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Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

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By Cooperative Research Units February 18, 2026

The Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (est. 1987) is a partnership among the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Media
Photo of water flowing into Voyageurs National Park, forested landscape.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Photo of water flowing into Voyageurs National Park (by Victoria G. Christensen, August 2019). USGS and academic scientists examined cyanotoxins and cyanobacterial communities from recurring algae blooms in Kabetogama Lake in Voyageurs National Park. They documented the presence of 7 understudied toxins and identified correlations among toxins and cyanobacteria, revealing potential competitive relations among cyanobacteria.   Christensen, V.G., Olds, H.T., Norland, Jack, and Khan, Eakalak, 2022, Phytoplankton community interactions and cyanotoxin mixtures in three recurring surface blooms within one lake: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 427, April 2022, 128142

The Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit emphasizes research on impacts of human activities on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that are of state, regional, and national significance. The research program addresses not only the biological, but also social and economic aspects of both game and nongame fisheries and wildlife management in the context of maintenance of biological diversity, and integrity and sustainability of ecosystems.

A community-based research approach to develop Chronic Wasting Disease outreach with Tribal communities A community-based research approach to develop Chronic Wasting Disease outreach with Tribal communities

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal and contagious neurological disease of cervid populations across North America. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders are necessary to minimize CWD prevalence, spread, and impacts on animal and human health and well-being. However, critical information related to CWD epidemiology, management...
Authors
Roger Faust, Lauren A. Bernstein, David C. Fulton, Kelly Applegate, Austin Ayres, Pam May, Austin Vig, Adam C. Landon, Sarah Ruffing, Madeline Struck, Colin Yoder, Marc D. Schwabenlander, Tiffany M. Wolf
By
Cooperative Research Units

Hydrophone placement yields high variability in detection of Epinephelus striatus calls at a spawning site. Hydrophone placement yields high variability in detection of Epinephelus striatus calls at a spawning site.

Passive acoustic monitoring is a cost-effective, minimally invasive technology commonly used to study behavior and population dynamics of soniferous fish species. To understand the strengths and limitations of acoustic monitoring for this purpose at fish spawning aggregations (FSA) requires an assessment of the variability in aggregation-associated sounds (AAS) as a function of time...
Authors
Cameron J. Van Horn, Alli C. Candelmo, Scott A. Heppell, Croy R.M. McCoy, Christine V. Pattengill-Semmens, Lynn Waterhouse, Laurent M. Cherubin, J. Christopher Taylor, William Michaels, James Locascio, Ali K. Ibrahim, Brice X. Semmens
By
Cooperative Research Units

Stakeholders' priorities for management of a restored elk (Cervus canadensis) population in northeast Minnesota Stakeholders' priorities for management of a restored elk (Cervus canadensis) population in northeast Minnesota

Wildlife reintroduction projects are an important tool for restoring traditional wildlife heritage, increasing species diversity, providing subsistence and sport hunting and other recreational opportunities, and assisting ecosystem adaption to future climate change. In Minnesota, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and some conservationists advocate for the expansion of...
Authors
Kyle Smith, Adam Landon, Eric Waller, David C. Fulton, Michael W. Schrage, Nicholas McCann, James Forester
By
Cooperative Research Units

North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region

Executive Summary Gaining a better understanding of the human dimensions of waterfowl management to inform the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is a valuable but challenging goal for the future success of waterfowl management. Increasing engagement with key stakeholder groups will lead to more support and effective waterfowl management. Social systems are complex because...
Authors
Nicholas W. Cole, David C. Fulton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center

The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM): A perspective on the first 10 years The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM): A perspective on the first 10 years

The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM) was established in 2013, envisioned as an institute that could conduct, organize, and communicate stock assessment research with the aim of benefiting fisheries assessment efforts internationally. CAPAM’s activities have focused on its workshop series and consequent special issues in Fisheries Research. The...
Authors
Mark N. Maunder, Paul R. Crone, Brice X. Semmens, Juan L. Valero, Lynn Waterhouse, Richard D. Methot, Andre E. Punt
By
Cooperative Research Units

A self-determination approach to understanding leisure identity salience among lapsed hunters A self-determination approach to understanding leisure identity salience among lapsed hunters

This study extended a framework based on self-determination theory (SDT) and leisure constraints to study identity salience in lapsed hunters. Self-determination theory suggests that multiple forms of motivation influence levels of self-determination and addresses how social-contextual factors affect satisfaction of needs. Data were drawn from a survey of recently lapsed hunters in...
Authors
Kyle Smith, Adam C. Landon, David C. Fulton
By
Cooperative Research Units

The Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (est. 1987) is a partnership among the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota, the U.S. Geological Survey, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Media
Photo of water flowing into Voyageurs National Park, forested landscape.
Sources/Usage: Public Domain. View Media Details
Photo of water flowing into Voyageurs National Park (by Victoria G. Christensen, August 2019). USGS and academic scientists examined cyanotoxins and cyanobacterial communities from recurring algae blooms in Kabetogama Lake in Voyageurs National Park. They documented the presence of 7 understudied toxins and identified correlations among toxins and cyanobacteria, revealing potential competitive relations among cyanobacteria.   Christensen, V.G., Olds, H.T., Norland, Jack, and Khan, Eakalak, 2022, Phytoplankton community interactions and cyanotoxin mixtures in three recurring surface blooms within one lake: Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 427, April 2022, 128142

The Minnesota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit emphasizes research on impacts of human activities on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems that are of state, regional, and national significance. The research program addresses not only the biological, but also social and economic aspects of both game and nongame fisheries and wildlife management in the context of maintenance of biological diversity, and integrity and sustainability of ecosystems.

A community-based research approach to develop Chronic Wasting Disease outreach with Tribal communities A community-based research approach to develop Chronic Wasting Disease outreach with Tribal communities

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a fatal and contagious neurological disease of cervid populations across North America. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders are necessary to minimize CWD prevalence, spread, and impacts on animal and human health and well-being. However, critical information related to CWD epidemiology, management...
Authors
Roger Faust, Lauren A. Bernstein, David C. Fulton, Kelly Applegate, Austin Ayres, Pam May, Austin Vig, Adam C. Landon, Sarah Ruffing, Madeline Struck, Colin Yoder, Marc D. Schwabenlander, Tiffany M. Wolf
By
Cooperative Research Units

Hydrophone placement yields high variability in detection of Epinephelus striatus calls at a spawning site. Hydrophone placement yields high variability in detection of Epinephelus striatus calls at a spawning site.

Passive acoustic monitoring is a cost-effective, minimally invasive technology commonly used to study behavior and population dynamics of soniferous fish species. To understand the strengths and limitations of acoustic monitoring for this purpose at fish spawning aggregations (FSA) requires an assessment of the variability in aggregation-associated sounds (AAS) as a function of time...
Authors
Cameron J. Van Horn, Alli C. Candelmo, Scott A. Heppell, Croy R.M. McCoy, Christine V. Pattengill-Semmens, Lynn Waterhouse, Laurent M. Cherubin, J. Christopher Taylor, William Michaels, James Locascio, Ali K. Ibrahim, Brice X. Semmens
By
Cooperative Research Units

Stakeholders' priorities for management of a restored elk (Cervus canadensis) population in northeast Minnesota Stakeholders' priorities for management of a restored elk (Cervus canadensis) population in northeast Minnesota

Wildlife reintroduction projects are an important tool for restoring traditional wildlife heritage, increasing species diversity, providing subsistence and sport hunting and other recreational opportunities, and assisting ecosystem adaption to future climate change. In Minnesota, the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa and some conservationists advocate for the expansion of...
Authors
Kyle Smith, Adam Landon, Eric Waller, David C. Fulton, Michael W. Schrage, Nicholas McCann, James Forester
By
Cooperative Research Units

North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region North American Waterfowl Management Plan survey regional profile—Southeast region

Executive Summary Gaining a better understanding of the human dimensions of waterfowl management to inform the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is a valuable but challenging goal for the future success of waterfowl management. Increasing engagement with key stakeholder groups will lead to more support and effective waterfowl management. Social systems are complex because...
Authors
Nicholas W. Cole, David C. Fulton
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Species Management Research Program, Fort Collins Science Center

The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM): A perspective on the first 10 years The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM): A perspective on the first 10 years

The Center for the Advancement of Population Assessment Methodology (CAPAM) was established in 2013, envisioned as an institute that could conduct, organize, and communicate stock assessment research with the aim of benefiting fisheries assessment efforts internationally. CAPAM’s activities have focused on its workshop series and consequent special issues in Fisheries Research. The...
Authors
Mark N. Maunder, Paul R. Crone, Brice X. Semmens, Juan L. Valero, Lynn Waterhouse, Richard D. Methot, Andre E. Punt
By
Cooperative Research Units

A self-determination approach to understanding leisure identity salience among lapsed hunters A self-determination approach to understanding leisure identity salience among lapsed hunters

This study extended a framework based on self-determination theory (SDT) and leisure constraints to study identity salience in lapsed hunters. Self-determination theory suggests that multiple forms of motivation influence levels of self-determination and addresses how social-contextual factors affect satisfaction of needs. Data were drawn from a survey of recently lapsed hunters in...
Authors
Kyle Smith, Adam C. Landon, David C. Fulton
By
Cooperative Research Units
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