Sponsored by The Tennessee Conservationist

Keep us strong. You power public media.Donate todayTuesday, May 26, 2026Good morning! Megan JonesWhat are plants, animals, and insects trying to tell us about our changing world?

A signal species (or an indicator species) is an organism that can signal changes occurring in an ecosystem, habitat or location.

We’re talking bears encroaching on urban areas, armadillos on the move, invasive vines like kudzu growing at accelerated rates and bats changing their migratory patterns. These are all examples of signal species. Reporter Caroline Eggers recently had a story about bugs in the Nashville area and how we might have more of them in this current record-warm spring. “All ectotherms are picking up the temperature around them,” said Belmont University entomologist Steve Murphree. “Their developments can be accelerated by warmer temperatures.” 

So these species are sending us signals — but are we paying attention? And if we are paying attention, is there a way to contribute to scientific findings?

WHAT TO KNOW

Before I moved to Nashville, I was a Master Naturalist in New Mexico. After my training, I helped Santa Fe County monitor properties, and that included recording both human interactions with the land as well as contributing to the species list. It was amazing work — I’m so glad I got to watch the flora and fauna throughout the seasons (ask me about beavers!). By the way, almost every state has a naturalist program. Reply to this email if you want to ask about my experience (spoiler alert: totally and completely awesome). If you are interested and want to sign up for the Tennessee Naturalist program, here ya go.

Starting June 1 and running throughout the month, our team at WPLN, This is Nashville, and our collaborative Appalachia + Mid-South Newsroom, are putting out a series on signal species — plants, animals, insects — and what they can tell tell us with their adaptive behaviors. Some of their adaptations are due to the changing climate. Some of it is due to human development. Some of it is due to disease. But all of these signals reveal ways nature is changing around us. And this includes how we interact with these species as they change migration patterns, or habitats, or become more invasive or more reclusive.

Each Monday in June we’ll bring you the story of a different signal species from across Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. At the end of this series we’ll tell you how you can contribute to citizen science efforts in your environment (shout out to iNaturalist).

So be sure to follow us on socials, tune in, and don’t miss the first report from Caroline Eggers about bears!

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and Nashville Public Radio members

On today’s episode of the NashVillagerpodcast 
with host Nina Cardona 🎙️ 

Can you have a memorable road trip without ever leaving the state? With gas prices skyrocketing, Tennessee’s scenic highways and byways offer a road trip option that stays closer to home. Plus the local news for May 26, and a feature that shows how to cut down on screen time. 

Listen and subscribe on your favorite podcasting app
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MORE TO KNOW

• Tennessee ranks last in the nation for solar, wind and geothermal energy. Caroline Eggers reports the state produced the equivalent of 1% of the electricity it uses from solar last year, according to a new study from advocacy group Environment America. Nationwide, the picture is different: 32 states produced at least a tenth of their power from solar, wind or geothermal. 
   
• How will Metro spend your tax dollars? Multiple WPLN reporters have been monitoring budget discussions and have insights as councilmembers work through Nashville’s annual budget process. Our local parks, libraries, transit and health initiatives are all being considered and public feedback will be heard on June 2. These inputs could lead to changes to Mayor Freddie O’Connell’s initial $3.8 billion spending proposal. 
   
• More on “Chud the Builder.” A judge set a $1 million bond for a white livestreamer charged with attempted murder for allegedly shooting and wounding a Black man in Clarksville. As more livestreamers find that being performative with bigoted language can draw big audiences — and big bucks — the line is blurring between freedom of expression and people’s right to feel safe. [Associated Press]

FROM THIS IS NASHVILLE

Nashville will be the “base camp” city for Japan’s national men’s team, the Samurai Blue, for the FIFA World Cup. We will explore what their team is like, what it means to be a base camp, and the strong historic ties between Tennessee and Japan.

Catch This is Nashville with host Blake Farmer on YouTube, or listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

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