Plant-Pollinator Phenology and Adaptive Evolution in Alpine Wildflowers
Explores how alpine Brassicaceae — particularly Cardamine cordifolia — respond to shifting climate conditions through phenotypic plasticity, phenological timing, and balancing selection, integrating field census protocols with evolutionary genetics to understand plant fitness across elevational gradients.
Knowledge Graph (2041 nodes, 13265 connections)
Research Primer
Background
Wildflower meadows in the Gunnison Basin are shaped by short, intense summers in which plants must germinate, flower, attract pollinators, set seed, and prepare for winter in just a few months. Researchers based at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) have spent decades asking how alpine and subalpine plants accomplish this feat, how their flowering schedules align with the insects that pollinate them, and how rapidly populations can evolve when those schedules are pushed out of sync by a warming climate. The answers matter for the basin because wildflower diversity underpins pollinator communities, summer forage for ungulates, and the cultural and economic identity of places like Crested Butte and Gothic.
A few key concepts run through the work in this area. Phenology refers to the timing of life-cycle events such as flowering, leaf-out, or bee emergence; phenological mismatch occurs when warming shifts these events at different rates so that flowers and pollinators no longer overlap. Local adaptation describes the evolutionary process by which populations become better suited to their home environment than outsiders are, and is most rigorously tested with reciprocal transplant experiments that move plants between sites. Phenotypic plasticity, by contrast, describes the ability of a single genotype to produce different traits under different conditions, an alternative way organisms cope with variable environments. Together, these processes determine whether wildflower populations can keep up with climate change through evolution, plasticity, or movement.
Finally, several concepts describe the genetic and ecological architecture of adaptation. Pollinator-mediated selection occurs when bees, flies, and hummingbirds visit some floral phenotypes more than others, biasing seed production. Balancing selection and frequency-dependent selection maintain multiple genetic variants in a population, while chromosomal inversions can lock together suites of locally favored alleles. Elevational gradients in the Gunnison Basin compress these processes into walking distance, allowing researchers to study selection, gene flow, and herbivory across steep climatic transitions in a single field season.
Foundational work
Early work in the area combined natural history with experimental ecology to map the basic players. Inouye and Inouye (Inouye & Inouye, 1980) characterized the unusually rich extrafloral nectar of Helianthella quinquenervis, a flagship subalpine sunflower whose nectaries recruit ant defenders, while Daily and colleagues (Daily et al., 1993) showed that red-naped sapsuckers, willows, aspens, and a heartwood fungus form a tightly linked keystone species complex that supports hummingbirds and other nectar and sap feeders. These studies framed Gothic-area meadows and aspen groves as networks of interdependent species rather than collections of independent populations.
A second foundation came from genetics. Anderson and colleagues (Anderson et al., 2011) synthesized a generation of field-based studies showing that flowering time is a master life-history trait under strong natural selection and a focus for conservation under climate change. Companion work in the mustard Boechera stricta identified a large-effect quantitative trait locus (nFT) in which homozygotes for the local Montana allele had a 6.6% fitness advantage over foreign genotypes (pub_id:1341), and demonstrated isolation by distance and by elevation across short geographic distances (pub_id:988). Together, these papers established that wildflowers in the Rockies are locally adapted at the level of individual genes controlling phenology.
Key findings
A central body of findings concerns how floral traits track elevation and pollinator communities. Koski and Ashman (Koski & Ashman, 2015) documented an altitudinal cline in the size of the ultraviolet "bullseye" at the center of Argentina anserina flowers: bullseyes grew larger with elevation, mirroring a shift from bee-dominated to fly-dominated pollinator assemblages, and large-bullseye flowers received more foraging visits at high elevation but fewer at low elevation. In a companion paper, Koski and Ashman (Koski & Ashman, 2015) showed that this same trait obeys Gloger's rule globally, with UV irradiance acting as an agent of selection because larger bullseyes shield pollen from UV damage. Related work in the Rockies found that floral reflectance in the UV-to-blue range declines linearly with elevation across many species (pub_id:712), and that pigmented Boechera flowers experience less leaf herbivory than white-flowered plants (pub_id:738). Floral color, in other words, is simultaneously shaped by pollinators, sunlight, and herbivores along the same elevational gradient.
A second cluster of findings comes from the genetics of local adaptation in Boechera stricta. Reciprocal transplants between Colorado and Montana revealed that local genotypes had a viability advantage in their home environment in every census, with about 2.8% of the genome showing antagonistic pleiotropy and 8% showing conditional neutrality (pub_id:1083; pub_id:1183). Lee and colleagues (Lee et al., 2017) showed that a young chromosomal inversion, formed since the last glaciation, captured multiple linked QTLs for flowering time and chemical defense and rose to high frequency in a hybrid zone, providing the first direct evidence that inversions can lock together adaptive traits during incipient speciation. Carley and colleagues (Carley et al., 2021) extended this picture by showing that polymorphism in leaf chemical defense (the BC-ratio) is maintained by a combination of drought and herbivore selection acting in opposite directions across environments.
A third strand links plants, pollinators, and the larger food web. Waser and colleagues (Waser et al., 2014) traced a coyote-deer-wildflower trophic cascade near the RMBL field station, in which deer avoidance of human-frequented coyote habitat translates into measurably higher seedling recruitment of palatable wildflowers. Phylogenetic studies showed that closely related plants share herbivores (Ness et al., 2011) and that pollinator visitation also depends on a focal plant's relatedness to its neighbors (pub_id:1316), embedding plant-pollinator phenology within a broader phylogenetic community context.
Current frontier
Research since 2020 has shifted from documenting patterns to forecasting how they will respond to compounded climate stress. Carley and colleagues (Carley et al., 2025) used a four-year drought-by-herbivory field experiment and demographic models to show that defense polymorphism in Boechera stricta persists across most current environments but may collapse toward a single genotype as the basin becomes more arid. Whole-community transplant experiments across a 400 m elevation gradient (Seltzer, 2025) have shown that soil bacteria, fungi, and plants all reorganize within one to two years when moved to warmer sites, with community-level flowering phenology shifting rapidly toward the destination site even when species composition lags. Cullen and colleagues (Cullen et al., 2025) expanded the spatial scope by linking sex ratio, sexual dimorphism, and sex-chromosome haplotypes in wild strawberries to climate and soil across North America.
Methodologically, the frontier increasingly combines long-term phenology censuses, common gardens, genome-wide association mapping, and demographic modeling. Recent student-led RMBL projects also probe how warming reshapes pollinator physiology, including thermal tolerance limits in subalpine bumble bees (pub_id:233; pub_id:256), and how floral color and elevation interact in butterfly mate choice (pub_id:357). Earlier work on phenology trends with herbarium and citizen-science records (pub_id:558) is being scaled up to test whether evolutionary rescue is keeping pace with climate change.
Open questions
Several questions remain wide open for the next decade. Can wildflower populations evolve flowering time, defensive chemistry, and floral color quickly enough to track warming and drying, or will plasticity and range shifts dominate the response? How will polymorphisms maintained by balancing selection (such as the BC-ratio in Boechera) behave as drought intensifies and shifts the balance between herbivore and water stress? When plant phenology shifts faster than pollinator emergence or microbial community turnover, which mismatches matter most for seed set and population persistence? And how will key mutualisms documented in foundational work, including the sapsucker-aspen-willow keystone complex and ant-defended wildflowers, reorganize as their component species respond to climate change at different rates? Answering these questions will require sustained reciprocal transplants, multi-decade phenology records, and tighter integration between genomic, ecological, and community-level data streams at RMBL.
References
Anderson, J. T. et al. (2011). Life history QTLs and natural selection on flowering time in Boechera stricta. →
Anderson, J. T. et al. (2013). Genetic tradeoffs and conditional neutrality contribute to local adaptation. →
Anderson, J. T. et al. (2014). Strong selection genome-wide enhances fitness tradeoffs across environments and episodes of selection. →
Anderson, J. T., Willis, J. H., Mitchell-Olds, T. (2011). Evolutionary genetics of plant adaptation. Trends in Genetics. →
Carley, L. N. et al. (2018). Ecological causes and consequences of flower color polymorphism in a self pollinating plant (Boechera stricta). →
Carley, L. N. et al. (2021). Ecological factors influence balancing selection on leaf chemical profiles of a wildflower. Nature Ecology & Evolution. →
Carley, L. N. et al. (2025). Increasing aridity may threaten the maintenance of a plant defence polymorphism. Ecology Letters. →
Cullen, E. et al. (2025). Range-wide study in a sexually polymorphic wild strawberry reveals climatic and soil associations of sex ratio, sexual dimorphism and sex chromosomes. Journal of Ecology. →
Daily, G. C., Ehrlich, P. R., Haddad, N. M. (1993). Double keystone bird in a keystone species complex. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. →
Inouye, D. W., Inouye, M. (1980). The amino acids of extrafloral nectar from Helianthella quinquenervis (Asteraceae). American Journal of Botany. →
Koski, M. H. et al. (2018). Consistent shifts in pollinator-relevant floral coloration along a Rocky Mountain elevation gradient. →
Koski, M. H., Ashman, T.-L. (2015). An altitudinal cline in UV floral pattern corresponds with a behavioral change of a generalist pollinator assemblage. Ecology. →
Koski, M. H., Ashman, T.-L. (2015). Floral pigmentation patterns provide an example of Gloger's rule in plants. Nature Plants. →
Lee, C.-R. et al. (2015). Microgeographic patterns of genetic divergence and adaptation across environmental gradients in Boechera stricta. →
Lee, C.-R. et al. (2017). Young inversion with multiple linked QTLs under selection in a hybrid zone. Nature Ecology and Evolution. →
Ness, J. H., Rollinson, E. J., Whitney, K. D. (2011). Phylogenetic distance can predict susceptibility to attack by natural enemies. Oikos. →
Seltzer, L. et al. (2025). The impacts of environmental change on plant and microbial communities: A turf transplant experiment in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. →
Waser, N. M. et al. (2014). Coyotes, deer, and wildflowers: diverse evidence points to a trophic cascade. Naturwissenschaften. →
Whitney, K. D. et al. (2012). With a little help from my friends: Phylogenetic distance as a predictor of floral visitation in the plant communities of Gothic, CO. →
Concept (224) →
phenological mismatch
When organisms dependent on synchronized milestones adapt to environmental changes at different rates, causing their reproductive, feeding, and/or mig...
phenotypic plasticity
When a genotype produces different phenotypes under differing environmental conditions
elevational gradients
Spatial gradients in elevation that capture variation in temperature, soil age and type, disturbance regimes, and land-use histories providing importa...
space use
Way in which individuals distribute themselves across landscape, including movement patterns and spatial organization like home range size and overlap
climate change effects on species interactions
The framework that climate affects species abundances and distributions both directly through physiological effects and indirectly through effects on ...
species diversity
A measure of community diversity that accounts for both species richness and relative abundance, calculated using the Shannon-Weiner index
snow cover duration
Number of days from autumn snow onset to spring snowmelt, providing temperature stabilization and protection for overwintering organisms
interspecific competition
Negative interactions between individuals of different species competing for limited resources
thermal performance
Temperature-dependent physiological and behavioral responses that affect organism fitness and population dynamics
drought stress
Physiological stress experienced by plants due to reduced water availability that can harm fitness by inducing leaf loss, reducing flower size, and de...
Show 214 more concepts
reproductive success
Plant fitness measured through various components including fruit set, seed production, and seeds per plant
phenotypic selection
The process by which traits influence fitness, measured through directional and quadratic selection differentials relating trait values to reproductiv...
mutualistic relationships
Mutually beneficial herbivore-predator associations where sap-feeding insects provide honeydew food for ants in exchange for protection against predat...
herbivory
Consumption of plant material by animals, measured as browse occurrence on host plants
nonconsumptive effects
Behavioral, physiological, and life-history changes that reduce the risk of predation but have associated energetic or fitness costs to prey individua...
pollinator-mediated selection
Natural selection on floral traits that occurs through differential pollinator visitation and resulting differences in reproductive success
early-life trade-offs
The concept that organisms face competing demands for limited resources during development that create trade-offs between different fitness components
pollen limitation
Reduced seed set resulting from insufficient pollen receipt, particularly affecting females when hermaphrodite density and frequency increases
frequency-dependent selection
Selection where individual fitness depends on the local frequency rather than global frequency, creating population structure with groups varying in g...
gene flow
Movement of genes between populations through migration and reproduction
ecological speciation
The formation of new species involves divergence of phenotypes and development of reproductive isolation, where initial divergence results from diverg...
local adaptation
An evolutionary process in which a population evolves to become more suited to its local environment through natural selection, resulting in higher fi...
photosynthetic rate
The rate at which plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose using light energy, measured as gas exchange
pond hydroperiod
The frequency and duration of annual pond inundation vs. exposure, with categories including temporary ponds (dry annually in early summer), semi-perm...
heritability
The proportion of phenotypic variation in a trait that is due to genetic variation, estimated using parent-offspring regression methods
facilitative interactions
Positive species interactions such as nurse plant effects by cushion-forming species that increase reproductive success for neighboring plants
trophic cascade
Indirect effects of predators on lower trophic levels mediated through changes in intermediate consumer behavior or abundance
nutritional niche partitioning
The concept that co-occurring species occupy distinct positions in multidimensional nutrient space to minimize competition and facilitate coexistence
climate-induced range shifts
Changes in species geographic distributions in response to changing climate conditions, typically involving movement to higher elevations or latitudes
hybridization
Interbreeding between taxa that alters the pool of genetic variation available for population responses to changing environments
climate change adaptation
The ability of organisms to adjust to changing climatic conditions through genetic, phenotypic, or behavioral changes
keystone species
A species that has a disproportionately large effect on its environment relative to its abundance and whose presence/absence significantly affects eco...
climate change impacts
The effects of long-term warming on hydrological processes, including changes in snowpack dynamics, growing season length, and water demand by vegetat...
reciprocal transplant experiment
Experimental approach where organisms from different source populations are grown in different environments to test for local adaptation
glucosinolates
Secondary metabolites that mediate interactions with herbivores and pathogens in Brassicaceae
facultative paedomorphosis
Alternative life history strategy where some individuals retain larval traits and become sexually mature in aquatic environment while others metamorph...
oviposition host plant choice
The selection of specific plants by female insects for egg-laying that affects larval survival and development
temporal dynamics
Changes in ecological patterns and processes across different time scales
frost damage
Direct damage to plant buds and flowers from freezing temperatures occurring during vulnerable developmental stages
balancing selection
Selection that maintains multiple alleles in a population at frequencies above those expected from mutation alone
evolutionary rescue
A process by which adaptive evolutionary change occurs sufficiently rapidly to counteract a decline in population size under initially unfavorable con...
spatial clustering
Alpine plants growing in clumps with multiple species interacting in close proximity, affecting microhabitats and species interactions
drought resilience
Ability of forest ecosystems to maintain function during water-limited conditions through adaptive water use strategies
maternal care
Parental behaviors including female-pup interactions, vigilance, and antipredator behaviors that influence offspring survival and development
open-top chambers
Transparent chambers commonly used in climate change experiments to raise air and soil temperature in remote areas by creating a passive warming effec...
spatial autocorrelation
The degree to which values at nearby locations are correlated, used to assess spatial clustering in disease patterns
floral volatile organic compounds
Chemical compounds emitted by flowers that contribute to floral scent and can influence pollinator attraction and plant-herbivore interactions
trait filtering
Environmental processes that filter trait values admitted by changing abiotic and biotic conditions, maintaining trait distributions through phenotypi...
breeding ecology
The study of reproductive behaviors, nesting habitat selection, and breeding success in bird populations
hybrid zone
A geographic region where genetically distinct populations meet and produce offspring of mixed ancestry
quantitative genetics
The study of traits controlled by multiple loci with continuous phenotypic distributions and measurable heritability
cannibalism
Predation behavior where individuals consume members of their own species, particularly common in A. m. nebulosum populations targeting first year hat...
instar development
The progression through larval developmental stages with associated changes in size and feeding capacity
cline
A gradual change in a trait across an environmental gradient, where width is expected to be proportional to dispersal distance divided by square root ...
phylogenetic signal
The tendency for related species to resemble each other more than expected by chance, measured by Blomberg's K and Pagel's lambda
chlorophyll content
SPAD measurement of leaf chlorophyll concentration indicating photosynthetic capacity
ecosystem engineering
The modification of environments by organisms in ways that influence resource availability for other species, exemplified by beaver dam construction c...
nesting preferences
The selective choices made by organisms regarding where to construct nests, influenced by environmental factors that affect offspring survival and rep...
pleiotropic effects
When single genes or alleles influence multiple, seemingly unrelated traits
self-pollination
Reproduction in which pollen from a flower fertilizes ovules in the same flower or on the same plant
trophic synchrony
Temporal alignment between consumer energy requirements and food source availability across trophic levels
dominant species removal
Experimental removal of the most abundant plant species to test effects of species loss on community structure and function
root weight fraction
The ratio of dry root weight to total dry plant weight, used as an indicator of soil nutrient availability with higher values indicating nutrient-poor...
juvenile growth rate
Daily mass gain during critical post-emergence development period in juvenile mammals
population growth rate
Per-capita population growth rate λ calculated as the dominant eigenvalue of the projection matrix at equilibrium
community composition
The identity and relative abundance of species within an ecological community
compensatory response
The ability of plants to tolerate or compensate for herbivore damage through increased growth or reproduction
leaf volumetric water content
Percentage of leaf biomass composed of water, calculated as difference between wet and dry weight divided by wet weight
nest thermoregulation
The process by which parent birds maintain optimal temperature conditions for their nestlings through behavioral modifications including incubation, s...
secondary cavity nesting
Bird species that utilize nest cavities created by other species rather than excavating their own
photoperiodic time measurement
The mechanism by which organisms measure day and night length to regulate seasonal activities like diapause
pond drying
Temporary pond hydroperiod reduction that triggers behavioral and physiological responses in aquatic organisms
Resource Availability Hypothesis
Predicts that fast-growing plants in high resource environments invest less in defense because they can easily regrow after herbivory
invertebrate drift
Downstream movement of benthic invertebrates in flowing water either naturally or induced by disturbance
biogeographic variation
Morphological differences in the same species across different geographic regions
pollinator visual space
Mathematical models that represent how different pollinators perceive color based on their photoreceptor sensitivities and opponent color processing
wing coloration
The color patterns and hues on butterfly wings produced by interaction of light with pigments on the wing scales
evolutionary trap
When previously adaptive traits become maladaptive due to rapid environmental change, such that organisms are attracted to resources that reduce their...
light environment
Photosynthetically active radiation levels measured as percentage of full-sun radiation
indicator species
Taxa that are significantly associated with particular habitat conditions and can be used to assess ecosystem state or restoration success
seed set
The number and proportion of developed seeds produced by an individual plant, used as a measure of fecundity
territoriality
Territorial behavior including alarm and warning calls to protect midden from squirrels and other mammals, with territories ranging from 0.5 to 1 hect...
ecological trap
floral scent
jasmonic acid-salicylic acid crosstalk
Reciprocal antagonism between plant hormone pathways where jasmonic acid suppresses salicylic acid pathway and vice versa
genome-wide association study
Statistical approach to identify genetic variants associated with traits by scanning the entire genome
intrusion competition
Competition where individuals attempt to take over established breeding resources from other pairs
phylogenetic diversity
A measure of the evolutionary history represented in an ecological community, calculated as the sum of branch lengths connecting species in a phylogen...
climatic niche
The range of climate conditions that a species can tolerate, estimated from ecological niche models
insect recruitment
Addition of new individuals to insect populations through successful reproduction and development
anthocyanin biosynthesis
Biochemical pathway producing anthocyanin pigments responsible for purple coloration
sex chromosomes
Chromosomes that determine sex, including different haplotypes in the sex-determining region
case construction
Caddisfly larvae ability to construct protective cases from environmental debris using silk-like string
thermal performance curve
Temperature dependence of larval feeding rate, characterized by maximum feeding rate, optimal temperature, and thermal sensitivity parameters
host specificity
The degree to which parasites show preference or restriction to particular host species rather than being generalist
hemiparasitism
Parasitic plants that retain absorptive roots and are capable of carbon fixation through photosynthesis but still need to draw some of their resources...
tripartite interactions
Interactions involving three species or groups, such as soil microbes, plants, and pollinators
biomass allocation
Distribution of plant growth and resources between aboveground (shoots) and belowground (roots) structures
population structure
The organization of genetic variation within and among populations, reflecting patterns of gene flow, drift, and selection
climate change effects on behavior
How changing weather patterns and climate conditions influence animal behavioral strategies
biofluorescence
The emission of visible light by organisms following the absorption of shorter wavelengths of light
herbivore preference
Selective feeding behavior of herbivores that favors certain plant traits or genotypes over others
invasive species establishment
The process by which non-native species become established and spread in new environments
flower sex phases
Sequential developmental stages of individual flowers progressing through male phases (M1, M2), inter-phase, and female phase
phylogenetic distance
Evolutionary divergence time between species measured in millions of years, calculated from molecular phylogenetic reconstructions
associative learning
The formation of predictive relationships between contingent stimuli in the environment
functional feeding groups
Categorization of invertebrates based on feeding mechanisms: collector-gatherers, grazers, predators, shredders, and suspension-feeders
shade avoidance syndrome
Suite of plant responses to shade including stem elongation, reduced branching, and accelerated flowering to compete for light
trophic-level sensitivity
The concept that higher trophic levels are more sensitive to environmental change due to their smaller population sizes and greater environmental dema...
ecotonal zones
Areas of transition between adjacent, distinct ecosystems with unique species assemblages at the fringes of mature stands
extrafloral nectaries
Nectar-secreting organs located on leaf laminae, petioles, rachis, bracts, stipules, pedicels, or fruit that attract arthropods
chromosomal inversion
Chromosomal rearrangement where a segment is reversed in orientation, potentially suppressing recombination and maintaining linkage between beneficial...
response to selection
plant density effects
How plant population density affects individual plant growth, morphology, and susceptibility to herbivory through competition and resource availabilit...
systemic plant response
Plant ability to produce new volatile organic compounds or change other chemical characteristics when damaged, with these chemicals communicating dama...
plant disease
Percentage of leaf area affected by pathogen symptoms including powdery mildew, rust, and other fungal diseases
individual-based rarefaction
Statistical method to compare species richness across samples by generating accumulation curves based on individual encounters
energy flux
The flow of energy through ecological systems, measured as invertebrate biomass transfer from terrestrial to aquatic environments
conditional neutrality
An individual locus shows strong adaptive fitness effects in one habitat, but little or no cost in other habitats
electivity index
A measure comparing the proportion of prey in predator diet to proportion in environment to detect selection or avoidance
water potential
An integrative measure of how much tension there is in the water column of the xylem, reflecting the ease or difficulty a plant has in transporting wa...
carcass burial
Burying beetle reproductive strategy where pairs bury small carrion for breeding and larval development
species accumulation curve
Plot showing cumulative number of species discovered as a function of sampling effort, used to assess sampling completeness
ecological restoration
The process of managing or assisting the recovery of an ecosystem that has been degraded, damaged or destroyed as a means of sustaining ecosystem resi...
chromatic contrast
Color-based visual contrast as perceived by animal visual systems
bioassay
A method using living organisms to determine what chemicals or nutrients are present in soil by measuring growth responses
vernalization
Requirement for extended cold treatment to trigger flowering in some plant species
fixation indices
F-statistics (FIS, FST, FIT) measuring genetic differentiation and inbreeding at different hierarchical levels
synchrony
The degree to which individuals in a population exhibit coordinated timing of nesting activity
biotic associations
Co-occurrence patterns between species that reflect ecological interactions beyond shared environmental responses
niche breadth
The range of resources or interaction partners utilized by a species, in this context referring to the diversity of flower visitors to a plant species
viability selection
Selection on body mass accounting for juvenile survival until reproduction but may weaken after recruitment
canonical analysis of principal coordinates
Constrained ordination method used to analyze multivariate patterns among predicted variables with environmental predictors
optimal outcrossing distance
Distance range that maximizes pollen fertilization success and offspring survival
snow mosquitoes
Univoltine species which develop from overwintered eggs in pools formed by melting snow water
larval food stress
Nutritional limitation during larval development that affects adult phenotype
mass ratio hypothesis
Species with greater primary production exert the main controls for the functioning of ecosystems due to greater aboveground abundance of biomass or l...
carrion ecology
Study of organisms that utilize dead animal matter as a resource for feeding or reproduction
factorial experiment
Experimental design testing multiple factors simultaneously in all combinations
linear mixed effects model
Statistical model accounting for both fixed and random effects to analyze hierarchical or repeated measures data
case grazing
Behavior where caddisfly larvae consume material from their own or others' protective cases
microhabitat preference
Species-specific selection for particular combinations of physical habitat characteristics like water depth, current velocity, and substrate size
faunal elements
Biogeographic classification of species based on their broader distributional affinities and evolutionary origins
juvenile growth
Mass gain patterns in young animals during their first active season before hibernation
chemical cues
Chemical signals that organisms use to obtain information about their environment
asymptotic growth
Growth pattern characterized by an initial period of mass gain followed by stabilization before hibernation entry
non-additive effects
Combined impact of multiple predators differs from the sum of their individual effects, can be greater or less than additive
sexual dimorphism in plant-insect interactions
How male and female plants of dioecious species differ in their interactions with insects
light gradient
Environmental gradient of light availability from open sun through intermediate shade to deep shade habitats
electrolyte leakage
Loss of cellular electrolytes through compromised cell membranes, used as indicator of heat stress damage
animal communication
Mechanisms used by individuals to convey different cues to others, including color, vocal cues, body language, and biofluorescence
high-temperature tolerance
Ability of plants to survive exposure to elevated temperatures, measured as lethal temperature causing 50% electrolyte leakage (LT50)
gene family expansion
competitive release
Hypothesis that parasitism of dominant plant species reduces their competitive ability, allowing less competitive species to increase in abundance
leaf mining behavior
Feeding behavior where insect larvae create tunnels within plant leaves between epidermal layers
diel vertical migration
Daily behavioral pattern where aquatic organisms move vertically in the water column, typically showing different activity levels during day versus ni...
flowering curve
Graph showing the number of open flowers over time, describing temporal distribution of flower openings with properties like start date, end date, mea...
MHC class II
Major histocompatibility complex genes involved in antigen presentation and immune response
terrestrial subsidies
Input of terrestrial invertebrates into aquatic food webs providing energy to aquatic predators
montane ecosystem
Mountain ecosystem characterized by specific elevation, climate, and vegetation adapted to montane conditions
cue similarity
The degree to which novel resources resemble historical resources in their chemical or physical cues
parent-hybrid dynamics
Bateman's index
Constancy index that distinguishes between complete constancy, random transitions, and complete inconstancy
soil sterilization
Experimental technique to remove soil microbial communities via autoclaving
dietary specialization
Differential prey use based on habitat type, with fairy shrimp comprising majority of diet in temporary ponds
stridulation
Sound production in insects by rubbing body parts together, in burying beetles occurs when plectrum on elytra rubs against par stridens on abdomen
adaptive polymorphism
Genetic variation maintained in populations by natural selection where different alleles are favored under different conditions
microevolution
Genetic change in a trait if there is heritable variation, selection, and heritability
coalescent simulation
A computational method for simulating genealogies of sampled sequences under neutral evolution
best of a bad lot mechanism
Paedomorphosis becomes the preferred life strategy when growing conditions such as prey abundance, water temperature, and population density are poor,...
Microclimate Selection Hypothesis
Females should choose nesting sites that best protect them and their offspring from severe or unpredictable weather events, such as extreme temperatur...
honeydew production
The excretion of sugar-rich liquid waste by herbivorous hemipterans feeding on plant sap
distance-decay relationship
Decrease in compositional similarity between communities with increasing geographic distance or environmental separation
ideal free distribution
Theory that animals distribute themselves among habitat patches in proportion to resource availability, with high-quality patches becoming occupied fi...
age-detrended growth
Growth measurements adjusted to remove the effect of age-dependent growth patterns, allowing isolation of environmental factors on growth
temperature buffering
When clustered plants experience facilitative interactions that cause leaves to be cooler relative to surrounding soils
plant xylem tension
heterozygote deficiency
Lower than expected frequency of heterozygous genotypes in a population
predator exclusion
Experimental technique to prevent predator access while maintaining other ecological interactions
abiotic selection
Selection pressure from non-biological environmental factors such as rain or wind
overhead concealment
Percentage of nest area hidden from predators when viewed from directly above, measured using gridded circle
establishment success
The ability of young trees to successfully establish and survive in a given environment
gas chromatography-mass spectrometry
Analytical technique combining gas chromatography separation with mass spectrometry identification for analyzing volatile compounds
defence polymorphism
Genetic variation in defensive traits maintained within populations
principal component analysis
Statistical method used to identify the structuring factors driving life-history variation and to detect slow-fast continuum patterns
transplanting
Moving native plants from one location to establish them in a disturbed site as a revegetation technique
beaver dam analogues
Human-made structures mimicking beaver dams implemented in restoration projects to slow flow, aggrade sediment, and reconnect streams to floodplains o...
cross-resistance
When prior infection by one natural enemy affects the plant's resistance or susceptibility to attack by a different natural enemy
abiotic factors
Non-living environmental factors such as climate, light, and temperature that influence organism performance
critical thermal maximum
Upper temperature limit where organisms lose fitness and performance ability
reproductive success
Successful production of larvae that develop to feeding stage on buried carcasses
sexual dimorphism
Differences between sexes in fluorescent patterns, as identified in Plethodon metcalfi
road dust
cost-benefit ratio
The balance between costs and benefits that determines whether species interactions are mutualistic or antagonistic
point count surveys
Standardized method for observing and counting birds at fixed locations for specified time periods
visual modeling
Computational approach to predict how visual signals are perceived by animal visual systems
critical thermal maximum
The upper thermal limit when the bumblebee loses its motor function as a result of high temperatures
diel periodicity
Daily patterns in organism behavior, with some mayfly species showing increased drift activity at night to minimize exposure to visual predators
relative growth rate
Aphid colony growth rate calculated as ln(n1)-ln(n0)/t where n1 and n0 are final and initial colony sizes
internode length
The distance between branch whorls on conifers, used to measure annual growth
monocarpic perennial life history
Plants that live for multiple years but flower only once before dying
exploitation competition
Competition through depletion of shared resources without direct interaction
trophallaxis
The sharing of liquid food resources between nestmates through specialized anatomical and behavioral adaptations
vegetation structure
The physical arrangement and composition of vegetation including coverage of different plant types, heights, and density
benthic organic matter
Organic material found in pond sediments that serves as nutrient storage compartment
Julian day
Day of year from 1-365 used to measure timing of biological events
trap behavior
Behavioral activity of birds when captured in traps, measured as activity index from feeding to high distress behaviors
spatial clustering
When plants are found adjacent to one another with less than two finger-widths between them or when one plant surrounds another
biophysical models
Tools implemented to accurately predict an organism's physiological response to attributes of interest such as water loss and body temperature
pitfall trapping
Sampling method using buried containers with killing solution to capture ground-dwelling invertebrates
aspect effect
Differences in environmental conditions and species composition between north and south-facing slopes
keystone species complex
Sapsucker-fungus partnership that strongly influences the avian community by providing nest sites
heat shock proteins
Molecular chaperones that help cells cope with protein folding stress under adverse conditions
predator-prey interactions
Interspecific interactions between caddisfly larvae and their predators affecting case size and behavior
iteroparous
Reproductive strategy where organisms reproduce multiple times throughout their lifetime
BC-ratio
The proportion of aliphatic GS derived from branched-chain amino acid (Val and Ile) precursors, representing quantitative trait variation controlled b...
Simpson diversity
life history traits
Ecological and life history traits that determine a bird species response to extreme meteorological events and vary with elevation
timing of life cycle stages
nearest neighbor analysis
Statistical method comparing species composition near target individuals to background composition to identify spatial associations
thermal heterogeneity
Spatial and temporal variation in water temperatures that can support diverse aquatic species and provide thermal refugia
environmental harshness
Degree of environmental stress affecting survival and reproduction, differing between elevational sites
wildlife management
Applied ecology approach to managing wild animal populations, including use of repellents to control animal damage
Gloger's rule
A relationship between plumage coloration and climate variation, predicting that darker coloration due to pigmentation occurred in warmer, more humid ...
Protocol (170) →
pollinator observation
Systematic observation of plant-pollinator interactions along fixed transects with timed observations and selective insect capture for identification....
quadrat sampling method
Measurement of plant species-specific cover, identification of focal species, and collection of plant biomass and functional traits including specific...
Flowering phenology census
Tagged individual plants are monitored twice weekly throughout the growing season to record bloom start dates, bloom end dates, and total flower produ...
Bagged flower nectar accumulation
Comprehensive measurement of floral traits (corolla dimensions, anther insertion, petal color, nectar production) and vegetative traits (specific leaf...
soil respiration measurement
Continuous measurement of soil CO2 concentrations at multiple depths using automated sensors to calculate soil CO2 fluxes via gradient approach. Inclu...
common garden experiment (Brassicaceae)
A large-scale reciprocal transplant experiment across five elevational gardens with factorial snow and temperature manipulations to test local adaptat...
gravimetric method
Multi-temporal soil moisture measurements using TDR probe combined with soil coring and laboratory processing to determine moisture content, bulk dens...
mark-recapture
Beetles were captured using speed nets, marked with tungsten needle dot codes on elytra, and released for recapture monitoring to estimate population ...
benthic sampling
Plastic pan traps with soapy water deployed along stream transects to capture terrestrial invertebrates falling into or near the river. Traps are pool...
pollination exclusion experiment
Experimental addition of outcross pollen to flowers to test whether natural pollination limits plant reproductive success, comparing reproductive outp...
Show 160 more protocols
browse damage assessment
Twice weekly censuses recording plant vital status, reproductive phenology, and fitness components including flower and fruit production. Weekly asses...
Experimental predator manipulation with colony establishment
Controlled experiment manipulating predator presence by establishing artificial aphid colonies, protecting them from natural predators, then adding ly...
5TE soil sensor monitoring
Continuous automated monitoring of soil temperature, moisture, and gas concentrations at multiple depths using sensor arrays. Provides high-resolution...
Specific Leaf Area (SLA)
Comprehensive measurement of vegetative traits including specific leaf area, trichome density, water use efficiency, and percent water content from fi...
Split-plot snowmelt and precipitation manipulation experiment
A factorial field experiment manipulating snowmelt timing using black shade cloth and summer precipitation using rainout shelters in a split-plot desi...
Open-top chamber warming
A 2×2 factorial experiment combining passive warming using open-top chambers with dominant plant species removal across elevational gradients at multi...
Factorial environmental stress experiment (Limnephilidae)
2x2 factorial design manipulating temperature and conductivity to test environmental drying cues on caddisfly development and survival. Uses shade man...
seed count and mass measurement
Comprehensive evaluation of seed production including total fruit counts, viable seed counts per fruit, individual seed mass measurements, and visual/...
pitfall trapping (Formicidae)
Standardized 2-hour baiting experiments using 5 different resource types arranged in pentagonal plots to sample ant communities and assess dominance p...
Holshof & Swenson trait sampling protocol
Systematic monitoring of plant disease dynamics across elevation gradient to capture environmental variation effects. Involves establishment of standa...
mark-recapture (Ambystomatidae)
Annual capture-recapture surveys over 24 years to track individual survival, growth, reproduction and developmental pathways in a polyphenic salamande...
Snowmelt manipulation using shade cloths
Shade cloths suspended 3m above treatment plots accelerate snowmelt by 5-7 days when snowpack reaches ~1m depth, simulating earlier spring snowmelt co...
reciprocal transplant experiment
Multi-site common garden experiment using controlled crosses to partition genetic and environmental variance in vegetative and floral traits across a ...
Grasshopper feeding bioassay for plant defense
Choice feeding trials where individual grasshoppers are offered leaves from different plant treatments to measure relative herbivory rates. Herbivory ...
Alpine plant phenology monitoring with snowmelt timing
Weekly monitoring of alpine plant flowering phenology coupled with snowmelt date recording to assess environmental effects on plant reproductive timin...
Generalized additive modeling
Hierarchical Bayesian models predicting vital rates from individual and neighborhood characteristics, with population-level random effects and model s...
Microcosm predator avoidance bioassay
Controlled experimental system using circular plastic tanks to test mayfly larval responses to chemical cues by measuring foraging behavior on substra...
Infrared heating manipulation
Infrared heaters suspended above experimental plots to simulate warming effects on montane vegetation communities across moisture gradients. Heating p...
ARSTAN chronology development
Wood samples are sectioned into sub-annual increments and cellulose is extracted for oxygen and carbon isotope analysis to assess seasonal water sourc...
HOBO sensor environmental monitoring
Continuous collection of local weather data at 5-minute intervals throughout growing seasons to capture fine-scale environmental variation affecting d...
Integral Projection Model
Size-structured population model that incorporates climate effects on vital rates to project population dynamics and calculate population growth rates...
RMBL warming experiment
29-year experimental warming using overhead infrared radiators to increase soil temperature by 2°C in subalpine grassland plots. Heat flux of 22 W/m² ...
Seed predation assessment (Polemoniaceae)
Weekly monitoring of fly oviposition on flowers and assessment of fruit damage by predispersal seed predators including fly larvae and caterpillars to...
Factorial field experiment
Factorial experiment crossing nitrogen addition treatments with dominant species removal treatments in replicated plots to test community responses to...
Y-tube olfactometer assay
Controlled choice experiments measuring butterfly oviposition preference between plant species using matched plant materials in screen cages. Preferen...
Burying beetle habitat reproduction experiment (Silphidae)
Field experiment comparing reproductive success of burying beetle species across habitat types using breeding pairs, mouse carcasses, and environmenta...
correlation analysis
Statistical analysis using mixed effects models to evaluate relationships between plant clumping treatment and temperature responses while accounting ...
Silicon tubing volatile collection (Polemoniaceae)
Volatile organic compounds were sampled from single flowers using dynamic headspace sampling, then analyzed with thermal desorption gas chromatography...
reflectance spectrophotometry
Standardized measurement of floral reflectance spectra using fiber optic probe positioned at fixed distance and angle from flower surface. Spectra col...
automated temperature logging
Time-lapse camera monitoring of aquatic insect landing and oviposition behavior on paired emergent rocks with different embedding characteristics. Com...
rainout shelter
Experimental manipulation of summer precipitation levels (doubled, halved, ambient) to assess effects on plant physiological and fitness traits in a c...
Point count surveys
Systematic point count surveys conducted along an elevational gradient to assess current species distributions. Each site has four sampling points wit...
Ant exclusion experiment on aphid colonies
Experimental manipulation using physical barriers to exclude ants from aphid colonies while maintaining control colonies with ant access. Uses paired ...
Li-Cor 6400 photosynthesis measurement
A novel approach to measure light response curves for entire plant communities rather than individual plants using tent-based gas exchange measurement...
Carbon isotope discrimination analysis
Measurement of water-use efficiency differences between plant sexes using leaf carbon isotope ratios (δ13C) to understand mechanistic basis of sex-spe...
increment core sampling
Standard increment boring technique to extract tree cores for measuring annual ring widths, then calculating basal area increment over specific time p...
instar staging
Standardized measurements of wing length and dried body mass components under stereomicroscope to quantify adult fitness proxies and assess elevation ...
NOAA weather station monitoring
Long-term systematic collection of first sighting and median activity dates for plants, insects, mammals, amphibians and birds in a high-elevation mon...
slit emergence traps
Systematic collection of water samples from ponds across a hydroperiod gradient for analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Samples collected a...
Long-term nitrogen manipulation experiment with plant community monitoring
A controlled field experiment testing the effects of nitrogen addition and reduction on plant community composition over 8 years. Annual percent cover...
Phenotypic selection analysis
Quantified natural selection on floral traits by measuring relationships between trait values, pollinator visitation rates, and reproductive success. ...
Mantel test
Calculation of multiple phylogenetic diversity metrics for plant communities using established phylogenetic trees and null model approaches to test fo...
HPLC glucosinolate analysis
Extraction and quantification of desulfated glucosinolates from plant leaves using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array and charged...
Elevational gradient phenotypic survey of Thlaspi arvense (Brassicaceae)
Weekly monitoring of plant phenology, morphological traits, and density across an elevational gradient to assess phenotypic plasticity in response to ...
pitfall trapping (Silphidae)
Standardized metal can pitfall traps baited with chicken drumsticks, deployed along elevation gradients to monitor burying beetle abundance and specie...
SPAD chlorophyll measurement
Measurement of chlorophyll fluorescence using LI-600 to assess photosynthetic efficiency by quantifying light emission from chlorophyll molecules exci...
NDVI remote sensing
Time-lapse UAV surveys using RGB and multispectral cameras to monitor vegetation indices (NDVI, GCC) and plant height changes across a hillslope trans...
Factorial drought and nutrient stress experiment (Brassicaceae)
Greenhouse factorial experiment manipulating water availability (3 levels) and nutrient supply (2 levels) to test resource limitation effects on fitne...
Stream quality assessment
Comprehensive measurement of stream physical and chemical parameters including substrate characteristics, water quality, and algal biomass. Provides e...
Malaise trap sampling
Long-term standardized sampling of aerial insects using a single Malaise trap at a fixed location operated weekly throughout growing seasons. Insects ...
focal animal sampling
Standardized pellet count method for estimating deer density using systematic transect surveys with random placement. Identifies scat to species level...
Tiger salamander feeding preference mesocosm trials (Ambystomatidae)
Controlled feeding trials in plastic mesocosms where starved salamanders are presented with multiple prey types and their consumption and foraging beh...
focal animal sampling (Limnephilidae)
Individual caddisflies are observed for fixed time periods to record movement patterns, social interactions, and aggressive behaviors. Follows establi...
Principal Component Analysis (Brassicaceae)
Genomic sequencing and demographic modeling using GADMA2 to estimate historical gene flow patterns and migration rates between populations across elev...
herbivore exclosure experiment (Plantae)
Factorial experiment using wire mesh and chicken wire fencing to exclude mammalian herbivores (ungulates and gophers) from transplanted alpine plants ...
oven-dry mass measurement
Standardized measurement of individual larval dry mass using precision microbalance after oven-drying at controlled temperature. Applied to assess gro...
Starch gel electrophoresis (Polemoniaceae)
Standard enzyme electrophoresis technique used to determine genotypes at the 6PGD-2 locus for parentage assignment. Distinguishes between homozygous m...
Beaver pond habitat characterization
Multi-parameter assessment of beaver pond physical characteristics including area, depth, flow velocity, and beaver activity indicators to control for...
focal animal sampling (Cervidae)
Controlled experiment using feeding stations paired with predator scent cues to test antipredator behavioral responses. Individual feeding times are r...
Artificial flower UV exposure selection experiment
Controlled experiment using artificial flowers with discrete bullseye phenotypes exposed to UV-present vs UV-absent treatments to test UV-mediated sel...
gastric-lavage (Ambystomatidae)
Modified gastric-lavage technique to obtain stomach contents for prey identification, enumeration, and biomass/caloric calculations using published co...
Subalpine plant community energetics census
Complete census of all individual plants in gridded plots with spatial mapping, tissue sampling, and photosynthetic area measurement for metabolic rat...
Integral projection model (Brassicaceae)
Construction of Integral Projection Models using vital rate data to project population persistence under different climate scenarios and estimate stoc...
species-area relationship
Nested sampling design to construct species-area relationships across multiple spatial scales by subdividing plots into equal-area quadrats and averag...
Factorial phenology-water manipulation of potted wildflowers
A factorial experiment manipulating both flowering phenology (by moving plants between elevations) and water availability (through differential wateri...
Elevational fungal transplant experiment (Poaceae)
A controlled field experiment transplanting grass species across elevational gradients with manipulated fungal soil communities to test effects of pla...
Elevation gradient flower color polymorphism survey (Brassicaceae)
Systematic assessment of flower color variation across environmental gradients using standardized color categories and plot-based sampling. Combines p...
QTL mapping using recombinant inbred lines (Brassicaceae)
Common garden experiments using recombinant inbred lines to partition genetic and environmental contributions to phenotypic variation. RILs are plante...
QTL mapping (Brassicaceae)
Multi-environment QTL analysis using recombinant inbred lines tested across vernalization, photoperiod and temperature treatments to identify genomic ...
Specific leaf area (SLA) measurement
Standard protocol for measuring leaf traits by scanning fresh leaves, counting trichomes using ImageJ, then drying and weighing leaves to calculate sp...
destructive biomass sampling
Complete excavation of plants followed by separation into above-ground, below-ground, and reproductive components, with subsequent drying and weighing...
Elevation gradient flower spectrophotometry
Systematic collection and spectrophotometric analysis of flowers across elevation gradients to quantify color variation. Targets pollinator-visible fl...
Digital image analysis
Comprehensive measurement of forewing length, wing melanism, and setal length from pinned butterfly specimens using digital micrometry, photography, a...
Floral orientation manipulation for fitness measurement (Plantae)
Experimental manipulation of natural floral orientations combined with pollen supplementation to test effects on seed set and female fitness.
Controlled frost sensitivity chamber experiment (Plantae)
Plant tissues are subjected to controlled freezing temperatures in a programmable chamber to determine frost damage thresholds. Temperatures are gradu...
CNAP genome-wide fitness trade-off analysis (Brassicaceae)
Conditional Neutrality-Antagonistic Pleiotropy analysis estimates realized selection coefficients and uses permutation tests to identify genome-wide p...
factorial experiment (Ranunculaceae)
Controlled factorial experiment manipulating both water availability and pollen supplementation to test for interactive effects on plant reproduction.
scat transect surveys (Cervidae)
Systematic collection and GPS mapping of predator scats along established trail networks to quantify spatial patterns of predator activity relative to...
Grid-based root presence-absence quantification from soil pit photographs (Plantae)
Photographs of soil pit faces are overlaid with 1×1 cm grids to systematically score presence or absence of fine and coarse roots in each grid cell, p...
gravimetric soil moisture analysis
Standard gravimetric determination of soil moisture content using oven-drying method at 100°C for 24 hours with 2mm sieving to remove rocks and organi...
Rope dragging technique
Active nest searching technique using a 12m rope with attached aluminum cans dragged through suitable habitat to flush female birds from concealed gro...
Plant specimen collection and identification
Pressing and identification of plant voucher specimens using standard botanical keys and herbarium references.
Plant fitness monitoring in field experiment (Plantae)
Repeated measurements of plant morphological traits (tillers, leaves, height) and survival tracking to assess fitness responses to experimental treatm...
Potter trap
Standard bird capture protocol using Potter's traps baited with seed, followed by individual banding and morphological measurements for population mon...
Multi-parameter water quality monitoring (Amphibia)
In-situ measurement of temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, and barometric pressure at multiple points around each pond during peak photosynthetic activ...
BCMA3 Sanger sequencing and structural variant analysis (Brassicaceae)
Sanger sequencing of BCMA3 alleles from natural accessions combined with Nanopore long-read genome assembly to identify structural genetic variants af...
Ant chemical associative learning field assay (Formicidae)
A two-phase field protocol using training baits scented with plant chemicals followed by two-choice tests to assess whether ants form associative memo...
full-sibling analysis (Pieridae)
Multi-generation breeding program with controlled matings to estimate heritability of preference traits using pedigree-based models accounting for ZW ...
CDC light trap sampling (Culicidae)
Opportunistic collection of adult and larval mosquitoes across elevational gradients using standardized collection techniques. Adults collected during...
GIS-based meadow habitat mapping for ground squirrels
Used raster analysis in ArcGIS to identify suitable ground squirrel habitat by combining landcover and canopy height data, then calculated distance-fr...
Liguisticum porteri weekly census monitoring (Animalia)
Systematic weekly monitoring of plant phenology, insect abundance, and herbivore impacts on Osha plants along established transects. Includes detailed...
Imaging spectrometry species classification
Deriving individual-scale species data from co-acquired imaging spectrometry data.
Salamander biofluorescence photography under blue excitation (Amphibia)
Standardized photography protocol using blue light excitation to capture biofluorescence in salamanders under controlled conditions with specific came...
Root Weight Fraction bioassay (Silphidae)
Use of oat seedling growth parameters including root weight fraction to assess soil nutrient availability and quality following various treatments.
No choice experiment (Plantae)
Controlled experiment where subjects are not given choices, used to test responses under specific conditions without alternatives.
ImageJ area measurement
Plant biomass consumption by herbivores is quantified using before-and-after digital photographs with standardized reference objects. Image analysis s...
Invasive plant removal experiment (Scrophulariaceae)
Small-scale removal of invasive plant flowers to test effects on native plant pollination through paired treatment and control plots within experiment...
Comparative chromosome painting (Brassicaceae)
Chromosome-specific BAC contigs of Arabidopsis thaliana were used as painting probes to analyze mitotic and meiotic chromosomes of C. cordifolia. Fluo...
Habitat-damage correlation analysis (Aves)
Quantitative analysis of the relationship between sapsucker damage patterns on aspen trees and proximity to willow habitat, using distance measurement...
Paired plot community comparison (Orobanchaceae)
Vegetation composition and diversity are compared between paired 1m² plots with and without Castilleja presence to assess community-level effects of p...
Endophyte removal using Benomyl fungicide (Poaceae)
Seeds were treated with Benomyl fungicide at 4°C to remove endophytic fungi, creating endophyte-free plants for comparison with naturally endophyte-po...
Transect-based seed sampling for plant population genetics (Ranunculaceae)
Systematic collection of seeds from plants along established transects for genetic analysis. Seeds collected within defined distances of sampling poin...
Adult mosquito collection and identification (Culicidae)
Collection of adult mosquitoes during blood-seeking behavior and other activities to complement larval surveys and confirm species identifications.
Larval gut content feeding assay (Pieridae)
A controlled feeding experiment where individual first instar larvae are offered different plant species and their gut content accumulation is monitor...
iNEXT rarefaction
Statistical analysis of pollinator diversity using Shannon Diversity Index with ANOVA and post-hoc testing to compare plant visitation diversity betwe...
Plant biomass allocation analysis (Valerianaceae)
Calculation and statistical analysis of plant biomass allocation between vegetative and reproductive tissues using arcsin transformations and three-wa...
probabilistic species co-occurrence model (Rhyacophilidae)
Statistical analysis comparing observed vs. expected species co-occurrence patterns using probabilistic models to identify positive, negative, or rand...
Multi-factor abiotic site characterization
Comprehensive measurement of soil nutrients, moisture, pH, topographic aspect, and interpolated climate variables to characterize abiotic conditions a...
Electrolyte leakage assay (Asteraceae)
Controlled temperature treatments from 15-65°C applied to detached leaves for 1 hour, with temperature ramped at 2°C/hour. Used to determine lethal te...
pavo visual modeling framework
Photography of butterfly landing sites using polarizing lens to measure landscape contrast between landing spots and surrounding areas. Photos analyze...
Willey-Willey grasshopper census method (Acrididae)
Systematic walking surveys through grasshopper habitat to count and score individuals for wing color morphs (orange vs yellow) across multiple populat...
iButton nest temperature monitoring
Continuous temperature logging during incubation using data loggers placed beneath nest lining with ambient controls to measure incubation efficiency ...
Controlled greenhouse phenotyping (Brassicaceae)
Standardized greenhouse cultivation of field-collected plant accessions under controlled temperature, light, and nutrition regimes for phenotype chara...
Cavity nest site characterization (Aves)
Comprehensive measurement of nest tree characteristics and landscape context including tree size, nest height, cavity orientation, and distances to ke...
De-mentation behavioral interference assay
Laboratory aquarium experiment using surgically modified (de-mented) dragonfly larvae to separate behavioral interference effects from direct predatio...
Factorial herbivory and water manipulation in caged common garden (Brassicaceae)
A factorial field experiment manipulating herbivore abundance and water availability using cages with controlled grasshopper access and supplemental w...
Bateman's index of constancy (Nymphalidae)
Statistical analysis of flower constancy using Bateman's index and modified Cindex with randomization tests to determine whether butterflies exhibit c...
Species-area curve analysis
Systematic sampling of lichen cover and species composition along fixed 1-meter transects on rock surfaces, with digital photography and image analysi...
Controlled drought stress experiment (Polemoniaceae)
Plants were subjected to progressive water stress by withholding irrigation to create a gradient of soil moisture conditions. This experimental design...
Egg candling (Passeridae)
Method to determine egg development stage using candling technique for tracking nest development and timing.
GIS-based riparian proximity measurement (Picidae)
Measurement of distances from bird survey points to nearest riparian features using aerial photography, field measurements, and GIS analysis to quanti...
Nearest neighbor host detection analysis (Orobanchaceae)
Plant species composition within 15cm of Castilleja individuals is compared to random background vegetation to statistically identify overrepresented ...
oven-dry biomass determination
Standardized protocol for determining dry mass of plant tissues through controlled oven drying at 60°C for 48 hours followed by precision weighing to ...
454 sequencing (Animalia)
454 sequencing to characterize genetic diversity at the DRB Class II locus in montane voles.
Stridulation muting through elytral modification (Silphidae)
Experimental manipulation of beetle stridulation ability by surgically removing the plectrum through V-shaped cuts to the elytra, with controls receiv...
Gravimetric soil moisture determination
Standardized method using funnel, filter paper and drainage to measure maximum water holding capacity of soil samples. Involves saturating soil, drain...
Breeding Bird Survey
Annual one-day survey of breeding birds conducted in mid-June where multiple observer groups systematically record all birds detected by sight or soun...
Evolutionary rescue modeling with environmental stochasticity
Development of deterministic and stochastic population models incorporating empirical estimates of selection, heritability, and phenotypic plasticity ...
Egg mass density manipulation experiment (Baetidae)
Experimental manipulation of existing egg mass densities on preferred substrates to test whether females exhibit aggregative oviposition behavior in r...
Multi-year arthropod community surveys on dioecious plants
Exhaustive visual surveys of arthropod abundance on randomly selected male and female plants conducted across multiple years to quantify sex-biased co...
stable isotope analysis
Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of ant tissues to determine trophic position and dietary composition. Involves specimen preparation, dryin...
song playback experiment (Passeridae)
Systematic presentation of conspecific, heterospecific competitor, and control songs to territorial males followed by standardized behavioral observat...
nest monitoring
Standard protocol for locating Mountain White-crowned Sparrow nests using behavioral cues and rope-dragging, followed by regular monitoring every 2-5 ...
Riparian willow structural complexity assessment (Parulidae)
Combined vertical (Robel pole) and horizontal (line intercept) measurements to quantify willow habitat structural complexity including height diversit...
Critical thermal maximum (CTmax)
Controlled heating and cooling assays to determine critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and minimum (CTmin) temperatures of bumblebees under field conditi...
Greenhouse shade avoidance response experiment
Seedlings were grown under different light quality treatments to measure phenotypic plasticity in response to shade cues, specifically changes in red ...
Grid-based topographic measurement
Systematic measurement of slope and aspect at grid cell centers using compass and clinometer with clipboard to minimize micro-scale surface variation ...
Thermal gradient runway temperature selection assay
Custom apparatus measuring salamander temperature selection behavior using water-cooled and heated runway with position and body temperature tracking ...
Video documentation of nest predation
Deployment of camouflaged security cameras or GoPro cameras near nests to record predation events, with careful timing to minimize nest abandonment an...
bird banding (Passerellidae)
Standard measurements of bird morphology including wing chord, tail length, tarsus length, and body condition assessment. Birds banded with color comb...
Controlled crossing experiment (Plantae)
Hand-pollination experiment comparing fitness of selfed vs. outcrossed offspring by controlling pollination source and measuring resulting fruit chara...
Ant identification and behavioral observation on sunflowers (Asteraceae)
Field-based study of ant interactions with pollinators on Helianthella quinquenervis, involving ant identification and behavioral observations. Protoc...
Trophic interaction field observation
Systematic field observation of trophic interactions between organisms, primarily plants and insects, with rotating temporal sampling across multiple ...
Lichen field identification
Field identification of lichen species using chemical spot tests with potassium hydroxide, morphological examination with hand lens, and comparison to...
focal animal sampling (Aves)
Direct observation of individual birds during foraging attempts, recording foraging success and behavior, followed by detailed vegetation structure su...
Potter trap behavioral assessment of mountain sparrows
Standardized protocol for observing and scoring trap behavior of Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha using Potter traps with systematic behavioral categor...
Ivlev's Electivity Index
Modified gut content analysis method that estimates feeding intensity by counting the proportion of abdominal segments containing food rather than ide...
Three-chamber salamander choice experiment (Ambystomatidae)
Controlled behavioral experiments using salamanders in tanks with traps at either end to test preferences for different light stimuli and biofluoresce...
pavo visual modeling
Conversion of reflectance spectra into bee and bird visual spaces using established photoreceptor sensitivity models. Uses color hexagon model for bee...
porometry
Direct measurement of leaf stomatal conductance using porometer to assess plant water stress and physiological responses to watering treatments. Measu...
Castilleja haustorial connection microscopy (Orobanchaceae)
Root systems around Castilleja plants are excavated, cleaned, and examined microscopically to identify haustorium-host connections for direct detectio...
Shannon Diversity Index
Calculation of Shannon diversity index (ln type) and Simpson dominance index (1-D) from species count data using online biodiversity calculator. Stand...
Temperature data logging
Deployment of temperature loggers at multiple depths in aquatic habitats with half-hourly recordings over multi-week periods. Includes post-processing...
pond hydroperiod classification
Classification of ponds into permanent, semi-permanent, and temporary categories based on historical drying patterns and hydroperiod duration from lon...
MCMCglmm analysis
Estimation of genetic parameters including heritability and genetic variance-covariance matrices using generalized linear mixed models with Bayesian M...
Elevational gradient soil and seed sampling (Fabaceae)
Systematic collection of soils and seeds across elevational gradients spanning current and projected future species ranges to capture natural variatio...
Dominance scoring (Formicidae)
Three dominance scores calculated for each species at each site where it occurred to assess competitive hierarchies.
Temperature-behavior correlation analysis
Linear regression analyses testing relationships between daily temperature deviations and hummingbird visitation rates. Multiple analytical approaches...
Phylogenetic Generalized Least Squares regression
Used phylogenetic generalized least squares (PGLS) regression and phylogenetic ANOVA to test relationships between acoustic call frequencies, body siz...
Split-plot experimental design
Replicated split-plot design with snowmelt manipulated at plot level and precipitation manipulated at subplot level.
Publication (193) →
Ecological factors influence balancing selection on leaf chemical profiles of a wildflower
Ecological contexts of balancing selection in nature
A gain of function polymorphism controlling complex traits and fitness in nature
Ecological causes and consequences of flower color polymorphism in a self pollinating plant (<i>Boechera stricta</i>)
Coyotes, deer, and wildflowers: diverse evidence points to a trophic cascade
Altitudinal variation in body size and population density of <i>Nicrophorus investigator</i> (Coleoptera: Silphidae)
The evolution of quantitative traits in complex environments
Double keystone bird in a keystone species complex
Young inversion with multiple linked QTLs under selection in a hybrid zone
Genetic tradeoffs and conditional neutrality contribute to local adaptation
Show 183 more publications
Increasing aridity may threaten the maintenance of a plant defence polymorphism
Strong selection genome-wide enhances fitness tradeoffs across environments and episodes of selection
Consistent shifts in pollinator-relevant floral coloration along a Rocky Mountain elevation gradient
An altitudinal cline in UV floral pattern corresponds with a behavioral change of a generalist pollinator assemblage
Protection at a price? Ant interactions with pollinators on aspen sunflower (<i>Helianthella quinquenervis</i>)
Role of floral nectaries and plant sex in mediating ant-aphid interactions on <i>Valeriana edulis</i>
Resource availability and population dynamics of <i>Nicrophorus investigator</i>, an obligate carrion breeder
The Changing Floral Color Landscape Across an Alpine Elevation Gradient
Investigating alpine plant community responses to simulated warming and dominant species removal at a low and high elevation in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Effect of larval body size on overwinter survival and emerging adult size in the burying beetle, <i>Nicrophorus investigator</i>
"With a little help from my friends": Phylogenetic distance as a predictor of floral visitation in the plant communities of Gothic, CO.
The effect of an introduced predator scent on mule deer (</i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) browsing activities in meadow habitats in Gothic, Colorado
Environmental forces drive morphological variation in an alpine annual plant
Microgeographic patterns of genetic divergence and adaptation across environmental gradients in <i>Boechera stricta</i>(Brassicaceae)
Effects of Plant Diversity on Selection for Insect Resistance Traits in <i>Boechera stricta</i>
Variation in host plant sex mediates ant-aphid interactions
Life history QTLs and natural selection on flowering time in <i></i>Boechera stricta<i></i>, a perennial relative of <i></i>Arabidopsis<i></i>
Spatial distribution of mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>): Effects of plant palatability and habitat structure
Parental investment in burying beetles (<i>Nicrophorus investigator</i>): influence of seasonal timing and prior experience and efficacy of minimally guided instructional strategies in K-12 and undergraduate science classrooms: a meta-analysis
The Effects of Ants on Ecosystem Dynamics: Investigating the Ecological Influence of Ant Nests in the Rocky Mountains
The Landscape of Fear and Trophic Cascades: Does Human Presence at RMBL Affect Deer Behavior?
Effects of phenological stage and temperature on <i>Ligusticum porteri’s</i> volatiles and trophic interactions
Effects of warming, dominant species removal, and accelerated snowmelt on aboveground plant traits in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Seasonal reproductive potential and iteroparity of the burying beetle (Coleoptera: Silphidae)
Effects of experimental warming on herbivory and pathogen loads on subalpine grass species Festuca thurberi, Poa pratensis, and Achnatherum lettermanii
Stridulation in <i>Nicrophorus investigator</i> as a Possible Means of Cooperation during Carcass Sequestration
Vascular Plants of the Gothic Area
Species Interactions in Arthropod Communities: Density Dependence and Ant Interactions on Aphid Per Capita Population Growth
Mountain mosquitoes of the Gothic, Colorado area
Effects of Ant Presence on Nicrophorus investigator’s Reproductive Success
Aboveground and belowground traits of dominant and sub-dominant species along an elevational gradient.
Impacts of Mule Deer Herbivory on Herbaceous Vegetation in the Gothic Area, with Focus on Aquilegia coerulea
Associations Between Deer Browse and Aphid Colonization in a Long-Term Monitoring Study of Liguisticum porteri
Quantifying physiological and behavioral differences in caddisfly larvae
The Impacts of Changing Temperature on Plant Water Use
The impacts of environmental change on plant and microbial communities: A turf transplant experiment in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Genetic basis of plant-insect interactions: insect recruitment to <i>Boechera stricta</i>
Evaluating differences in water temperature and macroinvertebrate communities in BDA ponds, stream pools, and beaver dam ponds
the influence of red-naped sapsuckers on willow bird communities
Best restoration practices: Do BDAs mimic inundation patterns of natural beaver dams?
Floral pigmentation patterns provide an example of Gloger’s rule in plants
Nest site selection by a secondary cavity-nesting species, the mountain bluebird
Trait variations of <i>Boechera stricta</i> along an elevation gradient
Combined Effects of Aridity and Herbivory on Plant Performance
Phoretic mite discrimination among male burying beetle (<i>Nicrophorus investigator</i>) hosts
Effect of blood parasites on incubation efficiency of <i>Z. l. oriantha</i> in the Colorado Rocky Mountains
Barriers to Gene Flow across a Light Gradient in Cardamine cordifolia.
Direct and Indirect Consequences of Climate Change on Net Ecosystem Exchange.
Phylogenetic distance can predict susceptibility to attack by natural enemies
Parasite infection and host dynamics in a naturally fluctuating rodent population
Effects of proximity to riparian zones on avian species richness and abundance in montane aspen woodlands.
Range-wide study in a sexually polymorphic wild strawberry reveals climatic and soil associations of sex ratio, sexual dimorphism and sex chromosomes
Getting to the Root of It: Effects of Castilleja Root Hemiparasitism on Plant Community Structure and Function
Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Coexistence in Closely Related <i>Rhyacophila</i> (Trichoptera) Species
Evolutionary genetics of plant adaptation
Floral visitation determined by phylogenetic distance in the plant communities of Gothic, CO.
Temperature regulation in burying beetles (<i>Nicrophorus</i> spp.: Coleoptera: Silphidae): effects of body size, morphology and environmental temperature
The Effect of Predation on Ant-aphid Mutualism in <i>Ligusticum porteri</i>
First-order controls of soil and leaf moisture
Native ant (<i>Formica rufa, Formica fusca</i>), <i>Nicrophorus spp.</i> interactions at small mammal carcass resources in the southern Rocky Mountains, Gunnison National Forest, Colorado.
The effect of sampling effort on species richness estimates of flower visitors
Impact of the Western Thatching Ant (Formica obscuripes) on
An Epichloe endophyte alters the ecology of Poa leptocoma.
Red-naped Sapsucker nest tree selection and effects on the willow breeding bird community
Trichome density differences in Boechera stricta across an elevational gradient.
Willow branch selection by the red-naped sapsucker (<i>Sphyrapicus nuchalis</i>): The effects of branch characteristics on foraging behavior in Gothic, CO
Abundance and elevational range shifts of three species of burying beetle in Gunnison County, Colorado and importance of stridulation during reproduction in burying beetles
Factors influencing floral traits in Rocky Mountain meadows: competition, environmental filtering, and phylogeny
Attributes of mountain bluebird cavity nests
Tracing phenology trends in time and space using herbarium data and citizen science observations in western Colorado
Community assembly and food web interactions across pond permanence gradients
Behavioral response of Mountain White-Crowned Sparrows towards an interspecific competitor
Antipredatory response of mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) to predator urines
Nicrophorus investigator: The Effects of Asymmetry in Body Size on the Duration of Bi-parental Care.
Plant Bioassay Testing Soil Quality Following Carrion Insect Activity
A test of sexual dimorphism in <i>Valeriana edulis</i> resistance and induced responses to herbivory
Effects of altitude on co-flowering phenology in a montane wildflower community
Intraspecific flower color variation along elevation gradients
Coexistence in Burying Beetles: The Niche of Reproductive Temperatures
Measuring the influence of phylogenetic relationships on floral visitation
Causes and consequences of dominant and subdominant plant species effects on ecosystem function: using above-and belowground traits in an alpine meadow system
Seed protection by ants foraging on the extrafloral nectaries of the aspen sunflower, <i>Helianthella quinquenervis</i>
How beaver pond age affects aquatic invertebrates
The Impact of Warming and Species Removal on Soil Respiration at Low and High Elevations
The impact of climate change on Rocky Mountain plant communities: Differences in floral trait along an elevational gradient of transplanted communities
Testing for the genetic basis of cold tolerance in a wild mustard
Effect of a reduction in mountain stream flow on the diversity and quantity of benthic macroinvertebrates and the abundance of algae
Aquatic invertebrate communities in old, new, and re-formed beaver ponds in the Trail Creek watershed
The effect of ant tending on the fitness of aphids during and after colony establishment
Species richness along an elevational gradient
Plant community composition with respect to species richness along an altitudinal gradient in gunnison county, co
Mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) detect coyote (<i>Canis latrans</i>) scent
Plant resource allocation and herbivory for <i>Helianthella quinquenervis</i> (Asteraceae) over an elevational gradient
A Comparative Analysis of Saxicolous Lichen Diversity and Cover along an Elevation Gradient on Talus Slopes in Gunnison National Forest to Infer Possible Climate Change Effects
Are ants botanists?: Ant associative learning of plant volatiles
The Impact of Carrion Insects on Human Impacted Soil
Variation in root morphology and allocation of <i>Androsace septentrionalis</i> along a natural elevation/climate gradient
Effects of bacterial endophytes on plant-insect interactions
Does stigma-anther separation prevent sexual interference in dwarf bluebells (<i>Mertensia fusiformis</i>)?
Predator and prey species have opposing responses to recreational trail use
Impacts of the invasive species <i> Linaria vulgaris </i> on soil ecology and native plant biodiversity
Trap behavior of <i> Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha </i> at different elevations in the West Elk Mountains, Colorado
Effects of abiotic and biotic stress on plant fitness and herbivore defense in Boechera stricta
Moss and vascular plant cover across elevational gradients in a changing alpine climate
Flower preference and constancy in four butterfly species
Environmental and Genetic Effects of Elevation on Plant Defense
The ability of ants to associatively learn based on olfactory chemical cues produced by plants.
Impacts of Historical Hydroperiod on Bird Predation of Emergent Aquatic Insects
The Effects of Nest-Site Selection and Microclimate on Nest Survival in Sparrows of High Elevation
Investigating Herbivore Relationships to Boechera stricta in a Climate Change Context.
Temporal variation in pollen limitation in Hydrophyllum fendleri (Boraginaceae) Individuals.
Self-Similarity in the Distribution of Plant Species Across a Successional Gradient
How do riparian songbirds (Passerines) coexist? Effects of vegetative structural complexity on habitat selection in willow (<i>Salix</i> spp.)
Dispersal, phenology and habitat preference of subalpine whirligig beetles (Coleoptera: Gyrinidae: Gyrinus)
Scale of plasticity and local adaptation in <i>Boechera stricta </i> along an altitudinal gradient
What sexual diversity in the natural world can teach humans about sex, gender, and inclusive biology
Does infection by endophytic bacteria influence plant susceptibility to herbivory in nature?
Frenemies: conflict and cooperation in burying beetle (<i>Nicrophorus investigator</i>) parental care
The Combined Effects of Aphid-Ant Mutualism and Fertilizer on the Resource Allocation of Valerian edulis
Effects of soil moisture and temperature on plant palatability and herbivore plant preference
On the spatial distribution and abundance of herbaceous plants in aspen and conifer forest understories: a test of neutral/statistical versus niche-based theories?
Plant community light efficiency: measuring light response as a function of both photosynthesis irradiance.
Influence of patch area on bird species diversity in coniferous forests
Does an achromatic border alter color discrimination of male <i> Speyeria mormonia </i> butterflies during mate searching?
Invasive <i>Linaria vulgaris</i>, disturbance, and diversity: associations at multiple spatial scales in Colorado
The effect of elevation on the phenology and pollination ecology of <i></i>Frasera speciosa<i></i> (Gentianaceae)
Habitat Selection in Nicrophoryus investigator and defodiens.
Changes in mosquito community of Gunnison County since 1966
Determining Long-Term Success of Revegetation Efforts in Disturbed Sites
Ant presences alter plants: The impact <i>Formica obscuripes</i> presence on plants and soil micro-anthropod diversity
Vegetation structure effect on bird foraging behavior across the summer season in montane wet-meadows
Environmental Variation and Vegetative Composition in Beaver Engineered Ecosystems
Reproductive Success and Parental Care of Nicrophorus investigator.
Impact of mound-building ants on ecosystem properties create islands of fertility in alpine meadows
Factors that affect territory size in Mountain White-Crowned Sparrows (<i>Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha</i>)
Sperm retention in female Nicrophorus investigator
Investigating the air temperatures of different taxa in an alpine plant community
The effect of habitat on intra-generic competition
The Fate of Burying Beetles and their Carcasses: Hardships, Competition and Environmental Factors
Characterization of thermal tolerance in sub-alpine bumblebee species
Habitat patch use, density, and territoriality of American Red Squirrels (<i>Tamiasciurus hudsonicus</i>) in the southwestern Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Out of sight, out of mind: The role of carcass burial and maintenance in reducing competition in Nicrophorus investigator
Does ant usage vary between the plants <i>Ligusticum porteri</i> and <i>Helianthella quinquenervis</i>?
Roles of Stridulation in Nicophorus investigator.
What determines the distribution of red-naped sapsuckers in the East River Valley?
Conflict of interest? Investigating the costs and benefits of herbivore defense using the model plant <i>Boechera stricta</i>
The effects of elevation and climate on butterfly (<i>Lepidoptera</i>) abundance and activity
Effects of single and terraced beaver ponds on benthic macroinvertebrate communities
Revegetation after disturbance in high-altitude meadow ecosystems
On the structure and significance of ecological niche breadth
Experimental test of the ability of plants to regulate their temperatures under climate change: Using transplanted communities, thermal imaging, and arcGIS across an elevation gradient
Effects of Life History Traits in the Mountain White-Crowned Sparrow During Incubation
Hot and Cold: Assessing the Thermal Limitations of Bumble Bees in a Changing Climate
Biotic and abiotic effects on ant community structure
Examining top-down and bottom up effects on aphid abundance on Ligusticum porteri
Host specificity of hemiparasitic Castilleja and its influence on plant community diversity.
Effects of Altitude on the Growth, Mortality, and Recruitment of Subalpine Tree Species in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado.
Is there intraspecific variation in synchrony in subalpine flowering species?
Investigating the comparison between bird diversity and apex aquatic predators in sub-alpine beaver ponds
Species coexistence in a food web with intraguild predation
Effect of Rock Size, Age, and Distance on the Biodiversity of Lower Copper Creek Area Lichens: A Test of the Theory of Island Biogeography
Investigation of Inbreeding Depression in <i>Boechera stricta</i> Fitness
Avian Diversity in Aspen and Conifer Forests :
Aspen heart rot fungus (<i>Phellinus tremulae</i>) distribution in aspen forests in relation to open meadows: implications for red-naped sapsucker (<i>Sphyrapicus nuchalis</i>) nesting habitat
Spectacle in the meadows
Causes of predation intensity in an ant/aphid mutualist system
Effects of Alpine Shrub Cover on Territorial Male White-Crown Sparrows Densities.
Biofluorescence in Arizona Tiger Salamanders (Ambystoma mavortium nebulsoum) as an indicator of sexual readiness
Comparison of Arthropod Diversity between Perennial Shrub versus Evergreen Tree Habitats at Sites Near Gothic, CO
Clonal integration of induced resistance to herbivory damage in <i>Chamerion angustifolium</i>
What abiotic and biotic factors predict the shapes of plant diversity-productivity relationships?
The amino acids of extrafloral nectar from Helianthella quinquenervis (Asteraceae)
The effects of natural sun exposure on the intensity and distribution of salamander biofluorescence
The effects of parental care on brood success and quality in the burying beetle <i>Nicrophorus investigator</i>
Fitness costs of the aphid endosymbiont, <i>Hamiltonella defensa</i>
Biofluorescence as a Mechanism of Sexual Selection in Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum
Reproductive ecology and pollination biology of Geum triflorum (prairie smoke)
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ASPEN HEARTWOOD ROT AND THE LOCATION OF CAVITY EXCAVATION BY A PRIMARY CAVITY-NESTER, THE RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
Local Adaptations and Fitness of Transplants in the Lewis Flax – Flax Rust Coevolutionary System
Duplication and population dynamics shape historic patterns of selection and genetic variation at the major histocompatibility complex in rodents
Non-random orientation of entrance holes to woodpecker nests in aspen trees
A practical technique for measuring the behavior of foraging animals
Visitors to Red-Naped Sapsucker sap wells and the effectiveness of artificial wells
Dataset (53) →
Data from: Ecological factors influence balancing selection on leaf chemical profiles of a wildflower
Balancing selection is frequently invoked as a mechanism to maintain variation within and across populations. However, rigorous tests demonstrating ba...
Data from: A gain-of-function polymorphism controlling complex traits and fitness in nature
Identification of the causal genes that control complex trait variation remains challenging, limiting our appreciation of the evolutionary processes t...
Leaf gas exchange in Ipomopsis aggregata under manipulated snowmelt timing and summer precipitation
Vegetative traits of plants can respond directly to changes in the environment, such as those occurring under climate change. That phenotypic plastici...
Data from: Integrating viability and fecundity selection to illuminate the adaptive nature of genetic clines
Genetically-based trait variation across environmental gradients can reflect adaptation to local environments. However, natural populations that appea...
Data from: The individual and combined effects of snowmelt timing and frost exposure on the reproductive success of montane forbs
1. Changes from historic weather patterns have affected the phenology of many organisms worldwide. Altered phenology can introduce organisms to novel ...
Experimental test of the combined effects of water availability and flowering time on pollinator visitation and seed set
Climate change is likely to alter both flowering phenology and water availability for plants. Either of these changes alone can affect pollinator vi...
Data from: Microgeographic patterns of genetic divergence and adaptation across environmental gradients in Boechera stricta (Brassicaceae)
Abiotic and biotic conditions often vary continuously across the landscape, imposing divergent selection on local populations. We used a provenance tr...
Carpenter_Meadow_transect_2010
This file contains phenotypic and fitness data on naturally-recruiting Boechera stricta plants in 5 transects. Jill Anderson collected these data at t...
Carpenter_Meadow_transect_2011
This file contains phenotypic and fitness data on naturally-recruiting Boechera stricta plants in 5 transects. Jill Anderson collected these data at t...
Carpenter_Meadow_experiment
This file contains data from the experiment at Carpenter Meadow to assess natural selection on flowering in local genotypes. Jill Anderson collected d...
Show 43 more datasets
Plant phenology, aphid colony growth, and honeydew deposition data
Changing phenological cues can lead to trophic mismatch for plants and herbivores, and this often shifts herbivore feeding to plant stages of lower ...
Pre-dispersal seed predation obscures the detrimental effect of dust on wildflower reproduction - flowering and egg phenology
Premise of the Research. Seed production by flowering plants depends on abiotic and biotic factors who...
Pre-dispersal seed predation obscures the detrimental effect of dust on wildflower reproduction - fruit data
Premise of the Research. Seed production by flowering plants depends on abiotic and biotic factors whose interacting effects may be hidden. We previ...
Data from: Strong selection genome-wide enhances fitness trade-offs across environments and episodes of selection
Fitness trade-offs across episodes of selection and environments influence life-history evolution and adaptive population divergence. Documenting thes...
Data from: Transgenerational and within-generation plasticity in response to climate change: insights from a manipulative field experiment across an elevational gradient
Parental environmental effects, or transgenerational plasticity, can influence an individual’s phenotype or fitness, yet remain underexplored in the c...
Individual level data for RILs (Recombinant Inbred Lines)
This file contains the individual level data for selection analyses and estimates of response to selection in the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) plan...
Family level averages for the Recombinant Inbred Lines (Colorado)
This file contains family-level average trait values for the recombinant inbred lines (RILs) in the Colorado garden. Columns include: family, leaf num...
Data from: 'Abiotic influences on continuous conifer forest structure across a subalpine watershed'
This package archives the core data used for analysis and inference in 'Abiotic influences on continuous conifer forest structure across a subalpine w...
Ecological causes and consequences of flower color polymorphism in a self-pollinating plant (Boechera stricta)
Intraspecific variation in flower color is often attributed to pollinator-mediated selection, yet this mechanism cannot explain flower color polymorph...
Data from: Evidence of local adaptation to fine- and coarse-grained environmental variability in Poa alpina in the Swiss Alps
In the alpine landscape, characterized by high spatiotemporal heterogeneity and barriers, divergent selection is likely to lead to local adaptation of...
21 MHC Class II DRB alleles from Microtus montanus
FASTA file of 21 MHC Class II Mimo-DRB alleles recovered from a wild population of montane vole (Microtus montanus). Samples were obtained between 200...
Community-level flowering & fitness data across an elevational gradient, Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, 2021-2022
We collected data at three sites in Washington Gulch near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL, Gothic, Colorado, USA) from June to August 2...
Data for: Increasing aridity may threaten the maintenance of a plant defense polymorphism
It is unclear how environmental change influences standing genetic variation in wild populations. Here, we characterized environmental conditions that...
Rhizosphere Soil Biogeochemical Data and Photosynthetic Data of Vicia Faba in a Rhizobox
Here we share the data in column format via csv files for pH, redox, and dissolved oxygen collected at hourly resolution from microelectrodes. Dissolv...
Data from: Duplication and population dynamics shape historic patterns of selection and genetic variation at the major histocompatibility complex in rodents
Genetic variation at the MHC is vitally important for wildlife populations to respond to pathogen threats. Because natural populations can fluctuate g...
Phenotypic plasticity and adaptive evolution contribute to advancing flowering phenology in response to climate change
Anthropogenic climate change has already altered the timing of major life history transitions, such as the initiation of reproduction. Both phenotypi...
Phenological responses to multiple environmental drivers under climate change: insights from a long-term observational study and a manipulative field experiment
Climate change has induced pronounced shifts in the reproductive phenology of plants, yet we know little about which environmental factors contribute ...
Data from: Climate change shifts natural selection and the adaptive potential of the perennial forb Boechera stricta in the Rocky Mountains
Heritable genetic variation is necessary for populations to evolve in response to anthropogenic climate change. However, antagonistic genetic correlat...
Forage Resources in Warming and Removal Plots, Almont, CO, 2019
This is data collected to explore the impacts of warming and dominant species removal on the quantity and quality of plants for cattle foraging. The d...
Phenological responses to climate change do not exhibit phylogenetic signal in a subalpine plant community
Phylogenetic relationships may underlie species-specific phenological sensitivities to abiotic variation and may help to predict these responses to cl...
Data from: Young inversion with multiple linked QTLs under selection in a hybrid zone
Fixed chromosomal inversions can reduce gene flow and promote speciation in two ways: by suppressing recombination and by carrying locally favoured al...
Manual soil CO2 flux, temperature and water content measurements from the Snodgrass and Copper Creek elevation transect
The manual_soil_measurements_2022_2023.csv data set contains all of the manually measured soil CO 2 efflux, volumetric water content and soil temperat...
Mammalian herbivores restrict the altitudinal range limits of three alpine grass species, West Elk Mountains, Colorado, USA 2015-2018
Though rarely experimentally tested, biotic interactions have long been hypothesized to limit low-elevation range boundaries of species. We tested the...
Forage Resources in Warming and Removal Plots, Almont, CO, 2019
This is data collected to explore the impacts of warming and dominant species removal on the quantity and quality of plants for cattle foraging. The d...
Multi-year census of arthropod abundance on the plant Ligusticum porteri near Gothic, CO
The purpose of this study was to track year-to-year variation in aphid abundance on the host plant Ligusticum porteri (Apiaceae). We censused arthropo...
Potentilla demographic and environmental data for Rainbow Meadows, Elk Meadows, and Cabin Clearing, 2018 - 2020.
To understand parent-hybrid dynamics in cinquefoil (Potentilla) species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, I am estimating environmental overlap among p...
Potentilla flowering phenology for Cabin Clearing, Elk Meadows and Rainbow Meadows, 2019.
To understand parent-hybrid dynamics in cinquefoil (Potentilla) species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, I am estimating environmental overlap among p...
Potentilla demographic and environmental data for Rocky Mountains of Colorado (Niwot LTER & RMBL), 2018 - 2020.
To understand parent-hybrid dynamics in cinquefoil (Potentilla) species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, I am estimating environmental overlap among p...
Manual soil CO2 flux, temperature and water content measurements from the Snodgrass and Copper Creek elevation transect
The manual_soil_measurements_2022_2023.csv data set contains all of the manually measured soil CO 2 efflux, volumetric water content and soil temperat...
NOAA PSL Soil Moisture and Surface Temperature Probe Data for SPLASH
This dataset contains measurements from a hand-held FieldScout TDR Soil Moisture Meter within the 0-10 cm soil depth of: Time (UTC), GPS locations, El...
Mammalian herbivores restrict the altitudinal range limits of three alpine grass species, West Elk Mountains, Colorado, USA 2015-2018
Though rarely experimentally tested, biotic interactions have long been hypothesized to limit low-elevation range boundaries of species. We tested the...
Mammalian herbivores restrict the altitudinal range limits of three alpine grass species (transplant and herbivore exclusion experiment and demographic data from natural populations), West Elk Mountains, Colorado, USA 2015-2018
Though rarely experimentally tested, biotic interactions have long been hypothesized to limit low-elevation range boundaries of species. We tested the...
Multi-year census of arthropod abundance on the plant Ligusticum porteri near Gothic, CO
The purpose of this study was to track year-to-year variation in aphid abundance on the host plant Ligusticum porteri (Apiaceae). We censused arthropo...
Multi-year census of arthropod abundance on the plant Ligusticum porteri near Gothic, CO
The purpose of this study was to track year-to-year variation in aphid abundance on the host plant Ligusticum porteri (Apiaceae). We censused arthropo...
Rainbow trout diet and invertebrate drift data from 2012-2015 for the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona
These data were compiled to explore the foraging ecology of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Arizona. These da...
Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) water potentials from clones with varying aspect and understory composition
Predawn and midday plant water potential measurements, collected on terminal twigs using a scholander-type pressure chamber (PMS Instruments, Corvalli...
Potentilla plot soil moisture for Cabin Clearing, Elk Meadows and Rainbow Meadows, 2019.
To understand parent-hybrid dynamics in cinquefoil (Potentilla) species in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, I am estimating environmental overlap among p...
Mammalian herbivores restrict the altitudinal range limits of three alpine grass species, West Elk Mountains, Colorado, USA 2015-2018
Though rarely experimentally tested, biotic interactions have long been hypothesized to limit low-elevation range boundaries of species. We tested the...
Trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) water potentials from clones with varying aspect and understory composition
Predawn and midday plant water potential measurements, collected on terminal twigs using a scholander-type pressure chamber (PMS Instruments, Corvalli...
RMBL Digitized Herbarium Records
Vascular Plants curated within the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory Herbarium. Specimens date to 1929 and are primarily from the East River and up...
Coronavirus testing indicates transmission risk increases along wildlife supply chains for human consumption in Viet Nam, 2013-2014
Outbreaks of emerging coronaviruses in the past two decades and the current pandemic of a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that emerged in China highl...
Iron_Vegetation_Modifiedwhitakerplots
Initial baseline (2016 or 2017) Modified Whitaker Plots conducted for sites associated with the interactive Roaring Fork Observation Network (iRON) in...
AmeriFlux US-UR4 Gunnison - UCRB
This is the AmeriFlux version of the carbon flux data for the site US-UR4 Gunnison - UCRB. Site Description - This site is located in Gunnison, Colora...