![Two researchers are kneeling down, excavating a fossil with a small hand tool. A brush is on the left.](/sites/biodiversity/files/styles/7_5_placeholder_/public/images/2021/1601954_MK_A_01303.jpeg?h=6c64ea29&itok=Dv7rLWft)
Divisions
The KU Biodiversity Institute studies the past and present biological diversity of the planet while training the next generation of scientists.
Divisions
![two archaeology reseearchers sitting at a desk with collections](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/archaeology.jpg)
![2 BI Modeling researchers looking at a computer](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/BI%20modeling.jpg)
Biodiversity Modeling
The description and understanding of species distributions and biodiversity patterns.
![A dried plant specimen mounted on paper with a bar code in left corner and information on right corner](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2021/46995044111_a336bcce65_o.jpg)
Botany
The world’s plants — their global diversity, evolution, geography, genomic, morphology, conservation, ecology, and behavior.
Divisions
![Example iSample model of Moorea, French Polynesia, showing topopgraphic area, plus locations where about 80,000 physical samples of biological specimens, genomic tissues, and artifacts were found, and which are accessible via iSamples interface. Tall columns indicate larger number of samples. Visit ark:/21547/CYx2sc_01370 for more.](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2022/Data-Management-Moorea-1_0.png)
Data Management
Researching large-scale data interoperability for the earth and life sciences.
![Looking down on two people standing in front of collection drawers open, showing insect specimens](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/entomology.jpg)
Entomology
The world's insects — their global diversity, evolution, geography, genomic, morphology, conservation, ecology, and behavior.
![four herpetology researchers in lab looking at specimens](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/herpetology_0.jpg)
Herpetology
The systematics, evolution, biogeography, genetics, morphology, conservation, ecology, and behavior of reptiles and amphibians.
Divisions
![ichthyology researcher in lab](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/ichthyology.jpg)
Ichthyology
Evolution, biodiversity, genomics, morphology, ecology, biogeography, and life history of fishes.
![informatics group meeting around a table](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2022/Specify-crop-2_0.jpg)
Informatics
A multidisciplinary unit of biologists and software engineers which develops and supports software for biological collections research.
![Invertebrate paleontologists looking at a specimen](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/invertebrate%20paleontology.jpg)
Invertebrate Paleontology
The world’s fossil invertebrates – their relevance to evolutionary theory, their phylogenetic significance, as well as their paleobiogeography, paleoecology, and morphology.
Divisions
![two graduate students on a boat](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2021/gradeducationinvertzo.jpg)
Invertebrate Zoology
The world’s parasites — their global diversity, evolution, geography, genomics, morphology, conservation, ecology, and behavior.
![A researcher examining a skull behind a table full of specimens](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/mammalogy.jpg)
Mammalogy
The world's mammals — their global diversity, evolution, geography, genomics, morphology, conservation, ecology, and behavior.
![Ornithology researchers examining a collections drawer full of bird specimens](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/ornithology.jpg)
Ornithology
The world's birds — their species limits and species diversity, evolution, geography, genetics and genomics, morphology, conservation, ecology and behavior.
Divisions
![researcher wearing a thick red parka in a snowy landscape](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2021/Allan-Hills-Windwhistle-Peak-Rudolph-Serbet-searching-for-fossil-plants-Triassic-2012.png)
Paleobotany
Plants in the geologic past—their global diversity, evolution, geography, structure, morphology, and ecology, as well as the stewardship of the collections for future generations.
![phylogenetic tree](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2022/Tree%20of%20Life-W-CR-MyosinUnrootedTree.png)
Phylogenetic Modeling
The Phylogenetic Modeling division is focused on phylogenetic inference. Researcher Mark Holder is interested in both the statistical basis of tree estimation and the wide range of algorithms used to exploit phylogenies to answer evolutionary questions.
![Vertebrate Paleontology researchers looking at specimens](/sites/biodiversity/files/images/2020/vert%20paleo.jpg)
Vertebrate Paleontology
The world’s prehistoric vertebrates — their global diversity, phylogeny, macroevolutionary patterns, historical biogeography, morphology, paleoecology, and behavior.