The St. Louis Wildlife Project is a partnership among local scientists with the aim of quantifying biodiversity and understanding wildlife ecology in the greater St. Louis area.

Background

The St. Louis Wildlife Project was established in 2018 as a collaboration between biologists at the University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis and Tyson Research Center at Washington University in St. Louis. Through this project, St. Louis serves as a partner city in the Urban Wildlife Information Network, an initiative based at the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago, whose purpose is to document and study urban wildlife around the world. The St. Louis Wildlife Project puts St. Louis on the cutting edge of urban wildlife research and its implications for sustainable urban planning and conservation of urban biodiversity.

Why is our work important?

One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is urbanization, as two thirds of the world’s population is expected to be urbanized by 2050. However, metropolitan areas such as St. Louis can also play an important role in maintaining biodiversity. Available habitat patches or green spaces can support species and protect diversity in urban areas. Further, understanding how wildlife utilize these habitats and interact with each other and humans in an urban environment is essential for minimizing human-wildlife conflict. By studying how unique features of the St. Louis landscape—including rivers and parks—affect diversity and abundance of wildlife in the metro region, we can identify important elements that promote biodiversity and the coexistence of humans and wildlife. These elements can be incorporated into sustainable design and planning for St. Louis, while also informing our broader understanding of urban ecology and how best to conserve biodiversity through data-driven urban planning and development worldwide.