Maddy Giles
Maddy is a soil microbial ecologist and biogeochemist in the Plant-Soil Interactions (PSI) research group within Ecological Sciences, James Hutton Institute. Her research focuses on the ecology of the C and N cycles and her interests lie in relating how changes in soil functional communities can affect nutrient cycling and the production of greenhouse gases in agricultural systems. In particular, she’s interested in using next-generation sequencing techniques to characterise the soil microbiome in order to understand how microbial community dynamics can be affected by crop selection and can impact the retention of N in soils.
Current research interests
My current research work falls into two broad areas: (i) developing and applying experimental approaches to link the soil microbiome to measures of biogeochemical cycling in plant-soil systems, with the aim of understanding the interaction between plant inputs, microbiome and GHG emissions; (ii) using long term field trials, to identify factors in agricultural systems responsible for structuring of microbial communities and how this may affect plant productivity and GHG emissions. I am currently involved in a number of projects;
- Engaging citizens in soil science: the road to healthier soils (ECHO) (2023-2027) (Horizon Europe)
- Climate-smart resilience through diversified cropping systems – Identifying springboards in Nordic and Baltic agriculture (AgroMixNorth) (2023-2027) (NordForsk,)
- Healthy Soils for a Green Recovery (2022-2027) (RESAS- Scottish Government)
Past research
- Sustainable soils by quality compost with defined properties (2020-2023) (Interreg).
- Are chitin amendments to soil a means to control potato cyst nematodes? (2023) (BBSRC)
- Using Critical Zone Science to Enhance Soil Fertility and Improve Ecosystem Services for Peri-Urban Agriculture in China - Phase 2 (2019-2021) (NERC)
Current Students
- Haosheng Yang; Composition-function relationship of soil microbial diversity for nutrient cycling under climate change. With the University of Edinburgh.
- Apisit Boupai; Does crop genotype utilisation of soil organic matter lower greenhouse gas emissions from soil? With the University of Edinburgh.
- Maya Subberwal; Understanding the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on crop development by focusing on microbial ecology and the exposome. With the University of Glasgow
Bibliography
- Maluk, M.; Giles, M.; Wardell, G.E.; Taqrir Akramin, A.; Ferrando-Molina, F.; Murdoch, A.; Barros, M.; Vasconçelos, M.; Harrison, E.; Daniell, T.J.; Quilliam, R.S.; James, E.; Iannetta, P.P.M. (2023) Biological nitrogen fixation by soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), a novel, high protein crop in Scotland, requires inoculation with non-native bradyrhizobia, Frontiers in Agronomy, 5, Art. 1196873
- Giles, M.; Caul, S.; King, D.; Mitchell, S.; Sim, A.; Neilson, R.; Paterson, E. (2023) Grass variety selection of microbial community composition is associated with differences in soil CO2 emissions, Applied Soil Ecology, 190, Art. 104968
- Xiang, Q.; Qiao, M.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.-R.; Zhu, Y.-G.; Chen, Q.-L. (2021) Seasonal change is a major driver of soil resistomes at a watershed scale., Isme Communications, 1, Article No. 17
- Zhou, S.-Y.-D.; Zhang, Q.; Neilson, R.; Giles, M.; Li, H.; Yang, X.-R.; Su, J.-Q.; Zhu, Y.-G. (2021) Vertical distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in an urban green façade., Environment International, 152, Article No. 106502
- Zhou, S.-Y.; Li, H.; Giles, M.E.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.-R.; Su, J.-Q. (2021) Microbial flow within an air-phyllosphere-soil continuum., Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, Article No. 615481
- Zheng, F.; Bi, Q.-F.; Giles, M.E.; Neilson, R.; Chen, Q.-L.; Lin, X.-Y.; Zhu, Y.G.; Yang, X.-R. (2021) Fates of antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiome from different soil fauna under long-term fertilization., Environmental Science and Technology, 55(1), 423-432
- Neilson, R.; Caul, S.; Fraser, F.C.; King, D.; Mitchell, S.M.; Roberts, D.M.; Giles, M.E. (2020) Microbial community size is a potential predictor of nematode functional group in limed grasslands., Applied Soil Ecology, 156, Article No.103702.
- Zhou, S.; Wei, M.-Y.; Giles, M.E.; Neilson, R.; Zheng, F.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, Y.-G.; Yang, X.-R. (2020) Prevalence of antibiotic resistome in ready-to-eat salad., Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 92.
- Zhou, S.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.-R. (2020) Does reduced usage of antibiotics in livestock production mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in soil, earthworm guts, and the phyllosphere?, Environment International, 136, Article No. 105359.
- Xiang, Q.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.R.; Qiao, M.; Chen, Q.L. (2020) Agricultural activities affect the pattern of the resistome within the phyllosphere microbiome in peri-urban environments., Journal of Hazardous Materials, 382, Article No. 121068.
- Neilson, R.; Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Giles, M.E.; Holland, J.; Loades, K.; Ovando Pol, P.; Rivington, M.; Roberts, M.; Yeluripati, J. (2020) Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate., ClimateXChange Report, 42pp.
- Zhou, S.Y.D.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.; Yang, X-R.; Daniell, T.; Neilson, R.; Zhu, Y-G. (2019) Phyllosphere of staple crops under pig manure fertilization, a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes., Environmental Pollution, 252, 227-235.
- Zheng, F.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.; Neilson, R.; Zhu, Y-G.; Yang, X.R. (2019) Mineral and organic fertilization alters the microbiome of a soil nematode Dorylaimus stagnalis and its resistome., Science of the Total Environment, 680, 70-78.
- Langarica-Fuentes, A.; Manrubia, M.; Giles, M.E.; Mitchell, S.; Daniell, T.J. (2018) Effect of model root exudate on denitrifier community dynamics and activity at different water-filled pore space levels in a fertilised soil, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 120, 70-79
- Herold, M.B.; Giles, M.E.; Alexander, C.J.; Baggs, E.M.; Daniell, T.J. (2018) Variable response of nirK and nirS containing denitrifier communities to long term pH manipulation and cultivation, FEMS Microbiological Letters, 364(7), art.fny035
- Osburn, C.L.; Anderson, N.J.; Stedmon, C.A.; Giles, M.E.; Whiteford, E.J.; McGenity, T.J.; Dumbrell, A.J.; Underwood, G.J.C. (2017) Shifts in the source and composition of dissolved organic matter in Southwest Greenland Lakes along a regional hydro-climatic gradient., Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences, 122, 3431-3445.
- Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Baggs, E.M. (2017) Compound driven differences in N2 and N2O emission from soil; the role of substrate use efficiency and the microbial community., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 106, 90-98.
- Bender, F.S.; Plantenga, F.; Neftel, A.; Jocher, M.; Oberholzer, H-R.; Kohl, L.; Giles, M.; Daniell, T.; Van der Heijden, M.G.A. (2014) Symbiotic relationships between soil fungi and plants reduce N2O emissions from soil., ISME Journal, 8, 1336-1345.
- Giles, M.E.; Morley, N.; Baggs, E.M.; Daniell, T.J. (2012) Soil nitrate reducing processes - drivers, mechanisms for spatial variation, and significance for nitrous oxide production., Frontiers in Microbiology, 3, 407.
- Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Baggs, E.M. (2011) What is the influence of rhizodeposited carbon on the production of N2O and N2 during denitrification?, Rhizosphere 3 International Conference, Perth, Australia, 25-30 September 2011.
- Baggs, E.; Chadwick, K.; Giles, M.; Freitag, T.; Paterson, E. (2011) How strong is the coupling between plant C-flow and rhizosphere denitrification?, Rhizosphere 3 International Conference, Perth, Australia, 25-30 September 2011.
- Maluk, M.; Giles, M.; Wardell, G.E.; Taqrir Akramin, A.; Ferrando-Molina, F.; Murdoch, A.; Barros, M.; Vasconçelos, M.; Harrison, E.; Daniell, T.J.; Quilliam, R.S.; James, E.; Iannetta, P.P.M. (2023) Biological nitrogen fixation by soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), a novel, high protein crop in Scotland, requires inoculation with non-native bradyrhizobia, Frontiers in Agronomy, 5, Art. 1196873
- Giles, M.; Caul, S.; King, D.; Mitchell, S.; Sim, A.; Neilson, R.; Paterson, E. (2023) Grass variety selection of microbial community composition is associated with differences in soil CO2 emissions, Applied Soil Ecology, 190, Art. 104968
- Xiang, Q.; Qiao, M.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.-R.; Zhu, Y.-G.; Chen, Q.-L. (2021) Seasonal change is a major driver of soil resistomes at a watershed scale., Isme Communications, 1, Article No. 17
- Zhou, S.-Y.-D.; Zhang, Q.; Neilson, R.; Giles, M.; Li, H.; Yang, X.-R.; Su, J.-Q.; Zhu, Y.-G. (2021) Vertical distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in an urban green façade., Environment International, 152, Article No. 106502
- Zhou, S.-Y.; Li, H.; Giles, M.E.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.-R.; Su, J.-Q. (2021) Microbial flow within an air-phyllosphere-soil continuum., Frontiers in Microbiology, 11, Article No. 615481
- Zheng, F.; Bi, Q.-F.; Giles, M.E.; Neilson, R.; Chen, Q.-L.; Lin, X.-Y.; Zhu, Y.G.; Yang, X.-R. (2021) Fates of antibiotic resistance genes in the gut microbiome from different soil fauna under long-term fertilization., Environmental Science and Technology, 55(1), 423-432
- Neilson, R.; Caul, S.; Fraser, F.C.; King, D.; Mitchell, S.M.; Roberts, D.M.; Giles, M.E. (2020) Microbial community size is a potential predictor of nematode functional group in limed grasslands., Applied Soil Ecology, 156, Article No.103702.
- Zhou, S.; Wei, M.-Y.; Giles, M.E.; Neilson, R.; Zheng, F.; Zhang, Q.; Zhu, Y.-G.; Yang, X.-R. (2020) Prevalence of antibiotic resistome in ready-to-eat salad., Frontiers in Public Health, 8, Article 92.
- Zhou, S.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.-R. (2020) Does reduced usage of antibiotics in livestock production mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in soil, earthworm guts, and the phyllosphere?, Environment International, 136, Article No. 105359.
- Xiang, Q.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.; Neilson, R.; Yang, X.R.; Qiao, M.; Chen, Q.L. (2020) Agricultural activities affect the pattern of the resistome within the phyllosphere microbiome in peri-urban environments., Journal of Hazardous Materials, 382, Article No. 121068.
- Zhou, S.Y.D.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.; Yang, X-R.; Daniell, T.; Neilson, R.; Zhu, Y-G. (2019) Phyllosphere of staple crops under pig manure fertilization, a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes., Environmental Pollution, 252, 227-235.
- Zheng, F.; Zhu, D.; Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.; Neilson, R.; Zhu, Y-G.; Yang, X.R. (2019) Mineral and organic fertilization alters the microbiome of a soil nematode Dorylaimus stagnalis and its resistome., Science of the Total Environment, 680, 70-78.
- Langarica-Fuentes, A.; Manrubia, M.; Giles, M.E.; Mitchell, S.; Daniell, T.J. (2018) Effect of model root exudate on denitrifier community dynamics and activity at different water-filled pore space levels in a fertilised soil, Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 120, 70-79
- Herold, M.B.; Giles, M.E.; Alexander, C.J.; Baggs, E.M.; Daniell, T.J. (2018) Variable response of nirK and nirS containing denitrifier communities to long term pH manipulation and cultivation, FEMS Microbiological Letters, 364(7), art.fny035
- Osburn, C.L.; Anderson, N.J.; Stedmon, C.A.; Giles, M.E.; Whiteford, E.J.; McGenity, T.J.; Dumbrell, A.J.; Underwood, G.J.C. (2017) Shifts in the source and composition of dissolved organic matter in Southwest Greenland Lakes along a regional hydro-climatic gradient., Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences, 122, 3431-3445.
- Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Baggs, E.M. (2017) Compound driven differences in N2 and N2O emission from soil; the role of substrate use efficiency and the microbial community., Soil Biology and Biochemistry, 106, 90-98.
- Bender, F.S.; Plantenga, F.; Neftel, A.; Jocher, M.; Oberholzer, H-R.; Kohl, L.; Giles, M.; Daniell, T.; Van der Heijden, M.G.A. (2014) Symbiotic relationships between soil fungi and plants reduce N2O emissions from soil., ISME Journal, 8, 1336-1345.
- Giles, M.E.; Morley, N.; Baggs, E.M.; Daniell, T.J. (2012) Soil nitrate reducing processes - drivers, mechanisms for spatial variation, and significance for nitrous oxide production., Frontiers in Microbiology, 3, 407.
- Neilson, R.; Lilly, A.; Aitkenhead, M.; Artz, R.R.E.; Baggaley, N.; Giles, M.E.; Holland, J.; Loades, K.; Ovando Pol, P.; Rivington, M.; Roberts, M.; Yeluripati, J. (2020) Measuring the vulnerability of Scottish soils to a changing climate., ClimateXChange Report, 42pp.
- Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Baggs, E.M. (2011) What is the influence of rhizodeposited carbon on the production of N2O and N2 during denitrification?, Rhizosphere 3 International Conference, Perth, Australia, 25-30 September 2011.
- Baggs, E.; Chadwick, K.; Giles, M.; Freitag, T.; Paterson, E. (2011) How strong is the coupling between plant C-flow and rhizosphere denitrification?, Rhizosphere 3 International Conference, Perth, Australia, 25-30 September 2011.
- Giles, M.; Paterson, E.; Neilson, R. (2018) Selecting grass species to reduce greenhouse gas emissions., Science at the Parliament, Holyrood, 30 May 2018.
- Giles, M.E.; Daniell, T.J.; Baggs, E.M. (2010) Nitrous oxide production in soil in response to addition of different C compounds., Biochemical Society. Enzymology and Ecology of the Nitrogen Cycle, Birmingham, 15-17 September 2010 (Poster).
Current Students
Haosheng Yang; Composition-function relationship of soil microbial diversity for nutrient cycling under climate change. With the University of Edinburgh.
Apisit Boupai; Does crop genotype utilisation of soil organic matter lower greenhouse gas emissions from soil? With the University of Edinburgh.
Maya Subberwal; Understanding the impact of sustainable agricultural practices on crop development by focusing on microbial ecology and the exposome. With the University of Glasgow