LAURA CELESTI

LAURA CELESTI CURRICULUM VITAE

Prof. Laura Celesti (alias Laura Celesti-Grapow)
Plant Ecologist, Department of Environmental Biology Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5 - 00185 Rome laura.celesti@uniroma1.it
ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9533-6919
SSD BIOS-01/C - Botanica ambientale e applicata

Current position and academic appointments

2012–to date Associate Professor, Applied and Environmental Botany (SSD BIO/03), Sapienza University of Rome
2017–2023 National Scientific Qualification as Full Professor, 05/A1 Botany 1992 PhD in Environmental Sciences, University of Parma
She currently teaches Plant Invasion Ecology in the Master’s Degree in Environmental Restoration and Monitoring and Biological Invasions and Global Change in the Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences at the Sapienza University of Rome.

Previous positions and appointments

2016–2021 Curator of the Experimental Botanical Garden of the Sapienza University of Rome
2006 –2022 Member of the PhD School in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology
1999-2012 Researcher in Ecology (SSD BIO/07), Department of Environmental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome
1996-1998 Aggregate Professor in Applied Ecology at the University of Molise 1994-1996 Post-doc scholarship in Evolutionary Biology, Sapienza University of Rome 1993-1994 Italian National Research Institute scholarship in Plant Ecology
1988-1992 PhD scholarship in Environmental Sciences at the University of Parma 1989-1990 EU scholarship in Urban Ecology at the Technische Universität of Berlin. 1987 Degree in Biology (110/110 cum laude) at the Sapienza University of Rome.

Research activities

She has been working mainly on the ecology of vascular plants in urban and human- disturbed habitats and on plant invasions. Her research focuses on the relationship between plants and humans. In the fields of alien and invasive species and urban plant ecology she has coordinated several research projects, such as the first national project to produce a comprehensive inventory and database of the non-native flora of Italy (Celesti-Grapow et al. 2009, 2010). In her role as an expert on invasive plants, she has been a member of a number of national and international scientific boards and commissions and has been involved in many research groups and projects, such as the Global Urban Biological Invasions Consortium (GUBIC, Li et al. 2025).

SCI citations: Scopus: 6,215; Google Scholar: 9,557 H-index: Scopus: 32; Google Scholar: 40

Metrics in Web of Science Core Collection are not included here since there were recent mistakes due to the generation of multiple profiles with different combinations of my surname (e.g. Celesti GL, Grapow CL).

5 most cited papers:

Seebens et al. 2017. No saturation in the accumulation of alien species worldwide. Nature Communications 8 (Scopus: 1,806 citations)

Lambdon et al. 2008. Alien flora of Europe: Species diversity, temporal trends, geographical patterns and research needs. Preslia 80: 101-149 (Scopus: 610)

Seebens et al. 2018. Global rise in emerging alien species results from increased accessibility of new source pools, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115 (10): E2264- E2273. (Scopus: 496)

Galasso et al. 2018. An updated checklist of the vascular flora alien to Italy. Plant Biosystems 152: 556-592 (Scopus: 462)

Celesti-Grapow et al. 2009. Inventory of the non-native flora of Italy. Plant Biosystems 143: 386-430. (Scopus: 324)

Selected projects

She has coordinated and/or participated to several national and international funded research projects. Here is a selection of some of the most recent and/or most relevant research projects:

2022-to date (2025) AFTER LIFE - LIFE PonDerat LIFE 14/NAT/IT/000544. PonDerat Restoring the Pontine Archipelago ecosystem through management of rats and other invasive alien species Role: PI
2023- to date (2025) sGUBIC - Synthesizing Global Urban Biological Invasion Knowledge: Patterns, mechanisms and applications. Funded by the German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv). Role: unit member
2023–to date (2025) PREVALIEN – Enhancing Knowledge on Prevention and Early Detection of the Invasive Alien Plants of (European) Union concern in the Italian Protected Areas. PRIN Progetti Di Ricerca Di Rilevante Interesse Nazionale 2022 – Funded by NextGenerationEU. Role: unit member
2022–to date (2025) National Biodiversity Future Center (NBFC) - M4C2 - Spoke5/Urban Biodiversity – Task 1.5: Analysis of alien and invasive plant species. Role: unit member
2016-2022 LIFE PONDERAT LIFE14-NAT_IT_000544 PonDerat Restoring the Pontine Archipelago ecosystem through management of rats and other invasive alien species. Role: unit member
2020 Plant invasions on small Italian islands: monitoring emerging. Funded by Sapienza University of Rome. Role: PI
2018 Plant transformers: how the invasive species Robinia pseudoacacia drives changes in understorey diversity and soil properties in urban forest. Funded by Sapienza University of Rome. Role: PI
2016 The role of first records and introduction pathways in plant invasion in Italy. Funded by Sapienza University of Rome. Role: PI
2014-2015 Invasive alien vascular plants on the Italian territory: identification of species of greatest national importance. In: Support activities for the implementation of the National Biodiversity Strategy. Funded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment. Role: PI
2005-2008 The database of the non-native flora of Italy - II phase. Funded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment. Role: Co-PI
2005-2006 The database of the non-native flora of Italy. Funded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment. Role: Co-PI

University courses and lectures

Aggregate Professor since 1996, first at the University of Molise, and since 1999 at the Sapienza University of Rome, where she has been teaching at the Degree and Master Degree Courses of Biology, Environmental Sciences and Natural Sciences (tenured position since 2012). She currently (2022/2023) teaches Plant Invasion Ecology in the Master’s Degree in Environmental Restoration and Monitoring as well as Invasion Biology and Global Change in the Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences at the Sapienza University of Rome.
2020-to date Plant Invasion Ecology - Master’s Degree in Environmental Restoration and Monitoring, Sapienza University of Rome.
2020-to date Biological Invasions and Global Change - Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome.
2015-2020 Applied Plant Biology - Master’s Degree in Natural Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome.
2011-2020 Ecology of Synanthropic and Invasive Plants - Master’s Degree in Environmental Restoration and Monitoring, Sapienza University of Rome.
2008-2012 Plant Ecology and Environmental Restoration - Master’s Degree in Environmental Restoration and Monitoring, Sapienza University of Rome.
2003-2008 Plant Ecology - Degree in Natural Sciences (3y), Sapienza University of Rome. 2000-2003 Plant Ecology - Degree in Natural Sciences (4y), Sapienza University of Rome. 1999-2000 Environmental Impact Assessment – Degree in Biology, Sapienza University of Rome. 1996-1998 Applied Ecology – Degree in Environmental Sciences, University of Molise.

Selected participations to Board / working groups Memberships

Member of IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group http://www.issg.org/contact.htm (2011-to date)
Member of the Global Urban Biological Invasions Consortium (GUBIC, 2021-to date).
Member of the Advisory group Towards an early warning and information system for invasive alien species in Europe. European Environment Agency (EEA), Copenhagen (2007-2008)
Member of the Circeo National Park Board (2007)
Member of the Expert Group 5 Trends in alien invasive species - Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI 2010). European Environment Agency (EEA), Copenhagen (2005-2006)
Member of the Italian Commission CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (2001)

A selection of the most representative publications

Li, D., Potgieter, L. J., Aronson, M. F. J., Axmanová, I., Baiser, B., Carboni, M., Celesti-Grapow, L., Knapp, S., Kühn, I., Lacerda de Matos, A. C., Lososová, Z., Montaño-Centellas, F. A., Pyšek, P., Richardson, D. M., Trotta, L. B., Zenni, R. D., Cilliers, S. S., Clarkson, B. D., Davis, A. J. S., ... Cadotte, M. W. (2025). GUBIC: The global urban biological invasions compendium for plants. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 6, e70020. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688- 8319.70020
Potgieter, L.J., Li, D., Baiser, B., Kühn, I., Aronson, M.F.J., Carboni, M., Celesti-Grapow L., de Matos A.C.L., Lososová Z., Montaño-Centellas F.A., Pyšek P., Richardson D.M., Tsang T.P.N., Zenni R.D., and Cadotte M.W. 2024. Cities Shape the Diversity and Spread of Nonnative Species. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Evol. Syst. 55: 157–180. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-102722- 012749
Novoa, A., Vimercati, G., Brundu, G., Richardson, D. M., Schaffner, U., Brunori, A., Campagnaro, T., Canavan, S., Celesti-Grapow, L., et al. 2024. Stakeholders' views on the global guidelines for the sustainable use of non-native trees. People and Nature, 6, 1640–1654. https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10670
Botella C., Marchante H., Celesti-Grapow L., Brundu G., Geerts S., Ramirez-Albores J.E., González-Moreno P., Ritter M., Richardson D.M. 2023. 9 The Global Distribution of Acacia. In: David M. Richardson, Johannes J. Le Roux, Elizabete Marchante (eds.) Wattles: Australian Acacia Species Around the World, p.131 https://doi.org/10.1079/9781800622197.000
Lozano V., Di Febbraro M., Brundu G., Carranza M.L., Alessandrini A. et al. 2023. Plant invasion risk inside and outside protected areas: Propagule pressure, abiotic and biotic factors definitively matter. Science of The Total Environment 877 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162993
Campagnaro T, Brundu G, Burrascano S, Celesti-Grapow L, La Mantia T, Sitzia T, Badalamenti E 2022. Tree invasions in Italian forests. Forest Ecology and Management 521 12038 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120382
Sitzia, T, Iacopino S., Burrascano S., Campagnaro T., Celesti-Grapow L., Bacchetti C., Cierjacks A., Kowarik I., von der Lippe M., Trentanovi G. 2021. Exploring the biotic homogenization and diversity resistance hypotheses: The understorey of non-native and native woodland canopies in three urban areas of Europe. Divers Distrib 27:1747–1758 https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13365
Celesti-Grapow L., Ricotta C. 2020. Plant invasion as an emerging challenge for the conservation of heritage sites: the spread of ornamental trees on ancient monuments in Rome, Italy. Biological Invasions 23: 1191–1206 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02429-9
Brundu G. et al. 2020. Global guidelines for the sustainable use of non-native trees to prevent tree invasions and mitigate their negative impacts. NeoBiota 61: 65–116. https://doi.org/10.3897/neobiota.61.58380
Seebens H. et al. 2018. Global rise in emerging alien species results from accessibility of new source pools. – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115: E2264–E2273 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1719429115
Galasso G. et al. 2018. An updated checklist of the vascular flora alien to Italy. Plant Biosystems 152: 556- 592 https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2018.1441197
Seebens H. et al. 2017. No saturation in the accumulation of alien species worldwide. Nature Communications 8: 14435 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms14435
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2017. Control of invasive species for the conservation of biodiversity in Mediterranean islands. The LIFE PonDerat project in the Pontine Archipelago, Italy. Plant Biosystems 151: 795-799 https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2017.1353553
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2016. Plant invasions on small Mediterranean islands: An overview. Plant Biosystems 150: 1119–1133. https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2016.1218974
Ricotta C. et al. 2014. Geographical constraints are stronger than invasion patterns for European urban floras. PLoS ONE 9(1): e85661. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085661
La Sorte F. et al. 2014. Beta diversity of urban floras among European and non-European cities. Global Ecology and Biogeography 23, 769–779 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0085661
Stohlgren T.J. et al. 2013. Globalization Effects on Common Plant Species. In: Levin S.A. (ed.) Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, second edition, Volume 3, pp. 700-706. Waltham, MA: Academic Press.
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2013. The vascular flora of Rome. Plant Biosystems 147: 1059-1087 https://doi.org/10.1080/11263504.2013.862315
Arianoutsou M. et al. 2013. Comparative patterns of plant invasions in the Mediterranean biome. PLOS One 8(11): e79174 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0079174
Dawson W. et al. 2013 Correlations between global and regional measures of invasiveness vary with region size. NeoBiota 16: 59–80 doi: 10.3897/neobiota.16.4351
Ricotta C. et al. 2012. Phylogenetic beta diversity of native and alien species in European urban floras. Global Ecology and Biogeography 21: 751-759. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2011.00715.x Pretto F. et al. 2012. Determinants of non-native plant species richness and composition across small Mediterranean islands. Biological Invasions 14: 2559-2572 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10530-012-0252-7
Stohlgren T.J. et al. 2011. Widespread plant species: natives versus aliens in our changing world. Biological Invasions 13: 1931-1944 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10530-011-0024-9
Wilson J. et al. 2011. Risk assessment, eradication, and biological control: global efforts to limit Australia acacia invasions. Diversity and Distribution 17: 1030-1046 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472 4642.2011.00815.x
Simberloff D. et al. 2011. Non-natives: 141 scientists object. Nature 475: 36.
Kühn I. et al. 2011. Open minded and open access: introducing NeoBiota, a new peer-reviewed journal of biological invasions. NeoBiota 9: 1–12. doi: 10.3897/neobiota.9.1835
Pyšek P. et al. 2010. Contrasting patterns in the invasions of European terrestrial and freshwater habitats by alien plants, insects and vertebrates. Global Ecology and Biogeography 19: 317-331. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2009.00514.x
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2010. Non-native flora of Italy: Species distribution and threats. Plant Biosystems 144: 12-28 https://doi.org/10.1080/11263500903431870
Pretto F. et al. 2010. Influence of past land use and current human disturbance on non-native plant species on small italian islands. Plant Ecology 210: 225-239 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11258-010-9751-8
Arianoutsou M. et al. 2010. Comparing naturalized alien plants and recipient habitats across an east–west gradient in the Mediterranean Basin. Journal of Biogeography 37: 1811-1823 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2699.2010.02324.x
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2009. The inventory of the non-native flora of Italy. Plant Biosystems 143: 386-430 https://doi.org/10.1080/11263500902722824
Ricotta C. et al. 2009. Phyloecology of urban alien floras. Journal of Ecology 97: 1243-1251 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2745.2009.01548.x
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. (Eds.) 2009. Plant invasion in Italy - an overview. Palombi & Partner, Roma.
Lambdon P.W. et al. 2008. Alien flora of Europe: species diversity, temporal trends, geographical pattern and research needs. Preslia 80: 101-149
La Sorte F. et al. 2008. Distance decay of similarity among European urban floras: the impact of anthropogenic activities on β diversity. Global Ecology and Biogeography 17: 363-371 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2007.00369.x
Ricotta C., Godefroid S., Celesti-Grapow L. 2008. Common species have lower taxonomic diversity. Evidence from the urban floras of Brussels and Rome. Diversity and Distributions 14: 530-537 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1472-4642.2008.00467.x
Ricotta C., Di Nepi M., Guglietta D., Celesti-Grapow L. 2008. Exploring taxonomic filtering in urban environments. Journal of Vegetation Science 19: 229-238 https://doi.org/10.3170/2008-8-18363
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2006. Determinants of native and alien species richness in the urban flora of Rome. Diversity and Distributions 12: 490-501 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1366-9516.2006.00282.x
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2004. The role of alien and native weeds in the deterioration of archaeological remains in Italy. Weed Technology 18: 1508-1513 https://doi.org/10.1614/0890-037X(2004)0182.0.CO;2
Celesti-Grapow L. et al. 2003. Temporal niche separation of the alien flora of Rome (Italy). In: Child L.E.et al. (Eds.) Plant Invasions: Ecological Threats and Management Solutions. Backhuys Publ. Leiden, pp. 101-111
Ricotta C. et al. 2001. Topological analysis of the spatial distribution of plant species richness across the city of Rome (Italy) with the echelon approach. Landscape and Urban Planning 57: 69-76 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-2046(01)00187-6
Celesti-Grapow L., 1995. Atlante della flora di Roma. Comune di Roma, Quaderni dell'Ambiente 3. Argos Ed. Roma. 222 p.