Giuseppe Donati, Ph.D.Oxford Brookes University
EDUCATION: 1997 Master in Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Natural Sciences of Pisa University (110/110 cum laude).Thesis title “Activity cycle, feeding and ranging behaviour of Eulemur fulvus rufus in the Kirindy Forest (Morondava, Madagascar)”. 2001 Postgraduate specialisation “Conservation and Management of Fauna in the Protected Areas” organized by the Department of Animal Biology and Genetic of the University of Florence. 2002 PhD in Physical Anthropology at the Institute of Anthropology of Florence University. Dissertation title “The activity cycle and its ecological correlates in the collared brown lemur, Eulemur fulvus collaris (Lemuridae), in the littoral forest of Ste Luce (Fort Dauphin, Madagascar)”.
LANGUAGES:
AREAS OF INTEREST: Behavioural ecology: cathemerality; proximate and ultimate determinants of activity patterns; feeding strategies; nutritional requirements; habitat utilization.
CURRENT POSITION: Research fellow, Department of Anthropology and Geography, School of Social Sciences and Law, Oxford Brookes University, UK
RESEARCH GRANTS: 2002 Grant from the Department of Ethology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Pisa, with a project titled “Ecological correlates to lemur activity patterns” 2003 Grant from the Withley Foundation (Rufford Grant) for Conservation of Nature with a project titled “Evaluation of the effect of lemur translocation on the conservation of a Malagasy littoral forest”. 2004 Grant from QIT Madagascar Minerals (Rio Tinto) for Conservation of Nature with a project titled “Evaluation of the effect of lemur translocation on the conservation of a Malagasy littoral forest”.
FIELD RESEARCH: 1995-1996 Behavioral and ecological studies in a tropical dry forest of Western Madagascar, at the Kirindy Station (7 months). 1999-2001 Behavioral and ecological studies in a littoral rain forest of South-Eastern Madagascar, at the Ste Luce Station (18 months). 1999-2001 Behavioral and ecological studies in a gallery forest of Southern Madagascar, at the Berenty Reserve (12 months). 2004 Behavioral and ecological studies in a littoral rain forest of South-Eastern Madagascar, at the Mandena Station (6 months). 2005-2007 Behavioral and ecological studies in low-land rain forests of Costa Rica and Nicaragua, at the La Suerte and Ometepe Biological Stations (2 months).
TEACHING ACTIVITIES: 1997-1999 Teaching assistant, “Primatology”, Master in Biological Sciences, Pisa University, Italy. 2003 Teaching fellow, “Primatology”, Master in Biodiversity and Ecological Sciences, Pisa University, Italy. 2004 Teaching fellow, “Primate Behaviour” and “Conflicts and Reconciliation”, Master in Neurobiology and Master in Peace Sciences, Pisa University, Italy. 2005 Seminars, “Animal Biodiversity”, Master in Biodiversity and Ecological Sciences, Pisa University, Italy. 2005 Instructor, “Primate Behaviour and Ecology”, field summer course at La Suerte Biological Station, Costa Rica. 2006 Instructor, “Fauna Management and Conservation”, postgraduate specialization in Environmental Sciences, Pisa, Italy. 2006 Seminars, “Primatology” and “Animal Biodiversity”, Master in Biodiversity and Ecological Sciences, Pisa University, Italy. 2007 Teaching fellow, “Primate Behaviour”, Master in Biodiversity and Ecological Sciences, Pisa University, Italy. 2007 Instructor, “Primate Behaviour and Ecology”, field summer course at Ometepe Biological Station, Nicaragua. 2007-2008 Teaching assistant, “Research Methods” and “Primate Diversity”, Master in Primate Conservation, Oxford Brookes University, UK. 2008 Tutorials in “Primate Behaviour” for the Department of Zoology, Oxford University, UK.
STUDENT ADVISING AND THESIS SUPERVISION: 2002-2008 Supervisor of various Italian Master theses in Animal Ecology and Behaviour at the University of Pisa (titles available upon request) 2002-2008 External examiner of various Master theses in Animal Ecology and Behaviour at the University of Pisa (titles available upon request) 2004 Supervisor of a semester research abroad for U.S. students in Madagascar (titles available upon request) 2004 Supervisor of various Malagasy Master theses in Animal Biology (titles available upon request) 2005-2007 Supervisor of various field projects for undergraduate students on the behavioural ecology of New World monkeys (titles available upon request) 2007-2008 Supervisor of various field projects for the Master in Primate Conservation, Oxford Brookes University (titles available upon request)
AWARDS: 2004 Nominated “Expert of the Field” in Anthropological Sciences at the Department of Ethology, Ecology and Evolution, University of Pisa.
OTHER PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: Co-Editor (with Dr. Deborah Curtis and Dr. Michele Rasmussen) of a Special Issue of Folia Primatologica, Vol 77 (1-2): 2006 Reviews of manuscripts for Biological Conservation, Oecologia, Folia Primatologica, Contributions to Zoology, Journal of Anthropological Sciences.
PUBLICATIONS: Donati G., Lunardini A., Kappeler P.M. (1999). Cathemeral activity of Red-fronted Brown Lemur (Eulemur fulvus rufus) in the Kirindy forest/CFPF. In Rakotosamimanana B., Rasamimanana H., Ganzhorn J., Goodman S. (eds.) “New Directions in Lemur Studies”. Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press, New York, pp. 119-137. Donati G., Lunardini A., Kappeler P.M., Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2001). Nocturnal activity in the cathemeral Red-Fronted Lemur, Eulemur fulvus rufus, with observation during a lunar eclipse. American Journal of Primatology, 53: 69-78. Donati G. (2002). The activity cycle and its ecological correlates in the collared brown lemur, Eulemur fulvus collaris (Lemuridae), in the littoral forest of Ste Luce (Fort Dauphin, Madagascar). PhD thesis, University of Pisa. Fausser J.L., Prosper P., Donati G., Ramanamanjato J.B., Rumpler Y. (2002). Phylogenetic relationships between Hapalemur species and subspecies based on mitochondrial DNA sequences. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 2 (4): 1-9. Bollen A. & Donati G. (2005). Phenology of the littoral forest of Sainte Luce, south-eastern Madagascar. Biotropica, 37(1): 32-43. Bollen A., Donati G., Fietz J., Schwab D., Ramanamanjato J.B., Randrihasipara L., Van Elsacker L., Ganzhorn J.U. (2005). Fruit Characteristics in a Dry Deciduous and a Humid Littoral Forest of Madagascar: Evidence for Selection Pressure through Abiotic Constraints rather than Seed Dispersers. In Dew L., Boubli J.P. (eds.) “Tropical Fruits and Frugivores: The Search for Strong Interactors”. Springer, The Netherlands, pp. 92-118. Donati G. (2006). The effects of forest degradation and translocation on Eulemur collaris behavioural ecology in the littoral forests of south-eastern Madagascar. Final Report for the Rufford Grant/Withley Foundation for Conservation of Nature. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2006). The influence of abiotic factors on cathemerality: the case of Eulemur fulvus collaris in the littoral forest of Madagascar. Folia Primatologica, 77(1-2): 104-122. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2006). From darkness to daylight: cathemeral activity in primates. Invited review for the Journal of Anthropological Sciences, 84:7-32. Bollen A. & Donati G. (2006). Conservation status of the littoral forest of south-eastern Madagascar: a review. Oryx, 40 (1): 57-66. Curtis D., Donati G., Rasmussen M. (2006). Cathemerality. Folia Primatologica, 77 (1-2). Norscia I., Rahanitriniaina O.G., Jolly A., Donati G. (2006). Preliminary survey of lemur density in the semimontane rainforest of Anka, Fort-Dauphin region. Lemur News, 11:14-17. Donati G., Bollen A, Borgognini Tarli S.M., Ganzhorn J.U. (2007). Feeding over the 24-hour cycle: dietary flexibility of cathemeral collared lemurs (Eulemur collaris). Behavioural Ecology & Sociobiology. DOI 10.1007/s00265-007-0354-x Donati G. (in press). Eulemur collaris. In: Rowe NA (ed) “The Living Primates”. Pongonias Press, Charleston. Donati G., Ramanamanjato J.B., Ravoahangy A.M., Vincelette M. (in press). Traslocation as a conservation measure for a threatened species: the case of Eulemur collaris in the Mandena littoral forest, south-eastern Madagascar. In Vincelette M., Ganzhorn J.U., Goodman S.M. (eds) “Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation of the Littoral Ecosystems of South-eastern Madagascar”. Smithsonian Institution Press. Ganzhorn J.U., Andrianasolo T., Andrianjazalahatra T., Donati G., Fietz J., Norscia I., Rakotondranary J., Rakotondratsima B.M., Ralison J., Ramarokoto R., Randriamanga S., Rasarimanana S., Rakotosamimanana B., Ramanamanjato J.B., Randria G., Rasolofoharivelo T., Razanahoera-Rakotomalala M., Schmid J., Sommer S. (in press). Lemurs in evergreen littoral forest fragments of different size and degrees of degradation. In Vincelette M., Ganzhorn J.U., Goodman S.M. (eds) “Biodiversity, Ecology and Conservation of the Littoral Ecosystems of South-eastern Madagascar”. Smithsonian Institution Press. Donati G. (in press). Eulemur collaris. In: Rowe NA (ed) “The Living Primates”. Pongonias Press, Charleston Donati G., Baldi N., Morelli V., Ganzhorn J.U., Borgognini Tarli S.M. (accepted 2008). Proximate cues and ultimate determinants of brown lemur cathemerality. Animal Behaviour. Nekaris K.A.I., Jaffe S., Gunawardene A. and Donati G. (in review). The Influence of microhabitat variables on the density of red slender lorises (Loris tardigradus tardigradus) in southwestern Srilanka. In Masters J., Gamba M., and Genin F. (eds.) “Leaping Ahead: Advances in Prosimian Biology”. Curtis D.J. and Donati G. (in review). The role of photoperiod in the evolution of temporal plasticity in lemurs. In Masters J., Gamba M., and Genin F. (eds.) “Leaping Ahead: Advances in Prosimian Biology”. Eppley T.M., Ralison J., Verjans E., Ganzhorn J.U. and Donati G. (submitted). Nutritional challenges of a small folivore, Hapalemur meridionalis, in the Mandena littoral forest, South-eastern Madagascar. Ganzhorn J.U., Arrigo-Nelson S., Bollen A., Carrai V., Chalise M.K., Derby A., Donati G., Koenig A., Kowalewski M., Norscia I., Polowinsky S.Y., Schwitzer C., Stevenson P.R., Talebi M.G., Tan C., Vogel E.R., Wright P.C. (submitted). Fruit protein effects on primate radiations. Tofanelli S., Bertoncini S., Castrì L., Luiselli D., Calafell F., Donati G., Paoli G. (submitted). On the origin and admixture of Malagasy: new evidence from high resolution analyses of paternal and maternal lineages and implications for admixture mapping.
CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS: Donati G., Lunardini A., Kappeler P.M. (1998). Cathemeral activity of Eulemur fulvus rufus in the Kirindy forest (West Madagascar). Oral presentation at the XVIIth Congress of the International Primatological Society, No.119. Donati G., Lunardini A., Kappeler P.M. (2000). Determinants of cathemeral activity in Eulemur fulvus rufus at Kirindy forest (West Madagascar). Oral presentation at the XIIIth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Pavia, 17-19 September, 1998. Folia Primatologica, 71(4): 298. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2000). Cathemerality of Collared Brown Lemur, Eulemur fulvus collaris, in the Malagasy littoral forest: a first report. Poster at the XVIIth Congress of the Italian Society of Ethology, pp.37. Donati G., Lunardini A., Kappeler P.M., Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2001). Nocturnal activity in the cathemeral Red-Fronted Lemur, Eulemur fulvus rufus, variations during a lunar eclipse. Oral presentation at the XIVth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Pisa-Calci, 9-11 October, 2000. Folia Primatologica, 72(3): 147. Donati G., Morelli V., Baldi N., Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2001). Il regime alimentare del lemure bruno dal collare (Eulemur fulvus collaris) nella foresta litorale del Madagascar sud-orientale: selezione e disponibilità stagionale. Poster at the LXIIth Congress of the Italian Union of Zoology, No.79. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2001). Strategie di conservazione: il caso di Eulemur fulvus collaris nella foresta di S.te Luce, Madagascar sud- orientale. Oral presentation at the XIVth Congress of the Italian Anthropological Association, pp.46. Donati G., Morelli V., Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2002). Feeding ecology of the Collared Brown Lemur, Eulemur fulvus collaris, in the S.te Luce littoral forest, south-eastern Madagascar. Oral presentation at the XVth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Roma, 30-31 May and 1 June, 2002. Folia Primatologica, 73(6): 315. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2002). Role of abiotic factors in influencing cathemeral activity of Collared Brown Lemurs, Eulemur fulvus collaris, in the S.te Luce littoral forest. Oral presentation at the XVth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Roma, 30-31 May and 1 June, 2002. Folia Primatologica, 73(6): 305-306. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2002). The cathemeral activity pattern of the collared brown lemur, Eulemur fulvus collaris: an account from the littoral forest. Caring for Primates. Abstracts, XIXth Congress of the International Primatological Society, pp.292-293. Donati G., Bollen A., Baldi N., Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2003). The role of phytochemistry in the food choice of a Malagasy prosimian, Eulemur collaris. Oral presentation at the XVIth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Roma, 28-30 October, 2003. Folia Primatologica, 75(6): 402. Donati G. & Borgognini Tarli S.M. (2004). Abiotic cueing mechanisms and cathemerality. Oral presentation at the XXth Congress of the International Primatological Society, Torino, 23-28 August 2004. Folia Primatologica, 75(S1): 66-67. Curtis D., Donati G., Rasmussen M. (2004). The Third Activity Pattern In Primates: Cathemerality. Co-organized symposium at the XXth Congress of the International Primatological Society, Torino, 23-28 August 2004. Folia Primatologica 75(S1): 62-63. Donati G., Ramanamanjato J.B., Vincelette M. (2005). La traslocazione come strumento di conservazione: il caso del lemure dal collare, Eulemur collaris, nella foresta litorale del Madagascar. Presentation at the LXVth Congress of the Italian Union of Zoology, No.39. Bertoncini S., Tofanelli S., Caciagli L., Donati G., Taglioli L., Paoli G. (2005). Origin and variability of paternal lineages in two Malagasy ethnic groups: Antandroy and Antanosy. Presentation at the XVIth Congress of the Italian Association of Anthropology, No.21. Donati G., Ndremifidy K., Ravoahangy A., Ramanamanjato J.B. (2007). Potential and pitfalls of lemur re-location: the rescue translocation of collared lemurs (Eulemur collaris) in the Mandena littoral forest, south-eastern Madagascar. Symposium Presentation “Society, Natural Resources and Development in Madagascar: Recent Contributions by the Research Community”, Norwich. Donati G., Ndremifidy K., Ramanamanjato J.B. (2007). Coping with forest degradation: behavioural ecology of translocated collared lemurs, Eulemur collaris, in the littoral forest of south-eastern Madagascar. Oral presentation at the XVIIIth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Pisa. Baldi N., Donati G., Morelli V., Ganzhorn J.U., Borgognini-Tarli S.M. (2007). In search of proximate and ultimate determinants of lemur cathemeral activity: an intersite comparison. Oral presentation at the XVIIIth Congress of the Italian Primatological Association, Pisa. Donati G., Baldi N., Morelli V., Ganzhorn J.U., Borgognini-Tarli S.M. (2007). Proximate cues and ultimate determinants of brown lemur cathemerality in a humid littoral forest and in a dry gallery forest of southern Madagascar. Oral presentation at the IInd Congress of the European Federation of Primatology, Prague. Donati G., Marini E., Meduri L., Morganti T., Palillo I., Pecoriello E., Serra V., Borgognini S. (2007). Note sulla flessibilita' comportamenetale ed ecologica dei primati in foreste secondarie: Alouatta palliata nella foresta tropicale decidua di Ometepe, Nicaragua. Poster presentation at the XVIIth meeting of the Italian Anthropological Association, Cagliari. Donati G., Marini E., Borgognini S. (2007). Un'esperienza didattica e di ricerca primatologica in natura. Poster presentation at the XVIIth meeting of the Italian Anthropological Association, Cagliari Donati G. , Bollen A., Nekaris K.A.I., Bearder S. (2008). Detecting Food Over the 24-hour Cycle: Do Cathemeral Lemurs Use Different Cues at Different Light Conditions? Oral presentation at the XXIInd Congress of the International Primatological Society, Edinburgh, 3-8 August 2008. Eppley T.M. and Donati G. (2008). Preliminary investigation on the feeding ecology of the southern gentle lemur, Hapalemur meridionalis, in the Mandena littoral forest, Southeastern Madagascar. Poster at the XXIInd Congress of the International Primatological Society, Edinburgh, 3-8 August 2008. Nekaris K.A.I., Douglas P.H., Gamage S.N., Gunawardene A., Moore R., Donati G. (2008). What ecological variables predict primate presence in Sri Lanka’s rainforest fragments? Oral presentation at the XXIInd Congress of the International Primatological Society, Edinburgh, 3-8 August 2008.
DOCUMENTARIES AND POPULAR CONFERENCES: 2001 15-minute video for the XIV Congress of the Italian Anthropological Association (Cosenza, Italy) titled “Collared brown lemur: in equilibrium between discovery and extinction”. Author: Giuseppe Donati. Produced by Video Arte. 2003 15-minute video titled “Images from a research in Madagascar”. Presentation CD for the Faculty of Natural Science, University of Pisa. Author: Giuseppe Donati. Produced by Video Arte. 2005 “Lemurs between night and day” invited lecture at the Museum of Natural History of Milan, Italy. 2007 “Tool use in non-human primates” invited lecture at the University of Cagliari, Italy. 2007 “Diurnal? Nocturnal? Or cathemeral? The activity over the 24-hour cycle of the Malagasy lemurs” invited lecture at the Department of Biology, Pisa, Italy. 2008 “Lemur adaptations to degraded habitats” invited lecture at the Bristol Zoo, UK. |
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