Prof Colin Campbell

Colin has 19 years of research experience in soil microbiology/soil science. His expertise lies in fundamental and applied studies on the role of microorganisms in soil, the effects of pollutants e.g. Trends in Pollution of Scottish Soils (TiPSS) and soil health as well as understanding how microbial diversity contributes to ecosystem functioning in natural habitats.

Research Interests

Current projects include studies of the use of microbiological indicators of soil health in different land use systems and the effects of sewage sludge on soil microorganisms to better define Statutory limits for heavy metals. Other projects include the remediation of polluted soils (ACCESS and ENDEGRADE). He is expert in assessing the structure and functioning of soil microbial communities using novel physiological profiling methods that are patented in the UK and US (MicroResp); phospholipid fatty acid analysis and nucleic acid fingerprinting methods. In relation to ecosystem functioning he is interested in the relationships between aboveground plant diversity and soil microbial diversity (MoorCo), the influence of phytochemistry on soil microbes (Probeco) and peatland restoration (RECIPE)

Colin's most recent publications

• The influence of vegetation type, soil properties and precipitation on the composition of soil mite and microbial communities at the landscape scale., Nielsen, U.N.; Osler, G.H.R.; Campbell, C.D.; van der Wal, R.; Burslem, D.F.R.P., (In press) Journal of Biogeography.

• The ecological engineering impact of a single tree species on the soil microbial community., Mitchell, R.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Chapman, S.J.; Cameron, C.M., (2010) Journal of Ecology, 98, 50-61.

• Considerations for Scottish soil monitoring in the European context., Aalders, I.; Ball, B.; Black, H.I.J.; Campbell, C.D.; Griffiths, B.; Hopkins, D.; Hough, R.L.; Lilly, A.; Mckenzie, B.; Rees, R.M.; Sinclair, A.; Towers, W.; Watson, C., (2009) European Journal of Soil Science, 60, 833-843.

• Long term repeated prescribed burning increases evenness in the basidiomycete laccase gene pool in forest soils., Artz, R.R.E.; Reid, E.; Anderson, I.C.; Campbell, C.D.; Cairney, J.W.G., (2009) FEMS Microbiology Ecology, 67, 397-410.

• The functions of peatland microbiota in carbon cycling, global threats to community composition and future opportunities., Artz, R.R.E.; Toberman, H.; Currey, P.; Trinder, C.J.; Andersen, R.; Rochefort, L.; Shephard, L.J.; Johnson, D.; Chapman, S.J.; Campbell, C.D., (2009) The 2nd International Symposium on Peatlands in the Global Carbon Cycle, Prague, Czech Republic, 25-30 September 2009.

• Environmental and spatial characterisation of bacterial community composition in soil to inform sampling strategies., Baker, K.L.; Langenheder, S.; Nicol, G.W.; Ricketts, D.; Killham, K.; Campbell, C.D.; Prosser, J.I., (2009) Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 41, 2292-2298.

• Are biological indicators of soil quality reliable enough for monitoring?, Black, H.I.J.; cameron, C.M.; Campbell, C.D.; Chamberlain, P.M.; Creamer, R..; Harris, J.A.; Pawlett, M.; Ritz, K.; Singh, B.K., (2009) BSSS/SSSI Soil Quality Conference, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland, 9th-11th September 2009.

• MicroResp: A versatile methodology for measuring environmental quality., Cameron, C.M.; Campbell, C.D.; Chapman, S.J.; White, D., (2009) BSSS/SSSI Soil Quality Conference, Johnstown Castle, Wexford, Ireland, 9th-11th September 2009.

• WP3.2 and WP3.3 Mid Term Review., Campbell, C.D.; Hough, R.L.; Towers, W., (2009) Scottish Natural Heritage.

• An inter-laboratory comparison of multi-enzyme and multiple substrate-induced respiration assays to assess method repeatability in soil monitoring., Creamer, R.E.; Bellamy, P.; Black, H.; Cameron, C. Campbell, C.D.; Chamberlain, P.; Harris, J.; Parekh, N.; Pawlett, M.; Poskitt, J.; Stone, D.; Ritz, K., (2009) Biology and Fertility of Soils, 45, 623-633.