Melbourne School of Land and Environment Department of Forest and Ecosystem Science

A research scientist with over twenty years experience in forest health in both native forest and, softwood and hardwood plantations, Nick has been continuously engaged in forest research for Victorian Government agencies since 1984. His areas of specialization within Forest Entomology include:

• the ecology and control of native and exotic insect pests
• forest biosecurity
• effects of defoliation on tree growth,
• impacts of fire on litter invertebrates, and
• effects of plantation establishment on insect biodiversity.

He has developed additional skills in the impacts of soils and nutrition on tree health and the development of native forest and plantation health surveillance systems to monitor tree health and meet the requirements of various certification protocols. His career has included tertiary lecturing, supervision and examination of postgraduate students, leadership of project teams and contribution to policy development.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts, Monash University , 1984
Master of Science, Monash University , 1997
Graduate Certificate in University Teaching, 2007

back to top

• The Order Coleoptera (beetles)
• Effects of defoliation on tree growth
• Mechanisms of resistance to pine aphid attack in radiata pine
• Forest health surveillance for health monitoring and certification purposes
• Forest biosecurity issues and policy

back to top

Selected Publication List

Collett, N.G. and Elms, S.R. (2009). The control of sirex wasp using biological control agents in Victoria, Australia. Agricultural and Forest Entomology (accepted).

Seymour, B. and Collett, N.G. (2009). Effects of fire retardant application on heathland surface-dwelling ant species (Order Hymenoptera; Family Formicidae) in Victoria, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 257: 1261-1270

Hopmans P, Collett N, Smith I & Elms SR. (2008). Growth and nutrition of Pinus radiata in response to fertilizer applied after thinning and interaction with defoliation associated with Essigella californica. Forest Ecology and Management. 255: 2118–2128.

Smith D, Smith I, Collett N & Elms S. (2008). Forest health surveillance in Victoria. Australian Forestry. 71 (3): 188–195.

Collett, N.G. (2007). Effect of fire retardant application on heathland surface-dwelling families of the Order Coleoptera (beetles) in Victoria, Australia. Forest Ecology and Management 253 (1-3) 232-243.

Collett, N.G. and McBeath, J. (2007). Managing insect pests in Eucalyptus globulus (Labill) plantations in Victoria using insecticide tablets at establishment. Australian Forestry 70(1): 53-60

Collett, N.G., Lefoe, G. and Yen, A.L. (2007). Invasive terrestrial Invertebrates in Victoria. Victorian Naturalist 124(2) 87-102

Hopmans, P.H., Collett, N.G. and Bickford, R. (2007). Effects of fire retardant on heathland soils in south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research. 45, 607-617

Collett N. (2006) The threat posed by new and existing native and exotic insect pests to the plantation industry in Victoria. Report for Department of Primary Industries. Melbourne, Australia: The University of Melbourne.

Collett, N. G. and C. Schoenborn (2005). "Effect of fire retardant application on heathland surface-dwelling invertebrate communities in Victoria ." Australian Forestry 68 (3): 162-175.

Neumann, F.G., Smith, I.W. and Collett, N.G . (2005). Chapter 8: Diseases and Insect Pests. In: New Forests: Wood Production and Environmental Services. Ed. Nambiar, S. and Ferguson , I. CSIRO Publishing , Victoria , Australia .

Collett, N. G . (2003). "Short and long-term effects of prescribed fires in autumn and spring on surface-active arthropods in dry sclerophyll eucalypt forests of Victoria ." Forest Ecology and Management 182 : 117-138.

Collett, N. G. and F. G. Neumann (2002). "Effects of simulated chronic defoliation in summer on growth and survival of blue gum ( Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) within young plantations in northern Victoria ." Australian Forestry 65 (2): 99-106.

Collett, N. G. (2001). "Biology and control of psyllids, and the possible causes for defoliation of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (river red gum) in south-eastern Australia - a review." Australian Forestry 64 (2): 88-95.

Collett, N. G . (2000). "Catastrophic wildfire and its short-term effects on families of Order Coleoptera (Beetles) in Eucalyptus regnans forest in the Central Highlands of Victoria ." Australian Forestry 63 (1): 7-21.

back to top

Master of Forest Ecosystem Science

Forest Health: Subject Coordinator and Lecturer 2008 -

Bachelor of Forest Science

Forest Health and Restoration: Subject Coordinator and Lecturer
Nick also supervises honours students within the same course.

back to top