Behavioural
Ecology Group


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Phd Student Behavioural Ecology Group





Davide Bottacini



I am a fish enthusiast with a broad interest in underwater ecology. I have always loved anything that could bring me closer to my favourite animals, from watching documentaries and reading books to snorkeling, SCUBA diving, angling and fish keeping.


I have decided to take my passion to a professional level and start a career in science so I can actively contribute to the study of fishes. I am currently doing my PhD at the Kotrschal group, studying the predation and invasion ecology of lionfish (Pterois miles).


Contact Davide

Research interests



Fish ecology

Fish behaviour

Fish biodiversity

Underwater ecology

Predation ecology

Invasion ecology



About myself



I came to Wageningen after completing a BSc in agronomy in my home country, Italy. The goal was to complete a master in Plant Sciences and pursue a career as an agronomist specialised in agroecology and pest management. However, during my years in Wageningen, I fell in love with the scientific aspects of biology and ecology to such an extent that I decided to dedicate my future efforts to the organisms that I genuinely love the most: fishes. I took up a second master (Biology) to approach underwater ecology from a scientific angle.


After two years from that decision I received the news that I was awarded a fellowship to do my PhD at Wageningen university. Now I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to do research on my favourite animals in a university that I have come to love. I still have a deep interest in plants, insects, agriculture and sustainability in food production and I therefore feel even more lucky to live in the green and vibrant Wageningen.



Project overview



I love everything about fishes: their biology, ecology, behaviour and diversity. In my project, I combine all these aspects by studying lionfish (Pterois miles), one of the most fascinating and effective predators on our planet. Apart from being exceptional predators, lionfish have become well-known for being highly invasive: native to the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the Red Sea, they colonised the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean and they are now also invading the Mediterranean Sea.


In my project, I study lionfish invasion and predation ecology across ecological levels, spanning from the effects that invasive lionfish are having on the Mediterranean fish community to how they deal with individual prey while they are hunting.


I am part of the Behavioural Ecology chair group, where I work under the supervision of Marc Naguib and Alexander Kotrschal. The different angles from which I look at lionfish ecology give me the chance to collaborate closely with other inspiring scientists based at other chair groups at Wageningen university: Bart Pollux (Experimental Zoology), Reindert Nijland (Marine Animal Ecology) and Patrick Jansen (Wildlife Ecology and Conservation).



Davide Bottacini



Phd Student
Behaviour Ecology group
Department of Animal Sciences
Wageningen University
Zodiac building
Room B0033

davide.bottacini@wur.nl


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