Biology Net

Ask A Biologist Podcast

Chapters
0:09
Didgeridoo, a musical instrument.
1:15
Animal behavior.
1:38
What common and important things we can learn from Animals?
2:25
What part of animal behavior interests you the most?
2:55
How are Dawson Burrowing Bees bees different than honey bees?
3:33
What's up with the big black bees that you see flying around? [Carpenter bees]
5:03
Tarantula Hawks (wasps).
5:36
A tarantula spider specialist - description of hunting spiders - and raising young.
6:46
Actually, tarantula hawks are quite beautiful.
7:06
Animal behavior - tarantula hawks and flexibility.
8:35
Interesting story about animal behavior in Australia (one example of plant mimicking and animal).
10:18
Conservation biology, animal behavior, sociobiology.
11:59
The basic principles of sociobiology.
12:29
One area of study is the issue of sterility of social insects - genes.
13:16
Genes and DNA, the blueprints of life, are flexible.
14:20
Nature versus Nurture and Sociobiology.
15:40
Book on the topic is titled The Triumph of Sociobiology, by John Alcock.
15:53
Tools and technology in science and biology and how to do simple experiments.
18:09
How do you weigh an insect?
18:41
A simple experiment you can try in your own backyard.
20:39
Writing, and what got you into writing books?
22:19
When did you first know that you wanted to be a scientist? [Bird watching]
23:31
What you be if you could not be a biologist?
24:08
What advice do you have for a future scientist?
25:36
Animals are everywhere and there are many opportunities to observe them.
26:35
Read and learn more about animal behavior by reading one of John Alcock's many books.
27:05
If you want to listen to more of the didgeridoo, you can find it on http://magnatune.com. The album is called Wanderer and is by Christopher of the Wolves.
Ask A Biologist Podcast
Biology Net
May 09, 2007 Episode 11
Dr. Biology Talks with John Alcock

Dr. Biology catches up with animal behavior biologist, John Alcock  (born 1942 - died 2023 | age 80), and talks about his work, his research, and writing about animals and animal behavior. Hey, I thought all bees lived in hives—and what about these other animals called tarantula hawks? They're not tarantulas or hawks!

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