Sync into the Earth

Episode produced by Julia Harper, Kevin Tsang, and Shameem Nasrabadi. This episode of Sync into the Earth is an introduction to an Indigenous ethic and approach to invasive species management. The dominant western scientific characterization of invasive species has become prevalent even outside of scientific circles, and includes regular use of exterminationist, warlike, and xenophobic metaphor and rhetoric. This framework is at odds with many Indigenous cosmologies, which centre on humility, mutual respect and mindful relations between humans and the natural world, and which understand migration as a natural occurrence, regardless of the role that humans play in mediating most species introductions. The focus of the episode is our interview with Gary Pritchard, biologist, environmental consultant, and member of Curve Lake First Nation, who details an Anishinaabe perspective on the topic. Included in the discussion are explanations of Anishinaabe teachings on ecological inquiry and respectful use as well as colonization and settler-Indigenous relations, particularly in scientific and land use & management contexts. We fill out the episode by exploring the implications of our discussion on Asian carp management and invasive sea lamprey management, and briefly introduce Two-Eyed Seeing, a Mi'kmaw perspective on settler-Indigenous relations. Care is taken throughout the episode to not characterize any perspectives as pan-Indigenous or universal to a particular Indigenous nation.

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 Jess Harriot, Dale Moskoff & Joseph Kawalec. In this first episode of Sync into the Earth we discuss definitions of intelligence, how they can be applied to identify intelligence in the animal kingdom and known examples of animal intelligence. We began with various definitions of learning and intelligence and explain the distinction between classical conditioning and creative problem solving. We then discuss scientific studies of animal intelligence, how intelligence in dogs may contribute to the personal relationships humans form with their pets, tool use, altruism, memory and recognition of self in birds, evidence of imagination and planning in octopuses, social behaviour and play in manatees, and barriers to understanding animal intelligence from a human point of view. We conclude by examining the connection between our understanding of animal intelligence and opinions on 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.

A taste of what's to come!