By Kathleen Wong, UC Natural Reserve System When wildfires rage, fire retardants can slow or stop the spread of flames. These chemical mixes are often sprayed over large swaths of land, coating entire hillsides in stripes of yellow or red. In recent years, millions of gallons of fire retardants have been dropped in a single […]
Año Nuevo Island Reserve
Experienced mothers prime pups for success
By Tim Stephens, UC Santa Cruz A new study based on four decades of data from the elephant seal colony at Año Nuevo Reserve has enabled researchers to disentangle the effects of environmental conditions, population density, and maternal traits on reproductive success in northern elephant seals. The study, published October 13 in Proceedings of the Royal Society […]
Biologist wins Packard Fellowship for Año Nuevo research
By Tim Stephens, UC Santa Cruz 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. The Packard Fellowships support young scientists and engineers who show exceptional promise and creativity. The Packard Fellowship gives Beltran $875,000 […]
Listening in on the world of elephant seals
Professor Roxanne Beltran of UC Santa Cruz is developing a novel way to eavesdrop on ocean soundscapes heard by elephant seals.
Fear shapes feeding and resting strategies for migrating elephant seals
Tracking data show seals shift strategies for predator avoidance and foraging as their body condition improves during migration.
Wildfires spark burn recovery study at 9 UC Natural Reserves
By Kathleen Wong, UC Natural Reserve System August wildfires incinerated tens of thousands of acres across seven UC Natural Reserves and affected parkland adjacent to two more reserves. This fall, the UC Natural Reserve System (NRS) will deploy rapid response teams to characterize the extent and intensity of the burns, as well as the effects […]
NRS reserves adapt to coronavirus shutdown
By Kathleen Wong, UC Natural Reserve System Spring is prime time around the University of California Natural Reserve System. As winter recedes, and skies dry, scientists and students alike start migrating to the protected lands of the network’s 41 reserves. Field stations bustle with university classes on field trips, who rub shoulders with faculty and […]
Elephant seal “supermoms” produce most of the population
by Tim Stephens, UC Santa Cruz Most of the pups born in an elephant seal colony in California over a span of five decades were produced by a relatively small number of long-lived “supermoms,” according to a new study by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz. The long-term study, published September 17 in the Canadian […]