Nature's Archive #68: Spring Galls: Nature's Master Geneticists, a conversation with Adam Kranz
If you're a long-time listener, you're already familiar with the remarkable world of galls and the “Gall Week” community science events that have taken place in the past. But today, we're taking a fresh look at galls with a specific focus on the importance of spring galls, which our guest Adam Kranz of gallformers.org, describes as the most scientifically interesting galls!
OK, for those who haven’t heard those past episodes - that’s OK. The first 31 minutes of today’s episode is entirely new content, and I’ve appended our first conversation with Adam at the end.
Plant galls are unique organs induced by a variety of organisms, ranging from wasps to moths to midges to mites to fungi. These organisms have figured out how to modify a plant’s genetic expression for the benefit of its own lifecycle. It really is magical.
Today, Adam tells us why spring galls are, perhaps the most scientifically interesting, and have the most opportunity for new discoveries - possibly even by you. And I really enjoyed how our conversation strays into broader ecology and phenology topics, too. Galls have a lot to teach us!
Spring Gall Week is from April 15th to 23rd, yes, there is a bonus weekend added to it. During that time be sure to get out and look at your oaks, hackberries, hickories, and other plants and document the galls you find on iNaturalist. Here's the link to the iNaturalist project to make it easy for you to get involved.
And a big thanks to Dr. Merav Vonshak and Adam for continuing to coordinate these events.
FULL SHOW NOTES
Organizations and Tools
Biodiversity Heritage Library
Gallformers
Gall Phenology Tool
Gall Week Spring 2023 iNaturalist Project
Books and Articles
Plant Galls of the Western United States, by Ronald Russo
Rearing Insects by Charley Eiseman
Tracks and Signs of Insects and Other Invertebrates by Charley Eiseman
Undescribed Gall FAQ
Weld Cynipid Books: Free via the Biodiversity Heritage Library and Hathitrust
- Cynipid Galls of the Eastern United States
- Cynipid Galls of the Pacific Slope
- Cynipid Galls of the Southwest
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Music: Spellbound by Brian Holtz Music
License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license
Artist site: https://brianholtzmusic.com
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Check past Nature's Archive episodes for amazing guests like Doug Tallamy, Elaine Ingham, and Rae Wynn-Grant, covering topics from bird migration to fungi to frogs and bats!