This is a map of accumulated fall snow-free growing potential (snow-free growing degree days, SFGDD) for the Upper Gunnison domain, derived from daily maximum air temperature maps interpolated from weather station and microclimate sensor data combined with Landsat-derived estimates of the timing of

This is a map of temporal variability in accumulated spring snow-free growing potential (snow-free growing degree days, SFGDD) for the Upper Gunnison domain, derived from daily maximum air temperature maps interpolated from weather station and microclimate sensor data combined with Landsat-derived e

This is a map of accumulated spring snow-free growing potential (snow-free growing degree days, SFGDD) for the Upper Gunnison domain, derived from daily maximum air temperature maps interpolated from weather station and microclimate sensor data combined with Landsat-derived estimates of the timing o

This is a map of temporal variability in accumulated snow-free growing potential (snow-free growing degree days, SFGDD) for the Upper Gunnison domain, derived from daily maximum air temperature maps interpolated from weather station and microclimate sensor data combined with Landsat-derived estimate

Carol S. Howe. USDA Forest Service. March 2002.

Roger Hudson. Western State Colorado University. June 22, 2010.

Climate change is expected to disproportionately impact high elevation ecosystems by disrupting current temperature and precipitation regimes. The future carbon balance of these systems is uncertain, given the interplay between longer growing season length and the potential for increased drought. Cu

Identifying forces that affect population dynamics can allow us to better understand the

Ecological systems are inherently dynamic, and a primary way in which they are dynamic is through time. Individual organisms, populations, communities, species interactions, and ecosystem functions all follow a temporal progression from the past, to the present, and into the future. This temporal pr

Understanding the functional impacts of pollinator species losses on plant populations is critical given ongoing pollinator declines. Simulation models of pollination networks suggest that plant communities will be resilient to losing many or even most of the pollinator species in an ecosystem. Thes

Mountain White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha) are unique in that their nestlings, which require parental care for 9 days before fledging, have a 25% higher metabolic rate than other open-nesting passerines. This unusually high energetic demand requires that parents frequently fee

Plant reproductive success is often influenced by not only direct effects of flower-eating herbivores (florivores) consuming floral tissues, but also the indirect effects of pollinator visitation. Previous literature suggests that florivore damage can negatively influence pollinator visitation, cons

The limitation of pollen available to pollinators and visitors alike may potentially direct pollinator visitation choice as well as the plant’s ability to provide pollen rewards, nectar rewards, and plant defense mechanisms. Such trade-offs exist in Polemonium foliosissimum A. Gray (Polemoniaceae) a

Evolution by natural selection is influenced by an organism’s environment. Biodiversity, an aspect of the biotic environment, is rapidly changing due to anthropogenic activity, so its impacts on selection must be better understood. In this study, the effects of diversity on selection for an insect r

Climate change is impacting ecological systems around the globe with much of current research characterizing direct plant and animal responses. However, there is a gap in our knowledge regarding the direct response of fungal symbionts to climate change. Horizontally transmitted leaf endophytes (type

Raising offspring is one of the most important roles of mothers in many species. We studied maternal care in yellow-bellied marmots (Marmota flaviventris) and how it is affected by stress. Stress helps these rodents survive hazardous situations. To study this, we observed the marmots at The Rocky Mo

The beneficial effects of ants to myrmecophilous species is well established, but there is little empirical evidence demonstrating the benefits of such interactions for ants. The intent of this experiment was to determine how ants are affected by their interaction with the Aspen sunflower (Helianthe

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted by plants as signals to other organisms and are interrelated with atmospheric chemistry and climate change. Typically, phenology advances and temperature increases with climate change. How floral volatiles of Ligustigum porteri influences its multitrophi

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