Scientific publications (peer-reviewed)

 

1. Chelazzi G., Serra G., Bucciarelli G. 1997. Zonal recovery after experimental displacement in two sea urchins (Arbacia lixula and Paracentrotus lividus) co-occurring in the Mediterranean. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 212(1): 1-7.

     

2. Serra G., Chelazzi G., Castilla J.C. 1997. Effects of experience and risk of predation on the foraging behaviour of the South-Eastern Pacific muricid Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca: Gastropoda). Journal of Animal Ecology, 66(6): 876-883.

 

3. Serra G., Chelazzi G., Castilla J.C. 2001. Temporal and spatial activity of the key-hole limpet Fissurella crassa (Mollusca: Gastropoda) in the Eastern Pacific. Journal of the Marine Biological Association U.K, 81(3): 485-490.

 

4. Serra G., Lucentini M., Romano S. 2001. Diet and prey selection of nonbreeding peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus brookei) in a urban habitat of Italy. Journal of Raptor Research 35(1): 61-64.

 

5. Serra G., Abdallah M., Abdallah A., Al Qaim G., Fayed T., Assaed A., Williamson D. 2003. Discovery of a relict breeding colony of Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita  in Syria: still in time to save the eastern population ? Oryx, 38 (1): 1-7.

 

6. Larrucea E.S., Serra G., Jaeger  M.M., Barrett  R.H. 2007. Censusing bobcats using remote cameras. Western North American Naturalist 67(4): 538-548.

 

7. Serra G. Abdallah M. and G. Al Qaim. 2008. Feeding ecology and behaviour of last surviving middle eastern N. Bald Ibises breeding in the Syrian steppe. Zoology in the Middle East 43: 55-68.

 

8. Lindsell J., Serra G., Abdallah M.S., al Qaim G. and L. Peske. 2007. Satellite Tracking Reveals the Migration Route and Wintering Area of the Middle Eastern Population of Northern Bald Ibis. Oryx 196 (2): XY-ZW.

 

Currently in submission:

 

9. Serra G., Baccetti N., Zenatello M., Serra L. In submiss. Island selection by breeding Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii) in Sardinia, Italy. Condor.

 

10. Serra G., Jaeger  M.M., Barrett  R.H. In submiss. Detecting and censusing coyote (Canis latrans) populations using infrared-triggered cameras. Wildlife Journal.

 

11. Serra G. and D. Chatty In submıss. Community participation and awareness raising in a biodiversity conservation project within the central Syrian desert. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning.

 

      12. Serra G., Abdallah M.S., al Qaim G., Peske L. In submiss. Breeding ecology of the last oriental N. Bald Ibises in the Syria desert. Zoology of the Middle East.

 

Conservation publications and reports

 

1.  Serra G., Melega L., Baccetti N. 2001. Piano di Azione Nazionale per il Gabbiano corso (Larus audouinii). Quaderni di Conservazione della Natura, Ministero dell'Ambiente e Istituto Nazionale Fauna Selvatica (INFS) “Alessandro Ghigi”, pp. 29. [transl. = National Action Plan for the Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii) published by INFS (Italian National Institute for Wildlife Conservation) upon request of the Italian Ministry of Environment].

 

2. Serra G. 2002 a. Proposal for an action plan to protect wildlife of Palmyrean desertic steppe. FAO report project GCP/SYR/009/ITA prepared upon request of Syrian Ministry of Environment (available at FAO Representation in Damascus Syria).

 

3. Serra G. 2002 b. Advocating protection and future sustainable development of seasonal salt-lake sabkhat al moh (IBA site, BirdLife International 1994). FAO report project GCP/SYR/009/ITA prepared for the Syrian Ministry of Agriculture (available at FAO Representation in Damascus, Syria).

 

4. Bowden C.G.R., Serra G., Budieri A., Al Jbour S. 2002. Report on a visit by BLI in response to the recent discovery of breeding Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in the Palmyra region of Syria. Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), internal report.

 

5. Serra G. 2003 a. Discovery of Northern Bald Ibises in Syria. World Birdwatch (BirdLife International magazine), 25(1): 10-13.

 

6. Serra G. 2003 b. Assessment of the Natural and Cultural Heritage of al talila Reserve. FAO report project GCP/SYR/009/ITA (available at FAO Representation in Damascus, Syria).

 

7. Serra G. and D. Williamson 2003. Management Plan of al talila Reserve 2004-2006. FAO report project GCP/SYR/009/ITA (available at FAO Representation in Damascus, Syria).

 

8. Serra G., Batello C., Williamson D. 2003. From Indifference to Awareness. FAO publication (available at FAO Hqs, Rome, Italy). 47 pp.

 

9. Serra 2005. Time running out for Syrian ibises. World Birdwatch (BirdLife International magazine), 27(4): 9.

 

10. Boehm C., Bowden C., El Bekkay M., Evans S., Hatypoglu T., Jiménez A.M., Jordan M., Kotrschal K., Lenten B, López V., José M., Madroño  A., Nagy S., Pegoraro K., Quevedo M., Rivera E., Serra G., Tavares J. 2005. International Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita Action Plan. UNEP-AEWA, BirdLife International. 89 pp.

 

11. Murdoch D.A., Vos R., Abdallah A., Abdallah M.,  Andrews I., Al Assad A., Van Beusekom R., Hofland R., Roth T., Saveyn B., Serra G., Wells C. 2005. A winter survey of Syrian Wetlands. Final Report of the Syrian Wetland Expedition January-February 2004. Ornithological Society of the Middle East (OSME), BirdLife International, Wetlands International. 55 pp.

 

12. Serra G., Abdallah M., Assaed A., Al Qaim G., Abdallah A. 2005.  A long-term bird survey of central Syrian desert (2000-2003) – Part 1. Sandgrouse, 27(1): 9-23.

 

13. Serra G., Al Qaim G., Abdallah M., Kanani A., Assaed A.K. 2005.  A long-term bird survey of central Syrian desert (2000-2003) – Part 2. Sandgrouse, 27(2): 104-125.

 

14. Serra G. 2005. Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni – a first record for Syria. Sandgrouse 27 (1): 77.

 

15. Murdoch D.A., Tyler G., Serra G., Bowden C. and M. Abdallah. 2005.  A record of Dunn’s Lark Eremalauda dunni from Syria. Sandgrouse 27 (1): 78.

 

16. Serra G., M. Abdallah and G. al Qaim. 2006. First breeding record of Trumpeter Finch Bucanetes githagineus in Syria. Sandgrouse XY (Z): WV.

 

17. Sindaco R., Serra G., Menegon M., 2006. New data on the Syrian herpetofauna, with a newly-recorded species of snake (Amphibia, Reptilia). Zoology in the Middle East, 37: 29-38.

 

18. Serra G. 2006. Improving the living conditions of mobile indigenous people of Syrian arid steppe land through sustainable development and nature conservation. Project proposal and feasibility analysis commissioned by Fund for Integrated Rural Development Of Syria (FIRDOS), 27 + 23 pp.

 

19. Murdoch D.A. and G. Serra. 2006.  The status of Sociable Plover Vanellus gregarius in Syria. Sandgrouse, 28(1): 57-61.

 

20. Serra G., Murdoch D., Turkelboom F., Travert F., Mujawer Y., Scott D. 2006. Sabkhat al-jabbul, a Threatened Ramsar Wetland in Syria. Sandgrouse 28 (2): 127-141.

 

21. Serra G. and L. Peske. 2006 a. Coordinating protection efforts of breeding N. Bald Ibises Geronticus eremita in Palmyra (Syria) and trapping / satellite tagging 3 individuals. BirdLife International / Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), internal report.

 

22. Serra G. and L. Peske. 2006 b. N. Bald Ibis conservation efforts in Syria 2002-2006: results and lessons learned. In N. Bald Ibis conservation and reintroduction workshop. Eds. C. Boehm, Bowden CGR, Jordan M. and C. King. Second meeting of the International Advisory Group on N. Bald Ibis (IAGNBI), Vejer (Spain) 2007.

 

23. Serra 2007. Ecotourism in the Palmyra desert, Syria. A feasibility study. BirdLife International, 88 pp.

 

24. Serra G., Peske L., Wondafrash M. 2007. Preliminary survey of Middle Eastern N. Bald Ibises at their recently discovered wintering grounds in Ethiopian highlands. BirdLife International / Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), internal report.

 

25. Celine Dutilly-Diane, Nancy McCarthy, Francis Turkelboom, Adriana Bruggeman, James Tiedemann, Kenneth Street, and Gianluca Serra. 2007. Could Payments for Environmental Services Improve Rangeland Management in Central Asia, West Asia and North Africa?. CAPRi working paper 62. Washington, DC: IFPRI.

 

26. Benyamini, D., Bruschini, C., Serra, G., E. John. 2007. First confirmed records of Papilio demoleus (Linnaeus 1758) in Syria, with comments on the species’ appearance  in Turkey and the Dominican Republic. News of the Is. Lepidopterists Society, 24(2): 4-10.

 

27. Serra G., Abdallah M. S. and G. Al Qaim. 2007. Occurrence of Rüppell’s Fox, Vulpes rueppelli, and Sand Cat, Felis margarita, in Syria. Zoology in the Middle East, 42: XY-ZW.

 

Conservation education and awareness raising

 

1.  Press releases on media (2002-07):

·       BBC World news. 2002. “Endangered bird delights conservationists’

·       The Guardian. 2002. “Lost colony revives hopes for rare ibis’

·       Corriere della Sera. 2005. “Ibis, un volo verso il mistero”

·       BBC World news, 2006. “Rare Middle East bald ibis tagged”

·       BBC World news. 2006. “Winter home find cheers twitchers

·       Science Daily. 2006. “Tagging success boosts hopes for Arabian Phoenix” 

·       Syria Today. 2007 (March issue). “The Punks of Palmyra”

·       BirdLife International news. 2007. “Come home to Palmyra”

 

2. BBC World, Earth Report Series. 2004. “Abu Anouk: Son of the Scythe”. 27-min documentary broadcasted globally in August 2004.

 

3. National Geographic web site and Wild Chronicles. 2007. Video titled “Extinct Ibis found in Middle East”.

 

4. Six panels (texts and images) for the Desert Culture and Nature Education Center of al talila  Reserve (Palmyra, Syria) 2003 (available at FAO Representation in Damascus, Syria).

 

5. Three posters about the birdlife of the Palmyrean desert in English and Arabic, 2003 (available at FAO Representation in Damascus, Syria).

 

6. Web site aimed at promoting birdwatching in Syria and a Palmyra eco-guiding cooperative. 2004.

 

7. Photo-exhibition titled “Cultural and Natural Heritage of Syrian Desert under Threat”, inaugurated by H.E. the Syrian First Lady. Damascus, October 2006.

 

8. Web site on the Peregrine Falcon nesting on the Florence Cathedral, Florence Province. 2007.

 

Workshop and congress presentations

 

1. Serra G., Baccetti N., Zenatello M., Serra L. 2000. Monitoring the Italian population of Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii) during the period 1997-99. International Workshop titled “Conservation of the Audouin’s Gull (Larus audouinii) in the Mediterranean”, held at Leros (Greece), October 2000.

 

2. Serra G., Mirreh M.M. 2001. Development of a protected area within the Syrian steppe desert using a multi-utilization approach. International Workshop titled “Economy, Ethics and Environment: the role of parks and protected areas of the Mediterranean”, held in Aspromonte National Park (Italy), July 2001.

 

3. Serra G. 2002 c. Wildlife of Palmyrean al badia: present status, threats and conservation recommendations. Workshop titled “Syrian biodiversity conservation”, organized by the Syrian Ministry of Environmental Affairs, aimed at developing the Syrian National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. Held in Aleppo (Syria), April 2002.

 

4. Serra G. 2004. Discovery and protection of critically endangered Geronticus eremita through involvement of Bedouin nomands, in the Syrian desert. International workshop titled “International Species Action Plan for the Northern Bald Ibis”, organized by the International Advisory Group on Northern Bald Ibis (IAGNBI), held in Madrid (Spain), January 2004.

 

5. Dutilly-Diane C., McCarthy N., Turkelboom F., Bruggeman A., Tiedeman J., Street K., Serra G. 2004. Environmental Services and the Rangelands in the CWANA Region. 10th Biennial Conference of the IASCP, Oaxaca (Mexico),  August 2004.

 

6. Serra G. and D. Chatty 2004. Community Participation and Awareness Raising in a Biodiversity Conservation Project within the Central Syrian Desert. IUCN World Conservation Congress, Bangkok (Thailand), November 2004.

 

7. Serra G. 2005. Still on time to save the Northern Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita in the Middle East? A case study: discovery and community-based conservation of a critically endangered species. International Conference titled “Sky and Earth, Conservation Status of Birds, a global, European and national perspective”, organized by Lega Italiana Protezione Uccelli (LIPU), BirdLife Intl. Partner for Italy, Rome (Italy), May 2005.

 

8. Serra 2005. Four new mammal records for Syria. IUCN Global Mammal Assessment. South-west Asia Workshop, held in Samsun (Turkey), November 2005.

 

9. Serra G. and L. Peske. 2006. Northern Bald Ibis conservations efforts in Syria 2002-06: results and lessons learned. International workshop organized by International Advisory Group on Northern Bald Ibis (IAGNBI), held in Andalusia (Spain), September 2006.

 

10. Serra G. and K.A. Abdallah 2007. Nature conservation and hema system in the Syrian desert. International workshop titled “A Road Map Towards More Equitable Conservation and Poverty Reduction in West Central Asia and North Africa (WESCANA) Region Using Traditional Approaches” organized by IUCN and BirdLife International, held in Bekaa Valley (Lebanon), March 2007.