Dr Martin Breed
Genomics, conservation, and restoration of degraded land
*see Teaching tab for postdoc, PhD and honours opportunities*
I lead the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology group. Since completing my PhD five years ago, I have become an internationally recognised research leader in restoration science. I take a broad multidisciplinary approach, which has enabled me to work across many fields. Specifically, I use evolutionary biology, population genetics, and public health approaches, coupled with modern genomics and statistical approaches.
I brought together this multidisciplinary team to apply our collective expertise to helping better understand restoration science. We tackle emerging and pressing issues of how people repair, manage, use and interact with their environment, for the betterment of people and nature.
Most of my work is essentially applied in nature, providing me many opportunities to work closely alongside a diverse suite of collaborators, including public and community NGOs, commercial enterprises, primary industry, and government.
My research achievements include the award of two research fellowships (one from the Australian Research Council 2014-2017; one from the University of Adelaide 2018-current), a Young Tall Poppy Award from the Australian Institute of Policy & Science (2015), and the South Australian Science Excellence Award for PhD Research Excellence (2013). I have attracted >$7 million in research funds since completing my PhD in 2013, published >40 research articles that have been cited >1000 times since 2011, and have supervised/am supervising >11 Honours/Masters/PhD students.
Research highlights include pioneering the integration of genomics into restoration science, redefining the study of gene flow and mating systems of plants in fragmented landscapes, and leading to global revision of seed sourcing strategies under global change. I serve on numerous boards, including the editorial board for international journals Restoration Ecology and EcoHealth, the IUCN Species Survival Commission – Conservation Genetics Specialist Group, the Technical Advisory Committee for Trees For Life (an SA environmental NGO), and the executive advisory committee for the Australian Smart Cities Consortium.
✓ Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD — email supervisor to discuss availability.
Active projects include:
- optimising benefits from urban green spaces in smart cities with the Australian Smart Cities Consortium
- improving restoration interventions under global change
- developing innovative approaches to quantify restoration success
- harnessing restoration interventions to deliver co-benefits to biodiversity and society (e.g. pollination, human health, carbon)
- seagrass adaptation and acclimation responses to extreme climatic events
I am always open to discuss opportunities for research collaborations (incl. postdocs), plus PhD and Honours projects. Please contact me to discuss ideas and funding options, and check out the details above
Appointments
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Beacon Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| 2015 - 2017 | DECRA Fellow | University of Adelaide |
| 2014 - 2015 | Postdoc | University of Adelaide |
| 2013 - 2014 | Postdoc | Uppsala University |
Awards and Achievements
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Fellowship | University Beacon Fellowship | University of Adelaide | — | — |
| 2016 | Award | Outstanding Early Career Alumnus: James Cook University, College of Science and Engineering | James Cook University | Australia | — |
| 2015 | Award | SA Young Tall Poppy Award | Australian Institute of Policy & Science | — | — |
| 2015 | Fellowship | ARC DECRA Fellowship | Australian Research Council | Australia | $355,000 |
| 2015 | Award | Molecular Ecology Reviewer of the Year | John Wiley & Sons | — | — |
| 2014 | Award | Molecular Ecology Reviewer of the Year | John Wiley & Sons | — | — |
| 2013 | Award | SA Science Excellence Award | South Australian Department of State Development | — | — |
| 2013 | Award | Executive Dean's Order of Merit | University of Adelaide | — | — |
| 2013 | Award | Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence | University of Adelaide | — | — |
Language Competencies
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Swedish | Can read, write, speak and understand spoken |
Education
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 - 2013 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 2006 - 2008 | Uppsala University | Sweden | MSc |
| 2004 - 2006 | James Cook University | Australia | BAppSci |
Research Interests
Journals
Conference Items
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2018 | Broadhurst, L., Prober, S., Boggs, G., Bush, D., Lynch, J., & Breed, M. F. (2018). Guidelines for establishing experimental plantings in restoration projects. Poster session presented at the meeting of NRM Science Conference. Adelaide, SA. |
| 2018 | Jordan, R., Breed, M. F., Hoffmann, A., Miller, A., & Prober, S. (2018). How well is genetic diversity captured in revegetation plantings?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Ecological Society of Australia. Brisbane. |
| 2018 | Kendrick, G., Fraser, M., Sinclair, E., Breed, M. F., & Statton, J. (2018). Incorporating ecosystem resilience into understanding the impacts of seagrass loss and recovery in the Shark Bay World Heritage Site. Poster session presented at the meeting of Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association. |
| 2018 | Robinson, J., Watkins, H., & Breed, M. F. (2018). 4D microbial cartography: modelling the spatial, compositional and functional dynamics of a tree microbiome. Poster session presented at the meeting of British Ecological Society. Birmingham. |
| 2018 | Broadhurst, L., Prober, S., Boggs, G., Breed, M. F., Jellenick, S., Lynch, J., . . . Bush, D. (2018). PERRI – Platform for Ecological Restoration Research Infrastructure. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference. Canberra. |
| 2017 | Mills, J. G., Weinstein., Gellie., Weyrich., Lowe., & Breed. (2017). Restoration of urban green spaces rewilds the environmental microbiome with associated shifts in the human microbiome.. Poster session presented at the meeting of Society for Ecological Restoration. Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. |
| 2017 | Breed, M. F., Gellie, N., & Lowe, A. J. (2017). Alternative provenancing strategies, theory and empirical evidence. Poster session presented at the meeting of Using non-local plants for restoration – fallacy or fundamental?. Iguassu, Brazil. |
| 2017 | Lowe, A. J., Gellie, N., Mills, J., & Breed, M. F. (2017). Future challenges in restoration plantings, and their potential solutions. Poster session presented at the meeting of Using non-local plants for restoration – fallacy or fundamental?. Iguassu, Brazil. |
| 2017 | Breed, M. F., Gellie, N., Mills J., & Lowe, A. J. (2017). Revegetation rewilds the soil bacterial microbiome of an old field. Poster session presented at the meeting of Harnessing new genetic approaches to improve restoration success. Shenzhen, China. |
| 2016 | Gellie, N., Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2016). Laboratories for restoration science - developing the evidence base for resilient landscape restoration. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conservation genetics. Hamilton, NZ. |
| 2016 | Mills, J., Breed, M. F., Gellie, N., & Lowe, A. (2016). Revegetation rewilds the bacterial microbiome of an old field. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conservation genetics. Hamilton, NZ. |
| 2016 | Breed, M. F., Gellie, N., & Lowe, A. (2016). How can restoration avoid genetic ghettos, adapt to climate change, and effectively monitor success?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Conservation genetics. Hamilton, NZ. |
| 2016 | Breed, M. F., Gellie, N., & Lowe, A. (2016). How can restoration avoid genetic ghettos, adapt to climate change, and effectively monitor success?. Poster session presented at the meeting of Holistic conservation. Melbourne, Aus. |
| 2016 | Lowe, A. J., Breed, M., Gellie, N., Guerin, G. R., Mills, J., & Christmas, M. (2016). Restoring South Australia's native vegetation. Poster session presented at the meeting of ''Botany 2016 – Past, Present and Future' Symposium. South Australian NRM Science Conference.. The University of Adelaide. |
| 2015 | Gellie, N., Breed, M., & Lowe, A. (2015). That big tree’s not from around here – provenance decision –making during uncertain times. Poster session presented at the meeting of Synthesising restoration outcomes in agricultural and mined landscapes. Adelaide, Aus. |
| 2015 | Breed, M., & Lowe, A. (2015). Seed quality shifts and managing plant genetic resources in fragmented landscapes. Poster session presented at the meeting of Restoration genetics. Manchester, UK. |
| 2015 | Gellie, N., Breed, M., & Lowe, A. (2015). Laboratories for restoration science - developing the evidence base for cost-effective and resilient landscape restoration. Poster session presented at the meeting of Restoration resilience. Manchester, UK. |
| 2015 | Christmas, M., Breed, M., Biffin, E., & Lowe, A. (2015). Signatures of selection across the landscape: Using genomic tools to inform restoration and conservation practice. Poster session presented at the meeting of Future direction for conservation. Manchester, UK. |
Datasets
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Gellie, N., Mills, J. G., Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2017). Revegetation rewilds the soil bacterial microbiome of an old field. Part 2: Soil chemistry. DOI |
| 2017 | Gellie, N., Mills, J., Breed, M., & Lowe, A. (2017). Revegetation rewilds the soil bacterial microbiome of an old field. Part 1: OTU raw data matrix. DOI |
| 2016 | Gellie, N. J. C., Breed, M. F., Thurgate, N., Kennedy, S. A., & Lowe, A. (2016). Local maladaptation in a foundation tree species: implications for restoration. Part 1; survival. DOI |
| 2016 | Gellie, N., Breed, M., Thurgate, N., Kennedy, S. A., & Lowe, A. J. (2016). Local maladaptation in a foundation tree species: implications for restoration. Part 2 growth. DOI |
| 2016 | Baruch, Z., Christmas, M., Breed, M. F., Guerin, G. R., Caddy-Retalic, S., McDonald, J., . . . Lowe, A. J. (2016). Leaf trait associations with environmental variation in the wide-ranging shrub Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima (Sapindaceae) Part 1: Latitude. DOI |
| 2016 | Baruch, Z., Christmas, M., Breed, M. F., Guerin, G. R., Caddy-Retalic, S., McDonald, J. T., . . . Lowe, A. J. (2016). Leaf trait associations with environmental variation in the wide-ranging shrub Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustissima (Sapindaceae) Part 2: Elevation. DOI |
| 2015 | Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2015). Higher Levels of Multiple Paternities Increase Seedling Survival in the Long-Lived Tree Eucalyptus gracilis. DOI |
| 2014 | Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2014). Mating system and early viability resistance to habitat fragmentation in a bird-pollinated eucalypt. DOI |
| 2013 | Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2013). Mating patterns and pollinator mobility are critical traits in forest fragmentation genetics. DOI |
| 2012 | Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2012). Pollen diversity matters: revealing the neglected effect of pollen diversity on fitness in fragmented landscapes. DOI |
Category 1 and Major Research Grants
Kendrick G, Breed MF, Krauss S, Stephen J (2018-2020). Seagrass adaptation and acclimation responses to extreme climatic events. ARC Discovery DP180100668 ($525k)
CIs: Lowe AJ, Dall D, Rader R, Cunningham S. PIs: Hogendoorn K, Breed MF, Thurgate N, Guerin G, O'Connor P, Olderoyd B, Latty T and 15 industry partners (2016-2020) Securing Pollination for More Productive Agriculture: guidelines for effective pollinator management and stakeholder adoption. Commonwealth Dept Ag & Rural R&D For Profit Fund ($4.5M from Dept Ag + $2.7M partner cash)
Connor J, Cavagnaro T, Lowe AJ, Breed MF, O’Connor P. (2017-2019) Assessing South Australian carbon offset supply and policy for co-beneficial offsets. Goyder Institute CA-17-02 ($250k)
Breed MF (2015-2018). Understanding adaptation of plants along environmental clines. ARC DECRA DE150100542 ($355k)
Lowe AJ, Breed MF, Byrne M, Lascoux M, Stephen J, Vendramin GG (2015-2018). Understanding adaptation to improve conservation of Australian flora. ARC Discovery DP150103414 ($373k)
Other Research Grants
Breed MF (2017-2020). Optimizing today’s restoration for tomorrow’s challenges. University of Adelaide Beacon Fellowship (ca. $330k, includes 3 years full salary plus research support)
Breed MF (2016-2017). Adaptive potential in Dodonaea viscosa as a model for plant climate change adaptation. Thomas Davies Research Fund ($10k)
Breed MF, Lowe AJ (2015-2016). Metabarcoding to demonstrate re-gain of soil function after ecological restoration. BioPlatforms Australia (ca. $50k)
Contract research
2018-2019 Acacia Whibleyana Conservation Genetics Project. DEWNR. ($20k)
2017-2019 Maireana sedifolia rehabilitation efficiency and success. Iluka Resources Ltd. ($106k)
2016-2017 Rehabilitation of soil function. Iluka Resources Ltd. ($17k)
2016-2017 Maireana sedifolia seed collection and production. Iluka Resources Ltd. ($65k)
OPPORTUNTIES
I am always open to discuss opportunities for research collaborations (incl. postdocs), plus PhD and Honours projects – contact me!
Postdocs: The Australian Research Council funds salary and project costs for basic and applied research for excellent applicants up to 5 years post-PhD (http://www.arc.gov.au/discovery-early-career-researcher-award). There are also competitive domestic (e.g. UofA Beacon Fellowships, UofA Ramsay Fellowships) and several international postdoc schemes.
PhDs: A 3-year research program on exciting, novel and often interdisciplinary projects. I place strong emphasis on student training and mentoring, including how to design and undertake excellent research, how to publish in international journals, how to communicate your work to a broad audience, and how to submit competitive grant applications. International and domestic candidates can receive scholarships for living expenses and pay no tuition fees (more info: https://www.adelaide.edu.au/graduatecentre/scholarships/). Intake is twice per year. Get in touch with me if you’re interested!
Honours degree: Similar to a PhD, but just a year (https://sciences.adelaide.edu.au/study/honours). Intake is twice per year. See here for some example honours projects with me
Teaching experience
Having only held research-only fellowships and research grant funded postdoc positions, I have had little opportunity to be involved with undergraduate teaching. Accordingly, my career focus has been on research. However, despite this research focus, I have still been the supervisor of 17 undergraduate research students at the University of Adelaide since 2014 (6-10 week projects). These students have largely been summer research scholarship students or BSc Advanced Practice and Principles of Research III interns.
Further to these undergraduate research students, I have had ad hoc undergraduate teaching responsibilities at the University of Adelaide. I led the conservation genetics tutorial for Conservation and Restoration Level III in 2014 (ENV BIOL 3008), tutored this same practical in 2016, have been an examiner of Honours Research Hypothesis and Experimental Proposal in 2016 and 2017 (SCIENCE 4100A/B), and a tutor of BSc Advanced Principles and Practice in Research II and III in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (SCIENCE 3100, SCIENCE 2300). At Uppsala University, Sweden, I was tutor of the Evolutionary Processes postgraduate course in 2013.
Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Pollination and Ecosystem Services | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Dona Kireta |
| 2018 | Principal Supervisor | Rewilding urban greenspace microbiomes | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Jacob Geoffrey Mills |
| 2018 | Co-Supervisor | The influence of the gastrointestinal microbiome on the development and severity of ulcerative colitis | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Karmen Diane Telfer |
| 2017 | Co-Supervisor | Looking for Microbiotic Treatment for Crohn's Disease in the Natural Environment | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Mr Harrison Radclife Sydnor |
| 2017 | Principal Supervisor | Studies of Adaptation to Inform Seed Selection for Restoration | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Ms Colette Blyth |
| 2014 | Co-Supervisor | Investigation of Revegetation Patterns and Resilience and Viability of Revegetated Areas | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Kimberly Peta McCallum |
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 - 2017 | Co-Supervisor | Best Practice Restoration: Building The Evidence-Base for Restoring Eucalypt Woodlands of Southern Australia | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Dr Nick Gellie |
Other Supervision Activities
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 - ongoing | Principal Supervisor | Developing operational indicators of ecological restoration success | University of Adelaide | — | Postdoctorate | — | Dongfeng Yan |
| 2016 - ongoing | Principal Supervisor | Next-generation urban green space restoration | University of Adelaide | — | Honours | — | Jacob Mills |
| 2015 - ongoing | Co-Supervisor | Chemical signatures of adaptation in Dodonaea viscosa | University of Adelaide | — | Honours | — | Ellyse Bunney |
| 2015 - ongoing | Principal Supervisor | Population genetic structure of 3 Goodenia species in South Australia | University of Adelaide | — | Honours | — | Dona Kireta |
Committee Memberships
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Advisory Board Member | Scientific Coordination | Australian Microbiome | Australia |
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Group On Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network - Genetics Working Group | GEO BON | Germany |
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | Global Arid Zone Project | University of Colorado, Boulder | United States |
| 2017 - ongoing | Advisory Board Member | Australian Smart Cities Consortium | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | IUCN Species Survival Commission - Conservation Genetics Specialist Group | IUCN | Germany |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Securing pollination for more productive agriculture | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Advisory Board Member | Technical Advisory Committee | Trees For Life | Australia |
Memberships
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Member | The Australian Society for Microbiology | Australia |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | The Genetics Society | United Kingdom |
| 2017 - ongoing | Member | The Royal Society of South Australia | Australia |
| 2016 - ongoing | Member | Australian Network for Plant Conservation | Australia |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | International Network for Seed-Based Restoration | United States |
| 2015 - ongoing | Member | The Royal Institution of Australia Inc. | Australia |
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | Genetics Society of Australasia | Australia |
| 2014 - ongoing | Member | Australian Transect Network | Australia |
| 2011 - ongoing | Member | British Ecological Society | United Kingdom |
| 2009 - ongoing | Member | Society for Ecological Restoration | United States |
| 2008 - ongoing | Member | Society for Conservation Biology | United States |
| 2008 - ongoing | Member | Ecology Society of Australia | Australia |
Editorial Boards
| Date | Role | Editorial Board Name | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - ongoing | Editor | EcoHealth | EcoHealth Alliance | United States |
| 2016 - ongoing | Editor | Restoration Ecology | Society for Ecological Restoration | United States |