Dear Friends of RMBL, 

April brings us to Earth Day, a time to reflect on our relationship with the planet and the responsibility we all share in caring for it. At RMBL, Earth Day resonates deeply with our mission. For nearly a century, scientists, students, and educators have come to Gothic to study the natural world, listen to what the land is telling us, and translate those lessons into knowledge that can help guide how we live on this planet. 

One of the highlights of last summer for me was spending time with Dr. John Harte and also spending time with Dr. Lara Souza, learning about their research on warming mountain meadows. John’s work on this project began in the late 1980s, when he established one of the earliest experimental studies examining how increased temperatures affect subalpine ecosystems. Over the decades, this research has continued and expanded through the work of an incredible group of women scientists who have carried the project forward, building on the original foundation and deepening our understanding of how mountain ecosystems respond to climate change. A recent publication in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) by Lara and her co-principal investigators highlights how warming temperatures are reshaping plant and soil communities in these high-elevation meadows. It is powerful work — reported on by the Guardian, among other news outlets — that reminds us that even subtle environmental shifts can ripple through entire ecosystems.

Our recent Après Science talks at RMBL 365 have also centered on the patterns emerging in our own backyard. In January, Dr. David Inouye shared insights on temperature and snowpack trends recorded in Crested Butte and Gothic since 1910. In February, Dr. Rosemary Carroll discussed how declining snowpack and warmer winters are affecting groundwater systems locally. In March, Dr. Ian Breckheimer highlighted how long-term datasets on snowpack, water, and temperature are helping scientists forecast future risks, including tree mortality and wildfire in our region.  

A collaborative project with Gunnison Elementary is another way these ideas are taking shape beyond the lab. Building on students’ snow science learning from RMBL field trips, students are interpreting Gothic snow depth data through art, including a recent installation and an upcoming silk-based activity exploring spatial snow patterns. The project is an innovative example of how scientific understanding can inspire new ways of seeing and connecting with the natural world. 

These conversations and outreach activities have felt especially relevant this year as the U.S. experiences one of the driest and warmest winters of the past century. For my own family, they have sparked conversations about how we can better listen to the Earth and adjust our daily patterns in response. Something as simple as being mindful of water use this year feels like a small but meaningful way to respond to what the land is telling us, particularly as we learn more about the role of snowpack and groundwater in sustaining our mountain ecosystems and communities. 

At RMBL, we study patterns in nature every day. But those patterns aren’t just data — they’re invitations to listen carefully to the Earth, and to shape new patterns in our own lives that help create a more livable planet for generations to come. Earth Day reminds us that science, awareness, and everyday choices are all part of the same story. 

Thank you for being part of this community and for supporting the science, education, and stewardship that make RMBL possible. 

Warmly,

Jeni Blacklock
Executive Director
Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory

Photo: Gothic Mountain and glacier lilies. Changing climate is disrupting the timing of their annual bloom, along with that of other wildflowers, according to research by Dr. David Inouye and colleagues at RMBL.