GIULIO CAREDDU

Il corso CGESA 2025/2026 inizierà giovedì 25 Settembre 2025 alle ore 9 in Aula IV CU032 (Nuovo Edificio di Chimica V. Cagliotti).
Le lezioni proseguiranno ogni lunedì alle ore 14 in Aula B CU014 (Vecchio Edificio di Chimica S. Cannizzaro) e nei giorni di martedì e giovedì, dalle 9 alle 11 in Aula IV CU032 (Nuovo Edificio di Chimica V. Cagliotti).

programma, materiale didattico e ulteriori informazioni alla pagina e-learnig del corso 
https://elearning.uniroma1.it/course/view.php?id=18439

Giulio Careddu, who holds a PhD in Ecology, is a tenure-track researcher at the Laboratory of Trophic Ecology in the Department of Environmental Biology at Sapienza University in Rome.

He is part of the Trophic and Applied Ecology Group. His research focuses on the study of ecological niches and trophic interactions in aquatic ecosystems, the impact of alien species on native communities, the dynamics of nitrogenous nutrients and their monitoring using stable isotope analysis, and the effect of climate change on marine and freshwater polar ecosystems. He has participated in five expeditions to Antarctica and six campaigns in the Arctic. He currently teaches the “Conservation, Management and Ecology of Aquatic Systems” and “Impacts of Climate Change on Marine Biodiversity” courses for the Ecobiology Master's degree programme. He is a member of the Italian Society of Ecology (SItE), the British Ecological Society (BES) and the Nordic Society Oikos (NSO).

Keywords
aquatic science
food webs
ecological niche
biological invasions
carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes
climate change
biomonitoring
Benthic invertebrate community
fish
freshwater ecosystem

Current and previous positions:

Dec 2023 – Present. Tenure Track/Lecturer in Ecology, Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Mar 2022 – Feb 2023. Postdoctoral Fellow; Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Mar 2020 – Feb 2021. Postdoctoral Fellow; Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Dec 2017 – Nov 2018. Postdoctoral Fellow; Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
Dec 2016 – Nov 2017. Postdoctoral Fellow; Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Teaching activities and PhD supervision:

2024 – Present. Lecturer for the course “Conservation, Management and Ecology of Aquatic Systems” for the master’s degree in EcoBiology, Sapienza University of Rome.
2024 – Present. Board member of the PhD course in Ecological Systems Biology, Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
2023 – Present. Lecturer for the course “Impacts of climate change on marine biodiversity” for the master’s degree in EcoBiology, Sapienza University of Rome.
2014 to 2023 Tutoring and exercises classes, Ecology, Bachelor Degree in Biology, Italian.
2016 – Present. Supervisoring of multiple M.Sc students in data collection, data analysis and thesis writing.
2024 – Present Supervisoring of PhD student in Ecological Systems Biology, Department of Enviromental Biology, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.

Education

June 2023. National Scientific Qualification as Associate Professor in Ecology (BIO/07).
June 2016. Ph.D., Ecology and Conservation of Biological Resources. Tuscia University, Viterbo, Italy. Dissertation: Biodiversity organization and implication of nutrient inputs in aquatic systems. Advisor: Prof. Loreto Rossi.

February 2013. M.Sc., summa cum laude, EcoBiology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy. Thesis: Marine food webs in the Gaeta Gulf based on stable isotope analysis. Advisor: Prof. Loreto Rossi.
July 2010. B.Sc., Biology, EcoBiology, Sapienza, University of Rome, Italy. Thesis: Decomposition rates of vegetal organic matter along a salinity gradient.Advisor: Prof. Loreto Rossi.

National and international collaborations and networks

Participation in competitive, multidisciplinary research projects across Mediterranean, Arctic, and Antarctic ecosystems, in collaboration with institutes of the National Research Council (CNR) (IAS, ISP, IRSA), the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, and the Universities of Palermo and Salento. These activities are conducted within major national and international funding frameworks, including PRIN (Projects of Relevant National Interest), the Italian Arctic Research Programme (PRA), and the Italian Antarctic Research Programme (PNRA).
Research activities focus on trophic ecology, biogeochemical cycles, and ecosystem responses to climate change, integrating advanced analytical approaches such as stable isotope analysis, and the assessment of microplastics and trace contaminants. Contributions include the design and implementation of field campaigns, laboratory analyses, and data interpretation.
International collaborations involve partnerships with the Universidad Nacional del Altiplano and the Instituto del Mar del Perú (IMARPE), contributing to interdisciplinary projects on sustainable aquaculture and environmental impact mitigation (e.g., Lake Titicaca), as well as conservation-oriented research on key species and ecosystem indicators.

Other work experience

Extensive field and laboratory experience in ecological monitoring across polar and temperate environments, with a focus on trophic dynamics and biodiversity assessment.
Scientific coordination and field leadership within the Italian National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA), including multiple Antarctic expeditions at Mario Zucchelli Station, supporting research on marine ecosystems in the Ross Sea and Terra Nova Bay.

Technical support in ecological research, including design and implementation of sampling campaigns, laboratory protocol development, and analysis of environmental samples (sediments, aquatic vegetation, fish fauna) using stable isotope techniques (C, N) and contaminant assessment. Application of advanced data analysis methods for trophic network reconstruction and evaluation of ecosystem structure, stability, and responses to climate-driven changes.

Ongoing collaboration with Rewilding Apennines on the trophic ecology of the Eurasian griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) through stable isotope analysis.

Research collaboration with the Biotechnology and Biological Control Agency (BBCA, Rome) on trophic interactions between the giant reed (Arundo donax), the fungus (Arthrinium arundinis), and the gall midge (Lasioptera donacis) for biological control applications.

Research collaboration with Filicudi Wildlife Conservation on the trophic ecology of the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) using stable isotope analysis.
International collaboration with the Bio-Protection Research Centre (Lincoln University, New Zealand) on isotopic characterization of invertebrate communities and assessment of ecosystem invasibility in pasture systems.

Scientific organisations/Coordination of academic activities

Co-organiser of the XXXIII Conference of the Italian Society of Ecology (SitE 2024, Rome).
Co-orgainizer of different editions of the CIVIS intenational summer school “H2O Pollution: holistic approach and nature based solution” (2023, 2024, 2025, Sapienza University of Rome).

Editorial activity
Reviewer for international journals including Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, Scientific Reports, Biology, Ecological Indicators.
Guest-Editor for special issues on trophic ecology and stable isotopes in journal including Biology and Animals.

Membership of scientific societies

Member of:
Italian Society of Ecology (SItE)
British Ecological Society (BES)
Nordik Society Oikos (NSO)

Funding (current and past):

Climate change and nutrient cycling in Arctic tundra food webs: implications for Carbon sequestration.
Person months: 2024 - ongoing.
Founding organization: Sapienza Grants “Progetti di Ricerca Medi ” - Sapienza University of Rome.
Role: Principal Investigator (PI).

MILESTONE - Effects of warming and eutrophication on the structure and functioning of Arctic lake food webs: implications for carbon sink and nutrient export to marine coastal waters.
Person months: 2024 - ongoing.
Founding organization: Italian Arctic Research Program (PRA) - Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

“PY AQUARESIDUOS” Desarrollo de una alternativa eco-tecnológica para mitigar el impacto ambiental de la truchicultura intensiva en el lago Titicaca de Puno.
Person months: 2023 – 2025.
Founding organization: CONCYTEC & ProCIENCIA (Peru).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

SEDNA - Whales as ecosystem sentinels: climate-induced changes on migration and feeding behavior in a pristine habitat model- Pilot project.
Person months: 2023 – 2026.
Founding organization: Projects of Relevant National Interest (PRIN) - Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

EcoClimate - Nutrient cycling, Ecosystem functioning and Climate change in Arctic lake ecosystems.
Person months: 2022 – 2025.
Founding organization: Italian Arctic Research Program (PRA) - Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

Detecting the origin and the fate of nitrogen inputs in Lake Bracciano: stable isotope analysis and remote sensing of aquatic vegetation."
Person months: 2022 - 2024.
Founding organization: Sapienza Grants “Avvio alla Ricerca” - Sapienza University of Rome.
Role: Principal Investigator (PI).

FOOD-CLIC - Influence of sea-ice cover changes on the food web structure and key species in the Ross Sea “MPA” in a context of climatic change.
Person months: 2021 – 2023
Founding organization: National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) - Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

Fish Invasions in Inland Waters: Synergy Between Trophism, Habitat Simplification, and Overexploitation for the Success of Three Invaders in the Food Webs of Lake Bracciano.
Person months: 2020 - 2022.
Founding organization: Sapienza Grants “Avvio alla Ricerca” - Sapienza University of Rome.
Role: Principal Investigator (PI).

Sea-ice dynamics and variations of food web and contaminants transfer in Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica): a study based on stable isotope analysis and heavy metals in sympagic algae, plankton, fishes and avifauna.
Person months: 2016 – 2018
Founding organization: National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) - Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

Marine food web in Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica) during different extension of sea-ice: stable isotopes of C, N, S for determination of trophic interactions and bioconcentration of heavy metals.
Person months: 2016 – 2020
Founding organization: National Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) - Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR).
Role: Scientific Investigator.

SAMOBIS – Environmental monitoring in marine coastal areas.
Person months: 2015 – 2017
Founding organization: Provincia di Latina – Assessorato all’Ambiente.
Role: Scientific Investigator.

Publications

1. Valente, T., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Caputi, S. S., Ciaralli, L., Monfardini, E., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2025). Multi-specific assessment of microplastic ingestion by Antarctic fish from the Ross Sea (Southern Ocean). Environmental Pollution, 382, 126679.
2. Valente, T., Costantini, M. L., Ventura, D., Careddu, G., Ciaralli, L., Monfardini, E., ... & Matiddi, M. (2025). Hit the target: A new experimental method to select bioindicators of microplastic ingestion by marine fish. Environmental Research, 120940.
3. Ventura, M., Careddu, G., Sporta Caputi, S., Calizza, E., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2025). Role of body size and habitat complexity in the diet of the invasive Micropterus salmoides (Lacépède): optimal foraging theory matters. Biological Invasions, 27(1), 1-15.
4. Ventura, M., Cittadino, S., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Caputi, S. S., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2024). Intraspecific variation in the functional responses of an invasive tropical freshwater fish under increasing temperature regimes. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 28424.
5. Sporta Caputi, S., Kabala, J. P., Rossi, L., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Ventura, M., & Costantini, M. L. (2024). Individual diet variability shapes the architecture of Antarctic benthic food webs. Scientific Reports, 14(1), 12333.
6. Ventura, M., Careddu, G. (Corresponding Author), Calizza, E., Sporta Caputi, S., Argenti, E., Rossi, D., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2023). When Climate Change and Overexploitation Meet in Volcanic Lakes: The Lesson from Lake Bracciano, Rome’s Strategic Reservoir. Water, 15(10), 1959.
7. Ventura, M., Valente, T., Seminara, M., Careddu, G., Sporta Caputi, S., Calizza, E., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2023). First record of the Asian freshwater fish Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck and Schlegel, 1846) from Lake Bracciano (Central Italy). BIOINVASIONS RECORDS, 13(1), 233-240.
8. Costantini, M. L., Kabala, J. P., Sporta Caputi, S., Ventura, M., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., & Rossi, L. (2023). Biological Invasions in Fresh Waters: Micropterus salmoides, an American Fish Conquering the World. Water, 15(21), 3796.
9. Valente, T., Costantini, M. L., Careddu, G., Berto, D., Piermarini, R., Rampazzo, F., ... & Matiddi, M. (2023). Tracing the route: Using stable isotope analysis to understand microplastic pathways through the pelagic-neritic food web of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Western Mediterranean). Science of The Total Environment, 163875.
10. Maccapan D., Careddu G. (Corresponding Author), Calizza E., Sporta Caputi S., Rossi L., Costantini M.L. (2023). Effects of Sea-Ice Persistence on the Diet of Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) Chicks and the Trophic Differences between Chicks and Adults in the Ross Sea, Antarctica. Biology, 12(5), 708.
11. Careddu, G., Botti, M., Cristofaro, M., Sporta Caputi, S., Calizza, E., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2022). The Feeding Behaviour of Gall Midge Larvae and Its Implications for Biocontrol of the Giant Reed: Insights from Stable Isotope Analysis. Biology, 11(12), 1805.
12. Casella, N., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Sporta Caputi, S., Rossi, L., Belluscio, A., Ardizzone, G., Calcagnile, L., Quarta, G., D'Elia, M. & Costantini, M. L. (2022). Increasing nutrient inputs over the last 500 years in an Italian low-impacted seagrass meadow. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 174, 113298.
13. Sporta Caputi, S., Rossi, L., Pons, X., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., & Costantini, M. L. (2022). Trophic attractiveness for soil fauna of residues of Bt and near-isogenic maize: a C and N stable isotope-based study. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 329, 107868.
14. Calizza, E., Salvatori, R., Rossi, D., Pasquali, V., Careddu, G., Sporta Caputi, S., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2022). Climate-related drivers of nutrient inputs and food web structure in shallow Arctic lake ecosystems. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1-16.
15. Careddu, G., Ciucci, P., Mondovì, S., Calizza, E., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2021). Gaining insight into the assimilated diet of small bear populations by stable isotope analysis. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1- 16.
16. Calizza, E., Rossi, L., Careddu, G., Sporta Caputi, S., & Costantini, M. L. (2021). A novel approach to quantifying trophic interaction strengths and impact of invasive species in food webs. Biological Invasions, 1-15.
17. Jafari, V., Maccapan, D., Careddu, G., Sporta Caputi, S., Calizza, E., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2021). Spatial and temporal diet variability of Adélie (Pygoscelis adeliae) and Emperor (Aptenodytes forsteri) Penguin: a multi tissue stable isotope analysis. Polar Biology, 44(9), 1869-1881.
18. Calizza, E., Signa, G., Rossi, L., Vizzini, S., Careddu, G., Tramati, C. D., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2021). Trace elements and stable isotopes in penguin chicks and eggs: A baseline for monitoring the Ross Sea MPA and trophic transfer studies. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 170, 112667.
19. Irandoost, F., Agah, H., Rossi, L., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., & Costantini, M. L. (2021). Stable isotope ratios (δ13C and δ15N) and heavy metal levels in macroalgae, sediment, and benthos from the northern parts of Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 163, 111909.
20. Costantini, M. L., Agah, H., Fiorentino, F., Irandoost, F., Trujillo, F. J. L., Careddu, G., ... & Rossi, L. (2021). Nitrogen and metal pollution in the southern Caspian Sea: a multiple approach to bioassessment. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(8), 9898-9912.
21. Fiorentino, F., Lasinio, G. J., Careddu, G., Caputi, S. S., Rossi, L., Calizza, E., & Costantini, M. L. (2020). New epilithic δ15N-based analytical protocol for classifying Nitrogen impact in Lake Bracciano. Ecological Indicators, 117, 106663.
22. Calizza, E., Favero, F., Rossi, D., Careddu, G., Fiorentino, F., Caputi, S. S., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2020). Isotopic biomonitoring of N pollution in rivers embedded in complex human landscapes. Science of The Total Environment, 706, 136081.
23. Careddu, G., Carlini, N., Romano, A., Rossi. L., Calizza E., Sporta Caputi, S., Costantini, M.L. (2020). Diet composition of the Italian crested newt (Triturus carnifex) in structurally different artificial ponds based on stomach content and stable isotope analyses. Under review on Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. Manuscript ID: AQC-19-0253.
24. Sporta Caputi, S., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Fiorentino, F., Maccapan, D., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2020). Seasonal food web dynamics in the Antarctic benthos of Tethys Bay (Ross Sea): implications for biodiversity persistence under different seasonal sea-ice coverage. Frontiers in Marine Science, 7, 1046.
25. Sporta Caputi, S., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Fiorentino, F., Maccapan, D., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2020). Changing isotopic food webs of two economically important fish in Mediterranean coastal lakes with different trophic status. Applied Sciences, 10(8), 2756.
26. Calizza, E., Rossi, L., Careddu, G., Caputi, S. S., & Costantini, M. L. (2019). Species richness and vulnerability to disturbance propagation in real food webs. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-9.
27. Rossi, L., Sporta Caputi, S., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Oliverio, M., Schiaparelli, S., Costantini, M.L. (2019). Antarctic food web architecture under varying dynamics of sea ice cover. Scientific Reports 9.
28. Calizza, E., Rossi, L., Careddu, G., Sporta Caputi, S., Costantini, M.L. Impact of an invasive fish species on lake fish stocks and food web resilience. Submitted to Journal of Applied Ecology. Manuscript ID: JAPPL-2019-00688.
29. Cicala, D., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Fiorentino, F., Sporta Caputi, S., Rossi, L., Costantini, M.L. (2019) Spatial variation in the feeding strategies of Mediterranean fish: flatfish and mullet in the Gulf of Gaeta (Italy). Aquatic Ecology, in press, DOI:10.1007/s10452-019-09706-3.
30. Costantini, M. L., Carlino, P., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Cicala, D., Sporta Caputi, S., ... & Rossi, L. (2018). The role of alien fish (the centrarchid Micropterus salmoides) in lake food webs highlighted by stable isotope analysis. Freshwater Biology, 63(9), 1130-1142.
31. Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Caputi, S. S., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2018). Time-and depth-wise trophic niche shifts in Antarctic benthos. PloS one, 13(3), e0194796.
32. Rossi, L., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Rossi, D., Orlandi, L., Jona-Lasinio, G., ... & Costantini, M. L. (2018). Space-time monitoring of coastal pollution in the Gulf of Gaeta, Italy, using δ15N values of Ulva lactuca, landscape hydromorphology, and Bayesian Kriging modelling. Marine pollution bulletin, 126, 479-487.
33. Blasi, M. F., Tomassini, L., Gelippi, M., Careddu, G., Insacco, G., & Polunin, N. V. C. (2018). Assessing resource use patterns of Mediterranean loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) through stable isotope analysis. The European Zoological Journal, 85(1), 72-88.
34. Calizza, E., Costantini, M. L., Careddu, G., & Rossi, L. (2017). Effect of habitat degradation on competition, carrying capacity, and species assemblage stability. Ecology and Evolution, 7(15), 5784-5796.
35. Fiorentino, F., Cicala, D., Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Jona-Lasinio, G., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2017). Epilithon δ15N signatures indicate the origins of nitrogen loading and its seasonal dynamics in a volcanic Lake. Ecological Indicators, 79, 19-27.
36. Careddu, G., Calizza, E., Costantini, M. L., & Rossi, L. (2017). Isotopic determination of the trophic ecology of a ubiquitous key species-The crab Liocarcinus depurator (Brachyura: Portunidae). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 191, 106-114.
37. Calizza, E., Fiorentino, F., Careddu, G., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2017). Lake water quality for human use and tourism in central Italy (Rome). WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment, 216, 229-236.
38. Orlandi, L., Calizza, E., Careddu, G., Carlino, P., Costantini, M. L., & Rossi, L. (2017). The effects of nitrogen pollutants on the isotopic signal δ15N) of Ulva lactuca: microcosm experiments. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 115(1-2), 429-435.
39. Calizza, E., Costantini, M. L., Rossi, D., Pasquali, V., Careddu, G., & Rossi, L. (2016). Stable isotopes and digital elevation models to study nutrient inputs in high-Arctic lakes. Rendiconti Lincei, 27(1), 191- 199.
40. Bentivoglio, F., Calizza, E., Rossi, D., Carlino, P., Careddu, G., Rossi, L., & Costantini, M. L. (2016). Site-scale isotopic variations along a river course help localize drainage basin influence on river food webs. Hydrobiologia, 770(1), 257-272.
41. Careddu, G., Costantini, M. L., Calizza, E., Carlino, P., Bentivoglio, F., Orlandi, L., & Rossi, L. (2015). Effects of terrestrial input on macrobenthic food webs of coastal sea are detected by stable isotope analysis in Gaeta Gulf. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 154, 158-168.
42. Jona-Lasinio, G., Costantini, M. L., Calizza, E., Pollice, A., Bentivoglio, F., Orlandi, L., Careddu, G., Rossi, L. (2015). Stable isotope-based statistical tools as ecological indicator of pollution sources in Mediterranean transitional water ecosystems. Ecological indicators, 55, 23-31.