Episode 9

Ep. 9. Poison Ivy Getting Worse and Beetles Escape Through Frog's Rear End

Increasing levels of CO2 is one of the driving factors for global climate change. This same CO2 also happens to be vital for plant growth via photosynthesis. As a result, fast-growing plants, such as poison ivy, are actually becoming more abundant and more hazardous.

https://www.southernliving.com/news/poison-ivy-more-poisonous-bigger-climate-change?fbclid=IwAR24gBcp2fknpLYUcnG6IDvLEndKF6RyMhAUqFDgYiWbpoSWsHIN0kXll3A

If you were eaten by a frog, how would you survive? Well, these water beetles survive by swimming 'downstream'.

https://www.sciencenews.org/article/water-beetle-frog-eaten-alive-escape-death-butt-excretion?fbclid=IwAR2OhiL1E6IEqQs6ZjoK_ukVoL82-Ikx-zJaaUqkdO7_wnvKuprSOzcjt6Q

And lastly, here is a link to provide you nightmares of swarms of fungus gnat larvae.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MwYvLaJ6Ho

About the Podcast

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Jolly Green Scientists
Digesting scientific research relevant to the green industry

About your hosts

Profile picture for Erfan Vafaie

Erfan Vafaie

I'm an entomologist with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, based out of Overton, Texas (U.S.A.). I conduct research and educational programming on integrative pest management of ornamental and nursery crops, working mainly with producers and other green industry professionals. My online 'pseudonym' is the SixLeggedAggie.
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Vikram Baliga

I'm the manager of the University Teaching and Research Greenhouse and Horticultural Gardens at Texas Tech University. I also serve as an instructor of horticulture in the Department of Plant and Soil Science and I'm a long-time and active science communicator. I'm also a thunderous plant nerd.