Supplemental Material: Insights into the geometry and evolution of the southern San Andreas fault from geophysical data, southern California

<div>Table S1: New gravity data in Coachella Valley (shown in Figs. 2 and 4).<br></div>

Supplemental Material: Insights into the geometry and evolution of the southern San Andreas fault from geophysical data, southern California

<div>Table S1: New gravity data in Coachella Valley (shown in Figs. 2 and 4).<br></div>

The Complexity of Modulating Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Pathway by Deficit Irrigation in Table Grapes

Deficit irrigation (DI) is an irrigation scheduling technique that is used in grapes to improve red color development; however, results are not always satisfactory in table grapes. The red color in grapes is mainly due to the plant pigment anthocyanin. In the present study, the anthocyanin biosynthesis in Scarlet Royal grapes (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in the San Joaquin and Coachella Valleys, and subjected to two different DI strategies was investigated. The objective of this study was to identify potential regulatory factors that may lead to potential treatments to improve red color in table grapes, especially under warm climate conditions. In both locations, DI induced the expression of several genes involved in three major pathways that control the red color in table grapes: anthocyanin biosynthesis, hormone biosynthesis, and antioxidant system. DI at veraison induced anthocyanin accumulation and enhanced red color in berries at harvest time. However, anthocyanin accumulation was lower at the Coachella Valley compared to the San Joaquin Valley. The lower level of anthocyanin was associated with lower expression of critical genes involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, such as flavonoid-3-O-glucosyltransferase (UFGT), myb-related regulatory gene (R2R3-MYB) (MYBA1), basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) (MYCA1) and the tryptophan-aspartic acid repeat (WDR or WD40) proteins (WDR1). Further, gene expression analysis revealed the association of ABA biosynthesis gene 9-cis-epoxycarotenoid dioxygenase (NCED1), 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO3), and the gibberellic acid (GA) catabolic gene GA2 oxidase (GA2ox1) in the induction of anthocyanin biosynthesis. An increase in the chalcone synthase gene (CHS2) was observed in response to DI treatments in both sites. However, CHS2 expression was higher in Coachella Valley after ending the DI treatment, suggesting the involvement of environmental stress in elevating its transcripts. This data was also supported by the lower level of antioxidant gene expression and enzyme activities in the Coachella Valley compared to the San Joaquin Valley. The present data suggested that the lack of grape red coloration could partially be due to the lower level of antioxidant activities resulting in accelerated anthocyanin degradation and impaired anthocyanin biosynthesis. It seems that under challenging warmer conditions, several factors are required to optimize anthocyanin accumulation via DI, including an active antioxidant system, proper light perception, and hormonal balance.

Forty years later: monitoring and status of the endangered Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard

The Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard, Uma inornata, was listed as endangered under the California Endangered Species Act in 1980. By that time, the lizard’s habitat was already reduced by 90%, fragmented into isolated habitat islands on private property among hundreds of landowners. Ecosystem processes that are essential for delivering sand and maintaining the lizard’s sand dune habitat were already compromised. As challenging as it was to protect its habitat under these conditions, populations of this lizard still occur across much of the area where it was found forty years ago. Annual monitoring was designed to assess the ongoing viability of these populations by quantifying the effects of potential threats and stressors and focusing adaptive management actions where they are most needed. Here we demonstrate how hypothesis-based monitoring identified specific locations where invasive plant control and sand corridor management were needed to maintain the lizard’s populations. By monitoring lizard densities within the context of environmental variables that either drive or inhibit population growth, this monitoring approach informs if, when, and where management actions are needed.

COVID-19 Testing and Vaccine Hesitancy in Latinx Farm-Working Communities in The Eastern Coachella Valley

Background A novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 (known as COVID-19), spread rapidly around the world, affecting all and creating an ongoing global pandemic. In the United States, Latinx, African American, and Indigenous populations across the country have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 cases and death rates. An examination of the perceptions and beliefs about the spread of the virus, COVID-19 testing, and vaccination amongst racial/ethnic minority groups is needed in order to alleviate the widespread disparity in new cases and deaths. Methods From November to December 2020 the research team conducted focus groups with members of Latinx farm-working communities in the Eastern Coachella Valley, located in the inland southern California desert region. A total of seven focus groups, six in Spanish and one in Purépecha, with a total of 55 participants were conducted. Topics covered include knowledge of the coronavirus, COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Results Using theme identification techniques, the findings identify structural factors that underly perceptions held by immigrant, migrant, and indigenous Latinx community members about COVID-19, which, in turn, shape attitudes and behaviors related to COVID-19 testing and vaccination. Common themes that emerged across focus groups include misinformation, lack of trust in institutions, and insecurity around employment and residency. Conclusions This racial/ethnic minority population is structurally vulnerable to historical and present-day inequalities that put them at increased risk of COVID-19 exposure, morbidity, and mortality. Findings from the focus groups indicate a significant need for interventions that decrease structural vulnerabilities by addressing issues of (dis)trust in government and public health among this population.