Dr. Scott Bergeson is an Associate Professor of Biology at Purdue University Fort Wayne, specializing in wildlife ecology and conservation. His research focuses on the behavior and habitat use of at-risk species, particularly bats, and how environmental changes affect their survival. He is passionate about mentoring students and engaging the public in understanding and protecting local ecosystems.

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

Reference link:
The economic impacts of ecosystem disruptions: Costs from substituting biological pest control
https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adg0344

Our guest this month is Laura Stine, owner of Laura Stine Gardens. Her keen interest in plants has led her to research and design with many plants that are native to our region. These plants not only fit beautifully into the home landscape but also connect our landscapes to nature in useful and fascinating ways.

Laura has a B.S. from Indiana University Bloomington and a certification in Landscape Technology from Ivy Tech. She has 25 years of experience designing a wide range of outdoor living spaces and in her previous position was the Senior Landscape Designer for a Fort Wayne nursery and landscaping company. She sits on the executive committee of the Northeast chapter of the Indiana Native Plants and Wildflower Society and enjoys using native plants that create healthy ecosystems while connecting residential landscapes to our native wildlife, including birds, butterflies and beneficial insects.

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

This summer, Little River Wetlands Project was pleased to host two summer interns, Emerson Brink and Joshua Groeling. In this podcast they are interviewed by Preserve and Volunteer Steward Charles Sifferlen about their experience working in Eagle Marsh. For anyone considering a career in conservation, they provide excellent insight into what that can be like.

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

Professor and Chair of Biology at Purdue University Fort Wayne. Mark has expertise in wildlife conservation and serves on the Land Committee.

https://www.pfw.edu/about-pfw/who-we-are/directories/mark-jordan

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

This month's episode is a little different than usual. We are participating in the worldwide Podcasthon. We will be one of over 1,400 podcasts participating this year. The idea is that each podcast will feature its favorite nonprofit and release the episode this week as part of a coordinated effort to draw attention to the good work of nonprofits all around the world. Of course, our podcast will be dedicated to our favorite nonprofit, the Little River Wetlands Project.

Guests:
Cammy Sutter, Executive Director
Don Cunningham, Lead Preserve Steward
Aly Munger, Wetland Educator
Charles Sifferlen, Preserve and Volunteer Steward
David Keuhl, Development Administrator

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

Eric P. Ellingson is a certified Professional Geologist, Senior Professional Wetland Scientist, and Registered Wetland Delineator with over 30 years of experience in hydrology, geomorphology, and ecological restoration. As President of Earth Source Inc. and founder of Heartland Restoration Services, he has led innovative projects in natural resource management since 1988. A recognized expert, Eric serves on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual peer review team and the Indiana Wetland Science Advisory Group.

He has lectured at major universities, sharing expertise in wetland hydrology and restoration. With a strong foundation in geology and water resource management from Indiana University, he is dedicated to advancing environmental stewardship and ecological restoration.

https://www.earthsourceinc.net/

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

Jesus Rosario, a 20 year military veteran and Fort Wayne transplant, has been living in the city for over 18 years and is currently employed by the city Parks and Recreation Department as an Event Coordinator. Jesus has been involved in various non-profit organizations since 2013. He has experience working in a variety of roles including volunteer, program director, instructor, coach, board member, treasurer, organizer and special committee member. His love of plants and nature began as a child growing up in Puerto Rico. Through continued shared knowledge and experience Jesus has grown his passion for horticulture and is focused on soil regeneration methods that can be applied in urban and suburban areas. Raising awareness within communities by educating the public on how we can protect our natural resources is one of his main goals.

(From https://savemaumee.org/contact/about-us/)

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

Save Maumee: https://savemaumee.org/

Maraiah was inspired to follow her interests in wildlife conservation while growing up on her grandparent's small farm in Southeastern IN. Learning about gardening, beekeeping, and animal care led to a lifelong concern for nature, starting with a career as a veterinary technician at Fort Wayne Children's Zoo. There, she had the opportunity to contribute to local, state, and international conservation projects and care for wild ambassadors. In her personal time, she pursued interests that supported pollinators, including organizing native plant sales, giving pollinator presentations, and supporting local nature organizations. She then focused on conserving and restoring wetland, prairie, and wooded habitats at the Little River Wetlands Project. She found working alongside her community and volunteers to build habitats for imperiled species and partnering with conservation organizations very fulfilling. Maraiah is eager to continue working to support pollinator conservation while coordinating Project Wingspan in Indiana.

(From https://www.pollinator.org/people/maraiah-russell)

At Little River Wetlands Project, our mission is to restore and protect wetlands in the historic watershed of the Little River, a major tributary of the Wabash River, and to provide educational opportunities that encourage good stewardship of wetlands and other natural ecosystems. To learn more about our organization and the many events we sponsor, please visit www.lrwp.org.

Pollinator Partnership - https://www.pollinator.org/