Alicja Babst-Kostecka
- Assistant Professor, Environmental Science
- Member of the Graduate Faculty
Contact
- (520) 621-1646
- Shantz, Rm. 429
- Tucson, AZ 85721
- ababstkostecka@email.arizona.edu
Biography
My research combines genetic, phenotypic, and environmental information in an integrated framework to study plant adaptation to changing environmental conditions. I am particularly interested in the mechanisms that allow certain plant species to colonize industrially contaminated habitats at former mining sites. These species thereby undergo rapid genetic and physiological adaptation. Specifically, they have evolved the ability to tolerate and sometimes accumulate remarkable amounts of metal trace elements – traits that I am studying in both field and controlled laboratory experiments. My interdisciplinary work sets the stage for mitigating the legacies of industrial exploitation. By advancing the molecular basis of phytoremediation and biofortification efforts, I strive to contribute to improving environmental and human health.
Degrees
- Ph.D. Biology
- Institute of Botany Polish Academy of Sciences, Krakow, Poland
- Adaptations of Arabidopsis halleri to habitats rich in heavy metals in Southern Poland (thesis in co-tutorial system)
- Ph.D. Ecology
- Science and Technology University of Lille, Lille, France
- Adaptations of Arabidopsis halleri to habitats rich in heavy metals in Southern Poland (thesis in co-tutorial system)
- M.S. Informatics and Economy
- University of Economy and Administration, Kielce, Poland
- M.S. Genetics
- Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
- B.S. Economy
- University of Economy and Administration, Kielce, Poland
- B.S. Ecotoxicology
- Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
Work Experience
- University of Arizona, Tuscon, Arizona (2020 - Ongoing)
- Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape WSL (2011 - 2012)
- Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences (2009 - 2020)
Interests
Research
Plant adaptations to environmental stress; Population genetics; Metal tolerance and hyperaccumulation in plants; Plant-soil interactions
Teaching
Plant Ecology; Evolutionary Ecology; Mine Reclamation; Phytoremediation
Courses
2021-22 Courses
-
Biology Environmental Systems
ENVS 225 (Fall 2021) -
Dissertation
ENVS 920 (Fall 2021)
Scholarly Contributions
Journals/Publications
- Babst-Kostecka, A., Przybylowicz, W. J., van, d., Ryan, C., Dietrich, C. C., & Mesjasz-Przybylowicz, J. (2020). Endosperm prevents toxic amounts of Zn from accumulating in the seed embryo - an adaptation to metalliferous sites in metal-tolerant Biscutella laevigata. METALLOMICS, 12(1), 42-53.
- Babst-Kostecka, A., Przybyłowicz, W. J., Seget, B., & Mesjasz‐Przybyłowicz, J. (2020). Zinc allocation to and within Arabidopsis halleri seeds: Different strategies of metal homeostasis in accessions under divergent selection pressure. Plant‐Environment Interactions, 1(3), 207-220. doi:10.1002/pei3.10032
- Dietrich, C. C., Bilnicki, K., Korzeniak, U., Briese, C., Nagel, K. A., & Babst-Kostecka, A. (2019). Does slow and steady win the race? Root growth dynamics of Arabidopsis halleri ecotypes in soils with varying trace metal element contamination. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 167.
- Babst-Kostecka, A., Schat, H., Saumitou-Laprade, P., Grodzinska, K., Bourceaux, A., Pauwels, M., & Frerot, H. (2018). Evolutionary dynamics of quantitative variation in an adaptive trait at the regional scale: The case of zinc hyperaccumulation in Arabidopsis halleri. MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, 27(16), 3257-3273.
- Sailer, C., Babst-Kostecka, A., Fischer, M. C., Zoller, S., Widmer, A., Vollenweider, P., Gugerli, F., & Rellstab, C. (2018). Transmembrane transport and stress response genes play an important role in adaptation of Arabidopsis halleri to metalliferous soils. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, 8.
- Babst-Kostecka, A. A., Waldmann, P., Frerot, H., & Vollenweider, P. (2016). Plant adaptation to metal polluted environments-Physiological, morphological, and evolutionary insights from Biscutella laevigata. ENVIRONMENTAL AND EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY, 127, 1-13.
- Wasowicz, P., Pauwels, M., Pasierbinski, A., Przedpelska-Wasowicz, E. M., Babst-Kostecka, A. A., Saumitou-Laprade, P., & Rostanski, A. (2016). Phylogeography of Arabidopsis halleri (Brassicaceae) in mountain regions of Central Europe inferred from cpDNA variation and ecological niche modelling. PEERJ, 4.
- Babst-Kostecka, A. A., Parisod, C., Gode, C., Vollenweider, P., & Pauwels, M. (2014). Patterns of genetic divergence among populations of the pseudometallophyte Biscutella laevigata from southern Poland. PLANT AND SOIL, 383(1-2), 245-256.
- Gode, C., Decombeix, I., Kostecka, A., Wasowicz, P., Pauwels, M., Courseaux, A., & Saumitou-Laprade, P. (2012). NUCLEAR MICROSATELLITE LOCI FOR ARABIDOPSIS HALLERI (BRASSICACEAE), A MODEL SPECIES TO STUDY PLANT ADAPTATION TO HEAVY METALS. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY, 99(2), E49-E52.
- Meyer, C., Kostecka, A. A., Saumitou-Laprade, P., Creach, A., Castric, V., Pauwels, M., & Frerot, H. (2010). Variability of zinc tolerance among and within populations of the pseudometallophyte species Arabidopsis halleri and possible role of directional selection. NEW PHYTOLOGIST, 185(1), 130-142.
Poster Presentations
- Babst-Kostecka, A., Neilson, J. W., Maier, R. M., & Kushwaha, P. (2020, November). Linking the rhizosphere microbial community with variability in Zn and Cd hyperaccumulation in the model species Arabidopsis halleri. 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting. Virtual.
