• Publications

  • (Clicking on the reprint icon will take you to the publication reprint.)
  • Adaptation strategies and approaches for California forest ecosystems-()
    Swanston, C.W., Brandt, L.A., Butler-Leopold, P.R., Hall, K.R., Handler, S.D., Janowiak, M.K., Merriam, K., Meyer, M., Molinari, N., Schmitt, K.M., Shannon, P.D., Smith, J.B., Wuenschel, A., Ostoja, S.M. 2020. Adaptation strategies and approaches for California forest ecosystems. Government Publication/Report.
    
  • Combined effects of biological control of an invasive shrub and fluvial processes on riparian vegetation dynamics-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Gonzalez, E., Shafroth, P., Lee, S., Ostoja, S.M., Brooks, M. 2020. Combined effects of biological control of an invasive shrub and fluvial processes on riparian vegetation dynamics. Biological Invasions. 22:2339-2356. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10530-020-02259-9.
    
  • Mapping fragile areas in ecosystems using only short-term spatial data-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Genin, A., Lee, S., Berlow, E., Ostoja, S.M., Kefi, S. 2020. Mapping fragile areas in ecosystems using only short-term spatial data. Biological Conservation. 241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108388.
    
  • Extreme heat effects on perennial crops and strategies for sustaining future production-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Parker, L.E., McElrone, A.J., Ostoja, S.M., Forrestel, E.J. 2020. Extreme heat effects on perennial crops and strategies for sustaining future production. Plant Science. 295. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.plantsci.2019.110397.
    
  • Pleistocene glacial cycles drove lineage diversification and fusion in the Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus)-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Maier, P.A., Vandergast, A., Ostoja, S.M., Aguilar, A., Bohonak, A. 2019. Pleistocene glacial cycles drove lineage diversification and fusion in the Yosemite toad (Anaxyrus canorus). Ecology and Evolution. 73(12):2476-2496. https://doi.org/10.1111/evo.13868.
    
  • Managing Effects of Drought in California-()
    Fettig, C.A., Wuenschel, A., Balachowski, J.A., Butz, R.J., Jacobsen, A., North, M., Ostoja, S.M., Pratt, B., Standiford, R. 2019. Drought Management in California. Forest Service General Technical Reports. 71-93. https://doi.org/10.2737/WO-GTR-98.
    
  • Drought management recommendations for California (Published Abstract for 68th Annual Meeting of the Western Forest Insect Work Conference)-(Abstract Only)
    Fettig, C.J., Wuenschel, A., Balachowski, J.A., Butz, R.J., Jacobsen, A., North, M., Ostoja, S.M., Pratt, B., Standiford, R. 2018. Drought management recommendations for California. 68th Annual Meeting of the Western Forest Insect Work Conference, Denver, CO, March 2018. Meeting Abstract. http://wfiwc.org/content/68th-western-forest-insect-work-conference-denver-co-march-26-29.
    
  • River flooding and its impacts on large-scale biocontrol of Tamarix in the Colorado and Virgin River system: Moving targets and trajectories-(Proceedings)
    Lee, S.R., Shafroth, P., Ostoja, S.M., Brooks, M., Reed, S. 2017. River flooding and its impacts on large-scale biocontrol of Tamarix in the Colorado and Virgin River system: Moving targets and trajectories. In: Riparian Summit 2017. October 17-19, 2017, Davis, California.
    
  • Regional services in a research context: USDA climate hubs in the agricultural research service-(Abstract Only)
    Elias, E.H., Brown, D.P., Ostoja, S.M., Peck, D.E., Todey, D.P. 2017. Regional services in a research context: USDA climate hubs in the agricultural research service [abstract]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. Available at: https://scisoc.confex.com/scisoc/2017am/webprogram/Paper108203.html.
    
  • Regional services in a research context: USDA Climate Hubs in the Agricultural Research Service-(Abstract Only)
    Elias, E.H., Brown, D.A., Ostoja, S.M., Peck, D.E., Todey, D.P., Rango, A. 2017. Regional services in a research context: USDA Climate Hubs in the Agricultural Research Service [abstrasct]. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. October 22-25, 2017, Tampa, Florida, 357-1.
    
  • A multi-scale evaluation of pack stack effects on subalpine meadow plant communities in the Sierra Nevada-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Lee, S.R., Berlow, E.L., Ostoja, S.M., Brooks, M.L., Genin, A., Matchett, J.R., Hart, S.C. 2017. A multi-scale evaluation of pack stack effects on subalpine meadow plant communities in the Sierra Nevada. PLoS One. 12(6):e0178536. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178536.
    
  • Regional services in a research context: USDA Climate Hubs in the USDA Agricultural Research Service-(Abstract Only)
    Brown, D.P., Elias, E.H., Ostoja, S.M., Peck, D.E., Todey, D.P. 2017. Regional services in a research context: USDA Climate Hubs in the USDA Agricultural Research Service [abstract]. Proceedings of the American Meteorological Society Conference on Applied. American Meteorological Society 23rd Conference on Applied Climatology, June 26-28, 2017, Asheville, North Carolina. Available at: . https://ams.confex.com/ams/23Applied/webprogram/Paper318812.html.
    
  • Germination and growth of native and invasive plants on soil associated with biological control of Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.)-(Peer Reviewed Journal)
    Sherry, R.A., Shafroth, P., Belnap, J., Ostoja, S.M., Reed, S.C. 2016. Germination and growth of native and invasive plants on soil associated with biological control of Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.). Invasive Plant Science and Management. 9(4):290-307. doi: 10.1614/IPSM-D-16-00034.1.
    

• Projects

  Climate Smart Agriculture Resources Workbook for California Specialty Crops Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:436843

  Accelerating Climate Strategies to Support Climate Adaptation, Decision Support, Carbon Neutrality and Co-benefits Interagency Reimbursable Agreement (I)   Accession Number:438536

  Accelerating Climate Strategies to Support Climate Adaptation, Decision Support, Carbon Neutrality and Co-benefits Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:438885

  Expanding Understanding and Availability of Agroecosystem Adaptation Strategies Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:437148

  Addressing Water Management for Woody Perennial Crops under Increasing Temperatures in Mid-Century and End-of-Century Climate Conditions Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:433336

  Development of Web-based Decision Support Systems to Improve Crop Management Decisions Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:435314

  Adaptation Workbook for California Cropping Systems Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement (S)   Accession Number:435916

Research Program:

Dr. Steven Ostoja is the director of the USDA California Climate Hub at Agricultural Research Service currently working on ecosystem management and rangeland restoration. The California Hub works at the science-practitioner interface alongside researchers and managers to develop and deliver science-based, region-specific information and products that supports climate-informed decision-making and adaptive capacity.  

The USDA California Climate Hub seeks to listen to the practical needs of those dealing with climate adaptation on the ground – resource managers, farmers, ranchers, forest owners, tribal authorities, and their representatives and advocates. To meet our users’ informational needs, we will draw upon our broad base of science and policy knowledge and will reach out to subject-specific experts.

Biography:

Steve is a native Californian from nearby Sacramento who earned his BS in ecology and MS in biological sciences from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Steve went on to earn his PhD in ecology and conservation biology from Utah State University where his research focused on the effects of invasive species on wildlife communities and resource-consumer interactions in an applied rangeland restoration context. Before joining the Hub, Steve worked for the US Forest Service where he was head of the ecosystem management department on the Sierra National Forest. Prior to that, he worked as a supervisory ecologist for the US Geological Survey in the Yosemite office where he managed a research program that focused on invasive species management, restoration ecology, conservation biology and the effects of various stressors, including climate change, to plant and animal populations and communities. Steve joined the USDA California Climate Hub in September 2016.