Our new study published in PloSOne found that the tea functional quality as determined by the key phytochemicals responsible for tea’s main health and physiological properties in humans significantly varies with extreme weather events that are becoming more frequent with climate change. Specifically, compared to an extreme spring drought, tea leaves grown during the monsoon at our study site in SW China were up to 50% higher in terms growth parameters while concentrations of catechin and methylxanthine secondary metabolites, major compounds that determine tea functional quality, were up to 50% lower. Concurrently, total phenolic concentrations and antioxidant activity increased. The inverse relationship between tea growth and concentrations of individual secondary metabolites suggests a dilution effect of precipitation on tea quality. The decrease in tea functional quality was associated with a decrease in tea prices and income derived from tea sales. Findings validate farmer perceptions that precipitation impacts tea quality. Extrapolating findings from this study to long term climate change suggests variability for farmers and the need to tap into farmers’ knowledge of management practices to mitigate climate risks in their agro-ecosystems for sustainability of tea production.

Questions? Please contact the corresponding author on this study, Dr. Selena Ahmed: selena.ahmed@montana.edu.

Need a Friday afternoon break?  Tomorrow from 2:30-4:00PM you’ll find a number of games and decks of cards to borrow near the service desk on the 4th floor of Sackler.  Please feel free grab an empty table and […]

We’d like to take a moment to thank one of our Research and Instruction librarians, Katie Houk.  She has worked here at Hirsh for the past three years and has accepted a new faculty position at San Diego State […]

Greetings!
Welcome to Museums in the News. Through this column, I hope to help all of us be a little more informed and aware of the general “buzz” of the museum industry, as it is covered in mainstream news […]

GREEN CORPS
Early Fall Application Deadline: October 11, 2014
Click here to request more information about Green Corps. Green Corps is looking for college graduates who are ready to take on the biggest environmental challenges of our day. In Green Corps’ yearlong paid program, you’ll get intensive training in the skills you need to make a difference in the world. You’ll get hands-on experience fighting to solve urgent environmental problems – global warming, deforestation, water pollution, factory farming and many others – with groups like Sierra Club and Food & Water Watch. And when you graduate from Green Corps, we’ll help you find a career with one of the nation’s leading environmental and social change groups. For more information, visit http://www.greencorps.org/findoutmore.

SENIOR ENERGY ADVOCATE – NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL
Washington DC
NRDC is seeking a Senior Energy Advocate or Attorney to work with our energy team based in Washington, DC. Responsibilities include: Provide written and oral advocacy in furtherance of NRDC’s electric sector carbon standard, utility reform, clean energy and energy efficiency priorities at the state and federal level; develop relationships and collaborate with utilities and utility associations in DC and at the state or regional level; develop state-level support to push for federal regulations on carbon emissions from the electric sector; conduct legal and policy research and analysis to develop and support positions; coordinate and represent NRDC in coalitions on specific issue-areas; and finally respond to media requests and develop advocacy material to spread NRDC’s message. For further information about NRDC, please visit http://www.nrdc.org