Research Group Francesco Rovero Presentation

Presentation

We established our group in 2019 when Francesco moved to the University of Florence after 10 years as head of the Tropical Biodiversity research group at MUSE – Science Museum of Trento. Although we maintain a long-term involvement in the Tanzania’s high biodiversity forests, we also work in other areas, from the Alps and Apennine in Italy to the Altai-Gobi Mountains in Mongolia.

Our research aims to address scientific questions at the interface of population and community ecology, macroecology, and conservation biology. We combine field observation with species trait data and environmental / anthropogenic variables, and use state-of-the-art statistical modelling to analyse the data. Most of our experience is on mammals, but we also are keen to study broader forest ecosystems, especially tropical ones, and how defaunation affects them.

We believe that applied ecological research is critical to reverse biodiversity loss in the Anthropocene. Hence, our involvement often stretches beyond pure research, by conducting or facilitating standardized monitoring programmes, promoting capacity building and higher education of students and professionals, and engaging with governments and conservation non-governmental organisations to support on-the-ground conservation schemes.