In Defense of Plants Podcast
1) Ep. 368 - Bumblebees and their Habitat
If we care about organisms like bumblebees, we need to protect and restore their habitats and plants are that habitat. In this episode we hear from Senior Program Officer, Communications Lead, WWF Nor...Show More
2) Ep. 567 - Moss Traits and More
Overlooking mosses is overlooking so many important aspects of ecosystem function. From nutrient cycles and seed banks to erosion control and atmospheric composition, mosses can play important roles. ...Show More
3) Ep. 566 - The Wonderful World of Bryophytes
Bryophytes, AKA mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are ubiquitous components of ecosystems around the world yet they are all too often underappreciated. Luckily, people like Brittney Miller are doing ...Show More
4) Ep. 565 - Let's Botanize!
Botanizing is a skill set that, like muscles, must be exercised regularly. Whether just starting out or a seasoned specialist, botanical ID takes repetition. That doesn't mean it has to be dry or bori...Show More
5) Ep. 564 - Leaf Fossils from a Hot House Climate
Journey back in time some 60 million years to the Cenozoic with Dr. Ellen Currano by looking at fossil leaves. Aside from just being cool, leaf fossils can tell us a lot about the ecology of long exti...Show More
6) Ep. 563 - The Harmful Consequences of Mosquito Sprays
Mosquito sprays and fogs only kill mosquitos, right? Wrong! The kinds of pesticides used to control mosquito populations are lethal to all manner of insects and other invertebrates. The use of these c...Show More
7) Ep. 562 - Life After Poaching
Plant poaching is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide and it doesn't get the attention it deserves. While the act of poaching plants from the wild ravages species and ecosystems alike, what happ...Show More
8) Ep. 561 - The Soil Seed Bank & Restoration
What is the soil seed bank and how does it influence the outcomes of restoration ecology? Seeds of various species can remain in the soil over a range of time periods and when and why they emerge has ...Show More
9) Ep. 560 - Revisiting Earth's First Forests
The Devonian Period was for plants what the Cambrian Period was for animals. Land plants really started to experiment with new forms of growth some 380 million years ago which led to the establishment...Show More
10) Ep. 559 - Looking Back on a Year of Botany
The wonderful Sara Johnson returns to the podcast to look back at a year of botanizing in 2025. Join us as we celebrate our favorite botanical encounters of last year. This episode was produced in par...Show More