News
Study finds chaos is more common in ecological systems than previously thought
June 27, 2022
The idea that chaos is rare in natural populations may be due to methodological and data limitations, rather than the inherent stability of ecosystems.
Polar bears in Southeast Greenland shed light on the species’ future in a warming Arctic
June 16, 2022
The most genetically isolated population of polar bears on the planet, they have limited access to sea ice and use ice from Greenland’s glaciers to survive.
100,000-year-old polar bear genome reveals ancient hybridization with brown bears
June 16, 2022
Scientists found that all brown bears today have some polar bear ancestry due to genetic admixture that occurred during a warm interglacial period more than 100,000 years ago.
Hunting in darkness, elephant seals use sensitive whiskers to find prey
June 13, 2022
Researchers used miniature video cameras to study how free-ranging elephant seals use their whiskers to track down prey in the darkness of the deep ocean.
Biologist Bruce Lyon honored by American Ornithological Society
May 26, 2022
Bruce Lyon, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology, has been chosen to receive the 2022 Elliott Coues Award from the American Ornithological Society.
Nearly 30 years of conservation in Santa Cruz, alumna stays connected to the university and invests in students
May 3, 2022
UCSC alumna Jodi McGraw (Rachel Carson ’94, Environmental Studies and Biology) founded her conservation consulting firm in 2001 and has since hired upwards of 15 UCSC graduates and has sponsored almost 50 UCSC interns.
As climate shifts, species will need to relocate, and people may have to help them
May 2, 2022
A new survey summarizes scientific recommendations for conservationists and land managers tasked with managing biodiversity in a changing climate.
UCSC joins multi-institutional effort to advance equity and inclusion in science
May 2, 2022
The HHMI Inclusive Excellence Learning Community initiative is supporting efforts to redesign the introductory science curriculum.
New global forecasts of marine heatwaves foretell ecological and economic impacts
April 20, 2022
The forecasts could help fishing fleets, ocean managers, and coastal communities anticipate the effects of marine heatwaves.
Kelp restoration project is finalist in LaunchPad pitch competition
April 14, 2022
Andrea Paz-Lacavex, a graduate student in UCSC’s Coastal Science & Policy Program, leads SPORA, a kelp restoration project in Baja California.
Physical and Biological Sciences Division honors three prominent alumni
April 4, 2022
The PBSci Distinguished Alumni Awards recognize contributions to society by graduate and undergraduate alums.
Seed funding grants for early-stage research, creative projects given to 19 awardees
March 28, 2022
The UCSC Office of Research has awarded funds this month to 19 projects through its inaugural Seed Funding for Early Stage Initiatives program
California Sea Grant funds graduate research fellows at UCSC
March 10, 2022
California Sea Grant has awarded funding to four UC Santa Cruz graduate students for marine science research projects that address the agency’s priority themes of resilient coastal communities and economies, sustainable fisheries, and healthy coastal ecosystems.
Younger Lagoon study tells a tale of two fishes
March 9, 2022
Research at UCSC's Younger Lagoon shows that the state of estuary waters, not competition from another fish species, is the most important predictor of populations of an endangered fish.
Elephant seals’ map sense tells them when to head ‘home’
February 28, 2022
Researchers found that female elephant seals know their distance from the breeding beach and allocate extra time to get back if they have farther to travel.
Genome of extinct Steller’s sea cow reveals surprising link to human skin disease
February 9, 2022
Analysis of ancient DNA from sea cow bones finds genes that may have played a role in adaptation to cold marine environment and yields evidence of a long population decline.
UCSC researchers study effects of wildfire runoff on steelhead sense of smell
February 2, 2022
The 2020 wildfires offered UCSC researchers a chance to study how the runoff after wildfire affects one of the region’s most iconic fish: steelhead trout.
Two UCSC professors elected 2021 AAAS Fellows
January 26, 2022
Biologist Suzanne Alonzo and Earth scientist James Zachos have been awarded the distinction of AAAS Fellow by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Researchers recover ancient mammoth tusk during deep-sea expedition
November 22, 2021
A team of researchers from UC Santa Cruz, Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, and University of Michigan are studying the tusk retrieved from deep waters off the California coast.
New book chronicles more than 50 years of elephant seal research at Año Nuevo Reserve
November 9, 2021
Professor Emeritus Burney Le Boeuf summarizes the findings of the UC Santa Cruz elephant seal research program, one of the longest running studies of any animal
Ecologist Erika Zavaleta named ESA Excellence in Ecology Scholar
October 28, 2021
Erika Zavaleta, professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz, has been selected by the Ecological Society of America (ESA) as one of four ESA Excellence in Ecology (EEE) Scholars in the first cohort of this new initiative.
Data-driven animations of marine mammals combine biology, art, and computation
October 27, 2021
New tools for data visualization can transform data from animal-borne tags into cinematic and informative animations of marine mammal behavior.
Seagrass restoration study shows rapid recovery of ecosystem functions
October 25, 2021
Restored plots of eelgrass in Elkhorn Slough expanded rapidly, providing improved habitat for fish and invertebrates and other benefits of a healthy ecosystem.
Long-term study of elephant seal reproduction shows population’s resilience
October 20, 2021
Researchers found that a female elephant seal’s age and experience were more important than ocean conditions in determining the condition of her pup at weaning.
Biologist Beth Shapiro’s new book explores how humans have shaped life on Earth
October 18, 2021
‘Life as We Made It’ explains how our species has been manipulating nature for the past 50,000 years and what the future may hold, depending on how we use new technologies.
Biologist Roxanne Beltran wins prestigious Packard Fellowship
October 14, 2021
The David and Lucile Packard Foundation has awarded a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering to Roxanne Beltran, assistant professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz.
Wild, wild life
September 28, 2021
Alumnus Sebastian Kennerknecht cares so deeply about animals that he built a career in wildlife conservation photography to help fight for their survival.
Natural Reserve System was instrumental in biologist’s ascent to grad school
September 24, 2021
UCSC graduate student Tim Brown works atop eastern California’s highest ranges, seeking to understand why a sparrow-sized mountain bird is riding the 'escalator to extinction.'
Long Marine Lab seawater intake repair wins environmental engineering award
September 3, 2021
The seawater intake repair project at the UC Santa Cruz Long Marine Lab was named the 2021 Environmental Engineering Project of the Year for the American Society of Civil Engineers, San Francisco Section.
UCSC signs $3M state contract to deliver a public health data platform for pathogen genomics
September 2, 2021
The one-year, $3 million contract with the California Department of Public Health will galvanize pandemic-related genomic data analysis efforts for the public good.
Enhanced wetland on UCSC’s Coastal Science Campus will benefit threatened frogs
September 1, 2021
Construction of a seasonal pond within an existing wetland area in the Younger Lagoon Natural Reserve will create potential aquatic breeding habitat for the California red-legged frog.
When humans disturb marine mammals, it’s hard to know the long-term impact
August 26, 2021
Scientists are developing new tools to determine when short-term changes in behavior caused by human activities have biological significance for protected populations.
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.
