This study utilizes apatite (U-Th)/He, or AHe, to produce a vertical transect of cooling histories along the height of the partially exhumed Crystal Pluton in the Elk Mountains of west/central Colorado. These cooling histories are interpreted to reflect exhumation controlled by the incision of the C

Formica obscuripes, or the Western Thatching Ant, is a native North American ant species commonly found throughout the central and western US. Like many ant species, F. obscuripes acts as an ecosystem engineer, as colonies can significantly alter the nutrient content, moisture content, temperature,

Environmental variation often induces shifts in functional traits, yet we know little about whether plasticity will reduce extinction risks under climate change. As climate change proceeds, phenotypic plasticity could enable species with limited dispersal capacity to persist in situ, and migrating p

Long term data on stages of plant succession on bare areas is extremely useful in determining patterns of revegetation over longer periods of time. Understanding of these patterns can have application in conservation and restoration. This study examined plant community composition data for a subalpi

An earthflow that occurred in Gunnison County, Colorado created a natural laboratory to study plant succession. Plant succession and ants can effect the soil composition of grounds left bare and depleted of organic matter by the landslide. This study was conducted to examine if the described success

A 22 year warming experiment at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory has elucidated short term (15 year) responses in plant community and soil organic carbon to artificial warming. This summer’s research evaluates long-term (>15 year) changes and, because of recent climate change effects, the releva

A central question in the study of biodiversity is, what mechanisms allow species to coexist? While most attention to this question has focused on antagonistic species interactions, positive species interactions have recently gained attention and may rival antagonisms in their importance. Grasses wi

Animal communication is vital to nearly every species. Serving multiple functions and being conveyed throughout a variety of modes, communication allows animals to make decisions based on information other animals provide. Numerous examples of this can be found across the animal kingdom, with bioflu

In subalpine ecosystems, climate change has contributed to an earlier snowmelt as a result of warmer temperatures in the winter and spring. This shift may act to limit water availability for plant communities by prolonging the period between initial snowmelt and late-season monsoon rains, placing th

Nutrient supply into an ecosystem is an important factor that can influence its productivity. While some nutrients enter the ecosystem from external sources, cycling of nutrients internally can also be an important process in determining nutrient supply. In this study I examined the role of benthic

Pollen is the sole protein source for most bees and the largest component of their larval diets.