Microbial sulphatises in the rhizosphere and their control by interactions with plants. Plant-microbe interactions are critical in mobilizing soil sulphur for crop growth. This project will identify the microbes responsible for delivering sulphur to two major Australian crops, and will examine how the plants stimulate this activity in their root zone. The results have potential application for sustainable agriculture in Australia.
A Novel Phosphate Fertiliser Enhanced by Biofertiliser Technology. This project will deliver efficient use of the limited supplies of high quality phosphorus minerals as fertiliser-P, simultaneously acting to reverse and prevent soil acidification. These cost-effective benefits from utilising Australia's microbial biodiversity will have major economic and environmental impacts in rural Australia,increasing the profitability of farming and reducing the potential for contamination of aquatic syste ....A Novel Phosphate Fertiliser Enhanced by Biofertiliser Technology. This project will deliver efficient use of the limited supplies of high quality phosphorus minerals as fertiliser-P, simultaneously acting to reverse and prevent soil acidification. These cost-effective benefits from utilising Australia's microbial biodiversity will have major economic and environmental impacts in rural Australia,increasing the profitability of farming and reducing the potential for contamination of aquatic systems and groundwater with nutrients causing algal blooms. By solving needs for fertiliser-P while preventing acidification of soil, farmers are expected to welcome this novel fertiliser technology.Read moreRead less
Colonisation by alien microbiota: identifying key ecological processes. This project aims to determine key ecological and molecular mechanisms that regulate microbial colonisation of new environments and their functional consequences. Microbial communities are important yet unseen contributors to the functioning of ecosystems, driving key ecological and economically important processes such as carbon and nutrient cycling. The project will provide a unifying framework for characterising colonisat ....Colonisation by alien microbiota: identifying key ecological processes. This project aims to determine key ecological and molecular mechanisms that regulate microbial colonisation of new environments and their functional consequences. Microbial communities are important yet unseen contributors to the functioning of ecosystems, driving key ecological and economically important processes such as carbon and nutrient cycling. The project will provide a unifying framework for characterising colonisation success of alien species across different scales, habitats, ecosystem types and environmental disturbance such as climate change.Read moreRead less
The rare biosphere; discovering how soil bacteria live on air. In Antarctic deserts where photosynthetic potential is low, we discovered that soil microbiomes sustain their energy and carbon budgets through a novel process reliant on trace gases we coined 'atmospheric chemosynthesis'. But how do soil bacteria literally live on air? This project aims to reveal functional chemoautotrophic pathways in cultured soil bacteria that use trace gases as a source of energy and carbon acquisition. We will ....The rare biosphere; discovering how soil bacteria live on air. In Antarctic deserts where photosynthetic potential is low, we discovered that soil microbiomes sustain their energy and carbon budgets through a novel process reliant on trace gases we coined 'atmospheric chemosynthesis'. But how do soil bacteria literally live on air? This project aims to reveal functional chemoautotrophic pathways in cultured soil bacteria that use trace gases as a source of energy and carbon acquisition. We will perform biogeochamistry, transcriptomics and proteomics on the first model bacterial strains genetically capable of this overlooked process. Outcomes will advance knowledge on microbial metabolism, extending the repertoire of hydrogen-oxidising bacteria to soil ecosystem services, primarily primary production.Read moreRead less
Alleviating herbicide damage to crops by using fulvate and manganese. Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide, but its drift can cause growth depression in sensitive plants such as wheat by reducing uptake of metallic micronutrients, particularly manganese. In pot and field trials, this project aims to assess the alleviating potential of fulvate and manganese on growth and micronutrient uptake by wheat exposed to glyphosate drift. The influence of land management on the effect of these treatments ....Alleviating herbicide damage to crops by using fulvate and manganese. Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide, but its drift can cause growth depression in sensitive plants such as wheat by reducing uptake of metallic micronutrients, particularly manganese. In pot and field trials, this project aims to assess the alleviating potential of fulvate and manganese on growth and micronutrient uptake by wheat exposed to glyphosate drift. The influence of land management on the effect of these treatments will also be assessed. The underlying mechanisms will be characterised, eg. by determining metal speciation in soil and assessing soil microbial community composition. The outcome of this project will contribute to sustainable agriculture by giving land managers options to reduce glyphosate damage in sensitive crops.Read moreRead less
Atmospheric carbon fixation: a novel microbial process in Antarctic soils. This project aims to challenge our global understanding of carbon fixation. In most ecosystems, phototrophy supports higher-trophic life, yet no genetic evidence for photosynthesis exists in Antarctic desert soils. The project will determine the significance of atmospheric chemotrophy, a microbial driven process based on the consumption of atmospheric gases that it is proposed supports energy maintenance and biomass assim ....Atmospheric carbon fixation: a novel microbial process in Antarctic soils. This project aims to challenge our global understanding of carbon fixation. In most ecosystems, phototrophy supports higher-trophic life, yet no genetic evidence for photosynthesis exists in Antarctic desert soils. The project will determine the significance of atmospheric chemotrophy, a microbial driven process based on the consumption of atmospheric gases that it is proposed supports energy maintenance and biomass assimilation in nutrient-starved Antarctic desert soils. Additionally, the project will establish if these processes are structuring soil microbial communities, particularly in response to climate change. The expected project outcome is knowledge of primary production at the nutritional limits of life. This should provide significant benefit, such as a shift in our knowledge of the biological sciences as a new minimalistic mode of primary production.Read moreRead less
Can ecological theory help to unravel microbial regulation of soil functions? Much attention has been paid to relationships between ecosystem health and biodiversity in above-ground communities, yet little notice is taken of the vast below-ground soil microbial communities. This project will reveal if soil microbial diversity is similarly important for ecosystem function in the face of future environmental challenges.
Understanding fungal diversity and functioning in forest soils using molecular and stable isotope approaches. The project aims to investigate fungal community structure and functioning in forest soils using novel molecular, stable isotope and physiological approaches. This will provide new insights into the linkage between diversity and functioning in forest soil fungal communities and the importance of these organisms in ecosystem processes. In addition, this pioneering research will facilitate ....Understanding fungal diversity and functioning in forest soils using molecular and stable isotope approaches. The project aims to investigate fungal community structure and functioning in forest soils using novel molecular, stable isotope and physiological approaches. This will provide new insights into the linkage between diversity and functioning in forest soil fungal communities and the importance of these organisms in ecosystem processes. In addition, this pioneering research will facilitate development and refinement of methodologies that will pave the way for future investigations of fungal ecology. The on-going collaboration will produce high quality joint publications and provide significant opportunities for early career researchers to gain international experience in a dynamic research environment.Read moreRead less
Phosphorus cycling and adaptation of soil microbes to P availability . This project aims to determine how soil microbial communities adapt to phosphorus availability, and how the breakdown of microbial biomass sustains phosphorus demand. Using some of the most globally P-impoverished soils, the project expects to uncover how cellular composition of microbial populations is shaped by phosphorus availability, and feedbacks between cellular composition of microbes and phosphorus availability. Expec ....Phosphorus cycling and adaptation of soil microbes to P availability . This project aims to determine how soil microbial communities adapt to phosphorus availability, and how the breakdown of microbial biomass sustains phosphorus demand. Using some of the most globally P-impoverished soils, the project expects to uncover how cellular composition of microbial populations is shaped by phosphorus availability, and feedbacks between cellular composition of microbes and phosphorus availability. Expected outcomes include better understanding of factors determining phosphorus availability, and a new analytical toolkit for tracing pools and fluxes of organic P in soils. Overall, these should provide significant benefit to the global effort in understanding how phosphorus shapes soil function.Read moreRead less