Lesley A DeFalco Research Plant Ecologist USGS ,   Phone: (702) 564-4507 Fax: (702) 564-4600 Email: lesley_defalco@usgs.gov

SCIENTIFIC EXPERTISE Community ecology Conservation biology Fire ecology Global change biology Global climate change Herbarium Invasive species ecology Physiological plant ecology Plant ecology Species interactions Species introduction

EDUCATION Ph.D. 2003, Ecology, Evolution & Conservation Biology, University of Nevada, Reno, NV M.S. 1995, Botany, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO B.S. 1989, Biological Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES American Institute of Biological Sciences Botanical Society of America Ecological Society of America Nevada Native Plant Society Society for Conservation Biology Society for Ecological Restoration

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Research Plant Ecologist, USGS, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, NV, Dec 2003 - present Student Trainee (Ecology), USGS, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field Station, NV, Nov 1999 - Dec 2003 Student Trainee (Biology), USGS, Western Ecological Research Center, St. George Field Station, UT, Jun 1997 - Nov 1999 Student Trainee (Biology), USGS, Mid-continent Ecological Science Center, Ft. Collins, CO, Oct 1996 - Jun 1997 Student Trainee (Biology), NBS, Mid-continent Ecological Science Center, CO, Nov 1993 - Oct 1996 Student Trainee (Biology), Bureau of Land Management, Dixie Resource Area, UT, Mar 1993 - Nov 1993 Biological Technician, Bureau of Land Management, Dixie Resource Area, UT, Nov 1991 - Mar 1993 Biological Aide, US Fish and Wildlife Service, National Ecology Research Center, CO, Apr 1989 - Nov 1991

PRODUCTS Lesley DeFalco, Competitive Interactions Between a Non-native Annual Grass and Mojave Desert Perennials (May 2007) [Publication Brief] DeFalco, L. A., G. C. J. Fernandez, and R. S. Nowak. 2007. Variation in the establishment of a non-native annual grass influences competitive interactions with Mojave Desert perennials. Biological Invasions 9:293-307. [Journal Article] C .Richard Tracy, K.E. Nussear, T.C. Esque, K. Dean-Bradley, C.R. Tracy, L.A. DeFalco, K.T. Castle, L.C. Zimmerman, R.E. Espinoza, A.M. Barber. 2006. The Importance of Physiological Ecology in Conservation Biology. Integrative and Comparative Biology 2006;doi : 10. 1093/icb/icl054. [Journal Article] DeFalco, L. A. 2006. Revegetation of Desert Tortoise Habitat: Creosotebush Shrublands. Paper presented at the 31st Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. February 17-20, Tucson, Arizona [Presentation with Abstract] Wijayratne, U. C., L. A. DeFalco, and S. J. Scoles. 2005. Effects of anthropogenic dust deposition on Lane Mountain milkvetch (Astragalus jaegerianus). Report delivered to USFWS (Ventura Fish and Wildlife Office, Ventura, California) for research activities performed under Permit TE-022630-1. 10 pp. [Technical Report] DeFalco, L., J. Kane, M. Nicklas and T. Esque. 2005. Assessment of Seed Banks Associated with Disturbances at Fort Irwin National Training Center, California. Final report delivered to Deparment of Army, Integrated Training Area Management, September 22, 2005. 23 pp. [Technical Report] Scoles, S. J., T. C. Esque, L. A. DeFalco, S. E. Eckert, and D. F. Haines 2004. Evaluation of post fire restoration treatments to reduce invasive plant species. Presented at the Desert Managers Group Restoration Meeting, March 2-3, 2004, Barstow, California. [Presentation] Scoles, S.J., L.A. DeFalco, and T.C. Esque. 2004. Can restoration go bad?: When restoration efforts help non-native plants. 16-18 November. Majave Desert Science Symposium. University of Redlands, CA. [Poster with Abstract] DeFalco, L. A. 2004. Road restoration: developing a Mojave-wide monitoring program. Presented at the Desert Managers Group Restoration Meeting, March 2-3, 2004, Barstow, California. [Presentation] Esque, T.C., L.A. DeFalco, S.J. Scoles, D.F. Haines, R.L. Kipp, and J.E. Rodgers. 2004. Survivorship of Joshua Trees (Yucca brevifolia) in a Harsh Desert Environment: Effects of Fire, Drought, and Herbivory in Joshua Tree National Park. 16-18 November. Mojave Desert Science Symposium. University of Redlands, CA. [Poster with Abstract] DeFalco, L.A. 2004. Long-Term Studies: Relating Past Efforts to Future Management Needs. 3rd Mojave Desert Science Symposium. November 16-18, 2004. University of Redlands, CA. [Presentation with Abstract] DeFalco, L.A., S.J. Scoles, K.K. Smith, A.D. Nilsson, and R.H. Webb. 2004. Effects of Soil Compaction on Establishment and Growth of Mojave Desert Annuals. 3rd Mojave Desert Science Symposium. November 16-18, 2004. University of Redlands, CA. [Poster with Abstract] Wijayratne, U., S.J. Scoles, and L.A. DeFalco. 2004. Anthropogenic Dust Deposition and the Endangered Lane Mountain Milkvetch (Astragulus jaegerianus). 3rd Mojave Desert Science Symposium. November 16-18, 2004. University of Redlands, CA. [Poster with Abstract] Bedford, D., J. Belnap, M.L. Brooks, L.A. DeFalco, T.C. Esque, L. Gass, M.F. Gishey, A. Mathie, D.M. Miller, E. Pfeifer, K.A. Thomas, K.M, Schmidt, J.M. Vogel, C.S. Wallace, and R.H. Webb. 2004. A summary of the USGS recoverability and vulnerability of desert ecosystems program. Presented at the Mojave Desert Science Symposium. 16-18 November. University of Redlands, CA. [Poster with Abstract] Scoles, S. J., L. A. DeFalco and A. C. Newton. 2003. The revegetation of disturbed Areas associated with roads at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] DeFalco, L. A., S. J. Scoles, R. B. Hunter, T. C. Esque, D. F. Haines, P. A. Medica and R. H. Webb. 2003. Does dominance of the invasive annual grass Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens impact native annual plant communities? An investigation using long-term data from the Nevada Test Site, southern Nevada. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] Esque, T. C., P.A. Medica, S.B. VanderWall, R.H. Webb, D.F. Haines, L.A. DeFalco, and C. R. Tracy. 2003. The role of small animals, invasive plants and fire in Mojave Desert seed bank dynamics and vegetation recovery. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] Esque, T. C., J. E. Rogers, L. A. DeFalco, K. A. Goodwin, S. J. Scoles, D. F. Haines, S. E. Eckert and D. Flock. 2003. Challenges to Joshua tree recovery in the postfire environment: attenuated mortality and hungry rodents everywhere. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] Haines, D. F., T. C. Esque, L. A. DeFalco, S. J. Scoles, M. L. Brooks and R. H. Webb. 2003. Fire and exotics in the Mojave Desert: An irreversible change? Paper presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Presentation] Haines, D. F., T. C. Esque, L. A. DeFalco, S. J. Scoles, M. L. Brooks and R. H. Webb. 2003. Blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) habitat, fire and exotics in the Mojave Desert. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] Medica, P. A., T. C. Esque, D. F. Haines, L. A. DeFalco,and R. H. Webb. 2003. Long-term responses of nocturnal rodents to wildfires in the Mojave and Great Basin Desert ecotone. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] Webb, R. H., T. C. Esque, K. A. Thomas, D. F. Haines, M. B. Murov, L. A. DeFalco, and P. A. Medica. 2003. Changes in undisturbed perennial vegetation in the northern Mojave Desert. Poster presented at the Desert Managers Group and Society for Ecological Restoration, Arid Lands Habitat Restoration Conference, Palm Springs, California. [Poster] Scoles, S.J. and L.A. DeFalco. 2003. The revegetation of disturbed areas associated with roads at Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Nevada. Report prepared for National Park Service, Lake Mead National Recreation Area. 11 pp. [Technical Report] Esque, T.C., C.R. Schwalbe, L.A. DeFalco, R.B. Duncan, and T.J. Hughes. 2003. Effects of desert wildfires on desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) and other small vertebrates. Southwestern Naturalist 48: 103-110. [Journal Article] Webb, R.H., Murov, M.B., Esque, T.C., Boyer, D.E., DeFalco, L.A., Haines, D.F., Oldershaw, D., Scoles, S.J., Thomas, K.A., Blainey, J.B., and Medica, P.A. 2003. Perennial vegetation data from permanent plots on the Nevada Test Site, Nye County, Nevada: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 03-336, 200 p. [Technical Report] Esque, T.C., D.F. Haines, L.A. DeFalco, J.E. Rodgers, K.A. Goodwin and S.J. Scoles. 2003. Mortality of adult Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) due to small mammal herbivory at Joshua Tree National Park, California. Report prepared for National Park Service, Great Basin Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit. 10 pp. [Technical Report] DeFalco, L. A., D. R. Bryla, V. Smith-Longozo, and R. S. Nowak. 2003. Are Mojave Desert annual species equal? Resource acquisition and allocation for the invasive grass Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens (Poaceae) and two native species. American Journal of Botany 90:1045-1053. [Journal Article] Haines, DF., T.C. Esque, L.A. DeFalco, S.J. Scoles, M.L. Brooks, and R.H. Webb. 2003. Fire and exotics in the Mojave Desert: An irreversible change? A state-transition model for blackbrush (Coleogyne ramosissima) habitat. P. 31 in R.K. Livingston (ed.). Third U.S. Geological Survey Wildland Fire-Science Workshop, Denver, Colorado, November 12-15, 2002. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5005, 67pp [Proceedings] Scoles, S.J., T.C. Esque, L.A. DeFalco, S.E. Eckert, and D.F. Haines. 2003. Evaluating options for revegetation following a catastrophic fire in a pinyon-juniper community at Grand Canyon/Parashant National Monument, Arizona. Draft Annual Report to USDI-Bureau of Land Management. 21pp with appendices. [Technical Report] DeFalco, L. A. 2003. Physiological ecology of the invasive annual grass Bromus madritensis ssp. Rubens and its interactions with native Mojave Desert species. Ph.D. dissertation. University of Nevada, Reno. 130 pp. [Thesis/Dissertation] Scoles, S. J., L. A. DeFalco and A. C. Newton. 2002. Does topsoil removal, storage and replacement decrease abundance of viable seed? Poster presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Tucson, Arizona. [Poster] Scoles, S.J., T.C. Esque, L.A. DeFalco, S.E. Eckert and D.F. Haines. 2002. Evaluating options for revegetation following a catastrophic fire in a Pinyon-Juniper community at Grand Canyon/Parashaunt National Monument, Arizona. Report to USDI-Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, St. George, Utah. [Technical Report] Huxman, T., J. Nagel, S. Zitzer, T. Charlet, L. DeFalco, D. Housman, K. Griffin and S. Smith. 2002. Responses of the annual plant component of a Mojave Desert ecosystem to elevated CO2. Paper presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Tucson, Arizona. [Abstract] DeFalco, L. A. and R. S. Nowak. 2002. Seasonality of simulated rainfall influences the interaction between the invasive annual grass Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens and Mojave Desert perennials. Poster presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Tucson, Arizona. [Poster] Medica, P. A., T. C. Esque, D. F. Haines, L. A. DeFalco and R. H. Webb. 2002. Long-term response of nocturnal rodents to wildfire in the Mojave and Great Basin Desert ecotone. Paper presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Tucson, Arizona. [Abstract] Webb, R. H., T. C. Esque, K. A. Thomas, D. F. Haines, M. B. Murov, L. A. DeFalco and P. A. Medica. 2002. Long-term changes in perennial vegetation in permanent plots of the northern Mojave Desert. Paper presented at the 87th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Tucson, Arizona. [Abstract] Esque, T.C., L.A. DeFalco, S. Scoles and D.F. Haines. 2001. Evaluating revegetation options following wildfire in a Pinyon-Juniper community, northern Arizona. Paper presented at the 6th Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau, November 6, 2001. Flagstaff, AZ. [Proceedings] DeFalco, L. A., J. K. Detling, C. R. Tracy, and S. D. Warren. 2001. Physiological variation among native and exotic winter annuals associated with microphytic soil crusts in the Mojave Desert. Plant and Soil 234:1-14. [Journal Article] DeFalco, L. A. and R. S. Nowak. 2001. Biomass and nitrogen allocation in an invasive annual grass and two native Mojave Desert annuals. Paper presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin. [Abstract] Eckert, S. E., T. C. Esque, L. A. DeFalco and D. F. Haines. 2001. Evaluating options for revegetation following a catastrophic fire in a pinyon-juniper community at Grand Canyon / Parashant National Monument, on the Arizona Strip of Mohave County, Arizona. Report to the USDI Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Strip District, St. George, Utah. [Technical Report] Nowak, R. S., D. N. Jordan, L. A. DeFalco, C. Wilcox, J. S. Coleman, J. R. Seemann and S. D. Smith. 2001. Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on leaf conductance and temperature for three desert perennials at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility. New Phytologist 150(2):449-458. [Journal Article] Webb, R. H., T. C. Esque, P. A. Medica, L. A. DeFalco and M. B. Murov. 2001. Monitoring of ecosystem dynamics in the Mojave Desert: the Beatley permanent plots. USGS Fact Sheet prepared in cooperation with the Recoverability and Vulnerability of Desert Ecosystems Program. [Fact Sheet] Smith-Longozo, V., L. A. DeFalco and R. S. Nowak. 2001. Comparison of parental and growth condition effects between the invasive annual grass Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens and two native Mojave Desert annual species. Poster presented at the 86th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Madison, Wisconsin. [Poster] Esque, T.C., L. A. DeFalco, P. A. Medica, M. L. Brooks and R. H. Webb. 2000. Predicted changes in Mojave fire frequency related to invasive annual grasses. Effects of a Hotter and Drier Climate, a USGS Workshop. Tuscon, AZ. [Abstract] DeFalco, L. A. and R. S. Nowak. 2000. Does more carbon dioxide mean more plants in the Mojave? Should the native plants care? TipSheet News Release for Ecological Society of America Meeting, Snowbird, Utah. [Other] Nowak, R. S., D. N. Jordan, L. A. DeFalco, J. S. Coleman, J. R. Seemann and S. D. Smith. 2000. Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on leaf conductance and temperature for three desert perennials at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility. Poster presented at the FACE 2000 Meeting, Tsukuba, Japan. [Poster] DeFalco, L. A. and R. S. Nowak. 2000. Plant-plant interactions in an intact plant community exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2 at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility. Poster presented at the FACE 2000 Meeting, Tsukuba, Japan. [Poster] Yoder, C. K., P. Vivin, L. A. DeFalco, J. R. Seemann, and R. S. Nowak. 2000. Root growth and function of three Mojave Desert grasses in response to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration. New Phytologist 145:245-256. [Journal Article] DeFalco, L. A. and R. S. Nowak. 2000. Plant-plant interactions in an intact Mojave Desert plant community exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2. Paper presented at the 85th Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Snowbird, Utah. [Abstract] DeFalco, L. A. and R. S. Nowak. 2000. Understanding the invasion of Bromus madritensis ssp. rubens into the Mojave Desert. Poster presented at the US Geological Survey Invasive Species Program Review, Annapolis, Maryland. [Poster] DeFalco, L. A., D. M. Bryla and R. S. Nowak. 1999. The effects of nitrogen fertilization and plant density on resource acquisition by non-native and native Mojave Desert ephemerals (poster presentation). The 84th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Spokane, Washington. [Poster] Brooks, M.L. and L. DeFalco. 1999. Exotic Plant Species in Desert Tortoise Habitat. Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. St. George, UT. [Abstract] DeFalco, L. and M.L. Brooks. 1999. Ecology and Management of Alien Plants. Mojave Desert Science Symposium. Las Vegas, NV [Abstract] Jordan, D. N., C. Biggart, S. F. Zitzer, L. A. DeFalco, and R. S. Nowak. 1999. Interaction of leaf conductance and soil water availability of three native Mojave Desert species exposed to Free Air CO2 Enrichment (FACE) (poster presentation). The 84th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Spokane, Washington. [Poster] Nowak, B., L. DeFalco, P. Vivin, C. Yoder, C. Biggart, D. Phillips, D. Tingey, and M. Johnson. 1999. Effects of elevated CO2 on root systems of Mojave Desert vegetation (poster presentation). Department of Defense, Joint Science Team Meeting. Indianapolis, Indiana. [Poster] Nowak, R. S., L. A. DeFalco, C. Biggart, D. N. Jordan, and S. D. Smith. 1998. Effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on leaf conductance and temperature of Larrea tridentata at Desert FACE (poster presentation). The 83rd annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Baltimore, Maryland. [Poster] DeFalco, L. A., R. S. Nowak and J. R. Seemann. 1998. Photosynthetic down-regulation in three Mojave Desert grasses exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2 (poster presentation. The 83rd annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Baltimore, Maryland. [Poster] Jordan, D., K. Salsman, L. A. DeFalco, R. Nowak, and S. Smith. 1997. Responses of two Mojave Desert plants to elevated atmospheric CO2 in a controlled environment glasshouse. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America 78 (4) SUPPL:266. [Abstract] DeFalco, L. A., J. Belnap, K. Harper, and S. D. Warren. 1996. Cryptobiotic crusts and their influence on annual plants and the desert tortoise. In, B. Bartholomew (ed.), Proceedings: The 21st Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. Las Vegas, NV. [Proceedings] Grover, M. C. and L. A. DeFalco. 1995. Desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): status-of-knowledge outline with references. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, General Technical Report, INT-GTR-316. 134 pp. [Technical Report] DeFalco, L. A. 1995. Influence of cryptobiotic soil crusts on annual plants and foraging movements of the desert tortoise in the northeast Mojave Desert. M.S. thesis. Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO. 48 pp. [Thesis/Dissertation] Tracy, C. R., P. F. Brussard, T. Esque, L. DeFalco, K. Dean-Bradley, K. T. Castle, C. C. Peterson, B. Henen and C. R. Tracy. 1995. Requirements of the threatened desert tortoise: Competition with domestic cattle. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 76(3) SUPPL., 1995:395. [Abstract] DeFalco, L. A., J. K. Detling, and C. R. Tracy. 1995. Influence of cryptobiotic soil crusts on nutrient and water relations in annual plants in the northeast Mojave Desert. Poster presented at the 2nd Annual National Symposium for Soil Ecology Society. Fort Collins, CO. [Poster] DeFalco, L. A.; J. K. Detling, C. R. Tracy. 1995. Influence of cryptobiotic soil crusts on nutrient and water relations of winter annual plants in the northeast Mojave Desert. Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America, 76(3) SUPPL.:319. [Abstract] Nussear, K. E., C. R. Tracy, T. C. Esque, K. Dean-Bradley, K. Castle, and L. A. DeFalco. 1995. Diet selection: addressing the hypothesis of nutritional wisdom. Paper presented at a National Biological Service Desert Tortoise Nutrition Workshop. Zzyzx, CA. [Other] DeFalco, L. A. 1994. Influence of cryptobiotic soil crusts on annual plants and foraging movements of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii in the northeast Mojave Desert. Paper presented at the Symposium for Research on Biodiversity at Colorado State University. Fort Collins, CO. [Abstract] Bury, R.B., T.C. Esque, L.A. DeFalco, and P.A. Medica. 1994. Distribution, habitat use and protection of desert tortoise in the Eastern Mojave Desert. In, pp. 57-72, R.B. Bury, and D.J. Germano (eds.), Biology of North American Tortoises. U.S. Department of Interior National Biological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Research 13. [Book Chapter] Esque, T.C., T. Hughes, L.A. DeFalco, B.E. Hatfield, and R.B. Duncan. 1994. Effects of wildfire on desert tortoises and their habitats. In, pp. 153-154, A. Fletcher (ed.), Proceedings: The 19th Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. Tucson, Arizona. [Proceedings] DeFalco, L. A., T. C. Esque, and C. R. Tracy. 1993. Social behavior of desert tortoises at two sites in the northeast Mojave Desert. In, K. M. Thorne (ed.), Proceedings: The 18th Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. Palm Springs. CA. [Proceedings] Esque, T.C., L.A. DeFalco, and C.R. Tracy. 1993. Diet and foraging of the desert tortoise. In, pp. 9-13, K. M. Thorne (ed.), Proceedings: The 18th Annual Desert Tortoise Council Symposium. Palm Springs, California. [Proceedings] Tracy, C.R., T.C. Esque, C. Peterson, L.A. DeFalco, L.C. Zimmerman, C.R. Tracy. 1992. The roles of food quality and quantity for desert tortoises: Perspectives on growth of individuals and populations. American Zoologist 32:5, p. 97A. [Proceedings] Esque, T.C., C. Peterson, and L.A. DeFalco, C.R. Tracy. 1992. Estimation of home ranges in a long-lived vertebrate: Gopherus agassizii. American Zoologist 32:5, p. 91A. [Proceedings] Esque, T. C., C. R. Tracy and L. A. DeFalco. 1992. Habitat use in relation to food resources in the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Paper presented at the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. [Proceedings] Esque, T. C., L. A. DeFalco, and R. B. Bury. 1991. Nutrition and foraging ecology of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): FY1990 annual report. Report to the USDI Bureau of Land Management, Cedar City District, Utah. #UT-910-IA9-800. 50 Pp. [Technical Report] Esque, T. C., R. B. Bury, and L. A. DeFalco. 1990. Nutrition and foraging ecology of the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii): FY1989 annual report. Report to the USDI Bureau of Land Management, Cedar City District, Utah. #UT-910-IA9-800. 69 Pp. [Technical Report]