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Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
@justinluong.com
3.8K followers 700 following 290 posts
Working Lands Asst Professor - UC Berkeley, Board Member at California Native Grassland Association, Restoration Ecology & Madroño CE/AE - 🏳️‍🌈 Restoration/EcoPhys PhD, Biodiversity, Rangelands, Climate Change, Science-Practice Gap - justinluong.com
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Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾 @justinluong.com · Dec 18
I made a feed for California Native Plants!! You can contribute with that term or #CaliforniaNativePlants

bsky.app/profile/did:...
justinluong.com
Updated my website 🥰
JustinLuong.com
Welcome!
University of California, Berkeley - Environmental Science, Policy and Management
Justinluong.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:34 PM
justinluong.com
Crazy times...
October 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
justinluong.com
Join us tonight for our the California Native Grassland Association tonight at 6PM for a talk by Jessica Solis titled "Carbon Flux Dynamics from a Coastal Grassland Disturbed by Wildfire". Free for members and students or $10 for all others! Hope to see you there! cnga.org/event-6278005
California Native Grasslands Association - CNGA GRASS Award Speaker Series: Jessica Solis
cnga.org
October 14, 2025 at 8:58 PM
justinluong.com
Cool talk by Emma King looking at how Irish wind energy installation affects biodiversity!!
October 3, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
dochpjones.bsky.social
🧪 #SER2025

@justinluong.com just gave a really cool and quick talk on the work he and many others are doing to build a network of support for grassland restoration practitioners in California. Check it out!

justinluong.com/menu/grassne...
California Grassland Restoration, Action, Science and Stewardship Network (GRASS-NET)
University of California, Berkeley - Environmental Science, Policy and Management
justinluong.com
October 2, 2025 at 5:31 PM
justinluong.com
A great presentation by Julia Briand at #Ser2025 about how we can improve integration of functional traits for ecological restoration across scales and trophic levels!
October 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
justinluong.com
NSF GRFP Solicitation now live (www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...) Deadlines - Life Sciences: Nov 10, Geosciences: Nov 14, Social Sciences: Nov 12
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 6:21 PM
justinluong.com
I've reached my first 100 cited paper! 🥳
www.cell.com/trends/ecolo...
Overcoming biotic homogenization in ecological restoration
Extensive evidence shows that regional (gamma) diversity is often lower across restored landscapes than in reference landscapes, in part due to common restoration practices that favor widespread speci...
www.cell.com
September 23, 2025 at 5:20 PM
justinluong.com
Join us tonight for a double feature presentation by Andrea Nebhut (Stanford) and Deborah Ayala (Texas AM)!!! Cnga.org/events at 6 PM pst
September 16, 2025 at 7:36 PM
justinluong.com
Apparently Sept 15 is prospective graduate student inquiry day!
September 15, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
hyphaltip.bsky.social
Dept of Plant Biology at UIUC hiring in any subdiscipline of Mycology and/or Plant-Fungal Interactions tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level.
Apply by Oct 31, 2025. For complete details including salary and benefit information, visit go.illinois.edu/PlantBiolfac...
Assistant Professor- Department of Plant Biology
Duties & Responsibilities
go.illinois.edu
September 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
justinluong.com
Join us for the kick off of the 2025 GRASS Student Seminar Series!! Free for students or members tonight at 6 PM PST - register at cnga.org/event-6289388 for $10/talk or become members and see the rest of the series free while supporting California Native Grasslands!
Title: Seed traits may predict species success in habitats dominated by thatch-producing annual grasses Speaker: Katherine Brafford, PhD Candidate, UC Davis September 9, 2025 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Abstract: Community assembly frameworks propose that the species at a site are filtered by their traits from the regional species pool. Thatch producing non-native annual grasses, such as medusahead (Elymus caput-medusae), are common in the western United States. They alter environmental conditions and impose filters that have a mixed, but usually negative, effect on native plant, animal, and insect populations. In this study, we explore the abiotic effects of living medusahead, medusahead thatch, native vegetation, and bare ground cover types. We also examine if traits commonly thought to lead to plant success in medusahead-dominated habitats correlate with plant emergence and growth in living medusahead, medusahead thatch, native vegetation, and bare ground cover types. We selected a grassland site with high medusahead cover and created plots of each cover type in a randomized incomplete block design. We installed sensors to measure soil moisture and temperature, relative humidity, light, and air temperature. We selected 27 species native to and/or growing at the site that varied in seed mass, seed shape, native status, growth form, and bloom time. We planted seeds of each species into miniplots within each plot. We measured seed emergence, growth stage, and above-ground biomass. In this talk, I will present our results on seed traits. As hypothesized, greater seed mass, narrower seeds, and longer awns were correlated with a greater number of plants in both living medusahead and thatch cover. This study will shed light on how traits relate to community assembly; clarify mechanisms underlying annual grass invasion and grassland restoration outcomes; and inform future restoration efforts. Contact Justin Luong (jluong4@ucsc.edu) with any questions.
September 9, 2025 at 3:57 PM
justinluong.com
sun sets at 240am in california tonight - dont miss it!
✨️ ai ✨️
September 8, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
cenmag.bsky.social
After several years studying grasses and forbs in Yellowstone National Park in the US, researchers have formally documented the power of bison as nature’s own fertilizing agents. cen.acs.org/environment/... #chemsky 🧪
How bison boost the nitrogen cycle—and create healthier plants
The large herbivores stimulate plant growth by cycling carbon and nitrogen in the soils of Yellowstone National Park, showing benefits of free-roaming wildlife
cen.acs.org
September 7, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
botsocamerica.bsky.social
Applications for the 2026 Pivot to Plants Fellows Program at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center are now open.

Location: St. Louis, MO
Application Deadline: October 15, 2025
Dates: Jan. 5, 2026 – Dec. 23, 2026
Estimated Stipend: $37,275

Learn more: www.danforthcenter.org/our-work/edu...
Pivot to Plants: Training Program for Plant and Data Science | Danforth Plant Science Center
The Pivot2Plants Fellows Program is a 1-year training program for people interested in pivoting to a career in plant science or data science but have limited research experience.
www.danforthcenter.org
September 5, 2025 at 6:13 PM
justinluong.com
Is ecological restoration of grasslands successful? You'll have to read to find out more ;) but a quick preview says yes!! Interviews with managers show there are limitations both creative ways forward! Check out an amazing illustrated summary by LesleyGoren.com

doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2023.109956
Illustrated summaries of "Lessons learned from an interdisciplinary evaluation of long-term restoration outcomes on 37 restored coastal grasslands in California" by Lesley Goren (lesleygoren.com). Page 1 of 2 https://justinluong.com/menu/artandscience.html Illustrated summaries of "Lessons learned from an interdisciplinary evaluation of long-term restoration outcomes on 37 restored coastal grasslands in California" by Lesley Goren (lesleygoren.com). Page 2 of 2 https://justinluong.com/menu/artandscience.html
September 5, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
justinluong.com
We know diversity = more ideas, novelty, advancement and desirable outcomes but how do we recruit and retain diversity? In our paper, me and other LGBTQ+ restoration ecologists outline issues and solutions to retaining and supporting queer ecologists
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
Inclusive restoration: ten recommendations to support LGBTQ+ researchers in restoration science
Scientists who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or members of other marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+) face serious disparities compared to their n...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
August 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
justinluong.com
We need PEOPLE! in the ecosystems, being in the grassland makes you appreciate it more, but it could be informed by how trails affect plants. We found native and invasive bunchgrasses have different responses to trail disturbance on California coastal prairies!

doi.org/10.1007/s11258-022-01284-z
Native and invasive bunchgrasses have different responses to trail disturbance on California coastal prairies - Plant Ecology
Ecosystems often experience small-scale disturbances through recreational foot and bike traffic. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis predicts that frequent disturbances in grasslands can negativel...
link.springer.com
August 29, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
justinluong.com
Join us for California Native Grassland Association's 4th Annual Virtual Speaker Series for Student Grant Winners! Register at CNGA.org/events for $10/talk (unlimited access after), or become a member and come to all talks free with membership, and access all previous talks. Hope to see you soon!
A flyer for "California Native Grassland Association 2025 GRASS Award Speaker Series" Reads: Join us for the CNGA’s 4th annual virtual speaker series that will showcase the amazing work undertaken in California Grasslands by GRASS Award winners from 2022-2024. You can contact Justin Luong (jluong4@ucsc.edu) with any questions. Register at CNGA.org/events With a schedule of speakers below 9/9 - Katherine Brafford 9/16 - Andrea Nebhut, Deborah Ayala 9/23 - Ernesto Chavez Velasco 10/14 - Jessica Solis 10/21- Sophie Noda 10/28 - Lauren Glevanik #CaliforniaNativePlants
September 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
rsasidharan.bsky.social
🚨Job Alert!! Assistant professor vacancy ‘plant abiotic stress resilience’ in our group @uuplants.bsky.social Come for the science, stay for the amazing colleagues 😀More details here www.uu.nl/en/organisat... Please share!!
September 3, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Reposted by Justin Luong, PhD 🏳️‍🌈🌾
gigirose.bsky.social
AMAZING opportunity to lead the future of the Macaulay Lab (home of the beloved Merlin App) at the Lab of Ornithology at Cornell University. Search is on for a new Director. Please forward along!

academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30293
Cornell University, Lab of Ornithology
Job #AJO30293, WDR-00054259 Associate/Full Professor, Tenure-track. Faculty Director, Macaulay Library Endowed Chair, Robert Engel Professorship, Lab of Ornithology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New Y...
academicjobsonline.org
September 2, 2025 at 8:33 PM
justinluong.com
Join us for California Native Grassland Association's 4th Annual Virtual Speaker Series for Student Grant Winners! Register at CNGA.org/events for $10/talk (unlimited access after), or become a member and come to all talks free with membership, and access all previous talks. Hope to see you soon!
A flyer for "California Native Grassland Association 2025 GRASS Award Speaker Series" Reads: Join us for the CNGA’s 4th annual virtual speaker series that will showcase the amazing work undertaken in California Grasslands by GRASS Award winners from 2022-2024. You can contact Justin Luong (jluong4@ucsc.edu) with any questions. Register at CNGA.org/events With a schedule of speakers below 9/9 - Katherine Brafford 9/16 - Andrea Nebhut, Deborah Ayala 9/23 - Ernesto Chavez Velasco 10/14 - Jessica Solis 10/21- Sophie Noda 10/28 - Lauren Glevanik #CaliforniaNativePlants
September 2, 2025 at 6:32 PM
justinluong.com
New paper out!! We found compost increased bulk carbon in some contexts but with trade-offs that resulted in higher invasive species cover but there was more available forage. Native seeding at recommended rates had no effect and may need to be higher for degraded rangelands

doi.org/10.1016/j.ra...
Redirecting
doi.org
September 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
justinluong.com
Light peeks through
Sun in green conifer canopy with blue skies, Humboldt Co California
August 30, 2025 at 8:40 PM
justinluong.com
Caturday onLEASHED
Peppy the cat on a leash
August 30, 2025 at 3:32 PM