Archbold Expeditions (ABS)

Archbold Expeditions, Inc. conducts scientific research, education and, conservation programs across the lands and waters of the headwaters of the everglades watershed in south central Florida. Within this landscape Archbold Expeditions, Inc. Manages nearly 20,000 acres, serving as a natural labratory for programmatic activities, including (1) Archbold biological station, a 5,200-acre pristine Florida scrub ecosystem located on the ancient lake wales ridge; (2) the 10,500-acre buck island ranch, a working cattle ranch landscape formerly managed by Archbold Expeditions, Inc. as the macarthur agro-ecology research center maerc; and (3) the wetland and upland ecosystem restoration landscape of the 3,600-acre Archbold reserve. Scientific research: staff and visiting scientists study ecological patterns and processes on pristine Florida scrub ecosystems, working ranchlands, and wetland and upland restoration lands in the headwaters of the everglades. Fields of research include but are not limited topopulation biology, animal behavior, biogeography, restoration ecology, community ecology, conservation biology, agro-ecology, limnology, entomology, evolution and landscape ecology. Contributions to fundamental science have resulted to date in more than two thousand and five hundred research publications. Many Archbold Expeditions, Inc. research activities are coordinated with national and international research networks such as the us department of agriculture long-term agroecosystem research ltar network, the global lakes ecological research gleon network, and idigbio, the national network for biological museum collections research. Research at buck island ranch is linked to life cycle analyses (greenhouse gases, water quality and quantity) of agricultural products. In addition to contributions to scientific understanding, Archbold Expeditions, Inc. research informs conservation and land management decision-making on Archbold property, across the watershed, and internationally. Studies of rare species, the cycling of fire, water, nutrients and carbon, and the relationship between agriculture production and sustaining essential ecosystem processes, are all represented on Archbold's property. These studies guide land management and land and water conservation by public agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners.education: this description of education programs at Archbold is for a typical year. Archbold Expeditions, Inc. Links its scientific research to education through programs that provide education and outreachactivities at Archbold biological station, buck island ranch, and thearchbold reserve. The education program is multifaceted. Itencompasses environmental education and science curriculum developmentfor grades 3 - 5 and schoolchildren summer camps with more than onethousand k-12 schoolchildren participating annually. Undergraduate andgraduate students conduct independent research advised by archboldstaff; more than 100 masters and doctoral theses have stemmed fromstudent research. Visiting classes from colleges and universitiesaround the country use Archbold Expeditions, Inc. lands for teaching and field biology. Archbold Expeditions, Inc. Hosts many public agency, conservation organization, and other events including seminars and talks, meetings, workshops, tours and demonstration days at Archbold biological station and at buck island ranch. Archbold Expeditions, inc.offers talks and tours, guided nature trails, and other events open to the public.conservation: Archbold Expeditions, Inc. property includes management of lands and waters of national conservation significance and its research informs conservation management across the ridges, ranches and rivers of the nationally important headwaters of the everglades watershed. Archbold biological station is a globally significant preserve, which supports the threatened Florida scrub habitat and 19 federally threatened and endangered species. Buck island ranch lies within an important sub basin of the headwaters of the everglades, providing habitat for 6 federally listed species, serving as a vital element in Florida's network of wildlife corridors, and providing essential ecosystem services from working lands. On the Archbold reserve, a degraded former cattle ranch Archbold Expeditions, Inc. has a research and conservation focus on large scale ecological restoration, with an emphasis on the scrub, seepage slopes and cutthroat flatwoods communities of the site. In addition to conservation land management, Archbold staff serve as independent advisors to public and private conservation organizations, for example, to establish biological priorities for land acquisition and management, the establishment of the Florida wildlife corridor, land and water conservation, and restoration by public agencies, conservation organizations, and private landowners.