UC Davis Science and Climate News

Climate Trends in the West, Today and 11,000 Years Ago

Katherine E Kerlin — February 27, 2023

What we think of as the classic West Coast climate began just about 4,000 years ago, finds UC Davis study on climate trends of the Holocene era.

$20M Grant Renewal for National Center for Sustainable Transportation

Katherine E Kerlin — February 23, 2023

National Center for Sustainable Transportation at UC Davis receives $20 million to lead a group of universities studying transportation and the environment.

Amazon Mammals Threatened by Climate Change

Katherine E Kerlin — February 15, 2023

From jaguars and ocelots to anteaters and capybara, most land-based mammals living in the Brazilian Amazon are threatened by climate change and the projected savannization of the region.

Mountain Lion Mortality Maps Show Rough Road for Cougars

Katherine E Kerlin — February 02, 2023

UC Davis Road Ecology Center releases maps of mountain lion mortality in California ahead of beloved lion P-22's Celebration of Life event in Griffith Park.

Unprecedented Levels of High-Severity Fire Burn in Sierra Nevada Forests

Katherine E Kerlin — January 20, 2023

High-severity wildfire is occurring at unprecedented rates in Sierra Nevada forests compared to before 1850, finds UC Davis study.

Climate Change Presents a Mismatch for Songbirds’ Breeding Season

Katherine E Kerlin — January 17, 2023

Climate change presents a mismatch for some breeding songbirds, finds UC Davis study drawing from a decade of data from our Nestbox Highway project.

Water and Drought Experts

Katherine E Kerlin — January 11, 2023

UC Davis media experts on water supply, flooding, atmospheric rivers, agricultural irrigation and other water supply issues.

All West Coast Abalones at Risk of Extinction on the IUCN Red List

Katherine E Kerlin — December 12, 2022

All West Coast abalones in the U.S. are now considered at risk of extinction on the IUCN Red List. UC Davis led the West Coast abalone population assessments.

Harvesting Light to Grow Food and Clean Energy Together

Katherine E Kerlin — December 06, 2022

A UC Davis agrivoltaics study shows how harvesting the light spectrum can make growing food and clean energy more efficient.

Hibernating Corals and the Microbiomes That Sustain Them

Katherine E Kerlin — December 01, 2022

What happens to a coral's microbiome while it hibernates? A UC Davis study found microbial communities shift while a coral sleeps, which may inform coral health and recovery efforts.

Corals Saving Corals

Katherine E Kerlin — November 21, 2022

Corals resistant to disease can rescue more vulnerable corals, UC Davis found. Raising corals with diverse genotypes builds resilience amid disease and climate changes in reefs.

Citizen Scientists Help UC Davis Researchers Spread Native Plant Seeds in Urban Areas

Karen Michele Nikos-Rose — November 15, 2022

Bus stops, bike paths, sidewalks and other spots often overlooked in the community will become areas of beauty — for the sake of science. That’s the idea behind the Seed Pile Project, which asks community members from as far east as Sacramento and as far west as the East Bay to drop a pile of native wildflower seeds near their home or office and monitor the growth.

The Lightness of Water Vapor Adds Heft to Global Climate Models

Katherine E Kerlin — October 24, 2022

Including the lightness of water vapor in climate models can improve cloud simulations and the accuracy of climate change forecasts, UC Davis scientists found.

Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve Expands

Katherine E Kerlin — October 03, 2022

Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve, part of the UC Davis Natural Reserve system, acquires nearly 500 acres from Land Trust of Napa County.

Endangered-Mouse Study Shares No-Contact Sampling Method

Katherine E Kerlin — September 19, 2022

Collecting genetic samples for small mammals can be tricky, but UC Davis scientists found a noninvasive way to do it for San Francisco's endangered salt marsh harvest mouse.

Fall Is Best Time to Clean Nest Boxes for Barn Owls

Katherine E Kerlin — September 07, 2022

The best time to clean nest boxes for barn owls is fall to avoid disturbing them during their winter breeding season, finds UC Davis research.

Endangered Amargosa Voles Begin to Repopulate Desert Habitat

Katherine E Kerlin — September 06, 2022

UC Davis wildlife cameras revealed pups born to endangered Amargosa voles that were reintroduced to a Shoshone marsh. This indicates the voles are beginning to repopulate their native habitat after restoration efforts.

Frances Moore Serving as Senior Economist With Council of Economic Advisers

Katherine E Kerlin — September 06, 2022

UC Davis professor and climate change economist Frances Moore joins the Council of Economic Advisers. The Council provides policy recommendations on economic growth and stability to President Biden.

The Cost of Climate Change

Katherine E Kerlin — August 10, 2022

What effect does climate change have on the economy and the Gross Domestic Product? A persistent one, finds a UC Davis study by Bernardo Bastien-Olvera.

Levi Lewis: The Value of ‘And’

Katherine E Kerlin — August 08, 2022

Fisheries ecologist Levi Lewis discusses climate anxiety, privilege, fish and the power of ‘and’ as part of UC Davis’ climate anxiety series.