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Associate ProfessorAnneke Veenstra

Honorary Associate Professor

Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Life and Environmental Sciences

Orcid identifier0000-0003-2857-3583 (opens in a new tab)⁠
  • Honorary Associate Professor
    Faculty of Science Engineering and Built Environment/School of Life and Environmental Sciences
  • +61 3 925 17667 (Work)
  • Melbourne Burwood Campus, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Victoria 3125

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

  • MEDIA APPEARANCE
    http://this.deakin.edu.au/research/what-its-like-to-discover-a-new-insect
  • AFFILIATION
    Member - Centre for Cellular & Molecular Biology
  • AFFILIATION
    Honorary Research Associate - Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne
  • AFFILIATION
    Member - Royal Society - Victoria
  • AFFILIATION
    Member - Australian Entomological Society
  • PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
    My current research interest is the taxonomy, phylogeny and ecology of previously undescribed gall midge species infesting saltmarsh plants and other Australian native vascular plants in collaboration with Dr Peter Kolesik (Bionomics Pty. Ltd). This research has significant practical applications as members of the family Cecidomyiidae are host-plant specific and known to impair the sexual reproduction of native plants. My research also includes identification of the fungus that may provide food for developing gall midge larvae, using DNA analysis and histological techniques in collaboration with Dr Teresa Lebel (Senior Mycologist) from the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.
  • PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
    Despite many gall midges existing in Australia comparatively few have been formally described. For formal description the midges appearance and biology can be insufficient DNA analysis is necessary. Worldwide, DNA fingerprinting of Cecidomyiidae is in its infancy with few laboratories using this technique.