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College of biological sciences

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve

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  • About Cedar Creek
    • Overview of Cedar Creek
    • Diversity statement
    • History
    • Facilities
    • Conservation
    • Leadership
    • Employment opportunities
    • Support Cedar Creek
    • Contact us
  • Research
    • Research overview
    • Conducting research
    • Cedar Creek LTER
    • Google Scholar Publication List
    • Request housing
    • Annual research reporting
    • Research check in
    • Undergraduate, graduate and postdoc opportunities
  • K-12 Programs
    • Program overview
    • K – 2nd grade programs
    • 3rd – 4th grade programs
    • 5th – 6th grade programs
    • 7th – 8th grade programs
    • 9th - 12th grade programs
    • Education resources
    • Educator professional development
    • Teacher testimonials
  • Public Programs
    • Visit Cedar Creek
    • Upcoming events
    • Field Notes newsletter
    • Bison and savanna research
    • Lunch with a Scientist
    • Artist-in-residence program
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Ecology book club
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    • Catalogs
    • Habitats StoryMap
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    • Birds
    • Fungi
    • Mammals

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Drone image of Cedar Creek.

About Cedar Creek

Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve is a large biological research site in east-central Minnesota with natural habitats that represent the entire state. There is no place of comparable biological diversity so close to the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Cedar Creek is owned and operated by the University of Minnesota in cooperation with the Minnesota Academy of Science.

 

  • Our mission is to increase understanding of natural systems and to investigate and share sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
  • Our strategy for achieving this mission includes research, conservation, and education in partnership with members of our local and global community.
  • Our vision is a future where biodiversity and the full diversity of people thrive.
  • Our commitment is to be an inclusive place for research, mutual learning, and community for people of all identities
student worker takes a measrument of a plant with a colleauge supporting

Research

World-renowned scientists have made Cedar Creek their destination since the 1940s. From Ray and Eleanor Lindeman's early work at Cedar Bog Lake to cutting-edge experimentation led by the world's most cited ecologists, research here focuses on the natural world and the services ecosystems provide to the planet and to human society. Our legacy spans scientific fields, taxa and methods and contributes to policy and theory as well as to the academic knowledge system. Many researchers at Cedar Creek are part of the NSF-funded Long-Term Ecological Research network.

workers set controlled fire to manage prairie

Conservation

Cedar Creek sits at the meeting point of three major biomes: the tallgrass prairie, coniferous forest, and deciduous forest. As a result, the reserve is considered a site of Outstanding Biodiversity Significance by the MN Biological Survey. Our conservation and land management strategies support a plethora of native plants, animals, and habitats in an increasingly developed landscape. Methods we use include prescribed fire, invasive species control, and rigorous monitoring, in collaboration with local and regional partners.

adults and kids gather around to discuss animal sheds with an educator

Education and community engagement

Programs at Cedar Creek engage learners from all backgrounds: kindergarteners to retirees, backyard gardeners to international scientists. With ecology now one of the essential applied sciences of our time, we capitalize on Cedar Creek’s scientific standing to build and share knowledge. Our K-12 programs bring thousands of students to Cedar Creek annually for hands-on field investigations. Community members are invited to attend research tours and lectures, volunteer in participatory science projects, and engage with researchers.

College of Biological Sciences

123 Snyder Hall
1475 Gortner Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108

Student Services

3-104 MCB
420 Washington Ave. S.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55455
United States

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  • About Cedar Creek
    • Overview of Cedar Creek
    • Diversity statement
    • History
      • Comprehensive history
    • Facilities
    • Conservation
      • Deer herd management
    • Leadership
    • Employment opportunities
    • Support Cedar Creek
    • Contact us
  • Research
    • Research overview
    • Conducting research
      • Proposal review process
      • Research and land use policy
      • Research rules and guidelines
    • Cedar Creek LTER
    • Google Scholar Publication List
    • Request housing
    • Annual research reporting
    • Research check in
    • Undergraduate, graduate and postdoc opportunities
  • K-12 Programs
    • Program overview
    • K – 2nd grade programs
    • 3rd – 4th grade programs
    • 5th – 6th grade programs
    • 7th – 8th grade programs
    • 9th - 12th grade programs
    • Education resources
    • Educator professional development
    • Teacher testimonials
  • Public Programs
    • Visit Cedar Creek
    • Upcoming events
    • Field Notes newsletter
    • Bison and savanna research
    • Lunch with a Scientist
    • Artist-in-residence program
      • Don Luce
      • Emily Dzieweczynski
      • Gretel Van Wieren
      • Alyssa Baguss
    • Volunteer opportunities
    • Ecology book club
  • Flora and fauna
    • Catalogs
    • Habitats StoryMap
    • Plants
    • Birds
    • Fungi
    • Mammals