Naturally Florida

By: Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan
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  • Summary

  • Naturally Florida is a podcast about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here. Naturally Florida's hosts, Shannon Carnevale and Lara Milligan, bring over 25 years of experience in natural resources and conservation to Naturally Florida. Listeners will learn about Florida wildlife, local ecosystems, and conservation issues in the Sunshine State. If you love learning about nature but need to learn on-the-go, this podcast is for you. This podcast is brought to you by UF/IFAS Extension's Natural Resources programs in Polk and Pinellas Counties.
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Biological Sciences
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Episodes
  • Gobble Gobble, It's Turkey Time!

    Gobble Gobble, It's Turkey Time!
    Nov 18 2024

    THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life? We would love to know through our annual podcast survey.

    Link to podcast survey: ⁠https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEf5YoxkFv87GIu


    On today's episode we're talking turkey - the wild turkey, that is! Learn all about Florida's wild turkey species, their biology, and even bust a myth or two.

    Learn More:

    • See a turkey swim: Youtube Video from @southernoutlawadventures5106 on youtube.com
    • Learn everything you could ever want to know about turkeys and managing habitat for turkeys, by listening to Wild Turkey Science


    How You Can Help:

    • Support prescribed fire initiatives in and around your Florida community.
    • Plant forage species in your suburban or rural yard that support turkeys: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/7-grasses-and-forbs-you-need-on-your-property
    • Reduce the use of broadcast insecticides in your yard and encourage your neighbors to do the same.


    Sources:

    • https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sumterco/2022/12/31/wildlife-invasive-species-education-wise-species-profile-wild-turkey/
    • https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wild_Turkey/overview
      • https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/profiles/birds/game-birds/wild-turkeys/


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    24 mins
  • Florida's Carnivorous Plants

    Florida's Carnivorous Plants
    Oct 21 2024
    THANK YOU to all of our loyal listeners! Has this podcast made a difference in your life? We would love to know through our annual podcast survey. Link to podcast survey: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEf5YoxkFv87GIu In this episode, we’re diving into one of the state’s most fascinating plant groups: carnivorous plants. These spooky species have adapted to capture prey in some of Florida’s most nutrient-poor environments. We’ll talk about how they trap their meals, their role in the ecosystem, and where you can spot these unique plants across the state. Learn More: • Pinellas Predatory Plants - https://youtu.be/gG0XNhSnSvQ?si=_27ONm-oA3pNOHH6 • Carnivorous Plants - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/carnivorous-plants/ • Carnivorous plants – novel natives with showy flowers - https://www.flawildflowers.org/2022-spring-bloom-report/ • Carnivorous Plants – Both Rare and Well Done – Along the Apalachicola – UPDATED - https://blog.wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/2022/04/carnivorous-plants-both-rare-and-well-done-along-the-apalachicola/ • Florida’s Carnivorous Plants - https://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1728-floridas-carnivorous-plants.aspx How You Can Help: • Do Not Poach them! Many of the species are state or federally threatened, due to illegal harvesting from the wild and the destruction of their wetland habitats. Seeds or plants can be purchased from reputable nurseries and seed sources. Many species available for purchase are native to Florida and can be grown in rain gardens or in sunny spots. • Support habitat restoration and maintenance through prescribed fire. In Florida, many of these species are also fire dependent, like the ecosystems they grow in – yes, even the wetlands! • Build memories with these species – seek them out, learn about them with your friends and family - https://www.flawildflowers.org/2022-spring-bloom-report/ Sources for this Episode: Pinellas Predatory Plants - ⁠https://youtu.be/gG0XNhSnSvQ?si=_27ONm-oA3pNOHH6 ⁠ • Carnivorous Plants - ⁠https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/plants/ornamentals/carnivorous-plants/ ⁠ • Carnivorous plants – novel natives with showy flowers -⁠ https://www.flawildflowers.org/2022-spring-bloom-report/ ⁠ • Carnivorous Plants – Both Rare and Well Done – Along the Apalachicola – UPDATED - ⁠https://blog.wfsu.org/blog-coastal-health/2022/04/carnivorous-plants-both-rare-and-well-done-along-the-apalachicola/ ⁠ • Florida’s Carnivorous Plants - ⁠https://ifasbooks.ifas.ufl.edu/p-1728-floridas-carnivorous-plants.aspx ⁠ If you enjoyed this episode, please consider sharing it with a friend who might enjoy learning about Florida's natural areas and the wild things that live here! If you're active on iNaturalist, consider joining our iNaturalist project, Naturally Florida's Listener Observations, here: ⁠https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/naturally-florida-s-listener-observations
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    25 mins
  • The Pollinator Puzzle: Who They Are and How to Help

    The Pollinator Puzzle: Who They Are and How to Help
    Sep 16 2024

    Pollinators are the unsung heroes of Florida’s ecosystems, supporting the reproduction of our flowering plants in urban, suburban and natural areas. Pollinator populations are declining, and organizations are urging people to take action to support pollinators in their areas of influence. There is a lot of buzz around the topics of pollinators these days, but who are they? What are they doing? Where do they go? Find out this and more in today’s episode.


    Learn More:

    • Insect Pollinators - https://www.fnps.org/plants/pollinators
    • Know your native pollinators - https://www.flawildflowers.org/pollinators/
    • Pollinator Plants: Florida - https://xerces.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/17-046_03_XercesSoc_Pollinator-Plants_Florida_web-3page.pdf
    • Creating a Native Wildflower Garden in Your Central Florida Yard - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/creating-a-native-wildflower-garden-in-your-central/id1724213516?i=1000648747914


    How You Can Help:

    • Support pollinators in your yard by spreading wildflower seeds and planting a variety of native plants - https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/media/sfylifasufledu/osceola/documents/agriculture/Pollinator-Plants-for-Osceola-County-Urban-Landscapes.pdf
    • Consider leaving a patch of bare, open ground or install a bee house/hotel for nesting - https://content.ces.ncsu.edu/how-to-manage-a-successful-bee-hotel/what-is-a-bee-hotel
    • Create a no-mow area in your yard and leave area unmown November-May - https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/orangeco/2022/07/26/no-mow-lawns-in-florida/
    • Use pesticides as a last resort, learn integrated pest management - https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/care/pests-and-diseases/pests/management/integrated-pest-management/

    Sources for this Episode:

    • Attracting Bees and Other Beneficial Insects with Florida’s Native Wildflowers -https://www.flawildflowers.org/attracting-bees/
    • The Importance of Pollinators - https://www.usda.gov/peoples-garden/pollinators
    • Pollinator Syndromes - https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Pollinator_Syndromes.pdf
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    27 mins

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