Skip to main content

Rob Massatti, Ph.D.

I am interested in how species and their genetic variation are distributed across western North America, and I investigate the historical and contemporary factors influencing these patterns using genetic, environmental, and distributional data. This research framework allows me to place findings in the context of restoration and native plant materials development.

Education

2015     Ph.D., Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

  • Dissertation: Spatial and temporal factors influencing the distribution and diversification of the montane flora

2007     M.S., Botany, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY

  • Thesis: A Floristic Inventory of the East Slope of the Wind River Mountain Range and Vicinity, Wyoming

2002     B.S., Zoology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI

Research Experience

2018 - Present: Research Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ

2016 - 2018: Ecologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center, Flagstaff, AZ

2015 - 2016: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

2008 - 2010: Assistant Director, Conservation Research Program, Institute for Applied Ecology, Corvallis, OR

Science and Products

link
Cisco milkvetch (Astragalus sabulosus) in flower

Genomic Research Supporting Western Conservation

In the western United States (U.S.), there are many regionally restricted, rare species resulting from complex demographic and ecological processes through time. In addition to the inherent risks associated with being rare (i.e., having few individuals spread over a limited area that could be disproportionately affected by chance events), anthropogenic disturbances are increasing in magnitude...
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center
link

Genomic Research Supporting Western Conservation

In the western United States (U.S.), there are many regionally restricted, rare species resulting from complex demographic and ecological processes through time. In addition to the inherent risks associated with being rare (i.e., having few individuals spread over a limited area that could be disproportionately affected by chance events), anthropogenic disturbances are increasing in magnitude...
Learn More
link
Yellow bee plant (Cleome lutea) visited by a monarch butterfly

Genetics for Western Restoration and Conservation (GWRC)

Research using genetic principles, methods, and data provides critical information for restoration and conservation science. Genetic research may rely only upon genomic sequencing techniques, which generate abundant, genome-wide DNA sequences that can provide a glimpse into a species’ evolutionary history and adaptations. Genetic research may also look at an organism’s physical traits to...
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center
link

Genetics for Western Restoration and Conservation (GWRC)

Research using genetic principles, methods, and data provides critical information for restoration and conservation science. Genetic research may rely only upon genomic sequencing techniques, which generate abundant, genome-wide DNA sequences that can provide a glimpse into a species’ evolutionary history and adaptations. Genetic research may also look at an organism’s physical traits to...
Learn More
link
Dryland, shrub-dominated plant community typical of sandy substrates

Informing Seed Transfer Guidelines and Native Plant Materials Development: Research Supporting Restoration Across the Colorado Plateau and Beyond

As restoration needs for natural landscapes grow due to higher frequency and/or intensity disturbances, pressure from invasive species, and impacts resulting from changing climates, considerable time and resources are being invested to guide the development and deployment of native plant materials (NPMs). Across lower elevations of the Colorado Plateau, a region composed primarily of public land...
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center
link

Informing Seed Transfer Guidelines and Native Plant Materials Development: Research Supporting Restoration Across the Colorado Plateau and Beyond

As restoration needs for natural landscapes grow due to higher frequency and/or intensity disturbances, pressure from invasive species, and impacts resulting from changing climates, considerable time and resources are being invested to guide the development and deployment of native plant materials (NPMs). Across lower elevations of the Colorado Plateau, a region composed primarily of public land...
Learn More

Penstemon grahamii genetic data from a dryland region of the western United States

These data were compiled to investigate the evolutionary history of Graham's beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii). Objective(s) of our study were to determine the evolutionary history of P. grahamii, including ancestral population sizes, the history of population divergences, and historical connectivity. In addition, we characterized population structure, genetic diversity summary statistics, and land
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Astragalus species complex genetic data from southeast Utah (Grand County and San Juan County), USA

These data were compiled to investigate the evolutionary history of Astragalus iselyi, A. sabulosus var. sabulosus, and A. sabulosus var. vehiculus. The data release consists of six text files. One file is a bash script (astragalus_MLE_msms.sh) for generating simulated genetic data. Four files contain individual-level (astragalus.fasta, astragalus.nothin.recode.vcf, astragalus.recode.vcf) or popul
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Cleome lutea and Machaeranthera canescens seed transfer zones and distribution on the Colorado Plateau, US

These data were compiled to provide seed transfer and native plant materials development guidance to managers and practitioners across the Colorado Plateau and in adjacent regions. This data release contains empirical seed transfer zones derived from molecular genetic data for Cleome lutea (syn. Peritoma lutea) and Machaeranthera canescens (syn. Dieteria canescens). These species show distinct pop
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

'Viva' native plant material data in support of restoration and conservation

These data were compiled to investigate the evolutionary history of Hilaria jamesii, Hilaria mutica, and Hilaria rigida. The data release consists of two tab delimited text files that may be used to infer population structure (viva_structure.stru) or relationships among sampling localities (viva.phylip). Files record genetic variation on an individual (.stru) or sampling locality (.phylip) level.
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Population genetic and climatic variability data across western North America, 1915-2015

Environmental Analysis Data: These data were compiled to investigate the complex interactions between environmental gradients and geographic distance across the Intermountain West of the western United States. Due to complex topography, physiographic heterogeneity, and complicated relationships with large bodies of water, spatial autocorrelation of environmental similarity may be expected. We prov
By
Southwest Biological Science Center

Genetic analyses of Astragalus sect. Humillimi data in the southwest USA

These data were compiled to support effective conservation for species within Astragalus sect. Humillimi. Two species, A. cremnophylax var. cremnophylax and A. humillimus are federally listed as endangered taxa. The data provided herein were used to resolve the relationaships among taxa, the population structure within taxa, and genetic diversity within taxa. The data are provided in a STRUCTURE-f
By
Southwest Biological Science Center
Filter Total Items: 16

How to increase the supply of native seed to improve restoration success: The US native seed development process

With the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, restoration of damaged ecosystems is turning into a global movement. Restoration actions that are not based on science and an understanding of ecosystem function can thwart desired restoration outcomes at best and cause further damage to ecosystems at worst. Restoration often includes revegetation using seed. Where we source seed for restora
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Demographic modeling informs functional connectivity and management interventions in Graham’s beardtongue

Functional connectivity (i.e., the movement of individuals across a landscape) is essential for the maintenance of genetic variation and persistence of rare species. However, illuminating the processes influencing functional connectivity and ultimately translating this knowledge into management practice remains a fundamental challenge. Here, we combine various population structure analyses with pa
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

The demographic and ecological factors shaping diversification among rare Astragalus species

AimEvolutionary radiations are central to the origin and maintenance of biodiversity, yet we rarely understand how they are jointly shaped by demography and ecological opportunity. Astragalus is the largest plant genus in the world and is disproportionately comprised of rare species restricted to narrow geographic and ecological regions. Here, we explored the demographic and ecological mechanisms
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 2020 Report)

A primary focus of the Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP) is to identify and develop appropriate native plant materials (NPMs) for current and future restoration projects. Multiple efforts have characterized the myriad challenges inherent in providing appropriate seed resources to enable effective, widespread restoration and have identified a broad suite of research activities to provid
By
Ecosystems, Climate Adaptation Science Centers, Climate Adaptation Science Center, Southwest Biological Science Center

Testing which axes of species differentiation underlie covariance of phylogeographic similarity among montane sedge species

Co‐distributed species may exhibit similar phylogeographic patterns due to shared environmental factors or discordant patterns attributed to the influence of species‐specific traits. Although either concordant or discordant patterns could occur due to chance, stark differences in key traits (e.g., dispersal ability) may readily explain differences between species. Multiple species’ attributes may
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Forward-looking dryland restoration in an age of change

Drought, wildfires, and invasive species are among the many challenges practitioners face in achieving restoration goals in drylands. In this article, we highlight relevant restoration research and programs that pursue actionable information and resource management goals for the Intermountain West. In the context of international restoration targets recently set, we speak to dryland restoration ch
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Genetically-informed seed transfer zones for Cleome lutea and Machaeranthera canescens across the Colorado Plateau and adjacent regions

Genetically-based seed transfer zones are described herein for two priority restoration species on and adjacent to the Colorado Plateau (Massatti 2020). Species include Cleome lutea Hook. (Capparaceae; commonly called yellow spiderflower or yellow beeplant; synonym Peritoma lutea (Hook.) Raf.) and Machaeranthera canescens (Pursh) A. Gray (Asteraceae; commonly called hoary tansyaster; synonym Diete
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Unexpected hybridization reveals the utility of genetics in native plant restoration

Native plant materials (NPMs) are increasingly utilized during the restoration of disturbed plant communities. Here, we analyze next‐generation genetic sequencing data for Hilaria jamesii, a dominant graminoid across drylands of the southwestern United States, and document that the species' only commercially‐available NPM, ‘Viva’, is a hybrid between H. jamesii and its sister species, H. mutica. I
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Assessment of population genetics and climatic variability can refine climate‐informed seed transfer guidelines

Restoration guidelines increasingly recognize the importance of genetic attributes in translocating native plant materials (NPMs). However, when species‐specific genetic information is unavailable, seed transfer guidelines use climate‐informed seed transfer zones (CSTZs) as an approximation. While CSTZs may improve how NPMs are developed and/or matched to restoration sites, they overlook genetic f
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

The historical context of contemporary climatic adaptation: A case study in the climatically dynamic and environmentally complex southwestern United States

The process of adaptation can be highly dependent upon historical and contemporary factors, especially in environmentally and topographically complex regions affected by Pleistocene glaciations. Here, we investigate Hilaria jamesii (Poaceae), a dryland C4 graminoid, to test how patterns of adaptive genetic variation are linked to its glacial and post‐glacial history. We show that the species persi
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Supporting the development and use of native plant materials for restoration on the Colorado Plateau (Fiscal Year 19 Report)

A primary focus of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM’s) Colorado Plateau Native Plant Program (CPNPP) is to identify and develop appropriate native plant materials (NPMs) for current and future restoration projects. Multiple efforts have characterized the myriad challenges inherent in providing appropriate seed resources to enable effective, widespread restoration and have identified a broad su
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Genetically-informed seed transfer zones for Pleuraphis jamesii, Sphaeralcea parvifolia, and Sporobolus cryptandrus across the Colorado Plateau and adjacent regions

(Massatti) Introduction: The majority of native plant materials (NPMs) utilized for restoration purposes are developed for widely distributed species that provide a variety of ecosystem services (Wood et al. 2015; Butterfield et al. 2017). Disturbed ecosystems benefit from the use of appropriate NPMs, which are those that display ecological fitness at the restoration site, are compatible with cons
By
Ecosystems, Southwest Biological Science Center

Pre-USGS Publications

Massatti, R., Doherty, K.D. and Wood, T.E. (2018), Resolving neutral and deterministic contributions to genomic structure in Syntrichia ruralis (Bryophyta, Pottiaceae) informs propagule sourcing for dryland restoration. Conservation Genetics, 19: 85.
Knowles, L. L. and Massatti, R. (2017), Distributional shifts – not geographic isolation – as a probable driver of montane species divergence. Ecography, 40: 1475-1485.
Massatti, R. and Knowles, L. L. (2016), Contrasting support for alternative models of genomic variation based on microhabitat preference: species‐specific effects of climate change in alpine sedges. Molecular Ecology, 25: 3974-3986.
Knowles, L. L., Massatti, R. , He, Q. , Olson, L. E. and Lanier, H. C. (2016), Quantifying the similarity between genes and geography across Alaska's alpine small mammals. Journal of Biogeography, 43: 1464-1476.
Massatti, R. , Reznicek, A. A. and Knowles, L. L. (2016), Utilizing RADseq data for phylogenetic analysis of challenging taxonomic groups: A case study in Carex sect. Racemosae. American Journal of Botany, 103: 337-347.
Lanier, H. C., Massatti, R. , He, Q. , Olson, L. E. and Knowles, L. L. (2015), Colonization from divergent ancestors: glaciation signatures on contemporary patterns of genomic variation in Collared Pikas (Ochotona collaris). Molecular Ecology, 24: 3688-3705.
Massatti, R. and Knowles, L. L. (2014), Microhabitat differences impact phylogeographic concordance of codistributed species: genomic evidence in montane sedges (Carex L.) from the Rocky Mountains. Evolution, 68: 2833-2846.
Coop, J. D., Massatti, R. T. and Schoettle, A. W. (2010), Subalpine vegetation pattern three decades after stand‐replacing fire: effects of landscape context and topography on plant community composition, tree regeneration, and diversity. Journal of Vegetation Science, 21: 472- 487.
link

Tips for Dryland Restoration - Summer 2020

This season's edition of the Restoration Assessment and Monitoring Program for the Southwest Newsletter contains recent program highlights including...

Read Article
link

Plant Genetics Informing Restoration in the West

Three recently published papers by the Southwest Biological Science Center illustrate how genetics can aid in plant restoration efforts in the arid...

Read Article

Science and Products