Dr. Yamina Pressler

Phone: (805) 756-6336
Office: 181-313
ypressle@calpoly.edu

Dr. Pressler's Areas of Focus

Soil Ecology · Soil Food Webs · Soil Organic Matter · Fire Ecology · Pedology

About Dr. Yamina Pressler

Dr. Yamina Pressler is a soil ecologist, writer, educator, and speaker with a deep fascination for soils, the organisms that inhabit them, and the community of people who study them. She received a B.S. in Environmental Management and Protection from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University. Dr. Pressler conducted research in semi-arid rangelands as a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Department of Soil and Crop Sciences at Texas A&M University prior to returning to Cal Poly in 2019.

Dr. Pressler's research lies at the intersection of soil biology, disturbance ecology, and pedology. She explores the role of soil microorganisms and fauna in ecosystem processes and soil formation. She combines observational, experimental, modeling, and synthesis approaches to study soil food webs in the context of global change and land management. Her ongoing research investigates the effects of fires and drought on soil food webs and how microbial-faunal trophic interactions lead to soil organic matter formation. She also seeks to strengthen our collective connection to soil through writing, photography, film, and art.

When not doing science, you can find Dr. Pressler reading books, trail running, watercolor painting, and spending time with her loved ones in the desert. You can follow her work on Twitter @yaminapressler and at her website www.yaminapressler.com.

Selected Publications

Vaughan, K.L., van Miegroet, H., Pennino, A., Pressler, Y., Duball, C., Brevik, E., Berhe, A.A., Olson, C. (in press). Women in soil science: growing participation, emerging gaps, and the opportunities for advancement. Soil Science Society of America Journal.

*Pressler, Y., Moore, J.C., Cotrufo, M.F. (2019). Belowground community responses to fire: meta-analysis reveals contrasting responses of soil microorganisms and mesofauna. Oikos, 128(3),309-327. *Editors Choice

Jin, H., van Rijn, P., Moore, J.C., Bauer, M.I., Pressler, Y., Yestness, N. (2019). A validation framework for science learning progression research. International Journal of Science Education.

Pressler, Y., Hunter-Laszlo, M., Bucko, S., Covitt, B.A., Urban, S., Benton, C., Bartholomew, M., Morrison, A.J., Foster, E.J., Parker, S.D., Cotrufo, M.F., Moore, J.C. (2019). Teaching authentic soil and plant science in middle school classrooms with a biochar case study. The American Biology Teacher, 81(4), 256-268.

Koltz, A.M., Burkle, L.A., Pressler, Y., Dell, J.E., Vidal, M.C., Richards, L.A., & Murphy, S.M. (2018). Global change and the importance of fire for the ecology and evolution of insects. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 29, 110-116.

Koltz, A. M., Asmus, A., Gough, L., Pressler, Y., & Moore, J. C. (2018). The detritus-based microbial- invertebrate food web contributes disproportionately to carbon and nitrogen cycling in the Arctic. Polar Biology, 1-15.

Monroe, J.G., Markman, D.W., Beck, W.S., Felton, A.J., Vahsen, M.L., & Pressler, Y. (2018). Ecoevolutionary dynamics of carbon cycling in the Anthropocene. Trends in Ecology and Evolution, 33(3), 213-235.

Pressler, Y., Foster, E. J., Moore, J. C., & Cotrufo, M. F. (2017). Coupled biochar amendment and limited irrigation strategies do not affect a degraded soil food web in a maize agroecosystem, compared to the native grassland. GCB Bioenergy, 9(8), 1344-1355.

Natural Resources Management & Environmental Sciences

Preparing passionate leaders driving change in sustainability and stewardship of the environment.

DEGREE PROGRAMS

STUDENT RESOURCES

Club Activities and Events

Dr. Yamina Pressler