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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

00:55:42

Ep. 511 - Paw Paw Randomness

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2025/02/02

Paw paw (Asimina triloba) is a charismatic and special species. It is the most northerly growing member of a mostly tropical family. It also has considerable influence on its herbaceous neighbors. Join me and PhD student Anna Wassel as we explore the random world of pawpaw and understory herb community assembly. This episode was produced in part by Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick,

en-US

00:58:42

Ep. 510 - Epiphytes & Phorophytes

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2025/01/26

Mosses, liverworts, and lichens live in a world of their own. Not unlike the trees they grow on, these tiny organisms must play out the dramas of obtaining the water, nutrients, and light they need to survive, they are just doing so on a much smaller scale. At the same time, they are supporting their own food webs that scale far bigger than their own lives. Join me and Dr. Greg McGee as we explore the world of epiphytes and the phorophytes that support them and learn what they can teach us about

en-US

00:51:48

Ep. 509 - The Power of Biotic Resistance

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2025/01/19

Invasive species reduce native biodiversity and hinder an ecosystem's ability to support life, including our own. Managing invasive species can be very challenging, but that doesn't intimidate people like Dr. Mike Schuster. Learn how he and his colleagues are using the ecological principal of biotic resistance to study how some native plants such as rye grasses (genus Elymus) can help control invasive species like buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). This episode was produced in part by Shad, Maddie,

en-US

00:50:04

Ep. 508 - The Cashew Family Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2025/01/12

What do cashews (Anacardium spp.), mangoes (Mangifera spp.), pistachios (Pistacia spp.), and poison ivy (Toxicodendron spp.) have in common? They are all members of the family Anacardiaceae! Revisit this conversation with Executive Director at the United States Botanic Garden, Dr. Susan Pell, who has devoted her career to understanding this incredible and surprisingly diverse family. Join us as we discuss everything from their evolutionary relationships to the remarkable ways in which some members

en-US

00:14:26

Ep. 507 - The Beginning Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2025/01/05

January 2025 marks the 10 year anniversary (!!!) of the In Defense of Plants Podcast. To celebrate, I thought it would be fun to revisit the first episode of the podcast. Travel back a decade to a tiny, old Buffalo NY apartment where a young and naive Matt waxes poetic about his love for jewel orchids (Ludisia discolor) as a blizzard rages outside. This episode was produced in part by Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography,

en-US

Ep. 506 - The Digital Future of Herbaria

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/12/29

The herbarium world is a fascinating one. These botanical repositories are goldmines of data and help us understand the present by looking at the past. But what kind of future questions can herbaria help solve? Experts say the opportunities are endless, but we will need new technologies to take full advantage. Join me and Curator and Director of the Herbarium at Missouri Botanical Garden, Dr. Jordan Teisher, as we look at how new technologies are helping scientists look at herbarium collections in

en-US

00:48:56

Ep. 505 - Leave the Dang Leaves!

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/12/22

Leave the leaves! It is a phrase you hear a lot these days, but why is it so important to keep leaves and other plant debris on your landscape? These are the questions that drive Dr. Max Ferlato. Leaf litter and other plant debris provides vitally important habitat for myriad organisms including species important for pollination and pest control. Moreover, a little bit of leaf litter can go a long way, especially in urban environments. Join me and Dr. Ferlato as we look at the ecological importance

en-US

00:59:18

Ep. 504 - The Genetic Mysteries of Creosote Bush

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/12/15

What is a species? On the surface, this seems like an easy question to answer. Get a bunch of biologists in the room together and you will quickly see it can be a bit of a loaded question. Questions like this are what drive scientists like Dr. Robert Laport. By looking at genome duplication events in plants like creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), he and his lab are curious how vast differences in genome numbers affect a species interaction with the environment, its pollinators, and even neighboring

en-US

Ep. 503 - Pollen Specialization

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/12/08

Bees run the gamut from generalists to specialists. Whereas the generalists visit a variety of plants for the resources they need, many specialists exist on a single species. Such is the case for at least 20 different bees living in Southwestern North America who specialize on the pollen of the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). In geologic terms, creosote is a relative newcomer to the Southwest and trying to understand how so many bee species have come to specialize on its pollen and how

en-US

Ep. 502 - Unearthing the Mysteries of Underground...

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/12/01

Tubers, corms, taproots, bulbs... There are many different kinds of underground storage organs in the plant world. Moreover, they form from many different kinds of plant tissues. This begs the question, why are there so many variations on the theme of energy storage? Join me and Dr. Carrie Tribble as we explore phylogenetic and trait-based approaches to understanding the evolution and development in underground storage organs in the genus Bomarea. This episode was produced in part by Sigma, Max,

en-US

00:59:49

Ep. 501 - Conservation of Crop Wild Relatives

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/11/24

Domestication is a spectrum, especially for botanical crops. Regardless of where a plant is on that spectrum, it nevertheless has a wild origin. Understanding those origins can not only help us understand the plants better, but also our history as a species as well as open the door to future possibilities. Sadly, many of the wild relatives of crops are both poorly understood and in desperate need of conservation. Join me and Dr. Colin Khoury as we explore what it means to study and conserve crop

en-US

00:31:40

Ep. 500 - 500?!

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/11/17

It is hard to believe, but you are about to listen to the 500th episode of the In Defense of Plants Podcast. So much has happened over the nearly 10 years this podcast has been running, and none of it would be what it is today without YOU, the listener. So, in celebration of the big 5 0 0, the wonderful Sara Johnson turns the tables and sits down to ask Matt some questions about what it is like to do 500 episodes. This episode was produced in part by Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert,

en-US

00:48:43

Ep. 499 - Aspen & Forest Health

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/11/10

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) are synonymous with many habitats throughout North America. This tree is a species of superlatives, but its grandeur doesn't mean it is immune to threats. In fact, in many areas of its range, aspen is in decline. Join me and Dr. Connor Crouch as we explore what he and his colleagues are learning about aspen health and how that can be used to improve forest health into the future. This episode was produced in part by Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas,

en-US

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

en-US

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

en-US

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

en-US

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,

en-US

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

en-US

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

en-US

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,

en-US

311 results

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