History

The Cooperative Research Unit program was established in 1935 to enhance graduate education in fisheries and wildlife research. The goal of the program was to promote applied research and collaboration between state natural resource agencies and universities. Currently, there are 40 Cooperative Research Units in 38 states. Each unit is a partnership among the U.S. Geological Survey, a State natural resource agency, a host university, and the Wildlife Management Institute.

The Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Unit was founded in 1980. Stanley Anderson joined the unit as the first unit leader in 1980.  He was followed by Wayne Hubert as the first assistant unit leader for fisheries in 1982 and Fred Lindzey as the first assistant unit leader for wildlife in 1984. The Wyoming Unit was honored in 1991 by being awarded the Cooperative Research Unit Center director's Award for Outstanding Science.  The award was granted "for accomplishments at the cutting edge of research."  

Over the first 25 years of operation, the unit leader and the two assistant unit leaders served as advisor or co-advisor to 177 graduate students at the University of Wyoming. This included 27 Ph. D. students and 150 master’s degree students.  In addition, these three members of the graduate faculty served on the committees of more than 150 graduate students.

The outcome of 2½ decades of research activity has been 424 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters and more than 400 technical reports authored or co-authored by the three unit research scientists.  To accomplish this level of research productivity the Unit administered over 30 million dollars involving more than 300 research projects.  In addition to written communications, students, employees, and staff associated with the unit have presented over 500 talks and posters at professional meetings.

The accomplishments of the unit have yielded a cadre of professional fish and wildlife biologists who have brought their skills to natural resource management, education, and several other professions.  The research conducted by these students has contributed knowledge needed by state and federal natural resource management agencies when making decisions crucial to the continued function of ecosystems in the Great Plains and Intermountain West, and maintenance of outdoor recreation opportunities.

The pubs of Drs. Anderson, Hubert and Lindzey can be found on our Archive's Page (not yet updated)

 Unit leadership

• Stanley Anderson – wildlife (unit leader 1980-2005)
• Wayne Hubert – fisheries (assistant unit leader 1982-2005, unit leader 2005-2010)
• Frederick Lindzey – wildlife (assistant unit leader 1984-2004)
• Matthew Kauffman – wildlife (assistant unit leader 2006-2010, unit leader 2010- present)
• Anna Chalfoun – wildlife (assistant unit leader 2011 – present)
• Annika Walters – fisheries (assistant unit leader 2011 – present)