Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
+39 0323 518320 (Telephone)
+39 0323 556513 (Fax)
National Research Council of Italy (CNR), Water Research Institute (IRSA)
Largo Tonolli 50, 28922 Verbania Pallanza, Italy

Broad research topics: Adaptive radiations, Evolution, Biodiversity, Ecological Specialization, Ecological Modelling, Arachnology, Island Biota.

Research interests: I am an evolutionary biologist interested in the effect of phenotypic traits on species evolution. My research has been mainly focused on understanding the patterns and processes that have generated the extant biodiversity we observe today, using a group of spider species from the Canary Islands known as the red devil spiders (genus Dysdera), a case of adaptive radiation in the archipelago. Throughout my studies, I have employed a wide range of methodologies to test hypotheses, including geometric morphometrics, phylogenetic comparative methods, stable isotope analyses, environmental niche modeling, and joint species distribution models.

Projects: At MEG, I work as a post-doc on the project DEEPCHANGE, led by Dr. Stefano Mammola. My work mainly focuses on using ecological models to understand the effects of human impact and climate change on cave-adapted species.

 

Publications (just click here)