Projects
Visual Assessment of Fruit and Nut Injury Caused by the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug
Researcher: Abigail Wiesner – BSc of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
Advisors: Hannah Fraser, Horticultural Entomologist – Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
Dr. Cynthia Scott-Dupree, Professor – School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph
The purpose of this project was to create a catalogue of fruit and nut injury caused by the Brown Marmorated Stink Bug (BMSB). With detailed pictures available, growers will be better informed to identify injury within their own crops. This project focused on apple and hazelnut crops as both had been identified as high risk of severe crop losses.
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The Brown Marmorated Stink Bug is an invasive species native to Asia that was confirmed to be in Hamilton Ontario in 2010. The broad host range (~170 hosts in North America including key agricultural sectors) coupled with its migratory behaviour in search of nutrients, has presented concerns for potentially severe economic damage.
My research found that both apples and hazelnuts are susceptible to damage at various crop developmental stages throughout the season by adult and nymphal (immature) BMSB. For apples, a pinprick on the peel may indicate internal damage, however, there were no external signs of damage on hazelnut shells. For both crops, feeding damage appeared as brown, cork-like necrotic tissue. It’s recommended that both crops have cross-sections cut into the flesh to adequately assess the damage.
The poster I produced from my research was awarded 2nd place in the Ontario Fruit and
Vegetable Convention Student Poster Competition.
Entomology Field course in Costa Rica
I was selected to travel with 12 other students under the supervision of Dr. Cynthia Scott-Dupree and Dr. Steve Marshall to Costa Rica for an immersive two-week entomological field course.
While in a remote area of rainforest, I observed the diversity of insects endemic to Costa Rica. I successfully conducted a group research project, “Evaluating the Attractiveness of Diplopod Injury Level to Dipteran Activity”, which required a written scientific report and oral presentation.
In addition to course work, students were asked to capture and preserve a collection of insects which was added to the Soltis
Centre’s insect collection. My collection is pictured here. It was an incredible opportunity to gain more experience in entomological research as well as insect collecting and photography in such a unique environment.
Nature Guelph’s Aquatic Interpretive Event
For three consecutive years, I designed and delivered an outdoor interpretive event focused on aquatic insects through Nature Guelph in part for the Nature in the City initiative.
During the event, families were welcomed to meet our volunteers at a local Guelph river for 2-3 hours for hands-on activities. I used a D-net, specially designed to capture aquatic creatures, to pull samples of insects, crustaceans and fish out of the river for the participants to observe.
Together we discussed the unique features of each specimen and had the participants identify a few on their own (with provided Keys). Given restrictions in 2020, this event was held virtually with photos substituting for live specimens.
Research Assistant with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
During my time as the Research Assistant with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(AAFC) I worked under the supervision of Mr. William May in Indian Head
Saskatchewan.
Within a team environment, I helped maintain multiple field trials which required the creation of protocols, planting crops, data collection, and data processing to evaluate agronomic practices for crop production within the prairies. Working in
Saskatchewan has provided me with a unique perspective on a variety of forage crops.
Specifically, I independently designed and conducted an experiment to evaluate “The effect of aphid presence on canaryseed (Phalaris canariensis) crop development and yield”. In my spare time, I enjoyed exploring the prairie landscape and participated in a butterfly count for the area of Fort Qu’Appelle.