A5062231026- Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Gut microbiota and health
- Marine and coastal ecosystems
- Biodiesel Production and Applications
- Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes
- Bioenergy crop production and management
- Soil and Water Nutrient Dynamics
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Coastal wetland ecosystem dynamics
- Clay minerals and soil interactions
- Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Production
- Mine drainage and remediation techniques
- Soil and Unsaturated Flow
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Soil Management and Crop Yield
- Biofuel production and bioconversion
- Soil erosion and sediment transport
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Microbial Applications in Construction Materials
- Marine Biology and Ecology Research
- Advanced Combustion Engine Technologies
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
University of Edinburgh
2024-2025
Switch
2025
University of Aberdeen
2020-2024
Queen's University Belfast
2024
University of California, Irvine
2018-2024
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology
2016-2024
ABES Engineering College
2012-2020
Max Planck Institute for Biogeochemistry
2012-2016
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
2013-2016
Max Planck Society
2012-2015
Plant diversity strongly influences ecosystem functions and services, such as soil carbon storage. However, the mechanisms underlying positive plant effects on storage are poorly understood. We explored this relationship using long-term data from a grassland biodiversity experiment (The Jena Experiment) radiocarbon (14C) modelling. Here we show that higher increases rhizosphere inputs into microbial community resulting in both increased activity Increases were related to enhanced...
Abstract Soil microorganisms act as gatekeepers for soil–atmosphere carbon exchange by balancing the accumulation and release of soil organic matter. However, poor understanding mechanisms responsible hinders development effective land management strategies to enhance storage. Here we empirically test link between microbial ecophysiological traits topsoil content across geographically distributed soils use contrasts. We discovered distinct pH controls on accumulation. Land intensification in...
Despite several lines of observational evidence, there is a lack consensus on whether higher fungal:bacterial (F:B) ratios directly cause soil carbon (C) storage. We employed RNA sequencing, protein profiling and isotope tracer techniques to evaluate differing F:B are associated with differences in C A mesocosm 13C labeled foliar litter decomposition experiment was performed two soils that were similar their physico-chemical properties but differed microbial community structure, specifically...
Abstract Quantifying the impact of drought on microbial processes and its consequences for soil carbon cycling is hindered by lack underlying mechanistic understanding. Therefore, there a need to scale up physiological response changing water status from individual microbes collective communities across different ecosystems. Here we propose use framework that incorporates trait‐based ecology link drought‐impacted rates decomposition stabilisation. We briefly synthesise existing knowledge...
Abstract Drought represents a significant stress to microorganisms and is known reduce microbial activity organic matter decomposition in Mediterranean ecosystems. However, we lack detailed understanding of the drought response decomposers. Here present metatranscriptomic metabolomic data on physiological situ communities plant litter long-term Californian grass shrub We hypothesised that causes greater allocation tolerance relative growth pathways. In litter, from decade-long ambient...
Environmental factors relating to soil pH are important regulators of bacterial taxonomic biodiversity, yet it remains unclear if such drivers affect community functional potential. To address this, we applied whole-genome metagenomics eight geographically distributed soils at opposing ends a landscape gradient (where "low-pH" is ~pH 4.3 and "high-pH" 8.3) evaluated differences with respect functionally annotated genes. First, in diversity between the two categories were assessed alpha (mean...
Abstract Aims We investigated the role of plants and their plant-derived carbon in shaping microbial community that decomposes substrates traced return nutrients from decomposition back to plant shoots order understand importance for ecosystem element cycling. Methods performed a greenhouse experiment having communities with without arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) ingrowth cores held different 15 N labeled substrates. determined structure using molecular sequencing net assimilation into...
Soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) sources and its seasonal dynamics are poorly known. We aimed to determine the contribution of plant soil matter (SOM) size classes DOC in a field experiment with C3 C4 vegetation change on two types through different seasons. Stable isotope ratios were measured using exclusion chromatography (SEC) coupled online liquid chromatography–isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS). SEC resolved into three classes: very high molecular weight/vHMW (> 10 kDa),...
Using a pulse chase (13)CO2 plant labeling experiment we compared the flow of carbon into macromolecular fractions rhizosphere soil microorganisms. Time dependent (13)C dilution patterns in microbial cellular were used to calculate their turnover time. The times biomolecules found vary: RNA (19 h) and DNA (30 turned over fastest followed by chloroform fumigation extraction-derived soluble cell lysis products (14 days), while phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) had slowest (42 days). PLFA/NLFA...