June 2025 Report Plan

HERP-ER – Diversity and Conservation of Herpetofauna in Emilia-Romagna

1. Introduction

Amphibians and reptiles are vital to biodiversity, serving essential roles in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Yet, globally and locally, these groups face significant threats from habitat loss and fragmentation, the invasion of exotic species, and the rising impact of emerging diseases.

In the Emilia-Romagna Region (RER), foundational knowledge about species distribution and conservation status exists but is now outdated. Over recent decades, threats have increased and intensified, drastically altering the environmental landscape. This is particularly evident in wetlands, which are crucial habitats for much of the herpetofauna targeted by the project.

Central Emilia, encompassing the provinces of Modena and Reggio Emilia, is home to many valuable natural areas yet remains overlooked in targeted studies of this often neglected segment of vertebrate fauna. The scarcity of data not only impedes advanced research and thorough analysis but also complicates the development of effective and concrete conservation strategies.

This project emerged from the collaboration between the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE), the association Foreste per Sempre OdV, and the Management Body for Parks and Biodiversity “Emilia Centrale” (EPBEC). Its primary aim is to enhance knowledge, monitoring, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles, particularly in the Modena and Reggio Emilia regions, with a special focus on wetlands. Over time, the project has expanded to include related topics aligned with its mission, such as the study of smaller wetland fauna and the systematic organization of data.

2. Objectives

The project aims to:

• Gather up-to-date data on the distribution of reptiles and amphibians in the Emilia-Romagna region by conducting targeted field surveys and leveraging Citizen Science platforms through specialized projects.
• Map the distribution and conduct a genetic characterization of the Apennine frog Rana italica across the hilly regions of Central Emilia. At the same time, survey the same watercourses for the presence of the freshwater crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes to provide updated insights.
• Promote a collaborative approach to conservation by engaging management organizations, research institutions, volunteers, and active community members.
• Organize educational events centered on small wildlife, ongoing activities, and Citizen Science to raise awareness and educate the public.
• Develop comprehensive guidelines and management strategies to safeguard target species within the protected areas managed by EPBEC. These proposals should focus on habitat preservation, monitoring population health, minimizing human disturbances, and promoting biodiversity.
• Implement adaptive management practices based on scientific research and regular assessment to ensure effective conservation outcomes.
• Engage local communities and stakeholders through education and collaboration to support long-term species protection efforts.

3. Area of Study

The project is carried out within the Emilia-Romagna Region, with a special emphasis on the “Central Emilia Macroarea” and the protected areas overseen by the Management Authority for Parks and Biodiversity of Central Emilia. Activities outside the Emilia-Romagna Region consist of internships designed to acquire techniques and best practices that can be applied to the core study area, as well as to conduct sampling for comparative analysis with the Emilia-Romagna environment.

Priority areas include:

• Riserva naturale orientata di Sassoguidano
• Riserva naturale orientata della Cassa di espansione del fiume Secchia
• Parco regionale dei Sassi di Roccamalatina
• Parco regionale dell’Alto Appennino Modenese
• Protected Natural and Semi-Natural Landscapes of the Reggiana Hills and Associated Natura 2000 Sites
• Rete Natura 2000 della Regione Emilia-Romagna
• Remaining wetlands and watercourses of significant ecological value beyond the Natura 2000 Network

4. Actions – Update June 2025

The following report details the activities conducted during the first half of 2025, highlighting their objectives, progress, and challenges. It also provides an outlook to clarify each activity’s purpose, better define the program’s direction moving forward, and explore possible future developments.

4.1. Development of a Naturalistic and Citizen Science Database

To effectively manage natural heritage and specifically to direct the management, promotion, and conservation efforts of the Management Authority for Parks and Biodiversity of Central Emilia (EPBEC), it is essential to establish a comprehensive naturalistic database. This database should encompass all botanical and animal species of interest and serve as a vital reference tool for the Authority in fulfilling its responsibilities.

The database will be built on the knowledge currently available, drawn from information held by the agency’s employees—especially from the Conservation Service and the Surveillance Service—as well as data from recently completed and ongoing projects. This foundation will be enriched with presence and abundance data of species gathered from future projects, complemented by contributions collected through a Citizen Science reporting campaign.

To achieve this, an existing project has been tailored specifically on the globally recognized Citizen Science platform, iNaturalist. Boasting over 3,700,000 users and 250,000,000 observations spanning more than 500,000 species, iNaturalist is the world’s leading application for recording and exploring naturalistic observations. It serves as a powerful tool for public engagement and awareness while enabling data collection across extensive spatial and temporal scales and diverse living taxa.

The project, titled “Central Emilia Parks” (Fig. 1), has been enhanced to include a feature that enables users to share concealed coordinates of sensitive observations, such as threatened species or user-protected locations. This addition supports the Central Emilia Parks Authority in managing and conserving their protected areas by providing valuable spatial data when downloading reports.

External reports beyond the boundaries of protected areas can be valuable for identifying additional sites of interest that may be considered for future expansions of existing parks, reserves, and SAC-SPA, or for establishing new protected areas. To facilitate this, the project settings utilized iNaturalist to define the entire Central Emilia Macroarea as the collection boundary, rather than limiting data to individual protected areas. This approach ensures that important reports are captured, even if they fall just outside the official perimeters of currently protected sites.

Currently, no filters have been applied to the animal and plant species included in the project. This choice is due to the complexity and time-consuming nature of manually selecting each taxon of interest—whether protected, threatened, or locally rare. The process is challenging because it spans a wide range of species, from insects and mammals to fish and plants. Furthermore, limiting the selection to specific species would significantly reduce the number of observations, causing the iNaturalist interface on the Parks Authority website to no longer display all user observations within the macro-area. This would likely diminish the interactive and engaging experience for the public. Nevertheless, these settings can be adjusted in the future if deemed necessary.

Figure 1 – Initial interface of the iNaturalist project “Central Emilia Parks” displayed on a PC.

To effectively monitor notable yet often overlooked reports from the Central Emilia Macroarea, users who create and upload observations in the app must join the “Central Emilia Parks” project. As previously mentioned, participants need to trust the project by sharing accurate location data. To facilitate this, preparatory meetings have been organized to introduce the iNaturalist app and its features to the public, followed by guidance on joining projects and sharing sensitive observations.

The first event was organized in collaboration with EPBEC and promoted through the social media channels of both EPBEC and Foreste per Sempre. It took place online via the Zoom platform on March 26, 2025 (Fig. 2). The meeting began with an introduction to Citizen Science, highlighting its importance in academia and conservation. This was followed by a detailed explanation of how iNaturalist works and the benefits of using the platform. The final and most in-depth segment focused on iNaturalist projects, including how to join and actively contribute. The event was recorded and is available on EPBEC’s YouTube channel.

Figure 2 – Poster designed by the Central Emilia Parks Authority for the March 26 meeting about iNaturalist.

At the conclusion of the event, it was decided to create an additional, in-depth project exclusively for the staff of the Emilia Centrale Parks Authority. For the most engaged employees and close collaborators, a new iNaturalist project was launched—this time a “traditional” type rather than a “collection” like the previous one. To differentiate it, the project was named “Ente Parchi Emilia Centrale – Species of Interest” (Fig. 3). The purpose of this second project is to provide a single, controlled, and functional platform to gather occasional observations made by personnel affiliated with the Parks Authority, outside of structured initiatives such as LIFE URCA PROEMYS and similar programs. This allows reports made during fieldwork by the surveillance and conservation teams, as well as prior knowledge shared by any Authority member willing and able to contribute, to be systematically recorded. Establishing an internal project offers a simpler and more practical way to share this type of observation, which requires a different approach than collecting data from external sources.

Figure 3 – Initial interface of the iNaturalist project “Ente Parchi Emilia Centrale – Species of Interest” displayed on a PC. Notice the differences from Fig. 2, reflecting its status as a traditional project type.

For both the external collection project “Central Emilia Parks” and the internal traditional project “Central Emilia Parks Authority – Species of Interest,” all valuable observations are carefully reviewed and validated by the project administrators: myself, Dayron Lopez, and EPBEC employee Alessio Franciosi.

An additional opportunity to promote the “Parchi Emilia Centrale” project took place on May 31, 2025, during a lecture for the Panda Carpi association at the La Francesa Oasis. This presentation, part of the “Nature Guardians” course (Fig. 4), highlighted the vertebrate fauna of the Emilia plain. The second half of the session focused mainly on the local herpetofauna and introduced iNaturalist along with its active projects, similar to the event held on March 26. The session was recorded and subsequently made available by Panda Carpi.

Given the strong interest in the topic and the large number of volunteers and photographers involved with Oasi la Francesa—an organization linked to EPBEC through the ongoing LIFE URCA PROEMYS project—it is worthwhile to explore this subject further in a dedicated session focused exclusively on Citizen Science and the submission of reports and data via the platform. The same approach applies to Foreste per Sempre, which boasts many active members and maintains close ties with the Volunteer Ecological Guards (GEV).

Figure 4 – Poster for the “Nature Guardians” course, featuring the event on May 31 at La Francesa Oasis.

Therefore, by expanding promotion of the event in collaboration with Foreste per Sempre and targeting local associations such as Pronatura, GEV, and Environmental Hiking Guides—groups that, although present, accounted for only a small portion of the over 50 participants on March 26—it is anticipated that a broader and more diverse audience will be reached. Following the two dissemination events, particularly the first, a significant increase in project memberships was observed, with “Parchi Emilia Centrale” now boasting 34 members.

Several users have not yet provided their “approval” for the project, making their observations only partially accessible. To address this and encourage participation from users with valuable observations, a standard message detailing the project and inviting collaboration by sharing coordinates has been prepared. This message will soon be sent individually to users through the app.

Many observations related to reptiles and amphibians can be added to the Database even if users have not yet joined “Parchi Emilia Centrale.” This is because I also administer two other projects created for the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UNIMORE) focused on regional herpetofauna. These projects, active for over a year, have attracted a substantial number of users and include numerous observations from Emilia Centrale. The projects are “ERpetofauna – Amphibians and Reptiles in Emilia-Romagna” and “tERrapins – Aquatic Turtles in Emilia-Romagna,” with 86 and 52 members respectively (Fig. 5). Observations within the protected areas managed by EPBEC can thus be integrated seamlessly.

Figure 5 – Initial interface of the iNaturalist projects: “ERpetofauna – Amphibians and Reptiles in Emilia-Romagna” (left) and “tERrapins – Aquatic Turtles in Emilia-Romagna” (right), displayed on a PC.

Data collection efforts are currently concentrated on iNaturalist, a widely used and highly user-friendly platform. However, because it is designed for ease of use and interaction, many observations come from inexperienced users and require accompanying multimedia files (photos or audio) to be considered reliable and validated. Consequently, iNaturalist is less suitable for reporting animal groups that are difficult to photograph or are typically observed from a distance. In the Macroarea, birds are notably the least represented group due to these limitations.

To create a comprehensive database of birdlife in the protected areas of EPBEC and its surroundings, it was decided to utilize data from the Ornitho database. Ornitho is extensively used by ornithologists in the Emilia-Romagna Region and serves as a valuable resource for the Emilia-Romagna Ornithologists Association (AsOER) for data collection and research.

However, Ornitho does not allow free downloading of observations, so the data visible to an active Ornitho user will be manually selected and reproduced. Since observations must be regularly uploaded to the platform to be accessible, this task will be handled by me, Dayron Lopez, an Ornitho user with 8 years of experience and authorized to perform this action.

Another challenge is the inability to detect obscured observations. However, it is important to emphasize that this broad-spectrum data collection through Citizen Science, while essential, serves only as a foundation for targeted monitoring and field surveys—methods that are irreplaceable for well-studied groups like birds. Therefore, the ornithological observations gathered through Ornitho are expected to be more than adequate for enriching the Database. It should be noted that Ornitho observations have an uncertainty margin of approximately 500 meters, so the data must be interpreted carefully and with caution.

It is important to remember that for birds, as well as other living groups involved in report collection, the most valuable data to monitor include:

• Breeding habitats for amphibians, birds, and insects.
• Consistent presence locations for all groups.
• Wintering grounds for birds and herpetofauna.
• Key migratory stopover sites for birds.
• Areas with high population densities across plants and all animal groups.

Everything, of course, must be directly relevant to the species of interest, as previously emphasized:

• Included in the Habitat Directive (Dir. 92/43/EEC, transposed by DPR 357/97).
• Covered by the Birds Directive (Dir. 79/409/EEC, transposed by Law 157/1992).
• Protected under the Law on Homeothermic Fauna (Law 157/1992).
• Incorporated in the Regional Law on Minor Fauna (RL 15/2006).
• Included in the Regional Law on Flora (RL 2/1977).
• Recognized as rare or uncommon within the Region or local area.
• Features individuals of monumental trees (RL 20/2023) or trees of significant size, whether living or standing dead.
• Encompasses Alien and Invasive Alien species.

After evaluating these needs, the objective is not to produce an excessively dense file of reports immediately, but to develop a manageable and well-balanced database containing only records essential for management purposes (e.g., permits, VINCA, etc.) and conservation efforts (e.g., strictly protected areas, projects, etc.). This database can and should be expanded over time to include monitoring data, upcoming projects, and any new relevant reports generated by Citizen Science.

The initial version of the Database will be completed by the end of the summer season 2025—around autumn or winter—to incorporate data from the peak activity period of organisms in 2025. An Excel Database will be created, initially populated with data downloaded from iNaturalist in a consistent format. Subsequently, data from Ornitho, recent projects, and other sources will be added and standardized. Each record will include fields such as scientific name, common name, higher taxonomic category, date, coordinates, number of individuals or area occupied, source (e.g., iNaturalist, UNIMORE), reporter, notes, and more. The Database will be linked to one or more QGIS files based on the data’s relevance for management or conservation projects. This connection will be established through a unique code assigned to each record and latitude and longitude fields, allowing species occurrence points to be mapped within the GIS environment. The QGIS project(s) will be enriched with boundaries of parks, reserves, and Natura 2000 sites, enabling consultation and filtering by organism or area of interest as needed.

The core concept is that the database is dynamic, particularly in its early stages, and becomes increasingly “static” as protected areas gradually fill with data. It is important to emphasize that the objective is to retain only relevant and useful information within the database, specifically pertaining to the lists mentioned above.

As noted earlier, the boundaries of protected areas in the database will be treated as flexible rather than strict. Observations made just outside these boundaries will also be included if they are nearby and contextually relevant. Substantial data from regions beyond existing protected zones may support future expansions or the creation of new protected areas.

4.2. Rana italica and Austropotamobius pallipes

Within the ongoing Fishing4Biodiversity (Fish4Bio) project, a collaboration between the University of Modena (UNIMORE) and the Emilia Central Parks Authority (EPBEC), we were able to contribute by establishing connections with both organizations and integrating new initiatives into their existing efforts. This comprehensive project explores various conservation, scientific, and educational dimensions related to selected water bodies within the Natura 2000 Network in the province of Reggio Emilia. Key activities include genetic sampling of the Apennine frog (Rana italica) and Savi’s salamander (Salamandrina perspicillata) populations in the Reggio hills. This work aims to enhance understanding of these two species and, alongside efforts to control or eradicate the invasive brown trout (Salmo trutta), supports their ongoing conservation.

In collaboration with the UNIMORE team responsible for genetic analyses, a field sampling protocol (Fig. 6) was developed. This protocol is vital for the standardized collection of consistent and high-quality data for the laboratory phase. The project emphasizes Citizen Science and active public participation, making a unified protocol essential. It ensures that all surveyors, once trained and authorized, collect samples and data in a consistent manner. Notably, this includes the association Pronatura Reggio Emilia and its volunteers, who play a key role in the sampling process. Key elements of the protocol include:

• Access the sampling site wearing cleaned and disinfected footwear and using sanitized equipment.
• Capture individuals present at the target locations.
• Record the GPS coordinates with the Locus Map app. Photograph the back and throat of each individual for identification and attach the images in Locus Map.
• Measure the total length of each individual using calipers, a ruler, or graph paper.
• Perform an oral swab on each individual.
• After the session, clean and disinfect footwear and sampling equipment.
• Store the swab in a tube inside a cooler bag, then refrigerate at 4°C.
• Deliver the samples to the UNIMORE laboratories within 1 to 3 days.

Figure 6 – Sampling protocol used during fieldwork for genetic sampling of amphibians in the Fish4Bio project.

Sampling commenced in March 2025. The first three sessions occurred on 06/03/2025, 05/04/2025, and 06/04/2025 at the following watercourses: Rio Cerezzola, Rio Vico, Rio Riolco, Fosso Tassarolo, and Rio Volvata. These outings were carried out in collaboration with Pronatura Reggio Emilia, GENTEC, and FIPSAS, enabling support during fish sampling and the removal of non-native trout. Due to the low number of specimens found initially, sampling resumed at the end of May, coinciding with the reproductive period of S. perspicillata. Additionally, the first night sampling sessions focused on R. italica began in June, conducted by Pronatura.

In collaboration with geneticists from the Department of Life Sciences at UNIMORE, the first genetic analyses were performed on samples collected during the training period. In the laboratory, samples must undergo rapid extraction before being stored at -16°C or prepared for sequencing. Due to the lengthy processing time, sequencing has been planned for the end of the field season, except for the initial samples processed immediately.

Beyond the initial Fish4Bio plan, it was considered important to broaden the study area and examine R. italica throughout the hilly zone of the Central Emilia macroarea, with special attention to the protected areas within this region. This expansion cannot be applied to S. perspicillata, as the project site represents the sole remaining habitat of the species between the provinces of Modena to the east and Parma to the west.

The decision to broaden the scope of the investigation also arises from the need to survey watercourses for the presence of the European crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes), a species classified as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN. Due to its rarity and declining population, it is a key conservation priority for EPBEC. Historical records indicate that within the study area, this species inhabits hilly and mid-mountain streams that share the same water quality characteristics preferred by the Apennine frog. Additionally, summer is the optimal period for monitoring, and nocturnal transects have proven to be the most effective method for detecting the crayfish in this environment—both approaches align with those planned for Rana italica.

In the initial phase, bibliographic data on the species were gathered, with a particular emphasis on A. pallipes, whose sightings are rarer and whose distribution is believed to be more fragmented. Information for the province of Reggio Emilia, provided by FIPSAS and Pronatura Reggio Emilia and collected by the EPBEC conservation service, was combined with data from the Emilia-Romagna region. Additionally, records from the province of Modena, obtained through collaboration with UNIMORE and sourced from the university’s Darwin Database, were incorporated. Interviews with private citizens and former provincial employees yielded valuable details about their past observations and samplings. Finally, reports from participants in the iNaturalist project “Parchi Emilia Centrale” were also included.

The following table displays the number of reports gathered from each source:

• UNIMORE – 71 dati
• FIPSAS RE – 15 dati
• Regione Emilia-Romagna – 11 dati
• iNaturalist – 8 dati
• EPBEC – 3 dati
• Privati – 2 dati

The resulting map (Fig. 7) appears comprehensive and aligns well with existing knowledge about the species, largely matching the distribution of Rana italica. However, most data are outdated, primarily from 1996 to 2005, despite recent confirmations of the species at some locations. This underscores the urgent need to update information to ensure reliable data for future projects and, more importantly, to identify and address any critical issues promptly.

Based on the map created, inspections have been planned and are currently underway by the University of Pavia (UNIPV), a partner in the LIFE CLAW project and engaged by EPBEC for activities concerning the species in Central Emilia. In July 2025, inspections will be conducted alongside appointed personnel to verify the presence of A. pallipes, update existing data, and learn monitoring techniques. These skills will enable independent monitoring during the 2025 season on additional watercourses or more extensively on the same sites.

Figure 7 – Summary map displaying the reported occurrences of Austropotamobius pallipes within the Central Emilia Macroarea. Notice the absence of reports in the Reggio Emilia region outside the hilly SACs, likely reflecting gaps in data rather than true absence.

During the excursions planned mainly between July and early August 2025, the watercourses most likely to host A. pallipes and R. italica will be examined through twilight and night surveys:

• Torrente Fossa
• Rio Bucamante
• Torrente Lerna
• Rio Vallecchie
• Rio Frascara
• Rio Torto
• Fosso del Campeggio
• Torrente Rossenna
• Rio San Martino
• Fosso del Rio, Fosso delle Sassaie e dintorni
• Rio Bianco

If due to weather conditions or the emergence of other issues it is not possible to sample all watercourses, an additional future sampling period will be planned. The water bodies subject to independent investigation will also vary depending on the targets identified by UNIPV during the inspections.

Regarding Rana italica, the species is primarily expected to be found in Torrente Lerna, Rio delle Vallecchie, Rio Frascara, and Torrente Rossenna. However, other nearby water bodies, though not yet documented, may also support populations of the species. Furthermore, additional sites will be considered for visits depending on the progress of the sampling.

As planned for individuals of R. italica from the Reggio Emilia hills for Fish4Bio, specimens from the hilly and lower mountain areas of Modena will also be sampled using oral swabs to genetically characterize the central Emilian populations of the species.

4.3. Aquatic Testudines in Central Emilia and the Emilia-Romagna Region

Given the ongoing LIFE URCA PROEMYS project and the collaboration between the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the Emilia Central Parks Authority, this doctoral project naturally encompasses activities focused on the conservation of the European pond turtle Emys orbicularis and the management of the invasive American pond slider Trachemys scripta.

Regarding the latter point, UNIMORE serves as the lead and reference entity within the project. Alongside the university, efforts initiated in 2024 to remove and contain non-native turtles are continuing into 2025. To date, operations have been conducted at the RN2000 Parma Morta site (IT4020025), the Viarolo springs area, Torrile basins, Po floodplain strip (IT4020017), and Boschi di Carrega (IT4020001) in the province of Parma. Upcoming interventions are planned at additional UNIMORE-managed sites in the eastern region, along with further trapping sessions at Boschi di Carrega, where the removal targets have yet to be achieved. In contrast, the goals of removing 40 individuals at Parma Morta and 60 at Torrile basins have already been met.

Regarding the aspects of the LIFE project managed by EPBEC, based on anticipated needs, support will be provided for monitoring E. orbicularis following environmental improvement interventions. These interventions include both environmental restoration and rehabilitation efforts, as well as containment or eradication actions targeting T. scripta. The monitoring will focus on protected areas managed by EPBEC where the species is present, such as Fontanili di Corte Valle Re, and the “La Francesa” Oasis, which houses the renovated breeding center refurbished by EPBEC as part of the LIFE project.

Considering the progress of work at the specified sites and aiming to potentially document positive impacts on local European pond turtle populations, the planned ex-post monitoring will commence in 2026.

In 2025, a project was launched to enhance understanding of aquatic turtles, focusing on both native and non-native species found in the local area. The initiative began by exploring and monitoring the main bodies of water in the province of Modena, prioritizing sites with historical records of Emys orbicularis.

The following sites have been specifically documented:

• Casse di espansione del Secchia (IT4030011) – porzione centro-orientale
• Cassa di espansione del fiume Panaro (IT4040011) – porzione nord-occidentale
• Manzolino (IT4040009) – subsito di Tivoli
• Torrazzuolo (IT4040010)
• Parco di Villa Sorra
• Ex-cave Fossalta

The presence of Emys orbicularis was confirmed at all sites except for the Casse del Secchia. Further detailed studies are needed for the western area (current casse) and the southern area (water bodies on the right bank).

Concerning situations have been identified in several locations, notably Villa Sorra, once a stronghold of E. orbicularis, now overrun by numerous invasive turtle species such as Graptemys pseudogeographica, Pseudemys concinna, and Mauremys sinensis. A similar pattern is observed in the former quarries of Fossalta, where only a few native individuals were found compared to over 200 specimens of T. scripta. This trend is also evident at Casse del Panaro and Torrazzuolo. However, at Torrazzuolo, despite the presence of hundreds of non-native turtles, the highest concentration of European pond turtles in the province was recorded, with more than 30 individuals observed during a single monitoring session.

As expected, the outings also proved valuable for identifying other non-native aquatic turtle species. Although these species are not currently classified as invasive, their potential for invasion requires further evaluation. For some species, sightings were unique at the local level, while for others, possible nesting has been observed, indicating a potential for naturalization in Italy.

Please note that some sites were inaccessible during the selected period due to unstable weather and other factors. Investigations will be completed in the future, with additional water bodies also being monitored.

4.4. Small Wetlands and Newts in the Modenese Apennines

Within the potential study area of the project, particularly focusing on the Central Emilia Macroarea and its protected zones, an intriguing herpetological diversity has been identified that merits further investigation: the coexistence of three newt species in the small to medium-sized water bodies of the hilly and mountainous regions. These species are the Italian crested newt Triturus carnifex, the Apennine alpine newt Ichthyosaura alpestris apuana, and the smooth newt Lissotriton vulgaris. Each of these newts displays unique biological and ecological traits that remain insufficiently studied. Furthermore, they hold significant conservation and management importance. As relatively understudied fauna, newts receive regional protection; notably, the Italian crested newt is also listed in Annexes II and IV of the Habitat Directive. This protection arises from their declining populations, largely driven by habitat degradation and the introduction of invasive species.

The three species in question, along with other elements of the amphibian fauna in the local lentic waters, have not been the subject of targeted monitoring or dedicated research in recent years. The most recent structured study involving amphibian sampling in Central Emilia dates back to 1994, when UNIMORE carried out a census of the wetland habitats in Frignano, many of which now lie within the Alto Appennino Modenese Regional Park.

Environmental conditions at many sites have undoubtedly changed over the past 30 years, making it essential to revisit and replicate earlier studies. To deepen our understanding of these animals’ ecology, much of the 2026 season will focus on this subject. This research will explore how these species coexist in relation to environmental factors, including disturbances and threats from interspecific interactions with non-native taxa (such as fish) and terrestrial fauna sharing the habitats (including wild boars, fallow deer, and other ungulates that use waterholes for wallowing). Insights gained from this study will inform management guidelines and recommendations aimed at conserving newts as key species and protecting their delicate ecosystems. The data collected will serve as a vital foundation for future research and conservation efforts.

As preparatory work for identifying the research focus outlined above, an extensive mapping of potential water bodies hosting the three newt species or other amphibians was undertaken. This process began in the first hills and extended southward to the Apennine ridge in Modena. Utilizing reference files on water bodies from the Emilia-Romagna Region—which synthesize comprehensive research and data integration—a manual search was performed with QGIS software. This involved using Regional Technical Maps, Orthophotos, and targeted field surveys. The result was a dataset of nearly 900 points distributed across the hilly and mountainous areas of Modena province. Although outside the scope of the current study, a similar survey in the province of Reggio Emilia identified approximately 300 points, partly due to less intensive investigation.

Figure 8 – Map displaying all basins identified as superficially suitable for amphibian research in the provinces of Modena (red dots) and Reggio Emilia (blue and light blue dots).

Using the map (Fig. 8) and associated data, water bodies can be selected based on the highest likelihood of newt species occupancy, proximity to protected areas, ecological significance, logistical considerations, and the research objectives outlined above.

Per poter maturare le adeguate conoscenze utili a pianificare e gestire lo studio è stata dapprima iniziata una intensa ricerca bibliografica la quale ha fornito le basi di letteratura sull’argomento.

Subsequently, contact was established with the research group of the Department of Biology, Ecology, and Earth Sciences (DiBEST) at the University of Calabria (UNICAL), which has been conducting extensive studies on newts in Apennine habitats for several years. At DiBEST, the primary focus is on a Calabrian endemic species, the Calabrian alpine newt Ichthyosaura alpestris inexpectata, while also examining all bioecological aspects of the local newt community, including Triturus carnifex and Lissotriton italicus. From an environmental and community perspective, this research closely parallels conditions found in the northern Apennines. Between 06/15/2025 and 05/25/2025, an apprenticeship was undertaken at UNICAL to acquire the methodologies used in newt research, during which the following topics were explored:

• Monitoring three newt species through fyke netting and dipnet surveys.
• Collecting biometric data from each individual.
• Conducting photo-identification for captured specimens.
• Managing and removing invasive fish species from the basins.

In the 2025 season, additional site inspections will be conducted to identify potential study locations for 2026. Planning for the 2025/2026 winter field season will be based on data gathered during these visits. Furthermore, essential and specialized materials required for the project will be procured.

Logistically, the visitor center of the Sassoguidano Reserve will serve as the base for water bodies within or near the reserve. In the Frignano area, a key support point still needs to be established to optimize sampling during multi-day monitoring sessions.

5. Concluding Remarks

In a world where environmental concerns dominate public discourse and everyday conversations, yet a genuine biodiversity crisis unfolds, it is essential—and urgent—to enhance the study and monitoring of ecosystem components to accurately assess their health.

Amphibians, often overlooked compared to other animal groups, serve as vital indicators of the health of natural and semi-natural environments. The aquatic habitats they depend on face significant threats from pollution, global warming, habitat loss, and invasive species—challenges that jeopardize unique and localized ecosystems. Beyond local impacts, their decline signals broader environmental degradation, highlighting the urgent need for conservation efforts.

This project, made possible through the collaboration of a third sector organization, academia, and the public environmental management agency, transforms research into a practical and tangible tool. It addresses local challenges by integrating community knowledge with scientific expertise and a commitment to action. The objectives are twofold: first, to generate up-to-date and valuable data for understanding and managing the remaining precious natural heritage; second, to contextualize global biodiversity loss within the local setting, using this local perspective as an ideal framework to extract broadly applicable insights in research. This initiative represents a meaningful step toward achieving these goals.

HERP-ER BIODIVERSITY