XL CICLO | Belli Elisabetta

My name is Elisabetta, I’m 25 years old and I graduated last year in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Now I am a Phd student working on microbial communities that populate Mediterranean burned soils.

Global warming is causing average temperatures and severe environmental impacts, such as increased aridity and wildfires, which threaten biodiversity in many ecosystems, particularly in the vulnerable Mediterranean arid regions. Wildfires significantly impact the soil microbial communities, reducing enzymatic activities and altering their structure. The FireOnMed project aims to study for the first time the impact of wildfires on vegetation and soil microbial communities in the arid regions of Sicily. The main objectives include analyzing the taxonomic and functional variations of microbial communities before and after fires, identifying the predominant microorganisms and their role in ecosystem recovery. Special attention will be given to heat-resistant fungi and their contribution to seed germination, which are key elements for ecological balance and nutrient cycling. Additionally, the analysis of the surrounding vegetation will provide useful information for planning vegetation restoration interventions. The project seeks to evaluate the effect of fire on plant and soil microbial communities, determine the dominant microorganisms pre- and post-fire and their function in soil recovery, analyze the temporal response of soil communities to wildfires, and define the networks of microbial interactions that facilitate soil recovery, including the key genes involved.