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Natural Sciences

Dr Karen Bacon

B.Sc., PhD

Contact Details

Lecturer
Botany & Plant Sciences
Martin Ryan Institute
T: 0035391493208
E: karen.bacon@nuigalway.ie
Twitter: KarenL_Bacon
 
researcher
 

Biography

My research spans palaeobotany to modern plant ecology and incorporates elements of plant biology, geology and chemistry.  I am particularly interested in understanding how plants respond to environmental change both in a modern context and in relation to environmental upheavals, such as mass extinctions, in the geological record. I am also interested in taphonomy, the science of fossil preservation, and understanding what quality of information can be determined from the fossil record.  My modern ecological research focuses on invasive species, plant chemistry, ecosystem services, and plant biodiversity/responses to Anthropogenic pressures. 

Peer Reviewed Journals

  Year Publication
(2021) 'Regeneration and growth in crowns and rhizome fragments of Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) and desiccation as a potential control strategy'
Lawson, J.W., Fennell, M., Smith, M.W., and Bacon, K.L. (2021) 'Regeneration and growth in crowns and rhizome fragments of Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) and desiccation as a potential control strategy'. Peerj, [Details]
(2021) 'Effects of Sulfur Dioxide Exposure on Leaf Mass per Area of Selected Gymnosperms and Implications for Interpreting the Plant Fossil Record'
Karen L. Bacon, Matthew Haworth, Jennifer C. McElwain (2021) 'Effects of Sulfur Dioxide Exposure on Leaf Mass per Area of Selected Gymnosperms and Implications for Interpreting the Plant Fossil Record'. International Journal Of Plant Sciences, 182 (6):564-575 [Details]
(2020) 'Extinction risk and threats to plants and fungi'
Nic Lughadha, E., Bachman, SP., Leao, T., Forest, F., Halley, J., Moat, J., Acedo, C., Bacon, KL., Brewer, R., Gateble, G., Goncalves, SP., Govaerts, R., Hollingsworth, P., de Lirio, EJ., Moore, P., Negrao, R., Reich, P., Richards, S., Rivers, M., Cooper, A., Iganci, J., Smidt, E., Antonelli, A., Mueller, GM., & Walker, E. (2020) 'Extinction risk and threats to plants and fungi'. Plants People Planet, 2 (5):389-408 [Details]
(2021) 'Sudden challenges in teaching ecology and aligned disciplines during a global pandemic: reflections on the rapid move online and perspectives on moving forward'
Karen L. Bacon Julie Peacock (2021) 'Sudden challenges in teaching ecology and aligned disciplines during a global pandemic: reflections on the rapid move online and perspectives on moving forward'. Ecology And Evolution, [Details]
(2021) 'Teaching and learning in ecology: a horizon scan of emerging challenges and solutions'
Julia Cooke, Yoseph Araya, Karen L Bacon, Joanna M Bagniewska, Lesley Batty, Tom R Bishop, Moya Burns, Magda Charalambous, David R Daversa, Liam R Dougherty, Miranda Dyson, Adam M Fisher, Dan Forman, Cristina Garcia, Ewan Harney, Thomas Hesselberg, Elizabeth A John, Rob Knell, Kadmiel Maseyk, Alice L Mauchline, Julie Peacock, Angelo P Pernetta, Jeremy Pritchard, William J Sutherland, Rebecca L Thomas, Barbara Tigar, Philip Wheeler, Rachel L White, Nicholas T Worsfold, Zenobia Lewis (2021) 'Teaching and learning in ecology: a horizon scan of emerging challenges and solutions'. Oikos, 130 (1):15-28 [Details]
(2018) 'Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica): an analysis of capacity to cause structural damage (compared to other plants) and typical rhizome extension'
Fennell M;Wade M;Bacon KL; (2018) 'Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica): an analysis of capacity to cause structural damage (compared to other plants) and typical rhizome extension'. Peerj, 6 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Economic value of trees in the estate of the Harewood House stately home in the United Kingdom'
Peacock, J., Ting, J., & Bacon, K.L. (2018) 'Economic value of trees in the estate of the Harewood House stately home in the United Kingdom'. Peerj, 6 (e5411) [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Cuticle surfaces of fossil plants as a potential proxy for volcanic SO2 emissions: observations from the Triassic-Jurassic transition of East Greenland'
Steinthorsdottir, M;Elliott-Kingston, C;Bacon, KL (2018) 'Cuticle surfaces of fossil plants as a potential proxy for volcanic SO2 emissions: observations from the Triassic-Jurassic transition of East Greenland'. Palaeobiodiversity And Palaeoenvironments, 98 :49-69 [DOI] [Details]
(2018) 'Global peatland initiation driven by regionally asynchronous warming'
Morris PJ;Swindles GT;Valdes PJ;Ivanovic RF;Gregoire LJ;Smith MW;Tarasov L;Haywood AM;Bacon KL; (2018) 'Global peatland initiation driven by regionally asynchronous warming'. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America, 115 (19) [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Palaeo leaf economics reveal a shift in ecosystem function associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction event'
Soh WK;Wright IJ;Bacon KL;Lenz TI;Steinthorsdottir M;Parnell AC;McElwain JC; (2017) 'Palaeo leaf economics reveal a shift in ecosystem function associated with the end-Triassic mass extinction event'. Nature Plants, 3 [DOI] [Details]
(2017) 'Questioning ten common assumptions about peatlands'
Bacon, KL;Baird, AJ;Blundell, A;Bourgault, MA;Chapman, PJ;Dargie, G;Dooling, GP;Gee, C;Holden, J;Kelly, T;McKendrick-Smith, KA;Morris, PJ;Noble, A;Palmer, SM;Quillet, A;Swindles, GT;Watson, EJ;Young, DM (2017) 'Questioning ten common assumptions about peatlands'. Mires And Peat, 19 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Could a potential Anthropocene mass extinction define a new geological period?'
Bacon, KL;Swindles, GT (2016) 'Could a potential Anthropocene mass extinction define a new geological period?'. Anthropocene Review, 3 :208-217 [DOI] [Details]
(2016) 'Can atmospheric composition influence plant fossil preservation potential via changes in leaf mass per area? A new hypothesis based on simulated palaeoatmosphere experiments'
Bacon, KL;Haworth, M;Conroy, E;McElwain, JC (2016) 'Can atmospheric composition influence plant fossil preservation potential via changes in leaf mass per area? A new hypothesis based on simulated palaeoatmosphere experiments'. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology, 464 :51-64 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'Spheroidal carbonaceous particles are a defining stratigraphic marker for the Anthropocene'
Swindles GT;Watson E;Turner TE;Galloway JM;Hadlari T;Wheeler J;Bacon KL; (2015) 'Spheroidal carbonaceous particles are a defining stratigraphic marker for the Anthropocene'. Scientific Reports, 5 [DOI] [Details]
(2015) 'First discovery of Holocene cryptotephra in Amazonia'
Watson EJ;Swindles GT;Savov IP;Bacon KL; (2015) 'First discovery of Holocene cryptotephra in Amazonia'. Scientific Reports, 5 [DOI] [Details]
(2013) 'Increased Atmospheric SO2 Detected from Changes in Leaf Physiognomy across the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary Interval of East Greenland'
Bacon, KL;Belcher, CM;Haworth, M;McElwain, JC (2013) 'Increased Atmospheric SO2 Detected from Changes in Leaf Physiognomy across the Triassic-Jurassic Boundary Interval of East Greenland'. Plos One, 8 [DOI] [Details]
(2011) 'THE TRIASSIC-JURASSIC BOUNDARY CARBON-ISOTOPE EXCURSIONS EXPRESSED IN TAXONOMICALLY IDENTIFIED LEAF CUTICLES'
Bacon, KL;Belcher, CM;Hesselbo, SP;McElwain, JC (2011) 'THE TRIASSIC-JURASSIC BOUNDARY CARBON-ISOTOPE EXCURSIONS EXPRESSED IN TAXONOMICALLY IDENTIFIED LEAF CUTICLES'. Palaios, 26 :461-469 [DOI] [Details]

Other Journals

  Year Publication
(2020) 'Investigating chemical preservation in herbarium specimens of Humulus lupulus Linnaeus 1753'
Karen L Bacon, Claire Brown, Arnoud Boom, Fiona Gill (2020) 'Investigating chemical preservation in herbarium specimens of Humulus lupulus Linnaeus 1753' Natural Sciences Collections Association Notes & Comments, (15) :1-4. [Details]