Natural History Sciences. Atti Soc. it. Sci. nat. Museo civ. Stor. nat. Milano, 9 (2): 27-34, 2022 DOI: 10.4081/nhs.2022.594 The western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L. 1758 on San Pietro Island (southern Sardinia, Italy) and an updated review of its presence on the Italian small islands Corrado Battisti ‘Torre Flavia’ LTER (Long Term Ecological Research) Station, Protected Area Service, Città Metropolitana di Roma, Via G. Ribotta 41, 00144 Roma, Italia. E-mail: c.battisti@cittametropolitanaroma.it © 2022 Corrado Battisti Received for publication: 15 November 2021 Accepted for publication: 8 March 2022 Online publication: 20 October 2022 Abstract - The current presence and local distribution of the western European hedgehog Erinaceus europaeus L. 1758, on San Pietro Island (Southern Sardinia, Italy) are here discussed for the period 2013-2021 with a short review of the species’ occurrence on the small Italian islands. The species was found in the central-east- ern sector of the island, which is characterised by a high urban and infrastructural density and an agricultural mosaic, both suitable eco- logical conditions favouring its presence. Most of the direct data were obtained from road kills. Despite the elusive behaviour of the species and the consequent possible underestimation, it can be assumed that the species shows a low density. In this respect, it might be interest- ing to investigate whether local limiting factors, either anthropogenic or natural might act on the hedgehog population. At a larger scale, the updated review of the small Italian islands shows the presence of the species on 13 islands, of which probably only Elba, Asinara and San Pietro (all >50 km2) support established populations. Further research is needed to study anthropogenic origin, history of introduc- tion, genetics, density, and medium-long-term viability of these small populations in each insular context. Key words: eradication, introduction, road kills, small island, viability. Riassunto - Il riccio europeo occidentale Erinaceus europaeus L. 1758, sull’isola di San Pietro (Sardegna meridionale, Italia): distri- buzione locale e revisione aggiornata della sua presenza nelle piccole isole italiane. Una indagine sulla presenza del Riccio europeo occidentale su un’isola circumsarda (San Pietro), condotta dal 2013 al 2021, ha evi- denziato una distribuzione limitata al settore centro-orientale, carat- terizzato sia da una più alta densità urbana e infrastrutturale, sia dalla presenza di mosaici agricoli, condizioni ecologiche sinantropiche che possono favorire la presenza di questa specie. La maggior parte dei dati originali è stata ottenuta da investimenti con autoveicoli. Benché la specie mostri un comportamento elusivo e i dati potrebbero essere sottostimati, si può ipotizzare una bassa densità di popolazione sull’isola. A tal proposito, potrebbe essere interessante verificare se ciò possa essere fatto risalire a fattori locali limitanti, sia antropici sia naturali. Su scala nazionale, la revisione della letteratura evidenzia la presenza su 13 piccole isole italiane, con presenza di popolazioni stabili probabilmente solo su Elba, Asinara e San Pietro (tutte con superficie > 50 km2). Ulteriori ricerche sono necessarie per studiare l’origine, la storia dell’introduzione, la genetica, la densità e la vita- lità a medio-lungo termine di queste popolazioni in ciascun contesto insulare. Parole chiave: eradicazione, introduzione, piccole isole, road kill, vitalità. INTRODUCTION The western European hedgehog Erinaceus europa- eus L. 1758 (Mammalia: Erinaceomorpha) is a common generalist species, widely distributed in mainland Italy, in Sicily, in Sardinia and in some small islands (Amo- ri, 1993; Angelici et al., 2009; Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Loy et al., 2019; Tab. 1). In Sardinia, this mammal has been introduced in the middle and late neolithic (4th Millennium B.C.; Cetti, 1774; Cei, 1941; Sanges & Al- cover, 1980; Vigne 1992; Masseti, 1993; Wilkens, 2003; Baldino et al., 2008). However, although the hedgehog has been studied in Sardinia (e.g., roadkills: De Montis et al., 2017; parasites: Scala & Garippa, 1996, Poglayen et al. 2003; Fois et al., 2006; see also Regione Sarde- gna, 2017), data on its presence and local distribution on the circum-Sardinian islands, where this insectivore has been introduced, are still lacking (Angelici et al., 2009; Masseti, 2019). In this paper, I reported some direct and indirect re- cords of presence and data on the local distribution of the western European hedgehog on the Island of San Pietro, a circum-Sardinian medium-sized island (Sulcis archipe- lago). The western European hedgehog has also been re- corded on several other small islands along peninsular Italy and on neighbouring large islands (Sicily and Sar- dinia: e.g. Angelici et al., 2009). In this regard, given the interest in the presence and introduction history of this erinaceomorph in these contexts, I carried out an up-to-date review of scientific and grey literature on its presence on Italian small islands, also providing preli- minary considerations on its status (occurrences of only occasionally introduced individuals vs. hypothetical sta- ble populations). 28 STUDY AREA San Pietro island San Pietro Island (39°08’N; 8°18’E) is situated 11 km off the South-Western coast of Sardinia, opposite the Sul- cis Peninsula. With a surface area of 51 km2, San Pietro Island is the sixth largest island in Italy (Fig. 1). The island is of volcanic origin (Cioni & Funedda, 2015; Gioncada et al., 2019). Because of its high eco-biogeographic in- terest and the concern for its conservation (e.g., Arrigoni & Bocchieri, 1996; Bocchieri, 2001), San Pietro Island is listed as a Special Area of Conservation (code ITB040027 - SIC Isola di San Pietro; 92/43/EU Directive; Regione Sardegna, 2013). The island is characterized mainly by a Mediterrane- an scrub (maquis with Erica arborea L., Pistacia lenti- scus L., Genista ephedroides DC., Juniperus turbinata Guss. and Arbutus unedo L.). Mediterranean scrub is alternated with Mediterranean open prairies and anthro- pogenic pinewood patches (Pinus pinaster Aiton, P. pi- nea L., P. halepensis Mill.; further details in Regione Sardegna, 2015), these last widely diffused in the we- stern sector. After a long period in which the island was uninha- bited, starting from 1738 the island was colonized by a human population of Ligurian origin that came from Tu- nisia (Vona et al., 1996). In recent decades, the island’s landscape has been progressively anthropized, with an in- crease in rural urbanisation, mainly in the eastern sector. In fact, the population is mostly concentrated in Carlofor- te (about 6,000 inhabitants), the only town on the island (Pellerano & Rivano, 1997; Pellerano, 2001). Climate is CORRADO BATTISTI typically Mediterranean. A number of zoological studies have been carried out in this island in the last decades (see Baccetti et al., 1989; Baccetti, 1996; for homeothermic vertebrates: bats: Zava et al., 1995; birds: e.g., Schenk & Torre, 1988; Baccetti et al., 1991; Rosén et al., 1999; Battisti, 2018; Battisti & Zullo, 2019; Battisti & Fanelli, 2021). Italian small islands Along the coasts of the Italian peninsula and large islands (Sicily and Sardinia) there are many small islands, sometimes grouped in archipelagos, ranging from 224 km2 (Elba) to less than 1 km2. For this review, I included most of the Italian small islands, considering “small island” those “with limited surface and lack of environmental di- versity” (La Greca & Sacchi, 1957). Small islands show different geological origin (sedimentary, metamorphic, volcanic effusive, volcanic intrusive). Most of the islan- ds surveyed are situated relatively close to the mainland (excluding Pelagie Islands, located >70 km offshore). Hu- man population in small islands ranges from 0 to >50,000 inhabitants (Ischia; for a review of their characteristics see Pretto et al., 2012). METHODS San Pietro Island In the 2013-2021 period, during holiday trips carried out in the summer season (July or August; approxima- tely 20 days/year), I walked many pedestrian paths and Tab. 1 - Author’s direct observations (1-6) and indirect records (7-12) of western European Hedgehog on San Pietro Island (2013-2021 period). For the indirect records (7-12), the reported coordinates are approximate. / Osservazioni dirette dell’autore (1-6) e segnalazioni indirette (7-12) di riccio europeo occidentale sull’Isola di San Pietro (periodo 2013-2021). Per le segnalazioni indirette (7-12), le coordinate riportate sono approssimative. N Year Site and geographical coordinates Notes (nr. ind., type of record, observer) 1 2015 Macchione (39°07’58”N, 8°18’00”E) 1 ind, roadkill (C. Battisti, pers. obs.) 2 2019 Girin (39°06’51”N, 8°18’25”E) 1 ind., roadkill (C. Battisti, pers. obs.) 3 2019 Valacca (39°07’25”N, 8°17’29”E) 2 ind. (P. Battisti, G. Masnata, pers. obs.) 4 2019 (8 August) Macchione (39°07’54”N, 8°18’00”E) 1 ind., roadkill (C. Battisti, pers. obs.) 5 2019 (13 August) Gioia, Sebino (39°08’42”N, 8°16’26”E) 1 ind., roadkill (C. Battisti, pers. obs.) 6 2021 La Punta, Memmerosso (39°10’13”N, 8°18’02”E) 1 ind., roadkill (M. Gallarati, pers. obs.) 7 Post 2000 Giunco (39°07’32”N, 8°18’30”E) Adult and juveniles (M. Masnata, pers. obs.) 8 Post 2010 Valacca (39°07’24”N, 8°17’28”E), provincial road Ind. near a fountain (P. Battisti and G. Masnata, pers. obs.) 9 Post 2000 Bacciu (39°07’38”N, 8°17’40”E) Recorded by a dog in a private garden (M. Masnata, pers. obs.) 10 Post 2000 Girin (39°06’54”N, 8°18’25”E) M. Masnata, pers. obs. 11 Post 2010 Punta del Morto, Carloforte (39°09’01”N, 8°18’37”E) 2 ind. (M. Masnata, pers. obs.) 12 2017 (7 October) Valacca (39°07’17’’N, 8°17’19’’E), provincial road 1 ind., roadkill (Julien Vittier, pers. obs. reported on Ornitho.it) 29 paved roads (speed: 1.5 km/hour), covering all the main habitat types of the island (2013-2016: on an occasional basis; 2017-2021: >50 km/year and about 20 days/years of direct sampling; total: approximately >150 days of sampling effort). Interviews with local inhabitants were also conducted in an informal fashion. The collected data were all geo-referenced (latitude and longitude by Google Earth software ±10 m) and divided into direct (original) observations (living individuals and road-kills) and indi- rect records (obtained by interviewing local inhabitants or by web platforms: naturamediterraneo.com; ornitho.it; therio.it; iNaturalist.org), although with a lower degree of reliability. Italian small islands In order to carry out a brief review of the presence of the western European hedgehog on the Italian small islands, I considered only small continental islands (see Watson, 2009; Ali, 2018; i.e. islands that had a connec- tion to the mainland and/or to the larger islands or located <100 km away, such as the circum-peninsular, circum- Sardinian and circum-Sicilian islands). I excluded from the study those islands located in inland water basins (e.g., the Polvese Island, Lake Trasimeno, central Italy, where this species is present: Burzigotti & Capuano ci- tated in Gaggi & Paci, 2014). To carry out the review, I considered all (at the best of my knowledge) scientific papers, grey literature and web platforms (naturamediter- raneo.com; ornitho.it; therio.it; iNaturalist.org), obtaining updated information about the status of the species and on the viability of its populations on the small islands in the short and medium term (Tab. 2). Fig. 1 - The study area (San Pietro Island, Sulcis archipelago; South Sardinia) with the evidence of presence of western European hedgehog. Black circles: direct observations; grey circles: indirect data. See Table 1 for details and numbers. / L’area di studio (Isola di San Pietro, arcipelago del Sulcis; Sardegna meridionale) con i siti di presenza del riccio europeo occidentale. Cerchi neri: osservazione dirette; cerchi grigi: dati indiretti. Vedere Tabella 1 per dettagli e numerazione. Fig. 2 - The small Italian islands with evidence of western European hedgehog presence. Thick-bordered circles: probable occurrence of stable populations; thin-bordered circles: only occasional presence of individuals (low probability of short-term persistence). See Tab. 2 for details. / Evi- denze di presenza di riccio europeo occidentale nelle piccole isole italiane. Cerchi con bordo spesso: probabile presenza di popolazioni stabili; cerchi con bordo sottile: probabile presenza di singoli individui (bassa probabil- ità di persistenza a breve termine). Vedasi Tab. 2 per dettagli. 1) Elba; 2) Capraia; 3) Pianosa; 4) Alicudi; 5) Salina; 6) Favignana; 7) Ustica; 8) Proc- ida; 9) Vivara; 10) Capraia; 11) La Maddalena; 12) Asinara; 13) San Pietro. THE WESTERN EUROPEAN HEDGEHOG ON THE ITALIAN SMALL ISLANDS 30 Tab. 2 - The western European hedgehog on the Italian small islands. Bibliographic and web-based evidence of presence for each small island, notes about the occurrence of stable populations (p) or of occasional individuals (i) have been reported. (*) Vivara is connected to Procida by a bridge. / Il riccio europeo occidentale nelle piccole isole italiane. Per ciascuna piccola isola, sono riportati sia i riferimenti bibliografici (e sitografici) che segnalano la specie, sia gli indizi della probabile presenza di popolazioni stabili (p) o della presenza occasionale di individui (i). (*) Vivara è collegata a Procida da un ponte. Island name (area) References Notes Probable stable population (p), occasional individuals (i) Elba (224 km2) Thiebaud De Berneaud, 1808; Damiani, 1923; Vesmanis & Hutterer 1980; De Marinis et al., 1996; Amori & Masseti, 1996 (see also Amori, 1993; Sarà, 1998; Scaravelli, 1999; Spagnesi & De Marinis, 2002; Spagnesi et al., 2004; Ruffo & Stoch, 2005; Arpa Sicilia, 2008; Angelici et al., 2009; Ente Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago Toscano, 2016). Documented presence for the last 200 years (Thiebaud De Berneaud, 1808); can be considered as native (see Iannucci et al., 2009); 1 ind. roadkilled in Capoliveri (1993) (De Marinis et al., 1996). p Capraia (19.3 km2) Angelici et al., 2009, and references therein. 2 ind. observed (summer 1992; F.M. Angelici pers. obs.) Species not included in the National Park plan (Ente Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano, 2016). Not reported in Sarà (1998). i Pianosa (10.2 km2) Agnelli, 1998; Ruffo & Stoch, 2005; Iannucci et al., 2019 (see also Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Tomassone et al., 2013; Ente Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago Toscano, 2016). Population of Pianosa has an extremely low genetic diversity and a profile very similar to that of Elba (originated from a pool of individuals, perhaps also only a single pregnant female, moved by human from Elba in recent times; absent before 1950s Baccetti & Gotti, 2016; Iannucci et al., 2019). Not reported in Sarà (1998). i (p?) Alicudi (5.2 km2) Cristaldi et al., 1987; Lo Cascio & Navarra, 2003 (see also Amori, 1993; Sarà, 1998; Scaravelli, 1999; Spagnesi & De Marinis, 2002; Spagnesi et al., 2004; Arpa Sicilia, 2008; Angelici et al., 2009). Introduced in the second half of the 20th century (beginning of the 1980s; Cristaldi et al., 1987), 1 ind. observed in loc. Filo dell’Arpa (photo available; Lo Cascio & Navarra, 2003; see also Arpa Sicilia, 2008). i Salina (26.1 km2) Lo Cascio & Navarra, 2003. 1 ind. in a private garden in first 2000s (Lo Cascio & Navarra, 2003). i Favignana (19.8 km2) Sarà, 1998 (see also Arpa Sicilia, 2008; Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Angelici et al. 2009). Occasional presence with a specimen found dead (roadkill) in 1989 (Sarà, 1998). Recently introduced (Arpa Sicilia, 2008). i Ustica (8.7 km2) Sarà, 1998 (see also Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Angelici et al. 2009). 1 ind. observed for a few months (1994) in a cropland (Sarà, 1998). i Procida (4.1 km2) Nappi & Masseti, 2005 (and references therein); Nappi et al., 2007 (see also Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Angelici et al. 2009; www. isoledellacampania.eu/procida-1.html). Established in the last years (Nappi & Masseti, 2005). i Vivara (0.4 km2)(*) M. Rodriguez (pers. obs.) cit. in Nappi et al., 2007 (see also Angelici et al. 2009). Reported for the second half of 90s. Data are not sufficient to confirm the existence of a stable population (Nappi et al., 2007). Not reported in Sarà (1998). i Caprera (16 km2) Torre & Maiabailliu, 1993; Cossu et al., 1994 (see also Angelici et al. 2009; Presutti, 2018; Masseti, 2019). Recently introduced in Caprera (Cossu et al., 1994). i La Maddalena (20 km2) Angelici et al., 2009, and references therein. i? Asinara (52 km2) Torre & Maiabailliu, 1993; Cossu et al., 1994; Amori & Masseti, 1996 (see also Sarà, 1998; Spagnesi & De Marinis, 2002; Spagnesi et al., 2004; Ruffo & Stoch, 2005; Arpa Sicilia, 2008; Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Angelici et al. 2009; Masseti, 2019). Recently introduced (Cossu et al., 1994). p? San Pietro (51 km2) Zava et al., 1995 (see also Ruffo & Stoch, 2005; Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008; Masseti, 2019). This study. Recorded in 1989 (Zava et al., 1995). p? CORRADO BATTISTI 31 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION San Pietro Island During the study period, I obtained 15 records (7 di- rect observations, and 6 indirect records of 8 individuals) from 12 sites (Fig. 1, Tab. 1), mainly located in the cen- tral-eastern sector of the island, characterized by a higher urban and infrastructural density and agricultural mosaics (see Battisti, 2018; Battisti & Zullo, 2019; Battisti et al., 2021), suitable ecological conditions that can favour the presence of this species (Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008). The lack of observations in the western sector may also be linked to the widespread presence of monospecific Pinus pinaster forests, which typically have poor undergrowth and therefore represent habitats of low ecological suitabi- lity for this species (Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008). Most of the direct data (6 out of 7 records; 85.7%) were obtained from roadkills (this species is highly sensi- tive to this anthropogenic impact: Rondinini & Doncaster, 2002; Battisti et al., 2012; Wright et al., 2020; see, for Sardinia: Amori et al., 2014; De Montis et al., 2017). Ho- wever, despite considerable research effort, I have recor- ded low numbers of both road kills (even with the relati- vely high volume of vehicles during the summer period), and indirect detections of live animals, when compared to continental contexts (e.g., Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008). Although the species shows an elusive behaviour (Bear- man-Brown et al., 2020) and the data could be affected by underestimation, it can be hypothesized a sporadic presen- ce on the island, with low densities. In this regard, it could be interesting to verify the role of indirect anthropogenic factors (e.g. road kill: Locatelli & Paolucci, 1998; Amo- ri et al., 2014; feral dogs: Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008) or natural processes, controlling this local population as, for example, the occasional predation by migrant and se- dentary raptors, such as the barn owl Tyto alba (Mazzot- ti & Bortolotti, 1999) and common buzzard Buteo buteo (Swann & Etheridge, 1995, Sidorovich et al., 2016), all locally present (Meschini & Frugis, 1993; Battisti, 2018; M. Masnata, pers. comm.). However, this is only hypothe- tical, since these two birds occur on the island with few individuals and their predation on hedgehog is unlikely. Also, the scarcity of both the hedgehog’s preferred food items (e.g. earthworms and land snails: Reggiani & Filip- pucci, 2008) and of reliable water sources in this insular ecosystem might represent further local limiting factors. About the origin of this insular population, there are anecdotical data on a probable recent introduction (presuma- bly in the second half of the 20th century: M. Masnata, pers. comm.) from the neighbouring Sardinian mainland (this spe- cies may be easily introduced also involuntarily: see Nappi et al., 2020). In this regard, further research is necessary. The hedgehog has no conservation problems (Gippoliti & Amori, 2004; Bertolino et al., 2015; para-autochthonous species: Senato della Repubblica, 2016), and does not re- present a factor of local impact on species of conservation concern, especially if considering its low density on San Pietro Island. However, in other environmental contexts (for example, in wetland and coastal sites) evidence is shown of an impact of this mammal preying on clutches of waders and seabirds (see Utley et al., 1989; Monteiro et al., 1996; Jackson & Green, 2000). San Pietro is a site of high importance for waders, seabirds and other migratory and nesting species (Important Bird Area IT191; BirdLife Inter- national, 2001): in this regard, if further data will evidence circumstances of predation, an eradication project (e.g. by translocation) could be foreseeable, as suggested by Bac- cetti & Gotti (2016) and Iannucci et al. (2019) for Pianosa Island (see also Warwick et al., 2006; Capizzi, 2020). Italian small islands At national scale, the updated bibliographic and web- based review suggests a presence of the species on at least 13 small Italian islands (Tab. 2), with an updated confir- med absence in Ponziane (Latium; Capizzi et al., 2012), Ischia and Capri (Nappi et al. 2007), Tremiti (Ministero dell’Ambiente, 2021), Egadi (Felten & Storch, 1970; Zava & Lo Valvo, 1990; Ozella et al., 2016) and Pelagie Islands (Arpa Sicilia, 2008; see also Amori, 1993; Angelici et al., 2009). Although we do not have data available about local density, probably this mammal occurs with stable popu- lations only on Elba Island (historical records reported by Thiebaud De Berneaud, 1808), and perhaps on San Pietro and Asinara, all islands with an area >50 km2, which may allow its persistence in the short and medium term (see Sarà, 1998). The occasional reports obtained for the other islands are probably to be referred to single or to very few specimens introduced by humans, also voluntarily (the species is locally kept as pet or consumed for food: see Cornalia, 1870; Reggiani & Filippucci, 2008), therefore with a low probability of long-term persistence. In this sense, an in-depth and updated analysis of the local status and of the recent human-driven introduction/colonization history, possible local extinctions, genetics, and peculiar behaviours (e.g. absence of hibernation as found in sou- thern populations: Aloise et al., 2003) for the individual demographic units in the small islands could be of inte- rest, contributing to the disciplinary arena of anthropoge- nic historical biogeography (e.g. see Balletto, 1996; Sarà, 1998; Mazza et al., 2013; Amori et al., 2015). Acknowledgments Luciano Durante, Mario and Gabriele Masnata, Moni- ca Gallarati, Pierpaolo Battisti and Mrs. Granara provided indirect information about the presence of this species on the island. Giovanni Amori, Francesco M. Angelici, Mas-Giovanni Amori, Francesco M. Angelici, Mas- simo Brunelli, Spartaco Gippoliti, Armando Nappi and Julien Vittier provided further data and suggestions. Ales-Ales- sandro Zocchi reviewed the English style and language. 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