Plant Assistant

CURRICULUM VITAE

Stephanie G. Yelenik

Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University

Corvallis, OR 97331

*********.*******@***********.***, 805-***-****

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Community succession and assemblyRestoration of native plant species and ecosystem function

EDUCATION

University of California, Santa Barbara, USA. Ph.D., Sept 2008

University of Cape Town, South Africa. M.Sc. with distinction, Botany, 2000

University of California, Berkeley, USA. B.A., Integrative Biology, 1997

RESEARCH EXPERIENCE

Post-Doctoral Research Associate October 2010 – presentUniversity of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyPI on project that explores how the impacts of invasive grasses change over time, and how this affects native plant restoration in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Supervisor: Carla D’Antonio

Post-Doctoral Research Associate October 2008 – presentOregon State University, Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyPI on project that investigates the regional controls over N-fixation in early successional shrubs, and impacts on Northern California forest productivity. Supervisors: Steven Perakis and David Hibbs

Graduate Student Researcher September 2004 – September 2008University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine BiologyDoctoral dissertation investigated how ecosystem impacts of invasive plant species alter invasion rates, the persistence of invasives, and the ability of native species to recover. Supervisor: Jonathan Levine

Graduate Student Researcher July 1998 – December 2000University of Cape Town, Botany Department, South AfricaMaster’s thesis project explored the ecosystem impacts of N-fixing exotic species in South African fynbos vegetation. Supervisors: David Richardson and William Stock

Undergraduate Intern June 1996 – September 1996Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA Participant in Research Experience for Undergraduates Internship. Supervisor: Ivan Valiela

GRANTS AND AWARDS

National Science Foundation, Ecosystems cluster: co-author with lead-PI Carla D’Antonio, Long-term impacts of grass invasions and fire: implications for community dynamics and soil/plant feedbacks. 2010, $500,000Oregon State University, College of Forestry Student Mentorship grant, 2009, $4000UCSB Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology travel grant, 2008, $500UCSB Elizabeth Schamberg Burley Graduate Scholarship, 2008, $500UCSB Worster mentorship award, 2006, $2500United States Department of Agriculture, National Research Initiative: Yelenik, S.G. and Levine, J.M. Plant-soil feedbacks and native coastal sage shrub re-colonization of exotic annual grasslands. 2005, $214,000California Native Plant Society Educational Grant, 2004, $2000Southern California Academy of Science Student Research Grant, 2003, $1000Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grant, 2002, $2500National Science Foundation, Research Experience for Undergraduates Fellowship, 1996, $3000Master’s of Science awarded with distinction, University of Cape Town, South Africa

PUBLICATIONS

Yelenik, S.G. and Levine, J.M. 2010. The role of plant-soil feedbacks in driving native species recovery.

In press, Ecology.

Yelenik, S.G. and Levine, J.M. 2010. Processes limiting native shrub recovery in exotic grasslands after non-native herbivore removal. In press, Restoration Ecology.

Hille Ris Lambers, J., Yelenik, S.G., Colman, B., and Levine, J.M. 2010. California annual grass invaders: the passengers, not drivers of change. Journal of Ecology 98: 1147-1156.

Yelenik, S.G. and Levine, J.M. 2010. Re-establishment of native shrubs into California exotic annual grasslands: are ecosystem services returned? Ecological Applications, 20: 716-727.

Yelenik, S.G., Stock, W.D., and Richardson, D.M. 2007. Functional group identity does not predict invader impacts: differential effects of nitrogen fixing exotic plants on ecosystem function. Biological Invasions, 9:117-125.

Levine, J.M., Pachepsky, E., Kendall, B., Yelenik, S.G., and Hille Ris Lambers, J. 2006. Plant-soil feedbacks and invasive spread. Ecology Letters, 9: 1005-1015.

Levine, J.M., Adler, P.B., and Yelenik, S.G. 2004. A meta-analysis of biotic resistance to exotic plant invasions. Ecology Letters, 7: 975-989.

Yelenik, S.G., Stock, W.D., and Richardson, D.M. 2004. Ecosystem-level impacts of invasive Acacia saligna in the South African fynbos. Restoration Ecology, 12: 44-51.

Yelenik, S., McClelland, J., Feinstein, N., and Valiela, I. 1996. Changes in N and C stable isotope signatures of particulate organic matter and ribbed mussels in estuaries subject to different nutrient loading. Biological Bulletin, 191:329-330.

Feinstein, N., Yelenik, S., McClelland, J., and Valiela, I. 1996. Growth rates of ribbed mussels in six estuaries subject to different nutrient loads. Biological Bulletin, 191:327-328.

PUBLICATIONS IN REVIEW/ PREPARATION

Yelenik, S.G., Colman, B., Hille Ris Lambers, J., and Levine, J.M. Microbial process and plant drawdown

in the R* theory for plant competition. In preparation.

Yelenik, S.G., Perakis, S.S., and Hibbs, D. Controls over nitrogen fixation in early successional post-fire

forests. In preparation.

Yelenik, S.G., Hibbs, D., and Perakis, S.S. Nutrient limitation and forest succession after fire. In preparation.

Yelenik, S.G. and D’Antonio, C.M. Long-term ecosystem impacts of plant invasions and alternative stable states. In preparation.

TEACHING AND MENTORING EXPERIENCE

Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

College of Forestry undergraduate mentor (2009-2010)

University of California, Santa Barbara, CA

Teaching Assistant/ Guest Lecturer: Field Plant Ecology (2005-07)

Worster award undergraduate mentor (2006)

Teaching Assistant: Introductory Biology (2004)

San Roque High School, Santa Barbara, CA

Guest instructor: Santa Cruz Island student field trips (2005-06)

University of California, Los Angeles, CA

Teaching Assistant: Plant Physiology (2002), Concepts of Biology (2003)

University of Cape Town, South Africa

Teaching Assistant: Introductory Biology (1999-00)

DEPARTMENTAL SERVICE

Co-chair, Research Associate Seminar Series, 2009

Oregon State University, Corvallis, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Science

Co-chair, Graduate Student Symposium Organizational Committee, 2006

University of California, Santa Barbara, Department of Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES AND SERVICE

Member, American Association for the Advancement of ScienceMember, Ecological Society of AmericaManuscript reviewer for: Applied Soil Ecology, Biological Invasions, Diversity and Distributions, Ecology, Ecological Applications, Ecology Letters, Ecosystems, Environmental Management, Functional Ecology, Journal of Ecology, Journal of Vegetation Science, Oecologia, Oikos, Plant Ecology.Grant reviewer for National Science Foundation, Population and Community Ecology cluster.

PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS

Safe Space Training, 2010, Oregon State University: training program to become a more knowledgeable ally to the LGBT campus community, especially students.

SELECTED SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS

Yelenik, S.G., Perakis, S.S. and Hibbs, D. 2010. Competition and facilitation: can N-fixing species increase forest productivity? Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR.

Yelenik, S.G. 2008. Ecosystem change with native shrub re-establishment on Santa Cruz Island, CA. 7th annual Channel Islands Symposium, Oxnard, CA.

Yelenik, S.G., Colman, B., Hille Ris Lambers, J., and Levine, J.M. 2008. The role of microbes in interspecific plant competition for nitrogen. 93nd annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Yelenik, S.G. and Levine, J.M. 2005. What is the relative role of plant-soil feedbacks in the dynamics between native and invasive plants? 90th annual meeting of the Ecological Society of America, Montreal, Canada.

Yelenik, S.G., Stock, W.D., and Richardson, D.M. 2003. Ecosystem level impacts of two species of nitrogen-fixing invasive alien plants in South African fynbos. Seventh International Conference on the Ecology and Management of Alien Plant Invasions, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (invited speaker).

Yelenik, S.G. and Richardson, D.M. 2000. Ecosystem level impacts of nitrogen-fixing invasive alien plants in South African fynbos. MEDECOS 2000: Ninth International Conference on Mediterranean-type Ecosystems, Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Yelenik, S.G. and Stock, W.D. 2000. Not all N-fixers are equal: Using resin bags to quantify additions of available nitrogen from annual and perennial N-fixing plants. Ninth Congress of the African Association for Biological Nitrogen Fixation, Nairobi, Kenya.

IN THE PRESS

Research is featured in Oregon State University campus newspaper: Dahl, A. OSU Researcher Targets Invasive Plant Species. The Daily Barometer, May 19, 2010.

Interviewed for article concerning the sale of invasive plant species: Preston, B. Area nurseries may be selling invasive species: little shop of horrors? Santa Barbara Independent, March 13, 2008.

Popular science article: Yelenik, S.G., Stock, W.D., and Richardson, D.M. 2002. Fertilizing the fynbos. Velt and Flora, 88: 164.

OTHER WORK EXPERIENCE

Small business co-founder 2002-2008Native Spaces Garden Design (www.nativespacesdesign.com), Los Angeles, CACollaborated on small landscape design business and ensuing projects

Horticulturist 2000-2001Brooklyn Botanic Garden, New York City, NYHorticulture intern for public botanic gardens.

Community Service

Three Rivers Land Conservancy 2010Native plant garden tours, Portland, OR

Portland Parks and Recreation 2009Invasive plant removal, Portland OR

Growing Solutions Restoration Institute 2006-08Nursery/Greenhouse building and plant propagation, Santa Cruz Island, CA

U.S. National Parks ServiceOak habitat restoration, Santa Rosa Island, CA 2006-07Vegetation mapping, Santa Cruz Island, CA 2003

Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration 2006Oak habitat restoration, University of California, Santa Barbara

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