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FAX:
863-699-1927
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Residential Visitor Information, 2001for compiled by
After hours or weekend emergencies, please call in this order:
After hours or weekend emergencies, please call in this order:
Application to Visit. Application forms are available; to reserve meals and lodging, to conduct research projects, for Station tours and talks, or to bring a visiting college/school class, from the front office or the Facilities Coordinator. Banding Birds. All bird-banding at the Station or Ranch should be done on the Master Station or Ranch permit. Visitors planning banding projects should contact Reed Bowman (Station) or Mike McMillian (Ranch), permit holders, regarding sub-permits, auxiliary marking permits, band inventory, and record-keeping. Visitors are responsible for obtaining special permission when required for banding endangered/threatened species. Contact either the US Bird Banding Laboratory (12100 Beech Forest Rd., Laurel, MD 20708) or the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32304). Behavior. All visitors are requested to maintain courteous behavior. Please remember the Station and Ranch are places of residence for several staff members and interns. Both the Station and the Ranch are drug-free workplaces. Our policies regarding substance abuse are the same, whether alcohol, marijuana, illegal drugs, or other controlled substances are involved. Unauthorized use of these substances on property owned or managed by the Station or Ranch is strictly prohibited. Billing. Short-term visitors will receive an invoice in their welcome envelope along with a map and the key to their accommodations. If no invoice is included, it will be prepared prior to departure. Long-term visitors will be billed on a monthly basis for their lodging, fees, postage, miscellaneous items, etc. Camping. There are no facilities available at the Station or the Ranch for tent or trailer camping. Therefore, camping is not allowed at either location. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Cattle. All livestock at the Ranch represent research animals, and all are potentially dangerous. Therefore, unless specifically studying them under authorization from the Ranch Manager, avoid contact or close approach. Cattle drives occur frequently on the Ranch roads. Please give the right of way to cattle; pull to the side of the road and stop. Do not get out of your vehicle. In general, when cattle are in and around the cow pens or the holding pens by the cow pens, please do not jog or take walks around these areas. The cattle are very excitable and may damage fences, each other, or you. Check In/Out Procedures. When checking in, you should receive a welcome envelope which should include several pieces of information about your lodging. If you are staying in one of our cottages, please remember to help us conserve energy by keeping your thermostat set on Cool = 76 , Heat = 70 . When checking out of a cottage, please remove any leftover food from the refrigerator, and place refuse in outside cans. Make sure windows are closed, doors are locked, and air conditions is turned OFF. Often, there is little time to prepare the cottages between occupants; it is helpful to the staff if departing visitors make a special effort to leave the cottage clean. Checklists. Checklists of Station plants and animals are in the Station Library and available from this Web site. Copies of the checklist of plants are available from the main office. Copies of vertebrate checklists [see also Biodiversity Inventory] are available from the Librarian. Copies of invertebrate checklists are available from the Invertebrate Ecologist. Citrus Fruit. Visitors are welcome to pick ripe citrus at the Station’s main grounds for individual use, but are requested not to take more than a day’s supply. Citrus fruit at the Ranch is for research purposes and should not be picked. Collecting. Collecting of vertebrates on Station property is prohibited except with express permission of the Executive Director. Visitors planning to undertake research on vertebrate animals on the Station or Ranch, must complete an Archbold IACUC application. Visitors at the Station or Ranch whose activities involve scientific collecting are expected to have the permits required by State or Federal agencies. State scientific collectors’ permits are issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600. telephone: 850-922-4330). The Station scientific staff would welcome the opportunity to examine any vertebrate specimens, particularly snakes, gopher tortoises, birds, and mammals that may be found dead as well as snakes or tortoises that can be captured without injury. The latter should be released at the point of capture. Note: Never feed animals or otherwise alter their natural behavior without permission from a staff Research Biologist or the Executive Director. Many birds, mammals and reptiles have been marked to obtain data on movements and other aspects of their ecology, and it is important that individuals of these species not be disturbed or moved from one part of the property to another without prior approval of staff biologists (also see Fishing). With the exception of rare, threatened, or endangered species, moderate collection of plants and invertebrates for scientific purposes is allowed. Plant collecting requires permission of the staff Plant Ecologist. Special permission is required if large number of any organism are to be collected. Representative specimens with accompanying collection data should be deposited in the Station’s reference collections. This is coordinated through the appropriate Research Biologist. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Computer Access. Several computers located throughout the Station and Ranch are available for visitor use. Visitors who wish to use computing resources are asked to go to the Computer Information Center, located above the Library, to fill out a User Request form. Short-term visitors should request help from the Network Administrator. Various resources from Internet and email to statistical analysis packages are available. Contributions (Scientific) From the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center. A numbered list of Contributions from the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center is maintained and coordinated by the Station Librarian. All scientific publications by Staff and visitors are eligible. Any manuscript submitted for publication in a scientific journal please insert the phrase, "This is Contributions No. XX from the John D. MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center of Archbold Biological Station," at the end of the Acknowledgments. When the galleys are proof-read, contact the Librarian or Ranch Biologist for the number assigned to your publication. Copying. A Xerox machine in the Library is available for use at all times. Please record usage on the log provided. The charge per copy is $.10 Short-term visitors should pay the Librarian or in the main office. Long-term visitors may be billed on a monthly basis, if preferred. At night and on weekends, please turn the Xerox machine off after use. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Data Archives and Standards. The Librarian will archive duplicate sets of data for Station or visiting scientists. Protocol for deposit and access has been established. A Data Standards Sheet for field notes, specimens, and slides is available in the Library. Data archived on the computer and network should be coordinated through the Computer Systems Administrator. Environmental Data. The following data are recorded daily at the main grounds weather station: maximum/minimum air temperatures; maximum/minimum soil temperatures at three depths (1,2, & 6 inches); relative humidity; rainfall; barometric pressure; solar radiation; evaporation rate; and wind speed and direction. A hygrothermograph is operated continuously at this site. Many of these data are recorded at another site at the south end of the main property. Water levels are recorded from 5 wells and from gauges in permanent and temporary water bodies on the main property (29) and the Price Tract (4). At Lake Annie, conductivity and pH data are collected weekly and other water chemistry data are collected monthly. This information is available to visiting investigators and is maintained by the Education Coordinator. Weather data at the Ranch may be obtained from the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center office. Field Markers. Field markers are permitted with prior approval of the Executive Director or your staff liaison. All non-permanent field markers must be removed once a project is finished. Arrangements for permanent project markers should be made with the lab head associated with or knowledgeable of the project. Fire/Wildfire. Wildfires should be reported immediately to Station staff. If no staff are available, consult the Wildfire Guidelines posted throughout the main buildings. Call Dianne Cummings (414-5143) or Bert Crawford (414-5142). If no answer, call the Division of Forestry at (863) 462-5160. During wildfires or prescribed burns no one except fire-trained staff has access to the vicinity of the burn without permission from the main office and the Burn Boss. Fishing. Recreational fishing, catch and release only, at Lake Annie is prohibited unless specifically authorized by the Executive Director. Under no circumstances should fish be removed from the lake without specific permission to do so. Fishing, with a proper license, at the Ranch is permitted in Harney Pond Canal (a public waterway) and the main pond only. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Food Service. Meals served in the dining room are: Continental Breakfast 6:30 - 8:00 a.m.; Lunch 12 noon; Dinner 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, with rare exception. Lunch should be ordered, in advance, daily. Checkoff menus are available in the Main office. If the kitchen is closed on Saturday, your prepared meal will be waiting for you in the kitchen. Kitchen facilities in the Station’s main house are off limits during normal working hours. Please do not use the kitchen to pass from one part of the house to another. Interns and prepaid visitors have access to the kitchen during off hours. Interns are responsible for cleaning up after themselves. Prepaid visitors are permitted to leave their dirty dishes in the bus pans in the dining room. Meals are not served on Sunday; box lunches will be provided if requested at least one day in advance. Please advise the kitchen staff as far in advance as possible of any special dietary requirements. Vegetarian meals are available upon request. An additional charge may be made for special meals. The kitchen staff should be notified immediately if you plan to miss a meal: at least 24 hours notice is required to avoid a meal charge. Coffee and tea are available in the dining room Monday through Saturday. Arriving groups should promptly notify the Facilities Coordinator or housekeeping staff if a change in the number originally estimated has occurred. No food service is provided at the Ranch. However, lunch can be served for groups and meetings with a one week notice to the Facilities Coordinator. Garbage. Garbage is collected on Monday and Thursday at the Station, and on Wednesday at the Ranch. Garbage should be placed in cans provided outside each cottage. Residents in the main house should empty their garbage into the containers behind the kitchen. Don’t forget the Station and Ranch have active recycling programs, with the Station providing a large recycling bin at the North end of the parking lot (also, see Recycling section). Gasoline. Long-term visitors may wish to purchase gasoline at the Station/Ranch pump. You must first sign for a key from the front office. You will be billed for your purchases on a weekly basis. If you don’t know how to use the pump, please ask for help. Please be sure to follow the procedures listed on the pump. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Gates. Please leave all gates in the position in which they were found. With the exception of those at the main entrance and at railroad crossings, gates at the Station normally are kept closed and locked. Investigators needing access to property within locked gates may request a key at the main office. Gates and cattle gaps at the Ranch should be left exactly as they are found. If you are unable to close a gate or gap at the Ranch, please notify a Ranch employee immediately. Habitat Alterations. No activity such as clearing of vegetation, burning, establishing trails, cutting trees and shrubs, mowing, planting, etc. that will result in modification of habitats on the Station or Ranch is permitted without specific prior approval. Hazards. Venomous snakes and arthropods, poisonous plants, and other potentially hazardous organisms occur on the Station and Ranch properties. Visitors are expected to be knowledgeable and take proper precautions including sensible footwear. Horses. Riding Ranch horses is not permitted without written approval of the Ranch manager. Housing. Housing accommodations include various rooms (2-4 occupancy) in the main house and several cottages (4-10 occupancy) located on the Station main grounds and several cottages (5-8 occupancy) on the Ranch. Cottages are equipped with bed linens, towels, dishes, silverware, cooking utensils, toasters and coffee makers. These items are inventories between occupants and any missing items will be charged to the last occupant. Each cottage contains an inventory checklist. If anything is missing or needed, please make sure to mark it on the checklist so it will be replaced Visiting investigators who wish to have overnight guests in cottages or rooms should notify the Facilities Coordinator. Guests will be charged for lodging, Station fees, and any meals taken in the dining room. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Hunting. Hunting by visitors is prohibited at all times on Station or Ranch property. Violators will be prosecuted. Introduced Biota. No native or non-native plant or animal originating off Station or Ranch property, is to be introduced or released on the property without prior approval. Laundry, Linens (Towels & Sheets). Wash tubs and coin operated automatic washers and dryers are located in the small concrete block house behind the Liatris (4) and Rosemary (5) cottages at the Station, and by Kestrel Cottage (360) at the Ranch. Two quarters are required for each wash load and one quarter for drying. You must provide your own detergent and bleach. Please keep the laundry room clean and promptly remove items from the machines as a consideration to fellow guests. Cottage occupants are responsible for laundering their own bed linens and towels while in residence. Guests in the main house are provided with clean towels on Tuesday and clean towels and sheets on Thursday. Library. The Library is available for use by visitors at all times. Please turn off all lights when leaving the Library at night. A list of publications about the Station’s geology, habitats, and biota is available in the Library (Row 13, Florida reference, in a white notebook). Please see the Librarian for information on copying, interlibrary loans, and checking out publications. Books, reprints, and bound periodicals may be checked out for lab use only by filling out a loan card and leaving it in the small file box on top of the main card catalog. Never remove unbound periodicals from the reading room or any Library materials from the Station. Recommendations for acquisition of books or periodicals are welcomed. Lounge. The lounge in the main house is available for guests at any time. It contains a small library for general reading, a television, and a VCR. Please help keep this room tidy by replacing magazines or books. Feel free to contribute additional books that might be enjoyed by future guests. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Mail. Outgoing mail should be dropped off in the main office. Incoming mail, faxes, and phone messages will be placed in assigned boxes in the lounge periodically during normal working hours. Postage may be purchased in the main office and may be paid for or billed at normal postal rates. Malfunctions. Promptly report any malfunctions or missing equipment in labs or living quarters to the Facilities Coordinator, Ranch Manager, or leave a note in the suggestion box at the reception desk. Maps. Aerial photographs and maps of the Station are available in the Library. Special maps may be obtained from the GIS lab with prior notice. Some Station maps are available from this Web site. Nature Trail. A half-mile, self-guiding scrub nature trail emphasizing plant identification and ecological processes exists just east of the main building. A descriptive booklet that outlines a self-guiding tour of the facilities, including the nature trail, is available in the main office. Please contact the Education Coordinator regarding corrections, improvements, or changes in the nature trail. Offices. Visitors are requested not to use desks, typewriters, computers, or other business machines in any office without permission. Office supplies may be obtained in the main office at cost. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Outdoor Cages. Outdoor cages in use for animal studies should not be closely approached or otherwise visited without express permission of the investigator in charge. Parking. Except when loading or unloading equipment, visiting scientists at the Station should park on the east side of the plaza or north of the main building. The west side of the plaza along the main building is reserved for Station research vehicles. Bicycles should not be left on the ramp of the main building, nor taken into laboratories. Bicycles can be stored in the locked room on the east side of the main grounds fire house. Pets. Pets are not permitted on the Station or Ranch. Special exceptions may be made with the Ranch Manager; however, pets are not encouraged. Rates. Current fee schedules are available in the main office. Recycling. Archbold Biological Station is very proud of its recycling efforts. You will find a large recycling bin at the north end of the parking lot. Also, each office has its own recycling containers. We separate office paper, newspaper, cardboard, glass (brown, clear, green), cans and plastic. Please help us by doing your part to recycle whenever possible. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Reference Collections. The Station maintains reference and research collections of local plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates, and each collection has a staff member responsible for curation. The bird collection is used only with permission of the appropriate curator. Use of any collection should be handled with care and returned to the proper place following use. Please be sure the specimen cases have been properly closed. Specimens should not be removed from the collection room. The curators would appreciate being notified of any misidentifications or other erroneous data on specimens. Please consider donating additional specimens to these collections if appropriate. Regional Exploration. The Station is a hub for exploration of Florida's diverse ecosystems. Many natural areas are publicaly owned and included in the Regional Protected Areas table. Release of Liability Form. The "Release of Liability for all Visiting Researchers, Students, Volunteers, and Visitors on Official Business" must be signed by all visitors and returned to the Facilities Coordinator. These forms will be kept on file and only require resigning should the form change. Research Facilities and Equipment Use. Please confine your activities to assigned space and avoid unnecessary noise when others are working in the laboratory. Permission is required for use of Station-owned equipment and supplies. If unfamiliar with the operation of equipment, obtain instructions from Station personnel prior to use. Use of the animal room, observation rooms, outdoor cages, greenhouse, shops, etc., must be scheduled during the application to conduct research. Use of equipment or facilities in staff laboratories must be arranged with the individual staff member. Please keep general work areas and sinks clean. Personal equipment or supplies may be stored at the Station between visits with authorization from the Operations Manager. Research Reports. A report on work conducted at the Station or Ranch is required of all visiting investigators and should be submitted to the Librarian within one month of departure from the Station or Ranch. The report should be typed, double-spaced, and include in this order; the title of the project, name of visiting investigator, names of other members of the party, dates the work was performed, and description of major results. The Station requests two copies of reports, journal articles, books, or other publications based on research conducted at the Station or Ranch. These will be listed in STABIB, the Station Bibliography, and kept on file in the Library. All persons collecting on the Station are required to provide lists of specimens taken and/or identified as part of their reports. The Station always appreciates voucher specimens for its Reference Collections. Sales. Books, T-shirts, mugs, postcards, cassettes, and videos are available for sale in the Main Office, Monday - Friday, 0900-1700. Shops. Use of the machine and carpenter shops and equipment is restricted to authorized personnel. Requests for construction of special equipment items should be routed through the Operations Manager. Smoking. Visitors are requested not to smoke in the natural habitats of the Station. Visitor smoking is permitted only at the picnic tables or on the west ramp of the main building. Smoking is not permitted at the Ranch facility. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Speed Limits. Please observe the posted speed limits on the main drive and at the main grounds at the Station. When not posted, please observe a 15 MPH speed limit. At the Ranch please observe a 15 MPH speed limit on the unpaved (sand) roads. Structures. Never disturb any marker or structure on Station or Ranch property. No sampling devices, markers, or other structures intended for long-term use are to be placed on Station property without prior approval of the Executive Director or liaison staff member. Any marker or other structure set-up for short-term studies must be removed at the completion of the work. Swimming. Swimming is available at Lake Annie but, swim at your own risk. A gate key may be borrowed from the main office. A lighted, unheated swimming pool is available at all times to Station and Ranch staff and guests, located at 2242 Old SR 8 at the Jay house (about 0.8 km S of the Station entrance). Access also exists from the east fire lane, 1 km SE of the main building. Again swim at your own risk. Please observe proper etiquette, including minimal disturbance to the house occupants. Children must be closely supervised in the swimming pool. Telephone. All long distance calls may be directly dialed from any telephone on the Station, but a code must be used to complete the connection. Please contact the accounting office to receive your personal code, if you are here for a month or more. If you are here for less than a month, long distance calls should be placed either with a calling card or collect. Long distance calling cards may be purchased in the main office. Please note: Any number with prefixes other than 465 or 699 are toll calls. All calls to Sebring and Avon Park cost $.25. Long-term visitors may request a telephone be installed in their cottage at cost. Tennis. The tennis court is for the use of guests and employees at any time. Racquets for loan can be found in the General Laboratory along with other recreation equipment. Lights for the court may be switched on at the panel box located at the NE corner of the court. Please do not change any other switch positions since this can affect experiments in progress. Please turn out the lights immediately after play. Report any defects to the Operations Manager the following day. Home | Top | Index | Navigation Towers. Visitors are not permitted to climb the main grounds water tower or the Red Hill fire tower unless absolutely necessary for research purposes and approval has been obtained from the Executive Director or Operations Manager. Transportation. Station vehicles make frequent trips to Lake Placid and Sebring during week days. Visitors who need a ride to town or who wish to have items purchased for them should make arrangements with the main office. Vehicles. Station vehicles and boats may be rented when available. Visitors should request operation and safety instructions before using boats, vehicles, or other equipment, and are expected to operate these with care and at slow speeds. A copy of a current driver's license must be provided to the Facilities Coordinator before renting a vehicles. Use of 4-wheel drive or other off-road vehicles in the natural areas of the Station must be confined to established roads or trails. 4-Wheel drive ATV’s are not for use by children under the age of 16. Safety helmets must be worn when driving an ATV. Weather. Visitors should be aware of dangerous weather conditions and take sensible precautions against threatening conditions such as lightning storms. Home | Top | Index | Navigation ~
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