Differing sensitivities to predation risk contribute to diversity by allowing similar organisms to coexist. Such is the case with the golden-mantled ground squirrel, Spermophilus lateralis, and the least chipmunk, Tamias minimus. These sciurids are both abundant in the area surrounding the Rocky Mou

Mutualisms are mutually exploitative relationships in which the benefits to both partners outweigh the costs. Mutualisms are expected to exist in a fragile balance, and these interactions may vary, both across their geographic range and temporally. Valeriana edulis, a dioecious perennial, is host to

Plant-pollinator networks shape the populations of flowering plants across the world. Ecosystems face increasing challenges that decrease floral density and threaten to restructure plant-pollinator networks. The responses of these networks will play a critical role in the fates of plant species, bec

As well-studied, annual species inhabiting an environment with a short growing season, the bumble bees (Bombus spp.) in the area around the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) near Crested Butte, Colorado, provide an ideal system for monitoring climate change. In 1974, Graham Pyke conducted

Differences between individuals are often not accounted for in studies using plant functional trait data. Variation due to biotic and abiotic conditions is common for many plant traits that are crucial for fitness and survival. However, functional trait methods usually do not account for differences

Many studies have looked at intraspecific competition between larva and adults, paedmorphic and metamorphic Ambystoma tigrinum. None, however, none have looked at male vs. female competition. In this experiment, twelve females and twelve male tiger salamanders were observed foraging for caddisfly la

In this study we attempted to discover some of the possible plant responses to global climate change, to assess plant responses we used two plant leaf functional traits: leaf maximum assimilation rate of CO2 (Amax) and Specific Leaf Area (SLA). To evaluate increasing temperature we used a natural el

Coexistence among species can occur in a variety of ways through niche partitioning. Two major niche components for many organisms are temperature and soil moisture and variation in these may occur with habitat heterogeneity. Near Gothic, Colorado at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, there a

There are numerous species of organisms that live in woody vegetation. Their species diversity will be equal to the total number of species and their relative abundance. This study compared the species diversity of arthropods between perennial shrubs and evergreen trees. I hypothesized that a larger

The impacts of growing deer populations upon biodiversity have caused concern for ecologists since it is speculated that certain species of herbs are targeted and over abundantly browsed. This study investigated deer abundance as well as intensity of deer browsing of herbaceous plants inside and out

Golden-mantled ground squirrels (Spermophilus lateralis) and yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) can both be found in abundance at high elevation meadows in the Rocky Mountains. Though different in behavior, both species inhabit and utilize the open meadows of Gothic in very similar ways.

Black bears in the Colorado Rocky Mountains forage for western thatching ants as a food source. However, there is little knowledge about the nutritional benefit of ants for black bears, particularly with regard to changes in nutritional value during the ant life cycle. From late spring to mid-summer