The Best Biome

Phytoremediation. A fun word to say, but what does it mean? Turns out it's quite simple: using the superpower many plants naturally have to heal our wonderful Earth from terrible soil contaminants. Allan pulls us off the dark abyss edge that is our current world to deliver a wonderful tale of plants. Primary Sources: Gerhardt KE, Gerwing PD, Greenberg BM. Opinion: Taking phytoremediation from proven technology to accepted practice. Plant Sci. 2017 Mar;256:170-185. Epub 2016 Dec 5. PMID: 28167031. Lee, Jae. (2013). An overview of phytoremediation as a potentially promising technology for environmental pollution control. Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering. 18. +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch Bluesky +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

The Best Biome finally reps reptiles properly as Nicole tells us all about an enormous lizard of the South American grasslands. Buckle up for voracious appetites, raging hormones, and an unexpected peek into the evolution of endothermy. This is: the world's hottest reptile. Primary Sources: (check back later, sorry!) +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch Bluesky +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

This month on The Best Biome, Rachel takes us on a trip to the wetter, saltier cousin of grasslands: seagrass meadows! Is she making a desperate reach to connect the dots, or is she absolutely right that "seagrass meadows are the grasslands of the oceans?" Decide for yourself, dear listener, and get ready to think more about seaweed than you have in a while. Plus, there's manatees! A very special episode awaits. Primary Sources: Rundell, Katherine. 2024 Vanishing Treasures. Penguin Random House. ISBN: 9780385550826 +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch Bluesky +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

The grasslands of Japan are beautiful, full of volcanos, and revered by the people living there. Japan's unique model of conservation method of Satoyamas is one we wish the US would model - one where people push to thrive alongside the environment, not claim or set it aside. Allan hosts this episode and the five minute math break in the middle has been severely shortened (though stick around past the credits for a bit more). Primary Sources: Chakraborty, S. (2018). The Interface of Geology, Ecology, and Society: The Case of Aso Volcanic Landscape. In: Chakraborty, A., Mokudai, K., Cooper, M., Watanabe, M., Chakraborty, S. (eds) Natural Heritage of Japan. Geoheritage, Geoparks and Geotourism. Springer, Cham. Sustaining Aso's Grasslands. Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Aso's Wildlife. Japanese Ministry of the Environment. Direct download: Satoyama in Japan: For Nature-Based Solutions (2022 Report). Japanese Ministry of the Environment. +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch Bluesky +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

In the final episode of the season for The Best Biome we lay out some concerns we have for the conservation of our beloved grasslands under a second term of the Trump administration. It's a hard discussion, but one we felt we needed to have. And boy was it a long one. If you don't feel up to listening now, we understand, though we still recommend you check out the action items at the end (see timestamps below to skip there). Much love to you all, and we'll be back in March. Timestamps: (00:00:00) Introduction (00:04:37) Nicole: Implications of DOI Changes (00:33:00) Brain Bleach Success Stories (00:35:45) Rachel: EPA Changes and the Author of Project 25 (01:09:58) Allan: The Fall of Science (01:41:06) Action Items (01:55:57) Outro Action Items: Learn more about the Monarch conservation plan and show your support (public comment period opens TODAY Dec 12 24): http://fws.gov/monarch Earthjustice Environmental Law - Rapid Response Legal Fund thru Dec 31: https://earthjustice.org/ North American Grasslands Conservation Act: https://actforgrasslands.org/ Engage with Citizen Science in your area: https://scistarter.org Citizen Science Projects by Federal Agencies: https://www.citizenscience.gov/catalog/ Inaction is not an option when it comes to fighting for what you believe in and those you love... but you don't have to do it all. Take care of yourself. Arm Yourself With Knowledge: Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen (Bookshop affiliate link) The Endangered Species Act Overview and Impact on Private Property Trilateral Committee's work on buffalo | grasslands conservation Visitor Spending Effects - Economic Contributions of National Park Visitor Spending EPA Enforcement Data and Results Climate Disinformation Database | Mandy Gunasekara - EPA Project 2025 Author League of Conservation Voters: Lee Zeldin's score card (incoming EPA admin) EPA Office of Environmental Justice and External Civil Rights: Journey to Justice The Second Trump Administration Will Put Profit Over People and Opinions Over Facts. But We're Prepared to Fight Back! Union of Concerned Scientists Attacks on Science. Union of Concerned Scientists +++ More of Our Work +++ Grassland Groupies' Website Facebook TikTok Twitch Bluesky +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

A big animal can make big changes in their environment... and cause big problems for the people who live alongside it. African Elephants have a fascinating relationship to the savanna and the people who call it home, where it is equal parts feared and revered. The world of elephant conservation is complicated, and in this episode, Nicole examines the nuanced stories of these beautiful beasts and the conflicts that surround them. Primary Sources: https://www.elephantvoices.org/ - great general information hub on elephants, plus home of The Elephant Ethogram. The Fingernail Problem: How a Common Interpretive Technique Fuels Negative Attitudes and Harmful Stereotypes. National Association of Interpreters.  Sieber, C. 2019. Zoos Called It a ‘Rescue.' But Are the Elephants Really Better Off? The New York Times Magazine.  +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

Happy Halloween from your grasslands PR Team! This month, Rachel confronts one of her worst childhood fears to bring us a tale of the strange and slithering: a group of animals so odd and cryptic that the existence of many species was only confirmed after their habitat was bulldozed. We're delving into the fascinating world of worm lizards, a world full of unknowns that still begs to be explored. After all, how can we learn about an animal that's virtually impossible to observe in the wild? A fanged and ferocious creature that creeps below our feet, hearing our every step, and slipping ever deeper into the darkness... Primary Sources: Baeckens, S., García‐Roa, R., Martín, J., Ortega, J., Huyghe, K., & Damme, R. V. (2016). Fossorial and durophagous: implications of molluscivory for head size and bite capacity in a burrowing worm lizard. Journal of Zoology, 301(3), 193–205. Guynup, Sharon. (2021, June 6). “Race against time”: Saving the snakes and lizards of Brazil's Cerrado. Mongabay Environmental News. García, E. R. (2020). How to maintain underground social relationships? Chemosensory sex, partner and self recognition in a fossorial amphisbaenian. PLoS ONE. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0237188  García, E. R. (2021). Offspring and adult chemosensory recognition by an amphisbaenian reptile may allow maintaining familiar links in the fossorial environment. Peerj. Ribeiro, L. B., Gomides, S. C., & Costa, H. C. (2020). A New Worm Lizard Species (Squamata: Amphisbaenidae: Amphisbaena) with Non-autotomic Tail, from Northeastern Brazil. Journal of Herpetology, 54(1), 9. Ortega, J. (2021). Going underground: short- and long-term movements may reveal the fossorial spatial ecology of an amphisbaenian. Movement Ecology.  +++ More of Our Work +++ Website Facebook TikTok Twitch +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

Possibly the best episode of all time (according to me, Rachel). Allan gives us EVERYTHING. Great science, high quality takes, crying with laughter, investigative reporting and red string conspiracy boards. To what end?? Drafting porcupines, well-known "tree-lovers," into the Best Biome (grasslands). Potentially. Hear us out! +++ Primary Sources +++ North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). Alaska Department of Fish and Game- North American Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum). (n.d.). Porcupine Fossils: Gelbart, M. (2016, July 6). The extended pleistocene range of the Porcupine (erethizon dorsatum). GeorgiaBeforePeople. https://markgelbart.wordpress.com/2012/11/07/the-extended-pleistocene-range-of-the-porcupine-erethizon-dorsatum/ Antibiotic Quills: Roze, U., Locke, D. C., & Vatakis, N. (1990). Antibiotic properties of porcupine quills. Journal of Chemical Ecology, 16(3), 725–734. doi:10.1007/bf01016483 Geographic Differences in Behavior: Griesemer, S., R. DeGraaf. 1996. Denning pattern of porcupines, Erithizon dorsatum . Canadian Field Naturalist, 110/4: 634-637. Ilse, L., E. Hellgren. 2001. Demographic and behavioral characteristics of North American porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) in pinyon-juniper woodlands of Texas. The American Midland Naturalist, 146/2: 329-338. Sweitzer, R., J. Berger. 1992. Size-related effects of predation on habitat use and behavior of porcupines. Ecology, 73: 567-875. +++ More of Our Work +++ Filthy Animals (Podcast) Website Facebook TikTok Twitch +++ Contact Us +++ Text/Call: (316)-512-8933 info@grasslandgroupies.org +++ Support Us +++ Bonfire Merch Store CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies Or... donate directly to our org.

Bees know more than you. Okay, that may be a slight exaggeration, but they definitely know more than you realize! From complex problem solving to tool use to wing-sparkle navigation, bees illuminate our understanding of insect cognition. In this episode, Nicole invites us to perceive the world as our buzzy, bumbly friends might, in beautifully smooth 240 fps. Primary Source: Buchmann, S. 2023. What a Bee Knows: Exploring the Thoughts, Memories, and Personalities of Bees. Island Press. Support us and indie bookstores when you buy the book through this Bookshop.org link! Contact: Website Facebook TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

Desertification is a major threat to many grasslands, so let's study the best real-world example: The Horqin Grassland, aka the Horqin Sandy Lands. How has this landscape changed over time, what can it teach us about the future of arid grasslands, and which approaches by Inner Mongolia and China to fight desertification give us hope? We love a hopeful story, and this certainly is one. Primary Sources: Chen, Q., Yang, X., Kwon, S., Li, Y., Liu, J., & Zhang, K. (2023). Woody plant cover trends and potential drivers in the Horqin Temperate Steppe, Northeast China: Remote Sensing-based computation and modeling. Ecological Indicators, 146, 109789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.109789 Huang, W., He, Y., Wang, H., Zhao, X., & Zhu, Y. (2023). Long-term effects of restoration on the links between above-and belowground biodiversity in degraded Horqin Sandy Grassland, northern China. Frontiers in Environmental Science, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1128187 Li, J., Xu, B., Yang, X. et al. Historical grassland desertification changes in the Horqin Sandy Land, Northern China (1985–2013). Sci Rep 7, 3009 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-03267-x https://www.scitepress.org/PublishedPapers/2021/110202/110202.pdf Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

We get patriotic (kinda) in this special episode where all three hosts work together to petition for new national symbols for the US of A. New floral emblem, new national symbol, and a brand new category all-together. Why do we love non-native national symbols? Who knows. Do better, America. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: As if this silly episode could have any. Do let us know who picked the best emblem though. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox; CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies

The fastest land animal in North America, second fastest in the world: the graceful, wonderful, pronghorn. Nicole shares all the reasons these icons of the American prairie are truly the best from their evolutionary history to their epic stare battles between each other and rump flashes to warn of predators. Primary Sources: Kitchen, D. 1974. Social Behavior and Ecology of the Pronghorn. Wildlife Monographs, No. 38., pp 3-96. Bender, L., Rosas-Rosas, O.,Hartsough, M., Rodden, C., Morrow, P. 2019. Effect of predation on adult pronghorn Antilocapra americana (Antilocapridae) in New Mexico, Southwestern USA. Mammalia, 2019, Vol 83, Issue 3 p.248-254. On the Move: Pronghorn Migrations Across Seasons. The Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox, CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies

Patas Monkeys are weird little guys with fabulous mustaches and very intricate relationships with a special tree on the African savannah. We talk acacias, ants, and the Lorax as Allan tries to make Nicole love just a single primate. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Palmer, T., Stanton, M., Young T., Goheen, J., Pringle, R., and Karban, R. 2008. Breakdown of an ant-plant mutualism follows the loss of large herbivores from an African savanna. Isbell, L. and Young, T. 2007. Interspecific and temporal variation of ant species within Acacia drepanolobium ant domatia, a staple food of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) in Laikipia, Kenya Dr. Seuss and the real Lorax. Dominy, N., Winters, S., Pease, D., Higham, J. 2018. Dr Seuss and the real Lorax. Nature Ecology & Evolution. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

This is a special podcast swap episode where we host Kindred Podcast's Power of Fire episode. Learn about the history of fire, how it shapes the landscape and people that live there. Speakers: Tony Incashola Jr., forest manager for CSKT (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), and Stephanie Gillin, information and education program manager and former wildlife biologist for the CSKT at the Flathead Indian Reservation. Kindred Podcast hosts: Kate and Jen. Producer: Kat Gatti. Primary Sources: Kindred Podcast website Contact Grassland Groupies: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

The long-legged, sickle claw wielding seriema is a wonderful bird that provides insight into the extinct terror birds of old. Rachel explains the link between past and present and we ponder whether or not scientists ever bother actually looking at birds. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Oswald, T., Curtice, B., Bolander, M., Lopez, C. January 2023. Observation of Claw Use and Feeding Behavior of the Red-Legged Seriema and Its Implication for Claw Use in Deinonychosaurs. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

The conservation story of Canada's polar-vortex-loving Wood Bison is one of colossal mistakes, stacked odds, and (to our gleeful surprise) hope and optimism. These animals have survived drowning, disease, and hybridization, and have gone on to... success? Allan explores this topic in today's episode. Primary Sources: 2018 Wood Bison Recovery Strategy (SARA Series) https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/recovery-strategies/wood-bison-2018.html#toc11 Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

It's snowy and getting colder where we're at, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't go outside. Rachel gives a compelling argument as to why winter is the best time of year for birding and gives insight into the Christmas Bird Count: a citizen science project dating back over a hundred years. Learn more about the Christmas Bird Count here. Primary Sources: Gill, F. B., Prum, R. O., & Robinson, S. K. (2019). Ornithology. W.H. Freeman, Macmillan Learning. Sibley, D. (2020). What it's like to be a bird: From flying to nesting, eating to singing -- what birds are doing, and why. Alfred A. Knopf. Affiliate purchase link. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies

This episode is a little different. We celebrate spooky season with the haunting tales of feldgeist, Sinkhole Sam, and the Ohio Grassman. These stories haunt the minds of those who visit prairies and fields across the globe. Be weary, you never know what's lurking in the tall grass. Photos and more are at our site. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

Grasshopper mice are small but fierce. They howl like wolves, stalk their prey like cats, and finish up with a quick face clean. These solitary animals like to live life dangerously and enjoy even venomous meals. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Grasshopper Mouse Hunting and Howling [YouTube] Animal Diversity Web. Regents of the University of Michigan. USDA Bulletin: Life History and Habits of Grass-hopper mice, genus Onychomys. (1939). [PDF] Richardson, D., Karczmar, A. G., & Scudder, C. L. (1972). Intergeneric behavioral differences among methamphetamine treated mice. Psychopharmacologia, 25(4), 347–375. Tracey Switek. Onychomys: Tiny Terror of the Western Deserts. Contact: Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

Nicole talks painted dogs: a surprisingly wholesome and fun-loving animal. They are excellent hunters, take care of not just their pups but their elderly, and rarely squabble amongst themselves. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Painted Dog Conservation website. Painted Dog Research Trust website. Robert L. Robbins. (2000). Vocal Communication in Free-Ranging African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus). Behaviour, 137(10), 1271–1298. COZZI, G., BEHR, D. M., WEBSTER, H. S., et al (2020). African Wild Dog Dispersal and Implications for Management. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 84(4), 614–621. Contact Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org Support us: Bonfire Merch Store Or donate: Donorbox

Enjoy this episode of very good facts and very good nonsense. We revisit a nice game of stump the podcast host, this time with more bug viscera and talking ourselves out of an obvious answer. Our Info: Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

In the Páramo grasslands of South America is a cloud covered land where a unique ecosystem thrives. Allan tells us all about a plant that drinks clouds plus the miraculous little hummingbirds that call this place home. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Luteyn, J. 1999. Páramos: A Checklist of Plant Diversity, Geographical Distribution, and Botanical Literature. Taxon, Vol. 48, No. 3. Buytaert, W et al. 2005. Clay mineralogy of the soils in the south Ecuadorian paramo region. Geoderman Vol 127, Iss 1-2. Carrington, D. 2019. In the land of El Dorado, clean water has become ‘blue gold'. The Guardian. Contact Website Facebook Twitter TikTok info@grasslandgroupies.org

Did you know meerkats are far more murderous than they seem or that their burrows can be as wide as a Purple Worm's? All this and more as we delve underground and find out why they can be so aggressive and who would win in a fight: 1000 meerkats or Nicole. Primary Sources: Gómez, J., Verdú, M., González-Megías, A., Méndez, M. 2016. The phylogenetic roots of human lethal violence. Nature 538, 233-237. Dyble, M., Houslay, T., Manser, M., Clutton-Brock, T. 2019. Intergroup aggression in meerkats. Proc. R. Soc. B. 286: 20161993. Young A., and Clutton-Brock, T. 2006. Infanticide by subordinates influences reproductive sharing in cooperatively breeding meerkats. Biol. Lett.2385–387. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org Merch Store!

Conservation can be DEPRESSING, so for Mental Health Month we decided to share ONLY positive news and stories (after taking a little break for our brains). Rewire those neurons everybody, because it's not all bleak. Good news so far in May: Biden-Harris Administration announced $36 million for national forests and grasslands Dakota Prairie Grasslands received $464,000 of that to improve access. US Department of Agriculture and the Interior announced $2.8 billion in funding for 2024 authorized by the Great American Outdoors Act to improve access to management and recreation opportunities on national forests and grasslands. Proposed CRP Reform Act of 2023 TNC funding 9 grasslands research projects thru 2023 JE Weaver Small Grands Awards Arizona is restoring migration routes for pronghorn and mule deer South Dakota spending $1 mil restoring grasslands No-Mow-Summer in Dengibghshire County, Wales Earless Dragon burrows (Video) Saving Phu My, one of the Mekong Delta's last natural grasslands UN International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists WWF Policy Actions to Save Grasslands There's still time to save the Cerrado! (New Research) Cargill got sued over Cerrado deforestation again. Good news deep dives: Success in the Savanna: Blue-throated Macaw Update 2022 State of the Birds Report North American Grasslands Conservation Act Great Plains Ecotourism Coalition Utah Wildlife Board approves changes to Utah prairie dog rule Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Wherein Rachel makes a definitive list of best bird nests in North American grasslands. Primary Sources: A Field Guide to Birds Nests by Hal Harrison The Birder's Handbook by Paul R. Ehrlich Madison Audubon's Into the Nest Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Ostriches are one of the strangest birds we've ever talked about. They are the world's biggest bird and toughest survivor. They nest together, have radiators for necks, and can drink saltwater. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: "Strangest Bird Alive". 2016. National Geographic. Documentary. Schou, M.F., Bonato, M., Engelbrecht, A. et al. Extreme temperatures compromise male and female fertility in a large desert bird. Nat Commun 12, 666 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-20937-7 Knut Schmidt-Nielsen, John Kanwisher, Robert C. Lasiewski, Jerome E. Cohn, William L. Bretz, Temperature Regulation and Respiration in the Ostrich, The Condor, Volume 71, Issue 4, 1 October 1969, Pages 341–352, https://doi.org/10.2307/1365733 Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Soils define habitats as much as the plantlife, so let's talk about that! How do you identify a soil species, and should grassland ecosystem restorations include soil microbe transplants? Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Prairie: A Natural History of the Heart of North America by Candace Savage [Affiliate Bookshop Link] Current and Future Perspectives on Microbially Focused Restoration Strategies in Tallgrass Prairies: [Link] Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Basic midwest feeder bird or mysterious exotic tundra sparrow? Actually, both! Harris's Sparrows, one of the most enigmatic North American sparrows, are about to travel well out of reach into the remote frigid north, so let's gossip about them before they're gone. Only a handful of studies have been done with this species, and to this day we lack pretty basic Breeding Bird Survey information about their populations. Primary Sources: Norment, C. J., S. A. MacDougall-Shackleton, D. J. Watt, P. Pyle, and M. A. Patten (2020). Harris's Sparrow(Zonotrichia querula ), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.harspa.01 Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

If you haven't started thinking about your gardens yet, now is the perfect time to get started planning. Nicole walks us through gardening for native habitats, wildlife, and how to get your neighbors on board too. Photos and more are at our site. Further Reading: Find out more about Bee City Wichita at our website Dyck Arboretum of the Plains "Prairie Notes" blog Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, wildflower.org - database of US plants GrowNative.org - database with lower Midwest focus FloraVeg.eu - Europe native plant/habitat database Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

A wholesome episode about secure love, forming bonds under stress, and human connection through the lens of a grasslands specialist: the prairie vole. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: NPR on the hot new vole research: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/01/27/1152009605/prairie-voles-oxytocin-love-hormone-bonding-study Why Prairie Voles are our animal model: The Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster): An Animal Model for Behavioral Neuroendocrine Research on Pair Bonding. Wild Prairie Vole Social Organization: Social Organization of the Prairie Vole (Microtus ochrogaster) Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes It's so hard to even think of monkeys that aren't forest dwellers, but baboons as a group are ground-dwelling grasslanders whose habitat use and social structure might help us learn about our own hominid ancestors. In this episode, Allan combines ecology and anthropology to discuss some grasslands monkeys. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: King, G.E. 2022. Baboon perspectives on the ecology and behavior of early human ancestors. PNAS Vol. 119, No. 45 Norton, G. W. et al., 1987. Baboon Diet: A Five-Year Study of Stability and Variability in the Plant Feeding and Habitat of the Yellow Baboons (Papio cynocephalus) of Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, Folia Primatologica, 48(1-2), 78-120. Fagot, J. et al. 2019. The baboon: A model for the study of language evolution. Journal of Human Evolution, Volume 126, Pages 39-50 Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes The chamois is a goat-antelope from the rolling alpine meadow scenery of European mountains, and today's episode is a straightforward peek into the idyllic life of this animal that's (for once) doing alright! Unless you count the mandatory 7 years of grizzled aging in the mountains and their shrinking body masses. (I don't!) Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Gunderson, D. 2003. "Rupicapra rupicapra" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 19, 2023 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rupicapra_rupicapra/ Haack, M. 2002. "Rupicapra pyrenaica" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed January 19, 2023 at https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Rupicapra_pyrenaica/ Mason, T. H. E., Apollonio, M., Chirichella, R., Willis, S. G., & Stephens, P. A. (2014). Environmental change and long-term body mass declines in an alpine mammal. Frontiers in Zoology, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12983-014-0069-6 Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes Yank your concept of crayfish out of the water. In this episode, Nicole walks us through one of her favorite arthropod groups and makes a pretty good case for why prairie lovers should love these little crustaceans that burrow deep into the prairie. She also makes us rethink crayfish boils forever. Primary Sources: Florey, C. 2019. Description of Burrow Structure for Four Crayfish Species. [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1555413606702675 Fossat, P., Bacque-Cazenave, J., et al. 2014. Anxiety-like behavior in crayfish is controlled by serotonin. Science 344(6189): 1293-1297. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1248811 Huber, R., Imeh-Nathaniel, A., Nathaniel, T., et al. 2018. Drug-sensitive Reward in Crayfish: Exploring the Neural Basis of Addiction with Automated Learning Paradigms. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beproc.2018.03.015 Dasho, I., and DiStefano, B. 2020. Burrowing Crayfish. Missouri Department of Conservation. https://mdc.mo.gov/magazines/conservationist/2020-03/burrowing-crayfish Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes In this episode, Rachel goes down the opposite of a rabbit hole as we discuss a single widely-cited paper from 2018. Take a look at Africa's savanna plants and what their adaptations mean for conservation, human impacts, and climate change across the continent. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Osborne, C. P., Charles-Dominique, T., Stevens, N., Bond, W. J., Midgley, G., & Lehmann, C. E. (2018). Human impacts in African savannas are mediated by plant functional traits. New Phytologist, 220(1), 10–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.15236 Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes Have an existential crisis about the inner lives of bees with us! In this episode, Nicole attempts to teach us a few things about bumblebees while under constant antagonization to slander honeybees. This overview of bumblebees tumbles into some very specific studies on energy, cognition and learning, and even play behaviors for this big bumbly group of native social bees. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Bumblebee nests. Bumblebee Conservation Trust. https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/bumblebee-nests/ Dona, H., Solvi, C., Kowalewska, A., et al. 2022. Do bumble bees play? Animal Behavior 194:239-251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2022.08.013 Buatois, A., Dubois, T., Lihoreau, M. 2020. Bumblebees develop more efficient traplines than honey bees. Research Center on Animal Cognition. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.12.22.423907 Lamke, K., Hatfield, R. 2020. Five Ways To Support Queen Bumble Bees This Spring. Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation. https://xerces.org/blog/five-ways-to-support-queen-bumble-bees-this-spring Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes What does the American South and the Tallgrass Prairie have in common? Their grasslands support an elusive little grassland specialist that the old timey ornithologists roast way too hard: the Henslow's Sparrow. In this episode we explore the beloved longleaf pine savannas of the southern US, and ask why a little grassland sparrow who hates trees chooses to spend its winters among the longleaf pines. Photos and more are at our site. Primary Sources: Harrington, Tim; Miller, Karl; Parks, Noreen. 2013. Restoring a disappearing ecosystem: the longleaf pine savanna. Science Findings 152. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 6 p. Herkert, J. R., P. D. Vickery, and D. E. Kroodsma (2020). Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (P. G. Rodewald, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.henspa.01 Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Episode Notes This rabbity rodent of South America's grasslands is a common sight in zoos, but has one of the strangest social structures we've talked about in mammals. What makes this strictly monogamous-til-death, pair-bonded, troupe-travelling mammal SO antisocial? How does that work, and what else have we been missing all this time? Nicole shares about the Patagonian Mara (Cavy) in this episode of The Best Biome. Thanks for listening! Primary Sources: Photos and more at our site! Genest, H. & Dubost, G. (1974). Pair-living in the Mara (Dolichotis patagonum z.). Mammalia 38(2), 155-162. https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1974.38.2.155 Ganslosser, U. & Wehnelt, S. (1997). Juvenile development as part of the extraordinary social system of the Mara. Mammalia 61(1), 3-16. https://doi.org/10.1515/mamm.1997.61.1.3 Animal Diversity Web. “Patagonian mara”. University of Michigan. https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Dolichotis_patagonum/ Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

CW: we talk about animal genitalia in this episode in the last 30 mins (it's hard to avoid with hyenas) Hyenas have historically been painted in a pretty negative light, only for recent PR teams to praise their strong women leaders, successful hunts, and sophisticated societies. And while we're all for praising the underdog, a lot of recent media is half truths. Let's all learn to appreciate them for what they are: rowdy stinky scavengers. Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you in two weeks! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Holekamp Lab website (spotted hyena researchers) Hyena Project website (also spotted hyenas researchers) Schmidtke, M. Brown Hyena. Animal Diversity Web. Howard, C. Striped Hyena. Animal Diversity Web. Stump, M. Aardwolf. Animal Diversity Web. Frank, Laurence G.; Weldele, Mary L.; Glickman, Stephen E. (1995). Masculinization costs in hyaenas. , 377(6550), 584–585. doi:10.1038/377584b0 Holekamp, K.E., Smale, L., Berg, R. and Cooper, S.M. (1997), Hunting rates and hunting success in the spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta). Journal of Zoology, 242: 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7998.1997.tb02925.x Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

We are always fans of highlighting underappreciated animals and this week we tackle the ibis. Bin chicken or noble alarm clock? You decide. One thing's for sure: their poop is a problem. Thank you to our guest this week: Allan Saylor! Thanks for listening, we'll see you again in two weeks! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Curicaca (Theristicus caudatus). WikiAves. Retrieved January 25, 2022, from https://en.wikiaves.com/wiki/curicaca# Zimmerman, M. (2019, August 14). Bird Streamer outages. INMR. Retrieved January 19, 2022, from https://www.inmr.com/bird-streamer-outages/ Moroni, E., Batisteli, A.F., & Guillermo‐Ferreira, R. (2017). Toco Toucan (Ramphastos toco) predation on Buff-necked Ibis (Theristicus caudatus) nests). Ornitologia Neotropical, 28, 291-294. Buff-necked Ibis call from xeno-canto, recorded by András Schmidt Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Content Warning: talk of blood. The last of our "spooky"-themed episodes, let's talk about ticks! How do they feed, what kind of diseases do they carry, and how best to prevent getting sick from them. Did you know there are over 900 species of ticks and they live quite literally everywhere? Well, now you do. Be safe out there. Thanks for listening to our exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you in two weeks! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Find the Best Repellant for You. Environmental Protection Agency. Scallan, M. 2015. How do ticks... tick? Smithsonian Institution. Interview. Centers for Disease Control. 2019. Tickborne Diseases of the United States. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Tick factsheets. Simo, L., Kazimirova, M., et al. 2017. The Essential Role of Tick Salivary Glands and Saliva in Tick Feeding and Pathogen Transmission. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 7:281. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Content Warning: talk of dead things (not graphic). Old World Vultures have a different set of tricks in order to survive including eating fruit, bones, and garbage. We talk Bearded Vultures, Eurasian Griffons, and more in this part two of our vulture special. http://savebellbowlprairie.org - save this Illinois prairie by Nov. 1st! Included is more information on the prairie itself as well as easy actions to take in the next two weeks. Please share to bring awareness before it's too late! Thanks for listening! Liked this episode? Why not share with a friend? Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Eurasian Griffons at a feeding station (video). Barcell, M., Benítez, J. R., Solera, F., Román, B., & Donázar, J. A. (2015). Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) Uses Stone-Throwing to Break into a Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) Egg. Journal of Raptor Research, 49(4), 521–522. https://doi.org/10.3356/rapt-49-04-521-522.1 Margalida, A., Schulze-Hagen, K., Wetterauer, B., Domhan, C., Oliva-Vidal, P., & Wink, M. (2020). What do minerals in the feces of Bearded Vultures reveal about their dietary habits? Science of The Total Environment, 138836. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138836 Negro, J. J., Grande, J. M., Tella, J. L., Garrido, J., Hornero, D., Donázar, J. A., … Barcell, M. (2002). An unusual source of essential carotenoids. Nature, 416(6883), 807–808. https://doi.org/10.1038/416807a Winkler, D. W., S. M. Billerman, and I.J. Lovette (2020). Hawks, Eagles, and Kites (Accipitridae), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.accipi1.01 (edited) Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Content Warning: talk of corpses and the eating of them. Vultures are nasty birds which cleanse the landscape of death and disease. In this part of our first ever two part episode we learn about the New World vultures from North and South America and how they fit into their landscapes and interact with each other. Next time: Old World vultures! Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you next week for part two! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Zepeda Mendoza, M. L., Roggenbuck, M., Manzano Vargas, K., Hansen, L. H., Brunak, S., Gilbert, M. T. P., & Sicheritz-Pontén, T. (2018). Protective role of the vulture facial skin and gut microbiomes aid adaptation to scavenging. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 60(1). doi:10.1186/s13028-018-0415-3 Winkler, D. W., S. M. Billerman, and I.J. Lovette (2020). New World Vultures (Cathartidae), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, B. K. Keeney, P. G. Rodewald, and T. S. Schulenberg, Editors). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

If you ever find yourself staring at a tangle of orange spaghetti in a grassland, it's probably a dodder plant. These talented, strange parasites have no leaves or roots, but plenty of other tricks to make sure that they succeed. Learn about plant communication systems, haustoria, plus a bonus fun tale of a maiden in a prairie looking for love. Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you in two weeks! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! How to Manage Pests: Dodder. University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources. Penn State. 2018. Agricultural parasite takes control of host plant's genes. Science X Network. Shen, G., Liu, N., et at. 2020. _Cuscuta australis_ (dodder) parasite eavesdrops on the host plants' FT signals to flower. PNAS 117(3). Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology. 2017. Dodder: A parasite involved in the plant alarm system. Science Daily. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

A raptor like no other crosses 20,000km across hemispheres every year, chasing summer and bugs and grasslands through the Americas. The Swainson's Hawk is a spectacle, and we're grateful to have them fighting on our side in the looming grasshopper apocalypse. Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you next time! Primary Sources: Bechard, M. J., C. S. Houston, J. H. Sarasola, and A. S. England (2020). Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni), version 1.0. In Birds of the World (A. F. Poole, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.swahaw.01 Bird Names for Birds; William Swainson Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

How can grasshoppers save the world? By doing what they do best: eating. But too many grasshoppers might end us all so keep that in mind the next time you turn your nose up at entomophagy. Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you next time! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Carolina Grasshopper poem. A Michigan Menagerie in Poems. YouTube. Zhong, Z. 2014. Positive interactions between large herbivores and grasshoppers, and their consequences for grassland plant diversity. Ecology. Chuck Lyons. 1874: The Year of the Locust. HistoryNet. Huis, A., Itterbeeck, J., et al. 2013. Edible insects: Future prospects for food and feed security. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. PDF. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Rachel takes us on a journey into one of North America's savannas dominated by oak trees. They provide shelter and food for a variety of different animals and (surprise) are critically endangered. One of the biggest causes of decline is a change in land management when European settlers pushed out indigenous land caretakers. This episode is a little long but worth the ride. Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Gucker, Corey L. 2011. Quercus macrocarpa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). [2021, August 2]. Savanna Oak Foundation, http://www.oaksavannas.org/ Nuzzo, V.A. 1986. Extent and status of Midwest oak savanna: presettlement and 1985. Natural Areas Journal 6: 6-36. McPherson, Guy R. 1997. Ecology and Management of North American Savannas. University of Arizona Press, Tucson.(edited) Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes Coyotes are fantastic survivors that no matter how much people hate them (and boy do they hate them) they keep thriving. They are the ultimate flexitarian, can control their litter sizes, and just can't be stopped on their conquest to take over the world. We also dive into the problem of human-coyote conflict and how best to etch out a living alongside these awesome creatures. Thanks for listening to our exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you next time! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Urban Coyote Research Project Website. Cook County Urban Coyote Research Project. Project Coyote Website. Earth Island Institute. Worrall, S. 2016. "How the Most Hated Animal in America Outwitted Us All". National Geographic. Hennessy, C. 2007. "Mating Strategies and Pack Structure of Coyotes in an Urban Landscape: A Genetic Investigation". The Ohio State University. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

The concept behind Pleistocene Park is deceptively simple: rewild the Pleistocene Siberian arctic, slow the effects of climate change in the arctic. All it takes to revive the 10,000-year-old Mammoth Steppe, restore permafrost, and seriously reduce carbon and methane emissions--according to scientists--is releasing long-gone megafauna and watching the ecosystem shift under their influence. The park is an incredible experiment, but more incredible is the paleoscience, climate science, grassland ecosystem development, and the incredible work of Sergey and Nikita Zimov to show that the science can work in practice. Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Nikita Zimov: Pleistocene Park & Rewilding Siberia to Save the Climate. Webinar hosted by Sustainable Design Masterclass. Beer, C., Zimov, N., Olofsson, J. et al. Protection of Permafrost Soils from Thawing by Increasing Herbivore Density. Sci Rep 10, 4170 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60938-y Zimov, S. A., Zimov, N. S., Tikhonov, A. N., & Chapin, F. S. (2012). Mammoth steppe: a high-productivity phenomenon. Quaternary Science Reviews, 57, 26–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.10.005 Zimov, N. Pleistocene Park. https://pleistocenepark.ru/ Our Contact Website Facebook Twitteinfo@grasslandgroupies.org Pleistocene Park Website Instagram Twitter

Episode Notes Madagascar... land of the forest and lemurs and definitely not mostly grassland, right? Wrong. Welcome to another case of grassland erasure as we try to set the record straight on the wonderful, beautiful grasslands that blanket this tropical island. We even highlight a very special tree! Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you in two weeks! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Vorontsova, M. S., Besnard, G., Forest, F., et al. 2016. Madagascar's grasses and grasslands: anthropogenic or natural?. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. 283: 20152262. Solofondranohatra, C., et al. 2020. Fire and grazing determined grasslands of central Madagascar represent ancient assemblages. Proc. R. Soc. B.28720200598. Gade, D. 1996. Deforestation and its effects in highland Madagascar. Mountain Research and Development, Vol. 16, No. 2. Petruzzello, M. Baobab. Encyclopedia Britannica. Venter, S. The Little Big Baobab Book. Baobab Foundation. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes We're going back to the Eurasian Steppe this week to take a look at the Mongolian toad. How do these toads survive where no other amphibian dares to travel? What the heck is a drink patch? The answer is more complex than you might think. Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you in two weeks! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Litvinchuk SN, Schepina NA, Borzée A. 2020. Reconstruction of past distribution for the Mongolian toad, Strauchbufo raddei (Anura: Bufonidae) using environmental modeling. PeerJ 8:e9216 https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.9216 AmphibiaWeb 2017 Strauchbufo raddei: Mongolian Toad. University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Apr 23, 2021. Berman, D. I., Bulakhova, N. A., Meshcheryakova, E. N., & Shekhovtsov, S. V. (2020). Overwintering and cold tolerance in the moor frog (Rana arvalis, Anura) across its range. Canadian Journal of Zoology. doi:10.1139/cjz-2019-0179 Kuzʹmin, S. L., Dunaev, E. A., Mȯnkhbai︠a︡r Kh, Mȯnkhbaatar, M., Oi︠u︡unchimėg Zh, & Tėrbish, K. (2017). Zemnovodnye Mongolii = Mongol orny khoër nutagtan = The amphibians of Mongolia. Tovarishchestvo nauchnykh izdaniĭ KMK. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org

Episode Notes Saiga antelope: strange Muppet or amazing survivor? These animals have some amazing adaptations to help them survive the nearly insurmountable odds stacked against them. Also, sandalwood is evil apparently? Who knew. Thanks for listening to our weekly exploration of why grasslands are the best biome. We'll see you next time! Primary Sources: Be sure to check out photos and more at our site! Planet Earth II: why more than 200,000 saiga antelopes died in just days. Milner-Gulland, E., Morgan, E., and Kock, R. 2016. The Conversation. Saiga. Fitz, B., and Fitz, R. 1999. Documentary. CONTENT WARNING: footage of live animals butchered and horns taken. Big Island, Small Planet: Challenges and Failures in Conserving Hawaiian Sandalwood Trees. Leopold, S. 2015. PDF.   Steppe change – Kazakhstan saiga population has more than doubled in last two years. Knight, T. 2019. Fauna & Flora International.  Floppy-nosed antelope has baby boom, raising hope for critically endangered species. Bittel, J. 2020. National Geographic. Contact Website Facebook Twitter info@grasslandgroupies.org