A5020179146- Plant and animal studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Oil Palm Production and Sustainability
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Forest ecology and management
- Complex Network Analysis Techniques
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Ichthyology and Marine Biology
- Aquaculture disease management and microbiota
- Helminth infection and control
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Marine Bivalve and Aquaculture Studies
Joint Research Centre
2015-2025
University of Helsinki
2019-2024
University of Florence
2023
European Commission
2018-2022
Joint Commission
2015
Institute for Sustainability
2014
University of Milano-Bicocca
2005-2013
Marine Research Centre
2012-2013
University of Milan
2012
Abstract We present EU-Forest, a dataset that integrates and extends by almost one order of magnitude the publicly available information on European tree species distribution. The core our (~96% occurrence records) came from an unpublished, large database harmonising forest plot surveys National Forest Inventories INSPIRE-compliant 1 km×1 km grid. These new data can potentially benefit several disciplines, including forestry, biodiversity conservation, palaeoecology, plant ecology,...
Abstract Climate change is a pervasive threat to biodiversity. While range shifts are known consequence of climate warming contributing regional community change, less about how species’ positions shift within their climatic niches. Furthermore, whether the relative importance different variables prompting such varies with changing remains unclear. Here we analysed four decades data for 1,478 species birds, mammals, butterflies, moths, plants and phytoplankton along 1,200 km high latitudinal...
Conservation of the Sumatran orangutans' (Pongo abelii) habitat is threatened by change in land use/land cover (LULCC), due to logging its native primary forest habitat, and conversion oil palm, rubber tree, coffee plantations. Frequent LULCC monitoring vital rapid conservation interventions. Due costs high-resolution satellite imagery, researchers are forced rely on cost-free sources (e.g. Landsat), those, however, provide images at a moderate-to-low resolution 15–250 m), permitting...
Abstract We present “ EU-Trees4F ”, a dataset of current and future potential distributions 67 tree species in Europe at 10 km spatial resolution. provide both climatically suitable areas occupancy the distribution expected under scenario natural dispersal for two emission scenarios (RCP 4.5 RCP 8.5) three time steps (2035, 2065, 2095). Also, we version where ranges are limited by land use. These data-driven projections were made using an ensemble model calibrated EU-Forest, comprehensive...
Although theory identifies coextinctions as a main driver of biodiversity loss, their role at the planetary scale has yet to be estimated. We subjected global model interconnected terrestrial vertebrate food webs future (2020–2100) climate and land-use changes. predict 17.6% (± 0.16% SE) average reduction local diversity globally by 2100, with increasing effect primary extinctions 184.2% 10.9% on under an intermediate emissions scenario. Communities will lose up half ecological interactions,...
Abstract Protection from direct human impacts can safeguard marine life, yet ocean warming crosses protected area boundaries. Here, we test whether protection offers resilience to heatwaves local network scales. We examine 71,269 timeseries of population abundances for 2269 reef fish species surveyed in 357 versus 747 open sites worldwide. quantify the stability abundance populations metacommunities, considering responses and functional diversity including thermal affinity different trophic...
Abstract Although many studies predict extensive future biodiversity loss and redistribution in the terrestrial realm, changes marine remain relatively unexplored. In this work, we model global shifts one of most important functional groups—ecosystem-structuring macrophytes—and substantial end-of-century change. By modelling distribution 207 brown macroalgae seagrass species at high temporal spatial resolution under different climate-change projections, estimate that by 2100, local...
Abstract The insect vector borne bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was first detected in olive trees Southern Italy 2013, and identified as the main culprit behind ‘olive quick decline syndrome’. Since then, disease has spread rapidly through Italy’s oil producing region. epidemiology of outbreak is largely unstudied, with list X. hosts vectors Europe likely incomplete, role humans play dispersal unknown. These knowledge gaps have led to management strategies based on general assumptions that...
Human induced ecosystem alterations and climate change are expected to drive several species extinction. In this context, the attention of public opinion, hence conservationists' efforts, often targeted towards having emotional, recreational and/or economical value. This tendency may result in a high number extinctions happening unnoticed. Among these, many could involve parasites. Several studies have highlighted various reasons why we should care about this, that go far beyond fact...
Climate change and human activity are dooming species at an unprecedented rate via a plethora of direct indirect, often synergic, mechanisms. Among these, primary extinctions driven by environmental could be just the tip enormous extinction iceberg. As our understanding importance ecological interactions in shaping ecosystem identity advances, it is becoming clearer how disappearance consumers following depletion their resources - process known as 'co-extinction' more likely major driver...
Abstract Complex ecological networks appear robust to primary extinctions, possibly due consumers’ tendency specialize on dependable (available and persistent) resources. However, modifications the conditions under which network has evolved might alter resource dependability. Here, we ask whether adaptation historical can increase community robustness, such robustness protect communities from collapse when change. Using artificial life simulations, first digital consumer-resource that...
Understanding species' roles in food webs requires an accurate assessment of their trophic niche. However, it is challenging to delineate potential interactions across ecosystem, and a paucity empirical information often leads inconsistent definitions guilds based on expert opinion, especially when applied hyperdiverse ecosystems. Using coral reef fishes as model group, we show that experts disagree the assignment broad for more than 20% species, which hampers comparability studies. Here,...
Recent theoretical advances in nestedness analysis have led to the introduction of several alternative metrics overcome most problems biasing use matrix 'temperature' calculated by Atmar's Nestedness Temperature Calculator. However, all currently available programs for lack user friendly appeal that has made Calculator one popular community ecology programs. The software package NeD is an intuitive open source application can be used online or locally under different operating systems. able...
Comparing the structure of presence/absence (i.e., binary) matrices with those randomized counterparts is a common practice in ecology. However, differences randomization procedures (null models) can affect results comparisons, leading matrix structural patterns to appear either "random" or not. Subjectivity choice one particular null model over another makes it often advisable compare obtained using several different approaches. Yet, available algorithms randomize binary differ...
Abstract Aim The species–area relationship ( SAR ) is often modelled by the linearized power function log S = c + z A , where species richness, area, intercept and slope. Although investigating how values vary across taxa archipelagos can provide insights into biology of this approach has many caveats. In study, we aim to clarify why s should be properly compared for same taxon among different areas, or in area. Location Mediterranean. We considered 18–46 Tyrrhenian islands (0.000024–223 km...
Binary presence–absence matrices (rows = species, columns sites) are often used to quantify patterns of species co‐occurrence, and infer possible biotic interactions from these patterns. Previous classifications co‐occurrence as nested, segregated, or modular have led contradictory results conclusions. These analyses usually do not incorporate the functional traits environmental characteristics sites, even though outcomes depend on trait expression site quality. Here we address this...
Abstract Smallholder farmers are some of the poorest and most food insecure people on Earth. Their high nutritional economic reliance home‐grown produce makes them particularly vulnerable to environmental stressors such as pollinator loss or climate change which threaten agricultural productivity. Improving smallholder agriculture in a way that is environmentally sustainable resilient key challenge 21st century. Ecological intensification, whereby ecosystem services managed increase...