XXXVII CICLO | Varini Fabrizio

My studies in the scientific field began at the Scientific Technological High School, after which I studied aerospace and mechanical engineering for almost two years between the Sapienza University of Rome and the University of Roma Tre, and then moved on to a degree in environmental sciences in 2016 and subsequently I obtained a master’s degree with honors in marine biology and ecology in 2021, both at the University of Tuscia. Afterwards I won a research grant with the CMCC and obtained the national qualification as a Biologist and 24 CFU for teaching. in the meantime I obtained diving and A.P.R. flying qualifications. and sailing and motor nautical license without limits from the coast. Finally, I won the PhD scholarship in Ecology and sustainable management of environmental resources at the Laboratory of Experimental Oceanography and Marine Ecology of the University of Tuscia in Civitavecchia where I am currently carrying out my last year of research.

My areas of research interest that reflect my past and future studies range from oceanographic instrumentation, monitoring of coastal systems to the study of marine bio-indicators and anthropogenic pollutants that influence the habitat and also put human health at risk.

The coastal marine environments are home to over 40% of Europe’s population and are often sites of industrial activities that can cause pollution. These anthropogenic impacts, coupled with climate change, can intensify the effects of pollution on marine ecosystems. Modern strategies for investigating these environments involve the use of remote sensing methods to gather data on various aspects of marine ecosystems. Special focus is given to the mapping of benthic ecosystems, which can record pollution events and respond with changes in their composition, community structure, and spectral signature. The selection of new bioindicators to assess the ecological quality of these ecosystems is crucial and involves integrating data from different spatial scales. Once target species are identified, variations in their spectral response can be interpreted to identify and quantify the impacts of pollutants. This work is part of the STOPP project, funded by ASI, and aims to map seagrasses and macroalgae species, select target species that can respond to certain pollutants, and develop a novel methodology for monitoring and mapping marine bioindicators from stratospheric platforms such as drones.

Varini, F., Madonia, A., Piermattei, V., Piazzolla, D., and Marcelli, M.: Development of innovative remote sensing techniques and tools for mapping marine bioindicators and their potential responses to specific anthropogenic pollutants, EGU General Assembly 2022, Vienna, Austria, 23–27 May 2022, EGU22-8032.

Scanu, S., Bonamano, S., Madonia, A., Piermattei, V., Resnati, A., Scagnoli, E., Varini, F., and Piazzolla, D.: Application of autonomous surveys technologies for the evaluation of habitat restoration interventions sites on coastal areas, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-12487.

Varini, F., Madonia, A., Scanu, S., and Piermattei, V.: Remote sensing techniques and tools to map marine bioindicators and their potential responses to anthropogenic pollutants: SPECTRAL SIGNATURES OF POSIDONIA OCEANICA AND CYSTOSEIRA SP. AND FIRST RESULTS, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 24–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-15790.