Research Area: Ecology - Zoology
Coordinators: Roberto Sacchi, Marco Mangiacotti, Gianluca Fea, Daniela Ghia
ERC sectors: LS8_3 Conservation biology; LS8_4 Population biology, population dynamics, population genetics; LS8_2 Biodiversity
1) Conservation of the freshwater crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes)
2) Control and management of alien crayfish
3) Reproductive biology of the freshwater crayfish
Research on the freshwater crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) aims to protect and increase natural populations through conservation projects within the Natura 2000 network. We have collected data on morphology, ecology, dispersal, and reproductive biology.
National: Museo di Storia Naturale di Milano, Università di Pisa, Università di Milano Statale, Università dell'Aquila, Università di Roma La Sapienza, Università di Genova, Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie
International: Lund University (Sweden), Dep. Ecologia Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC (Spain), CNRF - Centre d’Etudes Biologique de Chizé (France), Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée, Université Paris 13 (France), University of Jyväskylä (Finland)
1. CARIPLO (2019-23). Progetto: OLTRENATURA - Budget: 934.880 €
2. LIFE (2019-2024). Project: CLAW – Crayfish lineages conservation in north-western Apennine LIFE18 NAT/IT/000806 - Budget: 3.711.742 € (sito)
Ercoli, F., Ghia, D., Gruppuso, L., Fea, G., Bo, T. & Ruokonen, T.J. (2021). Diet and trophic niche of the invasive signal crayfish in the first invaded Italian stream ecosystem. Scientific Reports, 11, 8704
Manenti, R., Ghia, D., Fea, G., Ficetola, G.F., Padoa-Schioppa, E. & Canedoli, C. (2019). Causes and consequences of crayfish extinction: Stream connectivity, habitat changes, alien species and ecosystem services. Freswater Biology,4,284–293.
Bernini, G., Bellati, A., Ghia, D. Fea, G. Sacchi, R., Nardi, P.A., Fasola, M. & Galeotti, P. (2015). Complexity of biogeographic pattern in the endangered crayfish Austropotamobius italicus in northern Italy: molecular insights of conservation concern. Conservation Genetics 17,141-154
Ghia, D., Fea, G., Conti, A., Sacchi, R. & Nardi, P.A. 2015. Estimating age composition in Alpine native populations of Autropotamobius pallipes. Journal of Limnology,74,501-511.
Ghia, D., Fea, G., Sacchi, R., Di Renzo, G., Garozzo, P., Marrone, M., Piccoli, F., Porfirio, S., Santillo, D., Salvatore, B., Scoccia, M., Di Francesco, M., Fracassi, G., Comini, C., Pagliani, T. & Nardi P.A. (2013). Modelling Environmental Niche for the Endangered Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes Complex in Northern and Central Italy. Freshwater Crayfish 19,189-195