Cristina Castracani

CONTACT ADDRESS
Department of Biosciences
University of Parma
Parco Area delle Scienze 11/a
43124 Parma, Italy
E-mail: cristina.castracani@unipr.it
Fax: +39 0521 905657

CURRENT POSITION – Research Assistant in the Myrmecology Lab

RESEARCH INTERESTS
During my MSc and my PhD I worked on the behaviour of the social parasite Polyergus rufescens (Latreille, 1798). My researches focused on two main aspects of its biology: the Raiding Behaviour and the Mating Behaviour. Many behavioural patterns were analyzed and I paid particular attention to the chemical communication involved in this context.
After my PhD, I shifted my interests to behavioural ecology and to the possibility to use ants as bioindicator in Italian environment. At the moment, I’m focusing to build a solid data base of Italian ant species in relation to their community structure in the most representative ecosystems of Italy.

PUBLICATIONS and CVs

EDUCATION
2005
PhD in Behavioural Biology (XVII), University of Parma, Italy
Supervisors: Pr. Alessandra Mori and Pr. Francesco Le Moli
Thesis: “Mating behaviour of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens: the role of the female mandibular gland and of the male morphometric features”

2002
Professional certificate of Biologist, University of Parma, Italy

2001
MSc in Biological Sciences, University of Parma, Italy
Supervisor: Pr. Alessandra Mori
Thesis: “Chemical communication in the raiding behaviour of the slave-making ant Polyergus rufescens (Hymenoptera, Formicidae)”

SCIENTIFIC ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS

AISASP – Associazione Italiana per lo Studio degli Artropodi Sociali e Presociali (Italian Section of IUSSI – International Union for the Study of Social Insects)
Accepted as a new member in 2003
Member of the Council and Treasurer from 2010