Hauling field gear up Gothic Mountain…
I am interested in how the environment affects organism development through natural genetic variation of metabolic processes. I am proposing a study using Colias butterflies to look at how microclimate difference influence the natural genetic variation of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, a glycolytic enzyme, and larval development. Using a field set-up involving four locations with varying microclimates, I will be able to determine if warming affects the survival and development of whichever genotypes are found to be present in the study population. I will also be conducting plant surveys throughout areas with populations of Colias butterflies to monitor nitrogen levels of suitable host plants over the span of three years. These findings will lead to the development of larval feeding studies aimed at connecting host plant quality and larval metabolic efficiency.