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Herbarium | Invertebrates | Fishes | Amphibians & Reptiles | Birds | Mammals

Archbold Biological Station has long-term collections of plants, insects, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. The geographical emphasis is on the Station and the immediate surrounding area (especially the Lake Wales Ridge), except for plants from the Big Cypress region of southwestern Florida, and statewide collections of ants and birds.

History. Collections of local biological specimens, along with a library and climatological records, were important parts of the Station’s scientific facilities since its founding in 1941. The biological specimen collections grew at various rates during the 1940s, 50s, and 60s depending on the activities of resident staff and on donations (primarily insects) by visiting scientists. Station Botanist Leonard J. Brass founded the Herbarium in the mid-1940s and was its curator until he retired in 1967. Visiting Entomologist Stuart Frost gave the insect collection a big boost during the 1950s and 60s when he spent his winters at Archbold. Station Vertebrate Biologist Austin L. Rand started the bird and mammal collections in 1941. Richard Archbold was curator and collection manager of the animal collections until 1967 when the Station hired a zoologist, James N. Layne, as Scientific Director. Under Layne’s direction the vertebrate collections grew rapidly. Richard Archbold continued as collection manager for all the biological specimen collections until shortly before his death in 1976. During 1976-1981, Fred E. Lohrer was collection manager for all the collections, and continued as manager of the vertebrate collections through 1991. In the early 1980s the Herbarium and Insect collections began to grow rapidly when new biologists were hired in those fields (plant ecologist Ronald L. Meyers and entomologist Mark A. Deyrup). During the 1990s, the insect collection increased rapidly; the herbarium, bird, and herp collections grew moderately; and the other collections grew slowly. Today, each collection is the responsibility of a Station Research Biologist in that field. 

Species Lists. Lists of species occurring on the Station (or on some other nearby tracts) exist for plants, for many invertebrate groups, and for all vertebrate groups. Some of these lists have a 30+-year history with periodic revisions. All of the lists, except for birds, are based entirely on voucher specimens. All of these lists are available in paper format from the Station and most are now available on the Archbold Web site (see Biodiversity Inventory). A few lists have been published in the scientific literature (Lepidoptera, butterflies).

Paper Catalogs. Beginning in 1967, Richard Archbold created, and maintained collection catalogs for all Station scientific specimens. The catalogs were retrospective from the beginning, and were typed on individual species 5x8 cards. In 1976, book-form catalogs (hand-written) were started for the vertebrate collections, but the species cards for plants and for insects were not maintained after Achbold’s death in 1976. To date, the book catalogs for vertebrates are still maintained.

Digital Catalogs. Collection information management at Archbold is in transition. Early in 1999, Station biologists decided to use Biota®, a "biodiversity database manager" (available from Sinauer and Associates), for managing collections information, with a goal of Web access to the specimen catalog information. Each collections section below discusses their digital catalogs. -- Fred E. Lohrer

Herbarium. Curator, Carl W. Weekley, Jr. The Archbold Biological Station Herbarium is maintained by the Plant Ecology Lab. The Herbarium contains approximately 4,000 specimens of vascular plants, representing over 1,500 species. Most specimens (60%) were collected in Highlands County and the collection focuses on plants of the Lake Wales Ridge, including many endangered and threatened plants. About ¼ of the specimens were collected at Archbold, many by the late Archbold botanist Leonard J. Brass. Separate collections include lichens, mosses, and seeds. We have begun the process of entering herbarium label data into a database. The Station's plant list, based entirely on voucher specimens, is on the Station's Web site. The Herbarium may be visited from 8-5 on regular work days or by prior arrangement with the Plant Ecology Lab.--CWW

Invertebrates. Curator, Mark A. Deyrup. The insect collection numbers about 30,000-40,000 pinned specimens, and is strongly focused on the Station and the nearby southern end of the Lake Wales Ridge, except for the ant collection, which is strongly statewide. In the late 1980s, 2 electronic catalogs, subunits of the entire collection, were created in dBASE 3; Ant distribution in Florida, and "Insect pollinators of Archbold Biological Station." The latter was published by the Station in 1989 and is available in paper format. Although the electronic file of the latter deteriorated, the Pollinators list has been re-keyed, with new collection information for 1989-1999, into digital format using Microsoft Excel, with eventual plans for conversion to Biota.

The Station insect collection is still growing rapidly, and alpha taxonomy problems are everywhere. Probably, only selected families, or orders, will gradually become available in digital format as their nomenclature is reviewed by an authority, or as a need arises. For insects, especially, a species list for a region or site, is a subset of a collections catalog, because an insect list is made only from specimen records. Data management priorities for the Station insect collection are, in descending order; accurate names for specimens, species lists for families or orders, and then a catalog. Loans are available.--FEL & MAD

Fishes, Amphibians, and Reptiles. Curator, Betsie Rothermel. A moderately sized collection of preserved specimens of fishes and herptiles is available at Archbold Biological Station. All specimens were collected in Florida, with the vast majority from Highlands County in general, and Archbold Biological Station in particular. The fish collection consists of 219 specimens, with ¼ of the specimens from Lake Annie. Approximately 1600 specimens of amphibians and reptiles have been catalogued. However, some of the specimens have been sent to the American Museum of Natural History and thus the exact size of the collection is less than this number. The amphibian and reptile collection consists of some of the largest series of local, endemic species such as sand skinks (Neoseps reynoldsi) and blue-tailed mole skinks (Eumeces egregius lividus). In addition, large series are available of some introduced species of amphibians and reptiles, such as the indopacific gecko (Hemidactylus garnotii). Fishes, amphibians, and reptiles are preserved in 70% Ethanol.

The fishes and herptiles collections are available for examination. Visiting courses and researchers may find the collections useful for teaching and reference purposes. Biologists studying vertebrates in central Florida may find the specimens useful for studies of geographic distribution, ecology, genetics and general natural history. Any interested parties should contact Betsie Rothermel for access to the specimens. In certain cases the specimens may be loaned to individuals at institutions with museum facilities. There are plans to move the wet collection to the Rand Building.

Birds. Curator, Reed Bowman. The bird collections at Archbold contain study skin and skeletal specimens. Over 75% of all birds known from Florida are represented by study skins from Florida (through the efforts of Curator Glen E. Woolfenden, 1991-2007). For most species we have only a very few study skins, for a few we have lengthy series. We have many skins of Florida Scrub-Jays and Blue Jays, species studied extensively at Archbold, and short series for a few other species, the Short-eared Owl for example. The skeletal collection also has representatives of almost all of the birds of Florida. The collection is used for reference regularly by members of the Florida Ornithological Society Rare Birds Committee and other researchers. Anyone can work with the collection. Permission must be obtained from Reed Bowman in the Avian Ecology Lab. We will respond to inquires as to what we have in the collection.--GEW

Mammals. Curator, Reed Bowman. A moderately sized collection of preserved specimens of mammals is available at Archbold Biological Station. The mammal collection consists of 136 study skins and associated skulls. Some series of skulls are also available, for instance, 51 opossum (Didelphis virginianus) skulls collected in Highlands County, Florida. 

The mammal collection is available for examination. Visiting courses and researchers may find the collection useful for teaching and reference purposes. Biologists studying vertebrates in central Florida may find the specimens useful for studies of geographic distribution, ecology, genetics and general natural history. Any interested parties should contact Reed Bowman for access to the specimens. In certain cases the specimens may be loaned to individuals at institutions with museum facilities.

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Fleischer, Tina, 22 March 2002, revised 8 October 2008, FEL.  © Archbold Biological Station, 2002 March. Webmaster: Kevin Patram  send e-mail