Adaptations at Altitude: The Biology of Mountain Snails
Given the name of our podcast, it is no surprise that we talk a lot about bugs, but in this episode, we are stretching our invertebrate muscles and looking at a group of invertebrates that we haven’t considered before—mountain snails! To help us learn more about these fascinating animals is Dr. Lusha Tronstad. Lusha is the Invertebrate Zoology Program Manager for the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at the University of Wyoming. The WNDD program is responsible for developing and maintaining data on the distribution, natural history, conservation status, and habitat requirements of rare invertebrate species in the state. Lusha has a Ph.D. in Zoology and Physiology from University of Wyoming and is interested in food webs, invasive species, conservation, bioassessment and biogeochemistry, while working in aquatic ecosystems and with pollinators.---Photo: Lusha TronstadThank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.
--------
27:19
--------
27:19
The Secret Lives of Bumble Bees: Nesting and Overwintering
We’ve all heard the familiar buzz of a bumble bee. Their fuzzy bodies fly around looking for pollen and nectar. But where do bumble bees nest? Where do they spend the winter? And how can we support this part of their lifecycle?To talk with us about this topic is Genevieve Pugesek, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Jenny is one of the project managers of the Bumble Bee Atlas, a community science project aimed at tracking and conserving bumble bees. She works with Atlas programs in Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. She is broadly interested in conservation biology, land management, and animal natural history. She earned her Ph.D. at Tufts University, where she studied the nesting and overwintering ecology of bumble bees.---Photo: Kent McFarland Flickr CC 2.0Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.
--------
37:08
--------
37:08
The Salmonfly Project: Anglers, Insect Conservation, and the Future of Freshwater Streams
Insects play a critical role in rivers, lakes, and streams, acting as a vital food source for many animals and maintaining the health of these freshwater ecosystems. A few of these insects include: mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies. The bad news? They are in decline. The good news? There is something we can do about it. This is a new topic for us and one that we are excited to explore.Joining us to dive into the aquatic world are Jackson Birrell and James Frakes, co-founders of the Salmonfly Project, which is based here in Missoula, Montana and aims to conserve stream insects. Jackson is Executive Director of the Salmonfly Project and is a PhD graduate from the University of Montana, where he studied the factors that shape aquatic insect distributions and the causes of salmonfly declines across the Rockies. James is the Salmonfly Project’s Chief Operations Officer and also a graduate from the University of Montana where he received his Master's degree in Aquatic Ecology. As an avid fly fisher, he is passionate about continuing his research on insect decline and developing projects to save the hatches he knows and loves.---Photo Credit: Jenny WalkerThank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.
--------
44:30
--------
44:30
Bitter Nectar, Toxic Pollen: Pollinators and Plant Chemicals
We’ve spent some time on this podcast discussing pollinators and their life histories but today we are taking a deeper dive into plant chemistry to better understand the relationship between pollinators and their floral resources.To help us explore this fascinating topic, is Leif Richardson, Xerces Endangered Species Conservation Biologist. Leif coordinates the California Bumble Bee Atlas project. His research focuses on the ecology, distribution, and declines of North American bumble bees. Leif is also the co-author of a range of scientific publications on bees, including Bumble Bees of North America: An Identification Guide. He holds a Master’s degree from the University of Arizona and a PhD from Dartmouth College.---Photo credit: Barbara Driscoll (c)Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.
--------
42:32
--------
42:32
Leave the Leaves or Lose the Insects
**Correction: The study described in this episode states that the total number of insects emerging from a square meter was 18,000. The correct number is 1,800.Leave the leaves has become something of a rallying cry and discussion topic in recent years. When the weather starts to cool and leaves begin to fall, we’re presented with a valuable wildlife and gardening resource — but also something of a headache. Do I keep them all? Can I mulch them? Won’t they kill my lawn? What about pests? How do I keep my HOA happy?Joining us to take a deeper dive into a pile of leaves, how they help insects, and how to manage them is Max Ferlauto, state entomologist with the Maryland Natural Heritage Program, where he is in charge of rare insect conservation. Before that, Max was undertaking research for his PhD at the University of Maryland, where he studied the impact of leaves (and leaf removal) on insects in gardens as well as on soil health.---Photo: Steven Severinghaus/Flickr/Creative Commons 2.0Thank you for listening! For more information go to xerces.org/bugbanter.
Join us as we explore the fascinating world of invertebrates and discover how to help these extraordinary animals. The Xerces Society is a nationwide non-profit organization that works to conserve invertebrates and their habitats. For more information go to xerces.org.
Portugal