- (Focus Area) Environment
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The seminars begin Monday afternoon, Sept. 30 and continue every Monday through Dec. 2.
Nematologist Amanda Hodson, assistant professor of soil ecology and pest management, is coordinating the seminars. All, except one, will be held in Briggs Hall. All, but one, will be on Zoom.
The Zoom link:
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672.
Michael Hoffmann, professor emeritus, Cornell University, will deliver the Thomas and Nina Leigh Distinguished Alumni Award Seminar in the Putah Creek Lodge at 4 p.m. on Oct. 14. (See below)
The list of seminars:
Monday, Sept. 30, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 122 Briggs
Kyle Wickings
Department of Entomology, Cornell University
Title: “Composition and Function of Soil Invertebrate Communities in Residential Greenspaces”
Monday, Oct. 7, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 122 Briggs
Juliana Rangel Posada
Professor of Apiculture, Department of Entomology, Texas A&M University
Title: “Don't Compromise: Food Lipid Content Shapes Protein-Lipid Regulation in Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Nurses”
Monday, Oct. 14, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thomas and Nina Leigh Distinguished Alumni Award Seminar
Michael Hoffmann
Professor Emeritus, Cornell University
Title: “Our Changing Menu: Using the Power of Food to Confront Climate Change”
This will take place beginning at 4 p.m. in the Putah Creek Lodge and will include a social, lecture and dinner. Reservations closed. (See more)
Monday, Oct. 21, 4:10 to 5 p.m.,122 Briggs
Andrew Corbett
Research Affiliate, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology (formerly with the lab of UC Davis distinguished professor Jay Rosenheim, now emeritus)
Title: "In Silico Experiments with the Effect of Natural Habitats on Biological Control in Agricultural Landscapes."
Monday, Oct. 28, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 122 Briggs
Jolene Saldivar
UC Davis Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellow, lab of Professor Louie Yang
Title: "Disturbance in Coastal Sage Scrub and the Implications for Migratory Butterflies”
Monday, Nov. 4, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 122 Briggs
Eliza Litsey (exit seminar)
Litsey, a former graduate student in the honey bee lab of Elina Niño, UC Davis Department of Entomology, received her master's degree in entomology in June 2024 and is now a laboratory technician at the lab of research entomologist Julia Fine, USDA/ARS, Davis. Litzey also holds a bachelor's degree from UC Davis.)
Monday, Nov. 18, 122 Briggs (in-person only; will not on Zoom)
Andre Custodio Franco
Assistant Professor, Indiana University Bloomington
Title: "Deciphering the Soil Macrobiome: Belowground Communities Driving Ecosystem Responses to Global Change”
Monday, Nov. 25, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 122 Briggs
Christine Sprunger
Associate Professor of Soil Health at Michigan State University
Title: "Nematodes as Bioindicators of Soil Health and Climate Resiliency”
Monday, Dec. 2, 4:10 to 5 p.m., 122 Briggs
Inga Zasada
Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS
Title: "How an Applied Nematolgist Uses Genomic Tools to Address Plant-Parasitic Nematode Research”
For more information, contact Hodson at akhodson@ucdavis.edu
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
On Sept. 6, 2016, it happened.
A monarch fluttered into our pollinator garden in Vacaville and touched down on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola.
It wasn't just "any ol' monarch"--if there's ever such a thing as "any ol' monarch."
This one, tagged with my alma mater, Washington State University, came from Ashland, Ore., as part of a migratory monarch research project launched by entomologist David James.
The tag's serial number read “Monarch@wsu.edu A6093.” It hung around for about five hours and then left.
James, an associate professor at Washington State University, studies the migration routes and overwintering sites of the Pacific Northwest Monarch population, which overwinter primarily in coastal California. (Access his Facebook page, Monarch Butterflies in the Pacific Northwest, for his latest research.)
When we emailed him, we learned that citizen scientist Steven Johnson of Ashland tagged and released the monarch on Sunday, Aug. 28.
"So, assuming it didn't travel much on the day you saw it, it flew 285 miles in 7 days or about 40.7 miles per day," James told us. "Pretty amazing. So, I doubt he broke his journey for much more than the five hours you watched him--he could be 100 miles further south by now."
Repeat: 285 miles in 7 days, or 40.7 miles per day. Incredible.
Fast forward to today. It's the anniversary of the sighting of A6093.
Any sightings today? Not. A. Single. One.
And not a single sighting of a tagged monarch since Sept. 6, 2016.
- Author: Grace Nguyen-Sovan Dean
California's forests have long been adapted to fire, where the presence of regular, low-severity fires helped maintain forest health. After decades of fire suppression, many private forest landowners are interested in reintroducing fire to their landscape through prescribed burns. When planning for a prescribed fire, landowners must consider a variety of factors, including the age of their trees.
A new study from Hunter Noble (University of Nevada, Reno) and Rob York (UCCE) sheds insight on how prescribed fire affects stands of varying ages. The 2024 paper is a continuation of research conducted at Blodgett Forest Research Station following a 2018 prescribed burn. The new findings provide crucial information for Sierra Mixed-Conifer (SMC) land managers who seek to implement prescribed fire in young forests.
For the tree species in the SMC forest type (Douglas fir, ponderosa pine, sugar pine, incense cedar, white fir and giant sequoia), low-severity fire is a natural part of the ecological process. Reintroducing fire to young, reforested SMC stands can help protect areas burned by high-severity fires from future “reburn” fires by reducing fuel. This study seeks to help answer the question: what is the earliest age you can burn a stand of trees?
In this study, tree mortality rates among 12, 22, and 32-year old stands at UC Berkeley's Blodgett Research Station were observed two years post-burn. There is little known about the effects of prescribed fire on young trees, as prescribed burns are often used to treat older trees with more fire-resistant characteristics. However, understanding when fire can be reintroduced to young stands is critical for those in California managing reforested, post-wildfire landscapes.
When surveying trees in each age class, researchers found that the 32-year old stands experienced the lowest rate of tree mortality (78% of trees survived), whereas the 12-year old stands experienced the highest (31% of trees survived). The 22-year old trees had a 63% survival rate.
An important consideration is that burn conditions may have greatly contributed to the recorded high mortality rate among the 12-year stands. The 2018 burn was conducted at the end of the burn prescription, meaning conditions were hotter and drier than is typical. York and Noble described these mortality results as a “worst case scenario”, referencing a previous study that described a 0-24% mortality rate for a similarly aged stand. However, the authors note that a high mortality rate may not necessarily be undesirable if one's management goal is to create a “low-density, high-complexity stand...similar to historic conditions.”
For those managing post-fire landscapes, utilizing prescribed fire is beneficial towards preventing reburns and can work in harmony with reforestation treatments. However, as outlined in the study, burning under different conditions can significantly affect tree mortality, yielding higher or lower rates. York and Noble conclude that when land managers seek to implement prescribed fire, identifying an acceptable level of tree mortality is key, and burning under the right conditions can lessen fuel loads without sacrificing tree survival in the years to come.
Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.3733/001c.117485
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
When a tiger meets a Tithonia, or a Tithonia meets a tiger, Nature bursts forth in all its glory.
Such was the case when we spotted a Western tiger swallowtail, Papilio rutulus, foraging for nectar on a Mexican sunflower, Tithonia rotundifola, in a Vacaville garden.
It was a newly eclosed swallowtail in perfect form, devoid of ripped, stripped and shattered wings signifying non-successful predatory attempts.
The magnificent butterfly fluttered over the Tithonia, sometimes chased by a territorial longhorned bee. But still it cruised. It raced. It soared.
Spread your wings, little tiger. You have no claws, but you need not pause. The Tithonia, the touchdown, the nectar--they're all yours for the taking.
(Taken with a Nikon D500 with a 200mm lens. Settings: Shutter priority, 1/4000 of a second; f-stop, 6.3; and ISO 800.)
- Author: Esther N Lofton
Hello and welcome to the SoCal Water Resources Blog, your go-to source for all things related to water in Southern California, especially in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino! Whether you're a concerned citizen, a curious student, an environmental advocate, or a policymaker, this blog is designed to provide you with insightful information, expert opinions, and actionable tips on managing and conserving our most precious resource—water.
Why Water Matters
Water is the lifeblood of Southern California. It's essential for our drinking needs, agriculture, industry, and the natural ecosystems that make our region so unique. However, Southern California faces significant challenges, including drought, climate change, population growth, and pollution. Understanding these issues is crucial for fostering sustainable water management practices that will ensure a reliable water supply for future generations.
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Discover the intricate factors affecting our drinking water and environmental water quality. Learn about the stringent measures in place to ensure safe drinking water and how you can contribute to protecting our natural water bodies from pollution.
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Explore practical tips and innovative strategies for using water more efficiently in your home and community. From drought-tolerant landscaping to advanced irrigation techniques, we'll share methods to conserve water and reduce waste, ensuring every drop counts.
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Stay informed about the sources of our water supply, the challenges we face, and the innovative solutions being implemented to secure a reliable water future. Learn about local reservoirs, groundwater management, and the role of imported water in meeting Southern California's needs.
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Warm regards,
Esther Lofton
The SoCal Water Resources Blog Team
Together, we can make every drop count!