Malacology. Taxonomy, systematics, phylogenesis, palaeontology,
biogeography and conservation of the non marine molluscs of the
western Palaearctic. This line of research is concerned with revision
of some critical groups of the Gastropoda of special conservation
interest which belong to the Italian fauna (terrestrial pulmonate
gastropods of the Zonitidae and Hygromiidae and fresh water prosobranch
gastropods of the Hydrobiidae).
Fauna of Tuscany and of the Tuscan archipelago. Survey,
monitoring and conservation of species of the so-called minor
fauna (invertebrates, fish, amphibians and reptiles) and birds,
with special reference to southern Tuscany.
History of natural sciences. Scholars and scientific
groups active in Tuscany between the middle of the 19th and
the early 20th century, including Giacomo Arrighi Griffoli
(1850-1916),
Silverio Bonelli (1840-1876), Marianna Paulucci (1835-1919),
the Società Malacologica Italiana (1874-1895) and
the Accademia dei Fisiocritici.
Annelid biology. Taxonomy, systematics, morphology, ultrastructure,
biogeography,biodiversity and ecology of the Clitellates and
other terrestrial, marine and freshwater annelids (Oligochetes,
Enchytraeidae, Hormogastridae, Lumbricidae and Branchiobdellidae
in particular) and of certain groups of the Polychetes of uncertain
phylogenetic position (Polygordiidae, Parergodrilidae, Ctenodrilidae
and Hrabeiella in particular).