The Odonata are considered among the most endangered freshwater faunal taxa. Their DNA‐based monitoring relies on validated reference data sets that are often lacking or do not cover important biogeographical centres of diversification. This study presents the results of a DNA barcoding campaign on Odonata, based on the standard 658‐bp 5′ end region of the mitochondrial COI gene, involving the collection of 812 specimens (409 of which barcoded) from peninsular Italy and its main islands (328 localities), belonging to all the 88 species (31 Zygoptera and 57 Anisoptera) known from the country. Additional BOLD and GenBank data from Holarctic samples expanded the data set to 1,294 DNA barcodes. A multi‐approach species delimitation analysis involving two distance (OT and ABGD) and four tree‐based (PTP, MPTP, GMYC and bGMYC) methods was used to explore these data. Of the 88 investigated morphospecies, 75 (85%) unequivocally corresponded to distinct molecular operational units, whereas the remaining ones were classified as ‘warnings’ (i.e. showing a mismatch between morphospecies assignment and DNA‐based species delimitation). These results are in contrast with other DNA barcoding studies on Odonata showing up to 95% of identification success. The species causing warnings were grouped into three categories depending on if they showed low, high or mixed genetic divergence patterns. The analysis of haplotype networks revealed unexpected intraspecific complexity at the Italian, Palearctic and Holarctic scale, possibly indicating the occurrence of cryptic species. Overall, this study provides new insights into the taxonomy of odonates and a valuable basis for future DNA and eDNA‐based monitoring studies.

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In some cases, species’ distributions have not been accurate and some geographical areas were not accounted for in the New Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles of Europe (NA2RE), a project per-formed by the Mapping Committee of the Societas Europaea Herpetologica (SEH). The distribu-tion of species within the Vipera ursinii-renardi group were presented jointly as a single taxon (“Vipera ursinii/renardi”), without differentiation between the meadow viper V. ursinii, the steppe viper V. renardi, and the recently described Greek meadow viper Vipera graeca. Here we present a revised 50.50 km resolution distribution map of this group with new records, eliminating putative or erroneous records and extinct populations. Additionally, we filled several spatial gaps in the distribution of V. renardi in Eastern Europe by incorporating recent regional overviews, previously considered ambiguous or inaccessible to most researchers, due to language barriers.

37Freshwater macroinvertebrates, and specifically Odonata, are considered among the most 38 endangered faunal groups. Their biomonitoring has been progressively supported by DNA-39 based tools whose performance and accuracy rely on validated reference datasets that, in some 40 cases, are lacking or do not cover important biogeographical centres of diversification. 41This study reports the results of a DNA barcoding campaign on Odonata, involving the 42 collection of 812 specimens (448 of which barcoded) from Italy and its main islands (328 43 localities), belonging to the 88 species (31 Zygoptera and 57 Anisoptera) inhabiting the country. 44 Additional BOLD and GenBank data from Holarctic samples of the same taxa expanded the 45 dataset to 1294 DNA barcodes. An integrative species delimitation analysis involving two 46 distance (OT and ABGD) and four tree-based (PTP, MPTP, GMYC, bGMYC) approaches 47 identified warnings of possible taxonomic relevance. Of the 88 investigated species, 85% could 48 be successfully identified by their DNA barcodes, with damselflies showing a percentage of 49 warnings (29%) higher than dragonflies (7%), contrasting with the other available DNA 50 barcoding studies on Odonata (showing up to 95% of identification success). The species 51causing warnings were grouped in three categories depending on if they showed low, high or 52 mixed genetic divergence patterns. Moreover, for the second class of warnings, the analysis of 53 haplotypes revealed unexpected structure at the Italian, Palearctic and Holarctic scale. Overall, 54 the DNA barcoding inventory assembled in this study will provide valuable insights into the 55 systematics and conservation of many odonate species with implications for future DNA and 56 eDNA monitoring-based studies. 57 58

We reported data on flying bat assemblages in a Mediterranean mountain landscape of central Italy on a 5-year time span (2005-2010) where a wind farm repowering has been carried out (from 2009, 17 three-blade turbines substituted an a priori set of one-blade turbines). In 4 yearly based surveys, we calculated a set of univariate metrics at species and assemblage level and also performing a diversity/dominance analysis (k-dominance plots) to evaluate temporal changes. Nine species of bats were present (eight classified at species level, one at genus level). Number of detected taxa, Margalef richness, and Shannon-Wiener diversity apparently decreased between 2005-2007 (one-blade turbine period) and 2009-2010 (three-blade turbines period). We showed a weak temporal turnover only between 2007 and 2009. In k-dominance plots, the occurrence curves of the years before the new wind farming activity (2005 and 2007) were lower when compared to the curves related to the 2009 and 2010 years, suggesting an apparent stress at assemblage level in the second period (2009 and 2010). Myotis emarginatus and Pipistrellus pipistrellus significantly changed their relative frequency during the three-blade wind farming activity, supporting the hypothesis that some bats may be sensitive to repowering. Further research is necessary to confirm a possible sensitivity also for locally rare bats (Miniopterus schreibersii and Plecotus sp.).