Podcast Episode 1

21 May Podcast Episode 1

Posted at 09:00h in Podcast by

Soil Biodiversity with Dr Valerie Behan-Pelletier

In this episode of What the f*** is biodiversity, Ann and Val talk about the incredibly biodiverse world of soil and how it connects to the ground above that we as humans inhabit. We rely so much on the work of many different arthropods, like soil mites, since these small creatures are an integral part of the soil food web. Wherever there is food or vegetation, there are soil mites. And without the vital work they do, the quality of our food would seriously decline.

Dr Valerie Behan-Pelletier

About Dr Valerie Behan-Pelletier

Val is among the world’s leading experts on soil biodiversity. She is a specialist on the systematics and ecology of soil mites in ecosystems globally including arctic, temperate and tropical biomes. Presently, she is an Honorary Research Associate in the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, where she worked as a Research Scientist for over 30 years. She is an Editor of the Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas and the Oxford University Press Soil Ecology and Ecosystem Services. Val taught courses on mites at Carleton University and the Acarology Summer Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. She has advised Ph.D. and postdoctoral students from Canada, USA, Georgia, Norway, Japan and China. She was a member of the UNEP Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) Soil and Sediment Subcommittee exploring the interrelationships and interdependence of soil, freshwater and marine sediments and contributed to SCOPE 64 Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Soils and Sediments Island Press. Val is a Fellow of The Entomological Society of Canada, has been a recipient of Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship, is a past member of NSERC’s GSC on Evolution and Ecology, a peer reviewer for Canada Research Chairs, and was a long-term member of the Scientific Committee of the Biological Survey of Canada. She is a graduate of University College Dublin, Ireland and McGill University, Montreal.

CHECK OUT VAL’S BLOG POST

Mapping Canada’s critical habitats and endangered species, NET Blog

About Dr Valerie Behan-Pelletier

Dr Valerie Behan-Pelletier Val is among the world’s leading experts on soil biodiversity. She is a specialist on the systematics and ecology of soil mites in ecosystems globally including arctic, temperate and tropical biomes. Presently, she is an Honorary Research Associate in the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa, where she worked as a Research Scientist for over 30 years. She is an Editor of the Global Soil Biodiversity Atlas and the Oxford University Press Soil Ecology and Ecosystem Services. Val taught courses on mites at Carleton University and the Acarology Summer Program, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. She has advised Ph.D. and postdoctoral students from Canada, USA, Georgia, Norway, Japan and China. She was a member of the UNEP Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) Soil and Sediment Subcommittee exploring the interrelationships and interdependence of soil, freshwater and marine sediments and contributed to SCOPE 64 Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Soils and Sediments Island Press. Val is a Fellow of The Entomological Society of Canada, has been a recipient of Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship, is a past member of NSERC’s GSC on Evolution and Ecology, a peer reviewer for Canada Research Chairs, and was a long-term member of the Scientific Committee of the Biological Survey of Canada. She is a graduate of University College Dublin, Ireland and McGill University, Montreal.