Dr Bob Mayes

Research Interests

Use of organic biomarkers in soil to monitor past and present vegetation change; organic biomarkers in soil and plant material as forensic tools; diet selection in sheep and cattle.

Bob's highlighted publications

• A complementary approach to the forensic analysis of soil in case investigations., Dawson, L.; Czerniakiewicz, M.; Handley, K.; Hillier, S.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.; Towers, W.; Donnelly, D.; Mayes, B., (In press) International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2nd-4th November 2010. Invited keynote speaker.

• Use of soil fingerprinting approaches for ascertaining change over time., Dawson, L.; Hillier, S.; Duff, B.; Robertson, J.; Ross, J.; Brewer, M.; Mayes, R.W.; Towers, W.; Hudson, G.; Campbell, C., (In press) ASA, CSSA and SSSA 2010 International Annual Meeting, Long Beach, California, 31st October - 4th November 2010.

• Development of plant wax biomarker analysis in soil for use in forensic investigation., Ross, J.; Mayes, R.W.; Mauquoy, D.; Dawson, L.A., (In press) International Workshop on Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, 3rd, Long Beach, California, 2nd-4th November 2010.

Bob's most recent publications

• Chemical profiling of soil for forensic application., Dawson, L.A.; Hillier, S.J.; Macdonald, L.M.; Mayes, R.W.; Ross, J.; Robertson, A.H.J., (2009) Royal Society of Chemistry, 42nd IUPAC Congress: Chemistry Solutions, SECC, Glasgow, 2nd -7th August 2009.

• Discrimination of domestic garden soils using plant wax compounds as markers., Mayes, R.W.; Macdonald, L.M.; Ross, J.; Dawson, L.A., (2009) In: Criminal and Environmental Soil Forensics, (eds. K. Ritz, L.A. Dawson and D.R. Miller). Springer, Chapter 29 pp463-476. ISBN 978-1-4020-9203-9

• Plant wax markers: developing methods to compliment mineralogical techniques., Dawson, L.A.; Macdonald, C.A.; Macdonald, L.; Ross, J.; Mayes, R.W., (2008) International Crime Science Conference 2008, Science, Crime and Security: Creating sustainable partnerships, British Library, London, 17-18 July 2008.

• Forensic Geoscience: utilising soil colour and plant wax markers to aid criminal investigations., Dawson, L.A.; Macdonald, L.; Mayes, B.; Ross, J., (2008) Forensic Research and Teaching Conference,Aberdeen, 1-3 July 2008.

• In vitro studies of the metabolism of [C-14]-n-alkanes using ruminal fluid of sheep as substrate., Keli, A.; Mayes, R.W.; de Vega, A., (2008) Animal, 2, 1748-1752.

• Evaluating the potential of molecular microbiology in the forensic examination of soil., Macdonald, L.M.; Singh, B.K.; Macdonald, C.A.; Ritz, K.; Horswell, J.; Campbell, C.; Mayes, R.W.; Dawson, L.A., (2008) BSSS Autumn Meeting: Something Old, Something New: integrating molecular biology with other techniques in soil science, Rothamsted Research, 17 September 2008.

• Combining an active transponder system with sprayed n-alkanes to quantify investigative and ingestive grazing behaviour of dairy cattle in pastures treated with slurry., Swain, D.L.; Friend, M.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Wilson, L.A.; Hutchings, M.R., (2008) Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 109, 211-222.

• The transfer of radionuclides from saltmarsh vegetation to sheep tissues and milk., Beresford, N.A.; Howard, B.J.; Mayes, R.W.; Lamb, C.S., (2007) Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 98, 36-49.

• The transfer of radiocaesium to ewes through a breeding cycle - an illustration of the pitfalls of the transfer coefficient., Beresford, N.A.; Mayes, R.W.; Barnett, C.L.; Howard, B.J., (2007) Journal of Environmental Radioactivity, 98, 24-35.

• Soil Forensics University Network (SoilFUN) Protocols., Dawson, L.A.; Morrisson, A.; Macdonald, L.; Ross, J.; Mayes, R.; Robertson, J.; Towers, W.; Brewer, M., (2007) Soil Forensics International Conference, Edinburgh, 30th October - 1st November 2007.