Maddalena Ranucci

PhD Student

I'm originally from Italy. I have a bachelor from the University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, and a master from Sapienza Università di Roma.

I am an enthusiastic and self-motivated young researcher interested in behavior, cognition, and conservation.   I’m working on the variation in partner-choice cognition in cleaning gobies. These fishes provide an essential function for the ecosystem dynamics of coral reefs through their cleaning service; for this reason, investigating their behavior and understanding their role in the ecosystem is an important starting point for preserving them.  In my opinion, understanding the mechanism behind the behavior of animals is a factor to keep in mind during the implementation of conservation policies necessary to preserve ecosystems and their species. In addition to preserving genetic diversity, it is essential to maintain cultural diversity within animal populations as a reserve for their resilience and adaptation.  

I love reading books, hiking, and eating Italian food in my free time.

P.S. My weakness is dinosaurs. I really love them.   

E-mail: mranucci  [at] ciencias.ulisboa.pt

Publications

M Ranucci, M Court, BP Pereira, D Romeo, JR Paula (2024) Cleaner gobies can solve a biological market task when the correct cue is larger. Frontiers Ecology & Evolution 12:1375835. https://doi.org/10.3389/fevo.2024.1375835  

B. P. Pereira, S. Neff, F. O. Borges, E. Otjacques, G. Barreto, M. Ranucci, M. Court, R. Rosa, T. Repolho, J. R. Paula (2024) Transgenerational exposure to deoxygenation and warming disrupts mate-detection in Gammarus locusta.  Behavioral Ecology, 35, 1, arad102, https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/arad102 

M. Court, M. Macau, M. Ranucci, T. Repolho, V. M. Lopes, R. Rosa, J.R. Paula (2023) Oxygen loss compromises the survival and cognition of a coastal cephalopod. bioRxiv 2023.06.03.543560; DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.03.543560

Ranucci, M., Perez, M., Lombardi, D. and Vitale, M., (2022). Is the Current Modelling of Litter Decomposition Rates Reliable under Limiting Environmental Conditions Induced by Ongoing Climate Change?. Soil Systems, 6(4), p.81.  


Maddalena's work is supported through a University of Hong Kong Pos-Graduate Fellowship.