Senior Researcher
Department of Marine Animal Conservation and Public Engagement

Tel. +39 081 5833612
Fax: +39 081 7641294
e-mail sandra.hochscheid(at)szn.it

Curriculum Vitae

Research interests

My research is inspired by an interest in how marine animals make use of the three dimensional space and how they behave in relation to their physiological capacity and the surrounding environmental conditions. In particular, I am intrigued by the physiological adaptations of air-breathing marine animals and how they organize their underwater activities around the necessity to return to the surface to breathe. For this scope I have been using a wide range of telemetry devices including satellite relay data loggers and archival tags with an array of environmental and movement sensors. Most of my studies are carried out on both captive and free-ranging sea turtles, which are unique in the combination of a complex life history, ectothermy, and migratory behaviour. Unfortunately, they face numerous threats during their long lives and often die from interactions with human activities. Hence, I strive to focus my research on those cryptic aspects of sea turtle biology that can serve the cause of knowledge-based conservation.
In addition, I am generally interested in applying knowledge gained from scientific studies on physiological mechanisms and behavioural patterns of marine animals to improve their management and conservation and to promote animal welfare in research and maintenance.

Selected Publications

Moretti, S., Brambilla, G., Maffucci, F., Barola, C., Bucaletti, E., Hochscheid, S., Canzanella, S., Galarini, R., Esposito, M., 2024. Occurrence and pattern of legacy and emerging per- and Poly-FluoroAlkyl substances (PFAS) in eggs of loggerhead turtle Caretta caretta from western Mediterranean. Environmental Pollution 343, 123257.

Mancino, C., Hochscheid, S., Maiorano, L., 2023. Increase of nesting habitat suitability for green turtles in a warming Mediterranean Sea. Scientific Reports 13, 19906.

Gelippi, M., M. F. Blasi, M. F. W. Gauger, G. Favero, D. Mattei, S. Hochscheid, A. Camedda, G. A. de Lucia, and D. Cicala. 2023. The simultaneous stable isotope analysis of skin and blood gives insights on habitats shifts in Mediterranean loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta, Linneus 1758). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science:108482.

Dimatteo A., A. Cañadas, J. Roberts, L. Sparks, S. Panigada, O. Boisseau, A. Moscrop, C.M. Fortuna, G. Lauriano, D. Holcer, H. Peltier, V. Ridoux, J.A. Raga, J. Tomás, A.C. Broderick, B.J. Godley, J. Haywood, D. March, R. Snape, R. Sagarminaga, and S. Hochscheid (2022) Basin-wide estimates of loggerhead turtle abundance in the Mediterranean Sea derived from line transect surveys. Frontiers in Marine Science 9, 930412. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.930412.

Pasanisi E., M. Chimienti, M.F. Blasi, F. Maffucci, and S. Hochscheid* (2022) Ocean highways in the Western Mediterranean: Which are the areas with increased exposure to maritime traffic for loggerhead turtles? Frontiers in Marine Science 9, 924532, https://doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2022.924532

Hochscheid S.*, F. Maffucci, E. Abella, M.N. Bradai, A. Camedda, C. Carreras, F. Claro, G.A. De Lucia, I. Jribi, C. Mancusi, A. Marco, N. Marrone, L. Papetti, O. Revuelta, S. Urso, and J. Tomás (2022) Nesting range expansion of loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean: phenology, spatial distribution and conservation implications. Global Ecology and Conservation 38, e02194; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2022.e02194

Pace A., N. Vicari, S. Rigamonti, S. Magnino, L. Borrelli, L. Dipineto, A. Fioretti, S. Hochscheid, L. Tavares, and A. Duarte (2022) Detection of Chlamydial DNA from Mediterranean Loggerhead Sea Turtles in Southern Italy. Animals 12(6), 715. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12060715

Kot C.Y., S. Åkesson, J. Alfaro-Shigueto, D.F. Amorocho Llanos, M. Antonopoulou, G.H. Balazs, W.R. Baverstock, J.M. Blumenthal, A.C. Broderick, I. Bruno, A.F. Canbolat, P. Casale, D. Cejudo, M.S. Coyne, C. Curtice, S. Deland, A. Dimatteo, K. Dodge, D.C. Dunn, N. Esteban, A. Formia, M.M.P.B. Fuentes, E. Fujioka, J. Garnier, M.H. Godfrey, B.J. Godley, V. González Carman, A.-L. Harrison, C.E. Hart, L.A. Hawkes, G.C. Hays, N. Hill, S. Hochscheid, Y. Kaska, Y. Levy, C.P. Ley-Quiñónez, G.G. Lockhart, M. López-Mendilaharsu, P. Luschi, J.C. Mangel, D. Margaritoulis, S.M. Maxwell, C.M. Mcclellan, K. Metcalfe, A. Mingozzi, F.G. Moncada, W.J. Nichols, D.M. Parker, S.H. Patel, N.J. Pilcher, S. Poulin, A.J. Read, A.F. Rees, D.P. Robinson, N.J. Robinson, A.G. Sandoval-Lugo, G. Schofield, J.A. Seminoff, E.E. Seney, R.T.E. Snape, D. Sözbilen, J. Tomás, N. Varo-Cruz, B.P. Wallace, N.E. Wildermann, M.J. Witt, A.A. Zavala-Norzagaray, and P.N. Halpin (2022) Network analysis of sea turtle movements and connectivity: A tool for conservation prioritization. Diversity and Distributions 28, 810-829. https://doi.org/10.1111/ddi.13485

Cerritelli G., P. Casale, D. Sözbilen, S. Hochscheid, P. Luschi, Y. Kaska (2022) Multidirectional migrations from a major nesting area in Turkey support the widespread distribution of foraging sites for loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean. Marine Ecology Progress Series 683, 169-177. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps13946

Camedda A., Matiddi M, Vianello A, Coppa S, Bianchi J, Silvestri C, Palazzo L, Massaro G, Atzori F, Ruiu A, Piermarini R, Cocumelli C, Briguglio P, Hochscheid S, Brundu R, Andrea de Lucia G (2022) Polymer composition assessment suggests prevalence of single-use plastics among items ingested by loggerhead sea turtles in the western mediterranean sub-region. Environmental Pollution 292, 118274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118274

Atzori, F., L. Carosso, N. Cadoni, F. Frau, M.L. García Gutiérrez, G.A. De Lucia, M. Gregorietti, G. Pellegrino, S. Liubartseva,R. Lecci, G. Coppini, F. Maffucci, S. Hochscheid, A. Arcangeli (2021) Loggerhead sea turtle, Caretta caretta, presence and its exposure to floating marine litter in the Sardinia Channel and the Strait of Sicily: results from seven years of monitoring using ferry as platform of observation. Mediterranean Marine Science, ONLINE FIRST 2021-06-14. DOI: 10.12681/mms.25579

Lamagna B., A. Affuso, F. Micieli, G. Mennonna, L. Meomartino, G. Della Valle, M. Ciampa, G. Treglia, S. Hochscheid (2021) Comparison of intraocular pressure measurement using rebound and applanation tonometry in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) sea turtles. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 52(2), 604-609. doi: 10.1638/2020-0070

Mennonna, G., B. Lamagna, A. Affuso, A. Greco, F. Micieli, D. Costanza, S. Hochscheid, L. Meomartino (2020) Normal ultrasonographic features of loggerhead (Caretta caretta) eyes. Natura Croatica, 29, Suppl. 1., 3-10. DOI: 10.20302/NC.2020.29.18

Chimienti M., M.F. Blasi, S. Hochscheid (2020) Movement patterns of large juvenile loggerhead turtles in the Mediterranean Sea: ontogenetic space use in a small ocean basin. Ecology and Evolution 10(14), 6978- 6992. DOI:10.1002/ece3.6370

Maffucci F., A. Pace, A. Affuso, M. Ciampa, G. Treglia, A. Pignalosa, S. Hochscheid (2020) Carapace scute pattern anomalies in the loggerhead turtle: are they indicative of hatchling’s survival probability? Journal of Zoology, 310(4), 315-322. https://doi.org/10.1111/jzo.12754

Arcangeli A., F. Maffucci, F. Atzori, M. Azzolin, I. Campana, L. Carosso, R. Crosti, F. Frau, L. David, N. Di-Méglio, M. Roul, M. Gregorietti, V. Mazzucato, G. Pellegrino, A. Giacoletti, M. Paraboschi, A. Zampollo, G. A. De Lucia, S. Hochscheid (2019) Turtles in the Trash: loggerhead turtle exposed to floating plastic in the Mediterranean Sea. Endangered Species Research 40, 107–121.

Pace A., L. Dipineto, A. Fioretti, S. Hochscheid (2019) Loggerhead sea turtles as sentinels in the western Mediterranean: antibiotic resistance and environment-related modifications of Gram-negative bacteria. Marine Pollution Bulletin 149, 110575. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110575

Casale P., A.C. Broderick, J.A. Camiñas, L. Cardona, C. Carreras, A. Demetropoulos, W.J. Fuller, B.J. Godley, S. Hochscheid, Y. Kaska, B. Lazar, D. Margaritoulis, A. Panagopoulou, A.F. Rees, J. Tomás, and O. Turkozan (2018) Mediterranean sea turtles: current knowledge and priorities for conservation and research. Endangered Species Research 36, 229–267.

Carreras C., M. Pascual, J. Tomás, A. Marco, S. Hochscheid, J.J. Castillo, P. Gozalbes, M. Parga, S. Piovano, and L. Cardona (2018). Sporadic nesting reveals long distance colonisation in the philopatric loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta). Scientific Reports 8, 1435.

Luschi P., R. Mencacci, G. Cerritelli, L. Papetti, and S. Hochscheid. (2018) Large-scale movements in the oceanic environment identify high-use areas for loggerheads foraging in central Mediterranean Sea. Marine Biology 165, 4.

Matiddi M., S. Hochscheid, A. Camedda, M. Baini, C. Cocumelli, F. Serena, P. Tomassetti, A. Travaglini, S. Marra, T. Campani, F. Scholl, C. Mancusi, E. Amato, P. Briguglio, F. Maffucci, M.C. Fossi, F. Bentivegna, and G.A. de Lucia (2017) Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta): A target species for monitoring litter ingested by marine organisms in the Mediterranean Sea. Environmental Pollution 230, 199¬–209.

Rees A.F., J. Alfaro-Shigueto, P.C.R. Barata, K.A. Bjorndal, A.B. Bolten, J. Bourjea, A.C. Broderick, L.M. Campbell, L. Cardona, C. Carreras, P. Casale, S.A. Ceriani, P.H. Dutton, T. Eguchi, A. Formia, M.M.P.B. Fuentes, W.J. Fuller, M. Girondot, M.H. Godfrey, M. Hamann, K.M. Hart, G.C. Hays, S. Hochscheid, Y. Kaska, M.P. Jensen, J.C. Mangel, J.A. Mortimer, E. Naro-Maciel, C.K.Y. Ng, W.J. Nichols, A.D. Phillott, R.D. Reina, O. Revuelta, G. Schofield, J.A. Seminoff, K. Shanker, J. Tomás, J.P. van de Merwe, K.S. Van Houtan, H.B. Vander Zanden, B.P. Wallace, K.R. Wedemeyer-Strombel, T.M. Work, and B.J. Godley (2016) Review: Are we working towards global research priorities for management and conservation of sea turtles? Endangered Species Research 31, 337–382.

Maffucci F., R. Corrado, L. Palatella, M. Borra, S. Marullo, S. Hochscheid, G. Lacorata, and D. Iudicone (2016) Seasonal heterogeneity of ocean warming: a mortality sink for ectotherm colonizers. Scientific Reports 6, 23983.

Hochscheid S. (2014) Why we mind sea turtles’ underwater business: A review on the study of diving behavior. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 450, 118-136.