MEET OUR INTERNS
Name: Alexander Searfoss
Hometown: Mishawaka, Indiana
Education: M.S student Central Michigan University
Major: Biology
Hobbies: Fishing, Hiking
Masters Project: This study focuses on the Eel River in Northeastern Indiana, which underwent the removal of six dams,
as well as the installation of an experimental fish ladder, concluding with the removal of the Logansport dams in November of 2021,
ultimately reconnecting the river to the Mississippi River Watershed.
This research aims to evaluate the ecological tradeoffs associated with dam removal.
Three main objectives include: (1) Evaluate spatial and temporal changes in species presence, abundance, richness, and distribution resulting
from dam removal and compare these changes with those observed
in neighboring streams. (2) Examine the movement and
colonization of imperiled Bluebreast Darters, Tippecanoe Darters, and Common Logperch within the reconnected Eel River.
(3) Investigate the presence and prevalence of invasive Asian Carp
species in the Eel River post-dam removal. To address these objectives, multiple methods will be employed. The fish community of
the Eel River will be sampled at 11 different locations (Figure 1) using electrofishing, beach seining, and environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling.
This data will be compared to data collected pre-removal of the
Logansport dams, as well as data collected from three rivers with dams: the
Mississenewa, Salamonie, and Tippecanoe Rivers. The proposed sampling, along with additional sampling at additional sites, will be used to
describe the spatial extent of Bluebreast Darters, Tippecanoe Darters
and Common Logperch. Furthermore, eDNA testing will be employed to test for the presence of Asian Carp eDNA throughout the river.
Name: Kim Schraitle
Hometown: Richfield, Ohio
Education: B.S in Biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.
Previous job positions: include preventing the introduction of dreissenid mussels to the Pacific Northwest as an Aquatic Invasive Species Inspector, managing Columbia River basin salmonid datasets as a fisheries Data Analyst and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Technician, and teaching natural science-based field trip classes as a Field Station Assistant on Lake Erie.
Professional Goals: In collaboration with Central Michigan University and Ecosystems Connections Institute, I am seeking my Masters in Biology with a Concentration in Conservation at Central Michigan University. The focus of my work is aquatic ecology and submersed aquatic plant restoration in the Eel River for renewed habitat and sediment stability.
Master's Project: Eelgrass Reintroduction
Name: Joshua Long
Hometown: LaPorte, Indiana
Education: B.S. in Environmental Studies from Manchester University
Previous job positions: Following graduation, I worked for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Biological Science Technician collecting samples to inform Salmon stocking in Lake Michigan for a year. Following, I worked at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center as a Fisheries Research Technician focusing on larval fish for an additional year.
Professional Goals: These positions solidified my plans to further my formal education in the field of Natural Resources as a Master’s student at Central Michigan University. In collaboration with Central Michigan University and Ecosystems Connections Institute, my research is focusing on a dam removal in Logansport, IN. Following this dam removal, the entire Eel River will be connected to the Wabash River. My focus will assess the change of fish composition and tracking of fish movement between the two rivers.
Master's Project: Ecological Lift of a Fishladder Passageway
Name: Bailey Miles 2018-2021
Hometown: Crown Point, Indiana
Education: Senior at Manchester University
Major: Biology and Environmental Studies
Hobbies: Playing football, playing video games, and fishing
Professional Goals: I would love to work for ECI the rest of my life. I enjoy training others in my field. Also, I would love to attend Central Michigan University.
Internship Summer Project: I have works for ECI for over 2 years. Over this summer I will be working on collecting all of the data from the study done on Beargrass Creek near North Manchester, Indiana. My research project is focused on best management practices for freshwater streams. A goal I want to accomplish in this field during the summer is to learn how to reduce the amount of nutrients being put into freshwater streams by agricultural pollution.
Name: Daniel St. Amand
Hometown: Atlanta Georgia
Education: B.S Clemson University in Wildlife and Fisheries
M.S. student Central Michigan University
Major: Conservation Biology
Interests: After graduation from Clemson, I spent 9 months working for Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association as both a Fish Culturist and a Fisheries Technician III. I was in charge of the operations of the Bear Creek Weir, in which we enumerated and identified thousands of out-migrating salmon smolts and spawning salmon adults that were returning. I am extremely excited for the next two summers of research with ECI!
Masters Project:
Name: Paloma Shull
Hometown: Wabash, Indiana
Education: Sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington
Major: Animal Behavior
Hobbies: Collecting wild edible and medicinal plants and identifying wildlife. I have a passion for learning traditional survival skills and living off the land. In my free time I enjoy playing guitar, singing , wrestling and backpacking with friends.
Professional Goals: My professional goal is to work with animals.
Internship Summer Project: My summer research project is to examine ECI previously planted eel grass plots to determine if the plots hold more fish than the surrounding areas. I will do this by using a backpack shocker in the plots and out of the plots.