Campuses:
2011
October | September | August | June | May | April | March | February | January
2010
December | November | October | September | August | July | June | May | April | March | February | January
2009
November | October | September | August | July | May | April | February | January
2008
December | November | October | August | July | June | May | April | March | February
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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 Lis Young-Isebrand of the Monarch Lab at the University of Minnesota loves about this annual event.
Twin Cities Daily Planet
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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.
(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.
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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
(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.
(Mar. 2011) To those familiar with the Sarita Wetland on the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul campus, the area has many uses. In the eyes of a civil engineer, the land serves as a facility for handling storm water. For an ecology professor, it is a wetland with diverse plants and aquatic animals. Andrew Carlson, the Sarita officer for the Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology Club, sees it as a place to put lecture learning into practice...Large-scale improvements to the area are in the planning stage after FWCB received a grant of nearly $9,000 from the Capitol Region Watershed District. “Our intent is to enhance the outdoor lab value of this site for teaching and research,” FWCB adviser Peter Jordan said. MN Daily
(Mar. 2011) Associate Professor Rob Blair received the 2011 Outstanding Community Service Award in the faculty division from the Office of Public Engagement. The award is given to a faculty member who has made an extraordinary, significant contribution to the betterment of society through his/her research, teaching and/or public service.
(Mar. 2011) The sound of water gurgling through storm sewers is the promise of a spring that's been a long time coming... "Folks who grow up in Minnesota have a clear idea of that expectation and responsibility," said Kristen Nelson, a social scientist at the University of Minnesota who studies environmental behavior. "It takes on important symbolic connotations."
Star Tribune
(Mar. 2011) During a recent outing in rural Marshall County, Adjunct FWCB faculty member and DNR bear biologist Dave Garshelis and other researchers hiked down a snowmobile trail, then used snowshoes to head through the woods to the den...A researcher crawled into the den to give the mother a shot that would sedate her for about an hour. "Basically we'll just check on her general health," said graduate student Mark Ditmer, as he waited for the sedative to take effect. "Check on her fat thickness. Just see how good a condition she's in." Minnesota Public Radio. View a slideshow of the research trip here.
(Mar. 2011) A University of Minnesota study on Monarch butterflies suggests a connection between the long migration and parasites… University of Minnesota researcher Karen Oberhauser said they also found Monarchs in areas packed with lots of butterflies suffered more from parasites. "So it suggests it would be a lot better to keep larger areas for organisms to prevent the kind of crowding that might lead to parasite build-up," Oberhauser said. Minnesota Public Radio
(Mar. 2011) Animals often carry disease and parasites with them as they migrate, spreading them to others as they make their way long distances... The volunteers are part of two citizen science projects, one called MonarchHealth, started by Altizer in 1996 and run from UGA. Another, the Monarch Larva Monitoring project, is coordinated at the University of Minnesota. Athens Banner-Herald
(Mar. 2011) Thad Cook had been working as a biologist on the Illinois River, a few hours south of Chicago, for nearly a decade when his boat began to fall apart. The depth finder busted first, followed by the radio, the generator, and finally the fuel tank… That wouldn’t surprise Peter Sorensen either. The University of Minnesota scientist has studied carp of all kinds for about six years. “These are the only Asian carp legally in Minnesota,” he says wryly as we peer into giant, well-sealed tanks in a St. Paul building he’d prefer I not identify. Minnesota Monthly
(Mar. 2011) Federal biologists deem the gray wolf recovered. Yet instead of being a success story, its status is mired in controversy… “Biologically the wolves recovered a long time ago in both areas, but the problem has always been technicalities,” says David Mech, USGS Biological Resources Division senior scientist and world-renowned wolf biologist. Audubon Magazine
(Mar. 2011) If any animal symbolizes worries about climate change, it’s the polar bear.Polar bears depend on ice to live and hunt in the world’s most extreme conditions; if the environment they live in gets too warm, the bears will struggle to survive. That’s not because they need to be cold, but because they need ice on which to hunt seals, which constitute 99 percent of the bears’ diet. Some scientists now believe that the most southerly population of polar bears in southern Hudson Bay may die out in 25 to 30 years because of melting polar ice. Counting them is crucial as a barometer of how climate change is advancing in the Arctic. That’s where Seth Stapleton comes in. The conservation biology graduate student has spent summers since 2008 counting bears in Nunavut, a territory in northern Canada, home to nearly two-thirds of the world’s polar bears. Solutions
(Mar. 2011) Planes blasting off runways, rivers of car traffic and giant smokestacks—those have been the faces of pollution in the city. But with populations in cities and suburbs continuing to expand, individuals are playing larger roles in the urban landscape...While much research has been conducted on large-scale polluters in cities, little has been done to understand the household movements of elements that contribute to pollution and how individual choices influence those elements. Enter the Twin Cities Household Ecosystem Project (TCHEP), a group of scientists from the University of Minnesota and partners at the University of California–Santa Barbara.
TCHEP is working to quantify the cycles of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus elements through households in the Twin Cities metro area: how and why they come in, and where the waste goes. Ultimately Kristen Nelson, an environmental sociologist in the departments of Forest Resources and Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, hopes that understanding what influences these choices will help scientists and homeowners find viable solutions for pollution control. Solutions
(Feb. 2011) Speaking to about 250 hunting and fishing enthusiasts at the annual Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Alliance banquet Tuesday evening in St. Paul, Gov. Mark Dayton said he “did his best to protect the DNR’’ in the budget he unveiled earlier in the day… Two University of Minnesota students, Katherine Cornelius and Alex Halverson, were awarded scholarships totaling $3,000 named for the late Joe Alexander, onetime Minnesota “game warden’’ — now conservation officer — and DNR commissioner. Star Tribune
(Feb. 2011) It seems an elegant solution to the rising number of complaints about coyotes in Minnesota: Bring back the bounty… "It's very hard to reduce their numbers," said David Mech, a biologist with the U.S. Geological Service and the University of Minnesota. Star Tribune
(Feb. 2011) Conservation Biology Ph.D. student Marcus Beck's presentation “Image analysis techniques to evaluate effects of nearshore lake development on aquatic macrophytes” won the Best Student Paper Award at the 44th Annual Meeting of the Minnesota Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.
(Feb. 2011) In this video produced by the National Park Service, graduate student Amy Luxbacher explains her research on how climate change may affect the red-cheeked salamander. Luxbacher is advised by Assistant Professor Ken Kozak. National Park Service.
(January 2011) Salamanders aren’t that common in Minnesota—you’d have to comb the whole state to find four species, according to researcher Ken Kozak. Mountains are home to most of the world’s 580 living species of salamanders, with the highest concentrations in southern Appalachia and the Mexico-to-Panama highlands. What’s more, salamanders are so common in high-elevation forests that their total biomass often exceeds that of rodents and birds. They’re such a critical link in food webs that anything affecting salamanders could have a cascading effect on mountain ecosystems. OVPR Research News Online
(January 2011) Governor Mark Dayton chose Tom Landwehr to head the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Landwehr was most recently the assistant state director of the Nature Conservancy. Minnesota Public Radio.
(January 2011) A carp harvest is under way on a Twin Cities area lake...Professor Peter Sorensen and research assistants were harvesting common carp from Lake Lucy in Chanhassen last week. KSTP-TV
(January 2011) The human race -- you -- has become the dominant force of change on the planet… An in-depth survey of 3,000 households in Ramsey and Anoka counties is providing environmental researchers Kristen Nelson, Sarah Hobbie and Larry Baker at the University of Minnesota insight into just that question. Star Tribune
(December 2010) The bubbling pot of pent up anger over wolves in Montana appears likely to spill over some day soon... "Lawsuits have maintained that wolf populations are not large enough to have genetic interactions. This study proves that they do," said Dave Mech, a University of Minnesota professor who has studied wolves and their prey since 1958. The Great Falls Tribune
Salamanders show why the tropics are so rich in species
(December 2010) The tiny salamanders in Kenneth Kozak's lab don't look very strong. But they've just helped overturn a powerful idea. Ecologists have long known that the tropics have more species than temperate areas. But the reason may not be what they thought. UMN News
(December 2010) A lot of kids might grow up liking amphibians...But few turn it into a career like Ken Kozak. "That's what led me to become an evolutionary biologist. I wanted to understand where all this diversity in the planet came from," explains Dr. Ken Kozak, of the University of Minnesota. "These salamanders have been around for millions of years." Because they're an old species they've had to deal with lots of changes on earth including climate... And the way they've changed as the climate has changed allows scientists to track who's related to who. KARE 11
(December 2010) If the Asian carp mustering in the waterways south of Chicago actually do gobble their way into Lake Michigan and topple the multibillion dollar Great Lakes fishery, it won't be a first… University of Minnesota biologist and carp expert Peter Sorensen was floored when he first learned of the carp battle under way Down Under. Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
(November 2010) In an Australian-first trial, adult carp in Lake Sorell are being implanted with hormones that stimulate the production of sex pheromones.The hormone-fueled carp are then used as a bait to lure wild carp into traps, preventing further mating. Professor Peter Sorensen from the University of Minnesota developed the implant. Outdoor Life and ABC News.net
(October 2010) In an another effort to bolster a declining monarch butterfly population, Kansas University’s Monarch Watch program is unveiling a plan to spread milkweed plants across the country… Priya Shahani is program coordinator for the Monarch Joint Venture project at the University of Minnesota, which has collaborated with Monarch Watch — among numerous other agencies and organizations — on projects in the past. Lawrence Journal World
(October 2010) Gray wolves in the Northern Rockies maintained a strong gene pool even with a smaller population, a finding that could undermine wildlife advocates’ arguments that the rebounding species remains at risk, a study says… “Lawsuits have maintained that wolf populations are not large enough to have genetic interactions. This study proves that they do,” said Dave Mech, a University of Minnesota professor who has studied wolves and their prey since 1958. Billings Gazette and Flathead Beacon
(October 2010) Did you ever wonder why so many different life forms are so richly abundant in the tropics?...A new University of Minnesota study led by Ken Kozak, FWCB assistant professor and a curator at the Bell Museum, suggests that climate may play a role in determining how fast new species evolve. MinnPost
(October 2010) While eliminating more than 7 million carp from Utah Lake seems a daunting task, a pair of University of Minnesota professors say it can be done… Peter Sorensen and Przemek Bajer told the Utah Lake Symposium at Utah Valley University Tuesday that the carp population can be significantly reduced through a combination of harvesting and interrupting the fish’s ability to reproduce. Salt Lake Tribune
(October 2010) Famed Minnesota ruffed grouse researcher Gordy Gullion was honored this week as officials dedicated a new ruffed grouse informational kiosk at Mille Lacs Wildlife Management Area near Onamia... Gullion, a University of Minnesota professor, headed the forestry wildlife project at the Cloquet Forestry Center for 32 years. Star Tribune
(October 2010) Douglas Johnson, Adjunct Professor in FWCB and Research Statistician and Senior Scientist, USGS, was selected to receive the 2010 Aldo Leopold Memorial Award at The Wildlife Society's annual meeting this month in Snowbird, Utah. This award recognizes distinguished service to wildlife conservation and is the highest honor bestowed by the Society.
(October 2010) Meadow Kouffeld, Natural Resources Science and Management graduate student, received the Donald H. Rusch Memorial Game Bird Research Scholarship at The Wildlife Society's annual meeting this month in Snowbird, Utah. The scholarship assists a graduate student studying upland game bird or waterfowl biology and management. Her advisor is Rocky Gutiérrez.
(September 2010) Most people have seen stories about the invasive and high-leaping Asian carp and the damage they do to waterways… Two experts in the field, University of Minnesota Professor Peter Sorensen and Ann Geisen, from the Department of Natural Resources, will speak at the workshop. Star Tribune
(September 2010) Across the Great Lakes, there's growing interest in the ecological importance of islands -- and the need to keep them free of invasive plants, pests and other threats… University of Minnesota wildlife Professor Francie Cuthbert has studied colonies of waterbirds for the past three decades, including aerial surveys of hundreds of islands and field work on about 150. Star Tribune
(September 2010) The monarch rode the wind through the Eastman Nature Center in Dayton, sweeping down a bike path, then through fields of tall tangled grass that bent with each gust... Along the way, many will die from storms, starvation, fatigue and predation, but the ones that make it represent an incredible naturalphenomenon that University of Minnesota monarch lab scientists and others nationwide are still trying to fully understand... If there are cooler temperatures during their stay in Mexico, that may also slow down their metabolism and increase their longevity, according to Karen Oberhauser, a researcher at the University of Minnesota's monarch lab. Star Tribune
(August 2010) Long-term warming of the Great Lakes climate is melting the ice from Minnesota lakes earlier in the year. As those “ice-out” dates move farther up the calendar, they may be disrupting the reproduction of a popular sport fish, according to a recent study in the journal Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. “Each day ice-out gets earlier, walleye spawning tends to get a day to half a day earlier,” said Ray Newman, study co-author and professor of fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology at the University of Minnesota. It’s not yet clear how that will affect the fish, but it has the potential to cause a few problems, he said.
Great Lakes Echo
(August 2010) Water gurgling from a well is flooding Craig Gautreaux's rice and crawfish fields, turning the farm into a wetland for migratory birds whose usual Gulf of Mexico wintering grounds are threatened by the oil spill… The piping plover, a shorebird on the federal endangered species list, spends winters nibbling tiny invertebrates on sandy Southern beaches and probably won't be attracted to the new habitats at first, said biologist Francie Cuthbert of the University of Minnesota. Tampa Tribune
(July 2010) Last year their numbers were down, but monarch butterflies seem to be making a comeback this summer. The weather has been perfect for monarchs and the milkweed plants they depend on, said Karen Oberhauser, a biologist at the University of Minnesota. "A combination of wet and warm, but not too hot," she said. "That's what they like." Minnesota Public Radio
(July 2010) Peter Sorensen's lab has collaborated with the Ramsey Washington Metro Watershed District on carp research. A documentary has been completed highlighting their work.
The Carp Project from CTV North Suburbs on Vimeo.
(June 2010) If Minnesota is to stop the spread of invasive Asian Carp -- those high-jumping, habitat-changing fish swimming their way up the Mississippi River -- the answers could be found in labs from Australia to the University of Minnesota. Professor Peter Sorenson is studying another approach to a more immediate problem. WCCO-TV
(May 2010) Editorial by Francie Cuthbert, department head and professor. Twenty-five years ago this spring, I found my first piping plover nest. It was camouflaged in sand and cobble on the west side of High Island, in northern Lake Michigan. Recognizing the rarity of this species, I knew I had discovered a great treasure…This spring, dozens of monitors are already protecting plover nests throughout the Great Lakes, and the first eggs will hatch the end of May. Detroit Free Press.
(May 2010) They’re everywhere. It’s hard to venture anywhere in Minnesota without seeing one of the state’s estimated 1 million whitetail deer bounding along a ditch or browsing for food in forest or grasslands. Every fall, hunters net about a quarter of the population, but the deer seem to come right back. The ever-growing population has long posed questions for wildlife managers, especially in the northern woods: how many deer can a given timber stand feed, and how much of the timber can be harvested without starving the deer? In a bad winter, how do the deer avoid freezing or starving? A 15-year study in the Chippewa National Forest led by adjunct associate professor Glenn DelGiudice, answers many of those questions and provides first-of-its-kind insights into how deer survive and thrive. Read more in Solutions magazine.
The awards are determined through a university-wide competition administered by the Office of the Vice President for Research. Each award includes a research grant for two consecutive years, summer support and a research leave in the second year. Kozak's research asks what can salamanders tell us about the origin and fate of the world's biodiversity hotspots.
(May 2010) As part of her National Science Foundation (NSF)-supported Monarch Butterfly Larval Monitoring Project, FWCB faculty member Karen Oberhauser and other University researchers are training naturalists and environmental educators throughout the United States at 11 host sites. National Science Foundation News.
(April 2010) FWCB faculty member Andrew Simons has won the CFANS 2009-2010 distinguished teaching award. The award is in recognition of the faculty who have made significant contributions to teaching.
(April 2010) FWCB faculty member Jim Perry has won the annual CFANS student board award. The award recognized the outstanding teaching efforts of two CFANS professors for their contributions to the education of students made during the 2009-2010 school year.
(April 2010) Simons directs the graduate program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior. Every two years, the University of Minnesota recognizes two graduate faculty members with its "Best DGS" awards.
(April 2010) Kristen Nelson, Associate Professor in FWCB and Forest Resources, and Sarah Hobbie, Associate Professor of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior discussed their Twin Cities Household Ecosystem Project as part of the Institute on the Environment lecture series Frontiers in the Environment.
(April 2010) Conservation Biology PhD student K.S. Gopi Sundar wrote about his research on Sarus crane conservation for the publication Current Conservation. (.pdf)
(March 2010) The gray wolf, a stirring icon of Minnesota's north country, is back…L. David Mech, a senior researcher at the U.S. Geological Survey and an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota, calls the gray wolf repopulation efforts "a great success from a scientific and conservation standpoint." Star Tribune
(February 2010) FWCB faculty Rocky Gutiérrez and other members of The Northern Spotted Owl Long-Term Demography Research Team recently were selected to receive the Ralph Schreiber Conservation Award by the American Ornithologists' Union. Alan Franklin, one of our adjunct faculty, also is part of the award team. The award honors extraordinary scientific contributions to the conservation, restoration, or preservation of birds and/or their habitats. Rocky has been part of the team for 23 years.
(February 2010) Conservation Biology Ph.D. student Sarah Thompson received the Edward D. and Sally M. Futch Graduate Fellowship. Thompson is currently working on the effect of invasive woody vegetation on duck nesting success in western Minnesota. Conservation Biology Ph.D. student Brandt Meixell received the Spencer T. and Ann W. Olin Foundation Wetlands and Waterfowl Research Fellowship.
The Otter Spotters chronicles the incredible journey of FWCB Adjunct faculty Dave Garshelis and his wife, Judy Garshelis, who spent over a year in the wilderness of Prince William Sound, Alaska, studying sea otters. The book is available at iUniverse, Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
(1/24/10) Ministers from the 13 countries with tiger populations will hold a first-ever meeting Wednesday through Friday in Hua Hin, Thailand to write an action plan for a tiger summit in September in Russia...David Smith, a tiger expert at the University of Minnesota who will attend the meeting says action "has got to be now. We are at that critical stage." St. Petersburg Times
In the latest issue of the journal Oceanography, University of Minnesota Adjunct Faculty member David Garshelis discusses how climate change could affect black bears in Northern Minnesota. Graduate student Jonathan Slaght also discusses his field reasearch on endangered fish owls. Oceanography (.pdf)
(11/10/09) Well, they are hunting wolves out West this fall, and many people think it's a shame. Commentary by Adjunct Professor L. David Mech.
Minnesota Public Radio
(10/28/09) The Tiger Action Plan aims to save an estimated 300-500 tigers in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. The plan was drawn up by the Bangladesh Forest Department and the Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh with help from the Zoological Society of London, the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the University of Minnesota. BBC-UK
(10/20/09) The infestation is causing foresters to cut down thousands of infected fir trees. Monarch Lab Director Dr. Karen Oberhauser discusses the efforts underway to protect the population.
Discovery Channel Canada
(9/15/09) Conservation Biology graduate student Seth Stapleton, the Mittimatilik Hunters and Trappers Organisation, and scientists from Parks Canada and Government of Nunavut recently completed intensive aerial surveys of the steep coastlines of Sirmilik National Park on northern Baffin Island. Siku Circumpolar News Service
(8/29/09) The University of Minnesota conducted the survey of 1,600 anglers for the Department of Natural Resources to gauge their opinions on a wide variety of fishing issues, including bag limits, slot limits, where they fished and what they considered a successful outing. Star Tribune
(8/20/09) Minnesota's monarch butterfly population is 38 percent below average this summer, according to preliminary statistics from Karen Oberhauser, who leads the University of Minnesota's Monarch Lab. Minnesota Public Radio
(8/16/09) In its first year of existence, the University Bass Fishing Club has fielded a group of about 10 college students who love to fish and know how to catch bass. Despite their lack of resources, they have had success in the highly competitive college bass fishing arena. Star Tribune
This Animal Planet film clip features the research of graduate student Jon Slaght who studies Blakiston's Fish Owl in Russia. Discovery.com
Professor Karen Oberhauser, a monarch butterfly specialist at the University of Minnesota, said that when the monarch's journey was confirmed, people were astounded. The Independent - UK
Bell Museum's Katie Speckman speaks about what Beavers have to offer Twin Cities kids. Star Tribune
The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment never was envisioned as a jobs engine when it was crafted years ago, but pumping $481 million into those areas in the next two years could bring some welcome ripple effects across Minnesota. MinnPost
Please join us in 335 Borlaug Hall on April 16, 2009 for the Kolshorn Lecture Series ("Sharks - Magnificent and Misunderstood: Will they be allowed to survive the 21st century?") presented by Dr. Samuel 'Doc' Gruber, Director, Bimini Biological Field Station and Professor, University of Miami. Refrshements served at 5:00 pm with the lecture beginning at 5:15 pm.
This hands-on course provides participants with an introduction to both the theoretical and practical aspects of wildlife handling and immobilization. This course is full for Spring 2009. Contact F. Cuthbert, cuthb001@umn.edu with questions.
FW4565 Fisheries and Wildlife Ecology and Management Field Trip is a course designed to introduce students to the ecology and management of Yellowstone National Park. Class closed for Spring 2009; registered students contact Paul Kapfer, kapf0005@umn.edu with questions.
Ray Newman, professor in Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, was interviewed on the Jack Rice Show about a decision to eradicate the felines from Macquarie island, which allowed the rabbit population to explode and, in turn, destroy much of its fragile vegetation that birds depend on for cover. WCCO radio
The mystery of carp
In 1880 an article appeared in the New York Times relating to the transfer of 1,000 carp from the United States Fish Commission to the New York State Fish Commissioner... Attempts to rid waters of the bottom-feeder have gone for naught, but recent studies led by Peter Sorensen, a professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife & Conservation Biology at the University of Minnesota, have shown there may be a way to outsmart the fish. Sauk Herald (Sauk Centre, Minn)
Carp roundup is a net gain for Minnesota's lakes
The weather helped scientists, out to rid lakes of the damaging fish, round up 90 percent of the carp in Chanhassen's Lake Susan. Star Tribune
Ring Tone Project
An article from the New York Times discusses the endangered species ring tone project that Jonathan Slaght was involved in. The New York Times
Jamaica International Field Study Seminar
Tropical Water Quality AGRI 3500
The objectives of the course are to help students understand tropical land use/water quality relationships through experiential and active learning activities. Students must be able to swim, to walk and work in rigorous outdoor settings, and be willing to work in groups. Estimated costs $2,900. Dr. Jim Perry leads this group in Jamaica. Dates of travel are: January 3 to 14, 2009.
Saving tigers
University of Minnesota students can learn about tiger conservation through a three-week course in Thailand. Professor J.L. David Smith, who created the course, has been involved in numerous projects to save tigers in Asia since the 1970s.
Thailand International Field Study Seminar
Large Mammal Research Techniques in Tropical Forests. This course will provide participants with a brief overview of Thailand's culture and conservation challenges and then focus on applying a set of well-developed field survey and conservation tools. The estimated cost is $3,500. Dr. Dave Smith and Mr. Pete Cutter lead this group to Thailand. Dates of travel are December 27, 2008 to January 18, 2009. Additional Information.
Shirley Hunt Alexander and Andrew Carlson at the recent CFANS Thanksgiving for Scholarships dinner. Andrew is the 2008 recipient of the Joseph Alexander Fund.
Tiger research
Graduate student Bhim Gurung (Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology) comments on the success of tiger conservation in SE Asia. Science Now
Carp research
An update on the work of prof. Peter Sorensen and researcher Przemyslaw Bajer (Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology) is described. Eden Prairie News
Ruffed Grouse research
The work of graduate student Lorelle Berkeley and prof. Rocky Gutierrez (Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology) are highlighted. KARE-TV Minneapolis (Minnesota Bound)
"Parvovirus is killing wolf pups in Minnesota
-Tom Meersman
A new study by Minnesota researchers suggests that the virus has stalled the growth of the gray wolf in the state because the disease hits the young hardest." About half of the wolf pups born in Minnesota each year are killed off by a highly contagious disease called canine parvovirus, according to new research published by a team of Minnesota researchers in a national journal. The disease has stunted the growth of the state's gray wolf population at a time when wolves are increasing rapidly in number and expanding their range in Wisconsin, Michigan and western states. "That's not happening in Minnesota, because there aren't quite enough of these wolves to do more than just maintain the population," said David Mech, senior research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey and lead author of the study."... Star Tribune
Best Student Poster Presentation
Please join us in congratulating Courtney Amundson for winning the Best Student Poster Presentation at the Midwest F&W Conference for her poster “Marker Effects on Day-old Mallard Ducklings.” This will likely become an appendix chapter of her dissertation. Susie Prange, president of the Ohio Chapter of The Wildlife Society, will be awarding her $100 for Best Student Poster.
Announcing the CFANS Graduate Student Orientation Welcome event to be held on Thursday, August 28, 2008, from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. at 335 Borlaug Hall. Graduate students who entered the Graduate School during Spring 2008, Summer 2008, or Fall 2009 are encouraged to participate. Speakers from key offices will be presenting information critical to students as they begin their academic career. Directly after the orientation, students are invited to stay for an ice-cream social. Please have students RSVP to Lisa Wiley at lwiley@umn.edu or 612-624-2748.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
Field Sessions at Cloquet Forestry Center August 5-27, 2008
The College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences' Introductory and Advanced Field Sessions at Cloquet Forestry Center are unique opportunities for hands-on learning experiences available to students in many majors. To learn more about the Center, visit cfc.cfans.umn.edu. Field sessions are coordinated by the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences' Student Services Office located in 190 Coffey Hall, 1430 Eckles Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108.
Tropical Marine Ecology Lab - August 2008 (Bahamas)
A hands-on introduction to marine field biology in the Bahamas (in collaboration with the University of Miami). Topics covered include: natural history of the Caribbean, mangroves, coral reefs, fish, sharks, sandy inter-tidal zone, rocky inter-tidal zone, marine plant communities, and effects of development. Full details and CFANS course number to be announced early Winter 2008. Additional Information. (Note: students are encouraged to take Marine Biology FW2003 first.)
Edited by: A R Kapuscinski, University of Minnesota, USA; K R Hayes, Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia; S Li, Shanghai Fisheries University, China and G Dana, University of Minnesota, USA. Aquaculture is rapidly increasing to meet protein demands of a growing population and preferences of consumers with rising living standards. Alongside selective breeding and improved production methods, transgenic fish may be one option for meeting these demands. This third text in the series presents scientific methodologies, combined with stakeholder deliberation, for assessing and managing ecological risks of transgenic fish. Much of the discussion also applies to selectively bred fish. The science needed to inform environmental biosafety policy and regulation for transgenic animals in aquaculture, particularly in developing countries, is also addressed. Click here for additional information regarding this book.
North American Monarch Conservation Plan
Karen Oberhauser was the principal author and coordination of the NAMCP.Monarch
"This plan provides an updated account of the species and its current situation, identifies the main risk factors affecting it and its habitat throughout the flyway, and summarizes the current conservation actions taken in each country. Against this background, it offers a list of key trinational collaborative conservation actions, priorities and targets to be considered for adoption by the three countries. The actions identified address the following main objectives: (1) decrease or eliminate deforestation in the overwintering habitat; (2) address threats of habitat loss and degradation in the flyway; (3) address threats of loss, fragmentation and modification of breeding habitat; (4) develop innovative enabling approaches that promote sustainable livelihoods for the local population; and (5) monitor monarchs throughout the flyway. The adoption of measures to address these objectives will help conserve the monarch and its habitats for future generations."
Morse-Alumni Award
Todd Arnold, associate professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and Kristen Nelson, associate professor in the departments of Forest Resources and Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, have been awarded the Morse-Alumni Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education.
Richard C. Newman Community Impact Award
Karen Oberhauser, assistant professor, has been awarded the Richard C. Newman Community Impact Award for exemplifying "the best of our land grant tradition as a "people's university" by demonstrating powerful community impact".
Richard C. Newman Art of Teaching Award
Dave Smith, professor, has been awarded the Richard C. Newman Art of Teaching Award for displaying a "passion for teaching, especially undergraudate teaching, in the natural resource sciences".
Francie Cuthbert named Department Head
Francie Cuthbert has been named Department Head of the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. She has been the interim department head since August 2006 as well as a FWCB faculty member for over 20 years. In addition, she has won numerous service and teaching awards and is recognized internationally for her research and scholarship on waterbirds.
"Bike to Work" day
Join us the week of May 12 in celebrating the largest celebration of biking and walking both sides of the Mississippi! Sue Schroeder has signed up to lead a workplace team to encourage folks from FWCB to bike or walk to work on "Bike to Work" day (Wednesday May 14). Won't you join her in reducing our departmental carbon emissions? To join the FWCB workplace team--and enter the drawing for prizes--join up at www.bikewalkweek.org and select the U of M -- FWCB team. There are a lot of events in the works for that week, but on Wednesday May 14, hundreds of other people in the Twin Cities will be biking and walking to work together. No experience is necessary and experienced guides will be leading "Commuter Convoys" from neighborhoods all over the metro-area. For more details, check out: http://www.bikewalkweek.org
A new "Speaking of Science" interview
The latest installment of "Speaking of Science" is now online. The newest interviewee is Karen Oberhauser, a professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology . This series of interviews between CFANS dean Allen Levine and key faculty and staff showcases the research and outreach work happening throughout the college. Read the Q and A with Karen Oberhauser. Listen to raw MP3 audio of the interview: Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
"Spring Spectacle: Pelicans migrate through MN"
"Some people are surprised to see pelicans in Minnesota, they think of them as tropical," said Francie Cuthbert, University of Minnesota professor, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology. "Cuthbert said Minnesota, particularly the western part of the state, has a healthy pelican population. Birds moving through now will fan out, with some flying west, and some travelling into Canada to nest and lay their eggs next month." KARE 11
2008 Kolshorn Lecture
Please join us in 110 Green Hall on April 24, 2008 for the Kolshorn Lecture Series ("Are we living in the midst of a sixth mass extinction?") presented by Dr. David B. Wake, Professor of Integrative Biology and Curator of Herpetology, University of California, Berkeley. Refreshments will be served at 4:40 pm followed by the lecture at 5:00 pm.
Tony Gamble, a graduate student in the Conservation Biology program who is advised by Andrew Simons was recently featured in the following story: Gecko tech: Evolution produces ideal adhesive
Faculty Awards
Two FWCB faculty and staff have won University-wide honors for excellence in teaching and advising. They are:
Morse-Alumni Award for outstanding contributions to undergraduate education winners are Todd Arnold of the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology and Kristen Nelson, departments of Forest Resources and Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology.
Understanding the outdoors
U professor David Fulton studies why hunting and fishing passions are fading. A drop in these activities could threaten the well-being of America's wildlife because money from hunting and fishing licenses helps fund habitat conservation efforts.
Cultivating Culture
"...Kristen Nelson has been studying the ways in which communities interact with scientists for most of her career. The associate professor in the Department of Forest Resources and Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology recently finished a handbook for scientists and regulators working on environmental risk assessment in multiple countries..." -Becky Beyers (Solutions magazine)
"Kids just don't get out(doors) much anymore"
"The trend apears unmistakable: A smaller percentage of people in Minnesota, the United States and elsewhere are participating in outdoor recreation such as hunting, fishing, camping and visiting parks." -Doug Smith, Star Tribune
Idaho's wolf management plan gets biologists' support
Wolf advocates say turning management over to the states will lead to a slaughter of wolves and a dramatically lower wolf population than today. ... Mech, senior research scientist for the U.S. Geological Survey and a University of Minnesota professor, is regarded as the pre-eminent wolf biologist in the United States, if not the world. Seattle Times
Kapuscinski's work recognized
Anne Kapuscinski, a professor in the Department of Fisheries, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, is one of five 2008 recipients of the International Society for Conservation Biology's Distinguished Service Award. The award, which will be presented in July, recognizes Kapuscinski's "extraordinaty contributions to conservation research, teaching and conservation policy, particularly related to effects of biotechnology policy on aquatic species," the society says.
