Vascular Plant Surveys

MNR has built a reputation for finding and documenting rare flora with particular focus in Minnesota. We take a simple approach of thorough due diligence and this has led to a proven track record of success. Our project experience covers each of Minnesota’s ecological provinces and has led to the documentation of hundreds of populations of over 82 different species of state-listed vascular plants. This began with MNR’s very first project and continues today.

A portion of our rare plant survey work is for the US Forest Service, for whom we have documented the greatest number of finds in comparison with other competing contractors, as well as the number of different species found in both the Superior and Chippewa National Forests. MNR botanists have also added to the flora of the Chippewa National Forest locating the first populations of Upswept Moonwort (Botrychium ascendens), Crenulate Moonwort (Botrychium crenulatum), Bog Adder’s-mouth (Malaxis paludosa), Snailseed Pondweed (Potamogeton bicupulatus), Hidden-fruit Bladderwort (Utricularia geminiscapa), Fringed Moon Lichen (Sticta beauvoisii), and Angular Beard Lichen (Usnea angulata).

Our botanists are additionally on MN DNR list of approved rare plant surveyors in addition to specified species including Moonworts/Grapeferns (Botrychium/Sceptridium), Prairie Bush Clover (Lespedeza leptostachya), Dwarf Trout Lily (Erythronium propullans), and Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara).

Native Plant Community Classification and Mapping

This is becoming a more prominent component in the work that we do whether for public or private sector projects. We utilize the MN DNR’s Version 2.0 of the Native Plant Communities of Minnesota for our mapping work in Minnesota and Kotar’s Forest Habitat Types series for our Wisconsin work.

We have complete broad-based projects to highly specialized community mapping projects that also include condition evaluations and ranking. All of this work involves both field delineations of community boundaries on the ground as well as mapping based on aerial photo interpretation. This includes projects areas with sensitive habitats from prairie to calcareous fens.

Wetland Resources

The majority of our wetland project experience has involved wetland delineation and monitoring for large-scale linear corridor projects. This work has spanned Minnesota as well as portions of Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin.

Having conducted wetland work in a variety of landscape settings, our staff is knowledgeable of regional soils, plants, and hydrology in addition to the regional supplements (Great Plains, Midwest, and Northcentral/Northeast) used during our delineation work.  We also perform assessments such native plant community condition rankings, Floristic Quality Assessment (FQA), and the Minnesota Routine Assessment Method (MnRAM). In terms of wetland certification, we have staff members that are Minnesota Certified Wetland Delineators (CWD) and Professional Wetland Scientists (PWS).

Botanical Inventories and Vegetation Monitoring

MNR provides botanical inventories and vegetation monitoring services. These services include detailed vegetation assessments on calcareous fens and native prairie to the monitoring of rare species (Botrychium spp., Carex sterilis, Cypripedium arientinum, Eleocharis rostellata etc.).

MNR has been involved in long-term monitoring of Northwestern and Western Minnesota prairies since 2008, comprehensive work that involves identifying all plant species present in the sampled communities.  This is part of a larger, multi-agency adaptive management monitoring effort that aims to track changes in prairie communities and link them to environmental changes and management actions to ensure the long-term persistence and maintenance of the prairie ecosystems and the biodiversity they contain.

Avian Surveys

MNR has conducted various types of ornithological surveys, most of which focus on specific sensitive bird species. This includes point-count surveys, call-response surveys for songbirds and raptors, waterfowl surveys, avifauna habitat evaluations, and avifauna inventories.

MNR has successfully located many target bird species during our survey efforts with noteworthy observations of Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis), Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus), Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator), Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus), and Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda). Our ornithological surveys have occurred in the Laurentian Mixed Forest, Eastern Broadleaf Forest as well as the Prairie Parkland Provinces of Minnesota.

Entomological Surveys

Currently our entomological project experience has focused on prairie dependent species with targeted surveys for rare Lepidoptera. Highlights of these surveys include regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia), Leonard’s skipper (Hesperia leonardus), and leadplant flower moth (Schinia lucens). Additional surveys have resulted in detections ofMarpissa formosa, a species of jumping spider proposed for Special Concern status. Outside of specific contract work, we have concentrated on collecting specimens for the purpose of contributing to the knowledge of the distribution patterns of a number of Midwestern invertebrate groups.

Lichen Surveys

In 2009, MNR added lichenological surveys to our list of services with the successful detection of Buellia nigra a Special Concern species in Minnesota. Since this initial detection MNR staff have documented over 100 populations of state listed lichens.

Survey efforts have led to the detection of 17 species of state listed lichens, these species include Caloplaca parvula (MN Endangered (E)), Dermatocarpon moulinsii(E), Lobaria scrobiculata (E), Parmelia stictica (E),Pseudocyphellaria crocata (E), Allocetraria oakesiana (MN Threatened (T)), Protopannaria pezizoides (T), Ahtiana aurescens (Special Concern (SC)), Anaptychia crinalis(SC), Arctoparmelia centrifuga (SC), Bryoria fuscescens (SC), Buellia nigra (SC), Menegazzia terebrata (SC), Peltigera venosa (SC), Ramalina thrausta (SC), Sticta fuliginosa (SC), and Usnea longissima (SC).

In addition to documenting state listed species, MNR has made a series of other interesting lichenological discoveries including two populations of Sticta beauvoisii and Usnea angulata in 2010. S. beauvoisii is a foliose lichen that had not been collected in Minnesota since 1905 and was thought to be extinct in the state. U. angulata is a fruticose lichen which is rare in the state, having only been collected once in the last 100 years. Also in 2010 MNR staff documented the first Minnesota populations of Bryoria implexa and B. lanestris. These two species are more abundant in boreal forests of Canada and may have been overlooked in our area for a long time.

In 2012 MNR was asked to contribute to the Rare Species Guide an online reference for state listed species which is hosted and maintained by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resource. MNR staff contributed six profiles for species of lichens which were added to the “Minnesota’s List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species” in 2012. These profiles will be added to the Rare Species Guide as time permits.

Bryophyte Surveys

MNR has expanded our botanical skill-set to include bryophyte surveys. Our staff members have been working with Jan Janssens, Ph.D. to expand our knowledge of bryophyte identification in the field as well as in a laboratory setting. Work varies from collecting and documentation of general species to sampling and identifying calcareous bryophytes in calcareous fens.

MNR staff members have located a number of interesting bryophytes including Frullania selwyniana (proposed Special Concern (SC)), Cynodontium schisti (proposed SC), Ephemerum crassinervium var. texanum (first Minnesota record), and Pohlia bulbifera (first Minnesota record).