A Little Greener

Kristen and Sara chat about one of Kristen's favorite animals, the aardvark! Learn about the behavior and adaptations of this unique African mammal, the conservation issues they face, and what on Earth aardvarks have to do with  cucumbers. 

Resources for this episode:

National Geographic: Aardvark

Carnegie Museum of Natural History: A is for Aardvark

ScienceDirect: Aardvark

Cincinnati Zoo: Adventures with Aardvarks

San Diego Zoo: A is for Aardvark

With increased awareness of bee pollinators and the value of their conservation over recent years, there has been growing discussion (and controversy!) over the nature of the relationships between managed western honey bees (Apis mellifera) and wild bees. In this episode, Kristen and Sara chat with entomologist Jon Elmquist, who shares the current evidence for conflict between managed honey bees and wild bees and the implications this may have for bee conservation efforts. Along the way you'll learn how Jon got interested in pollinators and conservation, some of the differences between honey bees and wild bees, and hear about some of the amazing native bee species in North America.

Resources for this episode:

Scientific American: The Problem with Honey Bees

Floral Resource Competition Between Honey Bees and Wild Bees: Is There Clear Evidence and Can We Guide Management and Conservation?

An Overview of the Potential Impacts of Honey Bees to Native Bees, Plant Communities, and Ecosystems in Wild Landscapes

What are the 4Rs?

We often think about conservation on either the global scale (climate change!) or on a personal level (sustainable swaps!), but community-based, local conservation is an extremely important piece of the puzzle. This week, our guest co-host, and Soil and Water Conservation District professional, Kristen, talks us through the history and roles of SWCDs and touches on some other local conservation resources you might not have known that you have!

Resources for this episode:

Non-farmers bumped from Florida's soil and water conservation district boards

Contact Your Local SWCD – IASWCD

Conservation Districts | State Conservation Committee | NH Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food.

In order to protect the planet, we have to care about it. And pop culture can sometimes help make nature more relatable and accessible. With that in mind, Sara and our amazing new guest co-host, Kristen, have some fun discussing the real-world counterparts to the sidekicks in the new live action version of The Little Mermaid. 

Resources for this episode:

Snopes: Myths, Manatees, and Mermaids

Northern Gannet Life History, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Northern Gannet - American Bird Conservancy

NatGeo: Flounders' Eyes Face Skyward, How Do They See the Ocean Floor?

Video: Flatfish Metamorphosis

Fast Facts About Flounder - Ocean Conservancy

Abudefduf saxatilis – Discover Fishes

Blue Crab FAQ | FWC

Galapagos Conservation Trust: Ghost Crab

Parental care in the animal kingdom takes a variety of forms. Who are the gold star parents and who never even sees their kids? Do animals babysit? And do quakkas really throw their babies? 

Resources for this episode:

Parental Care - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Patterns of parental care in vertebrates

Humans aren’t the only ones that help out their adult kids — here’s why animals do it too |

One Thing They Aren't: Maternal - The New York Times

Why Some Animals Forgo Reproduction in Complex Societies | American Scientist

Fact or Fiction?: Birds (and Other Critters) Abandon Their Young at the Slightest Human Touch - Scientific American

Seven Super Mums of the animal kingdom | Pursuit by The University of Melbourne

Professor Allen J. Moore - Uncovering The Evolutionary Origins Of Parental Care • scientia.global

Meet the Alloparents | Natural History Magazine

Parenting in Animals - PMC

The state of rhinos around the world is precarious. At worst, rhino species are critically endangered, and even the species with the largest population, the white rhino is still classified as near threatened by IUCN, and their population is declining. Despite protection and education efforts, the threat of poaching for their horn looms large over all species of rhinos. So, where do we go from here? Casey and Sara look at what drives the rhino horn trade and discuss the pros and cons of an outside the box solution--rhino farming. 

Resources for this episode:

World's Largest Rhino Farm in South Africa for Sale--Business Insider

The horns of a dilemma: Ethical questions about legalising rhino horn trade

RHINO HORN CONSUMERS, WHO ARE THEY? | Traffic.org

World Rhino Day 2022: TM Practitioners warned prescribing endangered species is a crime - Wildlife Trade News from TRAFFIC

Former billionaire to auction world's biggest rhino farm after spending his fortune to save the animals - CBS News

Is the rhino horn trade a cartel? Economic analysis suggests it works like one

State of the Rhino

China's Legalization of Domestic Rhino Horn Trade: Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner Perspectives and the Likelihood of Prescription

2,000 'near threatened' white rhinos are up for auction : NPR2,000 'near threatened' white rhinos are up for auction : NPR

Did a Legal Ivory Sale Increase Smuggling and Poaching? | NBER

Legalizing ivory trade won't save elephants, study concludes | Science | AAAS

After legal-ivory experiment, black markets thrive from greater demand, less risk

iucncsg.org - Farming and the Crocodile Industry

Wildlife Poaching and Trafficking: Combating a Source of Terrorist Funding | United States Institute of Peace

Combating rhino horn demand in Vietnam | African Wildlife Foundation

Powers of Persuasion: Conservation Communications, Behavioural Change and Reducing Demand for Illegal Wildlife Products

Rhinos are iconic animals that most of us can recognize from the time that we're little. However, there's more to rhinos that most people realize! For example, did you know that there are more species of rhinos outside of Africa than inside? Have you ever heard of the hairy rhinoceros? If not, this episode's for you. Sara and Casey discuss the five species of rhinos and what's being done to keep them safe.

Resources:

International Rhino Foundation: Rhino Species

IUCN Red List

Development of third Sumatran rhino sanctuary advances to save species

Save the Rhino: Dehorning

Rhino Resource Center: Why the Name of the White Rhinoceros is not Appropriate

Rhino poaching and illegal trade decline but remain critical threats – new report - Press release | IUCN

Will Fake Rhino Horns Curb Poaching? | Live Science

Rhino Rescue Project: Devaluing Rhino Horn

The Willow Project is an oil drilling project set to begin in the National Petroleum Reserve in northern Alaska--albeit in a scaled down version of the original plan. Casey and Sara explore the history of the project, look at the environmental impacts, and discuss the challenges of breaking free from fossil fuels.

Resources for this episode:

Q&A: Willow oil project and Arctic drilling limits

Alaska's Willow oil project is controversial. Here's why. | AP News

What is the Willow project? The Alaska oil drilling debate, explained. - The Washington Post

The Willow Project and the Race to Pump the “Last Barrel” of Oil - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Biden Administration Sued Over Willow Oil Project in Alaska’s Western Arctic - Center for Biological Diversity

Interior Department Substantially Reduces Scope of Willow Project

Willow drilling: How will it affect polar bears?

Chances are you've heard about the environmental impacts of plastics and how air travel contributes to climate change, but did you know that there's a man-made substance that contributes more than double the emissions of the aviation industry? It's estimated that up to 8% of global carbon dioxide emissions is from the concrete industry--and this is mainly due to the production of cement, an essential ingredient in concrete. Sara and Casey discuss what needs to be done to clean up concrete on this 100th episode of A Little Greener!

Resources for this episode:

The Big Fix: Seven Practical Steps to Save Our Planet by Hal Harvey and Justin Gillis

Cement vs. Concrete: A Case of Mistaken Identities

Explained: Cement vs. concrete — their differences, and opportunities for sustainability | MIT News

Concrete: the most destructive material on Earth | Cities | The Guardian

MIT Researchers Develop New Additives For "Green" Concrete - CleanTechnica

PPE Waste Makes Stronger, More Flexible, Green Concrete

Heat Island Compendium | US EPA

Want To Build A Carbon Neutral Skyscraper? Easy: Just Don't Use Cement. Good Luck With That | Digg

Materials scientist working to revolutionize concrete and radically reduce CO2 emissions

Countering climate change with cool pavements | MIT News

Effects of pavement texture and colour on Urban Heat Islands: An experimental study in tropical climate - ScienceDirect

Expecting your first child can be an overwhelming time, with so much to acquire, learn, and do before baby arrives. The thought of trying to do all that and be environmentally friendly at the same time might feel like too much, but never fear! Casey and Sara are here to discuss being a little greener with a few aspects of baby care: how to prepare for your baby, how to feed your baby, and, oh yes, how to diaper your baby. Listen for the do's and don'ts of getting secondhand items, how to cut down on microplastics, and whether or not cloth diapers are as eco-friendly (or as scary) as you might think. 

Resources for this episode:

Climate change is making people think twice about having children

Environmental Impact of Feeding with Infant Formula in Comparison with Breastfeeding - PMC

Disposable Diaper - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics

Facts | Breastfeeding | CDC

Study: Plastic Baby Bottles Shed Microplastics When Heated. Should You Worry? : Goats and Soda : NPR

A highway paved with recycled diapers may change the cloth vs. disposables debate - The Washington Post

Life Cycle Assessment of Disposable and Reusable Nappies in the UK