IN THIS ISSUE:
Lyme disease, coyote control, sheep behavior,
vegetation change, agroforestry, new legumes, watersheds

For the past 50 years, research in the rugged, wooded hills of southern Mendocino County has yielded major advances in fields as diverse as parasitology, hydrology, viticulture and agroforestry, the November-December of California Agriculture reports. Scientists isolated the spirochete that causes Lyme disease at the UC Hopland Research and Extension Center (HREC), developed critical insights into coyote predation of sheep, and identified new methods to control invasive rangeland species such as barb goatgrass. The current issue of California Agriculture, including PDF-versions of research articles in full, can be viewed online at: http://danr.ucop.edu/calag/

Scientists have used the center’s 5,358 acres of typical North Coast rangeland — a former sheep ranch purchased by UC in 1951 — as an outdoor laboratory for exploring relationships between livestock and native animals, humans and parasites, and livestock grazing and natural resources. The special 72-page issue of California Agriculture reviews 50 years of science at HREC and highlights cutting-edge research currently under way.

Highlights of the special issue include:
Lyme disease in the West: When tick nymphs carrying the Lyme disease spirochete bite the western fence lizard, the bacterium is usually destroyed; nearly one-quarter of residents in one North Coast community tested positive for Lyme disease. Contact: Bob Lane, blane@nature.berkeley.edu

Coyotes and sheep: A wide range of coyote control methods were tested at the HREC. Radiotelemetry studies found that dominant "alpha" coyotes should be targeted to protect sheep. Contact: Robert Timm, rmtimm@ucdavis.edu or Michael Jaeger, mmjaeger@nature.berkeley.edu

Long-term vegetation monitoring: Historical data sets on vegetation, collected soon after the HREC was established in 1951, have yielded valuable information about plant dynamics at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Contact: Adina Merenlender, adina@berkeley.nature.edu

Agroforestry: Grazing sheep and planted pines can coexist without damaging the tree crop, offering ranchers a new income source. Contact: Doug McCreary, ddmccreary@ucdavis.edu

Fire and barb goatgrass: Two consecutive years of controlled burning, timed correctly, can control barb goatgrass, a noxious non-native plant that is invading rangeland in 21 California counties. Contact: Joe DiTomaso, ditomaso@vegmail.ucdavis.edu

Sheep breeding and the environment: Decades-long studies at the HREC and UC Davis show that sheep perform best when under local grazing conditions. Easy new methods were developed to foster orphan lambs to ewes. Contact: Ed Price, eoprice@ucdavis.edu

New legume species for rangeland: More than 50 new Australian legume varieties were tested for their adaptability to North Coast rangeland. Optimal seeding mixes are recommended. Contact: Walter Graves, hgraves@sdccd.cc.ca.us

Plant interactions: On the range, plants alter ecosystems by affecting soil, water and pests. Managers should choose plants wisely. Contact: Valerie Eviner, eviner@socrates.berkeley.edu

Watershed monitoring: Historic studies of oak woodland and chaparral cleared for grazing highlight hydrology changes and the dangers of erosion. New studies are quantifying grazing impacts on water quality. Contact: Ken Tate, kwtate@ucdavis.edu