The Florida Everglades is one of the most unique ecosystems in the world. The River of Grass is not just a state treasure; it’s a lifeline for the state’s biodiversity, economy and even its drinking water. Today, this fragile environment is facing a new threat: the Asian swamp eel.
Tune in as we explore the growing concern among researchers, why this species poses such a risk, and what’s being done to stop its spread before Florida’s biodiversity suffers permanent harm.
Episode 1: How did we get here?
Dr. Nathan Dorn, FIU aquatic ecologist, runs a lab on campus which studies the effects the Asian swamp eel has on the Everglades. He walks us through the past and present of this invasive species: when it arrived in South Florida, its specific characteristics that have allowed it to cause so much damage in the ecosystem and the current state as researchers along the federal and state government, as well as Florida’s native tribes discuss a solution to the problem.
Episode 2: The Everglades’ State of Play
Alyssa Herrera, a masters student in Dr. Nathan Dorn’s lab is studying the diet of the eel and its effects on the Everglades ecosystem. Herrera takes us more in depth on what her studies have shown her, from how truly devastating the species have been to South Florida’s biodiversity to how she thinks they’re actually cute. An Everglades fanatic herself, Herrera also touches on the impact that a healthy ecosystem has on every single Floridian.
