Federica Costantini - Personal Web Page

My research interests focus on the population genetic and molecular systematic of marine invertebrates and biodiversity conservation in coastal habitats. My principal studies have mainly focused on determining the spatial scales of genetic structuring in marine invertebrates. Scales of dispersal play a fundamental role in determining the dynamics of marine populations because they define the extent of breeding units as well as the level of connectivity between them. Population size and interconnectivity of genetic breeding units are important parameters to identify for conservation purposes since small and isolated populations are vulnerable to inbreeding depression, which might reduce their evolutionary potential and increase their risk of extinction. The primary focus of my current research is the use of molecular genetic techniques in conservation and sustainable management of the overexploited Corallium rubrum. In particular, I am currently analyzing the patterns of genetic structuring among red coral populations, informative of larval dispersal capability. Moreover, I am studying molecular systematic of Mediterranean octocorals to understand the relationship between Corallium and these other species. I further have ample experience with various molecular markers (mtDNA and nuclear sequences such as ITS, and microsatellites).

Education
Education	2006- 2003-2006 1998-2001	Postdoctoral Fellow. University of Bologna, Italy PhD in Environmental Science. University of Bologna, Italy M. Sc. equivalent in Environmental Science, University of Bologna

Current and past research project	2007 2006-2007 2003-2006 2004 2003 2002 1998/2001	Station Biologique - Roscoff - France Partecipation to Marine Evolutionary & Ecological Genomics Summer Course CIRSA, University of Bologna, Italy. Post - Doctoral research fellow on the project: Larval dispersal, population genetics and evolution of Corallium rubrum, in collaboration with Prof. M Abbiati CIRSA, University of Bologna, Italy. Analysis of the genetic structure and larval dispersal in Mediterranean Corallium rubrum using nuclear markers. PhD under supervision of Prof. Marco Abbiati. Participation to the EU funded project “European Marine Genetic Biodiversity” Grice Marine Laboratory-University of Charleston- South Carolina, USA Phylogenetic analysis of the Mediterranean Octocorallia based on mitochondrial MSH sequences. In collaboration with Dr S. France :University of Bologna, Italy. Research fellow on the EU funded project “DELOS - Environmental design of low crested coastal defence structure”. Population genetics of Patella caerulea: development of microsatellite loci University of Bologna, Italy. Development of molecular markers for conservation and sustainable management of Corallium rubrum populations. MSc under supervision of Prof. Marco Abbiati.
Publications	Costantini F, Fauvelot C, Abbiati M (2007) Genetic structure of the overexploited Mediterranean Gorgonacea Corallium rubrum along the Mediterranean coasts revealed by microsatellite and ITS markers. Mol Ecol 16: 5168-5182. Costantini F, Fauvelot C, Abbiati M (2007) Fine-scale genetic structuring in Corallium rubrum (L): evidences of inbreeding and limited effective larval dispersal. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 340: 109-119 Costantini F, Abbiati M (2006) Development of microsatellite markers for the Mediterranean gorgonian coral Corallium rubrum. Mol Ecol Notes 6: 521-523 Costantini F, Tinti F, Abbiati M, (2003) Sistematica molecolare e filogenesi di Corallium rubrum. Biol Mar Medit 10(2): 73-75
Oral communications and posters	Costantini F, Abbiati M. (2006) Effective larval dispersal in Corallium rubrum (L): what are the relevant scales of genetic structuring? XVI SItE, Viterbo, 19-22 settembre 2006. Costantini F, Tinti F, Abbiati M (2004) Genetic structure of Corallium rubrum populations along the north-western Mediterranean coast. 39° EMBS, Genova, 21-24 luglio 2004. Costantini F. 2003. Dispersione larvale e differenziazione di popolazione di corallo rosso del Mediterraneo occidentale. 1° Meeting tra Dottorandi e Docenti dei Dottorati di Ricerca in Ecologia e Scienze Ambientali delle Università Italiane, Padova (PD), 10-11 aprile 2003. Costantini F., Tinti F., Abbiati M., 2002. Sistematica molecolare e filogenesi di Corallium rubrum. 33° Congresso Società Italiana Biologia Marina, Castelsardo (SS), 3-8 Giugno, 2002. Ponti M., Cagliola C., Carrera M., Colosio F., Costantini F., Abbiati M., 2002 Eterogeneità spaziale dei popolamenti di fondo roccioso della baia di Fetovaia (Isola d’Elba). 33° Congresso Società Italiana Biologia Marina, Castelsardo (SS), 3-8 Giugno 2002. Carrera M., Massardi L., Camorani E., Liverani N., Costantini F., Foschini F., Cortesi E., Cagliola C., Ponti M., Abbiati M., 2000. Descrizione quantitativa dei popolamenti subtidali di fondo roccioso del promontorio di Punta di Fetovaia (Isola d’Elba), 10° Congresso Nazionale Società Italiana di Ecologia, Pisa, Settembre 2000.
Skills	Fieldwork/diving experience (Fetovaia-Elba Island, Calafuria-Livorno, San Fruttuoso-Genova, Korcula-Croatia, Arcipelago Toscano). Molecular techniques: ample experience with various molecular techniques (extractions, PCR, electrophoresis, cloning, sequencing…), in characterizing genetic markers (microsatellites, mtDNA, ITS), on different DNA fragments analyzers (ABI, Beckman Coulter CEQ8000). Has worked in two molecular labs during the past years (Italy and Charleston-South Carolina) and with various invertebrates (corals and limpets). Experience in analyzing genetic data with various genetic softwares (ClustalX, Arlequin, Bottleneck, DnaSP, Genepop, Genetix, MEGA, PartitionML, PAUP, MRBayes, TCS, Geodis). Scientific collaborations (past and present ongoing projects): Dr. Scott France (Grice Laboratory-University of Charleston, USA), Prof. Tinti Fausto (University of Bologna, Italy), Prof. Marco Abbiati (University of Bologna, Italy). Service as reviewer: Genetics and Molecular Biology.
Awards and other qualifications	1995	1° level CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques)
	1999	2° level CMAS (Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques)



Affiliations	Italian Ecological Society (S.it.E)