Research and Publications

Mancini, A., Montagna, M., Zamencka, M., Roma, V., Taher, A.R., Hanafy, M., Parga, M. (2025). Assessing Injury Incidence and Recovery Rates in Green (Chelonia mydas) and Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) Turtles: Insights from a Citizen Science Initiative in the Egyptian Red Sea. Chelonian Conservation and Biology. https://doi.org/10.2744/CCB-1665.1

Montagna, M., Alatawi, A., Algohane, A., Alturki, S., Barrios-Garrido, H., Mancini, A., Al Mansi, A., Ramalho, R., Taher, A., Al Zahrani, A., Zamencka, M., Nicolas Pilcher, N. (2023). Combined Photo Identification and Flipper Tagging of Green Turtles Identify Connections Between Egyptian Red Sea Feeding Areas and a Key Nesting Area in Saudi Arabia. Indian Ocean Turtle Newsletter, 38: 2-7.

Montagna, M., Taher, A.R., Mancini, A. (2017). Combining citizen science and photo identification to monitor a key green turtle feeding ground in the southern Egyptian Red Sea. African Sea Turtle Newsletter, 7: 8-16.

Mancini A, Ramos Rivera BS, Montagna M, Taher AR, Fernández-Sanz H, Resendiz, E (Accepted) Snorkel surveys for in-water sea turtle studies. In: Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles 2nd ed (Eds. Fuentes M., Phillott A.D, and Rees A.F.). IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication

Papafitsoros, K., Hoh, D., Köhnk, S., Montagna, M., Witzmann, J. (Accepted). Sea Turtle Photo Identification: A Practical Guide. In: Research and Management Techniques for the Conservation of Sea Turtles, 2nd ed. (Eds. Fuentes, M., Phillott, A.D., and Rees, A.F.). IUCN/SSC Marine Turtle Specialist Group Publication.

Bilbeisi, A., Mallat, H., Montagna, M., & Fernández, Y. (2026). Enhancing Marine Turtle Conservation in the Jordanian Gulf of Aqaba: Phase II – Advancing Bycatch Mitigation through International Collaboration and Knowledge Exchange. Oral presentation at the 44th International Sea Turtle Society Symposium (ISTS), Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, USA, 28 February – 6 March 2026.

Montagna, M., Mancini, A., Roma, V., Taher, A., Zamencka, M., Eldakamawy, T., Tawila, M. A., & Hanafy, M. (2025). TURTLEWATCH EGYPT: A Citizen Science Initiative for Sea Turtle Conservation in the Egyptian Red Sea. Oral presentation at the 43rd International Sea Turtle Society Symposium, Accra, Ghana, 22–27 March 2025.

Montagna, M., Zamencka, M., Roma, V., Taher, A. R., & Mancini, A. (2024). Harnessing citizen science for assessing injury and recovery patterns of green and hawksbill turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea. Oral presentation at the 42nd ISTS Symposium, Pattaya, Thailand. 24-29 March 2024.

Montagna, M., Papafitsoros, K., Wordie, F., Mancini, A., Adam, L., Roma, V., Montanari, R., Samlidou, G., & Taher, A. (2026). Play, Learn, Conserve: Gamifying Photo-Identification to Engage the Public in Sea Turtle Conservation. Poster presented at the 44th International Sea Turtle Society Symposium (ISTS), Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, USA, 28 February – 6 March 2026.

Pirola, S., Mancini, A., Montagna, M., Roma, V., Montanari, R., Eldakamawy, T., Taher, A. R., & Hanafy, M. H. (2026). Two Decades of Citizen Science Data Reveal Habitat Use, Population Structure, and Movements of Sea Turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea. Poster presented at the 44th International Sea Turtle Society Symposium (ISTS), Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi Island, USA, 28 February – 6 March 2026.

Montagna, M., Ghallab, A., Mancini, A., Taher, A., Roma, V., Parga, M., Freggi, D., & Di Bello, A. (2025). From Harm to Hope: Promoting Awareness to Combat Mutilations of Sea Turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea. Poster presented at the 43rd International Sea Turtle Society Symposium, Accra, Ghana, 22–27 March 2025.

Mancini, A., Montagna, M., Taher, A., Fouad, A., Elsadek, I., Hanafy, M. (2018). Can citizen science fill the gap? An example from the Egyptian Red Sea. Presented (poster) at the 38th International Sea Turtle Symposium, Kobe, Japan. 18-23 February 2018

Pirola, S. (2025). Distribuzione, struttura di popolazione e movimenti delle tartarughe marine verdi ed embricate nel Mar Rosso Egiziano sulla base di dati di citizen science [Distribution, population structure, and movements of green and hawksbill sea turtles in the Egyptian Red Sea based on citizen science data].
Bachelor’s Degree in Natural Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Facoltà di Scienze e Tecnologie.
Supervisors: Prof. Diego Rubolini, Dr. Agnese Mancini, Dr. Micol Montagna

Yon, N. (2024). Using Photo Identification to Monitor and Track Migration of Sea Turtle Populations in the Red Sea, Egypt.
MSc Global Biodiversity Conservation, University of Sussex.
Supervisor: Dr. Valentina Scarponi

Tavecchio, K. (2024). Anthropogenic disturbance on habitat use and behaviours of Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas in the Red Sea.
MSc Global Biodiversity Conservation, University of Sussex.
Supervisor: Dr. Valentina Scarponi

Kuhlman, S. (2024). Analysing Spatiotemporal and Behavioural Responses of Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata to Debris in the Egyptian Red Sea.
MSc Global Biodiversity Conservation, University of Sussex.
Supervisor: Dr. Valentina Scarponi

Merriman, K. (2024). Effectiveness of the photo identification software APHIS: to identify individual sea turtles in the Red Sea.
BSc Ecology and Conservation, University of Sussex.
Supervisor: Dr. Valentina Scarponi

Scott, S. (2024). Spatial and temporal patterns of habitat use, Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata in the Egyptian Red Sea: A quantitative analysis.
BSc Ecology and Conservation, University of Sussex.
Supervisor: Dr. Valentina Scarponi

Eaton, Z. (2024). Utilizing APHIS as a tool for photo-identification of Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas) individuals.
BSc Zoology, School of Life Sciences, University of Sussex.
Supervisor: Dr. Valentina Scarponi

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