Radiolab wraps 2015 with a series of special episodes.

Source: www.radiolab.org

The Galapagos Islands (as are most islands) filled with remarkably distinct species from the mainland–one of the key reasons that the island were so instrumental in shaping Charles Darwin’s thinking about evolution.  This environmental Radiolab podcast is mainly about the Galapagos wildlife and it’s conservation and covers many important biogeographic concepts (with time in the episode): 

  • Traveling to the Galapagos (5:25)
  • Who will fight to protect the environment? (10:00)
  • Tortoises and their role in habitats (13:30)
  • Invasive Species and goats (16:30)
  • Removal of Invasive species (19:00)
  • The return of the original habitat (25:40)
  • Local anger against conservation (26:30)
  • ‘Restoring’ extinct tortoise species (30:00)
  • How do we best protect nature? (37:00)
  • Genetically engineering extinct species (41:00)
  • Tourism and ecological change (46:45)
  • Darwin and finches (50:00)
  • Endangered finches and flies (55:00)
  • Hybrid species (1:02:00)

 

Tags: Ecuador, biogeography, environment, ecology, historical.