Technologist
Research Infrastructures for marine biological resources Department
Coordinator Access to marine ecosystems and environmental analysis Section
Tel. +39 081 5833357
Fax: +39 081 7641355 - +39 081 5833360
Cell: +39 348 6045629
e-mail fabio.conversano(at)szn.it
Research Interests
My research focuses on the study of hydrological and biogeochemical cycles in the Mediterranean Sea in relation to atmospheric forcing and climate change, and in particular on flows and budgets of nutrients and dissolved oxygen in its water masses. In addition, I manage, organize, and participate in, oceanographic cruises within national and international research projects and take care of the management and organization of databases (oceanographic data collected).
My roles in the projects include: a) scientific support to the the study of fluid dynamics correlated to chemical, physical and biological data, within the context of biogeochemical cycles of the Mediterranean Sea, and b) the technological support for the acquisition, processing, graphical representation and analysis of oceanographic data. This second role includes know-how and management of oceanographic instrumentation.
Selected Publications
Valenti D., Denaro G.; Spagnolo B., Mazzola S., Basilone G., Conversano F., Brunet C., Bonanno A. (2016) Stochastic models for phytoplankton dynamics in Mediterranean Sea. Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Ecological Complexity, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ecocom.2015.06.001
Valenti D, Denaro G, Spagnolo B, Conversano F, Brunet C. (2015) How Diffusivity, Thermocline and Incident Light Intensity Modulate the Dynamics of Deep Chlorophyll Maximum in Tyrrhenian Sea. PLoS ONE 10(1): e0115468. doi:10.1371/journal. pone.0115468
Brunet C., Conversano F., Margiotta F., Dimier C., Polimene L., Tramontano F. and Saggiomo V. (2013) Role of light and photophysiological properties on phytoplankton succession during the spring bloom in the NorthWestern Mediterranean sea. Advances in Oceanography and Limnology, Volume 4, Issue 1, Pages: 1-19
Giovagnetti V., Brunet C., Conversano F., Tramontano F., Obernosterer I., Ridame C., Guieu C. (2013) Assessing the role of dust deposition on phytoplankton ecophysiology and succession in a low-nutrient low-chlorophyll ecosystem: a mesocosm experiment in the Mediterranean Sea. BIOGEOSCIENCES, Volume 10, Issue 5, Pages: 2973-2991
La Ferla R., Maimone G., Azzaro M., Conversano F., Brunet C., Cabral AS., Paranhos R., (2012). Vertical distribution of the prokaryotic cell size in the Mediterranean Sea. Helgoland Marine Research Volume: 66 Issue: 4 Pages: 635-650 DOI: 10.1007/s10152-012-0297-0
Giovagnetti V., Cataldo Maria L., Conversano F., Brunet C. (2012). Growth and photophysiological responses of two picoplanktonic Minutocellus species, strains RCC967 and RCC703 (Bacillariophyceae). European Journal of Phycology Volume: 47 Issue: 4 Pages: 408-420 DOI: 10.1080/09670262.2012.733030
Giovagnetti V., Cataldo Maria L., Conversano F., Brunet C. (2010). Functional relation between growth, photosynthetic rate and regulation in the coastal picoeukaryote Phaeomonas sp. RCC 503 (Pinguiophyceae, Stramenopiles). Journal of Plankton Research Volume: 32 Issue: 11 Pages: 1501-1511 DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbq074
Ribera d’Alcalà M., Brunet C., Conversano F., Corato F., Lavezza R. (2009). Nutrient and Pigment Distributions in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea during mid Summer and late fall 2005. Deep-Sea Res. II. 56, 676-686
Brunet C., Casotti R., Vantrepotte V. & Conversano F. (2007). Vertical variability and diel dynamics of picophytoplankton in the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) in summer. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser., 346: 15-26
Brunet C., Casotti R., Vantrepotte V., Corato F. & Conversano F. (2006). Picophytoplankton diversity and photophysiology in the Strait of Sicily (Mediterranean Sea) in summer. I. Mesoscale variations. Aquatic Microbial Ecology, 44:127-141
Ribera d'Alcalà, M., Conversano F., Corato F., Licandro P., Mangoni O., Marino D., Mazzocchi M. G., Modigh M., Montresor M., Nardella M., Saggiomo V., Sarno D. & Zingone A. (2004). Seasonal patterns in plankton communities in a pluriannual time series at a coastal Mediterranean site Gulf of Naples: an attempt to discern recurrences & trends. Scientia Marina, 68 suppl. 1: 65-83
Mangoni O., Modigh M., Conversano F., Carrada G.C. and Saggiomo V. (2004). Exceptional summer ice coverage in the Ross Sea, Antarctica: implications for phytoplankton composition and biomass. Deep Sea Res. I, 51,1601
Malanotte-Rizzoli P., Manca B.B., Marullo S., Ribera d'Alcalà M., Roether W., Teocharis A., Bergamasco A., Budillon G., Civitarese G., Conversano F., Gertman I., Herut B., Klein B., Kontoyannis H., Kovacevic V., Kress N., Lascaratos A., Latif M.A., Nittis K., O zE, Robinson A., Sansone E., Santoleri R., Viezzoli D. (2003) The LIW-Experiment (LIWEX) Group (2003) The Levantine basin: a laboratory for multiple water mass formation processes. Journal of Geophysical Research - Oceans 108, 8101, doi: 10.1029/2002JC001643
Ribera d'Alcalà M., Civitarese G., Conversano F. & Lavezza R. (2003). Nutrient fluxes and ratios hint at overlooked processes in the Mediterranean sea. Journal of Geophysical Research, 108C9, 8106, doi:10.1029/2002JC001250
Astraldi M., Conversano F., Civitarese G., Gasparini G.P., Ribera d'Alcalà M., Vetrano A. (2002). Water mass properties and chemical signatures in the central Mediterranean region - Journal of Marine Systems, 33-34: 155-177
