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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

00:57:27

Ep. 339 - Urban Lichens

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/10/17

Lichens have so much to teach us about our planet and yet we have so much to learn about them! That is where people like Dr. Jessi Allen come in. She has devoted her life to understanding lichens and their diversity in addition to sharing her passion for these symbiotic organisms with the world. Join us as we discuss the importance of lichens, some threats to their survival, and her new book - "Urban Lichens: A Field Guide for Northeastern North America." This episode was produced in part by Sarah,

en-US

00:52:56

Ep. 338 - How Old are the Oldest Trees?

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/10/10

How long can a tree live? How old are the oldest trees? The answers to questions like these are more nuanced that some might think. We sit down with curator of the Gymnosperm Database, Dr. Chris Earle, for some insights on tree longevity. This episode was produced in part by Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul,

en-US

00:56:04

Ep. 337 - DNA Duplication & Plant Evolution

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/10/03

In this episode, we journey back in time with the help of DNA and fossil evidence to learn what they can teach us about plant evolution. Specifically, we explore how genome duplication events has influenced the evolutionary history of gymnosperms. Joining us to talk about this is Dr. Greg Stull who has built his research career around being able to connect what we see in the present to what occurred in the past. This episode was produced in part by Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina,

en-US

01:04:31

Ep. 336 - Parasitic Plants & their Hosts

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/09/26

How do parasitic plants find an appropriate host and what determines their range of host possibilities? These are the kinds of questions that drive Dr. Caitlin Conn's research. Join us as we explore some of the insight she has gained into parasitic plant ecology. This episode was produced in part by Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek,

en-US

00:49:28

Ep. 335 - A Global Effort to Help Magnolias

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/09/19

Magnolias are among the most iconic trees in the world. This family (Magnoliaceae) has also been around for a very long time. But, for all their history, intrigue, and interest, the magnolia family is not faring well in our modern world. Recent estimates indicate that nearly half of all magnolia species are threatened with extinction and that is why the Global Conservation Consortium for Magnolias was formed. This wonderfully collaborative effort brings people from all over the world together to

en-US

01:06:00

Ep. 334 - An Azalea Extravaganza

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/09/12

To look upon a flowering azalea is to bare witness to one of our planets most stunning botanical spectacles. These ericaceous shrubs enjoy celebrity status among many a gardener because of this. Azaleas are also ecologically important plants in their native habitats. Joining us to celebrate these Rhododendrons is Curator of Special Collections at the Davis Arboretum and Coordinator for the Alabama Plant Conservation Alliance, Patrick Thompson. Tune in as we discuss the ins and outs of these

en-US

00:59:25

Ep. 333 - Variability in Plant Coloration

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/09/05

Plants come in a bewildering variety of colors. Even within species, colors can vary from individual to individual. How and why color can differs are exactly the kinds of questions that intrigue PhD student Cierra Sullivan. Join us as we explore ideas relating to topics such as leaf variegation and the influence of climate change on flower color. This episode was produced in part by Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda,

en-US

01:15:06

Ep. 332 - The Ecology of Douglas Fir

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/08/29

In this episode, we celebrate one of the most venerable conifers in North America - the Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). This wide ranging species can establish early after disturbance and live for centuries, bolstering the ecology of the forests it comprises. Joining us for this celebration is arborist Casey Clapp, co-host of the wonderful Completely Arbortrary Podcast. Listen in as we wax poetic about the amazing Douglas-fir! This episode was produced in part by Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina,

en-US

00:59:38

Ep. 331 - Unraveling Quillwort Mysteries

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/08/22

Their ancestors once dominated the coal swamps of the Carboniferous Period, growing into massive trees that could reach upwards of 160 feet (50 m) into the canopy. Today, the quillworts (Isoetes spp.) are all that remains of this lineage. Though cosmopolitan in their distribution, quillworts can be hard to find unless you know where to look. Luckily, there are people like PhD student David Wickell who have placed them at the center of their scientific focus. David is hard at work helping to uncover

en-US

00:57:53

Ep. 330 - Horticultural Taxonomy

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/08/15

Have you ever walked through a plant nursery or garden center and wondered about who keeps track of all those named varieties, selections, and cultivars? The answer to this are horticultural taxonomists! From registering new plants to maintaining herbarium records and DNA barcoding, horticultural taxonomists really have their job cut out for them. Joining us to talk about this topic is Mathew Rees, a botanist for the Royal Horticultural Society. Learn how he and his colleagues manage to keep track

en-US

01:01:38

Ep. 329 - A Closer Look at Algae

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/08/08

It's important to give credit to the small but important things in life, like algae! In this episode we dive under the microscope lens with Julia Van Etten to talk about the microscopic world of algae and how they relate to plants. Julia is a PhD student researching extremophile algae and also runs a wonderful and fascinating science communication outlet called Couch Microscopy. Join us as we take a dive into the microscopic world of algae and learn about their connection to plants. This episode was

en-US

01:03:25

Ep. 328 - Behind the Scenes at Prairie Moon Nursery

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/08/01

In this episode, we explore how a small native seed company selling native plant seeds out of their living room grew into one of the biggest native plant nurseries in the United States. Joining us is Horticulture Educator Kaitlyn O'Connor to give us a deep dive into how Prairie Moon Nursery is able to provide over 700 species of native plants for use in everything from gardens to large-scale restoration projects. Enter IDOP at checkout over at www.prairiemoon.com to receive 10% off your order and

en-US

00:35:32

Ep. 327 - A Rallying Cry for Restoration

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/07/25

The United Nations kicked off 2021 is a rallying cry for restoring ecosystems around the globe. The so-called UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration is aimed at preventing, halting, and reversing ecosystem degradation around the globe. Importantly, ecosystem restoration should not be seen a prescription, but rather a process that changes as we learn more about the world around us. Joining us to talk about this process is Tim Christophersen, head of the Nature for Climate Branch for the UN Environment

en-US

00:55:55

Ep. 326 - Trillium Diversity: A Story of Ants & Seed...

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/07/18

This episode explores the amazing world of Trillium diversity. This charismatic genus is incredible in its own right, but what makes it so diverse only adds to the intrigue. Joining us is Dr. Chelsea Miller to talk about her research on the role of ants in explaining the diversity of trillium in North American forests. You will learn just how important these insects are when it comes to why some species are rare while others are common. This episode was produced in part by Aristia, Felicidad,

en-US

00:58:56

Ep. 325 - Toxic Soils & Drinking Water From Rocks

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/07/11

Everyone needs a bit of calcium in their diet, but too much of it can cause serious health issues. The same is true for plants. Growing in soils high in calcium is no walk in the park and yet, around the world, we see many plants that have adapted to soils made toxic by calcium sulfate. How they manage to adapt to such conditions is the main research interest of Dr. Sara Palacio. She focuses her work on the evolution and physiology of plants that grow in soils dominated by gypsum. Her work has her

en-US

00:57:22

Ep. 324 - Palms Through Deep Time

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/07/04

Palms (Arecaceae) are among the best known and easily recognizable groups of plants on Earth. Their diversity is staggering and they play important roles in the ecology of the habitats in which they grow. But how much do we know about their evolutionary history? What can a deep time perspective teach us about palm evolution. Joining us to talk about this is paleobotanist Dr. Kelly Matsunaga. Dr. Matsunaga uses the palm fossil record to investigate a variety of palm-related topics from the

en-US

01:01:37

Ep. 323 - Cacti, Microbes, and More!

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/06/27

Cacti may appear like strong, independent organisms but that simply isn't the case. No organism operates in a vacuum and cacti are no exception to this. This episode, we talk with Stefan Burger, or as you may know him, Cactus Explorer, about the amazing world of cacti and some of the organisms they interact with that allow them to live in some of the harshest places on our planet. As you will hear, this is a rich area of research that definitely needs more attention. This episode was produced in

en-US

00:55:48

Ep. 322 - Rue-production in Thalictrum

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/06/20

Plant sex is strange. Rooted in place, plants have had to get really creative (evolutionarily speaking) when it comes to reproduction. Moreover, there is no single pathway to success, and each plant lineage seems to have evolved multiple strategies for swapping gametes. Joining us to talk about the sex lives of one genus of plants is PhD student Melody Sain. Melody has turned her research focus onto the meadow rues in the genus Thalictrum and she is uncovering a fascinating world of genetic

en-US

01:00:01

Ep. 321 - Rapid Changes in Slow-Growing Ecosystems

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/06/13

Disturbance is an integral part of any ecosystem, but as the human presence on this planet continues to grow, disturbances are becoming more frequent and more severe. In this episode, Dr. Brian Buma joins us to discuss his research on disturbance ecology. His work has taken him all over the globe with the aim of understanding how disturbances lead to rapid changes in slow growing ecosystems like forests. From climate change and tree death to edge of range dynamics among myriad plants, Dr. Buma and

en-US

00:50:35

Ep. 320 - The Prehistoric Path to Flowering Plants

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2021/06/06

Resolving the origins of flowering plants requires an understanding of how their morphology came to be. After all, despite their rapid appearance in the fossil record, flowering plants did not evolve over night. There had to be transitional phases between what we recognize as a gymnosperm and what we recognize as an angiosperm and that is what this episode is all about. Sir Peter Crane of the Oak Spring Garden Foundation joins us to discuss some intriguing fossils that he and his colleagues

en-US

319 results

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