Research Scientist
Organization: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) - Australia
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Dr Macfadyen joined CSIRO Entomology as a research scientist in 2008 focusing on research relating to the spatial ecology and management of invertebrate pests and natural enemy complexes in grain production landscapes. She is interested in using ecological knowledge of predators and parasitics wasps to improve pest management across agricultural landscapes. Prior to joining CSIRO she was based at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom for three years working on a project investigating plant-leaf miner- parasitoid food webs in organic and conventional farming systems. This research showed that whilst organic farms in the region had greater diversity, and this translated into differences in network structure, there was no increase in the provision of natural pest control services on organic farms. For her PhD studies at the University of Queensland she conducted laboratory studies on natural enemies of Helicoverpa spp. In soybean. These moths are a serious pest of multiple crops around the world and their ability to move across large distances makes them challenging for farmers to manage.