Natural history resources

Natural history
Minnesota's geology | Landscape and plant communities | Resources

Use these publications to learn more about the natural history of Minnesota. Many of them were used in preparing this Guide.

Bibliography

Breckenridge, W.J. 1944. Reptiles and Amphibians of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 202 pp.

Chapman, K.A., A. Fischer, and M.K. Ziegenhagen. 1998. Valley of Grass: Tallgrass Prairie and Parkland of the Red River Region. North Star Press of St. Cloud, Inc.

Coffin, B.A. and L.A. Pfannmuller, ed. 1989. Minnesota's Endangered Flora and Fauna. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis for the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota. 473 pp.

Crum, Howard. 1973. Mosses of the Great Lakes Forest. University Herbarium, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 404 pp.

Cumberlege, Geoffrey. 1975. Trees and Shrubs. Oxford University Press, London, Bombay, and Karachi. 411 pp.

Eckert, Kim R. 1994. A Birder's Guide to Minnesota. Williams Publications, Inc., Plymouth, MN. 238 pp.

Green, Janet C., and Robert B. Janssen. 1975. Minnesota Birds Where, When and How Many. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 217 pp.

Gruchow, Paul. Worlds Within a World. 1999. Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN.

Hazard, E.B. 1982. The Mammals of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 280 pp.

Henderson, Carrol L., A. L. Lambrecht and others. 1997. Traveler's Guide to Wildlife in Minnesota. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, MN. 326 pp.

Janssen, R.B. 1987. Birds in Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 352 pp.

Kratz T. and Jensen, G. L. 1977. An Ecological Geographic Division of Minnesota. 8 pp.

Lellinger, David B. 1985. A Field Manual of the Ferns & Fern-Allies. Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. 389 pp.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program. 1993. Minnesota's Native Vegetation: A Key to Natural Communities, Version 1.5. Biological Report No. 20, Minnesota. 111 pp.

Moyle, J.B. and E. W. Moyle. 1977. Northland Wildflowers. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 352 pp.

Morley, Thomas. 1969. Spring Flora of Minnesota. Department of Botany, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. 283 pp.

Oldfield, Barney and John J. Moriarty. 1994. Amphibians & Reptiles Native to Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 226 pp.

Ownbey, G.B. and T. Morley. 1991. Vascular Plants of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 307 pp.

Rosedahl, C.O. 1955. Trees and Shrubs of the Upper Midwest. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 411 pp.

Sansome, Constance J. 1983. Minnesota Underfoot, A Field Guide to the State's Outstanding Geological Features. Voyageur Press, Stillwater, MN. 224 pp.

Scott, James A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America, A Natural History and Field Guide. Stanford University Press. Stanford, California. 583 pp.

Smith, Welby R. 1993. Orchids of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 172 pp.

Tester, John R. 1995. Minnesota's Natural Heritage: An Ecological Perspective. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, MN. 332 pp.

Tryon, R. 1980. Ferns of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 165 pp.

Vance, Fenton R., James R. Jowsey, and James S. McLean. 1977. Wildflowers Across the Prairies. Western Producer Prairie Books, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. 214 pp.

Vance, F.R., J.R. Jowsey, and J.S. McLean. 1996. Wildflowers Across the Prairies. Greystone Books, Vancouver/Toronto, Canada. 336 pp.

Wendt, K.M. 1984. A Guide to Minnesota Prairies. Natural Heritage Program, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota. 71 pp.

Wendt, K.M. and B.A. Coffin. 1988. Natural Vegetation of Minnesota at the Time of the Public Land Survey: 1847-1907. Biological Report No. 1. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Wovcha, D.S., B.C. Delaney, and G.E. Nordquist. 1995. Minnesota's St. Croix River Valley and Anoka Sandplain: A Guide to Native Habitats. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 234 pp.

Wright, H.E., Jr., B.A. Coffin and N.E. Aaseng, eds. 1992. The Pattemed Peatlands of Minnesota. University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis. 327 pp.

Organizations

Amateurs and professionals alike maintain memberships in these organizations. Their meetings, guided field trips, publications, and general camaraderie are great ways to learn about Minnesota's natural history. Watch, too, for your local city and county conservation organizations and activities in the news media, and search for their names on the internet.

Geological Society of MN, c/o Francine Corcoran, 4105 _ 41st Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406. 612-724-2101. Web: www.geo.umn.edu/orgs/gsm

Three Rivers Park District, Natural Resource Management, 3800 Co Rd 24, Maple Plain, MN 55359. 612)476-4663. Web: www.threeriversparks.org

Izaak Walton League, Midwest Office, 1619 Dayton Ave., Suite 202, St. Paul, MN 55104. 651-649-1446. Web: www.iwla.org Email: imansfield@igc.org

Minnesota Land Trust, 2356 University Ave W, Suite 400, St. Paul, MN 55114. 651-647-9590. Web: www.mnland.org

MN Mycological Society, PO Box 14684, Minneapolis, MN 55414; Anna Gerenday 612-624-3241 office, or 651-436-1909 home. Email: geren002@maroon.tc.umn.edu

MN Native Plant Society, 220 Biological Science Center, 1445, Gortner Ave, St. Paul, MN 55108-1095; Gary Perrault 651-773-9207 or Thor Kommedahl 612-974-9735. Web: www.mnnps.org Email: contact@mnnps.org

MN Ornithologists' Union, 10 Church St. SE, U of M, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Elizabeth Bell, membership: 651-459-4150. Web: www.moumn.org/

Ramsey County Parks and Open Space, Natural Resource Specialist, 2015 N Van Dyke St, Maplewood, MN 55109. 651-778-2500. Web: parks.co.ramsey.mn.us

Sierra Club North Star Chapter, 1313 5th St. SE, Suite 324B, Minneapolis MN 55414. 612-379-3855. Web: www.northstar.sierraclub.org/ Email: north.star.chapter@sierraclub.org

The National Audubon Society, Saint Paul Chapter, 30 E. 10th St., St. Paul, MN. 55101. Fred Waltz, Field Trip Chair: 651-454-8994. Web: www.saintpaulaudubon.net

The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota, 1101 West River Parkway, Suite 200, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1291. 612-331-0750. Web: www.tnc.org/minnesota

The Trust for Public Land, MidWest Regional Office, 420 North Fifth St, Suite 865, Minneapolis, MN 55401. 612-338-8494. Web: www.tpl.org

Internet Explorations

Your experience with SNAs may motivate you to explore the internet for more information about:

  • Science relating to natural areas, geology, botany, wildlife, and more
  • Local and national conservation organizations
  • Local and national activities in which to participate

All these exist on the web, and more. Browsing is the best trail to discovery.

Listed here is a sampling of sites to get you started. Try searching for key words of interest to you, such as environment, plants, birds, ecology, or geology. Be sure to check out your city and county names for local organizations and activities of interest. Also remember to check the state natural history organizations for their web sites, listed earlier in the Appendix.

www.dnr.state.mn.us--The Minnesota DNR home page keeps you posted on recreation activities, events, current conditions, license information, backyard tips, while serving as a launching point for much, much more. Find the link to Scientific and Natural Areas to print out a map and key text to assist you on a trip or to share with a friend.

www.dnr.state.mn.us/ets/index.html--Lists current legislative status of key species, plant and animal, in Minnesota.

www.seek.state.mn.us--This site offers many links to environmental information and educational resources.

www.bridges.state.mn.us--Gateway to environmental information, this site provides access to legal information, environmental guidelines, and updates on current issues by Minnesota state environmental agencies.