The Animal Diversity Web (ADW) is a
non-profit group that hosts an online
database
In computing, a database is an organized collection of data or a type of data store based on the use of a database management system (DBMS), the software that interacts with end users, applications, and the database itself to capture and a ...
site that collects
natural history
Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...
,
classification
Classification is the activity of assigning objects to some pre-existing classes or categories. This is distinct from the task of establishing the classes themselves (for example through cluster analysis). Examples include diagnostic tests, identif ...
,
species
A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...
characteristics,
conservation biology
Conservation biology is the study of the conservation of nature and of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction and the erosion of biotic interactions. It is an i ...
, and
distribution information on species of
animal
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms in the Biology, biological Kingdom (biology), kingdom Animalia (). With few exceptions, animals heterotroph, consume organic material, Cellular respiration#Aerobic respiration, breathe oxygen, ...
s. The website includes photographs,
sound clips, and a
virtual museum
A museum is an institution dedicated to displaying or Preservation (library and archive), preserving culturally or scientifically significant objects. Many museums have exhibitions of these objects on public display, and some have private colle ...
.
The local,
relational database
A relational database (RDB) is a database based on the relational model of data, as proposed by E. F. Codd in 1970.
A Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) is a type of database management system that stores data in a structured for ...
is written and maintained by staff and student contributors from the
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan (U-M, U of M, or Michigan) is a public university, public research university in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1817, it is the oldest institution of higher education in the state. The University of Mi ...
. It can be accessed through the web and mobile apps. It offers resources for schoolteachers ("
K–12
K–12, from kindergarten to 12th grade, is an English language expression that indicates the range of years of publicly supported primary and secondary education found in the United States and Canada, which is similar to publicly supported sch ...
instructors"),
[The Animal Diversity Web](_blank)
Myers, P., R. Espinosa, C. S. Parr, T. Jones, G. S. Hammond, and T. A. Dewey. 2017. and functions as a virtual museum containing mostly mammals and a collection of skulls that can be virtually handled.
Background
The ADW was created in 1995 by Philip Myers, a former biology professor at the University of Michigan. , the site contained records for approximately 2,150 animal species, represented by 11,500 images and 725 sounds. The ADW has over 250 accounts of higher
taxonomic groups.
Most of the contributors to the website are undergraduate students. ADW has collaborated with 30 colleges and universities across the United States. The undergraduate students often submit reports on species as part of their course requirements.
Each account is edited by both the professors and the staff at the ADW.
, the Animal Diversity Web had 3,675 contributors.
Partnerships
ADW has partnered with the
Encyclopedia of Life
The Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) is a free, online encyclopedia intended to document all of the 1.9 million living species known to science. It aggregates content to form "pages" for every known species. Content is compiled from existing trusted ...
(EOL). The BioKIDS Critter Catalog, created by the University of Michigan, provides a simplified version of the animal accounts.
AmphibiaWeb is a partner that provides information on amphibian species.
[“AmphibiaWeb.” ''AmphibiaWeb'', amphibiaweb.org/.]
Staff
The current staff of the Animal Diversity Web is employed at the University of Michigan ():
*Phil Myers, Ph.D.: Director and founder of the Animal Diversity Web. Curator of Mammals in the Museum of Zoology and Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
*Tricia Jones, Ph.D.: Educational researcher, assessment and usability coordinator, and site design consultant.
*Roger Espinosa, M.S.: Technical lead in content management,
XML templates, search engines, and taxonomy database.
*Tanya Dewey, Ph.D.: Content expert, curriculum consultant, and ADW upkeep.
*George Hammond, M.S.: Content expert, curriculum consultant, and ADW upkeep.
References
External links
{{Wikidata property, P4024, P5036
Animal Diversity Web
Internet properties established in 1995
Online taxonomy databases