MSP LTER

The publications collected in this month's LTER Network News really demonstrated the wide range of impactful research the LTER does. Here's the list:

mailchi.mp/lternet/lter...

Solution Studio - Bell Museum Solution Studio invites you to explore your own creativity as you learn about how researchers approach challenges and answer questions.

You can visit the 2025 Solution Studio at the Bell Museum from now until August 31. Click here to learn more: bellmuseum.umn.edu/solution-studio-2025/ 2/2

UMN Bell Museum provides summer space to connect and learn about ecological research This summer, at the University of Minnesota’s Bell Museum, visitors have the opportunity to immerse themselves in hands-on scientific research through a dedicated summer exhibit the museum calls the S...

Immerse yourself in MSP LTER urban ecological research at the Bell Museum's (@bellmuseum.bsky.social) Solution Studio, the award-winning makerspace where everyone is an ecologist! Learn more in today's #MinnesotaDaily article featuring our partnership w/ the Bell z.umn.edu/SolutionStudio25-News. 1/2

Really excited for this new round of synthesis groups. This one, especially, is the first to emerge from our new synthesis skills for early career researchers course.

We pre-recorded our annual Overview Talks for partners and other colleagues. If you would like to view these, please reach out to us!

MSP LTER researchers standing in an outdoor pavilion at Battle Creek Regional Park watching a researcher give a field talk on lake/pond/stream research.

MSP LTER researchers standing outside in the rain looking down at a sample from a nearby pond at Battle Creek Regional Park.

MSP LTER researchers standing outside in a circle at Rivoli Bluffs Farm & Restoration Site, listening to David Woods from Urban Roots talk about joint research at the site.

We took to the field on Day 2 despite smoky conditions, when researchers and partners (like @urbanrootsmn.bsky.social ) presented their work at active research sites -- at Battle Creek Regional Park and Rivoli Bluff Farm & Restoration Site. 3/4

Birdseye photo of MSP LTER researchers discussing future research questions, as a group.

MSP LTER researchers in small-group discussion about research questions.

MSP LTER researchers in a small-group discussion about research questions.

Display with MSP LTER banner with iPad for Community Streams podcast.

Day 1 saw us crossing our arms in contemplation, and listening intently to one another, as we brainstormed future research directions across disciplines. The day concluded with a celebration of our new Community Streams Podcast (more on that coming soon!). 2/4

MSP LTER researchers watching a presentation in a large room.

Map of seven-county metro area with MSP LTER research sites marked.

Last month, MSP LTER students, postdocs, staff, faculty, and other researchers gathered for our annual two-day Summer Symposium. In a break from our typical format, we gathered as a smaller group to reflect on where we have been and where we would like to go as an urban ecological research site. 1/4

A flyer, that says, "LTER Network, NEON and Environmental Data Initiative present: ECOLOGICAL DATA SYNTHESIS: A PRIMER ON ESSENTIAL METHODS AND TEAM SCIENCE- Assembling and stewarding a team- Operational data synthesis- Accessible, useable, and citeable products- Practical help for your synthesis project Sunday, August 10, 9am-4 pm@ ESA Annual Meeting Add short course #3 to your registration (even if you’ve already registered!) Course website: https://lter.github.io/eco-data-synth-primer/"

Attending the @ecologicalsociety.bsky.social #ESA2025 meeting in #Baltimore this summer? Join us for an #EcologicalDataSynthesis #Workshop on Sunday, August 10th! I'll be helping out, alongside folks from @uslter.bsky.social #NEON and #EDI. #Synthesis #TeamScience

Lead (Pb) concentrations across 22 species of butterflies correlate with soil and air lead and decreased wing size in an urban field study Pollution is a global issue contributing to biodiversity loss, climate change, and human health concerns. Lead (Pb) has long been recognized as a toxi…

You can read their recent paper on this subject here: z.umn.edu/KemmerlingEtal2025

U of M study finds lead contamination threatens butterflies University of Minnesota researchers say they’ve found a correlation between lead levels and smaller wing sizes, which could keep the pollinators from thriving.

@mprnews.org covered critical MSP LTER research being conducted by Co-Director Emilie Snell-Rood and postdoc Lindsey Kemmerling that explores the negative impact lead pollution has on the health of pollinators like butterflies #heavymetals #pollution #pollinators z.umn.edu/MPR-lead-butterflies

Are you going to #ESA2025 and do you want free, continental-scale biodiversity data? Tools to access, quickly explore, and work with NEON and LTER datasets in your R environment? Check out our short course: events.rdmobile.com/Sessions/Det...
@uslter.bsky.social @cyverse.bsky.social

The MSP Tree Stewardship Mapping Project analyzes how groups collaborate and care for trees to identify opportunities for groups to coordinate more effectively and share resources. View the map and network to learn more!

sallydonovan.github.io/mspstewmap/

@msp-lter.bsky.social @uslter.bsky.social

Check out today’s YouTube release, Why Do LTERs Matter to Natural Areas Practitioners?

Special thanks to the Bureau of Land Management, the USDA Forest Service, Esri, and @uslter.bsky.social.

Stay tuned! We're dropping new YouTube content every Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

Link in profile.

Site Exchange Fellows Announced - LTER The LTER Network Office is pleased to announce that we will be able to fund four site exchange fellowships in 2025. Site exchanges were designed to facilitate between-site comparisons and support the ...

Four site exchange fellows were funded this year to travel to other LTER sites and learn skills. We're really excited to hear how these trips accelerate science across the network!

📣📣

We are looking for an Assistant Professor (tenure track) in the Department of Global and Public Health @mcgillspgh.bsky.social @healthsciences.mcgill.ca!

mcgill.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/mcgill...

One Water, Many Solutions - Eos Scientists and stakeholders must engage in broad collaborations and deep research to help ensure safe water supplies.

Scientists and stakeholders must engage in broad collaborations and deep research to help ensure safe water supplies.

eos.org/agu-news/one...

Read more in our May issue, out now: bit.ly/Eos-May2025

TODAY (Friday, April 18): Our Community Engagement Learning Circle is at 12noon at the UMN St. Paul Student Center, Minnesota Commons Room (102). Engage with community leaders and researchers involved in community-engaged research! z.umn.edu/CELearningApr18

MSP LTER | Investigating urban lakes Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

MSP LTER PhD candidate Katie Polik takes an innovative, whole-ecosystems approach to exploring the impact alum (aluminum sulfate) treatment has on #aquaticecosystems in urban environments, going beyond its impact on #phosphorus and #nitrogen cycling alone. z.umn.edu/MSPLakesAlum #watershedmanagement

Work in coasts or estuaries?

Our friends at @cerfscience.bsky.social have an open call for abstracts for their 2025 meeting.

conference.cerf.science/cerf-call-fo...

Students, faculty, community partners, and MSP LTER personnel: Please join us on April 18 for our first Community Engagement Learning Circle, to share stories with one another and reflect together on the challenges & joys of community-engaged research:
z.umn.edu/CELearningApr18

Working to reduce the plastics problem ‣ Data Nuggets The activities are as follows: Teacher Guide Student activity, Level 3 PowerPoint of images Grading Rubric Plastics are materials that can be shaped easily and are used for many functions. This has ma...

Teaching chemistry and want to dive deeper into plastics? In “Working to reduce the plastics problem,” students learn about research where Nick and a team of undergrads tested biodegradable elastomers. #DNOTW #edusky 🧪 datanuggets.org/working-to-r...

MSP_AQ_sensors/data at main · MSP-LTER/MSP_AQ_sensors small network of purple air sensors associated with lichens - MSP-LTER/MSP_AQ_sensors

5/5| Data from the 5 sensors is being appended monthly to a file on the MSP LTER GitHub page (github.com/MSP-LTER/MSP_AQ_sensors/tree/main/data) and is planned to be archived long-term on the Environmental Data Initiative repository.

4/5| ...while the lichens can be analyzed over a longer period of time for the type of pollutants they are exposed to and absorb from the air. PurpleAir sensors were co-located with lichens at 2 locations in St. Paul, 1 in Minneapolis, 1 in Roseville, and 1 at our sibling LTER site, Cedar Creek.

3/5| This year, the MSP LTER acquired a small network of PurpleAir sensors to place in key areas alongside transplanted lichens that are also used in air quality research. The sensors can indicate when an air quality event is occurring and the amount of #ParticulateMatter ( #AQI ) in the air...

Real-Time Interactive Map by PurpleAir Watch: With two minute updates, PurpleAir sensors are small, easy to install and require only power and WiFi.

2/5| Want to learn more about air quality in your area? From our Information Manager, Mary @neutralweevil.bsky.social: A growing number of personal air quality sensors in the Twin Cities report to real-time maps, such as PurpleAir (map.purpleair.com) and OpenAQ (openaq.org).

MSP LTER | Investigating urban air quality Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

1/5| UMN College of Biological Sciences produced this video featuring MSP LTER postdoctoral researcher Natália Koch @natimkoch.bsky.social and faculty member Daniel Stanton. They investigate #lichens as inexpensive #airquality monitors. Watch the full video here: z.umn.edu/LichenAir

MSP_AQ_sensors/data at main · MSP-LTER/MSP_AQ_sensors small network of purple air sensors associated with lichens - MSP-LTER/MSP_AQ_sensors

5/5| Data from the 5 sensors is being appended monthly to a file on the MSP LTER GitHub page (github.com/MSP-LTER/MSP_AQ_sensors/tree/main/data) and is planned to be archived long-term on the Environmental Data Initiative repository.

4/5| ...while the lichens can be analyzed over a longer period of time for the type of pollutants they are exposed to and absorb from the air. PurpleAir sensors were co-located with lichens at 2 locations in St. Paul, 1 in Minneapolis, 1 in Roseville, and 1 at our sibling LTER site, Cedar Creek.

3/5| This year, the MSP LTER acquired a small network of PurpleAir sensors to place in key areas alongside transplanted lichens that are also used in air quality research. The sensors can indicate when an air quality event is occurring and the amount of #ParticulateMatter ( #AQI ) in the air...