A5047186822- Irrigation Practices and Water Management
- Agronomic Practices and Intercropping Systems
- Genetically Modified Organisms Research
- Plant Physiology and Cultivation Studies
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Sustainable Agricultural Systems Analysis
- Plant and animal studies
- Agriculture Sustainability and Environmental Impact
- Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- Berry genetics and cultivation research
- Fish Biology and Ecology Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Plant Pathogens and Fungal Diseases
- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Water resources management and optimization
- Agriculture and Rural Development Research
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Flood Risk Assessment and Management
- Agricultural pest management studies
- Organic Food and Agriculture
ARC Centre of Excellence for Core to Crust Fluid Systems
2023
Macquarie University
2023
James Hutton Institute
2002-2022
WaterNSW
2011-2012
Scottish Enterprise
2010
Czech Agrifood Research Center
2006
The University of Queensland
1998
Joint Nature Conservation Committee
1997
Drivers behind food security and crop protection issues are discussed in relation to losses caused by pests. Pests globally consume estimated feed an additional one billion people. Key drivers include rapid human population increase, climate change, loss of beneficial on-farm biodiversity, reduction per capita cropped land, water shortages, EU pesticide withdrawals under policies relating 91/414 EEC. IPM (Integrated Pest Management) will be compulsory for all agriculture 2014 is also being...
Abstract Mixtures of genotypes are the norm in natural and seminatural ecosystems subsistence agriculture but have been replaced by pure modern to maximise profitability high‐input systems. However, crop function with respect stability yield quality particular tends be lost this process. Diversity can reintroduced into cropping systems as a trait not only confer also exploit synergies between component genotypes, compensating for potential performance losses against best performing genotype...
The potential of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF) to provide sufficient N for production have encouraged re-appraisal cropping systems that deploy legumes. It has been argued legume-derived can maintain productivity as an alternative the application mineral fertiliser, although few studies systematically evaluated effect optimising balance between legumes and non N-fixing crops optimise production. In addition, shortage, or even absence in some regions, measurements BNF forages severely...
The duration of the plant life cycle is an important attribute that determines fitness and coexistence weeds in arable fields. It depends on timing two key life-history traits: time from seed dispersal to germination flowering. These traits are components reproduction. Dormancy results reduced delayed germination, thus increasing Genotypes seedbank predominantly have short Synergy between dormancy flowering would create stronger contrasts genotypes, offering greater adaptation in-field....
Well-managed legume-based food systems are uniquely positioned to curtail the existential challenge posed by climate change through significant contribution that legumes can make toward limiting Green House Gas (GHG) emissions. This potential is enabled specific functional attributes offered only legumes, which deliver multiple co-benefits improved ecosystem functions, including reduced farmland biodiversity loss, and better human-health -nutrition provisioning. These three critical societal...
Abstract Purpose (1) To assess the biological N fixation (BNF) potential of varieties faba bean ( Vicia L.) cropped with or without compost in an experimental field-scale rotation no recent history legumes, (2) to enumerate soil populations Rhizobium leguminosarum sv. viciae Rlv ), and genetically characterize nodulating strains, (3) compare BNF other sites Britain. Methods was evaluated from 2012 2015 using 15 natural abundance. Treatments were either PK fertilizer compost. Soil rhizobial...
Agricultural intensification has led to a systematic erosion of the biodiversity in arable ecosystems. Despite this, densities plant species seedbank fields are still sufficient provide potential for recovery flora and associated fauna. Identification management practices achieve while minimising negative effects weed competition on crop yield, requires mechanistic understanding functional diversity systems. However, review ecological, physiological genetic characteristics 66 representative...
The intensification of arable production since the 1950s has resulted in increases yield but only at significant cost to environment, raising serious concerns about long-term consequences for sustainability food systems. While a range policies and practices have been put place mitigate negative effects terms pollution, soil degradation loss biodiversity, their efficacy not properly quantified. Whole-system management change are rarely studied so trade-offs conflicts between different...
The long-term sustainability of crop production depends on the complex network interactions and trade-offs between biotic, abiotic economic components agroecosystems. An integrated arable management system was designed to maintain yields, whilst enhancing biodiversity minimising environmental impact. Management interventions included conservation tillage organic matter incorporation for soil biophysical health, reduced protection inputs pest strategies enhanced ecosystem functions,...
Abstract The COVID‐19 pandemic is a major shock to society in terms of health and economy that affecting both UK global food nutrition security. It adding the ‘perfect storm’ threats from climate change, biodiversity loss ecosystem degradation, at time considerable rising nationalism breakdown international collaboration. In UK, situation further complicated due Brexit. F ood N utrition S ecurity project, lasting one year, funded by Economic Social Research Council assessing ongoing impact...
The distributions of Manx shearwater, guillemot, razorbill, fulmar, and kittiwake were examined in relation to sea surface temperature salinity at the Irish Sea Front an attempt understand manner which front is utilized by seabirds. Bird distribution data collected from 19 crossings along five transects during July 1990. spatial seabirds analysed exploratory variography application generalized additive models. guillemots, razorbills associated with front. A degree partitioning was also...
The extent of functional trait diversity is quantified for 157 different Capsella bursa‐pastoris (L.) medic (shepherd’s purse) accessions. These individuals encompass replicate progeny generated from seed 53 ‘maternal lines’ that were isolated at random as they emerged soil cores (used to estimate baseline bank numbers and weed diversity) 34 arable sites across the United Kingdom. subject ex situ characterisation traits determining life history architecture. Seven leaf‐type classes...
Wild arable plants can be an economic burden but they also support diverse food webs and contribute to valuable ecosystem functions. These benefits may have been compromised over recent decades by declining weed diversity. The decline in wild plant diversity has viewed predominantly terms of species shifts a view that ignores the genetic functional variation existing within impact on ecological evolutionary processes which this have. To examine within‐species diversity, ISSR markers were...
Abstract Grain legumes have declined to a low base in many regions of intensified agriculture yet the potential both safeguard food security and satisfy rising ethical demands from consumers. Here, scope for legume expansion is examined long‐established agricultural region eastern Scotland where grain <0.3% cropped area 1930s now vary around 1%. Data EU's Integrated Administrative Control System (IACS) were combined with national survey resolve uncertainties over possible restrictions...
Background Feral populations of cultivated crops can pose challenges to novel trait confinement within agricultural landscapes. Simulation models be helpful in investigating the underlying dynamics feral and determining suitable management options. Methodology/Principal Findings We developed a stage-structured matrix population model for roadside alfalfa occurring southern Manitoba, Canada. The accounted existence density-dependence recruitment subsidy populations. used investigate long-term...
Urbanisation and agriculture dramatically modify the landscapes available for use by wildlife, affecting key aspects of their ecology such as survival, foraging, predation, competition reproductive success. Relatively little is known about effects urbanisation on genetic structure, gene flow diversity wild species. Here, landscape techniques were applied to compare local between wood mouse populations in urban arable landscapes. Using nine microsatellite markers, individuals genotyped from...
Abstract Lake Burragorang is the largest water supply source for Sydney region, providing up to 80% of Sydney's supply. The Index Sustainable Functionality (ISF) was applied geographical domain its catchment (Warragamba Catchment) 20 year period from 1989 2008 as a measure health and sustainability. ISF values showed slight negative trend over study period, indicating decreasing functionality reservoir; however, climate variability, especially effect in significantly lake level, played...
Area Vulnerability Scores (AVSs) are a measure of the potential impact that oil pollution in an area sea might have on seabird populations. They used United Kingdom and Republic Ireland as conservation tool, principally to inform decision making processes related licensing exploration at responses incidents. AVSs currently calculated mapped scale 15' latitude x 30' longitude grid squares. Patterns distribution known be dependent same is also true for pollution. This suggests physical...