photo
Projects

2

Publications

44

Awards

3


Biography

Biography

My introduction to ecology and conservation came as a study abroad experience in Queensland's rainforests, after which I found that plans for medical school paled in comparison to an environmentally-oriented career. I earned a Masters in Public Health degree in Environmental Health at the University of California-Berkeley and consulted for a non-profit environmental organization for three years. I interned at a field study school in Kenya for a year, then traveled around the world before settling down to earn my Ph.D. at Cornell University. While there, I became interested in biological invasions as a conservation issue, particularly invasions by easily overlooked creatures. Upon completing my Ph.D., I went to Mauritius on an NSF fellowship to research ant invasions in a restoration context. An ARC-Discovery grant on biological invasions and conservation in an urban context brought me to Western Australia in 2005.

I started at JCU in 2013, first as a DECRA recipient researching ecological effects of bee disease. I have since contributed to various projects that apply ecological theory to addressing real-world challenges.

Current Research Projects (see also Current Funding tab)

  • Scientific support and research for the Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program run by the Wet Tropics Management Authority (monitoring effects on non-target species, permit compliance, improving and testing detection methods, general scientific advice)
  • Developing environmental DNA (eDNA) for the detection of invasive ants
  • Environmental Impact Categorization for Alien Taxa
  • Environmental stressors on native bees
  • Effects of drought on herbivory

Post-graduate and Honours inquiries

I currently supervise 3 PhD candidates, a Masters student, and an Honours student. See the Supervision tab for further details.

If you are interested in applying to be part of my lab as an MPhil or PhD student, please visit the Graduate Research School website to familiarize yourself with entry requirements and applications and scholarship deadlines. Please email me with a statement of your research interests, your CV, and your motivation for pursuing a degree.

If you are interested in studying for an Honours, Masters, or PhD degree with me, I specialize in the following areas:

  • effects of biological invasions, particularly insects
  • plant-insect interactions, especially as they affect conservation or agriculture
  • ant ecology
  • ecological effects of bee stressors

Most recent media coverage/interviews

Research

Projects
Research Data

Activities

Awards
Employment
Associations

Output

Lopresti, Laura C.; Lach, Lori; Montesinos, Daniel (2024) 'The specialised buzz pollination syndrome. Journal of Ecology, . [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Villacorta Rath, Cecilia; Lach, Lori; Andrade Rodriguez, Natalia; Burrows, Damien; Gleeson, Dianne; ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Connors, Matthew G.; Yeeles, Peter; Lach, Lori; Rentz, David C.F. (2023) 'A revision of the genus Im. Zootaxa, 5380 (3):201-226. [DO ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Farnan, Holly; Yeeles, Peter; Lach, Lori (2023) 'Sublethal doses of insecticide reduce thermal toler. Royal Society Open Science, 10 (11). [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Connors, Matthew G.; Yeeles, Peter; Lach, Lori; Rentz, David C.F. (2023) 'Revision of the genus Calo. Zootaxa, 5296 :333-361. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Gruber, Monica A.M.; Santoro, Davide; Cooling, Meghan; Lester, Philip J.; Hoffmann, Benjamin D.; Bos...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Case, Dylan; Yeeles, Peter; Hoskin, Conrad J. (2022) 'Invasive ants reduce abundance of . Biodiversity and Conservation, 31 :739-755. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Volp, Trevor M.; Cernusak, Lucas A.; Lach, Lori (2022) 'Epiphytic ant-plant obtains nitrogen from bo. Biotropica, 54 (3):556-560. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Choppin, M.; Lach, L. (2022) 'A novel bee host cannot detect a microbial parasite, in contrast to it. Insectes Sociaux, 69 :289-292. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lenancker, Pauline; Feldhaar, Heike; Holzinger, Anja; Greenfield, Melinda; Strain, Angela; Yeeles, P...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori (2021) 'Invasive ant establishment, spread, and management with changing climate'. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 47 :119-124. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Yeeles, Peter; Strain, Angela; Lenancker, Pauline; Lach, Lori (2021) 'Low reduction of invasive ant . Pest Management Science, 77 (4):1626-1632. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Greenfield, Melinda J.; Lach, Lori; Congdon, Brad C.; Anslan, Sten; Tedersoo, Leho; Field, Matt; Abe...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Clarke, David A.; Palmer, David J.; McGrannachan, Chris; Burgess, Treena I.; Chown, Steven L.; Clark...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Hoffmann, Benjamin D.; Moir, Melinda L. (2020) 'Native and non-native sources of carbohy. NeoBiota, 63 :155-175. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Purkiss, Terence; Lach, Lori (2019) 'Pathogen spillover from Apis mellifera to a stingless bee'. 286 . [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Volp, Trevor M.; Wilder, Shawn M. (2019) 'Previous diet affects the amount but not the t. Pest Management Science, 75 (10):2627-2633. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Volp, Trevor M.; Lach, Lori (2019) 'An epiphytic ant-plant mutualism structures arboreal ant communi. Environmental Entomology, 48 (5):1056-1062. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lenancker, Pauline; Hoffmann, Benjamin D.; Tay, Wee Tek; Lach, Lori (2019) 'Strategies of the invasi. Scientific Reports, 9 . [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Arnan, Xavier; Andersen, Alan N.; Gibb, Heloise; Parr, Catherine L.; Sanders, Nathan J.; Dunn, Rober...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Moir, Melinda L.; Renton, Michael; Hoffmann, Benjamin D.; Leng, Mei Chen; Lach, Lori (2018) 'Develop. PLoS , 13 ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Northfield, Tobin D.; Laurance, Susan G.W.; Mayfield, Margaret M.; Paini, Dean R.; Snyder, William E...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Ferguson, Jade A.; Northfield, Tobin; Lach, Lori (2018) 'Honey bee (Apis mellifera) pollen foraging . Microbial Ecology, 78 (2):482-491. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Yeeles, Peter; Lach, Lori; Hobbs, Richard J.; van Wees, Mary; Didham, Raphael K. (2017) 'Woody plant. Ecology, 98 (2):...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Volp, Trevor M.; Greenwood, Todd A.; Rose, Annaleice (2016) 'High invasive ant activity . Biotropica, 48 (2):146-149. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Kratz, Madlen; Baer, Boris (2015) 'Parasitized honey bees are less likely to forage and . Journal of Invertebrate Pathology, 130 :64-71. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Asfiya, Wara; Lach, Lori; Majer, Jonathan D.; Heterick, Brian; Didham, Raphael K. (2015) 'Intensive . ASIAN MY, 7 :87-...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Gibb, H.; Sanders, N.J.; Dunn, Robert R.; Watson, Simon; Photakis, Manoli; Abril, Silvia; Andersen, ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hobbs, Richard J.; Higgs, Eric; Hall, Carol M.; Bridgewater, Peter; Chapin, F. Stuart; Ellis, Erie C...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hulvey, Kristin B.; Hobbs, Richard J.; Standish, Rachel J.; Lindenmayer, David B.; Lach, Lori; Perri...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori (2013) 'A comparison of floral resource exploitation by native and invasive Argentine ant. Arthropod-Plant Interactions, 7 (2):177-190. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Perring, Michael P.; Standish, Rachel J.; Hulvey, Kristin B.; Lach, Lori; Morald, Tim K.; Parsons, R...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Hoffmann, Benjamin D. (2011) 'Are invasive ants better plant-defense mutualists? A compa. Oikos, 120 (1):9-16. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Tillberg, Chadwick V.; Suarez, Andrew V. (2010) 'Contrasting effects of an invasive ant . Biological Invasions, 12 (9):3123-3133. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Hobbs, Richard J.; Majer, Jonathan D. (2009) 'Herbivory-induced extrafloral nectar incre. 51 (2):237-243. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori; Thomas, Melissa L. (2008) 'Invasive ants in Australia: documented and potential ecologic. 47 (4):275-288. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori (2008) 'Floral visitation patterns of two invasive ant species and their effects on other. Ecological Entomology, 33 (1):155-160. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori (2008) 'Argentine ants displace floral arthropods in a biodiversity hotspot'. Diversity and Distributions, 14 (2):281-290. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori (2007) 'A mutualism with a native membracid facilitates pollinator displacement by Argent. Ecology, 88 (8):1994-2004. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, L. (2005) 'Interference and exploitation competition of three nectar-thieving invasive ant spe. Insectes Sociaux, 52 (3):257-262. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Lach, Lori (2003) 'Invasive ants: unwanted partners in ant-plant interactions?'. ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN, 90 (1):91-108. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Holway, David A.; Lach, Lori; Suarez, Andrew V.; Tsutsui, Neil D.; Case, Ted J. (2002) 'The causes a. 33 :181-23...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Pimentel, David; Lach, Lori; Zuniga, Rudolfo; Morrison, Doug (2000) 'Environmental and economic cost. BioScience, 50 (1):53-65. [DOI] ...
Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU