Abstract This data release includes a list of high-priority hazardous faults and associated spatial data (regional polygons and buffered fault traces) for the Intermountain West (IMW) region of the United States. These are the top five faults or regions of concern per IMW state, based on the 2025 (v

By migrating, ungulates take advantage of cyclical fluctuations in resources, which allows them to persist at greater population numbers than they would in the absence of these seasonal movements. We sought to identify the drivers of spring elk (Cervus canadensis) migration and evaluate how well ind

Last modified: January 09, 2025 IntroductionThis dataset comprises all bee interactions indexed by Global Biotic Interactions (GloBI; Poelen et al. 2014). It is published quarterly by the Big Bee Project (Seltmann et al. 2021) to summarize all available knowledge about bee interactions from natural

With continual growth in recreational trail use, it is becoming increasingly complicated to balance demands for outdoor recreation opportunities with wildlife conservation. To better understand how mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis) respond to trail-based recr

In group-living species, reproductive variation among individuals of the same sex is widespread. By identifying the mechanisms underlying this reproductive skew, we gain fundamental insights into the evolution and maintenance of sociality. A common mechanism, social control, is typically studied by

Abstract Obtaining body condition is an important life history challenge that directly impacts individual fitness and is particularly important for hibernating animals, whose maintenance of adequate body fat and mass is essential for survival. It is well-documented that host-associated microorganism

Abstract Insectivorous birds have ecologically important effects on prey abundance, behavior, and evolution, and through top‐down control, birds indirectly reduce herbivory and promote plant growth. While several studies sought to characterize biogeographic patterns in top‐down control by birds, var

Spontaneous combustion is a serious safety hazard in underground coal mines, particularly in mined-out areas (e.g., gob). It is estimated to be the cause of more than 20% of coal mine fires. Pressure balancing is a ventilation technique that can be used to reduce or eliminate the ingress of oxygen t

Climate change is altering the phenology and distribution of organisms across taxonomic groups. Abiotic factors vary along elevational gradients, including those that are affected heavily by climate change, especially temperature. In high elevation environments, species distributions are often limit

Subalpine ecosystems in Colorado occur between 9,000-11,000ft in elevation and are composed of several species of conifers. The elevation range of each species is slightly different, but they tend to form established communities, such as the Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir community. It has been show

Amphibians have been hit particularly hard by the recent era of biodiversity loss (Collins 2009). Understanding the factors that influence their growth and development can help us understand their global decline as well as the dynamics of populations in widely different habitats. Growth rates have b

Outdoor recreation benefits local economies, environmental education, and public health and wellbeing, but it can also adversely affect local ecosystems. Human presence in natural areas alters feeding and reproductive behaviors, physiology, and population structure in many wildlife species, often re

For social animals, group social structure has important consequences for disease and information spread. While prior studies showed individual connectedness within a group has fitness consequences, less is known about the fitness consequences of group social structure for the individuals who compri

Abstract The frequency and type of dyadic social interactions individuals partake in has important fitness consequences. Social network analysis is an effective tool to quantify the complexity and consequences of these behaviors on the individual level. Less work has used social networks to quantify

The gut microbiome has a well-documented relationship with host fitness. Greater microbial diversity and abundance of specific microbes have been associated with improved fitness outcomes. Intestinal microbes also may be associated with patterns of social behaviour. However, these associations have

Despite bumble bees’ critical importance as pollinators throughout the montane regions of Colorado, little research has been done on their nesting habits. In order to conserve the populations of Bombus spp. in the West, better knowledge of their nest density and nesting habitats is needed. I hypothe

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

Maternal characteristics, social dynamics, and environmental factors can all influence reproduction and survival and shape trade-offs that might arise between these components of fitness. Short-lived mammals like the golden-mantled ground squirrel (GMGS; Callospermophilus lateralis ) tend to maximiz

.·'. n.,, ) .. . r. . The. Nature Conservancy bas launched its re- ·:·.:= • gional program in the Sail Luis Valley by hiring pro- gram managers Nancy and Chuck Warner, who have worked for the Conservancy in California for the past eight years. ;;r .i·~· Nancy initiated innovative and successful comm