For the first time, an ecologist has shown that genetic variety within one species can affect the survival of other creatures in a larger food web. The discovery has profound implications for crop production and environmental restoration, researchers say.
Michael G. Barbour, noted ecologist and professor emeritus in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis, passed away on Jan. 7 due to complications from a longstanding illness. He was 78.
Two professors in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis have been elected in this year’s class of fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS, the world’s largest general scientific society. Part of their cohort were nine other UC Davis professors, bringing the campus-wide total of elected AAAS fellows to 11.
The association elevates members to the rank of fellow in recognition of their scientifically or socially distinguished efforts to advance science or its applications.
Valerie Eviner is a Community Engaged Learning Faculty Fellow at UC Davis. A professor of Ecosystem Management and Restoration, Department of Plant Sciences, she works in collaboration with land managers to address ecological understanding, and challenges in ecosystem management.
Sierra Nevada forests are losing plant diversity due to high-severity fires, according to a study from the University of California, Davis. These fires are turning patches of forest into shrub fields — indefinitely, in some cases.
Strip seeding California grasslands to restore native perennial grasses that have been lost by exotic species is being tried as a less-expensive restoration method to improve ecosystem services. Emilio Laca, Department of Plant Sciences, is featured in this video, along with California agency partners and grassland owners.
Kernza, corn, and small grains are being studied in field trials at Russell Ranch, UC Davis. Plant Sciences faculty member Mark Lundy, and graduate students Kalyn Diederich and Taylor Becker describe their field experiments at the annual field day.
The coast redwood and giant sequoia trees' mega-genomes have been sequenced by David Neale and his team, bringing modern tools to redwood conservation efforts.
Ken Tate and Valerie Eviner address rangeland management and working landscapes. Finding the best grazing regimen is critical for ecology, and implementing optimum management practices with land managers, ranchers, and policymakers is covered.