Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100257
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$446,857.00
Summary
Molecular biosecurity: Genomic databanks for managing new pest invasions. This project aims to develop a set of genomics-based approaches for analysing new pest invasions. By producing and analysing genomic databanks for four insect pest species, including three that have recently invaded Australia, this project expects to identify invasion origins and to track new pest incursions within Australia. The project should also provide insights into pest ecology, including movement rates and populatio ....Molecular biosecurity: Genomic databanks for managing new pest invasions. This project aims to develop a set of genomics-based approaches for analysing new pest invasions. By producing and analysing genomic databanks for four insect pest species, including three that have recently invaded Australia, this project expects to identify invasion origins and to track new pest incursions within Australia. The project should also provide insights into pest ecology, including movement rates and population change over time. This information can enable more efficient deployment of biosecurity resources and pave the way for genomics to be used pre-emptively to stop new invasions. This can help make genomics a go-to response to new pest invasions and position Australia at the forefront of genomics-based pest biosecurity.Read moreRead less
Asexual reproduction in honey bee invaders. This project aims to determine whether thelytokous parthenogenesis (the ability of queens and workers to clone themselves) is a critical factor in the successful establishment of invasive social insects in Australia and elsewhere. When an exotic social insect species arrives in Australia the population will usually expire due to a lack of conspecifics for mating, and severe inbreeding. Nonetheless, a few ant, bee and wasp species have managed to estab ....Asexual reproduction in honey bee invaders. This project aims to determine whether thelytokous parthenogenesis (the ability of queens and workers to clone themselves) is a critical factor in the successful establishment of invasive social insects in Australia and elsewhere. When an exotic social insect species arrives in Australia the population will usually expire due to a lack of conspecifics for mating, and severe inbreeding. Nonetheless, a few ant, bee and wasp species have managed to establish here and are among our worst invasive animals. The project plans to show how the Asian hive bee became established in Queensland and to assess the risks it poses to industry and the environment. This research should help the nation to respond more effectively to the next social insect invader.Read moreRead less
Rapid evolution via genetic novelty in an invasive social insect. This project aims to determine how introduced Asian honey bee populations in Australia and the Pacific managed to overcome severe genetic bottlenecks to become invasive pests. The project will use advanced molecular techniques to understand rapid evolution at a focal gene that determines fitness in these populations, and to see evolution in action across the genome using a twelve-year timeline of samples. The outcome will be an en ....Rapid evolution via genetic novelty in an invasive social insect. This project aims to determine how introduced Asian honey bee populations in Australia and the Pacific managed to overcome severe genetic bottlenecks to become invasive pests. The project will use advanced molecular techniques to understand rapid evolution at a focal gene that determines fitness in these populations, and to see evolution in action across the genome using a twelve-year timeline of samples. The outcome will be an enhanced capacity to manage new outbreaks of invasive social insects of all kinds via a better understanding of how invasions establish and spread. This should provide significant benefits in the form of protecting Australian agriculture and pollination services from social insect pests.Read moreRead less
Sex and the dominant male determiner in Australia's true fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae). A novel method to separate male and female embryos of the Queensland fruit fly will enable discovery of the molecular switch that causes embryos to change from the female to the male developmental pathway when they carry a Y chromosome. The results will lead to major improvements in the control of horticultural pest insects.
Discovering the pathways and mechanisms underlying bio-insecticide control of the global migratory pest, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Sustaining crop yield and maintaining food security is a significant worldwide concern. This project aims to strengthen insect pest control strategies and improve bio-insecticide use in agriculture through better understanding of the mode of action of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticides. It aims to improve their efficacy and evaluate opportunities t ....Discovering the pathways and mechanisms underlying bio-insecticide control of the global migratory pest, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella. Sustaining crop yield and maintaining food security is a significant worldwide concern. This project aims to strengthen insect pest control strategies and improve bio-insecticide use in agriculture through better understanding of the mode of action of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insecticides. It aims to improve their efficacy and evaluate opportunities to develop bio-insecticides based on plant saponins. This will assist in determining the risk of insecticide resistant moths migrating to Australia, and within our borders. This project aims to provide opportunities to improve transgenic Bt-crops and Bt-sprays, provide commercial development of new bio-insecticides, and develop optimal control strategies for major Australian migratory pests.Read moreRead less