Dr Paul De Barro is conducting research on invasive species and biosecurity planning and implementation.

Dr Paul De Barro: Theme Leader for Invasive Species and Plant Biosecurity

Dr Paul De Barro’s knowledge of pest insect ecology and systematics is helping to address invasive species problems in Australia and Asia.

• 29 July 2011 | Updated 14 October 2011

Overview

• Current activities
• Background
• Academic qualifications
• Achievements

Current activities

Dr Paul De Barro is a Senior Principal Research Scientist in CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences. He leads CSIRO’s Theme: Invasive Species and Plant Biosecurity. 

The theme’s approximately 50 researchers focus on the management of invasive weeds, invertebrates and vertebrates in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and on the development of approaches to support risk analysis of invasive species.

In addition, he leads the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) National Plant Biosecurity program, Preparedness and Prevention, which is developing tools to support biosecurity threat identification, prioritisation and the communication of risk.

Background

Dr De Barro joined CSIRO in 1994 after completing a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom where he helped develop molecular techniques with which to study the ecology of the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae).

In 1994, Dr De Barro joined CSIRO where he has built an internationally recognised reputation for his research on Bemisia tabaci, a cryptic species complex that includes two globally invasive whiteflies that have inflicted considerable damage to agriculture around the world. His research on this group has developed insights into the aspects of their biology and ecology that promote invasiveness and in the overall evolution of the group.

In addition, he has considerable experience in biological control of the silverleaf whitefly and was responsible for the introduction of the parasitoid, Eretmocerus hayati, that has since proved to be a highly effective control agent. In addition to his research on whiteflies, he has also been closely involved in research on threat identification and prioritisation and the assessment of risks posed by the release of Wolbachia infected mosquito, Aedes aegypti.

Academic qualifications

Dr De Barro has been awarded a:

• Bachelor of Agricultural Science, with Honours, in Entomology and Biochemistry, from the University of Adelaide, South Australia in 1985
• Doctor of Philosophy, also from the University of Adelaide, in 1992.

Achievements

Dr De Barro has published more than 70 ISI papers in journals such as:

• Science
• Bioscience
• Nature Communications
• Annual Review of Entomology
• PLOS One
• Biological Invasions
• Journal of Animal Ecology
• Journal of Applied Ecology
• Ecological Applications
• Molecular Ecology and Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution
• Annals of the Entomological Society of America
• Bulletin of Entomological Research.

He has been awarded a CSIRO medal for Research Achievement and is currently an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Biological Invasion, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

He is also an Editor of Bulletin of Entomological Research.

Learn more about CSIRO’s work in Pest Management.