Curriculum: Animal and Human Biology, and Ecology

Supervisor: Maria Cristina Follesa

Co-Supervisor: Massimiliano Bottaro

Curriculum Vitae

Ilaria graduated from the University of Naples “Federico II” in 2017 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences. She completed her internship at the Castel Volturno State Nature Reserve, where she carried out a study on bird ringing as a monitoring technique for biodiversity conservation.

In 2021, she earned a Master’s degree in Biology of Aquatic Environments and Productions, also from the University of Naples “Federico II”. Her internship took place at the Marine Ecology Laboratory under Professor Giovanni Russo, focusing on the study of soft-bottom macrozoobenthic communities for the assessment of environmental status along a coastal stretch between Pescara and the Tremiti Islands.

Following her graduation, she worked as a marine biologist at the Marine Protected Area of the Tremiti Islands, specifically at Marlin Tremiti – Laboratorio del Mare. She was involved in various projects related to marine biology and coastal and marine geomorphology, conducting sea sampling activities, monitoring Posidonia oceanica meadows, and analyzing the impact of trawl fishing on the seabeds of the protected area.

Since January 2023, she has been a research fellow at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (EMI Department, in Genoa), as part of the “STEORIMA” Project – EMFF, Measure 1.39. Her work included the analysis and comparative study of innovative and low-impact fishing methods, as well as the spatial distribution of species of conservation interest, with the aim of promoting sustainable management and protection of marine biological resources.

Between December 2023 and April 2024, she collaborated with H.OPES – Humanae Opes Foundation in the Blue Growth sector in Brussels (Belgium), where she was involved in activities such as fisheries data analysis and the development of monitoring initiatives to enhance the understanding of marine biological resources in the Somali maritime area, in accordance with the National Government’s Maritime Fisheries Masterplan.

Until October 2024, she continued as a volunteer collaborator at the same institution where she held her research fellowship. During this time, she acquired experience on interactions between fishing activities and marine megafauna of conservation concern in the Mediterranean, with a specific focus on elasmobranchs. She carried out biological data analyses on the impacts of marine fishing on sharks and rays.

Since October 2024, she has been a PhD student in “Life, Environmental and Drug Sciences” under the supervision of Professor Maria Cristina Follesa. Her doctoral project focuses on the reproductive ecology of key Mediterranean elasmobranch species, including the blue shark (Prionace glauca), the smooth-hound (Mustelus mustelus), and the common eagle ray (Myliobatis aquila). The objectives include: mapping life stages, characterizing reproductive cycles, determining maturity stages, identifying high-catch areas, and analyzing size composition, with particular attention to neonates and juveniles.

Her PhD scholarship is funded by the Conservation Project of the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station.

Research Topic

Study of the reproductive dynamics of key elasmobranch species in the Mediterranean Sea for management and conservation

Abstract

Ilaria Di Lauro's PhD project focuses on the reproductive biology of key elasmobranch species in the Mediterranean Sea. The importance of this study lies in the vulnerability of these organisms, such as sharks and rays, which face persistent threats from human activities, notably industrial fishing, which draws significant attention because of its economic implications. This vulnerability is directly aggravated by specific biological traits, including their slow growth rates, late maturity, and low reproductive rates. Understanding and analyzing their different reproductive behaviors is, therefore, crucial for acquiring vital information for their conservation. This includes the identification of breeding sites and the analysis of population growth dynamics.

The expected results of this research are potentially numerous and highly impactful. They will provide new insights into the reproductive biology (including reproductive habits and life cycles) of the species under study (depending on the availability of collected specimens), also allowing for an assessment of their current conservation status within the context of increasing anthropogenic pressure.

In addition, the research carried out will serve as reliable indicators of environmental conditions in the marine areas under study. Ultimately, the entire work will contribute significantly to the sustainable management and long-term preservation of both individual Elasmobranch species and the marine ecosystems of which they are an integral part

Publications

IRIS: https://iris.unica.it/cris/rp/rp129425

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8064-7635

Conference Contributions

> 2024
Trova F., Sinopoli M., Arpaia M., Di Lauro I., Gargano N., Amico M.R., Carbonara P., Casola E., Castriota L., Cillari T., D’Ambra R., Falautano M., Follesa M.C., Li Vorsi A., Madia M., Sperone E., Bottaro M. Preliminary observations on elasmobranch by-catch using innovative fishing gear in small scale fishery. 53° Congresso SIBM, 12–13 giugno 2024, Roma, Italia.

Gargano N., Sinopoli M., Arpaia M., Di Lauro I., Trova F., Amico M.R., Bertolino F., Bizzarri S., Carbonara P., Casola E., Console S.L., D’Ambra R., Follesa M.C., Li Vorsi A., Madia M., Marsili L., Minoia L., Consalvo I., Mojetta A.R., Rinaudo I., Sperone E., Bottaro M. 53° Congresso SIBM, 12–13 giugno 2024, Roma, Italia.

Li Vorsi A., Mazzetti M., Madia M., Amico M.R., Bizzarri S., Bottaro M., Casola E., Castriota L., Cillari T., D’Ambra R., Di Lauro I., Falautano M., Gristina M., Maggio T., Perzia P., Trova F., Sinopoli M. Forum Nazionale della Biodiversità, 20–21 maggio 2024, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italia.

> 2023
Arpaia M., Di Lauro I., Sinopoli M., Sperone E., Signore M., Bottaro M.
Citizen science: an important resource for elasmobranch conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. Conferenza Nazionale Citizen Science Italy (CSI), 24–26 novembre 2023, Pisa, Italia.

Di Lauro I., Sinopoli M., Amico M.R., Arpaia M., Gargano N., Magnifico L.J., Trova F., Li Vorsi A., Madia M., Gristina M., Livreri Console S., Rinaudo I., Bonanomi S., Riginella E., Sperone E., Bottaro M. 25th Annual Science Conference of the European Elasmobranch Association (EEA), 18–20 ottobre 2023, Brighton, Regno Unito.

Amico M.R., Sinopoli M., Li Vorsi A., Bizzarri S., Madia M., Di Lauro I., Arpaia M., Gristina M., Livreri Console S., Rinaudo I., Bonanomi S., Riginella E., Sperone E., Bottaro M. The Marine Protected Area of Egadi Island as possible kick-off for concrete management and conservation of elasmobranchs in the Mediterranean. 82° Congresso Nazionale Unione Zoologica Italiana, 19–22 settembre 2023, Palermo, Italia.

Li Vorsi A., Bottaro M., Amico M.R., Madia M., Díaz-Delgado E., Gristina M., Minoia L., Di Lauro I., Sinopoli M. Mediterranean MPAs: threat or opportunity for elasmobranch conservation. Preliminary results on a vulnerable species for the Egadi Islands. 27° Congresso Associazione Italiana di Oceanologia e Limnologia, 26–30 giugno 2023, Napoli, Italia.