Numerous factors, including climate, resource availability, and habitat diversity, act as determinants of global species diversity. I collected baseline species richness data at three sites along an elevation gradient. Discovery curves indicated that I recorded all species at a site. Interestingly,

The phenology of plants in the alpine environment of the Rocky Mountains is heavily dependent on snowmelt time (Inouye and McGuire 1991, Thomson 2010). In this study we have manipulated the timing of snowmelt in order to change the phenology of Delphinium nuttallianum in the subalpine environment of

Individuality is defined as the characteristics that determine the differences from one individual in species from another individual of the same species. Many animals use acoustic signals to communicate. These signals send messages about territorial defense, mate attraction and kin-ship. The abilit

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate the relationship between the different genders of the gynodioecious species P. foliosissimum and their mycorrhizal associates. Mcyorrhizal colonization of roots was quantified, and soil and plant tissue analyses were performed. Further, a full factor

In order to determine the degree of ecological damage inflicted as a result of mining operations around the Gothic area, three tailings piles were identified in Gothic and Crested Butte and an observational study of plant species on and around them carried out. It was found that both total numbers o

A trophic cascade is an ecological process in which predators affect the producer biomass and community composition of an ecosystem by limiting plant consumption by herbivores. Predators not only control herbivore populations through predation, but their mere presence can affect herbivore behavior.

The results of a long-term experimental warming study, in a montane meadow in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, have shown that Artemisia tridentata (Common Sagebrush) is likely to increase in abundance under climate change, as perennial forb species decrease in abundance. This change in species comp

True omnivores are animals which feed on both plant and prey sources, allowing them to effect multiple trophic levels within a food web. Ants are well-known omnivores and many participate in honeydew mutualisms with aphids. The western thatching ant, Formica obscuripe, tends the mutualist aphid Aphi

Brassicaceae plants, such as bittercress (Cardamine cordifolia) produce characteristic glucosinolates, which are secondary metabolites used as defense compounds to deter pathogens and insect herbivores, such as the leaf mining fly (Scaptomyza nigrita). These compounds are produced constitutively and

Animals are expected to maximize feeding success while minimizing predation risk; however, foraging and vigilance behaviors often conflict. I studied this trade-off in Golden- mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis), with respect to human-created structures in Gothic, CO, site of the Rocky

Pollinator’s attraction to various species of angiosperms is based upon various sensory outputs. These attractants could be floral/inflorescence size, color, scents or other various types of pollinator attractants. It can be inferred that plants species that are more closely related will have simila

Many species produce individually specific vocalizations and sociality is a hypothesized driver of individuality. Previous studies of social variation focused on species that were colonial nesters or not, and social group size in sciurid rodents. If sociality is an important driver of individuality,

In this study I tested if there is a correlation between bee size and size parameters of flowers the bees visit for pollen. In the plant community evaluated there are not many characteristics restricting the use of pollen by bees. Most of the plants analysed have open corollas and/or present pollen

Hummingbirds are known to select which floral resource to utilize based on visual and olfactory cues. The role that microbes play in mediating the mutualism between hummingbirds and flowers is mostly unexplored in the field of microbial and pollination ecology. Bee pollinators are known to be deterr

We studied the effect of varying amounts of soil nitrogen on Linaria vulgaris and native species. Linaria vulgaris is an invasive weed in the Rocky Mountains that forms monocultures, hindering the growth of native plants. The Rocky Mountain soils are nitrogen-poor, and we expected nitrogen-reduced s

A plants ability to resist high levels of herbivory may increase performance and fitness, then be favored by natural selection (Agrawal et al 1998, Karban 1993). The objectives of this study were to find if Chamerion angustifolium, Fireweed, develops an induced resistance to herbivory damage and if