‘Peninsula effect’ and Italian peninsula: matherials for a review  and implications in applied biogeography

Battisti, Corrado

doi:10.21426/b6110113

Cited by 9 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…The negative influence of latitude is in accordance with the overall latitudinal gradient documented for most taxa in the Northern hemisphere [24][25][26][27][28], including tenebrionids [8][9][10], and with the latitudinal pattern already documented for the Italian tenebrionids [73]. This latitudinal gradient is opposed to what can be expected according to the peninsula effect evoked to explain a southward decrease in species richness along the Italian peninsula observed in other taxa [29]. The inverse relationship between latitude and richness can be explained by two non-mutually exclusive explanations: (1) most tenebrionids are thermophilic insects, and hence they are filtered northwards by decreasing temperatures, and (2) the southern parts of the Italian peninsula and Sicily acted as refugial and possibly speciation centres during Pleistocene glacials, where most of the fauna survived [73].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

“…On a regional scale, this pattern can be, however, obscured, erased, or even reversed by a number of factors. For example, in peninsular regions, species richness tends to decrease from the base of the peninsula towards the tip, if biotic colonisation occurred mainly from the mainland (a phenomenon called "peninsula effect" [29,30]). The Italian peninsula is aligned in a north to south direction, with its basis represented by the Alps (which connect Italy to the rest of the European mainland), whereas the tip is in the middle of the Mediterranean basin (with Sicily being separated by the Italian peninsula by only 3.14 km).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Conservation Biogeography of Tenebrionid Beetles: Insights from Italian Reserves

Fattorini

2020

Diversity

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The species-area relationship (SAR), the latitudinal gradient, the peninsula effect, and the elevational gradient are widespread biogeographical patterns. Using data from Italian reserves, these patterns were tested for tenebrionids and used as a framework to calculate expected extinction rates following area loss. Area was an important determinant of overall tenebrionid species richness, but not for xylophilous and endemic species. Thus, focusing on reserve areas is not the best approach for conserving insects with specialised ecology and restricted distribution. In general, species richness declined northwards, which contrasts with the peninsula effect, but conforms to the European latitudinal pattern observed in most taxa because of current and past biogeographical factors. Minimum elevation had an overall negative influence, as most tenebrionids are thermophilic. However, xylophilous tenebrionids, which are mainly associated with mesophilic forests, did not decline northwards, and were positively influenced by higher elevational ranges that allow more forms of vegetation. SAR-based extinction rates reflect species dispersal capabilities, being highest for geophilous species (which are mainly flightless), and lower for the xylophilous species. Extinction rates based on multiple models indicate that the use of area alone may overestimate extinction rates, when other factors exert an important role in determining species richness.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 85%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation Biogeography of Tenebrionid Beetles: Insights from Italian Reserves

Fattorini

2020

Diversity

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“…The ‘peninsular effect’ has been repeatedly evoked to explain a decrease in species richness from north to south along the Italian peninsula (see Battisti, for a review). But, a distinct pattern of southward increase in tenebrionid species richness clearly demonstrates (in contrast with Prediction 1a) that, at least for these insects, there is no ‘peninsular effect’.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tenebrionid beetle distributional patterns in Italy: multiple colonisation trajectories in a biogeographical crossroad

Fattorini

2013

Insect Conserv Diversity

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Placed in the centre of the Mediterranean Basin, Italy is a complex biogeographical crossroad between North Western Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and North Africa. The distribution of 280 species and subspecies of tenebrionid beetles in 17 Italian natural regions was used to study the influence of climatic, spatial and historical (palaeogeographical and palaeoecological) factors on current patterns of species richness, endemism and turnover (i.e. inter‐regional biogeographical differences). In accordance with the general latitudinal pattern of biodiversity in Europe, both tenebrionid richness and endemism increase southwards, in response to variations in rainfall and temperatures, as expected for thermo‐xerophilic animals. Turnover was correlated with both inter‐regional climatic dissimilarities and geographical distances. The importance of spatial relationships independent from climate, but consistent with palaeogeographical and palaeoecological history, was also confirmed by inter‐regional relationships based on all species and endemics only. Biogeographical similarities between Italian regions and adjacent European and North African source areas showed distinct geographical patterns which reflect various dispersal trajectories. During the Pleistocene glacials, cold adapted species coming from northern areas via the Alps used the Apennines as a filter to disperse into central and southern Italy, thereafter remaining confined to high altitude areas after deglaciation. Xero‐thermophilic species coming from North Africa or east Mediterranean countries colonised southern Italian regions probably in more ancient times. Islands and southern areas acted as centres of both speciation and post‐glacial recolonisation.

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“…The total number of species in northern Italy and the Italian peninsula is very similar, but the number of Alpine species is higher than that of Apennine species (109 and 68, respectively). This may be due to the decrease in species richness linked to the 'peninsula effect' generally observed in animal groups (Massa, 1982;Battisti, 2006), but also to a different territory surface (Alps are connected with continental landmass, while Apennines are represented by an isolated dorsal ridge). The importance of the relation between geographic conditions and endemism occurrence has been already highlighted by Anderson (1994).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Italian Peninsula is characterized by unique physiographic conditions, which includes the presence of high mountains (Apennines) along the main North-South orientation of the peninsula. The unique shape of the Italian peninsula has been the subject of biogeographical interest by different authors, especially concerning the North-South gradient of impoverishment (e.g., Massa, 1982;Battisti 2006Battisti , 2014. The Italian peninsula has two distinct southern tips, in Apulia and in Calabria, respectively, each with very different landscapes (mainly lowlands in Apulia and mountain systems in Calabria).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Endemism in Italian Orthoptera

Massa¹,

Fontana²

2020

Biodiversity Journal

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The present paper discusses about the distribution of orthopterans endemic to Italy. This country is located in the centre of the Mediterranean Basin and its palaeo-geographical origins are owed to complex natural phenomena, as well as to a multitude of centres-of-origin, where colonization of fauna and flora concerned. Out of 382 Orthoptera taxa (i.e., species and subspecies) known to occur in Italy, 160 (41.9%) are endemic. Most of them are restricted to the Alps, the Apennines or the two principal islands of Italy (i.e., Sardinia and Sicily). In addition, lowland areas in central-southern Italy host many endemic taxa, which probably originate from the Balkan Peninsula. In Italy, the following 8 genera are considered endemic: Sardoplatycleis, Acroneuroptila, Italopodisma, Epipodisma, Nadigella, Pseudoprumna, Chorthopodisma and Italohippus. Moreover, the subgenus Italoptila is endemic to Italy. For research regarding endemism, Orthoptera are particularly interesting because this order comprises species characterized by different ecological traits; e.g., different dispersal abilities, contrasting thermal requirements or specific demands on their habitats. The highest percentage of apterous or micropterous (35.3%) and brachypterous (16.2%) endemic taxa live in the Apennines, which are among the most isolated mountains of the Italian Peninsula. Finally, some endemic species are endangered at the European scale.

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‘Peninsula effect’ and Italian peninsula: matherials for a review and implications in applied biogeography

Cited by 9 publications

References 0 publications

Conservation Biogeography of Tenebrionid Beetles: Insights from Italian Reserves

Conservation Biogeography of Tenebrionid Beetles: Insights from Italian Reserves

Tenebrionid beetle distributional patterns in Italy: multiple colonisation trajectories in a biogeographical crossroad

Endemism in Italian Orthoptera

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