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Biology Facilities

Central Instrument Facility
The Natural Science Division maintains a Central Instrument Facility that is available for use by all departments within the division. This facility houses some of the more expensive instrumentation that has broad applications among the disciplines. Most of the equipment is centered in Founder's Hall rooms 10 and 25. A description of the instrumentation available is found in the following section.

Equipment
All of the equipment is available for student use. Nearly all of the instruments are types and models currently used in research and industry. This provides our students with direct experience that provides a solid foundation for graduate research or direct entry into the job market. Instrumentation is added through grant proposals and other sources. The current complement of instrumentation includes:

Because of the personal attention given to each student, ULV students have more hands-on contact with modern instrumentation than do those at many larger institutions.

The Biology Department also has new computer interfaced physiology equipment and field environmental test equipment.

Computing facilities include a blend of stand alone microcomputers as well as UNIX/Linux, NT/2000, and VMS based central network.

Jeagar Museum
The Jeager teaching museum is a one room facility that contains a broad range of specimens of biological, geological, and anthropological interest. The items in this collection are available for viewing during normal business hours and are used heavily for classroom instruction and special projects.

Greenhouse and Animal Care Facility
The building consists of a 12 X 24 foot greenhouse attached to an attractive prep room and animal care facility. The animal room has a modern 30 cage rack with automatic watering and a controlled, filtered air supply. It will house rodents and other small animals in a comfortable environment.

The greenhouse contains a taxonomically broad collection of plants chosen to demonstrate taxonomic, morphological and anatomical diversity. The standing collection is intended to support instruction. However, space is reserved for controlled instructional laboratories and research as well.

Montana Field Station
Director: Robert T. Neher
The Biology Department maintains a field station 16 miles N.W. of Drummond, Montana. This 160 acres site was donated to the ULV Biology Department by Rich Base for use as a field and research station The main acreage is located in the Garnet Mountain Range at an altitude of about 4500 feet. Much of the value of this land lies in its remoteness. It includes some mature forested areas, clear cut zones, cliffs, ravines, and a permanent stream, rich in plants and wildlife. The study site is fertile for research and instruction.

The department purchased an additional 7 acres in the nearby Clark Fork Valley and constructed a center with living quarters and laboratory facilities. This provides year-round support for field studies in Montana.

Chiracauhua Study Area
Director: Robert T. Neher
The Biology Department maintains 160 acre study site North of the Chiracauhua National Monument in Eastern Arizona. This site affords research opportunities for work in the western Chihuahuan desert region.

Transportation Support
The Biology Department has a 4 wheel drive Suburban and a camper that provide vital support for field courses and field trips. A pontoon boat and canoes provide support for aquatic instruction and research. Other University vehicles are used to augment departmental resources when needed.