Donnie Lee Peterson

Researcher, Southern Swedish Forest Research Centre
Phone
+4640415115

Presentation

I am forest entomologist that is interested in woodborer ecology and their potential to be invasive species. I conducted my PhD at Wright State University (Dayton, Ohio, USA) on emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) and how it performs on and impacts evolutionary naive hosts from North American. During my previous postdocs, I have implemented and improved on a novel, terrestrial eDNA method to survey for forest and agricultural pests. At SLU, I began my Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship to study EAB on European naive hosts and developing novel early detection tools. In line with my past research, I have begun new projects with designing and testing molecular early detection tools (e.g. LAMP and qPCR assays) of other woodboring insects (bronze birch borer (A. anxius)) and two-lined chestnut borer (A. bilineatus). I have also developed and been using metabarcoding  to better understand forest fungal and insect diversity, along with insect pest abundance/damage in mixed spruce, birch forests. Recently, I have started to explore the use of organic fertilizers and how they can be used to improve seedling resilience and tolerance of abiotic and biotic damages in Swedish forests. 

Research

Research
·     Forest Entomology 

·     Host plant selection of forest insects

·     Invasion ecology

·     Host plant resistance mechanisms

·     Surveying and detection of pest insects using molecular tools
Background

 

Research Experience:  

Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey       December 2019-Present

Postdoctoral Associate. Running, generating, and interpreting qPCR results for environmental DNA (eDNA). Using eDNA to detect the presence of invasive insects within agricultural and forested ecosystems as a novel method of insect pest biosurveillance. Conducting delimiting surveys around initial sites of infestation/establishment of spotted lanternfly and other forest insect pests. Verifying and comparing eDNA to conventional methods such as visual and trap surveys. 

 

Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio   August 2015-December 2019

 Ph. D. Graduate Research Assistant. Studied the ecological fitting of the Buprestid pest emerald ash borer (EAB) to two novel hosts: white fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) and cultivated olive (Olea europaea). Investigated the impact of EAB on wild populations of white fringetree and ability of EAB develop and feed on two novel host plants. Compared the relative resistance and shared volatile chemistry of hosts of EAB to understand host selection cues among susceptible and resistance hosts. Evaluated the use of new chemical lures in prism traps to improve current traps of EAB.

                                    

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana       June 2012- December 2014

Master’s Graduate Research Assistant. Evaluated establishment of parasitoids released for biological control agents of emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis). Investigated host plant resistance of two North American ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) to A. planipennis and a parasitoid’s ability to use A. planipennis as a host on two different ash tree hosts. 

Teaching

Course leader: 

Forest and Landscape program (BSc)

 SV0015 Urban tree- and forest health 2023-2025

 BI1451 Forest and Landscape Ecology 2024-2025

Lecturer:

SV0015 Urban tree- and forest health 2022-Present

-Entomology, classical biological control, major forest pests

 BI1451 Forest and Landscape Ecology 2024-Present

-Temperate grasslands, Community ecology, and Mutualism and Parasitism.

Euroforester, Broadleaves course

-Forest Entomology, Insect Pests of Broadleaves

 

Educational credentials

Education:                    

Ph.D. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES                                                          December 2019

                                    Wright State University, Dayton, OH

                                    Advisor: Don Cipollini                                    

M.S., ENTOMOLOGY                                                                                   December 2014 

                                   Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

                                   Advisor: Cliff Sadof

B.S., FOREST Ecosystem Restoration and Management                                   May 2012
                                   University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, Stevens Point, WI

                                   Advisor: James Cook

Publications