Illinois Natural History Survey
The Illinois Natural History Survey is a research organization devoted to the scientific study of the living natural resources of Illinois. It is one of the Divisions of the Department of Registration and Education and is administered by a Board of Natural Resources and Conservation, consisting of the Director of the Department, the President of the University of Illinois, or his representative, the President of Southern Illinois University, or his representative, members and experts in the fields of geology, biology, chemistry, forestry, and engineering.
The Survey is organized into sections, five of which are engaged in scientific pursuits. These are aquatic biology, botany and plant pathology, economic entomology, faunistic survey, and wildlife. These sections pursue basic and scientific research in systematics, ecology, environmental quality, and control of plant diseases and insect pests. The zoological collections of the Survey, numbering about 8,800,000 specimens, rank among the largest and most valuable in the world. The botanical collections are smaller in size. The vascular plant collections number over 145,000 specimens that are most representative for studies of distribution in Illinois. The mycological collections, with more than 35,000 specimens, include numerous types that are basic to scientific research.
The Survey is housed in the Natural Resources Building and the Natural Resources Studies Annex on the campus of the University of Illinois, Urbana. In addition, the Survey maintains special research facilities at Fox Ridge State Park, Stephen A. Forbes State Park, Havana, Sullivan, and elsewhere for studies of pond management, prairie chickens, pheasants, waterfowl, fish, and wildlife.