- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Eight members of the UC Davis Animal Behavior Graduate Group (ABGG) who are active in The Ethogram will present a special outreach program, "Animal Behavior for Young Explorers," from 2:30 to 4 p.m., Monday, Aug. 19 in the Blanchard Room of the Mary L. Stephens branch of the Davis Library, 315 E. 14th Street, Davis.
It's a free, hands-on, science-communication event intended for the age group of kindergarten through eighth grade. As young explorers, they will learn why animals behave the way they do.
“There will be living and pinned animal specimens (including insects), trivia games with winners receiving small prizes, arts and crafts, and books to peruse on animal behavior," said Nicole Keough, a PhD candidate in the Brian Johnson lab, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and a member of ABGG. She's an editor of The Ethogram, which is ABGG's official blog. Graduate students founded it in 2014.
Attendees at the Aug. 19th event can ask scientists questions about animal behavior research. A scientist-led bird walk around the Community Park is planned, weather permitting. Keough said the displays will range from her live termites to kittens. As a doctoral candidate in the Johnson bee lab, she is interested in eusociality, host-microbe symbiosis, and social behavior. Her research focuses on "exploring the relationship between termites and their gut microbiome in the context of termite social hygienic behaviors such as allogrooming and cannibalism. Using genetic sequencing, she investigates this symbiotic relationship and identify endosymbionts with overlapping roles in termite nutrition."
ABGG also will show insect specimens from the Bohart Museum of Entomology, as well as live insects, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches and walking sticks, from the Bohart petting zoo.
Hosts at the Aug. 19th event will include:
- Isabelle McDonald-Gilmartin, PhD candidate and editor-in-chief of The Ethogram
- Nicole Keough, PhD candidate and editor for The Ethogram
- Siobhan Calhoun, PhD student and editor for The Ethogram
- Nicole Rodrigues, PhD candidate and editor for The Ethogram
- Sabrina Mederos, PhD candidate and editor for The Ethogram
- Jessica Schaefer, PhD candidate and editor for The Ethogram
- Kirsten Sheehy, PhD candidate and editor emeritus of The Ethogram
- Dr. Josephine Hubbard, editor emeritus of The Ethogram
- Hee Jin Chung, PhD candidate and co-chair of the Animal Behavior Graduate Group Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee
This is a one-time event but plans may call for more outreach programs, depending on the interest, Keough said.
What is an ethogram? "Ethogram is a list or catalogue of behaviors that are being studied in animal behavior research (also known as ethology)," according to The Ethogram website. "The aim is to make scientific topics and findings more accessible to non-scientists through articles, videos, and other multimedia communication."
"The Ethogram encourages interaction between scientists and non-scientists in order to spark curiosity and passion for the study of animal behavior and general scientific research," the message continues. "Our mission is to create a platform that allows scientists to disseminate their research in approachable and exciting ways. In doing so, we also aim to train the next generation of science communicators. Using diverse narratives of animals and those who study them, we provide accessible scientific information through a variety of media types, from text to sketch to video."
Meanwhile, be sure to explore the writings and illustrations on The Ethogram blog.
Here are two of the insect sketches:
- The Honey Bee, by Nicole Rodrigues, a PhD candidate in the Biochemistry, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology program.
- The Bumble Bee, by Danielle Rutkowski of the Rachel Vannette and Rick Karban labs, UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology. She received her doctorate in June.
Also, Ethogram maintains an Instagram account.
- Author: Heather Hamilton
There are several cultivars of this perennial flower commonly known as the Black Eyed Susan. One of the cultivars you have most likely seen in the landscape and nurseries is R. hirta ‘Indian Summer' which gained popularity in 1995 as a winner from the All-American Selections. It is an herbaceous perennial plant growing between 2-3' high and wide. It is drought tolerant once established and can easily be grown from seed, blooming the first year. It is in the Asteraceae family and has a composite flower in orange and yellow tones with a prominent cone-shaped head. All are native to North America, and mostly have hairy foliage, which is what hirta means. There are so many new varieties to choose from. I have 3 in my garden at this time, and they are stunning with a very long bloom time all summer long, also attracting bees and butterflies. They also make a fabulous addition to fresh-cut floral arrangements. I took a few shots of some of the varieties I am seeing at the nursery and my own. One of the more popular ones I have seen lately is called an Echibeckia, a cross between an echinacea and rudbeckia. However, I don't think it looks anything like an echinacea other than having a cone and daisy-like florets. I would highly recommend either the rudbeckia or the crossed one to anyone looking for a beautiful, super easy plant to grow.
- Author: Ben A Faber
Field Day at Pine Tree Ranch, Santa Paula
19455 E. Telegraph Road, Santa Paula,
Planting technique, Entomology, Pathology, New rootstocks/scions
Topics and Speakers
- Author: Pamela S Kan-Rice
UC ANR will be making additional travel support available for UC Cooperative Extension Specialists to collaborate directly with CE Advisors and REC Directors in FY 2024/25.
Each Specialist may apply for up to $2,000 for FY 2024/25 (travel reports must be submitted within 30 days of travel, and funds must be expended by June 30, 2025). These travel funds can only be used by CE Specialists and cannot be used for out-of-state travel. This funding is not provided for the purpose of presenting at or attending meetings.
In recognition of the importance of the partnership between UC ANR academics and Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) faculty, UC ANR will support travel by AES faculty to meet and work with UC ANR county-based or REC-based academics. Support is limited to $1,000 per AES faculty member, with a cap on the total pool of funds available set at $25,000 for FY 2024/25 (funds must be expended by June 30, 2025). Additional support may be available through the campuses; AES faculty should consult their departments or colleges to determine if additional support is available. Travel funds must be used by the AES faculty member for their own travel to plan and execute research or present research findings at meetings hosted by UC ANR academics.
UCCE Specialists and AES faculty can apply for travel support funding by completing an application through this short survey: https://surveys.ucanr.edu/survey.cfm?surveynumber=37624.
There is no deadline for applications, but travel funds will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis and funding received must be expended in the Fiscal Year 2024/25. Any travel completed toward the end of the fiscal year must be submitted and approved within the fiscal year as no award will be carried forward.
Brent D. Hales
Associate Vice President