L. Lear

Disturbances can facilitate prior invasions more than subsequent invasions in microbial communities

This study shows that invading microbial communities immediately after a disturbance increases invader success but decreases resident diversity, while pre-disturbance invasions have greater overall success and community impact.

Copper reduces the virulence of bacterial communities at environmentally relevant concentrations

This study shows that high copper concentrations reduce bacterial community virulence but also decrease diversity and productivity in wastewater influent communities.

The effect of metal remediation on the virulence and antimicrobial resistance of the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This study tests if liming reduces co-selection for antibiotic resistance and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in metal-contaminated environments, finding that liming reduces metal resistance selection but not antibiotic resistance or virulence.

Bacterial colonisation dynamics of household plastics in a coastal environment

The paper tracks bacterial colonisation of household plastics in a coastal environment, finding rapid colonisation by diverse bacteria, including pathogens, regardless of polymer type.

Copper selects for siderophore-mediated virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

This study shows that copper exposure increases pyoverdine production and virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, linking metal stress to bacterial virulence.

Characterising a stable five-species microbial community for use in experimental evolution and ecology.

The paper reports the stable coexistence of a five-species microbial community derived from soil microbes, demonstrating long-term stability and species identification through plate morphologies.