Emeritus Professor David J Read
Tel: +44 (0)114 222 4318
Fax: +44 (0)114 222 0002
email : d.j.read@sheffield.ac.uk
Career
BSc (1960) PhD (1963) University of Hull
Junior Research Fellow, University of Sheffield (1963-1965)
Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Reader in Botany, University of Sheffield (1965-1990)
Professor of Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1990-2004)
Emeritus Professor of Plant Sciences (2004-present)
Millar Visiting Research Professor, University of California, Berkeley, USA (2003)
Elected to Fellowship of the Royal Society 1990
Leverhulme Senior Fellowship (1994-95)
Key Research Interests
Plant Physiological Ecology, Plant Microbial-Interactions, Plant-Nutrient and Water Relations, Mobilisation of Soil Organic matter, Microbial Ecology, Pollution Biology. The role of plant-fungus symbioses of roots - mycorrhizas - with particular reference to their importance at the plant community and ecosystem levels.
Professional Activities (1995 onwards)
Chairman of:
Terrestrial Sciences Peer Review Committee, NERC (1995-98)
Board of Directors, Rothamsted Experimental Station (2003 -)
Forestry Commission Advisory Board on Forest Research (2004 -)
Member of:
Strategy Group, Terrestrial & Freshwater Sciences Board, NERC (1995-98)
Board of Terrestrial & Freshwater Sciences Group, NERC (1995-98)
Council NERC (1999-present)
Board of Govenors, Macaulay Research Institute (2003 - )
International Scientific Advisory Board for Joint Infrastructure Fund (Wellcome Foundation) (1999-)
Board of Directors Rothamstead Research (2000 - 2003)
Biological Secretary and Vice President, The Royal Society (2003- )
Biological Secretary and Vice President Elect, Royal Society (2003 - )
Current Research Students
Taher Abourguiba
Mutualism and antagonism in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi
Rebecca Upson
The role of dark septate fungi in antarctic ecosystems (with K Newsham BAS)
Recent Publications (2001 to date)
Vandenkoornhuyse, P.J., Leake, J.R., Gilbert, L.A., Booth, R.E., Grime, J.P., Young, P.J.W. & Read, D.J. (2004). Plant communities affect arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal diversity and community composition in grassland microcosms. New Phytologist, 161, 503-516.
Bidartondo, M.I., Burghardt, B., Gebauer, G., Bruns, T.D. & Read, D.J. (2004). Changing partners in the dark: isotopic and molecular evidence of ectomycorrhizal liaisons between forest orchids & trees. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 271, 1799-1806.
Taylor, A.F.S., Gebauer, G., & Read, D.J. (2004). Uptake of nitrogen and carbon from double-labelled (15N and 13C) glycine by mycorrhizal pine seedling. New Phytologist, 164, 383-388.
Duckett, J.G., Burch, J., Fletcher, P.W., Matchan, H.W., Read, D.J., Russell, A.J., & Pressel, S. (2004). In vitro cultivation of bryophytes: a review of practicalities, problems, progress and promise. Journal of Bryology, 26, 3-20.
Read, D.J., Leake, J.R., & Perez-Moreno, J. (2004). Mycorrhizal fungi as drivers of ecosystem processes in heathland and boreal forest biomes. Canadian Journal of Botany, 82, 1243-1263.
Leake, J.R., Johnson, D., Donnelly, D.P., Muckle, G., Boddy, L., & Read, D.J. (2004). Networks of power and influence: the role of mycorrhizal mycelium in controlling plant communities and agroecosystem function. Canadian Journal of Botany, 82, 1016-1045.
Bidartondo, M., Bruns, T.D., Weiss, M., Sergin, C., Read, D.J. (2003). Specialised cheating on the ectomycorrhizal symbiosis by an epiparasitic liverwort. Proc., Roy., Soc., B, 270, 835-842.