This world-leading PhD project is investigating stable isotope and trace element technologies as means of determining the geographic origin of exotic insects intercepted in New Zealand. It is focusing on evaluating how the spatial variation of geo-chemical signatures is influenced by plant and insect biological processes and how this can be interpreted with respect to an insect's natal origin.  This work is supported by TEC and a Ministry of Research, Science & Technology Cross-Departmental Research Fund.

Rainfall stable isotope data gathered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Department of Conservation and the New Zealand Police is being used to provide baseline data for part of this research.

Read more about the PhD research project

Back to Emerging Technologies for Border Diagnostics homepage

See all projects