NATURAL HISTORY SPECIMEN COLLECTION
Experience Biology Firsthand
At UW-Whitewater, biology goes beyond what’s in the textbook. The Department of Biology’s Natural History Specimen Collection gives students direct access to thousands of preserved plants and animals from Wisconsin and other regions, supporting hands-on learning, undergraduate research and real-world scientific discovery.
CAN WE BRAG A LITTLE?
Rare and extinct species
Explore a diverse collection of specimens, including the extinct Passenger Pigeon and rare species like the Franklin’s Ground Squirrel.
Bringing collections to life
Students are expanding access to the collections through innovative projects, including using augmented reality to digitize our bird collection and create interactive 3D models that are accessible to researchers and the public.
Start research as an undergraduate
Use specimens to ask real questions and find real answers. Students in our Biology programs conduct independent studies and analyze data, often presenting their findings at scientific meetings.
Explore our collections
The UW-Whitewater Natural History Specimen Collection houses a diverse range of plant and animal species that support both teaching and scientific research for student and professional use.
Mammal, Reptile and Amphibian Collection
Explore a wide variety of vertebrate collections, many of which are native to Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. Several of the specimens include detailed collection data, making them valuable for both classroom learning and scientific research.
The collection includes several rare or conservation-relevant species, such as venomous snakes and the Franklin’s Ground Squirrel, a species now believed to be extirpated from the state. Our specimens have even been used to uncover visual cues in mammals, such as the fluorescence of flying squirrels.
For more information on the Mammal, Reptile and Amphibian Collection, contact Joshua Kapfer, Professor of Biology: kapferj@uww.edu. For more information on the Fishes Collection, contact Michael Pauers, Assisstant Professor of Biology: pauersmj@uww.edu.
Bird Collection
Home to approximately 1,000 specimens representing around 150 different species, this collection offers ample opportunities for teaching and research.
The collection includes a Passenger Pigeon taxidermy mount, a species that has been extinct since 1914. Other highlights are an adult Bald Eagle and Great Horned Owl specimen.
Our biology department also supports hands-on learning through a bird cam in the Kettle Moraine State Forest, which has recorded over 40 different bird species.
For more information on the Bird Collection, contact Susan DeVries, Associate Professor of Biology: devriesm@uww.edu.
Herbarium Collection
The herbarium houses about 10,000 dried plant specimens, primarily focusing on flowering plants (angiosperms) of southeastern Wisconsin. The oldest specimen in the collection dates back to 1869.
Students play an active role in collecting, preparing and documenting plant species. The specimen data are online as part of the Consortium of Midwest Herbaria (CMH). The CMH portal can be used to build maps of where specimens were collected. The CMH data are shared to the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), which allows researchers worldwide to utilize the information.
For more information on the Herbarium Collection, contact Nicholas Tippery, Professor of Biology: tipperyn@uww.edu.
What students do with the collection
Work directly with specimens in lab courses
Identify species using scientific tools
Conduct independent research projects
Collect and prepare specimens
Hands-on learning experiences
Our Biology students work with real specimens in their courses. They learn how to identify species, analyze physical traits and apply scientific methods in a practical setting.
Undergraduate research
Students use specimen data to explore scientific research questions. Many complete independent studies by analyzing the biology collections, with some even presenting their findings at scientific meetings, helping to build confidence and professional experience.
UW-Whitewater’s robust undergraduate research program helps students harness their technical and interpersonal skills and build connections with faculty and students at the state, regional and national levels.
Field skills
Students develop expertise in species identification, data analysis, scientific communication and more. These are skills that directly translate to careers in biology, environmental science and related fields.
Curation and collection management
Students can get behind-the-scenes experience organizing, preserving and documenting specimens, building project management and interpersonal skills critical in any profession. They may assist with preparing specimens, inventorying collections, improving specimen storage and contributing to long-term collection care.
Want to learn more about our Natural History Specimen Collection?
biology@uww.edu
The Department of Biology welcomes donations of biological collections, specimens and taxidermy mounts if they are accompanied with appropriate data (particularly the location and date of collection) and were collected legally. We prefer to have collection permit numbers or hunter tags associated with the specimens, if possible.
If you’re interested in donating, please contact Joshua Kapfer at kapferj@uww.edu.
We invite the public and prospective students to experience our collections firsthand. A selection of our specimen collection is on display on the third floor of Upham Hall for public viewing.
The department also maintains a living plant collection of approximately 200 species from around the world. It’s located in the Upham Greenhouse, Grow House 3, and is open to the public.
Upham Hall
771 W Starin Road
Whitewater, WI 53190
