Profile

Stefania Russo graduated summa cum laude in Marine Ecology from the University of Palermo, and later obtained her Ph.D. in Earth and Marine Sciences, in collaboration with CNR, conducting extensive research on larval stages of large pelagics in the Sicilian Channel and projections of future scenarios of environmental change. He has acquired skills in the use of sampling techniques, laboratory analysis and modeling.

He is currently working as a research fellow at the Zoological Station Anton Dohrn in Naples, at the Palermo site. The main focus of the project is the study of biophysical conditions structuring the larval and juvenile stages of the fish community in the continental shelf of the Ross Sea.

Since 2016 he has been collaborating on several projects carried out by CNR, focusing on marine science and biology, specializing in the study of fish communities and natural resource analysis. Using a multidisciplinary approach, focusing on biophysical conditions affecting larval and juvenile stages of marine organisms.

In addition to ‘research activities, he has experience in teaching and science dissemination. He has served as a subject tutor at the Lumsa University of Palermo, for the subject “teaching natural sciences.” In addition, he has provided co-teaching assistance for R courses for doctoral students at the same university.

During his academic career, he has participated in science communication projects, creating multimedia videos and contributing to events promoting environmental protection. He has published scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals and participated in international conferences and workshops.

Publications

Main publications

• Di Natale, M., Catarino, A. I., Summers, S., Boyle, D., Torri, M., Nicosia, A., … & Henry, T. B. (2023). Influence of microplastic-associated biofilms on the bioavailability of a mixture of cadmium and benzo [a] pyrene by the analysis of biomarker gene expression in larval zebrafish. Ecological Indicators, 152, 110369.

• Torri M, Russo S, Falcini F, De Luca B, Colella S, Volpe G, Corrado R, Placenti F, Giaramita L, Musco M, Masullo T, Bennici C, Di Natale MV, Patti B, Lacorata G, Arculeo M and Cuttitta A (2023) Coupling Lagrangian simulation models and remote sensing to explore the environmental effect on larval growth rate: The Mediterranean case study of round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) early life stages. Front. Mar. Sci. 9:1065514. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2022.1065514.

• Di Natale, M. V., Carroccio, S., Dattilo, S., Nicosia, A., Torri, M., Bennici, C., … & Masullo, T. (2022). Polymer Aging Affects the Bioavailability of Microplastics-Associated Contaminants in Sea Urchin Embryos. Chemiosphere.

• Russo, S.; Torri, M.; Patti, B.; Musco, M.; Masullo, T.; Di Natale, M.V.; Sarà, G.; Cuttitta, A. (2022). Environmental Conditions along Tuna Larval Dispersion: Insights on the Spawning Habitat and Impact on Their Development Stages. Water , 14, 1568. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14101568.

• Cuttitta, A.; Patti, B.; Musco, M.; Masullo, T.; Placenti, F.; Quinci, E.M.; Falco, F.; Bennici, C.D.; Di Natale, M.; Pipitone, V.; Cammarata, M.; Maneiro, I.; Russo, S.; Torri, M. (2022). Inferring Population Structure from Early Life Stage: The Case of the European Anchovy in the Sicilian and Maltese Shelves. Water 14, 1427. https://doi.org/10.3390/w14091427 .

• Russo, S., Torri, M., Patti, B., Reglero, P., Álvarez-Berastegui, D., Cuttitta, A., & Sarà, G. (2021). Unveiling the Relationship Between Sea Surface Hydrographic Patterns and Tuna Larval Distribution in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Frontiers in Marine Science, 1116. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2021.708775.

• Torri, M., Pappalardo, A. M., Ferrito, V., Giannì, S., Armeri, G. M., Patti, C., … & Cuttitta, A. (2021). Signals from the deep-sea: Genetic structure, morphometric analysis, and ecological implications of Cyclothone braueri (Pisces, Gonostomatidae) early life stages in the Central Mediterranean Sea. Marine Environmental.