Dr Novella Franconi

Research Officer

Biosciences

novella.franconi@swansea.ac.uk

Seminar Room - 138
First Floor
Wallace Building
Singleton Campus

Available For Postgraduate Supervision

Research Links

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4572-4083

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

Scopus

About

I am a research data manager and an ecologist, with 9 years of experience in biocuration, database design and research data management, especially using PostgreSQL, and 10 years’ experience in mammal ecology and wildlife management in the UK, France and Italy, working with Universities, Research Centres, Governing Bodies, Wildlife Management & Conservation NGOs, and Protected Areas. Before joining Swansea University, I obtained a MSc in Biosciences at the University of Pisa (Italy) and a PhD in Environmental Sciences and Technology at the University of Siena (Italy), and worked for the University of Siena (Italy), the French ONCFS Institute, and the international data sharing project EURODEER.

I develop and manage relational databases for marine research data, including fish telemetry, abundance and morphological data, benthos and sediment data, passive acoustic data, seabird and seagrass monitoring data, and fisheries socio-economic data. My expertise is on data management, spatial relational database design & management, data sharing and reproducibility, PostgreSQL and SQL language, remote sensing, animal movements and behaviour, wildlife management & conservation.

Areas Of Expertise

Object-relational spatial databases
SQL language
Data management
Data sharing
Animal behaviour
Movement ecology
Remote sensing
Surveys

Career Highlights

Teaching Interests

I currently teach in the 2nd year module BIO252 Ecological Data Analysis and in the 3rd year module BIO346 Professional Skills, covering data management, data standards and metadata description, FAIR data and reproducibility. Further teaching interests include database design and use, especially of spatial relational databases in PostgreSQL. Previously taught modules include field courses and professional modules in wildlife management and large animal capture techniques.

Research

Publications

Research Highlights

Franconi, N., Borger, L., FRANCONI, N., MICHELE, G., GANTZ, A., MESCHI, F., MANICA, A., LOVARI, S., & COULSON, T. (2006). Effects of sampling regime on the mean and variance of home range size estimates. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75(6), 1393-1405.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01164.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16618
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01164.x
Franconi, N., Borger, L., Franconi, N., Ferretti, F., Meschi, F., Michele, G., Gantz, A., & Coulson, T. (2006). An Integrated Approach to Identify Spatiotemporal and Individual‐Level Determinants of Animal Home Range Size. The American Naturalist, 168(4), 471-485.
https://doi.org/10.1086/507883, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16619
Williams, H., Taylor, L., Benhamou, S., Bijleveld, A., Clay, T., Jeudi de Grissac, S., Demšar, U., English, H., Franconi, N., Gómez‐Laich, A., Griffiths, R., Kay, W., Morales, J., Potts, J., Rogerson, K., Rutz, C., Spelt, A., Trevail, A., Wilson, R., & Borger, L. (2020). Optimizing the use of biologgers for movement ecology research. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89(1), 186-206.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13094, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52870
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31424571/

All Research

Journal Articles

Wikelski, M., Quetting, M., Bates, J., Berger‐Wolf, T., Bohrer, G., Borger, L., Chapple, T., Crofoot, M., Davidson, S., Dechmann, D., Ellis‐Soto, D., Ellwood, E., Fiedler, W., Flack, A., Fruth, B., Franconi, N., Havmøller, R., Hirt, J., Hussey, N...., & Kays, R. (2024). Introducing a unique animal ID and digital life history museum for wildlife metadata. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 15(10), 1777-1788.
https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210x.14407, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa67963
Bull, J., Jones, O., Borger, L., Franconi, N., Banga, R., Lock, K., & Stringell, T. (2021). Climate causes shifts in grey seal phenology by modifying age structure. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 288(1964), 20212284
https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2021.2284, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa58898
Williams, H., Taylor, L., Benhamou, S., Bijleveld, A., Clay, T., Jeudi de Grissac, S., Demšar, U., English, H., Franconi, N., Gómez‐Laich, A., Griffiths, R., Kay, W., Morales, J., Potts, J., Rogerson, K., Rutz, C., Spelt, A., Trevail, A., Wilson, R., & Borger, L. (2020). Optimizing the use of biologgers for movement ecology research. Journal of Animal Ecology, 89(1), 186-206.
https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2656.13094, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa52870
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31424571/
Franconi, N., Borger, L., Franconi, N., Ferretti, F., Meschi, F., Michele, G., Gantz, A., & Coulson, T. (2006). An Integrated Approach to Identify Spatiotemporal and Individual‐Level Determinants of Animal Home Range Size. The American Naturalist, 168(4), 471-485.
https://doi.org/10.1086/507883, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16619
Franconi, N., Borger, L., FRANCONI, N., MICHELE, G., GANTZ, A., MESCHI, F., MANICA, A., LOVARI, S., & COULSON, T. (2006). Effects of sampling regime on the mean and variance of home range size estimates. Journal of Animal Ecology, 75(6), 1393-1405.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01164.x, SU Repository: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa16618
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-2656.2006.01164.x

Taught Modules

BIO346 Professional Skills in Marine Biology

This module will introduce students to the professional techniques utilised to monitor and study marine life in a variety of marine and coastal habitats and in relation to conservation management and biodiversity monitoring in the United Kingdom. The course places a strong emphasis on marine ecological census techniques. Students will learn key skills relevant to the marine ecology sector including protected and economically-important species (especially marine mammals, fish, shellfish, coastal birds) and Phase 1 habitat surveys. Students will also learn about the biotic and abiotic factors that define different UK habitats and relevant regulations that protect them. The module provides an introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process and a range of impacts on the marine environment including energy generation and coastal development. Participants in this module will work in groups to discuss case study surveys and EIAs, including a presentation reporting findings from rapid ecological surveys for a case study EIA. The class will be responsible for collecting key survey data for a Preliminary Environmental Appraisal (PEA) Report in accordance with CIEEM for a proposed commercial development in Carmarthen Bay. During a field course, small groups will work as marine environmental consultancy companies responding to an Invitation to Tender with survey design, planning, cost estimation, data collection and analysis. A focus of the module is on developing key transferable skills that enhance employability such as survey design and planning, problem solving, data analysis, report writing, evaluation, communication and teamwork. This will be a residential field course.