Dissemination of oenological yeasts through bird migration in Sicily.

The composition of yeast communities on shown to be dependent on several factors, including geographical location of the vineyard, type of soil, age of the vineyard, grapevine variety and harvesting technique. Moreover, insects and birds were in part responsible for the dissemination of fermentative yeasts during their feeding (Francesca et al, 2009). In order to evaluate the dissemination of fermenting yeasts, migrating and vineyard inhabiting birds were caught and ringed in four experimental sites: “Riserva Naturale Integrale Lago Preola e Ghorghi Tondi” (Mazara del Vallo, TP) and the Sicilian islands of Lampedusa, Ustica and Linosa. The last sites represent important stop-over for migrat…