Episode 10: Smelting became a beloved tradition after rainbow smelt were introduced into the Great Lakes. How did smelt get introduced, how do they fit into the food web and what happens when humans fall in love with a non-native species?
Episode 9: Who gets to decide where a species belongs? What does it mean for something to be “invasive?” The term “invasive species” is commonly used by researchers and academics. But as the authors of the Dibaginjigaadeg Anishinaabe Ezhitwaad – A Tribal Climate Adaptation Menu developed the indigenous resilience guide, they spent long hours reckoning with the term “invasive,” along with a slew of other Western terms like “climate change” and “management.” Next, we speak to scholar Paul Robbins, whose personal journey with invasive species started with a flat tire in Rajestan, India. Since then, he’s studied human interactions with nature and the politics of natural resource management. Lastly, we join a group of reptile and amphibian experts who are debating if a popular pet turtle species, the red-eared slider, should be listed as prohibited or restricted in Wisconsin’s invasive species law.
BONUS: We’re excited to share an episode of Teach Me About the Great Lakes featuring the Introduced team! This episode is all about invasive species generally, and invasive crayfish specifically. TMAGL speaks again with Dr. Brian Roth about his work on invasive crayfish and with IISG’s own Greg Hitzroth about the Invasive Crayfish Collaborative. Plus, in a special bonus, we speak with the hosts of Introduced, a highly produced, episodic podcast about invasive species from our colleagues at Wisconsin Sea Grant.
Today’s guests are Dr. Brian Roth of Michigan State University, Greg Hitzroth of Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, and the producers of the Introduced podcast: Bonnie Willison, Sydney Widell, and special guest Tim Campbell.
Episode 8: On August 25, 2009, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources gets a call about small lobsters crawling around a neighborhood pond in Germantown. The extent of the problem is more than anyone bargained for. Here’s the story of the first red swamp crayfish introduced into Wisconsin.
Thanks to our guests Tim Campbell, Pete Jopke, Tim Zabel, Heidi Bunk, Scott Van Egeren, Esquire Estates residents Doug and Mary, Dr. Jake Vander Zanden, Erin Vennie-Vollrath, Chris Hamerla, Dr. Stephanie Peay.
Episode 7: After a dive into the world of fish collectors and a conversation with a DNR detective, Bonnie and Sydney want to know just how easy it is to buy aquatic invasive species online.
Special thanks to our guests Ted Judy, Robert Stroess, Tim Cambell and Erika Jensen.
Episode 6: Bold plans to remove invasive species from Lake Wingra and Crystal Lake lead to some unintended consequences down the line.
Episode 5: How does a group of fish valued in their home range come to be some of America’s most reviled villains? Sydney and Bonnie explore a surprising collaboration between American and Chinese researchers, and see how Ontario is bracing for an Asian Carp introduction.
Episode 4: Wisconsin Sea Grant takes a trip to the world’s largest electric fish dispersal barriers, just south of Chicago. These barriers are sending electricity into the canal for one purpose- to keep Asian Carp from swimming into the Great Lakes.