2016–present: NERC Band 4 post, BAS
2014–2017: Professor II in Arctic mycology, University Centre in Svalbard
2010–2018: Member of Fungal Ecology editorial board
2009–2017: Member of NERC peer review college
2008–present: Member of Global Change Biology editorial advisory board
2001–2005: NERC Band 5 post, BAS
2000–2005: Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity project leader, BAS
1997–2001: NERC Band 6 post, BAS
1994–1997: NERC Band 6 TIGER-funded post, ITE Monks Wood
1991–1994: NERC-funded Band 6 post, University of York
1987–1991: Ph.D. (University of Wales) Thesis title the effects of dry-deposited sulphur dioxide on fungal decomposition of angiosperm tree leaf litter
1984–1987: B.Sc. Hons. Microbiology, grade 2:i (University of Wales)
Research interests
I have a broad range of interests, drawing on over 30 years of research on soil and plant ecology:
(i) Responses of soil biota to warming
Two long-term field experiments, one at Mars Oasis on Alexander Island and the other at Kongsfjordneset on Svalbard in the High Arctic, have tested the effects of warming on soil microbes. These experiments use ITEX-design open top chambers (OTCs) to warm soil and vegetation passively by about 1 °C. You can see a video of the experiment on Svalbard, shot by my colleague Elise Biersma, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAQUWjAO5ZI
My first postdoctoral position, in Professor Alastair Fitter’s laboratory at the University of York, showed that symbiotic and pathogenic root fungi interact to influence plant fitness. The main output from the research in Alastair’s laboratory (Newsham et al. 1995, Journal of Ecology 83, 991-1000) was recently voted as being one of the top 100 most influential papers published by the British Ecological Society over the last century (see http://core.ecu.edu/chalcraftd/most%20influential%20BES%20papers.pdf).
(i) Dark septate root endophytes
A spin-off from my research at York was the finding that the roots of apparently healthy plants are routinely colonised by a separate group of fungi, the dark septate endophytes (DSE). The ecological role of DSE, which is much less clear than that of mycorrhizas, has been a focus for my research (e.g. Newsham 1999, New Phytologist 144, 517-524; Newsham et al. 2009, Fungal Ecology 2, 10-20). Experiments by Dr Rebecca Upson in Professor David Read’s laboratory at the University of Sheffield showed that DSE, identified by sequencing of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 nuclear ribosomal gene cluster as Oculimacula yallundae and species of Mollisia and Tapesia, have positive effects on the in vitro growth of Antarctic Hairgrass when nitrogen is supplied to plants in organic form (Upson et al. 2009, Mycorrhiza 20, 1-11).
A meta-analysis of data from the literature similarly showed that DSE improve plant above- and belowground biomass when organic nutrients are supplied to plants, and provides evidence that DSE have positive effects on their host plants (Newsham 2011, New Phytologist 190, 783-793).
Joint NERC funding with Davey Jones’ group at the University of Bangor has also determined the influence of DSEs on organic nitrogen assimilation by Antarctic hairgrass (see Hill et al. 2011, Nature Climate Change 1, 50-53).
(ii) Mycothalli
Mycorrhizal symbioses are less frequent in polar ecosystems than they are at lower latitudes (Upson et al. 2008, Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research 40, 592-599; Newsham et al. 2009, Fungal Ecology 2, 10-20), but some species of leafy liverwort in these habitats consistently form mycothalli, associations with fungi that bear remarkable similarities to mycorrhizas. The aim of my research on mycothalli is to document the fungi present in the tissues of leafy liverworts in Antarctic and Arctic ecosystems, and, ultimately, to understand their influence on the nutrient balance and survival of hepatics in polar habitats.
Research by Rebecca Upson in David Read’s laboratory showed that the leafy liverwort Cephaloziella varians is consistently colonised by the ericoid mycorrhizal symbiont Rhizoscyphus ericae over a 1,875 km transect from South Georgia through to Alexander Island (Upson et al. 2007, New Phytologist 176, 460-471). Direct PCR on Lophozia excisa and Barbilophozia hatcheri, other leafy liverworts of the high maritime Antarctic, has similarly shown plants to be consistently colonised by fungi in Sebacinales clade B, which are members of mycorrhizal associations with higher plants on other continents (Newsham & Bridge 2010, Mycorrhiza 20, 307-313; Newsham et al. in press, Fungal Ecology).
Ongoing work at the NERC Arctic station at Ny-Ålesund on Svalbard in the High Arctic has determined the presence of fungi in 15 species of leafy liverworts, including species of Cephaloziella, Cephalozia, Barbilophozia, Lophozia and Tritomaria. Direct PCR, using custom-designed primers, has recently been used to determine whether or not these hepatics harbour the same fungi as those in the Antarctic and temperate habitats.
I collaborate closely with the following scientists based outside of BAS:
Professor David Read (University of Sheffield) https://www.shef.ac.uk/aps/staff-and-students/acadstaff/read
Professor David Hopkins (Scotland’s Rural College) http://www.rau.ac.uk/the-rau/academic-staff-profiles/school-of-agriculture-food-and-environment/profiles/professor-david-hopkins
Professor Davey Jones (University of Bangor) http://www.bangor.ac.uk/senrgy/staff/djones.php.en
Professor Lynne Boddy (Cardiff University) http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/people/view/81120-boddy-lynne
Professor Sharon Robinson (University of Wollongong) http://smah.uow.edu.au/biol/contacts/UOW009796.html
Professor Ryszard Ochyra (Polish Academy of Sciences) http://www.ib.uj.edu.pl/instytut/zielnik
Dr Clare Robinson (University of Manchester) http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/clare.robinson
80 peer-reviewed scientific articles published since 1992. To follow are the most recent:
Newsham, K.K., Garnett, M.H., Robinson, C.H. & Cox, F. (2018). Discrete taxa of saprotrophic fungi respire different ages of carbon from Antarctic soils. Scientific Reports 8:7866.
Newsham, K.K., Eidesen, P.B., Davey, M.L., Axelsen, J., Courtecuisse, E., Flintrop, C., Johansson, A.G., Kiepert, M., Larsen, S.E., Lorberau, K.E., Maurset, M., McQuilkin, J., Misiak, M., Pop, A., Thompson, S. & Read, D.J. (2017). Arbuscular mycorrhizas are present on Spitsbergen. Mycorrhiza 27, 725–731.
Benhua, S., Dennis, P.G., Newsham, K.K., Hopkins, D.W. & Hallett, P.D. (2017). Gelifluction and thixotropy of maritime Antarctic soils: small-scale measurements with a rotational rheometer. Permafrost and Periglacial Processes 28, 314–321.
Cox, F., Newsham, K.K., Bol, R., Dungait, J.A.J., Robinson, C.H. (2016). Not poles apart: Antarctic soil fungal communities show similarities to those of the distant Arctic. Ecology Letters 19, 528–536.
Newsham, K.K., Hopkins, D.W., Carvalhais, L.C., Fretwell, P.T., Rushton, S.P., O’Donnell, A.G., & Dennis, P.G. (2016). Relationship between soil fungal diversity and temperature in the maritime Antarctic. Nature Climate Change 6, 182–186.
Amos, G.C.A., Borsetto, C., Laskaris, P., Krsek, M., Berry, A.E., Newsham, K.K., Calvo-Bado, L., Pearce, D.A. & Wellington, E.M.H. (2015). Designing and implementing an assay for the detection of rare and divergent NRPS and PKS clones in European, Antarctic and Cuban soils. PLoS ONE 10(9): e0138327.
Ellis, L.T. et al. incl. Newsham, K.K.; 2014 New national and regional bryophyte records, 41. Journal of Bryology.
Newsham, K.K., Goodall-Copestake, W.P., Ochyra, R. & Váňa, J; 2014. Mycothalli of the hepatic Barbilophozia hatcheri in Antarctica: distribution and identities of mycobionts. Fungal Ecology.
Ellis, L.T. et al. incl. Newsham, K.K.; 2013 New national and regional bryophyte records, 35. Journal of Bryology.
Broughton, R.C.I., Newsham, K.K., Hill, P.W., Stott, A. & Jones, D.L. (2015). Differential acquisition of amino acid and peptide enantiomers within the soil microbial community and its implications for carbon and nitrogen cycling in soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 88, 83-89.
Dennis, P.G., Newsham, K.K., Rushton, S.P., Ord, V.J., O’Donnell, A.G. & Hopkins, D.W. (2013). Warming constrains bacterial community responses to nutrient inputs in a southern, but not northern, maritime Antarctic soil. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 57, 248-255.
Laudicina, V.A., Benhua, S., Dennis, P.G., Badalucco, L., Rushton, S.P., Newsham, K.K., O’Donnell, A.G., Hartley, I.P., Hopkins, D.W. (2015). Responses to increases in temperature of heterotrophic micro-organisms from the maritime Antarctic. Polar Biology 38, 1153–1160.
Ellis et al., incl. Newsham, K.K. (2014). New national and regional bryophyte records, 41. Journal of Bryology 36, 306-324.
Newsham, K.K., Goodall-Copestake, W.P., Ochyra, R. & Váňa, J. (2014). Mycothalli of the hepatic Barbilophozia hatcheri in Antarctica: distribution and identities of mycobionts. Fungal Ecology 11, 91-99.
Benhua, S., Dennis, P.G., Laudicina, V.A., Ord, V.J., Rushton, S.P., O’Donnell, A.G., Newsham, K.K., Hopkins, D.W. (2014). Biogeochemical responses to nutrient, moisture, and temperature manipulations of soil from Signy Island in the maritime Antarctic. Antarctic Science 26, 513-520.
Pearce, D.A., Newsham, K.K., Thorne, M.A.S., Calvo-Bado, L., Krsek, M., Laskaris, P., Hodson, A. & Wellington, E.M.H. (2012). Metagenomic analysis of a southern maritime Antarctic soil. Frontiers in Microbiology 3, article no. 00403.
Dennis, P.G., Rushton, S.P., Newsham, K.K., Lauducina, V.A., Ord, V.J., Daniell, T.J., O’Donnell, A.G. & Hopkins, D.W. (2012). Soil fungal community composition does not alter along a latitudinal gradient through the maritime and sub-Antarctic. Fungal Ecology 5, 403-408.
Tojo, M. & Newsham, K.K. (2012). Snow moulds in polar environments. Fungal Ecology 5, 395-402.
Newsham, K.K. (2012). Fungi in extreme environments [editorial]. Fungal Ecology 5, 379-380.
Hill, P.W., Farrell, M., Roberts, P., Farrar, J., Grant, H., Newsham, K.K., Hopkins, D.W., Bardgett, R.D. & Jones, D.L. (2011). Soil- and enantiomer-specific metabolism of amino acids and their peptides by Antarctic soil micro-organisms. Soil Biology and Biochemistry 43, 2410-2416.
Hill, P.W., Quilliam, R.S., DeLuca, T.H., Farrar, J.F., Farrell, M., Roberts, P., Newsham, K.K., Hopkins, D.W., Bardgett, R.D. & Jones, D.L. (2011). Acquisition and assimilation of nitrogen as peptide-bound and D-enantiomers of amino acids by wheat. PLoS ONE 6: e19220.
Newsham, K.K. (2011). A meta-analysis of plant responses to dark septate root endophytes. New Phytologist 190, 783-793.
Hill, P.W., Farrar, J., Roberts, P., Farrell, M., Grant, H., Newsham, K.K., Hopkins, D.W., Bardgett, R.D. & Jones, D.L. (2011). Vascular plant success in a warming Antarctic may be due to efficient nitrogen acquisition. Nature Climate Change 1, 50-53.
Newsham, K., Biersma, E., Prieme, A., Molina-Montenegro, M., & Goodall-Copestake, W. (2025). Richness and abundance of plant and animal pathogenic fungi in Patagonian, sub-Antarctic and Maritime Antarctic soil samples collected January-February 2018 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/d93d9ae6-4eff-4d9a-9997-d0ed06c3df1b
Convey, P., Newsham, K., Geissler, P., Jobson, M., & Fox, D. (2025). Microclimate data from The Backslope behind Signy Island research station, South Orkney Islands, Antarctic 2017-2024 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/085043be-4f39-4529-83a7-95173ff5a376
Newsham, K. (2023). Growth rates and specific cellulase activities of Antarctic Pseudogymnoascus roseus isolates exposed to constant and fluctuating temperatures – VERSION 2.0 (Version 2.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/cf3133fb-0bd5-48e5-a89c-d464bd5b90a3
Newsham, K. (2023). Growth rates and specific cellulase activities of Antarctic Pseudogymnoascus roseus isolates exposed to constant and fluctuating temperatures. (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/3ef187b8-3471-42ab-bc5d-d7e5e6f5d575
Newsham, K. (2022). Microscopy data on mycothalli in 16 leafy liverwort species from the Thatcher Peninsula, South Georgia (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/87fd0d61-7405-4a66-9620-2be10c25d452
Convey, P., Geissler, P., Massey, A., & Newsham, K. (2022). Microclimate data from Coal Nunatak, Alexander Island, 2006-2019 [Version 2.0] (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01598
Newsham, K., Danielsen, B., Biersma, E., Elberling, B., Hillyard, G., Kumari, P., Priemé, A., Woo, C., & Yamamoto, N. (2022). Greenhouse gas exchange, temperatures, bacterial and fungal abundances and the relative abundances of the 40 most frequent bacterial taxa in a soil warming and irrigation experiment on Svalbard (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/71dfd312-a493-42fc-822a-29f3dca66dc0
Davey, M., & Newsham, K. (2021). Numbers of reads of fungal operational taxonomic units in a soil warming experiment at Mars Oasis in maritime Antarctica from 2007-2012 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/97a08dd9-3b17-49a2-b2d2-aacf67c4cf15
Newsham, K., Goodall-Copestake, W., & Foot, G. (2021). Microscopy data on fungal structures in the tissues of leafy and simple thalloid II liverwort species sampled from High Arctic Spitsbergen (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/01463
Convey, P., Newsham, K., Geissler, P., & Jobson, M. (2021). Microclimate data from Jane Col, Signy Island, Antarctica 2007-2016 [Version 2.0] (Version 2.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://doi.org/10.5285/1bf0cfe7-a2e6-4c82-a0cd-d913876b6854
Newsham, K. (2021). Mat temperatures, moisture concentrations and microscopy data on fungal structures in the tissues of the leafy liverwort Cephaloziella varians exposed to warming for 10 years on Rothera Point (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/0502fe87-6a41-4529-b6c0-a9e5c30aadcb
Robinson, C., Cox, F., Garnett, M., Horrocks, C., Dungait, J., & Newsham, K. (2020). Relative abundances of DNA and RNA of a previously undescribed Helotiales species in soils from Signy Island and Leonie Island, along with edaphic factors (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/65359151-158c-47d1-8c04-a59bc3a28f53
Newsham, K., Misiak, M., & Worland, M. (2020). Pseudogymnoascus roseus in soil at Mars Oasis, Alexander Island, under different temperature, irrigation and substrate treatments (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/1cf37889-9f77-41b9-8c49-b175fbd03406
Dennis, P., Newsham, K., & Hopkins, D. (2020). Physico-chemical properties of maritime Antarctic fellfield soils collected from along a latitudinal transect between Signy Island (60 deg S) and south-eastern Alexander Island (72 deg S), 2007-2008 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/ca6c3507-6e77-42e7-806a-2e0d3b829402
Newsham, K., Hall, R., & Maslen, N. (2020). Nematode taxa extracted from Cephaloziella varians and Sanionia uncinata in open top chamber warming experiment at Rothera Point, Adelaide Island (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/b7baeb38-311b-439e-b94b-6c90d7dc749d
Convey, P., Newsham, K., Geissler, P., Massey, A., & Jobson, M. (2020). Microclimate data from Mars Oasis, 2000-2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/665f8055-8f82-4395-92de-c29ac9d30b23
Convey, P., Newsham, K., Geissler, P., Massey, A., & Jobson, M. (2020). Microclimate data from Jane Col, 2007-2016 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/5c380c93-986e-499c-b09f-25939daf4766
Convey, P., Newsham, K., Geissler, P., Massey, A., & Jobson, M. (2020). Microclimate data from Coal Nunatak, 2006-2019 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/7bb5c557-a806-4fce-ba09-94a70a0be934
Convey, P., Newsham, K., Geissler, P., Massey, A., & Jobson, M. (2020). Microclimate data from Anchorage Island, 2001-2009 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/91d75173-6daa-4544-9ea0-bf47c5eff4eb
Acuna-Rodriguez, I., & Newsham, K. (2019). Plant biology variables under cold stress from published experiments (1975-2019) that include microbial symbionts as an experimental factor. (Version 1.0) [Data set]. UK Polar Data Centre, Natural Environment Research Council, UK Research & Innovation. https://doi.org/10.5285/f1c473de-8c60-47d6-95a5-70c5b519bb8c
Dungait, J., Newsham, K., Robinson, C., Bol, R., & Cox, F. (2017). Sequencing data from Signy Island, Leonie Island and Bird Island soil fungi communities, 2011 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00927
Jones, D., Newsham, K., Farrar, J., & Hill, P. (2012). Soil temperature measurements taken at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, 2008-2009 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00736
Jones, D., Newsham, K., Farrar, J., & Hill, P. (2012). Soil moisture measurements taken at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, 2008-2009 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00737
Jones, D., Farrar, J., Newsham, K., & Roberts, P. (2012). Soil and biological samples collected from Signy, South Orkney Islands, 2005-2006 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00601
Jones, D., Newsham, K., Farrar, J., & Roberts, P. (2012). Soil and ambient air temperature collected from Signy, South Orkney Islands, 2005-2006 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00603
Jones, D., Newsham, K., Farrar, J., & Hill, P. (2012). Isotopic labelling experiments based on field measurements taken at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, 2008-2009 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00738
Jones, D., Newsham, K., Farrar, J., & Roberts, P. (2012). Chemical analyses of soil samples collected from Signy, South Orkney Islands, 2005-2008 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00602
Newsham, K., Farrar, J., Jones, D., & Hill, P. (2012). Analysis of soil solution samples taken from Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, 2008-2009 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00735
Upson, D., Read, D., & Newsham, K. (2007). Fungal cultures, plant and soil samples (live and frozen) collected from the northern Antarctic Peninsula region, 2002-2003 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00260
Upson, R., Read, D., & Newsham, K. (2007). Analysis of fungal cultures, plant and soil samples collected from the northern Antarctic Peninsula region, 2002-2003 (Version 1.0) [Data set]. NERC EDS UK Polar Data Centre. https://data.bas.ac.uk/full-record.php?id=GB/NERC/BAS/PDC/00262
This project investigated whether Mortierella, a cold-tolerant Antarctic soil fungus, could replace banned chemical pesticides in controlling weevil larvae that damage UK soft fruit and forestry crops.
A tiny flightless midge which has colonised Antarctica’s Signy Island is driving fundamental changes to the island’s soil ecosystem. Research by experts at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) in collaboration […]
Fungi in Antarctic soils release carbon that is more than a thousand years old, a team led by scientists at the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has found. This discovery sheds light on how carbon is released into the atmosphere as polar regions warm.
Three British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff have been awarded the Polar Medal, and one member of staff has been awarded a prestigious Second Clasp. The announcement was published last week […]
One plant species that grows in Antarctica appears to be thriving according to a team of UK scientists. Antarctic Hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica) is more effective at absorbing organic nitrogen from […]
A paper from my first postdoctoral position in Professor Alastair Fitter’s laboratory at the University of York was recently listed as one of the top 100 most influential papers published by the British Ecological Society over the last century (see http://core.ecu.edu/chalcraftd/most%20influential%20BES%20papers.pdf).
In 2017, Web of Science ranked my single author 2011 New Phytologist article 220th out of the 95,409 articles published in the Plant Sciences category between 2010 and 2014.