Research

Friends of the Mississippi River values evidence-based approaches to restoration, water quality solutions and more. Check out this overview of FMR's research and reports, and explore updates on the results of our studies and their impacts below.

Research

Bumble bee habitat: What we've learned from monitoring (so far)

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February 7, 2025

How can we make the best possible habitat for bumble bees? That's the gist of the question Friends of the Mississippi River is trying to answer. Read more

Watch: FMR's Dr. Julia Leone presents at BeeCon 2024

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November 5, 2024

Julia spoke about preliminary findings from bumble bee, flower and vegetation surveys conducted at FMR sites. Read more

A bee on blazingstar, with an inset photo og Dr. Julia Leone.

FMR becoming a powerhouse for pollinator protection

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August 1, 2024

Two new FMR initiatives are big wins for pollinator protection and research. With good questions and better data to answer them, we can find out what more we can do to make the best possible habitat for pollinators and wildlife. Read more

How (and when) to use the critical period cutting method to remove invasive buckthorn

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June 13, 2024

Step-by-step instructions for removing large buckthorn using this new, herbicide-free method. Read more

Person lops branches off of buckthorn stump

Can pockets of habitat tip the scales in degraded wetlands?

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January 25, 2024

Invasive reed canary grass forms dense monocultures in many wetlands across the Upper Midwest, but we're experimenting with ways to give native wetland plants a better foothold. Read more

Vermillion River flows through reed canary grass

Just released: Read the landmark new report 'Putting Down Roots'

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January 19, 2024

The report, which measures the environmental impact of crops that provide continuous living cover, was produced by FMR, Ecotone Analytics and the Forever Green Partnership. Read more

A hand prods at the bare dirt, prepping for a seed planting. Text says "Putting Down Roots: Analyzing the economic and environmental benefits of continuous living cover for MN’s farmers, water and climate"

More than 3,000 pollinators — and other interesting findings from our 2023 monitoring

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January 9, 2024

How much more often did pollinators visit native flowers than non-native flowers? And why are cuckoo bees a good sign? Find out more about our 2023 pollinator surveys, plus new opportunities to get involved in monitoring efforts. Read more