Institutional assignments

Member of the PhD Research College in Earth and Environment Sciences and Technologies.

National Coordinator of the Working Group for Briology of the Italian Botanical Society (SBI)

Working Group for Rheology. Member of the "ECCB - European Committee for Conservation of Bryophytes".

Director of the Botanical Garden Service Centre (HBK) at the University of Cagliari.

Teaching activities

He teaches courses for the SSD BIOS-01/A (General Botany, formerly BIO/01). He supervises students in their compulsory laboratory work and in the preparation of experimental theses. and  within the Doctorate in Earth and Environmental Sciences and Technologies (STTA), which addresses issues of a floristic, phytogeographic and ecological nature concerning, in particular, the systematic group of Bryophyta, issues relating to invasive alien species (IAS), algae and marine phanerogams.

Teaching courses SSD BIOS-01/A

• General Botany Class L32 Environmental and Natural Sciences
• Botany Class L13 Biological Sciences
• Marine Botany module of Marine Biodiversity Class LM 6 Marine Bio-Ecology
• Botany Class L2 Marine Biotechnology and Aquatic Ecosystems

Organises and conducts the seminar on the Biology and Ecology of Bryophyta

Research activities

The scientific activity conducted to date has involved research on the floristic heritage of Sardinia and on the existing relationships between fungi and plants (Orchidaceae) and specific soil microfungi. Currently the research work has been implemented with the floristic, phytogeographical and ecological aspects of another systematic group, that of the Bryophyta. The object of research is the sampling and monitoring of habitats of particular interest in Sardinia such as lake and dune ecosystems but also critical ones relating to mine landfills and/or environments affected by polluent fallout. For this purpose, studies have been conducted on the use of mosses as bio-accumulators of trace heavy metals deriving from industrial activities and on the consequent damage caused by contaminants at a cellular and physiological level. Furthermore, studies have been conducted on bryophytic and lichen communities and their interactions with invasive species (Carpobrotus spp) of Sardinian dune environments in order to evaluate the impact of anthropic activity. Another object of research is studies for the implementation of methods of identification of wild plants in Sardinia based on morphological and karyological characters using modern molecular biology techniques (DNA barcoding) in collaboration with various national and international research groups. Other ongoing collaborations concern cross-taxon detection campaigns for the assessment of plant biodiversity and actions to improve knowledge on the prevention and early detection of invasive alien plants of Union interest in Italian protected areas.

She has participated in numerous research projects at international, national and local levels; all projects concluded positively with the final editing of scientific publications and dissemination. These include PRIN and LIFE projects including the European Bryophyte Red List pilot project of the European Committee for the Conservation of Bryophytes and the LIFE ASAP “Alien Species Awareness Programme” project with the aim of reducing the rate of introduction of invasive alien species (IAS) on Italian territory and mitigating their impacts. Other scientific commitments are participation in international commissions: member of the ’ OPTIMA Bryophytes Commission Meeting“and of the Project Committee ” The list of Important Bryophytes in the Mediterranean Region “(IBMR)

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4897-8836