Dr Paini is investigating spatial patterns of invasive species.

Dr Dean Paini: modelling potential pest invasions

Dr Dean Paini is using self organising maps to model plant pests and diseases to help determine their potential risk of invasion in Australia.

• 24 March 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications 
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Dean Paini is a Research Scientist with the Invasion Risk team at CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences

His current activities involve analysing international ship movement to identify and rank arrival likelihood for invasive species. This work uses social network theory to evaluate trade networks and determine the likelihood of an invasive species travelling through the network and arriving in Australia. This project is funded by the Cooperative Research Centre for National Plant Biosecurity.

In addition, Dr Paini continues his work using artificial neural networks to assess worldwide pest assemblages and determine establishment likelihood for invasive species. This method analyses species associations and uses that information to determine establishment likelihood.

More recently Dr Paini is exploring the possibility of using this same modelling approach to determine native species vulnerability to extinction.

Background

Dr Paini worked for three-and-a-half years investigating the ecology of thrips and their natural enemies at the University of Florida, United States of America (USA).

This work included studies on:

• competition
• optimal oviposition
• foraging strategies
• predator spatial tracking of prey
• non-crop host use by thrips species.

Previous to his thrips research, Dr Paini's doctoral research involved studying the impact of European honey bees on Australian native bees.

Academic qualifications

Dr Paini was awarded a Bachelor of Science with Honours from University College Dublin, Ireland and a Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology from the University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia.

Achievements

Dr Paini is a member of the following professional societies:

• Ecological Society of Australia
• Australian Entomological Society
• Ecological Society of America.

Dr Paini has also been an Associate Editor for the Florida Entomologist since 2005.

Learn more about CSIRO research on Pest Management.