Applied Ecology and Resource Management

Platform Overview

The Applied Ecology and Resource Management Platform seeks to understand the world we live in and how to minimize our impacts. Comprised of our Forest and Land and our Water Research Groups, these scientists bring together decades of research and expertise in their respective fields. 

NRRI was established by the Minnesota State Legislature to address the challenges of an economy largely built on the natural resources of the state. Can we manage the water and forest resources in a sustainable way that allows for efficient use of the resources by humans and wildlife? What remediation strategies make sense to improve degraded ecosystems? We address these challenges and opportunities through the following programs:

Research Programs

Minnesota autumn forestlands seen from an airplane.

Forest Ecology and Health

Seeking to understand Minnesota's forest landscapes and ecosystems.

NRRI grown hybrid poplar tree leaves against a blue sky

Hybrid Poplar

Developing hybrid poplar with superior growth and disease resistance for Minnesota’s emerging bioeconomy.

Three researchers aboard a boat sample for phytoplankton with a net.

Lake, Stream & Wetland Ecology

Developing science-based tools, materials and technologies to assess and protect our freshwater resources.

Plotting forest lands on a map of northern Minnesota.

Quantitative Silviculture

Researching forest use and sustainable management.

Researcher inspects water samples in lab.

Stormwater Management & Water Remediation

Water quality assessment, remediation and management. 

Two scientists attach a tracking device to a gray bird.

Wildlife Ecology Program

Seeking to understand the world we live in, i

Featured Research Projects

Screenshot of the ForCast tool including data layer overlay in Northern Minnesota, and bar chart analysis of data

ForCAST: Forest Change Assessment and Simulation Tool

The ForCAST tool attempts to provide forestry professionals and land managers with an opportunity to evaluate how a changing climate and changing markets might affect Minnesota’s forests and

Screenshot of Beaver Dam Modeling tool in Northeastern Minnesota. Half the screen is a aerial photo, half an illustrated map, overlain with beaver dam locations

Predicting Beaver Dam Locations on North Shore Streams

The goal of this project was to develop a model that predicts potential beaver dam locations based on stream channel, watershed and habitat characteristics.

Fisher in a pine forest near a treebox in Minnesota.

Minnesota Fisher Den Box Project

The Minnesota Fisher Den Box Project is focused on evaluating an emerging habitat management tool to address the declining MN fisher population.

Recent News

A woman wearing a head net looks at a small mammal trap attached to a tree.

Minnesota’s southern flying squirrels glide north

Temperatures and habitat changes push species into ‘Zone of Sympatry’ with northern cousins.

A tree swallow held in a hand while yellow band is attached to leg.

‘Bugs ‘n Birds’ study underscores importance of insects

NRRI cross-disciplinary research explores availability of food sources for declining species of bug-eating birds.

A woman balances a clear tube holding water on a bridge barrier over water.

Keeping watch on rivers

NRRI contributes to state’s long-term stream and river monitoring efforts.

Three people in PPE on the deck of a ship stand around a four-legged contraption

What chemicals are lurking (and where) in our Great Lakes?

NRRI’s early data analyses show surprising concentrations in the deep middle of lake, not just near shore

Researcher pours out bucket of crayfish in the lab.

NRRI's long look at crayfish

We dug back into the archives to find NRRI's original crayfish research and the start of The Crayfish Lab at NRRI Duluth.

Rear view of boat coming out of lake at a boat ramp with aquatic vegetation on trailer.

Coming Clean (to the lake)

NRRI tests techniques to clean boat interiors to stop spread of invasives.