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Department of Plant Sciences

Series associated with Department of Plant Sciences

Back Garden Biology
Biology: The Whole Story
# Episode Title Description People Date
30 Ecology - Chapter 10 Learn the key concepts in ecology and what makes populations change over time, with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
29 Plants - Chapter 9 Plants are awesome, with photosynthesis being the most disruptive invention ever! Join Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford to understand why Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
28 Vertebrates - Chapter 8 Take a guided tour of the biology and ancestry of the vertebrates with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
27 Animals - Chapter 7 Take a whistle-stop tour of the Animal Kingdom with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
26 Eukarotyes - Chapter 6 Explore the mysterious origins of the cells all multicellular organisms are made from - eukaryotic cells - with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
25 Bacteria - Chapter 5 Learn about the microbiome, the amazing flexibility of bacteria, and why we have an antibiotic resistance crisis with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsey Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
24 Energy in Cells - Chapter 4 Learn how cells generate energy by harnessing chemical reactions, with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
23 Sexual Reproduction - Chapter 3 Almost all species use sex to reproduce, but biologists struggle to understand why; join Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford as she explains the costs and benefits Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
22 Evolution - Chapter 2 Learn the theory of evolution in a simpler, more intuitive way than ever before with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsay Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
21 Information in Cells - Chapter 1 Learn how cells use the information in DNA and the key components that make up a cell, with Professor Lindsay Turnbull from the University of Oxford Lindsey Turnbull 01 Dec 2023
20 The Worm that Turned The species with the biggest biomass in any garden is almost certainly the earthworm. These humble denizens of our soil provide essential services by turning over soil and promoting plant growth. Lindsay Turnbull, Peter Holland 08 Feb 2021
19 Creative Commons Seeing the Wood for the Trees (Part II) We take a walk around a local park to admire more winter trees and see why conifers win over broadleaved trees as we move further North, but even they have to drop their needles during the winter in the farthest reaches of the Boreal forest. Lindsay Turnbull 25 Jan 2021
18 Creative Commons Seeing the Wood for the Trees In winter the bones of the trees are laid bare, giving us a chance to see their skeletons. Join Lindsay as she takes a tour round Wytham Woods in Oxford, showing you how to identify our common native trees from their bark and the shape of their branches. Lindsay Turnbull 07 Jan 2021
17 Creative Commons One billion years a slave Peering into a drop of pondwater allows you to look back in time and see key events in the history of life on Earth. Lindsay Turnbull, Stuart West 06 Aug 2020
16 Creative Commons Feed the birds? What do birds like eating and what decisions do they have to make when visiting a bird feeder? Lindsay Turnbull, Friederike Hillemann, Annette Fayet 28 Jul 2020
15 Creative Commons Interview with a Vampire Find out how plants like mistletoe and hayrattle extract resources from their hosts and how hayrattle engages in a game of rock, paper, scissors, that makes managing meadows a whole lot easier. Lindsay Turnbull 10 Jul 2020
14 Creative Commons Much ado about mothing Dedicated to moths, this episode explores how and why these unsung heroes deserve more attention. Lindsay Turnbull, Doug Boyes, Ben Sheldon 30 Jun 2020
13 Creative Commons Stop the pigeon? Never! Woodpigeons are common garden birds, whose familiar call has been likened to someone complaining about their feet. But woodpigeons make fantastic parents, and like all pigeons and doves produce a kind of 'milk' to feed their young. Lindsay Turnbull 15 Jun 2020
12 Creative Commons All that glitters Find out how birds, insects and plants exploit iridescence. Lindsay Turnbull 04 Jun 2020
11 Creative Commons Three little birds Blue and great tits commonly use nest-boxes in gardens. In this episode we explore their nesting behaviour and get a priviledged view inside the nest-boxes at Wytham Woods. Lindsay Turnbull 29 May 2020
10 Creative Commons Why is the world green? Lindsay searches for the truth about our verdant green world and tackles a mystery about her rose-bushes: who ate all the greenfly? Lindsay Turnbull 24 May 2020
9 Creative Commons Garden Safari: The Bug Five! Did you know that just five groups of insects dominate your garden? And can you tell the difference between bugs and beetles? Lindsey Turnbull 12 May 2020
8 Creative Commons Seeds of Change In this episode we take a look at the strange life-cycle of ferns and find out why they are so dependent on water. Lindsay Turnbull 10 May 2020
7 Creative Commons Hot as mustard In this episode we look closely at Garlic mustard or Jack-by-the-hedge, a very common plant throughout the UK. Lindsay Turnbull 04 May 2020
6 Creative Commons One is the magic number Back Garden Biology takes a closer look at the insects in the garden including the solitary bee. Lindsay Turnbull 27 Apr 2020
5 Creative Commons Stinker! In this episode we look at the cuckoo pint, which has an unusual flower with the central part, called a spadix, releasing a stench that to our nostrils is quite revolting. Lindsay Turnbull 20 Apr 2020
4 Creative Commons Queen Bee Learn how to identify common garden bees and find out why they never seem to stay still. Lindsay Turnbull 20 Apr 2020
3 Creative Commons The Lillies of the Fields The beautiful snake's-head fritillary is the flower of Oxfordshire. In this episode we look closely at the flowers it produces. Lindsay Turnbull 13 Apr 2020
2 Creative Commons Deceived with ornament Plants attract pollinators through their colourful flowers but some plants aren't quite what they seem. Lindsay Turnbull 06 Apr 2020
1 Creative Commons Sex and the single primrose In early spring, primroses and cowslips can be found in many gardens and parks. Their yellow flowers are certainly beautiful, but they also hold a secret: they come in two different types that can only mate with each other. Lindsay Turnbull 26 Mar 2020