**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** INFORMATION ONANATOMICAL ROOT TRAITS (E.G., ROOT XYLEM FRACTION) AND SEED TRAITS (E.G., HYDRO-THERMAL PERIODS FOR GERMINATION) PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO HOW DIFFERENCES IN FUNCTIONAL TRAITS OF INVADERS AND RESIDENT SPECIES SHAPE COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS. THESE TRAITS MAY BE PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT TO INCLUDE IN OUR DATASET BECAUSE THE TIMING OF GERMINATION AND THE ABILITY OF SEEDLINGS TO QUICKLY MOVE WATER FROM THE ROOT ZONE TO LEAF TISSUES DETERMINES PLANT ESTABLISHMENT AND PERSISTENCE IN MANY DRYLAND SYSTEMS INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA SYSTEM IN WHICH THE FIELD COMPONENT OF THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED.