The activities of this Research Unit are concerned with key-aspects of behavioural ecology and behaviour of meso-large mammals (carnivores, ungulates, lagomorphs and large rodents) to identify adaptations of behaviour and ecology to environmental variations, as well as suggesting appropriate measures for the conservation/management of wildlife.
Specific research themes have been:
- Reproductive behaviour, including long-term analyses of costs and benefits of Alternative Mating Tactics.
- Adaptive mechanisms of coexistence and interspecific interactions, including competition, coexistence and predator-prey relationships.
- Foraging behaviour, including food habits, selection of food resources and feeding efficiency.
- Social behaviour, including agonistic, vigilance and parental behaviour.
- Spatial behaviour, including ranging behaviour and habitat selection.
Sandro Lovari, Senior Professor
Francesco Ferretti, Researcher
Emiliano Mori, Post-Doc
Niccolò Fattorini, PhD Student
Antonella Cotza, PhD Student
National projects:
PRIN Project 2010-2011 2010P7LFW4 'Genomica e interazione ospite-agente patogeno: un modello di studio nella prospettiva della One-Health', supported by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.
National Coordinator: Prof. S. D'Amelio, University of Rome "La Sapienza".
Other participants: University of Rome "La Sapienza"; University of Pisa; University of Turin; University of Foggia; University of Milan; University of Siena.
Participants of the Res. Unit of Behavioural Ecology, Ethology and Wildlife Management: Prof. Sandro Lovari; COFUND-Marie Curie: Dr. Francesco Ferretti
Valutazione della consistenza delle popolazioni e dello stato parassitologico del tamia siberiano in Italia. Analisi della nicchia ecologica e del rischio di future invasioni" - Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei
International projects:
Research project "Diet and competition in changing environments" - Senior Research Fellowship at Durham University (recipient: Dr. Francesco Ferretti; host: Dr. Philip A. Stephens, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Durham University).