Dr Janet Farr

Qualifications

• Undergraduate:
  Faculty of Agricultural Science, Adelaide University . Awarded BAgSc 1979.
  Faculty of Agricultural Science, Adelaide University (Waite Agricultural Research Institute). Awarded BAgSc (Hons) 1980.
• Postgraduate:
  Faculty of Agricultural Science, Adelaide University (Waite Agricultural Research Institute). Awarded PhD 1986.

Profile

I am currently a Research Scientist in the Science Division of CALM. In this role I work mainly in Sustainable Forest Management as a Forest Entomologist. My work involves studying insects of relevance (both of economic and ecological importance) to the Jarrah and Karri forests in the south west of Western Australia plus advisory work in relation to pine and eucalypt plantations.

My studies have included insect/host plant interrelations and rural tree decline, but I am now expanding to forest insect biodiversity.

Expertise

• Insect/ host plant interactions
• Rural tree decline insect interactions
• Ecology of the pest insect gum leaf skeletonizer (Uraba lugens) on Jarrah
• Ecology of Cardiaspina jerramungae on flat-topped yate
• Ecology of Bulls eye borer (Phoracantha acanthocera) in Karri

Research Interests

Arboreal insect defoliation, bullseye borer, forest entomology, forest insects, gumleaf skeletonizer, lerps, Phoracantha acanthocera, psyllids, rural tree decline, tree canopy insects, Uraba lugens

Research Experience

(i) Honours thesis: "The amino acid nutrition of Uraba lugens Walk. on artificial diets."

(ii) PhD thesis: "The performance of Uraba lugens Walk. in relation to nitrogen and phenolics in its food." The food plant Eucalyptus camaldulensis was analysed for total free amino acids, total digestible nitrogen and total phenols. This was used to test the hypothesis that water stress increased survival of first instars leading to population outbreak due to increased nitrogen in the food plant.

(iii) Research associate, Tsukuba, Japan Extraction and bioassay of kairomones present in Shiitake mushroom which attracts a number of pest species.

(iv) Research Scientist, Department of Conservation and Land Management

Since 1988 my research has been in the following areas:

Investigation into the outbreak of Cardiaspina jerramungae on remnant flat-topped yate in the Lower great Southern of Western Australia.
Investigation into the outbreak of gum leaf skeletonizer (Uraba lugens) on jarrah in the southern jarrah forest.
Study of the ecology of bulls eye borer in Karri.

Publications

View Publications here >>

Department of Environment and Conservation
Manjimup Research
Locked Bag 2,
Manjimup WA 6258,
Australia

Ph: +61 (8) 9771 7985
Fax: +61 (8) 9777 1183

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