Protocols

Calculation of multiple phylogenetic diversity metrics for plant communities using established phylogenetic trees and null model approaches to test for phylogenetic clustering or overdispersion.

Complete census of all individual plants in gridded plots with spatial mapping, tissue sampling, and photosynthetic area measurement for metabolic rate estimation in herbaceous plant communities.

Nested sampling design to construct species-area relationships across multiple spatial scales by subdividing plots into equal-area quadrats and averaging species counts across equivalent areas.

Systematic collection and spectrophotometric analysis of flowers across elevation gradients to quantify color variation. Targets pollinator-visible flower regions and converts reflectance to pollinato...

Vegetation composition and diversity are compared between paired 1m² plots with and without Castilleja presence to assess community-level effects of parasitism. Plots are positioned as close as possib...

Systematic collection and GPS mapping of predator scats along established trail networks to quantify spatial patterns of predator activity relative to human disturbance. Scat density is calculated per...

Plant species composition within 15cm of Castilleja individuals is compared to random background vegetation to statistically identify overrepresented taxa as potential hosts. This provides an indirect...

Pressing and identification of plant voucher specimens using standard botanical keys and herbarium references.

Conversion of reflectance spectra into bee and bird visual spaces using established photoreceptor sensitivity models. Uses color hexagon model for bees and receptor-noise limited model for birds to ca...