Campus Directory

Shane Heschel

he/him/his

Professor

Organismal Biology & Ecology

Contact Info

sheschel@coloradocollege.edu

(719) 389-6406

Olin Hall #468

Research Interests

Physiological ecology of plant populations, particularly in stressful environments; local adaptation and the evolution of physiological mechanisms; factors driving the local extinction of plant populations; conservation genetics.

Activities & Interests

Hiking, blues guitar, baseball, and pie.

Publications

2025. Hade, K. & M.S. Heschel. Cottonwood and Willow Tree Health in a Disturbed Urban Riparian Ecosystem. ScienceOpen Posters, 2025 DOI: 10.14293/P2199-8442.1.SOP-.PMVW5R.v1.

2023. Colao, N.*, A. Ahmanson*, A. Shapiro*, M. Peña-Alfaro*, L. Farias*, & M.S. Heschel. Differences in Seedling Ecophysiology and Reproductive Strategy in Two Impatiens capensis Ecotypes. ScienceOpen Posters, 7 July DOI: 10.14293/P2199-8442.1.SOP-.PRH7UP.v1.

2023. Mooney, E., A. Mitchell, J. Den Uyl, M. Mullins, C. DiBiase, and M.S. Heschel. Host plant phenology shapes aphid abundance and interactions with ants. Oikos 2023:1-12.

2022. DiBiase, C., E. Godtfredsen, J. Dahl, A. Shapiro, K. Brown, A. Martin, A. Wermuth, and M.S. Heschel. Maternal flower color, ultraviolet protection, and germination in Ipomopsis aggregata (Polemoniaceae). Population Ecology:1-12.

2021. Jabaily, R.S., B. Oberle, E.W. Fetterly*, M.S. Heschel, B. Sidoti, E.N. Bodine. Refining iteroparity with comparative morphometric data in Bromeliaceae. International J. Plant Sciences 182:S77-S90.

Mooney, E., M. Mullins, J. Den Uyl, S. Trail, P. Nguyen, J. Owens, E. Godtfredsen, and M.S. Heschel. 2020. Early Snowmelt reduces aphid abundance (Aphis asclepiadis) by creating water-stressed host plants (Ligusticum porteri) and altering interactions with ants. Arthropod-Plant Interactions 15:33-46.

Den Uyl, J., M. Mullins, M.S. Heschel, and E. Mooney. 2020. Snowmelt timing determines aphid abundance through multitrophic interactions. Acta Oecologica 108:103606.

Heschel, M.S., K. Dalton, M. Jamason, A. D'Agnese, and L.G. Ruane. 2017. Drought Response Strategies of Clarika gracilis (Onagraceae) Populations from Serpentine and Nonserpentine Soils. International Journal of Plant Sciences 178.313-319.

Maruyama, C., Z. Goepfert, K. Squires, T. Maclay, Q. Teal-Sullivan, and M.S. Heschel. 2016. Effects of population site and maternal drought on establishment physiology in Impatiens capensis MEERB. (Balsaminaceae). Rhodora 118:32-45.

Craine, E.B., A. Evankow, K.B. Wolfson, K. Dalton, H. Swedlund, C. Bowen, and M.S. Heschel. 2016. Physiological response of Tamarix ramosissima (Tamaricaceae) to a biological control agent. Western North American Naturalist 76:339-351.

Behrman, E.L., S.S. Watson, K.R. O'Brien, M.S. Heschel, and P.S. Schmidt. 2015. Seasonal variation in life history traits in two Drosophila species. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. doi: 10.1111/jeb.12690.

Heschel, M.S., A. Evankow, K.B. Wolfson, J.E. Carlson, and K.E. Holsinger. 2014. Drought response diversification in African Protea species. International Journal of Plant Sciences 175:442-449.

Bibee, K., K. Shishido, R.P. Hathaway, and M.S. Heschel. 2011. Population differentiation of Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae) at the range limit. International Journal of Plant Sciences 172:211-219.

Myerburg, M.M., J.J. Ebersole, L.G. Shoemaker, and M.S. Heschel. 2011. Limited plasticity of biomass allocation in alpine forbs, Pikes Peak, Colorado. Western North American Naturalist 71:431-435.

Stinchcombe, J.R., R. Izem, M.S. Heschel, B.V. McGoey, and J. Schmitt. 2010. Across-environment genetic correlations and the frequency of selective environments shape the evolutionary dynamics of growth rate in Impatiens capensis. Evolution 64:2887-2903.

Boggs, J., K. Loewy, K. Bibee, and M.S. Heschel. 2010. Phytochromes influence stomatal conductance plasticity in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Growth Regulation 60:77-81.

Lovell, J., J. Gibson, and M.S. Heschel. 2009. Disturbance regime mediates riparian forest dynamics and physiological performance, Arkansas River CO. American Midland Naturalist 162:289-304.

Heschel, M.S., C.M. Butler, D. Barua, G.C.K. Chiang, A. Wheeler, R.A. Sharrock, G.C. Whitelam, and K. Donohue. 2008. New roles of phytochromes during seed germination. International Journal of Plant Sciences 169:531-540.

Riginos, C., M.S. Heschel, and J. Schmitt. 2007. Maternal effects of drought stress and inbreeding in Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae). American Journal of Botany 94:1984-1991.

Heschel, M.S., J. Selby, C. Butler, G.C. Whitelam, R.A. Sharrock, and K. Donohue. 2007. A new role for for phytochromes in temperature-dependent germination. New Phytologist - 174:735-741.

Donohue, K., M.S. Heschel, G.C.K. Chiang, C.M. Butler, and D. Barua. 2007. Phytochrome mediates germination responses to multiple seasonal cues. Plant, Cell and Environment 30:202-212

Schmidt, P.S., A.B. Paaby, and M.S. Heschel. 2005. Correlations of reproductive diapause and life history tradeoffs in Drosophila melanogaster. Evolution 59:2616-2625.

Heschel, M.S., N.J. Hausmann, and J. Schmitt. 2005. Testing for stress-dependent inbreeding depression in Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae). American Journal of Botany 92:1322-1329.

Heschel, M.S. and C. Riginos. 2005. Mechanisms of selection for drought stress tolerance and avoidance in Impatiens capensis. American Journal of Botany 92:37-44.

Heschel, M.S., S.E. Sultan, S. Glover, and D. Sloan. 2004. Population differentiation and plastic responses to drought stress in the generalist annual, Polygonum persicaria. International Journal of Plant Sciences 165:817-824.

Heschel, M.S., J.R. Stinchcombe, K.E. Holsinger, and J. Schmitt. 2004. Natural selection on light response curve parameters in the herbaceous annual, Impatiens capensis. Oecologia 139:487-494.

Huber, H., N. Kane, M.S. Heschel, J. Banta, A. Leuck, and J. Schmitt. 2004. Frequency and microenvironmental pattern of selection on plastic shade avoidance traits in a natural population of Impatiens capensis. American Naturalist 163:548-563.

Schmitt, J., J.R. Stinchcombe, M.S. Heschel, and H. Huber. 2003. The adaptive evolution of plasticity: phytochrome-mediated shade avoidance responses. Integrative and Comparative Biology 43:459-469.

Heschel, M.S., K. Donohue, N.J. Hausmann, and J. Schmitt. 2002. Population differentiation and natural selection for water-use efficiency in Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences 163:907-912.

Heschel, M.S. and N.J. Hausmann. 2001. Population differentiation for abscisic acid responsiveness in Impatiens capensis (Balsaminaceae). International Journal of Plant Sciences 162:1253-1260.

Donohue, K., E. Hammond Pyle, D. Messiqua, M.S. Heschel, and J. Schmitt. 2001. Adaptive divergence in plasticity in natural populations of Impatiens capensis and its consequences for performance in novel habitats. Evolution 55:692-702.

Donohue, K., D. Messiqua, E. Hammond Pyle, M.S. Heschel, and J. Schmitt. 2000. Evidence of adaptive divergence in plasticity: density- and site- dependent selection on shade avoidance responses in Impatiens capensis. Evolution 54:1956-1968.

Donohue, K., D. Messiqua, E. Hammond Pyle, M.S. Heschel, and J. Schmitt. 2000. Density dependence and population differentiation of genetic architecture in Impatiens capensis in natural environments. Evolution 54:1969-1981.

Paige, K. N. and M. S. Heschel. 1996. Inbreeding depression in scarlet gilia: a reply to Ouborg and Van Groenendael. Conservation Biology 10:1292-1294.

Heschel, M. S. and K. N. Paige. 1995. Inbreeding depression, environmental stress and population size variation in scarlet gilia, Ipomopsis aggregata. Conservation Biology 9:126-133.