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
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
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.
Soil microbial ecology and function in forest nutrient cycling: Improving the understanding and management with bio-molecular and stable isotope techniques. An improved understanding of soil microbial ecology and function is required to advance our knowledge and management of important carbon and nutrient cycling processes underpinning forest productivity and sustainability. Recent advances in bio-molecular techniques and application of stable isotope 13C and 15N methodologies have highlighted t ....Soil microbial ecology and function in forest nutrient cycling: Improving the understanding and management with bio-molecular and stable isotope techniques. An improved understanding of soil microbial ecology and function is required to advance our knowledge and management of important carbon and nutrient cycling processes underpinning forest productivity and sustainability. Recent advances in bio-molecular techniques and application of stable isotope 13C and 15N methodologies have highlighted the exciting opportunities and potential for studying soil microbial ecology and function in forest nutrient cycling. These innovative bio-molecular and stable isotope techniques will be effectively used to examine the impacts of management practices and global change on the soil carbon and nutrient cycling processes for enhancing both productivity and environmental benefits of forest ecosystems.Read moreRead less
Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P availability. The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop ....Role of rhizosphere microorganisms in growth of plants in soils with low P availability. The concentration of available phosphorus in many Australian soils is low compared to the requirement of plants and soil organisms. Plant genotypes differ in their capacity to grow at low P availability but the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in plant P uptake from such soils is largely unknown. We will determine the role of rhizosphere microorganisms in P solubilisation and mobilisation in different crop genotypes and native plant species in different Australian soils with low P availability. The results will give a comprehensive picture of the role of rhizosphere microbial ecology in phosphorus acquisition by crop and native plants.Read moreRead less
How are microorganisms and nutrient cycling in saline soils affected by soil matric potential? Dryland agriculture is threatened by salinity and drought, and it is well-known that individually, both can decrease not only crop growth but also microbial activity and nutrient cycling which are critical for sustainability. As our climate becomes drier, it is necessary to understand how microbial activity and nutrient cycling in saline soils will be affected by drought and sporadic summer rainfall ev ....How are microorganisms and nutrient cycling in saline soils affected by soil matric potential? Dryland agriculture is threatened by salinity and drought, and it is well-known that individually, both can decrease not only crop growth but also microbial activity and nutrient cycling which are critical for sustainability. As our climate becomes drier, it is necessary to understand how microbial activity and nutrient cycling in saline soils will be affected by drought and sporadic summer rainfall events. As an international team of soil biologists, we will investigate the interactions between salinity and soil moisture on microbial activity and nutrient cycling. The results will provide insights into nutrient cycling in saline soils now and in the future and the benefit of amelioration strategies.Read moreRead less
Biofertiliser technology for improved yields and environmental sustainability of rice and wheat crops. Australia faces the double challenge of improving the efficiency of its crop production while minimising the agricultural impact on its fragile biodiversity. Our project will meet this challenge by providing the technology for using natural biofertilisers in cereal crops. This will reduce our heavy reliance on chemical fertilisers - with associated soil loss, salinity and acidity, and high dema ....Biofertiliser technology for improved yields and environmental sustainability of rice and wheat crops. Australia faces the double challenge of improving the efficiency of its crop production while minimising the agricultural impact on its fragile biodiversity. Our project will meet this challenge by providing the technology for using natural biofertilisers in cereal crops. This will reduce our heavy reliance on chemical fertilisers - with associated soil loss, salinity and acidity, and high demand on scarce water resources - and significantly increase our crop yields. Our advances will help Australian farmers to reduce the costs and increase the productivity of our substantial export crops while improving their environmental sustainability.Read moreRead less
Maintenance of Australia's soil resource - water, microbial diversity and function. Water availability is the major limitation to biological activity in semi-arid regions of Australia. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, drought and land management. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of how water mediates the diversity of soil organisms and their associated functions. This is of sp ....Maintenance of Australia's soil resource - water, microbial diversity and function. Water availability is the major limitation to biological activity in semi-arid regions of Australia. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, drought and land management. This will lead to a comprehensive understanding of how water mediates the diversity of soil organisms and their associated functions. This is of specific relevance to maintaining biodiversity within the unique soil ecosystems that have developed under Australian climatic conditions.Read moreRead less
Quantifying the re-establishment of soil processes and the impact of fire management on rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. A major objective in the rehabilitation of bauxite mines in the jarrah forest of Western Australia is to return a self-sustaining ecosystem. Nutrient cycling and microbial diversity are key components of the functioning of the rehabilitated system; but little is know about the resilience of these processes in jarrah forests. We aim to quantify the dynamic rela ....Quantifying the re-establishment of soil processes and the impact of fire management on rehabilitated bauxite mines in Western Australia. A major objective in the rehabilitation of bauxite mines in the jarrah forest of Western Australia is to return a self-sustaining ecosystem. Nutrient cycling and microbial diversity are key components of the functioning of the rehabilitated system; but little is know about the resilience of these processes in jarrah forests. We aim to quantify the dynamic relationships between soil organic matter cycling, microbial diversity and function in relation to seasonality, rehabilitation age and fire. This is of specific relevance to restoring biodiversity within rehabilitated Jarrah forests and establishing a time frame for their return to state government management.Read moreRead less
Integrating microbiology and climatic drivers to determine triggers for nitrous oxide emissions from arable soils in semi-arid Western Australia. Increasing nitrous oxide emissions from soil to the atmosphere are a concern as they contribute to global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer. While 70-81% of this increase has been attributed globally to agricultural soils, the factors controlling emissions from arable soils in southern Australia are not well understood. We aim to charact ....Integrating microbiology and climatic drivers to determine triggers for nitrous oxide emissions from arable soils in semi-arid Western Australia. Increasing nitrous oxide emissions from soil to the atmosphere are a concern as they contribute to global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer. While 70-81% of this increase has been attributed globally to agricultural soils, the factors controlling emissions from arable soils in southern Australia are not well understood. We aim to characterise and model the relationship between the soil microbial community responsible for nitrous oxide emissions and soil water availability. Understanding the processes responsible for nitrous oxide emissions will enable us to change the way we manage our semi-arid soils so as to minimise nitrous oxide emissions.Read moreRead less