Ectomycorrhizal fungal succession associated with the colonisation of Calluna moorland by Betula spp.
Interactions between ericaceous plants and mycorrhizal fungi
Publications
A.R. Franco, C.S.C. Calheiros, C.C. Pacheco, P. De Marco, C.M. Manaia, P.M.L. Castro (2005). Isolation and characterization of polymeric galloyl-ester-degrading bacteria from a tannery discharge place. Microbial Ecology50: 550-556.
Conference presentations
Franco, AR, Mitchell, RJ, Campbell, CD, Anderson, IC and Alexander, IJ (2006) The ectomycorrhizal fungi of birch colonising Calluna moorland in Northern Scotland. 5th International Conference on Mycorrhizae (ICOM 5), Granada, Spain. [PDF 761KB]
Research experience
2004 & 2005 Research assistant for the Portuguese Catholic University project “Application of mycorrhizal fungi for the production of Pinus pinaster and Quercus roble” (Projecto-Agro 752) 2004 - present.
2002 & 2004 Research assistant for Portuguese Catholic University project “ Phytoremediation and biofilme bioreactors on the treatment of industrial wastewater: a comparative study” (Projecto-POCTI/CTA/39111/01).
Education & Background
2005 - Present PhD-student: Mycorrhizal fungi – drivers of successional processes? (University of Aberdeen, Macaulay Institute and CEH-Banchory, UK).
2002 Degree in Microbiology (Portuguese Catholic University, Oporto, Portugal).