CASE STUDY 5

The Italian case study located within the Paneveggio-Pale di San Martino Natural Park (Province of Trento), investigates the effects of an extreme weather event on habitat biodiversity and the circulation of zoonotic agents. We conducted intensive sampling of soil and of biological samples such as ticks, through standard dragging techniques, and small mammals, using capture-mark-recapture methods. Additionally, bat samples were obtained using mist nets and direct roost inspections. Information on medium and large mammal communities were obtained deploying camera traps across various habitat types. Molecular approaches were applied to examine the diversity, occurrence and prevalence of microbes within small mammals, bats, ticks and soil samples. Our main objective is to evaluate how biodiversity changes, following climate-driven habitat disturbances, affect wildlife host communities, vectors and pathogens, and how these interactions influence zoonotic disease risk for humans. Local stakeholders and public health agencies, both human and animal, have been involved throughout all stages of the project.​​

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