lupine

Gritty plants deter herbivores

Jan. 26, 2018

A comparison of the control and reduced sand leaves showed that removing sand doubled the damage by a variety of insect and snail herbivores. Leaves with added sand had less damage than the control group. Clearly, snail and insect herbivory is reduced by increasing levels of sand on leaves and stems.

tree

Recreational shooting is incompatible with the purposes of Colorado wilderness areas

Jan. 2, 2018

It is comfortable to expect that wilderness areas will remain unchanged forever, but that is a naïve notion inappropriate to our times.

milkweed

Antelope horns milkweeds grow in intermittent streambeds on the Colorado Plateau

Nov. 20, 2017

Last May, I went to the Maze District in Canyonlands National Park to enjoy its unique scenery unusual natural history. On two epic hikes, we encountered a somewhat rare species of milkweed that has turned out to be unusual.

Weevil

Biocontrol weevil appears out of control

Nov. 6, 2017

Biological control of pest species evokes both high hopes and deep fears. On the one hand, one might achieve a simple, efficient and economic solution to a problem. On the other hand, the control agent may switch from its intended host to one or several unintended native species.

Painted lady image

A prolonged migration of painted ladies

Oct. 20, 2017

We have been immersed in a large and prolonged migration of painted lady butterflies. On a small scale, it does not appear to be a migration, for the flight of individual butterflies appears undisciplined and erratic, unlikely to be a purposeful movement to a common destination.

Bears ears

Archaeological treasures in Bears Ears

Sept. 26, 2017

I have been to the area in Utah now designated as the Bears Ears National Monument many times, and each time I was thrilled with the physical environment, for the canyons are deep and intricately sculpted by wind and water while delicate spires, immense buttes and long, high ridges create a unique, romantic landscape.

fir

Third epidemic in a decade: fir engravers killing white fir

Sept. 8, 2017

Ouray’s amphitheater is formed by walls of rich red sandstone draped with the deep green of several species of conifers, but now, the magnificent amphitheater is sullied with the red of dying white fir, Abies concolor. Another bark beetle epidemic has begun.

fir

Coincidence of large cone crops and winds results in conifer blowdown

Sept. 5, 2017

I had chosen a dispersed camping site on the Uncompahgre Plateau for its proximity to a small reservoir and a large meadow. But when I drove into the site, I found it was littered, not with refuse, but with tops of subalpine firs.

Treehopper

Treehoppers’ environments are defined by their host species

July 21, 2017

An amplectic pair of treehoppers, Telamona monticola, was on a CU sidewalk beneath a swamp oak tree, Quercus bicolor. I surmised that they tumbled from the tree while delicately adjusting their positions. I collected the treehoppers to photograph them and 7 hours later they were still amplectic.

Desert moss, which covers desert soil, and its various adaptations

Microscopic structures on moss leaves collect water from humid air

June 27, 2017

Desert moss lacks many adaptations that allow plants to survive in the desert, so why is it so successful?

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