News
New study shows how loss of drought-sensitive species could affect health of California grasslands
June 21, 2021
At a grassland site near San Jose, scientists studied experimental research plots to determine what might happen if the plants that ecologists expect to be hit hardest by drought actually disappeared.
Dialogues, collaborations, and the success of 'slow science'
June 15, 2021
With funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, the new Southeast Asian Coastal Interactions Initiative takes a methodical approach to worldwide social and environmental challenges
Snowflake morays can feed on land, swallow prey without water
June 7, 2021
While most fish need water to feed, the unique anatomy of moray eels gives snowflake morays the ability to grab and swallow prey on land.
Biologist Roxanne Beltran wins funding from Beckman Young Investigator Program
June 3, 2021
New project aims to provide the first large-scale recordings of sound in the open ocean, using elephant seals as a platform for a novel acoustic recorder.
Found in translation
May 20, 2021
Marine scientist Stacy Jupiter, the 2020 Alumni Achievement Award winner, translates science and analysis in ways that inspire people to change behaviors.
Missing the middle: the importance of regional-scale field research
May 19, 2021
Regional-scale research networks such as the UC Natural Reserve System are ideal for documenting the impact of climate change on plants and animals.
Ancient horse DNA reveals gene flow between Eurasian and North American horses
May 18, 2021
New findings show connections between the ancient horse populations in North America, where horses evolved, and Eurasia, where they were domesticated.
'The only way society gets to reopen safely is if we are all vaccinated'
May 6, 2021
UC Santa Cruz COVID experts Rebecca DuBois, A. Marm Kilpatrick, and Susan Carpenter are urging all unvaccinated people to book an appointment to get their shots immediately, and follow CDC safety guidelines even after the vaccinations take effect.
Long-term monitoring shows successful restoration of mining-polluted streams
May 4, 2021
Despite differences in aquatic life and toxic metals in streams across a broad region of the western United States, scientists found common responses to cleanup of acid mine drainage.
Project to read genomes of all 70,000 vertebrate species reports first discoveries
April 29, 2021
A bold project to read the complete genetic sequences of every known vertebrate species has reached its first milestone, publishing new methods and the first 25 high-quality genomes.
Physical and Biological Sciences Division honors three prominent alumni
April 28, 2021
PBSci Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate alums.
William Doyle, founding director of UCSC’s Institute of Marine Sciences, dies at 91
April 28, 2021
William T. Doyle, professor emeritus of biology and founding director of the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at UC Santa Cruz, died peacefully at his home in Santa Cruz on April 21. He was 91.
Three UCSC professors elected to American Academy of Arts and Sciences
April 23, 2021
Angela Davis, distinguished professor emerita of history of consciousness and feminist studies; James Estes, professor emeritus of ecology and evolutionary biology; and Barbara Rogoff, distinguished professor of psychology, are among the newly elected fellows of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Researchers rescue endangered black abalone buried by debris flows
April 23, 2021
Massive quantities of sediment washed onto the Big Sur coast from the Dolan Fire burn scar, burying black abalone in their rocky intertidal habitat.
IMS Director Dan Costa named a fellow of the Society for Marine Mammalogy
April 16, 2021
Daniel Costa, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and director of the Institute of Marine Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, has been honored by the Society of Marine Mammalogy (SMM) in its inaugural class of SMM Fellows.
Erika Zavaleta honored for diversity efforts by Ecological Society of America
April 6, 2021
The Ecological Society of America (ESA) has chosen Erika Zavaleta, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, to receive its 2021 Commitment to Human Diversity in Ecology Award.
Pioneering plant scientist Jean Langenheim dies at 95
April 1, 2021
Jean Langenheim, an eminent plant ecologist and leading authority on amber and plant resins, died on Sunday, March 28, in Santa Cruz. She was 95.
UCSC ecologist Erika Zavaleta appointed to California Fish and Game Commission
March 25, 2021
Governor Gavin Newsom has appointed Erika Zavaleta, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, to the California Fish and Game Commission.
UC Santa Cruz faculty recognized for excellence in ecology
March 25, 2021
The Ecological Society of America announced its 2021 Fellow and Early Career Fellow awards, and UC Santa Cruz’s faculty were the most decorated of any university on this year’s list.
Two UCSC research teams recognized for outstanding papers in PNAS
March 22, 2021
The Cozzarelli Prize recognizes selected papers as outstanding contributions to the scientific disciplines represented by the National Academy of Sciences.
Influential evolutionary biologist Barry Sinervo dies at age 60
March 22, 2021
Sinervo made landmark contributions ranging from evolutionary biology and game theory to the effects of climate change on animals and ecosystems.
For migrating elephant seals, ‘lightscapes of fear’ shape feeding, resting strategies
March 17, 2021
A new tracking study shows how elephant seals balance predator avoidance and the need to feed, shifting strategies as their body condition improves during a 7-month foraging migration.
Sea otters maintain remnants of healthy kelp forest amid sea urchin barrens
March 8, 2021
While kelp forests have declined dramatically along the California coast, sea otters in Monterey Bay are maintaining patches of healthy kelp forest, according to a new study.
Return to Rat Island: Conservation strategy leads to ecosystem rebound
March 8, 2021
Hawadax Island's birds and seashore ecosystem have returned to a natural balance after the removal of invasive rodents.
The collapse of Northern California kelp forests will be hard to reverse
March 5, 2021
Most of Northern California’s kelp forest ecosystem is gone, replaced by widespread ‘urchin barrens’ that may persist long into the future, according to a new study.
Scientists describe ‘hidden biodiversity crisis’ as variation within species is lost
March 1, 2021
Many of the benefits people receive from nature depend on diversity within species, but this intraspecific variation is poorly understood and declining rapidly.
Massive debris flow swamps Big Creek Reserve as heavy rains follow summer wildfire
February 26, 2021
Boulders the size of vehicles and decades-old redwoods were ripped from the banks of the Big Creek drainage when an atmospheric river inundated the Landels-Hill Big Creek Natural Reserve on the Big Sur coast in late January.
COVID and the road ahead
February 23, 2021
UC Santa Cruz infectious disease expert A. Marm Kilpatrick looked toward the future during his immersive Kraw Lecture about COVID vaccines, variants and the road ahead.
Oldest DNA sequences reveal how mammoths evolved
February 17, 2021
Analysis of ancient DNA sequences recovered from mammoth teeth reveal North American mammoths were descended from two earlier mammoth lineages.
Healthy oceans need healthy soundscapes, say marine scientists
February 4, 2021
A global team of researchers has documented the pervasive impacts of noise on marine animals and ecosystems and identified actions to return to the soundtrack of the healthy ocean.
Fellowship program gives UCSC grad policy experience in Sacramento
January 27, 2021
After earning his Ph.D. in 2020, Jason John will work at the California Natural Resources Agency as a CCST Science Fellow.
Seymour Marine Discovery Center offers new marine science virtual expeditions
January 25, 2021
“Scientists Saving the Oceans” program begins with a behind-the-scenes look at how marine mammal researchers are working to protect dolphins and whales from ocean noise.
Study of flowers with two types of anthers solves mystery that baffled Darwin
January 12, 2021
Some flowers use a clever strategy to ensure effective pollination by bees, doling out pollen gradually from two different sets of anthers.
UC Santa Cruz offers virtual tours of Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve
January 11, 2021
Prompted by the temporary suspension of in-person tours due to COVID-19, the new virtual tours are available in English and Spanish.
National Academies report on sustainability education features UC Santa Cruz expertise
December 4, 2020
UC Santa Cruz professor Anne Kapuscinski chaired the committee that developed the report, and campus initiatives were highlighted within as examples of innovative sustainability education.
Marine mammals’ adaptations to low oxygen offer new perspective on COVID-19
December 3, 2020
Humans are poorly adapted for oxygen deprivation, making us vulnerable to long-term effects from a disease that disrupts the body’s oxygen supply pathway.
Corals can survive in acidified ocean conditions, but have lower density skeletons
June 26, 2019
A two-year transplantation experiment near a natural low-pH submarine spring evaluated growth and physiological response of different coral species to ocean acidification.
NSF funds innovative stable isotope equipment at UC Santa Cruz
January 2, 2019
The new equipment will support research across a wide range of disciplines, ranging from oceanography and earth science, paleontology, anthropology, ecology and fundamental biochemical cycle research.
Plant scientist Jean Langenheim honored by Graduate Women in Science
January 11, 2012
The Graduate Women in Science organization Sigma Delta Epsilon has awarded its highest honor, national honorary membership, to UC Santa Cruz plant scientist Jean Langenheim in recognition of her outstanding achievements in scientific research.
QUEST TV profiles biologist Dan Costa
July 27, 2011
UCSC biologist Dan Costa is featured in a new episode of KQED's QUEST TV program.
Loss of large predators has caused widespread disruption of ecosystems
July 14, 2011
The decline of large predators and other "apex consumers" at the top of the food chain has disrupted ecosystems all over the planet, according to a review of recent findings.
