The Sumner Lab Insect Research Group · UCL
Alessandro Cini

Alessandro Cini

Postdoctoral Research Fellow (Marie Skłodowska-Curie)

Former lab member

Ale under a hover wasp cluster in Malaysia.

Position: Post-doctoral research fellow (Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant)

Project: Insect social parasites: behavioural genomics models for understanding the basis of phenotypic evolution

Research interests

I’m an ethologist interested in animal sociality and communication. I mainly focus my research on social insects (paper wasps, hornets and honeybees), but through collaborations I’ve also explored other model organisms — including two invasive alien species, Drosophila suzukii and Rhynchophorus ferrugineus — and rather different topics, such as the biogeography of Mediterranean butterfly assemblages.

I like an integrated approach combining behavioural, chemical and population genetic tools. During my PhD I studied the proximate and ultimate factors affecting the interspecific relationship in the paper wasp social parasite-host system Polistes sulcifer–Polistes dominula, exploring the life-history traits of this model system and discovering behavioural and chemical traits specific to the parasite or host species.

In the Sumner Lab, I explore the molecular basis of phenotypic evolution using Polistes social parasites and their hosts as model systems. Insect social parasites show striking phenotypic diversity compared to their hosts, having lost ancestral, free-living traits (e.g. the worker caste) and gained new ones adapted to exploiting host resources. Comparing the molecular basis of host and social parasite traits provides a unique opportunity to study the molecular basis of phenotypic evolution.

Background/Biography

  • 2014–2017: Post-doctoral Researcher, University of Florence, Italy. Projects: UNIFI-UNAPI (biology and behaviour of Vespa velutina) and PRIN “Social immunity in honeybee: behavioural, chemical and microbiological aspects” (2012RCEZWH_001)
  • 2012–2014: Post-doctoral Researcher, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France (Fondation Fyssen Grant)
  • 2012–2014: Post-doc, CRA — Centro Ricerca per la Sperimentazione in Agricoltura, Florence, Italy (Project LIFE11 NAT/IT/000252 MIPP)
  • 2011–2012: Center for Research and Innovation, Fondazione E. Mach — scientific dissemination of the European project ENVIROCHANGE
  • 2008–2010: PhD in Ethology and Animal Ecology, Dipartimento di Biologia Evoluzionistica “Leo Pardi”, Università di Firenze, under the supervision of Dr.ssa Rita Cervo
  • 2008: Diploma di Licenza in Scienze Biologiche, Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa
  • 2007: Master’s Degree in Neurobiology (summa cum laude), University of Pisa

Teaching

  • “Social Insects in the Tropical Environments”, International Master Course TROPIMUNDO, 2014–2016, University of Florence
  • “Experimental Biology Laboratory”, Master’s degree in Biology, teaching assistant, Dept. Biology, 2011, University of Florence

Main publications (full list on Google Scholar)

  • Zapponi, L.*, Cini, A.*, Bardiani, M., Hardersen, S., Maura, M., Maurizi, E., et al. (2016) Citizen science data as an efficient tool for mapping protected saproxylic beetles. Biological Conservation. (*equally contributing authors)
  • Cini A., Patalano S., Segonds-Pichon A., Busby G., Cervo R., Sumner S. (2015) Social parasitism and the molecular basis of phenotypic evolution. Frontiers in Genetics 6, 32.
  • Inghilesi A.F., Mazza G., Cervo R., Cini A. (2015) A network of sex and competition: the promiscuous mating system of an invasive weevil. Current Zoology 61, 85-97.
  • Cini, A., Ortolani, I., Zechini, L., & Cervo, R. (2015) Facial markings in the social cuckoo wasp Polistes sulcifer: no support for the visual deception and the assessment hypotheses. Behavioural Processes. 111, 19-24.
  • Cini, A., Anfora, G., Escudero-Colomar, L.A., Grassi, A., Santosuosso, U., Seljak, G., & Papini, A. (2014) Tracking the invasion of the alien fruit pest Drosophila suzukii in Europe. Journal of Pest Science, 87(4), 559-566.
  • Baracchi, D., & Cini, A. (2014) A socio-spatial combined approach confirms a highly compartmentalised structure in honeybees. Ethology, 120(12), 1167-1176.
  • Cini, A., Nieri, R., Dapporto, L., Monnin, T., & Cervo, R. (2014) Almost royal: incomplete suppression of host worker ovarian development by a social parasite wasp. Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 68(3), 467-475.
  • Cini, A., Bruschini, C., Signorotti, L., Pontieri, L., Turillazzi, S., & Cervo, R. (2011) The chemical basis of host nest detection and chemical integration in a cuckoo paper wasp. Journal of Experimental Biology, 214(21), 3698-3703.
  • Cini, A., Bruschini, C., Poggi, L., & Cervo, R. (2011) Fight or fool? Physical strength, instead of sensory deception, matters in host nest invasion by a wasp social parasite. Animal Behaviour, 81(6), 1139-1145.
  • Cini, A., Gioli, L., & Cervo, R. (2009) A quantitative threshold for nest-mate recognition in a paper social wasp. Biology Letters, 5(4), 459-461.
  • Monnin, T., Cini, A., Lecat, V., Fédérici, P., & Doums, C. (2009) No actual conflict over colony inheritance despite high potential conflict in the social wasp Polistes dominulus. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 276(1662), 1593-1601.

Science outreach

I’ve been rather intensively devoted to science outreach in recent years, through public conferences and seminar series in museums, universities and nature reserves across Italy. I’m particularly interested in how citizens can join and help researchers, and have participated in citizen science projects including LIFEMIPP and the Italian Butterflies project on iNaturalist.

Contact: cini.ales@gmail.com · www.alecini.it