Curriculum Prof. Antonio Pusceddu (March 2024)

Current positions. President of the Italian Society of Ecology (2023-2024), Board Member of the International Assoctiation for Ecology (INTECOL); Delegate of the Rector in the Working Group "Climate Change" within the Network of the Italian Universities for the Sustainable Development, Representative of UNICA in the Directive Council of the Italian Interuniversity Consortium for Marine Sciences, Coordinator of the Biology School at the Università of Cagliari  (since July 2018), Full Professor of Ecology at the University of Cagliari (since December 2017), Member of the Board of Teachers of the PhD school in Life, Environmental and Drug Sciences of the Cagliari University. Member of the Board of Teachers of the National PhD School in Sustainable Development and Climate Change.

Formation and early career. Associate Professor of Ecology at the University of Cagliari (October 2015-December 2017), Associate Professor of Ecology at the Polytechnic University of Marche (2008-2015), Researcher in Ecology (Polytechnic University of Marche; 1998-2008), Research Grant from CoNISMa (1997), PhD in Marine Environmental Sciences (University of Genoa, 1997), Research Grant from the Banco di Sardegna (1991), Degree in Biology (University of Cagliari, 1991).

Previous assignments and awards. President of the Italian Society of Ecology (2023-2024), Member of the Directive Council of the Italian Society of Ecology (2017-2022). Vice-President (2012-2015) and President (2016-2019) of the Italian Association of Limnology and Oceanography (AIOL), AIOL Representative in the Board of the Italian Federation of Nature and Environmental Sciences (FISNA; 2016-2019), Vice-coordinator of the first-level On Line Master in Marine Biology provided by the Polytechnic University of Marche (2013-2015), Member of the Board of Tutors of the PhD School in Science of the Polytechnic University of Marche (Curriculum in Marine Biology and Ecology, 2009-2015), Member of the team awarded of the 2010 Biology Prize (BMC Biology 2010, 8:30), Secretary of the Italian Association of Limnology and Oceanography (2007-2011), Delegate of the Italian Association of Oceanography and Limnology at the European Federation of Marine Science and Technology Societies (2006-2007), Member of the Technical Board of the ECOGOVERNANCE project, funded by the European Community under the IPA-Adriatic Scheme (2006), Award of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Ancona for the original contribution to the knowledge of the processes of accumulation and diagenesis of organic matter in deep-sea sediments in relation to climate change (Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 2001, 16: 511-516), Scientific Tutor of the “Marine Environment Plan” nominated by the Technical Committee for Depressed Areas of the Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research of Italy (2000-2005).

Research Projects. Currently, AP is national coordinator of: 1) project “Marine habitats restoration in a climate change-impaired Mediterranean Sea” (MAHRES) funded within the Italian Projects of National Interests program (PRIN 2017) and 2) project "OCean Acidification effects on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning relationships across gradients of habitat complexity [OCABEF]" funded within the Italian Projects of National Interests program (PRIN 2022a). AP is currently participating to the following projects: 1) BelOw-ground pRocesses In Seagrass meadows: responses and adaptation to climate change (BORIS) funded within the Italian National Interests program PRIN 2022 PNRR), 2) eINS - Ecosystem of Innovation for Next Generation Sardinia funded within the Italian National Plan of Recovery and Resilience  (PNRR) – MISSION 4 COMPONENT 2, Investement 1.5, "Creation and enforcement of Innovation Ecosystems"; 3) Microplastics Effects on Microbial BiodiveRsity ANd Ecosystem functioning: from knowledge to possible solutions (MEMBRANE) funded by the Fondazione di Sardegna (FdS, Call 2021).

In addition, AP participated to the project “Effects of climate environmental shifts on species, communities and ecosystems” funded by the Fondazione di Sardegna (2019-2021), took part as responsible of a Local Research Unit in the project "BEnthic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of the Deep ROss SEa in a changing Southern Ocean (BEDROSE)", as Associate Partner in the project "ExploRing SiciLian CAnyoN Dynamics (ISLAND)" in collaboration with the National Oceanographic Centre in Southampton, UK (funded under the EUROFLEETS II project of the EU, FP7), and in the project "Assesment of Bottom-trawling Impacts in DEep-sea Sediments (ABIDES)" in collaboration with ICM-CSIC (funded by the Spanish Government), has coordinated the project  “Impact of Invasive Alien Species on Sardinian ecosystems” funded by the Fondazione di Sardegna and the Regione Sardegna (LR 7/2007) (2017-2019). Since 1994, Antonio Pusceddu has been responsible for, coordinated or participated in several national research programs funded by local bodies (eg, Gabicce Municipality, Marche Region, Ancona’s Chamber of Commerce), and several national institutions (Italian Institute for the study of the Environment, Italian National Antarctic Program, Italian Ministry of University and Research, Italian Ministry of the Environment). AP participated in numerous international research projects: HERMIONE: Hotspot Ecosystem Research and Man’s Impact on European Seas EU (FPVII-EU), EcoGovernance: Ecological foundations for the governance of the Adriatic coastal space: ecology, monitoring and management of transitional aquatic ecosystems (IPA-Adriatic); SESAME, Southern European Seas: Assessing and Modeling Ecosystem changes, (FPVI-EU), HERMES: Hot-spot ecosystem research on the margins of European Seas, EU (EU-FPVI); CORALZOO: The development of an SME-friendly European breeding program for hard corals (FPVI-EU); REEFRES: Developing Ubiquitous Restoration Practices for Indo-Pacific Coral Reefs, (FPVI-EU); MEDVEG: Effects of nutrient release from Mediterranean fish farms on benthic vegetation in coastal ecosystems (FPV-EU), INTERPOL, Impact of natural and trawling events on Resuspension, dispersion of pollutants and fairies (FPV-EU), ADIOS, Atmospheric Deposition and Impact of pollutants, key elements and nutrients on the Open Mediterranean Sea (FPV- EU), Proyecto Islas Oceánicas Y Costeras Central de Chile (IOCC) in cooperation with the University of Genova and the University of Concepcion (Chile); BENGAL: High Resolution Temporal and spatial study of the benthic biology and Geochemistry of a north-eastern Atlantic abyssal Locality (FPIV-EU); CINCS: Pelagic-Benthic Coupling in the oligotrophic Cretan Sea (FPIII-EU).

Research interests and scientometric scores. AP has carried out his research in several marine ecosystems, from transitional aquatic ecosystems to the oceans’ hadal depths.  His main research interest deals with the trophodynamics of the benthic microbial loop (including prokaryotes and meiofauna) and ascertaining how they vary in response to different typologies of anthropogenic or natural disturb, including climate change. AP has authored or co-authored 156 peer reviewed articles and currently scores a Hirsch factor of 48 [55], and > 6800 [9600] citations (source: SCOPUS[Scholar], March 2024).

Associations. Member of the Italian Association of Limnology and Oceanography (AIOL, 1994), Italian Society of Ecology (SITE, 2000).

Editorial positions and assignments. AP is member of the Editorial Board of Marine Environmental Research (Elsevier), Chemistry and Ecology (Taylor & Francis, UK), Marine Ecology (Wiley). AP served as a Referee for more than 40 scientific journals including (among the others): Aquaculture, Aquaculture Environment Interactions, Aquatic Microbial Ecology, Biogeosciences, Deep Sea Research I, Ecological Indicators , Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science, Hydrobiologia, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, Journal of Marine Biology Association UK, Journal of Marine Systems, Journal of Sea Research, Marine Ecology Progress Series, Marine Environmental Research, Microbial Ecology, Organic Geochemistry, Plos One, Polar Biology, Progress in Oceanography, Water Research, Aquaculture Research, Scientific Reports.

Teaching. AP currently teaches Marine Biology, Environmental Sustainability and Ecosystem Based Management at the University of Cagliari, and held over time the teachings of Ecology, Analysis of Ecological Systems, Conservation of Nature and its resources, Environmental Monitoring, Marine Ecology Laboratory and Operational Oceanography at the Polytechnic University of Marche (Ancona, Italy, 2000-2015). AP has given seminars in several Academic Masters (Eco-governance of Aquatic Transitional Environments, University of Salento; Integrated Management of the Coastal Zone, University of Bologna: Fisheries Economy, University of Ancona) and seminars at the Universities of Urbino, Genoa, and Bari.

Invited seminars and lectures. AP has been invited as Speaker at the External Expert Workshop on Sediment Dynamics & Geohazards, as part of Sub-Sea & The Deep Seafloor Frontier Initiative (DS3F), Coordination Support Action funded under the 7th Framework Programme of the European Community (February 2011); as Invited Speaker at IFREMER and IRD in Noumea (New Caledonie); Lecturer at the Summer School "Environmental issues of marine fish farming in the Mediterranean", Ph.D. course at the Hellenic Center of Marine Research in Crete (2004);

Evaluator activities.  AP has been evaluator of national and international research projects, Commissioner for granting the title of PhD at the Universities of Salento, Trieste, Bologna, Bari, Firenze, Pisa, Urbino, Ancona, Commissioner for places to Researchers or Associate Professors of Ecology at the Universities of Genoa, Palermo, Camerino, Napoli Federico II, Commissioner for PhD positions at the Polytechnic University of Marche and University of Palermo, and Commissioner for confirmation in the role of Researchers in Ecology, Italy (2010-2011; 2014-2015), Commissioner for places of technician and/or researcher at the Zoological Station in Naples and the Polytechnic University of Marche.