Protocols

Hand-pollination experiment comparing fitness of selfed vs. outcrossed offspring by controlling pollination source and measuring resulting fruit characteristics. Uses reciprocal crosses between geneti...

Semi-parametric survival analysis using Cox proportional hazard models to test effects of maternal, social, and environmental covariates on annual survival probability while allowing baseline hazard t...

Coupled integrated hydrologic and particle tracking modeling approach that simulates groundwater flow using ParFlow-CLM and age distributions using EcoSLIM, with matrix diffusion effects incorporated ...

Controlled heating and cooling assays to determine critical thermal maximum (CTmax) and minimum (CTmin) temperatures of bumblebees under field conditions. Includes environmental optimization trials to...

Development and application of a 2-D multiphase reactive transport model using PFLOTRAN to simulate coupled hydrological and biogeochemical processes in shale weathering. The model integrates variably...

Extraction of cuticular compounds from individual bee specimens using n-pentane solvent followed by gas chromatographic analysis with flame ionization detection for chemical profile characterization. ...

Controlled experiment using flow-through tanks to test whether artificial D. geminata mats (polyester pillow stuffing) provide refuge for T. tubifex from stonefly predation. Treatments included presen...

Deionized water extraction of sediments following Gregorich and Carter (2007) to measure dissolved nutrients and organic carbon. Designed to minimize physical disruption and reflect carbon and nutrien...

Laboratory aquarium experiment using surgically modified (de-mented) dragonfly larvae to separate behavioral interference effects from direct predation effects on prey consumption.

A novel approach combining LSTM neural networks with process-based ecological understanding to predict evapotranspiration and ecosystem respiration. The method integrates temporal pattern recognition ...

Canopy cover measurement using densitometer to classify habitats as sun (5% shade), deep shade (95% shade), or ecotonal (5-95% shade) environments.

A systematic approach to creating identification keys by compiling species lists from authoritative sources, gathering morphological descriptions, and structuring binary choices that eliminate possibi...

Manual removal of invasive diatom D. geminata from stream substrate plots with adjacent controls to test effects on invertebrate community composition and abundance over a three-week period.

Standard morphological measurements of hummingbird bill dimensions, mandible, and wing chord using digital calipers with duplicate measurements by different observers.

Novel framework using collocated slanted W-band and vertical Ka-band radars to isolate microphysical processes within turbulent layers by comparing radar observations above and below the turbulent lay...

Nutrient addition experiments in benthic substrates and sedge biofilms to measure ecosystem demand through exponential decay models. Measures uptake capacity of different pond compartments.

Experimental manipulation of existing egg mass densities on preferred substrates to test whether females exhibit aggregative oviposition behavior in response to conspecific egg presence.

Controlled temperature treatments from 15-65°C applied to detached leaves for 1 hour, with temperature ramped at 2°C/hour. Used to determine lethal temperature thresholds via electrolyte leakage measu...

Laboratory analysis of plant samples for nitrogen content using elemental CHNSO analyzer and water content determination through oven-drying weight loss.

Systematic collection of soils and seeds across elevational gradients spanning current and projected future species ranges to capture natural variation in soil microbial communities and plant populati...

Paired sampling of vegetation inside exclosures before and after controlled grazing events to quantify herbivore impacts on standing crop biomass.

Forward Looking Infrared thermal photography combined with machine learning data sculpture techniques to visualize temperature patterns in periglacial environments

Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy analysis of ground needle samples to quantify functional group concentrations including aromatics, ethers, amides, and carbonyls. Uses attenuated-total-reflecti...

A factorial field experiment manipulating herbivore abundance and water availability using cages with controlled grasshopper access and supplemental watering or rain-out shelters. Plants from multiple...

Systematic characterization of alluvial sediment physical properties through grain size analysis and bulk density measurements to derive hydraulic conductivity, porosity, and van Genuchten parameters ...

Systematic field survey of natural herbivore damage patterns across different leaf positions on host plants. Quantifies within-host foraging preferences in natural populations.

Method for collecting fish skin mucus by gentle rubbing in plastic bags followed by freeze-drying and chemical characterization of mucus components including glycosaminoglycans, hexosamine, and uronic...

Comprehensive measurement of multiple fitness components including survival, reproductive success, fecundity, and growth rates to assess life history trade-offs under resource stress.

Controlled feeding experiment providing different protein levels of horse feed to different matrilines while maintaining reference populations. Tests effects of food quality and quantity on juvenile g...

Bayesian mixed effects modeling of body size distributions using four statistical moments (mean, variance, skew, kurtosis) to characterize trait filtering processes. Uses robust measures and hierarchi...

Statistical approach to identify correlations between species traits and environmental variables by calculating Pearson correlations between climate variables and trait values across species, weighted...

Moths were attracted using blacklight on white sheet, collected manually, and processed for pollen load analysis using fuchsin jelly swabs examined under microscopy. Network analysis characterized pla...

Systematic search and compilation of published records of D. geminata blooms with associated soluble reactive phosphorus measurements to characterize global patterns.

Seedlings were grown under different light quality treatments to measure phenotypic plasticity in response to shade cues, specifically changes in red to far-red light ratios that indicate neighboring ...

Systematic measurement of slope and aspect at grid cell centers using compass and clinometer with clipboard to minimize micro-scale surface variation effects.

Continuous measurement of tree water transport using thermal dissipation sensors with temperature measurements at multiple depths in sapwood to calculate sap velocity via heat pulse methodology.

Uses centimeter-precision GPS to map exact locations of all individuals in study plots, enabling calculation of population density and neighbor relationships. Plot sizes are adjusted to population cha...

Collection of aphid honeydew on aluminum foil substrates followed by LC-MS/MS analysis to quantify sugar and amino acid composition as indicators of plant quality and ant-aphid mutualism benefits.

Long-term monitoring of plant morphological traits across permanent transects spanning a hybrid zone between two Ipomopsis species along an elevational gradient, with cline fitting to quantify trait g...

Combined use of major ion chemistry and Sr isotope signatures to identify distinct groundwater end members and quantify their contributions to stream flow using PCA-based end member mixing analysis.

Region-growing algorithm that iteratively incorporates LiDAR points into candidate tree canopies starting from seed locations identified as local height maxima with height-dependent neighborhoods.

Photographic analysis using ImageJ software with ellipsis tool to quantify percent vegetation coverage around each sampling point as a fraction of total photographed area.

Experimental removal of D. geminata cells and stalks from stream rocks to test regrowth capacity under natural conditions with different initial stalk densities.

Small-scale removal of invasive plant flowers to test effects on native plant pollination through paired treatment and control plots within experimental blocks. Invasive flowers were removed by clippi...

Mixed-bed ion-exchange resin bags deployed at 5 cm soil depth to assess NO3-N and NH4-N availability. Resins are extracted with KCl and analyzed using flow injection autoanalyzer.

Wild-caught flies are used to establish laboratory breeding lines maintained under standardized conditions. Lines are kept in multiple vials with controlled temperature, lighting, and nutrition to pre...

Modified gut content analysis method that estimates feeding intensity by counting the proportion of abdominal segments containing food rather than identifying specific prey items.

Processing of Landsat NDVI time series to quantify foresummer drought sensitivity as the slope of peak NDVI versus June Palmer Drought Severity Index. Represents plant productivity responses to early ...

A controlled feeding experiment where individual first instar larvae are offered different plant species and their gut content accumulation is monitored over time through categorical and quantitative ...

A standardized protocol for preparing plant leaves through chemical clearing and measuring vein density using microscopy and stochastic line-intersection analysis. Leaves are dried, cleared with sodiu...