A study of correlational selection through floral manipulations of <i></i>Polemonium foliosissimum<i></i> (Polemoniaceae)
Patterns of natural avalanche activity associated with new snow water equivalence and upper atmospheric wind direction and speed in the mountains surrounding Gothic, Colorado
Snowfall, temperature and wind are three factors that quickly change avalanche conditions. Ridge-top winds have been used to assess avalanche conditions with mixed success due to high variability. Few analyses have tested the effect upper atmospheric winds have on avalanche conditions. This study at
Selection of leaves by sawflies
Effects of Native and Non-native Predators on Aquatic Communities
Predators impact the ecosystem in a top-down manner; however, we are not sure how non-native predators differ from native ones. In Colorado beaver ponds, non-native trout can change aquatic communities by preying on macroinvertebrates and excluding the native predator, tiger salamanders. Beaver pond
Effects of Climate Variation and Nesting Traits on Sex Ratios of Adult Solitary Bees
In the face of environmental change, including climate change, many organisms’ biological and ecological processes are being altered. Adult sex ratios are directly related to an organisms’ reproductive success and long-term viability. Understanding what influences sex ratios in the face of these cha
The Influence of Summer Precipitation and Temperature on Golden Mantled Ground Squirrel Pup Foraging.
Golden-mantled ground squirrels (GMGS) at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) spend the majority of the year, from October to May, hibernating in order to save energy during the winter seasons in Gothic, Colorado. Once the winter season is over, the squirrels emerge from their burrows an
The influence of human recreational trail use has on rodent and predator activity using motion triggered cameras
The recreational trails in Gunnison County, Colorado near the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) are a valuable resource for the community. RMBL is a prominent field station surrounded by a largely intact ecosystem whose diverse native plants and animals are key to its scientific research a
Morph and Sex differences in prey selectivity of tiger salamanders (<i> Ambystoma mavortium nebulosum </i>)
The tiger salamander is the top predator of the benthic invertebrate in the ponds at the Mexican Cut Nature Preserve, and hence, one of the main influential factors on the benthic invertebrate community structure. Recent phenomena observed at the MCP, like earlier snowmelt dates of some of the ponds
The spatial variation of leaf traits in <i> Ipomopsis </i> according to soil moisture and snow depth
This study analyzed how soil moisture and snow depth correlates with leaf traits of Ipomopsis aggregata across and within populations in the Crested Butte and Gothic, Colorado area. Earlier snowmelt due to global warming is lessening soil moisture in early summer in the Rocky Mountains and potential
From animals to ecosystem processes: Predicting functional outcomes of climate-driven changes in animal communities through species traits
Functional trait diversity within species assemblages ultimately determines whether or not ecosystem processes are sensitive to shifts in relative abundances or species composition. For example, trait variation suggests detritivores process detritus at different rates and make different relative con
Social interactions and natal dispersal of young golden-mantled ground squirrels (<i>Spermophilus lateralis</i>)
The effects of anthropogenic change on pollination in plant-pollinator communities
The effects of anthropogenic change on pollination in plant-pollinator communities by Loy Xingwen Pollinators facilitate reproduction in ~80% of global plant species, making them integral to many agricultural and natural ecosystems. For over 200 years, western scientists have been fascinated by the