The grey partridge became extinct in the province of Siena (central Italy) in the late seventies,... more The grey partridge became extinct in the province of Siena (central Italy) in the late seventies, whereas the red-legged partridge had already disappeared by the beginning of the twentieth century. Some reintroduction attempts of both species carried out in the 1980s gave encouraging but not definitive results, and failed after an initial success. This was probably due to the low number of birds released, the small size of the re-introduction areas, their isolation, the farm-bred origin of the partridges, and hunting. In the province of Siena, for the first time in Italy, a large-scale reintroduction program of grey and red-legged partridges was experimented. The project started up in 1995 with seven reintroduction areas for grey and four for red-legged partridge, and was extended to 19 areas (22,562 ha) for grey and 7 (6858 ha) for red-legged partridge in 2002. Population viability analyses for both species showed that if reintroduced populations were isolated they would be extinct in a few years. Therefore, a metapopulation approach was adopted (contemporary releases in reintroduction areas close to each other). In each area, 100-1000 partridges per year were released for a minimum of 3 years, from different farms in order to achieve the maximum initial genetic diversity. Releases were effected in late summer (August-September) in acclimatization pens containing 10-20 aviaries. The reintroduced population showed marked variability of some demographic parameters, such as pair density and brood production rate; instead, average brood size was relatively constant across the study areas, but with annual variations. Reintroduction success was limited to a few areas only, mainly depending on the habitat characteristics of the areas, their surface area and isolation, and on the degree of care for the birds during the acclimatization period.
. We present the results of 4 years of dragonfly monitoring in the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural... more . We present the results of 4 years of dragonfly monitoring in the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and Alpe Devero Conservation Area, Western Alps, alongside with records from two neighbouring sites. Altogether we recorded 17 species. Somatochlora arctica and Leucorrhinia dubia are for the first time recorded for Piedmont.
The results of a survey aimed at describing the Odonate fauna of Val Grande National Park are pre... more The results of a survey aimed at describing the Odonate fauna of Val Grande National Park are presented, which was carried out in the framework of the project “Animal Biodiversity Monitoring in Alpine Habitat”. Relevant literature was examined and data collected in- tensively in summer 2016 and extensively in the period 2014-2019. Prior to this research specific knowledge on dragonfly and damselfly presence and distribution accounted for 6 species for the study area, which were recorded near the northern border but outside the park. The first Odonate checklist here provided is based on 188 records (1173 individuals), of which 137 are recent and unpublished. Compre- hensively 25 species were recorded (14 breeding), which represent 26% of the Italian fauna, 36% of Piedmont and 58% of the province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, whereas three species were not confirmed; 10 species were found inside the park (4 breeding). Odonate diversity was remarkable, thanks to Val Grande geographical posi...
In this article we present the results of a multitaxa and expert based methodology aimed at the i... more In this article we present the results of a multitaxa and expert based methodology aimed at the identification of Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation in the Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola (VCO), located in North Eastern Piedmont, Italy. The multitaxa approach was based on the selection of focal species and habitats that were considered indicators of high levels of biodiversity, belonging to one of the following themes: a) Flora and Vegetation, b) Invertebrates, c) Aquatic Ecosystems and Fish, d) Amphibians and Reptiles, e) Birds, f) Mammals. We gathered a group of 25 expert naturalists, biologists and researchers, possessing wide knowledge built during field studies and researches carried out in VCO, to whom we asked to select Important and Peculiar Areas for the conservation of biodiversity related to their themes and to draw them on the map. [...]
ABSTRACT La conservazione delle popolazioni di stambecco ha grande rilevanza a livello italiano e... more ABSTRACT La conservazione delle popolazioni di stambecco ha grande rilevanza a livello italiano ed europeo, a causa della distribuzione concentrata in poche aree, mentre le consistenti popolazioni di camoscio hanno importanza economica e gestionale. L?espansione dell?areale di distribuzione dei cervidi in territorio alpino, è un fenomeno ormai consolidato e legato all?abbandono dei territori collinari e montani ma anche alle reintroduzioni e alle azioni di tutela nei confronti delle specie. I modelli d?idoneità ambientale rappresentano un efficace strumento per il confronto a livello qualitativo (numero di specie) e quantitativo (abbondanza delle popolazioni) tra l?attuale popolamento faunistico dei territori alpini e la loro situazione potenziale. Il Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso si estende per oltre 700 km² sul territorio di Piemonte e di Valle d?Aosta; gli affioramenti rocciosi ne occupano il 37.0%, la vegetazione rada il 20.1% e le praterie sommitali e le brughiere il 17.3%. L?analisi ambientale del Parco è stata effettuata mediante Arcview 3.2 per Windows misurando il valore di 20 variabili ambientali (Corine Land Cover III Liv.), 27 fisiche (DTM) e 17 di complessità paesaggistica in 2925 Unità Campione di 0,5 km di lato. Per la formulazione dei modelli relativi alla distribuzione (presenza/assenza) dello stambecco sono stati utilizzati i dati dei censimenti (1999) effettuati nel Parco; per il camoscio ed il capriolo sono stati utilizzati i dati rilevati nelle province di Vercelli e Biella (1997) e in quella di Verbania (1999), mentre per il cervo sono stati utilizzati quelli relativi alla sola provincia di Verbania (1999). I modelli sono stati formulati mediante Analisi di Funzione Discriminante (Magnusson, 1983; Massolo & Meriggi, 1995) e Analisi di Regressione Logistica (Norusis, 1994). Per lo stambecco i dati sono stati suddivisi in due sets, di cui uno utilizzato per la formulazione del modello e l?altro per la sua validazione. Mediante un test del chi-quadrato sono state confrontate le percentuali di casi classificati nei due sets. Per le altre specie i modelli formulati sono stati applicati al territorio del parco e la validità dei modelli è stata valutata dalla percentuale di casi originali riclassificati correttamente. Per i bovidi il modello a maggior capacità predittiva è stato quello discriminante (classificazioni corrette: 73.0% per stambecco e 82.8% per camoscio). La non significatività del test Χ² (P=0.470) indica che non esistono differenze significative tra la distribuzione reale dello stambecco e quella ottenuta dal modello. L'81.1% del territorio del Parco è idoneo al camoscio alpino e l'area vocata include il 93.6% del territorio realmente occupato dalla specie. Per il capriolo il modello logistico è stato quello a maggior capacità predittiva (88.1% dei casi originali classificati correttamente), individuando il 50.7% del territorio realmente occupato dalla specie. Anche per il cervo quello logistico è preferibile per la maggiore percentuale di casi totali classificati correttamente (AFD: 74.9%; ARL: 76.0%).
Modelling sedentary large vertebrate distributions by means of stochastic statistical techniques ... more Modelling sedentary large vertebrate distributions by means of stochastic statistical techniques has become widely used especially when dealing with species of management concern. Models may be used as research or as management and planning tools whose applied and predictive aspects are most valued. In this paper we present the results of modelling chamois, red deer and roe deer distributions in Western Alps. Our aim is to supply researchers and wildlife managers with models that are simple both to handle and to understand from a biological point of view. We discuss the applied and predictive aspects of the models and the ecological requirements of the species considered as resulted from them. This study focuses on alpine environment where topography proved to be an important predictor of ungulates distribution. Community variables such as the presence of other ungulate species and predators also played a major role.
Dragonflies of the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and surroundings (Piedmont, northern Italy... more Dragonflies of the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and surroundings (Piedmont, northern Italy). We present the results of 4 years of dragonfly monitoring in the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and Alpe Devero Conservation Area, Western Alps, alongside with records from two neighbouring sites. Altogether we recorded 17 species. Somatochlora arctica and Leucorrhinia dubia are for the first time recorded for Piedmont.
The grey partridge became extinct in the province of Siena (central Italy) in the late seventies,... more The grey partridge became extinct in the province of Siena (central Italy) in the late seventies, whereas the red-legged partridge had already disappeared by the beginning of the twentieth century. Some reintroduction attempts of both species carried out in the 1980s gave encouraging but not definitive results, and failed after an initial success. This was probably due to the low number of birds released, the small size of the re-introduction areas, their isolation, the farm-bred origin of the partridges, and hunting. In the province of Siena, for the first time in Italy, a large-scale reintroduction program of grey and red-legged partridges was experimented. The project started up in 1995 with seven reintroduction areas for grey and four for red-legged partridge, and was extended to 19 areas (22,562 ha) for grey and 7 (6858 ha) for red-legged partridge in 2002. Population viability analyses for both species showed that if reintroduced populations were isolated they would be extinct in a few years. Therefore, a metapopulation approach was adopted (contemporary releases in reintroduction areas close to each other). In each area, 100-1000 partridges per year were released for a minimum of 3 years, from different farms in order to achieve the maximum initial genetic diversity. Releases were effected in late summer (August-September) in acclimatization pens containing 10-20 aviaries. The reintroduced population showed marked variability of some demographic parameters, such as pair density and brood production rate; instead, average brood size was relatively constant across the study areas, but with annual variations. Reintroduction success was limited to a few areas only, mainly depending on the habitat characteristics of the areas, their surface area and isolation, and on the degree of care for the birds during the acclimatization period.
. We present the results of 4 years of dragonfly monitoring in the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural... more . We present the results of 4 years of dragonfly monitoring in the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and Alpe Devero Conservation Area, Western Alps, alongside with records from two neighbouring sites. Altogether we recorded 17 species. Somatochlora arctica and Leucorrhinia dubia are for the first time recorded for Piedmont.
The results of a survey aimed at describing the Odonate fauna of Val Grande National Park are pre... more The results of a survey aimed at describing the Odonate fauna of Val Grande National Park are presented, which was carried out in the framework of the project “Animal Biodiversity Monitoring in Alpine Habitat”. Relevant literature was examined and data collected in- tensively in summer 2016 and extensively in the period 2014-2019. Prior to this research specific knowledge on dragonfly and damselfly presence and distribution accounted for 6 species for the study area, which were recorded near the northern border but outside the park. The first Odonate checklist here provided is based on 188 records (1173 individuals), of which 137 are recent and unpublished. Compre- hensively 25 species were recorded (14 breeding), which represent 26% of the Italian fauna, 36% of Piedmont and 58% of the province of Verbano Cusio Ossola, whereas three species were not confirmed; 10 species were found inside the park (4 breeding). Odonate diversity was remarkable, thanks to Val Grande geographical posi...
In this article we present the results of a multitaxa and expert based methodology aimed at the i... more In this article we present the results of a multitaxa and expert based methodology aimed at the identification of Priority Areas for Biodiversity Conservation in the Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola (VCO), located in North Eastern Piedmont, Italy. The multitaxa approach was based on the selection of focal species and habitats that were considered indicators of high levels of biodiversity, belonging to one of the following themes: a) Flora and Vegetation, b) Invertebrates, c) Aquatic Ecosystems and Fish, d) Amphibians and Reptiles, e) Birds, f) Mammals. We gathered a group of 25 expert naturalists, biologists and researchers, possessing wide knowledge built during field studies and researches carried out in VCO, to whom we asked to select Important and Peculiar Areas for the conservation of biodiversity related to their themes and to draw them on the map. [...]
ABSTRACT La conservazione delle popolazioni di stambecco ha grande rilevanza a livello italiano e... more ABSTRACT La conservazione delle popolazioni di stambecco ha grande rilevanza a livello italiano ed europeo, a causa della distribuzione concentrata in poche aree, mentre le consistenti popolazioni di camoscio hanno importanza economica e gestionale. L?espansione dell?areale di distribuzione dei cervidi in territorio alpino, è un fenomeno ormai consolidato e legato all?abbandono dei territori collinari e montani ma anche alle reintroduzioni e alle azioni di tutela nei confronti delle specie. I modelli d?idoneità ambientale rappresentano un efficace strumento per il confronto a livello qualitativo (numero di specie) e quantitativo (abbondanza delle popolazioni) tra l?attuale popolamento faunistico dei territori alpini e la loro situazione potenziale. Il Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso si estende per oltre 700 km² sul territorio di Piemonte e di Valle d?Aosta; gli affioramenti rocciosi ne occupano il 37.0%, la vegetazione rada il 20.1% e le praterie sommitali e le brughiere il 17.3%. L?analisi ambientale del Parco è stata effettuata mediante Arcview 3.2 per Windows misurando il valore di 20 variabili ambientali (Corine Land Cover III Liv.), 27 fisiche (DTM) e 17 di complessità paesaggistica in 2925 Unità Campione di 0,5 km di lato. Per la formulazione dei modelli relativi alla distribuzione (presenza/assenza) dello stambecco sono stati utilizzati i dati dei censimenti (1999) effettuati nel Parco; per il camoscio ed il capriolo sono stati utilizzati i dati rilevati nelle province di Vercelli e Biella (1997) e in quella di Verbania (1999), mentre per il cervo sono stati utilizzati quelli relativi alla sola provincia di Verbania (1999). I modelli sono stati formulati mediante Analisi di Funzione Discriminante (Magnusson, 1983; Massolo & Meriggi, 1995) e Analisi di Regressione Logistica (Norusis, 1994). Per lo stambecco i dati sono stati suddivisi in due sets, di cui uno utilizzato per la formulazione del modello e l?altro per la sua validazione. Mediante un test del chi-quadrato sono state confrontate le percentuali di casi classificati nei due sets. Per le altre specie i modelli formulati sono stati applicati al territorio del parco e la validità dei modelli è stata valutata dalla percentuale di casi originali riclassificati correttamente. Per i bovidi il modello a maggior capacità predittiva è stato quello discriminante (classificazioni corrette: 73.0% per stambecco e 82.8% per camoscio). La non significatività del test Χ² (P=0.470) indica che non esistono differenze significative tra la distribuzione reale dello stambecco e quella ottenuta dal modello. L'81.1% del territorio del Parco è idoneo al camoscio alpino e l'area vocata include il 93.6% del territorio realmente occupato dalla specie. Per il capriolo il modello logistico è stato quello a maggior capacità predittiva (88.1% dei casi originali classificati correttamente), individuando il 50.7% del territorio realmente occupato dalla specie. Anche per il cervo quello logistico è preferibile per la maggiore percentuale di casi totali classificati correttamente (AFD: 74.9%; ARL: 76.0%).
Modelling sedentary large vertebrate distributions by means of stochastic statistical techniques ... more Modelling sedentary large vertebrate distributions by means of stochastic statistical techniques has become widely used especially when dealing with species of management concern. Models may be used as research or as management and planning tools whose applied and predictive aspects are most valued. In this paper we present the results of modelling chamois, red deer and roe deer distributions in Western Alps. Our aim is to supply researchers and wildlife managers with models that are simple both to handle and to understand from a biological point of view. We discuss the applied and predictive aspects of the models and the ecological requirements of the species considered as resulted from them. This study focuses on alpine environment where topography proved to be an important predictor of ungulates distribution. Community variables such as the presence of other ungulate species and predators also played a major role.
Dragonflies of the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and surroundings (Piedmont, northern Italy... more Dragonflies of the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and surroundings (Piedmont, northern Italy). We present the results of 4 years of dragonfly monitoring in the Alpi Veglia and Devero Natural Park and Alpe Devero Conservation Area, Western Alps, alongside with records from two neighbouring sites. Altogether we recorded 17 species. Somatochlora arctica and Leucorrhinia dubia are for the first time recorded for Piedmont.
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Papers by Lucia Pompilio