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

Resources obtained from the environment are allocated to many plant parts and functions. Resource allocation into defense, growth, and reproduction was examined for Helianthella quinquenervis, the Aspen sunflower, for three field sites over an elevational gtadient. H. quinquenervis has evolved a mut

Two of the predominant interests in ecology are patterns in the distributions and abundances of organisms and the interrelationships of organisms with their environment. Many naturally occurring phenomena take on self-similar distributions, appearing the same over different spatial scales. I tested

Delayed egg hatching can influence the survival of aquatic insects by reducing exposure to competi- tors, predators, parasites, or unfavorable environmental conditions. We examined egg development in a Colorado population of the stonefly, Megarcys signata (Plecoptera: Perlodidae), whose larvae in- h

Altered precipitation patterns are a major prediction of climate change models and a recent reality. Changes in climatic variables may affect the evolution of species by affecting the magnitude and direction of natural selection on various traits. Winter precipitation can affect summer-flowering pla

Pollinator populations are decreasing globally constituting a major conservation concern. A decline in a particular pollinator species may cause plant population declines. Certain Bombus species may be more effective pollinators; i.e. they contribute more to female reproductive success of a flower s

Ecological theory holds that edge effects influence species composition and diversity along both anthropogenic and natural forest edges. These ecotonal zones provide abundant microhabitats and opportunity for increased biodiversity. Abiotic factors such as temperature, soil moisture and soil water-h

Mutualistic interactions between ants and plants are common. Understanding the effects on ants with different variables can denote what influences the ant abundance. As an observational study, I censused all 10 sites four times in a two week period reporting the number of flowering stalks, the numbe

The strength of natural selection on phenotypic traits as a result of herbivory can be measured within and among environments by quantifying spatial variation in fitness and herbivory levels in the different environments. High spatial variation among different light gradients can be expected to caus