Research: Plant phenology at different spatial and temporal scales under climate change
Plant phenology, the study of recurring biological events in relation to biotic and abiotic factors, is becoming increasingly central in climate change research. This Ph.D. project aims to analyze plant phenological dynamics across multiple spatial and temporal scales, with particular focus on the responses of forest and urban ecosystems. By integrating remote sensing data, climate databases, and in situ observations, the project seeks to identify the main environmental drivers influencing the timing, duration, and intensity of phenological cycles. The analysis will focus on two contrasting environments: European beech forests (Fagus sylvatica), which span a broad bioclimatic gradient, and the urban green areas of the city of Bologna, considered a natural laboratory for studying the effects of the urban heat island. Through statistical modeling and multivariate analysis, the project aims to understand which factors most significantly affect phenological processes in both natural and anthropogenic contexts, and which phenological stages are most sensitive to environmental variation. The expected outcomes will contribute to an integrated understanding of plant phenology, supporting the prediction of future impacts on ecosystem services and informing adaptation strategies in the face of climate change. Education and Training -07/09/2025-13/09/2025: Earth Sensing Summer School 2025, University of Padua – CIRGEO (Interdepartmental Research Center of Geomatics). During the summer school, close-range remote sensing technologies for field data collection were explored through practical activities, seminars, and peer-to-peer dissemination sessions. Conferences -28/04/2025- 30/04/2025: EGU General Assembly in Vienna. Presented a scientific poster in the Phenology session titled “Exploring the relationships between ground observations and remotely sensed hazelnut spring phenology”. The work focused on the integration of in-situ and satellite data to analyze phenological patterns in hazelnut crops. Pubblications • Bajocco, S., Di Giulio, M., Sallah, A. H. M., & Bregaglio, S. (2024). Exploring the relationships between ground observations and remotely sensed hazelnut spring phenology. International Journal of Biometeorology, 1-14. • Di Giulio, M., Lososová, Z., Carboni, M., & Ricotta, C. (2024). Measuring plant functional specialization in urban environments with Grime's CSR strategies. Applied Vegetation Science, 27(3), e12803.