In Defense of Plants Podcast

00:43:38

Ep. 498 - Planting a Future for Ecuadorian Biodiversity

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/11/03

Protecting and restoring biodiversity in a place as biodiverse as Ecuador is no small task. You have to work hard and collaborate and that is exactly what the folks at Jocotoco Conservation Foundation. From protecting land and engaging communities, to research and restoration, their multifaceted efforts stand as a glorious example that conservation success stories are possible. Join me and Conservationist José León as we discuss all this and more! This episode was produced in part by This episode

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00:52:42

Ep. 497 - Understanding the Bewildering Diversity of...

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/10/27

One cannot overemphasize the importance of plant/pollinator interactions. The world as we know it would not exist without these complex components of ecology. Getting good data, and more importantly, making those data useful is important in conserving and restoring plants and their pollinators. Join my and Dr. Chris Cosma of Conservation Biology Institute as we explore how he and his colleagues are working to bring plant/pollinator interactions to the forefront. This episode was produced in part by

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00:43:21

Ep. 496 - Tree Rings Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/10/20

Counting the rings of a tree can be so much fun. In the temperate zone, each ring marks a year in that tree's life. However, if you know what to look for, tree rings can tell you so much more. Dr. Valerie Trouet has made a career out of counting and measuring tree rings. Tree rings offer a surprisingly detailed window back in time and allows scientists like Dr. Trouet to understand everything from fire regimes to climate conditions. Even beyond that, tree rings can provide valuable insights into

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00:31:40

Ep. 495 - Pack Rats & Paleoclimates Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/10/13

Novel approaches are always fun. Nowhere is this more apparent than in today's podcast. We revisit a conversation with Dr. Camille Holmgren from SUNY Buffalo State about her research reconstructing ancient desert climates using pack rat middens. Join us for a fun and interesting discussion that will take you back thousands of years in the past. This episode was produced in part by Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura,

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00:49:40

Ep. 494 - The Botanical Mysteries of the Mazon Creek...

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/10/06

The Mazon Creek Fossil Formation is famous the world over for the exquisite preservation of soft tissues in animals. These rocks provide pristine snapshots of everything from extinct worms and jellyfish to sharks and even the mysterious Tully Monster. For all that these fossils have taught us about the animals of this long extinct ecosystem, we know far less about the plants that supported this diverse ecology. Join me and Dr. Mike D'Antonio as we learn how he and his colleagues are using

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00:51:51

Ep. 493 - Being Friendly to Bees

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/09/29

"Benefitting pollinators" is a phrase that gets used a lot, especially in gardening circles. While most of us will agree with the sentiment, what does it mean in practice? How does one "benefit" pollinators in their community? There are a lot of great ways to do this, especially when it comes to native plants, but finding good, digestible information can be overwhelming. Thankfully organizations like Pollinator Partnership make learning how to help pollinators much easier. Join me and Bee Friendly

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00:59:00

Ep. 492 - Hope in Wetland Restoration

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/09/22

Restoring healthy wetlands isn't an easy task. Often times, altered hydrologic cycles means wetlands no long act like they once did. Nevertheless, the many ecological and cultural benefits of functioning wetlands means that wetland restoration is certainly worth the time, money, and effort. Join me and Dr. Gary Sullivan of The Wetlands Initiative as we look at how data, art, and will power combine to provide hope for the future of wetlands.This episode was produced in part by Maia, Rens, David,

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00:53:40

Ep. 491 - Plants & Wetland Restoration

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/09/15

Healthy wetlands are vital to maintaining biodiversity and a healthy way of life for us. Sadly, we haven't always treated wetlands like the essential habitats that they are. While protecting natural wetlands is a must, we also need to understand how to restore them and plants play a major role in such efforts. Join me and Katie Kucera of The Wetlands Initiative as we take a botanical look at what it takes to restore and manage wetlands in human-dominated environments. This episode was produced in

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00:57:14

Ep. 490 - Pinesap: A Parasitic Mystery

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/09/08

Pinesap (Monotropa hypopitys) produces no leaves nor any chlorophyl. It “eats” fungi and can be found growing in many areas around the globe. It flowers in spring, fall, and summer and noby really knows if it is a single species or many. Despite its uniqueness, relatively little scientific attention has been paid to this little parasitic plant. Join me and Bill Michalek of The Field Guides Podcast scratch the surface of pinesap natural history and discuss what the many mysteries they discuss in

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00:46:14

Ep. 489 - Protecting Peak Plants Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/09/01

The Adirondack Mountains are home to a remarkable diversity of plant species. Situated in northern New York, these mountains are harsh enough that they foster a thriving alpine community. Despite their ability to handle some of the worst weather conditions, alpine plants can be quite sensitive to human traffic. With more and more people flocking to these mountains every year, concern was growing that the alpine ecosystem was going to be trampled right off the mountain tops. Luckily the Summit

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01:02:38

Ep. 488 - An Interesting Case of Variegation

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/08/25

Variegation among leaves is a fascinating phenomenon. Though plant breeders have accentuated this trait in a variety of cultivated plants, variegation does occur naturally as well. Its function isn't well understood for most species either. Such is the case for two species of wild ginger in the genus Hexastylis. Join me and Dr. Cierra Sullivan as we explore variegation in Hexastylis heterophylla and H. shuttleworthii. This episode was produced in part by David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin

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00:53:58

Ep. 487 - Fossil Seeds & Past Plant Diversity

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/08/18

Fossils offer some of the best evidence of how diverse various branches of the tree of life once were. They help us understand speciation and extinction as well as biogeography. Dr. Steve Manchester has spent much of his career using fossilized seeds to understand the ancient histories of flowering plants such as the walnut family (Juglandaceae). Join us as we explore the ins and outs of a career looking at plant fossils and learn what kinds of stories they can tell. This episode was produced in

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00:54:52

Ep. 486 - Sedge Diversity Gone Wild

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/08/11

Sedges are a complex group of plants in the family Cyperaceae. Within this family lies the genus Carex, which boasts ~2000 species found in all kinds of habitats. From specialists to generalists, there seems to be no lifestyle the sedges have not experimented with. But how did all this sedge diversity come to be? That is the question Dr. Andrew Hipp and his colleagues are trying to answer. Join us as we explore the wonders of sedge diversity. This episode was produced in part by David, Robert,

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01:00:28

Ep. 485 - Paleo Grapes

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/08/04

The grape family (Vitaceae) is known and appreciated the world over, largely for their culinary value. Ecologically speaking, they are very important plants as well. However, we know very little about their origin, evolution, and rates of extinction. Thanks to some lucky paleobotanical finds, that story has become a bit clearer in recent times. Join me and Paleobotanist Dr. Fabiany Herrera as we explore 20 years of fossil hunting and research and learn what it can teach us about the grapes! This

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00:43:21

Ep. 484 - From Dune to Desert: Adventures in Plant...

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/07/28

Plant conservation isn't easy work, but it is vital to maintaining ecosystem health. Nowhere is this more apparent than in extreme environments like beach dunes and deserts. Join me and plant conservationist Emily Guinan as we explore some of her adventures in plant conservation. This episode was produced in part by David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie,

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00:48:44

Ep. 483 - When Palms Grew in Wyoming Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/07/21

Join Dr. Sarah Allen and me as we journey back in time to the Eocene. Earth was a very different planet some 49 million years ago. Though we may recognize some Eocene flora, the combination of various plant lineages would be enough to make your head spin. Earth was experiencing a warming period and the plants had responded accordingly. Tropical species like palms were thriving in places like Wyoming and giant relatives of the redwoods covered much of North America and Asia. What Dr. Allen and her

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00:54:02

Ep. 482 - Walnuts Above the Arctic Circle?

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/07/14

The High Arctic is not a place you go looking for forests today. It is extremely harsh, cold, and nearly void of most forms of plant life. However, that has not always been the case. The Eocene Epoch was a period where Earth was much hotter than it is today and forests flourished at the poles. This is also when much of the flora we know and love today was just getting its start. Join me and Dr. Jim Basinger as we explore what some incredibly rare fossil deposits are teaching us about forests above

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01:00:38

Ep. 481 - Borderlands Restoration in Action

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/07/07

Deserts are difficult places for any organism to survive, let alone plants. Despite the challenges, rich a unique floras have evolved in deserts all over the world which support myriad other forms of life. Restoring these communities in human-disturbed areas is critical in solving so many ecological and cultural issues and that is exactly what we are discussing in this episode. Join me and Perin McNelis, Native Plant Program Manager for Borderlands Restoration Network as we explore the ups and downs

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00:50:41

Ep. 480 - Understanding Bark Beetles

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/06/30

Bark beetles may be small, but they can have major impacts on forests around the globe. It may be easy to think of these insects as always a bad thing, but what if they aren't? Simple stories rarely apply in ecology and nowhere is that more apparent than in the work of scientists like Dr. Seth Davis. Join is as we take dive into the complex relationships between bark beetles, trees, and forest ecology.This episode was produced in part by Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography,

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01:08:00

Ep. 479 - Insights into Nightshade Defenses

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/06/23

Plants cannot run away from the herbivores that eat them, therefore plants have evolved numerous strategies to defend themselves from being consumed. Plant defenses are as varied as the plant kingdom and the ways in which they operate will blow your mind. We are joined by Dr. Rupesh Kariyat who studies plant defenses in a variety of nightshade relatives including the tomato. Tune in as we discuss how these plants defend against herbivory and learn how human activities such as mowing may have

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