Federica Ferrigno
Papers
1
Total Citations
15
H-Index
1
About
Federica Ferrigno is a marine ecologist whose research focuses on the health and conservation of Mediterranean coralligenous communities—highly biodiverse, calcified reefs formed by coralline algae. Her most-cited work, "β-Diversity of morphological groups as indicator of coralligenous community quality status" (2019, 15 citations), introduces a novel, cost-effective method for assessing the ecological status of these vulnerable habitats. Rather than relying on species-level identification, Ferrigno demonstrates that analyzing the diversity of morphological groups (e.g., encrusting, erect, or massive forms) can reliably indicate community quality. This approach simplifies monitoring, making it more accessible for conservation practitioners and managers. Her contribution is significant because it provides a practical tool for evaluating human impacts, such as pollution or climate change, on these slow-growing, long-lived ecosystems. By linking functional morphology to ecosystem health, Ferrigno advances both theoretical understanding and applied conservation strategies. Her work is particularly valuable for students and researchers in marine biology and conservation, offering a clear, scalable method to protect one of the Mediterranean's most iconic and threatened habitats.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1