The Southern Naturalist

Dr. Bob Thomas has been plugged into the nutria crisis for more than five decades, and in this episode he and Dr. Aimée Thomas take you deep into the natural history, cultural legacy, and ecological crisis of Louisiana's most infamous invasive rodent. Bob shares the corrected origin story, the rise and fall of the fur trade, and his own role in launching the very first Nutria Fest in 1992 at t...

In Part 2 of this two-part series, hosts Dr. Bob Thomas and Dr. Aimée Thomas continue their conversation with legendary oyster scientist Dr. Earl Melancon, turning the focus to oyster culture, harvesting, and what the future may hold for Louisiana’s iconic fishery. Earl traces the history of oyster aquaculture in Louisiana, breaking down how oysters have traditionally been harvested and how new ap...

In this first of a two-part series, hosts Dr. Bob Thomas and Dr. Aimée Thomas dive into the secret life of oysters with Dr. Earl Melancon — one of the most prominent voices in oyster science and Louisiana’s commercial fishing world. A Professor Emeritus at Nicholls State University and current Louisiana Sea Grant Scholar, Earl has spent more than 50 years studying the biology, ecology, and culture...

In this episode of  The Southern Naturalist , Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas explore the slimy, strange, and surprisingly intelligent world of slime molds — with a special focus on the infamous  Fuligo septica , also known as dog vomit slime mold. Despite its less-than-appealing nickname, this bright yellow protist is a marvel of biology. Slime molds are cosmopolitan species, meaning they can be fou...

In this episode of The Southern Naturalist , Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas explore the fascinating science behind why some trees, like the Japanese magnolia, burst into bloom before their leaves emerge. Why do these early bloomers put on their floral show in the chill of February? How does this strategy benefit them in the grand cycle of nature? Join us as we dive into the evolutionary and ecologic...

Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimee Thomas dive into the prehistoric world of the alligator gar, a true  living fossil  that has roamed North America's waters for over  100 million years . With its  armor-like ganoid scales, air-breathing swim bladder, and ambush predator instincts , this ancient giant has remained virtually unchanged since the age of the dinosaurs. But despite its primeval legacy, the alli...

Join Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas in  The Southern Naturalist  as we delve into the fascinating world of cordyceps, the parasitic fungi that have captured the imaginations of scientists and storytellers alike. From their unique life cycle and ecological role to their surprising medicinal properties and pop culture fame, this episode explores the science, myths, and mysteries surrounding these natu...

Did you know that bull sharks have been found in rivers 1,800 miles away from the ocean? In this episode we are joined by Dr. Martin O'Connell, a scientist who has extensively researched sharks and other marine species. We dive into the history of bull shark encounters in Lake Pontchartrain and other estuarine areas. We also explore WHY these sharks come into the lake, their role as an apex pr...

In this episode we dive into the natural history of Cuban treefrogs (Osteopilus septentrionalis), how they compare to our native green treefrog (Hyla cinerea) and how they recently became established in Louisiana. Dr. Bob has been on the pulse of this frog invasion and identified some of the first visitors to Louisiana in the 1980s! Naturally, we compare the cuban treefrog to other invasive specie...

Welcome back to The Southern Naturalist! Today,  we explore the intricate communication methods of alligators in the depths of swamps and marshlands. We delve into the world of alligator vocalizations, body language, and chemical signals, unraveling how these ancient reptiles convey messages, establish dominance, and navigate their complex social structures. From the iconic bellows echoing across...

Join hosts Dr. Bob Thomas and Dr. Aimée Thomas on an enthralling exploration of the intricate world of termites in this episode of The Southern Naturalist. Delving into the fascinating natural history of these tiny yet mighty creatures. Yes, they may destroy your house, but after listening to this episode you may gain a newfound appreciation for these often misunderstood insects. We also hear from...

In this episode Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas explore the natural history of Dolichandra unguis-cati, otherwise known as cat's claw vine... or that beautiful yellow flower you see all over the roofs of old houses in the spring! If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a review!!! Follow @SoNatPodcast on Facebook and Instagram! Do you have any more questions about nature? Message us on social...

WELCOME BACK NATURE LOVERS! It's Dr. Bob and Aimée here and we so excited to announce that we are coming back with a second season of the Southern Naturalist! Catch up on all of season 1 and send us your questions and suggestions on social media or email us at ⁠sonatpodcast@gmail.com⁠ and we will answer you! Please share our episodes with fellow nature lovers and write us a review! Follow @SoN...

In this episode Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas visit Bayou Sauvage Urban National Wildlife Refuge in New Orleans East to meet a longtime friend, Pon Dixson with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We discuss the ecological succession that has taken place since Hurricane Katrina decimated the forest. We also talk about Golden silk orb-weavers, Timber Rattlesnakes, Persimmons, the history of the refug...

It’s early fall in the South, and for us, that means DRAGONFLIES! This Nature Note episode is all about the fascinating natural history of the dragonfly, which has been around for about 320 million years and was once up to 3 feet long! We will discuss how dragonflies are one of the most successful and VORACIOUS aerial predators in the world along with their impressive mating and survival strategie...

In the South we know hurricanes all too well… so this hurricane season Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas decided to go even deeper. This episode features Mark Schleifstein, a Pulitzer Prize-winning environmental journalist and is a must listen if you want to understand the complexities of hurricanes. Are hurricanes really getting stronger due to climate change? What happens to birds, plants and other a...

If you’re from Louisiana, you certainly know about Lake Pontchartrain. You probably know that it’s technically not even a lake! It is a divider of habitats, home to many unlikely species and has the longest bridge over water in the world! For a naturalist, it is a major spectacle! That is why Dr. Bob is on his 9th version of a 60+ page document which expands upon all that a naturalist may notice w...

Do you ever wonder how birds can fly so long without ever flapping their wings? Based on Dr. Bob’s nature note , we dive deep into the functional morphology of bird flight - basically how they have adapted to use the environment to get around better! We cover different flight methods such as compression gliding, declivity currents and thermal soaring. If you enjoyed this episode please leave us a...

Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas head to Barber Laboratories to dig even deeper into the world of butterflies with Linda Auld , known in New Orleans as the "Bug Lady". They discuss the amazing lifecycle of Monarch Butterflies, the issue with Tropical Milkweed, Linda's research of the OE Parasite and MANY ways that you can get involved with supporting butterflies! Check out her book, Bug Lady's Butterf...

This episode will feature two of Dr. Bob's nature notes that are closely connected! One on a beloved butterfly in the South, the Gulf Fritillary, and the other is about that butterfly's host plant, the passion flower! Joining us in the studio is Linda Auld , known in New Orleans as the "Bug Lady". She has been a caterpillar mama for over 40 years! Learn more about this episode and our podcast...

Join us on a trip to the Joyce Wildlife Management Area in the northwestern end of Lake Pontchartrain to learn all about the elusive and BEAUTIFUL mud snake and their prey, the very strange looking amphiuma! Out there we will meet another snake lover and herpetologist, Oliver Ljustina who is conducting a long-term snake tagging project in the area. Learn more about this episode and our podcast (wi...

In this Nature Note edition of The Southern Naturalist, we answer all of your burning questions about the majestic, magical lightning bug! Questions like, why do they glow? what makes them glow? Where can I find them and why do I remember seeing more as a kid? We also dig deeper into how they are named, why beetles are so cool, metamorphosis and bioluminescence!  Our resident bug expert Zack Leman...

Join Dr. Bob and Dr. Aimée Thomas on the annual Spring Frog Walk in Jean Lafitte National Park. This episode dives deep into the calls, anatomy and seasonality of frogs in the South. We also share some tips for identifying common frogs at night and discover some other animals along the way! Learn more about this podcast on our website and please leave us a review! Do you have any more questions ab...

Do you ever wonder what alligators do in the winter? Well, you're not alone! This is Dr. Bob's highest searched Nature Note and it is full of many educational and fun facts. As always, there will many be tangents and stories. We will discuss brumation versus hibernation as well as other adaptation strategies for animals in the winter! Dr. Bob Thomas has been writing short essays on natural history...

On the very first episode of The Southern Naturalist, get ready to be captivated by Dr. Aimée Thomas and Dr. Bob Thomas  as they go black lighting (a common method for collecting and studying insects) and bug searching in Audubon Park at night. Our special guest is an enthusiastic entomologist named Zack Lemann. We will cover many topics in this episode including insect anatomy, trap jaw ants, dra...