapes when modeling Xf distribution.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuyang Xian, Yongquan Lu, Guilin Liu
Summary: Global climate change caused by fossil energy consumption threatens the habitat of pangolins. MaxEnt modeling reveals that temperature, precipitation, geomorphology, and vegetation coverage affect the habitats of different pangolin species. Human activities pose a threat to pangolin habitats, but labor transfer in southern China mitigates the negative impact in rural areas. Illegal pangolin trade is a significant threat, and future scenarios show changes in habitat for different pangolin species.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rhett M. Rautsaw, Gustavo Jimenez-Velazquez, Erich P. Hofmann, Laura R. V. Alencar, Christoph I. Grunwald, Marcio Martins, Paola Carrasco, Tiffany M. Doan, Christopher L. Parkinson
Summary: In addition to being important for biologists, species distributions also have practical uses for naturalists, curious citizens, and fields like conservation planning and medical intervention. Venomous snakes, with their global distribution and medical significance, particularly highlight the importance of accurate information. To address the need for updated fine-scale distributions, researchers have created VenomMaps, a database and web application that provides updated distribution maps and species distribution models for all New World pitvipers.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alberto Asteggiano, Pietro Franceschi, Michael Zorzi, Riccardo Aigotti, Federica Dal Bello, Francesca Baldassarre, Francesco Lops, Antonia Carlucci, Claudio Medana, Giuseppe Ciccarella
Summary: The study developed a global metabolomics mass spectrometry assay to distinguish between healthy and infected olive tree leaves, showing clear separation between HP and OP samples. 18 different organic compounds highly expressed in the OP group were annotated through the metabolomic approach.
Article
Forestry
Michelle L. Schroder, Helen F. Nahrung, Natalia M. de Souza, Simon A. Lawson, Bernard Slippers, Michael J. Wingfield, Brett P. Hurley
Summary: Gonipterus species, pests of Eucalyptus plantations globally, have been studied in Australia to understand their species composition and distribution, as well as their egg parasitoids. This study identified thirteen Gonipterus species, with five egg parasitoid species attacking them. The results will help improve the biological control of Gonipterus in the future.
Article
Entomology
Billy Joel M. Almarinez, Mary Jane A. Fadri, Richard Lasina, Mary Angelique A. Tavera, Thaddeus M. Carvajal, Kozo Watanabe, Jesusa C. Legaspi, Divina M. Amalin
Summary: The study developed a bioclimate-based species distribution model (SDM) for Comperiella calauanica using Maxent algorithm, demonstrating high predictive power and potential for biological control of Aspidiotus rigidus.
Article
Ecology
Savvas Zotos, Marilena Stamatiou, Ioannis N. Vogiatzakis
Summary: Improving knowledge on species distribution is crucial for species conservation and management. This study uses species distribution models to predict the distribution of the Cyprus grass snake, an elusive species. The results significantly improve previous estimations and provide new perspectives on the species ecology and conservation.
ECOLOGICAL INFORMATICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rahul R. Nair, A. Townsend Peterson
Summary: Insect pest invasions cause significant damage to crop yields, and biological control is considered as a potential option for managing invasive insect pests. This study evaluated the potential of the parasitoid Leptopilina japonica as a biocontrol agent for Drosophila suzukii and proposed a target-oriented prioritization approach based on ecological niche modeling. The study suggests that niche specificities of both pest and parasitoid must be included in site-specific release planning for effective biocontrol management.
Article
Agronomy
S. Versace, A. Brauning, P. Cherubini, M. Di Febbraro, M. Hausser, F. Lombardi, M. Marchetti, P. A. Marziliano, F. Salbitano, S. Szymczak, R. Tognetti
Summary: Climate warming has increased the frequency and severity of drought events, negatively affecting tree radial growth in drought-prone regions like the Mediterranean. The growth responses of tree populations to climate change are influenced by tree age and local environment, leading to geographical patterns in tree growth and forest productivity. Intraspecific variability in sensitivity to drought events should be considered in predicting forest productivity responses to climate change.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOREST METEOROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luciano Bosso, Sonia Smeraldo, Danilo Russo, Maria Luisa Chiusano, Giorgio Bertorelle, Kerstin Johannesson, Roger K. Butlin, Roberto Danovaro, Francesca Raffini
Summary: Understanding the factors that determine the success or failure of biological invasions is crucial. This study used Ecological Niche Modelling to investigate the habitat suitability of Littorina saxatilis in Europe and found that environmental constraints and biogeography play important roles in its distribution. The results suggest that abiotic factors and local ecological features are key in determining the success of invasion.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sungwon Hong, Mirko Di Febbraro, Hyo Gyeom Kim, Anna Loy
Summary: This study used multiyear data of otter spraint counts to investigate the relationship between otter abundance and scat marking. The results showed that detection probability decreased in areas with high rainfall and human population densities, while it increased near food-rich sites with high marking frequencies. Additionally, the temporal trends of spraint count predictions were related to changes in fish community diversity rather than fish biomass. Protecting fish diversity is crucial for otter conservation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Flavio Marzialetti, Mirko Di Febbraro, Ludovico Frate, Walter De Simone, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Maria Laura Carranza
Summary: The study explored the potential of using unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images to provide intermediate reference data and successfully predicted the spread of A. saligna in the Mediterranean coastal dunes.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Ecology
Silvia Castiglione, Alessandro Mondanaro, Mirko Di Febbraro, Marina Melchionna, Carmela Serio, Giorgia Girardi, Arianna Morena Belfiore, Pasquale Raia
Summary: Recognition of the phylogenetic effects is important in studying climatic niche variability among species clades. However, existing methods either ignore phylogeny or rely on the Brownian motion model, which may not accurately describe niche evolution. This study introduces a new method that describes significant changes in the width and position of the climatic niche at the inter-specific level, without assuming how niche evolution took place.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fabio Leoncini, Paola Semenzato, Mirko Di Febbraro, Anna Loy, Caterina Ferrari
Summary: Assessing landscape connectivity is crucial for the survival of species, especially in the context of climate change and biodiversity crisis. By applying electrical circuit theory, this study analyzed the factors affecting connectivity and identified gaps in corridors for conservation. The results showed that the orography of the landscape and human activities significantly influenced animal movement. Therefore, expanding protected areas is important to ensure the recolonization of species like the Eurasian otter in the western Alps.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Alessandro Mondanaro, Mirko Di Febbraro, Silvia Castiglione, Marina Melchionna, Carmela Serio, Giorgia Girardi, Arianna Morena Belfiore, Pasquale Raia
Summary: Species distribution models (SDMs) are useful tools to understand the impact of environmental variation on species distribution. However, they often lose accuracy when applied to rare species, creating a paradox. In this study, we introduce a new algorithm, ENphylo, that combines Environmental Niche Factor Analysis and phylogenetic imputation to model the distribution of rare species. Using the fossil record of 31 late Pleistocene large mammals, we demonstrate that ENphylo provides accurate predictions with just 10 randomly sampled occurrences.
METHODS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michele Innangi, Flavio Marzialetti, Mirko Di Febbraro, Alicia Teresa Rosario Acosta, Walter De Simone, Ludovico Frate, Michele Finizio, Priscila Villalobos Perna, Maria Laura Carranza
Summary: Coastal dune ecosystems are threatened by invasive alien plants, and using remote sensing techniques, particularly unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), can be effective for mapping these species. In this study, UAV images were used to map a dune invader (Carpobrotus sp. pl.) using image segmentation and machine learning classification. The results showed that using both RGB and multispectral data improved the prediction of Carpobrotus, mapping the whole plant or its vegetative parts produced the best results, and a training area corresponding to 20% of the total area was sufficient for model building.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Luca Francesco Russo, Angel Fernandez-Gonzalez, Vincenzo Penteriani, Maria del Mar Delgado, Santiago Palazon, Anna Loy, Mirko Di Febbraro
Summary: In the last century, climate and land use change have led to the extinction or decline of hundreds of species. This study focuses on the effects of these changes on two semi-aquatic mammals, the Pyrenean desman and the Eurasian otter, and how it may impact their interaction. The results show that the otters will benefit from the environmental alterations, while the desmans will lose suitable habitats and face increased predation risk. Climate and land use change can have different effects on biodiversity and it is important to understand their impacts on specific species.
Review
Environmental Studies
Priscila Villalobos Perna, Mirko Di Febbraro, Maria Laura Carranza, Flavio Marzialetti, Michele Innangi
Summary: Coastal environments face significant threats from invasive alien plants (IAP), and Remote Sensing (RS) can be a valuable tool for detecting and mapping IAP. This systematic literature review examined 68 research papers published between 2000 and 2021 that implemented, recommended, or discussed RS tools for IAP mapping in coastal environments. The review found that China and the USA had the most research on this topic, with Sporobolus being the most extensively studied genus. The number of studies increased rapidly from 2015, coinciding with a shift from RS for IAP detection to RS for invasion modeling. Aircraft were the most commonly used platform in the 2000s, followed by satellites from 2005 and unmanned aerial vehicles from 2014. Frequentist inference was the dominant classification approach in the 2000s, while machine learning gained popularity after 2009. RS applications varied across coastal ecosystem types and countries. The study highlights the huge potential of RS for improving IAP monitoring and emphasizes the need for advanced applications that incorporate current and future Earth observation data.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vanessa Lozano, Mirko Di Febbraro, Giuseppe Brundu, Maria Laura Carranza, Alessandro Alessandrini, Nicola Maria Giuseppe Ardenghi, Elena Barni, Gianni Bedini, Laura Celesti-Grapow, Kevin Cianfaglione, Annalena Cogoni, Gianniantonio Domina, Simonetta Fascetti, Giulio Ferretti, Bruno Foggi, Mauro Iberite, Lorenzo Lastrucci, Lorenzo Lazzaro, Andrea Mainetti, Francesca Marinangeli, Chiara Montagnani, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Simone Orsenigo, Simonetta Peccenini, Lorenzo Peruzzi, Laura Poggio, Chiara Proietti, Filippo Prosser, Aldo Ranfa, Leonardo Rosati, Annalisa Santangelo, Alberto Selvaggi, Giovanni Spampinato, Adriano Stinca, Gabriella Vacca, Mariacristina Villani, Consolata Siniscalco
Summary: This study used a methodological framework to assess and analyze the invasion risk of 14 invasive alien plants of Union concern in Italy. The framework combined invasive Species Distribution Models based on propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors, and the local interpretable model-agnostic explanation analysis. The study found that the distribution of invasive alien plants in Italy is influenced by biogeographic regions, protected areas, abiotic factors, propagule pressure, and biotic filters.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Mirko Di Febbraro, Luciano Bosso, Mauro Fasola, Francesca Santicchia, Gaetano Aloise, Simone Lioy, Elena Tricarico, Luciano Ruggieri, Stefano Bovero, Emiliano Mori, Sandro Bertolino
Summary: Citizen science initiatives are being used to model the distribution of alien species, but only a few studies have evaluated the contribution of integrating citizen science data with scientifically structured surveys. This study compared the ability of citizen science data and scientific surveys, as well as their integration, to capture the realized niche and predict future invasion risk of 13 invasive alien species in Italy. The findings showed that citizen science data can be valuable in predicting future spread of invasive alien species, but it may also affect the niche quantification and prediction for species poorly known to citizen scientists or in local contexts.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Michela Perrone, Mirko Di Febbraro, Luisa Conti, Jan Divisek, Milan Chytry, Petr Keil, Maria Laura Carranza, Duccio Rocchini, Michele Torresani, Vitezslav Moudry, Petra Simova, Dominika Prajzlerova, Jana Mullerova, Jan Wild, Marco Malavasi
Summary: Biodiversity monitoring is important for ecosystem conservation, and remote sensing provides a convenient approach for collecting frequent and near-real-time information. This study investigates the applicability of spectral diversity (SD) metrics for monitoring plant diversity by comparing different types of SD metrics. The results show that SD is positively related to species richness and functional diversity, but only explains a small fraction of the variance in the models, and the strength of the relationship depends on habitat type.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jiaoyang Ruan, Axel Timmermann, Pasquale Raia, Kyung-Sook Yun, Elke Zeller, Alessandro Mondanaro, Mirko Di Febbraro, Danielle Lemmon, Silvia Castiglione, Marina Melchionna
Summary: This study investigates the possibility of interbreeding between Neanderthals and Denisovans using species distribution models and simulations of global climate and biomes. The research reveals that climate-driven zonal shifts in central Eurasia influenced the timing and intensity of potential interbreeding events between these archaic humans. Glacial-interglacial climate swings played an important role in favoring gene flow between Neanderthals and Denisovans.
