"BETWEEN FLYING FISH AND ELEPHANT SEALS" with Dr. Carolina Bonin Lewallen & Dr. Eric Lewallen
6/23/202658 min
Flying fish soar above the ocean. Elephant seals dive to extraordinary depths. At first glance, they couldn't be more different.
This week, we sit down with marine biologists Dr. Eric Lewallen and Dr. Carolina Bonin, two scientists whose research intersects in unexpected ways. Eric shares the remarkable adaptations that allow flying fish to glide hundreds of feet above the ocean, while Carolina reveals what elephant seals can teach us through cutting-edge environmental DNA (eDNA) research—including how tiny traces of DNA left behind in seawater are helping scientists better understand marine ecosystems.
The conversation also explores surprising discoveries about elephant seal genetics, including evidence suggesting there is little to no sign of inbreeding despite their dramatic population bottleneck. Together, Eric and Carolina discuss how their different areas of expertise complement one another, what collaboration looks like in modern marine science, and how new technologies are transforming the way we study and protect wildlife.
From flying fish to elephant seals, this episode is a fascinating look at how two scientists—and two extraordinary species—are connected by a shared passion for understanding our oceans.
https://bonincarolina.wixsite.com/mammel www.furrealpodcast.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-lewallen-0bb0b352
ig@furrealpodcast ig@markakyle fb@markakyle tik tok@thefurrealpodcast
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsSpeaker 10:00
You're planning a trip abroad? Let's do a quick calculation, okay? Most phone companies charge about $10 a day to use your phone abroad. And for a week-long trip, that's $70. Two weeks of vacation, $140, just to use your phone. Or you could bring the internet with you. Yes, set up an international data plan in a few seconds with an Airalo eSIM for a fraction of the price. Here's the thing: your phone is likely compatible with an eSIM. It's a digital SIM card, no plastic SIM card needed. No need to search for a SIM card at the airport, and no more unreliable public Wi-Fi that works half the time. Download the Airalo app before you leave, choose your destination, and voilà, you're connected as soon as you arrive. Stream, scroll, text, navigate, video chat with family back home, all without worrying about your phone bill exploding. Airalo works in over 200 destinations, and more than 20 million travelers trust it. Download the Airalo app or go to airalo.com. That's A-I-R-A-L-O.com, and enter the promo code TRAVEL to get 15% off your first eSIM. Some conditions apply. Arrive already connected with Airalo. You're planning a trip abroad? Let's do a quick calculation, okay? Most phone companies charge about $10 a day to use your phone abroad. And for a week-long trip, that's $70. Two weeks of vacation, $140, just to use your phone. Or you could bring the internet with you. Yes, set up an international data plan in a few seconds with an Airalo eSIM for a fraction of the price. Here's the thing: your phone is likely compatible with an eSIM. It's a digital SIM card, no plastic SIM card needed. No need to search for a SIM card at the airport, and