| Education & Experience |
| PhD | |
| BSc (Hons) | |
| Employment History | |
| Publications | |
| Professional Associations | |
| Other Organisations | |
| Other Research | |
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Consultancy
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| www.drdons.net |
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Aspects of the ecology of the termite Coptotermes lacteusPhD Thesis La Trobe University 1990Supervisors: Dr. J.R.J. French, Prof. I.W.B. Thornton Termites of the genus Coptotermes are widely regarded as important pests of Australian eucalypt forests, but there is little direct evidence to suggest that they are primary degraders of healthy trees. Contrary to widely held expectations, it was shown that present forest practices work against the termites and threaten the ecosystem services they provide. The study was centred in an intensively-logged pulpwood forest where mounds of C. lacteus appear common. A novel baiting technique was developed, using cork baits in PVC tubes applied directly to the termite mounds, which enabled long-term sampling of termite activity in different age-classes of forest. Termites in the area are rare given the magnitude of the food resource and are not favoured by timber harvesting. The thermal environment of the termites was studied using a datalogging system remotely controlled and interrogated via the Telstra hardwired telephone service. Long-term monitoring and experimental manipulation of mound temperature revealed a high degree of colony thermoregulation over the short-term, with acceptance of an environmentally imposed, annual cycle. A technique of population estimation by removal sampling was developed which enables repetitive measures of single colonies. |
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An investigation of the ecology of subterranean termites which utilise woody litter at Wyperfeld National ParkBSc Honours Thesis La Trobe University 1979 Supervisors: Prof. I.W.B. Thornton, Prof. W. Danthanarayana Wyperfeld National Park is a near-desert, with the only large trees found along the bed of a rarely flowing internal drainage system. Removal of fallen timber for firewood by campers was evident in a 50 m band beside access roads. Management were concerned about the possible long-term effects of this harvesting on the park's riparian ecosystem. Termites were chosen as indicator organisms and their activity and abundance surveyed using grids baited with toilet-paper rolls and some judicious artificial clearing. It was shown that continued harvesting would seriously deplete the subterranean termite fauna with consequent effects on the organisms dependent on the termites' hollowing and recycling behaviours. |
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1994 to present |
Granitgard Pty Ltd
89A Strezlecki Ave, Sunshine VIC, 3020 Fax +61 3 9311 7770 Research & Development Manager |
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| Principal researcher in the development of graded stone technology for the control of termites in buildings. Research & development, development of new and accessory products, industry and regulator liaison. Management of research effort and associated staff. Seconded to CSIRO Forest Products Laboratory until 1997. Presently working 0.6 FTE. | |||||
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1989
(Leave |
University of Melbourne
Institute of Education School of Early Childhood Studies(now Department of Learning and Educational Development) Lecturer in Biology Head of Human Development Centre School Chairperson |
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| Provide courses in ecology, general biology,
curriculum science and early childhood science at first, second, third and fourth year level to teacher trainees.
Teach a graduate course in the use of computers in administration. Master's supervision. Devise and create subjects
for a new BEd course.
Curriculum design for general science, Australian plant & animal ecology and research methods for honours
students. Some of these subjects are also run in distance mode as a parallel subject. 1993, elected by peers to
two major administrative roles:
Chairperson of School: organisation and chairing of meetings of the School and, Head of Human Development Centre,
with budgetary and other administrative responsibilities for 12 academic and one general staff.
Until Feb 1990, partial secondment from lecturing duties to assume responsibility for coordination of computer use within the school. With responsibility for all computer installations and software within the school (teaching, administration and research) the role involves forward planning, evaluations, purchasing (over $50,000 in 1989), training of staff and minor maintenance. I have variously been a member of the Executive, Research and Publications Committee, Information Technology Advisory Committee and chair of the Publications Sub-Committee, member of ad-hoc working groups on staff evaluation, School forward plan, secretarial staff review, campus relocation, computer services, student awards, teaching allocation, curriculum development and disbursement of School research funds. |
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| 1990 to 1991 Full time |
University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources Department of Entomology Assistant Entomologist (USDA-ARS) |
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| Research the ecology and control of the Formosan Subterranean Termite (Coptotermes formosanus) in Hawaii. Develop methods to model the growth of populations and dispersal and spread of the termite throughout the Hawaiian archipelago. Assess novel methods of locating termites. | |||||
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1987 |
Melbourne College of Advanced Education Institute of Early Childhood Development Lecturer in Biology |
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| Provide a wide range of courses in zoology, botany, science curriculum and environmental biology for first, second and third year bachelor of education students. | |||||
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1988 |
Monash University Department of Zoology Guest Lecturer in Terrestrial Invertebrate Ecology |
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| Prepare and present a short course (six lectures, three practicals) on the impact of human civilisation on terrestrial invertebrates, including overview of pest control in urban, agricultural and forest systems with emphasis on the history of chemical control and the application of integrated pest management techniques. | |||||
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1986 |
La Trobe University Department of Zoology Lecturer in Population & Applied Ecology |
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| At one week's notice, devise and present courses on Population Ecology and Applied Invertebrate Ecology. Set and mark final exams. 18 lectures presented over five weeks. | |||||
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1986 |
University of Melbourne Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry Lecturer, Forest Entomology. |
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| Prepare and present a course on Forest Entomology and management of forest and timber insects for fourth-year forestry students. Lectures, practical sessions, field trips. | |||||
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1983 |
La Trobe University Department of Zoology Tutor-Demonstrator , Animal Ecology. |
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Part |
Principal Tutor-Demonstrator for third year course. General teaching and administrative duties. Field courses on terrestrial invertebrates, marsupial behaviour and littoral marine invertebrate ecology. Computer instruction. | ||||
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1983 |
La Trobe University Department of Zoology Technical Officer , Third Year Laboratory. |
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| Preparation of materials for practical classes, maintenance of laboratory apparatus, animals and cultures. | |||||
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1981 |
State of Victoria Law Department Administrative Officer |
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| Responsible for general insurances, health insurances and organisation of periodical property inspections for protected persons. | |||||
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Selected Publications |
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Some Papers
EWART, D.M. (1985a) Termites in 1984 Zoological Expedition to the Krakataus -
Preliminary report. I.W.B. Thornton (ed). Dept. Zool., La Trobe
Univ., Misc. series no. 1
EWART, D.M. (1985b) A fast technique for separating termites from nest
debris. J. Aust. Entom. Soc. 24:154
EWART, D.M. & FRENCH, J.R.J. (1986) Temperature studies on two mounds of
Coptotermes lacteus. Int. Res. Group Wood Pres. Doc. No.
IRG/WP/1295
FRENCH, J.R.J., ROBINSON, P.J. & EWART, D.M. (1986) Cork as a bait substrate
for some Australian termites. Sociobiol. 11(3):303-309
FRENCH, J.R.J., DONALDSON, R. & EWART, D.M. (1987) Monitoring temperatures in
a termite mound, trees and soil using a data logger linked by telephone
via a modem to a microcomputer. Aust. For. Res. 17:79-82
EWART, D.M. & FRENCH, J.R.J. (1988) Estimation of the population of a mound
colony of Coptotermes lacteus. Int. Res. Group Wood Pres. Doc.
No. IRG/WP/1353
EWART, D. McG. (1991) Direct colony baiting of termite colonies: a tool for
ecological studies. in M.I. Haverty and W. Wilcox (eds)
Proceedings of the symposium on current research on wood destroying
organisms and future prospects for protecting wood in use. Sept,
1989, Bend, Oregon
EWART, D. McG. (1991) Termites and forest management in Australia.
in M.I. Haverty and W. Wilcox (eds) Proceedings of the symposium
on current research on wood destroying organisms and future prospects
for protecting wood in use. Sept, 1989, Bend, Oregon
EWART, D. McG., GRACE, J.K., YAMMAMOTO, R. and TAMASHIRO, M. (1992) Hollow
stakes for detecting subterranean termites. Sociobiol. 20(1): 17-22
FRENCH, J.R.J., AHMED, B. & EWART, D.M. (1995) Bait box technique for
subterranean termite control. Int. Res. Group Wood Pres. Doc. No.
IRG/WP/95-10115
GRACE, J.K. and EWART, D.M. (1996) Recombinant cells of Pseudomonas fluorescens: a
highly palatable encapsulation for delivery of genetically engineered
toxins to subterranean termites (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae). Letters
in Applied Microbiology 23:183-186
GRACE, J.K., EWART, D.M. and THOME, C.H.M. (1996) Termite resistance of wood
species grown in Hawaii. Forest Products Journal 46(10):57-60
FRENCH, J.R.J., RASMUSSEN, R.A., EWART, D.M. & KHALIL, M.A.K. (1997) The
gaseous environment of Coptotermes lacteus mound colonies before and
after mirex treatment. Bull. Entomol. Res. 87:145-149
Other Publications:
EWART, D.M. (1995) Termites, in Healesville Sanctuary Australian Wildlife
CD-ROM
EWART, D.M. (1995 )The CSIRO bait
box method of termite control.
Originally published as http://www.wark.csiro.au/bbox.htm
Unpublished Conference Presentations:
EWART, D. McG., GRACE, J.K., FRENCH, J.R.J. & TAMASHIRO, M. (1991) Baiting
systems for subterranean termite control. Pacific Science Congress,
Honolulu
EWART, D. McG., GRACE, J.K., EBESU, R.H. & TAMASHIRO, M. (1991) Particle
Barriers and minimum foraging aperture for Coptotermes formosanus.
Hawaiian Entomological Society, Nov., Honolulu
EWART, D. (1994) Termites, the new way to avoid damage: Granitgard.
Housing Industry Association Annual Conference, Melbourne, October
EWART, D. McG., TAMASHIRO, M., GRACE, J.K. & EBESU, R.H. (1991) Minimum
foraging aperture and particle barriers for excluding the Formosan
Subterranean Termite. Entomological Society of America, Dec 8-12, Reno,
Nevada
EWART, D.M. & FRENCH, J.R.J. (1992) The ecology of the forest termite
Coptotermes lacteus. XIX International Congress of Entomology,
June 28-July 4, Beijing
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Professional Associations |
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Australian
Entomological
Society (Regional councillor 1986-89) |
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| Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association | ||
| Ecological Society of Australia | ||
| Hawaiian Entomological Society | ||
| International Research Group on Wood Preservation (IRG) | ||
| Royal Society of Victoria | ||
| Society for Invertebrate Pathology | ||
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Other Organisations |
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| Australian Conservation Foundation | ||
| Environment Victoria | ||
| International Isoptera Society | ||
| Total Environment Centre | ||
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Other Research |
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| 1984 | La Trobe University Expedition to Krak atau Islands, Indonesia. Entomologist | ||
| 1990-1991 | Studies on the biology and control of the Formosan Subterranean termite Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki in Hawaii. | ||
| 1994-1997 | Collaborative termite research with CSIRO Div. Forest Products | ||
| 1997-8 | CSIRO Building Research, Ryde/CERIT, University of New South Wales, NSW - Assistance with assessment of a novel termite protection system. | ||
| 2000- | Nothing I'm allowed to mention yet. | ||