The Finlayson’s squirrel Callosciurus finlaysonii was introduced into Italy during the 1980s and has established two viable populations. The diet of this species includes a high proportion of tree barks, suggesting an intensive debarking behaviour. We reported a severe bark-stripping impact in both colonized areas, and we tested whether a preference for some tree species existed. Results of this work show the presence of a wide spectrum of damaged species, without any strong preference, mainly with large wounds. Old deciduous plants and conifers, which presented a hard bark, were usually avoided.

Bark-stripping damage by Calloscciurus finlaysonii introduced into Italy

MORI, Emiliano;MAZZOGLIO, Peter John;BERTOLINO, Sandro
Last
2016-01-01

Abstract

The Finlayson’s squirrel Callosciurus finlaysonii was introduced into Italy during the 1980s and has established two viable populations. The diet of this species includes a high proportion of tree barks, suggesting an intensive debarking behaviour. We reported a severe bark-stripping impact in both colonized areas, and we tested whether a preference for some tree species existed. Results of this work show the presence of a wide spectrum of damaged species, without any strong preference, mainly with large wounds. Old deciduous plants and conifers, which presented a hard bark, were usually avoided.
2016
80
5
507
514
alien species; debarking; Finlayson’s squirrel; tree species selection; Italy
Emiliano, Mori; Peter John, Mazzoglio; Patrizia, Carla Rima; Gaetano, Aloise; Sandro, Bertolino
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/1563089
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