**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** NON-NATIVE PLANT INVASIONS CAUSE MAJOR ECONOMIC LOSSES IN RANGELANDS AND ARE ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES OF HABITAT AND PLANT DIVERSITY LOSS. TARGETED WEED CONTROL OF NON-NATIVE PLANTS IS A COMMON PRACTICE, BUT LAND MANAGERS OFTEN FIND THAT SUBSEQUENT SECONDARY INVASIONS CAN SOMETIMES BRING MORE NOXIOUS OR LESS PALATABLE PLANT SPECIES. CHANGING CLIMATES AND INCREASED GLOBALIZATION ARE PREDICTED TO EXACERBATE NOVEL SECONDARY INVASIONS. MY PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL EXPLORE HOW TRAIT AND PLANT EVOLUTION INTERACT DURING TARGETED WEED REMOVAL ON COASTAL AND INLAND RANGELANDS ACROSS CALIFORNIA TO ADDRESS TWO MAIN OBJECTIVES: (1) DETERMINE THE ASSEMBLY MECHANISM DRIVING SECONDARY INVASIONS USING TRAIT-BASED METHODS WITHIN AN ECO-EVOLUTIONARY FRAMEWORK; AND (2) INNOVATE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO FACILITATE RECRUITMENT OF DESIRABLE PLANTS INSTEAD OF UNDESIRABLE SECONDARY INVADERS. THIS WORK WILL AID THE USDA IN ITS MISSION TO ADDRESS RANGELAND HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT, ONE OF THE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE'S MAJOR CHALLENGE AREAS. THE PROJECT FURTHER CONTRIBUTES TO THE AFRI CHALLENGE AREA IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT FOR UNGRAZED GRASSLANDS THAT UNDERTAKE NON-NATIVE SPECIES REMOVAL TO PRESERVE PLANT DIVERSITY (I.E. ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION). THE INCORPORATION OF ECO-EVOLUTIONARY THEORY IN THE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF SPECIES INVASIONS IS INCREASINGLY NECESSARY TO UNDERSTAND COMMUNITY ASSEMBLY MECHANISMS WITH RAPID GLOBAL CHANGE. THIS RESEARCH WILL INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO PREDICT AND MANAGE SECONDARY INVASIONS ON CALIFORNIA RANGELANDS, THEREBY CONTRIBUTING TO NATURAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. THIS PROJECT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAREER DEVELOPMENT OF THE POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW, AND HAVE BROADER IMPACTS THROUGH OUTREACH WITH LAND MANAGERS, COLLEGE UNDERGRADUATES AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS.