This $564,734 National Science Foundation project grant will support the development of an integrated laboratory facility at Archbold Biological Station to improve research capacity. Funded under the Biological Sciences program (CFDA 47.074), the award will allow Archbold to construct a new 93-square-meter core laboratory and upgrade equipment to expand capabilities for field sample processing, analytical work, and molecular research. These improvements will enhance Archbold's long-term population studies of Florida scrub jays, gopher tortoises, and 17 plant species by facilitating complementary laboratory-based work such as soil and water nutrient analyses and DNA testing. The expanded facilities and analytical capabilities made possible by this award will also promote cross-disciplinary collaboration and dissemination of facility-related research findings. Set to be completed by January 2026, the integrated laboratory will enhance Archbold's basic and applied ecological research efforts in biodiversity, population ecology, ecosystem functioning, and agroecology.