Learn how to identify starry stonewort and other #AIS with the UMN AIS Detectors teams by signing up for Starry Trek, taking place Saturday, August 8! Visit our site for more information and registration maisrc.umn.edu/starrytrek

“Marty's project is an opportunity to improve the understanding of the exclosure strategy, to find out if it works, and how to optimize it,” says Dan Larkin. Read more about this long-running milfoil-control project supported through the #MAISRC Externship program twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/...

Invasive species professionals tap University of Minnesota expertise

An Externship program strengthens the capacity for aquatic invasive species management in Minnesota by supporting early career professionals.

twin-cities.umn.edu

There's good news in the fight against invasive species! Thanks to a coordinated statewide effort, about one-third of Minnesota's documented invasive phragmites populations are no longer detectable. Read more from MAISRC researchers: www.startribune.com/this-invasiv... #invasivespecies

This invasive reed is spreading. Minnesota still has a chance to stop it.

A statewide effort is targeting invasive phragmites while infestations remain small enough to eliminate, giving Minnesota an opportunity few states still have.

startribune.com

Can large-scale zebra mussel management meaningfully improve lake health?💧 MAISRC will track and record lake health at Lake Riley, the first #MN lake using a low-dose copper control method, monitoring whether this method will be effective in curbing population www.outdoornews.com/2026/07/16/m...

Metro's Lake Riley gets Minnesota's first-ever whole-lake copper treatment to combat zebra mussels - Outdoor News

The copper sulfate being distributed in Lake Riley is specifically targeting zebra mussel veligers (the larval stage) and juvenile zebra mussels.

outdoornews.com

Save the date! MAISRC's AIS Research and Management Showcase will take place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026. This event is a great opportunity to meet our researchers and learn about the latest tools, information, and tech in #AIS. Registration opens Monday, August 10, 2026 maisrc.umn.edu/showcase

MAISRC research is showing this improvement as well; native aquatic plants can help keep invasive ones out! Great work by our sibling research center, who focus on terrestrial species: twin-cities.umn.edu/news-events/...

Research Brief: Upfront investment in native plants pays dividends against buckthorn

New University of Minnesota research offers land managers a practical strategy for keeping invasive buckthorn from returning: remove the shrub and sow native grasses and wildflowers as early as possib...

twin-cities.umn.edu

Get up close and personal with aquatic invasive species with a free tour of the MAISRC Containment Lab! Whether you're an individual looking to join a general tour or a group planning a special occasion, we've got you covered. Space limited and registration is required, join us! z.umn.edu/MCLtour

Protecting our waters depends on good information, but valuable data are often scattered across orgs. In this pub, MAISRC researchers highlight an interesting solution: P.I. Charter, a web-based tool that brings decades of aquatic plant survey data together onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

P.I. Charter: A Shiny Application for Collecting, Cleaning, Compiling, and Communicating Point‐Intercept Aquatic Plant Data

When ecological data are collected by many entities for different purposes, they can be difficult to locate and integrate; web applications can address this by standardizing submission, automating cl...

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

💧 In a recent presentation to the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources, director Nick Phelps shared how our work wouldn't be possible without our partners! See how this collaborative research is supporting #Minnesota orgs turn science into practical solutions z.umn.edu/maisrc-impact

More than 100 volunteers applied in just two weeks to support our Lab to Lakes eDNA testing lab! Hear more about the new lab, plus mystery snail research, aquatic plant data innovations, upcoming events, and more in our June newsletter. Read the latest issue: z.umn.edu/June2026

The Science Museum of Minnesota is featuring ENRTF-funded projects, and we're in it! stories.smm.org/aquatic-inva...

Strangers in the Lake

Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center

stories.smm.org

Researcher Donn Branstrator authored a study on the first evidence of bloody red shrimp 🦐 (BRS) establishing in Lake Superior. BRS is an adaptable, omnivorous invader that can alter food webs by competing with native species and reshaping energy pathways. Check it out: doi.org/10.1016/j.jg...

#DYK about the invasive alga starry stonewort? MAISRC researchers have been analyzing its presence in Minnesota for over 10 years. Read more about their recent work here: maisrc.umn.edu/starry-stone...

After analyzing 20+ years of aquatic plant surveys from lakes across Minnesota and Wisconsin (nearly 1 million sampling points!) MAISRC researchers identified clear patterns in which species are common, rare, and most likely to coexist with others. doi.org/10.1111/1365...

Quantifying aquatic plant commonness and co‐occurrence across scales to support ecological understanding and management

Macrophyte commonness and co-occurrence were quantified to support objective classifications of species distributions in Midwestern lakes. This framework provides a practical tool for conservation pr...

doi.org

Journal of Ecology@journalofecology.bsky.social · 5mo ago

🫧Synthesis of decades of monitoring data enabled researchers to characterize patterns of commonness and cooccurrence in aquatic plants, with potential applications to conservation, invasive species management, and restoration @maisrc.bsky.social 🔍 buff.ly/QcbQ2rV

Applications are due this Friday for our new Externship program! Externs and MAISRC-affiliated researchers will collaboratively implement research goals to ensure scientific rigor and relevance to on-the-ground management. z.umn.edu/m-externship

Researchers from @umngenomics.bsky.social and MAISRC were able to infer likely source populations of zebra mussels for dozens of lakes, the first comprehensive map of zebra mussel invasions across North America generated using genomic analysis. Check it out: z.umn.edu/genomic-study

New genomic study reveals hidden pathways driving Minnesota’s zebra mussel spread

Research on how and when zebra mussels spread through Minnesota is providing critical data for management and prevention.

z.umn.edu

Are you a #GreatLakes #InvasiveSpecies researcher or communicator planning to attend #IAGLR26 in Winnipeg? Submit an abstract to our Session 19 by December 19! bit.ly/4nTTfxz @iaglr.bsky.social #AIS

SCHOLARSHIP ALERT!!! Now accepting submissions for the Alligator Gar Technical Committee Scholarship! The cash scholarship is being provided by @alligatorgar-afs.bsky.social a student to help cover cost for attending the 2026 Southern Division @amfisheriessoc.bsky.social meeting in New Orleans🐟

Now hiring! @mnseagrant.bsky.social is looking for a student to help raise yellow perch and golden shiner in their indoor aquaculture lab. If you’re interested in hands-on fish culture and research support, this position could be a great fit. Apply today! seagrant.umn.edu/articles/202...

NEW episode of MeatEater Podcast chatting gars & native fish conservation! Grateful for the opportunity to chat stewardship of freshwater natural resources with Steve Rinella and the hunting & fishing crew! youtu.be/xLDSV5qbyzw?...

The Mysteries of Gar Fish | The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 793

YouTube video by MeatEater Podcast Network

youtu.be

Dr. Solomon David@solomonrdavid.bsky.social · 9mo ago

Talking native fish conservation with MeatEater & Steve Rinella! Here’s how we got there 😅

Sorry not sorry 😅 via Gar Week fan👍

The lowly muskrat could be an unexpected ally in the push against aquatic invasive plants:

New tool in fight against Great Lakes invasive species: muskrats  - Bridge Michigan

In the battle against invasive species, the common muskrat may be an unsung hero. A new study done in the UP by scientists from the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Loyola University and…

buff.ly

Registration for our Research and Management Showcase closes tomorrow at midnight! Don't miss this one, there's so much to learn! z.umn.edu/AIS2025 (Underwater photo by Naomi Blinick)

Our own Amanda Schuermann met up with @kirstimarohn.bsky.social last week to talk about AIS and swimmer's itch: www.mprnews.org/story/2025/0...

Scientists look for cause of spike in swimmer’s itch plaguing Minnesota lakes

The itchy red rash is caused by tiny parasites in the water that can burrow into human skin. Researchers are looking at whether certain waterfowl, invasive species or warming lakes could be factors.

mprnews.org

Share your thoughts on aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Minnesota! Whether you're a professional in the field, a property owner, or someone who cares about Minnesota's lakes, you can participate in a quick survey about future AIS research needs. Closes on Monday: z.umn.edu/RNA2025

We are hiring! Join us as an Administrative & Communications Assistant and be part of our collaborative, mission-driven team at the University of Minnesota in St. Paul. Applications are open through October 10, 2025. Learn more and apply: z.umn.edu/MAISRCHiring (Job ID #370278).

What can tiny crustaceans like zooplankton tell us about AIS management success? To find out, get your ticket to the 2025 AIS Research and Management Showcase! 💧 z.umn.edu/AIS2025

MAISRC researcher Diane Waller is quoted in this article about zebra mussels: www.kare11.com/article/news...

Scientists wonder if Lake Superior can continue to avoid an invasion of mussels

Lake Superior is the lone holdout in a mussel invasion that has overtaken every other Great Lake.

kare11.com

From prevention strategies to new control methods, the AIS Research and Management Showcase brings together scientists, natural resource managers, and Minnesotans who care about healthy lakes and rivers. Join us on October 9, 2025: z.umn.edu/AIS2025

Let's catch up with grad student Abha Panda as she investigates how native plants can support a healthy lake after AIS treatment: youtube.com/shorts/3Uysp...

Apple Valley Natural Resources Plant Transplant - August 2025

YouTube video by City of Apple Valley

youtube.com