Benson, Stevie

Stevie standing at outdoor overlookCo-Advisor: Christina Murphy – Maine Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Co-Advisor: Noah Charney – Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Conservation Biology
Start Date:  Summer 2022
B.S. 2020, Biology with Ecology Emphasis, Loyola University Chicago, Chicago, IL
stevie.benson@maine.edu, 207.581.1340

Brief Biography: I’m from the Chicago area and have been interested in the natural world for most of my life. I became interested in aquatic ecology after spending a field season as an intern in Alaska working on various freshwater projects that included working with both aquatic insects & juvenile salmon. In my free time, I enjoy gaming, hiking, & cooking.

Current Research: My research is focused on the wetland ecology of northern white-cedar lowland forests in Maine. The project will be working to help inform understanding of the biological processes & intermittent wetland habitat of these areas by looking at insect biomass, assemblages, & biodiversity as well as wood decomposition & aquatic leaf litter processing.