From Arches National Park, we get a close-up view of a living ground cover called "biological soil crust." This ground cover, made up of tiny organisms like mosses, lichens and cyanobacteria, helps to stabilize the soil surface; "holding the place in place." It is extremely resilient to wind and water, but particularly sensitive to compressive forces like stepping or driving on the crust. Once disturbed by these kinds of compressive forces, the soil -- the place -- can start to blow away. This kind of destruction is not unlike deforestation; just...smaller. Listen as Dr. Sasha Reed, a research ecologist with the U.S. Geological Survey, explains why seemingly localized impacts to Utah's crust communities have much greater implications for the western U.S. Reed was awarded the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers in 2011.

When we think about preserving traditional music, several genres might come to mind: bluegrass…folk…maybe even celtic or cajun. But an unconventional band on Cape Cod would like us to add one more style to that list. Produced as part of the Transom Story Workshop. This story won a 2014 PRNDI Award for best use of sound and aired on WCAI’s Creative Life.

Maintenance Supervisor Bruce Sefton walks us down to the shore of Yellowstone Lake to hear the ethereal sounds of a rare, wintertime mystery in Yellowstone National Park.

In the Spring, when many of Yellowstone’s grassy meadows are flooded and marshy, a peculiar sound rises out of the gathering dark of nightfall. What makes this sound is surprising enough, but how it makes it is extraordinary. Katy Duffy, Interpretive Planner and birding aficionado, reveals the mystery. This audio postcard was produced for Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. It aired on PRI’s Living on Earth.