This dataset contains Leaf Area Index (LAI) measurements made as part of the Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) during June and July of 2025. Data were collected in the Upper Gunnison Basin, Colorado, across three study domains: the Upper East River (CRBU), Almont Triangle (AL

Raw point clouds from the terrestrial scanning lidar #1 (L1) that was deployed on the upwind east flux tower near Crested Butte, Colorado for the SOS (Sublimation of Snow) campaign. The raw point clouds provide information about the distribution of blowing snow particles in the air in addition to va

Raw point clouds from the terrestrial scanning lidar #2 (L2) that was deployed on the upwind east flux tower near Crested Butte, Colorado for the SOS (Sublimation of Snow) campaign. The raw point clouds provide information about the distribution of blowing snow particles in the air in addition to va

Raw point clouds from the terrestrial scanning lidar #3 (L3) that was deployed on the upwind west flux tower near Crested Butte, Colorado for the SOS (Sublimation of Snow) campaign. The raw point clouds provide information about the distribution of blowing snow particles in the air in addition to va

Nectar plays a critical role in attracting pollinators, thereby facilitating pollination and the spread of pollen. Nectar traits like volume and sugar concentration are strongly influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and relative humidity. Yet, there is little understanding of how t

​ Puddling is a form of supplemental feeding for nectivorous Lepidoptera to acquire necessary mineral nutrients, primarily sodium, that are otherwise absent from their nectar diets. For many species sodium is important for growth, nervous system function, and egg production. However, the mechanisms

The relationship between environmental variation and fitness has been well established. However, fitness may also be indirectly impacted by environmental variation through the modulation of social behavior. We aim to quantify the effects of environmental variation on sociality, specifically social r

Climate change is leading to shifts in precipitation, including longer and more severe droughts. Perennial wildflowers in subalpine dry meadows are affected by current and potentially future droughts in the Rocky Mountains, and several species have shown phenotypic plasticity in response to environm

Previous studies on bumblebee foraging behavior found that bumblebees often exhibit optimal foraging behavior when collecting nectar and pollen. A popular theory is that bumblebee foraging can be represented by the marginal value theorem (MVT). This summer, I observed the foraging behavior of Bombus

The Mexican Cut Nature Preserve supports diverse populations of caddisflies (Limnephilus externus), whose larvae construct protective cases from environmental debris. Case morphology varies with ecological pressures, but gaps remain in understanding how intra- and interspecific interactions influenc

Mosses are foundational members of alpine plant communities but are often excluded from vegetation monitoring. In this study, I surveyed moss and vascular plant cover across five alpine ridges near Gothic, Colorado to understand how environmental variables shape moss abundance. I analyzed vegetation

Alpine plant communities are particularly susceptible to the impacts of climate change, which makes predicting how these communities will respond important for their conservation. This can be better predicted by understanding how the communities assemble, which is highly influenced by species intera

Climate change has brought intense disruptions to the natural patterns of growth and reproduction in sub-alpine ecosystems, generating changes to the food sources that Broad-tailed hummingbirds (Selasphorus platycerus), which breed in the Rocky Mountains, depend on. A hotter, dryer climate results i

Climate change is putting montane plant species at risk that rely on historical patterns of precipitation and snowmelt timing. Floral traits, such as nectar production and morphology can be impacted by water availability. Hybridization of plants has the potential to provide adaptation to climate cha

Species who commonly occupy territories within human settlements are exposed to frequent human disturbance, which has been linked to significant shifts in wildlife behavior in past studies. As urbanization and rural development continue to increase, we can anticipate cohabitation between humans and

Roy Romer.

Jack Mcgraw. EPA.

Mary Jean Porter. The Pueblo Chieftain.

S pay i~s fair share, even if ll1e city is making a $270 million profit annual- ly off ll1e federal govenunenl. Dul George Mille r, a California Con- gressman from ll1e San Francisco area, sure ll1inks Western farmers should pay tlleir fair share. In case you missed it, Wayne Allard, Colorado's 4 11