biological station

{{Short description|Facility focused on biological research}}

Biological stations (also known as biological field stations) are research stations specializing in biology and ecology. Their size and purpose varies,{{Cite web|url=https://www.obfs.org/what-s-a-field-station-|title=OBFS - What is a Field Station?|website=www.obfs.org}} mainly regarding research, conservation and education.{{cite journal |last1=Wyman |first1=Richard L. |last2=Baine |first2=Mark |last3=Wallensky |first3=Eugene |title=The Activities and Importance of International Field Stations |journal=BioScience |date=1 July 2009 |volume=59 |issue=7 |page=587 |doi=10.1525/bio.2009.59.7.9 |s2cid=86230924 |ref=2}} They are located in all biomes, including aquatic ones. Students, other scientists and the public are the aim public of these sites. Many are focused on protected ecosystems.{{cite journal |last1=Tydecks |first1=Laura |last2=Bremerich |first2=Vanessa |last3=Jentschke |first3=Ilona |last4=Likens |first4=Gene |last5=Tockner |first5=Klement |title=Biological Field Stations: A Global Infrastructure for Research, Education, and Public Engagement |journal=BioScience |date=13 January 2016 |volume=66 |issue=2 |pages=164–171 |doi=10.1093/biosci/biv174 |doi-access=free }} Data from 157 field stations in 56 countries show that their presence improved habitat quality and reduced hunting rates and spatial analyses support field station presence as reducing deforestation.{{Cite journal |last=Eppley |first=Timothy M. |last2=Reuter |first2=Kim E. |last3=Sefczek |first3=Timothy M. |last4=Tinsman |first4=Jen |last5=Santini |first5=Luca |last6=Hoeks |first6=Selwyn |last7=Andriantsaralaza |first7=Seheno |last8=Shanee |first8=Sam |last9=Fiore |first9=Anthony Di |last10=Setchell |first10=Joanna M. |last11=Strier |first11=Karen B. |last12=Abanyam |first12=Peter A. |last13=Mutalib |first13=Aini Hasanah Abd |last14=Abwe |first14=Ekwoge |last15=Ahmed |first15=Tanvir |date=2024-03-04 |title=Tropical field stations yield high conservation return on investment |url=https://conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/conl.13007 |journal=Conservation Letters |language=en |doi=10.1111/conl.13007 |issn=1755-263X|doi-access=free |hdl=11573/1706649 |hdl-access=free }}

Many stations in the Americas are coordinated (but not owned, controlled or funded by) the Organization of Biological Field Stations.