Effects of biodiversity change on the rise and spread of animal infectious diseases.
Biodiversity change plays a crucial role as driver of infectious disease exposure and transmission in host species. High biodiversity levels might inhibit the transmission and maintenance of some pathogens, on the other hand, are essential to sustain complex transmission chains over the different host species and environmental component. The objective of this PhD project is to study the effect of the spontaneous recolonization of an apical predator, the wolf (Canis lupus), on the dynamics of pathogens of animal species of trophic chain. The wolf, due to its role of apex predator, can trigger multiple effects on the lower levels of the trophic chain. A lot of research has been devoted to the feeding habits of the wolf in multiple-prey environments, while the possible effect on the spread and emergence of new pathogens into the ecosystem is often overlooked. This PhD project takes advantage of a scientific collaboration of the Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences with Stelvio National Park from 2012, which allowed a collection of data on infectious diseases of red deer (Cervus elaphus), the main prey in the study area, in association with the ongoing wildlife and biodiversity data collection. These data will provide the baseline dataset for the development of this project, that will be carried out within the Park with the aim to investigate if the sanitary status of the prey can influence the predator selection and the role of the prey carcasses in the transmission of infectious diseases between carnivores and scavengers.
Bachelor’s degree in Breeding and Animal Welfare (Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Milan UNIMI, Italy).
Master’s degree in Biodiversity and biological evolution (Department of Bioscences, University of Milan UNIMI, Italy).
Master thesis on the spread of Paratberculosis within the red deer (Cervus elaphus) population of the Stelvio National Park title : “Paratuberculosis in the deer (Cervus elaphus) of the Stelvio National Park: ecological relationship of the probability of infection and contribution to the contamination of the pasture”.
One year of a scholarship for promising young people, during which I collaborated with the Stelvio National Park specializing in ecological statistical analysis and increased my knowledge of alpine wildlife, including wolves, thanks to the project LIFE WolfAlps EU.
Publications: Orcid
Supervisor Prof. Camilla Luzzago
Co-supervisor Prof. Stefania Lauzi
