The study of activity patterns in subterranean mammals has been poorly explored in subterranean insectivores. This is especially true for the rare and elusive blind mole Talpa caeca. A field work devoted to collect data on life history traits of the blind mole was run in a montane pasture in Southern Italy (1549 m a.s.l.). Plastic barrel-like traps were placed in actively used mole tunnels and checked regularly at 6 h intervals for two sessions of nine consecutive days, for a total 1500 trap-nights. No moles were captured alive, but signs of mole activity at trap sites (traps filled with ground) were regularly recorded. A video recorded inside a trap confirmed that
moles fill the traps with soil as part of trap avoidance behavior. Activity at trap sites was analyzed as a binomial variable, considering the rate of filled traps vs.the number of armed traps at each 6 h trap-checking intervals. Activity showed a polyphasic pattern typical of moles, but differently from other species, activity was more concentrated in the central part of the day (12.00-18.00). Results suggest a specific adaptation to local environmental conditions and body size.
The Eurasian otter is one of the most endangered mammals in Italy and its distribution is now restricted in two isolated portions in southern Italy. However, in recent times, this species has shown a tendency to expand its range, especially northwards. It is therefore important to identify suitable areas on the border of its expansion range where the species can establish and disperse, so that these areas can be targeted for conservation actions. To this aim, the distribution, quality and connectivity of habitats of seven river catchments located in the northern portion of the current otter range in Italy were assessed. Catchments included both rivers where the otter currently occurs and where it is likely to expand in the short-medium term. An expert-based Habitat Suitability (HS) model was developed and validated using otter presence-absence data based on standard field surveys. Fine scale riverbank land cover, extra-riparian coarse scale land cover, altitude, bank slope, and human disturbance were considered as the main factors in the HS model. These variables were available or newly created in the form of digital maps (layers) and the HS model was built by sequentially filtering these layers. Connectivity was assessed within and between river basins through landscape algorithms by taking into account variables that could influence otter dispersal.Tthe results indicated that the seven rivers considered are heterogeneous both in terms of habitat suitability and in terms of connectivity. Among these, one river in particular (the river Volturno), where otters are currently present, showed one of the largest extensions of suitable habitats and the best connectivity both within the river and between the river and the neighbouring catchments, suggesting that this river could play a strategic role in the survival and expansion of otters in the surrounding areas.