Biodiversity Science at the University of Calgary

Biodiversity Science at the University of Calgary

Contribute as a community scientist to biodiversity research

Community science, also known as citizen science, involves collaboration between the scientists and the public to collect and analyze data.

Calgary PollinatorRare Plants of AlbertaOther Community Science Projects

Biodiversity Resources

Community Science

Community science, also known as citizen science, involves collaboration between the scientists and the public to collect and analyze data.

The Chickadee Challenge

Open-source resources for kids to be inspired by nature in sustainability - includes a biomimicry card deck, workshop materials, and other resources.

Collections Database

Explore the specimens available in our complete biodiversity collections - herbarium, vertebrate, and invertebrate.

Highlighted Projects

Calgary Pollinator Project

Calgary Pollinator Project

The Calgary Pollinators Project is a community science project dedicated to documenting pollinator diversity in Calgary. The project data focuses on insect pollinators and their associated plants. You …

Rare Plants of Alberta

Rare Plants of Alberta

Learn about rare plants in southern Alberta and meet their fellow neighbors and pollinators! We are studying the community composition of two rare species important to people of the Kainai First Natio …

Alberta Native Plant Rescue

Alberta Native Plant Rescue

Native plant rescues are an effort to save native plants from areas slated for development or other disturbances that would otherwise destroy them. The rescues depend on volunteers and experts who car …



Our Collection

Invertebrate

Approximately 1.45 million specimens, of which about 1.25 million are in alcohol and 200,000 are dry pinned insects. The Alberta bee collection is growing and is currently the third largest collection in Canada.

Vertebrate

About 8000 specimens, of extant fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. It has strong osteology (bones) focus with smaller holdings of skins, taxidermic mounts, and alcohol-preserved material, with a good representation of the Alberta fauna. In addition, there is a significant collection of vertebrate fossils.

Herbarium

Over 100,000 specimens of vascular plants and much smaller holdings of non-vascular plants, fungi, and lichens. The emphasis of this collection is on western and northern Canada as well as southern Alberta, in addition to non-vascular and vascular plant specimens from permafrost areas around the world.