Dr Martin Breed
Beacon Fellow
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Genomics, conservation, and restoration of degraded and urban land
*see Teaching tab for postdoc, PhD and honours opportunities*
Martin is a Vice Chancellor's Beacon Fellow in the Faculty of Sciences at the University of Adelaide.
Dr Breed leads the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology group (https://www.restorationecology.com.au/), which aims to better understand restoration science by tackling emerging and pressing issues of how people repair, manage, use and interact with their environment, for the betterment of people and nature.
He also co-leads the Healthy Urban Microbiome Initiative - HUMI (https://www.humi.site/), which seeks to understand and recreate the immune-boosting power of high quality, biodiverse green spaces in our cities to maximise population health benefits, bring significant savings to health budgets, while delivering gains for biodiversity. At the recent UN Biodiversity Conference (COP14; November 2018), Martin signed an MOU with the Secretariat of the UN Convention of Biological Diversity (CBD) agreeing HUMI to work in partnership with the CBD on the linkages between biodiversity and health, via the microbiome pathway. Such high level and impactful research is characteristic of Martin’s leadership.
Dr Breed is a scholar of restoration ecology and genomics. He pioneers the integration of genomics into restoration ecology and has redefined the study of gene flow and mating systems of plants in fragmented landscapes. This has led to the global revision of seed sourcing strategies for restoration under global change. A research collaboration he leads has identified that biodiversity associates with positive human health outcomes and that a mechanism for these benefits can be restored even in urban areas. His research on mixing local seeds with those from a warmer or dryer environment shows improved restoration outcomes under a changing climate. This research has influenced the guidelines by which seeds for restoration projects are collected and the way restoration work is conducted at local, national and international levels.
His 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).
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Active projects in the Frontiers of Restoration Ecology group and the Healthy Urban Microbiome Initiative (HUMI) include:
- optimising benefits from urban green spaces in smart cities with the Australian Smart Cities Consortium (Newsflash! HUMI signed MOU with UN Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity!! find our more here)
- improving restoration interventions under global change
- developing innovative approaches to restore functional ecosystems, including microbes
- harnessing restoration interventions to deliver co-benefits to biodiversity and society (e.g. pollination, human health)
- 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
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2018 Vice Chancellor's Beacon Fellow University of Adelaide 2015 - 2017 ARC 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
Community Ecology Conservation and Biodiversity Ecological Applications Ecological Impacts of Climate Change Ecology Environmental Management Environmental Monitoring Environmental Rehabilitation Environmental Science and Management Environmental Sciences Evolutionary Biology Evolutionary Impacts of Climate Change Forestry Management and Environment Genetics Genetics & Heredity Genomics Microbial Ecology Plant Biology Population Ecology Population, Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics Public Health Quantitative Genetics
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Journals
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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. 2018 Breed, M. (2018). Restoring environmental microbiomes. Poster session presented at the meeting of Microbiomes of Tasmania. 2018 Hurren, A., Blyth, C., Mason, A., Cleeves, R., & Breed, M. F. (2018). Securing Silver Daisy – collaborative action to build resilience in a threatened daisy. Poster session presented at the meeting of 12th Australasian Plant Conservation Conference. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2015 Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2015). Higher Levels of Multiple Paternities Increase Seedling Survival in the Long-Lived Tree Eucalyptus gracilis.
2014 Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2014). Mating system and early viability resistance to habitat fragmentation in a bird-pollinated eucalypt.
2013 Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2013). Mating patterns and pollinator mobility are critical traits in forest fragmentation genetics.
2012 Breed, M. F., & Lowe, A. J. (2012). Pollen diversity matters: revealing the neglected effect of pollen diversity on fitness in fragmented landscapes.
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)
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
2019 Rangewide Acacia Whibleyana conservation genomics. SA DEW. (~$15k)
2018-2019 Acacia Whibleyana management plan. SA DEW. ($40k)
2017-2018 Securing silver daisy bush. Trees For Life. ($20k)
2018-2019 Acacia Whibleyana Conservation Genetics Project. SA DEW. ($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.
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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 -
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 2014 - 2018 Co-Supervisor Clumped planting arrangements can improve the ecological function of revegetated eucalypt woodlands Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Kimberly Peta McCallum -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2018 - ongoing External Supervisor Seagrass adaptation and acclimation responses to extreme climatic events University of Western Australia — Doctorate Full Time Mitchell William Booth 2018 - ongoing External Supervisor Seagrass adaptation and acclimation responses to extreme climatic events University of Western Australia — Doctorate Full Time Ioannis Savva 2016 - 2018 Principal Supervisor Developing operational indicators of ecological restoration success University of Adelaide — Postdoctorate — Dongfeng Yan 2016 - 2017 Principal Supervisor Next-generation urban green space restoration University of Adelaide — Honours — Jacob Mills 2015 - 2016 Co-Supervisor Chemical signatures of adaptation in Dodonaea viscosa University of Adelaide — Honours — Ellyse Bunney 2015 - 2016 Principal Supervisor Population genetic structure of 3 Goodenia species in South Australia University of Adelaide — Honours — Dona Kireta
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2018 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Australian Microbiome Initiative Scientific Coordination Australian Microbiome Initiative Australia 2018 - ongoing Advisory Board Member Group On Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network - Genetics Working Group GEO BON Germany 2018 - ongoing Advisory Board 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
Connect With Me
External Profiles
