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Identifying New and Emerging Microbial Threats
Improving how we detect, monitor, and understand microbial threats across dynamic landscapes
What we’re exploring
Pathogens are essential to ecosystem function, yet they can also pose significant risks when their roles shift or intensify. This project aims to improve how we detect and understand microbial threats across landscapes.
The research will enhance tools for identifying background, emerging, and potential pathogens, and examine the role pathogens play in limiting ecosystem productivity. It will also explore how pathogen activity may influence land use change, such as afforestation. The goal is to improve readiness and response to microbial risks while supporting ecological balance.
Current Research
Tranche 2 | 2025-2028
In progress
Oomycetes as hidden drivers of forest succession
In progress
T2 | Identifying Microbial Threats
How microbial diversity influences the success of land restoration
In progress
T2 | Identifying Microbial Threats
Fungal pathogens as ecosystem drivers: the impact of fungi on forest communities over decades to centuries
Project Leadership and Team
Project Insights and Updates
Releated Research
Foundational or related work from Tranche 1 (2021-2024)
Completed
T1 | Ecosystem Health
The potential for plant pathogen spillover in Aotearoa New Zealand
In progress
T1 | Ecosystem Health
The impact of the microbiome on plant resistance and resilience
Completed
T1 | Ecosystem Health
Understanding the drivers of plant health
Completed
T1 | Microbe-Host Interactions
Insight into the effectomes of Aotearoa Phytophthora cinnamomi isolates by comparative genomics
Completed
T1 | Health Frameworks
Climate effects on arthropod spillover
Completed
T1 | Ecosystem Health