Within the context of overall project objectives, short-range personal objectives are: 1. To develop laboratory and then field colonies of new biological control agents of hydrilla, waterlettuce, and paperbark tree; 2. evaluate the performance of these agents after they become established; 3. study weed population dynamics and evaluate the regulatory role of insect herbivores; 4. study the relationship between plant nutritional quality and the performance of plant-feeding insects as well as the role these insects play in altering nutritional quality; and 5. assess the feasibility of augmenting bioagent populations to enhance the speed and degree of control attained. Long-range personal objectives are: 1. elucidate mechanisms through which insects and plants interact and influence one another's biology; 2. continue evaluations on the performance of newly-introduced bioagents and to begin studies on melaleuca; 3. conduct parallel studies on the biology of exotic species in the U.S. and in their native areas to identify regulatory factors possibly lacking in the U.S.; and 4. increase the effectiveness and productivity of the research unit. I have published over 105 articles in scientific journals, technical reports, book chapter, etc.