Sarah J Sapsford

Sarah J Sapsford is a DECRA Research Fellow at the Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Western Australia, with affiliations to the School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences. Her research examines how disturbances such as disease, fragmentation, and invasive species impact ecosystems, with specialized focus on fungal pathogens and mutualists and their interactions with plant hosts.

Her educational background includes a Doctor of Philosophy in Forest Ecology from Murdoch University (2014-2018) and a Master's Degree in Tropical Biology from James Cook University (2010-2013). These qualifications established her expertise in both theoretical and applied ecology across diverse ecosystems.

Dr. Sapsford's research interests center on understanding interactions among plant hosts, beneficial fungi such as mycorrhizal fungi, and plant pathogens, and how disturbances alter these relationships. She employs molecular techniques including high-throughput sequencing to examine fungal communities. Her work spans forest resilience to multiple stressors (drought, fire, disease), plant-soil feedback mechanisms, and the emergence of native diseases in response to anthropogenic disturbances. She leads the Ecosystem Disturbance Group, which investigates how various disturbances impact ecosystem structure and function, particularly in Mediterranean-type forests experiencing biodiversity loss.

Her recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on ecosystem disturbance, particularly examining how invasive species like non-native pines alter soil fungal communities and ecosystem functioning, and how these changes impact native forest health. Her research bridges theoretical ecological concepts with practical conservation and restoration applications, with significant implications for ecosystem management and invasive species control.

• Discovery Early Career Research Award from Australian Research Council (2022)
• Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment from Ecological Society of Australia (2014-2017)

Dr. Sapsford has held previous positions as a PostDoc at the University of Canterbury School of Biological Sciences (2018-2021) and as a Senior Adviser at New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (2021-2022). With 30 publications and extensive international collaborations, her work continues to advance our understanding of ecosystem responses to increasing anthropogenic pressures.