California Native Grassland Association GRASS Award Speaker Series
Join us for this season's GRASS Speaker Series showcasing the amazing work undertaken in California Grasslands by some of our Grassland Research Awards for Student Scholarship Winners.
Talks are on Tuesdays from 6 PM - 7 PM PST featuring a one 40-minute talk, or one or two 20-minute talks, with time for Q&A.
Members: Free Non-Members: $10 Non-Member Students: Free with Student ID
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Tonight's Speakers: Andrea Nebhut and Deborah Ayala
September 16, 2025 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Speaker 1: Andrea Nebhut, Stanford University, Department of Biology, and Carnegie
Science, Department of Global Ecology
Title: Can climate-tracking communities enrich the productivity and diversity of climate-lagging California serpentine grasslands at local and regional scales?
Abstract: Predicting how ecological communities will respond to climate change is one of the most pressing challenges in ecology. This question is especially urgent for soil specialists with limited dispersal ability, such as the rare and diverse plant communities of California’s serpentine grasslands. Serpentine populations face a dual challenge: either remain in place in “climate-lagging” communities, persisting under hotter and drier conditions while competing with newly arriving species, or overcome barriers to dispersal and competition from established residents shift into more favorable habitats as “climate-tracking” populations. My ongoing research investigates how serpentine communities may respond to these challenges using experimental mesocosms of serpentine grassland communities collected across California. By simulating projected climate outcomes at both local scales (microclimatic variation within a site) and regional scales (across northern and southern serpentine ranges) and measuring shifts in diversity, composition, productivity, and climatic niche, I ask how California serpentine communities respond to warming, drying, and novel species interactions. This experiment will provide new insights into the resilience and vulnerability of serpentine ecosystems under climate change. Beyond advancing our understanding of community responses, the results have direct conservation implications, including when interventions like managed relocation may help preserve serpentine biodiversity and when they might pose unintended risks.
Bio: Andrea Nebhut is a fourth-year Ph.D. student at Stanford University Department of Biology, advised by Dr. Tadashi Fukami and Dr. Jeffrey Dukes. Her work focuses on the intersection of climate change, plant invasion, and ecosystem functioning, with forays into field and experimental research, analysis of continental-scale datasets, and mathematical modeling. She received her B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Trinity University, where she studied how shortwave UV-B radiation alters plant pigmentation, and her M.S. in Forestry and Natural Resources from Purdue University, where she studied the impacts of invasive plants on their recipient communities. Currently, her work focuses on using serpentine grassland mesocosms as a model system to understand how competitive outcomes are shaped by the traits of the competitors and the climatic environment in which they compete.
Speaker 2: Deborah Ayala, Texas A&M
Title: Utilizing Nature-Based Solutions for Enhanced Grassland Restoration
Abstract: Restoring degraded grasslands is often hindered by low seed germination, slow early growth, and residual soil contamination. This talk will highlight nature-based solutions to improve germination rates, accelerate establishment, increase drought tolerance, and, in some cases, degrade contaminants present in the soil.
Restoration practitioners can efficiently revegetate remote or difficult-to-access sites, including post-fire areas, brownfields, and former industrial lands. I will share progress in current greenhouse and field trials with California native grasses, explain the microbial mechanisms supporting plant establishment and contaminant breakdown, and discuss considerations for large-scale use. This solution offers a promising approach to restoring ecological function while addressing the complex environmental challenges of contaminated and disturbed landscapes.
Bio: Deborah Ayala is an Environmental Scientist. She is a Doctoral Candidate at Texas A&M in Soil and Crop Sciences, researching improved salt-tolerant perennial grass development. Her focus is on habitat restoration and plant pathology in degraded environments. She holds a Master's in Agriculture Science and a Bachelor's in Plant Science with minors in Soil Science and Pest Management from Cal Poly Pomona. Deborah is a field scientist for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, where she assesses plant and soil pests and diseases. She also consults on phytoremediation projects across the state.
Contact Justin Luong (jluong4@ucsc.edu) with any questions.
CNGA 2024 GRASS Award Speaker Series 2025 Schedule (Tuesdays, 6 - 7 pm)
- September 9 - Katherine Brafford (UCD)
- September 16 - Andrea Nebhut (Stanford); Deborah Ayala (Texas A&M)
- September 23 - Ernesto Chavez-Velasco (Cal Poly Humboldt)
- October 14 - Jessica Solis (SFSU)
- October 21 - Sophie Noda (UCD)
- October 28 - Lauren Glevanik (UCLA)
Help Support Student Research - Donate to the GRASS Program
CNGA's GRASS Program:
- Focuses student research on important grassland-related questions.
- Inspires students to become more involved in California Grassland Conservation and Restoration.
- Trains future employees for your agency or company.
- Creates advocates for California Grasslands
Learn More About GRASS - Applications Accepted Nov 1 - Jan 31
