Josh Grinath and the power of place-based discovery

On a summer morning near Gothic, before most of the valley stirs, ecologist Josh “Bear” Grinath is already thinking about questions that stretch far beyond any single field site: How do pollution and predators shape communities of plants and animals? What might those interactions portend for the future?

Rooted in careful observation, long-term data, and a deep respect for the complexity of mountain ecosystems, Josh’s work at RMBL exemplifies why place-based science matters and how sustained inquiry shapes our understanding of a rapidly changing world.

Science that begins with place

Underlying Josh’s research is a simple premise: to understand how ecosystems respond to change, we must first understand how they function over time.

Now an associate professor of community and global change ecology at Idaho State University, Josh was a first-generation college graduate from Cornell University when he first came to RMBL in 2004. Over four summers, he worked as a research assistant for science director Jennie Reithel and then-executive director Ian Billick, contributing to research on mutualisms between ants and sap-feeding treehoppers.

Those observations led to his own hypotheses and to graduate school at Florida State University, where he worked with RMBL researchers Brian Inouye and Nora Underwood. He has continued his research at RMBL ever since.

That research now centers on two primary lines of inquiry. The first focuses on nitrogen pollution’s impact on ecosystems. For 16 summers at a field site in nearby Almont, Josh has simulated low-level but widespread nitrogen pollution on plots of vegetation, herbivorous insects, and predatory arthropods, including ants. What began as a graduate project studying short-term impacts has evolved into a long-term investigation of ecological consequences.

Recently, he coordinated with RMBL’s Colorado Headwaters Ecological Spectroscopy Study (CHESS) to test whether hyperspectral imaging can detect plant-insect communities impacted by nitrogen pollution. He also plans to collaborate with colleagues to investigate how nitrogen deposition affects plant-pollinator interactions.

His second line of inquiry focuses on how bears indirectly benefit plants by eating ants and altering relationships between ants, sap-sucking insects, and plants. He established an ant population survey area in 2013 and has resumed the study in recent years, collaborating with researchers from partner institutions. He is also interested in expanding this survey using drone imagery.

These processes unfold slowly, with patterns emerging across years — sometimes decades. This is where RMBL’s strength shines. Founded in 1928, the lab provides a rare setting where decades of continuous data, consistent field sites, and a collaborative scientific culture allow researchers like Josh to ask questions that short-term studies simply cannot answer.

From data to impact

The impact of Josh’s science isn’t limited to academic journals. Land managers, conservation organizations, and fellow scientists rely on long-term, data-driven insight.

“By studying bears and their interactions with ants, my work helps uncover the ecological roles of bears in ecosystems and inform the management of bear populations,” Josh says. “[It’s also] been used to inform agencies [about] the potential indirect effects of removing bears from landscapes.”

Similarly, his study of nitrogen pollution provides insight into landscape changes that have already occurred, and those that may still lie ahead, including changes to plant quality and to plant and insect species that could become pests.

At RMBL, uncertainty is not a weakness; it is an invitation to look more closely, ask better questions, and remain open to complexity. That approach helps build trust and bridge the gap between scientific discovery and public understanding.

A scientist shaped by community

RMBL is not just a place where Josh conducts research. It is a community that shapes how that research happens.

In Josh’s view, that community has shaped his career. From early support by Jennie Reithel and Ian Billick to mentorship from Brian Inouye and Nora Underwood, and continued collaboration and fellowship support, RMBL has played a central role in his development as a scientist and his ongoing work.

This culture of belonging is why scientists return year after year — and why the science produced here carries unusual depth and continuity.

Educating the next generation through science

A key part of Josh’s impact is his role in education and mentorship. At RMBL, students are not observers; they are active participants in the scientific process, learning how to collect data, ask questions, and think critically about the natural world. “I have had wonderful opportunities to work with undergraduate students attending RMBL’s summer program, which has helped to take my research in new directions,” Josh says.

By involving students directly in long-term research, Josh helps cultivate a new generation of scientists who understand the value of patience, collaboration, and place-based inquiry.

Why this work matters now

In an era of rapid environmental change, there is often pressure for quick answers and immediate solutions. RMBL’s long-term datasets provide a foundation for more thoughtful, informed action.

As RMBL moves toward its second century, research like Josh’s underscores why the lab matters. It is about building knowledge to understand how human activities are reshaping ecosystems and to navigate an uncertain future.

As Josh puts it, “By constructing this knowledge, we can identify ways to address the environmental challenges that we have made, protecting natural environments along with the ecosystem services that humanity depends upon.”

— Jeni Blacklock, PhD
RMBL Executive Director

Top: Josh “Bear” Grinath in Almont. Photo | Courtesy Josh Grinath