We will present recent research directions pursued together with several
collaborators to understand natural situations via mathematical tools.

a) exploiting the biological control of pests in fruit orchards

This line of investigations, carried out with the biologists
colleagues in Torino, considers models for spiders as generalist predators
of pests in agroecosystems.

b) modeling the interplay of herbivores and vegetation in regional parks;

Mathematical models are used here for the management of resources in public
parks, to assess the policy decisions available to administrators.

c) transmissible disease containment in farms.

The long lasting collaboration with field veterinarians aims at lessening
the consequences of an epidemic in the Cuneo province, one of the hog most
densely populated areas in the country.