RIEL seminar series
Boring beetles and super models: mapping the distribution of a new invader
| Presenter | Dr Andrew Coates | |
|---|---|---|
| Date/Time |
to
|
|
| Contact person | E: RIEL.outreach@cdu.edu.au | |
| Location |
Yellow 1 level 1 room 33 at CDU Casuarina Campus And online via Zoom (see below for Zoom link) All times are ACST |
|
| Open to | Public | |
Dr Andrew Coates is a research associate in the Population Biology and Genomics group at Curtin University, Western Australia.
The polyphagous shot-hole borer (PSHB) is a tiny beetle with a mouthful of a name, but it’s been making headlines as a new invasive species in Australia. PSHB was first detected in Perth three years ago and has since devastated trees across the city. There are concerns about what its further spread could mean for urban, agricultural and natural environments.
In the seminar ‘Boring beetles and super models: mapping the distribution of a new invader’, Andrew will give an overview of this new invader, its fascinating biology, its legacy of colonisation and destruction, and the research efforts to combat its spread.
In particular, Andrew will discuss his current research, which draws upon his experience in pest population modelling. Distribution models are valuable tools for predicting how invasive species spread across a novel landscape. This knowledge can be used to inform decisions on how to deploy monitoring and control efforts most effectively.
Andrew’s research interests bring together parasitology, invasion dynamics, population modelling and evolutionary biology. Study systems include house geckos, salmon lice and fungus-farming beetles, which all bring up questions about how humans influence ecological processes.
He is also an adjunct research associate at Charles Darwin University.
Related Events
Razzle Dazzle Your Research!
Want to improve the way your research is seen, cited, and funded? Increase the visibility and discoverability of your research without adding to your workload?
In this 45 minute workshop, learn how small, strategic tweaks to keywords, research profile details and even Field of Research (FoR) —taking only minutes—that can significantly boost how your research is discovered and valued
You will walk away with a clearer understanding of how your research is picked up by and 'seen' and counted in various systems like Scival, search engines and more.
This isn’t about compliance—it’s about visibility, impact, and career advantage and how just a few minutes can make your research count in a much bigger way.
Read more about Razzle Dazzle Your Research!
The Dr Bilawara Lee OAM (Aunty B), Faculty of Health Public Lecture
Bernard Salt explores how the aging baby boomer generation and a post-pandemic shift toward wellness will drive unprecedented demand and consumer expectations within Australia’s healthcare sector and "care economy" through 2036.
Read more about The Dr Bilawara Lee OAM (Aunty B), Faculty of Health Public Lecture
Freedom of Political Communication and Social Cohesion
The 15th Austin Asche Oration features The Hon. Justice Marcus Solomon SC, who will examine how debates surrounding free speech, rising prejudice, and declining social cohesion are reshaping Australia's legal and political landscapes.
Read more about Freedom of Political Communication and Social Cohesion
