S4E10: 3 Ways the Desert Improves Your Life

Episode Summary:

In this episode of "90 Miles from Needles: The Desert Protection Podcast," host Chris Clarke looks into three astonishing science facts about deserts that challenge traditional views of these arid landscapes. From the surprising biological interactions involving desert tortoises and ticks to the hidden carbon-sequestering prowess of desert soils, the episode showcases desert ecosystems, their intricate balance, and the sometimes unexpected roles they play. This episode provides a fresh perspective on how deserts contribute to global environmental stability and why they merit protection.

The first segment of the episode highlights the intriguing relationship between desert tortoises and ticks, specifically the role tortoises play in reducing the prevalence of tick-borne diseases like tick-borne relapsing fever. Clarke discusses research by Dr. Molly June Bechtel, which reveals that desert tortoises possess a blood factor that reduces harmful Borrelia bacteria, thereby offering insights into the greater ecological importance of these critically endangered reptiles.

In another surprising desert fact, Clarke explores the soil carbon sequestration abilities of arid ecosystems. Despite popular misconceptions, deserts store immense amounts of carbon, thanks to unique geological and biological processes such as calcium carbonate formation and glomalin production by mycorrhizal fungi. These findings emphasize the critical environmental role deserts play and their potential impact on mitigating climate change.

The episode concludes with a fascinating examination of desert pavement, a geological phenomenon that stabilizes loose sediment and contributes to air quality by preventing dust pollution. Clarke describes how desert pavement forms over time and its ecological benefits, like housing viable wildflower seed banks. This episode not only captivates with revelations about the intricate mechanisms at play in desert environments but also reinforces the necessity of preserving these ecosystems for their environmental and health benefits.

Key Takeaways

Desert tortoises host ticks, which have a low incidence of Borrelia due to a bactericidal factor in tortoise blood, aiding in controlling tick-borne diseases.

America's deserts act as significant carbon sinks, sequestering over 55 million tons of carbon annually through soil processes like glomalin production and caliche formation.

Desert pavements, formed over time through wind and water interactions, play vital roles in air quality and soil stability.

Protecting desert ecosystems is crucial, not only for conserving biodiversity but also for their role in reducing climate change impacts and preventing the spread of diseases.

The podcast emphasizes the various misunderstood yet essential ecological functions of deserts, advocating for their conservation.

Notable Quotes

"One desert tortoise has done more for human public health than an entire RFK junior."

"We may actually be making climate change worse in the long term by destroying the desert to put in solar power."

"A feature of the landscape that's about as innocuous as you can imagine turns out to clean our air of asthma-inducing dust." 

"If we're going to get through this really ugly period, it's going to have to be about the love."

Resources

Desert Protection Podcast Website: https://90milesfromneedles.com

Research by Molly June Bechtel, PhD: https://www.90milesfromneedles.com/downloads/bechtel_ticks/

Andrew Alden's blog post on desert pavement at the Cima Volcanic Field: https://www.thoughtco.com/theories-of-desert-pavement-1441193

More on glomalin from the Summertree Insti