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PODCAST

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Plants are everything. They are also incredibly interesting. From the smallest duckweed to the tallest redwood, the botanical world is full of wonder. Tune in for a podcast celebrating everything botany.

science & medicine natural sciences

All Episodes

00:44:04

Ep. 392 - Botanizing Down Under

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/10/23

Plant ecologist Sara Johnson and I look back at a recent botanical adventure in southern Australia with fondness. Never before have we been exposed to such distinct biodiversity compared to what we are used to. Listen in as we talk about some of the amazing plants and animals we met along the way. This episode was produced in part by Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California

en-US

00:29:32

Ep. 391 - A Non-Model, Model Plant Group

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/10/16

Today we are focusing on a strange genus of plants in the family Euphorbiaceae. The Dalechampia can be found growing in tropical forests throughout much of the world. We revisit a 2018 discussion I had with Dr. Scott Armbruster, who has spent his entire academic career using Dalechampia as what he likes to call "a non-mode, model system" for studying the evolutionary ecology of pollinator syndromes. Dalechampia are largely pollinated by resin- and fragrance-collecting bees. Join us for a fascinating

en-US

00:44:07

Ep. 390 - Pinosaur Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/10/09

The Wollemi pine is one of the world's rarest trees. These mysterious gymnosperms was unknown to science until 1994. Their discovery made headlines around the globe. My guest today, Dr. Heidi Zimmer, has the distinct honor of working with this wonderful species. Join us for a conversation all about Wollemia nobilis. This episode was produced in part by Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth,

en-US

Ep. 389 - Old Growth Grasslands

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/10/02

Grasslands are in desperate need of both protecting and restoring. These important and diverse ecosystems have long been viewed as less important than forests but that could not be farther from the truth. Join me and Dr. Katharine Suding as we look at the importance of old growth grasslands and what they can teach us about grassland restoration. This episode was produced in part by Caelan, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary,

en-US

00:48:04

Ep. 388 - Sprucey Soils

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/09/25

Plants help create soil just as much as they depend on it for their survival. Understanding how this affects the ecosystems that plants comprise can provide novel and important insights into ecosystem restoration and health. Soil geographer Dr. Jim Thompson joins us to discuss his recent work on red spruce (Picea rubens) soils and how it can be used to inform everything from red spruce restoration to carbon cycles and climate change. This episode was produced in part by Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena,

en-US

00:52:20

Ep. 387 - A Sequenced Fern Genome

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/09/18

Ferns may have an ancient evolutionary history and enjoy something of a celebrity status among the botanically and non-botanically minded alike, but a fully sequenced fern genome has been hard to come by... until now. Join me and Dr. Blaine Marchant as we explore what it took to sequence the genome of the water fern (Ceratopteris richardii) and all of the amazing discoveries and questions they have unlocked. From massive its massive genome to its ability to steal genes from bacteria, this fern has a

en-US

00:37:20

Ep. 386 - Rethinking Black Walnut Allelopathy

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/09/11

"Don't garden under a black walnut!" If you garden in eastern North America, you may have heard some form of this advice at one point or another. Indeed, Juglans nigra has a negative reputation for being allelopathic or producing compounds that hurt neighboring plants. However, is this reputation warranted or is it a case of unscientific propaganda? Bill Michalek of The Field Guides Podcast joins us for a discussion about the science of black walnut allelopathy and what he reveals may not be the

en-US

00:32:38

Ep. 385 - Plants = Habitat

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/09/04

Habitat destruction is the leading cause of extinction on this planet. Plants = Habitat. There is no way around it. We revisit a conversation I had with Pierson Hill, a biologist at the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute in Florida. Pierson and his colleagues are working hard at bringing the endangered flatwoods salamander back from the brink of extinction. To do so, they must first restore the longleaf pine habitats it relies on. Such work has turned this amphibian and reptile lover into a plant

en-US

00:43:43

Ep. 384 - Arborvitae on the Limit

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/08/28

Edge of range dynamics are always fascinating. Range edges present lots of unique challenges for which plants must contend. When you throw humans into the mix, those challenges often become far more extreme. Join me and plant ecologist Sara Johnson as we look at a system involving hydrology, road salt, and the ever charismatic white cedar or arborvitae (Thuja occidentalis). This episode was produced in part by Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl,

en-US

00:27:55

Ep. 383 - Aroid Pollination is Wild!

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/08/21

This episode, we revisit a conversation I had with University of Vienna PhD student Florian Etl regarding an in depth look at a pollination system involving some of our most beloved houseplants. Florian focuses on genera like Philodendron, Anthurium, Dieffenbachia, and Spathiphyllum to shine light on how the plants manage to reproduce in the hyper diverse rainforests of Costa Rica. This is not easy work by any means but Florian and his colleagues are finding out new and wonderful things about the

en-US

00:51:23

Ep. 382 - The Rediscovery of an Extinct Oak

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/08/14

Extinction due to human activity is a terrible thing, but every once in a while, a species thought to be extinct is rediscovered. If we are extremely lucky, small populations still exist in the wild. If we are less lucky, only a single individual remains. Join me and NatureServe botanist Wes Knapp as we discuss the rediscovery of Quercus tardifolia and the idea of extinction gardens.This episode was produced in part by Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl,

en-US

00:54:25

Ep. 381 - American Ginseng Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/08/07

What is American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) and why is it becoming increasingly rare in North American forests. In this episode, we revisit a conversation I had back in 2015 with Dave DeViney, a scientist deeply passionate about this plant. As you will hear, despite being highly valued in the herbal trade, surprisingly little is known about this plant an its ecology. This episode was produced in part by Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta,

en-US

00:46:22

Ep. 380 - Learning to Grow Plants on the Moon

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/07/31

Can we grow plants in moon soil or regolith? If so, how are they going to respond? These are the kinds of questions Dr. Robert Ferl and his colleagues set out to answer in their latest experiment. Tune in and learn how an emergency rover repair during the last Apollo mission and over a decade of patience and planning have now provided answers as well as generated even more fascinating questions to explore. This episode was produced in part by Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl,

en-US

00:43:27

Ep. 379 - Tiny Orchids & Protected Forests

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/07/24

This week, we revisit a conversation I had with Lou Jost, founder of Fundación EcoMinga back in 2019. When Lou Jost and friends realized how quickly the rainforests of Ecuador were disappearing they decided to do something about it. Thus, Fundación EcoMinga was born. Since 2006, Lou and his team have managed to establish seven reserves covering all elevations from 1100m to 3860m. Along the way they have discovered numerous species of plants and animals all thanks to their focus on tiny, epiphytic

en-US

00:54:05

Ep. 378 - Dracula Orchids & the Threat of Gold Mining

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/07/17

The Dracula Reserve in Ecuador was formed with orchids at the center of its focus but it is home to untold numbers of species. New discoveries are made every year, which further emphasizes this region as a biodiversity hotspot for the planet. Sadly, both legal and illegal gold mining operations threaten the future of this reserve and all the organisms and people that call it home. Join me and EcoMinga director Javier Robayo as we discuss this issue and how you, the listener, can help protect the

en-US

00:48:49

Ep. 377 - The Whitebark Pine's Complicated Future

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/07/10

The whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) is a cornerstone of the ecology of western North America. Whether its their direct interactions with animals like the Clark's nutcracker or their indirect influences on snowpack and hydrology, the loss of these trees would be devastating. Sadly, the whitebark pine is facing many threats. Joining us to talk about these threats and what is being done to curb some of them is Glacier National Park Naturalist Andrew Smith. Andrew is also the co-host of the wonderful

en-US

00:57:18

Ep. 376 - Adventures in Azalea Pollination

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/07/03

Azaleas are beloved by many yet countless mysteries remain about the ecologies of various species. For instance, who are their main pollinators? Are they the same or different across azalea species? And, what do swallowtail butterfly wings have to do with azalea reproduction? These kinds of questions and more are what drives the research interests of Dr. Mary Jane Epps. Join us as we discuss the wild world of azalea pollination syndromes. This episode was produced in part by Karen, David, Earl,

en-US

00:37:26

Ep. 375 - Insights from the Popcorn Flowers

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/06/26

You never know what we can from plants until we take a closer look. Such is the case for the popcorn flowers (genus Cryptantha). These members of the forget-me-not family offer wonderful insights into topics like ecology, evolution, and biogeography. That is why scientists like my guest Dr. Makenzie Mabry sing the praises of these small plants and want to position them as model organisms. Tune in and learn more about this remarkable genus. This episode was produced in part by Earl, Jocelyn, Gary,

en-US

00:50:23

Ep. 374 - A Milkweed on the Brink

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/06/19

As far as milkweeds are concerned, Mead's milkweed (Asclepias meadii) doesn't grab a lot of headlines. That is a shame because it is a milkweed in desperate need of conservation attention. Its preferred habitat is unplowed, remnant prairies and those are growing increasingly rare as well. However, my guest on this episode has made great strides with her colleagues in our understanding of Mead's milkweed conservation needs. Join me and Dr. Christy Edwards as we explore the in's and out's of Mead's

en-US

00:44:06

Ep. 373 - The Sex Lives of Yucca Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2022/06/12

We dive into the back catalogue this episode to explore the world of Yucca pollination. Yuccas are cool plants just based on appearances but their pollination ecology is downright fascinating. All members of the genus Yucca rely on moths for pollination and the moths themselves could not exist if it wasn't for Yucca flowers. What started as a parasitic relationship has since evolved into an extremely specific mutualism. Join Syracuse University's Dr. Kari Segraves and I as we discuss her research on

en-US

312 results

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