Insect herbivores consume plant tissue, reducing plant fitness in the process. In response, plants have evolved a variety of mechanical and chemical defenses to protect themselves. This paper focuses on trichomes, which are hair-like appendages that extend from leaf tissues, and plants use them as a

Parasites have the potential to alter population dynamics by decreasing fitness and increasing mortality of their hosts. Changes in ecosystems may also create scenarios that are more conducive to higher infection or parasitism. This survey examined parasitism of Bombus by Crithidia bombi, Nosema bom

Local temperature increases and more frequent extreme rainfall events are predicted effects of climate change at high latitudes (IPCC 2007). Precipitation regimes are also shifting, but science is less able to predict these patterns (IPCC 2007). Water balance is critical as it ultimately drives prim

Red-naped sapsuckers (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) are an integral part of the aspen (Populus tremuloides) ecosystem in the montane western U.S. They are a double keystone species, providing both shelter and nutrients to a variety of organisms within the system. Numerous studies have documented the importa

Invasive species is destructive to many habitats because it prevents several native species to grow. Controlling invasive species is challenging because invasive also prefer conditions what native likes (Gusewell 2004). The purpose of the experiment was to manipulate the nutrient available to L. vul

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) and Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE) participate in symbiotic relationships with host plants in the Rocky Mountains. The effects of plant-host phenology on these fungal symbionts is important in our understanding of how climate changes effects on plants will change th

! Gynodioecity is prolific within some angiosperm populations. These coexisting individuals within the same population will either be females that canʼt produce pollen, or hermaphrodites which can. Our study attempted to peer into the reasoning behind female persistence in Polemonium foliosissimum,

Due to climatic changes, sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) is likely to increase its elevational range in the Rocky Mountains, which could have significant effect on alpine communities. Little is known about the demographics of sagebrush populations, partially due to difficulties in age

Hybridization between interspecific angiosperms is common, yet the initial stages are rare (REF- is this even true????). One of the factors that aeffects the rate of hybridization is the behavior of pollinators responsible for transferring pollen and fertilizing the flowers – only for some plants. P

In the face of global climate change, it is important to know how ecosystems will be affected so that conservation efforts may be more successful. In mountainous regions, effects of climate change may be especially pronounced due to steep elevation gradients and specific habitat requirements. The No

Climate change is leading to shifts in precipitation, including longer and more severe droughts. Perennial wildflowers in subalpine dry meadows are affected by current and potentially future droughts in the Rocky Mountains, and several species have shown phenotypic plasticity in response to environm

There are many types of pollinators, all of which have an effect on a plant’s reproductive success. As the types of pollinators are variable, so are their effects on the plant. In this study, I estimated the single-­‐visit efficacy of two different Colorado bees, Psithyrus insularis and Megachile, o

Invasive and native plant interactions are well studied, but the influence of invasive plants on native pollination systems is largely ignored. Native pollinators, specifically bees, feed their young with pollen and nectar they harvest from plants. An invasive plant could greatly augment the foragin

In subalpine Colorado ecosystems, red-naped sapsuckers feed by excavating sap wells in shrubby willow branches. Many species of insects, birds, and mammals are known to feed from this sap. Previous studies on avian sap robbers suggest these sap wells may have a direct effect on bird communities. Fur

This study analyzed the species richness and abundance of lichens along Copper Creek, Gothic, CO., in relation to boulder size and distance from a source, in an attempt to illustrate the theory of island biogeography. Mine tailings were also sampled to determine the colonization and growth rates of

Many aphid species, on a wide variety of plants, are tended by ants. We tested whether the relationship between the ant species Formica obscuripes and an aphid species on rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) was a mutualism and, if so, whether it was obligate or facultative. Using a fully facto

Condition can influence many traits. I looked at how condition affects time allocation while foraging for yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) by taking two minute focal samples of adults and yearlings and recording their behavior. Each focal was paired with measurements of condition collec

The need for information on invasive species has been growing more and more pressing as they continue to spread and crowd out native plants. Alarm over invasive species is often concerned with the vegetative crowding and homogenized habitats that they create. It has recently been recognized that the