3D digitization of Yellowstone wolf (Canis lupus) skulls for education, research, and outreach

Museums around the world are using the advancement of digital technology to share scientific collections with broader audiences on a digital landscape. Recent innovations in imaging software and virtual platforms have made it possible for museums to create high-resolution 3D models that can be 3D printed as tangible educational aids, made accessible to researchers worldwide, and used to create accessible virtual museum experiences. Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is home to one of the best-studied collections of wolf (Canis lupus) skulls in the world. Long-term research conducted by the Yellowstone Wolf Project has produced an extensive volume of ecological metadata associated with this collection. Here, we apply photogrammetry to digitize the YNP wolf skull collection (n>225). Photos are processed into high-resolution meshes using photogrammetry software. Resulting models are 3D printable at a low cost. Initial 3D prints were successfully used by Yellowstone Wolf Project staff as durable teaching aids in the field. Additionally, models of well-known wolves may be printed for use as outreach tools. In 2024, the UM Wildlife Biology program began using miniature 3D printed copies of 302M’s skull for public outreach and fundraising. All data from this project will be uploaded to a publicly accessible online repository for 3D biological specimen data. Once uploaded, individuals and organizations will be able to download these data for education, outreach, and collaborative research. For our project, we will use landmark-based geometric morphometrics to answer questions about how skull shape varies as a function of individual and environmental variables. We will also examine spatiotemporal variation in skull shape. These models will be used to create the first virtual 3D gallery made available to the public online by YNP. With the absence of a physical museum gallery, this new medium will increase accessibility and public engagement with natural history of Yellowstone National Park.