*Taken from the Agricultural Research Information System (ARIS) database.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Ecology
2007
University of California Davis. Dissertation title: The influence of plant competition and facilitation on evolutionary processes.
M.S. Biology
2000
San Jose State University. Thesis title: Population differentiation in Eschscholzia californica.
B.A. Music
1992
Mills College, Oakland, California
CURRENT RESEARCH
How do ecological factors affect the speed of evolution? Annual plant populations with a high coefficient of variation in reproductive output may have lower effective population sizes and thus may not be able to respond effectively to selection. Environmental factors such as abiotic stress, plant competition, and herbivory can affect plant survivorship as well as affecting the variance in growth rate among individual plants. Both differences in survivorship and differences in growth rates can lead to differences in effective population sizes among populations, affecting the evolutionary potential of these populations.
My research continues on two fronts: 1) understanding the evolutionary dynamics of weed invasions and 2) exploring the role effective population size (determined by environmental factors) plays in the adaptive potential of native plant populations. Often, exotic plants occur at low densities for many years before population expansion happens and weediness is manifested. This expansion is sometimes linked to the ability of an exotic plant to tolerate a new environmental niche through an evolutionary process known as adaptation. In addition, native plant populations are subject to environmental changes such as disturbance, exotic plant invasion, and climate change. The ability of native plant populations to persist in the face of environmental change may depend on their adaptive potential, or their capacity to maintain adaptations to the new environment. This research has important applications to the prevention of new weed invasions and to the conservation of native plant species.
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
In my scientific training, I focused on conservation of native plant species and on the evolutionary dynamics of weed invasions. Below is a list of projects I participated in before joining the USDA.
Post-doctoral Scholar, Univ. of Nevada- Reno. Field and greenhouse research testing the heritable interrelationship of weeds and native species to the environment. Field testing suitability of a variety of restoration species and crops in Nevada agricultural practice. With Dr. Elizabeth Leger, Dept. of Natural Resources and Environmental Science.
Doctoral Research, UC Davis. Field and greenhouse research testing the effects of density dependence and local productivity on natural selection and genetic drift in California annual plants. With Dr. Kevin J. Rice, Dept. of Plant Sciences.
Research Assistant, UC Davis. Greenhouse research on adaptive potential of Aegilops triuncialis (goatgrass), comparing native-range and introduced populations’ ability to adapt to serpentine soil. With Dr. Kevin J. Rice, Dept. of Plant Sciences.
Plant Ecologist, BMP Ecosciences, San Francisco CA. Library and field research to develop reference document for use by the City of Santa Cruz to develop an adaptive management plan for the endangered species Holocarpha macradenia. With Dr. Bruce Pavlik, BMP Ecosciences.
Research Fellow, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Demographic monitoring of rare plant populations: Eschscholzia rhombipetala, Amsinckia grandiflora, Erodium macrophyllum (alias California macrophyllum), and Blepharizonia plumosa. Design and conduct experiments on effects of burning and other manipulations on granivory, germination, survivorship, and long-term population viability of several plant species. With Dr. Tina M. Carlsen, Environmental Restoration Dept.
Research Assistant, UC Davis. Isolate PCR primer to distinguish Aegilops caudata and Ae. umbellulata from each other for the purpose of determining maternal parent of Ae. triuncialis (goatgrass) in invasive populations. With Dr. John McKay, currently at Colorado State University.
Masters Research, San Jose State University. Field and common garden experiments to determine interpopulation differences in Eschscholzia californica. Developed and optimized primers for conducting RAPD analysis of genetic differences among populations. With Dr. Rodney G. Myatt, Dept. of Biological Sciences.
Research Assistant, Univ. of Western Ontario. Population restoration of Cirsium pitcherii, an endangered sand dune plant. Dr. M. Anwar Maun, Dept. of Biology (deceased).
Environmental Technician, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Greenhouse research on effects of intraspecific competition and self-compatibility on Amsinckia grandiflora, a federally-listed endangered plant. Field research on ecophysiological effects of competitive environment on A. grandiflora. Dr. Tina M. Carlsen, Environmental Restoration Dept.
Research Assistant, Mills College. Demography and population restoration of state-listed endangered plant Acanthomintha duttonii. Common garden experiment to determine if and congenerics are serpentinite endemics or tolerators. Dr. Bruce M. Pavlik, Dept. of Biology.
Espeland, E.K. and K.J. Rice. (2007). Facilitation across stress gradients: the importance of local adaptation. Ecology 88: 2404-2409. (PDF; 138KB)
Batten, K.M., K.M. Scow, and E.K. Espeland. 2007. Soil microbial community associated with an invasive grass differentially impacts native plant performance. Microbial Ecology (PDF; 204 KB)
Espeland, E.K., T.M. Carlsen and D. MacQueen. 2005. Fire and dynamics of granivory on a rare grassland forb. Biodiversity and Conservation 14: 267-280. (PDF; 180 KB)
Espeland, E.K. and T.M. Carlsen. 2003. Population characteristics of Eschscholzia rhombipetala (Papaveraceae). Madroño 50: 1-7.
Carlsen, T.M., E.K. Espeland and B.M. Pavlik. 2002. Reproductive ecology and the persistence of an endangered plant. Biodiversity and Conservation 11: 1247-1268. (PDF; 863 KB)
Gregory, S.D., E.K. Espeland, T.M. Carlsen, and E.K. Bissell. 2001. Demography and population biology of a rare tarplant, Blepharizonia plumosa (Asteraceae) a California summer annual forb. Madroño 48: 272-285.
Espeland, E.K. and R.G. Myatt. 2001. Evidence for a sand hills ecotype in Eschscholzia californica. Madroño 48: 25-32.
Pavlik, B.M. and E.K. Espeland. 1998. Demography of natural and introduced populations of Acanthomintha duttonii, an endangered serpentinite annual in Northern California. Madroño 45: 31-39.
Other Publications:
Rice, K.J. and E.K. Espeland. 2007. Genes on the range: population genetics. In: Ecology and Restoration of California Grasslands. C. D'Antonio, M. Stromberg, and J. Corbin [eds.] UC Press, Berkeley CA.
Pfeiffer, J. and E. Espeland. 2003. Book Review: Egan, D., and E. A. Howell, editors. 2001. The historical ecology handbook: a restorationist's guide to reference ecosystems. Island Press, Washington, D. C., USA. Conservation Ecology 7: 11.
Invited talks:
Espeland, E.K. 2008. Seedling facilitation: ecology and evolution. Dept. of Plant Science, UC Davis.
Leger, E.A. and E.K. Espeland. 2007. Native species evolution in response to exotic species invasion: from research to application. Nature Conservancy Fire Learning Network, Ely, NV.
Contributed Papers:
Espeland, E.K. 2006. Evolutionary outcomes of plant-plant interactions in an annual plant. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Memphis, TN.
Espeland, E.K. and M.R. O’Farrell. 2006. Common size distributions in populations of annual plants and implications for Ne/N ratios. Society for Evolution Annual Meeting, Stony Brook, NY.
Espeland, E.K. 2005. Density-dependence, biotic, and abiotic effects on probability of genetic drift in annual plant populations (Facilitation: better than sex). Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Espeland, E.K. 2005. Density-dependent and environmental influences on Ne. Society for Evolution Annual Meeting, Fairbanks, AK.
Espeland, E.K. 2005. The opposing effects of competition and facilitation on preservation of genetic diversity in an annual plant (Plantago erecta). Mathias Symposium, Bodega Bay, CA.
Espeland, E.K. 2004. Environmental influence on effective population size (Ne) in an annual plant. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.
Carlsen, T.M. and E.K. Espeland. 2004. Fire patchiness influences distribution and persistence in a rare California late-flowering forb Blepharizonia plumosa (Asteraceae). Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.
Espeland, E.K. 2002. Effects of density, inter- and intra-specific competition on effective population size using Plagiobothrys stipitatus. California Botanical Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Espeland, E.K. and T.M. Carlsen. 2002. Dynamics of granivory on a California annual forb. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Tucson, AZ.
Espeland, E.K. 1999. Interpopulation variability in Eschscholzia californica. California Botanical Society Annual Meeting, San Luis Obispo, CA.
Brinegar, C., M. Okuda, D. Mascarenhas, D. Kinsey, E. Espeland, and W. Tubbs. 1999. Microsatellite-primed DNA fingerprinting using a simple sequence repeat primer anchored at its 3’ end. California State University Biotechnology Symposium, Pomona, CA.
Espeland, E.K., M.S. Alvord, G. Liebig, and J. Powers. 1998. Evaluation of the Santa Clara County Office of Education Technology Institute: A Computer Inservice for Teachers. California Educational Researchers Association Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA.
Espeland E.K. and B.M. Pavlik. 1995. Creating new a population of Acanthomintha duttonii. International Meeting of Serpentine Ecology, Noumea, New Caledonia.
Espeland, E.K. and T.M. Carlsen. 1995. Pin/Thrum love: heterostyly and fertility in Amsinckia grandiflora. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Snowbird, Utah.
Technical Papers:
Paterson, L., E. Espeland, and T. Carlsen. 2005. Rare plant restoration and monitoring at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300. Project progress report, fiscal years 2003 and 2004. Environmental Protection Department, Environmental Restoration Division. UCRL-AR-142408-03/04.
Carlsen, T., L. Paterson, and E. Espeland. 2003. Rare plant restoration and monitoring at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300. Project progress report, fiscal year 2002. Environmental Protection Department, Environmental Restoration Division. UCRL-AR-142408-02.
Carlsen, T., E. Espeland, and A. Smith. 2002. Rare plant restoration and monitoring at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory Site 300. Project progress report, fiscal year 2001. Environmental Protection Department, Environmental Restoration Division. UCRL-AR-142408-01.
Carlsen, T.M., E. K. Espeland, and B.M. Pavlik. 1999. Restoration of the large-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinckia grandiflora) at Site 300: 1998 yearly report. State of California, Department of Fish and Game, Endangered Plant Program, Sacramento CA 40 pp.
Carlsen, T.M., E. K. Espeland, and B.M. Pavlik. 1999. Restoration of the large-flowered fiddleneck (Amsinckia grandiflora) at Site 300. Project progress report, fiscal year 1999. Environmental Protection Department, Environmental Restoration Division. UCRL-AR-133516.
Pavlik, B.M. and E.K. Espeland. 1994. Creating new populations of Acanthomintha duttonii. IV. Demographic performance at Pulgas Ridge and Edgewood Park. State of California, Department of Fish and Game, Endangered Plant Program, Sacramento CA 25 pp.
Pavlik, B.M. and E.K. Espeland. 1993. Creating new populations of Acanthomintha duttonii. III. Enhancement at Pulgas Ridge. State of California, Department of Fish and Game, Endangered Plant Program, Sacramento CA 30 pp.
Pavlik, B.M. and E.K. Espeland. 1992. Creating new populations of Acanthomintha duttonii. II. Reintroduction at Pulgas Ridge. State of California, Department of Fish and Game, Endangered Plant Program, Sacramento CA 35 pp.
Pavlik, B.M. and E.K. Espeland. 1991. Creating new populations of Acanthomintha duttonii. I. Preliminary laboratory and field studies. State of California, Department of Fish and Game, Endangered Plant Program, Sacramento CA 26 pp.
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