Agri-Environment
The Agri Environment group undertakes cutting edge research in plant and/or insect physiology, modelling, biochemistry and molecular biology in relation to sustainable agriculture and environment.
Examples of questions are:
- Identification of genes switched on in the plant/pest/predator interaction to unravel the insect digestive biochemistry and molecular biology.
- Production of crops with enhanced resistance to pests, via recombinant DNA technology. Environmental safety assessment of transgenic crops.
- Safety assessment of transgenic crops for human consumption.
- The use of ozone to probe the reaction of plants to oxidative stress at the physiological, biochemical and molecular level.
- Plant physiology and metabolism in response to environmental perturbations, including drought tolerance, salinity response, oxidative stress and crassulacean acid metabolism CAM.
- Behaviour of invertebrates in the field
- The application of mathematical and simulation modelling in a wide range of subjects in biology, from forest management through to coral reef and fisheries management and includes both strategic modelling and tactical modelling
- Spatial dynamics of biological processes and integrating modelling with GIS. The research has wide application and is used in diverse areas