EDUCATION 1997. PhD in Animal Biology (Univ. of Bologna). 1993 Degree in Natural Sciences (Univ. of Padova) RESEARCH INTERESTS The research activity is developed in the fields of molecular ecology and Conservation Genetics. The main lines of research are: Management of protected species through planning of restocking/reintroduction actions and monitoring of their effects; Analysis of biodiversity with classical genetic markers and eDNA metabarcoding. Studies of evolutionary relationships between populations and spatial distribution of biodiversity; Identification of species and interspecific hybrids; Support to ex situ conservation programs and establishment of breeding plans. Development and application of molecular markers for species identification and monitoring of illegal trade of protected species; SELECTED ACTIVE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS Institute for zoo and wildlife research, Berlin, Germany (Dr. A. Ludwig); Yangtze River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences (Prof. Qiwei Wei) Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department of Biology and Ecology of Fishes, Berlin, Germany (Dr. Joern Gessner); VNIRO Russia Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography Moscow, Russia (Dr. Nikolai Mugue); Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management BOKU, Vienna, Austria (Dr.Thomas Friedrich); WWF Central and Eastern Europe (Dr. Beate Striebel-Greiter). University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Wien, Austria (Dr. A. Zitek); Danube Delta National Institute, Tulcea, Romania (Dr. R. Suciu); MAIN LONG-TERM INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS - Since 2006, Member of the Sturgeon Specialists Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). - Since 2015 (third term): Member of the Board of Directors of the World Sturgeon Conservation Society. - Since 2017: Red List Authority for the IUCN Sturgeon Specialist Group. TEACHING Since 2006 he has held the following courses at the University of Padua, in various three-year or master's degree courses. Ecology, Population Biology, Molecular methods for Environmental studies, Conservation Genetics, Ecological methods for Environmental Sciences, General and Applied Ecology Publications https://scholar.google.it/citations?hl=it&user=kvjdynEAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate

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The research activity is developed in the fields of molecular ecology and Conservation Genetics. The main lines of research are: Management of protected species through planning of restocking/reintroduction actions and monitoring of their effects; Analysis of biodiversity with classical genetic markers and eDNA metabarcoding. Studies of evolutionary relationships between populations and spatial distribution of biodiversity; Identification of species and interspecific hybrids; Support to ex situ conservation programs and establishment of breeding plans. Development and application of molecular markers for species identification and monitoring of illegal trade of protected species; Analysis of the connectivity between marine areas of Community interest. In recent years he has worked mainly on fish but also on reptiles, mammals and invertebrates.

Master's thesis in Molecular Biology and Evolutionary Biology on various aspects related to the sturgeon evolution and conservation genetics. Other thesis topics concern the development of molecular markers for the identification of species and interspecific hybrids and, more generally, of genetic analysis tools applicable to different levels of diversity: species, populations, individuals. Some currently active research lines: - Management of captive breeding stock to support the restocking of different sturgeon species. - Geographical differentiation patterns analysis for informed management of various protected species. - Development of universal molecular markers for the analysis of diversity at different levels (species, populations, individuals). - Environmental DNA analysis for the study of the colonization patterns of the Pelobate Toad (Pelobates fuscus). - Development of protocols for the molecular identification of sex - Analysis of the relationship between fitness and inbreeding in Cobice sturgeon as part of the ENDEMIXIT project. https://endemixit.com/

Last update: 29/08/2025