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I started this project in October 2000. My supervisor is
Martin Hodson, he has a very
comprehensive website where this and other research areas are discussed....
Well worth a visit.
My second supervisor is
David
Evans, he doesn't have a personal web site but you can visit his university
site.In May 2002, Martin and myself visited Nancy in France to discuss
thermodynamic modelling of our growth solutions with Dr. Frédéric
Gérard (INRA - Centre de Recherches Forestières Unité
Biogéochimie des Ecosystèmes Forestiers).
The Project
In order to study the effect of Si on Al toxicity in conifers, one species,
Picea abies, has initially been selected. We will use these techniques
to further investigate Si/Al interactions:
- Hydroponic culture Fig
1. Fig 2.
- Sand culture Fig 3.
- Mineral analysis
- Thermodynamic modelling of Al/Si solutions
in conjunction with Dr. Frédéric Gerard (INRA, Nancy, France).
- Cell and embryonic culture Fig
4. Fig 5.
- Organic acid exudate analysis
E-Mail me if you are
working in a similar area or would like to discuss any interesting ideas.
Some background to the
project
Conferences and publications
1. SEB Annual
meeting at the University of Kent in Canterbury - April 2001
2. The
13th FESPP Congress in Crete - September 2002
3. The Fifth
Keele Meeting on Aluminium - February 2003
We will submit a paper from the Keele work to the Journal of Inorganic
Biochemistry.
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This four month project was conducted at the
Natural History Museum
research station in the Chiquibul reserve, Belize, C.A.
Forest trees are much studied in Belize due to the regions forestry history.
Herbaceous taxa on the other hand have been some what neglected and are
therefore understudied. This study explored the herbaceous taxa, by providing
an illustrated guide to a selection of the more common/conspicuous Angiospermae
of the area. It then went on to investigate the ecology and pollination of a
selection of plant species in the Chiquibul. A survey and analysis of flower
colours was also undertaken. The data was discussed with a view to assessing
its actual and potential worth to past, currant and future taxonomic studies.
Data on Piper spp. indicated that several Belizean species within
this group were visited by Megachilidae, these bees were not observed on any
other species in the area during the time of this study. A future study may
further investigate this link and go on to find or disprove similar links in
other Belizean plant taxa.
Other Angiosperm-animal links were indicated, for example between
Teucrium vescarium, Desmoncus orthacanthos and a bee species that
appear to collect pollen from them both. Commelina diffusa and some
Poaceae spp. were found to be visited and have their their pollen removed by
Apis mellifera the African Killer bee. Three plant species (Hamelia
patens, Costus spictus and Lobelia cardinals), were observed
to be visited by Amazilla tzacatl the Rufous tailed humming bird. These
animal plant relationships deserve further investigation as a confirmed linkage
may be useful for taxon identification, delimitation and classification.
Identification of flowering seasons was found to be a useful source of
taxonomic information. Flower opening time was also thought to be taxa specific
in that Mirabilis jalapa and the Sida sp. studied were found to
open at approximately 15:00-16:00 local time whereas Commelina diffusa
only opened in the early morning. During this study a perceptible flower colour
change from deep purple to white was seen in the Amphilophium species
observed.
In terms of future work, much more ecological and pollination data is
required. When linking ecology to taxonomy, future studies should have a more
taxa centered approach. Ecological data on several members of taxa might
provide data on whether genetic relatedness can be correlated with ecology.
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The response of Hordeum vulgare roots to known
aluminium concentration and several known silica concentrations was tested in a
hydroponic system.
Treatments all contained a known concentration of calcium nitrate and were
designed to avoid precipitation of aluminium from solution. Temperature,
photoperiod and relative humidity were all kept constant throughout.
ANOVA analysis of results showed that higher concentrations of silica
resulted in significant amelioration of root elongation but not root lateral
growth. It was concluded that the difference was most likely to be due to in
planta interactions. Perhaps silica did not reach sites of lateral root
growth, or some form of biochemical, physiological or anatomical phenomena
interfered with amelioration by silica in the lateral root growth sites of
H. vulgare. It was also decided that use of silica slag for amelioration
of soil acidity may not be the ideal cheaper alternative to liming. The area
for ion absorption was not totally corrected by silica addition for H.
vulgare.
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A lowland heath fragment in Shotover Country Park SSSI
Oxfordshire was studied.
Site and surrounding areas were mapped. Species lists were compiled for the
heath and adjacent (potentially encroaching) habitats. Top soil analyses of pH,
% water content, % organic matter, phosphate, available calcium and available
potassium were carried out. A survey was undertaken to asses public attitudes
to habitats within the park.
Species composition was different for the two sites, backed up by a past NVC
classification. Independent student t tests showed no significant difference in
soil parameters between the heath and surrounding habitats. Sites studied
contained viable Calluna vulgaris seeds in the top soil, germination
experiments showed that there was little difference in viable seed numbers
between sites. A literature survey showed a number of interesting species had
been lost from the heath, perhaps due to severe edge effects. The pros and cons
of species introductions were discussed.
Above findings and availability of several heathland management techniques,
indicated that the heath could successfully be conserved and expanded It is
hoped that this project will be a useful reference tool for the present and
future rangers of Shotover Country Park and an aid to management decisions that
will be made.
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Ph.D. in Plant Physiology, 2000-
in progress..
Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, UK
Working thesis title:- Silica and aluminium interactions in Picea abies
PGCE in Science, specialising in
Biology, 1998-1999.
Reading University, Reading, UK
M.Sc. in Plant and Fungal Taxonomy,
1996-1998.
Reading University, Reading, UK
Masters thesis:- Plant ecology and taxonomy, a project in Belize
B.Sc. in Environmental Biology 2:1 -
1st borderline, 1993-1996.
Oxford
Brookes University, Oxford, UK
Project:- Silica and aluminium interactions in barley roots - Grade A 75%
Project:- Management of a small heath fragment in Oxfordshire - Grade B+ 67%
A levels,
1990-1993
Didcot Sixth Form,
Didcot, Oxfordshire, UK
Geography, Biology, Chemistry
GCSEs,
1985-1990
Cranford House School,
Moulsford, Oxfordshire, UK
8 GCSEs
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PT Demostrator
October 00 -
Oxford Brookes University School of
Biological and Molecular Sciences, Oxford, Oxfordshire
PT Disability Support Worker
October 00 -
Oxford Brookes University Department of
Student Services, Oxford, Oxfordshire
Web Developer Contracting
April – October 00
Telewest (cable Television), Woking,
Surrey
Administrator Contracting
January – March 00
Proctor and Gamble Oleochemicals Europe, West Byfleet, Surrey
Secondary Science Teacher - 11-16
September 99 - December 00
Broadwater School,
Farncombe, Surrey
Pharmacy Assistant
March 98 - September 98
Boots the Chemists, Bracknell,
Berkshire
PT Sales Assistant-Multimedia and
Sounds
November 97 – January 98
WH Smith, Oxford, Oxfordshire
PT Lifeguard
1988-1991
Old Gaol Leisure
Centre, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
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