A5073931439- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Pesticide Exposure and Toxicity
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Plant and animal studies
- Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
- Pharmacological Effects and Assays
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Pesticide Residue Analysis and Safety
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
- Meat and Animal Product Quality
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Insect Pest Control Strategies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Municipal Solid Waste Management
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
Australian Plague Locust Commission
2013-2023
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
2007-2023
ACT Government
2005-2022
University of Wollongong
2008-2019
Macquarie University
2019
Abstract Conserving large carnivores is controversial because they can threaten wildlife, human safety, and livestock production. Since often have ranges, effective management requires knowledge of how their ecology functional roles vary biogeographically. We examine continental‐scale patterns in the diet dingo – Australia's largest terrestrial mammalian predator. describe quantify dietary composition diversity with environmental productivity across five bioclimatic zones: arid, semi‐arid,...
Small mammal assemblages in the aridlands of Southern Hemisphere often have wildly fluctuating dynamics. Previous studies attributed these fluctuations to climate-driven pulses food resources resulting switching trophic control from bottom-up (food-limited) top-down (predation-limited) population regulation, and vice versa. In this study we use a meta-analytic approach evaluate evidence for phenomenon control. If shifting is unifying that shapes small arid Australia, would expect abundance...
The Australian Plague Locust Commission uses the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion to control locust population increases across 2000000 km2 of eastern Australia. Although impact on non-target invertebrates has been studied, effects vertebrates are largely unquantified. Lethal and sublethal impacts a consequence use carbamate insecticides. Information detailing exposure free-living animals, particularly for herpetofauna, is lacking. This paper reviews literature concerned with...
Huge aggregations of flightless locust nymphs pose a serious threat to agriculture when they reach plague proportions but provide very visible and nutritious resource for native birds. Locust outbreaks occur in spring summer months semiarid regions Australia. Fenitrothion, an organophosphate pesticide, is sprayed aerially control plagues. To evaluate fenitrothion exposure birds attending outbreaks, we measured total plasma cholinesterase (ChE), butrylcholinesterase (BChE),...
Abstract The scarcity of information on the effects pesticides native Australian vertebrates constrains development biologically relevant risk assessments in Australia for registration pesticides. concern that endemically old and unique vertebrate fauna might display high sensitivity to used locust control provoked examination acute oral toxicity organophosphorus pesticide fenitrothion fat‐tailed dunnart, Sminthopsis crassicaudata (Gould 1844), stripe‐faced S. macroura 1845). By using...
Context Despite the regular use of pesticides to control locusts, there is a lack information on effects locust-control treatments reptiles worldwide. Exposure poses significant potential hazard small reptiles, both from direct exposure, and indirectly because their largely insectivorous diet home ranges. Aims Our study aimed monitor two insecticides applied operationally for locust in Australia. A phenyl pyrazole pesticide, fipronil, fungal biopesticide, Metarhizium acridium (Green Guard®),...
Abstract Large rain events drive dramatic resource pulses and the complex pulse‐reserve dynamics of arid ecosystems change between high‐rain years drought. However, arid‐zone animal responses to short‐term changes in climate are unknown, particularly smaller that briefly interrupt longer‐term Using arthropods as model animals, we determined effects a small event on arthropod abundance western New South Wales , Australia during shift toward Arthropod decreased over 2 yr, but captures 10 out...
Abstract The Australian Plague Locust Commission (APLC) manages locust populations across 2 million square kilometers of eastern Australia using the aerial application chemical and biological control agents to protect agricultural production. This occurs via a preventative strategy involving ultralow‐volume spray equipment distribute small droplets agent over target area. economic costs of, potential gains stemming from, are well documented. insecticides, however, fragile arid semiarid...
The need for locust control throughout eastern Australia during spring 2010 provided an opportunity to quantify residues of the organophosphorus insecticide fenitrothion on nymphs Australian plague locust, Chortoicetes terminifera Walker. Residues were collected across different physiological states--live, dead, and debilitated (characterized by ease capture, erratic hopping, inability remain upright)--of observed following exposure fenitrothion. time course residue depletion 72 h after...
Endemic Australian mammal species are exposed to pesticides used for locust control as they occupy the same habitat target insect. The authors examined impact of an ultra-low volume formulation organophosphorous insecticide fenitrothion (O,O-dimethyl-O-[3-methyl-4-nitrophenol]-phosphorothioate) on a suite physiological measures that affect ability animals survive in free-living conditions: locomotory and thermogenic functions, metabolic performance, body mass, hematocrit hemoglobin levels....
The potential effects of pesticides used to control locusts in the New South Wales Riverina on endangered Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) have been concern since early 1980s. We geographical information systems (GIS) determine intersection primary and secondary habitat areas with historical locust-control data provide estimates area sprayed by Australian Plague Locust Commission for between 1977 2005. Peaks among these estimates, expressed as a percentage identified occurring nine...
Litter and microbes are key drivers of nutrient cycles, particularly in arid ecosystems where decomposition rates low. Locust control regions represents a potentially important hazard to microbes, because local taxa unlikely have adapted pesticide exposure operations often occur during times high microbial activity. We monitored the response aboveground litter soil bacteria functional diversity aerial applications fipronil (a chemical pesticide) barrier treatments Metarhizium acridum fungal...
Assessment of non-target impacts pesticides used widely in agriculture and pest management rarely considers reptiles. Despite their integral role all ecosystems, particularly arid reptiles are not included risk assessments. Two agricultural fipronil fenitrothion. Here, we a field-based BACI design experiment semi-arid Australia to investigate the impact these on basic physiological behavioural parameters common arid-zone lizard species, Pogona vitticeps. Fipronil fenitrothion were applied at...
Context Risk assessments currently undertaken to approve pesticides for use against locusts in Australia are predominated by laboratory-generated data, often collected from non-endemic species. Very little information exists concerning the potential ecological effects of insecticides used locust control. Aim To determine effect aerial ultra-low volume (ULV) applications organophosphorous insecticide, fenitrothion (used control), on avian assemblages arid and semiarid agro-ecosystems. Methods...
Context Quantifying the space use and movement patterns of animals is important to understand other aspects a species ecology, such as habitat social systems. However, basic data on patterns, how they are influenced by biotic or abiotic factors, lacking for many species. Aims We identified central bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps), assessed external factors (environmental conditions) internal (sex morphology) shape these patterns. Methods tracked 36 P. vitticeps individuals over three...
The use of chemical pesticides to manage locust populations in natural ecosystems is likely impact non-target arthropods and their predators. However, the relative effects different control applications on Australian birds are unknown. Aerial fipronil fenitrothion examples two used semiarid Australia. To test impacts fauna, were applied replicate sites using aerial ultra-low-volume application methods. body condition biomarkers pesticide exposure resident white-winged fairy wrens (Malurus...