The Best Biome
The Best Biome Podcast
Three prairie biologists make the ever-growing argument for why grasslands are the world’s best biome.
Nicole, Rachel, and Allan discuss the deep evolutionary history of the plains, the intricacies of unique grassland ecosystems, and frequently just lose our minds about absurdities like ostriches stealing each other’s children.
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The latest episodes of the Best Biome
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[S4E8] The Spookiest Biome!
‘Tis the season FOR TERROR! Fortunately, nature is pretty metal and has no shortage of scary phenomena to discuss. On our Halloween episode of The Best Biome, we bring you . . .
Listen Online[S4E7] The Beginner’s Guide to Hanging Out with Rattlesnakes
In an episode chock full of PSA’s, Nicole gives us a full slate of reasons to appreciate the ever-charismatic rattlesnake (and some helpful strategies for not dying on your next . . .
Listen Online[S4E6] Rivercane Reverie
In this month’s Best Biome, Nicole tells the story of a grassland ecosystem so rare and so endangered that neither of her co-hosts had any idea it existed! We’re talking . . .
Listen Online[S4E5] Sunflower Politics
Our view of nature is often constrained by the idea of competition: life as a zero-sum game, where the victorious survive, and the defeated fade into extinction. But not every . . .
Listen Online[S4E4] Healing the World (and Heavy Metals) with Plants
Phytoremediation. A fun word to say, but what does it mean? Turns out it’s quite simple: using the superpower many plants naturally have to heal our wonderful Earth from terrible . . .
Listen Online[S4E3] The Hottest Reptile (Tegus)
The Best Biome finally reps reptiles properly as Nicole tells us all about an enormous lizard of the South American grasslands. Buckle up for voracious appetites, raging hormones, and an . . .
Listen OnlineBest Biome: Deeper Dive
For some of our episodes, we’ve developed more in-depth coverage of the content with photos and summaries of the topics. Here’s a randomized list! My (Rachel) personal favorite is Midwestern Oak Savanna.
Crayfish
These feisty little ecosystem engineers are expert diggers, seek out drugs, and are great models for anxiety.
Read the full post.Baboons: A Grasslands Primate
Baboons are a group of ground-dwelling grasslanders whose habitat use and social structure might help us learn about our own hominid ancestors.
Read the full post.Hyenas
Let's be real: hyenas are savage scavengers and that's why we love them. They need some good PR, but let's accept them as they are.
Read the full post.Ostrich
Ostrich: the world's biggest bird and toughest survivor. They nest together, have radiators for necks, and can drink saltwater.
Read the full post.Bumblebee
Bumblebees are excellent pollinators and have surprisingly complex brains.
Read the full post.Diseased Bloodsuckers
Saw-filled mouths, magical spit, and so much more. Ticks are truly marvelous little bloodsuckers.
Read the full post.