Dr Jonathan Newman

Head, Aquatic Plant Management Group

Current work

I am currently working on the ecology and management of non-native aquatic plants. I am also working with Dutch colleagues on joint UK/NL funded project to develop decision support systems for alien invasive species (EUPHRESCO-Declaim).

I am responsible for providing advice and information on aquatic plant management, as part of the national capability function in this area.

I am working with colleagues at CABI on the development of biological control methods using weevils for non-native aquatic macrophyte species.

I am working on the use of ultrasound to control algae.  I have developed a method of assessing immediate cellular damage to algal cells exposed to ultrasound, which is used to assess the effects of different frequencies and sound pressure intensities on various algal species.

Research interests

I am interested in aquatic plant ecophysiology, the interaction of plants with their environment

Brief CV

2004- present: Head of the Aquatic Plant Management Group at Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (Wallingford site).

1991-2004: IACR-Long Ashton and IACR-Rothamsted Research, Centre for Aquatic Plant Management, Sonning.

• Developed successful protocol for assessment of non-target effects on aquatic macrophytes with PSD
• Developed new method for detection of carbonic anhydrase in plants
• Optimised decomposing straw as a practical control for algae, including proven development of philosophical hypothesis on mode of action
• Demonstrated effect of ultrasound on algae
• Author of Environment Agency Aquatic Weed Control Guidelines
• Author of MAFF (Defra) guidelines for the use of herbicides in or near watercourses and lakes

1983-1987: St Andrews University, Plant Biology (IIi).

1987-1990: Dundee University PhD. Thesis: `Carbon assimilation by freshwater aquatic macrophytes' . Concentrated on Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. Pseudofluitans.

Selected publications

See also the NERC Open Research Archive.

Davies, J., Honegger, J., Tencalla, F., Meregalli, G., Brain, P., Newman, J.R. and Pitchford, H. (2003) New approaches for evaluating herbicide effects on non-target aquatic plants: Sulfosulfuron - A case study. Pest Management Science.

Newman, J.R. (2002) Management of Aquatic Weeds. In Naylor, R.E.L. (Ed.) Weed Management Handbook. 9th edition. Blackwell Science.

Newman, JR & Raven, J.A (1999) CO2 is the main source of inorganic carbon entering photosynthetically active leaf protoplasts of Ranunculus penicllatus ssp. pseudofluitans. Plant, Cell & Environment, 22:1019-1026.

Dawson, F.H and Newman, J.R (1998) Decline of Ranunculus in British rivers: true or false? Proceedings l0th EWRS Symposium on Aquatic Weeds, Lisbon, September, 1998. 95-98.

Newman, J.R (1998) Ecology, Physiology and potential exposure scenarios of non-target aquatic plants. Proceedings of SETAC Annual Meeting, Bordeaux, April 1998. 118.

Newman, JR, Dawson, FH, Chadd, S and Rouen, K.J. (1997) Biological Methods Manual for the Assessment of Trophic Status of Rivers. R&D Technical Report E1 i694104

Dawson, F H, Newman, J R and Gravelle, M J (1997). Assessment of the Trophic Status of Rivers using Macrophytes. Evaluation of the Mean Trophic Rank. 125 pp. Environment Agency R&D Technical Report E1-i694.

Newman, JR & Raven, JA (1995) Photosynthetic carbon assimilation by Crassula helmsii. Oecologia, 101: 494-499.

Newman, JR & Raven, JA (1993) Carbonic anhydrase in Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. Pseudofluitans: activity, location and implications for carbon assimilation. Plant, Cell & Environment, 16: 491-500.

Newman, JR & Barrett, PRF (1993) Control of Microcystis aeruginosa by decomposing barley straw. Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, 31: 203-206.