The Ecological Society of Australia is pleased to announce Dr Adam Frew as winner of the 2023 Next Generation Ecologist Award. Dr Frew is an ecologist with Western Sydney University focusing on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and how they affect plants.

A vast underground network of fungi supports the functioning of terrestrial ecosystems. They colonise plant roots and augment their nutrient access, while playing important roles in fundamental ecosystem processes such as nutrient cycling, decomposition, and carbon cycling.

“Without mycorrhizal fungi, the world as we know it could not exist,” said Dr Adam Frew. 

“However, we still know substantially less about fungi than we do about other kingdoms of life. Less attention is given to the belowground ecology than to above, which is surprising considering biodiversity of the soil easily rivals diversity aboveground.”

In particular, our knowledge of how arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi is impacted by human activities like agriculture is limited. Currently available data indicate that AM fungal communities are significantly altered by agriculture, by reducing species richness and altering their functioning, but much of this information comes from studies in the Northern Hemisphere. AM fungal community responses to agriculture in Australia may be globally distinct. 

Similarly, we have not fully explored how the functions of a healthy AM fungi network, such as enhanced plant nutrient uptake and defence, can benefit agricultural systems. 

“Our ability to effectively utilise this ancient symbiosis between plants and fungi is obstructed by a lack of basic knowledge linking their community ecology to the functional benefits they can provide,” said Dr Frew. 

Dr Frew’s pioneering project aims to map the diversity of AM fungal networks in agricultural and natural landscapes across Australia to explore how the fungi have been affected by agricultural disturbance, and how these impacts vary with different agricultural management approaches. This fundamental knowledge is essential to our ability to simultaneously enhance sustainable agriculture and conserve soil ecosystems.

The research will build on the recently launched national citizen science survey of AM fungi in agriculture, Dig Up Dirt (www.digupdirt.net). Dig Up Dirt maps the diversity of AM fungi in agricultural environments around Australia, however assessment of comparative undisturbed environments has not yet been possible in the project. Using the contacts already established with Dig Up Dirt, paired sites of agricultural and natural (undisturbed) landscapes have been identified.

“With the knowledge generated by this work we will be better situated to manage AM fungal networks across various facets of applied ecology, including restoration, conservation, and sustainable agriculture,” said Dr Frew. 

“The funding from this award would support work that could not otherwise have been achieved.”

“I hope I can use the platform of this award to really shine a light on aspects of ecology that don’t usually get the attention they deserve.”

The runner up of the 2023 Next Generation Ecologist Award is Alexandre Siquiera (James Cook University).

Dr Adam Frew is an ARC DECRA Fellow with Western Sydney University. Learn more about his work on his website or through his publications with The Conversation. Dr Frew will be giving a plenary on his work at the 2023 ESA Conference in Darwin.