Conservation genetics of European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris): a wide and integrating analysis protocol for admixture inferences and population structure

Introgression of domestic cat genes into European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris) populations and reduction of wildcats’ range in Europe, leaded by habitat loss and fragmentation, are considered two of the main conservation problems for this endangered feline. This thesis addressed the questions related with the artificial hybridization and populations’ fragmentation, using a conservation genetics perspective. We combined the use of highly polymorphic loci, Bayesian statistical inferences and landscape analyses tools to investigate the origin of the geographic-genetic substructure of European wildcats (Felis silvestris silvestris) in Italy and Europe. The genetic variability of microsatellites evidenced that European wildcat populations currently distributed in Italy differentiated in, and expanded from two distinct glacial refuges during the Last Glacial Maximum. The genetic and geographic substructure detected between the eastern and western sides of the Apennine ridge, resulted by adaptation to specific ecological conditions of the Mediterranean habitats. European wildcat populations in Europe are strongly structured into 5 geographic-genetic macro clusters corresponding to: the Italian peninsular & Sicily; Balkans & north-eastern Italy; Germany eastern; central Europe; and Iberian Peninsula. Central European population might have differentiated in the extra-Mediterranean Würm ice age refuge areas (Northern Alps, Carpathians, and the Bulgarian mountain systems), while the divergence among and within the southern European populations might have resulted by the Pleistocene bio geographical framework of Europe, with three southern refugia localized in the Balkans, Italian Peninsula and Iberia Peninsula. We further combined the use of most informative autosomal SNPs with uniparental markers (mtDNA and Y-linked) for accurately detecting parental genotypes and levels of introgressive hybridization between European wild and domestic cats. A total of 11 hybrids were identified. The presence of domestic mitochondrial haplotypes shared with some wild individuals led us to hypnotize the possibility that ancient introgressive events might have occurred and that further investigation should be recommended.

La ricerca archeologica e il regime dei ritrovamenti e delle scoperte nel sottosuolo e nei fondali marini. La disciplina del Codice tra attuazione e prospettive di riforma anche alla luce di un'analisi comparativa con l'esperienza francese e spagnola.

Il lavoro è volto all’approfondimento, anche in chiave comparatistica, della vigente normativa riguardante la tutela e la valorizzazione dei beni archeologici. Nell’ambito della disciplina predisposta nell’ordinamento italiano si sono prese le mosse dal regime delle scoperte e dei ritrovamenti, per passare successivamente all’approfondimento della tutela approntata nella legislazione nazionale anche con riferimento alle limitazioni alla libera disponibilità e circolazione. Una particolare attenzione è stata dedicata alla tutela del territorio in cui i beni archeologici sono inseriti e quindi alla tutela indiretta, ai vincoli ope legis e alla pianificazione paesaggistica, mentre una specifica trattazione ha riguardato il regime dell’archeologia preventiva e la valorizzazione e fruizione di aree e parchi archeologici nel reciproco interfacciarsi delle legislazioni regionali e delle linee guida emanate con il d.m. MiBAC 18 aprile 2012. Un’indagine articolata ha avuto per oggetto la tutela del patrimonio archeologico subacqueo e in particolare la Convenzione dell’UNESCO adottata a Parigi nel 2001, nonché la tutela sovranazionale dei beni culturali, con riferimento alla disciplina dell’Unione europea e a quella della Convenzione europea per la protezione del patrimonio archeologico del 16 gennaio 1992 e della Convenzione UNIDROIT del 24 giugno 1995 sui beni culturali rubati o esportati illegalmente. Hanno infine fatto seguito due specifiche indagini sulla tutela del patrimonio archeologico in Spagna e in Francia. Quanto alla prima si è esaminato l’attuale quadro costituzionale in cui si inserisce la tutela del patrimonio culturale con particolare attenzione alle disposizioni della Ley 16/1985 del 25 giugno 1985 e alla legislazione delle Comunidades autónomas. Per quanto riguarda la seconda una particolare attenzione è stata dedicata alla Legge 27 settembre 1941 che ha introdotto in Francia la prima disciplina organica relativa agli scavi e ai ritrovamenti archeologici. Nel quadro normativo vigente un’analisi particolareggiata è stata dedicata al Code du Patrimoine, il cui quinto libro è interamente dedicato all’archeologia.

Impact of gentrification processes in rural landscapes: a methodology for landscape assessment towards sustainable rural development

With an increasing demand for rural resources and land, new challenges are approaching affecting and restructuring the European countryside. While creating opportunities for rural living, it has also opened a discussion on rural gentrification risks. The concept of rural gentrification encircles the influx of new residents leading to an economic upgrade of an area making it unaffordable for local inhabitants to stay in. Rural gentrification occurs in areas perceived as attractive. Paradoxically, in-migrants re-shape their surrounding landscape. Rural gentrification may not only cause displacement of people but also landscape values. Thus, this research aims to understand the twofold role of landscape in rural gentrification theory: as a possible driver to attract residents and as a product shaped by its residents. To understand the potential gentrifiers’ decision process, this research has provided a collection of drivers behind in-migration. Moreover, essential indicators of rural gentrification have been collected from previous studies. Yet, the available indicators do not contain measures to understand related landscape changes. To fill this gap, after analysing established landscape assessment methodologies, evaluating the relevance for assessing gentrification, a new Landscape Assessment approach is proposed. This method introduces a novel approach to capture landscape change caused by gentrification through a historical depth. The measures to study gentrification was applied on Gotland, Sweden. The study showed a population stagnating while the number of properties increased, and housing prices raised. These factors are not indicating positive growth but risks of gentrification. Then, the research applied the proposed Landscape Assessment method for areas exposed to gentrification. Results suggest that landscape change takes place on a local scale and could over time endanger key characteristics. The methodology contributes to a discussion on grasping nuances within the rural context. It has also proven useful for indicating accumulative changes, which is necessary in managing landscape values.