Current research interests:
- Population biology, behavioral ecology, and natural history of amphibians and reptiles
- Disturbance dynamics and community ecology of seasonal wetlands
- Restoration of agriculturally impacted wetlands and fire-suppressed sandhill

Betsie B. Rothermel, Ph.D.

Director of Herpetology & Restoration Ecology, Associate Research Biologist

Kevin oversees all aspects of land management on the Station and Reserve. This includes planning for and implementing prescribed burns, dealing with wildfire events, treating populations of exotic species and collecting monitoring  data. When not lighting fires Kevin enjoys photography, writing, and spending time with family.

Kevin Main, B.S.

Land Manager

Josh earned a B.S. in Biology and Environmental Studies from Brandeis University, a M.Sc. in Zoology while a Fulbright Scholar at James Cook University in Australia, and a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Princeton University. Prior to his current position at Archbold, Josh helped reestablish scientific capacity in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique following the country's devastating civil war, while researching how war affects wildlife Africa-wide. He was also a biologist in the US Fish and Wildlife Service headquarters leading Species Status Assessments under the Endangered Species Act. 

-Lead the scientific arm of the statewide campaign to conserve the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

-Oversee invasive species and fire management on Archbold Biological Station and Reserve.

-Coordinate Archbold collaboration with regional conservation cooperatives including the Avon Park Air Force Range Sentinel Landscape and Lake Wales Ridge Ecosystem Working Group.

-Represent of conservation interests to county and regional community groups.

-Build capacity and strategy to deploy and track impacts of Archbold science for conservation.

-Research in landscape ecology and conservation science.


Josh is the Director of Conservation at Archbold where his overarching focus is to build the use of science in conservation of biodiversity and large landscapes. He leads develop and implementation of Archbold’s conservation strategy, collaborations with agencies, landowners, NGOs, and researchers from the immediate Archbold neighborhood to the statewide Florida Wildlife Corridor and beyond, and oversees land management on the Station and Reserve. 

Joshua Daskin, Ph.D.

Director of Conservation

Executive Director of Archbold Biological Station since 1995. 
Leadership for science, conservation, and education programs at Archbold 
Oversight for 8,800-acre Archbold Biological Station on the Lake Wales Ridge and the 10,500-acre Buck Island Ranch. 
Builds partnerships to amplify Archbold's science, conservation, and education impacts regionally, statewide and globally. 
Leadership role for science networks including USDA LTAR and GLEON. 
Facilitates liaison with local, state, and federal agencies, non-profits, and landowners to implement Archbold's goal to understand and protect Florida's ecosystems.
Responsible for programs, data and technology, budget, facilities and support. 
Manages 60-70 staff plus graduate students, interns, and visiting scientists.  
Personal research interests lie in conservation biology, agroecology, and limnology. Conducts research for federal and state agencies on sustainable ecosystems,  survival of listed species, Lake Annie, large landscape conservation and the Florida Wildlife Corridor. 
Long-term public role in protection of conservation lands in in Florida, most recently the implementation of the Florida Wildlife Corridor.

Hilary Swain, Ph.D.

Executive Director & CEO, Senior Research Biologist

More than half of U.S. wetlands have been lost to draining and development; the same is true of the habitats in Florida. Funds from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service are enabling hydrological restoration of the 3,648-acre Archbold Reserve. Engineered re-wetting of areas drained to create pasture decades before Archbold ownership is restoring rare seepage slope wetlands with benefits for wildlife and for the larger Fisheating Creek watershed.

Water nutrients, Groundwater levels, photopoints, Grazing, fire, tilling, and herbicide in experimental wetland plant community restoration

Data and Analysis Types

Primary Location(s)

Years Active

Project Details

As of 2023, 41% of the Archbold Reserve (1,500 acres) is covered by Natural Resources Conservation Service Wetland Reserve easements and underwent hydrological restoration between 2010 and 2017.

Wetland Rewind

Major Findings & Impact

Project Details

Related People

Featured Publications

Funders