Ep. 583 - Commonness, Rarity, and Invasive Species

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Plants, Botany, Science, Ecology, Nature, Natural Sciences

4.8 • 1.3K Ratings

🗓️ 21 June 2026

⏱️ 60 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

How common or rare are species in an ecosystem? The answer to this might seem simple, but as with everything in nature, it is not. This question can even complicate how we think of habitat conservation and restoration. When we refine and implement scientific tools like species diversity indices, we need to make sure we are applying them correctly. Join me and Dr. Robert Warren as we explore measures of species diversity, the issues with improper use of these tools, and what that can mean in the context of invasive species and restoration. This episode was produced in part by Chris, Gerald, Elise, Maggie, Mamie, A.J., Dallas, Channele, KC, Joe, Diane, Kim, Tanya, Neil, Matthew, April, Dana, Lilith, Sanza, Eva, Yellowroot, Wisewren, Nadia, Heidi, Blake, Josh, Laure, R.J., Carly, Lucia, Dana, Sarah, Lauren, Strych Mind, Linda, Sylvan, Austin, Sarah, Ethan, Elle, Steve, Cassie, Chuck, Aaron, Gillian, Abi, Rich, Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Conversations like you're about to hear do not happen unless you support In Defensive Plants.
0:04.4	And now more than ever, we need conversations like this to reach as many ears as possible.
0:08.9	One of the best ways to help keep In Defensive Plants up and running is to become a patron over at patreon.com
0:14.0	slash In Defensive Plants.
0:15.8	In return for a tiny bit of support each month, you will get access to a completely separate podcast.
0:21.5	It explores a lot of really fun gardening topics, everything from seed collection and storage to growing native
0:26.1	plants, the struggles of trying to garden in different climates, and so much more. It's a heck of a lot of fun.
0:32.2	We're learning so much, and we're trying to share that with you. So come on and join the Patreon over
0:36.7	at patreon.com slash indefensive plants and help keep this show up and running in the process. I hope to see you over there. But in the meantime, on with the show. Hello everyone and welcome to the Indefensive Plants podcast, the official podcast of Indefensive Plants.com. What's up? This is your host, Matt. Welcome to the show. How is everyone doing this week? I'm doing great because I'm thinking about really important topics in the world of ecology, especially as it relates to habitat restoration. Species diversity. We all value it, at least many of you I hope do, if you're listening to this podcast. But what does it mean in the context of habitat restoration? What are values and what are hard science?
1:12.2	How do we mend those two together to do the best we can for the ecosystems we care about?
1:17.2	One thought-provoking way to look at this is how we look at the distribution of species in an ecosystem.
1:23.2	Why are some common? Why are some rare? And what kind of goals do we set as we set out to either protect ecosystems or restore them? As you're going to hear, it's not as straightforward as you think, and we've kind of been doing it in a weird and oftentimes wrong way. Joining us to talk about this is Dr. Robert Warren, who you will have heard many different times on this podcast, but this is a really fun thought-provoking
1:44.4	conversation that I think many of you will take something away from. So I don't want to keep you
1:48.4	from it any longer. Let's just jump right into it. Without further ado, here's my conversation
1:52.1	with Dr. Robert Warren, welcome back to the podcast, my friend.
2:16.5	It has been a while, but I will point
2:18.7	everyone in the direction of go listen to his previous episode. So let's do a brief introduction.
2:23.0	Who are you and why are you here?
2:26.2	So I'm in defense of plants alumni. Yes.
2:31.6	Who's been away for a little bit. at buffalo state university where i teach ecology and
2:38.3	statistics which pretty much sums up my research as well yes it does and uh you are prolific my
2:46.6	friend it's it's inspiring to see how much you think about this and the way you think about
	...

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