Coenotic structure, skull asymmetries and other morphological anomalies in small mammals near an electronuclear power plant

• Main Authors: Domenica Amarena, Longino Contoli, Mauro Cristaldi
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Associazione Teriologica Italiana 1994
• Subjects: nuclear power plant sites; small mammals; biodiversity; bioindicators; morphological asymmetry; siti nucleari; piccoli mammiferi; biodiversità; bioindicatori; asimmetria morfologica; Science; Q; Zoology; QL1-991; Alta; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4404/hystrix-5.1-2-4001; https://doaj.org/article/99afeb8bc4634e54a19dc68133548868

Abstract A nuclear power plant was in operation in the Garigliano alluvial plain (Central Italy) from 1964 through 1978, a period marked by several accidents. The nuclear site is now utilized for storage of radiactive wastes of low, medium and high activity. 3626 skulls of small mammals were found in Barn Owl ( Tyto alba ) pellets, collected during 1987 from 8 different sites near the plant. Eight biotic indices were applied: the results show a medium-high degree of theriocoenotic diversification, a trophic level index generally within the limits of the values recorded in South-Central Italy, and a low value for the index of environmental management. In particular, the pellets found on the site closest to the nuclear power plant are characterized by a higher proportion of Suncus etruscus and Rattus rattus and show an increase of two thermoxerophyly indices, in comparison with the other sites of the district, which might be related to variations of some environmental parameters. A further analysis was done for each site, in comparison with other control sites, with the aim of verifying heterolateral asymmetries in the molar tooth-set and other skull anomalies. The results show a significant increase of molar asymmetries in Microtus savii (p Crocidura sp. pl. (p<0.05). Riassunto Struttura biocenotica, asimmetrie craniche e altre anomalie morfologiche in piccoli mammiferi presso un impianto elettronucleare - La centrale nucleare della piana alluvionale del Garigliano ha funzionato dal 1964 al 1978, un periodo caratterizzato da numerosi incidenti; inoltre il sito nucleare è adibito all'immagazzinamento di scorie radioattive di bassa, media e alta attività. 3626 crani di piccoli mammiferi, selezionati da borre di Barbagianni ( Tyto alba ), sono stati raccolti nell'anno 1987 in otto siti collocati nell'area di impatto dell'installazione. È stata applicata l'analisi di otto indici biotici: i risultati mostrano un grado medio-elevato di diversificazione teriocenotica, un indice di livello trofico generalmente ...