Gianluca SARA'

Roles & Affiliations: Gianluca SARA' is a Full Professor of Ecology at the University of Palermo, leading the Ecology Laboratory (EEB) within the Department of Earth and Marine Sciences (DISTEM). He serves as Delegate for the National Strategy Plan Committee (2021-2027) under the Rector's Office, focusing on Bioeconomy and Environmental Sustainability. He is also a member of Italy’s National Professor Selection Committee (ASN) and an EU Expert for Blue Growth projects.

Education: PhD in 1994 from the University of Messina, specializing in bioenergetics and growth performance of marine bivalves.

Research Interests: His work centers on environmental change impacts on marine organisms, combining experimental, modeling, and review-based approaches. Key areas include climate change effects on biodiversity, fisheries/aquaculture productivity, and ecosystem service resilience. He develops trait-based frameworks using Dynamic Energy Budget theory to model ecological responses to global change. Collaborations span international networks, addressing anthropogenic stressors like microplastics, biofouling, and acoustic pollution.

Publications: Over 400 scientific articles, 161 ISI peer-reviewed (3,300 citations, H-index 33/2020). Author of a university-level Ecology textbook and numerous book chapters. Serves as Associate Editor of Aquaculture Environment Interactions and Editorial Board member of Reviews in Fisheries Science and Aquaculture.

Labs & Teams: Leads a multidisciplinary team including postdocs, PhD students, and undergraduates at the Ecology Lab, focusing on quantitative rigor and innovation in marine ecological research.