New Faces
We would like to introduce some new staff who have joined us recently.
New faces
Arnaud Cartier (Lincoln)
Arnaud joined us as an entomology technician in August 2017 after completing his MSc in Biodiversity, Behavioural Ecology and Evolution in his home country of France. Before coming here Arnaud worked briefly on the tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta) at the Insect Biology Research Institute in Tours, France. Initially, Arnaud assisted with projects here seeking to biocontrol invasive wasps (Vespula spp.), but soon branched out into rearing weed biocontrol agents such as the tutsan moth (Lathronympha strigana)and a sawfly (Monophadnus spinolae) for old man’s beard. Currently, Arnaud provides technical support to a range of weed biocontrol projects, such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), tutsan (Hypericum androsaemum), alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides), and tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis). Arnaud does a lot of the mass-rearing of agents for releases, and assists with managing the invertebrate containment facility at Lincoln.
CONTACT: Arnaud Cartier (cartiera@landcareresearch.co.nz)
Chris McGrannachan (Auckland)
Chris joined us as a weed biocontrol scientist in March 2019, returning to his kiwi roots after studying and working at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, for 7 years. Chris offers significant expertise in invasion ecology, having researched the impact of multi-species plant invasions on community structure and ecosystem processes in protected areas for his PhD. Chris also worked on Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) invasions in New Zealand while at Victoria University of Wellington for his undergraduate degree, and has conducted risk assessments on alien insects for the Invasive Species Council of Australia. Since joining us, Chris has helped to collect two insect biocontrol agents for Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) in Japan: a beetle (Oberea shirahatai) and a moth (Allotolantasp.). He has also explored the feasibility of biocontrol for yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus).Chris will also be involved in underpinning research to make biocontrol faster, safer and cheaper, and in a project to help biocontrol problem weeds in Vanuatu, including turkey berry (Solanum torvum), wild peanut (Senna tora), and hibiscus burr (Urena lobata).
CONTACT: Chris McGrannachan (mcgrannachanc@landcareresearch.co.nz)
Angela Bownes (Lincoln)
Angela joined us at the beginning of July 2019, having moved to New Zealand from South Africa. Before making the big move, Angela worked as a weed biocontrol scientist for the Agricultural Research Council – Plant Health and Protection (ARC-PHP) in South Africa for 14 years, specialising in the biological control of aquatic weeds such as water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)and hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata). More recently she conducted research on giant reed (Arundo donax), an invasive grass species, and on a candidate biological control agent Listronotus setosipennis for parthenium weed (Parthenium hysterophorus) in Pakistan. Angela’s expertise on aquatic plants will be put to good use as New Zealand has a considerable problem with aquatic weeds, many of which look to be good biocontrol targets. As a start, she’ll join a project initiated by Quentin Paynter on the submerged aquatic plant oxygen weed (Lagarosiphon major), ironically also native to South Africa. Angela will also assist the biocontrol team with technology transfer activities, funding applications, and facilitating release approvals for new insect and weed biocontrol agents.
CONTACT: Angela Bownes – bownesa@landcareresearch.no.nz