HIE Home
Doctor Susan Chambers
Dr Susan Chambers’ research interests focus on the molecular ecology of soil fungi, especially mycorrhizal fungi. She has conducted research on ectomycorrhizal, AM and ericoid mycorrhizal fungal associations. Dr Chambers obtained her PhD in Plant Pathology at the University of Adelaide’s Waite Agricultural Research Institute, studying Phytophthora root rot and has worked as a Research Fellow at the University of Western Sydney since 1995.
Areas of Research / Teaching Expertise
Plant Structure and Physiology; Agricultural Microbiology; Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi
Selected Publications
Hitchcock CJ, Chambers SM, Cairney JWG, (2011) ‘Genetic population structure of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus microcarpus suggests high gene flow in south-eastern Australia’, Mycorrhiza, vol.21, no.2, pp 131-137
Curlevski NJA, Chambers SM, Anderson IC, Cairney JWG, (2009) ‘Identical genotypes of an ericoid mycorrhiza-forming fungus occur in roots of Epacris pulchella (Ericaceae) and Leptospermum polygalifolium (Myrtaceae) in an Australian sclerophyll forest’, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, vol.67, no.3, pp 411-420
Chambers SM, Curlevski NJA, Cairney JWG, (2008) ‘Ericoid mycorrhizal fungi are common root inhabitants of non-Ericaceae plants in a south-eastern Australian sclerophyll forest’, FEMS Microbiology Ecology, Vol.65, no.2, pp 263-270
Hitchcock C, Chambers S, Cairney J, (2006) 'Development of polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers for Pisolithus microcarpus', Molecular ecology Notes, vol.6, pp 443-445
Chambers S, Hitchcock C, Cairney J, (2005) 'Ectomycorrhizal mycobionts of Pisonia grandis on coral cays in the Capricorn-Bunker group, Great Barrier Reef, Australia', Mycological Research, vol.109, no.10, pp 1105-1111
Midgley D, Chambers S, Cairney J, (2004) 'Distribution of ericoid mycorrhizal endophytes and root-associated fungi in neighbouring Ericaceae plants in the field', Plant and Soil, vol.259, pp 137-151
Midgley D, Chambers S, Cairney J, (2004) 'Inorganic and organic substrates as sources of nitrogen and phosphorus for multiple genotypes of two ericoid mycorrhizal fungal taxa from Woollsia pungens and Leucopogon parviflorus (Ericaceae)', Australian Journal of Botany, vol.52, pp 63-71
Midgley D, Chambers S, Cairney J, (2004) 'Utilisation of carbon substrates by multiple genotypes of ericoid mycorrhizal fungal endophytes from eastern Australian Ericaceae', Mycorrhiza, vol.14, pp 245-251
Williams A, Chambers S, Davies P, Mclean C, Cairney J, (2004) 'Molecular investigation of sterile root-associated fungi from Epacris microphyllar R. Br. (Ericaceae) and other epacrids at alpine, subalpine and coastal heathland sites', Australasian Mycologist, vol.23, no.3, pp 94-104
Hitchcock C, Chambers S, Anderson I, Cairney J, (2003) 'Development of markers for simple sequence repeat-rich regions that discriminate between Pisolithus albus and P. microcarpus', Mycological Research, vol.107, pp 699-706
Sawyer N, Chambers S, Cairney J, (2003) 'Distribution of Amanita spp. genotypes under eastern Australian sclerophyll vegetation', Mycological Research, vol.107, pp 1157-1162
Sawyer N, Chambers S, Cairney J, (2003) 'Utilisation of inorganic and organic nitrogen sources by Amanita species native to temperature eastern Australia', Mycological Research, vol.107, pp 413-420
