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Every episode
In Defense of Plants Podcast
30 episodes
Ep. 591 - Justice for Habitats
Ep 591 · Aug 16, 2026 · 55 min
Habitats face pressures from all sorts of threats. Illegal logging, mining, and poaching are driving extinctions, accelerating climate change, and hurting communities everywhere. How can we use laws to change this? That is what Senior Lecturer at Lancaster University and Executive Director of Conservation Litigation Dr. Jacob Phelps is here to talk about. Conservation Litigation is a wonderful organization that exists to "to hold those who harm nature meaningfully responsible for remedying the h…
Ep. 590 - The Complex Ecology of Puerto Rico's Forests
Ep 590 · Aug 9, 2026 · 56 min
Puerto Rico may not be a very large island but its forests certainly are complex. Historically, Puerto Rico lost nearly 95% of its forest cover due to human activities but humans are also playing an important role in how they grow back. Understanding how historical land use and human management have influenced the regrowth of Puerto Rico's forests has been a major part of Dr. Ariel Lugo's scientific career. From naturalized and invasive species to the impacts of hurricanes and community empowerm…
Ep. 589 - Epiphytes & the Water Cycle
Ep 589 · Aug 2, 2026 · 54 min
Epiphytes of one kind or another are ubiquitous components of ecosystems around the globe, but we still know little about what they are doing up in the forest canopy. For instance, how do epiphytes influence the water cycle of various ecosystems? Figuring out how epiphytes interact with the water cycle can help us refine models of drought, climate change, and so much more. Joining us to talk about this is Dr. John Van Stan who you may remember from Episode 457 of the In Defense of Plants Podcast…
Ep. 588 - Investigating Boreal Rarities
Ep 588 · Jul 26, 2026 · 46 min
Rare plants aren't rare for the same reasons. They aren't even rare at different points in time. Figuring out the causes and consequences of plant rarity on a species by species basis is both very hard and very important. Ecologists have to get creative with time, money, and other resources. Join me and Dr. Varina Crisfield as we explore the topic of plant rarity in Canada's boreal forests. This episode was produced in part by Jbert, Chris, Gerald, Elise, Maggie, Mamie, A.J., Dallas, Channele, K…
Ep. 587 - Cloning & Conservation in Plants
Ep 587 · Jul 19, 2026 · 52 min
Cloning may seem like a futuristic topic largely reserved for science fiction but plants are doing it all the time. Clonality is one of the many aspects that can make plant species successful across the landscape. It can also greatly impact the way we approach plant conservation efforts. Despite the importance of cloning in plants, we still know very little about how its influences plant population dynamics. Which plants are clonal? How long can clones live? How does cloning influence pollinatio…
Ep. 586 - Restoring a Galápagos Forest
Ep 586 · Jul 12, 2026 · 46 min
Daisy trees, petrels, and pink iguanas... The Galápagos Islands are home to unique endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Sadly, the ecosystems that support them are under threat from invasive species and outright destruction. If something isn't done to turn the tide, species will be lost forever. Luckily, organizations such as Jocotoco Conservation Foundation are hard at work slowing and hopefully reversing this trend. Join me and Juan Alejo Chávez as we discuss the efforts to restore…
Ep. 585 - Dragonflies Need Plants
Ep 585 · Jul 5, 2026 · 44 min
Dragonflies and damselflies are voracious aerial predators that help keep populations of other insects like mosquitoes in check. These amazing insects also require aquatic habitats to complete their life cycles. Simply put, without wetlands we don't have dragonflies and damselflies. However, not all wetlands will do. My guest Dr. Mary Ann Perron is here to discuss why native aquatic plants are absolutely essential to the success of these insects. Join us as we discuss what makes a good wetland f…
Ep. 584 - Understanding Forest Disturbance
Ep 584 · Jun 28, 2026 · 55 min
Disturbances from fire and wind to insects and humans play a huge role in forest dynamics through time. Throw in the impacts of climate change, and these dynamics only get more complicated. Understanding how disturbances interact and influence how forests change through time is of great interest to people from all walks of life and that is why people like Dr. Kenneth Anyomi are hard at work studying them. Join us for a deep dive on how disturbances influence forest succession and the lives that…
Ep. 583 - Commonness, Rarity, and Invasive Species
Ep 583 · Jun 21, 2026 · 60 min
How common or rare are species in an ecosystem? The answer to this might seem simple, but as with everything in nature, it is not. This question can even complicate how we think of habitat conservation and restoration. When we refine and implement scientific tools like species diversity indices, we need to make sure we are applying them correctly. Join me and Dr. Robert Warren as we explore measures of species diversity, the issues with improper use of these tools, and what that can mean in the…
Ep. 582 - Extreme Aquatic Plants
Ep 582 · Jun 14, 2026 · 50 min
When you start studying a group of plants, you never know what you are going to find. Sometimes it's important insights into pollination and seed dispersal. Other times it's how the uplift of mountain chains shapes wetlands and rivers. These are the kinds of discoveries that drive Dr. Ana Bedoya to study the riverweeds of the family Podostemaceae. These extreme aquatic plants are fascinating in the own right while also having a lot to teach us about a variety of scientific disciplines. This epis…
Ep. 581 - The Complex World of Plant/Fungi Interactions
Ep 581 · Jun 7, 2026 · 1 hr 14 min
Plants are habitat. Heck, even a single leaf is habitat. Same goes for plant roots. This is especially true when we consider insects and fungi. But how do these organisms interact? How do they change over gradients of moisture, temperature, space, and time? Why do we consider some parasitic while others are mutualists? The world of ecological interactions is extremely complex but people like Dr. Chris Bivins are taking stabs at trying to gain insights piece by piece. Join us for an wonderfully d…
Ep. 580 - Celebrating a Foundational Aquatic Plant
Ep 580 · May 31, 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
What could be better than a tiny plant with an outsized impact on the world around it? Hornleaf riverweed AKA Podostemum ceratophyllum is one such plant. This tiny aquatic plant has so many mysterious surrounding it but what we do know is that it is foundational to the aquatic ecosystems in which it is found. Join me and Dr. James Wood as we take a deep dive on this unique aquatic plant and learn what you can do to help us understand and conserve it a little bit better. This episode was produced…
Ep. 579 - Pollen & Seed Storage Efforts
Ep 579 · May 24, 2026 · 50 min
Seed storage is one of the most important tools in plant conservation, but did you know you can also store pollen? We still have a lot to learn about storing both pollen and seeds for most species, and people like Dr. Dustin Wolkis of the Center for Plant Conservation are hard at work doing just that. Join us for an interesting look at what he and his colleagues are doing to prevent plant extinction. This episode was produced in part by Elise, Maggie, Mamie, A.J., Dallas, Channele, KC, Joe, Dian…
Ep. 578 - Trees & Their Hybrids in a Changing World
Ep 578 · May 17, 2026 · 45 min
Long lived organisms like trees face a lot of challenges throughout their lifetime. Disturbances big and small coupled with climate change are going to continue to stress trees wherever they grow. Which trees have the highest capacity to deal with said stresses? We don't know until we go looking. That is what drives scientists like Dr. Jill Hamilton. Join us as we look at how she is using poplars, spruce, and ash to understand how trees and their hybrids may or may not have what it takes to surv…
Ep. 577 - Ginger Flowers & Plant Evolution
Ep 577 · May 10, 2026 · 1 hr 5 min
What can investigating the genes in flower development teach us about plant evolution? A lot! What started as a simple question about the quirky nature of flower development in the order of plants collectively referred to as "the gingers" turned into multiple threads related to plant evolution and diversity. Join me and Dr. Chelsea Specht as we take a deep dive into the wild world of Zingiberales. This episode was produced in part by Joe, Diane, Kim, Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, Lilith, Sa…
Ep. 576 - Of Micro Moths & Plants
Ep 576 · May 3, 2026 · 56 min
Micro moths are a wonderfully diverse group of underappreciated insects living all around us. How they interact with their environment, particularly with the native plants the need to survive, is both fascinating and mysterious. Join me and Dr. Jason Dombroskie as we explore the tiny world of micro moths, their host plants, and all the natural history mysteries in between. This episode was produced in part by Andy, S Heller, Drewsophila, Sascha, Kim, Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, Lilith, Sa…
Ep. 575 - Endemic Plants of the Gulf Coast
Ep 575 · Apr 26, 2026 · 52 min
The Gulf Coast of southeastern North America is a biodiversity hotspot brimming with cool plants. Everywhere you look, there are plants that grow nowhere else in the world. Why is this region so diverse? How do we try and understand the origins of endemic plants? These are the kind of questions that drive Dr. Elizabeth White. Join us as we explore what it takes to understand plant endemism in a truly special place. This episode was produced in part by Andy, S Heller, Drewsophila, Sascha, Kim, Ta…
Ep. 574 - Of Alumroots & Coral Bells: Hybridization in Heuchera
Ep 574 · Apr 19, 2026 · 59 min
Whether you call them alumroots or coral bells, there is no denying the genus Heuchera is both beloved by gardeners and those who know where to find them in the wild. The closer you look at this genus, the more interesting things you will uncover. Just ask Dr. Ryan Folk who is very interested in what these plants can teach us about hybridization and plant evolution. Join us for a wonderfully deep dive into the wild world of Heuchera hybridization events. This episode was produced in part by Joe,…
Ep. 573 - Great Lakes Climate Refugia
Ep 573 · Apr 12, 2026 · 51 min
Climate refugia can provide unique opportunities for plants (and more) to persist for long periods of time in otherwise inhospitable areas. They have and will continue to shape biodiversity across the globe but understanding them isn't easy. Join me and Dr. Ashley Hillman as we look at how one of the greatest lakes of them all - Lake Superior - has shaped the distribution of Arctic plant species since the Pleistocene and what this can teach us about climate change and species distributions movin…
Ep. 572 - Novel Weapons & Plant Invasions
Ep 572 · Apr 5, 2026 · 52 min
What makes an invasive plant species invasive? A lot of effort goes in to trying to understand the ecological and evolutionary underpinnings of invasive species. Multiple hypotheses have been put forward such as the novel weapons hypothesis and allelopathy, but what do the data tell us about these concepts? The answer is as nuanced as it is interesting. Join me and Dr. Robert Colautti as we explore novel weapons and allelopathy through the lens of purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) and garli…
Ep. 571 - Pesticides In Your Garden
Ep 571 · Mar 29, 2026 · 54 min
So many of us garden to attract wildlife. Adding native plants to support bees, butterflies, birds, and beyond is a fulfilling and noble cause but how can we be sure we aren't bringing unwanted pesticides home with us from plant nurseries? This can be a challenge considering the role pesticides play in so many nursery and agricultural settings. We don't have to despair though! People like Sharon Selvaggio of The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation are both putting in the effort to resea…
Ep. 570 - How to Grow a Forest Pt. 2
Ep 570 · Mar 22, 2026 · 47 min
Successful forest regeneration projects require lots of different skill sets. This is especially true when trying to finance operations that work for local communities. Luckily people like Jonathan Kim of Terraformation are up for the challenge. Join us as we learn how skills outside of the biological sciences are helping make native forest regeneration successful. This episode was produced in part by Kim, Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, Lilith, Sanza, Eva, Yellowroot, Wisewren, Nadia, H…
Ep. 569 - How to Grow a Forest Pt. 1
Ep 569 · Mar 15, 2026 · 51 min
What does it take to regenerate a native forest, especially in highly degraded landscapes? A lot, to put it mildly. Forest regeneration is an important endeavor but figuring out how to do it right is the job of Terraformation's Restoration Manager Michael Sthreshley. Join is for a deep dive on how Terraformation is making native forest regeneration possible in Hawai'i and beyond. This episode was produced in part by Kim, Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, Lilith, Sanza, Eva, Yellowroot, Wis…
Ep. 568 - The Importance of Old Trees
Ep 568 · Mar 8, 2026 · 48 min
Understanding forest health requires looking across scales and gradients. How individual trees respond to stresses can tell us a lot about how forests will respond to stresses over the long term. These are the kinds of ideas that motivate Dr. Sara Germain in her quest to understand the life and death of trees such as the whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and its neighbors. Join us for a fascinating look at what it takes to study trees and the forests they comprise in the Rocky Mountains. This ep…
Ep. 567 - Moss Traits and More
Ep 567 · Mar 1, 2026 · 40 min
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. But how do we go about understand moss ecology in this way? Dr. Mandy Slate starts with their traits. How do you scale from moss adaptations for dehydration to things like carbon and nitrogen cycles? Tune in and find out! This episode was produced in part by Kim, Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, L…
Ep. 566 - The Wonderful World of Bryophytes
Ep 566 · Feb 22, 2026 · 49 min
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 everything in their power to change that. What started with immense frustration turned into a life-long love affair with all things bryophyte. Join us for a wonderful deep dive into the secret world of these tiny plants. This episode was produced in part by Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, Lilith,…
Ep. 565 - Let's Botanize!
Ep 565 · Feb 15, 2026 · 51 min
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 boring! My guests today are Dr.'s Ben Goulet-Scott and Jacob Suissa of Let's Botanize. When they aren't teaching about and researching plants, they are producing lots of great videos helping to connect people to plants. Most recently, they have published a book titled "Let's Botanize: 101 Ways to Connec…
Ep. 564 - Leaf Fossils from a Hot House Climate
Ep 564 · Feb 8, 2026 · 52 min
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 extinct ecosystems. For instance, leaf margins can tell you about things like temperature while leaf size can tell you about precipitation. Also, looking at fossilized insect damage can reveal important insights into how climate influences herbivory. Join us for a deep dive on the myriad scientific insi…
Ep. 563 - The Harmful Consequences of Mosquito Sprays
Ep 563 · Feb 1, 2026 · 56 min
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 chemicals can have serious impacts on biodiversity and their marketing doesn't tell this side of the story. Join me and Dr. Aaron Anderson of the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation as we look at the science of these pesticides and what you can do in your yard and in your community to improv…
Ep. 562 - Life After Poaching
Ep 562 · Jan 25, 2026 · 46 min
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 happens to plants after the poachers have been caught? That is exactly what we are talking about in this episode. Director of Horticulture for the San Diego Zoo Safari Park Raj Brown joins us to explore how they ensure that poached cycads, cacti, and other succulents can continue to contribute to plant…
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