Wyoming Natural Diversity Database

WYNDD is Wyoming's best resource for information on Wyoming plants, animals and ecosystems, particularly Wyoming species that are rare or threatened.  They maintain a huge database of where and when these species are sighted, how their distributions change over time, their influences on related species and environmental processes, how they react to changing conditions, and more.  WYNDD ecologists are great resources related to field research, data synthesis, mapping and GIS, and networking with biologists throughout the state and region.

Examples:

• WYNDD scientists can help students complete reports and independent research on Wyoming plants, animals or ecosystems.
• WYNDD can provide and help classes create many kinds of maps pertaining to the natural resources in the state.
• WYNDD botanists and zoologists can take students into the field on local biodiversity hikes to learn more about the amazing biodiversity in Wyoming.

The process:

1. Classes, teachers or individuals identify a species or ecosystem they would like to learn more about.  The species must be a Wyoming native.
2. The teacher or individual contacts the Biodiversity Institute (biodiversity@uwyo.edu or 307-766-6240) requesting more information and what kind of information (data, maps, photos, etc.)
3. The Biodiversity Institute and WYNDD will respond to the request as quickly as possible.

Outcomes include:

• Enhanced study of a scientific question - students delve deeper by working with scientists to answer questions textbooks don't address.

• Integrated learning, ranging from hypothesis formation, data analysis, mapping and tracking, and more.

• Engagement with the scientific community - students feel a heightened sense of investment in the topic because it creates a platform for interacting with real scientists.

Get Started:

Contact the Biodiversity Institute at 307-766-6240 or biodiversity@uwyo.edu to discuss with Dorothy Tuthill, Associate Director, what your class can do this school year!

Need more context?  Here is a poster outlining the program and offering suggestions, and a handy postcard summarizing the idea.  Contact Dr. Dorothy with any questions or to get your class involved.

>>Provide feedback on this and other programs the Biodiversity Institute offers.