About the School
Current Students
Prospective Students
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Sharon RobinsonAssociate Professor Room 42.G03 Phone No +61 2 4221 5753 E-mail : sharonr@uow.edu.au |
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Research Interests
My group is investigating how plants respond to Climate Change induced environmental stress in Antarctica (see Cool Plants below) and Australia (Plant Stress Ecophysiology). In addition we are elucidating the mechanisms that allow thermoregulatory plants to maintain their flowers at temperatures well above ambient air temperatures (Hot Plants). Plant responses can be monitored at a range of levels from the molecular to the ecological and my research employs a systems biology approach to answer these questions.
For potential research topics and information, see following pages:
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Cool plants How are terrestrial plant communities affected by climate change? |
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Hot plants How do plants keep floral ovens hot? |
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Plant Stress Ecophysiology Weed ecophysiology Plants and disturbance Mangroves and salt marshes Plants and disease Early detection of Phylloxera infestation in vines |
Representative Publications
To download copies of recent publications
Grant, N., Onda, Y., Watling, J., Ito, K., Robinson, S.A. Two Cys or not two Cys, that is the question? Alternative oxidase regulation in the sacred lotus. Plant Physiology 150 987-995.
Turnbull, J.D., Robinson, S.A. (2009) Accumulation of DNA damage in Antarctic mosses: correlations with ultraviolet-B radiation, temperature and turf water content vary among species. Global Change Biology 15 319-329.
Clarke, L.J., Robinson, S.A. (2008) Cell wall-bound UV-screening pigments explain the high ultraviolet tolerance of the Antarctic moss, Ceratodon purpureus. New Phytologist 179 776-783.
Grant NM, Miller RE, Watling JR, Robinson SA (2008) Synchronicity of thermogenic activity, alternative pathway respiratory flux, AOX protein content and carbohydrates in receptacle tissues of sacred lotus during floral development. Journal of Experimental Botany 59 705-714. http://jxb.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/59/3/705
Clarke, L.J., Robinson, S.A., Ayre, D.J. (2008) Somatic mutation and the Antarctic ozone hole Journal of Ecology 96 378-385. Editor’s choice article for March 2008.
Dunn, J.L. Robinson, S.A. (2006) UV-B screening potential is higher in two cosmopolitan moss species than in a co-occurring Antarctic endemic moss – implications of continuing ozone depletion. Global Change Biology 12 2282-2296.
Watling, J.R., Robinson, S.A. Seymour, R.S (2006) Contribution of the alternative pathway to respiration during thermogenesis in flowers of the sacred lotus. Plant Physiology 140, 1367-1373
Wasley, J., Robinson, S.A., Popp, M., Lovelock, C.E. (2006) Climate change manipulations show Antarctic flora is more strongly affected by elevated nutrients than water. Global Change Biology 12 1800-1812.
Robinson, S.A., Turnbull, J.D. Lovelock, C.E. (2005) Impact of changes in natural UV radiation on pigment composition, surface reflectance and photosynthetic function of the Antarctic moss, Grimmia antarctici. Global Change Biology 11, 476–489.
Current Students
Nicole Grant (PhD)
Thermoregulation in the sacred lotus.
Melinda Waterman (PhD)
Climate Change impacts on Antarctic mosses
Johanna Turnbull (Masters Research)
DNA damage in Antarctic mosses
Honours
Diana King (BEnv Sci Hons)
Jessica Bramley-Alves (BEnv Sci Hons)
Suggested Topics for Future Students
Antarctic plants and global change
- How are climate change and humans influencing terrestrial vegetation dynamics in Antarctica?
- How does UV-B effect Antarctic mosses? What UV screening compounds do they produce?
- How do Antarctic plants survive desiccation? What compounds are involved?
- Using remote sensing to map and monitor vegetation change on subAntarctic Islands (with University of Tasmania)
Hot plants
How do thermoregulating plants sense air temperatures and control their floral ovens?
What roles do the alternative oxidase and uncoupling proteins play in thermoregulating plants?
Abbreviated CV
Academic Degrees
1980-1983 B.Sc. First Class Honours (Genetics and Botany) University College London
1987-1990 PhD (Botany), University College London, Title of Thesis: Nitrogen metabolism in carrot cell suspension cultures.
Academic and Research Appointments
2005-Subject Editor Global Change Biology
2005-8 Director Institute for Conservation Biology
2004- Associate Professor, Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong.
2000- 2004 Senior Lecturer, Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong.
1996-1999 Lecturer, Biological Sciences, The University of Wollongong.
1992-1996 Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Research School of Biological Sciences, The Australian National University.
1990-1991 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Duke University, North Carolina
1985-1986 Graduate Certificate in Science Education (Biology) Centre for Science Education, Kings College London