Podcasts about plant ecology

Dr. Luise Hermanutz is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Memorial University in Canada. Her work is dedicated to solving the puzzle of how organisms survive and adapt in their environments. She is interested in how plants and animals interact and how that shapes the world around us. Most of Luise's work focuses on northern boreal forests and arctic tundra. Luise likes to spend her spare time outdoors enjoying the nature of Newfoundland, and she is particularly fond of snowshoeing in the woods behind her house. In addition, Luise has fun cooking, entertaining, and reading. She received her PhD in Plant Ecology from Western University in London, Ontario. Afterward, She taught as an Instructor in the Geography Department at Memorial University and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Wollongong in Australia, before joining the faculty at Memorial University. Luise is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

While researching this episode, I stumbled across an Insta called @horrorcultureplants that I highly recommend giving a follow.Music by James Milor from PixabayInformation provided by:Biological flora of Central Europe: Aldrovanda vesiculosa L. by Lubomír Adamec (2018). Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 35, pg. 8-21. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ppees.2018.10.001Studies on the leaf movement of Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., part I: Process and mechanism of the movement by Joji Ashida (1932). Memoirs of the College of Science, Kyoto Imperial University, Series B, 9(3), pg. 143-246.https://www.carnivorousplantresource.com/the-plants/waterwheel-plant/Fossil Aldrovanda by John D. Degreef (1997). Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, 26(3), pg. 93-97. https://doi.org/10.55360/cpn263.jd244Prey capture analyses in the carnivorous aquatic waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa L., Droseraceae) by Simon Poppinga, et al. (2019). Scientific Reports, 9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-54857-w “This Carnivorous Plant Invaded New York. That May Be Its Only Hope.” by Mario Renault (13 August 2019). The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/13/science/waterwheel-plants-carnivorous.htmlHow the carnivorous waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda vesiculosa) snaps by Anna S. Westermeier, et al. (2018). Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285(1878). https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2018.0012https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrovanda_vesiculosa

In this episode of Essential Aromatica, Amy converses with Dr. Kelly Ablard from the Airmid Institute about the complex interplay between ecology, the crucial role medicinal and aromatic plants play in sustaining eco-cultural-systems and what the essential oil community can do to support global and local ecologies and the Earth overall. Episode Highlights: The Unique Relationship Between Biology, Aromatherapy, and Chemical Ecology. Explore how the chemicals that facilitate interactions among species are found in essential oils. (Pheromones, Allomones!) The Importance of Ethnobotany via Philology and Biology. Sustaining cultural ecology by preserving indigenous wisdom through recording the oral records of medicinal and aromatic plants. This relates to Plants Shaping Our Lives by Creating Our Environment. From the oxygen we breathe to the food we eat and the clothes we wear, this deep connection to plants underscores their fundamental role in our culture and daily lives. If we don't Preserve Plant Life and Support Ecosystems, More of our Earth will Experience Rosewood's Dire Situation seen in Peru. Its pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance was the reason Dr. Ablard started the Airmid Institute. To understand the ripple effect on an ecosystem of losing key species such as Rosewood proves the necessity to preserve these plants to ensure ecosystem health (inclusive of humans, plants, animals and insects.) Something similar may be happening in Southern California with White Sage, which is over-harvested and illegally harvested to supply a widespread appetite for smudge sticks and other White Sage applications. How Can We Help? Find Analogs. We don't have to work with Sandalwood from India, White Sage from California or even Tea Tree from Australia. Find analogs that you can grow in your backyard, community garden or source locally. Some examples we talk about are Rosemary, Eastern Red Cedar and Yarrow. Think Locally While Supporting Sustainable Global Trade when buying aromatic plants, herbs and essential oils. (Yes, think local and global!) Appreciate the value of sourcing medicinal plants locally and supporting indigenous programs across the world that use ancestral cultivation techniques. Balance local plant use with sustainable global trade to support communities tied to these aromatic plants. Be mindful of Conservation Status and International Trade: The IUCN Red List and CITES activity help protect endangered plant species. As a consumer, understanding the importance of asking about CITES permits and sustainable sourcing when purchasing essential oil is critical. Understand Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research Impact on Plant Ecology and Survival. Pharmaceutical and clinical research contributes to the extinction of some plant species such as Sandalwood and Spikenard; the importance of quality control, safety, and conservation statuses should be noted and accounted for. Foster a Child's Understanding of Ecology by nurturing a love for plants and a sense of place. Support education programs in schools, encourage learning from elders, and involve them in gardening, community gardens, and nature-based activities like hiking. Through the book, “No Place for Plants,” Dr. Kelly Ablard and Frauke Galia highlight the impact of urban development on ecosystems and cultures. The narrative focuses on the vital role of community gardens in urban areas and emphasizes the need for children to connect with nature and advocate for green spaces. Mandatory Curriculum on Ecology and Sustainability for Aromatherapists, which is underway thanks to the Airmid Institute partnering with aromatherapy organizations such as IFPA, CAOA, AIA, NAHA. Learn more: Website: www.airmidinstitute.org Email: kablard@airmidinstitute.org Facebook: @airmidinstitute Instagram: @airmid_institute LinkedIn: Airmid Institute Dasgupta Review: ⁠Final Report - The Economics of Biodiversity: The Dasgupta Review - GOV.UK⁠

A delicate flower with yellow and cream petals, Hosackia pinnata—better known as Bog bird's-foot-trefoil—is teetering on the edge of extinction in Canada, but a team from Vancouver Island University is determined to save it. Guest: Dr. Jasmine Janes, Assistant Professor in Plant Ecology and Genomics at Vancouver Island University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why excluding Mexico from CUSMA could backfire on Canada Guest: Dr. Asa McKercher, Hudson Chair in Canada-US Relations at St. Francis Xavier University Could new evidence lead to the Menendez brothers' release? Guest: Jonathan Handel, Entertainment Lawyer What are your chances of winning the lottery? Guest: Dr. Curtis Bennett, Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at California State University Long Beach Why scientists taught rats how to drive Guest: Dr. Kelly Lambert, Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience at the University of Richmond Should Vancouver have the “right to cool?” Guest: Peter Meiszner, Vancouver City Councillor Shaping BC: Can researchers save a flower from the brink of extinction? Guest: Dr. Jasmine Janes, Assistant Professor in Plant Ecology and Genomics at Vancouver Island University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rhonda Loh, a local girl from Hawaiʻi, has been working and volunteering at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park for over three decades. She has been the superintendent since 2020, with her first day on the job coinciding with an eruption—quite the greeting and way to jump into the role. In this episode, we get firsthand insight into how volcanic activity is monitored and evaluated by the US Geological Survey (USGS) and how they collaborate with the park. We also get a glimpse into how the park is restoring native rainforests and studying fire ecology. Rhonda's love for the park is evident as she reminisces about camping under the stars. Her knowledge of the park is extensive, as she holds a Master's in Chemistry and a PhD in Plant Ecology. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi, rising from sea level to an elevation of over 13,000 ft. It encompasses two of the world's most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, includes seven ecological zones, and is home to 54 threatened and endangered species. The park is famous for its recent and historic lava flows, creating an ever-changing landscape. What a unique and magnificent park we got to learn about in this episode from a dedicated and caring superintendent!Sponsors:Who Runs This Park is presented by ExpertVoice: Outdoor brands like Big Agnes, Mammut, La Sportiva, Chaco and more offer discounts on ExpertVoice of up to 60% off for industry experts like you. And you can join ExpertVoice for free today and see what brands you qualify for. So whatever the next adventure calls for, make sure you are prepared with expertvoice.com/parks and gear up for adventure.Go to ritualchocolate.com & use code WRTP to get 10% off any online purchase. They are my favorite chocolate brand so go you definitely gotta go and use the code!!Episode Specific Links: Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association is a nonprofit cooperating association working in partnership with the National Park Service in Hawaiʻi and American Samoa. Proceeds from our park stores support interpretation, educational programs, research projects, publications, and cultural activities. Join in hereFriends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the official philanthropic partner to the park: donate here. You can follow Who Runs This Park on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube, can email us at info@whorunsthispark.com or check us out online at whorunsthispark.com. Sign up for the Who Runs This Park's newsletter at linktr.ee/whorunsthispark. Who Runs This Park, presented by ExpertVoice, is hosted and produced by Maddie Pellman, with music by Danielle Bees.

Invasive plants outcompete native vegetation, destroying habitat for many species of wildlife, degrading native ecosystems, and reducing agricultural productivity. Join us as we discuss strategies and important considerations for invasive plant management.   Resources discussed in this episode: KSRE Chemical Weed Control Guide: https://bookstore.ksre.ksu.edu/pubs/2024-chemical-weed-control-for-field-crops-pastures-rangeland-and-noncropland_CHEMWEEDGUIDE.pdf Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants by Dr. Craig Harper: https://nocsopublishing.com/   Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas State University. Find out more about the program at https://hnr.k-state.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/wildlife-outdoor-management.html

Tim Boland is the Director of the Polly Hill Arboretum on the island of Martha's Vineyard, West Tisbury, Massachusetts. Tim moved with his wife Laura and two children to the Vineyard in 2002. Before his move to the Vineyard, he was Curator of Horticulture at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle, Illinois.  A plantsman with wide-ranging interests, he is a nationally recognized author, photographer, and lecturer. Tim has an undergraduate degree in Landscape Horticulture and a master's degree in Botany and Plant Pathology from Michigan State University with a specialization in Plant Ecology and Systematics.   Tim studies oak trees and has traveled the world to see oaks in their natural habitats. He is a board member of the International Oak Society, and Chair of the Oak Conservation and Research Committee.   Tim is also active in assembling a modern flora for Martha's Vineyard and adjacent islands. He is a plant collections advocate and serves on the Living Collections Advisory Committee of the Arnold Arboretum, Boston, MA. In his position as director of the Polly Hill Arboretum, Tim guides the principal program areas of Living Collections, Education, Plant Conservation, and Community Ecology. He is thrilled to see the transformation over the last several years of the Polly Hill Arboretum from a private garden to a community, regional, and national resource. A big part of this transformation is the dedicated work of the board, staff, and volunteers who so generously support the Polly Hill Arboretum through their time, and enthusiasm! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plantatrilliontrees/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/plantatrilliontrees/support

Some plants smell good

Guest: Dr. Jasper Slingsby is a senior lecturer in Plant Ecology at the University of Cape Town and he joins John to discuss a collaborative effort between U.S. and South African scientists that will use NASA's technology to map terrestrial, marine, and freshwater species and ecosystems in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“I've taken a boogie board out in just the tiniest little waves breaking right on the shore and had a blast. I've taken a surfboard out in waves that were almost as tall as I was and had a blast. There's such a variety of waves that anybody at most any skill level can have a good time in Virginia.”  - Drew White, Coastal Plant Ecology Lab at VCUGet ready to ride the waves as we explore surfing, boogie boarding, and body surfing with ocean enthusiast, Drew White, from the Coastal Plant Ecology Lab at Virginia Commonwealth University. Drew shares his insights on Virginia's best surfing locations, wave riding safety, and why you don't need the biggest waves to have the biggest fun. But our adventure doesn't end there – we're also diving into the fascinating world of plant ecology and the importance of dunes in protecting the habitats of Virginia's coastal ecosystem. So grab your board and score a wave. Let's Go! Follow VAOA Podcast:Website I Instagram I Facebook Support the Show: Buy Me A Coffee VAOA Podcast is Sponsored By:·       Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources I DWR Shop·       Breaks Interstate Park·       Virginia Association for Parks·       Virginia State Parks Advertisers:·       Blue Ridge Outdoor Magazine·       Virginia State Parks Wandering Waters Paddle Quest Mentioned in this Episode:Connect with Drew White: aewhite@vcu.eduCoastal Plant Ecology Lab at Virginia Commonwealth UniversitySurfing vs Boogie BoardingMovie: Come Hell or High WaterSurf Line AppNational Weather ServiceWindy.comTropical TidbitsFalse Cape State ParkSavage Neck Dunes Natural Area PreserveEpisode Cover Photo by George Hernandez: Website I FacebookSupport the show

Ninety percent of New Zealand's original wetlands have been destroyed by agricultural and urban development and are still disappearing. This week on the Green Desk Jack Marshall spoke with Julie Deslippe, Senior Lecturer in Plant Ecology at Victoria University, looking at the positive effects of restoration in the lower north island.

In Episode 6 of The Forestry Project Podcast, podcast host Jace McCauley sits back down to discuss the time component of forest management with Dr. John Kush. Dr. Kush is a repeat guest from episode 3, a retired research fellow at Auburn University, and has been inducted into the Alabama Foresters Hall of Fame. He teaches several Auburn University classes, such as Restoration Ecology, Plant Ecology, and Forest History. Topics discussed in the podcast are how long trees and forests take to grow and species to consider for impacting those times. Additionally, Jace shares his thoughts on his family's land for wanting to change the species composition but not wanting to take the land back to square one. They talk about how to enjoy the forest management process during the times between the current forest and the next one. Also, in the episode, Dr. Kush and Jace discuss the impacts certain management practices have on the timeline of your forest and other considerations of getting into the big three management activities. If you have or manage forestland and want to develop a realistic timeline for achieving your management goals and ways to speed the process up and whether you should try to speed it up, this episode is for you. 

Guest: A study published in Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics engages with the steady progress that has been made by scientists on demystifying Namibia's fairy circles. Eugene Moll joins John from the Dept of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology at the University of the Western Cape to assess the study. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Read the companion article here. With Dr. Susan Cordell, Director and Research Ecologist, US Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Hilo, Hawai'i. How might a more culturally inclusive viewpoint replace negative historical language associated with invasive plant biology? “In many parts of the world, we cannot uncouple the fact that humans and natural systems are linked and that pristine landscapes are often, in fact, a mirage.” This quote from a paper authored by our guest and colleagues was published recently in Frontiers of Ecology and Evolution. Noticeable right away is that this essay gets very quickly into talking about the language we use when we talk about nature. Our guest and her multi-disciplinary team have taken a unique approach to ecological restoration that considers language and cultural context around how plants in complex ecosystems can be managed. To learn more about Dr. Cordell's work, please read her group's newest paper, inspired by the Liko Nā Pilina experiment: https://www.hawaii.edu/likonapilina/. This is a project using functional traits to promote invasion resistance and native biodiversity. In this perspective, we teamed up with a philosopher to explore the concept and underlying biases towards non-native species.

Find Christian's project notes Notion page for various research sources that went into their project. More about what happened in Rad Café can be found on this Rad Café Notion summary page. Read an overview, here, about the political economic history of rubber tree plantations in Vietnam published on the Saigoneer. Recorded October 28th 2021. Explicit language was permitted for each Rad Café conversation. You are listening to Tri's conversation with Rad Café participant, Christian Phomsouvanh (they/them pronouns). Christian is currently enrolled as a student studying Botany and Plant Ecology at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah. Christian shared that they are residing on Shoshone and Goshute lands in their land acknowledgement. You can reach Christian online via IG: @csphomsouvanh and Email: csphomsouvanh@gmail.com In this conversation, Christian painted for us their upbringing in Laos and Utah, where their relationship with the natural world bloomed and branched out to include ways of cross-pollinating intellectual disciplines of natural and political sciences rooted in Christian's personal political journey. During the time of their project research, Christian found themselves focusing on hevea brasiliensis, known more commonly as the rubber tree and for its both natural and commodified production of latex, or "white blood". Christian drafted these questions for the group to think about in relation to the profit-driven, anthropocentric world where the wealthiest class of humankind, and living species overall, redirect the flow of natural resources towards themselves. Christian and I invite you to consider these questions and thought exercises as examples for how you can start thinking about your own personal and big-picture level relationship to the natural world as human politics and economic markets have transformed into a pervasive and dominant force on our planet: Do you know of any countries, whether it be Southeast Asian or otherwise, that are able to protect their own national or ethnic resources against the seizure and exploitation of external, often colonial forces, from co-opting into their own colonial economies? Name examples of when colonialism is driven by specific crops. If a crop like the rubber tree ended up not being viable in Vietnam, would French colonialism play as big of a role in shaping contemporary Vietnamese and adjacent nation state geography? (Governance of both the people and colonial crop(s).) Describe or think for yourself of how you have seen (colonial) crops used to reinforce ideas of social and economic hierarchy? i.e. Cotton in the U.S., Rubber trees in French colonial Vietnam, Bananas in Guatemala, Potatoes in Ireland, Taro in Hawaii, etc. ຂອບໃຈ, Christian, for your principled and rigorous curiosity and zeal for the natural sciences, fueled by a genuine desire to use your cross-disciplinary expertise and interests to fold more people into challenging and taking action on their and our relationship as people to our world within and beyond humankind. Please send any inquiries regarding Rad Café to Tri (he/all pronouns) at tri.m.vo4@gmail.com. Send inquiries regarding The SEAD Project to hi@theseadproject.org.

Thea Chesney is a lifelong Sierra Nevada foothill resident and naturalist. She has had an interest in mushrooms (and plants, and the rest of the natural world) since early childhood, which gradually became an obsession. She holds a B.S. in forestry from UC Berkeley, with an emphasis in botany and natural sciences. During her time at Berkeley, she spent plenty of time working and hanging out in the Berkeley mycology labs and continues to return to campus to provide specimens for and aid in teaching their mushroom ID course. She worked on a mushroom survey crew for the U.S. Forest Service around Mt. Shasta for several seasons, which allowed her to become intimately familiar with the fungal inhabitants and ecology of the area. Since then, she has continued with the Forest Service as a botanist for a long-term California-wide meadow monitoring project. She teaches occasional workshops in mushroom and plant identification, both for work and independently. She has also been involved with the California Rare Fungi Working Group since its inception. Her fieldwork and her own studies of plants and fungi are centered in the Sierra Nevada and other mountains of California, and she is currently working on a field guide to mushrooms of these understudied regions with Noah Siegel and Christian Schwarz.   TOPICS COVERED:   Mycology Lineage & Childhood Immersion in Nature  Underexplored Mountain Ranges of California  Diversity of Bioregions in Mountain Ranges  Mycorrhizal Mushrooms & Tree Hosts  Montane Water Cycles, Plant Ecology & Fungal Diversity  High Meadows Ecosystems & Their Mushrooms  California Rare Fungi Working Group  The Future of Documenting Fungal Diversity  Fire-Following Fungi  Morel Habitat & Ecology in California  Tips for Finding Morels  Thea's Lifelong Connection to the Sierras  Klamath Mountains – The Most Biodiverse Pocket of California?!  Future Work with Christian Schwarz & Noah Siegel  EPISODE RESOURCES:   Thea Chesney iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/people/theachesney   Thea's Talk on Fire Fungi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V9Irj0GtTE   Thea's Talk on Mycorrhizal Fungi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PISk9C6FAds   Prof. Ralph Emerson: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_Emerson_(botanist)   Klamath Mountains: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klamath_Mountains   Rare Fungi of CA National Forests: https://www.scribd.com/document/432145073/Rare-Fungi-of-California-National-Forests   William Bridge Cooke: https://www.mykoweb.com/articles/PDF/William%20Bridge%20Cooke,%201908-1991.pdf   Caloscypha fulgens (fungus): https://www.mushroomexpert.com/caloscypha_fulgens.html   Hygrophorus goetzii (fungus): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hygrophorus_goetzii

"We Shouldn't Be at War with Plants" feat. Prof. Juliet Stromberg Julie Stromberg is a retired professor from Arizona State University, where she received her PhD in Plant Ecology in 1988. While at ASU, she specialized in riparian ecosystems. Much of her research focused on relationships between stream and ground water hydrology and riparian ecosystems, and on effects of ecosystem disturbance (floods and fire) on riparian plant populations, communities, and landscapes. Some of her studies were conducted at reference sites where human influence is minimal, while others were carried out at hydrologically altered sites or at sites undergoing restoration. By understanding pattern and process in riparian ecosystems, she provided resource managers with information that could inform conservation and restoration efforts. She contributed to over 80 scholarly articles during her career and now focuses on non-academic writing. Nikki Hill joined me as the co-host of this episode. Nikki has a degree in environmental science and has worked in restoration and agriculture. Currently she invests her energy in wildtending efforts. We co-authored a zine together called, "The Troubles of 'Invasive' Plants," which you can download for free at my blog. Much of our discussion focused on Tamarisks, aka Saltcedars, a tree of African origin that thrives in riparian areas across the western United States. Tamarisks have been called, "invasive," but the whole story of this plant--and the reasons for its abundance--is far more complex than that simplistic and unscientific label suggests. We talked about how popular knowledge and policy lags behind science and research; how human water use has changed the ecology of the Southwest; how the endangered bird species, the Willow Fly Catcher, has come to depend on Tamarisk; how it doesn't make sense that some biodiversity indexes ignore non-native plants in their tallies; the role of scientists in manufacturing myths around Tamarisks; how agriculture devastates biodiversity; the role of annuals--native or not--in early ecological succession; how non-native plants can have beneficial ecological effects; climate change and plant migration; plant agency and sentience; contemporary alienation from nature and the importance of re-engaging; the healing practice of wildtending; and how an adversarial approach to restoration won't solve the ecological problems we made by being adversarial. This episode's introduction music is by Doctor Dreamchip, who you can follow here: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbhlcItuC6pmhhemUjhPt1 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctordreamchip/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/doctordreamchip RADIO FREE SUNROOT: Podcasting by Kollibri terre Sonnenblume https://radiofreesunroot.com KOLLIBRI'S BLOG & BOOKSHOP: https://macskamoksha.com/ ONE-TIME DONATION: http://paypal.me/kollibri https://venmo.com/Kollibri KOLLIBRI'S PATREON: Get access to members-only content https://www.patreon.com/kollibri Support Voices for Nature & Peace by donating to their Tip Jar: https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/voices-for-nature-and-peace This podcast is powered by Pinecast. Try Pinecast for free, forever, no credit card required. If you decide to upgrade, use coupon code r-a50345 for 40% off for 4 months, and support Voices for Nature & Peace.

As climate change continues to raise temperatures worldwide, the arctic is warming even faster than the rest of the world. Today, we take a look at the unique arctic terrain that is under threat from climate change: the permafrost. This frozen landscape is defined by deep layers of soil that never get above freezing. The areas globally where permafrost is found. CREDIT WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER But now, that’s starting to change, and the permafrost is starting to thaw—with devastating affects for the communities living on top of it. We hear about some of the amazing Ice Age creatures that have been preserved in this frozen ground for tens of thousands of years. The frozen soil of the permafrost has functioned for millennia as a deep freezer for these ancient creatures, giving us a window back into the Pleistocene era. And we talk about how this thawing organic matter trapped in the permafrost itself is a concerning source of carbon emissions. This frozen organic material locked in the frozen soil is now decomposing and releasing carbon. If the planet continues to warm, this incredible icy land may not only become a victim of climate change--but a driver of it as well. GUESTS: Dr. Sue Natali - Arctic program director and scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center (formerly known as the Woods Hole Research Center) Dr. Jacquelyn Gill - Associate Professor of Paleoecology & Plant Ecology with the School of Biology and Ecology and the Climate Change Institute at University of Maine Dr. Advait Jukar - Vertebrate Paleontologist at Yale University, where he is a Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Fellow in Anthropology Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As climate change continues to raise temperatures worldwide, the arctic is warming even faster than the rest of the world. Today, we take a look at the unique arctic terrain that is under threat from climate change: the permafrost. This frozen landscape is defined by deep layers of soil that never get above freezing. The areas globally where permafrost is found. CREDIT WOODWELL CLIMATE RESEARCH CENTER But now, that’s starting to change, and the permafrost is starting to thaw—with devastating affects for the communities living on top of it. We hear about some of the amazing Ice Age creatures that have been preserved in this frozen ground for tens of thousands of years. The frozen soil of the permafrost has functioned for millennia as a deep freezer for these ancient creatures, giving us a window back into the Pleistocene era. And we talk about how this thawing organic matter trapped in the permafrost itself is a concerning source of carbon emissions. This frozen organic material locked in the frozen soil is now decomposing and releasing carbon. If the planet continues to warm, this incredible icy land may not only become a victim of climate change--but a driver of it as well. GUESTS: Dr. Sue Natali - Arctic program director and scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center (formerly known as the Woods Hole Research Center) Dr. Jacquelyn Gill - Associate Professor of Paleoecology & Plant Ecology with the School of Biology and Ecology and the Climate Change Institute at University of Maine Dr. Advait Jukar - Vertebrate Paleontologist at Yale University, where he is a Gaylord Donnelley Postdoctoral Fellow in Anthropology Support the show: http://wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Jacquelyn Gill is an Associate Professor of Paleoecology and Plant Ecology, School of Biology, Ecology and Climate Change Institute, the University of Maine. Her research interests include: Paleoecology, community ecology, vegetation dynamics, extinction, climate change and biotic interactions. She received her Ph.D. in Paleoecology from the Univ. of Wisconsin. An outdoor life, science fiction, cave exploration and a professor who taught her how to ask questions about what she saw in the natural environment laid the foundation for Jacquelyn’s interest in Nature and Ecology. She tells a remarkable, instructive story about how she got admitted to her Ph.D. program. Then we chatted about just what Paleoecology and Biogeography are as well as the effects of animal extinction, recovering extinct animals from DNA, ecological models, and recovery from bad ecological trends. Jacquelyn is spellbinding in her description of her work.

Chloe Wasteneys, a graduate student in the Department of Ecology at Montana State University, discusses her winding path to graduate school, her love for trees, and her research on whitebark pine.

Plants play an important role in our environment, yet there is still so much more to understand. We often think of nature as a zero sum game, but older and younger plants can collaborate. When surviving in a harsh environment, the best results occur when old and young plants grow together. Photosynthesis seems simple, but understanding the intricacies of the mechanisms can help us boost crop yields. Regulating the amount of photosynthesis can help plants survive or thrive in changing climates. How do boreal forests help capture nitrogen from the air? What does an odd metal have to do with forests in Canada storing nitrogen?  Alicia Montesinos-Navarro, Isabelle Storer, Rocío Perez-Barrales. Benefits for nurse and facilitated plants emerge when interactions are considered along the entire life-span. Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 2019; 41: 125483 DOI: 10.1016/j.ppees.2019.125483 Lorna A. Malone, Pu Qian, Guy E. Mayneord, Andrew Hitchcock, David A. Farmer, Rebecca F. Thompson, David J. K. Swainsbury, Neil A. Ranson, C. Neil Hunter, Matthew P. Johnson. Cryo-EM structure of the spinach cytochrome b6 f complex at 3.6 Å resolution. Nature, 2019; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1746-6 Princeton University. (2019, November 11). Nature's backup plan for converting nitrogen into plant nutrients. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 15, 2019 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/11/191111180100.htm

Dr. Laungani is the first ever Associate Professor to be featured in our series! Listed as we chat about Plant Ecology, Biochar and his work at Doane University in Nebraska. Links: Dr. Ramesh Laungani at Doane University The Laungani Lab Biochar The 100Women STEM project

Plant ecologist Kirsty Milner joins us to talk about Mogwai management, her work on heat shock in plants, proteomics, problems transporting dangerous goods and "the rough streets of the inner west".

Dr. Luise Hermanutz is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Memorial University in Canada. She received her PhD in Plant Ecology from Western University in London, Ontario. Afterward, She taught as a per course instructor at the Geography Department at Memorial University, she did a postdoc university of wallingong in Sydney Australia, before joining the faculty at Memorial University. Luise is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

Dr. Jacquelyn Gill is an Assistant Professor of Paleoecology and Plant Ecology at the University of Maine. She received her Masters degree and PhD in Geography from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Afterward she served as a the Voss Postdoctoral Fellow at Brown University before joining the faculty at the University of Maine. She was the recipient of the E. Lucy Braun Award for Excellence in Ecology, the Student Section Award for Excellent Women in Ecology, and the Cooper Award all from the Ecological Society of America. She also received the Trewarth Award for Best Student Paper, the Graduate Peer Mentor Award, and the Whitbeck Dissertator Fellowship from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Jacquelyn is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

Professor Steve Higgins delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 3rd of June 2014. Steve talked about the challenges of forecasting ecological developments, due to the many and varied factors that come into play. Humboldt's descriptive empirical work is contrasted with MacArthur's theoretical work, and the usefulness of modeling, in spite of its contingencies and complexities, is outlined.

Professor Steve Higgins delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 3rd of June 2014. Steve talked about the challenges of forecasting ecological developments, due to the many and varied factors that come into play. Humboldt's descriptive empirical work is contrasted with MacArthur's theoretical work, and the usefulness of modeling, in spite of its contingencies and complexities, is outlined.

Professor Steve Higgins delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 3rd of June 2014. Steve talked about the challenges of forecasting ecological developments, due to the many and varied factors that come into play. Humboldt's descriptive empirical work is contrasted with MacArthur's theoretical work, and the usefulness of modeling, in spite of its contingencies and complexities, is outlined.

Professor Steve Higgins delivered his Inaugural Professorial Lecture on the 3rd of June 2014. Steve talked about the challenges of forecasting ecological developments, due to the many and varied factors that come into play. Humboldt's descriptive empirical work is contrasted with MacArthur's theoretical work, and the usefulness of modeling, in spite of its contingencies and complexities, is outlined.

Dr. Ingrid Parker is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and the Jean H. Langenheim Endowed Chair in Plant Ecology and Evolution at the University of California Santa Cruz. She is also a Research Fellow at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. After working as an environmental educator, Ingrid completed her PhD in Botany from the University of Washington. She served as a Miller postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley before joining the faculty at UC Santa Cruz. She has received many awards and honors during her career, including being named a Fellow of the California Academy of Sciences. Ingrid is with us today to tell us all about her journey through life and science.

A NASA spacecraft the size of a sofa is currently orbiting the Moon, gathering information about the toxic perils of moon dust. Dirt from the moon is sharp, spiky and sticky and it caused enormous problems for early astronauts as Professor Sara Russell from the Natural History Museum tells Dr Lucie Green. Joining Lucie from NASA HQ in Washington DC, Sarah Noble, programme scientist on the LADEE Mission, tells her that understanding the make-up and movement of lunar dust is vital to ensure humans can work on the Moon in the future.Electroceuticals is the new research area for medicine, tapping into the electricity transmitted through the vast network of nerves that run throughout our bodies. Kerri Smith reports on how the body's natural wiring could become a valuable tool for treating organs affected by disease. Glaxo Smith Kline has just invested £30 million into electroceuticals and researchers in labs around the world are working on devices that could "plug" into troubled organs and correct the electrical signals that have gone awry.The impact of man-made climate change tends to focus on the things we can see, like shrinking glaciers or the weather. But a study published in Nature this week by a team in Spain, focuses on the impact underground, on the make up of the soil in a sizeable part of the earth's land, the drylands. The impact of increasing aridity is dramatic, affecting the delicate balance between nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus, with serious implications for soil fertility. David Wardle, Professor of Soil and Plant Ecology at the Swedish Institute of Agriculture, tells Lucie Green that this important new study spells out the risks when delicate chemical balances are upset.Oceanographer, Helen Czerski, revealed her instrument, a giant buoy, on Inside Science's Show Us Your Instrument slot in the summer. This week, Helen is launching the buoy into the stormy seas South of Greenland, and Inside Science listeners are being called on to come up with a name ! Bob anyone ? Or Lucie's suggestion, Buoyonce ?Dogs wag their tails more to the right when they're happy and relaxed; more to the left when they're anxious. Georgio Vallortigara, Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Trento in Italy has now shown that asymmetrical tail wagging actually means something to other dogs.Producer: Fiona Hill.