Defenders of the Earth

Sebastian and Rutendo celebrate nature’s defenders in all their
forms. They argue that vultures should get more credit for their
vital role as scavengers. Their super-acidic stomachs kill off
deadly bacteria, like anthrax, that accumulates onrotting
carcasses. This prevents the spread of disease and recycles
nutrients back into the environment.


Molecular biologist Mike Kolomiets tells us that the fragrance of
newly mown grass isactually a scream for help and a warning to
nearby plants that a herbivore is around. Grass can defend itself
by releasing toxic metabolites and summoning the assistance of
parasitic wasps that attack plant-eating caterpillars.


We hear from prominent Brazilian climate activists Sônia
Guajajara and Celia Xakriabá, both of whom believe that
inidigenous women have a vital role to play in


the fight to preserve Brazil’s vast biodiversity.


Biologist and comedian Simon Watt argues that to protect the
biodiversity of our planet we need to be less fixated on cute
creatures which are “lucky enough to have


a face”, and take more interest in Earth’s ugly animals.


Credits:


The BBC Earth podcast is presented by Sebastian Echeverri and
Rutendo Shackleton.


This episode was produced by Rachel Byrne and Geoff Marsh.


The researchers were Seb Masters and Dawood Quereshi.


The Production Manager was Catherine Stringer and the Production
Co-ordinator was Gemma Wootton.


Podcast Theme Music was composed by Axel Kacoutié, with mixing
and additional sound design by Peregrine Andrews.


The Associate Producer is Cristen Caine and the Executive
Producer is Deborah Dudgeon.


Special thanks to:


Mike Kolomiets from Texas A&M University for sharing his
research into grass.


Simon Watt from the Ugly Animal Preservation Society.


Alice Aedy for the report from Brazil and her interviewees Sônia
Guajajara, Célia Xakriabá.


Interviewee Carl Gerhardt from University of Missouri and Lang
Elliot for the amphibious soundscape.





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