A research director at the National Research Council's Water Research Institute, his main field of interest is river ecology, with an emphasis on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Also related to methodological aspects concerning the application of environmental regulations, he has been involved in bioindicators and the definition of ecological status for the Water Framework Directive. In relation to the study of biodiversity, he is particularly concerned with aquatic insects of the order Ephemeroptera (Ephemeroptera).