Kelly
Graziadei
Sponsor: Christina Pasparakis, Ph.D. Environmental Toxicology Environmental DNA (eDNA) is genetic material shed from organisms into their surroundings, such as through skin cells or mucus. eDNA extracted from water samples can be used to identify species present in the corresponding body of water through metabarcoding, a method that uses primers to amplify regions of DNA that vary among species. These DNA segments are sequenced and compared to a sequence database to determine taxonomy. eDNA is a potentially valuable tool for monitoring fish diversity in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), without requiring the ability to visually identify species. However, primers and reference sequence databases have limitations that can affect the accuracy of taxonomic assignment. In this study, eDNA samples were collected alongside the California Coastal Fisheries Research Program's annual angling survey of California MPAs. To validate the approach, 8 eDNA samples were collected from two tanks housing Northern California marine fish. Nineteen fish species were identified in the tank samples. Of 11 rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) listed as present in the tanks, 4 were not identified by eDNA. These preliminary results indicate that eDNA has the ability to provide species-level identification of Northern California marine fishes, but is restricted in its capacity to identify closely related rockfish species. Creating a Trait Database of Edible Trees for Climate-Ready Urban Food Systems
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Authors:
Kelly Graziadei
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In an urbanizing world, urban food systems are essential. Most of the global population lives in or near an urban center. Urban food systems have the potential to combat food insecurity and improve human nutrition. Climate change threatens these systems to an extent unknown to date. For urban farmers and communities that most rely on these cropping systems, for instance by planting edible and fruit trees, the challenge remains on how best to select for crops that are climate-resilient. In this study, over 4000 commonly planted urban trees across 755 U.S. cities and 17,793 U.S. towns - mined from urban big data - will be analyzed for the suitability to future climates. Their potentials for long-term urban food production will be assessed and modeled by incorporating data on the nutritional values of tree organs (e.g., leaves, fruits, bark). Outcomes of these data and analyses will allow the creation of a new tool on urban tree traits to aid urban farmers and communities in selecting and planting climate-appropriate urban food trees. This will hopefully diversify urban food systems, build resilience within and across communities, and add to the growing knowledge on ecologically-sound solutions for a changing climate. Fate and Healthcare: Fatalism as a Pejorative and the Intersections Between Islamic Fatalism and the COVID-19 Pandemic Emma Griffis
Source:
UC Davis / Plant Sciences / 2023
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Kelly Graziadei