Sync into the Earth s.livingstone

Episode produced by Grace Bowen-MacLean, Andre Sanchez, and Amenda Hong

In this episode of Sync into the Earth we investigate the impact of invasive species on Canadian Agriculture and discuss management strategies being employed, as well as the aspects of integrated pest management in Canada. We explore three different invasive species: a trickily managed pest, the spider mite; a current focus of pest managers, the tarnished plant bug; and a pest on the radars of managers because of its potential threat, the spotted lanternfly. Joining us in this conversation was Dr. Sean
McCann, a research scientist of the Agriculture and Agri Food Division in Newfoundland specializing in entomology. We speak to him about his research and
about these three invasive pests. Our talk ranges from technology and novel management strategies, to nerding out over some of the amazing skills and adaptations arthropods have that add to the challenge of management. We hope this episode is inviting for any listener to enjoy learning a bit more about an underexplored topic.

Episode produced by Angelina Campbell, Andrea D’Souza, and Guangrui Li (Rui)

This episode of Sync into the Earth explores the fascinating global topic of urban sustainability. Given the breadth of the topic, we focused on sustainability efforts that we, and likely our audience, are familiar with here in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). We begin by defining urban sustainability, because this concept can be interpreted in different ways. Next, we dive into why urban sustainability is essential and why we as humans should care about it. This section provides information on the benefits humans gain from urban green spaces, such as positive physical and mental health effects. We further discuss the importance of this concept by looking at the ecosystem services biodiversity provides in an urban setting, and what urban biodiversity looks like. We end the episode by talking about the different ways that sustainability can be achieved in an urban environment. This includes speaking up against government plans and policies and working with members of your community to voice large-scale concerns and actions to be taken. We also mentioned individual efforts that are easier to achieve, such as planting a pollinator garden in your yard. We hope that this episode gives an insightful snippet on how to make urban living a little bit greener.

Episode produced by Lidor Levy, Kaitlyn Magyar, and Sophie Tan.

For this episode of Sync Into the Earth, we explore the topic of biological control. Specifically, how it is used, and its relevance in today's world. Biological control has been used for centuries, with one of its most notable applications being Australia's infamous cane toads. Today's practices scarcely resemble that of the cane toad but rather highlight scientific development and the
understanding of species interactions. We discuss practices used in the fields of agriculture and invasive species management, with some thoughts on the uncertainties associated with climate change.

Within agriculture, biological control is growing in use over pesticides. We chat about a study that examined the use of predatory mites to control strawberry mites that showed both promising results and limitations. Field research identifies difficulties regarding climate variations and the maintenance of introduced control species, while greenhouse applications are less restricted. Invasive species managers have also been especially receptive to biological control applications, with Phragmites and Purple Loosestrife programs showing promising results.

Episode produced by Abiraam Selvakumar, Kirsten Scott, and Tyler Dender

This episode explores new technologies available to conservation scientists for monitoring and protecting wildlife and their habitats. In the rapidly changing tech world, it can be hard to follow what’s possible, so each of our speakers focuses on recent peer-reviewed research on a conservation technology of interest. Abiraam talks about camera traps, and their importance in understanding animal behaviour, detecting rare species movement patterns and population numbers, along with their significance in the fight against poaching. Tyler discusses the benefits of using drones to monitor wildlife remotely including tracking animal behaviours, identifying cryptic or dangerous species, and the surveillance of illegal activities in remote locations. Kirsten considers a novel artificial intelligence (AI) program, CAPTAIN, that outperforms current planning models to optimize conservation efforts. It uses reinforcement learning to train models for conservation prioritization by best utilizing the available data and resources, resulting in effective area
selection for conservation policies. What’s also interesting about these new, powerful tools is they can be used in community science or can use community-collected data, another influential ‘tool’ with considerable potential to assist in biodiversity conservation.

Episode produced by Morgan McMullen, Paige Van Rooy & Harlow Wood.

The study of microplastic pollution is fairly new to the world of environmental science, yet this emerging field is gaining traction. These plastic pollutants are pouring into both marine and freshwater systems, mistakenly being eaten by aquatic species, and accumulating as they make their way up the food chain. But what legislation is in place to prevent this and what steps can we take to help reduce the amount of plastic in our waters? This research is critical, as we do not fully know what effects microplastics have on our ecosystems and human health. In this episode of Sync into the Earth, we discuss this emerging topic with two young researchers currently studying microplastics.

First, we are joined by Karly McMullen, a Masters student at UBC. Karly’s research explores the bioaccumulation of microplastics through the food web, using the Galapagos Penguin as a flagship species. Second, we are joined by Eden Hataley, a PhD student at the University of Toronto. Eden’s research is focused on synthesizing scientific evidence to inform the development of management strategies to reduce plastic emissions in the Great Lakes. With both guests, we discuss the topic of science communication, the importance of this research, and ways in which we can share these novel findings with the world.

Episode produced by Leah Hannah, Sarah Zhao, and Franny Fu.


We’re spending more and more time on social media, but what does that mean for the biodiversity crisis? This episode of Sync into the Earth explores the nuances of using social media for wildlife conservation. Our discussion dives into questions such as: How can social media be used to promote activism? What are
some downsides of using social media to protect species? To answer these questions, we speak with conservation scientist and PhD candidate at Carleton University, Jordanna Bergman, about her study Evaluating the Benefits and Risks of Social Media for Wildlife Conservation. She educates us about “bright spots” in social media campaigns, such as a hunting campaign to remove invasive lionfish in Florida. We also discuss how social media can promote the exotic pet trade, referencing the study Exotic Animal Cafés in Japan: A New Fashion With Potential Implications for Biodiversity, Global Health, and Animal Welfare. Finally, we chat about the study Selling Extinction: The Social Media(tion) Of Global Cheetah Conservation that critiques social media for how
it can unnecessarily sensationalize extinctions. Ultimately, our conversation challenges us to think more critically about how we use social media for wildlife conservation.