Lost to Science: Tracking Species Lost from the Wild and the Firefly Atlas

Short summary

The podcast explores the idea of species that have not been seen in the wild for a decade and have not been recorded in captivity or declared extinct by the IUCN. It features Dr. Matt Forrester, founder of the Journal of Lost Species, and discusses why a formal journal helps scientists formalize definitions, memory, and action around biodiversity loss. The episode then shifts to lost insects with Candace Fallon of the Xerces Society, focusing on fireflies and the Firefly Atlas community science project which tracks threatened and data deficient species across the US and Canada. The discussion highlights how look for lost species involves historical records, museum drawers, and field expeditions, and ends with how listeners can participate by reporting sightings and data to support conservation.

Overview

The podcast begins by addressing a biodiversity crisis and introduces a less understood category of species—those that are lost to science. Kathleen Davis explains that while many species head toward extinction, some are simply missing from scientific records. The guest, Dr. Matt Forrester, a professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, has even launched a dedicated journal called the Journal of Lost Species to formalize and preserve information about these species. The medium through which knowledge is captured is central to the podcast: a formal record helps scientists critique new definitions, share receipts, and create a lasting memory of species that may vanish. This conversation sets the stage for understanding why a separate journal matters in the broader biodiversity narrative.

Defining Lost Species

The podcast lays out a working definition of lost species, which is evolving but commonly includes three criteria: the species has not been recorded in the wild within the last 10 years, it is not in captivity or propagation, and it has not been declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The host and guest discuss the gray areas of this definition, noting that for many species, especially insects, there is no active search and therefore they qualify as lost even if records are sparse. The conversation emphasizes the practical role of the term lost in motivating search and action, rather than simply labeling a data deficiency.

A Permanent Record and Scientific Receipts

According to the podcast, a formal journal provides a permanent record that can outlive whether a species persists in nature. Forrester argues that memory has intrinsic value and that keeping track of species—whether they are above ground or gone—helps humanity remember and reflect on biodiversity loss. The journal is described not only as a repository but also as a forum for critique and debate about evolving definitions of what it means for a species to be lost. The episode stresses that even if a species questions its survival, documenting it creates a knowledge base for communities to learn from and potentially act upon.

Lost Species and Ecosystem Understanding

The episode points out that extreme rarity precedes extinction and that such rarity can alter ecosystem processes. When a species is no longer detectable in the wild, its ecological roles may be diminished or changed. The podcast underscores that beyond ecological impact, there is a moral case for memory and remembrance, recognizing every species’ intrinsic value. The discussion also touches on the broader biodiversity crisis, highlighting how the loss of information about species can obscure our understanding of ecosystem dynamics and resilience.

Detective work: How lost species are found

The podcast presents a detective story of sorts, describing the methods scientists use to locate lost species. This includes a combination of archival research, museum records, and fieldwork. The researchers rely on physical specimens and handwritten catalogs because many global museum records are not digitized. The search typically involves expeditions to last-known locations and time windows when certain species are expected to be active. The guest emphasizes that lost status often sits in a gray area between confirmed extinction and unconfirmed presence, requiring careful, long-term observation and verification.

Butterflies as a Motivating Case

One heartwarming example discussed is the Sacramento Mountains checker spot butterfly, which inspired the journal due to not being seen for years. This butterfly is representative of many southwestern US species whose fate appears linked to climate change and habitat shifts. The host reflects on the personal motivation such cases provide to scientists who are trying to document and understand what has become of these organisms.

Burning Question: Tasmanian tiger and Myth vs. Record

The podcast revisits a familiar extinction narrative, the Tasmanian tiger, noting how sightings persist in the public imagination even as formal records fail to materialize. The guest acknowledges the human desire for these creatures to exist, while reiterating that a robust, verifiable record confirms loss more clearly than anecdotes.

Fireflies: Lost to Science and a Call to Action

The second interview shifts to an insect group, fireflies, where 28 of 178 species in the US and Canada are reported as lost to science in a community science project called the Firefly Atlas. Candace Fallon, a senior endangered species conservation biologist at the Xerces Society, describes the three life history types among fireflies: daytime fireflies that communicate via pheromones rather than light, glowworms where males and females may be winged or larviform, and nocturnal glowworm-like females. The discussion underscores the diversity within fireflies and why some species are particularly hard to detect. Fallon shares an example of Nelson’s Desert firefly, unseen since 2005, at a location in Southern California, illustrating the challenge of determining whether a species is gone or simply hidden.

Surveying the Lost: Habitat Specificity and Narrow Activity Windows

The conversation delves into how habitat specialization and narrow adult activity windows complicate searches. Some fireflies are only active for a few weeks a year, and some adults may only be observable for 20 to 30 minutes. The practical realities of fieldwork—heat, insects, uneven terrain, and the need to minimize disturbance to the insects—are presented as part of the thrill and risk of field biology. Fallon also discusses the difficulty of identifying new sightings with certainty and the potential that some observations may represent a lost species rather than a new discovery.

Community Science: Firefly Atlas and Public Involvement

The Xerces Firefly Atlas invites the public to contribute data about fireflies, especially those believed to be lost, by reporting sightings, last-known locations, and activity periods. The project makes it clear that non-experts can contribute meaningfully to biodiversity science when guided by robust data collection and expert verification. The interview closes with practical guidance for listeners who want to help, including where to look, timing, and how to report findings.

Intriguing Firefly Facts and Final Thoughts

As a lighthearted capstone, Candace Fallon shares that larval fireflies are armored and ferociously hunting worms and snails with specialized mouthparts. The image of a “steamrolled roly-poly” larva emphasizes how fascinating and alien insects can be, even to seasoned scientists. The podcast ends on a note of curiosity and gratitude for those who contribute to the Firefly Atlas and the broader mission to document life on Earth.

Participation and Next Steps

The podcast invites listeners to engage with the Firefly Atlas and to report what they observe. It also emphasizes the broader goal of building a credible archive of lost species as part of the ongoing fight against biodiversity loss. The host closes with appreciation for researchers and community scientists who work to illuminate the unknown in nature and to keep the memory of lost species alive for future generations.