ORAL SESSIONS
 

ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF MAMMALS IN A CHANGING WORLD

Coordinators: Leonardo Ancillotto and Achaz von Hardenberg

Natural and semi-natural environments are becoming increasingly vulnerable to global changes, including climate warming, land use modifications, and growing human pressure. These processes can lead to alterations at multiple levels and scales, from the genetic and genomic level to the species’ geographical distribution, strongly influencing ecological interactions within animal communities.
This session aims to explore the impact of such transformations on mammals, analysing their responses to environmental changes and assessing effective conservation strategies to facilitate species adaptation to rapidly changing conditions.
This session aims to collect contributions that address the effects of global change on genetics, distribution, and ecology of mammal species, adaptive responses at species and community levels, and the role of protected areas in mitigating impacts and safeguarding biodiversity.

BEHAVIOURAL STRATEGIES IN MAMMALS: EVOLUTIONARY ADAPTATIONS TO ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURES

Coordinators: Stefano Grignolio and Francesca Cagnacci

Behaviour is one of the most dynamic and flexible dimensions through which mammals respond to environmental and evolutionary pressures. The diversity of behavioural repertoires reflects a broad spectrum of adaptive strategies shaped by ecological constraints, evolutionary history, and social structure. This session aims to explore mammalian behaviour from the perspective of behavioural ecology, as an adaptive strategy to cope with complex environments. Particular attention will be dedicated to behavioural plasticity, as the capacity to modify actions in response to environmental conditions, and to personality traits and their role in survival and reproductive strategies. This flexibility not only enables immediate adaptation to environmental variation but may also promote long-term evolutionary change.
Priority will be given to studies illustrating how behavioural mechanisms enable mammals to colonise diverse environments and respond to rapid changes. In addition, contributions emphasizing the practical implications of this knowledge for conservation, population management, conflict mitigation with human activities, and the enhancement of ecosystem quality will be especially welcomed.

HUMANS AND MAMMALS: SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND HEALTH IMPLICATIONS

Coordinators: Marco Scalisi and Clara Tattoni

This session aims to explore the interconnections between humans and wild mammals, encompassing health-related issues, the One Health approach, and social and economic dynamics that shape human–wildlife conflicts, which have direct consequences for mammalian ecology. The human dimension will be examined through perceptions, behaviours, and cultural representations that influence the effectiveness and social acceptance of management strategies. Special focus will be placed on the role of stakeholders, operating at multiple levels, from rural communities and management bodies to political and public health decision-makers. A multidisciplinary perspective will be emphasised as an essential tool for integrating knowledge within a coherent analytical framework. Studies may explore human–mammal conflicts by analysing their economic, social, and health dimensions. In this context, particular consideration will be given to research addressing topics such as economic losses attributed to wild mammals, zoonotic risks, the psychosocial well-being of local communities, and, more broadly, the human dimensions of mammal conservation and management. Studies focusing on participatory strategies and inclusive governance models, as well as methodological and operational approaches aimed at reducing conflict and fostering coexistence between humans and mammals, are also encouraged.

HIGH-ELEVATION SENTINELS: MAMMALS AND MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS

Coordinators: Valentina La Morgia and Luca Corlatti

Mountain regions cover less than one-fifth of the Earth’s terrestrial surface yet are home to approximately one-third of all terrestrial species and include around half of the planet’s major biodiversity hotspots. In these ecosystems, mountain mammals act as critical sentinels of environmental change. Their ecological specialisation and narrow tolerance ranges make them particularly sensitive indicators of ongoing environmental transformations. This session draws inspiration from the alpine setting of the Congress and aims to highlight the conservation challenges faced by mammal populations in high-elevation environments. Contributions are invited on adaptations and shifts in species distribution and richness along elevational gradients, phenotypic and behavioural plasticity, and alterations in community structure and trophic interactions.
The session will also consider the ecological consequences of habitat fragmentation, tourism pressures, and the effects of both the abandonment and intensification of traditional land-use practices. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of mammals as bioindicators of environmental change and as key determinants of the resilience and functional integrity of mountain and alpine ecosystems. Applied and management-oriented perspectives will also be considered. Case studies demonstrating how empirical evidence can inform land-use planning, ecosystem management, and conservation policy in mountain regions will be particularly valued.