The Podcast Aquatic

In addition to a well-earned reputation as one of the world's largest freshwater-focused aquaria, the Tennessee Aquarium has long stood at the forefront of freshwater science. That's especially true when it comes to studying and protecting the amazing aquatic life found in the Southeast.This year marks the 30th anniversary for the creation of the Aquarium's official conservation arm. In 1996, the Aquarium, Tennessee River Gorge Trust and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga jointly formed the Southeast Aquatic Research Institute (SARI). Then a separate non-profit, SARI was the precursor to the Aquarium's current conservation programs, which are headquartered at the state-of-the-art Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute field station. Over the last 30 years, the Aquarium has worked across statelines and watersheds and alongside a bevy of partners to safeguard the Southeast's amazing aquatic biodiversity. This episode features a discussion with the Aquarium's former and current conservation science leadership, who look back on past successes and significant milestones. They also show their hand, just a bit, to lay out the Aquarium's future ambitions to expand its conservation impact even farther afield. Episode castCasey Phillips, host/senior communications specialist/TNACI stanDr. Paul Johnson, former director (Tennessee Aquarium Research Institute)Stephanie Chance, direct of conservation (Tennessee Aquarium)Dr. Bernie Kuhajda, aquatic conservation biologist

With Halloween just a few days away, we’re pretty much at peak spooky season. At the Aquarium, that’s code for ODDtober, our celebration of nature’s weird and wonderful side. At the time this releases, the odds are you’re either actively workshopping costume ideas or are already hard at work getting one ready for yourself or your homegrown knee-high trick or treaters. However skilled you think yourself to be, though, your efforts have got nothing on some of nature’s most cunning masters of masquerade and mischief. In this episode, a trio of aquarium experts explain how these legends of the animal and plant kingdoms put our own tricking and treating to shame. Episode castCasey Phillips, host/senior communications specialist/often-tricked, sometimes-treatedAustin Prater, senior horticulturistRose Segbers, senior entomologistSharyl Crossley, lead aquarist (Ocean Journey building)

Ecologically, it's always problematic when a species ends up in a place it doesn't belong. Lately, plenty of people in the Southeast are experiencing an added "ick" factor after coming face-to-web with an especially creepy invasive species, the Joro Spider. This large, colorful species is native to Southeast Asia, but for the last 10 years or so, it has been quietly reproducing rampantly and spreading through the American Southeast. Public awareness of this arachnid invasion hit fever pitch recently thanks to the appearance of Joro Spiders in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The species is now on the park's official "Most Wanted" list. In this episode, the Aquarium's senior entomologist discusses how Joros made their way to the States, what risk they pose to native ecosystems and why we're seeing so many of them in our neck of the woods. The National Parks Service has recommended the public document sightings of Joros as they encounter them through the app iNaturalist. This free app is available for iOS and Android devices and is a fun way to keep track of all the animals and plants you encounter, invasive or otherwise: iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/inaturalist/id6475737561Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.inaturalist.android&hl=en_USEpisode CastCasey Phillips, host/senior communications specialist/Joro web survivorRose Segbers, senior entomologist

Whether you're talking crocodiles, cayman, alligators or gharials, crocodilians are some of Earth's most successfully designed species. With armored bodies, incredible bite force and surprisingly dedicated parental care regimen, these reptiles have successfully adapted to thrive around the planet and have outlasted many other animals, including the dinosaurs. In this all-croc episode of the show — the first to tie into the Aquarium's annual ODDtober celebration — two animal care specialists with herpetological leanings chat about sensory organs, how to tell a 'gator from a croc' and why we should be thankful these ancient predators are around. Episode castCasey Phillips, host/senior communications specialist/squishy mammalJennifer McPheeters, River Journey lead animal care specialistErin Muldoon, herpetologist II

Generally speaking, the exhibits at the Tennessee Aquarium are designed to replicate a single, distinct ecosystem, from the species residing there to the vegetation that helps set the stage. There are a few exceptions to this, however, and the subject of this episode is one of them. When it opened 14 years ago, the River Giants exhibit offered a single, massive system in which to showcase truly gargantuan fish from all over the world. In one place, guests could see everything from South American Red-tailed Catfish and Arapaima and Southeast Asian Giant Gourami to gigantic whiptail rays from North America.This episode was recorded more than a year ago, at time of publication, but it's still a fascinating deep-dive into one of the Aquarium's most impressive collection of huge, HUGE fish. Episode CastCasey Phillips, host/senior communications specialist/mostly normal-size humanRachel Thayer, assistant curator of fishesStephen Beaman, senior aquarist