Steve Yaninek

Professor and Head
 
Office Phone: 494-4554
Office Number: SMTH 100A
Fax: 494-0535
Email Address: yaninek@purdue.edu


Education

PhDEntomology, U. C. Berkeley, 1985
MSZoology, U. C. Berkeley, 1980
BAZoology, U. C. Berkeley (Highest Honors), 1972 to 1977
AAUniversity of Nairobi, Kenya (exchange student), 1974 to 1976


Professional Background

My professional background is in invertebrate zoology, entomology and applied ecology with an emphasis in systems analysis and crop protection. I worked 4 years in California, 14 years in Africa, a year at the University of Amsterdam, two and a half years at USDA-CSREES in Washington D.C., and since the fall 2000 at Purdue University here in Indiana. My primary area of interest has been pest management and the development of sustainable production systems. At the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Nigeria, West Africa, I was responsible for cassava plant protection and assisting national programs to develop and implement an environmentally-sound plant protection research agenda. I identified a series of promising phytoseiid mite predators during foreign exploration in Latin America and imported a dozen species for mass production and inoculative release in Africa. One species is now established in 20 countries, covers an area of more than 2,000,000 sq. km., reduces pest populations by two thirds and increases crop yields by a third. The economic impact has been estimated to exceed $100 million per season in West Africa alone. I took a sabbatical leave at the University of Amsterdam in 1997 to evaluate the olfactory response of the introduced natural enemies and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the substantial biological control observed in the field. My teaching experiences include developing and implementing a curriculum for sustainable plant protection with national programs in Africa, courses on multi-disciplinary pest diagnosis, biological control, acarology, and intervention technology impact assessment, and recently a graduate course on invasive species. As a national program leader in the USDA Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, my responsibilities revolved around pest management issues and programs related to biological control, applied ecology, and invasive species. Ijoined Purdue in September 2000 as Head of the Department of Entomology where I maintain scholarly interests and activities in the area of biological control, invasion biology, and the development of sustainable pest management and plant protection practices. I've been a member of the Entomological Society of Americain in section Ca since the late 1970s.


Professional Associations

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Entomological Society of America

International Organization of Biological Control

Sigma Xi, elected full member, since May 1982


Research Interests

Invasion Biology & Sustainable Pest ManagementDevelop, implement and evaluate pest management and agroecosystem management strategies that promote sustainable and economically viable interventions with a specific focus on invasive species and bio-based management tactics.


Professional Activities

2002 Elected Delegate at Large, Entomological Society of America, North Central Branch, Executive Committee

2002 Chairman, NCA-15 Multi-state committee of Entomology Department Administrators

2001 Secretary (Chairman-elect), NCA-15 Multi-state committee of Entomology Department Administrators

2000 Co-chair, federal National Invasive Species Council working group on research and information management

1998-2000 Chairman, USDA Biological Control Coordinating Council’s Interagency Action Team

1998-2000 Program Manager, USDA-CSREES Pest Management Alternatives Program (PMAP)

1998-2000 Program Manager, USDA-CSREES Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP)

1998-2000 USDA-CSREES Representative, NTSC-CENR Task Force on Invasive Species Research

1998 Organizer, National Workshop on the Development of Pest Management Alternatives to the Food Quality Protection Act, Washington D.C., April

1998 Organizer, International Workshop on Cassava Green Mite Biological Control, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, March

1995 Organizer, Ecologically Sustainable Cassava Plant Protection (ESCaPP) Regional Workshop, Cotonou, Benin, September


Research and Other Awards

2000 USDA CSREES Certificate of Merit for Leadership in Managing the Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program

1999 USDA CSREES Certificate of Merit for Leadership in Coordinating Invasive Species Activities

1999 USDA CSREES Certificate of Merit for Leadership in Managing the Pest Management Alternatives Program

1997 "Sagbe Doloro" Traditional Chieftancy Title from Moniya, Nigeria Awarded for Improving the Life of Cassava Farmers

1983 Berkeley Graduate Merit Fellowship

1977 Sea Grant Traineeship

1977 Diego Zoological Society Summer Fellowship

1972 Four-year California State Scholarship



Courses Taught

ENT 695GINVASIVE SPECIES & INVASION BIOLOGY - This reading and discussion course examines the impact of invasive species, the role of global change in promoting invasive species, theories of invasions and ecological attributes of invasive species, mitigation and intervention strategies, and government policies, regulations and implementation programs. Primary literature, review articles, selected chapters, other documents and selected invited speakers provide the basis for the weekly discussions. Case studies covering a range of taxa in a variety of ecosystems are also evaluated throughout the semester for unique features and common themes.
ENT 295CENTOMOLOGY AT PURDUE - This course provides an introduction to the department of entomology at Purdue University. This includes an overview of its history, and a synopsis of its current research, teaching, and extension missions as a part of the School of Agriculture.


Selected Publications

James, B., J. S. Yaninek, M. Tchuanyo, J. Ambe Tumanteh and N. Ntonifor. (in press) Concerns about the cassava root scale, Stictococcus vayssierei (Homoptera: Stictococcidae) in Africa. J. African Zoology.
Gnanvossou, D., R. Hanna, M. Dicke, J. S. Yaninek. (2002) Response of the predatory mites Typhlodromalus manihoti De Moraes and Typhlodromalus aripo DeLeon (Acari: Phytoseiidae) to volatiles from cassava plants infested by cassava green mite. Entomol. Exp. Applic. (in press).
G. J. De Moraes, E. A. Ueckermann, A.R. Oliveira, and J. S. Yaninek. (2001) Phytoseiid mites of the genus Euseius (Acari: Phytoseiidae) from Sub-Saharan Africa. Zootaxa 3:1-70
Hontondjii, F. C. C., J. S. Yaninek, G. J. de Moraes, and G. I. Oduor (2000) Lack of infection by the mite pathogen Neozygites floridana in non-target arthropods of the cassava agroecosystem. BioControl, (in press).
Ambe, J. T., N. N. Ntonifor, E. T. Awah and J. S. Yaninek. (1999) The effect of planting dates on the incidence and population dynamics of the cassava root scale Stictococcus vayssierei in Cameroon. Intern. J. Pest Manag., 45: 125-130.
Gutierrez, A. P., J. S. Yaninek, P. Neuenschwander, C. K. Ellis. (1999) A physiologically-based tritrophic metapopulation model of the African cassava food web. Ecological Modeling, 123: 225-242.
Yaninek, J. S., B. Megevand, B. Ojo, A. R. Cudjoe, E. Abole, A. Onzo and D. Gnanvossou. (1999) Establishment and spread of Typhlodromalus manihoti, an introduced phytoseiid predator of Mononychellus tanajoa, in Africa. Environ. Entomol., 27: 1496-1505.
Msikita, W., J. S. Yaninek, M. Ahounou, H. Baimey and R. Fagbemissi. (1997) First report of Curvularia lunata associated with stem disease of cassava. Plant Disease, 81: 112.
Msikita, W., J. S. Yaninek, M. Ahounou, H. Baimey and C. O. Fagbemissi. (1997) Development of an in vitro system to assess cassava anthracnose disease. Plant Disease, 81:
Msikita, W., J. S. Yaninek, M. Ahounou, H. Baimey and R. Fagbemissi. (1997) First report of Nattrassia mangiferae root and stem rot of cassava in West Africa. Plant Disease, 81: 1332.
Oduor, G. I., M. W. Sabelis, R. Lingeman, G. J. de Moraes and J. S. Yaninek. (1997) Modelling fungal (Neozygites cf. floridana) in local populations of cassava green mites (Mononychellus tanajoa). Exp. Appl. Acarol., 21: 485-506.
Oduor, G. I., J. S. Yaninek, G. J. de Moraes and L. P. S. van der Geest. (1997) The effect of pathogen dosage on the pathogenicity of Neozygites floridana (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) to Mononychellus tanajoa (Acari: Tetranychidae). J. Invert. Path.,70: 127-130.
Bruce-Oliver, S. J., M. Hoy and J. S. Yaninek. (1996) Effect of some food sources associated with cassava in Africa on development success, fecundity, and longevity of Euseius fustis (Pritchard and Baker) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol., 20: 73-85.
Msikita W., P. E. Nelson, J. S. Yaninek, M. Ahounou and R. Fagbemissi. (1996) First report of Fusarium moniliforme causing cassava root and stem rot. Plant Disease, 80: 823.
Muaka Toko, R. J. O'Neil, J. S. Yaninek. (1996) Development, reproduction and survival of Mononychellus tanajoa (Bondar)(Acari: Tetranychidae) on cassava grown under soils of different levels of nitrogen. J. Exp. Appl. Acarol., 20: 405-419.
Muaka Toko, J. S. Yaninek, R. J. O'Neil. (1996) Response of Mononychellus tanajoa (Acari: Tetranychidae) to cropping systems, cultivars and pest interventions. Environ. Entomol., 25: 237- 249.
Oduor, G. I., G. J. de Moraes, L. P. S. van der Geest and J. S. Yaninek. (1996) Production and germination of primary conidia of Neozygites floridana (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) under constant temperatures, humidities and photoperiods. J. Invert. Path., 68: 213-222.
Oduor, G. I., J. S. Yaninek, L. P. S. van der Geest, and G. J. de Moraes. (1996) Germination and viability of capilliconidia of Neozygites floridana (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) under constant temperature, humidity and light conditions. J. Invert. Path., 67: 267-278.
Yaninek, J. S., Z. Saizounou, A. Onzo, I. Zannou and D. Gnanvossou. (1996) Seasonal and habitat variability in the fungal pathogens, Neozygites cf. floridana and Hirsutella thompsonii, associated with cassava mites in Benin, West Africa. Biocontrol Sci. Tech., 6: 23-33.
Bruce-Oliver, S. J., J. S. Yaninek and M. Hoy. (1995) Photoperiod and temperature studies to determine whether diapause is found in successive generations of the African phytoseiid Euseius fustis (Pritchard and Baker) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). Exp. Appl. Acarol., 19: 465-472.
Oduor, G. I., G. J. de Moraes, J. S. Yaninek, and L. P. S. van der Geest. (1995) Effect of temperature, humidity and photoperiod on mortality of Mononychellus tanajoa (Acari: Tetranychidae) infected by Neozygites cf. floridana (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales). Exp. App. Acarol., 19: 571-579.
Oduor, G. I., J. S. Yaninek, L. P. S. van der Geest, and G. J. de Moraes. (1995) Survival of Neozygites cf. floridana (Zygomycetes: Entomophthorales) in mummified cassava green mites and the viability of its primary conidia. Exp. Appl. Acarol., 19: 479-488.