Protocols

Statistical method to compare species richness across samples with different sampling efforts by generating rarefaction curves. Uses individual-based approach to generate rate of visitor richness accu...

Microscopic dissection to locate and examine spermatheca in female burying beetles. Standard entomological dissection technique adapted for reproductive organ examination.

Alternative species groupings using k-means and hierarchical agglomerative clustering based on multivariate trait data. Compared explanatory power and species composition to traditional functional gro...

Dating of rock glacier surfaces using measurements of lichen thalli diameters of Rhizocarpon species, applying established growth curves to estimate surface exposure ages.

Measurement of shrub canopy cover using line intercept technique along established transects with height measurements of nearest shrubs to sampling points.

Statistical approach using log response ratios to calculate effect sizes for genetic and environmental treatments, with confidence intervals used to assess significance.

Color-marking of individual males with permanent markers and subsequent recapture to estimate survival and return rates to mating swarms.

Deer were marked with colored paintball pellets for individual identification and surveyed weekly to estimate population size using Lincoln-Petersen estimators. Multiple calculation approaches were us...

Live-trapping study using parallel transects across habitat gradient to determine species distribution and movement patterns between habitats. Mice marked with colored dye to track individual movement...

Construction and parameterization of periodic matrix population models to project population dynamics under different scenarios of environmental periodicity strength.

Laboratory analysis of total carbon and nitrogen content in small arthropod specimens using dry micro-Dumas combustion followed by GC-MS analysis with acetamilde and atropine standards for normalizati...

DNA extraction from ant specimens followed by PCR amplification of microsatellite loci and relatedness estimation using maximum likelihood methods based on population allele frequencies.

Targeted capture technique placing mist nets near active nests and flushing incubating females directly into nets for safe extraction and handling.

Regression analysis applied to simulated water table declines across nested catchments to identify relationships between topographic characteristics, vegetation cover, and groundwater response to clim...

Occupancy models fitted to estimate species detectability and habitat use while correcting for imperfect detection, using human activity and environmental covariates. Model selection performed using A...

Manual creation of presence and absence sampling points for ecological analysis using Google Earth Engine's marker tool on false color imagery combined with vegetation indices to distinguish target la...

Method for measuring thoracic and abdominal temperatures of flying insects before, during, and after controlled flight using hypodermic temperature probes and digital thermometers. Beetles placed on a...

Uses ordinal logistic regression to model the probability of experiencing different levels of outdoor recreation constraints based on sociodemographic characteristics. Allows for multiple response cat...

Systematic measurement of paleocurrent directions from sedimentary structures using compass bearings, followed by statistical analysis to determine transport directions and consistency ratios.

Systematic relocation and resurvey of 1 m x 1 m permanent vegetation plots established in 1947, with species abundance recorded as individuals per square meter. Historical data from multiple time peri...

Statistical fitting of dose-response curves to photoperiodic data using log-logistic models to estimate the critical day length (CDL) where 50% of females enter diapause.

Fitting both linear and nonlinear piecewise regression models to phenological response data, using AIC for model selection and requiring minimum data points on either side of breakpoints.

Used mixed-effects SEM framework to determine direct and indirect effects of climate and density-dependent variables on larval body size and morph outcome. Models incorporated random effects for cohor...

Standardized method using a PVC quadrat divided into 25 squares with metal pin drops to quantify species cover. Number of species contacts per pin drop recorded to estimate relative abundance.

Random subplot sampling to estimate local population density and reproductive status. Distinguishes between reproductive (flowering) and non-reproductive but mature individuals to assess population st...

Quantitative PCR using bacterial-specific primers to measure bacterial load in leaf tissue samples across plant patches

Organized plants into spatial clusters and randomly assigned treatments and sampling times within clusters to control for spatial variation.

Researchers cross individuals derived from each of two habitats being evaluated to generate advanced generation hybrids, then map quantitative trait loci (QTL) for fitness components from field recipr...

Estimates historical fire rotation as 2-3 times the post-fire recovery period for sagebrush to return to pre-fire conditions, based on recovery studies.

Body condition assessment using regression residuals of weight against log-transformed length, following Jakob et al. (1996) as the most reliable method for behavioral studies

A multi-step molecular protocol involving RNA extraction, reverse transcription, PCR amplification using consensus primers, TA cloning, and bidirectional Sanger sequencing to characterize genetic vari...

Taxonomic classification of microbial communities using ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3) marker genes identified through Hidden Markov Models and phylogenetic analysis.

Small uncrewed aircraft systems equipped with pyranometers, multispectral cameras, and radiometers to map spatial variability in surface albedo, vegetation indices, and soil moisture. Flights timed to...

Use of small unoccupied aircraft systems with thermal infrared cameras to identify groundwater discharge zones in stream corridors through temperature contrast detection. Real-time thermal data visual...

Uses historical government land survey records from 1876-1892 to reconstruct fire locations and calculate fire rotation based on burned area and observation period.

A controlled injection and extraction test using conservative tracers to evaluate aquifer transport and reactive processes. Involves sequential injection of traced and untraced water, followed by a dr...

Standard skeletochronology protocol involving tissue fixation, decalcification, cryostat sectioning, histological staining, and LAG counting to determine age in amphibians.

Comparative analysis of soil development across surfaces of different ages to establish relative chronology. Involves detailed morphological description and mechanical composition analysis of soil hor...

Hand auguring soil cores to saprolite at multiple sites across elevation gradient, followed by air-drying, sieving to <2mm, and grinding to fine powder for spectroscopic analysis.

Dissection and counting of spermatophores in female bursa copulatrix to quantify mating success and reproductive history in wild-caught butterflies.

Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis of ant tissues to determine trophic position and dietary composition. Involves specimen preparation, drying, grinding, and mass spectrometry analysis.

Statistical method using the strucchange package in R to detect structural changes in meteorological time series by evaluating F-statistics and identifying optimal breakpoints using dynamic programmin...

Confirmatory path analysis using structural equation modeling to test hypothesized direct and indirect causal relationships between social factors, behavioral traits, and problem-solving success. Uses...

Standardized 3-minute sweep net sampling over 4m² plots to quantify grasshopper abundance and biomass along elevational gradients. Includes measurement of individual lengths as biomass proxy.

A systematic search and review of published literature on ecological drivers and consequences of body size variation in bumble bees using standardized database queries and inclusion criteria.

Standard biochemical assay using 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining to distinguish between dormant and nonviable seeds that failed to germinate.

Standard stream gauging method dividing channel width into equal intervals and measuring depth and velocity at 60% of depth to calculate discharge using velocity-area method.

Calculated visibility from specific locations across a landscape using digital elevation models and GIS software to determine areas visible from observation points.

Standardized method for characterizing substrate particle size composition using systematic point sampling along predetermined transects.

Gas diffusion model used to convert CO2 concentration data to estimates of soil CO2 production.