Ballhead

Ballhead waterleaf flowers get help from unexpected guests

March 19, 2019

I looked around to see what was in bloom and found a native wildflower with the strange name of ballhead waterleaf, Hydrophyllum capitatum.

pinedrops

A plant incapable of photosynthesis but good at forming bridges

March 14, 2019

Pinedrops parasitizes the mycorrhizal fungus directly, stealing water, minerals, carbohydrates and nutrients, but supplying nothing in return. In effect, it parasitizes a mutualism after germinating in the grasp of a fungus.

Bee plant

Bee plants left their mark on Ancient Puebloan pottery

Jan. 25, 2019

As beautiful as they are, Rocky Mountain bee plants are known to be malodorous, inspiring other common names, including skunk weed and stink weed.

damselfly

Brilliant coloration in American rubyspots signals male quality

Jan. 11, 2019

The rubyspot's mating system is classified as territorial defense polygyny, in which males defend a site to attract mates.

blite

Strawberry blite emerging in wake of Cold Springs Fire

Jan. 2, 2019

A wildfire causes blight on the land, but it is surprising how quickly plants and animals that depend on them colonize the burned area.

Photograph of the newly discovered warbler hybrid

Declining warblers making the best of bad situation

Dec. 3, 2018

The discovery of a rare three-species warbler hybrid suggests bird species in sharp decline are struggling to find suitable mates.

turkey

We nearly ate turkeys to extinction a second time

Nov. 24, 2018

Multiple species of turkeys have been in America for millions of years and it is apparent that, when humans and turkeys met, we have had substantial impacts on their population sizes.

butterfly

Beavers feed mourning cloak butterflies

Nov. 11, 2018

I found the mourning cloak when I was trying to photograph the beavers living at the confluence of the Green and Yampa Rivers.

locust borer

Bright beetle gains protection through similarity to wasps

Nov. 6, 2018

A defenseless insect can gain protection from predators if it evolves to resemble a well-defended species.

Photograph of Chris Ray with an unconscious pika

CU Boulder pika researcher wins conservation award

Nov. 2, 2018

A CU Boulder researcher is being recognized by the Denver Zoo for her extensive work studying the pika across the Colorado alpine

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