Page 14 - Marrone_Mura_2006

16 F. MARRONE & G. MURA

little effort has been made so far to preserve Mediterranean temporary ponds
in Sicily. This situation implies a high risk for the vulnerable Sicilian large
branchiopod fauna and for all the temporary waters biota, as only in threat-
free areas can temporary water bodies and their fauna survive the spreading
urbanization and landscape changes.
Among the taxa with a known distribution, only Leptestheria cf. cortieri
was not observed in protected areas, a situation which possibly led to the
extinction of this species in Sicily. The location and status of the sites host-
ing Lepidurus apus lubbocki and Leptestheria dahalacensis are currently
unknown (Tab. 3).
As often pointed out (e.g. DUMONT et al., 1995; MURA & BELMONTE,

Table 3
Species, sites and their protection status. R.N.O.: Riserva Naturale Orientata;
R.N.I.: Riserva Naturale Integrale.

Taxa Protection Sites

Lepidurus apus lubbocki ? ?
R.N.O. “Monte Cofano” 1.05
Triops cancriformis
Not protected 1.01; 1.02; 1.04; 1.07; 1.08; 1.09; 2.10; 2.19; 2.30
R.N.O. “Capo Gallo” 2.03
R.N.O. “Zingaro” 2.13; 2.14; 2.15
Cyzicus tetracerus
R.N.O. “Monte Cofano” 1.05; 2.16
Not protected 1.01
Leptestheria dahalacensis ? ?
Leptestheria cf. cortieri Not protected 1.18
R.N.O. “Monte Carcaci” 2.07
R.N.O. “Bosco Granza e della Favara” 2.06
R.N.O. “Capo Gallo” 2.03
R.N.O. “Monti di Palazzo Adriano 2.08
e Valle del Sosio”
R.N.O. “Grotta di Entella” 2.09
R.N.O. “Zingaro” 2.13; 2.14; 2.15
Chirocephalus diaphanus
R.N.O. “Monte Cofano” 1.05
R.N.O. “Isola di Pantelleria” 2.20
R.N.I. “Macalube di Aragona” 2.24
Parco Regionale dell’Etna 2.32; 2.33
Parco Regionale dei Nebrodi 2.34
Not protected 1.02; 1.03; 1.15; 1.17; 2.04; 2.05;
2.11; 2.21; 2.22; 2.23; 2.30
R.N.O. “Isola di Lampedusa” 2.25; 2.26; 2.27; 2.28
Branchipus pasai
Not protected 1.09; 1.10; 1.11; 1.12; 1.13; 2.29
R.N.O. “Capo Gallo” 2.01; 2.02; 2.03
R.N.O. “Monte Cofano” 2.16; 2.17
Branchipus schaefferi
R.N.O. “Isole dello Stagnone” 2.18
Not protected 1.01; 1.07; 1.08; 1.09; 2.12; 2.19; 2.31
R.N.O “Saline di Trapani e Marsala” 1.06
Artemia salina R.N.O. “Isole dello Stagnone” 1.06
R.N.O. “Foce del Ciane e saline di Siracusa” 1.16