Course Description: This field-based course provides students with an introduction to the diverse methods that field ecologists use to study patterns of environmental change in the montane ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains. The Rockies have experienced nearly 2˚C of warming over the past century and we could see an additional 1˚C of warming in the next 25 years. These warming trends have been associated with earlier snowmelts, altered species ranges, and mismatches in the timing of biological events, among many other impacts. But environmental changes occur on time scales and across geographic ranges that are hard to observe first-hand. How do scientists study these processes?

In this course, students will be introduced to research studying the effects of environmental change in the Rocky Mountains. We will discuss the methods that researchers use to measure changing environments, from long-term monitoring of temperature and precipitation to discrete measurements of streamflow and land cover. We will also interact with scientists who experimentally manipulate environmental conditions to identify how these changes affect specific biological processes like pollination and plant reproduction. Finally, we will explore how natural history museums provide valuable opportunities to study how species’ distributions, traits, and life histories have changed over time. Students taking this course should expect to spend substantial time outdoors, including moderate hiking, but accommodations will be available for any students experiencing any limitations with these activities. By the end of this course, students will be familiar with the flora and fauna of diverse mountain ecosystems and will be equipped with a wide range of research methods to apply to their own questions related to global environmental change.

Course Objectives: By the end of this class, students will be able to…

• formulate research questions and find literature related to that question.
• identify flora and fauna in surrounding RMBL with the help of printed and online keys.
• describe the major types of research being conducted at RMBL and the resources available to conduct these projects.
• select appropriate methodologies to measure environmental change at spatial and temporal scales relevant to a desired outcome.
• develop research plans to relate environmental variables (e.g., temperature, precipitation, snowmelt, land cover, streamflow) to biological processes (e.g., emergence from overwintering, predation, pollination, reproduction).
• analyze data and discuss results using statistical results and figures.

Course Syllabus (summer 2025) EcosystemsSyllabus_25

Course Credits: This course is 2 credit hours and is included as an option in the RMBL Summer Research Experience/Education Program. Please visit this page for details- Course Credits – Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (rmbl.org)