The University of Western Australia
W/Prof Lynette Abbott
Head of School/Winthrop Professor
Contact details
| Address | School of Earth and Environment The University of Western Australia (M004) 35 Stirling Highway CRAWLEY WA 6009 Australia |
|---|---|
| Phone | 6488 2683 |
| Fax | 6488 1050 |
| labbott@cyllene.uwa.edu.au | |
| Personal homepage | http://www.segs.uwa.edu.au/abbott_cv |
Biography
Research in Soil Biology is a major activity within the School of Earth and Geographical Sciences. Our emphasis is on understanding the activities of a wide range of soil organisms in the context of their contribution to important soil processes. We are interested in soil organisms and their roles in natural ecosystems as well as in agriculture/horticulture and disturbed environments such as minesites.
The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable land use and minesite rehabilitation has been an important focus for some time. The ecological focus has included studies of the dynamics of populations of legume root-nodule bacteria, nitrifying bacteria and soil fauna, especially in relation to the impact of land management practices. In addition, we are interested in the composting of organic waste materials and their use as soil amendments, and the role of soil organisms as indicators of sustainable land management.
Our objectives are:
* to increase understanding of soil biological processes that influence soil fertility in natural and managed ecosystems;
* to provide a stimulating and collaborating environment for research on a wide range of soil organisms in diverse ecosystems;
* to ensure strong links are maintained between research activities and teaching in the area of soil science, especially in relation to soil fertility and soil management;
* to extend knowledge of soil biological processes to land managers and other members of the community
The major research areas in soil biology include:
* Nutrient cycling in managed in managed systems such as Agriculture, Horticulture, Viticulture and Minesites
* Composting
* Indicators of Soil Health
* Plant/microbial symbioses
This research is led by Dr Daniel Murphy and Professor Lyn Abbott and is conducted in collaboration with research associates and postgraduate students. Undergraduate students also make significant contributions to the research program.
The role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in sustainable land use and minesite rehabilitation has been an important focus for some time. The ecological focus has included studies of the dynamics of populations of legume root-nodule bacteria, nitrifying bacteria and soil fauna, especially in relation to the impact of land management practices. In addition, we are interested in the composting of organic waste materials and their use as soil amendments, and the role of soil organisms as indicators of sustainable land management.
Our objectives are:
* to increase understanding of soil biological processes that influence soil fertility in natural and managed ecosystems;
* to provide a stimulating and collaborating environment for research on a wide range of soil organisms in diverse ecosystems;
* to ensure strong links are maintained between research activities and teaching in the area of soil science, especially in relation to soil fertility and soil management;
* to extend knowledge of soil biological processes to land managers and other members of the community
The major research areas in soil biology include:
* Nutrient cycling in managed in managed systems such as Agriculture, Horticulture, Viticulture and Minesites
* Composting
* Indicators of Soil Health
* Plant/microbial symbioses
This research is led by Dr Daniel Murphy and Professor Lyn Abbott and is conducted in collaboration with research associates and postgraduate students. Undergraduate students also make significant contributions to the research program.
Key research
- Soil health related to agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, soil biology, indicators of soil quality, soil fertility, plant-microbe symbioses, minesite rehabiliation, soil management.
Major research interests
- Indicators of sustainability
- Land rehabilitation
- Microbial activity and nutrient cycling in rehabilitated soils
- Microbial ecology
- Mycorrhizal associations
- Plant nutrition and soil fertility
- Rhizobial ecology
- Soil biology
- Soil microbial ecology
Qualifications
BSc Syd., PhD Monash, FAIAST
Publications
Publications for 2001-2007
BOOKS
Abbott, L.K. and Murphy, D.V. (Eds) (2003) Soil Biological Fertility - A key to sustainable land use in agriculture. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. pp 264
Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D. and Hampp, R. (Eds) (2004) Plant Surface Microbiology. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp 628
BOOK CHAPTERS
Brundrett, M.C. and Abbott, L.K. (2002) Arbuscular mycorrhizas in plant communities. In Microorganisms in Plant Conservation and Biodiversity.. Eds. Sivasithamparam, K., Dixon, K. and Barrett, R.L. Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp 151-193
Abbott, L.K. and Murphy D.V. (2003) What is soil biological fertility? In: Soil Biological Fertility - A key to sustainable land use in agriculture. Eds. Abbott, L.K. and Murphy, D.V. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands pp 1-15
Solaiman, M.Z. and Abbott, L.K. (2004) Functional diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on root surfaces. In: Plant Surface Microbiology. Eds. Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D., and Hampp, R. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg. pp 331-349
Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D and Hampp, R. (2004) The state of the art. Eds. Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D., and Hampp, R. In: Plant Surface Microbiology. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany.
Davis, J and Abbott, L.K. (2006) Soil fertility in organic farming systems. In: Organic agriculture: A global perspective. Eds. Paul Kristiansen, Acram Taji and John Reganold. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne pp 25-51.
Djajadi and Abbott, L.K. (2006) Inter-relationships of physical and biological aspects of soil health in sandy soil. In: Soil Microbes: Health and environment. I.K. International Publishing House, New Delhi, India.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Jakobsen, I. Gazey, C. and Abbott L.K. (2001) Phosphate transport by communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil cores from annual pastures. New Phytologist 149: 95-103.
Collins, M.T., Thies, J.E. and Abbott, L.K. (2002) Diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii isolates from pasture soils in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40: 1319-1329
Ganz, T.R., Harris, D., Abbott, L.K. and Kailis, S.G. (2002) Organoleptic and nutritional quality of olive oil from south-western region of Australia. Advances in Horticultural Science 3-4: 267-272
Ganz, T.R., Kailis, S.G. and Abbott, L.K. (2002) Mycorrhizal colonization and its effect on growth, phosphate uptake and tissue phenolic content in the European olice (Olea europaea L.) Advances in Horticultural Science 3-4: 109-116
Sano, S.M., Abbott, L.K., Solaiman, Z. and Robson, A.D. (2002) Influence of liming, inoculum level and inoculum placement on root colonization of subterranean clover. Mycorrhiza 12: 285-290
Peltzer S., Abbott, L.K. and Atkins, C. (2002) Effect of low root-zone temperature on nodule initiation in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53: 355-365
Bell, J., Wells, S., Jasper, D.A. and Abbott, L.K. (2003) Field inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rehabilitation of mine sites with native vegetation, including Acacia spp. Australian Systematic Botany 16: 131-138
Levy, A., Chang, B.J., Abbott, L.K. and Inglis, T. (2003) Invasion of spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora decipiens by Burkholderia spp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69:6250-6256
Gazey, C., Abbott, L.K. and Robson, A.D (2004) Indigenous and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi contribute to plant growth in two agricultural soils from south-western Australia. Mycorrhiza 14: 355-362
Solaiman, M.Z. and Abbott, L.K. (2003) Phosphorus uptake by a community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in jarrah forest. Plant and Soil 248: 312-320
Juniper, S. and Abbott, L.K. (2004) A change in the concentration of NaCl in soil alters the rate of hyphal extension of some arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Canadian Journal of Botany-Revue Canadienne De Botanique 82 (8): 1235-1242
McInnes, A., Thies, J.E., Abbott, L.K. and Howieson, J.G. (2004) The structure and diversity of rhizobial populations and communities – a review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36 (8): 191-194
Osler, G.H.R., Gauci, C.S. and Abbott L.K. (2004) Limited evidence for short-term succession of microarthropods during early phases of surface litter decomposition. Pedobiologia 48 (1): 37-49
Osler, G.H.R., Recous, S. and Fillery I.R.P., Craig S. Gauci, Chunya Zhu and Lynette K. Abbott (2004) Correlation between mite community structure and gross N fluxes. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 36 (1): 191-194
Schwartz, M.W., Hoeksema, J.D., Gehring C.A., Johnson, N.C., Klironomos, J.N., Abbott, L.K., Pringle, A. (2006) The promise and the potential consequences of the global transport of mycorrhizal fungal inoculum. Ecology Letters 9: 501–515.
Juniper, S and Abbott, L.K. (2006) Soil salinity delays germination and limits growth of hyphae from propagules of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 16: 371-397
Schweiger, PF, Robson, AD, Barrow, NJ and Abbott, LK (2007) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from three general induce two-phase plant growth responses on a high P-fixing soil. Plant and Soil 292: 1810192.
BOOKS
Abbott, L.K. and Murphy, D.V. (Eds) (2003) Soil Biological Fertility - A key to sustainable land use in agriculture. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands. pp 264
Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D. and Hampp, R. (Eds) (2004) Plant Surface Microbiology. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, pp 628
BOOK CHAPTERS
Brundrett, M.C. and Abbott, L.K. (2002) Arbuscular mycorrhizas in plant communities. In Microorganisms in Plant Conservation and Biodiversity.. Eds. Sivasithamparam, K., Dixon, K. and Barrett, R.L. Kluwer Academic Publishers. pp 151-193
Abbott, L.K. and Murphy D.V. (2003) What is soil biological fertility? In: Soil Biological Fertility - A key to sustainable land use in agriculture. Eds. Abbott, L.K. and Murphy, D.V. Kluwer Academic Publishers, The Netherlands pp 1-15
Solaiman, M.Z. and Abbott, L.K. (2004) Functional diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on root surfaces. In: Plant Surface Microbiology. Eds. Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D., and Hampp, R. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg. pp 331-349
Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D and Hampp, R. (2004) The state of the art. Eds. Varma, A., Abbott, L.K., Werner, D., and Hampp, R. In: Plant Surface Microbiology. Springer-Verlag, Heidelberg, Germany.
Davis, J and Abbott, L.K. (2006) Soil fertility in organic farming systems. In: Organic agriculture: A global perspective. Eds. Paul Kristiansen, Acram Taji and John Reganold. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne pp 25-51.
Djajadi and Abbott, L.K. (2006) Inter-relationships of physical and biological aspects of soil health in sandy soil. In: Soil Microbes: Health and environment. I.K. International Publishing House, New Delhi, India.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Jakobsen, I. Gazey, C. and Abbott L.K. (2001) Phosphate transport by communities of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil cores from annual pastures. New Phytologist 149: 95-103.
Collins, M.T., Thies, J.E. and Abbott, L.K. (2002) Diversity and symbiotic effectiveness of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. trifolii isolates from pasture soils in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Soil Research 40: 1319-1329
Ganz, T.R., Harris, D., Abbott, L.K. and Kailis, S.G. (2002) Organoleptic and nutritional quality of olive oil from south-western region of Australia. Advances in Horticultural Science 3-4: 267-272
Ganz, T.R., Kailis, S.G. and Abbott, L.K. (2002) Mycorrhizal colonization and its effect on growth, phosphate uptake and tissue phenolic content in the European olice (Olea europaea L.) Advances in Horticultural Science 3-4: 109-116
Sano, S.M., Abbott, L.K., Solaiman, Z. and Robson, A.D. (2002) Influence of liming, inoculum level and inoculum placement on root colonization of subterranean clover. Mycorrhiza 12: 285-290
Peltzer S., Abbott, L.K. and Atkins, C. (2002) Effect of low root-zone temperature on nodule initiation in narrow-leafed lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L). Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 53: 355-365
Bell, J., Wells, S., Jasper, D.A. and Abbott, L.K. (2003) Field inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rehabilitation of mine sites with native vegetation, including Acacia spp. Australian Systematic Botany 16: 131-138
Levy, A., Chang, B.J., Abbott, L.K. and Inglis, T. (2003) Invasion of spores of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Gigaspora decipiens by Burkholderia spp. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69:6250-6256
Gazey, C., Abbott, L.K. and Robson, A.D (2004) Indigenous and introduced arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi contribute to plant growth in two agricultural soils from south-western Australia. Mycorrhiza 14: 355-362
Solaiman, M.Z. and Abbott, L.K. (2003) Phosphorus uptake by a community of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in jarrah forest. Plant and Soil 248: 312-320
Juniper, S. and Abbott, L.K. (2004) A change in the concentration of NaCl in soil alters the rate of hyphal extension of some arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi Canadian Journal of Botany-Revue Canadienne De Botanique 82 (8): 1235-1242
McInnes, A., Thies, J.E., Abbott, L.K. and Howieson, J.G. (2004) The structure and diversity of rhizobial populations and communities – a review. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 36 (8): 191-194
Osler, G.H.R., Gauci, C.S. and Abbott L.K. (2004) Limited evidence for short-term succession of microarthropods during early phases of surface litter decomposition. Pedobiologia 48 (1): 37-49
Osler, G.H.R., Recous, S. and Fillery I.R.P., Craig S. Gauci, Chunya Zhu and Lynette K. Abbott (2004) Correlation between mite community structure and gross N fluxes. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 36 (1): 191-194
Schwartz, M.W., Hoeksema, J.D., Gehring C.A., Johnson, N.C., Klironomos, J.N., Abbott, L.K., Pringle, A. (2006) The promise and the potential consequences of the global transport of mycorrhizal fungal inoculum. Ecology Letters 9: 501–515.
Juniper, S and Abbott, L.K. (2006) Soil salinity delays germination and limits growth of hyphae from propagules of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Mycorrhiza 16: 371-397
Schweiger, PF, Robson, AD, Barrow, NJ and Abbott, LK (2007) Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from three general induce two-phase plant growth responses on a high P-fixing soil. Plant and Soil 292: 1810192.
Industrial relevance
land management in agriculture, horticulture and viticulture
Honours and awards
Fellow, Australian Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology
Teaching
SCIE3303 Organic Agriculture and Horticulture
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
EART3322 How Soils Function
ENVT2251 Environmental Hydrology
EART3322 How Soils Function
Current external positions
The National Science and Technology Centre (Questacon) Advisory Committee
Swan Catchment Council, WA, Rural Landuse Reference Group
Swan Catchment Council, WA, Rural Landuse Reference Group
Research profile
