XXXVII CICLO | Pica Antonio

Antonio Pica holds a bachelor’s degree in “Forest and Environmental Sciences” from Marche Polytechnic University (Ancona) and a master’s degree from University of Padova. He is currently completing his PhD in “Ecology and Sustainable Management of Environmental Resources” at the University of Tuscia (Viterbo). His research focuses on botany and forestry, with particular attention to the ecology of wild orchids and the factors influencing their distribution. He has been involved in floristic cartography projects for Italian protected areas. He is also passionate about nature photography.

Terrestrial forest orchids in temperate ecosystems, particularly in Italy, are poorly studied. This research explores the environmental factors shaping orchid distribution in the Foreste Casentinesi National Park, a protected area in the Northern Apennines, Italy. At a broad scale, Habitat Suitability Models (HSMs) were used to predict the distribution of several threatened species under current and future climate scenarios, highlighting precipitation, temperature seasonality, and soil characteristics as critical factors. Conservation maps were developed to identify areas of habitat loss and to guide priority actions. In addition, field studies analyzed forest structure, including deadwood and old-growth features. At a finer scale, the influence of factors such as large trees, coarse woody debris, and structural complexity was assessed for certain genera (e.g., Cephalanthera, Epipactis, and Neottia) and species groups (e.g., mycoheterotrophic and rare species). These studies highlight the need for targeted forest management strategies to preserve orchid diversity, naturalness, and habitat quality, providing valuable tools for conservation planning in temperate forest ecosystems.

Pica, A., Schirone, B., Magrini, S., Laghi, P., Cianfaglione, K., & Di Filippo, A. (2025). Naturalness and Tree Composition Determine the Abundance of Rare and Threatened Orchids in Mature and Old-Growth Abies alba Forests in the Northern Apennines (Italy). Preprints. org. 

Salvaneschi, P., Pica, A., Apollonio, C., Andrisano, T., Pecci, M., Petroselli, A., & Schirone, B. (2024). Assessing the Efficiency of Two Silvicultural Approaches for Soil Erosion Mitigation Using a Novel Monitoring Apparatus. Land, 13(8), 1321. 

Pica, A., Vela, D., & Magrini, S. (2024). Forest Orchids under Future Climate Scenarios: Habitat Suitability Modelling to Inform Conservation Strategies. Plants, 13(13), 1810. 

Millesimi, I. & Pica, A. (2024). Crosses on peaks in Protected Areas: a functional mapping from the Apennines to the Italian Alps by altitude bands. Eco. mont, 16(1), 3-14.