The Shocking Vastness of Prairie , Part 4
Summary
Hosts Robert Lamb and Joe McCormick conclude their prairie series by examining the prairie dog as a keystone ecosystem engineer, detailing its complex social structure and historical decline due to plague and persecution. They then explore the Rocky Mountain locust, describing its massive, civilization-threatening swarms in the 19th century and its subsequent mysterious extinction. The episode highlights how these species shaped the Great Plains' ecology and human history.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and Intro
Series Recap: Prairie Ecosystems
Lewis and Clark's Prairie Dog Encounters
Prairie Dog Biology and Social Structure
Prairie Dogs as Keystone Species
Prairie Dog Decline and Conservation
The Rocky Mountain Locust Plagues
Locust Extinction and Grasshopper Glaciers
Why the Locusts Vanished
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
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