Establishing Archbold Biological Station

Establishing Archbold Biological Station. , It Began with a Gift , 1941, aviator and biological explorer Richard Archbold acquired the Red Hill Estate as a gift from John A Roebling II. As World War II raged in the Pacific, Archbold began to implement ideas for a biological field station in Florid that he would operate in conjunction with the American Museum Natural History. By the end of the war he was fully committed to Archbold Biological Station, remaining on site as its full-time resident, and very active leader, for the next 35 years., Investing in Conservation and Stewardship , Earlier scientific thinking had regarded fire in natural areas as damaging to the land, and for many years fire suppression was emphasized. In 1967, the Station began mapping fires systematically. Scientific data began to reveal that fire is vital for scrub species and crucial to the stewardship of the land., In 1973, Archbold purchased 2,773 acres of adjacent land, adding important scrub habitat; unlike the original 1,058 acres of the estate, this land had burned frequently., Building a Tradition of Scientific Excellence , October of 1944, under the direction of Archbold, Leonard Brass Station botanist, published an article in Science. In it, he invited scientists from around the world to visit. The list of scientist who stayed at the Station reads like a who’s who of mid-century ecologists., Thousands of specimens of plants, insects, birds, and mammals were collected on site, including several new species. Many long-term studies began during this time, including research on Florida Scrub-Jays (Aphelocoma coerulescens), small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, oaks, and palmettos. Several of these studies continue to this day and serve as models for similar studies worldwide. Through this entire period, Richard Archbold personally maintained records of daily weather continuing the practice started in 1931 by Robing's engineer Alexander Blair. , Service to the Community , In 1941, the source of electricity at Red Hill Estate was a diesel generator and banks of batteries. By 1947, Archbold was elected President of the Glades Electrical Cooperative for championing electric power for rural Florida. He maintained the roles of President or Vice President of the Cooperative's board for the rest of his life (even acting as one of the first meter readers in the early days!). Archbold was also a leader in several local civic organizations, including serving as Secretary of the Advisory Council for Highlands Hammock State Park from 1956 to 1976, and as a member of the Florida State Museum Council from 1956 to 1970., Securing the Future , In the spring of 1976, facing terminal cancer Richard Archbold was hospitalized in Palm Beach County. With the future of Archbold Expeditions and the Station unclear, Archbold personally typed a new will that ensured the land, buildings, and his personal fortune would be dedicated to the Station. His sister Frances Archbold Hufty, agreed to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Archbold Expeditions. So began the next era of Archbold Biological Station., "With evident pleasure, he hosted many of the world's greatest ecologists at his dining table." , --Frances Archbold Hufty speaking of her brother, Richard Archbold., Scientists and Research Projects, James Layne became the Station’s Research Director in 1967. He set the vision for long-term research and established study plots for mammals, reptiles, and amphibians, as well as compiling extensive monitoring data., Thomas Eisner (1929-2011) pioneered the field of chemical ecology, studying who insects use chemicals to repel predators, attracts mates, and protect their young. His intriguing work combined his background in natural history with his understanding of chemistry and evolution. Archbold was one of Eisner's favorite research locations, and many of his publications are based on his work here., Ernst Mayr (1904-2005) evolutionary biologist and long colleague of Richard Archbold, used the Station’s library while writing several of his books., Warren Abrahamson's long-term studies of oaks and palmettos helped determine fire regimes and the resilience of the scrub ecosystem., Lincoln Brower and Jane Van Zandt began as graduate students in the 1950s and conducted groundbreaking research on biomimicry: specifically how some species of butterflies resemble other unpleasant casting species of butterflies as a means to avoid being eaten predators.