About
My name is Guy Sutton. I am a Research Entomologist at the Center for Biological Control at Rhodes University (South Africa). My research primarily involves finding and developing insect biological control agents for managing invasive alien plants, with a particular focus on managing invasive African grasses that have become invasive globally.
Moreover, I passionate about developing quantitative methods and software for answering ecological questions, bridging the spheres of statistics, software development, coding and ecology.
I am currently appointed as an Associate Editor for the international peer-reviewed scientific journal Ecology and Evolution
Please find my CV here.
Contact
Please feel free to contact me on email or Twitter, or take a look at my research.
Education
| Degree | Year | Institution |
|---|---|---|
| PhD, Entomology | 2020 | Rhodes University, South Africa |
| MSc, Entomology | 2017 | Rhodes University, South Africa |
| BSc (Honours), Entomology | 2015 | Rhodes University, South Africa |
| BSc, Microbiology and Entomology | 2014 | Rhodes University, South Africa |
Work History
🏢 Senior Research Entomologist (Center for Biological Control, Rhodes University)
(2019 - Current)
- Lead multiple projects developing biological control of invasive weeds, focusing on controlling invasive African grasses
- Developed and taught numerous undergraduate and postgraduate courses and workshops on quantitative methods in ecology (using R and Julia)
- Developed open-source software packages for analysing ecological datasets, e.g. ThermalSampleR, and SPEDE-sampler
Peer-reviewed publications
I have published 33 peer-reviewed scientific articles to date, which have been cited over 258 times. My current H-index is 11.
- van Steenderen, C.J.M., Mauda, E.V., Kirkman, W., Faulkner, K.T., & Sutton, G.F. (2024). The Asian Citrus Psyllid (Diaphorina citri) in Africa: using MaxEnt to predict current and future climatic suitability, with a focus on potential invasion routes. African Entomology 32: e18476 PDF
- van Steenderen, C.J.M., & Sutton, G.F. (2024). Climate covariate selection influences MaxEnt model predictions and predictive accuracy under current and future climates. Ecological Modelling 498: e110872 PDF
- van Steenderen, C.J.M., & Sutton, G.F. (2024). Climate covariate selection influences MaxEnt model predictions and predictive accuracy under current and future climates. Ecological Modelling 498: e110872 PDF
- Muskett, P.C., Sutton, G.F., & Paterson, I.D. (2024). Long-term post-release evaluation shows Hypogeococcus sp. is an effective biological control agent for queen of the night cactus in South Africa. Biocontrol Science and Technology 34: 915-920. PDF
- Muskett, P.C., Sutton, G.F., & Paterson, I.D. (2024). Long-term post-release evaluation shows Hypogeococcus sp. is an effective biological control agent for queen of the night cactus in South Africa. Biocontrol Science and Technology 34: 915-920. PDF
- Mapaura, A., Canavan, K., Richardson, D.M., Clark, V.R., Sutton, G.F., & Steenhuisen, S-L. (2024). The impact of Nassella trichotoma (Nees) Hack. ex Arechav. on plant diversity, richness and soil properties in South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 173: 175-183 PDF
- Mapaura, A., Canavan, K., Richardson, D.M., Clark, V.R., Sutton, G.F., & Steenhuisen, S-L. (2024). The impact of Nassella trichotoma (Nees) Hack. ex Arechav. on plant diversity, richness and soil properties in South Africa. South African Journal of Botany 173: 175-183 PDF
- Madire, L., Olckers, T., Sutton, G.F., & Simelane, D. (2024). Predicted impact, establishment and distribution of Heikertingerella sp. (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae), recently released for the biological control of Tecoma stans in South Africa. Agricultural and Forest Entomology, In Press [2024/04/05].
- Reid, M., Sutton, G.F., Coetzee, J.A.,Gettys, L., & Hill, M.P. (2024). Distribution and host preference of a potential biocontrol agent with a new association for Nymphaea mexicana in South Africa. African Journal of Aquatic Science, In Press [2024/04/05].
- Tsatsu, S.K., Sutton, G.F., Serfontein, L., Addison, P., De Meyer, M., Virgilio, M., & Manrakhan, A. (2024). Distribution and host ranges of Ceratitis rosa and Ceratitis quilicii (Diptera: Tephritidae) in South Africa. Bulletin of Entomological Research, In Press [2024/04/05].
- Moore, S.D., Ehlers, R.U.E., Manrakhan, A., Gilbert, M., Kirkman, W., Daneel, J-H., De Waal, J.Y., Nel, R., Sutton, G.F., Malan, A.P. (2024). Field-scale efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes to control false codling moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), in citrus orchards in South Africa. Crop Protection 179: e106610. PDF
- Yell, L.D., Sutton, G.F., van Steenderen, C.J.M., Canavan, K., McConnachie, A., & Paterson, I.D. (2024). Field-based surveys and laboratory tests indicate that candidate biocontrol agents for African lovegrass from South Africa are not suitable for release in Australia. Biocontrol Science and Technology 34: 203-224. PDF
- Wheeler, G.S., Lake, E.C., Mattison, E., & Sutton, G.F. (2024). Host range, biology, and climate suitability of Callopistria exotica, a potential biological control agent of Old World climbing fern (Lygodium microphyllum) in the USA. Biological Control 188: e105140. PDF
- Marsberg, T., Peyper, M., Kirkman, W., Moore, S.D., & Sutton, G.F. (2024). The effect of permanent protective netting on insect pest prevalence in citrus orchards in South Africa. African Entomology 32: 1-9. PDF
- van Steenderen, C.J.M., Sutton, G.F., Yell, L.D., Canavan, K., Day, M.D., McConnachie, A., & Paterson, I.D. (2023). Phylogenetic analyses reveal multiple new stem-boring Tetramesa taxa (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae): implications for the biological control of invasive African grasses. BioControl 6: 697-708. PDF
- van Steenderen, C.J.M., Sutton, G.F., Owen, C.A., Martin, G.D., & Coetzee, J.A. (2023). Sample size assessments for thermal physiology studies: An R package and R Shiny application. Physiological Entomology 48: 141-149. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Day, M.D., Canavan, K., & Paterson, I.D. (2023). Anthropogenic disturbance affects specialist, but not generalist, endophagous insects associated with two African grasses: implications for biological control. Biocontrol Science and Technology 11: 1051-1064. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., van Steenderen, C.J.M., Yell, L.D., Canavan, K., McConnachie, A., & Paterson, I.D. (2023). First record of an African grass-feeding wasp (Tetramesa; Eurytomidae) on the invasive grass Eragrostis curvula (African lovegrass; Poaceae) in Australia. BioInvasions Records 12: 673-680. PDF
- White, V.G., Raath, P.J., Hardie, A.G., van den Berg, V., & Sutton, G.F. (2023). Calculating soil titratable acidity from routine soil analyses of cultivated South African soils using various model structures. South African Journal of Plant and Soil 40: 77-85. PDF
- Manrakhan, A., Daneel, J-H., Serfontein, L., Mauda, E., Sutton, G.F., & Hattingh, V. (2023). Efficacy of an existing Ceratitis capitata (Diptera: Tephritidae) cold disinfestation treatment schedule for Ceratitis cosyra. Journal of Economic Entomology 116: 779-789. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., & Martin, G.D. (2022). Testing MaxEnt model performance in a novel geographic region using an intentionally introduced insect. Ecological Modelling 473:e110139. PDF
- Moore, S.D., et al., Sutton, G.F., & Hattingh, V. (2022). Efficacy of various low temperatures and exposure time combinations for Thaumatotibia leucotreta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae). Journal of Economic Entomology 115: 1115-1128. PDF
- van Steenderen, C.V.S., & Sutton, G.F. (2022). SPEDE-sampler: an R Shiny application to assess how methodological choices and taxon-sampling can affect Generalised Mixed Yule Coalescent (GMYC) output and interpretation. Molecular Ecology Resources 22: 2054-2069. PDF
- Canavan, K., Canavan, S., Clark, V.R., Gwate, O., Richardson, D.M., Sutton, G.F., & Martin, G.D. (2021). The alien plants that threaten South Africa’s mountain ecosystems. Land 10: e1393. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Bownes, A., Visser, V., Mapaura, A., & Canavan, K. (2021). Progress and prospects for the biological control of invasive alien grasses (Poaceae) in South Africa. African Entomology 29: 837-858. PDF
- Olckers, T., Coetzee, J.A., Egli, D., Martin, G.D., Paterson, I.D., Sutton, G.F., & Wood, A.R. (2021). Biological control of South African plants that are invasive elsewhere in the world. African Entomology 29: 1005-1029.PDF
- Canavan, K., Hill, M.P., Ivey, P., Sutton, G.F., Paterson, I.D. (2021). Prioritisation of targets for weed biological control III: A tool to identify the next targets for biological control in South Africa and set priorities for resource allocation. Biocontrol Science and Technology 31: 584-601. PDF
- Chikowore, G., Mutamiswa, R., Martin, G.D., Sutton, G.F., & Chidawanyika, F. (2021). Reduction of grazing index in high elevation grasslands following Black locust invasion in South Africa. Rangeland Ecology and Management 76: 109-117. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Canavan, K., Day, M.D., & Paterson, I.D. (2021). Field-based ecological studies to assess prospective biological control agents for invasive alien plants: an example from giant rat’s tail grass. Journal of Applied Ecology 58: 1043-1054. PDF
- Martin, G.D., Magengelele, N.L., Paterson, I.D., Sutton, G.F. (2020). Climate modelling suggests a review of the legal status of Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolia in South Africa is required. South African Journal of Botany 132: 95-102. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Canavan, K., Day, M.D., Den Breeyen, A., Cristofaro, M., McConnachie, A., Goolsby, J.A., & Paterson, I.D. (2019). Grasses as suitable targets for classical weed biological control. BioControl 64: 605-622. PDF
- Sutton, G.F. (2019). Searching for a needle in a haystack: where to survey for climatically-matched biological control agents for two grasses (Sporobolus spp.) invading Australia. Biological Control 129: 37-44. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Klein, H., & Paterson, I.D. (2018). Evaluating the efficacy of Hypogeococcus sp. as a biological control agent of the cactaceous weed Cereus jamacaru in South Africa. BioControl 63: 493-503. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Paterson, I.D., & Paynter, Q. (2017). Genetic matching of invasive populations of the African tulip tree, Spathodea campanulata Beauv. (Bignoniaceae), to their native distribution: maximising the likelihood of selecting hostcompatible biological control agents. Biological Control 114: 167-175. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Paterson, I.D., Compton, S.G., & Paynter, Q. (2017). Predicting the risk of non-target damage to a close relative of a target weed using sequential no- choice tests, paired-choice tests and olfactory discrimination experiments. Biocontrol Science and Technology 27: 364-377. PDF
- Sutton, G.F., Compton, S.G., & Coetzee, J.A. (2016). Naturally occurring phytopathogens enhance biological control of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) by Megamelus scutellaris (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), even in eutrophic water. Biological Control 103: 261-268. PDF
Student supervision
Graduated PhD students
(1) Dr. Clarke van Steenderen
(2021 - 2023)
- Primary supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton, Co-supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy)
- Title: A molecular investigation of stem-galling Tetramesa Walker (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) on African grasses: applications to biological control
Graduated MSc students
(1) Mr Liam Yell
(2022 - 2023)
- Primary supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy), Co-supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton
- Title: Native-range studies on insect herbivores associated with African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) in South Africa: Prospects for biological control in Australia
Graduated Undergraduate/Honours students
(1) Mr Liam Yell
(2021)
- Primary supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton, Co-supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy)
- Title: Native-range studies on insect herbivores associated with African Lovegrass (Eragrostis curvula) in South Africa: Prospects for biological control in Australia
Current MSc students
(2) Ms Karla Jaschke
(2024 - Current)
- Primary supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy), Co-supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton
- Title: Field-based host specificity testing: when and how? An example from the biological control of invasive Aizoaceae from South Africa
(2023 - Current)
- Primary supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy), Co-supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton
- Title: Evaluation of gall and seed midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) as candidate biological control agents for Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus)
Current Undergraduate/Honours students
(1) Ms Romesa Muhammad
(2024)
- Primary supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton, Co-supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy)
- Title: Using inter-breeding experiments to infer evolutionary relationships and cryptic species of stem-boring Tetramesa wasps (Hymenoptera: Eurytomidae) in South Africa
(2024)
- Primary supervisor: Dr. Guy Sutton, Co-supervisor: Prof. Iain Paterson (Rhodes Univeristy)
- Title: Do invasive cacti recruit native ants to defend against introduced biological control agents?
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE AND INVOLVEMENT
(1) Editorial service
Associate Editor at Ecology and Evolution
(2024 - Current)
- I am currently appointed as an Associate Editor for the international peer-reviewed scientific journal Ecology and Evolution (Impact Factor: 2.6)
(2) Expert reviewer for peer-reviewed journals (n > 50 papers)
- Advances in Weed Science
- African Entomology
- Aquatic Invasions
- Arthropod-Plant Interactions
- Austral Ecology
- BioControl
- Biocontrol Science and Technology
- Biodiversity and Conservation
- Biological Invasions
- Biological Control
- Diversity
- Ecological Modelling
- Ecology and Evolution
- Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
- Florida Entomologist
- Journal of Economic Entomology
- Journal of Environmental Management
- Land
- Management of Biological Invasions
- NeoBiota
- Neotropical Entomology
- Physiological Entomology
- Plant Ecology
- South African Journal of Botany
- The Rangeland Journal
- Wildlife Letters