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Academic Staff
 

Dr Kirsti Abbott

Assistant lecturer – The Practice & Application of Science

PhD (Monash University)

Ph: +61 3 99051068
Email: Kirsti.Abbott@sci.monash.edu.au
Research and other scientific interests
  • Ecology and management of invasive ants
  • Population structure of invasive ants
  • Mutualisms between ants and other insects
  • Communication of science to the public
  • Engaging communities in science
  • Currently helping organise INTECOL10, Brisbane 2009
Publications
  • Lester, P.J., Abbott, K.L., Sarty, M. & Burns, K.C. (In Press) Competitive assembly of a South Pacific invasive ant community.  BMC Ecology
  • Thomas, M., Becker, K., Abbott, K.L. & Feldhaar, H.  (In Press)  Supercolony mosaics: two different invasions of the yellow crazy ant Anoplolepis gracilipes on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Biological Invasions.
  • McNatty, A., Abbott, K.L & Lester, P.J. (In Press) Invasive ants compete with and modify the trophic ecology of hermit crabs on tropical islands. Oecologia.
  • Corin, S.E. Abbott, K.L. Ritchie, P.A. & Lester, P.J.  (2007)  Large scale unicoloniality: the population and colony structure of the invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) in New Zealand.  Insect Sociaux 54: 275 – 282.
  • Abbott, K.L. & Green, P.T. (2007) Collapse of an ant-scale mutualism in rainforest on Christmas Island.  Oikos 116: 1238 – 1246.
  • Sarty, M., Abbott, K.L. & Lester, P.J.  (2007) Community level impacts of an ant invader and food mediated coexistence.  Insectes Sociaux 54: 166 - 173.
  • Abbott, K.L. Kiriwi, S.N.J., Lester, P.J. & Ritchie, P.  (2006)  Distinct populations of the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on a Tokelau atoll reveal clues to invasion history.  Biological Invasions 9: 453 - 463.
  • Sarty, M. Abbott, K.L. & Lester, P.J.  (2006) The size-grain hypothesis: habitat complexity facilitates coexistence in a tropical ant community.  Oecologia 149: 465-473.
  • Abbott, K.L. Sarty, M. & Lester, P.J.  (2006)  The ants of Tokelau.  New Zealand Journal of Zoology 33: 157-164.
  • Abbott, K.L. (2006) Spatial dynamics of supercolonies of the yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on a tropical oceanic island.  Diversity & Distributions 12: 101-110.
  • Abbott, K.L. (2005) Supercolonies of the invasive yellow crazy ant, Anoplolepis gracilipes, on an oceanic island: Forager activity patterns, density and biomass. Insectes Sociaux 52: 266-272.
  • Harris, R.; Abbott, K.; Barton, K.; Berry, J.; Don, W.; Gunawardana, D.; Lester, P.; Rees, J.; Stanley, M.; Sutherland, A.; Toft, R. (2005): Invasive ant pest risk assessment project for Biosecurity New Zealand. Series of unpublished Landcare Research contract reports to Biosecurity New Zealand. BAH/35/2004-1. http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/biosecurity/stowaways/Ants/ant_pest_risk.asp

Books:

  • Lach, L., Parr, C.L. & Abbott, K.L. Eds. (2009) Ant Ecology. Oxford University Press.