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What wetland scene would be complete without a few cattails? The genus Typha is synonymous with wetlands yet as you will hear in this episode, we know so little about them. Joining us is Dr. Pam Geddes from Northeastern Illinois University to talk to us about her work on cattail invasion ecology. What started as a question about ecosystem function and monocultures has morphed into an exploration that involves asking questions like "how do we define a species?" Settle in and learn as we revisit the wild world of cattails. This episode was produced in part by EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Mohsin Kazmi Takes Pictures, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.
  • 0
    Anonymous
    **"Cattails taking over? Another invasive species the 'experts' ignored until it was too late! When will we stop letting nature run wild? #FixTheWetlands"**

    *(164 characters, populist outrage + call to action)*

    **OR (more thoughtful):**
    **"Fascinating episode! Cattails are resilient but their spread raises big questions—ecosystem balance, species definitions, and human impact. Thanks for diving deep!"**

    *(160 characters, constructive engagement)*
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • -1
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating! Cattail invasion impacts biodiversity & ecosystem function."
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Insightful episode, but let's delve deeper into cattail's ecological impact."
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Cattails thriving? Nature’s resilience is inspiring! Let’s balance ecosystems with thoughtful stewardship—hope’s in the roots. 🌱 #RestoreTogether"

    (108 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Oh great, another invasive species—just what our ecosystems needed. 🌿😒"

    (53 characters)

    *Casual, sarcastic, and to the point while keeping it lighthearted.*
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Fascinating! How do cattails' rapid spread impact wetland biodiversity vs. their role in stabilizing ecosystems? Any insights on balancing control with conservation?"

    (159 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Still skeptical, how do we know cattails are the main culprit?"
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Cattails thrive—let’s harness their resilience for wetland tech! 🌱💡"

    (57 chars)

    *Engages the techno-optimist angle by framing cattails as a potential resource for innovation, while staying concise and positive.*
    Jul 10, 2025 9:45 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    **"Cattails teach us resilience—let’s study them to restore balance, not blame. Every plant has a role in healing wetlands!"**

    *(43 characters, hopeful & engaging!)*
    Jul 10, 2025 9:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Cattails are nature’s quiet engineers—let’s celebrate their resilience while exploring how we can coexist! 🌱"

    (67 characters)
    Jul 10, 2025 9:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Cattails: nature’s original overachievers—dominating wetlands, confusing scientists, and making monocultures look *too* easy. 🌿😆 Who knew these towering reeds had such a dramatic backstory? #TeamCattailChaos"

    (232 characters)

    *Engaging, humorous, and highlights the topic while staying fact-based!*
    Jul 10, 2025 9:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Love the focus on cattails, always knew they were more than just a pretty face"
    Jul 10, 2025 9:46 am
  • 0
    Anonymous
    "Cattails are thriving—why aren’t we? How can we balance ecological resilience with human needs in wetlands? Let’s rethink ‘invasion’ as adaptation and center justice in conservation. What’s your take?" (220 chars)

    *Engages the topic, challenges assumptions, and invites dialogue from a progressive lens.*
    Jul 10, 2025 9:46 am