PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Ecological Sciences" - First Year
The PhD students have developed their activities mainly in the field of systemic analysis at the basis of the evaluation of the health status of ecosystems, on new control strategies of Culex pipiens and related ecological implications, and on the effects of climate change on animal species living in polar areas.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Animal Biology" - First Year
The PhD students have developed their activities in various fields of investigation: identification of areas with a high biodiversity value, to inform conservation interventions and policies and predict their risk in relation to possible scenarios, identification of new key biodiversity areas in Italy , study of the ecology and conservation of bats in a context of global change, study of the genetic and morphological diversity of Sarmarutilus rubilio, a freshwater fish endemic to Italy, and characterization of airborne biocontaminants in urban and extra-urban areas of Lazio through an integrated and multidisciplinary approach aimed at protecting occupational health.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Botany" - First Year
The PhD student belonging to the Curriculum addressed issues concerning the coordination of the genes involved in lipid metabolism and, consequently, the production of oxylipins and fumonisins in Fusarium verticillioides, one of the main pathogens of corn.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Anthropology" - First Year
The research undertaken by the PhD students concerned various topics: geometric morphometry and functional biomechanics applied to the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological excavations, skeletal remains from the Phoenician colony of Mozia and traces of extramasticatory dental wear produced by work activities and use of environmental resources (animals and plants) in ancient agricultural communities.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Ecological Sciences" - Second Year
The PhD students have developed their activities mainly in the field of the evaluation of the redox properties of atmospheric particulate in relation to the biological responses of model organisms, the recovery of Mediterranean marine habitats through experimental transplants of Posidonia oceanica, the study of functional characteristics of invasive plant species and of the ecology and conservation of Mediterranean sharks through the development of Citizen Science networks.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Animal Biology" - Second Year
The PhD students were engaged in the study of macro-evolutionary trends and ecological correlations in the cranio-mandibular complex of carnivores, the ecology of wolf predation in Sweden, with particular regard to the selection of prey and the study of the composition of the diet through barcoding, and the ecology of the honey buzzard in central Italy. In addition, four students carried out their research activity within the Marie Slodowska-Curie Training Network "Inspire4Nature" on the following topics: modeling the effects of global changes on endangered species, identification of key areas for biodiversity conservation, relation between sustainable development goals (SDGs) and targets agreed by the United Nations Organization, in particular concerning biodiversity conservation, and quantitative analyzes for extinction risk assessments of IUCN Red List species.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Botany" - Second Year
The PhD students have developed their activities in various fields of investigation: identification of fungal strains with a potential in plant-growth promotion, bioprotection and bioremediation; study of the internalization mechanisms of biopolymer nanoparticles in plants and applications in the integrated control of the pathogen; pollen analysis of late-Holocene marine sediments in the central Mediterranean; postglacial dynamics of populations of European tree taxa, with particular attention to the genus Tilia; assessment of the possibility of restoring peat bog ecosystems in Southeast Asia; land degradation indicators for the assessment and monitoring of land use changes in arid areas. In addition, three students have carried out their research activity within the European Joint Doctorate in ARchaeological and Cultural Heritage MATerials Sciences (ED-ARCHMAT), EU Training Network Marie Slodowska-Curie, on the following topics: Botanical and chemical study of residues of meals and ointments found in archaeological funerary contexts; analysis of organic residues in archaeological amphorae; multidisciplinary study of agricultural practices and environmental changes in Phoenician-Punic settlements in the western Mediterranean between the eighth and fifth centuries BC
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Anthropology" - Second Year
The PhD students dealt with research issues related to the differences in the consumption of honey in African human populations at the metabolic, genetic and cultural level, to food restrictions in pregnancy (such as taboos) in relation to the evolution of subsistence strategies and human childbirth, and to the social dynamics of the communities of central and southern Italy of the Eneolithic period through analysis of stable isotopes.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Ecological Sciences" - Third Year
The PhD students dealt with research topics related to: floristic diversity and ecosystem services in semi-natural mountain grasslands in relation to pastoral management and European agro-environmental policies; assessment of ecosystem regulatory services in urban areas: green infrastructures, removal of atmospheric pollutants and enhancement of nature-friendly solutions for the improvement of environmental quality; Antarctic trophic networks and indicators of environmental status in relation to climate change, through the study of stable isotopes.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Animal Biology" - Third Year
The PhD students developed their activities mainly in the field of phylogeny and evolution of Diptera (Bengaliidae and Rhiniidae, Rhinophoridae and Polleniidae), through morphological and molecular data. This research is co-funded by the University of Copenhagen (Denmark). In addition, studies have been carried out on the intraspecific phenotypic variation of Podarcis siculus and on the migration of large herbivores in relation to the anthropic impact and natural changes of the ecosystem.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Botany" - Third Year
Research was mainly addressed towards: the effects of climate change on the distribution of the main alien plant species in South Africa; the diversity of plant communities above the tree limit; the diversity of traditional and modern durum wheat varieties and management practices in the reduction of mycotoxin contamination; the role of bacterial oxylipins in the etiology and progression of the Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDR) caused by Xylella fastidiosa.
PhD students belonging to the Curriculum "Anthropology" - Third Year
The research topics addressed included paleobiology, living conditions, social models and ritual practices in post-paleolithic human populations.