https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2023.680
Bats of Sicily: historical evidence, current knowledge, research biases and trends
Submitted: 18 March 2023
Accepted: 18 July 2023
Published: 11 October 2023
Accepted: 18 July 2023
Abstract Views: 1142
PDF: 525
SUPPORTING INFORMATION: 241
SUPPORTING INFORMATION: 241
Publisher's note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
Insular bat communities are a preeminent conservation taxon due to their ecological role and intriguing and unique species composition. Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean. However, research on Sicilian bats is still scattered, with substantial information being overlooked. Here we present a systematic review of all available bibliographic information from 1810 to 2022, including grey literature, archives, and peer-reviewed publications. The analyses of bibliographic sources permitted us to evaluate the status of research on bats using the Bat Research Efficiency (BRE) and Species-Research Effort Allocation (SREA) metrics. A total of 81 documents were obtained. Since 1955, an average of 1.2 contributions have been issued per year. Over half of the documents are in Italian. The studies are primarily conducted in north-western (40%) and south-eastern (28%) Sicily, mainly in the provinces of Palermo and Siracusa. Most of the contributions concern “Species records” (61%) and “Ecology” (21%). There were 28 species reported, but a significant bias exists towards Myotis myotis, Miniopterus schreibersii, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum, Myotis capaccinii, and Rhinolophus euryale. Around 31.5% of the studies focused on threatened species, while 68.5% concentrated on non-threatened species, with an overall preference for cave-dwelling species. Yet, SREA analysis demonstrates a lack of research efforts for all species. We encourage the use of a multidisciplinary approach towards under-studied species while covering geographical gaps and increasing public awareness of the functional role of bats in natural ecosystems.
Cover Image: credits Saxifraga - Rudmer Zwerver
Agnelli P., Martinoli A., Patriarca E., Russo D., Scaravelli D. & Genovesi P., 2004 – Linee guida per il monitoraggio dei Chirotteri: Indicazioni metodologiche per lo studio e la conservazione dei pipistrelli in Italia. Quaderni di Conservazione della Natura. Ministero dell’Ambiente, Istituto Nazionale Fauna Selvatica, Roma, 19.
Agnelli P., Di Salvo I., Russo D. & Sarà M., 2008 – Chirotterofauna della Sicilia (Mammalia Chiroptera). In: Atlante della Biodiversità della Sicilia: Vertebrati terrestri. Studi e Ricerche, 6. AA.VV. (eds.). Arpa Sicilia, Palermo: 25-41.
Ancillotto L., Santini L., Ranc N., Maiorano L. & Russo D., 2016 – Extraordinary range expansion in a common bat: the potential roles of climate change and urbanization. The Science of Nature, 103 (3): 1-8. <https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-016-1334-7>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00114-016-1334-7
Ancillotto L., Bosso L., Smeraldo S., Mori E., Mazza G., Herkt M., Galimberti A., Ramazzotti F. & Russo D., 2020 – An African bat in Europe, Plecotus gaisleri: Biogeographic and ecological insights from molecular taxonomy and Species Distribution Models. Ecology and evolution, 10 (12): 5785-5800. <https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6317>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.6317
Audra P., De Waele J., Bentaleb I., Chroňáková A., Krištůfek V. & D’Angeli I. M., Carbone C., Madonia G., Vattano M., Scopelliti G., Cailhol D., Vanara N., Temovski M., Bigot J.-Y., Nobécourt J.-C., Galli E., Rull F., & Sanz-Arraz A., 2019 – Guano-related phosphate-rich minerals in European caves. International Journal of Speleology, Tampa, FL (USA), 48 (1): 75-105. <https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.48.1.2252>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.48.1.2252
Benda P., Satterfield L., Gücel S., Horáček I., Lučan R., Charalambidou I. & Uhrin M., 2018 – Distribution of bats in Northern Cyprus (Chiroptera). Lynx, series nova, 49 (1): 91-138. <https://doi.org/10.2478/lynx-2018-0011>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/lynx-2018-0011
Bogdanowicz W., Hulva P., Černá Bolfíková B., Buś M. M., Rychlicka E., Sztencel-Jabłonka A., Cistrone L. & Russo D., 2015 – Cryptic diversity of Italian bats and the role of the Apennine refugium in the phylogeography of the western Palaearctic. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 174 (3): 635-648. <https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12248>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/zoj.12248
Bonaparte C. L., 1833 – Iconografia della fauna italica per le quattro classi degli animali vertebrati. Tipografia Salviucci, Roma.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.70395
Bueno R. S., García D., Galetti M. & La Mantia T., 2020 – Past cover modulates the intense and spatially structured natural regeneration of woody vegetation in pastureland. Plant Ecology, 221: 205-218. <https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-020-01006-3>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11258-020-01006-3
Bueno R. S., García D., Galetti M. & La Mantia T., 2021 – Trophic and spatial complementarity on seed dispersal services by birds, wild mammals, and cattle in a Mediterranean woodland pasture. Global Ecology and Conservation, 31, e01880. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01880>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01880
Bulgarini F., Calvario E., Fraticelli F., Petretti F. & Sarrocco S., 1998 – Libro rosso degli animali d’Italia. Vertebrati. WWF Italia.
Burgin C. J., Colella J. P., Kahn P. L. & Upham N. S., 2018 – How many species of mammals are there? Journal of Mammalogy, 99 (1): 1-14.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jmammal/gyx147
Caruso D., 1982 – Il popolamento cavernicolo della Sicilia (Ricerche faunistiche ed ecologiche sulle grotte di Sicilia. VII). Lavori della Società Italiana di Biogeografia, Nuova series, VII (1978): 587-614.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21426/B67110138
Caruso D., 1995 – L’attuale stato delle conoscenze sulla fauna delle grotte di Sicilia (Ricerche faunistiche ed ecologiche sulla Grotte di Sicilia. VIII). In: Atti I Convegno Regionale di Speleologia della Sicilia, Ragusa 14-16 dicembre 1990. II: 349-378.
Caruso D., 1999 – La fauna delle grotte dell’Etna: descrizione e considerazioni. In: Dentro i Vulcani. Atti del IX Simposio Internazionale di Vulcanospeleologia. 11-19 settembre 1999, Catania, Italia. Centro Speleologico Etneo, Catania:155-172.
Caruso D. & Costa G., 1978 – Ricerche faunistiche ed ecologiche sulle grotte di Sicilia. VI - Fauna cavernicola di Sicilia (Catalogo ragionato). Animalia, Catania, 5 (1-3): 423-513.
Caruso D. & Grasso R., 1996 – La fauna delle grotte. In: Atti del Convegno su “La fauna degli Iblei”, Noto, 13-14 maggio 1995. Ragonese B. (ed.). Ente Fauna Siciliana: 201-281.
Conenna I., Rocha R., Russo D. & Cabeza M., 2017 – Insular bats and research effort: a review of global patterns and priorities. Mammal Review, 47 (3):169-182. <https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12090>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mam.12090
Coriscan Fauna, 2022 – Mammals in Corsica. <https://www.naturisme-rivabella.com/en/corsica/fauna> (Visited on 26/09/2022).
Corrao A., Catalano E. & Zava B., 1985 – Destructive effects of chlorinated pesticides on a bats colony (Chiroptera). Mammalia, 49 (1): 125-130. <https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1985.49.1.125>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1985.49.1.125
De Stefani T., 1895 – Nota su l’albinismo di un pipistrello e sul melanismo di due rettili. In: Appunti e note di ornitologia siciliana. De Stefani T. & Riggio G. (eds.). Naturalista siciliano, XIV (8): 157-158.
Di Salvo I., Russo D. & Sarà M., 2009 – Habitat preferences of bats in a rural area of Sicily determined by acoustic surveys. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 20 (2): 137-146. <https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-20.2-4444>
Di Salvo I., Fulco A. & Sarà M., 2012a – New records on woodland bats in the Nebrodi regional park. In: VIII Congresso dell’Associazione Teriologica Italiana, Piacenza, 9-11 maggio 2012. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammology, (n.s.), Supplemento 2012: 115.
Di Salvo I., Fulco A., Sarà M., & Russo D., 2012b – Occurrence of Bechstein’s bat Myotis bechsteinii (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Sicily. Natura Rerum, Comiso, 2: 75-78. <http://www.edizionibelvedere.it/assets/di-salvo-et-al.pdf>
Doderlein P., 1872 – Alcune generalità intorno la fauna sicula de’ vertebrati. Annuario della Società dei Naturalisti in Modena, Modena: 29-37.
Doderlein P., 1881 – Rivista della fauna sicula dei vertebrati. Nuove Effemeridi Siciliane, XI.
Dondini G., Tomassini A., Inguscio S., & Rossi E., 2014 – Rediscovery of Mehely’s horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus mehelyi) in peninsular Italy. Hystrix, 25 (1): 59-60.
Feijó A., Wang Y., Sun J., Li F., Wen Z., Ge D. & Yang Q., 2019 – Research trends on bats in China: a twenty-first-century review. Mammalian Biology, 98: 163-172. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2019.09.002>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2019.09.002
Felten H. & Storch G., 1970 – Kleinsäuger von den italienischen Mittelmeer-Inseln Pantelleria und Lampedusa (Mammalia). Senckenbergiana biologica, 51: 159-173.
Ferrante M., Spena M. T., Hernout B. V., Grasso A., Messina A., Grasso R., Agnelli P., Brundo M. V. & Copat C., 2018 – Trace elements bioaccumulation in liver and fur of Myotis myotis from two caves of the eastern side of Sicily (Italy): A comparison between a control and a polluted area. Environmental Pollution, 240: 273-285. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.133>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.04.133
Fichera G., Mucedda M., Catalano P. & Pidinchedda E., 2013 – First record of Pipistrellus pygmaeus (Leach, 1825) (Mammalia Chiroptera) in Sicily (Southern Italy). Biodiversity Journal, 4 (4). 467-470.
Fichera G., Mucedda M., Pidinchedda E., Catalano P. & Sperlinga G., 2021 – Attuali conoscenze sulla chirotterofauna dell’Etna (Catania, Sicilia). Naturalista siciliano, S. IV, XLV (1-2): 165-180. <https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.5713549>
Fichera G., Mucedda M., Russo D., Tomassini A., Kiefer A., Veith M. & Ancillotto L., 2022 – Pantelleria Island (Sicily, Italy): a biogeographic crossroad for bats between Africa and Europe. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 33 (2): 134-137. <https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-00503-2021>
Fiore M., Violani C. & Zava B., 1992 – Chirotteri delle Isole circumsiciliane. I - Vulcano (Eolie). Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, 132 (1991) (14): 169-180.
Fornasari L., Violani C. & Zava B., 1997 – I Chirotteri italiani. L’Epos, Palermo.
Frick W. F., Kingston T. & Flanders J., 2020 – A review of the major threats and challenges to global bat conservation. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1469 (1): 5-25. <https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14045>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.14045
Fulco A. & Lo Valvo M., 2015 – Geographical distribution of the bat fauna of Sicily: current state of knowledge. In: Abstract III Convegno Italiano sui Chirotteri, Trento, 9-11 Ottobre 2015. Mucedda M., Roscioni F. & Preatoni D. G. (eds.). Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Chirotteri - Associazione Teriologica Italiana: 30.
Fulco A., Di Salvo I., Russo D. & Lo Valvo M., 2015a – First record of brown long-eared bat Plecotus auritus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) for Sicily island (Italy). Barbastella, 8 (1): 42-44.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14709/BarbJ.8.1.2015.07
Fulco A., Vattano M., Valenti P., Madonia G. & Lo Valvo M., 2015b – The bat fauna of four cavities in south-west Sicily: microclimatic analysis and phenology of communities. In: Abstract III Convegno Italiano sui Chirotteri, Trento, 9-11 Ottobre 2015. Mucedda M., Roscioni F. & Preatoni D. G. (eds.). Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Chirotteri - Associazione Teriologica Italiana: 30.
Fulco A., Di Salvo I., Lo Valvo M. & Russo D., 2016 – Buzzing in case of emergency: distress calls in greater eared-mouse bat. In: X Congresso Italiano di Teriologia, Acquapendente (VT), 20-23 Aprile 2016. Chirichella R., Imperio S., Molinari A., Sozio G., Mazzaracca S. & Preatoni D. G. (eds.). Hystrix, 27 (Supplemento): 103.
Galvagni G. A., 1837 – Fauna etnea ossia materiali per la compilazione della zoologia dell’Etna. Atti della Accademia Gioenia di Scienze naturali in Catania, 12: 25-57, 377-411; 13: 163-205; 14: 241-270; 16: 107-130.
Guerrero-Casado J. & Monge-Nájera J., 2021 – The geographic bias of mammal studies: a comparison of half a century of research on Palearctic and Neotropical mammals. Revista de Biología Tropical, 69 (2), 391-402.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15517/rbt.v69i2.43961
Haberl W., 2004 – Small mammals of the “Foce del Fiume Platani” Nature Reserve (Sicily, Italy) and a record of Hypsugo savii (Bonaparte, 1837) (Mammalia, Chiroptera). Naturalista siciliano, S. IV, XXVIII (3-4): 1232-1233.
Hulva P., Benda P., Hanak V., Evin A. & Horacek I., 2007 – New mitochondrial lineages within the Pipistrellus pipistrellus complex from Mediterranean Europe. Folia Zoologica, Praha, 56 (4): 378-388.
Jones K. E., Mickleburgh S. P., Sechrest W. & Walsh A. L., 2009 – Global overview of the conservation of island bats: importance, challenges, and opportunities. In: Island Bats. Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation. T. H. Fleming & P. A. Racey (eds.). University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois, USA: 496-530.
Juste J., Ruedi M., Puechmaille S. J., Salicini I. & Ibáñez C., 2018 – Two new cryptic bat species within the Myotis nattereri species complex (Vespertilionidae, Chiroptera) from the Western Palaearctic. Acta Chiropterologica, 20 (2): 285-300. <https://doi.org/10.3161/15081109ACC2018.20.2.001>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3161/15081109ACC2018.20.2.001
Kahmann H., 1957 – Der Nachweis der Fledermaus Barbastella barbastellus Schreber 1774 auf der Insel Sizilien. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 158: 139-143.
Kock D., 1989 – Fledermaus-Fliegen aus der E-Mediterraneis (Diptera: Nycteribiidae). Entomologisches Zeitschrift, 99 (5): 56-58.
Kotsakis T. & Petronio C., 1981 – I chirotteri del Pleistocene superiore della grotta di Spinagallo (Siracusa, Sicilia). Bollettino del Servizio Geologico d’Italia, 101 (1980): 49-76.
Krampitz H. E., 1957 – Ricerche sugli emoparassiti dei micromammiferi selvatici della Sicilia. Rivista Parassitologia, 18 (4): 219-233.
Lanza B., 2012 – Fauna d’Italia, Vol. XLVII, Mammalia V, Chiroptera. Calderini, Bologna.
Lecis R., Mucedda M., Pidinchedda E., Pittau M. & Alberti A., 2019 – Molecular identification of Betacoronavirus in bats from Sardinia (Italy): first detection and phylogeny. Virus genes, 55 (1), 60-67. <https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-018-1614-8>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11262-018-1614-8
Lilford L., 1862 – On the extinction in Europe of the Common Francolin (Francolinus vulgaris Steph.). Ibis, 4 (4): 352-356. <https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1862.tb07508.x>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1862.tb07508.x
Lo Nigro M., Rallo A., Provinzano G., Vanisova E. & Lo Valvo M., 2021 – New data about Chiropterofauna of the “Monte Pellegrino” Nature Reserve (Palermo, Italy). In: Actual Problems of Ecology and Environmental Management (APEEM 2021). EDP Sciences. E3S Web of Conferences, 265, 01001. <https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202126501001>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/202126501001
López-Bosch D., Huang J. C. C., Wang Y., Palmeirim A. F., Gibson L. & López-Baucells A., 2021 – Bat echolocation in continental China: a systematic review and first acoustic identification key for the country. Mammal Research, 66, 417. <https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-021-00581-8>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-021-00581-8
López-García J. M., Blain H. A., Pagano E., Ollé A., Vergès J. M. & Forgia V., 2013 – The small mammals (insectivores, bats, and rodents) from the Holocene archeological site of Vallone Inferno (Scillato, lower Imera Valley, northwestern Sicily). Rivista Italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, 119 (2): 229-244. <https://doi.org/10.13130/2039-4942/6037>
Mannino G., 1985 – Le grotte di Monte Pellegrino. Edizione Etna Madonie del club Alpino Siciliano.
Massaad M., Bueno R. S., Bentaleb I. & La Mantia T., 2022 – Priorities and gaps in Mediterranean bat research evidence: a systematic review for the early twenty-first century. Hystrix, the Italian Journal of Mammalogy, 33 (2): 113-122. <https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-00534-2022>
Masseti M. & Zava B., 2021 – Extinct and living mammals of the island of Marettimo (Aegadian archipelago, Trapani), off the north-western Sicilian coast (Italy): a review of evidence and historical data. Biodiversity Journal, 12 (4): 875-885. <https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.4.875.885>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31396/Biodiv.Jour.2021.12.4.875.885
McCreless E., Huff D., Croll A., Tershy B., Spatz D., Holmes D., Butchart H. & Wilcox C., 2016 – Past and estimated future impact of invasive alien mammals on insular threatened vertebrate populations. Nature Communications, 7, 12488. <https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12488>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms12488
Médail F. & Quezel P., 1999 – Biodiversity hotspots in the Mediterranean Basin: setting global conservation priorities. Conservation Biology, 13 (6): 1510-1513. <http://www.jstor.org/stable/2641976>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.1999.98467.x
Moher D., Shamseer L., Clarke M., Ghersi D., Liberati A., Petticrew M., Shekelle P. & Stewart L. A., 2015 – Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015 statement. Systematic reviews, 4 (1). 1-9.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-4053-4-1
Mucedda M., Pidinchedda E. & Bertelli M. L., 2009 – Status dei Rhinolfo di Mehely (Rhinolophus mehelyi) (Chiroptera, Rhinolophidae) in Italia. In: Atti del II Convegno Italiano sui Chirotteri. Serra San Quirico (AN), 21-23 Novembre 2008. Dondini G., Fusco G., Martinoli A., Mucedda M., Russo D., Scotti M., Vergari S. (eds.). Parco Regionale Gola della Rossa e di Frasassi: 89-98.
Mucedda M., Fichera G. & Pidinchedda E., 2012 – Record of Barbastella barbastellus in Sicily after 56 years. Natura Rerum, Comiso, 2: 79-81. <http://www.edizionibelvedere.it/assets/mucedda-et-al.pdf>
Mucedda M., Fichera G. & Pidinchedda E., 2015 – Studio sui chirotteri troglofili della Grotta di Calafarina (Pachino, SR, Sicilia sud-orientale). In: Abstract III Convegno Italiano sui Chirotteri, Trento, 9-11 ottobre 2015. Mucedda M., Roscioni F. & Preatoni D. G. (eds.). Gruppo Italiano Ricerca Chirotteri - Associazione Teriologica Italiana: 14-19.
Mucedda M., Castorina R., Pichera G. & Pidinchedda E., 2019 – Osservazioni sui pipistrelli della Grotta Palombara e della Grotta di Pantalica (Iblei - Sicilia orietale). Sardegna Speleologica, 31: 44-50.
Myers N., Mittermeier R. A., Mittermeier C. G., Da Fonseca G. A. & Kent J., 2000 – Biodiversity hotspots for conservation priorities. Nature, 403 (6772): 853-858. <https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/35002501
Puig‐Montserrat X., Flaquer C., Gómez‐Aguilera N., Burgas A., Mas M., Tuneu C. & López‐Baucells A., 2020 – Bats actively prey on mosquitoes and other deleterious insects in rice paddies: Potential impact on human health and agriculture. Pest Management Science, 76 (11): 3759-3769. <https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5925>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.5925
R Core Team., 2021 – R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. <https://www.r-project.org>
Rafinesque C. S., 1810 – Indice d’ittologia siciliana: ossia catalogo metodico dei nomi latini, italiani, e siciliani dei pesci, che si rinvengono in Sicilia: Opuscolo del signore CS Rafinesque-Schmaltz. del Nobolo, Messina.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.58965
Ragonese B., 1967 – L’inanellamento dei pipistrelli in Sicilia, Sellecta n 10. Anno Scolastco 1965-1966. Grafiche S. Corrado, Noto: 2-6.
Ragonese B., 1968 – Nel buio di Calafarina. Ed. Ciranna, Roma.
Ragonese B., 1991 – Chirotteri troglofili degli Iblei. In: Atti del Convegno di Studi su Palazzolo Acreide. Territorio e Ambiente. 28-30 novembre 1991. Giansiracusa P. (a cura di). S. Corrado, Noto: 33-38.
Ragonese B. & Contoli L., 1996 – La mammalofauna. In: Atti del Convegno su la “La fauna degli Iblei”. Noto, 13-14 maggio 1995. Ente Fauna Siciliana, Noto: 123-129.
Rondinini C., Battistoni A., Peronace V. & Teofili C., 2013 – Lista Rossa IUCN dei Vertebrati Italiani. Comitato Italiano IUCN e Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Tutela del Territorio e del Mare, Roma.
Russo D., Di Febbraro M., Rebelo H., Mucedda M., Cistrone L., Agnelli P., De Pasquale P. P., Martinoli A., Scaravelli D., Spilinga C. & Bosso L., 2014 – What story does geographic separation of insular bats tell? A case study on Sardinian Rhinolophids. PLoS One, 9 (10), e110894. <https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110894>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0110894
Russo D., Salinas-Ramos V. B., Cistrone L., Smeraldo S., Bosso L. & Ancillotto L., 2021 – Do We Need to Use Bats as Bioindicators? Biology, 10 (8), 693. <https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10080693>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10080693
Salari L., Agnelli P., Calcagnile L., Di Maita J., Grasso R., Quarta G., Santoro C. & Spena M. T., 2019 – The fossil bat assemblages from the Grotta dei Pipistrelli in Pantalica (southeastern Sicily, Italy): Chronological and palaeoecological implications. Comptes Rendus Palevol, 18 (4): 417-441. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2019.01.007>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crpv.2019.01.007
Salicini I., Ibáñez C. & Juste J., 2011 – Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation within the Natterer’s bat species complex in the Western Palearctic. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 61 (3): 888-898. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2011.08.010>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2011.08.010
Salicini I., Ibáñez C. & Juste J., 2013 – Deep differentiation between and within Mediterranean glacial refugia in a flying mammal, the Myotis nattereri bat complex. Journal of Biogeography, 40 (6): 1182-1193. <https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12062>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jbi.12062
Salvaggio A., Polizzi R., Brundo M. V., Grasso R., Brogna F., Filosico M. A., Spena M. T. & Agnelli P., 2013 – Patologie e cause di mortalità in colonie di chirotteri nella Grotta dei Pipistrelli (SR). In: 74° Congresso Nazionale dell’Unione Zoologica Italiana Modena, 30 settembre - 3 ottobre 2013. Atti della Società dei Naturalisti e Matematici di Modena, 144: 168. <https://www.socnatmatmo.unimore.it/download/Atti2013.pdf#page=166>
Sarà M. (a cura di), 1999 – Il catalogo dei mammiferi della Sicilia. Terza edizione. In: Catalogo dei mammiferi della Sicilia (1866-67, 1868). Minà Palumbo F. Società Messinese di Storia Patria.
Sarà M., 2008 – Atlante della Biodiversità della Sicilia. Vertebri terrestri. Studi e Richerce, 6. Arpa Sicilia, Palermo.
Sélys-Longchamps M.-E., 1839 – Études de micromammalogie. Revue des musaraignes, des rats et des campagnols, suivie d’un index méthodique des mammifères d’Europe. Librairie encyclopédique de Roret, Paris. <https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.101994>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.101994
Spena M. T., Allegra Filosico M., Brogna F., Dipasquale C., Puma A., Grasso R. & Agnelli P., 2013 – I chirotteri della Grotta dei Pipistrelli (SR): un unicum nella Sicilia sud-orientale. In: 74° Congresso Nazionale dell’Unione Zoologica Italiana. Modena, 30 settembre - 3 ottobre 2013. Atti della Società dei Naturalisti e Matematici di Modena, 144: 171. <https://www.socnatmatmo.unimore.it/download/Atti2013.pdf#page=169>
Spena M. T., Agnelli P., Di Maita J., Grasso R., Reitano A., Santoro C. & Salari L., 2017 – Pleistocene bats (Mammalia, Chiroptera) from Grotta dei Pipistrelli (southeastern Sicily, Italy). Preliminary report. Barbastella - Journal of Bat Research & Conservation, 10 (1): 37-41. <https://doi.org/10.14709/BarbJ.10.1.2017.06>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14709/BarbJ.10.1.2017.06
Spena M. T., Agnelli P., Di Maita J., Grasso R. & Salari L., 2021 – Palaeoenvironmental considerations on the latest Pleistocene and Holocene micromammals from the Grotta dei Pipistrelli (Hyblaean mountains, Sicily, Italy). Alpine and Mediterranean Quaternary, 34 (2): 187-200. <https://doi.org/10.26382/AMQ.2021.02>
Sperlinga G., Fichera G. & Reitano A., 2013 – I chirotteri delle grotte dell’Etna. In: Le grotte dell’Etna. Cavallaro F. & Reitano A. Danaus Editore; Palermo: 235-252.
Tanalgo K. C. & Hughes A. C., 2018 – Bats of the Philippine Islands – A review of research directions and relevance to national-level priorities and targets. Mammalian Biology, 91 (1), 46-56. <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2018.03.005 >
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2018.03.005
Tiongson A. J. C., Utzurrum J. A. & De la Paz M. E. L., 2021 – Patterns of research effort and extinction risk of marine mammals in the Philippines. Frontiers in Marine Science, 8, 607020. <https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.607020>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.607020
Trujillo D., Garcia D. & Juste J., 2008 – First record of Daubenton’s bat Myotis daubentonii (Kuhl 1817), for the Balearic Islands (Spain). Bolletí de la Societat d’Història Natural de les Balears, 51: 169-175.
Veith M., Mucedda M., Kiefer A. & Pidinchedda E., 2011 – On the presence of pipistrelle bats (Pipistrellus and Hypsugo; Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in Sardinia. Acta Chiropterologica, 13 (1): 89-99. <https://doi.org/10.3161/150811011X578642>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3161/150811011X578642
Vergari S., Dondini G. & Ruggieri A., 1998 – On the distribution of Myotis bechsteinii (Kuhl, 1817) in Italy (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae). Hystrix (n.s.), 10 (2): 49-56. <https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-10.2-4131>
Williams-Guillén K., Olimpi E., Maas B., Taylor P. J. & Arlettaz R., 2016 – Bats in the anthropogenic matrix: challenges and opportunities for the conservation of Chiroptera and their ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes. In: Bats in the Anthropocene: Conservation of bats in a changing world. Voigt C. C. & Kingston T. (eds.). Springer Cham: 151-186. <https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25220-9_6>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-25220-9_6
Witsenburg F., Clément L., López‐Baucells A., Palmeirim J., Pavlinić I., Scaravelli D., Ševčík M., Dutoit L., Salamin N., Goudet J. & Christe P., 2015 – How a haemosporidian parasite of bats gets around: the genetic structure of a parasite, vector, and host compared. Molecular Ecology, 24 (4), 926-940.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.13071
Zava B. & Catalano E., 1983 – Première découverte de Miniopterus schreibersi (Natterer in Kühl, 1819) (Chiroptera) dans l’île de Lampeduse. Mammalia, 47 (3). <https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm-1983-0313>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm-1983-0313
Zava B. & Falzone D., 1978 – Brevi note sui chirotteri del palermitano. Speleologia siciliana, Palermo: 66-68.
Zava B. & Lo Valvo F., 1991 – Distribuzione e metodiche di censimento del Molosso del Cestoni (Chiroptera - Molossidae) in Sicilia. In: Atti II Seminario Italiano Censimenti Faunistici dei Vertebrati. Brescia 6-9 aprile 1989. Supplemento alle Ricerche di Biologia della Selvaggina, 16: 647-649.
Zava B. & Violani C., 1992 – Nuovi dati sulla chirotterofauna italiana. Bollettino Museo regionale di Scienze naturali, Torino, 10 (2): 261-264.
Zava B., Corrao A. & Catalano E., 1986 – Chirotteri cavernicoli di Sicilia. Atti del IX° Concreso Internacional de Espeleologia, Barcelona, II: 187-189.
Zava B., Violani C. & Mannino G., 1994 – Bats of Sicilian islands. II - Ustica. Mammalia, 58 (2): 261-268. <https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1994.58.2.261>
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1994.58.2.261
How to Cite
Massaad, M., da Silveira Bueno, R., Bentaleb, I., & La Mantia, T. (2023). Bats of Sicily: historical evidence, current knowledge, research biases and trends. Natural History Sciences, 10(2). https://doi.org/10.4081/nhs.2023.680
Copyright (c) 2023 the Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
PAGEPress has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.
Similar Articles
- Laura Farina, I Crisomelidi (Coleoptera; Chrysomelidae) del Parco di Montevecchia e della Valle del Curone (Italia, Lombardia, provincia di Lecco) [Leaf beetles (Coleoptera Chrysomelidae) from Montevecchia and Curone Valley Natural Park (Italy, Lombardy, Lecco)] , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2015)
- Nicola M.G. Ardenghi, Paolo Cauzzi, Alien grapes (Vitis, Vitaceae) in Sicily (Italy): novelties for the Sicilian and Mediterranean flora , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2015)
- Roberto Toffoli, Paola Culasso, Andrea G. Locatelli, Luca Giraudo, Bats of Alpi Marittime Nature Park (North West Italy) and Site of Community Importance IT1160056: distribution and status , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 1 (2016)
- Marco Masseti, Giuseppe De Marchi, Giorgio Chiozzi, Forbidden islands. The absence of endemics among the insular non-volant terrestrial mammalian fauna of the Red Sea , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2015)
- Lorenzo Cecchi, Federico Selvi, Typification of names in Boraginales described from Sicily , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2015)
- Enrico Banfi, Agnese Visconti, The history of the Botanic Garden of Brera during the Restoration of the Austrian Empire and the early years of the Kingdom of Italy , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 1 No. 2 (2014)
- Giovanni Pasini, Alessandro Garassino, Anapagurus mamertinus n. sp. (Anomura, Paguroidea, Paguridae) from the Pliocene of S. Antonio, Capo Milazzo (Sicily, S Italy) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 152 No. 1 (2011)
- Antonio De Angeli, Alessandro Garassino, Giovanni Pasini, New report of the coral-associated decapods from the early Messinian (Late Miocene) of Acquabona, Rosignano Marittimo (Toscana, Italy) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 152 No. 2 (2011)
- Enrico Lunghi, Alessandro Monti, Arturo Binda, Ionne Piazzi, Maurizio Salvadori, Roberto Cogoni, Luigi Andrea Riefolo, Carlo Biancardi, Sergio Mezzadri, Domenico Avitabile, Gentile Francesco Ficetola, Manuela Mulargia, Salvatore Manca, Pauline Blaimont, Anna Rita Di Cerbo, Raoul Manenti, Cases of albinism and leucism in amphibians in Italy: new reports , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 4 No. 1 (2017)
- Carlo M. Biancardi, Claudio G. Gnoli, A review of Sciurus Group studies on the red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris): presence, population density and colour phases in Lombardy (Italy) , Natural History Sciences: Vol. 3 No. 2 (2016)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
