Join Dr. Susan as she interviews Dr. Jane Brockman, a renowned animal behaviorist from the University of Florida. Discover the ancient lineage and unique breeding behaviors of horseshoe crabs. Learn about their ecological significance and their critical role for migrating shorebirds, as well as their role in modern medicine.
Dr. Brockman discusses her journey into the study of animal behavior and why horseshoe crabs continue to captivate scientists and nature enthusiasts alike.
Dr. Susan will also visit an educational hands-on horseshoe crab event, and hear from a 12-year-old student about their experiences with these amazing creatures.
This episode also highlights the conservation efforts and challenges they face in both the United States and Asia. Tune in to appreciate the remarkable adaptations of these “living fossils” that have remained unchanged for millions of years, yet play an essential role in both natural ecosystems and human health advancements.

Learn more:
We interview Dr. Jane Brickman.
To see a picture of her teaching about horseshoe crabs at a “Green Eggs and Sand” workshop, visit this site:
https://people.clas.ufl.edu/hjb/research/
We heard a few minutes of an educational event hosted by the CCLT land trust. To learn more or support their work, visit:
https://www.ccltmaine.org
The educators from Coast Encounters presented at this event:
https://coastencounters.com/
*A donation was made to CCLT as part of this episode