Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · 4d

New #OpenAccess paper! Does augmented reality messaging lead people to take more aquatic #InvasiveSpecies prevention actions? Not in this case... but we have thoughts and it certainly still created some engaging conversations. Check it out! #BioInvasions
doi.org/10.1007/s002...

A virtual scene depicting an angler on a dock alongside a truck pulling a trailered fishing vessel from a lake is projected on a tabletop. An inset video shows someone wiping down a fishing rod.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · 5d

Was out in the field earlier this week sampling for Corbicula. Very active bunch. ;) #InvasiveSpecies

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Reposted by Megan M. Weber

Gadfly Stratton, Ph.D. @inclusivescience.ca · 13d

Another new paper out! 😱🧑‍🔬

"Recommendations from the Sea Grant-Led Invasive Species Language Workshop" out now, open access, in Management of Biological Invasions! @invasivesnet.bsky.social

www.reabic.net/journals/mbi...

#BiologicalInvasions 🧪

www.reabic.net

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · 14d

Photos have been rolling in for our Zebra Mussel Safari program and whenever I see photos like this come in, I'm grateful I don't have to count these by hand. 😂

A square sampling plate that is completely covered by zebra mussels.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · 22d

If you'd like to help monitor for spiny water flea and are located near Park Rapids or Brainerd, the loaner kits are live and available there now! They can be reserved at z.umn.edu/spinykits

Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · 22d

Current view at my @umnextension.bsky.social office. It's coloring day! Marking line for spiny water flea sampling nets to get ready to send out to offices across Minnesota ready for become part of our new spiny water flea monitoring equipment loaner system!

Rope piled on a carpeted office floor with black and red markings.

A plankton net, pile of rope, measuring tape, ruler, and sharpies spread across a carpeted office floor.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Sep 4

Did you miss our webinar about mercury levels in game fish from zebra mussel infested waters last month! If so, you're in luck because the recording is now live. @maisrc.bsky.social researcher, Gretchen Hansen shared a great presentation about this research!
z.umn.edu/MercuryRising
#bioinvasions

Webinar: Mercury Rising: How Zebra Mussels are Changing Fish Contaminants

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

z.umn.edu

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Sep 3

Come work with me! @umnextension.bsky.social is hiring an Extension Educator with the Minnesota Master Naturalist program. The deadline closes soon -- but many choices for where in the state to locate! hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/369983

Come work with us! Now accepting applications for Minnesota Master Naturalist Regional Extension Educator. For more information or to apply, visit hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/369983 Job ID 369983. Application Deadline is September 14, 2025.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jul 17

Passing this along to a colleague! She's been working with a volunteer who has been training her dog to sniff out the difference between European highbush cranberry and American highbush cranberry. Much preferred to having to taste the difference, haha!

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jul 17

We have some really awesome volunteers as part of our programs here at @umnextension.bsky.social and @maisrc.bsky.social!
extension.umn.edu/natural-reso...

Once a teacher, always a teacher

Penny Stiles educates as an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Detector.

extension.umn.edu

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jul 15

Still time to register for our upcoming webinar on #ZebraMussel management research! We're welcoming USGS researcher, Matthew Barbour to talk about low dose copper for zebra mussel control Free registration here: umn.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

#InvasiveSpecies #BioInvasions

Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jul 1

Registration is open! Find a location near you to help search for aquatic invasive species on August 9. Locations across Minnesota. No experience necessary! z.umn.edu/StarryTrekRe...
#StarryTrek #StarryTrek2025 #InvasiveSpecies #BioInvasions #Minnesota

A person outdoors with a lake in the background is holding up a rake head attached to a rope. The rake is filled with various types of aquatic plants. Overlaying text reads, "Starry Trek 2025. Join the Crew! Find a location near you at starrytrek.org" Starry Trek is on August 9, 2025.

Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jun 26

My @umnextension.bsky.social colleague, Angie, was interviewed on the Minnesota Dept. of Agriculture podcast, Smarty Plants, recently to talk about her cool work around invasive species participatory science! #InvasiveSpecies
open.spotify.com/episode/2F9H...

Participatory Science: Your Involvement Matters

Smarty Plants · Episode

open.spotify.com

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jun 24

Watching the zebra mussel sniffing dogs at work (and play) never gets old. #GoodBoy #InvasiveSpecies

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jun 5

We saw these at the store a few weeks ago (in Minnesota) and had to get them... they're amazing.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jun 5

Our workshop venue in May had a resident pup that joined us for most of the workshop. The best! It was particularly fond of the lunch break and waited eagerly for any bits that fell off the edges of people's plates while they loaded up. ;)

A happy dog sits between two people in a lunch buffet line eagerly looking at plates being filled.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jun 5

Registration is now live for our September webinar! We're welcoming Steve Smith and Raining White as they present Starry Stonewort and Manoomin: Case Studies on Relationship and Management. z.umn.edu/SSWManoomin

#InvasiveSpecies #Bioinvasions

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Webinar: Starry Stonewort and Manoomin: Case Studies on Relationship and Management. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining ...

About this webinar: This 1.5 hour extended webinar will discuss the relationship manoomin has with the macro alga invader starry stonewort, providing an early look at starry stonewort management withi...

z.umn.edu

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Jun 5

Our friends at Minnesota Sea Grant are hiring an aquaculture Extension associate to focus on improving aquaculture practices to help feed communities and support the future of fisheries in Minnesota and the Great Lakes region. Check it out below (Job ID 368482) hr.myu.umn.edu/jobs/ext/368...

Careers

Coordinate all aspects of the MNSG Aquaculture Lab on the U of M St. Paul campus (50%)

hr.myu.umn.edu

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · May 13

Recording of our most recent webinar is live! Effective Rusty Crayfish Removals to Protect Wild Rice. Check the video description for some extra links shared and discussed during the webinar. #InvasiveSpecies #Bioinvasions
youtu.be/7E6cE-7zRvY?...

Webinar: Effective Rusty Crayfish Removals to Protect Wild Rice

YouTube video by U of M AIS Detectors

youtu.be

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · May 8

@umnextension.bsky.social is #hiring a Regional Director for the central Minnesota region (at my office!). Full time appointment, comprehensive benefits package, part of a collaborative, engaged team.
For more information and to apply👉 z.umn.edu/CentralRD (deadline: May 23, 2025)

University of Minnesota Extension is hiring a regional director for the central Minnesota region. Deadline to apply is May 23, 2025. Visit z.umn.edu/CentralRD for more information.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · May 6

One @maisrc.bsky.social research team found that in lakes invaded by zebra mussels, fish were up to 72% higher in mercury—reaching risky levels at smaller sizes compared to lakes without zebra mussels. This project will be featured in our August webinar. Register here👇
umn.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Webinar: Mercury Rising: How Zebra Mussels are Changing Fish Contaminants. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webina...

Zebra mussels are invasive species that can reshape entire lake ecosystems, with surprising and far-reaching effects. Researchers have discovered that zebra mussels—well-known for clogging pipes and o...

umn.zoom.us

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · May 5

Volunteers in our AIS Detectors program do some awesome work! Check out this @umnextension.bsky.social article about Bob, who took some AWESOME rusty crayfish photos for us, traps rusty crayfish, and shares his favorite way to prepare them.

extension.umn.edu/natural-reso...

A tale of two landscapes and one Aquatic Invasive Species Detector’s mission

Water isn’t just a resource for Bob McNamara. It’s life itself. “You don’t know until it’s gone how important it is.”

extension.umn.edu

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Apr 30

Still time to register for tomorrow's webinar about rusty crayfish management around wild rice! umn.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
📸: Bob McNamara

A rusty crayfish sits on a blank background with a ruler in the background.

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Megan M. Weber @meganweber.bsky.social · Apr 22

I saw Amy Morey present on some of the results from this project earlier this year. Perhaps not surprising, but still shocking. Online plant sales are a real risk for invasive species introductions... even where regulations exist that prohibit it.
mitppc.umn.edu/research/res...
#bioinvasions

Spread of invasive plants into Minnesota through e-commerce

Researchers assessed e-commerce, or online sales, as a pathway for invasive plant species to enter the state of Minnesota.

mitppc.umn.edu

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