- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
Pincebourde, a research director at the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), France, will speak on "The Key Role of Microclimates in Modulating the Response of Ectotherms to Climate Change," at 4:10 p.m. (Pacific Time) on Wednesday, March 15 via Zoom. The Zoom link:
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672
Pincebourde, a research director at the (CNRS), France, says in his abstract: "In a warming world, species may buffer to some extent part of the environmental changes by exploiting the microclimates that are available across space and time. My presentation will focus on the role of the leaf surface microclimate, and in particular temperature, in driving the vulnerability of insects to climate change. I will exemplify the framework we apply to investigate this role. Our approach is deeply rooted into a multidisciplinary background, relying on physics, physiology and ecology of both plant and animal sciences. The microclimatic effects can be quite subtle and mechanistic approaches are fundamentally needed to depict the complexity of the interaction between plant, insect and climate."
On Research Gate, Pincebourde explains that his work "focuses on the role of microclimates in modulating the response of ectotherms (mostly insects) to climate change. I use ecophysiological approaching mostly relying to thermal ecology, connected to the biophysical ecology of organisms. I integrate both temporal and spatial issues of thermal variability. My research has connection with conservation biology by identifying novel or unsuspected interactions between (micro) climates and organisms."
Urban landscape entomologist Emily Meineke, assistant professor with the UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology, and coordinator of the department's weekly seminars, will host the seminar and introduce him.
Pincebourde holds a doctorate (2005) from the Institute of Research on Insect Biology (IRBI), France, a joint research unit of the University of Tours and CNRS. He studied for his doctorate with Professor Jérôme Casas. Pincebourde then completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University South Carolina (2006-2007), supervised by Professor Brian Helmuth, and at IRBI (2008-2009), working with Professor Casas's team that studied the ecology of multitropic systems and biomimetism.
Pincebourde joined CNRS as a research scientist, second class, in 2009 and advanced to first class in 2015. Since 2018, he has been in charge of the IRBI's organism-environmental interactions team, known as INOV or the INteractions Organisme-enVironnment.
He has published his work in a number of journals, including Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Ecological Monographs, Agriculture and Forest Entomology, Functional Ecology, Journal of Thermal Biology, Biotropica, with papers pending in Global Change Biology and Freshwater Biology. He is a member of the editorial board for American Naturalist.
The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's winter seminars are held on Wednesdays at 4:10 p.m. in 122 Briggs Hall. (See schedule.) She may be reached at ekmeineke@ucdavis.edu for technical issues.
- Author: Kathy Keatley Garvey
The seminar, virtual only, will be at 4:10 p.m., Pacific Time, Wednesday, March 15. The Zoom link:
https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672
"In a warming world, species may buffer to some extent part of the environmental changes by exploiting the microclimates that are available across space and time," Pincebourde says in his abstract. "My presentation will focus on the role of the leaf surface microclimate, and in particular temperature, in driving the vulnerability of insects to climate change. I will exemplify the framework we apply to investigate this role. Our approach is deeply rooted into a multidisciplinary background, relying on physics, physiology and ecology of both plant and animal sciences. The microclimatic effects can be quite subtle and mechanistic approaches are fundamentally needed to depict the complexity of the interaction between plant, insect and climate."
On Research Gate, Pincebourde explains that his work "focuses on the role of microclimates in modulating the response of ectotherms (mostly insects) to climate change. I use ecophysiological approaching mostly relying to thermal ecology, connected to the biophysical ecology of organisms. I integrate both temporal and spatial issues of thermal variability. My research has connection with conservation biology by identifying novel or unsuspected interactions between (micro) climates and organisms."
Urban landscape entomologist Emily Meineke, assistant professor with the UC Davis Department of Entomology andNematology, and coordinator of the department's weekly seminars, will host the seminar and introduce him.
Pincebourde holds a doctorate (2005) from the Institute of Research on Insect Biology (IRBI), France, a joint research unit of the University of Tours and CNRS. He studied for his doctorate with Professor Jérôme Casas. Pincebourde then completed postdoctoral fellowships at the University South Carolina (2006-2007), supervised by Professor Brian Helmuth, and at IRBI (2008-2009), working with Professor Casas's team that studied the ecology of multitropic systems and biomimetism.
Pincebourde joined CNRS as a research scientist, second class, in 2009 and advanced to first class in 2015. Since 2018, he has been in charge of the IRBI's organism-environmental interactions team, known as INOV or the INteractions Organisme-enVironnment.
He has published his work in a number of journals, including Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, Ecological Monographs, Agriculture and Forest Entomology, Functional Ecology, Journal of Thermal Biology, Biotropica, with papers pending in Global Change Biology and Freshwater Biology. He is a member of the editorial board for American Naturalist.
The UC Davis Department of Entomology and Nematology's winter seminars are held on Wednesdays at 4:10 p.m. in 122 Briggs Hall. (See schedule.) She may be reached at ekmeineke@ucdavis.edu for technical issues.
- Author: Saoimanu Sope
Ibrahim Yaaseen, member of the Palos Verdes Peninsula (PVP) 4-H club, grabs a hard hat and places it on top of his head. He then reaches for a bright orange safety vest and goggles to complete his safety gear outfit before joining the rest of his club members who are dressed the same.
The 4-H Youth Development Program of Los Angeles is already thinking about the future of water management and turned to the West Basin Municipal Water District in El Segundo to gain a deeper understanding of the precious resource we often take for granted.
The University of California 4-H Youth Development Program is managed through local Cooperative Extension offices. Through hands-on learning experiences, 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential and enables them to build self-esteem, connect with their community and emerge as leaders.
Dee Keese, community club leader for the PVP 4-H club, coordinated an exclusive and interactive tour of West Basin's Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility for the club's monthly marine biology meeting in December 2022.
Eager to inspire a stronger appreciation for water, Janel Ancayan, the West Basin's education coordinator, challenged the youth to build their own water filters using materials including fabric, a strainer, and a funnel. Since no specific directions were given, the activity challenged each student's science and engineering skills, such as carrying out an investigation, designing a solution, and communicating information with team members.
During the tour, students saw firsthand the impressive equipment and essential staff members that help to produce nearly 40 million gallons of recycled water each day. At the end of the day, students left with a deeper understanding of water resources and felt empowered to do their part to conserve water sources.
“We learned that recycling water helps to conserve our limited water supply and improves the environmental condition of our coastal waters,” said Yaaseen. “We ultimately learned a great deal about how to conserve water for future generations and that water conservation is one of the most important elements in combating climate change.”
Though Keese has volunteered as community club leader for 48 years, this is only the second time she has partnered with the West Basin. “I like to mix it up,” she said. “I'm always looking for community organizations and local businesses to partner with because these are places that the kids will likely interact with since they're nearby.”
Regardless, it's leaders like Keese and programs like 4-H that encourage water stewards like Ancayan. “I'm always so humbled and inspired when teachers make it a point to come out and visit our facility. In Southern California especially, [water] is not something we think about,” Ancayan said.
Even in a drought, water continues to flow from our faucets allowing us to shower, wash dishes or water the lawn. It's no wonder why water conservation is not always top of mind, especially for consumers. Educating the public, and targeting the younger generation, however, is a great start to prepare for the future.
West Basin offers a variety of educational programs that focus on different age groups. Many of them involve hands-on learning like the Teach and Test volunteer program, a partnership with the Surfrider Foundation, where high school students test samples of coastal water for bacteria, and then publicly share their findings to contribute to water quality monitoring in the area.
According to Yaaseen, the time spent with Ancayan at the West Basin was “one-of-a-kind” and provided a “golden opportunity” to learn why water recycling facilities are important. Ancayan hopes that her time spent with students ultimately influences them to consider a career in water.
“It's not a glamorous job but I'm really passionate about the next generation of water workers,” she said. “I hope that once they see the engineering, the excitement of these scientists that work in our laboratory and everything in between, that they start to think about water as a future career path.”
For those interested in joining 4-H, visit https://4h.ucanr.edu/Members/
- Author: Hanif Houston, The VINE
University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) has been awarded a $1 million UC Climate Action Innovation & Entrepreneurship grant for its VINE Climate Smart Agrifood Innovation Program. The VINE, a UC ANR program advancing sustainable agriculture and food innovation, will use the grant to develop new technologies and techniques that help California farmers adapt to climate change.
"Expanded programming from The VINE will improve UC ANR's overall ability to serve our mission of improving the lives of all Californians," said Glenda Humiston, UC vice president for agriculture and natural resources.
California's agricultural sector is the largest in the United States, producing over 400 crops that account for 25% of the nation's food production and 40% of its fruits, vegetables and tree nuts.
However, climate change is expected to have a significant impact on the productivity and resilience of California's working landscapes. Higher temperatures and changing precipitation patterns are projected to increase water demand for crops and create a more limited growing season that will produce lower yields in some crops. Additionally, climate change may increase weed growth and insect damage, leading to higher uses of herbicides and pesticides.
“We are thrilled to receive the UC Climate Action Innovation & Entrepreneurship Award,” said Gabe Youtsey, UC ANR's chief innovation officer. “With this grant, we will be able to support even more entrepreneurs and innovators in developing climate-resilient solutions for California's agriculture and food systems."
"Our ultimate goal is to build a bioeconomy in California's food valleys that rivals Silicon Valley in size and importance to the future U.S. economy, while also addressing urgent climate crises and advancing equity for underserved populations," Youtsey said.
The VINE Climate Smart Agrifood Innovation Program is designed to identify, commercialize, and scale science and technology breakthroughs that make food production more sustainable. The VINE team has already supported entrepreneurs in the areas of controlled environment agriculture, precision agriculture, robotics, biologicals, climate-resilient crops, livestock health, and other topics that have direct or indirect mitigating effects on climate change.
The UC Climate Action grant will enable The VINE program to expand its support for startups and entrepreneurs developing climate-resilient solutions for California's food system. The program will include the creation of a VINE Climate Solutions Seed Fund, which will provide project support for testing, trialing and demonstrating agrifood technology products or services to support commercial expansion.
The VINE Navigator Service will be expanded to provide matchmaking, mentoring, talent identification, finance connections and technical assistance to entrepreneurs from UC campuses, across California, or startups around the globe that have climate solutions in the agrifood sector.
An example of this work is farm-ng, a farm robotics start-up based in Watsonville that The VINE has been advising. With the networking opportunities facilitated by The VINE, farm-ng was able to secure 20 new customers, generating an estimated $500,000 in revenue. The VINE's involvement also enabled farm-ng to establish a professional manufacturing facility and employ local talent from disadvantaged communities.
The UC Climate Action award is part of a historic $185 million partnership between UC and the state of California to tackle the climate crisis, from developing new methods for carbon capture to creating innovative coping strategies for drought, wildfire and other impacts of a warming planet.
The VINE
The VINE program aims to create a next-generation agrifood technology bioeconomy in California's food valleys to promote sustainable economic growth, address climate crises, and advance equity for underserved regions and populations. The VINE team will work closely with local and regional partners to identify key industry-driven gaps and opportunities across the food system and provide critical support to startups and entrepreneurs developing new solutions for climate mitigation and adaptation.
For more information, please visit The VINE website: thevine.io.
- Author: Lauren E. Parker, USDA Climate Hub
- Author: Tapan Pathak, UC Cooperative Extension specialist
Las herramientas del sitio web CalAgroClimate permiten que los granjeros se preparen para las heladas
Una ola de frío dañó las flores de los almendros en todo el Valle Central, resultando en un reclamo a las aseguradoras de cultivos por pérdidas de más de 44 millones de dólares en febrero del 2018. Una helada de varios días acabó con aproximadamente un 75 por ciento de los cultivos de cítricos en California y dañó severamente los aguacates en enero del 2007. Las heladas pueden dañar los cultivos, impactar los resultados de los agricultores e incrementar los precios de los alimentos para los consumidores. Con un aviso previo, los granjeros pueden usar calentadores, máquinas de aire, riego y otras tácticas para reducir algunos de los efectos del clima frío, como el daño a los cítricos casi maduros o a la floración de los almendros.
CalAgroClimate es un nuevo sitio web dirigido a los granjeros que puede ayudarles a anticipar los riesgos asociados con el clima y hacer planes para llevar a cabo medidas de protección. Los agricultores y los asesores de cultivos pueden usar las herramientas específicas de cultivos y ubicación de CalAgroClimate para ayudarles a prepararse para futuras heladas. Las herramientas del sitio web pueden también apoyar las decisiones que se hacen en las granjas con respecto al manejo de calor, desarrollo de cultivos y plagas.
El futuro depara menos heladas
El riesgo de sufrir daños por las heladas en los cultivos y la necesidad de prepararse para ese riesgo es lo principal en la mente de los granjeros el día de hoy, pero, ¿siempre será así? Para examinar lo que el cambio climático puede significar sobre el riesgo de las heladas en el futuro, los investigadores de UC Davis, UC ANR y el USDA California Climate Hub realizaron un estudio que examina la incidencia de las temperaturas por debajo del “umbral múltiple de heladas” durante los meses de las fases de desarrollo de tres de los cultivos de California sensibles a las heladas: almendras, aguacates y naranjas navel.
Los investigadores descubrieron que aun durante los inviernos y primaveras más fríos, la incidencia por exposición a las heladas se redujo ante las condiciones climáticas proyectadas para mediados del siglo 21 en más de un 50 por ciento en los almendros y naranjos y en más de un 75 por ciento en los aguacates. Aun cuando los granjeros en el 2050 no verán el riesgo de heladas como una preocupación completamente de climas pasados, no tendrán que enfrentarse a los mismos temores a los que se enfrentan los granjeros hoy en día.
Mas allá de los beneficios obvios de un menor riesgo en cuanto al daño a los cultivos, los beneficios adicionales de una reducción a la exposición a heladas incluyen un ahorro en el uso de agua y costos por energía asociados a las acciones de mitigación. 
Pocos aspectos del cambio climático son considerados como “positivos” y a pesar de que los inviernos y primaveras más cálidos que resultarían en una reducción en temperaturas congelantes, también podrían venir acompañadas de una mayor presión por plagas, menor acumulación de frío y otros retos, una reducción a la exposición de heladas representa un resquicio de esperanza.
Sin embargo, hasta que este futuro sin heladas llegue, los agricultores necesitan todavía estar preparados para proteger sus cultivos frutales de las heladas. Para evaluar los riesgos de heladas en los próximos siete días en su ubicación, revise la nueva herramienta interactiva Frost Advisory Tool en CalAgroClimate.org.
Adaptado al español por Leticia Irigoyen del artículo en inglés
