The genetic relationships of colony members in the ant Myrmica tahoensis were determined on the basis of highly polymorphic microsatellite DNA loci. These analyses show that colonies fall into one of two classes. In roughly half of the sampled colonies, workers and female offspring appear to be full

In experimentally heated plots that each span a soil moisture gradient in a Rocky Mountain meadow, aboveground biomass of Artemisia tridentata (a sagebrush) increased in the drier habitat and that of Pentaphylloides floribunda (a shrub cinquefoil) increased in the wetter habitat relative to control

It has been suggested that one of the selective advantages of ant dispersal is the burial of seeds in ant nests where predators such as small rodents cannot find them. The elaiosomes of Corydalis aurea (Fumariaceae) are extremely attractive to ants, which assiduously gather the seeds and take them t

Temperature is one of the limiting factors of life, and it influences an organism’s growth, sexual reproduction, sexual determination, distribution, and metabolism. the interaction between temperature and organisms therefore an essential component of their ecology. Temperature impacts organisms in d

ABSTRACTThe characteristic stalk of Colacium calvum Stein is formed from carbohydrate extruded by granules in the anterior portion of the cell. These granules exhibit the characteristics of mucocysts and their contents have two electron densities. A narrow extension of each granule extends past neig

Climate change is altering water availability in subalpine ecosystems. Shifts in snowmelt timing and summer monsoonal precipitation, which alter soil moisture, have the capacity to elicit plastic responses in plants. Plasticity in floral traits such as nectar production and flower color can impact p

Range shifts occur when all individuals of a species or population move from a previously- habitable area to a newly-habitable area in response to changing environmental conditions. Climate- induced range shifts are well-documented for certain regions, biomes, and taxa, but large knowledge gaps exis

The impacts of growing deer populations upon biodiversity have caused concern for ecologists since it is speculated that certain species of herbs are targeted and over abundantly browsed. This study investigated deer abundance as well as intensity of deer browsing of herbaceous plants inside and out

Abstract Climate change can modify the population dynamics of insects. In this instance, “climate” encompasses temperature and precipitation patterns, including dry season or snow cover duration and timing. Also included are changes in both climate means and variances. Insect declines in response to

Black bears in the Colorado Rocky Mountains forage for western thatching ants as a food source. However, there is little knowledge about the nutritional benefit of ants for black bears, particularly with regard to changes in nutritional value during the ant life cycle. From late spring to mid-summer