Pubblicazioni e ricerca teriologica in italia: tendenze e prospettive

Papers on mammalogy published on the main Italian journals from 1980
to 2003: trends and analysis. We analysed articles on mammalogy published from 1980 to
2003 in the main journals published in Italy: Italian Journal of Zoology (IJZ), Ethology
Ecology & Evolution (EEE) and Hystrix. The number of articles increased throughout the
study period as well as the average number of authors. The observed frequency of paper on
Carnivora Rodentia and Arctiodactyla is higher than expected on the basis of their richness,
here assumed as a index of their availability for researchers. This data could be interpreted
as the effect of an increased availability of funds provided by Local Administration for game
management (Arctiodactyla), the attractiveness of predators and the possibility to do
research at community level with small grants (Rodentia). The hypothesis is supported by a
very low research effort devoted to Cetacea and Chiroptera.
We observed a decreasing trend in frequency of paper concerning “traditional” approaches,
a stabilisation of paper concerning mammal zoogeography and eco-ethology and a linear
increase in emerging subject such as game management, conservation biology and ecotoxicology.
From a quantitative point of view, Hystrix is comparable to IJZ and EEE; however,
printing punctuality must be considerably improved.