Protocols

Collection and microscopic analysis of pollen grains deposited on wildflower stigmas using pink fuchsin gel mounting and reference collection for identification. Quantifies both conspecific and hetero...

A method to experimentally add nectar rewards to naturally pollen-only rewarding flowers by depositing measured volumes of artificial nectar solution onto flower structures accessible to pollinators. ...

Comprehensive measurement of floral traits (corolla dimensions, anther insertion, petal color, nectar production) and vegetative traits (specific leaf area, trichome density, water-use efficiency) on ...

Experimental addition of outcross pollen to flowers to test whether natural pollination limits plant reproductive success, comparing reproductive output between hand-pollinated and naturally pollinate...

Comprehensive evaluation of seed production including total fruit counts, viable seed counts per fruit, individual seed mass measurements, and visual/physical viability assessment. Combines quantitati...

Multi-site common garden experiment using controlled crosses to partition genetic and environmental variance in vegetative and floral traits across a hybrid zone. Seeds from multiple genetic families ...

Paired experimental design comparing floral development and longevity between plants receiving daily road dust applications versus undusted controls, with detailed tracking of flower developmental sta...

Weekly monitoring of fly oviposition on flowers and assessment of fruit damage by predispersal seed predators including fly larvae and caterpillars to quantify reproductive success and seed predation ...

Volatile organic compounds were sampled from single flowers using dynamic headspace sampling, then analyzed with thermal desorption gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify and quantify floral...

Experimental manipulation of summer precipitation levels (doubled, halved, ambient) to assess effects on plant physiological and fitness traits in a common garden setting over multiple years.

Standardized measurement of floral reflectance spectra using fiber optic probe positioned at fixed distance and angle from flower surface. Spectra collected across 300-700 nm range for input into visu...

Quantified natural selection on floral traits by measuring relationships between trait values, pollinator visitation rates, and reproductive success. Calculated standardized selection differentials to...

Controlled experiment using artificial flowers with discrete bullseye phenotypes exposed to UV-present vs UV-absent treatments to test UV-mediated selection on floral traits. Pollen viability measured...

Time-lapse photography of individual flowers using motion-activated cameras to capture and quantify hummingbird feeding visits. Combined with machine learning image processing to automate detection.

Standard protocol for measuring leaf traits by scanning fresh leaves, counting trichomes using ImageJ, then drying and weighing leaves to calculate specific leaf area. Uses ImageJ software for digital...

Standard enzyme electrophoresis technique used to determine genotypes at the 6PGD-2 locus for parentage assignment. Distinguishes between homozygous medium (MM) and homozygous slow (SS) allelic varian...

Experimental clipping treatment designed to reduce plant photosynthetic capacity by approximately 50% through removal of stems. Used to simulate herbivory stress and examine effects on mycorrhizal ass...

Quantitative measurement of dust particle deposition rates using filter paper disks placed at varying distances from unpaved roads, with microscopic particle counting at standardized sampling points.

Statistical approach to test causal pathways between herbivory, plant characteristics, and reproductive output using multiple linked regression models with model selection based on information criteri...

Plants were subjected to progressive water stress by withholding irrigation to create a gradient of soil moisture conditions. This experimental design allowed examination of plant responses across a r...

PCR amplification of microsatellite loci followed by capillary electrophoresis for allele sizing and polymorphism assessment.

Long-term monitoring of plant morphological traits across permanent transects spanning a hybrid zone between two Ipomopsis species along an elevational gradient, with cline fitting to quantify trait g...

Small-scale removal of invasive plant flowers to test effects on native plant pollination through paired treatment and control plots within experimental blocks. Invasive flowers were removed by clippi...

Standardized protocol to transfer dust from plant surfaces to microscope slides and count particles in defined areas under magnification. Used to calibrate experimental dust treatments against natural...

Controlled application of synthetic pinene enantiomers via cotton-filled microcentrifuge tube emitters to test effects of specific volatile compounds on insect oviposition behavior. Treatments applied...

Path analysis using structural equation modeling to test competing hypotheses about causal relationships between nectar traits, robbing, pollination, and fitness.

Systematic collection of seeds from plants along established transects for genetic analysis. Seeds collected within defined distances of sampling points and pooled by maternal plant.

Production of F2 hybrid generations with alternate cytoplasmic backgrounds through controlled hand-pollination crosses. Allows testing of cytoplasmic effects on physiological traits.

Direct measurement of leaf stomatal conductance using porometer to assess plant water stress and physiological responses to watering treatments. Measured during flowering and early fruiting phases.

Non-destructive estimation of leaf chlorophyll concentration using reflectance spectroscopy and vegetation indices.

Development of deterministic and stochastic population models incorporating empirical estimates of selection, heritability, and phenotypic plasticity to project population persistence under climate ch...

Weekly photography from fixed viewpoints to map snowmelt progression and delineate zones with different snow-free periods. Contours drawn on detailed maps to define study zones.

Seed-burial and greenhouse germination experiments to estimate seed bank-related vital rates including seed germination and stasis.

Replicated split-plot design with snowmelt manipulated at plot level and precipitation manipulated at subplot level.