Laura Iacolina

University of Sassari | UNISS · Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria

A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations...

The rapid expansion of wild pigs (Sus scrofa) throughout the United States has been fueled by unlawful introductions, with invasive populations causing extensive crop losses, damaging native ecosystems, and serving as a reservoir for disease. Multiple states have passed laws prohibiting the possession or transport of wild pigs. However, genetic and...

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are commonly used markers for monitoring adaptive genetic and evolutionary potential of species. In this study, we investigated genetic variation of the MHC class II DRB locus in the chamois genus Rupicapra by using next-generation sequencing. Sequencing of 102 samples led to the identification of 25 all...

Genetic monitoring of populations currently attracts interest in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity but needs long-term planning and investments. However, genetic diversity has been largely neglected in biodiversity monitoring, and when addressed, it is treated separately, detached from other conservation issues, such as habitat...

In the early twentieth century, European mouflon was introduced in Croatia, while all introductions in Slovenia occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Although majority of the introductions were historically documented, occasional cases involving individuals of unknown origin have likely contributed to a mixed genetic pool in established colonies. To und...

A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to get ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of non-invasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet investigations...

Background A comprehensive understanding of the dietary habits of carnivores is essential to obtain ecological insights into their role in the ecosystem, potential competition with other carnivorous species, and their effect on prey populations. Genetic analysis of noninvasive samples, such as scats, can supplement behavioural or microscopic diet...

In mainland Europe, mouflon were first introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries, mainly in Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Hungary. In the early 20th century, mouflon were introduced in Croatia, while all introductions in Slovenia occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the introduction, populations in both countries have remain...

Wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) is the most widespread wild ungulate in the entire Europe, including Slovenia. Due to high survival rate and exceptional reproductive potential, in the last 30 years species abundance has been increasing both in Slovenia and on the entire Eurasian continent, causing several conflicts among stakeholders as well as damages i...

European wildlife has been subjected to intensifying levels of anthropogenic impact throughout the Holocene, yet the main genetic partitioning of many species is thought to still reflect the late-Pleistocene glacial refugia. We analyzed 26,342 nuclear SNPs of 464 wild boar (Sus scrofa) across the European continent to infer demographic history and...

In the early 20th century, mouflons were introduced in Croatia, while introductions in Slovenia occurred in the 1950s and 1960s. Since the introduction, populations in both countries have remained stable, with occasional declines and increases in some areas. Our aim was to: i) determine the origin of introduced mouflons, ii) compare the neutral and...

This comprehensive species-specific chapter covers all aspects of the mammalian biology, including paleontology, physiology, genetics, reproduction and development, ecology, habitat, diet, mortality, and behavior. The economic significance and management of mammals and future challenges for research and conservation are addressed as well. The chapt...

The Sardinian population of wild boar (WB, Sus scrofa meridionalis) has evolved on this Mediterranean island since its arrival in Neolithic age. Climate and land use vary across the island; high temperatures and dryness represent limiting factors for the development and reproduction of the species. Hence, the environment can have contributed to cre...

Citizen Science (CS) has gained increased recognition over the last two decades. This turn is occurring in strong connection with the profound transformations that have affected science over the last few decades, leading towards a new social model of science characterised by greater openness to society regarding research content actors involved, re...

The translocation of wild animal species became a common practice worldwide to re-establish local populations threatened with extinction. Archaeological data confirm that chamois once lived in the Biokovo Mountain but, prior to their reintroduction in the 1960s, there was no written evidence of their recent existence in the area. The population was...

Landscape genetic studies integrate population genetics, spatial analyses and landscape ecology to test hypotheses about how environmental features influence population genetic structure and gene flow. We analyzed population genetic structure and landscape genetics of the native wild boar (Sus scrofa meridionalis) population inhabiting the island o...

The Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) is widespread on the Balkan Peninsula, along mountain massifs from Croatia in the north to Greece in the south and Bulgaria in the east. Knowledge on the genetic structure of Balkan chamois populations is limited and restricted to local studies. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to us...

This comprehensive species-specific chapter covers all aspects of the mammalian biology, including paleontology, physiology, genetics, reproduction and development, ecology, habitat, diet, mortality, and behavior. The economic significance and management of mammals and future challenges for research and conservation are addressed as well. The chapt...

2 The chamois Rupicapra spp. is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe and the Near East, where it occurs as two species , the northern chamois R. rupicapra and the southern chamois R. pyrenaica. Here, we provide a state-of-the-art overview of research trends and the most challenging issues in chamois research and conservation, focusing on t...

The chamois Rupicapra spp. is the most abundant mountain ungulate of Europe and the Near East, where it occurs as two species, the northern chamois R. rupicapra and the southern chamois R. pyrenaica. Here, we provide a state‐of‐the‐art overview of research trends and the most challenging issues in chamois research and conservation, focusing on taxo...

Patterns of genetic differentiation within and among animal populations might vary due to the simple effect of distance or landscape features hindering gene flow. An assessment of how landscape connectivity affects gene flow can help guide management, especially in fragmented landscapes. Our objective was to analyze population genetic structure and...

The translocation of wild animal species became a common practice worldwide to re-establish local populations threatened with extinction. Archaeological data confirm that chamois once lived in the Biokovo Mountain but, prior to their reintroduction in the 1960s, there was no written evidence of their recent existence in the area. The population was...

Recent technological advances in the field of genomics offer conservation managers and practitioners new tools to explore for conservation applications. Many of these tools are well developed and used by other life science fields, while others are still in development. Considering these technological possibilities, choosing the right tool(s) from t...

Human activities can globally modify natural ecosystems determining ecological, demographic and range perturbations for several animal species. These changes can jeopardize native gene pools in different ways, leading either to genetic homogenization, or conversely, to the split into genetically divergent demes. In the past decades, most European w...

Although the two species of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra and R. pyrenaica) are currently classified as least-concern by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), inconsistencies on the subspecies classification reported in literature make it challenging to assess the conservation status of the single subspecies. Previous studies re...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa) are the most numerous and widespread species of ungulates in Europe, including Slovenia. Population size and distribution of both species are increasing over the last decades in entire Europe, due to their successful reproductive strategy, high survival rate or high reproductive pot...

With an accelerating negative impact of anthropogenic actions on natural ecosystems, non-invasive biodiversity assessments are becoming increasingly crucial. As a consequence, the interest in the application of environmental DNA (eDNA) survey techniques has increased. The use of eDNA extracted from faeces from generalist predators, have recently be...

The COST Action ASF-STOP brought together an extensive network of scientists of remarkable excellence on African swine fever (ASF) vaccinology, virology, immunology, diagnostics and pathology. The network also includes global leaders in wild boar ecology and management, renowned epidemiologists specialized in ASF and disease control and scientists...

The recent introduction and spread of African swine fever (ASF) into Europe and Asia has shown that an integrated, multidisciplinary effort is needed to tackle this disease and the complex challenges it poses. This book presents practical guidelines on surveillance for detection of ASF virus, how to prevent outbreaks in the domestic pig sector thro...

Wild boar (Sus scrofa) is a globally widely distributed species that has recently increased in population size and distribution causing more socio-economic and ecological concern than any other ungulate species. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the species needs is urgently needed. The wild boar has long been considered a polygynous spec...

The chamois, genus Rupicapra, is the most abundant mountain-dwelling ungulate in Europe and the Near East and is currently recognized to be divided into two species: R. rupicapra (Northern chamois) and R. pyrenaica (Southern chamois) further divided into seven and three subspecies, respectively. While neither of the species is of conservation conce...

After a strong demographic decline before World War II, wild boar (Sus scrofa) populations are expanding and the species is now the second-most abundant ungulate in Europe. This increase raises concerns due to wild boar impact on agriculture and natural ecosystems and as potential vector of disease transmissions. The population expansion is the res...

Knowledge on a diet of carnivores is essential to assess the role of studied species in the ecosystem, the potential competition with other carnivores, and the impact on prey species. Therefore, dietary analyses have important implications for preparing and implementing appropriate conservation actions, and further management plans. However, the ac...

The Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) is a semi-aquatic predator that lives in a wide range of aquatic habitats. Knowledge of the diet of predators is essential for the management and conservation of the species and their habitats. We assessed the diet of otters in fifty-three faecal samples (spraints) by morphological analysis of undigested prey remain...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) are the two most widespread ungulates in Europe and Slovenia. Population size of both species is increasing across the European continent due to their high reproductive and survival rate, accompanied by their great plasticity that enables them to colonise also (semi)urban envi...

Many ungulate populations have a complex history of isolation and translocation. Consequently, ungulate populations may have experienced substantial reductions in the level of overall gene flow, yet simultaneously have augmented levels of long-distance gene flow. To investigate the effect of this dual anthropogenic effect on the genetic landscape o...

The chamois, genus Rupicapra, is the most abundant mountain-dwelling ungulate in Europe and the Middle East and is currently recognised to be divided into two species: Rupicapra rupicapra (Northern chamois) and Rupicapra pyrenaica (Southern chamois), which are further subdivided into seven and three subspecies respectively. Although currently class...

European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.) and wild boar (Sus scrofa L.) are the two most widespread ungulates in Europe and Slovenia. Population size of both species is increasing across the European continent due to their high reproductive and survival rate, accompanied by their great plasticity that enables them to colonise also (semi)urban envi...

Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) code for cell surface proteins essential for adaptive immunity. They show the most outstanding genetic diversity in vertebrates, which has been connected with various fitness traits and thus with the long-term persistence of populations. In this study, polymorphism of the MHC class II DRB locus wa...

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake. The Electronic Supplementary Material was missing in the online version. The ESM is available in the online version of this correction article.

There is an increased interest in the possibility to use large animals in the restoration of degraded ecosystems and to increase the capacity of natural areas to sustain richer biodiversity. We quantify the dietary differences and similarities between five moose and 22 red deer introduced in a 2100 ha fenced area under restoration (Lille Vildmose,...

The majority of the nearly 400 existing local pig breeds are adapted to specific environments and human needs. The demand for large production quantities and the industrialized pig production have caused a rapid decline of many local pig breeds in recent decades. Black Slavonian pig and Turopolje pig, the latter highly threatened, are the two Croat...

Necrotic inflammation of the prepuce (NIP, posthitis) is probably the most serious threat to the males of European bison (Bison bonasus) population living in the Białowieża National Park. Approximately 6% of the males have been affected every year. The aim of this study was to explore genetic regions potentially affecting this disease. The populati...

During the early 1900s, Northern chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) populations in the northern Dinaric Mountains were extirpated. During the 1960s and 1970s there were several reintroductions of individuals from two Northern chamois subspecies (Alpine chamois, R. r. rupicapra and Balkan chamois, R. r. balcanica) from neighbouring areas in the attempt t...

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

The Carpathian Mountains provide critical wildlife habitat in central Europe, and previous genome-wide studies have found western Carpathian Mountain wolves (Canis lupus) to be a separate population. Whereas differentiation to the north may be explained by a lowland-mountain transition and habitat fragmentation, the eastern Carpathian Mountains ext...

Analyses of museum specimens can help illuminate temporal changes in wildlife genetics and distributions, and the objective of our study was to evaluate the suitability of skin samples from the past century for genomic analyses. We examined two European species with extensive genomic resources and existing data: the wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the w...

Balkan chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra balcanica) inhabits the south part of the species distribution in Europe. It prefers rocky habitat with steep slopes, thus low valleys tend to constitute a barrier to gene-flow. The subspecies is currently protected in some countries and hunted in others. Knowledge on the genetic composition of this subspecies is...

Native domestic breeds represent important cultural heritage and genetic diversity relevant for production traits, environmental adaptation and food security. However, risks associated with low effective population size, such as inbreeding and genetic drift, have elevated concerns over whether unique within‐breed lineages should be kept separate or...

A ‘rewilding’ process is occurring in Europe and beyond, centered on landscapes reverting from agricultural use to a more natural state. Wild species are arriving by natural or human-mediated range expansion, at times reclaiming ranges from which they were lost centuries ago. Recent colonizers include alien invasives and species expanding their his...

After a strong demographic decline before World War II, wild boar populations are expanding and the species is now the second-most abundant ungulate in Europe. This increase raises concerns due to wild boar impact on crops and natural ecosystems and as potential vector of diseases. Additionally, wild boar can hybridize with domestic pigs, which co...

[Paper in Danish] Lille Vildmose is a raised bog going through a restoration process where both moose (Alces alces) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) have been reintroduced for their ecosystem function, i.e., browsing on birch (Betula sp.) and willow (Salix sp.) to reduce encroachment. For this purpose 5 moose and 22 red deer were released into the 210...

Hybridisation and gene introgression are important sources of diversification, the relevance of which in the evolutionary processes is well recognised. Their fitness consequences in animal populations, however, are not sufficiently well understood, despite hybridisation rates becoming increasingly important worldwide following human‐related activit...

Given its position and history, Sardinia has been an open-air evolutionary laboratory for many mammal species, influenced by genetic drift, local adaptation and human intervention. An emblematic case is the wild boar, an iconic game species introduced to the island since early Neolithic. Escaped from human control, the wild boar gradually started t...

In 2009, a frozen mummy of the steppe bison (SB) (Bison priscus) was discovered between the lower Kolyma River and the Alazeya River in northeast Siberia, Russia. The specimen was dated with 14C and estimated to have lived more than 48,000 14C years before present (BP). The relationship between SB and the European Bison (EB) (Bison bonasus), also k...

Background Pigs were domesticated independently in Eastern and Western Eurasia early during the agricultural revolution, and have since been transported and traded across the globe. Here, we present a worldwide survey on 60K genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 2093 pigs, including 1839 domestic pigs representing 122 local and...