Dr Wendy Williams
Research Fellow
School of Agriculture and Food Sustainability
Researcher biography
Dr Williams is high achieving and motivated researcher and consultant that has gained a broad range of professional experience in soil conservation and rangeland ecology throughout Australia. Valuable field experience and an in-depth understanding of eco-physiological plant-soil interactions with research directed towards but not limited to, deserts, semi-arid, and savannah lands. Dr Williams has international training across a range of disciplines in soil carbon sequestration and nitrogen cycling, net ecosystem productivity and in the taxonomic evaluation of cyanobacteria.
Book Chapter
Williams, Wendy J. and Bailey, Vanessa (2009). Cravens Peak microbiotic crusts. Cravens Peak scientific study report. (pp. 1-402) Brisbane, Qld., Australia: The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland.
Journal Articles
Vega-Cofre, Maria V., Williams, Wendy, Song, Young, Schmidt, Susanne and Dennis, Paul G. (2023). Effects of grazing and fire management on rangeland soil and biocrust microbiomes. Ecological Indicators, 148 110094, 1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolind.2023.110094
Myint Swe, Than, Williams, Wendy J., Schmidt, Susanne, Potgieter, Andries, Cowley, Robyn, Mellor, Vincent, Driscoll, Colin and Zhao, Yan (2023). Using digital photography to monitor changes in biocrusts and ground cover in a savanna rangeland. The Rangeland Journal, 44 (6), 263-278. doi: 10.1071/rj22019
Williams, Wendy J., Schmidt, Susanne, Zaady, Eli, Alchin, Bruce, Swe, Than Myint, Williams, Stephen, Dooley, Madeline, Penfold, Grace, O’reagain, Peter, Bushell, John, Cowley, Robyn, Driscoll, Colin and Robinson, Nicole (2022). Resting subtropical grasslands from grazing in the wet season boosts biocrust hotspots to improve soil health. Agronomy, 12 (1) 62. doi: 10.3390/agronomy12010062
Tian, Chang, Xi, Jiao, Ju, Mengchen, Li, Yahong, Guo, Qi, Yao, Le, Wang, Chun, Lin, Yanbin, Li, Qiang, Williams, Wendy J. and Bu, Chongfeng (2021). Biocrust microbiomes influence ecosystem structure and function in the Mu Us Sandland, northwest China. Ecological Informatics, 66 101441, 101441. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoinf.2021.101441
Williams, Wendy, Chilton, Angela, Schneemilch, Mel, Williams, Stephen, Neilan, Brett and Driscoll, Colin (2019). Microbial biobanking - Cyanobacteria-rich topsoil facilitates mine rehabilitation. Biogeosciences, 16 (10), 2189-2204. doi: 10.5194/bg-16-2189-2019
Williams, Wendy, Büdel, Burkhard and Williams, Stephen (2018). Wet season cyanobacterial N enrichment highly correlated with species richness and Nostoc in the northern Australian savannah. Biogeosciences, 15 (7), 2149-2159. doi: 10.5194/bg-15-2149-2018
Buedel, Burkhard, Williams, Wendy J. and Reichenberger, Hans (2018). Annual net primary productivity of a cyanobacteria-dominated biological soil crust in the Gulf Savannah, Queensland, Australia. Biogeosciences, 15 (2), 491-505. doi: 10.5194/bg-15-491-2018
Aboal, Marina, Werner, Olaf, Eugenia Garcia-Fernandez, Maria, Antonio Palazon, Jose, Carlos Cristobal, Jose and Williams, Wendy (2016). Should ecomorphs be conserved? The case of Nostoc flagelliforme, an endangered extremophile cyanobacteria. Journal for Nature Conservation, 30, 52-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jnc.2016.01.001
Williams, Wendy J., Budel, B., Reichenberger, H. and Rose, N. (2014). Cyanobacteria in the Australian northern savannah detect the difference between intermittent dry season and wet season rain. Biodiversity and Conservation, 23 (7), 1827-1844. doi: 10.1007/s10531-014-0713-7
Williams, Wendy J. and Budel, Burlhard (2012). Species diversity, biomass and long-term patterns of biological soil crusts with special focus on Cyanobacteria of the Acacia aneura Mulga Lands of Queensland, Australia. Algological Studies, 140 (1), 23-50. doi: 10.1127/1864-1318/2012/0059
Williams, Wendy J. and Eldridge, David J. (2011). Deposition of sand over a cyanobacterial soil crust increases nitrogen bioavailability in a semi–arid woodland. Applied Soil Ecology, 49 (1), 26-31. doi: 10.1016/j.apsoil.2011.07.005
Williams, Wendy J., Eldridge, David J. and Alchin, Bruce M. (2008). Grazing and drought reduce cyanobacterial soil crusts in an Australian Acacia woodland. Journal of Arid Environments, 72 (6), 1064-1075. doi: 10.1016/j.jaridenv.2007.11.017
Conference Paper
Doudle, S., Williams, W. and Galea., V. (2011). Improving rehabilitation outcomes using biocrusts. Eight International Heavy Minerals Conference 2011, Perth, WA, Australia, 5-6 October 2011. Carlton South, VIC, Australia: Australasian Institute for Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM).
Thesis
Wendy Williams (2010). Cyanobacteria in the Australian mulga lands:diversity, function and ecological role in high stress environments. PhD Thesis, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland.