Job Type
Research
Natural Resource Management
Operational Support (technical)
Subject Area
Biological Oceanography
Marine Ecology
Fisheries
Aquaculture
Pollution
Limnology
Activities
My research activity is focused on ecological study of wetland and transitional waters. These environments are affected by increasing load of nutrients and organic matter that is a direct consequence of human activities (e.g. sewage discharge, fish farming, agriculture and industry).
Therefore high level of eutrophication and an increasing of dystrophic events are leading to a massive loss of the biological resources.
The main topics of my research activity are:
a) Bioindicators - Variability of macrozoobenthic assemblages
The bioindicators are relevant tools for assessing the effect of anthropogenic activities on the marine environments. The macrozoobenthic assemblage study allows identifying the level of environmental
stress and degradation due to organic-pollution.
To carry out these studies, a set of biological tools have to be measured since they have high ecological relevance which includes: distribution changes, altered abundance and reduced diversity.
b) Stable Isotope (SI) – Study of biodiversity
The stable isotope technique (SI) can be useful to understand the relations among trophic levels in aquatic ecosystems. In environments subject to rapid dystrophic events, qualitative and quantitative changes in the trophic composition can be expected. SI technique can be effective in such instances in investigating temporal changes in food web structure and the recovery of the affected ecosystem.
c) Biogeochemical modelling LOICZ (Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone)
In aquatic ecosystems, the development of water eutrophication is leaded by the interactions between biological and geochemical processes, through the trophic level and in relation to the phosphorus cycle. The trophic status is affected not only by increased primary production and organic matter enrichment, but also by morphology, hydrodynamics and multiples stressors.
The study of carbon and dissolved nutrients cycles can not be carried out accurately, without the biogeochemical modelling. In fact these models are able to handle the complex link between humane activities and ecosystem functioning, which are impossible to be captured with more traditional statistical tools.
Sea regions of study
Mediterranean Sea - Western Basin
Mediterranean Sea - Eastern Basin
North Sea
North Atlantic Ocean
Skills
- Experience in ecology of coastal aquatic ecosystems with an increasing eutrophics conditions (lagoons and estuaries habitats). - Experience in biogeochemical processes and data for coastal ecosystems. - Experience in the identification of invertebrates of soft-sediment, particularly Polychaeta taxa. - Database management. - Experience in field and laboratory work.
SOFTWARE: -MICROSOFT EXCEL -MICROSOFT WORD -MICROSOFT POWER POINT -PRIMER V5 -COREL DRAW 8 -GOLDEN SOFTWARE GRAPHER 3 -GOLDEN SOFTWARE SURFER 7
- Knowledge of the various techniques and diagnostic microbiological analysis of pathogenic bacteria
- Knowledge of sampling instruments for environmental monitoring studies: Spectrophotometer, Centrifuge, Datasonde (CTD), Bucket Ekman-Birge, Current Meters, Oven, Sterilizer, Box-corer, Sediment Core, Net for sampling zoo- and phyto-plankton, GPS
DRIVING LICENCE(S)
Driving licence ‟B‟ – Licence for scuba diving Open Water Diver_Esa.
Comment(s)
I have always been interested in the ecological study of wetland and transitional waters, and in the impact of the human activities on these environments. These are characterized by high levels of productivity, and play a life-support role for several species like invertebrates, fish, birds and mammals; most of these species have an important economic role either directly in fisheries or in ecosystem services such as coastal protection.
I believe that from a human prospective, the study and conservation of these systems play a key role in the investigation of the different strategies that must be made for a sustainable development of these renewable resources.
In my previous experiences, I had the opportunity to learn the most relevant skills and competences to carry out a research activity, including:
• field survey, sampling activities, data management and data analysis;
• taxonomy skills particularly, classification of macrozoobenthic species;
• gained familiarity with different lab protocols;
• a demonstrated ability to work at sea on board research vessels and boat-handling.
