25Several studies have shown that forest management (e.g. for timber production) affects mammal 26 communities. Nevertheless, we still lack a detailed understanding on how different management 27 practices influence individuals and populations. The overarching goal of our work was to 28 investigate the demographic response of the hazel dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) to forest 29 management. We focused on a set of key individual (survival and litter size) and population 30 (abundance of individuals) parameters to test whether forest management affects dormice and 31 which habitat variables are responsible for such effects. We surveyed a dormice population for 3 32 years in a continuous forest in central Italy including sites subjected to different management 33 regimes: 5 coppiced stands (2 recently coppiced and 3 old coppice stands), 2 abandoned stands with 34 regrowing forest and 3 high forest stands. We found a strong effect of forest management on hazel 35 dormice, acting mainly through the variation in food resources. Regrowing forests were the most 36 suitable stands for dormice, whereas recent coppices were the most unsuitable, with an ephemeral 37 presence of a few individuals. Old coppices and high forest stands were both able to sustain local 38 populations but at lower densities and with a higher mortality and/or emigration of younger and/or 39 weaker individuals than the regrowing forest. Through our detailed analyses we were able to 40 uncover the demographic mechanism underlying the effects of forest management on hazel dormice 41 populations; our findings strongly suggest that maintaining an heterogeneous successional 42 composition may be the most effective strategy for the conservation of this species. 43 44

-The white-clawed crayfish is a complex of species (Austropotamobius pallipes plus A. italicus, Crustacea) pivotal to riverine environments. Regrettably, it is endangered in many European countries due to a recent massive decline. We carried out a fine-scale survey on white-clawed crayfish distribution, morphology and genetics in an under-investigated region of central Italy (Lunigiana, Tuscany) to improve local knowledge and aid conservation management of the species. The torrential fauna of Lunigiana is scarcely known and habitat alterations due to the anthropic exploitation of the territory represent a potential threat to its persistence. We investigated crayfish occurrence in eight streams of the Magra River Basin. We performed nocturnal and diurnal transects, took morphometric measurements, collected samples for genetic analysis and checked for the occurrence of ectosymbionts. Crayfish were disclosed in two streams (Civasola, Verdesina). Morphometric and phylogenetic analysis (mtDNA COI gene Bayesian tree reconstruction) concurrently identified both populations as Austropotamobius italicus carinthiacus. In the Verdesina stream, crayfish were heavily infested by branchiobdellidans (Annelida). Verdesina crayfish were also significantly smaller than those found in the Civasola stream, where branchiobdellidans were absent. Hence, we hypothesized that such difference in size might be related to the high density of ectosymbionts. In the light of habitat features and of data herein provided, we propose that both Civasola and Verdesina streams should be considered as "natural ark sites" for A. italicus, with the Magra River Basin representing a regional stronghold for the conservation of the species.Keywords: astacidae / branchiobdellida / cytochrome oxidase I / DNA barcoding / Austropotamobius fulcisianus Résumé -Données préliminaires sur la distribution, la morphologie et la génétique des écrevisses à pattes blanches et leurs ectosymbiotes en Lunigiana (Toscane, Italie). L'écrevisse à pattes blanches est un complexe d'espèces (Austropotamobius pallipes plus A. italicus, Crustacé) qui est une espèce clé des environnements fluviaux. Malheureusement, elle est menacée dans de nombreux pays européens en raison d'un récent déclin massif. Nous avons réalisé une étude détaillée sur la distribution et la génétique de l'écrevisse à pattes blanches dans une région du centre de l'Italie (Lunigiana, Toscane) peu étudiée afin d'améliorer les connaissances locales et de faciliter la gestion de la conservation de l'espèce. La faune des rivières de Lunigiana est peu connue et l'altération des habitats due à l'exploitation anthropique du territoire représente une menace potentielle pour sa persistance. Nous avons étudié la présence d'écrevisses dans huit cours d'eau du bassin de la rivière Magra. Nous avons effectué des transects nocturnes et diurnes, pris des mesures morphométriques, prélevé des échantillons pour des analyses génétiques et vérifié la présence d'ectosymbiotes. Les écrevisses ont été trouvées dans deux cou...