Prof Ian Alexander

Research interests

• Mycorrhizas and ecosystem processes

Recent publications

• Newbery D, Alexander I J & Rother J (2000) Does proximity to conspecific adults influence the establishment of ectomycorrhizal tree species in an African rain forest? New Phytologist 147, 401-409.
• Genney, D.R., Alexander, I. J. & Hartley, S. E. (2000) Exclusion of grass roots from soil organic layers by Calluna: the role of ericoid mycorrhizas. Journal of Experimental Botany. 51, 1117 –1125.
• Moyersoen B, Becker P, Alexander IJ (2001) Are ectomycorrhizas more abundant than arbuscular mycorrhizas in tropical heath forests? New Phytologist 150, 591-599.
• Genney DR, Hartley SE, Alexander IJ (2001)  Arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization increases with host density in a heathland community New Phytologist 152, 355-363.
• Genney DR, Alexander IJ, Hartley SE (2002)  Soil organic matter distribution and below-ground competition between Calluna vulgaris and Nardus stricta. Functional Ecology 16, 664-670.
• Genney DR, Alexander IJ, Kilham KS, Meharg A (2004) Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) Degradation is retarded in a Scots Pine ectomycorrhizosphere. New Phytologist 163, 641-649.
• Villarreal-Ruiz L, Anderson IC, Alexander IJ (2004) The interaction between an isolate from the Hymenoscyphus ericae aggregate and roots of Pinus and Vaccinium. New Phytologist 164, 183-192.
• Saari SK, Campbell CD, Russell J, Alexander IJ, Anderson IC. 2005 Microsatellite markers allow roots and ectomycorrhizas to be linked to individual trees. New Phytologist 165, 295-304.
• Fomina MA, Alexander IJ, Colpaert JV, Gadd GM 2005 Solubilization of toxic metal minerals and metal tolerance of mycorrhizal fungi.  Soil Biology and Biochemistry  37, 851-866.
• Grelet G-A, Meharg A A, Alexander IJ. (2005) Carbon availability affects nitrogen source utilisation by Hymenoscyphus ericae. Mycological Research 109, 469-477.
• Kõljalg U, Larsson K-H, Abarenkov K, Nilsson RH, Alexander IJ, Eberhardt U, Erland S, Høiland K, Kjøller R, Larsson E, Pennanen T, Sen R, Taylor AFS, Tedersoo L, Vrålstad T, Ursing BM 2005 UNITE: a database providing web-based methods for the molecular identification of ectomycorrhizal fungi.  New Phytologist 166, 1063-1068.
• Johnson D, Ijdo M, Genney DR, Anderson IC, Alexander IJ. 2005. How do plants regulate the function, community structure, and diversity of mycorrhizal fungi? Journal of Experimental Botany 56, 1751-1760.
• Alexander IJ & Lee Su See (2005) Mycorrhizas and ecosystem processes in tropical rain forest: implications for diversity. In Biotic Interactions in the Tropics (Eds D.Burslem ,M.Pinard & S.Hartley) Cambridge University Press. p 165-203.
• Genney, DR; Anderson, IC; Alexander, IJ. 2006. Fine-scale distribution of pine ectomycorrhizas and their extramatrical mycelium. New Phytologist 170, 381-390.
• Izumi, H; Anderson, IC; Alexander, IJ; Killham, K; Moore, ERB. 2006. Endobacteria in some ectomycorrhiza of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris). FEMS Microbiology Ecology 56, 34-43.

   

• Editor, New Phytologist
• Chairman, New Phytologist Trust
• Keeper, Cruickshank Botanic Garden

Research experience at The University of Aberdeen

• 1971-88 Lecturer in Ecology, Department of Botany (Plant Science 1983-88)
• 1988-92 Senior Lecturer, Department of Plant & Soil Science
• 1992-96 Professor, Department of Plant & Soil Science
• 1996- Regius Professor of Botany

Education & Background

• FRSE, 1997
• PhD Edinburgh, 1973
• BSc Forestry, Edinburgh, 1968

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