It is widely accepted that in stream systems, detritivores accelerate the breakdown of detritus that has been “conditioned” by microbial decomposers. By accelerating the breakdown of dead plant material, detritivores release nutrients and smaller food particles that are used by downstream plants and

Subalpine ecosystems are home to hundreds of species of wildflowers, many of which are endemic and very vulnerable to climate change. Megachilidae are a family of primarily solitary bees that are very efficient pollinators, making them crucial components of subalpine ecosystems. Some Megachilidae sp

​ Watershed degradation in the Western United States is a continuing issue under climate change. The headwaters to the Colorado River in the Rocky Mountains are experiencing dryness, altered chemistry, and flashiness due to climate change. Management practices involving artificial beaver dams (BDAs)

The microbiome has a well-documented relationship with host behavior. Greater microbial diversity and specific microbes have been associated with improved fitness, though these associations have been studied almost exclusively in captive animals with implications for human health. In wild population

In conservation, it is vital to understand how organisms use their habitat and what constitutes high quality habitat. This has become increasingly urgent in ecosystems impacted by direct or indirect human disturbances such as habitat loss or climate change. High elevation ecosystems are particularly

This paper will focus on Syrphidae, an understudied but potentially impactful pollinator. Specifically, I will investigate how the density of the pile (hair) affects the amount of pollen grains carried. This research has the potential to significantly contribute to the field of entomology, as it add

Plant-pathogen interactions act as a selective pressure on both parties involved. Changes in their environment can cause these relationships to shift in favor of either party. Subalpine ecosystems are experiencing increased drought, early snowmelt, and advancing phenology as a result of climate chan

Biofluorescence, the emission of visible light by organisms following the absorption of shorter wavelengths of light, has been identified recently in various amphibians but remains poorly understood in salamanders. This study investigates the potential relationship between biofluorescence and sexual

Climate change poses a unique problem for sessile species because individuals are unable to move to track their optimal habitat. Instead, population turnover governed by population processes must occur in order for the species distribution to change. Current methods to predict current and future spe

There is still much unknown about how microbes within flower nectars, specifically bacteria, impact pollinators. Hummingbirds use gustatory and visual cues to determine which flowers are most rewarding. The diversity in colonization of nectar-inhabiting microbes, such as bacteria, can alter the scen

Climate change has brought intense disruptions to the natural patterns of growth and reproduction in sub-alpine ecosystems, generating changes to the food sources that Broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycerus), which breed in the Rocky Mountains, depend on. A hotter, dryer climate results i

Alpine plant communities are particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, which makes predicting how these communities will respond important for their conservation. This can be better predicted by understanding how the communities assemble, which is highly influenced by species intera

Previous studies on bumblebee foraging behavior found that bumblebees often exhibit optimal foraging behavior when collecting nectar and pollen. A popular theory is that bumblebee foraging can be represented by the marginal value theorem (MVT). This summer, I observed the foraging behavior of Bombus

Human recreation can lead to changes in behavior and distribution patterns of wildlife populations. This project aims to (1) evaluate the effectiveness of the Hunt trap, a novel non- invasive technique used to estimate small mammal abundance (2) determine the distance from trails at which we see an