Valentina Zizzari

Research interests

My research is driven by a strong interest in evolutionary biology and behavioural ecology. My main research area comprises the evolution, behaviour and thermal adaptation of soil arthropods.

I study several aspects of reproductive biology of species performing indirect sperm transfer. Within this fascinating and diverse group I am most interested in springtails, (Collembola: Hexapoda). I aim to demonstrate that sexual selection can drive evolution of male traits even in the absence of meetings between partners.
My research interests focus also on thermal response on behavioural traits and the underlying physiological mechanisms in soil arthropods.

Selected Publications

Zizzari Z.V.& Ellers J. 2011 Effects of exposure to short-term heat stress on male reproductive fitness in a soil arthropod. Journal of Insect Physiology,57, 3, 421-426.

Zizzari Z.V.,Machida R., Tsutsumi K., Reynoso-Velasco D., Lupetti P. & Dallai R. 2010 Ultrastructural studies on euspermatozoa and paraspermatozoa in Mantispidae (Insecta, Neuroptera). Tissue & Cell,42, 2, 81-87.

Zizzari Z.V.,Braakhuis A., van Straalen N.M. & Ellers J. 2009 Female preference and fitness benefits of mate choice in a species with dissociated sperm transfer. Animal Behaviour,78, 5, 1261-1267.

Dallai R., Zizzari Z.V. & Fanciulli P.P. 2009 Different sperm number in the spermatophores of Orchesella villosa (Geoffroy) (Entomobryidae) and Allacma fusca (L.) (Sminthuridae). Arthropod structure & development38, 227-234.

ZizzariZ.V.,Lupetti P., Mencarelli C. & Dallai R. 2008 Sperm ultrastructure and spermiogenesis of Coniopterygidae (Neuroptera, Insecta). Arthropod Structure & Development,37, 410-417.

Research project

How females choose their partners without meeting them
I study the dissociated sperm transfer mating system, where males and females do not need any contact to mate because males deposit their sperm in the environment for females to pick up. In these organisms solely chemical cues are involved in mate choice. I aim to demonstrate that sexual selection can occur even in the absence of meetings between partners. I focus my studies on collembolans behaviour combining genetic and chemistry approaches to assess how chemical cues are related to male quality.
Participants: Jacintha Ellers

Effect of thermal stress on male and female fitness in soil arthropods
I study the evolutionary physiology of temperature adaptation and potential of soil organisms to cope with climate change.
Short exposure to heat stress can have lasting effects on life-history traits even in soil organisms.  I aim to investigate the effects of heat shock on male reproductive fitness and the interaction between the conditions experienced by maternal generation and those experienced by progeny. I use the collembolan Orchesella cincta as model system.
Participants: Jacintha Ellers

Additional projects:
 
Sexual conflict and partner manipulation in simultaneous hermaphrodites
Participants:Joris Koene

Male and female reproductive morphology in the two main collembolan groups, Arthropleona and Symphypleona
Participants: Romano Dallai, Pietro Paolo Fanciulli

Phylogenetic relationship of Neuropterida through comparative spermatology
Participants: Romano Dallai, Roberto Pantaleoni, Agostino Letardi