Sarah C. Barga
US Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Research Station
Grassland, Shrubland, and Desert Program
Boise, ID 83702
Appointments:
Research Geneticist, 08/18 - present
U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID
Post-doctoral Researcher, 10/17 - 08/18
Leger Lab, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), NV
Natural Resource Management Volunteer, 06/05 - 08/07
Peace Corps, Togo, West Africa
Research Geneticist, 08/18 - present
U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Boise, ID
- planning/implementing a new, large-scale native forb common garden project across the Great Basin
- creating a digital database and management tools to determine best practices for restoration after fire
- partnering with the Foothills Learning Center to create a science “lesson in a box” lending library
- examining existing common garden data for relationships between plasticity and climate variability
Post-doctoral Researcher, 10/17 - 08/18
Leger Lab, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), NV
- modeling distributions for key native forb species for use in a Bureau of Land Mgmt. restoration tool
- assessing native seed collection efforts for the Seeds of Success program (see Publications)
Natural Resource Management Volunteer, 06/05 - 08/07
Peace Corps, Togo, West Africa
- performed training in sustainable farming practices, nutrition, health, and gender equity in 20 villages
Education:
Ph.D. Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, 2017
University of Nevada, Reno
Advisor: Dr. Beth Leger
Dissertation: Plant Responses to Environmental Heterogeneity in Great Basin Sagebrush Steppe
M.S. Biology Department, University of Nevada, Reno, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Vander Wall
Thesis: Seed Dispersal of Wild Peony (Paeonia brownii)
B.S. Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, 2002
Advisor: Dr. Jim Kenagy
B.A. Business Administration, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997
Ph.D. Program in Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology, 2017
University of Nevada, Reno
Advisor: Dr. Beth Leger
Dissertation: Plant Responses to Environmental Heterogeneity in Great Basin Sagebrush Steppe
M.S. Biology Department, University of Nevada, Reno, 2011
Advisor: Dr. Stephen Vander Wall
Thesis: Seed Dispersal of Wild Peony (Paeonia brownii)
B.S. Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, 2002
Advisor: Dr. Jim Kenagy
B.A. Business Administration, University of Washington, Seattle, 1997
Publications:
- Barga S, Olwell P, Edwards F, Prescott L, Leger EA. In progress (pending final edits). Seeds of Success: An unparalleled conservation and restoration investment in the future of US lands. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment.
- Barga S, Dilts T, Leger EA. 2018. Contrasting climate niches among co-occurring sub-dominant forbs of the sagebrush steppe. Diversity and Distributions 24 (9): 1291-1307.
- Barga S, Leger EA. 2018. Shrub cover and fire history predict seed bank composition in an arid shrubland. Journal of Arid Environments 154: 40-50.
- Barga S, Dilts T, Leger EA. 2017. Climate variability affects the germination strategies exhibited by arid land plants. Oecologia 185(3): 437-452.
- Vander Wall SB, Barga S, Seaman A. 2017. The geographic distribution of seed-dispersal mutualisms in North America. Evolutionary Ecology 31(5): 725-740.
- Barga S, Vander Wall SB. 2013. Dispersal of an herbaceous perennial, Paeonia brownii, by scatter-hoarding rodents. Ecoscience 20(2): 172-181.
- Vander Wall SB, Enders MS, Barga S, Moore C, Seaman A, Perea R. 2012. Jeffrey Pine Seed Dispersal in the Sierra San Pedro Martir, Baja California, Mexico. Western North American Naturalist 72(4): 534-542
Experience:
Curatorial Assistant, Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016 - 2017
Graduate Mentor, Guided student research for the UNR Undergraduate Research Award, 2016/2017
Title: Great Basin annual forb population responses to competition with Bromus tectorum and soil nitrogen limitation
Museum Outreach Assistant, Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2015 - 2016
Guest Lecturer, University of Nevada, Reno, NV - Biol 330, Plant Biology - 2014, 2016
Research Assistant, Leger Lab, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2013 - 2016
Teaching Assistant, Forest and Range Plants (NRES 345), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2013
Teaching Assistant, Ecology Lab (Biol 394), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2009, 2012
Field Technician, Walker River Project, Great Basin Bird Observatory, NV, 2012
Research Associate, Project Lead - Northern Flying Squirrels, Great Basin Institute, NV 2011
Teaching Assistant, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology (Biol 316), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2011
Teaching Assistant, Mammalogy, (Biol 434), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2010
Teaching Assistant, How Science Works (Biol 125), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2010
Teaching Assistant, General Biology Lab (Biol 192), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2008, 2009
Wildlife Technician, Colorado State University, Fort Collins/U.S. Geological Survey, Rawlins, WY, 2008
Field Biologist, Indiana Bat Project, Brown-Berry Biological Consulting, Bullhead City, AZ, 2004
Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Careers Organization/Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003 - 2005
Field Investigator, Endangered Species Recovery Program, California State University, Stanislaus, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003
Field Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, 2002
Assistant Lab Manager, Marine Molecular Biotechnology Lab, University of WA, Seattle, 2000 - 2003
Curatorial Assistant, Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016 - 2017
Graduate Mentor, Guided student research for the UNR Undergraduate Research Award, 2016/2017
Title: Great Basin annual forb population responses to competition with Bromus tectorum and soil nitrogen limitation
Museum Outreach Assistant, Museum of Natural History, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2015 - 2016
Guest Lecturer, University of Nevada, Reno, NV - Biol 330, Plant Biology - 2014, 2016
Research Assistant, Leger Lab, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2013 - 2016
Teaching Assistant, Forest and Range Plants (NRES 345), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2013
Teaching Assistant, Ecology Lab (Biol 394), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2009, 2012
Field Technician, Walker River Project, Great Basin Bird Observatory, NV, 2012
Research Associate, Project Lead - Northern Flying Squirrels, Great Basin Institute, NV 2011
Teaching Assistant, Comparative Anatomy and Physiology (Biol 316), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2011
Teaching Assistant, Mammalogy, (Biol 434), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2010
Teaching Assistant, How Science Works (Biol 125), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2010
Teaching Assistant, General Biology Lab (Biol 192), University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2008, 2009
Wildlife Technician, Colorado State University, Fort Collins/U.S. Geological Survey, Rawlins, WY, 2008
Field Biologist, Indiana Bat Project, Brown-Berry Biological Consulting, Bullhead City, AZ, 2004
Wildlife Biologist, Environmental Careers Organization/Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003 - 2005
Field Investigator, Endangered Species Recovery Program, California State University, Stanislaus, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003
Field Assistant, Department of Zoology, University of Washington, Seattle, 2002
Assistant Lab Manager, Marine Molecular Biotechnology Lab, University of WA, Seattle, 2000 - 2003
Grants and Awards:
Conservation Education Microgrant, US Forest Service ($2765), 2019
Outstanding PhD Student, UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, 2017
Poster Competition, Second Place - UNR Graduate Student Association ($300) 2016
Travel Grant, UNR Graduate Student Association ($500), 2016
Research Scholarship, UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources ($5300), 2015
Travel Grant, UNR Graduate Student Association ($800), 2015
Director’s Award, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, 2014
Travel Grant, UNR Graduate Student Association ($450), 2014
Summer Stipend, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($1700), 2014
Research Grant, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($800), 2014
Education Grant, Nevada Native Plant Society ($1000), 2014
Research Scholarship, UNR, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources ($2600), 2013
Research Grant, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($400), 2013
Summer Stipend, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($1700), 2013
Poster Competition, Second Place - UNR College of Science ($600), 2010
Graduate Fellowship, Wilson Award ($4000), 2010
Graduate Fellowship, UNR Whittell Forest ($3500), 2010
Education Grant, California Native Plant Society ($500), 2009
Graduate Fellowship, UNR Whittell Forest ($3500), 2009
Graduate Scholarship, Brussard Scholarship Endowment ($500), 2009
Conservation Education Microgrant, US Forest Service ($2765), 2019
Outstanding PhD Student, UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources, 2017
Poster Competition, Second Place - UNR Graduate Student Association ($300) 2016
Travel Grant, UNR Graduate Student Association ($500), 2016
Research Scholarship, UNR College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources ($5300), 2015
Travel Grant, UNR Graduate Student Association ($800), 2015
Director’s Award, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, 2014
Travel Grant, UNR Graduate Student Association ($450), 2014
Summer Stipend, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($1700), 2014
Research Grant, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($800), 2014
Education Grant, Nevada Native Plant Society ($1000), 2014
Research Scholarship, UNR, College of Agriculture, Biotechnology, and Natural Resources ($2600), 2013
Research Grant, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($400), 2013
Summer Stipend, UNR Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program ($1700), 2013
Poster Competition, Second Place - UNR College of Science ($600), 2010
Graduate Fellowship, Wilson Award ($4000), 2010
Graduate Fellowship, UNR Whittell Forest ($3500), 2010
Education Grant, California Native Plant Society ($500), 2009
Graduate Fellowship, UNR Whittell Forest ($3500), 2009
Graduate Scholarship, Brussard Scholarship Endowment ($500), 2009
Posters and Presentations:
Society for Ecological Restoration World Conference, South Africa, 2019
Invited Speaker: Desert soil seed banks: a refuge for plant diversity and a resource for regeneration
2nd Seed Longevity Workshop, Fort Collins, CO, 2018
Invited Speaker: How seed traits influence landscape restoration
Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference, Berkeley, CA, 2018
Using herbarium records to make climate niche comparisons among co-occurring sub-dominant forbs of the sagebrush steppe
Operation Pollination Lecture Series, Reno, NV, 2018
Oral Presentation: Under the shrubs - overlooked components of Great Basin plant communities
Great Basin Consortium Conference, Reno, NV, 2017
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
UNR Graduate Student Association Poster Competition, Reno, NV, 2016
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
Great Basin Consortium Conference, Boise, ID, 2016
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 2016
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
National Native Seed Conference, Santa Fe, NM, 2015
Oral Presentation: Species and Population-Level Variation in Germination Strategies of Cold Desert Forbs
Great Basin Native Plant Project Annual Meeting, Boise, ID, 2015
Oral Presentation: Species and Population-Level Variation in Germination Strategies of Cold Desert Forbs
Ecological Society of America 99th Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA, 2014
Oral Presentation: Germination Ecology of Great Basin Forbs
Great Basin Native Plant Project Annual Meeting, Boise, ID, 2014
Poster: Germination Ecology of Great Basin Forbs
3rd Great Basin Consortium Conference, Reno, NV, 2013
Poster: Germination Ecology of Great Basin Forbs
Ecological Society of America 98th Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 2013
Poster: Seed Dispersal of Wild Peony
Society for Ecological Restoration World Conference, South Africa, 2019
Invited Speaker: Desert soil seed banks: a refuge for plant diversity and a resource for regeneration
2nd Seed Longevity Workshop, Fort Collins, CO, 2018
Invited Speaker: How seed traits influence landscape restoration
Digital Data in Biodiversity Research Conference, Berkeley, CA, 2018
Using herbarium records to make climate niche comparisons among co-occurring sub-dominant forbs of the sagebrush steppe
Operation Pollination Lecture Series, Reno, NV, 2018
Oral Presentation: Under the shrubs - overlooked components of Great Basin plant communities
Great Basin Consortium Conference, Reno, NV, 2017
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
UNR Graduate Student Association Poster Competition, Reno, NV, 2016
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
Great Basin Consortium Conference, Boise, ID, 2016
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
Sagebrush Ecosystem Conservation Conference, Salt Lake City, UT, 2016
Poster Presentation: Creating Maps of Potential Habitat for Great Basin Forbs Using Herbarium Data
National Native Seed Conference, Santa Fe, NM, 2015
Oral Presentation: Species and Population-Level Variation in Germination Strategies of Cold Desert Forbs
Great Basin Native Plant Project Annual Meeting, Boise, ID, 2015
Oral Presentation: Species and Population-Level Variation in Germination Strategies of Cold Desert Forbs
Ecological Society of America 99th Annual Meeting, Sacramento, CA, 2014
Oral Presentation: Germination Ecology of Great Basin Forbs
Great Basin Native Plant Project Annual Meeting, Boise, ID, 2014
Poster: Germination Ecology of Great Basin Forbs
3rd Great Basin Consortium Conference, Reno, NV, 2013
Poster: Germination Ecology of Great Basin Forbs
Ecological Society of America 98th Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN, 2013
Poster: Seed Dispersal of Wild Peony
Training:
Keying Asteraceae Quick Course, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
Defensive Driving Training, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
Wilderness First Aid Training, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
Keying Grasses Quick Course, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2014
Seed Biology, Production, and Quality Workshop, University of CA, Davis, CA, 2013
Wilderness First Aid Training, American Safety and Health Institute, Reno, NV, 2011, 2013
CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Am. Safety and Health Inst., Reno, NV, 2011, 2013
Keying Plant Families Quick Course, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2009
A.T.V. Safety Training, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, 2008
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate, Cerro Coso C.C., Ridgecrest, CA, 2004
Bats and Mines Workshop, Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA, 2004
Desert Tortoise:
Surveying, Monitoring, and Handling Workshop, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003
Processing Shell Skeletal Remains Workshop, Moreno Valley, CA, 2004
Live Handling Workshop, Ridgecrest, CA, 2004
Birding School, Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003
Keying Asteraceae Quick Course, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
Defensive Driving Training, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
Wilderness First Aid Training, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
Keying Grasses Quick Course, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2014
Seed Biology, Production, and Quality Workshop, University of CA, Davis, CA, 2013
Wilderness First Aid Training, American Safety and Health Institute, Reno, NV, 2011, 2013
CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, Am. Safety and Health Inst., Reno, NV, 2011, 2013
Keying Plant Families Quick Course, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2009
A.T.V. Safety Training, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, 2008
Emergency Medical Technician Certificate, Cerro Coso C.C., Ridgecrest, CA, 2004
Bats and Mines Workshop, Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA, 2004
Desert Tortoise:
Surveying, Monitoring, and Handling Workshop, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003
Processing Shell Skeletal Remains Workshop, Moreno Valley, CA, 2004
Live Handling Workshop, Ridgecrest, CA, 2004
Birding School, Bureau of Land Management, Ridgecrest, CA, 2003
Outreach and Volunteering:
Website Management, Society for Ecological Restoration, Great Basin Chapter, 2019 - present
Volunteer, Idaho Food Bank 501(c)(3), Boise, ID, 2019 - present
Board of Directors, Nevada Bugs and Butterflies 501(c)(3), Reno, NV, 2012 - present
Volunteer, Long Term Goldfinch Banding Project, Reno, NV, 2009 - 2018
Projectionist and Volunteer Coordinator, Artemisia Moviehouse 501(c)(3), Reno, NV, 2012 - 2018
Science Fair Judge, Huffaker Elementary School, 2017
Volunteer, Big Brothers Big Sisters Science Day at University of Nevada, Reno, 2010 - 2017
Volunteer, Displays and Outreach, University of Nevada Museum of Natural History, 2013 - 2017
Peer Review Group, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, 2016 - 2017
Colloquium Committee, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, 2014 - 2016
Website Management, Society for Ecological Restoration, Great Basin Chapter, 2019 - present
Volunteer, Idaho Food Bank 501(c)(3), Boise, ID, 2019 - present
Board of Directors, Nevada Bugs and Butterflies 501(c)(3), Reno, NV, 2012 - present
Volunteer, Long Term Goldfinch Banding Project, Reno, NV, 2009 - 2018
Projectionist and Volunteer Coordinator, Artemisia Moviehouse 501(c)(3), Reno, NV, 2012 - 2018
Science Fair Judge, Huffaker Elementary School, 2017
Volunteer, Big Brothers Big Sisters Science Day at University of Nevada, Reno, 2010 - 2017
Volunteer, Displays and Outreach, University of Nevada Museum of Natural History, 2013 - 2017
Peer Review Group, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, 2016 - 2017
Colloquium Committee, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology Program, 2014 - 2016
