Mr Campbell Simpson1

1Wet Tropics Management Authority, Cairns, Australia

Biography:

Campbell Simpson is the Field Coordinator for Science and Monitoring at the Wet Tropics Management Authority's Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program. He attained a Bachelor of Science (Zoology and Ecology) with distinction from James Cook University and continues to work with the Insect Ecology Lab at JCU to develop and implement innovative approaches to invasive ant management through cutting edge science. Growing up in the rainforests of Far North Queensland he is passionate about conservation ecology and entered the invasive insect management industry due to a particular interest in entomology.

Abstract:

The yellow crazy ant (YCA), Anoplolepis gracilipes, is one of the world's 100 worst invasive species and can rapidly dominate ecosystems by forming supercolonies and displacing native species. The invasive ant was initially detected in Cairns in 2001 but quickly declared ineradicable in Queensland due to widespread infestations elsewhere in the country.

The presence of Yellow Crazy Ants in the globally significant and irreplaceable Wet Tropics World Heritage Area spurred the Wet Tropics Management Authority to seek funding for local eradication, aiming to protect this ancient rainforest ecosystem. The World Heritage Area, renowned for its outstanding biodiversity and irreplaceable natural and cultural values, harbours thousands of described and undescribed species, including endemics, and is particularly vulnerable to invasive threats.

With a decade of successful operations, the Authority’s Yellow Crazy Ant Eradication Program has established itself as a global leader in invasive ant management, setting standards for other programs and recently declaring the largest area cleared of Yellow Crazy Ants in world history. Collaborating closely with James Cook University, the Authority has leveraged emerging and leading technologies such as drones, mapping tools, odour detection dogs and environmental DNA to enhance survey accuracy and treatment efficacy. Continuous refinement based on rigorous scientific research, including advancements in detection probability and confidence assessment, has enabled the Authority to maintain leadership in best-practice invasive ant management and minimise the impacts on vulnerable ecosystems.

We will present on the Authority’s ongoing efforts to preserve the integrity of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area by pioneering innovative approaches in invasive insect control and off-target impact monitoring.