Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Cat Among the Penguins

This week Jenny and Becky dive in to environmental philosophy and ask the question does nature have intrinsic value? And if so, where does this lie, in sentient beings, living organisms, ecosystems, or species?

This week we meet with Professor Dave Goulson and Dr. Elynor Moore to discuss the media hype around saving honeybees. Are they in as much trouble as we think, or is it time we end our obsession with saving them?

In Episode one, we meet with Dr. Monica McCard and Lisette Keus from Lionfish Caribbean to discuss the problems of invasive lionfish in the Western North Atlantic. We talk about the success of culling efforts, the possibility of eradication and even a robot fish hoover.

Welcome to Cat Among the Penguins, the brand new podcast that dives in to conservations most challenging debates. With hosts Rebecca Nesbit and Jenny Hickman

This week, Cat Among the Penguins explores the phenomenon of the 'Octopocalypse' and its potential implications for the environment and biodiversity. As octopus numbers surge around the UK, what does this mean about the state of our ecosystems, and could it even be a sign that our oceans are undergoing a mass extinction?

Join Jenny and Becky as they delve into the concept of mass extinction events, the Holocene extinction, and the global biodiversity crisis. The impact of the rise in cephalopod populations on fisheries and the reasons behind the octopus bloom are also discussed, along with an investigation into its potential causes.

Takeaways

• The rise in cephalopod populations may be indicative of a larger environmental issue.
• The global biodiversity crisis is a significant concern with far-reaching implications.

Chapters

• 00:00 The Octopocalypse
• 01:31 Mass Extinction Events
• 02:34 The Holocene Extinction
• 03:49 Global Biodiversity Crisis
• 04:48 Rise in Cephalopod Populations
• 05:07 Impact on Fisheries
• 06:41 Octopus Sightings and Diving
• 08:20 Reasons for Octopus Bloom
• 09:30 Investigating the Octopus Bloom

This episode Jenny and Becky delve into the significance of Neanderthal DNA and its impact on human evolution and identity. They explore the characteristics and extinction of Neanderthals, the interbreeding between Neanderthals and modern humans, and the implications for species definitions and cultural taboos. What does it mean that humans frequently interbred with other hominin groups, what genetic legacy did this leave behind, and what does it mean for humans today?

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Neanderthal Genetics
• 02:02 Neanderthal Characteristics and Extinction
• 03:33 Interbreeding with Neanderthals
• 05:32 Breaking Taboos and Species Definitions
• 06:01 Interbreeding with Other Hominin Groups

In Episode 5 of Cat Among the Penguins, Jenny and Becky revisit honeybees. In Episode 2 we heard how honeybees are a domestic animal - farmed by people for agricultural purposes. But this time, we discuss the populations that live in the wild. Free-living honeybees are seen by many as a threat to honeybee populations. But is this really the case? Should we be worried about free-living bees and their impact on domestic bees, or is there a different way to view the situation?

Swimming with ocean megafauna such as whale sharks and manta rays is increasingly popular for holiday makers across the globe. It is often sold as an opportunity to contribute to data collection, or to progress conservation for these species. But is this true? Jenny and Becky talk to Dr. Simon Pierce and Janis Argeswara from the Marine Megafauna Foundation to find out.