Francesco Ferretti

Francesco Ferretti is Associate Professor at the Department of Life Sciences, University of Siena. His research focuses on behavioural ecology and conservation biology of large vertebrates, particularly ungulates and mammalian carnivores.

• Member of research group with collaborators: Lucia Burrini (Teaching/Research staff), Sandro Lovari (Teaching/Research staff), Niccolò Fattorini (Assistant Professor)
• Supervisor of 6 PhD students including Lorenzo Lazzeri and Valerio Orazi
• Teaching activities include courses on Conservation Biology, Ethology, and Wildlife Ecology

Research interests include:

• Adaptive coexistence mechanisms in multi-species systems (competition, facilitation, predator-prey relationships)
• Behavior of gregarious foragers (aggressive behavior, vigilance, foraging strategies)
• Ecosystem impacts of ungulates and mitigation of human-wildlife conflicts

Recent publications analyze cross-species interactions in European landscapes, prey-predator dynamics in Mediterranean ecosystems, and behavioral responses to environmental changes. Collaborative work spans continents and involves trophic ecology and conservation strategies.

Research assistants working with him include Orlando Tomassini, Antonella Cotza, and Giada Pacini.