AbstractQuestionsIs it possible to predict the composition of local plant assemblages? Trait‐based approaches have offered some promise, especially in cases where deterministic processes such as environmental filtering and niche differentiation shape communities. In this study, we asked how much int

An outstanding goal in speciation research is to trace the mode and tempo of the evolution of barriers to gene flow. Such research benefits from studying incipient speciation, in which speciation between populations has not yet occurred, but where multiple potential mechanisms of reproductive isolat

The periodic cycles in populations of microtine rodents and hares are considered together to provide the suggestion that the natural period is endogenous and size-dependent, and may be a consequence of the physiological and reproductive pace of the life cycle that scales as the fourth root of body m

Behavioral experiments were carried out in flow-through observation boxes in New York and Colorado streams to determine whether interactions between pairs of predaceous stoneflies were characterized by exploitative or interference competition and to determine the effect of prey density on such inter

Abstract One cause of reproductive isolation is gamete competition, in which conspecific pollen has an advantage over heterospecific pollen in siring seeds, thereby decreasing the formation of F1 hybrids. Analogous pollen interactions between hybrid pollen and conspecific pollen can contribute to po

Climatic shifts to warmer and often drier conditions are challenging terrestrial species worldwide. These shifts are occurring more rapidly at higher elevations and latitudes, likely causing disproportionate effects to mammalian hibernators there. While there is some information about how these spec

AbstractThe hyporheic zone, where surface water and groundwater mix, is an important microbial habitat where biogeochemical reactions influence water quality. We show that spatial variability in hyporheic flow in the East River near Crested Butte, CO, drives heterogeneity in streambed geochemical co

Heritable genetic variation is necessary for populations to evolve in response to anthropogenic climate change. However, antagonistic genetic correlations among traits may constrain the rate of adaptation, even if substantial genetic variation exists. We examine potential genetic responses to select

The yellow-bellied marmot spends approximately 80% of its life in a burrow. Burrows provide protection from the rigors of the environment, pred- ators and other marmots. They provide a hibernaculum in winter and may func- tion as a nursery in summer. Selection of a burrow site is therefore an import

AbstractUnderstanding the partitioning of snow and rain contributing to either catchment streamflow or evapotranspiration (ET) is of critical relevance for water management in response to climate change. To investigate this partitioning, we use endmember splitting and mixing analyses based on stable

Abstract. In this study, we develop a watershed zonation approach for characterizing watershed organization and functions in a tractable manner by integrating multiple spatial data layers. We hypothesize that (1) a hillslope is an appropriate unit for capturing the watershed-scale heterogeneity of k

Organisms must often make developmental decisions without complete information about future conditions. This uncertainty-for example, about the duration of conditions favorable for growth-can favor bet-hedging strategies. Here, we investigated the causes of life cycle variation in Osmia iridis, a be

It is stressed that chemotactile cues are involved only in the final step of oviposition, and that understanding foodplant choice in nature will require in-depth investigation into the mechanics of individual search processes.

Summary1. In the face of human‐induced declines in the abundance of common species, ecologists have become interested in quantifying how changes in density affect rates of biophysical processes, hence ecosystem function. We manipulated the density of a dominant detritivore (the cased caddisfly, Limn

Many species use refugia to avoid predators, but remaining in a refuge is costly because foraging and engaging in other beneficial activities are curtailed while in a refuge. Thus, we expect that the duration of refuge use will be optimized. We tested a key prediction of this optimization hypothesis

The behavior of intact Ephemerella infrequens (Ephemeroptera, Ephemerellidae) and Ephemerella with cerci amputated was observed in response to encounters with live predaceous stoneflies (Megarcys signata, Plecoptera: Perlodidae), tethered-live and tethered-model predators, freshly excised stonefly a

AbstractUnderstanding the effects of climate on the vital rates (e.g., survival, development, reproduction) and dynamics of natural populations is a long‐standing quest in ecology, with ever‐increasing relevance in the face of climate change. However, linking climate drivers to demographic processes

We explored the relative importance of temporal vs. spatial variability to the conditionality of a mutualism between the treehopper Publilia modesta and the ant Formica obscuripes. The effect of the ants on the membracids varied considerably among years. When the effect of the ants on the membracids

Spatial variation in pollinator communities or behaviors can underlie floral diversification. Floral traits in the UV spectrum are common and mediate plant–pollinator interactions, but the role of pollinators in driving or maintaining their geographic variation has not been fully explored. We identi