Seed Ecology and Conservation

Research Topics

1) Seed Ecology and Climate Change

Seed ecology studies seeds and their interactions with the physical and biological environment, analyzing the mechanisms of maturation, dispersal, survival, dormancy, and germination. These are fundamental aspects for plant conservation, both in and outside of nature.

2) Seed Longevity in Germplasm Banks

Germplasm banks are a tool for plant conservation, capable of preserving species from extinction and providing material for research, teaching, and environmental restoration. Research focuses on seed longevity and their use in reintroductions.

Active Projects

1. A functional trait approach to study ‘losers’ and ‘winners’ of climate change in European alpine plant communities (PhD project).

2. National Biodiversity Future Center – Spoke 4 (https://www.nbfc.it/)

3. EU – LIFE: “REStoration of aQUAtic Ecosystems of protected areas from the ALps and PYRenees (LIFE RESQUE ALPYR – https://liferesquealpyr.eu/)

Completed projects (last 5 years)

1. Integrating in and ex situ conservation in the context of climate change (PhD – project)

2. Seed ecology and conservation status of wild rice species in Sri Lanka (PhD – project)

3. Seed ecological spectrum of alpine plant communities (SEEDALP)

4. PRIN 2022: Sentinel The reSponsEs of Italian mouNTaIN Ecosystems to cLimate change”

Collaborations

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew – Millennium Seed Bank (UK), University of Oviedo (Spain), University of Regensburg (Germany), University of Copenhagen (Danmark), Museo delle Scienze di Trento (MUSE), European Native Seed Conservation Network (ENSCONET), Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie, (Università di Pavia), Parco Nazionale delle Dolomiti Bellunesi, Parco Nazionale dell’Appennino Tosco Emiliano; Parco Nazionale del Gran Paradiso.