The Rough Woodlouse (Porcellio scaber) is an isopod that is probably living in a wet place very near you right now. Nash Turley and Hamilton Boyce discuss various aspects of their biology, talk about a behavioral study, and explore their huge variety of common names… Read More »Rough Woodlouse – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 10
Naturistic podcast episode 9 all about owls
Naturistic Podcast and Video about antlions
Did you know California has a huge area of grassland? In this episode we discuss how this unique ecosystem got taken over by invasive species. References: J.W. Bartolome et al. Valley grassland. Terrestrial vegetation of California. 2007. E.W. Seabloom et al. Invasion, competitive dominance, and… Read More »California Grasslands – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 7
In this episode we talk about old-growth grasslands, the Rodney Dangerfield of ecosystems. They are incredible rare and underappreciated. References: Grassland Ecology Toward an old‐growth concept for grasslands, savannas, and woodlands High plant diversity and slow assembly of old-growth grasslands Lasting signature of planting year… Read More »Old-growth Grasslands – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 6
An ant infected with a parasitic fungi stumbles around with no control of her own behavior. She climbs up to a narrow branch, the fungi throughout her muscles controlling every move, and with her last action clings to the branch and clamps down her jaws.… Read More »Naturistic Zombie Ant Video and Podcast
Part 2 of our discussion on genetically modified Bt crops focusing on pros and cons and the evolution of insect resistance. Thumbnail photo by Jim Buckman References for this episode: Recent Trends in GE Adoption. USDA. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption.aspx Roh JY and friends. Bacillus thuringiensis as a specific, safe,… Read More »Genetically Modified Bt Crops, Part 2 – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 4
In this episode we start a two-part discussion on Bt crops (a type of genetically modified organism) with some background on crop domestication and crop pests. References for this episode: Meyer RS and Purugganan MD. Evolution of crop species: genetics of domestication and diversification. Nature… Read More »Genetically Modified Bt Crops, Part 1 – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 3
In this episode we discuss bald eagles, what they eat, where they live, their dramatic decline due to DDT, and then their miraculous recovery. Bald eagle photo by Richard Lee References for this episode: Todd CS and friends. 1982. Food habits of bald eagles in… Read More »Bald Eagles – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 2
In our first episode of the Naturistic podcast we (Hamilton Boyce and Nash Turley) discuss Lycaenid butterflies and their bizarre and complicated interactions with ants. This new format of educational content about nature and biology has been a long time coming and we are hoping… Read More »Lycaenid Butterflies and Ants – Naturistic Podcast Ep. 1