Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
References
Publications
Timeline
Generic

Robert Marcus Leahy

Alachua,United States

Summary

I am an experienced plant pathologist / entomologist with extensive knowledge of plant pathogens, plant diseases and insect pests. I have a strong background in laboratory techniques as a plant disease diagnostician and have surveyed and trapped insects pests for over a decade in North and Central Florida. I have had many opportunities to work with a variety of plant pathogens under quarantine conditions, and I understand the importance of biosecurity in containment facilities. I hope to contribute my experience and skills to the team at FDACS-DPI.

Overview

44
44
years of professional experience

Work History

Pest Survey Specialist

USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CAPS
Gainesville, United States
10.2012 - Current
  • I work closely with FDACS CAPS to plan and execute Priority Pest surveys as part of the national CAPS and Farm Bill (Plant Protection Act 7721) programs
  • Surveys are planned based on the evaluation of risk pathways of the target pests and diseases
  • I deploy, service and collect insect specimens from traps, as well as conduct visual surveys for exotic insect pests and diseases
  • These include but are not limited to Old World Bollworm, Asian Longhorned Beetle, Giant African Land Snail, including many other species of moths, beetles and plant diseases that appear on the CAPS Priority Pest List
  • I collaborate and maintain relationships with other state and federal organizations to enhance the success of early detection of target pests
  • Individuals working for FDACS plant Inspection, other USDA PPQ personnel, and CBP officers often provide survey support for me by way of servicing traps deployed near their offices or duty stations
  • I collect and maintain field survey data generated by myself and my cooperators using ESRI Collector and Survey 123
  • I have worked on surveys to gather data on pests that are under eradication or have been declared eradicated
  • A couple of examples include Pink Bollworm, and Giant African Land Snail
  • The survey data I collected on Pink Bollworm was used by DPI to determine quarantine zones associated with known populations in wild cotton areas in South Florida
  • I provide outreach, on occasion, to special interest groups such as the Florida First Detector work-Shops, which are often attended by Master Gardeners
  • I have also provided an introductory CAPS presentation to new USDA personnel to educate them on the history and goal of the CAPS program

Plant Pathologist/ Identifier

USDA-APHIS-PPQ
Linden, United States
02.2011 - 10.2012
  • My major job responsibility was to accurately identify fungal plant pathogens and diseases intercepted on imported agricultural cargo shipments entering the United States at the ports of Newark, New Jersey; Brooklyn, New York; Chicago, Illinois; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Indiana, and Michigan
  • I communicated information concerning pathogen identifications, and the potential or realized risk associated with the introduction or establishment of identified exotic plant pathogens
  • My daily activities included finalizing PPQ 309 records in the Agricultural Quarantine Activity Systems (AQAS) and accessing information from the AQAS Pest I.D
  • Database
  • Other databases I used to search and retrieve information are the Offshore Pest Information System (OPIS), the Crop Protection Compendium (CPC), and the National Agricultural Pest Information System (NAPIS)
  • I provide expertise on the biology, taxonomy, and detection methods concerning identified exotic plant pathogens
  • My duties also included the specialized training of CBP and PPQ officers on important exotic plant pathogens as well as important plant pathogens that have become established in the United States
  • The training covered the biology, symptomology, survey methods and detection of economically important plant pathogens
  • I participated in various domestic pest surveys such as the CAPS Cernuella virgata snail eradication survey in Salem, NJ (2011-2012), and the Chrysanthemum White Rust survey in Princeton NJ
  • My involvement with the CWR survey consisted of map reading, contacting property owners, surveying properties for CWR and tentative identification of the causal rust fungus Puccinia horiana

Biological Scientist IV

FDACS-DPI
Gainesville, United States
06.2000 - 02.2011
  • As a regulatory plant pathologist in the Plant Pathology Section of FDACS-DPI, I was routinely in contact with the FDACS CAPS Program Manager, the CAPS State Survey Coordinator, State plant inspectors, Federal USDA-PPQ officials (SPHD, SPRO), and CAPS Survey Specialists, regarding plant disease survey strategies, results, and the identification status of potential pathogens acquired during survey sampling
  • Accurate recognition and identification of plant pathogens was critical to my job success, as was my ability to liaison and exchange information with appropriate regulatory contacts
  • My direct responsibilities included the supervision and diagnosis of regulatory plant disease samples generated from survey activities
  • During my tenure at FDACS, my involvement in numerous regulatory plant disease surveys included but were not limited to; Citrus Bacterial Spot, Citrus Canker in Miami and central Florida, Sugarcane Yellow Spot, Sugarcane Orange Rust, Gladiolus Rust, Daylily Rust, Soybean Rust (which included recording GPS coordinates of kudzu sites throughout Florida and periodically monitoring these sites for the presence of soybean rust), Chrysanthemum Rust, Sudden Oak Death, and Laurel Wilt
  • Extending beyond pathogen identification, my involvement in the surveys ranged from basic field activities, such as visual plant examination, map reading and use of GPS equipment, to aiding in the organization and integration of concepts into survey strategies
  • I also trained field personnel, nurserymen, and farm employees in survey methods and detection of the target pathogen
  • Additionally, I provided training on implementation of the survey strategies
  • The training I provided consisted of Power Point presentations, informational circulars and pest alerts delineating survey and detection methods specific to the target pathogens
  • I was an active participant on a Gladiolus Rust scientific panel which included planning future survey strategies, improving disease control methods and finalizing details of a compliance agreement affecting a large south Florida Gladiolus producer
  • I was a member of the Laurel Wilt Research Group in which survey and detection strategies, pathogen identification, protocol, and areas of future research were discussed
  • I was routinely involved in performing pathogenicity tests consisting of inoculation, and re-isolation of the causal organism from symptomatic, diseased plant tissue
  • This process was used as part of the identification confirmation protocol of Laurel Wilt disease, and other newly emerging pathogens
  • I planned and implemented a variety of field studies including the phytotoxic effect of fungicide treatments on strawberry and summer squash yield in Lakeland, Fl., and seasonal stream baiting for the presence of Phytophthora ramorum, in waterways receiving runoff from P
  • Ramorum positive nurseries
  • While employed by FDACS, I had the opportunity to provide consultation to Central American nursery owners in Mexico, Guatemala, Panama, and Costa Rica specific to disease detection and recognition of plant diseases important to ornamental production in their countries as well as Florida
  • Over the course of my career at FDACS, I received two Outstanding Service awards, one Citation of Special Recognition for accomplishments in the regulatory profession, one Certificate of Commendation, and a Davis Productivity award

Biological Scientist III

FDACS-DPI
Gainesville, United States
04.1993 - 06.2000
  • As Biological Scientist III in the Bureau of Plant Pathology I provided disease diagnosis of regulatory and routine plant samples submitted by FDACS plant inspectors, county agents, landscape contractors, pest control operators, and homeowners
  • I provided training to new plant inspectors about soil borne plant and abiotic plant diseases
  • I produced informational circulars on new and emerging plant diseases and performed pathogenicity tests on plant pathogens of special interest or regulatory importance
  • I provided on site consultation and survey support for certain diseases of regulatory importance

Biological Scientist II

FDACS-DPI
Gainesville, United States
07.1986 - 04.1993
  • As Biological Scientist II in the Bureau of Plant Pathology diagnostic lab, I logged in and processed routine plant disease samples independently and aided my supervisor with the diagnosis of plant diseases of regulatory importance
  • I aided in onsite visits and consultation and aided in the training of new plant inspectors
  • I authored and co-authored several informational circulars concerning new and emerging plant diseases

Lab Technologist II

FDACS-DPI
Gainesville, United States
09.1981 - 07.1986
  • As Lab Technologist II in the Bureau of Plant Pathology diagnostic lab, I logged in and catalogued plant samples and processed those samples with limited supervision
  • I provided support to other technical bureaus as needed and aided my supervisor with routine tasks in the field and laboratory
  • I was responsible for the maintenance of The Florida Type Culture Collection which housed fungal cultures of interest and were submitted to the collection by plant pathologists located around Florida

Education

Master's Degree - Entomology And Nematology, Plant Pathology

University of Florida/Dept. of Entomology And Nematology
Gainesville, FL, United States
08.1998

Bachelor's Degree - Plant Pathology

University of Florida/College of Agriculture
Gainesville, FL, United States
08.1981

High School or equivalent -

Buchholz High School
Gainesville, FL, United States
06.1975

References

  • James Walker, Assistant State Plant Health Director, USDA-APHIS-PPQ, 352-313-3045
  • Dr. Timothy Schubert, Biological Administrator III Plant Pathology Section, FDACS-DPI, 352-377-0373
  • Dr. John McKemy, National Mycologist/Plant Pathologist, USDA-MRP-APHIS-LSIT, 301-313-9390

Publications

  • Cylindrocladium gordoniae sp. nov., Leahy, R.M., Schubert, T.S., El-Gholl, N.E., Mycotaxon, 74, 77-83, 2000
  • Cylindrocladium perseae sp. nov., Schubert, T.S., Leahy, R.M., El-Gholl, N.E., Mycotaxon, 73, 465-475, 1999
  • Cylindrocladium leucothoea sp. nov., El Gholl, N.E., Leahy, R.M., Schubert, T.S., Canadian Journal of Botany, 67, 8, 2529-2532, 1989
  • The coelmycetous genera Chaetomella and Pilidium represent a newly discovered lineage of inoperculate Discomycetes., Rossman, A.Y., Aime, M.C., Farr, D., Castlebury, L.A., Peterson, K.R., Leahy, R., Mycological Progress, 3, 4, 275-290, 2004
  • Other publications including FDACS circulars are available on line or by request.

Timeline

Pest Survey Specialist

USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CAPS
10.2012 - Current

Plant Pathologist/ Identifier

USDA-APHIS-PPQ
02.2011 - 10.2012

Biological Scientist IV

FDACS-DPI
06.2000 - 02.2011

Biological Scientist III

FDACS-DPI
04.1993 - 06.2000

Biological Scientist II

FDACS-DPI
07.1986 - 04.1993

Lab Technologist II

FDACS-DPI
09.1981 - 07.1986

Master's Degree - Entomology And Nematology, Plant Pathology

University of Florida/Dept. of Entomology And Nematology

Bachelor's Degree - Plant Pathology

University of Florida/College of Agriculture

High School or equivalent -

Buchholz High School

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Robert Marcus Leahy