Forests play a crucial role in mitigating climate change by sequestering large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, so it is critical to evaluate their capacity to store carbon over time. Existing research on forest carbon sequestration relies on field methods that do not allow for samplin

Nitrogen is a critical element in biological systems, with its cycling increasingly influenced by human activities, particularly in agriculture. In Colorado, where 50% of land is used for agriculture, cattle grazing may impact the ecosystems of montane and subalpine ponds inhabited by Ambystoma mavo

Changes to climate can have a variety of consequences on organisms across all taxa. Though we are seeing climate changes across the globe, these effects can often be greater in high-elevation regions. For mammals in these environments, climate change can alter phenology, survival, and reproduction.

The fitness of the non-feeding adult caddisfly, Asynarchus nigriculus is largely dependent on the accumulation of nutrients during its larval stage. The energy obtained during this time is then allocated into growth and development for the adult insect. This allocation of energy may be constrained b

Animal pollination services are vital for plant reproduction, with approximately 90% of plant species benefitting from this mutualistic relationship. Nectar is one of the most common floral rewards offered by plants in exchange for pollination services. Similarly, nectar is vital for bumbles as they

In order to compare avian diversity (species richness and evenness) between aspen and conifer forest communities in Gothic, Colorado, point counts were conducted in three replicates of each habitat type. Additionally, tree density and light measurements were performed as a measure of structural comp

Biofluorescence, the re-emission of absorbed light at lower energy wavelengths, has been widely documented in marine organisms and recently observed in amphibians. This phenomenon, particularly in amphibians such as frogs, salamanders, and newts, suggests potential roles in ecological interactions,

Valerian edulis is a perennial dicot growing in montane and subalpline regions. It is a polygamo dioecious species and popular host plant for aphids. Because of such characteristics, it was chosen to study the effects of resource allocation dependency. This study examined the specific effects of aph

Native species are threatened by the introduction of non-native and invasive organisms.

Climate change is predicted to lead to increased water and temperature stress for plants. Reduced soil moisture and higher temperatures have the potential to impact plant growth, development, and survival. Changes in plant physiology due to climate change may also impact insect herbivores. Herbivore