AIS Detectors and Trackers: WANTED!...©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. AIS Detectors and Trackers: WANTED! 2016 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS Detectors and

Trackers: WANTED!2016 Upper Midwest Invasive Species Conference

October 17-19, 2016

WI DNR (CC BY-ND 2.0) Dave Hansen USGSMegan Weber

Eleanor BurkettExtension Educator, Water Resources

Megan M. WeberExtension Educator, Aquatic Invasive Species

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Overview of the Programs

Using citizen science to advance AIS response in

Minnesota

Trained observers

– Respond

– Detect

– Report

Advanced training

– Monitor population

change

• Target & Non-Target

– Physical &

Chemical Factors

AIS Detectors AIS Trackers

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

THE AIS DETECTORS PROGRAM

• Network of trained volunteers

– Core course

• Online training + in-person workshop

– Opportunities for advanced learning

– Annual refreshers

• Respond to AIS sightings

– Helps DNR weed out false positives

• Conduct new detection surveys

• Assist with other AIS outreach and

research projectsChrista Rittberg

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS DETECTORS: TARGET SPECIES

PlantsEurasian Watermilfoil

Hydrilla

Starry Stonewort

InvertebratesSpiny Waterflea

Rusty Crayfish

Zebra Mussel

Quagga Mussel

FishSilver Carp

Bighead Carp

Ruffe

Round Goby

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS DETECTORS: REQUIREMENTS

• Complete core course

– Pass competency exam on materials

• Provide 25 hours of volunteer time (annually)

• Take 8 hours of refresher or advanced training (annually)

Megan Weber Megan Weber

Daniel Larkin

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS DETECTORS: NEW SKILLS

• General aquatic ecology

• AIS in MN

• Identification

– AIS & look alikes

• Rules and Regulations

• Reporting AIS

Paul Skawinski, UW Extension - Lakes

INVASIVE

NATIVE

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS DETECTORS: NEW SKILLS 2.0

• AIS on the Water

– Advanced AIS

biology/habitat

• Emerging AIS Threats

– Species of concern, not

currently in Minnesota

• New Detection Survey

– New detection survey

protocols

WI DNR (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Denis-Carl Robidoux (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Dave Hansen

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS DETECTORS: REPORTING SYSTEM

• Uses web-based/mobile reporting system

–Website: www.eddmaps.org/midwest

–App: “Great Lakes Early Detection Network”

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS DETECTORS: BENEFITS TO MN

• Minnesota has:

– 11,842 lakes (10 acres or more)

– 6,564 rivers and streams

– 10.6 million acres of wetland

– 13,136,357 acres of surface

water

• And….

– 10 DNR AIS Specialists

• Early detection is important– Less than 5% of MN lakes on infested water list

Vidiani.com

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

THE AIS TRACKERS PROGRAM

• Monitor AIS population changes

– Response to control efforts

• Also monitors….

– Impact to native species

– Chemical and physical properties

– Treatment details

• Data for adaptive management T. Lawrence, GLFC

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS TRACKERS: REQUIREMENTS

• Complete training

– Online, in-person workshops, and field components

– Pass competency exam

• Mandatory annual volunteer service requirements

• Take 8 hours of refresher or advanced training (annually)

Christa Rittberg

Matt Jacobson Fred Bailey, USGS

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Dave Hansen

AIS TRACKERS: NEW SKILLS

• Scientific Method

• Aquatic Organism ID

– Broader than Detectors training

• Monitor Population Change

• Monitor Abiotic Factors

• How Data Guides Management

• Advanced: Population Monitoring

– Additional species

MPCA (CC BY-NC 2.0)

Dave Hansen

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

Government

Agencies!

AIS TRACKERS: BENEFITS TO MN

Researchers!

Stakeholders!

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

AIS TRACKERS: PRIORITY SPECIES

Christa Rittberg

Eurasian Watermilfoil

Kristian Peters (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Curly-leaf Pondweed

NOAA GLERL

Zebra Mussels

170 Permits Issued (2015)

59% of Total

103 Permits Issued (2015)

35% of Total

94% of IAPM Permits Issued

6 Treatments

(Emerging Technology)

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

GET INVOLVED!

• AIS Detectors: Training begins 2017

• AIS Trackers: Training begins 2018

©2016 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.

University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this material is available in alternative formats

upon request. Direct requests to [email protected] or 763-767-3836.

Funding for the AIS Detectors and AIS Trackers programs are provided by:

For more information, visit www.maisrc.umn.edu.