Page 3 - Tonelli_et_al_2016

Animal Biodiversity and Conservation 39.2 (2016)
A
Italy
Tunisia
B Aeolian
Ustica
Egadi
Archipelago
Pantelleria
Linosa
Tunisia Lampedusa
Fig. 1. Study area.
Fig. 1. Zona de estudio
the Scarabaeoidea fauna of other possible source
areas: Sicily, Calabria, Tunisia, Malta, Lampedusa
and the Egadi archipelago (Favignana, Marettimo and
Levanzo). These possible source areas, which include
the nearest mainland areas and other non–volcanic
islands in the region, were examined in two different
scenarios (see 'Analysis and interpretation' heading).
The main climatic and vegetation factors are reaso�
nably homogeneous among the considered volcanic
islands (Agnesi & Federico, 1995; Cicala, 1997; Pasta
& La Mantia, 2003; Nesos, 2013). The climate of the
volcanic islands is typically Mediterranean (Agnesi &
Federico, 1995; Pasta & La Mantia, 2003; Blasi et al.,
2005; Nesos, 2013). The vegetation, despite being
altered to some extent by a long human presence,
163
Archipelago
Calabria
Malta
is distinctly Mediterranean and the main natural
environments are maquis and garrigue landscapes
(Ronsisvalle, 1973; Baccetti et al., 1995; Pasta &
La Mantia, 2003; Lo Cascio & Pasta, 2004; Nesos,
2013). Given the relative environmental homogeneity
of the considered islands, it is assumed that the simi�
larity in richness and composition should be mainly
related with the role played by dispersal processes
(Cadotte, 2006).
Data source and systematic group
The presence–absence data (see annex) were drawn
from Arnone et al. (1995, 2001), Carpaneto et al.
(2005), Agoglitta et al. (2006), Dellacasa & Dellaca�