# **Coastal Soil Horizons & Ecology Lab (C-SHEL)**  >We study **soil ecology, formation, and biodiversity** to inform soil restoration and stewardship in California Coastal bioregions. We celebrate soils as natural wonders through experiential learning, creativity, and public engagement. ![[C-SHEL-bbq-2023 copy.jpg]] We welcome inquiries to join our team. Please review the [[open positions]] for more information on getting involved. ## TEAM LEAD ### **Dr. Yamina Pressler**  Dr. Pressler leads our team of student researchers with the shared mission of advancing our understanding of soil and plant ecology in California’s coastal bioregions. She is passionate about facilitating authentic research experiences with students from all levels and lived experiences. ## CURRENT UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS **Riley Blemker**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Mollie Bressler**, Environmental Management and Protection **Natalie Eckler**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Kacie Giordano**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Sophia Hoang**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Erin Kennedy**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Brady Kerr**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Lila Konell**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Marissa LeValley**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Gabriella Lewis**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Wyatt Lusher**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Katelyn McCoy**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Diego Ortega**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Hana Pezzaglia**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Lilly Salcedo**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Ona Weinert**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science **Abby Warren**, Environmental Earth and Soil Science ![[Anna-B-Headshot.jpeg]] ![[diego headshot.jpg|400]]![[natalie headshot.png|400]]![[Sophie-Maxwell-Poster.jpg]] ![[Kylee poster.jpg]] ![[Website/hidden/images/Kylee-Cody-CAFES-Poster.jpg]] ![[Cody-in-field.jpg]] ![[C-SHEL-poster-SERCAL2023 copy.jpg]] ![[diego-poster.jpg]] ## PAST STUDENTS & ALUMNI **Abby Evans** completed her degree in Environmental Management and Protection and contributed to a project evaluating plant-soil linkages in coastal CA grasslands to inform restoration. (2024-2025) **Anna Buecheler** completed her degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science and contributed to studies of plant-soil linkages in CA grasslands. (2021-2023) **Cody Cameron** completed his degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science and contributed to a study of soil nematode communities in a lemon orchard, post-fire soil ecology, and plant-soil linkages in CA grasslands. (2021-2025) **Sophia Forstmann** completed her degree in Plant Sciences and contributed to studies of plant-soil linkages in CA grasslands. (2022-2023) **Lauren Frost** completed her degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science and contributed to studies of plant-soil linkages in CA grasslands. (2022) **Kylee Nielsen** completed their BS degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science and contributed to a study of soil nematode communities in a lemon orchard and plant-soil linkages in CA grasslands. (2021-2024) **Sophia Santitoro** completed her BS degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science and contributed to a study of soil responses to climate-smart agricultural practices. (2024) **Nabila Wildman** completed their BS degree in Environmental Earth and Soil Science and contributed to research on post-fire soil nematode communities and plant-soil linkages in CA grasslands. (2021-2025) **Maxwell Farmer** completed his MS Project student studying practitioner perspectives of rangeland restoration in California (2023-2024) **Emma McLaren** completed her MS Project student studying soil organic matter in the context of restoration in California coastal grasslands (2023-2024) **Julie Lewis** completed her MS Project Student studying impacts of wildfire severity on soil health after the Creek Fire in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (2022-2023) **Annie Booth** completed her MS Project "Establishing a monitoring framework to evaluate impacts of grazing exclusion and inform restoration at Santa Rita Ranch" (2022-2023) **Gracie Doolin** completed her MS project "Fire effects on soil organic matter in the Creek Fire" (2022-2023) **Lexi Heuer** completed her MS project "Environmental controls on soil organic matter fractions in post-fire landscapes" (2022-2023) **Nora Bales** completed her MS thesis "Factors affecting California grassland biodiversity: two case studies" (2020-2023) **Carly Sussman** contributed to several projects studying ecological responses in rangeland soils in coastal California (2021-2023) **Alison Snyder** contributed to a project evaluating plant-soil linkages in coastal rangelands (2022) **Maddie Windsor** completed a research project investigating the relationships between the scale and success of restoration studies with a foundation in soil ecological knowledge (2022) **Maya Avendano** completed a research project investigating how soil ecological knowledge is applied to restoration studies by using a systematic literature review approach (2020-2022) **Bailey McClymonds** completed a systematic review and content analysis of soil-related editorials to better understand how soil scientists communicate about soil management and conservation (2021) **Andrew Weiss** conducted a systematic literature review of soil nematode responses to ecological restoration efforts (2021-2022) **Liv Niederer & Alyssa Zurbuchen** studied mycorrhizal fungi in soils around San Luis Obispo (2019-2021) *all photos are mine or provided by students and used with permission*