A5089196311- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Plant and animal studies
- Flowering Plant Growth and Cultivation
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Biological Control of Invasive Species
- Greenhouse Technology and Climate Control
- American Environmental and Regional History
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Nematode management and characterization studies
- demographic modeling and climate adaptation
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Bioenergy crop production and management
University of Southern Queensland
2022-2025
Tulane University
2020-2025
RMIT University
2020-2024
Deakin University
2020-2022
MIT University
2022
La Trobe University
2022
Northern Research Station
2022
Syracuse University
2022
SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
2022
State University of New York
2022
Abstract Aim Studying plant–soil interactions of introduced species in different parts their global range could assist managing biological invasions by elucidating the level host specificity key mutualists. We assessed role soil microbial community (with an emphasis on symbiotic nitrogen‐fixing bacteria, collectively termed rhizobia) determining cross‐continental invasion success five woody legume species. Location Australia. Methods For each species, we compared growth plants soils from...
Addressing plant-soil relationships within restoration science may improve success and reduce costs. Here we assess the question of topsoil storage time: how does stockpile age impact plant biomass soil microbial activity, particularly root symbionts such as rhizobia arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)? Working in Western Australia sandy soils, grew a legume species <i>Acacia saligna</i> (Fabaceae) one-, two-, three-, five- ten-year-old soils under controlled glasshouse conditions. We...
Nearly all plants are colonized by fungal endophytes, and a growing body of work shows that both environment host species shape plant-associated communities. However, few studies place their in phylogenetic context to understand endophyte community assembly through an evolutionary lens. Here we investigated environmental effects on root assemblages coastal Louisiana marshes. We isolated sequenced culturable endophytes from roots three-four dominant plant each three sites varying salinity....
Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi form symbiosis with most terrestrial plants, facilitating nutrient and water uptake while contributing to ecosystem services such as cycling, soil carbon sequestration, plant resilience abiotic stressors. As such, these hold significant potential in advancing climate-change-resilient agriculture. However, their effectiveness supporting agricultural depends on own responses global change, which remain poorly understood due species-specific context-dependent...
Abstract Invasive plants often successfully occupy large areas encompassing broad environmental gradients in their invaded range, yet how invader dominance and effects on ecological communities vary across the landscape has rarely been explored. Furthermore, while impacts of invasion plant are well studied, it is not understood whether responses above‐ground (plant) below‐ground (microbial) coupled. Here we test patterns Phragmites australis (common reed) a field survey eight sites situated...
Abstract Aim Understanding the interactions between invasive legumes and soil biota in both native introduced ranges could assist managing biological invasions. We analysed diversity of putative nitrogen‐fixing bacteria (NFB, i.e. nifH gene present) associated with five legumes, four Acacia spp. a sister taxon Paraserianthes lophantha range populations Australia. predicted that, because these host species are widely distributed, they likely to encounter different bacterial communities soils...
Abstract The availability of compatible mutualistic soil microbes could influence the invasion success non‐native plant species. Specifically, there may be spatial variation in distribution microbes, and species‐specific host ability to associate with available microbes. Although either or both factors promote limit invasion, scale over which most studies are conducted makes it difficult examine these two possibilities simultaneously. However, this is critical identifying a role invasion. A...
Monika Gorzelak School of Biological Sciences, University Reading, Harborne Building, Whiteknights, U.K., RG6 6AS
Peatland ecosystems cover only 3% of the world's land area; however, they store one-third global soil carbon (C). Microbial communities are main drivers C decomposition in peatlands, yet we have limited knowledge their structure and function. While microbial Northern Hemisphere peatlands well documented, understanding community composition function Southern especially Australia. We investigated vertical stratification prokaryote fungal from Wellington Plains peatland Australian Alps. Within...
The majority of terrestrial plants form mutualistic associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and rhizobia (i.e., nitrogen-fixing bacteria). Understanding these has important implications for ecological theory restoration practice. Here, we tested whether the presence AMF influences performance native woody invaded by a non-native grass in experimental microcosms. We planted eight plant species Acacia acuminata, A. microbotrya, Eucalyptus loxophleba subsp. loxophleba, E....
The United Nations Decade of Ecosystem Restoration was announced in 2021 to highlight the need for collective efforts revive degraded ecosystems. Plant above‐ and belowground microbiomes are fundamental plant health ecosystem functioning. aboveground have received considerably more attention than microbiome, especially context coastal restoration. Thus, there is gap our understanding role play restoration success saltmarsh mangrove Here, we outline potential pathways challenges associated...
Microbial symbionts are gaining attention as crucial drivers of invasive species spread and dominance. To date, much research has quantified the net effects plant–microbe interactions on relative success native species. However, little is known about how structure (composition diversity) microbial can differ among species, or vary across landscape. Here, we explore endosphere soil fungal communities associated with a monoculture-forming widespread invader, Phragmites australis, co-occurring...
With a rising global population and the challenges of climate change, there is an increasing need to find solutions maintain crop yields in ecologically sustainable way. Although many studies have focussed on this issue, comparatively few are conducted southern hemisphere. This worrisome because geographical geomorphological conditions within Australia differ greatly from northern To ensure food security, approaches can rely conventional agricultural methods as well commercial arbuscular...
Microbes support all life forms of the biosphere, contributing to nutrient cycling and climate regulation, with crucial roles in primary production, food planetary health (Anthony et al., 2023). By integrating microbial processes into current ecological paradigms, we have opportunity enhance resilience biosphere environmental change (Averill 2022). A joint conference between Ecological Society Australia (ESA) Conservation Biology Oceania (SCBO) Wollongong, Australia, provided an excellent...
Abstract Peatlands play a significant role in global carbon and nitrogen cycles due to their storage capabilities. However, there are key knowledge gaps our understanding of how peatland hydrology influences the biogeochemical properties that drive functioning health. This study examines dynamics by exploring variations chemistry, total amino acid (‘protein’) content composition ecohydrologic layers: acrotelm, mesotelm catotelm. The dynamic movement water table recorded half‐hourly over 4...