Research interests

• Ecology and management of rice and citrus pests
• Preservation of biodiversity in agricultural systems
• Aquatic toxicology
• Biological control and semiochemicals

Background

Mark Stevens joined NSW DPI in 1989 shortly after completing his PhD in insect systematics at the University of Sydney, and works on pest management in irrigated crops, with a particular emphasis on rice.

The primary objective of his research is to develop reliable methods of pest control that reduce the dependence of farmers on broad-spectrum insecticides. Achieving this objective helps increase productivity, reduces input costs, and helps preserve biodiversity by reducing non-target chemical impacts.

His work in rice has involved bloodworms, water snails, oligochaete worms, and most recently, stink bugs. Recommendations to farmers arising from his research program have included crop rotation programs for the non-chemical management of snails and oligochaetes, and changes to bloodworm control programs that have reduced the chemical inputs required to control this pest by over 90%.

Qualifications

• BSc (Hons), University of Sydney, 1984
• PhD, University of Sydney, 1989

Current projects

Management and ecology of key rice pests (RIRDC)

Rapid response screening tools for minimising the off-site impact of rice pesticides (RIRDC)

Recent Publications

Stevens, M.M. (2007) Rice. Ch. 9 in: Bailey, P. (Ed.) Insects and allied forms of field crops and pastures in Australia. (CSIRO: Melbourne) (in press).

Stevens, M.M, Madge, D.G., James, D.G., Diffey, S., Schiller, L.J. (2007) Ground cover management does not influence densities of key Iridomyrmex species (Hym., Formicidae) in Australian citrus groves. Journal of Applied Entomology (in press).

Stevens, M.M., Helliwell, S. and Cranston, P.S. (2006) Larval chironomid communities (Diptera: Chironomidae) associated with establishing rice crops in southern New South Wales, Australia. Hydrobiologia 556:317-325.

Hughes, P.A., Stevens, M.M., Park, H-W., Federici, B.A., Dennis, E.S. and Akhurst, R. (2005) Response of larval Chironomus tepperi (Diptera: Chironomidae) to individual Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis toxins and toxin mixtures. Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 88:34-39.

Wilson, A.L., Ryder, D.S., Watts, R.J. and Stevens, M.M. (2005) Stable isotope analysis of aquatic invertebrate communities in irrigated rice fields cultivated under different management regimes. Aquatic Ecology 39:189-200.

Stevens, M.M., Helliwell, S. and Hughes, P.A. (2005) Toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis formulations, spinosad, and selected synthetic insecticides to fourth instar larvae of Chironomus tepperi (Diptera: Chironomidae). Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 21:446-450.

Stevens, M.M., Akhurst, R.J., Clifton, M.A. and Hughes, P.A. (2004) Factors affecting the toxicity of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis and Bacillus sphaericus to fourth instar larvae of Chironomus tepperi (Diptera: Chironomidae). Journal of Invertebrate Pathology 86:2104-110.

Stevens, M.M., Brickhill, J. and Brown, P. (2004) Pests of rice crops – vertebrates and invertebrates. Ch. 10 (28 pp.) in: Kealey, L. (Ed.) Production of Quality Rice in South Eastern Australia. RIRDC / NSW Agriculture.

Stevens, M.M., Warren, G.N. and Braysher, B.D. (2003) Oviposition response of Chironomus tepperi Skuse (Diptera: Chironomidae) to nitrogenous compounds and bioextracts in two-choice laboratory tests. Journal of Chemical Ecology 29:911-920.

Professional associations and activities

• Member, Australian Entomological Society
• Member, Entomological Society of New South Wales
• Symposium Organiser (Integrated Pest Management in Rice), International Congresses of Entomology, 2000, 2004, 2008.
• Adjunct Associate Professor, Charles Sturt University

Fields of Research

• 070308 Crop and Pasture Protection (Pests, Diseases and Weeds)
• 070305 Crop and Pasture Improvement (Selection and Breeding)
• 050205 Environmental Management

Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)

Keyword/phrase list of research interests

• Rice and citrus entomology
• ecology
• integrated pest management
• ecotoxicology
• chemical ecology.

Contact details