To understand bumblebee thermal limitations a controlled experient was built and tested in different environmental conditions to determine the most stable form of conducting upper and lower thermal trials in the field. The study was conducted at field sites located at the Rocky Mountain Biological L

This study investigated inconstancy in the sex-expression of male flowers across populations of Edible Valerian (Valeriana edulis) as well as potential drivers of its variation. Though Valeriana edulis is dioecious (individuals typically have separate sexes), plants showing dominant male sex-express

The invasion of the European perennial Linaria vulgaris to the alpine environment of Colorado may lead to competition for natural resources, space, and pollinators with native species. I measured the effects on fitness of L. vulgaris on three plant species native to Colorado, using both hand-pollina

Plant-pollinator interactions are extremely familiar to many different ecosystems all over the world. Many floral species and pollinators have developed intricate and essential adaptations to benefit one another. Aspects of plant reproduction require pollinator visits and many pollinators rely on fl

Climate change will increasingly impact ecosystem functioning due to shifts in species distributions as they seek their optimal climatic conditions. Plants rely on phenotypic plasticity of leaf traits to tolerate a change in their climate. Plant leaf traits also affect the carbon cycle of the local

Global climate change is a threat to ecosystems globally. In subalpine environments, one of the

Ecotypic variation can be driven by a disproportionate balance between selective pressures and gene flow. If the strength of selection is weak relative to the level of gene flow, genetic variation will likely be homogenized among populations. However, in the absence or severe limitation of gene flow

Global climate change will likely result in warmer, dryer environments and influence the behavior and development of a number of species. Asynarchus nigriculus is a species of caddisfly whose larval stage lives exclusively in temporary ponds where they develop synchronously and quickly before the po

The question of thermoregulation in plants is increasingly important in a rapidly changing climate. Plants have long been considered poikilotherms, where internal temperatures are decided by the external environment. However, observations show that plants have some ability to thermoregulate. If plan

Nectar robbing has been thought to lead to a reduction in plant fitness, although there is conflicting evidence for this assumption. Little evidence has been done on whether or not primary, or initial, robbing has a differing effect on plant fitness than secondary robbing does. To test the possible