Long-term population studies can show the response of organisms to environmental changes and indicate ways for maintaining and protection of endangered species. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in population size, breeding success and nest location of a local White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) population in Sicily from 1991 to 2020. The White Stork is a large wading bird species of the family Ciconiidae. Its feathers mainly white, with black on the wings. Adults have long red legs and a long straight red beak. It is a polytypic species with a European, Mediterranean and Central Asia distribution. The species is classified as SPEC 2, with major declines in Europe in 1970-1990, followed by a significant recovery in 1990-2000. It is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC) and is considered at Lower Risk of extinction in Italy. White Stork holds a particularly high social/cultural status in most areas where it is present and it is also recognised as an umbrella species and used as an ecological indicator. In this work we investigated the historical and present breeding range of the White Stork in Sicily. Firstly, we gathered all the available data and field records regarding this species and created several distribution maps outlining the status of the White Stork in Sicily. In this work are synthesized data on population and on reproductive trend of this species. Field work was then concentrated on studying and monitoring the two most numerous colonies (“Piana di Gela” and “Piana di Catania”). During the 29 years, population size (HPa) varied from 1 breeding pair (1991) to 82 breeding pairs (2013). The Sicilian population of 2018-2020 is 64-71 pairs, i.e. 22.77% of the Italian breeding population. Many pairs build a nest on top of medium voltage electric poles. The highest numbers were noted in “Piana di Gela”. This colony is the largest in Italy. This study also confirms that climate events are related to breeding performance of White stork. New data on electrical risk assessment for birds are presented. The standard monitoring is done once a month during the entire year; it consists in searching for the carcass and assessing how birds react during the crossing of electrical cables. In the last part the thesis investigates linkages, complementarity and friction between the ecological, social and social-ecological perspectives on this focal species, and eventually propose a framework for a more multi-targeted approach. Identifying the White Stork as a social-ecological keystone, it offers an excellent example for discussing the broader social-ecological relevance of species in establishing meaningful connections to nature. During the research, conservation measures were implemented: mowing of grasslands due to increase the food supply for nestlings, the creation of a mosaic of native grasslands and meadows, and the retention or creation of ditches, ponds and wetland. A new protected nature reserve was created to protect the agroecosystems and wetlands of the “Piana di Gela”. The White Stork was used as the emblem of the project called "Geloi Wetland" which aims to create a sanctuary for migratory birds. The project involves the installation of the artificial platforms for the White Stork, the flooding of wetlands and the perimeter fence to limit disturbing factors (poaching, hunting, over-grazing, arson). At the same time, sustainable tourism and food products grown in the buffer areas of "Geloi" were enhanced.
La Sicilia è la regione italiana che ospita il maggior numero di coppie nidificanti di Cicogna bianca. Dal 2011, è stato approfondito lo studio della popolazione regionale con un aggiornamento al triennio 2011-2014, integrato con nuovi dati sulla popolazione nidificante e studi preliminari sulla dispersione giovanile, con un focus riguardante le minacce a cui vanno incontro negli spostamenti nel periodo post-riproduttivo, prima della migrazione in Africa. Successivamente, sono state effettuate attività di ricerca in Spagna, Svizzera e Francia, analizzando le misure di conservazione attuate a tutela della Cicogna bianca, valutandone l’applicabilità nel contesto siciliano. Il presente lavoro ha l’obiettivo di raggruppare le conoscenze sulla specie a livello regionale e illustrare le azioni di conservazione dirette e indirette svolte in Sicilia e, in particolare, nella Zona di Protezione Speciale “Torre Manfria, Biviere e Piana di Gela”. In quest’ultima località è nato, dal 2017, un progetto ambizioso che mira alla creazione di un “santuario per gli uccelli migratori”, utilizzando come specie emblema la Cicogna bianca, utile nelle campagne di marketing internazionali. In merito alle minacce a cui le cicogne vanno incontro, sono stati approfonditi i fattori limitanti della popolazione siciliana: se gli eventi climatici possono influire negativamente sul successo riproduttivo, è chiaro che le linee elettriche incidano negativamente sul numero dei giovani al primo anno di vita, morti a causa dell’elettrocuzione su pali utilizzati come posatoi, anche a ridosso di discariche. Queste ultime rappresentano un pericolo ulteriore: sono stati analizzati i contenuti stomacali delle cicogne bianche contenenti accumuli di plastica, derivanti dall’utilizzo delle discariche come fonte trofica. Connettendo la conservazione della Cicogna bianca al tessuto socio-economico locale, è stato incentivato lo sviluppo di un modello incentrato sulla valorizzazione degli agroecosistemi e delle zone umide attraverso il concetto di “CICOGNA” come brand, simbolo di un mosaico di qualità di prodotti tipici locali e servizi turistici offerti dal territorio. Obiettivo sinergico e multidisciplinare del triennio di Dottorato è stato quello di tramutare la concezione disinteressata e poco attenta nei confronti dell’ambiente in un modello sostenibile e dinamico, che potrebbe trovare applicazione anche in altri Paesi del bacino del Mar Mediterraneo in cui la Cicogna bianca vive.
La Cicogna bianca (Ciconia ciconia) in Sicilia: biologia e azioni di conservazione del progetto Geloi Wetland / Zafarana, MANUEL ANDREA. - (2020 Dec 21).
La Cicogna bianca (Ciconia ciconia) in Sicilia: biologia e azioni di conservazione del progetto Geloi Wetland
ZAFARANA, MANUEL ANDREA
2020-12-21
Abstract
Long-term population studies can show the response of organisms to environmental changes and indicate ways for maintaining and protection of endangered species. The aim of this study was to analyze changes in population size, breeding success and nest location of a local White Stork (Ciconia ciconia) population in Sicily from 1991 to 2020. The White Stork is a large wading bird species of the family Ciconiidae. Its feathers mainly white, with black on the wings. Adults have long red legs and a long straight red beak. It is a polytypic species with a European, Mediterranean and Central Asia distribution. The species is classified as SPEC 2, with major declines in Europe in 1970-1990, followed by a significant recovery in 1990-2000. It is listed in Annex I of the EU Birds Directive (Directive 79/409/EEC) and is considered at Lower Risk of extinction in Italy. White Stork holds a particularly high social/cultural status in most areas where it is present and it is also recognised as an umbrella species and used as an ecological indicator. In this work we investigated the historical and present breeding range of the White Stork in Sicily. Firstly, we gathered all the available data and field records regarding this species and created several distribution maps outlining the status of the White Stork in Sicily. In this work are synthesized data on population and on reproductive trend of this species. Field work was then concentrated on studying and monitoring the two most numerous colonies (“Piana di Gela” and “Piana di Catania”). During the 29 years, population size (HPa) varied from 1 breeding pair (1991) to 82 breeding pairs (2013). The Sicilian population of 2018-2020 is 64-71 pairs, i.e. 22.77% of the Italian breeding population. Many pairs build a nest on top of medium voltage electric poles. The highest numbers were noted in “Piana di Gela”. This colony is the largest in Italy. This study also confirms that climate events are related to breeding performance of White stork. New data on electrical risk assessment for birds are presented. The standard monitoring is done once a month during the entire year; it consists in searching for the carcass and assessing how birds react during the crossing of electrical cables. In the last part the thesis investigates linkages, complementarity and friction between the ecological, social and social-ecological perspectives on this focal species, and eventually propose a framework for a more multi-targeted approach. Identifying the White Stork as a social-ecological keystone, it offers an excellent example for discussing the broader social-ecological relevance of species in establishing meaningful connections to nature. During the research, conservation measures were implemented: mowing of grasslands due to increase the food supply for nestlings, the creation of a mosaic of native grasslands and meadows, and the retention or creation of ditches, ponds and wetland. A new protected nature reserve was created to protect the agroecosystems and wetlands of the “Piana di Gela”. The White Stork was used as the emblem of the project called "Geloi Wetland" which aims to create a sanctuary for migratory birds. The project involves the installation of the artificial platforms for the White Stork, the flooding of wetlands and the perimeter fence to limit disturbing factors (poaching, hunting, over-grazing, arson). At the same time, sustainable tourism and food products grown in the buffer areas of "Geloi" were enhanced.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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