Hybridogenetic waterfrogs

We study the ecological, behavioral, genetic and evolutionary causes and consequences of hemi- clonal reproduction in hybridogenetic European waterfrogs. Our goal is to understand the mechanisms that determine the composition and dynamics of pure and mixed species populations.

Disease Ecology

Emerging infectious diseases increasingly threaten biological diversity and human health. Microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, protozoa) are often maligned as disease-causing organisms with unrestricted global distributions, and have thus received little emphasis in terms of biodiversity conservation. [...]

Phenotypic plasticity in tadpoles

We study the ecology of anti-predator responses in amphibian larvae. The goal is to understand the evolutionary basis of predator-induced plasticity, and its consequences for population divergence at the landscape level.

Conservation of Italian agile frogs

We study the consequences of small population size for neutral genetic variation and disease resistance in frogs.

Reed bunting metapopulation ecology

We study the contribution of very small populations to the overall dynamics of a metapopulation of reed buntings. The goal is to formulate general recommendations for conservation of this and other declining species.

Demography of scrub-jays

We study how anthropogenic food availability affects breeding behavior and fitness in the Florida scrub-jay, a threatened species

Insect host-parasitoid coevolution

We study the factors that allow the coexistence of obligate and cyclical parthenogenesis in aphids. What selects for and what against sexual reproduction?