Episode 1 - Red Tail Riffle

In this first episode of the FVCC Nature Journal, Host John Fraley and recent FVCC graduate Raser Powell talk about the fascinating web of life found at Red Tail Riffle on the Stillwater River on campus.  As an ecology student, Raser led a project to identify the critters in the river and surrounding area to build a trophic energy pyramid for the system, noting over 400 predator and prey relationships shared by the 46 members of the flora and fauna. Some of the key species in the food chain include showy damselflies, crayfish, stoneflies, and northern pike. Raser teamed with a math student and they identified more than 30,000 total pathways of energy through the system.