In science news this week: Idled farmland presents habitat restoration opportunities in San Joaquin Desert: “Most of the native habitat in California’s San Joaquin Desert has been converted to row crops and orchards, leaving 35 threatened or endangered species confined to isolated patches of habitat. A significant portion of that farmland, however, is likely to be retired in the coming decades due to groundwater overdraft, soil salinity, and climate change.  A new study led by researchers at UC Santa Cruz … Continue reading SCIENCE NEWS: Idled farmland presents habitat restoration opportunities in San Joaquin Desert; New tools for endangered species recovery; Will sea level rise harm tidal marshlands?; and more …