316: How Animals (and Nutrient Pumps!) Make Our World—w/ Dr. Joe Roman, author of Eat, Poop, Die

Nutrients on Earth are essential for life on Earth. But they aren't evenly distributed. How do they end up in different places, and how does that affect life on Earth? How does life even work?!

In this episode of the Reversing Climate Change podcast, Nori Cofounder Ross Kenyon is joined by Dr. Joe Roman, a conservation biologist and author of Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World.

An established view of how ecosystems emerge and change is through bottom-up processes, e.g. through chemistry or microorganisms. In this view, animals are often seen more as visitors passing through rather than as transformative agents themselves. Joe challenges this concept, arguing that much research has shown just how much mammals can change ecosystems, as well as carbon and nitrogen cycles! This has impacts for carbon removal, from ecosystem restoration to iron fertilization of the Southern Ocean.

The conversation also explores the complex relationship humans have with predators and rewilding, and our desire to simplify our environments, often to our peril. This legibility and safety, however, can often mean ecological sterility. Ross shares his experience raising urban chickens in an environment filled with raccoons.

Joe also talks about his ongoing research project on whales and the Great Whale Conveyor Belt, and his interest in studying invasive species as a source of food for humans.

This is one of those episodes that touches so much about our shared world!

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Resources

Joe Roman's website

Eat, Poop, Die: How Animals Make Our World