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Dr Mark Stevens
BSc (Hons) (Sydney), PhD (Sydney)
Position Principal Research Scientist
Biosecurity Research
Adjunct Professor
Location NSW DPI, Yanco
Phone 02 6951 2644
Fax 02 6951 2719
Email mark.stevens@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Career Brief
Dr Stevens graduated from the University of Sydney (US) with BSc (Hons) before undertaking PhD studies, also at US, investigating insect systematics.
Dr Stevens was appointed to the position of Entomologist with NSW Agriculture (now NSW Department of Primary Industries) at Yanco in 1989 and has since progressed to his current position. The main focus of his work during this time has been pest management in irrigated crops, with a particular emphasis on rice.
The primary objective of Dr Steven's 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 and reduce 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%.
Research and Teaching
- Efficacy and water column persistence of copper sulpahe applied to control the rice pest Isidorella newcombi (Gastropoda: Planorbidae) (RIRDC)
- Dispersal and resource use by the lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica) in southern New South Wales (CRC for National Plant Biosecurity)
Dr Stevens is actively involved in the supervision of Honours, Masters and PhD students.
Professional Links
- Member, Australian Entomological Society
- Member, Entomological Society of New South Wales
- Member, Editorial Boards of General and Applied Entomology and ISRN Agronomy
- Symposium Organiser (Integrated Pest Management in Rice), International Congresses of Entomology, 2000, 2004, 2008
Interests
- Ecology and management of rice and citrus pests
- Preservation of biodiversity in agricultural systems
- Stored grain pest ecology
- Aquatic toxicology
- Biological control and semiochemicals
Selected Publications
Stevens MM, Warren GN, Mo J and Schlipalius DI (2011). Maintaining DNA quality in stored grain beetles caught in Lindgren funnel traps. Journal of Stored Products Research 47, 69-75.
Choung CB, Hyne RV, Stevens MM and Hose GC (2011). Toxicity of the insecticide terbufos, its oxidation metabolites, and the herbicide atrazine in binary mixtures to Ceriodaphnia cf dubia. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 60, 417-425.
Stevens MM, Burdett AS, Mudford EM, Helliwell S and Doran G (2011). The acute toxicity of fipronil to two non-target invertebrates associated with mosquito breeding sites in Australia. Acta Tropica 117, 125-130.
Arnaiz OL, Wilson AL, Watts RJ and Stevens MM (2011). Influence of riparian condition on aquatic macroinvertebrate communities in an agricultural catchment in south-eastern Australia. Ecological Research 26, 123-131.
Stevens MM, Stanton RA, Wu H, Sampson B, Weir TA, Reid CAM and Mo J (2010). Detection of Lema bilineata Germar (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Australia. General and Applied Entomology 39, 1-3.