Aberdeen Mycorrhiza Research Group
BBSRC Quota starting October 2009
We will test the hypothesis that through its influence on vegetation composition, livestock grazing affects both short-term carbon fluxes and carbon pools and thus the ability of grassland to retain carbon within the soil-plant system. A variety of approaches will be used to address questions at appropriate spatial and temporal scales, including IRGA-based CO2 flux measurement (GEP/Re), microbial community/activity assessments (SIR/M-TRFLP) and characterisation of soil organic carbon pools.
Supervised by: Dr René van der Wal, Dr Sarah Woodin, Dr David Johnson (University of Aberdeen) & Prof Robin Pakeman (Macaulay Institute)
Contact Dr David Johnson (d.johnson@abdn.ac.uk) for details and how to apply
NERC Open CASE October 2009
This project tests the fascinating hypothesis that defence chemicals produced by plants in response to herbivory can be translocated to neighbours via common mycelial networks to affect the bahaviour of parasitoid wasps that prey on the herbivores. It will further explore how herbivory affects mycorrhizal and microbial function. The work is in collaboration with Rothamsted Research (CASE partner) and Macaulay Institute and will be of interest to enthusiastic graduates in ecology, biology etc. This CASE award has an enhanced tax-free stipend of around £14k p.a.
Supervised by: Dr David Johnson (University of Aberdeen), Dr Lucy Gilbert (Macaulay Institute), Dr Toby Bruce and Prof John Pickett (Rothamsted Research).
Contact Dr David Johnson (d.johnson@abdn.ac.uk) for more details and how to apply