Show Notes
Across south-eastern Australia, bogong moths seem to be everywhere. A few years ago, it was a different picture: scientists witnessed a population crash, and habitat threats put the species on the IUCN Red List. Are we seeing a bogong bounce-back? Jonathan Webb speaks to Dr Kate Umbers about these incredible critters, the many unsolved mysteries of their lives — and what their future could look like. You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science editor and presenter Jonathan Webb on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more. Get in touch with us: [email protected] Featuring: Associate Professor Kate Umbers, Western Sydney University Further information: iNaturalist Bogong watchBogong watch projectThis episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Gadigal, Ngunnawal and Ngambri people.
More from The Science Show - Separate stories podcast
No more “Red In Tooth and Claw”? Well, that’s not the only story in evolution – from the beginning. Rowan Hooper in his latest book, Togetherness, shows how lichens, corals and even ourselves, flourish by means of other life forms. We have mitochondria, plants have chloroplasts, both formerly free-living creatures. We would not have evolved to our current form and could not survive without these once-invaders.
Bees survive by collaboration. To fight infection, bees arrange their honey and other stores in ways that repel disease. Microbiologist and bee researcher Kenya Fernandes led a study into the ways bees arrange their hives for maximum protection from microbial infection.
Lions are under considerable stress across Africa. Their habitat is fragmented and impacted by human activity such as agriculture. Being unable to roam freely, has led to inbreeding. Climate change is expected to impact their habitat and bring additional stress.
Why did reptiles prevail for so long and why did mammals take so long to become dominant predators? Adam Lindholm is looking at body size, availability of prey and environmental conditions to reconsider our understanding of the history of reptiles and mammals.
Theme parks and museums draw big crowds for dinosaurs. Kids love them. But palaeontologist James Ronan says some displays are based on ideas from the 1970s and present sound effects from movies. He says it is important to present current ideas about palaeontology accurately. So James Ronan is undertaking a worldwide audit of dinosaurs. Science communicator and podcast host Conor O’Keefe is also disturbed by inaccurate dinosaur displays at theme parks and supports the dinosaur edit saying it is long overdue.