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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

00:58:31

Ep. 474 - Untangling Cryptic Diversity

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/05/19

Sometimes the differences between species are vast (e.g., a maple and an oak) but other times they are subtle to the point of requiring a trained eye and essentially learning a new language. So-called cryptic species are extremely challenging to understand, but that is why spending time in the field can be so rewarding. Moreover, to understand cryptic species is to better understand biodiversity on Earth. Join me and botanist Brett Budach as we explore four genera (Lupinus, Xyris, Dichanthelium, and

en-US

00:39:49

Ep. 473 - Root Evolution Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/05/12

There is no denying that roots are one of the most important organs on a plant. However, unless its an epiphyte, root activity takes place underground, largely out of site and out of mind. This has not stopped my guest today from trying to understand the origin and evolution of these amazing structures. We revisit a conversation with plant evolutionary biologist Dr. Sandy Hetherington whose work spans hundreds of millions of years of root history. Join us as we explore the early days of root

en-US

00:53:15

Ep. 472 - Snorkelwort & Friends are X-Treme!

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/05/05

Any organism that ephemeral gravel puddles home must be ready to deal with extremes. That is what makes snorkelwort (Gratiola amphiantha) and its aquatic neighbors so darn cool. It's what also makes it so very rare. Join me and Anna Wyngaarden as we take a deep dive into how she is trying to solve some of the many mysteries surrounding how plants like snorkelwort, mat-forming quillwort (Isoetes tegetiformans), and black-spored quillwort (I. melanospora) eke out a living in tiny granite pools. This

en-US

00:44:52

Ep. 471 - Chasing Rare Oaks

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/04/28

Boynton/Alabama sandstone (Quercus boyntonii) and Georgia oaks (Q. georgiana) are among the rarest oaks in North America and yet we know so little about them. This paucity of knowledge can make conservation difficult, but that doesn't stop people like Patrick Thompson from trying. Join us as we discuss the multifaceted efforts aimed at keeping these trees from going extinct.This episode was produced in part by Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen,

en-US

00:51:05

Ep. 470 - Rethinking Water Lettuce

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/04/21

Water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes) has long been maligned for its invasive tendencies. This floating aquatic aroid grows fast and responds well to poor water quality, and because of this, states like Florida spend lots of time and money on trying to eradicate it. However, a combination of fossil end recent genetic evidence suggests that we should rethink our approach to water lettuce in Florida. Join me and Dr. Jason Evans as we discuss how data tell a different story that suggests at least some

en-US

00:42:54

Ep. 469 - Blue Butterworts & Friends

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/04/14

The Southeast is one of North America's biodiversity hotspots. Any trip through this region will be rewarded with lots of botanical splendor if you know where to look. Join Conservation Biologist Sara Johnson and me as we reminisce about a recent botanical excursion and learn about a fraction of the botanical diversity we met along the way. This episode was produced in part by Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea,

en-US

00:41:25

Ep. 468 - Plants, Structure, and Habitat

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/04/07

I have said it before, and I will say it again: plants ARE habitat. Nowhere is this fact more apparent than in the field of wildlife ecology. From food to shelter, one simply can't understand the innerworkings of nature without understanding plants. Join me and Wildlife Ecologist Dr. Chris Moorman as we look at why plants are so important to conservation efforts. This episode was produced in part by Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi,

en-US

00:55:09

Ep. 467 - Roots & the Struggle for Nutrients

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/03/31

Competition for nutrients is a major driver of plant evolution, especially in nutrient-poor soils. As such, plants have evolved myriad ways of getting a "root up" on the competition. Dr. Jim Dalling joins us to discuss two recent discoveries related to two species with distinct and incredible root adaptations aimed at maximizing nutrient capture in highly competitive tropical ecosystems. This episode was produced in part by Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi,

en-US

00:48:57

Ep. 466 - Fire in the Mountains

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/03/24

The Appalachian region may not readily seem like a fire-prone region, but parts of it certainly are. Fire can be an important tool in sustaining biodiversity, but modern understanding of its role is limited. That is why people like Dr. Don Hagan study the effects of prescribed fire in the Appalachian Mountains and beyond. Join me and Dr. Hagan as we explore fire as a tool for ecosystem restoration and find our just how much we still have to learn. This episode was produced in part by Cathy, Simon,

en-US

00:52:12

Ep. 465 - Studying Ancient Wildfires

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/03/17

Wildfires are familiar to those living on Earth today, but what about in the past? How does one go about studying ancient wildfires through deep time? Some of the answers lie in coal deposits. Join me and Dr. Ian Glasspool as we explore how he studies wildfire events dating back hundreds of millions of years and marvel at the amazing stories his data are able to tell! This episode was produced in part by Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea,

en-US

00:53:43

Ep. 464 - Back from the Brink

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/03/10

Good news is hard to come by in the world of plant conservation, but it is out there! Take, for instance, some recent examples on Santa Cruz Island in which the recovery of a handful of endangered plants, including island bedstraw (Galium buxifolium) and Santa Cruz Island Dudleya (Dudleya nesiotica), has been so successful, they have been delisted. That doesn't mean conservationists no longer have to worry. Join me and John Knapp from The Nature Conservancy as we explore the ins and outs of plant

en-US

00:38:13

Ep. 463 - Digitizing an Extinct Tree

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/03/03

How does one breath life into an extinct tree only known from fossils? There are a lot of answers to this question, but my guest today decided to go digital. Tim Stonesifer is the Assistant Director for Media Technology at Colby College and the person responsible for creating the 3D reconstruction of Sanfordiacaulis densifolia that was discovered by Dr. Gastaldo and colleagues (Ep. 462). Join us as we explore his process and what it was like to take a dive into paleobotanical reconstructions. This

en-US

00:55:10

Ep. 462 - Resurrecting an Ancient Toilet Brush Tree

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/02/25

Fossil hunting is like playing the lottery, your odds of hitting big are infinitesimal, but it can happen. Such was the case for Dr. Bob Gastaldo and colleagues when they unearthed the remains of Sanfordiacaulis densifolia, an extinct tree from the Carboniferous Period unlike anything we have ever seen. Join me and Dr. Gastaldo as we take a deep dive into why this tree is so strange and what it can tell us about an ancient ecology. This episode was produced in part by Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul,

en-US

00:42:24

Ep. 461 - Litter Trappers Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/02/18

Litter trapping plants don't worry about soil, they make their own! Because so many species in the tropics grow either epiphytically or in nutrient poor soil, some of them have turned to alternative solutions. Their anatomy is such that they collect everything from dead leaves to bird droppings. A diverse community of soil microbes and invertebrates can then go to work to create nutrient rich humus. What's more, litter trapping abilities can be found in plants as distantly related as ferns and

en-US

01:07:29

Ep. 460 - Floral Chemistry Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/02/11

For Dr. Rob Raguso, the phrase "stop and smell the roses" takes on a whole new meaning. Dr. Raguso studies the intricate world of floral chemistry. You are undoubtedly familiar with some of the wonderful odors flowers produce but such tantalizing smells are only the beginning. The world of floral chemistry is quite remarkable and the function of the myriad substances they produce go much deeper than simply pollination. We revisit a conversation that will put a whole new spin on your appreciation of

en-US

00:40:56

Ep. 459 - Pigments & Plant Stress

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/02/04

Plant pigments certainly catch the eyes of many organisms, but they serve many important functions beyond simple attraction. For instance, plant pigments can play a huge role in managing stressors like heat, sunlight, and more. Join me and Dr. Niky Hughes as we explore one of the most abundant and important types of plant pigments - anthocyanins - and learn how they not only vary in appearance but also in functional benefit. This episode was produced in part by Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen,

en-US

00:52:32

Ep. 458 - Plant Stress

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/01/28

Plant stress starts at the molecular level but can influence entire ecosystems. That is why questions about drought, heat, and climate change fuel Dr. Lou Santiago's research. Join us as we explore the ins and outs of studying plant stress in different ecosystems. This episode was produced in part by Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi,

en-US

01:00:56

Ep. 457 - The Wild World of Wet Plants

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/01/21

Plants obviously need water to survive, but how do they interact with water in a more physical sense? How plants like trees capture and distribute precipitation can have massive consequences for ecosystem and societal processes. From soil formation to stormwater management, understanding wet plants is very important. Join me and Dr. John Van Stan as we explore how his lab is tackling the complex dynamics of wet plants and learn how varied disciplines play a role in such investigations. This episode

en-US

00:56:40

Ep. 456 - Cattail Invasion Revisited

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/01/14

What wetland scene would be complete without a few cattails? The genus Typha is synonymous with wetlands yet as you will hear in this episode, we know so little about them. Joining us is Dr. Pam Geddes from Northeastern Illinois University to talk to us about her work on cattail invasion ecology. What started as a question about ecosystem function and monocultures has morphed into an exploration that involves asking questions like "how do we define a species?" Settle in and learn as we revisit the

en-US

01:08:34

Ep. 455 - The Many Mysteries of Seed Dormancy

In Defense of Plants Podcast ·

2024/01/07

We take seeds for granted, yet still have much to learn about how they work. What factors play in to seed dormancy? How long can some seeds remain dormant? What cues are required to break dormancy? All these questions and more drive Dr. Grace Fleming's research. Join us as we explore how molecular processes involving mRNA play a role in the mysterious world of seeds. This episode was produced in part by EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly,

en-US

314 results

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