Quaderni del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Ferrara - Vol. 7 - 2019 - pp. 51-59 ISSN 2283-6918 Checklist of terrestrial vertebrates of a northern Apennine area of conservation concern (Prati di Logarghena-Valle del Caprio, pro- vince of Massa-Carrara) PAOLO AGNELLI, LUCIA BELLINI, STEFANO VANNI Museo di Storia Naturale, Sede “La Specola”, via Romana 17, 50125, Firenze, Italy E-mail: [email protected] - [email protected] ALBERTO CHITI BATELLI, PAOLO SPOSIMO NEMO Nature and Enviroment Management Operators Srl, Viale G. Mazzini 26, 50132, Firenze, Italy. E-mail: [email protected] EMILIANO MORI Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via P.A. Mattioli 4, 53100, Siena, Italy. ORCID ID: 0000-0001-8108-7950. E-mail: [email protected] Abstract In this work, a check-list of the species of amphibians, reptiles, breeding birds and mammals recorded in the area named “Prati di Logarghe- na-Valle del Caprio” (central Italy, province of Massa-Carrara) is presented. Very little is known on the vertebrate fauna of this area, located in the northern Apennines, despite being particularly interesting in a period of evident climatic change, which may affect the distribution of mountain species. We reported the occurrence for 89 species including 8 amphibians, 6 reptiles, 45 breeding birds and 30 mammals. Among those, at least 24 are protected according to European Directives: emphasis has been given to the species of remarkable concern from the ecological and conservation points of view. Keywords: Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia, central Italy, Apennine ridge, biodiversity, conservation. Riassunto Checklist di vertebrati terrestri di un’area dell’Appennino Settentrionale di interesse conservazionistico (Prati di Logarghena-Valle del Caprio, provincia di Massa-Carrara) In questo lavoro, è presentata la check-list delle specie di anfibi, rettili, uccelli nidificanti e mammiferi dell'area di interesse per la conservazione "Prati di Logarghena-Valle del Caprio" (Italia centrale, provincia di Massa-Carrara). La fauna vertebrata di quest’area dell'Appennino settentrio- nale è stata poco studiata, nonostante sia particolarmente interessante in un periodo di evidente cambiamento climatico, che può influenzare la distribuzione delle specie tipiche di habitat di montagna. Nell’area, sono risultate presenti almeno 89 specie di vertebrati terrestri, tra cui 8 anfibi, 6 rettili, 45 uccelli nidificanti e 30 mammiferi. Tra questi, almeno 24 sono protetti secondo le direttive europee: una maggiore enfasi è stata data alle specie di maggior preoccupazione dal punto di vista ecologico e conservazionistico. Parole chiave: Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, Mammalia, Italia centrale, Apennini, biodiversità, conservazione. Introduction they often lack historical data to assess potential species distri- bution shifts (cf. Scherrer et al., 2017). Current climatic change is dramatically shaping and altering Herein, we provided an annotated checklist of amphibians, the animal biodiversity particularly on mountain sides (e.g. reptiles, birds and mammals detected in Prati di Logarghe- Bisi et al., 2015; Elsen & Tingley, 2015). Therefore, local na-Valle del Caprio (province of Massa-Carrara, northern checklists of animal species are strongly required for zoogeo- Tuscany), which has been reported as an area of conservation graphic studies and management plans, including the correct concern, according to biological entities and habitat types (e.g. inclusion of taxa into local or national red lists (e.g. Droege Farina, 1981); this area is now partially included into the Tu- et al., 1998; Mori et al., 2014). Particularly, historical data scan-Emilian Apennines National Park and almost entirely in- are necessary, but often lacking in adaptive management pro- cluded in the Natura 2000 Site “Monte Orsaro”. Despite the grams, to improve conservation status of animal species in pro- high naturalistic values, the area is currently largely devoid of tected areas, including Natura2000 sites. Complete vertebrate bibliographical references. Data were collected at the end of checklists are scarce for many Apennine areas (e.g. Bottacci, the 1990s and may provide a reliable historical background for 2012; Stanisci et al., 2012; Cianfanelli et al., 2016) and updated, current checklists. Paolo Agnelli, Lucia Bellini,Alberto Chiti-Batelli, Paolo Sposimo, Stefano Vanni, Emiliano Mori Figure 1. Study area (black line) and the boundaries of Tuscan-Emilian Apennines National Park (dark grey) and the Natura 2000 SAC “Monte Orsaro” (light grey). Materials and MetHods ly on acidic, deep and oligotrophic soils. Western slopes are also covered with chestnut woodland Castanea sativa, whereas Study area mixed deciduous woodlands (e.g. Quercus cerris, Carpinus be- tulus, Ostrya carpinifolia) mostly covered the northern slopes. Th e study area is located on the mountain slopes of the mu- Th e naturalistic importance of the area is confi rmed by the nicipality of Filattiera (province of Massa-Carrara: Figure 1), presence of the Special Area of Conservation “Monte Orsaro”, including the area named as “Prati di Logarghena” (44.394°N in accordance with the Directive 92/43/EEC. In addition to – 9.959°E), north to the villages of Rocca Sigillina along the the study area, the area of Monte Orsaro represents an impor- valley of the Caprio river (“Valle del Caprio”) and the Tu- tant area for plant and bird species, because of the presence scan-Emilian Apennine Ridge (Orsaro and Brusa mountains). of rare species such as Pinguicola leptoceras, Pedicularis cenisia, Th e vegetal landscape of the “Prati di Logarghena” has been Saxifraga etrusca, Traunsteneira globosa, Woodsia alpina and Pri- historically conditioned by human presence. Th ese areas de- mula apennina (plants), and the common rock thrush Monti- rived from the destruction of the original forests and their cola saxatilis and the golden eagle Aquila chrysaetos (birds). subsequent cultivation as arable crops, pastures or permanent meadows. Th e abandonment of the mountain agriculture in Field work recent decades and the consequent reduction of cultivation practices has resulted in a considerable contraction of the 1. AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES. After a pilot study in mowing and arable fi elds, which have been recolonised by her- summer 1999, fi ve surveys were carried out to assess the bs and shrubs (Arrigoni & Menicagli, 1999; Bertacchi et diversity of amphibians and reptiles, once a month, betwe- al., 2005). Southern and western slopes are characterised by en May and September 2000, for a total of 80 working an Alpine morphology with rocky walls, meadows, screes and hours. All the habitat types were checked throughout the grassy altitude prairies with Brachypodium genuense, Asplenium whole altitudinal range. Conservation status following the septentrionale and Saxifraga etrusca. In the peak of northern Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC (Annex II: species requiring slopes, Vaccinium gaultherioides, Empetrum hermaphroditum, designation of Special Areas of Conservation; Annex IV: Rosa pendulina and Homogyne alpina are present and well-pre- species in need of strict protection), the Italian Red List served. Bogs and heaths (Calluna vulgaris, Genista pilosa and (Rondinini et al., 2013) and the global IUCN Red Lists Vaccinium myrtillus) are widespread in the study area most- (https://www.iucnredlist.org/). Checklist of terrestrial vertebrates of a northern Apennine area of conservation concern (Prati di Logarghena-Valle del Caprio, province of Massa-Carrara) 2. BREEDING BIRDS. The study area has been divided into larly every time that they were identified: signs of presence five detection units (100 hectares each), to cover all the ha- (fur, excrements, footprints) were also considered, and each bitat types, based on the UTM grid (1 km side); the number one ascribed to an individual. Bats were searched through a of breeding species and breeding pairs has been recorded in combination of two methods. We searched for shelters used one point within each detection unit during 4 surveys (8 for daytime resting, reproduction or wintering, i.e. caves, ar- hours each) in June and July 1999. The relative frequency of tificial cavities, trunk cavities, ruins and buildings. This type each species (i.e. number of breeding pairs/number of total of research has been integrated also by interviews with local breeding bird pairs × 100) was also reported. Conservation people, to identify possible unknown cavities. Furthermore, status following the European Directive 2009/147/CE, the bats were also surveyed through the use of a bat detector. Re- Italian Red List (Rondinini et al., 2013) and the global cordings were made in the time expansion and heterodyne IUCN Red Lists (https://www.iucnredlist.org/). We also modes with a Pettersson Elektronik D980 ultrasound detec- identified the Species of European Conservation Concern tor connected to an Edirol R-09. The resulting sequence was (SpEC: see Vannini et al., 2013). then analyzed (BatSound 3.10) using a sampling frequency 3. MAMMALS. The survey of terrestrial mammals was carried of 44.1 kHz and a 512 pt FFT. Obtained recordings were out between May and September 2000 (250 working hours), compared with private sound libraries. Records are stored at following a pilot study in summer 1999. Small mammals the Museum of Natural History of the University of Floren- (i.e. rodents and shrews) were captured through pitfall traps, ce “La Specola”. i.e. plastic bottles (1.5 liters), cut at their apex and sunken in the ground. These traps contained an attractive-preser- Results vative, formalin-based bait, buffered with calcium carbona- te and water. Pitfall traps were placed in 3 stations with 20 In our surveys, 89 vertebrate species (except for fish) were de- traps each. At each station, pitfall traps were separated one tected. another by at least 15 metres. Traps were kept active for a total of 124 days and checked once a month. Furthermore, Amphibians and Reptiles barn owl pellets (N = 120) were collected under a roost used by a breeding pair with nestlings in the top part of the chur- A total of 8 amphibians and 6 reptile species were detected, ch tower of the village of Serravalle.