Publications

Preprints

• M Leonardi, A Manica, S Lycett, A Key (2024). The European Acheulean niche. bioRxiv 2024.07.19.604259. Submitted to Science Advances, ads1484
• L Timbrell, J Blinkhorn, M Colucci, M Leonardi, M Chevalier, M Grove, EML Scerri, A Manica (2024) More is not always better: downscaling climate model outputs from 30 to 5-minute resolution has minimal impact on coherence with Late Quaternary proxies. Climate of the PastDiscussion https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2024-53.
• S Leedham, JLA Paijmans, A Manica, M Leonardi (2023) Niche conservatism in a generalist felid: low differentiation of the climatic niche among subspecies of the leopard (Panthera pardus). bioRxiv 2023.01.26.525491
• P Maisano Delser, M Krapp, R Beyer, E Jones, EF Miller, A Hovhannisyan, M Parker, V Siska, MT Vizzari, EJ Pearmain, I Imaz-Rosshandler, M Leonardi, GL Somma, J Hodgson, E Tysall, Z Xue, L Cassidy, DG Bradley, A Eriksson, A Manica (2021) Climate and mountains shaped human ancestral genetic lineages. bioRxiv 2021.07.13.452067,
• EF Miller, M Leonardi, R. Beyer, M Krapp, M Somveille, GL Somma, P Maisano Delser, A Manica (2021) Post-glacial expansion dynamics, not refugial isolation, shaped the genetic structure of a migratory bird, the Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia). bioRxiv 2021.05.10.443405

Articles in peer-reviewed journals

• M Leonardi, M Colucci, AV Pozzi, EML Scerri, A Manica (2024) tidysdm: leveraging the flexibility of tidymodels for Species Distribution Modelling in R. Methods in Ecology and Evolution: 15(10): 1789-1795. Package website
• M Leonardi, EY Hallett, R Beyer, M Krapp, A Manica (2023) pastclim 1.2: an R package to easily access and use paleoclimatic reconstructions. Ecography, 2023 (3): e06481. Package website; Examples
• M Leonardi, F Boschin, P Boscato, A Manica (2022) Following the niche: the differential impact of the Last Glacial Maximum on four European ungulates. Communications Biology, 5: 1038. Data and code.
• EF Miller, RE Green, A Balmford, R Beyer, M Somveille, M Leonardi, W Amos, A Manica (2021) Bayesian Skyline Plots disagree with range size changes based on Species Distribution Models for Holarctic birds. Molecular Ecology. 30 (16), 3993-4004.
• L Betti, R Beyer, ER Jones, A Eriksson, F Tassi, V Siska, M Leonardi, P Maisano-Delser, LK Bentley, PR Nigst, J Stock, R Pinhasi, A Manica. (2020) Climate shaped how Neolithic farmers and European hunter-gatherers interacted during a major slowdown from 6,100 BCE to 4,500 BCE Nature Human Behaviour 4, 1004–1010
• A Fages, K Hanghøj, N Khan, C Gaunitz, A Seguin-Orlando, M Leonardi, [116 authors], L Orlando (2019) Tracking five millennia of horse management with extensive ancient genome time-series. Cell 177, 1–17
• A Viganò, A Manica, V Di Piero, M Leonardi (2019) Did going North give us migraine? An evolutionary approach on understanding latitudinal differences in migraine epidemiology. Headache 59(4)
• M Leonardi, A Sandionigi, A Conzato, S Vai, M Lari, S Ghirotto, F Tassi, D Caramelli, G Barbujani (2018). The female ancestor’s tale: long-term matrilineal continuity in a non-isolated region of Tuscany. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 167(3):497-506. (paywall)
• M Leonardi, F Boschin, K Giampoudakis, RM Beyer, M Krapp, R Bendrey, R Sommer, P Boscato, A Manica, D Noguez-Bravo, L Orlando (2018). Late Quaternary horses in Eurasia in the face of climate and vegetation change. Science Advances 4(7), eaar5589, download.
• M Leonardi, G Barbujani, A Manica (2017) An earlier revolution: genetic and genomic analyses reveal pre-existing cultural differences leading to Neolithization. Scientific Reports 7(1): 3525.
• M Leonardi, P Librado, C Der Sarkissian, M Schubert, AH Alfarhan, SA Alquraishi, KAS Al-Rasheid, C Gamba, E Willerslev, L Orlando (2017) Evolutionary Patterns and Processes: Lessons from Ancient DNA. Systematic Biology, 66 (1), e1-e29.
• P Librado, A Fages, C Gaunitz, M Leonardi, S Wagner, N Kahn, K Hanghøj, S Al Quraishi, A Alfarhan, K Al Rasheid, C Der Sarkissian, M Schubert, L Orlando (2016). The evolutionary origin and genetic makeup of domestic horses, Genetics 204(2).
• E Heyer, JT Brandenburg, M Leonardi, B Toupance, P Balaresque, T Hegay, A Aldashev, F Austerlitz (2015) Patrilineal populations show more male transmission of reproductive success than cognatic populations in Central Asia, which reduces their genetic diversity. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 157(4):537-43 (paywall).
• M Leonardi (2013) Lactase persistence and milk consumption in Europe: an interdisciplinary approach involving genetics and archaeology, Documenta Praehistorica 40: 84-96 download.
• M Leonardi, P Gerbault, MG Thomas, J Burger (2012) The evolution of lactase persistence in Europe. A synthesis of archaeological and genetic evidence. International Dairy Journal, 22(2): 88-97 (paywall).

Book chapters

• M Leonardi, G Barbujani, A Manica (2021) Genetic demography: what does it mean and how to interpret it, with a case study on the Neolithic transition. In: H Reyes-Centeno, K Harvati, G Jaeger (eds) Ancient connections in Eurasia, Kerns Verlag, Tuebingen. Link
• P Gerbault*, M Leonardi*, A Powell, C Weber, N Benecke, J Burger, MG Thomas (2012) Domestication and migrations: using mitochondrial DNA to infer domestication processes of goats and horses. In: Kaiser E, Schier W, Burger J (eds), Population dynamics in Prehistory and Early History. New Approaches by Stable Isotopes and Genetics, DE GRUYTER 17-29. link *those authors contributed equally to the work
• M Leonardi, (2011) The history inside us, in F. Feulner et al. “May contain traces of milk. Investigating the role of dairy farming and milk consumption in the European Neolithic”, University of York. link
• M Leonardi, (2011) Die weiße revolution der Jungsteinzeit, in J. Reinhard (ed.): “Milch! Nahrung – Mythos – Politikum”, Jexhof Bauernhof Museum, Fürstenfeldbruck. link

Oral presentations

• M Leonardi, S Leedham, JLA Paijmans, Johanna, A Manica, Low levels of ecological adaptation among subspecies of the leopard (Panthera pardus) XXXIII Congresso della Società Italiana di Ecologia, 23-26 September 2024, Roma, Italy
• A Key, S Lycett, A Manica, M Leonardi. The ecocultural niche of the European Acheulean. ESHE, 11-15 September 2024, Zagreb, Croatia.
• M Leonardi, S Lycett, A Manica, A Key. The ecocultural niche of the European Acheulean. 30th EAA Annual Meeting, 28-31 August 2024, Rome, Italy
• M Fusco, K Douze, B Habte, A Leplongeon, SH Ambrose, C Ménard, A Manica, EE Spinapolice, M Leonardi. Evaluating the role of climate and environment in lithic production during the Middle Stone Age-Later Stone Age transition in East Africa, 9^th Eastern Africa Association for Palaeoanthropology and Palaeontology biennial conference, 28 July-1 August 2024, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
• C Padilla-Iglesias, Z Xue, M Leonardi, JLA Paijmans, M Colucci, A Hovhannisyan, L Vinicius, AB Migliano, A Manica. Environmentally-driven changes in hunter-gatherer population interconnectivity explain African genetic diversity. SMBE congress, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, July 7-11, 2024
• M Leonardi, M Colucci, A Manica. Palaeoecology made easy: pastclim and tidysdm, two new R packages to make the best use of palaeo big data, Big Historical Data Conference, 22-25 November 2023, Jena, Germany
• M Colucci, M Leonardi, J Blinkhorn, A Manica, E Scerri. A case study: modelling human-malaria coevolution through time using/integrating paleoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental databases, Big Historical Data Conference, 22-25 November 2023, Jena, Germany
• M Leonardi, A Manica Learning about climate change and evolution through a board game. XXXII Congresso della Società Italiana di Ecologia, 6-8 September 2023, Catania, Italy
• Z Xue, S Leedham, M Leonardi, JLA. Paijmans, A Manica. Detecting Environmental Drivers of Leopards Speciation SMBE Congress, 23-27 July 2023, Ferrara, Italy.
• M Leonardi, F Boschin, P Boscato, A Manica. Time matters: testing for ecological niche changes in Late Quaternary European ungulates, INQUA 2023, 13-20 July 2023, Rome, Italy.
• M Leonardi, F Boschin, P Boscato, A Manica. Species distribution modelling through time: a dedicated method, Computer Applications and Quantitative Methods in Archaeology Conference (CAA2020), 14-17 April 2020, Oxford (abstract accepted, conference cancelled due to COVID-19)
• M Leonardi. A Palaeolithic cultural shift suggested by genetic and genomic data, Fourth annual symposium of the DFG center for advances studies “Ancient connections in Eurasia”, 13^th-16^th December 2018, University of Tübingen, Germany (invited).
• M Leonardi, G Barbujani, A Manica Human genetic diversity and the effects of subsistence strategies, FISV congress, 18-21 September 2018, Rome, Italy.
• P Librado, A Fages, C Gaunitz, N Khan, C McCrory Constantz, C Gamba, C Der Sarkissian, M Leonardi, M Schubert, ERC-PEGASUS consortium, L Orlando An ancient genomic perspective on the horse domestication process, ISBA 7 congress, 12^th – 14^th September 2016, Oxford, UK.
• M Leonardi, S Ghirotto, F Tassi, A Manica, G Barbujani Testing for the influence of lifestyle on genetic diversity through time, SIBE congress, 31^st August – 3^rd September 2015, Bologna, Italy
• M Leonardi, S Ghirotto, F Tassi, A Manica, G Barbujani Testing for the influence of lifestyle on genetic diversity through time, AAI congress: “Towards a Next-Generation Anthropology: challenges and synergies. 3^rd – 5^th September 2015, Bologna/Ravenna, Italy
• M Leonardi, A Manica, J Burger Ancient population genetics: new insights on horse domestication, ISBA 6 Congress, 27^th-29^th August 2014, Basel, Switzerland.
• E Heyer, JT Brandenburg, M Leonardi, B Toupance, P Balaresque, T Hegay, A Aldashev, F Austerlitz. Patrilinearity conditions male cultural transmission of reproductive success in Central Asia and impacts genetic diversity, SMBE congress, 8^th-12^th June 2014, Puerto Rico
• M Leonardi, M Fumagalli, MG Thomas, A Migliano (poster talk). Adaptation to lifestyle in South-Eastern Asia. EMBO conference: Human evolution in the genomic era: Origins, populations and phenotypes 1^st-4^th April 2014 Leicester, UK.
• M Leonardi, J Burger. Simulating horse domestication with the help of ancient DNA. LeCHE conference, Amsterdam, 28th – 29th June 2012 (invited)
• E Heyer, M Leonardi, F Austerlitz Cultural transmission of fitness. 5^th European Human Behaviour and Evolution Association Conference, 25^th – 27^th March 2010. Wroclaw, Poland.
• M Leonardi, C Weber, N Benecke, MG Thomas, J Burger. Ancient DNA and horse domestication. International Conference “Migrations in Prehistory and Early History, Stable Isotopes and Population Genetics – New Answers to Old Questions?” 24^th – 26^th March 2010, Berlin, Germany (invited)
• E Heyer, F Austerlitz, M Leonardi. Cultural transmission of fitness XXIèmes Journées Scientifiques de la Société d’Écologie Humaine: Les transmissions entre generations. 24th – 25th September 2009. Montpellier, France.
• M Leonardi, A Conzato, P Fabbri, F Mallegni, D Caramelli, G Barbujani Preliminary analyses of five population samples across 5,000 years in Northwestern Tuscany (Italy) – 51st Symposium and Proffered Papers Meeting “Human dispersals”, Society for the Study of Human Biology, 18th – 20th June 2009, Rome, Italy.

Poster presentations

• M Leonardi, AC Araujo, A Salili-James, B Scott, N Brummitt. Integrating functional diversity and species distributions to inform ecological restoration in the western miombo woodlands. XXXIII Congresso della Società Italiana di Ecologia, 23-26 September 2024, Rome, Italy
• M Leonardi, M Colucci, A Manica. pastclim and tidysdm: two new R packages to integrate palaeoecological analyses in archaeology 30th EAA Annual Meeting, 28-31 August 2024, Rome, Italy
• M Leonardi, M Colucci, A Manica. pastclim and tidysdm: two new R packages to integrate palaeoecological analyses in archaeology 30th EAA Annual Meeting, 28-31 August 2024, Rome, Italy
• C Padilla-Iglesias, Z Xue, M Leonardi, JLA Paijmans, M Colucci, A Hovhannisyan, L Vinicius, AB Migliano, A Manica. Environmentally-driven changes in hunter-gatherer population interconnectivity explain African genetic diversity. SMBE congress, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, July 7-11, 2024
• M Leonardi, A Manica. pastclim: a search engine for the climate of the past. XXXII Congresso della Società Italiana di Ecologia, 6-8 September 2023, Catania, Italy
• M Leonardi, E Hallett, R Beyer, M Krapp, A Manica, pastclim: an R package to easily access and use paleoclimatic reconstructions, INQUA 2023, 13-20 July 2023, Rome, Italy.
• M Leonardi, A Manica Climate change – the boardgame: a free educational resource to discuss paleoclimate, evolution and conservation, INQUA 2023, 13-20 July 2023, Rome, Italy.
• M Leonardi, G Barbujani, A Manica. The impact of subsistence strategies on human genetic diversity Evolution 2018 II Joint Congress on Evolutionary Biology, 19^th-22^nd August 2018 Montpellier (France).
• M Leonardi, G Chaubey, MG Thomas, A Migliano. Genetic adaptation to lifestyle in food producer versus hunter-gatherer populations from South-Eastern Asia. SIBE-IBES symposium, 15^th – 16^th December 2012 Ferrara, Italy
• M Leonardi, C Weber, N Benecke, MG Thomas, J Burger. Horse domestication: a computer simulation approach. Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) meeting, Dublin, 23^rd – 26^th June 2012
• M Leonardi, C Weber, N Benecke, MG Thomas, J Burger. Ancient DNA, computer simulations and horse domestication. Jacques Monod Conference on “Theoretical and Empirical Advances in Evolutionary Genomics”, Roscoff, France, 31^st March – 4^th April 2012
• M Leonardi, C Weber, N Benecke, MG Thomas, J Burger. Horse domestication inferred from ancient DNA data. XI ICAZ international conference (International council for Archaeozoology), 23^rd – 28^th August 2010, Paris, France

Commentaries and Media Coverage

Late quaternary horses in Eurasia in the face of climate and vegetation change.
Indo-European.eu:  Origin of horse domestication likely on the North Caspian steppes
Popular science: Ancient climate change may have dragged the wild horses away

An earlier revolution: genetic and genomic analyses reveal pre-existing cultural differences leading to Neolithization
Barbujani G. Brunelli A. 2018 Il giro del mondo in sei milioni di anni. Il Mulino.

The evolution of lactase persistence in Europe. A synthesis of archaeological and genetic evidence
Le Scienze – Scienza in cucina: Darwin e l’innaturalità di bere latte, Dario Bressanini
Dario Bressanini on Youtube: Intolleranza al lattosio. Bere latte è naturale?
Nature News: Curry, A. (2013). The milk revolution. Nature, 500(7460), 20.