Waiting for the snow to melt…
Long-term study of flowering abundance and phenology, plant demography, and other intriguing questions about montane species. Abstract This research focuses on understanding variation in timing and abundance of flowering in sub-alpine wildflower communities in the vicinity of RMBL, and the variation in phenology and abundance of the associated bee community. One aim of this work is to elucidate environmental variables that generate this phenological variation. Another goal is to determine the consequences of this variation for plant demography and for animals that interact with the wildflowers. There seem to be effects of climate change on flowering phenology and floral abundance at the species and community level. Side-projects include long-term work on plant demography, root phenology, hummingbird demography, insect abundance and phenology sampled with a Malaise trap, effects of a plant rust on its host, frost effects on flowers, a seed collection, and experimental reduction of deer abundance in the townsite.