PhD candidate
I hold a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Sciences from La Sapienza University in Rome, and two Master’s degrees: one in Marine Biology from the University of Palermo, and another in Protected Areas, Natural Resources, and Biodiversity from the University of Murcia. I have collaborated with research groups in Palermo and Murcia, conducting fieldwork on elasmobranchs and monitoring marine protected areas using diving and camera techniques. I worked for one year at CNR-ISMAR in Rome on a project studying phytoplankton phenology and the bioregionalization of the Mediterranean Sea, including participation in oceanographic campaigns. I also contributed to a European project focused on monitoring small-scale fisheries in southwestern Italy. Currently, I am involved in the HumanFear project, investigating how different human coastal activities influence fish behavior and their cascading effects on the trophic chain.
Current Research:
The HumanFear project investigates how human presence influences fish behavior, with a focus on fear responses. Conducted in the northern Costa Brava, near Port de la Selva, the research examines behavioral differences in fish in response to spearfishers and snorkelers. It also explores how seasonal variations in coastal use during the tourist period affect these responses. Additionally, the project studies predator-prey interactions across different trophic levels to uncover potential cascading effects within the marine food web.
Project: HumanFear
University: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Years: 2025 – 2029
Funding: PIF
Supervisors: Valerio Sbragaglia
Research Interests:
Fish Ecology; Marine Protected Areas; Fisheries Management; Fish Behavior; Ecology of Fear