This is a Humans of WUR story of people of the Animal Sciences Group (ASG). With these stories, we aim to spotlight our people. Today we spoke with Davide Bottacini. “I’m Davide Bottacini and I work as a PhD candidate at the Behavioural Ecology Group at ASG. Originally from Italy, I’ve been living in the Netherlands for five years. I completed two master’s degrees at WUR in 2022. Outside of work, I enjoy keeping tropical fish, diving, and bird watching/photography.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐢𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤? “I’m passionate about everything related to fish: their biology, ecology, behaviour, and diversity. My PhD project brings all these elements together by studying lionfish (𝘗𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴), one of the most fascinating predators on Earth. Lionfish are exceptional hunters but are also highly invasive. Native to the Indo-Pacific and Red Sea, they have spread to the western Atlantic, Caribbean, and now the Mediterranean, posing serious ecological threats.” 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐒𝐆 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧? “My research contributes directly to understanding the biodiversity crisis. Invasive species, particularly predatory ones, are a major threat to native ecosystems. Studying their behaviour, how they interact with prey, and their overall impact helps us devise effective solutions. A highlight of my work is a project in Crete where we study the ecological effects of removing lionfish through targeted spearfishing. After catching the lionfish, we provide them to local restaurants, helping establish a market for this sustainable food source. This approach has multiple benefits: reducing invasive populations, restoring ecosystem balance, and promoting sustainable fishing practices. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see these solutions embraced by local communities.” 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 (𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨) 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐀𝐒𝐆/𝐖𝐔𝐑; 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝟏𝟎 𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬' 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞? “The dynamic, inclusive environment at ASG makes it a great place to work. It’s non-hierarchical, and I have the freedom to pursue new ideas. For instance, I proposed a research project that grew into an interdisciplinary effort involving experts from various fields. Although much of my work involves desk research right now, I’m thrilled about returning to the field next year. Diving for lionfish and collecting new data is something I’m looking forward to!” #HumansofWUR #animalscience #biodiversity
