The Rocky Mountains are an international attraction, but they are also one of the best studied ecosystems on Earth. Rocky Mountain Biological Research Laboratory (RMBL), based in Gothic, CO, hosts more than 200 researchers from over 140 colleges and universities each summer. It is home to 14 research projects that have been ongoing for 30 years or more. The results from the studies conducted at RMBL help inform decisions made by the federal government and other organizations in Colorado, like Colorado Parks and Wildlife. I reached out to three scientists whose research is based at RMBL to learn more.
Dr. Amy Iler, an associate conservation scientist with the Chicago Botanic Garden, studies the effects of climate change and pollinator abundance on plant populations. Her research is based out of RMBL for many reasons, but perhaps most importantly the local native bee population is still intact and there are no nonnative honey bees. Her research has shown that perennial plants have a better buffer against pollinator population decline because perennial plants bloom many times throughout their life. If a plant isn’t pollinated, and therefore capable of producing seeds, the plant will put their resources towards staying alive and try to reproduce next year. Dr. Iler says, “This is important because it helps us to understand what kinds of plants are most vulnerable to pollinator declines: some perennials like the ones we studied, but mostly annuals and perennials that only get one shot at reproduction.” The best way to support Dr. Iler’s research is by building pollinator habitats, such as planting native plants or building ‘bee hotels’.
Rocky Mountain Biological Research Lab, Gothic, CO. 📷 Licensed from Adobe Stock.
Dr. Savannah Troy, a researcher at RMBL, studies the impact of climate change on the relationship between meadow breeding birds and insect populations. The Rocky Mountains are an ideal ecosystem to study this because high alpine environments have plants and animals that are adapted to specific conditions. Changes in temperature and precipitation can have major impacts on these ecosystems. Dr. Troy’s research is based out of RMBL because it allows her to study the same ecosystems in both the high alpine (up to 11,600ft) and lower elevation (9,500ft) at the same time. Her results have not been published yet, but she hopes that her research will provide the basis for long term study of the relationship between meadow breeding birds and insect populations in the Rocky Mountains. The best way to support Dr. Troy’s research is by building insect and bird habitats, such as leaving leaves in your yard and planting native plants.
Billy Bar, RMBL’s accountant, is well known for the climate science data he has collected in Gothic for over 50 years. Billy’s data collection has focused on all things snow, such as snow depth, snow fall, snowpack content, and temperature. Recently, he has expanded to include soil temperature and moisture. Billy says that his research is based in Gothic because that’s where he’s based. He moved to Gothic in 1972 and started writing down what he saw in 1974. He receives no funding for his research and instead is self-funded. The RMBL staff helps him when needed, “…me, on top of a ladder at 75 years old, is not a pretty picture”. Billy doesn’t analyze his own data, but publishes it online and will send data to researchers when asked as he has over 19,000 daily records.
While we should all consider ourselves lucky to live in such a beautiful ecosystem, it is important to know that the Rocky Mountains are changing. These research studies along with many other efforts and partnerships throughout the state will be crucial as climate change impacts continue.
Ellie Madigan is a naturalist at Walking Mountains, where she enjoys citing research studies to support the topics of her nature walks.
