RE: https://mastodon.social/@arstechnica/116108759807158445

Which #geochronological #method helps to determine the #age of #sediments as precisely as possible in order to reconstruct biotic, ecological, and #climatic relationships over the course of geological eras? R. T. Tucker et al. (2025) were able to precisely date the #eggshells of non-avian #dinosaurs using a novel LA-ICP-MS U-Pb #calcitedating method. This enabled them, for the first time, to date the Upper Cretaceous strata of the #GobiBasin (Mongolia) radioisotopically.
©This text#StefanFWirth

https://www.pnas.org/doi/abs/10.1073/pnas.2534015123

"we project a 36 to 50% contraction in suitable grazing areas by 2100 due to future #climate change. We show the loss of safe #climatic space for grazing overlaps significantly with regions already suffering from severe #poverty, #hunger, and #political #fragility. We estimate this could displace the #livelihoods of over 100 million #pastoralist

#food #land #water #adaptation #migration #immigration

#India - Farmers devastated after 80% of key crops are wiped out — here's what happened

Story by Tina Deines, February 4, 2026

"#TomatoFarmers in one region in India are struggling after their crops were hit hard by #pests and #climatic factors.

What's happening?

"The Pioneer reported on the challenging growing season for farmers around the town of #Gaulapar in northern India, an area that is known for tomato production. According to growers there, about 80% of their cultivated tomatoes have been damaged by pests.

"The publication also lists '#ClimaticFactors' as a challenge for tomato farmers. For one, young tomato plants suffered damage in the initial phase of cultivation due to #HighTemperatures during the planting season.

Why is this crop damage concerning?

"According to the publication, the drop in tomato yields has led to surging prices at the market, affecting consumers. While some farmers are benefitting from higher prices, most are suffering due to the crop damage they've endured.

"This is yet the latest example of the struggles facing food producers worldwide and the cascading impacts they have on consumers.

"One recent study tied recent dramatic price increases in staple foods to rising global temperatures, which are leading to prolonged droughts, more severe heat waves, unpredictable precipitation patterns, and other severe weather. For instance, #Malaysians are facing soaring prices at the supermarket after a heavy #monsoon season wiped out a number of local #crops."

Read more:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/farmers-devastated-after-80-of-key-crops-are-wiped-out-here-s-what-happened/ar-AA1VFvS7

#FoodInsecurity #HungerGames #Malaysia #ClimateChange

#NewZealand (#Aotearoa) - #NativePlants - an introduction to #SeedCollection, #propagation and on-farm nurseries

Excerpt: "Collecting seeds

A common method of sourcing seeds is called #EcoSourcing. Eco-sourcing seeds refers to collecting seeds from native plants that are already established in your area. This allows you to grow plants that have adapted to, and are suited to, your local #climatic conditions, and therefore your plants are more likely to survive.

Some considerations for eco-sourcing, as identified by the Department of Conservation, include:

- planting species that you know to be native to the local area
- collecting seed from as close to your restoration area as possible
- collecting seed from a similar ecosystem/environment to that to which you are restoring
- trying to collect your seeds from plants that are natively occurring rather than those that have been planted

While eco-sourcing is a great habit to get into, there is also nothing wrong with introducing new species into your restoration areas. Some considerations for this would include:

- is this species likely to be able to survive in this environment?
- is this species and its characteristics suitable? Is this the right plant for this particular planting site?

When it comes to collecting seeds from plants, late-Summer to Autumn is most commonly the time when seeds are ready for collection due to drying off/berries ripening etc. However, the timing of seeds being ready to collect is species dependent.

The Department of Conservation has created calendars and guides for seed collection for some common native #tree species, as well as #grasses, #sedges and #flaxes, which can be accessed by the links below."

Learn more:
https://www.thewholestory.co.nz/library/native-plants-an-introduction-to-seed-collection-propagation-and-on-farm-nurseries/

#SolarPunkSunday #NativePlantsNewZealand #Gardening #GardeningInNewZealand #SouthernHemisphereGardening