The main research themes focus on the study of parasites through an ecological approach aimed at investigating the host-parasite relationship and the regulation of both host and parasite populations. The underlying premises include the aggregated distribution of parasites within the host population and the existence of density-dependent phenomena. The ecological perspective relies on the development of statistical and mathematical models that allow for the study of parasite infection dynamics within the host population, as well as the population dynamics of both the host and the parasite. This not only helps to understand the intimate nature of the host-parasite association but also provides useful information for management and predictive purposes. Furthermore, studying the structure and diversity of a parasitic biocenosis through specific indices allows deductions to be made regarding the existence of interspecific interactions and the overall health status of the ecosystem to which hosts and parasites belong.
Currently, she deals with the study of helminthic communities in free-living populations of Lepus europaeus, in different environmental conditions, originating from plain areas (where agriculture is more intense and the hare is declining) and hilly areas (where the population is more stable). The main purpose is to relate environment (land use, climate, etc.), host populations (density, dynamics), and biodiversity of parasite communities, measured with various ecological indices (Shannon diversity index, Simpson’s index).
