
- Playing
- Rotifer Diversity
- From
- Marfa Public Radio
Wherever water punctuates our arid region, there’s a universe of invisible life. Every pristine spring, mucky cattle tank, and rain-filled hueco is home to a diverse array of microscopic animals. Who are these creatures? And why does the Chihuahuan Desert have a uniquely varied assortment of them?
Also in the Nature Notes series
Medicinal Plants
(04:24)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Do you know how to identify plants of the Solanaceae family with their five petals?
Coping With The Heat
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Heat and dryness are facts of existence in West Texas. Every living thing must either evade these conditions or adapt to them. Humans, through technology, attempt to create ...
Pipevine Plant
(04:31)
From: Marfa Public Radio
The Pipevine Plant and its importance in the West Texas ecosystem.
Zone Tailed Hawks
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Everyone is familiar with Turkey Vultures, those huge black birds that circle high in the sky, searching for road kill. The rare Zone-tailed Hawk often flies hidden among the ...
The Fifth Season
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
In the Chihuahuan Desert region, we spend fall, winter, spring and summer dreaming of and talking about our fifth season—the rainy season. Local wags will tell you it starts ...
Burrowing Owls
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Not all owls hunt at night and nest in trees. Burrowing owls greet the sun from abandoned prairie dog dens. What else makes these tiny birds unique?
Big Bend Gambusia
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Big Bend National Park is home to many rare and endangered species, but the Big Bend gambusia lives particularly close to the edge of extinction. How has this fish hung on to ...
Nighthawks
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Some birds sing. Others twitter, tweet or trill. But the common nighthawk goes boom in the night. This noise isn’t all that sets nighthawks apart in the avian world. What ...
Learning to Sing
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
Learning to vocalize is a surprisingly unusual ability in the animal world. How do young songbirds master their musical talents?
Our Might Oaks
(04:30)
From: Marfa Public Radio
The 21 oak species in our region assume many forms and are survivors of the last Ice Age. Who are these tenacious trees? And what animals depend on them today?
Piece Description
Wherever water punctuates our arid region, there’s a universe of invisible life. Every pristine spring, mucky cattle tank, and rain-filled hueco is home to a diverse array of microscopic animals. Who are these creatures? And why does the Chihuahuan Desert have a uniquely varied assortment of them?
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky (Reprise) | Dan Gibson, Bill Brennan, Rob Piltch | Country Retreat. | Solitudes | 2000 | 00:00 |
Additional Credits
Written by Megan Wilde. Interview with Liz Walsh, biology professor at the University of Texas El Paso. Host Dallas Baxter.




