Agrofood Research Hub
Research team:
Dr. Igor Daniel Weber
Dr. Andrea De Francesco
Dr. Khadidja Aicha Kada
DYNAMICS AND QUALITY OF ECOSYSTEMS
The Platform of Dynamics and Quality of Ecosystems aims at developing and applying scientific approaches to the study of the (positive and/or negative) impacts of organisms on human health and economy.
The Platform is equipped with a set of tools allowing data analysis and predictions (through the use of mathematical and statistical models) to provide relevant information for the design and the implementation of effective and sustainable strategies for the management of organisms of economic importance (e.g., plant pests), of environmental importance (e.g., pollinators) and of importance for human and animal health (e.g., vectors of disease).
RESEARCH TOPICS
Insects’ ecology
Risk analysis and management of invasive species
Ecology and management of pollinators and pollination services
Integrated management of insect pests relevant in the agricultural and environmental field
Risk analysis and risk management of vector species of plant, animal and human diseases
TOOLS
Statistical models for the analysis of experimental and field data
Models for estimating the physiological responses of poikilotherm organisms (e.g., models simulating the development of insects)
Models predicting the phenology of plant pests
Models predicting the population dynamics of plant pests
Models simulating the impacts of crop pests
Models predicting the population dynamics models of pollinators
Models supporting the management of animals and plants species (e.g., endangered species, pollinators species, etc.)
Models supporting pest risk assessment (e.g., models for simulating the entry, establishment, spread and impacts)
Trophic interaction models (predator-prey, host-parasitoid, trophic networks) and their application in agro-ecological contexts (e.g., biological control)
Continuous (e.g., reaction-diffusion models) and discrete (e.g., metapopulation models, cellular automata models) spatial dynamics models
Epidemiological and eco-epidemiological models (e.g., spatial explicit epidemiological models that include the role of environmental drivers)
Decision support tools for the effective and sustainable management of plant pests
Decision support tools for the management of vectors and diseases
PROJECTS AND PARTNERSHIPS
[2022 - 2025] Progetto Horizon: Beyond Xylella, Integrated Management Strategies for Mitigating Xylella fastidiosa impact in Europe - BeXyl. HORIZON-CL6-2021-FARM2FORK-01
[2021 - 2024]: Progetto PRIMA: Safeguarding agroecosystem’s resilience under climate change through efficient pollination and sustainable beekeeping - SafeAgroBee. PRIMA call 2020, European Union’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation
[2020 - 2022]: Progetto PSR Regione Emilia-Romagna: Sustainable Systems for Best Tomato and Maize Production - Progetto Susybest. Servizio Innovazione, Qualità, Promozione e Internazionalizzazione del Sistema Agroalimentare Direzione Generale Agricoltura, Caccia e Pesca, Regione Emilia Romagna
[2019 - 2022]: Progetto PSR Regione Lombardia: Nuovi metodi di lotta nella gestione integrata di Popillia japonica - Progetto GESPO. Bando per il finanziamento di progetti di ricerca in campo agricolo e forestale. DG Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Sistemi Verdi, Sviluppo, Innovazione e Promozione delle Produzioni e del Territorio. Regione Lombardia
[2018 - Corrente]: Contratto di Ricerca: Aggiornamenti dei modelli a supporto della gestione sostenibile delle strategie fitosanitarie contro parassiti delle colture. Contratto di ricerca tra Terremerse Soc. Coop. e Università di Brescia
[2017 - 2018]: Contratto di Ricerca: Assessment of impacts of plant pests under climate change. Contratto di ricerca tra Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Cultivated Plants e Università di Brescia
[2016 - 2017]: Contratto di Ricerca: Development of a honey-bee colony model for risk assessment - Progetto ApisRAM. European Food Safety Authority
Partnerships
University of Padua
University of Turin
University of Milan
University of Verona
Catholic University of the Sacred Heart of Piacenza
Società Entomologica Italiana
European Food Safety Authority
CNR - IMATI
Julius Kühn-Institut
Phytosanitary Service Regione Lombardia
Phytosanitary Service Emilia Romagna Region
Phytosanitary Service Regione Piemonte
Terremerse Soc. Coop
Agronica srl
Terraria srl
Community cooperative
Assofloro Lombardia
PUBLICATIONS
BF Zaitchik, D Bazzana, M Gebreyes, B Simane… - … Development Goals: The …, 2022 - Springer
This chapter addresses a critique of food–energy–water (FEW) nexus studies: that they often focus on large-scale dynamics that play out between powerful institutions at the scale of the nation, river basin, or beyond, thus marginalizing local concerns and reinforcing power imbalances in resource claims and management. Using a series of studies in Ethiopia as a platform, we draw out the importance of engaging local resource challenges and development objectives when analyzing FEW policy options and implications and propose …
I Glazer, G Santoiemma, A Battisti… - Agricultural and …, 2022 - Wiley Online Library
The recent invasion of the Japanese beetle Popillia japonica Newman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in northern Italy offered the opportunity to explore the entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) associated with the soil of hay meadows. A total of 61 sites were considered for nematode sampling, and from 17 of them (27.9%) EPNs were isolated and further characterized with molecular and morphological techniques as well as with laboratory bioassays. Two main species, Heterorhabditis bacteriophora Poinar (Rhabditida …
G Gilioli, G Sperandio, A Simonetto, M Ciampitti… - 2022 - researchsquare.com
2 of the species, with suitable areas reaching even higher latitudes, in the worst-case scenario. In 29 Europe, up to 4 generations per year were predicted. The predicted average yearly adult population 30 was 5 (±4), 17 (±5), and 139 (±22) in the best, median-, and worst- case assessment scenario, 31 respectively. Model results showed that Southern and Central Europe might be exposed to the risk of 32 transient populations, at least up to the 48th parallel north, in the worst-case scenario. Depending on 33 the latitude and on the period of …
N Bazarra, M Colturato, JR Fernández… - Applied Mathematics & …, 2022 - Springer
In this work we study from the mathematical and numerical point of view a problem arising in vector-borne plant diseases. The model is written as a nonlinear system composed of a parabolic partial differential equation for the vector abundance function and a first-order ordinary differential equation for the plant health function. An existence and uniqueness result is proved using backward finite differences, uniform estimates and passing to the limit. The regularity of the solution is also obtained. Then, using the finite element method and the …
G Gilioli, G Sperandio, A Simonetto, M Colturato… - Journal of Pest …, 2022 - Springer
We deve loped a mechanistic, stage-structured model simulating the phenology of Popillia japonica. The model simulates the influence of soil temperature on the larval diapause termination and on the development rate function of post-overwintering larvae and pupae. Model parameters are estimated based on literature evidence for pupae development and on a parameterisation process that allows estimating parameters for larval diapause termination and for the development rate function (and the related uncertainty) of post …
G Gilioli, G Sperandio, M Colturato, S Pasquali… - Biological …, 2022 - Springer
Understanding how climate change might influence the distribution and abundance of crop pests is fundamental for the development and the implementation of pest management strategies. Here we present and apply a modelling framework assessing the non-linear physiological responses of the life-history strategies of the Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata, Wiedemann) to temperature. The model is used to explore how climate change might influence the distribution and abundance of this pest in Europe. We estimated the …
N Bodino, S Demichelis, A Simonetto, S Volani… - Insects, 2021 - mdpi.com
Simple Summary Spittlebugs are the most abundant and widespread xylem-sap feeder insects in Europe. They are also the only proven vectors of the notorious bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf) in the Old World. Xf inhabits the xylem of hundreds of plant species and is the causal agent of severe diseases to several crop plants, including grapevines. Since the spread of Xf depends on insect transmission, the study of vector abundance and ecology in the vineyard is of key importance in assessing the risk of disease spread to grapevines. The …
G Gilioli, P Colli, M Colturato, P Gervasio… - Mathematical …, 2021 - Elsevier
The assessment and the management of the risks linked to insect pests can be supported by the use of physiologically-based demographic models. These models are useful in population ecology to simulate the dynamics of stage-structured populations, by means of functions (eg, development, mortality and fecundity rate functions) realistically representing the nonlinear individuals physiological responses to environmental forcing variables. Since density-dependent responses are important regulating factors in population dynamics, we …
G Schrader, R Baker, Y Baranchikov… - EPPO …, 2021 - Wiley Online Library
Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is an important component of risk analysis for plant pests and invasive alien species (IAS), and a standardized and consistent methodology has recently been developed for evaluating their impact on ecosystem services and biodiversity. This paper presents the application of this innovative methodology for ERA to Agrilus planipennis, the emerald ash borer, which causes significant mortality to Fraxinus (ash) species in forests and urban areas of North America (here: USA and Canada, excluding …
N Bodino, V Cavalieri, C Dongiovanni… - Environmental …, 2021 - academic.oup.com
The introduction of the Xylella fastidiosa Wells bacterium into Apulia (South Italy) has caused the massive dieback of olive trees, and is threatening olive production throughout the Mediterranean Region. The key vector of X. fastidiosa in Europe is the spittlebug Philaenus spumarius L. The dispersal capabilities of P. spumarius are poorly known, despite being a key parameter for the prediction of the spread of the bacterium. In this study, we have examined the dispersal of P. spumarius adults in two different agroecosystems in Italy …
S Pasquali, L Mariani, M Calvitti, R Moretti, L Ponti… - Acta tropica, 2020 - Elsevier
Abstract The Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is one of the most invasive disease vectors worldwide. The species is a competent vector of dengue, chikungunya, Zika viruses and other severe parasites and pathogens threatening human health. The capacity of this mosquito to colonize and establish in new areas (including temperate regions) is enhanced by its ability of producing diapausing eggs that survive relatively cold winters. The main drivers of population dynamics for this mosquito are water and air temperature and …
N Bodino, V Cavalieri, C Dongiovanni, E Plazio… - Scientific reports, 2019 - nature.com
Abstract Spittlebugs (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae) are the dominant xylem-sap feeders in the Mediterranean area and the only proven vectors of Xylella fastidiosa ST53, the causal agent of the olive dieback epidemic in Apulia, Italy. We have investigated the structured population phenology, abundance and seasonal movement between crops and wild plant species of both the nymphal and adult stages of different spittlebug species in olive groves. Field surveys were conducted during the 2016–2018 period in four olive orchards located in …
V Rossi, G Sperandio, T Caffi, A Simonetto, G Gilioli - Agronomy, 2019 - mdpi.com
The rational control of harmful organisms for plants (pests) forms the basis of the integrated pest management (IPM), and is fundamental for ensuring agricultural productivity while maintaining economic and environmental sustainability. The high level of complexity of the decision processes linked to IPM requires careful evaluations, both economic and environmental, considering benefits and costs associated with a management action. Plant protection models and other decision tools (DTs) have assumed a key role in supporting …
S Pasquali, C Soresina, G Gilioli - Ecological modelling, 2019 - Elsevier
Pest phenological models describe the cumulative flux of the individuals into each stage of the life cycle of a stage-structured population. Phenological models are widely used tools in pest control decision making. Despite the fact that these models do not provide information on population abundance, they share some advantages with respect to the more sophisticated and complex physiologically-based demographic models. The main advantage is that they do not require data collection to define the initial conditions of model …
G Gilioli, G Sperandio, F Hatjina, A Simonetto - Ecological Indicators, 2019 - Elsevier
Honey bees play an important role in the maintenance of both, biodiversity and food security through pollination services and also represent an important source of income for rural areas. Despite several studies and monitoring projects gathering a large amount of data on the main factors/stressors influencing honey bee colonies, there is a lack of holistic and multidimensional statistical tools integrating different aspects which define honey bee colony health. Such tools are important to support the sustainable management of honey bees. In …
G Gilioli, A Simonetto, F Hatjina, G Sperandio - IFAC-PapersOnLine, 2018 - Elsevier
Honey bee colonies are fundamental for the provision of goods and ecosystem services. Honey bees are highly influenced by environmental conditions and quality, beekeepers' management practices, socio-economic conditions and policies adopted for cropping and land use. We propose a modelling framework aiming at assessing the bee health status and forecast colony outputs. Two modelling tools are here presented:(i) a Health Status Index (HSI) exploring the consequences of abiotic, biotic drivers and beekeeping actions on bee …