Rob Bourchier, Ph. D.

Research Scientist

Insect Ecology and Biological Control

5403 1st Avenue South, Lethbridge, AB T1J 4B1

Current research and/or projects

Characterization of invasive pests and exotic biological control agents (Collaborator) 2019-2022

Assessing the range potential of Invasive Alien Species and associated herbivores under climate change with geospatial models of biological collections data (Collaborator) 2018-2021

Enhancing Biological Control of Invasive Plants in British Columbia Biocontrol. CO-PI - 2018-2023.

Potential Insect Biological Control for Invasive Alien Plants in Ontario . CO-PI 2011-2020.

Research and/or project statements

Host-plant insect interactions.
Population dynamics of biological control agents and their hosts.
Invasive species/biocontrol agents – impact, habitat and climate modelling

Professional activities / interests

Implementation of operational biocontrol for invasive plants in Canada.
Ecology and impact of established weed biocontrol agents
Development of new biological control agents for invasive plants in Canada
Student training

Education and awards

PhD, Biology/Ecology, University of Waterloo

MSc, Entomology, McGill University

BA, Economics, Carleton University

C. Gordon Hewitt Award (2001), presented by the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC)

Federal Government 5-NR Science Award for Leaders in Sustainable Development with R. De Clerck-Floate for Weed Biocontrol Research 2001

International experience and/or work

Canadian lead for collaborative international projects developing new biological control agents for invasive plants, including knotweeds, phragmites, garlic mustard and swallowworts.

Key publications

Ensing, DJ, V Marshall, L Humair, PSR Weyl, P Häfliger, and R Bourchier. 2024. International collaboration yields biocontrol options for invasive aquatic plants in BC. Invited oral presentation. Invasives 2024 ISCBC Annual Forum and AGM New Westminster 26-29 February 2024.
2024 - View publication details
Moffat, C.E. et al. 2024. Federal update on current targets for biological control in British Columbia. Invasives 2024 ISCBC Annual Forum and AGM New Westminster 2024/02/26 - 2024/02/29.
2024 - View publication details
Kurose D, Jones IM, Pratt CF, Thomas SE, Bourchier RS & Shaw RH 2023 Seeking better versions of the same agent Aphalara itadori – the knotweed story continues . Page 27. In: Proceedings of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds (eds. Cabrera Walsh G., Anderson F.E., Mc Kay F., Sosa A.J. and Hernández M.C.), Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. https://www.iobc-global.org/global_sg_Classical_Weed_BC.html
2024 - View publication details
Häfliger, P, Stutz, S, Closça, C, McTavish, M, Bourchier, R, Weyl, P & Hinz, HL. Advances in the rearing of two biological control agents against common reed, Phragmites australis. Page 153. In: Proceedings of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds (eds. Cabrera Walsh G., Anderson F.E., Mc Kay F., Sosa A.J. and Hernández M.C.), page number. Puerto Iguazú, Argentina. https://www.iobc-global.org/global_sg_Classical_Weed_BC.html
2024 - View publication details
Ensing DJ, R Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V Miller, S Turner & CE Moffat. 2023. Explaining variable success of biological control of invasive spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Asteraceae), in British Columbia, Canada. Page 108. In: Proceedings of the XVI International Symposium on Biological Control of Weeds (eds. Cabrera Walsh G., Anderson F.E., Mc Kay F., Sosa A.J. and Hernández M.C.), page number. Puerto Iguazú, Argentina.
2023 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ*, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, and CE Moffat. 2023. Understanding variable biological control of invasive spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos Asteraceae) in British Columbia. Invited oral presentation. Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Saskatchewan and Canada. Saskatoon, SK, 15-18 October 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Tewksbury, L., M. Szűcs, L.R. Milbrath, R.S. Bourchier, and N. Capuccino. 2023. Swallow-worts (Vincetoxicum spp.): History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-30-SWALLOWWORTS-P. https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/27697.pdf
2023 - View publication details
Tewksbury, L, M Szűcs, LR Milbrath, RS Bourchier, and N Capuccino. 2023. Swallow-wort Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-30-SWALLOW-WORTS-A. https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/27698.pdf
2023 - View publication details
Ensing DJ, E Bacon, CG Eckert, R Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V Miller, S Turner & CE Moffat. 2023 Explaining variable success of biological control of invasive spotted knapweed, Centaurea stoebe ssp. micranthos (Asteraceae), in British Columbia, Canada. XVI International Symposium on biological control of weeds. Puerto Iguazú, Argentina, 07-12 May 2023.
2023 - View publication details
Häfliger P, B Blossey, RS Bourchier, L Tewksbury, SB Endriss, and M McTavish. 2023. Common Reed (European Lineage) Biocontrol Agents: History and Ecology in North America. In: R.L. Winston, Ed. Biological Control of Weeds in North America. North American Invasive Species Management Association, Milwaukee, WI. NAISMA-BCW-2023-38-COMMON REED-A. https://bugwoodcloud.org/resource/files/27703.pdf
2023 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, and CE Moffat. 2023. 30 years of biological control of invasive spotted knapweed in British Columbia. Alberta Invasive Species Council Annual Conference and General Meeting. 07-08 March 2023. Olds, AB.
2023 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, and CE Moffat. 2023. Variable biological control of invasive spotted knapweed in BC. Invasive Species Council of British Columbia Annual Forum. 28 Feb – 02 March 2023. New Westminster, BC.
2023 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, P. Weyl, and CE Moffat. 2023. Research on invasive plant species biological control a AAFC’s Summerland Research and Development Centre. 2023. Okanagan College Speaker Series, 06 Feb 2023, Penticton, BC.
2023 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, and CE Moffat. 2022. Reflecting on 52 years of spotted knapweed biological control in Canada. North American Invasive Species Management Association Biocontrol Summit. 01 December 2022. Virtual meeting.
2022 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, and CE Moffat. 2022. Variable biological control of spotted knapweed in British Columbia. Joint Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America and the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution. 14-19 August 2022 Montreal, QC.
2022 - View publication details
Ensing, DJ, RS Bourchier, R De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, and CE Moffat. 2022. Biological control of spotted knapweed in the East Kootenay (and beyond). East Kootenay Invasive Species Council Annual General Meeting. Invited Virtual Presentation. 09 June 2022.
2022 - View publication details
Ensing, D.J., R. Bourchier, R. De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, C. Moffat. 2021. 50 years of biological control of invasive spotted knapweed in British Columbia. ISCBC Virtual Forum. 15-17 Feb. 2022.
2022 - View publication details
Ensing, D.J., R. Bourchier, R. De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, C. Moffat. 2021. Research on invasive plant species biological control at AAFC’s Summerland RDC. Guest Lecture to U Saskatchewan's Invasive Plants course (Prof: Jon Bennett) 17 Feb. 2022.
2022 - View publication details
Moffat, C.E., R. Bourchier, R. De Clerck-Floate, P. Mason, D. Ensing. 2021. How do we know biocontrol agents are safe? An overview of past successes and future opportunities for biological control of weeds in British Columbia. I2021 Integrated Vegetation Management Association (IVMA) biennial forum “Everything" in Vegetation Management. Nov 2 - 4, 2021. Invited.
2021 - View publication details
Ensing, D.J., R. Bourchier, R. De Clerck-Floate, V. Miller, S. Turner, C. Moffat. 2021. 30 years of biological control of invasive spotted knapweed in British Columbia. ISCBC Invasive Species Research Conference (virtual), 06-07 October 2021.
2021 - View publication details