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UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
@ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
90 followers 22 following 88 posts
The College of #Agricultural and #Environmental Sciences
@UCDavis is the No. 1 college in the nation for #agriculture & #forestry #research.
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Reposted by UC Davis College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
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Root-knot nematodes are major agricultural pests. A new UC Davis-led study of the worm's genome shows how it can adapt to a wide variety of host plants @ucdaviscaes.bsky.social www.ucdavis.edu/blog/how-doe...
How Does a Parasitic Nematode Infect a Wide Variety of Plants?
Nematologists at the University of California, Davis, including Valerie Williamson, professor emerita in the Department of Plant Pathology and associate professor Shahid Siddique, Department of Entomo...
www.ucdavis.edu
November 19, 2025 at 7:30 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
#UCDavis grad Zane Moore appears in the PBS documentary Giants Rising about the iconic redwood forests. In the film, plant biologist & science teacher Moore plays a tune on his horn while standing among majestic redwoods.

www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu/news/moore-f...
New film: Redwoods inspire Moore to explore their secrets
Scientist Zane Moore, of the UC Davis Department of Plant Sciences, discusses his passion for coast redwoods in the documentary film, "Giants Rising," by Lisa Landers/Tangent Productions. Streaming an...
www.plantsciences.ucdavis.edu
November 20, 2025 at 6:22 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Stabled horses don’t get nearly the same time to forage and roam as wild horses. New research from #UCDavis finds that giving stabled horses hay feeders, giant rubber balls and other enrichment tools can help their mental and physical health. @u

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/hayfeed...
Hayfeeders and Other Tools Can Improve Health, Welfare of Stabled Horses
Simple items like hay feeders, giant rubber activity balls and shatter-proof mirrors can improve the health and welfare of stabled animals while also reducing frustration behaviors, according to Unive...
caes.ucdavis.edu
November 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Turkey, stuffing & pumpkin pie – the holiday feast is almost here! Maintaining a healthy approach to eating during the festive season may feel overwhelming, but @ucdavisnutrition.bsky.social has some helpful pointers to enjoy holiday foods & gatherings! caes.ucdavis.edu/news/bringin...
Bringing Nutrition Knowledge to Every Table
The holidays are full of flavorful dishes and family traditions. Whether it’s homemade stuffing or a cookie swap, all foods are meant to be enjoyed this time of year. Maintaining a healthy approach to...
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November 17, 2025 at 10:18 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Pumas, bobcats & bears, oh my: Study finds people clash more with wildlife in drought years. Climate change will likely increase such animal, human interactions, said Kendall Calhoun, a UCLA postdoctoral researcher & #UCDavis conservation ecologist.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/how-cli...
How climate change brings wildlife to the yard
As climate change increases the frequency of droughts, UCLA researchers found one overlooked side effect: people report more conflicts with wildlife during drought, when resources are scarce.
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November 14, 2025 at 6:18 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
A #UCDavis study finds super-high-density olive orchards can grow strong w/ less fertilizer. Researchers tested how different levels of nitrogen fertilizer & compost & found that trees produced the same yields & high-quality olive oil even when using 25-50% less fertilizer. https://bit.ly/4oMKMxK
Study Shows Very Dense Olive Orchards Thrive on Less Fertilizer
Rows of tightly packed olive trees stretch across California’s Central Valley. These super-high-density orchards, where trees are planted close together for faster, mechanized harvesting, can grow str...
caes.ucdavis.edu
November 13, 2025 at 7:52 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
California schools are losing tree cover, which means students could be exposed to extreme heat outdoors. A #UCDavis team measured temps of up to 120 degrees at schoolyards. Knowing this, districts can protect students by planting trees & preparing for the future. caes.ucdavis.edu/news/researc...
A student with a roving sensor and the words: Measuring heat exposure to safeguard students A slide that reads: Schools in California are losing tree cover, which means students on playgrounds, courts and fields could be exposed to extreme heat under a glaring sun. A #UCDavis team measured temps of up to 120 degrees at schoolyards. With this information districts can protect students by planting trees and preparing for a hotter future. A sign that reads: The U.S. Forest Service and Green Schoolyards America funded this research.
November 12, 2025 at 9:58 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
How long is your commute? For one #UCDavis team, it was 240 miles at elevations above 11,000 feet across 24 peaks – all in search of the Jeffrey Pine. “Jeffries” are normally found in lower elevations and this trek focused higher finds mean for climate change. caes.ucdavis.edu/news/extreme...
An Extreme Tree Hunt in the Sierra Nevada
“Here, Jeffy, Jeffy!” Hugh Safford is calling out into the woods for a tree. That’s normal enough for a forest ecologist, but the tree he’s searching for — the Jeffrey pine — was not, until recently, ...
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November 12, 2025 at 6:10 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Ecology Ph.D. student Megan McDaniels won a MAB Young Scientist Award from UNESCO to study a skin disease called sarcoptic mange and how it affects animals, plants and ecosystems in Argentina’s San Guillermo Reserve. Congrats, Megan!
www.unesco.org/en/articles/...
November 7, 2025 at 9:59 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Drought isn’t cheap. New research from #UCDavis finds that California droughts can push the price of water to $487 per acre-foot, more than triple the cost during an average wet year. Recharging groundwater basins could provide some relief.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/califor...
California Surface Water Costs Triple During Drought
California often swings between climate extremes — from powerful storms to punishing droughts. As climate change drives more intense and frequent dry and wet cycles, pressure on California’s water sup...
caes.ucdavis.edu
November 6, 2025 at 7:34 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Too much fertilizer can pollute water supplies and harm crop production. #UCDavis researchers are working on ways to evaluate crop health from the sky with tree-by-tree specificity. This can help farmers pinpoint treatment, safeguarding human health & the environment. bae.ucdavis.edu/news/new-res...
November 5, 2025 at 10:15 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Researchers with the CARE Lab are working to advance maternal health equity & provide tools to better care for Black mothers & their families. A fundraising effort is underway to help support this important research that’s making a difference in people’s lives: caes.ucdavis.edu/news/uc-davi...
Research on Racism and Maternal Health Faces Funding Challenges
A University of California, Davis research project that aims to improve maternal health for Black women, who face high rates of pregnancy-related complications, needs funding support to continue onto ...
caes.ucdavis.edu
November 3, 2025 at 6:26 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Happy Halloween, Aggies! Make sure to stop by Wellman Hall today (before 3 p.m.) to see the @ucdavissheepmowers in their spooky costumes. #ucdavis
A sheep wearing an orange Halloween-themed collar with pumpkin and flower designs, standing on grass.
October 31, 2025 at 5:10 PM
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Scientists at the UC Davis have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider lurking in California’s coastal sand dunes. Read more about the discovery and the challenges its facing: https://ucdav.is/4npQVhx #OurUCDavis #spider
New Species of Spider Discovered, Just in Time for Halloween
UC Davis scientists have discovered a new species of trapdoor spider in California's coastal sand dunes.
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October 29, 2025 at 8:48 PM
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Drought takes a toll on rice crops, but now farmers have help deciding what to plant. #UCDavis & partners developed a tool that calculates the cost of transitioning to less thirsty crops like dry beans, sunflower or tomato.
#UCDavisDelivers…economic stability #UCDD
caes.ucdavis.edu/news/new-too...
A flooded rice field with the words: Helping Farmers Make Crop Choices A slide that reads: Drought takes a toll on rice crops, but now farmers have help deciding what to plant. UC Davis and partners developed a tool that explains the cost of transitioning to less thirsty crops like dry beans, sunflower or tomato. This helps farmers adapt to drought and other environmental issues while feeding a growing population. A slide that reads: The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture helped support this research.
October 29, 2025 at 8:36 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
The latest edition of our Highlights newsletter is out & full of some great college updates, including research news on schoolyard heat, reducing methane emissions via diet & upcycling food scraps. It also has photos, awards & a note from Dean Stokes! mailchi.mp/caes.ucdavis...
October 29, 2025 at 6:36 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Schools in California are losing tree canopy & that could mean hotter temps for the state’s public-school students. A #UCDavis team spent the summer walking 25K steps at schoolyards measuring how hot playgrounds & outdoor spaces can get. The answer: 120 degrees.

caes.ucdavis.edu/news/researc...
Measuring Schoolyard Heat One Step at a Time
A team of researchers from University of California, Davis, spent the summer at elementary schools across the state measuring tree canopies and just how hot playgrounds, basketball courts, soccer fiel...
caes.ucdavis.edu
October 28, 2025 at 4:54 PM
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Is that a weed or a plant? It can be hard to tell, but now there’s help. #UCDavis researchers developed WeedChat, an AI-powered chatbot to help growers, gardeners and anyone with green space identify and treat weeds, helping stop the spread of unwanted plants.
caes.ucdavis.edu/news/weedcha...
A parasitic weed growing among tomatoes with the words: Answering all your weedy questions. A slide that reads: Is that a weed or a plant? It can be hard to tell, but now there’s help. #UCDavis researchers developed WeedChat, an AI-powered chatbot to help growers, gardeners and anyone with green space identify and treat weeds, helping stop the spread of unwanted plants. A slide that reads: WeedChat was funded via the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, an initiative of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in partnership with states.
October 22, 2025 at 9:07 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
Reducing methane emissions in the livestock sector will be critical to combating global warming. An app created by #UCDavis helps farmers in Asia and Africa formulate feed diets for cattle to improve productivity, requiring fewer animals.
caes.ucdavis.edu/news/new-mob...
Mobile App Seeks to Reduce Dairy Methane Emissions in Africa, Asia
A team of international researchers led by University of California, Davis, released a mobile tool recently that will help small-scale farmers in Asia and Africa craft the right diet for cattle to inc...
caes.ucdavis.edu
October 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM
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Congrats to our new Aggie, Andrea Alfaro, who will be director of the #UCDavis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute starting Jan. 1! Alfaro was previously a professor of marine ecology & aquaculture at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. research.ucdavis.edu/andrea-c-alf...
Andrea C. Alfaro Appointed Director of the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute - Office of Research
The Office of Research at UC Davis is pleased to announce the appointment of Andrea C. Alfaro as the new director of the UC Davis Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) effective January 1, 2026...
research.ucdavis.edu
October 16, 2025 at 6:39 PM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
When Alaska’s most pristine rivers & creeks began turning a rusty orange, #UCDavis researchers sped into action. They uncovered that thawing permafrost was exposing minerals to weathering & staining water supplies. #FromLabsToLives #SpeakUp4Science
https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives

Aerial view of vivid multicolored geological formations in Alaska, with text overlay reading "Finding answers in Alaska" and the UC Davis logo below "From Labs to Lives."
October 16, 2025 at 12:30 AM
ucdaviscaes.bsky.social
#UCDavis researchers are examining if burger patties, sausages & other foods grown from cell lines in a lab can be tasty, sustainable & affordable. These products could help supplement animal-based foods.#FromLabstoLives
https://bit.ly/3jESVCN
Researcher in a lab coat examining samples under a microscope at UC Davis, with text overlay reading 'Investigating the prospects of lab-grown meat - From Labs to Lives' and the UC Davis logo.
October 15, 2025 at 10:32 PM
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UC Davis researchers have learned how breast milk nurtures the good bacteria that help babies thrive from the very beginning. This scientific discovery is key to protecting infant health, especially for the most vulnerable. #FromLabsToLives #SpeakUp4Science https://bit.ly/4n440Nm
An adult smiling at a baby who is wearing a yellow outfit, with text 'Helping babies thrive - From Labs to Lives' and the UC Davis logo.
October 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
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#UCDavis scientists are developing new varieties of zinnias to help grow the nation’s $72-billion organic marketplace. Flowers connect us to nature, reduce stress and feed our souls!

#FromLabsToLives | #SpeakUp4Science
Image of vibrant orange flowers, with a sign saying 'From Labs to Lives' with the UC Davis logo below and the text 'Growing beauty to feed our souls' overhead.
October 15, 2025 at 5:45 PM
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UC Davis research improves the lives of Americans and ensures the world we live in is healthy, safe, prosperous and secure for all. FromLabsToLives | #SpeakUp4Science Learn more about UC Davis research: https://www.ucdavis.edu/research/labs-to-lives https://youtu.be/Bvl5okSBc9M?si=Mn2denEGrxkK4FDt
From Labs to Lives: Real Research. Real People. Real Impact.
YouTube video by UC Davis
youtu.be
October 15, 2025 at 3:48 PM