Overview
Background
Paul Dennis leads an exciting research group that applies cutting-edge technologies to understand the roles of microorganisms and their responses to environmental change.
He is also a passionate educator and public speaker who advocates for the importance of biological diversity and evidence-based environmental awareness. He has talked about his research on ABC Radio and a range of other media outlets.
His teaching covers aspects of ecology, microbiology, plant and soil science, and climatology. He considers these topics to be of fundamental importance for the development of more sustainable societies and takes pride in helping others to obtain the knowledge and skills they need to build a better future.
Paul's research has taken him to Antarctica, the Amazon Rainforest, high mountains and oceans. The approaches used in his lab draw on a wide range of expertise in molecular biology, ecology, statistics, computer science, advanced imaging and soil science. He applies these skills to a wide-range of topics and systems including plant-microbe interactions, Antarctic marine and terrestrial ecology, biogeography, pollution and human health.
Availability
- Associate Professor Paul Dennis is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), University of Wales
- Doctor of Philosophy, University College London
Works
Search Professor Paul Dennis’s works on UQ eSpace
2008
Journal Article
Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation
Hopkins, D.W., Sparrow, A.D., Shillam, L.L., English, L.C., Dennis, P.G., Novis, P., Elberling, B., Gregorich, E.G. and Greenfield, L.G. (2008). Enzymatic activities and microbial communities in an Antarctic dry valley soil: Responses to C and N supplementation. Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 40 (9), 2130-2136. doi: 10.1016/j.soilbio.2008.03.022
2008
Journal Article
A novel method for sampling bacteria on plant root and soil surfaces at the microhabitat scale
Dennis, Paul G., Miller, Anthony J., Clark, Ian M., Taylor, Richard G., Valsami-Jones, Eugenia and Hirsch, Penny R. (2008). A novel method for sampling bacteria on plant root and soil surfaces at the microhabitat scale. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 75 (1), 12-18. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2008.04.013
2007
Other Outputs
How do rhizosphere bacteria interact with their environment at the microhabitat scale?
Dennis, Paul (2007). How do rhizosphere bacteria interact with their environment at the microhabitat scale?. PhD Thesis, -, University College London.
2006
Journal Article
Field evaluation of in situ remediation of a heavy metal contaminated soil using lime and red-mud
Gray. C. W., Dunham. S. J., Dennis. P. G., Zhao. F. J. and McGrath. S. P. (2006). Field evaluation of in situ remediation of a heavy metal contaminated soil using lime and red-mud. Environmental Pollution, 142 (3), 530-539. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2005.10.017
2006
Book Chapter
14C pulse labelling and allocation imaging
Dennis, Paul and Jones, Davey (2006). 14C pulse labelling and allocation imaging. Handbook of methods used in rhizosphere research. (pp. 336-337) edited by Günter Neumann. Birmensdorf, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL.
2006
Book Chapter
Non-destructive micro-scale sampling of bacteria from a root surface using a tungsten rod with a standardised sampling area controlled by a micromanipulator
Dennis, Paul, Miller, Anthony and Hirsch, Penny (2006). Non-destructive micro-scale sampling of bacteria from a root surface using a tungsten rod with a standardised sampling area controlled by a micromanipulator. Handbook of methods used in rhizosphere research. (pp. 384-385) edited by Peter Schweiger and Roger Finlay. Birmensdorf, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL.
2006
Book Chapter
Visualisation of rhizosphere bacterial colonisation patterns
Dennis, Paul, Miller, Anthony and Hirsch, Penny (2006). Visualisation of rhizosphere bacterial colonisation patterns. Handbook of methods used in rhizosphere research. (pp. 386-387) edited by Peter Schweiger and Roger Finlay. Birmensdorf, Switzerland: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL.
2003
Journal Article
Organic acid behavior in soils - Misconceptions and knowledge gaps
Jones D.L., Dennis P.G., Owen A.G. and Van Hees P.A.W. (2003). Organic acid behavior in soils - Misconceptions and knowledge gaps. Plant and Soil, 248 (1-2), 31-41. doi: 10.1023/A:1022304332313
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Associate Professor Paul Dennis is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Microbial diversity along a pH gradient
Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a pH gradient from Rothamsted, UK. Soil pH strongly influences microbial diversity. The relationship between diversity and other attributes of community structure, however, are poorly understood. In this project we will investigate the effect of species loss on community structure. This work has ramifications for conservation of terrestrial biodiversity.
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The language of attraction: How do plants attract microbial symbionts?
Plants release up to 50% of photosynthetically derived carbon from their roots as a complex mixture of organic compounds known as root exudates. These compounds fuel diverse root-associated microbial communities that consist of plant growth-promoting species as well as those that cause disease or compete with plants for resources. By changing the mixture of exudates released from their roots, plants are thought to exert some level of control over the selection of their microbial symbionts.
Current evidence indicates that most root-associated microorganisms are chemotactic, i.e. they have the ability to sense substrates released by roots and direct movement towards them. This ability enables them to respond rapidly to resources as they become available and out-compete neighboring populations. At present there is no information regarding the selectivity of different exudate components for specific groups of chemotactic organisms. Here, we will use a novel chemotaxis assay in combination with high-throughput sequencing and flow cytometry to identify and enumerate microorganisms that respond to different root exudate components. This information will identify exudates that are strongly associated with the recruitment of beneficial and/or deleterious organisms and should facilitate the development of crops that select for beneficial root-microbial communities.
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The influence of nutrient deficiencies on root exudation
Plants exude a complex mixture of organic compounds from their roots, which alter the availability of plant nutrients and fuel diverse microbial communities that influence plant health and nutrition. Nutrient deficiencies affect large areas of agricultural land. Nutrient deficiencies are known to strongly influence root exudation but these effects are poorly understood. Changes in root exudation could reduce crop yields by negatively affecting plant nutrient uptake and plant-microbe interactions. For this reason, better understanding of the effects of nutrient deficiencies on root exudation is needed to predict future food security. In this project, plants will be grown under differ nutrient deficiencies and root exudates will be collected and analyses using advanced chromatography and mass spectrometry methods.
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Isolation of plant stress tolerance enhancing microbes
Nutrient deficiencies and drought are major agricultural constraints. Fertilisers and irrigation help to alleviate these issues, but rely on non-renewable resources and contribute to environmental degradation. By 2050 there will be nine billion people on Earth, which places food security at the top of society’s challenges for the 21st century1. Soils harbour a wide variety of microbial taxa that significantly enhance plant nutrient acquisition and drought tolerance. These organisms could be used to more sustainably maintain, or enhance, global food security. In this project, microbes will be isolated from the roots of stressed plants and then screened for attributes that promote plant fitness under drought and nutrient stress.
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Microbial diversity along a 750 km drought gradient
Soil microorganisms play critical roles in the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. In this project, we will characterise the diversity of soil bacteria, archaea, fungi and other microeukarya along a 750 km moisture gradient in South Australia. The incidence of drought is predicted to increase with climate change so better understanding of how drought influences microbially mediated ecosystems processes is key to our ability to maintain food security in the future.
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Banana microbiome
Banana’s are one of Queensland’s main agricultural products. Microorganisms influence the health and nutrition of banana’s but the identities of microbes that live in association with banana’s are largely unknown. In his project we will apply high throughput sequencing technologies to characterise the banana microbiome and its role in plant growth promotion and disease prevention.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Costs and benefits of plant-microbe symbioses
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Professor Mark Turner
-
Doctor Philosophy
Which attributes of microbiomes facilitate engineering of ecosystem goods and services?
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Tim McLaren
-
Doctor Philosophy
Microbial diversity and function along a pH gradient
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke, Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
International core microbiome of Musa spp.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of land management on the ecology of soilborne plant diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
Assigning function to the core bacterial microbial of Musa spp.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
Biocrust microorganisms and their function in Australian savanna grazing lands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
Minimising the impacts of land use on microbially mediated soil ecosystem services
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr John Dwyer, Dr Jiarui Sun, Dr Tim McLaren
-
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of fire and grazing management on the diversity and potential function of biocrust microbiomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
Biocrust microorganisms and their function in Australian savanna grazing lands
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
RNA-based control of Phytophthora root rot
Principal Advisor
-
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of land management on the ecology of soilborne plant diseases
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Jiarui Sun
-
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing restoration success in a global biodiversity hotspot by improving site capture
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken, Dr John Dwyer
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Doctor Philosophy
Tailoring the infant gut microbiota to enhance neonatal immune development
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Mark Morrison
Completed supervision
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
Assigning function to the core bacterial microbiome of Musa spp.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt, Dr Jiarui Sun
-
2023
Doctor Philosophy
The Influence of Soil pH on Microbial Community Structure and Function
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
The Microbiome of Musa spp.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Elizabeth Aitken
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of engineered nanomaterials on soil microbial diversity
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Peter Kopittke
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
DP2 receptor antagonism ameliorates the severity of experimental COPD and IPF
Associate Advisor
-
2022
Doctor Philosophy
Linking assembly of the nascent intestinal microbiota to immune development and resistance to bronchiolitis and asthma
Associate Advisor
-
2021
Doctor Philosophy
Evaluating the Efficacy of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria In Australian Agriculture
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nicole Robinson, Professor Susanne Schmidt
-
2020
Doctor Philosophy
The influence of maternal diet on microbiome assembly and severity of viral bronchiolitis in the offspring
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Honorary Professor John Upham
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
A microdialysis perspective of soil nitrogen availability
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Susanne Schmidt
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Isolation and characterisation of new antimicrobial compounds from soil and food microorganisms
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lilia Carvalhais
-
2018
Doctor Philosophy
Impact of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens Probiotic Strain H57 on the Intestinal Microbiota and Broiler Performance.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Peter Dart
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Effects of strategic tillage and plant hormone treatments on wheat-associated microbial communities
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Lilia Carvalhais
-
2016
Doctor Philosophy
Invasive potential of the weed Parthenium hysterophorus - the role of allelopathy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Steve Adkins
Media
Enquiries
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