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Agriculture + Environment

First local extinction in the US due to sea level rise
Monday July 15, 2024
The United States has lost its only stand of the massive Key Largo tree cactus in what researchers believe is the first local extinction of a species caused by sea level rise in the country.
Rapidly assessing hurricane impact in forests
Tuesday May 7, 2024
UF/IFAS researchers are using remote and AI technology to revolutionize the way we assess hurricane damage in forests.
We’ve had bird evolution all wrong
Monday April 1, 2024
A frozen chunk of genome rewrites our understanding of the bird family tree.
Wildfires increasing across eastern US, new study reveals
Monday December 18, 2023
An analysis of data spanning more than three decades uncovered a concerning trend
Scientists find ethyl vanillin in a UF/IFAS-bred strawberry: A key finding for food and beverage industry
Wednesday November 15, 2023
The aroma compound is synthesized in labs and one of the most widely used artificial flavors for foods, beverages and food supplements.
‘Invisible fence’ keeps cattle on ranch, helps protect environment
Wednesday October 18, 2023
UF/IFAS is helping cattle ranchers create invisible fences to keep cattle in with cell phone towers. This is the first project of its kind in the southeast.
UF/IFAS professor emeritus among conservationists invited to show rare Ghost Orchid at prestigious Chelsea Flower Show
Tuesday May 16, 2023
Michael Kane, a world-renown Ghost Orchid conservationist, is part of a team that will show the unique plant at the invitation-only flower show, May 22-27 in England.
UF-led research gets help from NFL player, Air Force veteran to restock sea urchins on coral reef
Thursday March 30, 2023
Called the lawn mowers of the reefs, sea urchins can be very helpful in restoring these ecosystems. A UF-led study shows promise in urchin-restocking strategies.
UF/IFAS study: new mosquito species reported in Florida
Wednesday March 22, 2023
Another new mosquito species has made its way across the tropics into Florida, making a permanent home in at least three counties.
Scouting for Burmese pythons in the Everglades
Monday February 20, 2023
  The University of Florida has partnered with several federal and state agencies on a large-scale python-removal project to protect the Everglades.  
Ag engineer to use AI to assess crop damage after tropical storms, hurricanes
Wednesday January 18, 2023
University of Florida scientists usher in future for growers by developing model using artificial intelligence technology to count damaged or dead crops following extreme weather events, such as Hurricane Ian.
UF research shows a step toward restoring sea urchins: ‘The lawnmowers of reefs’
Monday August 15, 2022
Coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened by pollution, disease, overharvesting and other factors. For thousands of years, long-spined sea urchins helped keep reefs intact. They eat seaweed, which can kill or seriously damage coral. Without coral, reefs suffer severe consequences, including diminished ability to support fish. 
UF/IFAS researchers will use AI to assess livestock mobility
Monday June 20, 2022
UF scientists want to assess livestock mobility faster and more accurately, ultimately helping farm animal health and production. To do so, they’ll use artificial intelligence to analyze high-definition video of the animals as they move.
Scientists and farmers see ways to make AI useful to agriculture
Thursday March 17, 2022
In a groundbreaking, first-of-its kind event, university scientists, engineers, producers, government agencies and industry officials from throughout the South met at Auburn University to brainstorm ways to use artificial intelligence to help farmers.  
How researchers are improving the flavor of tomatoes
Monday March 7, 2022
In a newly published study, scientists showed that several compounds can be bred into modern tomatoes to improve their flavor. 
Living shorelines
Thursday February 4, 2021
The University of Florida has research centers on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida. Living shorelines are just one way UF IFAS Solutions researchers and extension agents protect homes, habitats and livelihoods for the state, nation and world.
New study on mercury contamination has global implications for wildlife conservation
Monday October 26, 2020
Mercury may make animals less likely to mate, suggesting that mercury and similar contaminants may impact animal reproduction more than previously thought.
Want to help monarchs? Plant more than milkweed, study says
Monday October 19, 2020
A new study suggests that adding other flowering plants to the mix may help monarchs more than milkweed alone.
Sea level rise, marsh crabs are reshaping salt marshes
Monday July 13, 2020
A recent study in PNAS found that sea level rise — combined with the activities of a native marsh crab — are causing salt marshes across the U.S. South Atlantic Coast to rapidly fracture and reorganize.
Florida’s rare blue bee rediscovered at Lake Wales Ridge
Thursday May 7, 2020
This spring, a Florida Museum of Natural History researcher rediscovered the metallic navy insects, a first step to conserving this understudied and imperiled species.
Fish switch: Identity of mystery invader in Florida waters corrected after 20 years
Wednesday January 8, 2020
Experts have mistaken the chanchita, Cichlasoma dimerus, for a look-alike invasive species, the black acara, in Florida for at least 20 years. Both species belong to the cichlid family, in which species can often be difficult to distinguish from one another.

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