My research focuses on applied ecology and environmental governance from interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary perspectives, with the overall goal of contributing to a more integrated and sustainable environmental management. Research topics include: integrated water resources management, nature conservation (especially aquatic ecosystems and populations, e.g. coastal seas, wetlands, salt marshes, elasmobranch fish, rivers, urban watercourses), ecological restoration, reconstructed wetlands, nature based solutions, ecosystem services and underlying processes, ecosystem functioning, ecological modelling (of ecosystems, food webs, populations, water quality, ecosystem services, etc.), environmental impact assessment, fishery management, coastal governance, stakeholder engagement and participatory management, local ecological knowledge as a research and management tool, climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation. I am interested in the science-policy interface and the arts-science-policy nexus. 2022-present Associate Professor of Ecology, University of Padova - Dept. of Biology 2019-2022 Tenure Track Assistant Professor of Ecology, University of Padova - Dept. of Biology 2008-2011 Ph.D., University of Padova - Ph.D. School in Civil and Environmental Engineering Sciences 2006: Master Degree in Environmental Engineering, University of Padova I have worked in many EU-funded and international projects, such as: FP6 Incofish, FP7 KnowSeas, LIFE WSTORE2, LIFE ELIFE, LIFE VIMINE (vice PI), LIFE PROMETHEUS, Horizon2020 REST-COAST (local PI), Horizon Biocean5D, Interreg Italy-Slovenia ECO-SMART and ECO2SMART, EMFF Lagoon Stewardship (vice PI), Interreg Italy-Croatia FishNoWaste (PI), FSE+ Sviluppo di un sistema di supporto alle decisioni per una gestione multifunzionale e sostenibile delle risorse idriche nei corsi d'acqua urbani (PI). I am carrying out research within the RETURN Extended Partnership (Multi-risk science for resilient communities under a changing climate) and the National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC), funded within the National Recovery and Resilience Plan – PNRR by the European Union’s NextGenerationEU. Service (excerpta): 2021-ongoing, appointed G.A. representative for the University of Padova in the EuroMarine science network 2021-ongoing: representative for the Dept. of Biology – University of Padova in the participatory governance process “Contratto di area umida per la Laguna nord di Venezia” coordinated by IUAV University of Venice 2020-ongoing: coordinator of a Memorandum of Understanding between public bodies (University of Padova, Veneto Region, Provveditorato Interregionale alle Opere Pubbliche, Venice City, and Consorzio di Bonifica Acque Risorgive) to extend the salt marsh conservation actions of the concluded EU-funded project LIFE VIMINE to the whole Venice Lagoon

Curriculum PDF File

Ecology; applied ecology; ecological modelling; ecological time series analysis; aquatic and coastal ecosystem functioning and ecosysystem services; environmental impact assessment; nature conservation, sustainable management and ecological restoration in aquatic ecosystems; long-term changes in aquatic ecosystems; historical ecology; local ecological knowledge; water resources management; treatment wetlands and multi-functional wetlands; ecological impacts of micropollutants in water bodies; coastal zones; nature based solutions; sustainability; integrated/systems approaches to nature conservation and natural resources management in water bodies

his is a general list of topics for bachelor/master thesis projects. More details are available upon request. Original ideas from students are also welcome. 1) modelling of aquatic ecosystems: ecological modelling and ecological time series analysis in river, lagoon and coastal ecosystems (ecosystem level changes and regime shifts, trophic networks, population dynamics of organisms targeted by commercial fisheries or of conservation interest such as elasmobranchs, ecosystem services, etc.) to better understand how coastal ecosystems are affected by human pressures (fishing pressure, pollution, nutrient loads, etc.), natural variability and climate changes (e.g. mean temperature increase, heat wave frequency, duration and intensity), and to develop effective management strategies; 2) biodiversity, ecosystem services, invasive species and sustainable conservation of coastal wetlands, e.g. salt marshes in the Venice Lagoon, through field studies and/or modelling and/or local ecological knowledge; 3) water resources management: functioning of treatment wetlands, multi-functional wetland design, ecological impacts of micropollutants in water bodies, integrated water resource management, etc. 4) urban ecology: water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem services in the channels of the city of Padova 5) nature based solutions and stakeholder participation to nature conservation: development and demonstration of the efficacy and sustainability of integrated approaches to nature conservation and ecological restoration in aquatic ecosystems (see www.lifevimine.eu for an example on salt marshes and https://www.padovanet.it/informazione/progetto-valorizziamo-i-canali-cittadini – in Italian only – for an urban ecology example) 6) historical ecology 7) monitoring and modelling dissolved oyxgen concentration dynamics in vegetated aquatic ecosystems

Last update: 09/07/2025