Maurizio Biondi

maurizio.biondi@univaq.it

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Rome on 31.XII.1954, after spending a short period as Zoologist at the Circeo National Park, he began working as a researcher at the University of L’Aquila in 1991, as Associate Professor in 1998 and as Full Professor in 2005. He is the author of about 250 scientific articles.
Main scientific interests: Phylogeny, biogeography, faunistics and ecology of Coleoptera Chrysomelidae. Study of the relationships between leaf beetle species and their host plants, based on morphology of the early stages of preimaginal development. Ecological Niche Modelling and Species Distribution Modelling. Predictive models of key insect species in response to climate change.
Prizes and Awards: 2005-2012 elected for two consecutive mandates as Director of the Department of Environmental Sciences; 2012-today elected for three consecutive mandates as Coordinator of the Environmental Sciences Section of the MESVA Department; 2005-2018 elected as Member of the Academic Senate; 2012-today nominated Delegate of the Rector for Environmental Issues for three different mandates.

SALVI D., D’ALESSANDRO P., BIONDI M., 2019. Host plant association in Western Palaearctic Longitarsus flea beetles (Cheysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini): a preliminary phylogenetic assessment. Zookeys, 856: 101-114. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.856.32430
D’ALESSANDRO P., FRASCA R., GROBBELAAR E., IANNELLA M. & BIONDI M. 2018. Systematics and biogeography of the Afrotropical flea beetle subgenus Blepharidina (Afroblepharida) Biondi & D’Alessandro, with description of seven new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini). Insect Systematics & Evolution, 49: 443-480. Doi: 10.1163/1876312X-00002182
URBANI F., D’ALESSANDRO P., FRASCA R. & BIONDI M., 2015. Maximum entropy modeling of geographic distributions of the flea beetle species endemic in Italy (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticinae), Zoologischer Anzeiger, 258: 99-109. Doi:10.1016/j.jcz.2015.08.002.
BIONDI M., URBANI F. & D’ALESSANDRO P., 2014. Biodiversity and biogeography in Madagascar: revision of the endemic flea beetle genus Neodera Duvivier, 1891 with description of 19 new species (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Galerucinae, Alticini). Systematic Entomology, 39: 710-748. Doi: 10.1111/syen.12082
BIONDI M. & D’ALESSANDRO P., 2012. The Afrotropical flea beetle genera: key to identification, update catalogue and biogeographical analysis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini). Zookeys, 253: 1-158. Doi: 10.3897/zookeys.253.3414