Biodiversity Research
One of the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity’s (CCB) core functions is to cultivate research that promotes conservation of the western Great Lakes flora and fauna. Research projects are conducted by CCB staff and students, often in collaboration with other UW-Green Bay faculty, scientists from other academic institutions, government agencies, and conservation organizations. The CCB has established a legacy of long-term research projects in lower Green Bay, western Great Lakes forests, Great Lakes coastal wetlands, northeast Wisconsin watersheds, and restored Midwestern ecosystems. These projects provide many opportunities for students to gain field research experience both within and beyond the UW-Green Bay academic curriculum. Many of these research projects also engage community scientists (formerly known as citizen scientists), forging a stronger link between UW-Green Bay and the people of northeastern Wisconsin. A broad range of research by faculty, staff and students is supported by the CCB. The Center is able to provide a number of resources including field equipment, computer access and software, funding through grants and matching funds, expertise in design of ecological studies, and the identification of a variety of taxa. The Center is a catalyst for both large scale and small scale research projects. On campus, the Cofrin Student Research Program has provided small grants for over 150 student researchers since 1989. These projects, conducted under the guidance of a faculty sponsor, are conducted on one of UW-Green Bay’s natural areas or affiliated research sites in northeastern Wisconsin. On a broader scale, the Center provides equipment, staff support, and an infrastructure for externally funded research projects ranging from taxonomic studies (e.g., plant and animal surveys) to ecosystem analysis (e.g., ecological health of Great Lakes coastal wetlands). Since the year 2000, support has been provided through direct funding and cost-share arrangements. Collaborating agencies include the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Parks Service, The Nature Conservancy, Smithsonian Institution, and National Science Foundation. For more information about the kinds of research conducted, please visit the projects pages.