A passion for agriculture and a curious mind led Cameron Copeland to tackle a PhD with the Soil CRC at Southern Cross University, exploring how introduced microbial communities adapt to new soils and, in turn, alter plant development.
Australia’s diverse soils present unique challenges and opportunities for microbial technologies in agriculture. Cameron’s PhD investigated what happens when a microbial community originating from one soil type, such as a calcarosol, is introduced into a distinct soil type, such as a red chromosol.
“I used a combination of DNA amplicon sequencing (16S/ITS) and untargeted soil metabolomics (LC-MS) to understand how microbial composition and function shift when inoculated into soils with contrasting physicochemical properties,” Cameron said.
“I found that while bacterial and fungal richness remained relatively stable after inoculation, the functional activity of the microbial community, reflected through metabolite profiles and carbon substrate utilisation, was significantly altered depending on the receiving soil.”
Cameron’s key findings include:
- Microbial activity, not just their identities, changes depending on the soil they are put into – Even when the types of microbes stayed mostly the same, what they did in the soil (e.g. how they processed nutrients) changed based on the soil environment. This was particularly applicable to fungal communities and suggests functional plasticity and strong environmental filtering.
- Changes in soil chemistry are linked to changes in microbial communities – When the type of microbes present in the soil changed, the way nutrients were utilised in the soil also changed.
- These microbial changes can affect wheat growth – The microbes influenced how wheat plants developed, including differences in root growth and early development – showing that soil life can directly shape how crops grow. In some cases, inoculated soils supported significantly different wheat shoot phenology and biomass, highlighting the downstream impact of microbial function on plant performance.
“Ultimately, my research suggests that microbial inoculants may not behave uniformly across soils, and that soil context plays a crucial role in shaping microbial function and plant–microbe outcomes. These findings have important implications for the design and application of microbial amendments in broadacre cropping systems,” Cameron explained.
Soil microbiomes remain an underutilised tool in Australian agriculture. Cameron’s research provides new insights into how microbial communities behave when introduced into different soil types and how they influence soil health and crop development.
“By understanding these dynamics, we can help farmers and agronomists make more informed decisions about when and where microbial inoculants are likely to be effective.
“This work offers practical, science-backed knowledge that supports growers in improving their soils, not just through fertiliser inputs, but by fostering microbial activity that enhances nutrient cycling, plant health, and resilience to stress. It’s a step toward more tailored, sustainable soil management across a diverse agricultural landscape.”
Cameron pictured during his PhD at Southern Cross University.
From the footy field to the laboratory
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” These words, attributed to anthropologist Margaret Mead, have guided Cameron for as long as he can remember.
“I grew up in Lennox Head NSW on Bundjalung Country, the eldest son of a conservation ecologist. Most weekends Dad had my siblings and me in gumboots, revegetating dunes with Lennox Landcare or planting casuarinas for Wetland Care Australia,” he said.
“Those mornings in the salt wind taught me that healthy ecosystems (and healthy communities) are built by collective effort and curiosity in equal measure.”
Cameron’s time at school only deepened that curiosity. In primary school, he collected weed seeds for show-and-tell. In Year 10, he spent his lunchtimes scorching Farmer’s Friend leaves with different contact herbicides to measure necrosis rates.
“That was my first real experiment and an early sign that agriculture, not just conservation, had captured my imagination,” he said.
After Year 12, Cameron accepted a contract to play rugby league with the Newcastle Knights under 20s team and a University of Newcastle scholarship for a Bachelor of Science. Rugby league dominated his first year at university, but lectures soon overtook line-breaks.
“A second-year plant physiology unit on nutrient signalling convinced me to trade my professional footy dreams for the glasshouse, and I graduated with honours investigating the way crops respond to stress through hormonal regulation.”
That project led to two formative seasons in Wagga Wagga, NSW. Cameron joined the NSW Department of Primary Industries as a cereal-agronomy technical officer, trialling time of sowing for wheat and barley across Riverina soils.
“In the same period, I collaborated with CSIRO’s Wagga team on a national project mapping genotype-by-environment interactions in dryland farming systems. Field days, pre-dawn harvests and data-crunching with both agencies showed me how rigorously applied science can lift farm profitability and environmental stewardship at once.”
Both experiences also highlighted that soil biology can shape crop calendars just as much as climate and genetics, and Cameron was keen to dig deeper. Southern Cross University professor and Soil CRC project leader, Professor Terry Rose, alerted him to the Soil CRC PhD scholarship opportunity investigating soil microbial communities.
“The topic braided my agronomy experience with a chance to illuminate the hidden engine driving crop timing and resilience,” Cameron said. “Believing that decoding soil–microbe–plant links could deliver steadier yields and lower inputs for growers, I swapped the ute for the lab bench and began the doctorate.”
Cameron’s PhD experience
Cameron said one of the most rewarding aspects of his PhD was learning from his supervisors – Professor Terry Rose, Associate Professor Mick Rose, Dr Lukas Van Zwieten, and Dr Abe Gibson.
“Each brought their own mix of professional insight and life advice that helped shape not just my research, but my perspective on science and work.
“I also appreciated the support I received from the Soil CRC, specifically PhD Program Manager Dr Cassandra Wardle, and valued the opportunity to network with the wider Soil CRC community and build relationships with other PhD students,” he said.
Cameron’s PhD journey ran alongside some of life’s most meaningful moments: he bought a house, got married and welcomed his first child.
“I really enjoyed the challenge of a doing a PhD – it pushed me out of my comfort zone, forced me to think differently, and gave me the chance to grow as both a researcher and a person.”
What comes next?
Cameron is now working with Soil CRC researcher Dr Kattie Weigh and Program Leader Dr Lukas Van Zwieten at the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in Wollongbar NSW.
“We’re delivering two projects – one investigating herbicide residue persistence in soils, and the other focused on unlocking the potential of agricultural soils through improved management and amendment strategies,” he said.
“It’s been a great opportunity to apply my research skills in a practical context and continue contributing to the future of sustainable agriculture.”
Cameron at work with the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
Not one to remain idle, Cameron has also started a Master of Teaching at La Trobe University, after being accepted into the NEXUS program, which supports early to mid-career professionals transitioning into teaching.
“I’m excited by the chance to bring my scientific background into the classroom and help inspire the next generation of thinkers and problem solvers,” he enthused.
“Ultimately, every spreadsheet, field day and lesson plan comes back to my own kids. If I can hand them a landscape that’s a little healthier, a community that’s a little fairer, and a public more scientifically literate than the one I inherited, I’ll count my life well spent.”