The Essential Rhythm

Essential Rhythm 1/21/21: Gulls as sentinels

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

In this episode we discuss the potential use of gulls as sentinel species to track anthropogenic chemical pollution. Based on the generalist feeding habits, gulls are not ideal candidates for widespread monitoring.

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Essential Rhythm 1/7/21: Persistent Organic Pollution

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

In this episode we take a side trip to explain how persistent organic pollutants accumulate in food webs in the environment.

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Essential Rhythm 12/17/20: Consider the gull

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode introduces sea gulls as a group of animals worth observing. We talk about their intelligence and feeding behavior.

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Essential Rhythm 12/31/20: In Praise of Generalists

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode talks about the trade offs for seagulls of being generalist in terms of food source, including mixed findings by researchers on the benefits of eating human refuse.

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Essential Rhythm 12/17/20: Consider the gull

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode introduces sea gulls as a group of animals worth observing. We talk about their intelligence and feeding behavior.

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Essential Rhythm 12/3/20: Soft Shell Clams

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode describes the physical characteristics and evolutionary trade offs embodied by Mya arenaria, the soft shell clam.

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Essential Rhythm 11/12/20: My Science Happy Place

Producer/Host: Sarah O’Malley

This episode describes a research project seeking to understand the populations of Mya arenaria, the soft shell clam, through exploring the settlement and recruitment of juvenile clams on the mud flats.