Behavioral responses of white-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) to synthesized nonlinear phenomena
Proximate causes of natal dispersal in female yellow-bellied marmots, <i>Marmota flaviventris</i>
Costs and benefits of an ant-membracid mutualism in the absence of predation
Temperature Selection in the Arizona Tiger Salamander (<i> Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum </i>)
High-elevation ecosystems are experiencing rapid warming and severe impact of global climate change. The Arizona Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum) occurs in high elevation ponds in the West Elk Mountains of Colorado and offers a compelling system to test context-dependent responses to
Effects of photoperiodically induced reproductive diapause and cold hardening on the cold tolerance of <i>Drosophila montana</i>
Trade-offs associated with food availability and predator avoidance behavior of a stream mayfly
We studied the effects of food availability and predator cues on mayflies at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, CO. Organisms in a wide variety of ecological systems must deal with trade-offs between functions necessary to sustain their populations. Specifically, we were inte
The effect of ants on the population dynamics of <i>Hamiltonella defensa</i> a protective symbiont of aphids
Comparative study on pollinator visits to high elevation plant communities in Virginia Basin, Gothic, Colorado
Plant-pollinator networks are intricate systems that can give insight on a location’s biodiversity and response to environmental changes. By studying pollination networks at different elevations, researchers can evaluate how varying environmental conditions influence how plant and pollinator species
Primary production
Investigating the relationship between <i> Bombus appositus </i> abundance and its overlap with key floral resources
Many species of bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are experiencing population declines. In subalpine ecosystems, climate change is altering floral phenology by causing an earlier blooming period, which creates a growing season with sparser resources. Since bumble bees and their floral resources depend on ph
Spatial distribution of mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>): Effects of plant palatability and habitat structure
Scientists at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) have recorded more mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) activity density within the Gothic town site relative to outside the town site. One hypothesis to account for increased deer activity in Gothic is that coyotes, who prey on deer fawns, av
Ecological interactions of the cadmium- and zinc-hyperaccumulating plant, Thlaspi caerulescens, and their implications for phytoremediation
The impact of artificially creating an elk wintering ground on plant species diversity
Effects of climate change on the elevational distribution of bumble bees near Crested Butte, CO: comparing data across 47 years
As climate change continues to alter the abiotic environment, many organisms must adapt to survive. In montane systems where changes in elevation can present noticeable changes in temperature and moisture, many organisms may adapt to climate change by migrating to higher elevations. Bumble bees, whi
Ecological effects of the biocontrol insects, <i>Larinus planus</i> and <i>Rhinocyllus conicus</i>, on native thistles
Molecular identification of host feeding patterns of snow-melt mosquitoes: potential implications for the transmission of Jamestown Canyon Virus
Pollination potential of male bumble bees (<i>Bombus impatiens</i>): movement patterns and pollen-transfer efficiency
Testing the predictions of the Maximum Information Entropy Theory for abundance and energy distributions on the Gothic earthflow
Maximum Information Entropy theory, or MaxEnt, has been shown in many cases to accurately predict relationships between macroecological variables in ecosystems in a state of equilibrium. However, little testing has been performed on MaxEnt in disturbed sites. This study evaluated the accuracy of pre
Investigating the comparison between bird diversity and apex aquatic predators in sub-alpine beaver ponds
Predation of native salamanders by non-native trout in Colorado is a wildlife concern. Understanding the dynamics of how the different species interact is important. Cascade effects in the environment are caused by declines of species in a community. Birds, fish, and amphibians are deeply connected,