Please excuse the lack of detail as my website is under construction. Come back soon for updates!
1. Pre-release studies of garlic mustard:
I have established monitoring sites of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) populations throughout southern Ontario. I am surveying garlic mustard, its associated plant communities, along with their herbivory in order to better understand the natural fluctuations of garlic mustard populations. We need to understand how these populations naturally change in order to better quantify the impact of a biological control weevil agent, Ceutorhynchus scrobicollis.
2. Comparison of insects found on native and non-native subspecies of phragmites:
Phragmites australis subsp australis is a wetland grass from Europe that is now present throughout North America. When investigating ways to control this invasive species, we must understand how control efforts may impact our native subsp, P. australis subsp americanus.
3. Determining whether/how 'coddling' a plant affects its palatability: a study with native Chrysochus spp., their use of native Apocynaceae and how this helps us predict European Chrysochus use of invasive Vincetoxicum and North American non-target Apocynaceae.
4. Novel associations of native Chrysochus beetles and invasive Vincetoxicum spp.
Selected Academic Contributions:
deJonge, R., Jones, I., Bourchier, R. Smith, S. (2019) Predicting the outcome of potential novel associations: Interactions between the invasive Vincetoxicum rossicum and native western Chrysochus beetles. Biological Invasions (In press)
deJonge, R.*, Smith, S., Bourchier, R. (2018, November) Accelerated adaptation of native novel enemies to aid in biological control. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) and Entomological Society of the U.S.A. (ESA). Vancouver, BC (Postdoctoral - invited) deJonge, R., Bourchier, R.*, Hinz, H., Cordat, G., Smith, S. (2018) Using native congeners as ‘surrogates’ to identify false positives in host-specificity testing. XV International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds; Engelberg, CH (Postdoctoral) deJonge, R.*, Bourchier, R., Smith, S. (2017, October) Host specificity testing of North American Chrysochus spp. (Col: Chrysomelidae) to enhance ecological host range predictions of European Chrysochus asclepiadeus. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) and Entomological Society of Manitoba. (ESM). Winnipeg, Manitoba (Postdoctoral) deJonge, R.*, Bourchier, R., Smith, S. (2017, October) Spillover of European insects from introduced Phragmites australis to the native subspecies. Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) and Entomological Society of Manitoba. (ESM). Winnipeg, Manitoba (Postdoctoral) deJonge, R.*, Bourchier, R., Smith, S. (2017) Initial response by a native beetle, Chrysochus auratus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), to a novel introduced host-plant, Vincetoxicum rossicum (Gentianales: Apocynaceae). Environmental Entomology 46: 617-625. doi:10.1093/ee/nvx072 (PhD) Smith, S.*, MacQuarrie, Chris JK., Seehausen, M. Lukas, deJonge, R., Lyons, D. Barry (2016, September) The changing times, signs, and climes of biological control in Canadian forests. Annual Meeting of the Royal Entomological Society; Newport, Shropshire, UK (PhD)
deJonge, R.*, Smith, S., Bourchier, R. (2015, November) The western cobalt beetle (Chrysochus cobaltinus): a potential native biocontrol agent for dog strangling vine (Vincetoxicum rossicum).Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) and the Societe d’entomologie du Quebec(SEQ); Montreal, ON, Canada (PhD)
deJonge, R.*, Smith, S., Bourchier, R. (2013, November) The dogbane beetle: A native beetle’s resilience in the face of invasive dog strangling vine.Latornell Conservation Symposium; Nottawasaga, ON, Canada (PhD) deJonge, R.*, Dickinson, R., Bourchier, R. Smith, S. (2012, October) Dog strangling vine research update.Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Annual Forest Review; Orillia, ON, Canada (PhD)
deJonge, R.*, Smith, S., Bourchier, R. (2012, August) Will native dogbane beetles (Chrysochus auratus) adapt to dog-strangling vine (Vincetoxicum spp.)?. Terrestrial Invasive Plant Species Conference; Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada (Master’s) deJonge, R.*, (2011, October) Is it a ‘dog’ eat ‘dog’ world?. Ontario Invasive Plant Council Annual General Meeting and Invasive Plant Symposium; Prince Edward County, ON, Canada (Master’s) Gassmann, A.*, Weed, A., Tewksbury, L., Leroux, A., Smith, S., deJonge, R., Bourchier, R., Casagrande R. (2011, September) Evaluating the potential for biological control of swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum nigrum and V. rossicum) in eastern North America. The XIII International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds; Hawaii, USA (Master’s)