Research fellow
Integrative Marine Ecology Department

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn
Villa Comunale
80121 Napoli - Italia
Tel.: +39 339 7197354
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Curriculum Vitae

Short bio 

I graduated in Biological Sciences from the Federico II University of Naples (2018), and earned a master's degree in Marine Biology and Ecology from the University of Genoa (2020). I began my research at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn (SZN) with two fellowships: the first (2021-2022) focused on technical support in physical, chemical, and biological oceanography; the second (2022) dedicated to the analysis of marine food webs and planktonic functional groups.

Between 2022 and 2025, I completed a PhD in Marine Sciences and Technologies (co-funded by SZN and the University of Genoa), developing new tools for the study of food webs within the MSFD (Descriptor 4).
I have participated in several oceanographic campaigns, such as in the North Sea as part of the JPI Ocean project (R/V Belgica, 2021) or the XL Antarctic Expedition (R/V Laura Bassi, 2025). I currently hold a postdoctoral research position at the Stazione Zoologica di Napoli.

Research Interests

My research focuses on the study of planktonic organisms and their complex ecological dynamics, which are fundamental to the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. I investigate the complex trophic relationships involving plankton through integrated approaches: on the one hand, I develop mathematical models to analyze ecological interactions and define indicators useful for sustainable ecosystem management, with implications for socio-political policy; on the other, I employ advanced molecular methodologies, such as environmental DNA (eDNA), to detect marine biodiversity and understand its structure and functional role within the food web. My work aims to clarify how environmental factors and physical processes, such as marine currents, influence the distribution and spatial-temporal structural changes of planktonic communities and associated fish species. Furthermore, these factors contribute to changes in the structure of food webs, impacting trophic interactions and the overall balance of marine ecosystems.
I have participated in several oceanographic expeditions along the Mediterranean coast, in the North Sea, and in polar regions such as Antarctica, contributing to data collection during scientific cruises and environmental monitoring activities. Alongside my research, I cultivate a deep passion for science communication.

Selected Publications

Ferretti M., Franzitta G., Furia M., Gallia R., Manfredonia A., Margiotta F., Montalbano A., Passarelli A., Panzuto R., Percopo I., Rando V., Riccio F., Saggiomo M., Terlizzi F., Tramontano F., Vargiu M. (2021). Dredging works on the seabed of the commercial port of Salerno and the entrance channel. Sediment disposal at sea. Environmental monitoring during construction. Ministero dell’Ambiente e della Sicurezza energetica, pp 1-97
Vassallo, P.; Bellardini, D.; Castellano, M.; Dapueto, G.; Povero, P. Structure and Functionality of the Mesozooplankton Community in a Coastal Marine Environment: Portofino Marine Protected Area (Liguria). Diversity 2022, 14, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14010019

Russo, L., Bellardini, D., Zampicinini, G., Jordán, F., Congestri, R., & D’Alelio, D. (2023). From metabarcoding time series to plankton food webs: The hidden role of trophic hierarchy in providing ecological resilience. Marine Ecology, 44, e12733. https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12733

Russo L., Bellardini D., Steinberg D.K., Congestri R., Lomas M.W., D’Alelio D. Long-term oscillations in the normalized biomass-size spectrum reveal the impact of oligotrophication on zooplankton trophic structure in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. Marine Environmental Research, Volume 193, 2024, 106295, ISSN 0141-1136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106295.

Bellardini, D.; Vannini, J.; Russo, L.; Buondonno, A.; Saggiomo, M.; Vassallo, P.; Mazzocchi, M.G.; D’Alelio, D.; Licandro, P. The Spatial Distribution of Copepod Functional Traits in a Highly Anthropized Mediterranean Coastal Marine Region. Environments 2024, 11, 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060113

Bellardini D., Russo L., Di Tuccio V., De Luca D., Del Gaizo G., Zampicinini G., Kokoszka F., Botte V., Colloca F., Conversano F., De Luca P., Iudicone D., Margiotta F., Saviano S., Vassallo P., Cianelli D., D’Alelio D. Spatiotemporal changes of pelagic food webs investigated by environmental DNA metabarcoding and connectivity analysis, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 379 (2024) 20230178. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2023.0178.

Campese, L.; Russo, L.; Abagnale, M.; Alberti, A.; Bachi, G.; Balestra, C.; Bellardini, D.; Buondonno, A.; Cardini, U.; Carotenuto, Y.; et al. The NEREA Augmented Observatory: An integrative approach to marine coastal ecology. Sci. Data 2024, 11, 989. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03787-y

Russo, L., Bellardini, D., De Luca, D. et al. Zoom into a twilight zone: a biodiversity survey of the Dohrn Canyon (Mediterranean sea) through environmental DNA metabarcoding. Community Ecology 25, 403–411 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42974-024-00207-4

Russo, L., Loschi, M., Bellardini, D., Congestri, R., Lomas, M. W., Libralato, S., & D’Alelio, D. (2025). Food web analysis shows an exacerbated dependence of zooplankton on detritus in oligotrophic systems due to ocean warming. Progress in Oceanography, 231, 103389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2024.103389

Russo, L.; Bellardini, D.; Casotti, R.; Licandro, P.; Mazzocchi, M.G.; Murillas, A.; Percopo, I.; Sarno, D.; D’Alelio, D. The Spatiotemporal Variability of Marine Plankton Ecosystem Services at the Regional Scale: A Combined Approach Using a Systematic Review and Network Analysis. Sustainability 2025, 17, 1182. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031182

Bosso, L., Saviano, S., Abagnale, M., Bellardini D., Bolinesi F. et al. GIS-based integration of marine data for assessment and management of a highly anthropized coastal area. Sci Rep 15, 16200 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00206-z

Vassallo, P.; Bellardini, D.; Castellano, M.; Dapueto, G.; Povero, P. Structure and Functionality of the Mesozooplankton Community in a Coastal Marine Environment: Portofino Marine Protected Area (Liguria). Diversity 2022, 14, 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14010019

Russo, L., Bellardini, D., Zampicinini, G., Jordán, F., Congestri, R., & D’Alelio, D. (2023). From metabarcoding time series to plankton food webs: The hidden role of trophic hierarchy in providing ecological resilience. Marine Ecology, 44, e12733. https://doi.org/10.1111/maec.12733

Russo L., Bellardini D., Steinberg D.K., Congestri R., Lomas M.W., D’Alelio D. Long-term oscillations in the normalized biomass-size spectrum reveal the impact of oligotrophication on zooplankton trophic structure in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. Marine Environmental Research, Volume 193, 2024, 106295, ISSN 0141-1136, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106295.

Bellardini, D.; Vannini, J.; Russo, L.; Buondonno, A.; Saggiomo, M.; Vassallo, P.; Mazzocchi, M.G.; D’Alelio, D.; Licandro, P. The Spatial Distribution of Copepod Functional Traits in a Highly Anthropized Mediterranean Coastal Marine Region. Environments 2024, 11, 113. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11060113

Bellardini D., Russo L., Di Tuccio V., De Luca D., Del Gaizo G., Zampicinini G., Kokoszka F., Botte V., Colloca F., Conversano F., De Luca P., Iudicone D., Margiotta F., Saviano S., Vassallo P., Cianelli D., D’Alelio D. Spatiotemporal changes of pelagic food webs investigated by environmental DNA metabarcoding and connectivity analysis, Philos. Trans. R. Soc. B Biol. Sci. 379 (2024) 20230178. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2023.0178.

Campese, L.; Russo, L.; Abagnale, M.; Alberti, A.; Bachi, G.; Balestra, C.; Bellardini, D.; Buondonno, A.; Cardini, U.; Carotenuto, Y.; et al. The NEREA Augmented Observatory: An integrative approach to marine coastal ecology. Sci. Data 2024, 11, 989. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03787-y

Russo, L., Bellardini, D., De Luca, D. et al. Zoom into a twilight zone: a biodiversity survey of the Dohrn Canyon (Mediterranean sea) through environmental DNA metabarcoding. Community Ecology 25, 403–411 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42974-024-00207-4

Russo, L., Loschi, M., Bellardini, D., Congestri, R., Lomas, M. W., Libralato, S., & D’Alelio, D. (2025). Food web analysis shows an exacerbated dependence of zooplankton on detritus in oligotrophic systems due to ocean warming. Progress in Oceanography, 231, 103389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2024.103389

Russo, L.; Bellardini, D.; Casotti, R.; Licandro, P.; Mazzocchi, M.G.; Murillas, A.; Percopo, I.; Sarno, D.; D’Alelio, D. The Spatiotemporal Variability of Marine Plankton Ecosystem Services at the Regional Scale: A Combined Approach Using a Systematic Review and Network Analysis. Sustainability 2025, 17, 1182. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031182

Bosso, L., Saviano, S., Abagnale, M., Bellardini D., Bolinesi F. et al. GIS-based integration of marine data for assessment and management of a highly anthropized coastal area. Sci Rep 15, 16200 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-00206-z

Bellardini, D., Russo, L., Abagnale, M., Botte, V., Buondonno, A., Casotti, R., Del Gaizo G.,Di Capua I., Furia M., Iudicone D., Kokoszka F., Margiotta F., Mazzocchi M.G., Saggiomo M., Sarno D., Saviano S., Percopo I., Tramontin E., Trano A.C., Vannini J., Cianelli D., Licandro P, Vassallo P. and D'Alelio, D. (2025). Plankton food webs as indicators of the ecosystem status to support the Marine Strategy Framework Directive: a case study from Campania region (Italy). Environmental and Sustainability Indicators, 100763. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indic.2025.100763

Bellardini, D., De Luca, D., Russo, L., Calicchio, R., Castracani, C., Luca, P. D., Capua, I. D., Massimi, F., Raggio, A., Riccardi, A., Vannini, J., Attanasio, G., Vassallo, P., Sandulli, R., Signore, M., Dattolo, E., & D′Alelio, D. (2025). Marine Biodiversity in a Coastal Periphery Revealed by a Community-Based Monitoring Approach Integrating Citizen Science and Environmental DNA Metabarcoding. Environments, 12(12), 474. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments12120474

Technical Reports

Abagnale M., Annona I., Bellardini D., Buondonno A., Cannavacciuolo M., Conversano F., Caruso V., Di Capua I., Di Nuzzo F., Fasciglione P., Ferretti M., Franzitta G., Furia M., Gallia R., Manfredonia A., Margiotta F., Montalbano A., Passarelli A., Panzuto R., Percopo I., Rando V., Riccio F., Saggiomo M., Terlizzi F., Tramontano F., Vargiu M. (2021). Lavori di dragaggio dei fondali del porto commerciale di Salerno e del canale d’ingresso. Immersione a mare dei sedimenti. Monitoraggio ambientale corso d’opera, pp 1-97