(BBSRC DTP) Microbial transitions in soil ecosystems under land use and climate change

The soil microbiome encompasses a vast diversity of microbial life and plays a crucial role in regulating biogeochemical cycles and plant growth. Yet, our understanding of the factors that regulate the dynamics and functioning of the soil microbiome, and its capacity to buffer perturbations, such as those associated with intensive land use and climate change, remains poor. Added to this, little is known about how vulnerable the soil microbiome is to transitions to alternative states, with potentially deleterious consequences for soil functioning and plant growth. Abrupt transitions to alternative states have been widely documented in other ecosystems in response to perturbations, including the human gut. However, studies of transitions to alternative stable states, and the factors that trigger them, are lacking in soil microbial communities. This represents an important gap in knowledge given that soil microbial communities are increasingly challenged by perturbations associated with land use and climate change, and emerging evidence that: (a) perturbations, such as severe drought, can trigger abrupt transitions to alternative microbial states with consequences for soil functioning; and (b) land use history can modify the response of soil microbial communities to drought, being more vulnerable to transitions to alternative states in soils previously under intensive agriculture.

This studentship will tackle these gaps in knowledge and deliver an integrated understanding of the capacity of perturbations, especially drought, to trigger state transitions in soil microbiomes and test how thresholds for transitions are modified by land use history. The studentship will focus on drought, which is globally pervasive and expected to increase in frequency and intensity, and on soils taken from various long-term experimental sites where past agricultural land use has modified the soil microbiome. Specifically, the student will test the hypotheses that: (a) repeated drought triggers shifts in soil microbiomes to alternative states with negative consequences for soil nutrient cycling and plant performance; and (b) soil microbiomes shaped by a history of intensive agricultural management are more vulnerable to transitions to alternative states than those under long-term sustainable management. These hypotheses will be tested using a series of controlled-environment and field-based experiments, combined with state-of-the-art genomic and biogeochemical technologies to interrogate the soil microbiome and nutrient transfers through the soil system. The student will be part of the Soil and Ecosystem Ecology group at Manchester, which is a vibrant, well-funded and diverse research group exploring belowground communities and their response to global change.

Soil and Ecosystem Ecology Laboratory: https://www.ees.manchester.ac.uk/soil-ecosystem-ecology-lab/
Richard Bardgett: https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/richard.bardgett.html
Chris Knight: https://www.research.manchester.ac.uk/portal/Chris.Knight.html

Entry Requirements:
Applicants must have obtained, or be about to obtain, at least an upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject.

UK applicants interested in this project should make direct contact with the Principal Supervisor to arrange to discuss the project further as soon as possible. International applicants (including EU nationals) must ensure they meet the academic eligibility criteria (including English Language) as outlined before contacting potential supervisors to express an interest in their project. Eligibility can be checked via the University Country Specific information page (https://www.manchester.ac.uk/study/international/country-specific-information/).
If your country is not listed you must contact the Doctoral Academy Admissions Team providing a detailed CV (to include academic qualifications – stating degree classification(s) and dates awarded) and relevant transcripts.

Following the review of your qualifications and with support from potential supervisor(s), you will be informed whether you can submit a formal online application.

To be considered for this project you MUST submit a formal online application form - full details on how to apply can be found on the BBSRC DTP website www.manchester.ac.uk/bbsrcdtpstudentships

Equality, diversity and inclusion is fundamental to the success of The University of Manchester, and is at the heart of all of our activities. The full Equality, diversity and inclusion statement can be found on the website https://www.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/study/research/apply/equality-diversity-inclusion/