Zealand (2001–2009). During her PhD at the Australian National
University (under the supervision of Graham Farquhar), Margaret
established herself as a leading authority on variability in oxygen
isotopes in plant tissues, and how such studies can be used to
understand the evaporative environment in which leaves develop
and function. Her work has been applied in a diverse range of
studies, ranging from selection of crops differing in water use and
yield through to those that seek to reconstruct past climates from
tree ring stable isotopes. Margaret has also established herself as a
leader in studies using stable isotopes and novel, laser-based
techniques to quantify terrestrial carbon and water exchange at the
atmosphere–vegetation–soil interface. An example of Margaret’s
expertise in stable isotopes is her 2011 paper using 13C-based
techniques to elucidate aspects of ecosystem carbon cycling
(Barbour et al., 2011). Margaret’s interests complement those of
the other Environment Section Editors – David Ackerly, Owen
Atkin, Amy Austin, Nate McDowell, Andrea Polle and Richard
Norby. While it may not have been fate that led to Margaret joining
New Phytologist as an Editor, what is clear is that her expertise will
ensure that authors working in the area of stable isotopes (including
studies investigating the fate of carbon) will receive input from a
leader in the field when they submit their best to the journal.