The Best Biome Grassland Groupies
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- Science
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Three prairie biologists make the ever-growing argument for why grasslands are the world's best biome. Features hosts Rachel Roth, Nicole Brown, and Allan Saylor of Kansas-based nonprofit Grassland Groupies.
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Better National Symbols
We get patriotic (kinda) in this special episode where all three hosts work together to petition for new national symbols for the US of A. New floral emblem, new national symbol, and a brand new category all-together. Why do we love non-native national symbols? Who knows. Do better, America.
Photos and more are at our site.
Primary Sources:
As if this silly episode could have any. Do let us know who picked the best emblem though.
Contact:
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info@grasslandgroupies.org
Support us:
Bonfire Merch Store
Or donate: Donorbox; CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies -
Goat Antelope Knife Fight
The fastest land animal in North America, second fastest in the world: the graceful, wonderful, pronghorn. Nicole shares all the reasons these icons of the American prairie are truly the best from their evolutionary history to their epic stare battles between each other and rump flashes to warn of predators.
Primary Sources:
Kitchen, D. 1974. Social Behavior and Ecology of the Pronghorn. Wildlife Monographs, No. 38., pp 3-96.
Bender, L., Rosas-Rosas, O.,Hartsough, M., Rodden, C., Morrow, P. 2019. Effect of predation on adult pronghorn Antilocapra americana (Antilocapridae) in New Mexico, Southwestern USA. Mammalia, 2019, Vol 83, Issue 3 p.248-254.
On the Move: Pronghorn Migrations Across Seasons. The Nature Conservancy and National Wildlife Federation.
Contact:
Website Facebook Twitter TikTok
info@grasslandgroupies.org
Support us:
Bonfire Merch Store
Or donate: Donorbox, CashApp: $GrasslandGroupies -
(Patas) Monkeying Around With Ants
Patas Monkeys are weird little guys with fabulous mustaches and very intricate relationships with a special tree on the African savannah. We talk acacias, ants, and the Lorax as Allan tries to make Nicole love just a single primate.
Photos and more are at our site.
Primary Sources:
Palmer, T., Stanton, M., Young T., Goheen, J., Pringle, R., and Karban, R. 2008. Breakdown of an ant-plant mutualism follows the loss of large herbivores from an African savanna.
Isbell, L. and Young, T. 2007. Interspecific and temporal variation of ant species within Acacia drepanolobium ant domatia, a staple food of patas monkeys (Erythrocebus patas) in Laikipia, Kenya
Dr. Seuss and the real Lorax. Dominy, N., Winters, S., Pease, D., Higham, J. 2018. Dr Seuss and the real Lorax. Nature Ecology & Evolution.
Contact:
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info@grasslandgroupies.org
Support us:
Bonfire Merch Store
Or donate: Donorbox -
Bonus! Power of Fire: Kindred Podcast
This is a special podcast swap episode where we host Kindred Podcast's Power of Fire episode. Learn about the history of fire, how it shapes the landscape and people that live there.
Speakers:
Tony Incashola Jr., forest manager for CSKT (Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes), and Stephanie Gillin, information and education program manager and former wildlife biologist for the CSKT at the Flathead Indian Reservation.
Kindred Podcast hosts: Kate and Jen. Producer: Kat Gatti.
Primary Sources:
Kindred Podcast website
Contact Grassland Groupies:
Website Facebook Twitter TikTok
info@grasslandgroupies.org
Support us:
Bonfire Merch Store
Or donate: Donorbox -
Sickle Claw Seriema
The long-legged, sickle claw wielding seriema is a wonderful bird that provides insight into the extinct terror birds of old. Rachel explains the link between past and present and we ponder whether or not scientists ever bother actually looking at birds.
Photos and more are at our site.
Primary Sources:
Oswald, T., Curtice, B., Bolander, M., Lopez, C. January 2023. Observation of Claw Use and Feeding Behavior of the Red-Legged Seriema and Its Implication for Claw Use in Deinonychosaurs. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science.
Contact:
Website Facebook Twitter TikTok
info@grasslandgroupies.org
Support us:
Bonfire Merch Store
Or donate: Donorbox -
Embrace Winter (Wood Bison)
The conservation story of Canada's polar-vortex-loving Wood Bison is one of colossal mistakes, stacked odds, and (to our gleeful surprise) hope and optimism. These animals have survived drowning, disease, and hybridization, and have gone on to... success? Allan explores this topic in today's episode.
Primary Sources:
2018 Wood Bison Recovery Strategy (SARA Series)
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/species-risk-public-registry/recovery-strategies/wood-bison-2018.html#toc11
Contact:
Website Facebook Twitter TikTok
info@grasslandgroupies.org
Support us:
Bonfire Merch Store
Or donate: Donorbox
Customer Reviews
RooRoo
Love the detail and deep dive in every episode! My nerd self (high compliment) is hooked.
Unexpected in all the best ways
Having grown up in KS, I have a pretty good grasp on grasslands, or so I thought. From parrots to river islands to prehistoric camels, grasslands are far more expansive than I ever imagined. Nicole and Rachel expertly educate and entertain in an effort to bring the Best Biome the credit it deserves.
Wonderfully informative
Great podcast that is very informative and the host enthusiasm is infectious. I wish there was a little more editing and little short episodes but overall always entertaining