Paul Andersen explains how aposematic coloration (or warning coloration) is used for protection in the natural world. He explains how bright colors can be caused by either sexual selection or a warning coloration to predators. He also explains how organisms can use this coloration to mimic other organisms with a similar pattern. He differentiates between Batesian and Müllerian mimicry.
Paul Andersen explains how biogeochemical cycling is used to move nutrients from the environment into living material and back again. He explains the water cycle, the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the phosphorus cycle. He also explains the CHNOPS mnemonic device. He also explains why organisms need carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus and sulfur.
Paul Andersen steps you through eight types of animal behavior. He starts by defining ethology and explaining that behavior varies from innate to learned. He discusses each of the following with examples; instinct, fixed action pattern, imprinting, associative learning, trial and error learning, habituation, observational learning and insight.
Paul Andersen describes the process of ecological succession. During this process life reestablished itself after a disturbance. During primary success all of the material is removed including the soil. For example during a volcanic eruption all traces of life are removed. However during secondary success the soil remains intact. An example of secondary success is wildfires.
Paul Andersen explains the niche. He gives three different pronunciations and two different definitions. He then discusses the competitive exclusion principle and the idea that a niche cannot be shared by two species.
Paul Andersen explains the differences between an r and a K selected species. He starts with a brief description of population growth noting the importance of; r or growth rate, N or number of individuals in the population, and K the carrying capacity. He describes three different survivorship curves found in organisms. He lists the characteristics of r-selected species like bacteria and K-selected species like humans.
Paul Andersen explains the importance of biodiversity. He starts by describing how biodiversity can be species, genetic or ecosystem diversity. He explains the importance of keystone species in an environment and gives two examples; the jaguar and the sea otter. He finishes with a quote from the father of biodiversity, E.O. Wilson.
Paul Andersen explains the importance of genetic variation within a population. He begins with a discussion of the devil facial tumor that is a form of cancer transferred between Tasmanian devils. He then explains how a decrease in genetic variability nearly led to the extinction of the black-footed ferret. He finally discussed the importance of genetic variability in disease resistance. He explains how mutations in humans allow some of them to be resistant to HIV and how the allele frequency can be calculated in a population using the Hardy-Weinberg equation.
Paul Andersen explains how ecosystems change over time. He starts by explaining how global climate change will impacts ecosystems around the planet. He then discusses how continental drift created climatic changes that impacted mammal species. He finishes with a brief discussion of how local meteorological changes can impact local ecosystems.
Paul Andersen explains how populations interact in an ecosystem. The symbiosis of several populations is based on effects that may be neutral, positive, or negative. Interactions like mutualism, commensalism and parasitism are included. Human impacts to ecosystems are also considered using the invasive species kudzu.
Paul Andersen explains how ecosystems interact with biotic and abiotic factors. He explains and gives examples of food chains and food webs. He shows how limiting factors eventually leads to logistic growth. Real data from Yellowstone Park is used to show how populations interact. He ends the podcast by showing how human impacts can eventually lead to changes within an ecosystem.
Paul Andersen starts by explaining the major classification terms in ecology. He then explains how a community can be measured by species composition and species diversity. The symbiosis of leaf cutter ants is included. The podcast ends with a discussion of population growth.
Paul Andersen explains how organisms use information to communicate with each other. Signals are used by bees doing the waggle dance to communicate the location of flowers. Territorial markings are used by wolves to establish territory. Complex courtship rituals are used by sage grouse to ensure mating success. Cooperation is used by organisms that flock to ensure their individual survival.
