♦ Soil Biology ♦
My main profession is Biologist, more precisely Soil Ecologist, at Eurac Research in Bozen/Bolzano, South Tyrol, doing research on the animals in the soil and on the soil surface, from the valley bottom to the mountain tops at 3000m a.s.l.
In Apil 2019 I successfully gained my PhD (doctorate) degree. Until today just few investigations were made on the ecosystem under our feet, the soil: this is true especially for the soils of (high) alpine mountain regions, also because of their low accessibility and harsh environmental conditions. Our research focuses on the distribution and composition patterns of soil animals of the alpine zone (around 2000m), the effects of the mountain agriculture on these animals, and how the Climate Change will affect high mountains. Earthworms, arachnids, millipedes, beetles, larvae of flies and midges are the most dominant groups that we can find in our soil samples and soil traps. After sorting them out, we continue with the identification under a stereo microscope. On the right side you find an overview to my scientific publications. Further, I take pictures of organisms and contribute to the knowledge about biodiversity around the world. Find out more on my iNaturalist profile. |
♦ Ongoing Projects ♦
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