Robert McDougall
Research Data Technologist – biodiversity spatial analysisResearch Interests
The ecology of agricultural systems, particularly how the surrounding environment influences crop production through the provision of ecosystem services, and finding new ways of modelling the flow of these ecosystem services.
Current Projects
I am currently working on the MEF4CAP project, investigating methods for remotely monitoring biodiversity on farms. There is growing interest in having the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) payments to farmers more closely tied environmental outcomes, however this is only possible if these outcomes can be effectively monitored. Thus my work seeks to use tools such as latest generation habitat maps and image identification software to model and remotely measure farm biodiversity without the need for expensive field visits or tasks that place an administrative burden on farmers.
Education
BSc Hons (Macquarie University, Australia)
PhD (University of New England, Australia)
Madalinska, K., Mcdougall, R., & Nielsen, A. L. Characterizing Location of Spotted Lanternfly Egg Masses in Wooded Habitat During Early Invasion Stages. (2022). Frontiers in Insect Science, 29.
McDougall, R., Kristiansen, P., Latty, T., Jones, J., & Rader, R. (2022). Pollination service delivery is complex: Urban garden crop yields are best explained by local canopy cover and garden scale plant species richness. Journal of Applied Ecology, 59(5), 1248-1257.
McDougall, R., Ogburn, E. C., Walgenbach, J. F., & Nielsen, A. L. (2021). Diapause termination in invasive populations of the brown marmorated stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in response to photoperiod. Environmental Entomology, 50(6), 1400-1406.
McDougall, R., DiPaola, A., Blaauw, B., & Nielsen, A. L. (2021). Managing orchard groundcover to reduce pollinator foraging post‐bloom. Pest management science, 77(7), 3554-3560.
Mcdougall, R., Rader, R., & Kristiansen, P. (2020). Urban agriculture could provide 15% of food supply to Sydney, Australia, under expanded land use scenarios. Land Use Policy, 94, 104554.
McDougall, R., Kristiansen, P., & Rader, R. (2019). Small-scale urban agriculture results in high yields but requires judicious management of inputs to achieve sustainability. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116(1), 129-134.