Beaton, Laura
Associate Professor
Biology
Phone: 718-262-5253
Office Location: AC-4E03B
lbeaton@york.cuny.edu
| Office Hours | |
|---|---|
| by appointment |
Education
| Degree | Institution | Field | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| PhD | McMaster University | Biology | 2004 |
| BS | McMaster University | 1997 | |
| non-degree | York College | Bridging the Gap Seminar Series | 2013 |
| certificate | City University of New York | Preparation for Teaching Online | 2012 |
| certificate | York College | Online Hybrid Course Development Program | 2011 |
I have three main areas of interest; (1) plant-herbivore interactions, (2) seed banks and seed dispersal, and (3) competition and allelopathy. I am conducting studies examining latitudinal gradients in defenses against herbivores in common sunflowers, effect of the seed bank of an invasive species on the germination and seedling establishment of several native species, the effects of competition on herbivore defense, and the ability of plants to acclimatize to a particular competitor.
Areas of Expertise
- Plant Ecology
Evolutionary Ecology
Seedling Ecology
Articles in Field Of Expertise
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Rothfels, C. J., L. L. Beaton, and S. A. Dudley. "The effects of salt, manganese, and density on life history traits in Hesperis matronalis L. from oldfield and roadside populations.." Canadian Journal of Botany. 80 2002: 131-139.
Beaton, L. L. and S. A. Dudley. "Tolerance to salinity and manganese in three common roadside species.." International Journal of Plant Science. 165 2004: 37-51.
Beaton, L. L. and S. A. Dudley. "The impact of solute leaching on the salt tolerance during germination of the common roadside plant Dipsacus fullonum subsp. sylvestris (Dipsaceae)." International Journal of Plant Sciences. 168 2007: 317-324.
Beaton, L. L. and S. A. Dudley. "Maternal effects and drought tolerance determine seedling establishment success in a common roadside plant, Dipsacus fullonum subsp sylvestris.." Botany. 88 2010: 930-936.
Beaton, L. L., P. A. Van Zandt, E. Esselman, and T. M. Knight.. "Comparison of modern and ancestral genotypes reveals rapid evolution in the competitive ability and herbivore defense of an invasive plant.." Oikos. 120 2011: 1413-1419.
Beaton, L. L. and S. A. Dudley. "Tolerance of roadside and oldfield populations of common teasel (Dipsacus fullonum subsp. sylvestris) to salt and low osmotic potentials during germination.." AofB Plants. 2013: .
Non Refereed Proceedings in Field Of Expertise
Presented Papers, Lectures, and Exhibitions and Performances
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" Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability in an Invasive Species " 2012: Eastern Connecticut State University.
" The role of maternal environment in the salt tolerance of a locally adapted roadside plant " 2005: Evolution, Fairbanks, Alaska.
" The impact of solute leaching on the salt tolerance of a roadside plant " 2004: Ontario Ecology and Ethology Colloquium, Toronto, Ontario.
" Salt and manganese tolerance in a common roadside plant " 2003: Plant Development Symposium, Hamilton, Ontario.
" Salt and manganese tolerance in two common species of " 2000: Ontario Ecology and Ethology Colloquium, Guelph, Ontario.
Professional Honors, Prizes, Fellowships
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President's Award for Student Research Engagement: 2012.
President's Award for Student Research Engagement: 2013.
Grants-In-Aid
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Professional Staff Congress - CUNY, The Ecology of Excess: Alternative roles for prolific seed production and the establishment of seedbanks. 2008: $4550.00.
Professional Staff Congress - CUNY, Ecogenomic Approach to the Evaluation of the Evolution of Increased Competitive Ability Hypothesis in the Invasive Species, Alliaria petiolata. 2009: $2900.00.
Professional Staff Congress -CUNY, Indirect Defenses in Invasive Species. 2010: $3000.
Professional Staff Congress -CUNY, Latitudinal Gradients in Herbivory Defense. 2012: $3500.
Professional Staff Congress, The effects of nitrogen on the competitive abilities and herbivore defenses of modern and ancestral genotypes of Melilotus officinalis (sweet yellow clover). 2013: $3500.
Professional Staff Congrtess - CUNY, Latitudinal Gradients in Competitive Ability. 2016: $3500.
Other Professional Activities and Public Service
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Junior Mathematics, Sciences and Humanities Symposium: Judge: 2009, 2010, 2013.
York College Science Fair: Judge: 2008, 2009, 2013.
New York City High School Science and Engineering Fair: Judge: 2008.
South East Queens Park Association - program development: 2010.
Reviewer for journals: American Naturalist, Botanical Bulletin of Academia Sinica, Functional Plant Biology, Invasive Plant Science and Management, Journal of Ecology, Journal of Experimental Botany, Plant Ecology, Plant Growth Regulation, Weed Science: .