معرفی
Donatella Serio is a Permanent Researcher in Environmental and Applied Botany (BIO/03) at the Department of Biological, Geological, and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences, University of Catania. She serves as Scientific Director of the Algology Laboratory located at Conservatorio delle Vergini al Borgo.
Her educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Biological Sciences (1988, University of Catania, 110/110 with honors) and a PhD in Environmental Sciences (1994, specializing in Phytogeography of Mediterranean Territories). She obtained her license to practice as a biologist in 1989.
Dr. Serio's research centers on marine benthic flora and vegetation dynamics, with dual emphases on:
- Longitudinal biodiversity assessment in previously studied marine areas and protected zones to evaluate conservation impacts
- Taxonomic resolution of macroalgae genera, particularly the Laurencia complex, Polysiphonia, and Ceramium, resulting in seven newly described taxa
Her work integrates floristic surveys with taxonomic clarification to address Mediterranean biodiversity changes and invasive species threats. She has authored 72 scientific publications documenting these investigations.
As an educator, she teaches Marine Systematic Botany, Marine Phytoecology, Marine Environmental Botany, Applied Marine Botany, Applied Plant Biology, and Fundamentals of Ecology. She mentors research grant trainees for "expert taxonomist" programs and supervises doctoral theses in Environmental Sciences.
Her laboratory leadership and peer-review activities for international ISI journals and ministerial research programs demonstrate her active academic engagement.
