TIPS: Terrestrial Invasive Species Participatory Science Projects
Invasive species are non-native organisms that cause harm to the environment, the economy or human health. You can help monitor and prevent the spread of invasive species in Minnesota through our Terrestrial Invasive Species Participatory Science (TIPS) program.
The TIPS program works with volunteers, family woodland owners, natural resource professionals, and community members on targeted participatory science projects. Together, we advance invasive species research, management and policy in multiple ways:
Invasive species early detection. People who enjoy and work outdoors are often the first to detect invasive species. TIPS leverages outdoor enthusiasts to gather data on invasive species in their area.
Answer complicated invasive species questions. TIPS volunteers can gather data to help researchers see if invasive species are acting in unexpected ways.
Address community needs. TIPS projects respond to growing concerns and help communities better understand and acknowledge the impacts of invasive species. Volunteers taking action through participatory science can help nurture resilient communities that steward resilient ecosystems.
2024 Project Training Guides
This spring please report all Callery pear trees in your communities to iNaturalist. Any Callery pears in natural areas can be reported in EDDMapS .
Details are still emerging , but Extension is likely to ask volunteers to report purple loosestrife biocontrol Galerucella beetles in iNaturalist and revisit "old" (pre-2020) purple loosestrife sites and update the EDDMapS record in EDDMapS Pro. Of particular interest are areas greater than 1 acre or 1000 purple loosestrife plants that could be good Galerucella beetle biocontrol release sites.
NOTE: Currently Wild River Conservancy is recruiting volunteers to raise Galerucella beetles this summer for release to combat purple loosestrife. Recruitment ends on Monday, March 18th, 2024. For more details visit: https://wildriversconservancy.org/get-involved/biocontrolproject/
Photo from bogwalker via iNaturalist
Forest jumping worms (coming soon)
More coming on this project, but the Jumping worm induced soil erosion MITPCC project will focus on jumping worms in southeastern Minnesota forests.