Mr Martin Breed

Qualifications

PhD in Plant Restoration Genetics, University of Adelaide (2009 to 2012 [expected])

MSc in Evolutionary Biology, Uppsala University (2006-2008)

BSc in Environmental Science and Zoology, James Cook University (2004-2006)

Research Interests

 

CURRENT RESEARCH

My main research focus is on restoration genetics - the interface of population and landscape genetics with restoration ecology.

For my PhD, I am focussing on the effects of habitat fragmentation, population density and climate change in southern Australia mallee and Neotropical forests. My primary goal is to derive seed-sourcing recommendations for these systems that maximises resilience to environmental change.

In both systems, I am collecting relative growth, disease and mortality data from several reciprocal transplant/common garden experiments. I then use microsatellites to derive mating system, gene flow and genetic diversity data. These data streams are then co-analysed, providing possible mechanistic relationships between mating patterns and fitness in pristine and disturbed habitats.

My Australian field experiments are located in southern Australia semi-arid regions. Fieldwork at Monarto Woodland, Yookamurra and Scotia Sanctuaries was conducted with on-ground support from Australian Wildlife Conservancy, PIRSA-SA Forestry and my volunteers. In June 2010, we conduted a planting day supported by the Environment Institute, and it was a great success - read about it here!

Costa Rica fieldwork was initiated in November 2009 with fiancial assistance from ACEBB and the Environment Institute, and on-ground support from CATIE staff. Final fitness data were gathered in June 2010.

I am part of Andy Lowe's Plant Ecological and Evolutionary Genetics lab group at ACEBB as well as TREND, University of Adelaide. My co-supervisors are Dr Mike Gardner (Uni of Adelaide and Flinders University) and Dr Kym Ottewell (Tulane University and University of Adelaide affiliate).

If you have any questions or comments, or are interested in this field, please feel free to contact me (details above).

 

Research Funding

• Successful grant writer for Profs Andy Lowe, Barry Brook, Corey Bradshaw ARC Linkage - LP110200805 (2012-2014 $405k)
  
• Breed MF, Ottewell K, Gardner M, Lowe AJ (2010-2012) Developing best practice approaches for restoring River Murray forest ecosystems that are resilient to climate change. Native Vegetation Council of South Australia Research Grant ($45K)
• Breed MF (2011-2012) PhD research. Estate of the late Winifred Violet Scott ($27.5K)
• Breed MF (2011-2012) PhD research. Sir Mark Mitchell Foundation ($4K)
• Breed MF, Lowe AJ, Gardner M, Ottewell K (2010) PhD research. Nature Foundation of South Australia ($4.5K)
• Breed MF (2010) PhD research. Australian Geographic Society ($2.5K)
• Breed MF (2010) PhD research. Field Naturalists Society of South Australia, Lirabenda Endowment Fund ($2.5K)
• Breed MF (2011) National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility - PhD Student Collaboration Travel Grant ($3k)
• Breed MF (2010) National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility - PhD Student Collaboration Travel Grant ($3k)

Publications

Published

• Breed MF, Gardner MG, Ottewell K, Navarro C & Lowe A. Shifts in reproductive assurance strategies and inbreeding costs associated with habitat fragmentation in Central American mahogany. Ecology Letters [Accepted - PDF coming]
  
• Murphy NP, Breed MF, Guzik M, Cooper S, Austin A. Trapped in desert springs: Phylogeography of Australian desert spring snails. J Biogeog [Accepted - pdf coming]
• Breed AC, Breed MF, Meers J, Field HE. Evidence of Endemic Hendra Virus Infection in Flying-foxes (Pteropus conspicillatus) - Implications for Disease Risk Management. PLoS One [pdf]
• Weeks AR, Sgro CM, Young AG, Frankham R, Mitchell NJ, Miller KA, Byrne M, Coates DJ, Eldridge MDB, Sunnucks P, Breed MF, James EA & Hoffmann AA 2011. Assessing the benefits and risks of translocations in changing environments: a genetic perspective. Evol appl. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-4571.2011.00192.x [pdf]
• Breed MF, Ottewell KM, Gardner MG & Lowe AJ. 2011. Clarifying climate change adaptation responses for scattered trees in modified landscapes. J Appl Ecol. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2664.2011.01969.x [pdf]

Under review

• Breed MF, Ottewell KM, Gardner MG, Marklund MHK, Stead MG Harris JBC & Lowe AJ. Mating system and fitness resilience to habitat fragmentation in Eucalyptus incrassata. Heredity [PDF available on request]
• Dormontt E, Gardner MG, Breed MF, Rodger J, Prentis P, Lowe AJ. Sequential invaison bottlenecks. Mol Ecol
  
• Rudh A, Breed MF, Qvarnström A. Behaviour in recently isolated populations of poison dart frogs. Biol J Linn Soc
  

In preparation

• Breed MF et al. Habitat fragmentation reduces fitness in an insect-pollinated eucalypt used for revegetation. [pdf available on request]
  
• Lowe AJ, Breed MF et al. Meta-analysis of plant mating systems in a changing world.
• Lowe AJ, Breed MF et al. Genetic structuring of Neotropical trees. 
• Scoble J, Breed MF et al. Integrating conservation genetics with ecological modelling to generate robust conservation recommendations under climate change.

Files

• Breed et al PLoS ONE - Breed_PLoS_ONE.pdf [296.3K] (application/pdf)
• Breed et al Scattered trees JAppEcol - Breed_et_al_scattered_trees_JApplEcol.pdf [144.3K] (application/pdf)
• Weeks et al EvolApps - Weeks_et_al_2011_Genetic_translocations_EvolApps.pdf [666.1K] (application/pdf)

Entry last updated: Wednesday, 8 Feb 2012