The 2023 IPBES Invasive Species Assessment indicates that more than 3,500 invasive species with documented negative impacts have been recorded worldwide. Although their numbers are likely to be underestimated and expected to increase, 1,852 invertebrate species contribute to that statistic, including insects, spiders, mollusks, worms, and more.
Allan is investigating how prescribed burns affect the spread of laurel wilt, an invasive insect-vectored fungal disease caused by Harringtonia lauricola.
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Andrews’ research focuses on the biological control of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). She is specifically establishing populations and studying the biology of two specialist predators of HWA, Leucotaraxis argenticollis and Leucotaraxis piniperda, in the eastern United States.
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Dr. Badgley and his lab conduct research in environmental microbiology with a particular focus on how populations and communities of microorganisms impact water and soil quality.
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Block uses the common bed bug (Cimex lectularius), an invasive urban pest, to study urban evolutionary processes. Such processes include invasion dynamics, the genomics of establishment, and patterns of gene flow and genetic structure.
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Dr. Booth’s research explores how organisms adapt and evolve within urban environments, using invasive indoor urban pest insects (most notably bed bugs) as model systems of study.
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Dr. Brown’s research focuses on aquatic ecology, including community ecology and biodiversity, metacommunity structure and assembly, and the impact of invasions on symbiotic interactions.
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Dr. Cobourn’s research involves integrating biological models of pest dynamics with economic models of human decision making to understand what factors drive the spread of invasive species and what policy instruments effectively and efficiently slow or halt spread.
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Dr. Czuba’s research focuses on the transport of water and sediment in streams and rivers and how that affects the distribution of invasive and native aquatic species, including fish, macroinvertebrates, freshwater mussels, and plants.
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Dr. Eisenback’s research focuses on plant-parasitic nematodes.
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Dr. Endriss is an evolutionary ecologist with a passion for understanding the evolution, ecology, and impacts of introduced plants, especially in the context of species invasion and dispersal.
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Dr. Entrekin studies how aquatic invertebrate identity and function are changed by human activities on land and in the water.
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A key component of Dr. Escobar’s research is developing theory and methods to study the biogeography of infectious diseases, disease ecology, and invasion biology. Current projects include bat-borne rabies, chronic wasting disease, spatial epidemiology in the Anthropocene, and disease-biodiversity relationships.
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Dr. Fearer’s research explores the micro- and macro- level impacts of nonnative pathogens on forest ecosystems. She has studied laurel wilt disease, beech bark disease, beech leaf disease, and walnut witches’ broom.
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Charly studies the microbiology of invasive and pest ants, as well as how pathogens and microbiomes can influence their behaviors.
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Christen’s research is focused on defining the male determining locus borders of Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and whether it was inherited from a common ancestor (A. albopictus and A. aegypti).
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Dr. Jantzen’s current research involves clarifying the nature of biological entities and processes through philosophical analysis, developing computational tools for automating scientific inference (especially concerning complex systems measured through time), and the monitoring, natural history, and conservation of invertebrates.
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Dr. Jones investigates temporal and spatial changes in insecticide resistance in German cockroach populations, as well as the chemical ecology of several pest and invasive species behavior.
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Dr. Kuhar has over twenty years of experience working on various invasive species of agricultural importance including brown marmorated stink bug, kudzu bug, spotted lanternfly, Asian jumping worm, Asian longhorned tick, and others.
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Dr. Lahondère researches the thermal biology, eco-physiology, and neuroethology of disease vector insects and ticks.
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Dr. Larsen-Gray’s research focuses on wildlife ecology in private, working forests throughout the eastern United States.
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Liu’s research investigates the disease dynamics of viruses in the invasive fire ant, Solenopsis invicta, and the interplay between virus prevalence and current baiting strategies.
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Miles uses genomic data of invasive and pest invertebrates to understand evolution in urban habitats.
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Miles studies the biological control of tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima) with a soil-borne fungus (Verticillium nonalfalfae) and their interaction with spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula).
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Miller believes art and science work well together, when they work together, which is not often enough. He has interests in all drawing, sustainable design and systems, international art fairs, bugs, and art/science collaborations.
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Dr. Onufrieva coordinates and manages research on the optimization of mating disruption tactics against spongy moths (Lymantria dispar) in support of the national “Slow the Spread Program”.
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Shirin examines the roles of invasive aphids and alternative host plants in barley yellow dwarf virus transmission to understand better how environmental changes affect its spread.
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Ruether studies chemically-mediated interactions between spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) and its host plants, tree-of-heaven and wine grapes.
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Dr. Salom researches forest insect and weed pests, with an emphasis on developing tools and strategies to improve management for those pests. His main area of focus is the biological control of hemlock woolly adelgid and tree of heaven.
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As the VCE Master Gardener Program Coordinator, Stern supports and directs the work of over 5,000 volunteers and serves as a resource on plant health and environmental stewardship issues. In her role as a Master’s student, Stern is researching the presence and impact of Allium leafminer (Phytomyza gymnostoma) in Virginia.
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Thompson’s research explores the ecological impact of Asian jumping worm (Amynthas agrestis) on soil ecosystems through analyses of soil properties, microbial enzymes, and microarthropod communities.
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The Invasive Species Collaborative (ISC) at Virginia Tech aims to position the university as a center of excellence in the science, policy, and management of invasive species by bridging disciplinary divides, driving innovative solutions, and engaging in team science.
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