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Hire Dr. Francesca P.

South Africa

USD 30 /hr

Environmental scientist with 10+ years experience in research and education

Profile Summary

My research focuses on space use in large mammals and factors influencing it at various spatial scales, and integrates remote sensing with the more traditional field of behavioural ecology; with the aim of better understand conservation in fragmented landscapes. The journey that has allowed me to shape my research career along these lines started with a move to South Africa from Italy, to undertake a PhD at Wits, after completing a Biology degree at the University of Firenze. The opportunity to join Wits is what really shaped my career as a researcher and an academic. My PhD on the foraging ecology of sable antelope in a relatively small insular reserve gave me the opportunity to pursue my interests in the behavioural ecology of mammalian herbivores and prompted me to ask the question that is still the focus of my research: how do animals in small reserves cope? It is during those years that I developed a keen interest in direct and indirect herbivore-resources relationships and the integration of factors governing decisions at the small spatial scale through to landscape level, with particular attention to fragmented landscapes. Small populations of large herbivores in isolated areas may be excluded from access to seasonal key resources, and are extremely susceptible to local extirpation risk due to environmental, demographic, and genetic stochasticity, and due to potential exacerbation of intra- and interspecific competition. Investigating the scales of resource use and selection within protected areas is therefore fundamental in order to understand the long-term viability of herbivore populations, and to prevent the risk of local population extirpation. STUDENT SUPERVISION: Completed: 5 PhD, 23 MSc, 26 Honours TEACHING: Behavioural Ecology (3rd year course), Evolution (2nd year course), Biotic Diversity large mammals section (2nd year course), Introductory Life Sciences Ecology section (1st year course), Animal Behaviour and Ecology (Honours course).

Subject Matter Expertise

• ★ Wildlife Management
• ★ Conservation Biology
• ☆ Technical & Scientific Writing

Services

• Writing
• Research
• Consulting
• Data & AI

Writing Technical Writing

Research Market Research, User Research, Meta-Research, Feasibility Study, Fact Checking, Gap Analysis, Gray Literature Search, Systematic Literature Review, Secondary Data Collection

Consulting Scientific and Technical Consulting

Data & AI Statistical Analysis, Data Visualization, Data Processing

Work Experience

Associate Professor

University of the Witwatersrand

February 2011 - Present

Education

PhD (School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences)

University of the Witwatersrand

February 2002 - February 2007

Laurea Magistrale

Universita' degli Studi di Firenze

October 1993 - March 1999

Certifications

• Certification details not provided.

Publications

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Francesca Parrini, Darren W. Pietersen, Jolene T. Fisher, Kelsey L. Glennon, Kimberley A. Murray(2021). Distribution of Temminck's pangolin ( Smutsia temminckii ) in South Africa, with evaluation of questionable historical and contemporary occurrence records . African Journal of Ecology. Wiley

Francesca Parrini, Elena Mariotti, Cornelius J Louw, Jason P Marshal(2020). What grass characteristics drive large herbivore feeding patch selection? A case study from a South African grassland protected area . African Journal of Range & Forage Science. 37. (4). p. 286--294. National Inquiry Services Center ({NISC})

Francesca Parrini, Giacomo D’Ammando, Jason P. Marshal(2019). Seasonal shifts in habitat use and diet by eland confined in a small fenced reserve . African Journal of Ecology. Wiley

S. W. Yiu, L. Karczmarski, F. Parrini, M. Keith(2019). Resource selection in reintroduced lions and the influence of intergroup interactions . Journal of Zoology. 307. (2). p. 111--124. Wiley

Yiu, S.W., Karczmarski, L., Parrini, F., Keith, M.(2019). Resource selection in reintroduced lions and the influence of intergroup interactions . Journal of Zoology. 307. (2). p. 111-124.

Parrini, F., D’Ammando, G., Marshal, J.P.(2019). Seasonal shifts in habitat use and diet by eland confined in a small fenced reserve . African Journal of Ecology. 57. (3). p. 394-403.

Tesfai, R.T., Owen-Smith, N., Parrini, F., Moehlman, P.D.(2019). Viability of the critically endangered African wild ass (Equus africanus) population on Messir Plateau (Eritrea) . Journal of Mammalogy. 100. (1). p. 185-191.

Muvengwi, J., Parrini, F., Witkowski, E.T.F., Davies, A.B.(2019). Are Termite Mounds Always Grazing Hotspots? Grazing Variability with Mound Size, Season and Geology in an African Savanna . Ecosystems. 22. (1). p. 125-136.

Muvengwi, J., Davies, A.B., Parrini, F., Witkowski, E.T.F.(2018). Geology drives the spatial patterning and structure of termite mounds in an African savanna . Ecosphere. 9. (3).

Muvengwi, J., Davies, A.B., Parrini, F., Witkowski, E.T.F.(2018). Contrasting termite diversity and assemblages on granitic and basaltic African savanna landscapes . Insectes Sociaux. 65. (1). p. 25-35.

Cook, R.M., Parrini, F., King, L.E., Witkowski, E.T.F., Henley, M.D.(2018). African honeybees as a mitigation method for elephant impact on trees . Biological Conservation. 217. p. 329-336.

Yiu, S.-W., Parrini, F., Karczmarski, L., Keith, M.(2017). Home range establishment and utilization by reintroduced lions (Panthera leo) in a small South African wildlife reserve . Integrative Zoology. 12. (4). p. 318-332.

Cook, R.M., Witkowski, E.T.F., Helm, C.V., Henley, M.D., Parrini, F.(2017). Recent exposure to African elephants after a century of exclusion: Rapid accumulation of marula tree impact and mortality, and poor regeneration . Forest Ecology and Management. 401. p. 107-116.

Muvengwi, J., Witkowski, E.T.F., Davies, A.B., Parrini, F.(2017). Termite mounds vary in their importance as sources of vegetation heterogeneity across savanna landscapes . Journal of Vegetation Science. 28. (5). p. 1008-1017.

Marshal, J.P., Rankin, C., Nel, H.P., Parrini, F.(2016). Drivers of population dynamics in sable antelope: forage, habitat or competition? . European Journal of Wildlife Research. 62. (5). p. 549-556.

Miranda, M., Parrini, F.(2015). Congruence between species phylogenetic and trophic distinctiveness . Biodiversity and Conservation. 24. (2). p. 355-369.

Yiu, S.-W., Keith, M., Karczmarski, L., Parrini, F.(2015). Early post-release movement of reintroduced lions (Panthera leo) in Dinokeng Game Reserve, Gauteng, South Africa . European Journal of Wildlife Research. 61. (6). p. 861-870.

D'Ammando, G., Parrini, F., Attorre, F., Boitani, L.(2015). Observations on dry season grazing by eland in a Magaliesberg Nature Reserve, South Africa . African Journal of Ecology. 53. (1). p. 112-115.

Cook, R.M., Henley, M.D., Parrini, F.(2015). Elephant movement patterns in relation to human inhabitants in and around the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park . Koedoe. 57. (1).

M. Miranda, F. Dalerum, F. Parrini(2014). Interaction patterns within a multi-herbivore assemblage derived from stable isotopes . Ecological Complexity. 20. p. 51--60. Elsevier {BV}

Hensman, M.C., Owen-Smith, N., Parrini, F., Bonyongo, C.M.(2014). Home range occupation and habitat use of sable antelope in the Okavango Delta region of northern Botswana . African Journal of Ecology. 52. (2). p. 237-245.

Hensman, M.C., Owen-Smith, N., Parrini, F., Bonyongo, C.M.(2014). Resource use and the nutritional status of sable antelope in the Okavango Delta region of northern Botswana . African Journal of Ecology. 52. (3). p. 265-273.

Odendaal-Holmes, K., Marshal, J.P., Parrini, F.(2014). Disturbance and habitat factors in a small reserve: Space use by establishing black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) . South African Journal of Wildlife Research. 44. (2). p. 148-160.

Miranda, M., Dalerum, F., Parrini, F.(2014). Interaction patterns within a multi-herbivore assemblage derived from stable isotopes . Ecological Complexity. 20. p. 51-60.

Chirima, G.J., Owen-Smith, N., Erasmus, B.F.N., Parrini, F.(2013). Distributional niche of relatively rare sable antelope in a South African savanna: Habitat versus biotic relationships . Ecography. 36. (1). p. 068-079.

Miranda, M., Parrini, F., Dalerum, F.(2013). A categorization of recent network approaches to analyse trophic interactions . Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 4. (10). p. 897-905.

Parrini, F., Macindoe, M., Erasmus, B.F.N.(2013). A comparison between field-measured NDVI and visual estimates of grass greenness in buffalo-foraging areas . African Journal of Ecology. 51. (4). p. 641-643.

Parrini, Francesca, Chirima, George J., Owen-Smith, Norman, Erasmus, Barend F. N.(2013). Distributional niche of relatively rare sable antelope in a South African savanna: habitat versus biotic relationships . Ecography. 36. (1). p. 68-79.

Hensman, M.C., Owen-Smith, N., Parrini, F., Erasmus, B.F.(2012). Dry season browsing by sable antelope in northern Botswana . African Journal of Ecology. 50. (4). p. 513-516.

Parrini, Francesca, Hensman, Michael C., Owen-Smith, Norman, Erasmus, Barend F. N.(2012). Dry season browsing by sable antelope in northern Botswana . African Journal of Ecology. 50. (4). p. 513-516.

Parrini, Francesca, Marshal, Jason P., Rajah, Azhar, Henley, Michelle, Henley, Stephen R., Erasmus, Barend F. N.(2011). Scale-dependent selection of greenness by African elephants in the Kruger-private reserve transboundary region, South Africa . European Journal of Wildlife Research. 57. (3). p. 537-548.

Marshal, J.P., Rajah, A., Parrini, F., Henley, M., Henley, S.R., Erasmus, B.F.N.(2011). Scale-dependent selection of greenness by African elephants in the Kruger-private reserve transboundary region, South Africa . European Journal of Wildlife Research. 57. (3). p. 537-548.

Parrini, F., Owen-Smith, N.(2010). The importance of post-fire regrowth for sable antelope in a Southern African savanna . African Journal of Ecology. 48. (2). p. 526-534.

Parrini, Francesca, Cain, James W., III, Krausman, Paul R.(2009). Capra ibex (Artiodactyla: Bovidae) . Mammalian Species. (830). p. 1-12.

Grignolio, S., Rossi, I., Bassano, B., Parrini, F., Apollonio, M.(2004). Seasonal variations of spatial behaviour in female alpine ibex (Capra ibex ibex) in relation to climatic conditions and age . Ethology Ecology and Evolution. 16. (3). p. 255-264.

Grignolio, S., Parrini, F., Bassano, B., Luccarini, S., Apollonio, M.(2003). Habitat selection in adult males of Alpine ibex, Capra ibex ibex . Folia Zoologica. 52. (2). p. 113-120.

Parrini, F., Grignolio, S., Luccarini, S., Bassano, B., Apollonio, M.(2003). Spatial behaviour of adult male Alpine ibex Copra ibex ibex in the Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy . Acta Theriologica. 48. (3). p. 411-423.

CONFERENCE PAPER

Parrini, F., Erasmus, B.F.N.(2009). Spatial and temporal heterogeneity of phenology patterns in Kruger National Park, South Africa: Different drivers for different areas . Proceedings, 33rd International Symposium on Remote Sensing of Environment, ISRSE 2009. p. 627-631.