biological sciences HONOURs 2014 - The University of Sydney

30 MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
Research Interests
My research interest focuses on microbial ecology and how
the eukaryotic microorganisms respond to changes in the
environment. My research involves microscopy, computer-aided
tomography (or microCT), in vitro modelling, environmental
sampling, molecular analysis, and conceptual and statistical
modelling. I collaborate with researchers from the Faculty of
Agriculture and the Environment (FAE), the Australian Museum
(AM), Australian Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis
(ACMM), Murrumbidgee Irrigation (MI) and the University
of New South Wales (UNSW) on a number of projects. The
projects include the study of, blue-green algal blooms (with
FAE and MI); parasitic diversity on amphibians and freshwater
fish (with AM and UNSW); and, fungal diversity and responses
to environmental conditions (with ACMM, FAE, AM and
UNSW).
Dr Osu Lilje
Room 515, Carslaw
Building F07
T: (02) 9351 5785
E: osu.lilje@sydney.edu.au
Honours projects
1. Microbial dynamics in freshwater. Our fundamental
understanding of the community composition of microbes in
freshwater lakes pre-bloom, bloom and post-bloom is very poor.
This project aims to identify the key relationships between
microbes from different trophic levels, e.g. producers (bluegreen
algae), primary consumers and secondary consumers or predators. The project will involve
field work, microscopy, molecular analysis and modelling.
2. 3D modelling of soil fungus responses to nutrient distribution. Soil fungi play an important
part in maintaining soil health in terms of maintaining the diversity of the microbial environment,
nutrient concentration and carbon sequestration. This project aims to further elaborate how
fungi respond to nutrient and environmental factors using an in-vitro model. The project will
involve in-vitro culture work, electron microscopy and microCT.