Scientists are concerned a Rocky Mountain dominant montane tree species, Ponderosa pine, will blink out in severely and extensively burned forest sites (Chang, 2021, Colorado State University).  A hotter drier climate (i.e., changes in timing and amount of precipitation during the monsoon season, decrease in snowpack and duration – quicker and less (overall) runoff; quick deluge of snow melt; less available water) and the magnitude and intensity of the burn may have tipped the scale for this iconic species toward “extinction” in some parts of its range.

Working in collaboration with CC’s State of the Rockies project, organismal biology and ecology department, IT/GIS department, and the art department, CC’s State of the Rockies Student Research Ecology Assistants will help answer the questions: “What is the ecological condition of the Waldo Canyon burn area after twenty years?  Do we see the expected patterns of forest succession in Ponderosa pine dominant forests?  What evidence can we find that may help us determine ecosystem function and health, (i.e., evidence of re-establishment (age diversity) of ponderosa pines; rich forest understory plant species; butterfly species presence/absence)?  What processes might be driving patterns of revegetation? What predictions can be made about the long-term survival of these forests and butterflies?  How have riparian zones responded?