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Spencer C. H. Barrett

Spencer C. H. Barrett

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Ecology and Evolution
Canada
2026

D-Index & Metrics

Ecology and Evolution

D-Index
112
Citations
44507
World Ranking
154
National Ranking
10

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2026 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Canada Leader Award
  • 2025 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Canada Leader Award
  • 2023 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Canada Leader Award
  • 2022 - Research.com Ecology and Evolution in Canada Leader Award
  • 2020 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
  • 2009 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
  • 2004 - Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom
  • 1998 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada Academy of Science

Overview

Spencer C. H. Barrett is affiliated with the University of Toronto in Canada and has contributed extensively to the fields of Agricultural and Biological Sciences as well as Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology. Their research notably spans Plant Science, Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics, Molecular Biology, Genetics, and Nature and Landscape Conservation.

Their main topics of work encompass Plant and Animal Studies, Plant Reproductive Biology, Plant Parasitism and Resistance, Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies, Chromosomal and Genetic Variations, Genetic Diversity and Population Structure, and Plant Molecular Biology Research.

Recent publications include:

  • "Widespread Recombination Suppression Facilitates Plant Sex Chromosome Evolution," 2020, Molecular Biology and Evolution
  • "Evolutionary Genomics of Plant Gametophytic Selection," 2020, Plant Communications
  • "Global analysis of floral longevity reveals latitudinal gradients and biotic and abiotic correlates," 2022, New Phytologist
  • "Plant size, latitude, and phylogeny explain within-population variability in herbivory," 2023, Science
  • "The Genomic Selfing Syndrome Accompanies the Evolutionary Breakdown of Heterostyly," 2020, Molecular Biology and Evolution

Frequent co-authors associated with this researcher include:

  • Stephen Wright
  • Joanna L. Rifkin
  • Baharul I. Choudhury
  • Dianxiang Zhang
  • Yunchen Gong

Notable publication venues where this researcher's work frequently appears are:

  • bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)
  • New Phytologist
  • Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences
  • Molecular Biology and Evolution
  • Journal of Systematics and Evolution

Recognition for this researcher includes multiple distinctions: they became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in 1998, a Fellow of the Royal Society, United Kingdom in 2004, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009, and were elected a Member of the National Academy of Sciences in 2020.

Best Publications

  • A DNA barcode for land plants.

    Peter M. Hollingsworth;Laura L. Forrest;John L. Spouge

  • Genetic and evolutionary consequences of small population size in plants: implications for conservation.

    S. C. H. Barrett;J. R. Kohn;D. A. Falk;K. E. Holsinger

  • The evolution of plant sexual diversity.

    Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Multiple Multilocus DNA Barcodes from the Plastid Genome Discriminate Plant Species Equally Well

    Aron J. Fazekas;Kevin S. Burgess;Prasad R. Kesanakurti;Sean W. Graham

  • A comparative analysis of pollen limitation in flowering plants

    Brendon M. H. Larson;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Mating cost of large floral displays in hermaphrodite plants

    Lawrence D. Harder;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Mating strategies in flowering plants: the outcrossing-selfing paradigm and beyond.

    Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Rapid Adaptation to Climate Facilitates Range Expansion of an Invasive Plant

    Robert I. Colautti;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • PERSPECTIVE: PURGING THE GENETIC LOAD: A REVIEW OF THE EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE

    Peter Crnokrak;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Effects of a change in the level of inbreeding on the genetic load

    S. C. H. Barrett;D. Charlesworth

  • Crop mimicry in weeds

    Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Evolutionary processes in aquatic plant populations

    Spencer C.H. Barrett;Christopher G. Eckert;Brian C. Husband

  • Wind of change: new insights on the ecology and evolution of pollination and mating in wind-pollinated plants

    Jannice Friedman;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Sexual dimorphism in flowering plants

    Spencer C.H. Barrett;Josh Hough

  • Pollen Dispersal and Mating Patterns in Animal-Pollinated Plants

    Lawrence D. Harder;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Ecology and evolution of plant mating.

    Spencer C.H. Barrett;Lawrence D. Harder

  • Sexual interference of the floral kind

    S C H Barrett

  • The comparative biology of pollination and mating in flowering plants

    Spencer Charles Hilton Barrett;Lawrence D. Harder;Anne C. Worley

  • The Reproductive Biology and Genetics of Island Plants

    Spencer Charles Hilton Barrett

  • 14 – Variation and Evolution of Mating Systems in Seed Plants

    Spencer C.H. Barrett;Christopher G. Eckert

  • A METAPOPULATION PERSPECTIVE IN PLANT POPULATION BIOLOGY

    Brian C. Husband;Spencer C. H. Barrett

  • Ecology and Evolution of Flowers

    Lawrence D Harder;Spencer Charles Hilton Barrett

Frequent Co-Authors

Brian C. Husband
Brian C. Husband University of Guelph
Stephen I. Wright
Stephen I. Wright University of Toronto
Christopher G. Eckert
Christopher G. Eckert Queen's University
Lawrence D. Harder
Lawrence D. Harder University of Calgary
Sean W. Graham
Sean W. Graham University of British Columbia
De-Zhu Li
De-Zhu Li Chinese Academy of Sciences
Mitchell B. Cruzan
Mitchell B. Cruzan Portland State University
John D. Thompson
John D. Thompson Centre national de la recherche scientifique, CNRS
Mehrdad Hajibabaei
Mehrdad Hajibabaei University of Guelph
Martin Morgan
Martin Morgan Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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Related Online Degrees & Career Pathways

Studying Ecology and Evolution opens doors to a wide range of online degrees and career options in life sciences and related fields. Many students with a background in ecology seek complementary areas of expertise through flexible online programs. For example, some pursue an online masters in psychology to better understand animal and human behavior, which can enhance research in behavioral ecology or conservation.

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Those looking to bridge biology and criminal justice may ask, what can i do with a masters in forensic psychology? This pathway allows ecologists to contribute to environmental crime investigations or wildlife protection cases.

Additionally, programs like an online masters in child psychology provide skills to work at the intersection of environmental education and youth mental health, supporting the next generation of conservationists.

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