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Biography
PRESENT POSITION
I am a researcher at the Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome and an associate researcher at the CNR-IAS UO Capo Granitola (Italy).
I teach Marine Mammals’ Ecology and Acoustic Behaviour for the master degree in Ecobiology.
My research/monitoring activity is focused on marine mammals’ ecology, behaviour, acoustics and conservation, as well as on noise in the marine environment, and the impact of noise on marine mammals.
I am a member of the ACCOBAMS working group for defining the Conservation Management Plans for the common bottlenose dolphin (T. truncatus) and the common dolphin (D. delphis) in the Mediterranean Sea, and of the IUCN group for the assessment of the sperm whale (P. macrocephalus) in the Mediterranean Sea.
I am a member of the Pelagos Sanctuary working groups on "Impacts" and "Assessments" (https://www.sanctuaire-pelagos.org/en/about-us/working-groups). The Sanctuary is a Mediterranean marine protected area of 87,500 sq. km subject to an agreement between Italy, Monaco and France for the conservation of marine mammals.
I am the Scientific Coordinator of the Project “Capitoline sea sounds: structural analysis of the bottlenose dolphin calls and the underwater noise in the marine soundscape of the highly anthropized waters of the Roman coasts” supported by Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
I am the Co-Scientific Coordinator of the Project “JCDM – Joint Cetacean Database and Mapping” supported by Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
I am the Coordinator of the Scientific Unit on Noise within Italian Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) for the development of monitoring standard procedures.
PAST RELEVANT EXPERIENCES
After graduating in Biological Sciences, awarded cum laude, in 1990 from the Sapienza University of Rome (Italy), I took part in numerous research programs concerned with cetaceans and coordinated several research projects.
Between 1994 and 1997 I participated in scientific programs on cetacean biology and behaviour at the University of Hawaii (USA), the University of Queensland St. Lucia (Australia) and the Massey University (New Zealand).
Between 1995 and 2000 I worked as a researcher at the Sapienza University of Rome, the University “Federico II” and the “Zoological Department A. Dohrn” in Naples and the Regional Authorities in Sicily Island (Italy).
From 2001 to 2006 I was Lecturer of Marine Ethology at the University “Federico II” in Naples, collaborating with numerous Italian Universities for the supervision and coordination of graduation thesis about cetaceans.
In 2008 I became Scientific Director of Systema Naturae Biodiversity Foundation in Rome (Italy).
Between 1998 and 2017, I was the President of Oceanomare Delphis Onlus, an Italian non profit organization working for the study and conservation of cetacean species and marine environment. Supported by the Italian Government and private entities, I leaded research projects on behaviour, ecology and acoustics of cetaceans at Ischia Island and Rome.
Between 2012 and 2016 I was the Head of the Marine Mammals and Noise Unit during Costa Concordia wreak removal/remediation projects (at Giglio Island, Italy) and I obtained my PhD in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology at Sapienza University of Rome.
Between 2020 and 2022 I was the Co-Scientific Coordinator of the Project “Presence and distribution of bottlenose dolphin in relation to priority coastal habitats and interaction with fishing activities in the area of the Tiber river mouth (including the Marine Protected Area Secche di Tor Paterno) and the islands of Ponza, Palmarola and Zannone (Pontine archipelago, Italy)”, supported by Lazio Region FEAMP-Call, Italy.
I authored numerous national and international scientific publications and presentations, as well as lay-public talks.
I was Co-Editor of two Special Issues in Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems titled "Behaviour, Ecology and Conservation of the Mediterranean Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) and "Ecology and Conservation of the Mediterranean short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis)"