2014/06/20

Daily life in Colorado - Part 3

Research

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One of my study species - Mertensia brevistyla.
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M. brevistyla with a sand-based pollinator exclusion bag over it.

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One small project I am working on is looking at how floral orientation affects pollination in M. fusiformis (pictured) and M. brevistyla.  There is quite a variation in floral orientation in these species, from upright to perpendicular to downward (seen below).

Mertensia fusiformis

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M. fusiformis with many stems.

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Stigmas in M. fusiformis flowers extending above the stamens, also known as approach herkogamy.

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M. brevistyla

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Halictid bee visiting Mertensia brevistyla
Halictid bee visiting M. brevistyla

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A project by a labmate involves excluding floral resources (using row covers) and seeing how that affects cavity-nesting bees.

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Close-up on the row covers.

Friday the 13th + Full moon

Long-exposure of moon rise
Went out for a drive last Friday to check out the full moon.

Honey Full Moon on 2014-06-13 (Friday)
Dandelion
Took this photo after work on Saturday.

Sunday hikes

Last Sunday, I went for a hike around Gothic with fellow Canadian students in the morning, and then by myself in the afternoon.

Gothic Mountain
Gothic Mountain

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Beaver dam in the mountains.

Gunnison National Forest
Another view of the Gothic Mountain

Gunnison National Forest

Gunnison National Forest

Gunnison National Forest

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Taking pictures of Gothic Mountain

Gothic Mountain
So impressive!

Gothic Mountain
There is a small waterfall towards the right side of the image that we would like to check out in the near future.

Aspen Forest
Then I went for a hike in the afternoon through the aspen forest.

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Saw these white Dwarf Larkspur flowers.

Albino Dwarf Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum)
Albino Dwarf Larkspur (Delphinium nuttallianum)

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Small-leaf pussytoes (Antennaria parvifolia)

Mount Crested Butte
Mount Crested Butte

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While I was hiking back, a large group of deer was heading towards my way.  So I crouched down and observed them in peace.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
They were spooked by someone cutting fallen trees on the trail, so they quickly headed in the opposite direction.

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