Ricerc@Sapienza

The research activity focuses on plant ecophysiology, particularly the study of plant functional traits related to gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, leaf morphology and anatomy, and leaf water status, as well as their co-variation. The aim is to understand the mechanisms underlying the response to abiotic and biotic stress factors in natural environments and heavily anthropised areas. Specifically,

Ecophysiology of the Mediterranean plant species: this research activity involves using plant functional traits as a proxy for the response of Mediterranean plants to variations in climatic factors. The focus is on morphological traits related to processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, seed germination, growth, and water use. The aim is to analyse the strategies employed by plants to cope with increasingly intense stress factors, particularly drought and temperature stress, in both natural and urban ecosystems. Keywords: chorophyll fluorescence (direct and modulated fluorescence); gas exchange (net photosynthesis; stomatal conductance; leaf transpiration; leaf respiration); leaf anatomy; leaf morphology (morphological leaf indexes such as LMA, SLA, LDMC) leaf water status (leaf water potential, relative water content); plant functional trait covariation; photosynthetic pigment content; relationship between net photosynthesis and air temperature.

Phenotypic plasticity: this research activity involves analysing the different phenotypic expressions of functional traits within populations in relation to environmental characteristics. The objective is to quantify the extent of phenotypic plasticity in species and, therefore, analyse their capacity to adapt to new environmental conditions caused by climate change. Keywords: Acclimation; adaptation; ecotypes; growth analysis; interspecific and intraspecific variation; local adaptation; leaf phenology; plant functional trait covariation; plasticity indexes.

Forest structure: this research activity involves analysing the structural traits of forest ecosystems in order to monitor their functional state in relation to different stages of development, the availability of resources, and abiotic stress. The aim is to establish the tolerance threshold of the ecosystem to disturbances and to provide valuable insights for sustainable management, particularly in natural protected areas. Keywords: Carbon sequestration and storage; crown volume; leaf area density (LAD); leaf area index (LAI); plant biomass and productivity; plant density; plant height; plant total basal area; reforestation