KristenPage3

I'm a doctoral student in the Ecology IGDP at Penn State. While earning a B.A. in Biology at Wellesley College, I developed an interest in plant ecophysiology--specifically, how plants respond to their environment and the implications these responses have for the community and ecosystem.

My project, in collaboration with researchers at Washington State, investigates how the maturation environment of the parent plant affects seed longevity in the soil. Our experimental species is Avena fatua (wild oat), which is a problematic weed in agricultural systems throughout Europe, Australia, and North America.

Using GC-MS analysis and germination experiments, I am currently looking at the influence of environmental factors on phenolic compound composition in the seeds, and the effects of these compounds on three factors that contribute to seed persistence: dormancy, resistance to microbial decay, and vigor. Through this study, I hope to gain insight into the regulation of seed bank dynamics, leading to an increased understanding of the mechanisms governing the distribution and abundance of weedy species. Greater knowledge of these processes may lead to more effective and ecological management of weeds.

		Kristen Granger Ph.D. Candidate Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Ecology Office: 217 ASI Building Phone: (814) 863-7605 Email: klg297@psu.edu
	Personnel	Personal Statement I'm a doctoral student in the Ecology IGDP at Penn State. While earning a B.A. in Biology at Wellesley College, I developed an interest in plant ecophysiology--specifically, how plants respond to their environment and the implications these responses have for the community and ecosystem. My project, in collaboration with researchers at Washington State, investigates how the maturation environment of the parent plant affects seed longevity in the soil. Our experimental species is Avena fatua (wild oat), which is a problematic weed in agricultural systems throughout Europe, Australia, and North America. Using GC-MS analysis and germination experiments, I am currently looking at the influence of environmental factors on phenolic compound composition in the seeds, and the effects of these compounds on three factors that contribute to seed persistence: dormancy, resistance to microbial decay, and vigor. Through this study, I hope to gain insight into the regulation of seed bank dynamics, leading to an increased understanding of the mechanisms governing the distribution and abundance of weedy species. Greater knowledge of these processes may lead to more effective and ecological management of weeds.
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