Dr. Alberto Canarini
Ecologist - Researcher
I am a researcher specialised in soil biogeochemistry and I currently work at University of Vienna, Austria
I am fascinated on how ecosystems function, particularly on the complex interactions between plants and soil microorganisms.
I use multiple methodologies spanning biology, chemistry and microbial ecology to investigate the effects of climate change on the biogeochemical cycles of carbon and nutrients
I have worked on a range of different ecosystems, and I have combined field work with controlled growing conditions, to answer multiple questions.
Have a look to my projects section to see some of my past and present projects.
I obtained my PhD in soil biogeochemistry at The University of Sydney and worked for 3 years as a Post-Doc at the University of Vienna, in research related to terrestrial ecosystems.
I have now obtained a grant from JSPS (Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science) to conduct a research at Kyoto University.
I have always been interested in human impacts (and climate change) on nature and therefore I was dedicated to understanding the functioning of natural and agro-ecosystems.
This is the reason why I started researching on soil and plant-soil interactions.
Indeed, soil contains most of C in terrestrial ecosystems and climate change could cause positive or negative feedbacks in term of green-house gas emissions from soil.
Plants and micro-organisms play a central role in all of these dynamics, but also in many other processes necessary for plant growth (nutrient uptake, pathogen control), but we still know so little about it.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Climate change effects on carbon cycling between plant and soil microorganisms
I worked extensively in numerous field work assessing effects of elevated CO2, warming and drought in grassland ecosystems
Drought effects on C cycle
Since my PhD I specialized on effects of drought on the carbon cycle, combining field work, laboratory incubations and meta-analysis
Carbon and nutrient trade between plant and soil fungi
In my current position I am investigating the interactions between fungal endophytes and arbuscular mycorrhizae in regulating the features of carbon and nutrient trades with plants.
EDUCATION
2013 -2016
The University of Sydney
PhD in Soil Biogeochemistry
2009-2011
University of Ferrara
Master in Ecology and Evolution
2006-2009