302: Are You Ready for this Jelly?

About this episode

The episode discusses the important role of plankton and jellyfish in the environment with Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop.

Listen in as we chat with marine conservation ecologist and plankton expert, Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop, about her work shaping our world’s understanding of plankton’s important role in our environment. We chat about all things jellyfish (aka jellies), how changing water temperature affects them (not how you may think), fun on ferries, international policies, and a smack-ton more! BIG TAKEAWAY: While jellies and their fellow plankton may seem disparate from politics, they’re key indicators of larger ecosystem changes and therefore a vital part of our environmental decision making processes. The best thing you can do to support these complex ecosystems is to vote for civic leaders who will make positive large-scale change. Don’t know your candidate’s platforms? Ask! Also, Jellies are the quintessential F-around and find out. We shouldn’t need to tell you, but… Don’t touch wild creatures! Resources: 💡Researcher Spotlight: Abigail’s TEDx Talk: youtu.be/Xkqei3ZxS5I?si=6unUih3SCDw_yrd9 🔎Deeper Dive Read: Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone by Juli Berwald 🌊Conservation in Action: @archipelagosimc works with Mediterranean Science Commission…

People in this episode

Hosts: Kait Birghenthal, Ash Gordon

Guest: Professor Abigail McQuatters-Gollop

Topics covered

• marine conservation
• plankton
• jellyfish
• environmental policy
• ecosystem changes

Keywords

• jellyfish
• plankton
• marine ecology
• environmental decision making
• citizen science

Sponsors

chnge

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mediterranean Science Commission, archipelagosimc, Continuous Plankton Recorder

Books & works: Spineless: The Science of Jellyfish and the Art of Growing a Backbone

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