Professor Jonathan R Leake

School of Biosciences

Professor of Plant-Soil Interactions

j.r.leake@sheffield.ac.uk
C53, Alfred Denny Building

Full contact details

Professor Jonathan R Leake
School of Biosciences
C53
Alfred Denny Building
Western Bank
Sheffield
S10 2TN
Profile
  • BSc (1984) University of Bristol
  • PhD (1988) University of Sheffield
  • NERC Postdoctoral Research Assistant, Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1988-1990)
  • Temporary Lecturer, Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1990)
  • Lecturer, Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (1990-2003)
  • Senior Lecturer, Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield (2003-2006)
  • Reader in Plant-Soil interactions, School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield (2007-2012)
Research interests
  • Regenerative agriculture and soil health - in collaboration with UK farmers, investigating combinations of agricultural management practices that best improve soil health and climate resilience, reduce requirements for expensive inputs, and delivers better yields or margins for farmers. A particular focus is on long-term effects of integrating grass-clover or herbal leys into arable rotations, and subsequent soil health, and crop performance using direct drolling compared to ploughing.
  • Cost-effective monitoring of arable soil health - applying and evaluating the effectiveness of measurement of >2mm water-stable macro-aggregates (Guest et al., 2022) and soil organic C and N in the resulting two soil fractions to quantify soil health and its improvement in arable fields resulting from more sustainable management practices.
  • Sustainable agriculture and horticulture - adding basaltic rock dusts to improve grassland and cropland production and reduce net greenhouse gas emissions, and the use of low-energy input hydroponic horticulture to grow salad crops in unheated polytunnels.
  • Mycorrhizal fungi - their networks of power and influence - from nano-to-global scales - use carbon isotope tracers to quantify energy passing from plants to their symbiotic root-inflecting mycorrhizal fungi and how it is used by these fungi: (i) to drive mineral weathering, (ii) in nutrient and carbon cycling and (iii) to empower interactions with other soil organisms (fungi, plants, and fungal-feeding collembolans).
  • Myco-heterotrophy: plants parasitic on fungi - about 10% of all plant species are myco-heterotrophic for part of their life, including most orchids. Over 400 species are fully myco-heterotrophic (Leake 1994). My interests are in understanding their evolution, adaptive features, life cycles, ecology, physiology, functioning and their critical fungal partners. 
Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Field KJ, Rimington WR, Bidartondo MI, Allinson KE, Beerling DJ, Cameron DD, Duckett JG, Leake JR & Pressel S (2015) . ISME Journal, 10(6), 1514-1526.
  • Field KJ, Leake JR, Tille S, Allinson KE, Rimington WR, Bidartondo MI, Beerling DJ & Cameron DD (2015) . New Phytologist, 205(4), 1492-1502.
  • Field KJ, Rimington WR, Bidartondo MI, Allinson KE, Beerling DJ, Cameron DD, Duckett JG, Leake JR & Pressel S (2014) . New Phytologist, 205(2), 743-756.
  • Edmondson JL, Leake JR, Davies ZG & Gaston KJ (2014) . Journal of Applied Ecology.
  • Quirk J, Andrews MY, Leake JR, Banwart SA & Beerling DJ (2014) . Biology Letters, 10(7).
  • Edmondson JL, Davies ZG, McCormack SA, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2014) . Sci Total Environ, 472, 444-453.
  • Quirk J, Leake JR, Banwart SA, Taylor LL & Beerling DJ (2014) . Biogeosciences, 11(2), 321-331.
  • Leake JR (2005) . Mycologist, 19(3), 113-122.
  • Leake JR (2004) . Curr Opin Plant Biol, 7(4), 422-428.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR & Read DJ (2001) Novel in-growth core system enables functional studies of grassland mycorrhizal mycelial networks. NEW PHYTOL, 152(3), 555-562.
  • LEAKE JR (1994) THE BIOLOGY OF MYCO-HETEROTROPHIC (SAPROPHYTIC) PLANTS. NEW PHYTOL, 127(2), 171-216.

All publications

Journal articles

  • Berthon K, Wade R, Chapman P, Jaworski CC, Leake JR, McHugh N, Collins L, Daniell T, Zhao Y, Watt P , Doherty B et al (2025) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 380(1935).
  • Biffi S, Chapman PJ, Grayson RP, Holden J, Leake JR, Armitage H, Hunt SFP & Ziv G (2025) . Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 382, 109471-109471.
  • Llanos J, Hipperson H, Horsburgh G, Lappage MG, Maher KH, Burke T, Leake JR & Watt PJ (2025) . Science of The Total Environment, 968.
  • Bell D, Leake J, Beerling D & Epihov D (2025) .
  • Berthon K, Jaworski CC, Beacham JD, Jackson P, Leake J, McHugh NM, Capstick L, Daniell T, Krzywoszynska A, Cameron D , Holland J et al (2024) . Environmental Research: Food Systems, 1(2).
  • Cooledge EC, Kendall NR, Leake JR, Chadwick DR & Jones DL (2024) . Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 367, 108991-108991.
  • Read DJ, Haggar J, Magkourilou E, Durant E, Johnson D, Leake JR & Field KJ (2024) . New Phytologist.
  • Cooledge EC, Sturrock CJ, Atkinson BS, Mooney SJ, Brailsford FL, Murphy DV, Leake JR, Chadwick DR & Jones DL (2024) . Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 365, 108928-108928.
  • Taylor CR, England LC, Keane JB, Davies JAC, Leake JR, Hartley IP, Smart SM, Janes‐Bassett V & Phoenix GK (2024) . Global Change Biology, 30(1).
  • Ali M, Koh L, Acquaye A, Leake J, Nickles J, Evans TP, Roberts G & Kemp D (2024) . The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 29(3), 456-468.
  • Jaworski CC, Krzywoszynska A, Leake JR & Dicks LV (2024) . Soil Use and Management, 40(1).
  • Ben Keane J, Hartley IP, Taylor CR, Leake JR, Hoosbeek MR, Miglietta F & Phoenix GK (2023) . Nature Geoscience, 16(8), 704-709.
  • Guest EJ, Palfreeman LJ, Holden J, Chapman PJ, Firbank LG, Lappage MG, Helgason T & Leake JR (2022) . Science of The Total Environment, 852.
  • Austen N, Tille S, Berdeni D, Firbank LG, Lappage M, Nelson M, Helgason T, Marshall-Harries E, Hughes HB, Summers R , Cameron DD et al (2022) . Frontiers in Plant Science, 13.
  • Alobwede E, Cotton A, Leake JR & Pandhal J (2022) . Phycology, 2(3), 297-318.
  • (2022) . Frontiers of Agricultural Science and Engineering, 0(0), 0-0.
  • Matysek M, Leake J, Banwart S, Johnson I, Page S, Kaduk J, Smalley A, Cumming A & Zona D (2022) . Soil Use and Management, 38(1), 341-354.
  • Jackson P, Cameron D, Rolfe S, Dicks LV, Leake J, Caton S, Dye L, Young W, Choudhary S, Evans D , Adolphus K et al (2021) . Nutrition Bulletin, 46(4), 497-505.
  • Prendergast-Miller MT, Jones DT, Berdeni D, Bird S, Chapman PJ, Firbank L, Grayson R, Helgason T, Holden J, Lappage M , Leake J et al (2021) . Science of the Total Environment, 789.
  • Lewis AL, Sarkar B, Wade P, Kemp SJ, Hodson ME, Taylor LL, Yeong KL, Davies K, Nelson PN, Bird MI , Kantola IB et al (2021) . Applied Geochemistry, 132.
  • Berdeni D, Turner A, Grayson RP, Llanos J, Holden J, Firbank LG, Lappage MG, Hunt SPF, Chapman PJ, Hodson ME , Helgason T et al (2021) . Soil and Tillage Research, 212.
  • Epihov DZ, Saltonstall K, Batterman SA, Hedin LO, Hall JS, van Breugel M, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2021) . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(11).
  • Paparokidou C, Leake JR, Beerling DJ & Rolfe SA (2021) . Mycorrhiza, 31(1), 69-83.
  • Kelland ME, Wade PW, Lewis AL, Taylor LL, Sarkar B, Andrews MG, Lomas MR, Cotton TEA, Kemp SJ, James RH , Pearce CR et al (2020) . Global Change Biology, 26(6), 3658-3676.
  • Hallam J, Berdeni D, Grayson R, Guest EJ, Holden J, Lappage MG, Prendergast-Miller MT, Robinson DA, Turner A, Leake JR & Hodson ME (2020) . Science of The Total Environment, 713.
  • Phoenix GK, Johnson DA, Muddimer SP, Leake JR & Cameron DD (2020) . Nature Plants, 6(4), 349-354.
  • Grafius DR, Edmondson JL, Norton BA, Clark R, Mears M, Leake JR, Corstanje R, Harris JA & Warren PH (2020) . Scientific Reports, 10(1).
  • Edmondson J, Cunningham H, Densley Tingley D, Dobson M, Grafius D, Leake J, McHugh N, Nickles J, Phoenix G, Ryan A , Stovin V et al (2020) . Nature Food, 1, 155-159.
  • Edmondson JL, Childs DZ, Dobson MC, Gaston KJ, Warren PH & Leake JR (2020) . Science of The Total Environment, 705.
  • Stein WE, Berry CM, Morris JL, Hernick LV, Mannolini F, Ver Straeten C, Landing E, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH, Beerling DJ & Leake JR (2020) . Current Biology, 30(3), 421-431.e2.
  • Field KJ, Bidartondo MI, Rimington WR, Hoysted GA, Beerling DJ, Cameron DD, Duckett JG, Leake JR & Pressel S (2019) . New Phytologist, 223(2), 908-921.
  • Matysek M, Leake J, Banwart S, Johnson I, Page S, Kaduk J, Smalley A, Cumming A & Zona D (2019) . Science of the Total Environment, 667, 179-190.
  • Edmondson JL, Blevins R, Cunningham H, Dobson M, Leake J & Grafius D (2019) . Plants, People, Planet, 1(2), 93-97.
  • Holden J, Grayson RP, Berdeni D, Bird S, Chapman PJ, Edmondson JL, Firbank LG, Helgason T, Hodson ME, Hunt SFP , Jones DT et al (2019) . Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 273, 1-12.
  • Alobwede E, Leake JR & Pandhal J (2019) . Geoderma, 334, 113-123.
  • Beerling DJ, Leake JR, Long SP, Scholes JD, Ton J, Nelson PN, Bird M, Kantzas E, Taylor LL, Sarkar B , Kelland M et al (2018) . NATURE PLANTS, 4(6), 392-392.
  • Beerling DJ, Leake JR, Long SP, Scholes JD, Ton J, Nelson PN, Bird M, Kantzas E, Taylor LL, Sarkar B , Kelland M et al (2018) . Nature Plants, 4, 138-147.
  • Epihov DZ, Batterman SA, Hedin LO, Leake JR, Smith LM & Beerling DJ (2017) . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 284(1860).
  • Edmondson JL, Stott I, Davies ZG, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2016) . Scientific Reports, 6, 33708.
  • Allinson D, Irvine KN, Edmondson JL, Tiwary A, Hill G, Morris J, Bell M, Davies ZG, Firth SK, Fisher J , Gaston KJ et al (2016) . Applied Energy, 164, 871-881.
  • Field KJ, Rimington WR, Bidartondo MI, Allinson KE, Beerling DJ, Cameron DD, Duckett JG, Leake JR & Pressel S (2015) . ISME Journal, 10(6), 1514-1526.
  • McHugh N, Edmondson JL, Gaston KJ, Leake JR & O'Sullivan OS (2015) . Journal of Applied Ecology, 52(5), 1237-1245.
  • Morris JL, Leake JR, Stein WE, Berry CM, Marshall JEA, Wellman CH, Milton JA, Hillier S, Mannolini F, Quirk J & Beerling DJ (2015) . Palaeontology, 58(5), 787-801.
  • Thorley RMS, Taylor LL, Banwart SA, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2015) . Plant, Cell & Environment, 38(9), 1947-1961.
  • Quirk J, Leake JR, Johnson DA, Taylor LL, Saccone L & Beerling DJ (2015) . Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282(1813).
  • Schmalenberger A, Duran AL, Bray AW, Bridge J, Bonneville S, Benning LG, Romero-Gonzalez ME, Leake JR & Banwart SA (2015) . Scientific Reports, 5.
  • Edmondson JL, Stott I, Potter J, Lopez-Capel E, Manning DA, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2015) . Environmental Science and Technology, 49(14), 8339-8346.
  • Edmondson JL, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2015) . Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 13(5), 241-241.
  • Basto S, Thompson K, Phoenix G, Sloan V, Leake J & Rees M (2015) . Nature Communications, 6(1), ---.
  • Field KJ, Leake JR, Tille S, Allinson KE, Rimington WR, Bidartondo MI, Beerling DJ & Cameron DD (2015) . New Phytologist, 205(4), 1492-1502.
  • Field KJ, Rimington WR, Bidartondo MI, Allinson KE, Beerling DJ, Cameron DD, Duckett JG, Leake JR & Pressel S (2014) . New Phytologist, 205(2), 743-756.
  • Edmondson JL, Leake JR, Davies ZG & Gaston KJ (2014) . Journal of Applied Ecology.
  • Edmondson JL, O'Sullivan OS, Inger R, Potter J, McHugh N, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2014) . PLoS One, 9(7), e101872.
  • Quirk J, Andrews MY, Leake JR, Banwart SA & Beerling DJ (2014) . Biology Letters, 10(7).
  • Field CD, Dise NB, Payne RJ, Caporn SJM, Britton AJ, Helliwell RC, Emmett BA, Hughes S, Jones L, Lees S , Leake JR et al (2014) . Ecosystems.
  • Edmondson JL, Davies ZG, McCormack SA, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2014) . Sci Total Environ, 472, 444-453.
  • Quirk J, Leake JR, Banwart SA, Taylor LL & Beerling DJ (2014) . Biogeosciences, 11(2), 321-331.
  • Leake J, Johnson D, Donnelly D, Muckle G, Boddy L & Read D (2014) . Botany, 92(1), 83-83.
  • Quirk J, Leake JR, Banwart SA, Taylor LL & Beerling DJ (2013) .
  • Gazzè SA, Saccone L, Smits MM, Duran AL, Leake JR, Banwart SA, Ragnarsdottir KV & McMaster TJ (2013) . Geomicrobiology Journal, 30(8), 721-730.
  • Davies ZG, Dallimer M, Edmondson JL, Leake JR & Gaston KJ (2013) . Environmental Pollution, 183, 133-142.
  • Quirk J, McDowell NG, Leake JR, Hudson PJ & Beerling DJ (2013) . Am J Bot, 100(3), 582-591.
  • Davies ZG, Dallimer M, Edmondson JL, Leake JR & Gaston KJ (2013) Identifying potential sources of variability between vegetation carbon storage estimates for urban areas.. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987), 183, 133-142.
  • Edmondson JL, Davies ZG, McHugh N, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2012) . Sci Rep, 2, 963.
  • Turner BL, Lambers H, Cramer MD, Richardson AE, Condron LM, Leake JR & Smith SE (2012) . Plant and Soil, 1-10.
  • Leake JR & Cameron DD (2012) . Mol Ecol, 21(20), 4921-4924.
  • Gazz SA, Saccone L, Vala Ragnarsdottir K, Smits MM, Duran AL, Leake JR, Banwart SA & McMaster TJ (2012) . Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, 117(3).
  • Quirk J, Beerling DJ, Banwart SA, Kakonyi G, Romero-Gonzalez ME & Leake JR (2012) . Biol Lett, 8(6), 1006-1011.
  • Smits MM, Bonneville S, Benning LG, Banwart SA & Leake JR (2012) . Geobiology, 10(5), 445-456.
  • Field KJ, Cameron DD, Leake JR, Tille S, Bidartondo MI & Beerling DJ (2012) . Nat Commun, 3, 835.
  • Taylor LL, Banwart SA, Valdes PJ, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2012) . Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 367(1588), 565-582.
  • Beerling DJ, Taylor LL, Bradshaw CDC, Lunt DJ, Valdes PJ, Banwart SA, Pagani M & Leake JR (2012) . Journal of Ecology, 100(1), 31-41.
  • Saccone L, Gazzè SA, Duran AL, Leake JR, Banwart SA, Ragnarsdóttir KV, Smits MM & McMaster TJ (2012) . Biogeochemistry, 111(1-3), 411-425.
  • Haward SJ, Smits MM, Ragnarsdóttir KV, Leake JR, Banwart SA & Mcmaster TJ (2011) . Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 75(22), 6870-6881.
  • Davies ZG, Edmondson JL, Heinemeyer A, Leake JR & Gaston KJ (2011) . Journal of Applied Ecology, 48(5), 1125-1134.
  • Taylor LL, Banwart SA, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2011) . American Journal of Science, 311, 369-403.
  • Edmondson JL, Davies ZG, McCormack SA, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2011) . Biol Lett, 7(5), 771-774.
  • O'Sullivan OS, Horswill P, Phoenix GK, Lee JA & Leake JR (2011) . Global Change Biology, 17(8), 2615-2628.
  • O'sullivan OS, Horswill P, Phoenix GK, Lee JA & Leake JR (2011) Recovery of soil nitrogen pools in species-rich grasslands after 12 years of simulated pollutant nitrogen deposition: A 6-year experimental analysis. Global Change Biology.
  • Brantley SL, Megonigal JP, Scatena FN, Balogh-Brunstad Z, Barnes RT, Bruns MA, Van Cappellen P, Dontsova K, Hartnett HE, Hartshorn AS , Heimsath A et al (2011) . Geobiology, 9(2), 140-165.
  • Phoenix GK, Emmett BA, Britton AJ, Caporn SJM, Dise NB, Helliwell R, Jones L, Leake JR, Leith ID, Sheppard LJ , Sowerby A et al (2011) Impacts of atmospheric nitrogen deposition: Responses of multiple plant and soil parameters across contrasting ecosystems in long-term field experiments. Global Change Biology.
  • Renforth P, Edmondson J, Leake JR, Gaston KJ & Manning DAC (2011) . Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers Urban Design and Planning, 164(2), 121-128.
  • Andrews MY, Leake JR, Palmer BG, Banwart SA & Beerling DJ (2011) Plant and mycorrhizal driven silicate weathering: Quantifying carbon flux and mineral weathering processes at the laboratory mesocosm scale. Applied Geochemistry.
  • Humphreys CP, Franks PJ, Rees M, Bidartondo MI, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2010) . Nat Commun, 1, 103.
  • Leake JR & Cameron DD (2010) Physiological ecology of mycoheterotrophy. NEW PHYTOL, 185(3), 601-605.
  • Leake JR, Adam-Bradford A & Rigby JE (2009) . Environ Health, 8 Suppl 1(Suppl 1), S6.
  • Bonneville S, Smits MM, Brown A, Harrington J, Leake JR, Brydson R & Benning LG (2009) . GEOLOGY, 37(7), 615-618.
  • Taylor LL, Leake JR, Quirk J, Hardy K, Banwart SA & Beerling DJ (2009) . Geobiology, 7(2), 171-191.
  • Arróniz-Crespo M, Leake JR, Horton P & Phoenix GK (2008) . New Phytol, 180(4), 864-874.
  • Cameron DD, Johnson I, Read DJ & Leake JR (2008) . New Phytol, 180(1), 176-184.
  • Leake JR, Cameron DD & Beerling DJ (2008) . New Phytol, 177(3), 572-576.
  • Leake JR, Duran AL, Hardy KE, Johnson I, Beerling DJ, Banwart SA & Smits MM (2008) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, 72(1), 85-89.
  • Horswill P, O'Sullivan O, Phoenix GK, Lee JA & Leake JR (2008) . Environ Pollut, 155(2), 336-349.
  • Burrell M, Bendall L, Earnshaw C, Clench M, Read D & Leake J (2007) . Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology, 146(4), S222-S222.
  • Cameron DD, Johnson I, Leake JR & Read DJ (2007) . Ann Bot, 99(5), 831-834.
  • Leake JR, Ostle NJ, Rangel-Castro JI & Johnson D (2006) . APPL SOIL ECOL, 33(2), 152-175.
  • Cameron DD, Leake JR & Read DJ (2006) . New Phytol, 171(2), 405-416.
  • Leake JR (2005) . Mycologist, 19(3), 113-122.
  • Johnson D, Krsek M, Wellington EMH, Stott AW, Cole L, Bardgett RD, Read DJ & Leake JR (2005) . SCIENCE, 309(5737), 1047-1047.
  • Read DJ, Leake JR & Perez-Moreno J (2005) . CAN J BOT, 83(8), 1073-1073.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR & Read DJ (2005) . PLANT SOIL, 271(1-2), 157-164.
  • Phoenix GK, Leake JR, Read DJ, Grime JP & Lee JA (2005) . Water, Air, & Soil Pollution: Focus, 4(6), 159-167.
  • Phoenix GK, Leake JR, Read DJ, Grime JP & Lee JA (2004) . Water Air and Soil Pollution Focus, 4(6), 159-167.
  • Leake JR (2004) . Curr Opin Plant Biol, 7(4), 422-428.
  • Leake JR, McKendrick SL, Bidartondo M & Read DJ (2004) . NEW PHYTOL, 163(2), 405-423.
  • Johnson D, Vandenkoornhuyse PJ, Leake JR, Gilbert L, Booth RE, Grime JP, Young JPW & Read DJ (2004) . NEW PHYTOL, 161(2), 503-515.
  • Phoenix GK, Booth RE, Leake JR, Read DJ, Grime JP & Lee JA (2004) . NEW PHYTOL, 161(1), 279-289.
  • Donnelly DP, Boddy L & Leake JR (2004) . Mycorrhiza, 14(1), 37-45.
  • Johnson D, Booth RE, Whiteley AS, Bailey MJ, Read DJ, Grime JP & Leake JR (2003) . EUR J SOIL SCI, 54(4), 671-677.
  • Phoenix GK, Booth RE, Leake JR, Read DJ, Grime JP & Lee JA (2003) Effects of enhanced nitrogen deposition and phosphorus limitation on nitrogen budgets of semi-natural grasslands. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOL, 9(9), 1309-1321.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR & Read DJ (2002) Transfer of recent photosynthate into mycorrhizal mycelium of an upland grassland: short-term respiratory losses and accumulation of C-14. SOIL BIOL BIOCHEM, 34(10), 1521-1524.
  • Bidartondo MI, Redecker D, Hijri I, Wiemken A, Bruns TD, Dominguez L, Sersic A, Leake JR & Read DJ (2002) . NATURE, 419(6905), 389-392.
  • McKendrick SL, Leake JR, Taylor DL & Read DJ (2002) Symbiotic germination and development of the myco-heterotrophic orchid Neottia nidus-avis in nature and its requirement for locally distributed Sebacina spp.. NEW PHYTOL, 154(1), 233-247.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR, Ostle N, Ineson P & Read DJ (2002) In situ (CO2)-C-13 pulse-labelling of upland grassland demonstrates a rapid pathway of carbon flux from arbuscular mycorrhizal mycelia to the soil. NEW PHYTOL, 153(2), 327-334.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR & Read DJ (2001) Novel in-growth core system enables functional studies of grassland mycorrhizal mycelial networks. NEW PHYTOL, 152(3), 555-562.
  • Leake JR (2001) Is diversity of ectomycorrhizal fungi important for ecosystem function?. NEW PHYTOL, 152(1), 1-3.
  • Emmerton KS, Callaghan TV, Jones HE, Leake JR, Michelsen A & Read DJ (2001) Assimilation and isotopic fractionation of nitrogen by mycorrhizal fungi. NEW PHYTOL, 151(2), 503-511.
  • Emmerton KS, Callaghan TV, Jones HE, Leake JR, Michelsen A & Read DJ (2001) Assimilation and isotopic fractionation of nitrogen by mycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal subarctic plants. NEW PHYTOL, 151(2), 513-524.
  • Whiting SN, Leake JR, McGrath SP & Baker AJM (2001) Assessment of Zn mobilization in the rhizosphere of Thlaspi caerulescens by bioassay with non-accumulator plants and soil extraction. PLANT SOIL, 237(1), 147-156.
  • Whiting SN, Leake JR, McGrath SP & Baker AJM (2001) Zinc accumulation by Thlaspi caerulescens from soils with different Zn availability: a pot study. PLANT SOIL, 236(1), 11-18.
  • Whiting SN, Leake JR, McGrath SP & Baker AJ (2001) . Environ Sci Technol, 35(15), 3237-3241.
  • Leake JR, Donnelly DP, Saunders EM, Boddy L & Read DJ (2001) . Tree Physiol, 21(2-3), 71-82.
  • McKendrick SL, Leake JR & Read DJ (2000) Symbiotic germination and development of myco-heterotrophic plants in nature: transfer of carbon from ectomycorrhizal Salix repens and Betula pendula to the orchid Corallorhiza trifida through shared hyphal connections. NEW PHYTOL, 145(3), 539-548.
  • Whiting SN, Leake JR, McGrath SP & Baker AJM (2000) Positive responses to Zn and Cd by roots of the Zn and Cd hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens. NEW PHYTOL, 145(2), 199-210.
  • McKendrick SL, Leake JR, Taylor DL & Read DJ (2000) Symbiotic germination and development of myco-heterotrophic plants in nature: ontogeny of Corallorhiza trifida and characterization of its mycorrhizal fungi. NEW PHYTOL, 145(3), 523-537.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR & Lee JA (1999) The effects of quantity and duration of simulated pollutant nitrogen deposition on root-surface phosphatase activities in calcareous and acid grasslands: a bioassay approach. NEW PHYTOL, 141(3), 433-442.
  • Tibbett M, Sanders FE, Cairney JWG & Leake JR (1999) Temperature regulation of extracellular proteases in ectomycorrhizal fungi (Hebeloma spp.) grown in axenic culture. MYCOL RES, 103, 707-714.
  • Johnson D, Leake JR, Lee JA & Campbell CD (1998) Changes in soil microbial biomass and microbial activities in response to 7 years simulated pollutant nitrogen deposition on a heathland and two grasslands. ENVIRON POLLUT, 103(2-3), 239-250.
  • Myers MD & Leake JR (1996) Phosphodiesters as mycorrhizal P sources .2. Ericoid mycorrhiza and the utilization of nuclei as a phosphorus and nitrogen source by Vaccinium macrocarpon. NEW PHYTOL, 132(3), 445-451.
  • Leake JR & Miles W (1996) Phosphodiesters as mycorrhizal P sources .1. Phosphodiesterase production and the utilization of DNA as a phosphorus source by the ericoid mycorrhizal fungus Hymenoscyphus ericae. NEW PHYTOL, 132(3), 435-443.
  • LEAKE JR (1994) THE BIOLOGY OF MYCO-HETEROTROPHIC (SAPROPHYTIC) PLANTS. NEW PHYTOL, 127(2), 171-216.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1991) PROTEINASE ACTIVITY IN MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI .3. EFFECTS OF PROTEIN, PROTEIN HYDROLYSATE, GLUCOSE AND AMMONIUM ON PRODUCTION OF EXTRACELLULAR PROTEINASE BY HYMENOSCYPHUS-ERICAE (READ) KORF AND KERNAN. NEW PHYTOL, 117(2), 309-317.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1991) EXPERIMENTS WITH ERICOID MYCORRHIZA. METHOD MICROBIOL, 23, 435-459.
  • SHAW G, LEAKE JR, BAKER AJM & READ DJ (1990) THE BIOLOGY OF MYCORRHIZA IN THE ERICACEAE .17. THE ROLE OF MYCORRHIZAL INFECTION IN THE REGULATION OF IRON UPTAKE BY ERICACEOUS PLANTS. NEW PHYTOL, 115(2), 251-258.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1990) PROTEINASE ACTIVITY IN MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI .2. THE EFFECTS OF MINERAL AND ORGANIC NITROGEN-SOURCES ON INDUCTION OF EXTRACELLULAR PROTEINASE IN HYMENOSCYPHUS-ERICAE (READ) KORF AND KERNAN. NEW PHYTOL, 116(1), 123-128.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1990) PROTEINASE ACTIVITY IN MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI .1. THE EFFECT OF EXTRACELLULAR PH ON THE PRODUCTION AND ACTIVITY OF PROTEINASE BY ERICOID ENDOPHYTES FROM SOILS OF CONTRASTED PH. NEW PHYTOL, 115(2), 243-250.
  • LEAKE JR, SHAW G & READ DJ (1990) THE BIOLOGY OF MYCORRHIZA IN THE ERICACEAE .16. MYCORRHIZA AND IRON UPTAKE IN CALLUNA-VULGARIS (L) HULL IN THE PRESENCE OF 2 CALCIUM SALTS. NEW PHYTOL, 114(4), 651-657.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1990) CHITIN AS A NITROGEN-SOURCE FOR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI. MYCOL RES, 94, 993-995.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1989) THE BIOLOGY OF MYCORRHIZA IN THE ERICACEAE .15. THE EFFECT OF MYCORRHIZAL INFECTION ON CALCIUM-UPTAKE BY CALLUNA-VULGARIS (L) HULL. NEW PHYTOL, 113(4), 535-544.
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1989) THE BIOLOGY OF MYCORRHIZA IN THE ERICACEAE .13. SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF THE EXTRACELLULAR PROTEINASE ACTIVITY OF THE ERICOID ENDOPHYTE HYMENOSCYPHUS-ERICAE. NEW PHYTOL, 112(1), 69-76.

Book chapters

  • Abbott LK, Alghamdi SA, Allen EB, Allen MF, Antunes PM, Bonfante P, Brzostek ER, Cameron DD, Clemmensen KE, Davidson SJ , Deckert RJ et al (2017) , Mycorrhizal Mediation of Soil (pp. xi-xii). Elsevier
  • Leake JR & Read DJ (2017) , Mycorrhizal Mediation of Soil (pp. 9-33). Elsevier
  • (2016) In McHugh N (Ed.), Urban Forests (pp. 37-58). Apple Academic Press
  • Edmondson JL, Davies ZG, Gaston KJ & Leake JR (2016) , Urban Horticulture Ecology Landscape and Agriculture (pp. 55-78).
  • Burrell M, Francese S, Cameron DD, Steels C, Bennett M, Wells D, Holman T, Leake J & Clench M (2010) , Acta medicinae legalis et socialis (pp. 311-317). Imprensa da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Leake JR (2007) , Fungi in the Environment (pp. 161-184). Cambridge University Press
  • Johnson D, Leake JR & Read DJ (2006) , Fungi in Biogeochemical Cycles (pp. 129-150). Cambridge University Press
  • Armstrong W, Hodgson JG, Booth RE, Gaitens P, Grime JP, Band SR, Mowforth MA, Crawford RMM, Bossard CC, Hillier SH , Leprince O et al (1993) , Methods in Comparative Plant Ecology (pp. 29-222). Springer Netherlands

Conference proceedings

  • Bridge JW, Bonneville S, Saccone L, Schmalenberger A, Duran A, Andrews M, Hardy K, Taylor L, Beerling D, Benning L , Leake J et al (2010) Constraining global-scale weathering models through nano-scale ectomycorrhiza-mineral interactions. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 74(12) (pp A123-A123)
  • Saccone L, Gazze SA, Ragnarsdottir KV, Leake JR, Duran AL, Hallam KR & McMaster TJ (2009) Paxillus involutus hyphae: Imaging their structure and interaction with mineral surfaces using AFM. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A1140-A1140)
  • Duran AL & Leake JR (2009) Effects of mineral type and grain size on EM fungal-mineral interactions. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A315-A315)
  • Leake JR, Duran AL, Johnson I, Bonneville S & Smits MM (2009) Hydroxyapatite weathering by pine mycorrhizas-The role of oxalic acid. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A732-A732)
  • Quirk J, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2009) Arbuscular mycorrhiza: Mineral-specific fungal interactions. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A1065-A1065)
  • Gazze SA, Ragsnarsdottir KV, Banwart SA, Leake JR & McMaster TJ (2009) Nanoscale imaging of ectomycorrhizal weathering processes on minerals. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A421-A421)
  • Schmalenberger A, Duran AL, Leake JR, Romero-Gonzales ME & Banwart SA (2009) Mineralogy controls oxalic acid release in mycorrhiza weathering. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A1177-A1177)
  • Taylor LL, Leake JR, Quirk J, Hardy K, Banwart SA & Beerling DJ (2009) Mycorrhizal evolution, biological weathering and the long-term carbon cycle. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A1318-A1318)
  • Banwart SA, Taylor LL, Leake JR & Beerling DJ (2009) Modelling the impact of biota and increasing atmospheric CO2 on silicate mineral weathering processes. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A84-A84)
  • Bonneville S, Morgan D, Brown A, Smits M, Duran A, Schmalenberger A, Leake JR, Banwart S, Brydson R & Benning LG (2009) Quantifying chemical weathering at the biotite-mycorrhiza interface. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 73(13) (pp A138-A138)
  • Smits MM, Bonneville S, Haward S & Leake JR (2008) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, Vol. 72(1) (pp 131-134)
  • McMaster TJ, Smits MM, Haward SJ, Leake JR, Banwart S & Ragnarsdottir KV (2008) . MINERALOGICAL MAGAZINE, Vol. 72(1) (pp 115-120)
  • Brown DJ, Banwart SA, Smits MM, Leake JR, Bonneville S, Benning LG, Haward SJ & Ragnarsdottir KV (2007) Biologically-mediated weathering of minerals from nanometre scale to environmental systems. GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA, Vol. 71(15) (pp A125-A125)
  • Leake JR, Johnson D, Donnelly DP, Muckle GE, Boddy L & Read DJ (2004) . CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE BOTANIQUE, Vol. 82(8) (pp 1016-1045)
  • Read DJ, Leake JR & Perez-Moreno J (2004) . CANADIAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY-REVUE CANADIENNE DE BOTANIQUE, Vol. 82(8) (pp 1243-1263)
  • LEAKE JR, SHAW G & READ DJ (1990) THE ROLE OF ERICOID MYCORRHIZAS IN THE ECOLOGY OF ERICACEOUS PLANTS. AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT, Vol. 29(1-4) (pp 237-250)
  • LEAKE JR & READ DJ (1990) THE EFFECTS OF PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS ON NITROGEN MOBILIZATION BY ERICOID MYCORRHIZAL SYSTEMS. AGRICULTURE ECOSYSTEMS & ENVIRONMENT, Vol. 29(1-4) (pp 225-236)

Preprints

  • Bell DS, Leake JR, Beerling DJ, Ton J & Epihov DZ (2024) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
  • Llanos J, Hipperson H, Horsburgh G, Lappage MG, Maher KH, Burke T, Leake JR & Watt PJ (2023) , Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
Research group

Research links and collaborations

  • Prof. Sir David Read FRS - University of Sheffield, UK
  • Dr. Duncan Cameron - University of Sheffield, UK
  • Prof. David Beerling - University of Sheffield, UK
  • Prof Margaret Bell and Dr Anil Namdeo - University of Newcastle, UK
  • Prof. Kevin Gaston - University of Exeter, UK
  • Prof. Kevin Lomas - University of Loughborough, UK
  • Prof. Mike Burrell - University of Sheffield, UK
  • Prof. Steven Banwart - University of Sheffield, UK
  • Prof. Vala Ragnarsdottir - University of Reykjavik, Iceland
  • Prof. Lianne Benning - University of Leeds, UK
  • Dr Terry McMaster - University of Bristol, UK
  • Dr. Martin I Bidartondo - Imperial College and Kew Gardens, UK

Postdoctoral research fellows

  • Dr Jill Edmondson - Measurement, Mapping, Modelling, Management (4M): An evidence-based methodology for understanding and shrinking the urban carbon footprint. Quantifying the urban soil and vegetation carbon pools within the city of Leicester (EPSRC SUE2 consortium grant jointly with Prof KJ Gaston).

Research students

  • Kirsty Elliott
  • Owen Hayman (co-supervised with Professor DJ Beerling)
  • Joseph Llanos (co-supervised with Professor P Warren)
  • Magdalena Matysek (co-supervised with Dr D Childs)

Research technicians

  • Irene Johnson - Research group technician maintaining laboratory fungal culture collection and coordinating mycorrhizal syntheses and isotope tracer studies. Deputy radiation protection officer. Departmental core funding.
  • Adele Duran - Biologically-Mediated Weathering of Minerals from Nanometre Scale to Environmental Systems. Funding NERC and WUN Weathering Science Consortium.
  • Dr David A Johnson - NERC grant jointly with Dr Gareth Phoenix and Dr Duncan Cameron.
  • Stefanie Tille - Functional and evolutionary significance of symbiotic fungal associations in lower land plants (NERC-funded project with Prof DJ Beerling and Dr DD Cameron).
Teaching activities

I am tutor for the Biology with a Year Abroad degrees, and member of the Departmental Teaching Committee. My teaching interests are in interdisciplinary science spanning between biology and the environment with particular focus on biogeochemical cycles of carbon nitrogen and phosphorus, plant-soil interactions, Earth-surface processes driven by plants and microorganisms, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, human impacts on terrestrial ecosystems and sustainability.

At Level 2 I teach and coordinate  (Environmental Interpretation Field Course) which is an interdisciplinary residential field course based at the edge of the Connemara region of Western Ireland. The course involves in-depth study of habitats, landscape-shaping processes and human impacts on natural ecosystems, providing wide-ranging training in methods for field description, sampling, quantification and interpretation of ecosystems and the environment.

At Level 3 I coordinate and teach two modules:

  •  (Sustainable Agro-Ecosystems) reviews the current threats to sustainable food production and natural ecosystems caused by intensive agriculture and unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. A major focus is on the foundational role of soils in providing the underpinning support to terrestrial ecosystems and agriculture, and the way soils have been abused and damaged by human actions.
  •  (Issues in Environmental Science) is a seminar and discussion-group based module that considers human impacts upon the environment and the sustainability of the planet, combining reviews of scientific evidence with public and professional opinions and attitudes.

I supervise Level 3 Projects () in a wide range of subjects concerning plant-environment interactions, nutrient cycling and biogeochemistry, and Level 3 Dissertations () in topics relating to symbiosis, food security, sustainability, urban ecology, and agro-ecosystem functioning.

I have supervised Level 4 MBiolSci and MRes students on projects involving plant root adaptations, host genotype variation in mycorrhiza functioning and soil carbon sequestration.

Professional activities and memberships
  • Fellow of the Institute of Soil Science (2015-)
  • Vice chair of the Farmer-Scientist Network of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society (2023-2026)
  • Advisor to the Editors of the New Phytologist (1997-present)
  • Editorial board of Mycological Research (1999-2003)
  • A strong track record of external speaking engagements to academics, farmers, land managers, agri-businesses etc