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Paola Movalli

Paola Movalli

I am an ecotoxicologist, interested in contaminants in the environment, in particular in wild animals, and the implications for wildlife and human health. I have a degree in pharmacy and a PhD in food and environmental toxicology. Following two Marie Curie Fellowships, I have worked mostly on raptors and other apex predators (e.g. otters, marine mammals) as sentinels of environmental contamination in European projects as well in The Netherlands. I use archive and contemporary samples in my research, favouring non-invasive methods in working with these protected species. I collaborate with a large network of over 100 natural science collections, environmental specimen banks, biologists and analytical laboratories in over 30 countries across Europe and internationally.

Keywords

Ecotoxicology, legacy contaminants, contaminants of emerging concern, raptors, apex predators, food chain, wide-scope target analysis, non-target screening, High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS)

Dr Paola Movalli

Researcher/Ecotoxicologist
Research Group NL Biodiversity & Society

paola.movalli@naturalis.nl

ResearchGate

Google Scholar

Research
interest

I am interested in exposure of wildlife to legacy and emerging contaminants in the environment, and the application of this knowledge to improve chemicals management in Europe. 

In recent years, my research has largely been in the context of pan-European collaborations on contaminants in top predators, including raptors, marine mammals and otters, with a view to improving chemicals risk assessment and thereby reducing risks to wildlife and humans. I was previously involved in running the European Networking Programme EURAPMON (2010-15) and the LIFE APEX project (2018-22) which worked to demonstrate novel regulatory applications of chemical monitoring data from apex predators and prey. I also led a pan-European Working Group on Collections for the COST Action European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility (2018-22). I am currently working on a major new Horizon Europe project 'TerraChem' on contaminants in terrestrial food chains - I focus on routes of exposure to chemicals in wildlife and extent of trophic transfer. Ongoing research also includes long-term monitoring of emerging contaminants in peregrines and in the black-tailed godwit, the national bird, in The Netherlands

Peregrine falcon
Eagle drawing

Current
topics

A selection of the topics I am working on currently/recently:

  • Horizon Europe project "From soils to apex species: chemical pathways, effects and impact on terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services and applications for better chemicals management', also known as TerraChem. Lead for Work Package 1: Monitoring chemicals exposure and mixture effects in terrestrial food chains in Europe. 
    Read more abour TerraChem
  • demonstration of use of contaminant monitoring data in raptors to assess effectiveness of chemical risk management measures, and revealing presence of chemical contaminants in apex predators (raptors, otters, marine mammals) and their prey through targeted and non-target screening analyses (using novel and complementary high resolution mass spectrometry techniques) through the LIFE APEX project
  • bringing together collections in Europe for development of a distributed European Raptor Specimen Bank as Working Group Lead for Collections within the European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility COST Action in support of better chemicals management
  • proof of concept for pan-European contaminant monitoring in raptors under the European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility 
  • long-term contaminant monitoring of the Dutch peregrine population '(sampling since 2014) using state of the art methods
  • monitoring of contaminants in the Dutch population of black-tailed godwit
Barn owl, Jasja Dekker

TerraChem: chemical contamination in nature mapped

The overall goal of TerraChem is to better understand wildlife exposure to all man-made chemicals. The research team will study the damage these chemicals cause to terrestrial biodiversity and ecosystem services in Europe. This will help develop more…
Read more

Key
publications

 

  • Movalli, P., Biesmeijer, K., Gkotsis, G., Alygizakis, N., Nika, M. C., Vasilatos, K., ... & Piersma, T. (2023). High resolution mass spectrometric suspect screening, wide-scope target analysis of emerging contaminants and determination of legacy pollutants in adult black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa in the Netherlands – A pilot study. Chemosphere 321, 138145.
  • Ozaki, S., Movalli, P., Cincinelli, A., Alygizakis, N., Badry, A., Chaplow, J. S., ... & Walker, L. (2023). The importance of in-year seasonal fluctuations for biomonitoring of apex predators: A case study of 14 essential and non-essential elements in the liver of the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) in the United Kingdom. Environmental Pollution 323, 121308.
  • Ramello, G., Duke, G., Dekker, R., van der Mije, S. & Movalli, P. (2022) A novel survey of raptor collections in Europe and their potential to provide samples for pan-European contaminant monitoring. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 29(12), 17017-17030.
  • Movalli, P., Koschorreck, J., Treu, G., Slobodnik, J., Alygizakis, N., Androulakakis, A., Badry, A., Baltag, E., Barbagli, F., Bauer, K., Biesmeijer, K…. Dekker,R.,... Koureas, D. et al. (2022). The role of natural science collections in the biomonitoring of environmental contaminants in apex predators in support of the EU’s zero pollution ambition. Environmental Sciences Europe, 34(1), pp.1-7.
  • Movalli, P., Duke, G., Ramello, G., Dekker, R., Vrezec, A., Shore, R. F., ... & Badry, A. (2019). Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 1-5.
  • Movalli, P., Bode, P., Dekker, R., Fornasari, L. van der Mije, S. & Yosef, R. (2017) Retrospective biomonitoring of mercury and other elements in museum feathers of common kestrel Falco tinnunculus using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Environ Sci Pollut Res. DOI 10.1007/s11356-017-0157-1

For a full list of publications see ResearchGate

PhD
supervision

Supervision of four short-term scientific missions (three postdocs, one masters level) within the COST Action "European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility" (2018-2022). These have involved early stage researchers travelling from one European country to another. 

 

 

Topics have included a review of raptor collections in Europe, development of a  European database on frozen raptor specimens, and addressing constraints to shipping of raptor samples, hosted by Naturalis, the Danish Museum of Natural History and University of Murcia. 

Peregrine chicks

Teaching
activities

  • Guest lecturer, Porto Natural History Museum / University of Porto, PhD Advanced course in museum techniques (2021, 2022, 2023)
  • Convener and lead lecturer, EURAPMON Summer School on Monitoring for and with raptors (lectures and practicals involving international guest lecturers) Naturalis Biodiversity Center, for c.15 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, 27-29 August 2014.

In the
media

Here is a link to a feature online in The Guardian (originally published in The Observer) on chemicals in birds of prey which refers to my work at Naturalis: 'How Birds of Prey are Exposing a Toxic Timebomb'- 29 September 2022

See here a film I produced and directed on Contaminant monitoring in raptors for better chemicals management in Europe - the role of natural science collections - February 2021

and another film produced in collaboration with the University of Murcia on Processing raptor carcasses for contaminant monitoring - a brief guide for natural science collections - February 2021

 

 

Observer feature on chemicals in birds of prey

Here is a link to an article in NatureToday on contaminants in the black-tailed godwit (grutto): "Dutch godwits have a 'toxin cocktail' in their liver" -08 April 2023 (in Dutch)

Here another article in Algemeen dagblad Rotterdam on ''Godwits are full of toxins: bad for chicks'' April 2023 (in Dutch)

Black-tailed godwit

Publications

2023

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Movalli P., Biesmeijer J.C., Gkotsis G., Alygizakis N., Nika M.C., Vasilatos K., Kostakis M., Thomaidis N.S., Oswald P., Oswaldova M., Slobodnik J., Glowacka N., Hooijmeijer J.C.E.W., Howison R.A., Dekker R.W.R.J., Brink N. van den, Piersma T. 2023. High resolution mass spectrometric suspect screening, wide-scope target analysis of emerging contaminants and determination of legacy pollutants in adult black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa in the Netherlands – A pilot study.. Chemosphere 321: 138145. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138145
Ozaki S., Movalli P., Cincinelli A., Alygizakis N., Badry A., Chaplow J. S., Classen D., Dekker R.W.R.J., Dodd B., Duke G., Koschorreck J., Pereira M. G., Potter E., Slobodnik J., Thacker S., Thomaidis N.S., Treu G., Walker L. 2023. The importance of in-year seasonal fluctuations for biomonitoring of apex predators: A case study of 14 essential and non-essential elements in the liver of the common buzzard (Buteo buteo) in the United Kingdom.. Environmental Pollution 323: 121308. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121308
2022

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Badry A., Slobodnik J., Alygizakis N., Bunke D., Cincinelli A., Claßen D., Dekker R.W.R.J., Duke G., Dulio V., Göckener B., Gkotsis G., Hanke G., Jartun M., Movalli P., Nika M.-C., Rüdel H., Thomaidis N.S., Tarazona J.V., Tornero V., Treu G., Vorkamp K., Walker L.A., Koschorreck J. 2022. Using environmental monitoring data from apex predators for chemicals management: towards harmonised sampling and processing of archived wildlife samples to increase the regulatory uptake of monitoring data in chemicals .management.. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE 34 (1) : 81. DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-022-00664-6
Movalli P., Koschorreck J., Treu G., Slobodnik J., Alygizakis N., Androulakakis A., Badry A., Baltag E., Barbagli F., Bauer K., Biesmeijer K., Borgo E., Cincinelli A., Claßen D., Danielsson S., Dekker R.W.R.J., Dietz R., Eens M., Espín S., Eulaers I., Frahnert S., Fuiz T.I., García-Fernández A.J., Fuchs J., Gkotsis G., Glowacka N., Gómez-Ramírez P., Grotti M., Hosner P.A., Johansson U., Jaspers V.L.B., Koureas D., Krone O., Kubin F., Lefevre C., Leivits M., Brutto S.L., Lopes R.J., Lourenço R., Lymberakis P., Madslien K., Martellini T., Mateo R., Nika M-C., Osborn D., Oswald P., Pauwels O., Pereira M.G., Pezzo F., Sánchez-Virosta P., Sarajlić N., Shore R.F., Soler F., Sonne C., Thomaidis N., Töpfer T., Väinölä R., Brink N. van den, Vrezec A., Walker L., Weigl S., Wernham C., Woog F., Zorrilla I., Duke G. 2022. The role of natural science collections in the biomonitoring of environmental contaminants in apex predators in support of the EU's zero pollution ambition.. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE 34 (1) DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-022-00670-8
Badry A., Rüdel H., Bernd Göckener B., Nika M.-C., Alygizakis N., Gkotsis G.,Thomaidis N.S., Treu G., Dekker R.W.R.J., Movalli P., Walker L.A., Potter E.D., Cincinelli A., Martellini T., Duke G., Slobodnik J., Koschorreck J. 2022. Making use of apex predator sample collections: an integrated workflow for quality assured sample processing, analysis and digital sample freezing of archived samples.. Chemosphere 309: 136603. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136603
2021

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Ramello G., Duke G., Dekker R.W.R.J., Mije S. van der, Movalli P. 2021. A novel survey of raptor collections in Europe and their potential to provide samples for pan‑European contaminant monitoring.. Environmental Science and Pollution Research: 14 p. Springer. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16984-8
Androulakakis A., Alygizakis N., Gkotsis G., Nika M.-C., Nikolopoulou V., Bizani E., Chadwick E., Cincinelli A., Claßen D., Danielsson S., Dekker R.W.R.J., Duke G., Glowacka N., Jansman H.A.H., Krone O., Martellini T., Movalli P., Persson S., Roos A., O’Rourke E., Siebert U., Treu G., Brink N.W. van den, Walker L.A., Deaville R., Slobodnik J., Thomaidis N.S. 2021. Determination of 56 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in top predators and their prey from Northern Europe by LC-MS/MS.. Chemospere 287: 11 p. 131775. Elsevier. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131775
Dulsat-Masvidal M., Lourenço R., Lacorte S., D'Amico M., Albayrak T., Andevski J., Aradis A., Baltag E., Berger-Tal O., Berny P., Choresh Y., Duke G., Espín, S. García-Fernández A.J., Gómez-Ramírez P., Hallgrimsson G.T., Jaspers V., Johansson U., Kovacs A., Krone O., Leivits M., Martínez-López E., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sánchez-Virosta P., Shore R.F., Valkama J., Vrezec A., Xirouchakis S., Walker L.A., Wernham C. 2021. A review of constraints and solutions for collecting raptor samples and contextual data for a European Raptor Biomonitoring Facility. Science of the Total Environment 793: 11 p. 148599. Elsevier. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148599
Espín S., Andevski J., Duke G., Eulaers I., Gómez-Ramírez P., Thor Hallgrimsson G., Helander B., Herzke D., Jaspers V.L.B., Krone O., Lourenço R., María-Mojica P., Martínez-López E., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sánchez-Virosta P., Shore R.F., Sonne C., Brink N.W. van den, Hattum B. van, Vrezec A., Wernham C., García-Fernández A.J. 2021. A schematic sampling protocol for contaminant monitoring in raptors. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 50: 95-100. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-020-01341-9
2020

Journals non-SCI, peer-reviewed

Tedesco M.R., Mandalà G., Consentino M.C., Ientile R., Lo Valvo F., Movalli P., Sabella G., Spadola F., Spinnato A., Vicari D., Toscano F., Viglianisi F., Lo Brutto S. 2020. The first inventory of birds of prey in sicilian museum collections (Italy). Museologia Scientifica 14: 67-80.

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

2019

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Movalli P., Duke G., Ramello G., Dekker R., Vrezec A., Shore R.F., Garcia-Fernandez A., Wernham C., Krone O., Alygizakis N.A., Badry A., Barbagli F., Biesmeijer K., Boano G., Bond A.L., Choresh Y., Christensen J.B., Cincinelli A., Danielsson S., Dias A., Dietz R., Eens M., Espin S., Eulaers I., Frahnert S., Fuiz T.I., Gkotsis G., Glowacka N., Gomez-Ramirez P., Grotti M., Guiraud M., Hosner P.A., Johansson U., Jaspers V.L.B., Kamminga P., Koschorreck J., Knopf B., Kubin E., Lo Brutto S., Lourenco R., Martellini T., Martinez-Lopez E., Mateo R., Nika M.-C., Nikolopoulou V., Osborn D., Pauwels O., Pavia M., Pereira M.G., Rüdel H., Sanchez-Virosta P., Slobodnik J., Sonne C., Thomaidis N., Töpfer T., Treu G., Vainola R., Valkama J., Mije S. van der, Vangeluwe D., Warren B.H., Woog F. 2019. Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation.. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26 (28) : 29503-29505. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06137-3
Movalli P., Duke G., Ramello G., Dekker., Vrezec A., Shore R.F., Garcia-Fernandez A., Wernham C., Krone O., Alygizakis N., Badry A., Barbagli F., Biesmeijer K., Boano G., Bond A.L., Choresh Y., Christensen J.B., Cincinelli A., Danielsson S., Dias A., Dietz R., Eens M., Espin S., Eulaers I., Frahnert S., Fuiz T.I., Gkotsis G., Glowacka N., Gomez-Ramirez P., Grotti M., Guiraud M., Hosner P., Johansson U., Jaspers V.L.B., Kamminga P., Koschorreck J., Knopf B., Kubin E., LoBrutto S., Lourenco R., Martellini T., Martinez-Lopez E., Mateo R., Nika M-C., Nikolopoulou V., Osborn D., Pauwels O., Pavia M., Pereira M. Glória, Ruedel H., Sanchez-Virosta P., Slobodnik J., Sonne C., Thomaidis N., Töpfer T., Treu G., Vainola R., Valkama J., Mije S. van der, Vangeluwe D., Warren B.H., Woog F. 2019. Correction to: Progress on bringing together raptor collections in Europe for contaminant research and monitoring in relation to chemicals regulation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research 26 (20) : 20132–20136. Springer. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-05340-6
2018

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Derlink M., Wernham C., Bertoncelj I., Kovacs A., Saurola P., Duke G., Movalli P., Vrezec A. 2018. A review of raptor and owl monitoring activity across Europe: its implications for capacity building towards pan-European monitoring. Bird Study: s4-s20. DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1447546
Movalli P., Krone O., Osborn D., Pain D. 2018. Monitoring contaminants, emerging infectious diseases and environmental change with raptors, and links to human health. Bird Study: the Journal of the British Trust for Ornithology DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00063657.2018.1506735
2017

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Movalli P., Bode P., Dekker R., Fornasari L., Mije S. van der, Reuven Y. 2017. Retrospective biomonitoring of mercury and other elements in museum feathers of common kestrel Falco tinnunculus using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Environmental Science and Pollution Research 24 (33) : 25986-26005. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0157-1
2016

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Espin S., Garcia-Fernandez A.J., Herzke D., Shore R.F., Hattum B. van, Martinez-Lopez E., Coeurdassier M., Eulaers I., Fritsch C., Gomez-Ramirez P., Jaspers V.L.B., Krone O., Duke G., Helander B., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sonne C., Brink N.W. van den 2016. Tracking pan-continental trends in environmental contamination using sentinel raptors-what types of samples should we use? ECOTOXICOLOGY 25 (4) : 777-801. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-016-1636-8
2014

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Gomez-Ramirez P., Shore R.F., Brink N.W. van den, Hattum B. van, Bustnes J.O., Duke G., Fritsch C., Garcia-Fernandez A.J., Helander B.O., Jaspers V., Krone O., Martinez-Lopez E., Mateo R., Movalli P., Sonne C. 2014. An overview of existing raptor contaminant monitoring activities in Europe.. Environment International 67: 12-21. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2014.02.004
2008

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Movalli P., Lo Valvo M., Pereira M.G., Osborn D. 2008. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in lanner Falco biarmicus feldeggii Schlegel chicks and lanner prey in Sicily, Italy.. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 37 (6) : 445-451.
Movalli P., Duke G., Osborn D. 2008. Introduction to monitoring for and with raptors.. AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 37 (6) : 395-396.
2000

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Movalli P.A. 2000. Heavy metal and other residues in feathers of laggar falcon Falco biarmicus jugger from six districts of Pakistan.. Environmental Pollution 109 (2) : 267-275. DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/s0269-7491(99)00258-4
1998

Journals SCI, peer-reviewed

Fasola M., Movalli P.A., Gandini C. 1998. Heavy metal, organochlorine pesticide, and PCB residues in eggs and feathers of herons breeding in northern Italy.. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 34 (1) : 87-93. DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s002449900289