UC Research Profile - University of Canterbury

Dr Steve Pawson

Contact

Email: steve.pawson@canterbury.ac.nz

Direct Dial: +64 3 3690492

Office: School of Forestry Room 231

Language: English

Biology is observational, students must be observant and research provides new ways to view the natural world, thus pushing knowledge frontiers.

About

Research / Creative works

Fields of Research

Forest health, particularly entomology, in natural and production forests
Surveillance for biosecurity threats in terrestrial ecosystems
New tools and technologies to support biosecurity operations
Deadwood ecology and the role of insects in decomposition processes
Integrated Pest Management in Eucalyptus plantations

Researcher Summary

I am active in the areas of Forest entomology, invasive species, biosecurity, biodiversity and ecosystem processes, using new technologies for active surveillance that informs incursion response and eradication.

My research has resulted in awards for new mobile electrophysiology equipment. I have developed new insect tracking (Harmonic Radar, Active transmitter, and retroreflective) methods for forest insects in collaboration with University of Canterbury College of Engineering. My interests include the ecological impacts of artificial light and forest management on invertebrates.

I am involved in citizen science and participatory networks, and have completed a Biological Heritage National Science Challenge and Curious Minds contestable projects to deliver Find-A-Pest a new mobile app for general surveillance reporting (Findapest.nz).

My interest and expertise extends to phytosanitary treatments (including heating, irradiation, ecological risk assessment and systems approaches) for biosecurity and market access. I apply Bayesian networks to ecological problems.

Subject Area: Disciplines

Biology: Ecology, Evolution and Behaviour: Biosecurity/Biosafety ; Ecology ; Entomology
Environmental Studies: Environmental Studies

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Journal Articles

Pugh AR., Romo CM., Clare GK., Meurisse N., Bader MKF. and Pawson SM. (2023) Temperature Effects on the Survival and Development of Two Pest Bark Beetles Hylurgus ligniperda F. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Hylastes ater Paykull (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Environmental entomology 52(1): 56-66. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvac094.

Bedoya CL., Nelson XJ., Brockerhoff EG., Pawson S. and Hayes M. (2022) Experimental characterization and automatic identification of stridulatory sounds inside wood. Royal Society Open Science 9(7) http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220217.

Kerr JL., Dickson G., O'Connor BC., Somchit C., Sweeney J. and Pawson SM. (2022) Effect of Host Volatile Release Rate and Racemic Fuscumol on Trap Catch of Hylurgus ligniperda, Hylastes ater (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and Arhopalus ferus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 115(1): 168-177. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/toab203.

Bedoya C., Nelson X., Brockerhoff E., Pawson S. and Hayes M. (2021) Experimental characterization and automatic identification of stridulatory sounds inside wood. http://dx.doi.org/10.1101/2021.09.08.459381.

Damken C., Sky A., Turner RM. and Pawson SM. (2021) True bugs (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) associated with dead wood in exotic Pinus radiata plantations in New Zealand. New Zealand Entomologist 44(1): 1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.2021.1961370.

Meurisse N., Pawson SM. and Somchit C. (2021) Bark beetles on pine logs: forecasting winter colonisation dynamics based on trap catches and temperature records. Journal of Pest Science 94(4): 1357-1373. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01361-8.

Pawson SM., Kerr JL., Kimberley MO., Meurisse N., Somchit C. and Wardhaugh CW. (2021) Large-scale, multi-year, phenology modelling of forest insects in Pinus radiata plantations. Journal of Pest Science 94(4): 1375-1392. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-021-01328-9.

Seibold S., Rammer W., Hothorn T., Seidl R., Ulyshen MD., Lorz J., Cadotte MW., Lindenmayer DB., Adhikari YP. and Aragón R. (2021) The contribution of insects to global forest deadwood decomposition. Nature 597(7874): 77-81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41586-021-03740-8.

Turner RM., Brockerhoff EG., Bertelsmeier C., Blake RE., Caton B., James A., MacLeod A., Nahrung HF., Pawson SM. and Plank MJ. (2021) Worldwide border interceptions provide a window into human-mediated global insect movement. Ecological Applications 31(7) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eap.2412.

Lavrenko A., Litchfield B., Woodward G. and Pawson S. (2020) Design and Evaluation of a Compact Harmonic Transponder for Insect Tracking. IEEE Microwave and Wireless Components Letters 30(4): 445-448. http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/LMWC.2020.2972744.

Pawson SM., Kerr JL., O’Connor BC., Lucas P., Martinez D., Allison JD. and Strand TM. (2020) Light-Weight Portable Electroantennography Device as a Future Field-Based Tool for Applied Chemical Ecology. Journal of Chemical Ecology 46(7): 557-566. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10886-020-01190-6.

Pawson SM., Kerr JL., Somchit C. and Wardhaugh CW. (2020) Flight activity of wood-and bark-boring insects at New Zealand ports. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 50: 1-11. http://dx.doi.org/10.33494/nzjfs502020x132x.

Turner RM., Plank MJ., Brockerhoff EG., Pawson S., Liebhold A. and James A. (2020) Considering unseen arrivals in predictions of establishment risk based on border biosecurity interceptions. Ecological Applications 30(8) http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eap.2194.

Bedoya CL., Brockerhoff EG., Hayes M., Pawson SM., Najar-Rodriguez A. and Nelson XJ. (2019) Acoustic communication of the red-haired bark beetle Hylurgus ligniperda. Physiological Entomology 44(3-4): 252-265. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/phen.12301.

Grant A., Pawson SM. and Marzano M. (2019) Emerging stakeholder relations in participatory ICT design: Renegotiating the boundaries of sociotechnical innovation in forest biosecurity surveillance. Forests 10(10) http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f10100836.

Ogilvie S., McCarthy A., Allen W., Grant A., Mark-Shadbolt M., Pawson S., Richardson B., Strand T., Langer ER. and Marzano M. (2019) Unmanned aerial vehicles and biosecurity: Enabling participatory-design to help address social licence to operate issues. Forests 10(8) http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/f10080695.

Pawson SM., Bader MKF., Brockerhoff EG., Heffernan WJB., Kerr JL. and O’Connor B. (2019) Quantifying the thermal tolerance of wood borers and bark beetles for the development of Joule heating as a novel phytosanitary treatment of pine logs. Journal of Pest Science 92(1): 157-171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10340-018-1015-8.

Romo CM., Bader MKF. and Pawson SM. (2019) Inner log temperatures vary with log direction and forest cover: Implications for predicting the phenology of saproxylic insects. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology 275: 329-339. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2019.05.008.

Romo CM., Bader MKF. and Pawson SM. (2018) Measuring wood-boring depth of Arhopalus ferus and Prionoplus reticularis in Pinus radiata logs informs the development of phytosanitary treatments. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 166(10): 823-833. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/eea.12710.

Brockerhoff EG., Chinellato F., Faccoli M., Kimberley M. and Pawson SM. (2017) Effects of elevation and aspect on the flight activity of two alien pine bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae, Scolytinae) in recently-harvested pine forests. Forest Ecology and Management 384: 132-136. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2016.10.046.

Meurisse N. and Pawson S. (2017) Quantifying dispersal of a non-aggressive saprophytic bark beetle. PLoS ONE 12(4) http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0174111.

Pawson SM., Marcot BG. and Woodberry OG. (2017) Predicting forest insect flight activity: A Bayesian network approach. PLoS ONE 12(9) http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0183464.

Sopow SL., Jones T., McIvor I., McLean JA. and Pawson SM. (2017) Potential impacts of Tuberolachnus salignus (giant willow aphid) in New Zealand and options for control. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 19(3): 225-234. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/afe.12211.

van Haandel A., Kerr JL., Laban J., Massart X., Murray TJ., O'Connor BC., Pawson SM., Romo CM. and Walker S. (2017) Tolerance of Hylurgus ligniperda (F.) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) and Arhopalus ferus (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) to ionising radiation: a comparison with existing generic radiation phytosanitary treatments. New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science 47 18: 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s40490-017-0099-x.

Pugh AR. and Pawson SM. (2016) Artificial light at night potentially alters feeding behaviour of the native southern black-backed gull (Larus dominicanus). Notornis 63(1): 37-39.

Romo CM., Bader MKF. and Pawson SM. (2016) Comparative growth and survival of Hylurgus ligniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) and Arhopalus ferus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) reared on artificial or natural diet at 15 or 25°C. Journal of Economic Entomology 109(1): 232-239. http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jee/tov303.

Lester PJ., Brown SDJ., Edwards ED., Holwell GI., Pawson SM., Ward DF. and Watts CH. (2014) Critical issues facing New Zealand entomology. New Zealand Entomologist 37(1): 1-13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.2014.861789.

Pawson S., Nari W., Ian G. and Jack A. (2014) Reducing biosecurity business risks for logs and timber. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 59: 22-28.

Pawson SM. and Bader MKF. (2014) LED lighting increases the ecological impact of light pollution irrespective of color temperature. Ecological Applications 24(7): 1561-1568. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/14-0468.1.

Pawson SM., Brin A., Brockerhoff EG., Lamb D., Payn TW., Paquette A. and Parrotta JA. (2013) Plantation forests, climate change and biodiversity. Biodiversity and Conservation 22(5): 1203-1227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-013-0458-8.

Pawson SM., Brockerhoff EG., Watt MS. and Didham RK. (2011) Maximising biodiversity in plantation forests: Insights from long-term changes in clearfell-sensitive beetles in a Pinus radiata plantation. Biological Conservation 144(12): 2842-2850. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2011.08.001.

McCarthy JK., Hood IA., Brockerhoff EG., Carlson CA., Pawson SM., Forward M., Walbert K. and Gardner JF. (2010) Predicting sapstain and degrade in fallen trees following storm damage in a Pinus radiata forest. Forest Ecology and Management 260(9): 1456-1466.

Pawson SM., Ecroyd CE., Seaton R., Shaw WB. and Brockerhoff EG. (2010) New Zealand's exotic plantation forests as habitats for threatened indigenous species. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 34(3): 342-355.

Pawson SM., McCarthy JK., Ledgard NJ. and Didham RK. (2010) Density-dependent impacts of exotic conifer invasion on grassland invertebrate assemblages. Journal of Applied Ecology 47(5): 1053-1062. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01855.x.

Pawson SM. and Sky A. (2009) An experimental approach to quantify the contribution of invertebrates to the decay of dead wood in New Zealand plantations. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 54(1): 45-47.

Pawson SM. and Watt MS. (2009) An experimental test of a visual-based push-pull strategy for control of wood boring phytosanitary pests. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 11(3): 239-245. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1461-9563.2009.00436.x.

Pawson SM., Brockerhoff EG. and Didham RK. (2009) Native forest generalists dominate carabid assemblages along a stand-age chronosequence in an exotic Pinus radiata plantation. Forest Ecology and Management 258S(Supplement 1) S108-S116 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.08.012.

Pawson SM., Watt MS. and Brockerhoff EG. (2009) Using differential responses to light spectra as a monitoring and control tool for Arhopalus ferus (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) and other exotic wood-boring pests. Journal of Economic Entomology 102(1): 79-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1603/029.102.0112.

Brockerhoff E. and Pawson S. (2008) New Zealand: Plantation Conversions to Dairying Threatens NZ's Biodiversity. Australian Forest Grower 31(1): 42-43.

Brockerhoff EG., Shaw WB., Hock B., Kimberley M., Paul T., Quinn J. and Pawson S. (2008) Re-examination of recent loss of indigenous cover in New Zealand and the relative contributions of different land uses. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 32(1): 115-126.

Pawson SM., Brockerhoff EG., Meenken ED. and Didham RK. (2008) Non-native plantation forests as alternative habitat for native forest beetles in a heavily modified landscape. Biodiversity and Conservation 17(5): 1127-1148. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10531-008-9363-y.

Young LM., Marris JWM. and Pawson SM. (2008) Back from extinction: rediscovery of the Canterbury knobbled weevil Hadramphus Tuberculatus (Pascoe 1877) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), with a review of its historical distribution. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 35: 323-330.

Didham RK. and Pawson SM. (2007) The launch of the 'BUGZONLINE' database - The bibliography of New Zealand terrestrial invertebrates 1775-1993 online. The Weta 34(1): 1-10.

Pawson SM. and Armstrong KF. (2007) A morphological and molecular comparison of Island and mainland populations of megadromus speciosus (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from the marlborough sounds, New Zealand. New Zealand Entomologist 30(1): 13-23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00779962.2007.9722147.

Pawson SM., Brockerhoff EG., Norton DA. and Didham RK. (2006) Clear-fell harvest impacts on biodiversity: past research and the search for harvest size thresholds. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 36(4): 1035-1046.

Didham RK. (2005) Editorial - Digital resources for New Zealand entomologists. The Weta 30: 1-9.

Pawson SM., Brockerhoff EG., Didham RK. and Norton DA. (2005) Clearfell harvest size: a key issue for biodiversity conservation in New Zealand's plantation forests. New Zealand Journal of Forestry 50(2): 29-32.

Pawson S. and Berndt L. (2004) Observations of Monarch butterfly over-wintering behaviour in Christchurch. The Weta.

Pawson SM., Emberson RM., Armstrong KF. and Paterson AM. (2003) Phylogenetic revision of the endemic New Zealand carabid genus Oregus Putzeys (Coleoptera:Carabidae:Broscini). Invertebrate Systematics 17(5): 625-640. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/IS02042.

Chapters

Michael U., Pawson S., Manuela B., Scott H., Richard H. and Martin G. (2018) Utilization of non-native wood by saproxylic insects. In Michael U (Ed.), Saproxylic Insects: 797-834.Springer.

Webster CR., Flaspohler D., Pawson S. and Brockerhoff E. (2012) Ecologically sustainable bioenergy cropping systems: Species selection and habitat considerations. Handbook of Bioenergy Crop Plants: 99-117.

Brockerhoff E., Pawson S., Dungan R., Sarfati M., Bowie M. and Wratten S. (2008) Terrestrial invertebrates. The Natural History of Canterbury: 493-548.