Katarina Mikac

Position: Lecturer, Master of Science Coordinator
Room: 41.173
Phone No: +61 2 4221 3307
Email: kmikac@uow.edu.au

Research Interests

Population genetics of invasive insects of grain including species from the Psocoptera genus Liposcelis, western corn rootworm, Diabrotica v. vergifera and the warehouse beetle, Trogoderma variable

Historical versus contemporary genotypic and phenotypic changes in beetle pests in response to invasion processes

Molecular diagnostics of insects of quarantine and biosecurity significance such as the khapra beetle, Trogoderma granarium

Estuarine ecology: microsize intermittently closed and open coastal lagoons and lakes in NSW

Representative Recent Publications

Mikac, KM., FitzSimmons, NF. (2009) Genetic structure and dispersal patterns of the invasive psocid Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) in Australian grain storage systems. Bulletin of Entomological Research (accepted 27/09/2009).

Mikac KM (2007) PCR confirms the presence of multiple Wolbachia strain infections in Australian and international populations of the parthenogenetic invasive psocid Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel. Journal of Stored Products Research 43, 594-597.

Mikac KM (2007) The population genetics of the invasive Psocoptera (Liposcelididae) species Liposcelis bostrychophila Badonnel and Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) in Australian grain storage systems. Australian Journal of Entomology 46, 258–259.

Mikac KM, Maher W, Jones A (2007) Physico-chemical sediment variables and soft sediment macrofauna in microsize coastal lagoons and their catchments in New South Wales, Australia. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 72, 308-318.

Maher W, Mikac K, Spooner D, Foster S, Williams D (2006) Form and functioning of small Australian intermittent closed open lake lagoons in NSW. In: Holmes, N (Ed.) Australian Estuaries. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne.

Mikac KM (2006) Isolation and characterisation of the first microsatellite loci from the Order Psocoptera in the economically important pest insect Liposcelis decolor (Pearman) and cross-species amplification. Molecular Ecology Notes 6, 1102-1104.

Mikac KM, Clarke GC (2006) Tracing the geographic origin of the cosmopolitan parthenogenetic insect pest Liposcelis bostrychophila (Psocoptera: Liposcelididae). Bulletin of Entomological Research 96, 1-8.

Abbreviated CV

Doctor of Philosophy (Entomology/Population Genetics): University of Canberra/ CSIRO Entomology (2006)

Bachelor of Applied Science, First Class Honours: University of Canberra (2001)

Who's Who of Australian Women Inductee (2008 & 2009)

Winner, Science and Innovation Award for Young People in Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Australian Government (2007) University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor’s Award (2006)