FWCB People in the News

Critics of war on invasive carp decry cost, environmental impact

For about two decades, several species of fish commonly known as Asian carp have been creeping up the Mississippi River and its tributaries, gobbling up food native fish need to survive…"To me, it's surprising we haven't seen more," says fisheries biologist Peter Sorensen of the University of Minnesota. MPR News

Northwest Minnesota bear study digs into details

A high-tech study of black bears in northwest Minnesota eventually could shed light on how far the species can expand from its traditional northern forest range…“I think it’s going to be quite surprising how far they can go,” said Dave Garshelis, bear research biologist for the Department of Natural Resources and an adjunct associate professor at the University of Minnesota. As part of a study with collaborators from the University of Minnesota and Medtronic, the DNR since 2007 has been fitting bears in northwest Minnesota with GPS collars to learn more about their movements and habitat use in a part of the state that’s on the fringe of bear range. Northland Outdoors

Penguins from Space: A new satellite census doubles the known population of Emperors

Using high-resolution satellite images, scientists have discovered that emperor penguins, whose Antarctic hardships were documented in the film "March of the Penguins," are twice as populous as previously thought…"Now we know how many there are," said Michelle LaRue, a research fellow at the U's Polar Geospatial Center and a graduate student in conservation biology. Scientific American

Squawk over hungry cormorants heard in Washington

To hear the fishermen around Lake Waconia tell it, the ancient black cormorants that congregate on the lake's Coney Island in the summer are the scourge of the fishes and trees. To naturalists who see the native Minnesota birds as unloved relations of the revered loon, it's all a big fish tale. "There isn't any problem with the fish population," said University of Minnesota fish and wildlife researcher Linda Wires. Star Tribune.

Minnesota vs. Asian carp

Now that a leaping silver carp and its kissin' cousin, a bighead carp, turned up in a commercial fisherman's net near Winona, Minn., sportsmen, environmentalists, scientists and politicians of all ideological stripes are boarding the Stop Aquatic Invasives bandwagon…There is also a proposal to tap the fund for $1.8 million (with more money coming from bonding and the lottery) to start up an aquatic invasive species research center at the University of Minnesota. Star Tribune.

Thailand field course student writes about his experience

"I went to Thailand as part of a University of Minnesota course, Tiger Research Methods and Field Survey Techniques, that earned me credit for my wildlife minor. Essentially, the course could have been called How to be a Thai Jungle Ranger." Jake Gau, a University of Minnesota-Twin Cities student, writes about his experiences in Thailand. Wausau Daily Herald

David Garshelis awarded the Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership

David Garshelis was the recent recipient of the Harry Messel Award for Conservation Leadership in recognition of his work in global bear conservation.  The award was presented by Simon Stuart, chair of the Species Survival Commission, at the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) meeting in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, February 27, 2012.  This award, established in 2004, acknowledges individuals who have made a significant contribution to species conservation through their leadership within an IUCN Specialist Group.  Dave co-chairs the IUCN Bear Specialist Group, which oversees the conservation of all seven terrestrial bears in the world (all but the polar bear).  The Harry Messel Award is given to up to four international species conservationists at four-year intervals. 

Loss of Milkweed hurts monarchs

A new study by monarch expert Karen Oberhauser and her Iowa State colleague, John Pleasants, ties a decade-long decline in monarch populations to the loss of milkweed from the corn and soybean fields that blanket the Midwest.

New University of Minnesota research center could give the state a fighting chance in the war against invasive species.

Peter Sorensen is spear-heading an effort to establish a new research center that will study aquatic invasive species. The center will be used to come up with new and more permanent methods of eradication of invasive species like Asian carp and zebra mussels. Star Tribune, Pioneer Press, and Star Tribune (Editorial).

Black bears have a surprising capacity to heal as they hibernate, say US researchers.

Medical researcher and zoologists worked together to find that black bears' wounds healed with almost no scarring, and were infection-free. The healing occurred while the bears were hibernating and scientists hope to use their findings to aid studies of wound-healing in elderly, malnourished, or diabetic patients. The study was part of a tracking project by scientists, including, David Garshelis, from the universities of Minnesota, Wyoming, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. BBC Nature News.

"Water Policy in Minnesota: Issues, Incentives, and Action"

Written by K. William Easter and James Perry, H.T. Morse Distinguished Professor of Water Quality and Environmental Management, and Professor, University of Minnesota, Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology.

Minnesota has a unique role in U.S. water policy. Hydrologically, it is a state with more than 12,000 lakes, an inland sea, and the headwaters of three major river systems: the St Lawrence, the Red River of the North, and the Mississippi.

This book is an excellent guide for policymakers and decision makers who are interested in learning about alternative approaches to water management. Non-governmental organizations interested in stimulating effective water quality policy will also find this a helpful resource. Read the first chapter.

Earthworms to blame for the decline of Ovenbirds in northern Midwest forests, study reveals

A new survey conducted in Minnesota’s Chippewa National Forest and Wisconsin’s Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest by a research team led by Scott Loss of the University of Minnesota and the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center has revealed a direct link between the presence of invasive European earthworms (Lumbricus spp.) and reduced numbers of Ovenbirds in mixed sugar maple and basswood forests. Smithsonian Science

Farmer fined $12,500 for decimating pelican nests

Craig Staloch, 59, of Minnesota Lake was fined $12,500 and ordered to perform 100 hours of community service in a wildlife program for a rampage last spring in which he destroyed thousands of white pelican eggs and chicks. The fine will go into a wetland conservation fund. Linda Wires, an expert on water birds provided some insight into the changing attitudes towards growing numbers of fish-eating birds. Star Tribune

Beyond the empty nest

As anyone who’s ever sent a son or daughter off to college knows, a safe departure from the nest may warrant a sigh of relief, but the worries aren’t over. For birds it’s not nearly so simple: a spate of recent research is beginning to show just how fraught with peril the life of a juvenile bird is..... But according to Henry Streby and David Andersen of the University of Minnesota, that’s because what we know about most birds’ breeding habitat comes from just two clues: where we hear the males singing, and where we find females nesting. Ecosphere

Rep. Dill introduces parameters for wolf hunting and trapping season

A wolf hunting and trapping season in Minnesota was one the first issues to be debated in the 2012 Minnesota legislative session… “It is extremely well thought out,” Dave Mech, a wolf expert with the U.S. Geological Survey and adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, said of the DNR plan. Lake County News-Chronicle

Rep. Hackbarth proposes electronic barriers to stop Asian carp

A House natural resources committee on Wednesday, Feb. 1 heard a legislative proposal from Rep. Tom Hackbarth that could place three electronic barriers on the Mississippi River to block the spread of Asian carp… Professor Peter Sorensen of the University of Minnesota, a biologist who has done extensive research on controlling common carp and looking for financing to start an exotic species research facility at the university, deemed constructing the electronic lock barriers “a judicious move.” Elk River Star News

"River Song: The Thomas F. Waters Story"

Tom Waters, FWCB Emeritus Professor, and author of several books on the rivers and streams of MN, is the focus of this film by Richard Cornell. To purchase a copy of this film, please send an e-mail to storyhunterfilms@gmail.com.

Minnesota lawmakers consider wolf hunting season

A wolf hunting and trapping season in Minnesota was one the first issues to be debated in the 2012 Minnesota legislative session…“It is extremely well thought out,”  Dave Mech, a wolf expert with the U.S. Geological Survey and adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota, said of the DNR plan. Grand Forks Herald

Council recommends additional Heritage funds to fight invasive species

Minnesota may step up its efforts against invasive Asian carp using Outdoor Heritage Funds, one of four legacy amendment funds…Peter Sorensen of the U of M's department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology said the university is testing audio barriers to deter carp, whose sense of hearing is 50-times more acute than other fish. MPR News

Winter bug may offer climate clues

Will French, a Conservation Biology graduate research assistant, is part of a team of researchers from the University of Minnesota who are working to understand more about the relationship between Diamesa mendotae, unusual freeze-resistant insects and the fish that eat them in streams in the southeastern part of the state. Star Tribune

Editorial: Invest in research to fight invasive species

Minnesotans strongly reaffirmed their commitment to clean lakes and rivers in 2008, when they supported a statewide sales tax increase to fund environmental programs and the arts through the Legacy Amendment. It was encouraging to hear the legislative response last week to a proposal by University of Minnesota carp expert, Peter Sorensen to create a world-class invasive species research center at the U. Star Tribune

Peter Sorensen proposes an invasive species research center for the University of Minnesota

Beating back invasive species with boat inspections, dams or bubble barriers only buys time at best, a University of Minnesota professor told a legislative panel on Thursday. Instead, he said, let's outthink 'em. Star Tribune

Physical barriers won't stop Asian carp

Physical barriers will not be effective enough to stop invasive species from damaging Minnesota waters, according to a University of Minnesota researcher…Peter Sorensen has studied carp for years, and helped design an acoustic-bubble carp barrier at his lab at the U of M. MPR News

Expert provides hope for Lake Neshonoc Carp Control

Peter Sorensen, a scientist who has shed light on some of the mysteries of carp behavior may also provide some crucial insights to controlling the carp population on Lake Neshonoc and maintaining the health of the fishery. Lacrosse Tribune.

U of M scientists waging wars on carp

Fitted with electro-fishing equipment, the boat eased into the cattails along North St. Paul's Casey Lake, two University of Minnesota technicians standing at the bow with dip nets ready to scoop up stunned common carp…Led by professor Peter Sorensen, U scientists are trying to figure out what makes these carp tick: where they go, when and why, and what attracts and repels them.

Pioneer Press
 

Cormorant trouble at Lake Waconia

Double-crested cormorants have been shot at Lake Waconia for the past four years, part of an ongoing effort to limit damage to a private island…People hate them, according to Francesca Cuthbert, a colonial waterbird expert at the University of Minnesota.
Star Tribune
Star Tribune

Scientists to trail carp with robotic boats

(October 2011) Researchers at three colleges will use a $2.2 million grant to develop robotic boats to track radio-tagged common carp in an effort to help control their numbers…"It's a little bit of science fiction, but it makes sense," said Peter Sorensen, a fish biology professor in the U's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences. Scientists at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Minnesota will participate in the research.
Columbus Dispatch
Pioneer Press
Grand Forks Herald
KSTP

Farmer 'snapped' over pelicans

(October 2011) On May 17, Craig Staloch just snapped, his lawyer says... The massive colony of 3,000 birds, one of 16 in the state, had nested on an island in Minnesota Lake since at least 1995, and probably long before, said Linda Wires, an expert on pelicans at the University of Minnesota.
Star Tribune
Kansas City Star
United Press International
Fort Wayne Gazette-Journal
Chicago Sun-Times

Wildlife researcher responds to cormorant complaints

(October 2011) A response to a previous discussion on problems caused by cormorants comes from Linda Wires, a Research Fellow at the University of Minnesota's Dept. Of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology.
Minnesota Public Radio

Michigan winning war against Cormorants

(September 2011) The number of cormorant nests in Michigan has been decreasing since population reduction actions were implemented in 2004…Dr. Francesca Cuthbert of the University of Minnesota, who coordinates the count throughout the U.S. Great Lakes Region, has noted further decreases on breeding colonies in Michigan.
Saginaw Michigan's WNEM

People and butterflies connect at Minneapolis Monarch Festival

(September 2011) People of all ages and backgrounds came together on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 at the Monarch Festival on Lake Nokomis to share their love for the monarch butterfly. That’s what Liz Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota loves about this annual event.
Twin Cities Daily Planet

Early Worm Gets Bird

(September 2011) Worms are turning the tables. The early bird may get the worm, but researchers Scott Loss and Robert Blair say invasive European earthworms appear to be reducing densities of ground-dwelling songbirds in North American Forests.
Conservation Magazine

Sonic bubble barrier is latest hope to control carp invasion

(August 2011) A sonic and bubble barrier may be only a partial solution to keeping the invasive Asian carp away from Minnesota waters, according to University of Minnesota experts… Peter Sorensen, Dan Zielinski and Vaughan Voller discuss the next steps in their experiments on sonic/bubble barriers for common carp.
Minnesota Public Radio

Feathered friends on Johnson Street

(August 2011) Wild turkeys are a familiar sight in Northeast’s Audubon Park. Staff at Rewind feed them peanuts. Kids in Audubon Park throw snowballs at them… Karl Tinsley, a University of Minnesota Ph.D. student who is studying urban turkeys, said the city shields them from predators and hunting season.
Downtown Journal

Thomas Waters inducted into the National Trout Center Wall of Fame

(August 2011) The National Trout Center will induct Professor Emeritus Thomas F. Waters into their Wall of Fame.  He is recognized for his lifelong career in research, teaching and advocacy for trout and the special cold-water stream environments they inhabit.  The ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 6th at the National Trout Center in Preston, Minnesota. 
NTC Wall of Fame Ceremony

Minnesota research project focuses on saving tiny songbird

(June 2011) Nearly half the golden-winged warblers in the world are in northern Minnesota right now for the summer breeding season… "A golden-winged warbler is kind of the proverbial canary in the coal mine," says Henry Streby, a researcher with the University of Minnesota, which is a member of the research unit. Minnesota Public Radio

Stable temperatures boost biodiversity in tropical mountains

(June 2011) We often think of rainforests and coral reefs as hotspots for biodiversity, but mountains are treasure troves for species too —especially in the tropics, scientists say… "Whereas a lowland area like a rainforest offers the same habitat over a large distance, mountain areas can go from lowland tropical forest, to cloud forest, to pine forest to paramo over a very short distance," said co-author Ken Kozak of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Science Codex

Ken Kozak receives American Society of Naturalist's Presidents Award

(May 2011) Assistant Professor Ken Kozak received the American Society of Naturalist's President's Award for best paper published in The American Naturalist during 2010 (volumes 175 and 176). Kozak and John Wiens of Stony Brook University published "Niche conservatism drives elevational diversity patterns in Appalachian salamanders," in July 2010.

John Loegering chosen president-elect of the North Central Section of The Wildlife Society

(Apr. 2011) John Loegering is an associate professor in UM - Crookston’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Department and an FWCB adjunct faculty member. The three-year commitment includes serving as the section's president and past-president as well. Read more.

How Minnesotans Can "Fish" for More Sustainable Ocean Life

(Apr. 2011) This week marks the 35th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA), the federal law that is helping to rebuild America's depleted ocean fish populations and ensure their long-term sustainability… While the law has laid the groundwork, Peter Sorensen, professor of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at the University of Minnesota, believes individuals can also make a difference through their buying decisions. Public News Service

Keeping monarchs on the move

(Apr. 2011) Like many human retirees, some monarch butterflies have taken up residence in Florida, where they need not migrate to find winter warmth. Cushy as that life may seem, however, the Florida populations would probably enjoy better health if, like their northern cousins, they flew 1,500 miles south into central Mexico for the winter.In a new study, University of Minnesota monarch researcher Karen Oberhauser and three colleagues showed that long migrations tend to rid butterfly populations of parasites. This implies that disruptions to migrations, whether by habitat loss, loss of nectar plants along the migration route, climate change, or other factors, can reduce the fitness of monarchs, other migrating insects, and even vertebrates. UMN News

Minnesota is muskie mecca

(Apr. 2011) When muskie fever strikes, it doesn't discriminate. Still, 8-year-old David Jacobson might be one of the youngest Minnesotans afflicted… "We do know it's growing in popularity,'' said David Fulton, a University of Minnesota professor who conducts the angler surveys. Star Tribune

Worries grow over monarch butterflies

(Apr. 2011) North America’s beloved monarch butterfly may be sliding into a long-term decline… That trend in winter populations may be statistically significant, says monarch researcher Karen Oberhauser of the University of Minnesota in St. Paul, but she and other researchers are now working on a broader analysis of monarchs and the challenges the insects face throughout the year to get a better handle on whether the population is declining and, if so, why. Science News and Discovery News

Wild turkeys move in on campus

(Apr. 2011) Students walking around campus may have been greeted with a strange sight Tuesday —wild turkeys...Turkeys began spreading from southern Minnesota to farther north. But scientists never expected to see them move into urban areas like they have in the past few years. Karl Tinsley, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota who is currently researching why turkeys are moving into urban environments, said turkeys will go wherever they can find food. With a generalist diet and people feeding them, turkeys have adapted relatively well to city life. MN Daily

Ray Newman wins the University's Graduate/Professional Award

(Apr. 2011) Professor Ray Newman received a distinguished teaching award for his outstanding contributions to postbaccalaureate, graduate, and/or professional education. This honor is awarded annually to exceptional candidates nominated by their colleges in their quest to identify excellence in postbaccalaureate, graduate, and/or professional education.

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