Dr David Yeates studies the taxonomy, systematics and ecology of Australian Diptera and other insect groups, providing information for their sustainable management.
Current activities
Dr David Yeates leads the Systematics and Global Change research group in CSIRO Entomology.
Some of his current research forms part of the Ecological Outcomes project of CSIRO's Water for a Healthy Country Flagship.
Dr Yeates’ research group is currently studying the taxonomy and relationships of Diptera, also known as flies. He is particularly interested in exploring the evolution of Australian insect fauna.
At present, this research focuses on the impact of widespread aridification in Australia, during the Tertiary geological period (65-1.8 million years ago), on insect faunas.
Evidence suggests that many insect groups responded by diversifying extensively, either through allopatric speciation mechanisms or in major co-radiations with Australia’s dominant plant groups. This has produced a number of large evolutionary radiations of Australian insect groups that we see today.
“Our focus is on Australian insect diversity - what it is, where it occurs and how it came to be.”
Dr David Yeates, CSIRO Entomology.
Dr Yeates collaborates extensively with other scientists both in Australia and elsewhere. He Chairs the Australian Coordinating Group of DIVERSITAS.
DIVERSITAS is an international, non-governmental program established by the International Council for Science (ICSU), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and other agencies to provide the scientific basis for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
Background
Joining CSIRO at the end of 2000, Dr Yeates has extensive research experience in the taxonomy and systematics of Diptera and other groups of insects both in Australia and overseas.
He also has extensive experience developing innovative software solutions for taxonomic identification, and education.
Dr Yeates also supervises students who study the systematics and ecology of Australian insects.
Academic qualifications
Dr Yeates has been awarded a:
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Bachelor of Science, with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Doctorate, also from the University of Queensland.
Achievements
Dr Yeates was Roosevelt Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History, New York City, NY, USA.
He was also Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland and he is now a Schlinger Foundation Fellow in CSIRO Entomology.
Dr Yeates has just finished editing a book The Evolutionary Biology of Flies, Columbia University Press: New York, USA, with Dr Brian Wiegmann.
He also leads a consortium of scientists in the development of an interactive key to the Australian fly families, to be published by the Australian Biological Resources Study.
The CD – On the Fly: The Interactive Atlas and Key to Australian Fly Families, has been awarded a Whitley Award commendation from the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales.
Dr David Yeates has been awarded the Australian Entomological Society’s 2008 Mackerras Medal.
Find out more about the Australian National Insect Collection overview.
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