Ricerc@Sapienza

Measuring biodiversity is a key issue in ecology to guarantee effective indicators of ecosystem health at different spatial and time scales. However, estimating biodiversity from field observations might present
difficulties related to costs and time needed. Moreover, a continuous data update for biodiversity monitoring purposes might be prohibitive. From this point of view, remote sensing represents a powerful tool

Environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis is an efficient and easy-to-standardise molecular tool that has gained widespread importance during the past 10 years, as part of the worldwide campaign to investigate and monitor biodiversity by using globally accessible DNA-based systems (iBOL; https://ibol.org). Genetic methods are increasingly used to assess species diversity, as they are faster and often allow better taxonomic resolution than manual identification methods. However,...

CONISMA, CNR and CIRCE, involved Italian research units (RUs) working on cetaceans to joina National Network answering the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requirements by sharing
monitoring data. Data obtained during the 2016 monitoring campaigns by 13 RUs are presented here.

Although research on human-mediated exchanges of species has substantially intensified
during the last centuries, we know surprisingly little about temporal dynamics of alien species
accumulations across regions and taxa. Using a novel database of 45,813 first records of
16,926 established alien species, we show that the annual rate of first records worldwide has
increased during the last 200 years, with 37% of all first records reported most recently
(1970–2014). Inter-continental and inter-taxonomic variation can be largely attributed to the

Dryland biomes cover two-fifths of Earth's land surface, but their forest area is poorly known. Here, we report an estimate of global forest extent in dryland biomes, based on analyzing more than 210,000 0.5-hectare sample plots through a photo-interpretation approach using large databases of satellite imagery at (i) very high spatial resolution and (ii) very high temporal resolution, which are available through the Google Earth platform. We show that in 2015, 1327 million hectares of drylands had more than 10% tree-cover, and 1079 million hectares comprised forest.

An original method for the identification of High Natural Value farmlands is presented. Gathering information about land use (CORINE Land Cover), geomorphology (elevation and Terrain Ruggedness Index) and remote sensing data in a GIS environment we were able to develop a new detection process; its application to a wide sector of central Italy, in areas characterized by high biodiversity and relevant agronomic and cultural value, is presented. Thus, a new tool for diminishing sampling efforts and economic and time wastes in territorial studies is provided.

An assessment of the natural value of some extensively managed agroecosystems in Latium region (central Italy) has been made, through the collection of floristic and phytosociological data and the development of new indices (Floristic Naturalness Index – FNI and a set of synthetic indices). The survey allowed the evaluation of the study areas as High Natural Value Farmland areas. In a GIS environment, a mapping of the naturalness levels was then carried out.

The Italian biodiversity is among the richest in Europe. In particular, the Italian butterfly fauna includes almost 300 native species, and within the Euro-Mediterranean area is second in species richness only to Turkey. Italy, however, has suffered from the lack of suitable instruments to evaluate the extinction risk of individual butterfly species on the basis of internationally recognised standards. We have been working to create the first Italian Red List for butterflies.

1. Scientists have repeatedly argued that transformative, multiscale global scenarios
are needed as tools in the quest to halt the decline of biodiversity and achieve
sustainability goals.
2. As a first step towards achieving this, the researchers who participated in the
scenarios and models expert group of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) entered into an iterative,
participatory process that led to the development of the Nature Futures Framework
(NFF).

Aim Although much has been said on the spatial distribution of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of vertebrates, how this diversity interacts in food webs and how these interactions change across space are largely unknown. Here, we analysed the spatial distribution of tetrapod food webs and asked whether the variation in local food web structure is driven by random processes or by natural and anthropogenic factors. Location Europe. Time period Present. Major taxa studied Tetrapods.