May Jing Ngo
Master in biology
may.ngo@unine.ch
Interests
I’m a master’s student in biology. I decided to pursue this academic path because of my deep passion for nature, whether on land or in the sea. I’m particularly fascinated by the interactions between different species that form a network ensuring the balance of ecosystems. I am therefore interested in the roles of species within their ecosystems and how changes in landscape and composition can affect the functioning of the whole.
Fields of research
My master’s project, proposed by Agroscope (Cadenazzo), involves testing a push and pull method to control the spread of the Xylella fastidiosa bacterium, a pathology infecting the xylem of many plant species, causing major losses in agriculture and hence the economy worldwide. To control the spread of the latter, the main point of action is to manipulate the distribution and abundance of its main insect vector: Philaenus spumarius. This research includes a selection of host plant species, both attractive and repellent, to Philaenus spumarius nymphs. Over the course of the season, we will be monitoring the nymphs’ distribution and recording any movements towards attractive host plants, in order to determine whether or not Philaenus spumarius has a preference for certain host plants. The results of this study will also be combined with those of a mowing experiment carried out in previous years, with the aim of optimizing vector control. This research will contribute to the development of ecological, sustainable and low-input control strategies, adapted to the Swiss context, to limit the spread of Xylella fastidiosa.
