Don’t buy a ‘pig in a poke’: Molecular Characterisation of Australian pinhole borers and bark beetles and their associated microorganisms.
Abstract
Pinhole borers (Platypodinae) and bark beetles (Scolytinae) colonise trees by utilising associated microorganisms, including aggressive tree pathogens. Globally, about 7500 species are known; they constitute less than 0.2% of the estimated insect diversity of 5 million species. However, they comprise more than half of the interceptions by quarantine and customs. Australia’s forests and woodlands are entirely composed by trees from mostly two genera. From this perspective, Australia is most susceptible to invasive beetles that can utilise this resource. Australia’s diversity of platypodid and scolytid beetles is sparsely known, their associated microbes are completely unknown. This is a recognised major threat to the future of forestry industries and Australia’s ecosystems. The visit by Prof. Christian Stauffer from the BOKU- University, Vienna, will be part of an international research effort between researchers at UWS-Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Macquarie University, NSW DPI and European institutions. Prof. Stauffer will work with UWS researchers on international and national grant applications, including the establishment of links with a new EU-COST action and EU research framework projects, co-author publications in scientific journals and promote bilateral agreements for student and research exchange between UWS and BOKU.
Publikationen
Project staff
Christian Stauffer
Ao.Univ.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.nat.techn. Christian Stauffer
christian.stauffer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-91631
BOKU Project Leader
18.06.2012 - 22.01.2013
BOKU partners
External partners
University of Western Sydney
Dr. Markus Riegler
partner