Roy Neilson

• Roy is a key staff member leading Integrated Pest and Disease Management (IPM) research at the James Hutton Institute. For details of ongoing IPM research areas and projects, please visit the IPM@hutton website.
• Biodiversity loss due to transport by soil erosion - Soil erosion is one of the world's most serious environmental problems leading to extensive losses of productive soil. Whilst much of the focus to date has been on the loss of soil, few studies have investigated the loss of biota during the erosion process. At a range of scales, laboratory to catchment, using soil nematodes as a model we are investigating the impact of rainfall induced soil erosion on soil microbiota. We will also investigate potential methods to mitigate the problem e.g. the application of geotextiles. Jointly funded by The Centre of Environmental Change and Human Resilience and The James Hutton Institute, in collaboration with Blair McKenzie, John Rowan, Barry Mulholland and Mike Fullen we aim to address this knowledge gap. Craig Baxter joined the team in September 2011 to commence a PhD studentship.
• Nematode ecology – nematodes are the most abundant Metazoan on earth and unlike commonly used biological indicators such as plants, butterflies and birds, nematodes occur in every habitat. Nematodes can also be classified into different trophic groups which can be a proxy measure of their function in soil. A molecular means of characterising nematode communities has been developed and subsequently used to determine the effect of changes in land management such as different soil tillage regimes (with Suzanne Donn, Tim Daniell and Bryan Griffiths). This is a cornerstone of our work in RESAS Workpackage 1.1. We have recently been funded by Genomia to further validate this nematode molecular tool as a bio-indicator of soil health and quality and develop a robust statistical framework for analysis of nematode community profiles (with Lea Wiesel and Jim McNicol).
• Do endocrine disrupting compounds impact on soil nematode communities and thus soil function? - Previous research has demonstrated that endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC) have a deleterious impact upon a range of (in)vertebrates but few studies have investigated the effect of EDCs on soil communities. In collaboration with Tim Daniell, under the auspices of RESAS Work Package 3.3, we are investigating the impact of EDCs via sewage sludge application on soil nematode communities.
• Plant-soil C-dynamics and the structure/ functioning of soil biological communities under contrasting farming systems – in collaboration with Eric Paterson, David Robinson (University of Aberdeen) and Paul Hallett using a suite of novel, quantitative isotopic approaches, we are characterising C-transfers from plants to soils, the processing of these plant-inputs through components of soil food-webs and their returns to the atmosphere through biological activity. We plan to use the Balruddery research platform which will offer an opportunity to extend these studies of soil C-dynamics and biological functioning within contrasting farm management systems (sustainable and conventional). These systems will differ in relation to biologically-driven C and nutrient cycles. The outcomes of the research would be directed toward effective management of soil C and maintenance of soil biodiversity. Claire Ghee joined the team on 1 October 2010 commencing a PhD studentship entitled "Plant-Soil C-dynamics under contrasting farming systems".
• Strategies for quantifying and controlling free-living nematode populations and consequent damage by Tobacco Rattle Virus to improve potato yield and growth - funded by the Technology Strategy Board, commenced in January 2011, this multi-partner collaboration combining the expertise of industry with colleagues at The James Hutton Institute (Vivian Blok and Finlay Dale) and SAC aims to address concerns in the UK potato industry related to the impending withdrawal of approved nematicides and long-term concerns regarding the effects of climate change on free-living nematode populations. The project aims to develop a rapid molecular pre-plant molecular test for the target nematodes of concern, assess damage threshold levels of nematodes on current potato cultivars, identify potential alternative control strategies and develop molecular markers to facilitate the breeding of new potato cultivars resistant to Tobacco Rattle Virus. David Roberts joined the team in January 2011to develop a suite of qPCR molecular diagnostics for the target nematode species and investigate sources of potential TRV resistance within potatoes.
• Risk of invasive species to Scotland's earthworms - during 1991/1992 an unique survey of earthworms species in Scotland was completed. As part of the RERAD funded work programme 3 these original sites were resampled during the period 2009-2011. Using this unique data we hope to be able to produce an indication of risk posed to a) native earthworm species by the invasive planarian, Arthurdendyus triangulatus, and b) the delivery of ecosystem services provided (in)directly by earthworms.
• Free-Living Nematode Diagnostics – a diagnostic service is provided for the potato, soft-fruit and root vegetable industry to assess the abundance of key free-living nematode groups. Our service meets the necessary requirements for growers contracted to the major supermarket multi-nationals.

Current Research Projects

• EU H2020 101000339 ‘IPMWORKS’ 2021-2026 (£210.951) (Co-I)
• BBSRC BPD-CT/BB/T010657/1 ‘DES-BL’ 2020-2023 (£900,062) (Co-I)
• ESMEE FAIRBAIRN FOUNDATION ‘SEAMS’ 2019-2023 (£286,481) (Co-I)
• EU NSR INTERREG ‘SOILCOM’ 2019-2023 (£271,518) (Co-I)
• SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ‘ENDOSCOT’ 2020-2022 (£100,000) (Co-I)