WXPR Field Notes
Science Podcasts
On the second Tuesday of every month, we hear from our contributors in the field. Susan Knight and Gretchen Gerrish both work for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology at Trout Lake Station. Scott Bowe is the Director of Kemp Natural Resources Station.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Science Podcasts
Description:
On the second Tuesday of every month, we hear from our contributors in the field. Susan Knight and Gretchen Gerrish both work for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology at Trout Lake Station. Scott Bowe is the Director of Kemp Natural Resources Station.
Language:
English
Episodes
Recording long term data
3/12/2024
There are many kinds of record keeping that scientists use to recapture recent and ancient history
Duration:00:04:51
The Amazing Apple Tree
2/13/2024
Apple cultivars brought as seed from Europe were spread along Native American trade routes, as well as being cultivated on colonial farms. By the mid 1800s, United States apples nursery catalogues sold 350 of the "best" cultivars, showing the proliferation of new North American cultivars by the 19th century.
Duration:00:05:38
El Nino in Wisconsin
1/9/2024
Open lakes, no snow, and sweatshirt weather was the scene this December in Vilas County. Much to the chagrin of ice anglers and cross country skiers, El Nino has taken hold and has had many implications for the local people, economy, and ecosystems.
Duration:00:03:51
Northern Watersnakes
12/12/2023
The Common Watersnake, Nerodia sipedon, is common throughout much of eastern North America. Our local subspecies, the Northern Watersnake, is common throughout much of Wisconsin.
Duration:00:05:16
Welcoming Exotic Invasives
11/14/2023
There are many exotic plants and animals that we don’t consider to be pests. Corn is native to Mexico, soybeans are native to Asia, tulips are native to Europe. Most of our domesticated animals are exotic with domestic cattle originating in Asia. Many of these plants and animals are exotic but not extremely invasive. They have become part of ecosystem around us.
Duration:00:05:34
What do the Gulf Stream and a Northern Lake Have in Common?
9/12/2023
Global warming may also be affecting a global water circulation system abbreviated AMOC that includes the Gulf Stream, that river of ocean water that moves warm tropical water north along the east coast of North America before veering off toward Europe.
Duration:00:04:31
Japanese Beetles Invade the Northwoods
8/8/2023
Gardening in the Northwoods can be challenging. Long winters, short summers, and our many whitetail deer friends all conspire against us. In recent years, we have one more pest to deal with, the Japanese beetle.
Duration:00:04:53
Field Notes: Spiny Water Fleas
6/13/2023
Spiny water fleas are aquatic arthropods called zooplankton. Zooplankton are small shrimp-like creatures, and most of them survive by eating phytoplankton, the microscopic photosynthetic algae at the bottom of the food chain in lakes.
Duration:00:04:59
Field Notes: A severe winter
4/11/2023
By the end of last month, northern Wisconsin had already reached the ‘severe or ‘very severe’ annual winter index thresholds set by the Wisconsin DNR for the first time since 2013
Duration:00:04:29
Field Notes: Winter Leaves
3/14/2023
Most trees are either deciduous, and drop their leaves in fall, or are evergreen, and hang onto their leaves for more than one season. The evergreen trees tend to be in more stressed environments, stressed by either cold temperatures or low water availability.
Duration:00:04:20
Field Notes: Fishing vs. Catching
2/14/2023
In this month's installment of Field Notes, Scott Bowe of Kemp Station discusses how water temperature and oxygen impact fish activity.
Duration:00:05:07
Field Notes: Fieldwork in Florida
1/10/2023
In this month's installment of Field Notes, Trout Lake Station’s Gretchen Gerrish takes us to Florida with a lesson about marine field research.
Duration:00:05:00
Field Notes: How are Oreos derived from plants?
12/6/2022
Whether you are a vegan, vegetarian or omnivore, plants are at the base of what you eat — even Oreos.
Duration:00:04:58
Field Notes: Harvesting wild cranberries
11/8/2022
In this month's installment of Field Notes, Scott Bowe of Kemp Station discusses wild cranberries in the Northwoods.
Duration:00:04:10
Field Notes: Slimy, slippery stones
10/11/2022
If you walk barefoot in a lake or stream, your feet might slide on slippery stones. What makes them so slippery? In this month’s installment of Field Notes, Trout Lake Station’s Gretchen Gerrish takes us underwater to learn about life on rocks.
Duration:00:04:23
Field Notes: Why swans are becoming more common on Northwoods lakes
9/13/2022
Swans may not be the most important factor in the decline of wild rice, but there is no doubt that the number of swans has increased on our Northwoods lakes. How did this happen?
Duration:00:04:53
Wood and the Dog Days of Summer
8/9/2022
In this month's installment of Field Notes, Scott Bowe of Kemp Station discusses how wood moves.
Duration:00:04:29
Field Notes: Nettlesome Plants
6/14/2022
As we move through the season, keep your eye out for these unloved plants. They are all native to Wisconsin and belong here just as the maples and hazelnuts and lady slippers belong in our woods.
Duration:00:04:25
The importance of Miner Bees as Northwoods pollinators
5/10/2022
In this month's installment of Field Notes, Scott Bowe of Kemp Station discusses miner bees, important pollinators.
Duration:00:05:23
Field Notes: Fresh Eggs through the Winter
4/19/2022
What it's like raising chickens through a Northwoods winter.
Duration:00:04:57