Dr Paul De Barro’s knowledge of pest insect ecology and systematics is helping to address invasive species problems in Australia and Asia.
Current activities
Dr De Barro leads the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) National Plant Biosecurity program, Preparedness and Prevention, where he is involved in developing tools to underpin biosecurity threat identification and prioritisation.
He is also involved in the CRC for Cotton Catchment Communities as well as in research funded through a number of agricultural Research and Development Corporations.
He is involved in a number of research projects including:
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biological control of Bemisia tabaci biotype B using Eretmocerus hayati
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incursion management response planning for citrus greening
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integrated management of the begomovirus (geminivirus), pepper yellow leaf curl virus, in chilli in Indonesia
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understanding the population genetic structure of B. tabaci biotype B and Creontiades dilutus
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a range of activities involving the analysis of risk associated with pest and disease threats to Australia.
Dr De Barro is also using molecular methods to investigate the ecology , biology and behaviour of pest insects. He has developed microsatellites (short DNA sequences that allow genetic comparisons between insect populations) for the whiteflies, B. tabaci and Trialeurodes vaporariorum.
Various aspects of his research are in collaboration with:
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Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia
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University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
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Zhejiang University, China
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South China Agricultural University, China.
His work is supported by:
Dr Paul De Barro’s knowledge of invasive species is assisting with biosecurity planning and implementation.
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the Cotton Research and Development Corporation (CRDC)
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Horticulture Australia Ltd (HAL)
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Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC)
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CRC National Plant Biosecurity
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Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
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Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis
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World Vegetable Centre (AVRDC).
Background
Dr De Barro trained as an entomologist at the University of Adelaide, South Australia.
After graduating, he worked for three years on the Portuguese millipede (Ommatoiulus moreletii) in Adelaide and sugarcane mealybug (Saccharicoccus sacchari) in Bundaberg, Queensland.
Following his Doctorate Dr De Barro was awarded the George Murray Fellowship which enabled him to undertake research at the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, on the use of molecular techniques to study the ecology of the grain aphid (Sitobion avenae).
In 1994, Dr De Barro joined CSIRO and in 1996 became a Project Leader for the Integrated Whitefly Management Project.
In October 2003, he became a Stream Leader and currently holds the role of Deputy Theme Leader for Emerging Biological Threats and Invasive Species.
Dr De Barro’s interest in systematics expertise has helped increase the knowledge of Australian native whiteflies and their parasitoids from 23 species and one species respectively to in excess of 400 morpho species of native whiteflies and 80 species of Encarsia and Eretmocerus.
Academic qualifications
Dr De Barro has been awarded a:
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Bachelor of Agricultural Science, with Honours, in Entomology and Biochemistry, from the University of Adelaide, South Australia in 1985
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Doctor of Philosophy, also from the University of Adelaide, in 1992.
His doctoral thesis was on the ecology of the bird cherry oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi, in the low rainfall wheat belt of South Australia.
Achievements
Dr De Barro currently co-supervises three PhD students, two at University of Queensland and one at Queensland University of Technology, who are studying aspects of the population genetics of Bemisia tabaci and Creontiades dilutus and the evolution of host choice in Encarsia.
He is on the Editorial Board of the Bulletin of Entomological Research, and has been invited to deliver nine keynote or plenary presentations, the most recent being at the 4th International Bemisia Workshop, Florida, USA.
Dr De Barro is also:
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Chair of the National Fruit Fly Strategy R&D Subgroup
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Member of the National Fruit Fly Strategy Steering Committee
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Member of the Consortium for Barcodes of Life Science Advisory Board
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Member of the National Tramp Ant Committee.
Learn more about CSIRO’s work in Pest Management.
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