Sync into the Earth

Episode produced by Whistler Brown, Lauren Daniels, Michael Homsi, and Flaka Zahiri. On this episode of Sync into the Earth, the hosts discuss the ongoing struggle to strike a balance between infrastructural development and environmental protection, considering the proposed Ontario Highway 413 as an exemplary case of this struggle. They are joined by Dr. Ryan Norris from the Department of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph to discuss these issues, and to shed some light on the current and future direction of conservation science within this scope. Ryan also shares his thoughts on some of the current research being conducted in relation to Highway 413, and how this could impact future policies, actions, and motivations. The hosts then follow the interview with a round-table style discussion, discussing some of the ongoing research relating to Highway 413, and more generally speaking, conservation science in Ontario. Topics relating to social sustainability, economics, wildlife management, forestry, and human health are explored, all tying back to the main theme of infrastructural development co-existing with adequate environmental protection and conservation measures. References: Alamenciak, et al. (2023). Ecological restoration research in Canada: Who, what, where, when, why, and how? FACETS, 8, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1139/facets-2022-0157 Heide, K., & Norris, R. (2022). The Road to Our Ruin – How Highway 413 would impact threatened and endangered species. Environmental Defence. https://environmentaldefence.ca/report/highway_413_road-to-our-ruin/#:~:text=If%20built%2C%20the%20highway%20would,streams%2C%20supporting%20important%20aquatic%20communities. Laurance, et al. (2015). Reducing the global environmental impacts of rapid infrastructure expansion. Current Biology, 25(7), R259–R262. 

Episode produced by Chloe Fortune, Ava Shultz, Meera Mohindra and Alicja Zator. In this episode of Sync into the Earth, we explore the topic of human-wildlife conflict in urban environments with a North American perspective. Encounters with wildlife are nothing out of the ordinary in urban city centers like Toronto and Edmonton, but do we ever stop to think about how our actions are impacting the wildlife with whom we share our cities? Throughout this episode we give focus to raccoons, coyotes and birds, as well as discuss recent peer-reviewed literature which investigates how living in cities impacts local wildlife. This includes studies on the physiological response of raccoons whose diets mainly consist of human food waste, the impact of diseases from bird feeders and our on-going problem with bird-window collisions. Included in this episode are special guest speakers Dr. Colleen Cassidy St. Clair from the University of Alberta, who discusses her work on the “Edmonton Urban Coyote Project,” and Victoria Badham from the Toronto Wildlife Centre, who discusses human-wildlife interactions and the work currently being completed by the Toronto Wildlife Centre to help local wildlife. References: Adelman et al. (2015). Feeder use predicts both acquisition and transmission of a contagious pathogen in a North American songbird. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 282:20151429. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2015.1429 Kummer, J. A., & Bayne, E. M. (2015). Bird feeders and their effects on bird-window collisions at residential houses. Avian Conservation and Ecology, 10(2):6. https://doi.org/10.5751/ace-00787-100206 Schulte-Hostedde et al. (2018). Enhanced access to anthropogenic food waste is related to hyperglycemia in raccoons (Procyon lotor). Conservation Physiology, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/conphys/coy026

Episode produced by Gurpreet Bedi, Madeline Loman, & Sully Nessa We have all seen bees. We have all heard bees. But how much do we actually understand these buzzing pollinators and the relationship we have with them? In this episode, we took a slightly different approach to our fuzzy friends' crisis by focusing on the narrative, the story, and the relationships. We decided to speak to Dr. John Wood, a storyteller and anthropology professor at the University of North Carolina Asheville. He is also a former professor of one of our hosts, Madeline, who interviews him for the majority of this episode. The interview covers everything from dairy farms to living in Africa and focuses on our interactions with nature. The takeaway is about noticing that the world around us, that our lives are intertwined with the lives of other beings, and their challenges, especially the plight of productive pollinators like bees, are very personal to our own. In Dr. Wood's words, “And we're part of a kind of family and that if we start to cultivate that capacity of thinking of ourselves, as in relationship to that world, then we're more likely to look out for it, and to be careful in our own behaviors with it.” References: Berenbaum. M.R. (2014). Bees in crisis: colony collapse, honey laundering, and other problems bee-setting American apiculture. American Philosophical Society. 158 (3) 229-247 Cruz & Grozinger (2023). Mapping student understanding of bees: Implications for pollinator conservation. Conservation Science and Practice, 5(3), e12902. Johnson et al (2014) Bee-wild about pollinators! An interdisciplinary study introduces primary students to the importance of bees. Science and Children. 52(4) 44-48. MacInnis et al. (2023). Decline in wild bee species richness associated with honey bee (Apis mellifera L.) abundance in an urban ecosystem. PeerJ (San Francisco, CA), 11, e14699–e14699 Pope et al. (2023). The expansion of agriculture has shaped the recent evolutionary history of a specialized squash pollinator. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 120(15). Van Vierssen Trip et al. (2020) Examining the public's awareness of bee (hymenoptera: apoidae: anthophalia) conservation in Canada. Conservation Science and Practice. 2(12) 1-12.

Episode produced by Maia Mortimer, Victoria Mushka, and Annika Wong In this episode of Sync into the Earth, we discuss the concept of “wild cities” and what it means for the future of conservation. As urban sprawl continues to cover our Earth, we need to start thinking about how we can incorporate conservation into cities rather than treating it as a separate issue. Wild cities, an idea based on “rewilding”, aim to redesign urban infrastructure to support coexistence with nature. We delve into numerous studies as we try to answer the question, “What's so great about wild cities?”. We discuss wild cities' importance for both human and environmental health. We talk about the major challenges that come with creating wild cities, and how they can be addressed. To help us dive deeper into this topic, we speak with Usman Haque, a renowned architect and artist whose work incorporates the natural environment, urban technology, and human interaction. Haque talks about strategies to incorporate nature into the city through his experience working as the creative director of Re: Wild Royal Docks, where he seeks to connect people and nature (like with talking trees!). References: Carver et al(2021). Guiding principles for rewilding. Conservation Biology, 35(6), 1882–1893. Fischer et al (2018). ‘Wild' in the city context: Do relative wild areas offer opportunities for urban biodiversity? Landscape and Urban Planning, 170, 256–265. Olive, A. (2014). Urban awareness and attitudes toward conservation: A first look at Canada's cities. Applied Geography (Sevenoaks), 54, 160–168. Zhou & Rana (2012). Social benefits of urban green space: A conceptual framework of valuation and accessibility measurements. Management of Environmental Quality, 23(2), 173–189.

Episode produced by Phillipe Edde, Jeanine Fernandes, and Yuying Chen. This episode explores potential solutions for climate change, focusing particularly on the topic of seaweed farming as an innovative method for carbon sequestration. We are joined by experts in the field, Dr. Lisa Levin and Dr. Thierry Chopin, to delve into the complexities surrounding ocean-based climate interventions (OBCIs) technologies and their implications for climate change mitigation. Climate change is a widely discussed subject and has ignited global concern. Behind the scenes, the emission of greenhouse gases serves as a primary catalyst for this phenomenon. From greenhouse gas emissions to the urgent need for action, we're embarking on a journey to understand how OBCIs, particularly seaweed farming, can help mitigate the rising levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. We explore both the potential co-benefits of seaweed farming, such as its uses as fertilizer, animal feed, and biofuels, as well the challenges involved in seaweed farming, including nutrient depletion, algal blooms, and disruption of marine ecosystems. We acknowledge that seaweed farming is a pilot strategy, and there are many complexities and uncertainties associated with this method. References: Chopin et al. (2024). Deep-ocean seaweed dumping for carbon sequestration: Questionable, risky, and not the best use of valuable biomass. One Earth, 7(3), 359–364. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.01.013 Levin et al. (2023). Deep-sea impacts of climate interventions. Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 379(6636), 978–981. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.ade7521

Episode Produced by Huiting Luo, Kayla Higgins, and Matthew Ditta.  This episode of Sync into the Earth dives into the issue of food insecurity in northern Canada and explores what is being done about it. We are first joined by Steph Gerend, a MSc Epidemiology student at the University of Alberta. Steph is a non-indigenous researcher whose work addresses a significant research gap on traditional clam harvesting. She aims to understand the cultural, health and environmental values of clams through interviews with Inuit community members in Iqaluit, Nunavut. She also explores the role that clam harvesting plays in achieving food security and food sovereignty in Inuit communities.  Next, we were joined by Derrick Hastings and John Robinson, manager and head of operations of Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in Teaching and Working farm in Dawson City, Yukon. Derrick and John provide insight on the various projects the farm works on to address food insecurity. They also describe their goals for future sustainable expansion to supply even more people in Yukon Territory with organically grown and raised foods which is becoming increasingly important with the loss of traditions.  https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/trondek-hwechin-protecting-food-security-in-dawson-city-yukon/

Join us – Holly Easton, Angie Wang, Saranka Yogendren – and special guest Mike Lavin for an honest and personal discussion about light pollution and our disappearing darkness. Mike Lavin is a park naturalist and teacher living in Southern Ontario who has garnered a deep connection with the night sky through his experiences stargazing, watching the aurora borealis when he lived in the North, and walking home in total darkness when he worked in Costa Rica. When entrenched in darkness, noise becomes sharper, nocturnal animals awaken, and galaxies become visible to the naked eye. In urban centres, this connection with the night has dwindled over time as LEDs light up our cities, covering what was previously pitch black in flooding brightness. In this episode, this loss is examined candidly as to how lack of darkness impacts not just humans and our connection to the night sky, but the circadian rhythms of nocturnal animals, the natural instincts of animals who rely on stars to navigate, and the animals who follow moonlight for directions. The darkness is, in essence, a habitat that is rapidly vanishing, and we should be passionate about protecting it, much like we protect other valuable habitats. References Burt, C. S., Kelly, J. F., Trankina, G. E., Silva, C. L., Khalighifar, A., Jenkins-Smith, H. C., Fox, A. S., Fristrup, K. M., & Horton, K. G. (2023). The effects of light pollution on migratory animal behavior. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 38(4), 355–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2022.12.006 Carson, R. (2002). Silent Spring. HarperCollins. Colman, L. P., Lara, P. H., Bennie, J., Broderick, A. C., de Freitas, J. R., Marcondes, A., Witt, M. J., & Godley, B. J. (2020). Assessing coastal artificial light and potential exposure of wildlife at a national scale: The case of marine turtles in Brazil. Biodiversity and Conservation, 29(4), 1135–1152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-019-01928-z Eklöf, J. (2023). The Darkness Manifesto: On Light Pollution, Night Ecology, and the Ancient Rhythms that Sustain Life. Simon and Schuster. Graur, O. (2023, February 9). Light pollution has cut humanity's ancient connection with the stars – but we can restore it. The Conversation. http://theconversation.com/light-pollution-has-cut-humanitys-ancient-connection-with-the-stars-but-we-can-restore-it-198035 Hoffmann, J., Schirmer, A., & Eccard, J. A. (2019). Light pollution affects space use and interaction of two small mammal species irrespective of personality. BMC Ecology, 19(1), 26. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12898-019-0241-0 Yen, C.-H., Chan, Y.-T., Peng, Y.-C., Chang, K.-H., & Cheng, I.-J. (2023). The Effect of Light Pollution on the Sea Finding Behavior of Green Turtle Hatchlings on Lanyu Island, Taiwan. Zoological Studies, 62, e47. https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2023.62-47

A taste of what's to come on Season 2 of Sync into the earth!

Episode produced by Grace Bowen-MacLean, Andre Sanchez, and Amenda Hong In this episode of Sync into the Earth we investigate the impact of invasive species on Canadian Agriculture and discuss management strategies being employed, as well as the aspects of integrated pest management in Canada. We explore three different invasive species: a trickily managed pest, the spider mite; a current focus of pest managers, the tarnished plant bug; and a pest on the radars of managers because of its potential threat, the spotted lanternfly. Joining us in this conversation was Dr. Sean McCann, a research scientist of the Agriculture and Agri Food Division in Newfoundland specializing in entomology. We speak to him about his research and about these three invasive pests. Our talk ranges from technology and novel management strategies, to nerding out over some of the amazing skills and adaptations arthropods have that add to the challenge of management. We hope this episode is inviting for any listener to enjoy learning a bit more about an underexplored topic.

Episode produced by Angelina Campbell, Andrea D'Souza, and Guangrui Li (Rui) This episode of Sync into the Earth explores the fascinating global topic of urban sustainability. Given the breadth of the topic, we focused on sustainability efforts that we, and likely our audience, are familiar with here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). We begin by defining urban sustainability, because this concept can be interpreted in different ways. Next, we dive into why urban sustainability is essential and why we as humans should care about it. This section provides information on the benefits humans gain from urban green spaces, such as positive physical and mental health effects. We further discuss the importance of this concept by looking at the ecosystem services biodiversity provides in an urban setting, and what urban biodiversity looks like. We end the episode by talking about the different ways that sustainability can be achieved in an urban environment. This includes speaking up against government plans and policies and working with members of your community to voice large-scale concerns and actions to be taken. We also mentioned individual efforts that are easier to achieve, such as planting a pollinator garden in your yard. We hope that this episode gives an insightful snippet on how to make urban living a little bit greener.

Episode produced by Lidor Levy, Kaitlyn Magyar, and Sophie Tan. For this episode of Sync Into the Earth, we explore the topic of biological control. Specifically, how it is used, and its relevance in today's world. Biological control has been used for centuries, with one of its most notable applications being Australia's infamous cane toads. Today's practices scarcely resemble that of the cane toad but rather highlight scientific development and the understanding of species interactions. We discuss practices used in the fields of agriculture and invasive species management, with some thoughts on the uncertainties associated with climate change. Within agriculture, biological control is growing in use over pesticides. We chat about a study that examined the use of predatory mites to control strawberry mites that showed both promising results and limitations. Field research identifies difficulties regarding climate variations and the maintenance of introduced control species, while greenhouse applications are less restricted. Invasive species managers have also been especially receptive to biological control applications, with Phragmites and Purple Loosestrife programs showing promising results.

Episode produced by Abiraam Selvakumar, Kirsten Scott, and Tyler Dender This episode explores new technologies available to conservation scientists for monitoring and protecting wildlife and their habitats. In the rapidly changing tech world, it can be hard to follow what's possible, so each of our speakers focuses on recent peer-reviewed research on a conservation technology of interest. Abiraam talks about camera traps, and their importance in understanding animal behaviour, detecting rare species movement patterns and population numbers, along with their significance in the fight against poaching. Tyler discusses the benefits of using drones to monitor wildlife remotely including tracking animal behaviours, identifying cryptic or dangerous species, and the surveillance of illegal activities in remote locations. Kirsten considers a novel artificial intelligence (AI) program, CAPTAIN, that outperforms current planning models to optimize conservation efforts. It uses reinforcement learning to train models for conservation prioritization by best utilizing the available data and resources, resulting in effective area selection for conservation policies. What's also interesting about these new, powerful tools is they can be used in community science or can use community-collected data, another influential ‘tool' with considerable potential to assist in biodiversity conservation.

Episode produced by Morgan McMullen, Paige Van Rooy & Harlow Wood. The study of microplastic pollution is fairly new to the world of environmental science, yet this emerging field is gaining traction. These plastic pollutants are pouring into both marine and freshwater systems, mistakenly being eaten by aquatic species, and accumulating as they make their way up the food chain. But what legislation is in place to prevent this and what steps can we take to help reduce the amount of plastic in our waters? This research is critical, as we do not fully know what effects microplastics have on our ecosystems and human health. In this episode of Sync into the Earth, we discuss this emerging topic with two young researchers currently studying microplastics. First, we are joined by Karly McMullen, a Masters student at UBC. Karly's research explores the bioaccumulation of microplastics through the food web, using the Galapagos Penguin as a flagship species. Second, we are joined by Eden Hataley, a PhD student at the University of Toronto. Eden's research is focused on synthesizing scientific evidence to inform the development of management strategies to reduce plastic emissions in the Great Lakes. With both guests, we discuss the topic of science communication, the importance of this research, and ways in which we can share these novel findings with the world.

Episode produced by Leah Hannah, Sarah Zhao, and Franny Fu. We're spending more and more time on social media, but what does that mean for the biodiversity crisis? This episode of Sync into the Earth explores the nuances of using social media for wildlife conservation. Our discussion dives into questions such as: How can social media be used to promote activism? What are some downsides of using social media to protect species? To answer these questions, we speak with conservation scientist and PhD candidate at Carleton University, Jordanna Bergman, about her study Evaluating the Benefits and Risks of Social Media for Wildlife Conservation. She educates us about “bright spots” in social media campaigns, such as a hunting campaign to remove invasive lionfish in Florida. We also discuss how social media can promote the exotic pet trade, referencing the study Exotic Animal Cafés in Japan: A New Fashion With Potential Implications for Biodiversity, Global Health, and Animal Welfare. Finally, we chat about the study Selling Extinction: The Social Media(tion) Of Global Cheetah Conservation that critiques social media for how it can unnecessarily sensationalize extinctions. Ultimately, our conversation challenges us to think more critically about how we use social media for wildlife conservation.

Episode produced by Julia Harper, Kevin Tsang, and Shameem Nasrabadi. This episode of Sync into the Earth is an introduction to an Indigenous ethic and approach to invasive species management. The dominant western scientific characterization of invasive species has become prevalent even outside of scientific circles, and includes regular use of exterminationist, warlike, and xenophobic metaphor and rhetoric. This framework is at odds with many Indigenous cosmologies, which centre on humility, mutual respect and mindful relations between humans and the natural world, and which understand migration as a natural occurrence, regardless of the role that humans play in mediating most species introductions. The focus of the episode is our interview with Gary Pritchard, biologist, environmental consultant, and member of Curve Lake First Nation, who details an Anishinaabe perspective on the topic. Included in the discussion are explanations of Anishinaabe teachings on ecological inquiry and respectful use as well as colonization and settler-Indigenous relations, particularly in scientific and land use & management contexts. We fill out the episode by exploring the implications of our discussion on Asian carp management and invasive sea lamprey management, and briefly introduce Two-Eyed Seeing, a Mi'kmaw perspective on settler-Indigenous relations. Care is taken throughout the episode to not characterize any perspectives as pan-Indigenous or universal to a particular Indigenous nation.

Episode produced by Jess Harriot, Dale Moskoff & Joseph Kawalec. In this first episode of Sync into the Earth we discuss definitions of intelligence, how they can be applied to identify intelligence in the animal kingdom and known examples of animal intelligence. We began with various definitions of learning and intelligence and explain the distinction between classical conditioning and creative problem solving. We then discuss scientific studies of animal intelligence, how intelligence in dogs may contribute to the personal relationships humans form with their pets, tool use, altruism, memory and recognition of self in birds, evidence of imagination and planning in octopuses, social behaviour and play in manatees, and barriers to understanding animal intelligence from a human point of view. We conclude by examining the connection between our understanding of animal intelligence and opinions on biodiversity conservation.

A taste of what's to come!