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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The CrustNet leadership team is headed to Biocrust6 this week. This is the 6th International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts, hosted by the Northwest A&F University in Yangling, China. Join us for two CrustNet training sessions! Visit biocrust6.meeting666.com for more details.

biocrust6.meeting666.com

BIOCRUST 6 - 2026 6th International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts

Join the 6th International Workshop on Biological Soil Crusts to explore cutting-edge research in dryland ecosystems and soil ecology.

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Thank you to Diane Haughland and her team in Alberta, Canada for their Tier 1 & 2 installation of the CrustNet project at Mattheis Research Ranch in August. The site represents native grassland with 30+ biocrust species.

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

We returned to Grasslands National Park in August for CrustNet. The node is rich in Cladonia species and represents intact mixed-grass prairie with active bison grazing. Shout out to Kate Killebrew and Kayla Yazzie for their hard work & thank you to Grasslands National Park. #CrustNet #GrasslandsNP

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

This week CrustNet went to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the Sonoran Desert. 🌵 With saguaros and organ pipe cactus above & moist lush mosses and lichens below! We could not do this work without our incredible team & Park scientists 💛

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 08/11/2025

CrustNet visits the California coastal scrublands! We set up a site at the Santa Margarita Reserve and were excited to find liverworts and a highly diverse community of moss and lichen. Gorgeous landscape!

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

CrustNet installation in New Mexico! With a flux tower, mountain lion tracks, and cool fungi. We had some rain which really lit up the crusts. Thank you to the field crew members and their hard work to get the site installed.

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 07/09/2025

CrustNet installation at Grasslands National Park this week in Saskatchewan, Canada. Special shout out to Kai Schmitt, Emilie Porter, and Jordan Perron for spending time in the field with us. The Grasslands crusts are so beautiful. We are so lucky! #crustnet

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

Are you attending ESA this year? Are you a biocrust lover? Come to COS 011 on Monday 1:30 pm to learn all about CrustNet and biological soil crusts. We are excited to recruit new collaborators and new sites for this project. #esa2025 @womeninsoileco.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sierra Gugel

Women In Soil Ecology @womeninsoileco.bsky.social · 10/08/2025

We look forward to reconnecting at ESA this week! See you soon.

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Reposted by Sierra Gugel

Joey Bernhardt @joeybernhardt.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

✨ The Bernhardt Lab at the University of Guelph is recruiting graduate students for 2026! Join us! We have several fully funded grad positions available ✨ Please spread the word! www.bernhardtlab.org/join-us #CSEE2025

A blue poster describing opportunities to join the Bernhardt Lab -- for more information please see https://www.bernhardtlab.org/join-us

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

#CrustNet is at Lubrecht Experimental Forest in Montana! We could not have done this without our amazing DIRT Lab crew, Scott Ferrenberg, and @matthewbowker1.bsky.social. We had challenging conditions, black bears, and wildflowers galore.

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

In May, we installed #CrustNet at MPG Ranch in Montana. Many DIRT Lab folks assisted in this effort. We are so grateful to study the biocrusts in this environment and with so much support from MPG.

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

It was a pleasure to visit Grasslands National Park with collaborators Katherine Stewart and Diane Haughland and their graduate students. We will finish this #CrustNet setup in September. Can’t wait to visit this Cladonia heaven again.

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Sierra Gugel @sierrajech.bsky.social · 26/06/2025

CrustNet is now at the Northern Great Basin Experimental Range in Oregon! Thanks to @rcoconnor.bksy.social and his awesome field crew for assisting with setup. We are so excited to include this site as a #CrustNet node.

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Reposted by Sierra Gugel

Rory @rcoconnor.bsky.social · 17/06/2025

Starting to measure #CrustNet plots, and learning some of our biocrust species! Thanks @sierrajech.bsky.social for coming out to NGBER! @matthewbowker1.bsky.social @ecology-awesome.bsky.social

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Reposted by Sierra Gugel

Matthew Bowker @matthewbowker1.bsky.social · 25/01/2025

New paper led by the amazing Sierra Jech, @ecoss-nau.bsky.social post-doc. Crucial steps toward realizing the dream of #biocrust farming. Collaboration between TNC, USGS, NAU's DIRT lab and Mayberry Seed Co. farminghttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0929139324005924

sciencedirect.com

Developing biocrust field cultivation techniques for soil restoration: An assessment of bacterial communities

Biological soil crusts (biocrusts) are a coherent, thin soil surface layer, engineered and inhabited by a diverse community of moss, lichen, cyanobact…

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Reposted by Sierra Gugel

Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) @spun.earth · 24/01/2025

📣 FUNDING OPPORTUNITY: Are you a researcher exploring the underground? 🍄 Apply to become an Underground Explorer. Gain funding and support from our thriving community of myconauts. Help us spread the word. 🗓️ Deadline: 21 March 👉 Find out more and apply: buff.ly/3CludWr

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