Plants of Rocky Mountain National Park.

Plankton Population of Certain Lakes and Streams in the Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Model-based assessment of aspen responses to elk herbivory in Rocky Mountain National Park, USA.

In Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP), aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) has been observed to be declining on elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) winter range for many decades. To support elk management decisions, the SAVANNA ecosystem model was adapted to explore interactions between elk herbivory and aspen dynamics. The simulated probability of successful vegetative regeneration for senescent aspe...

Survival and productivity of a low-density black bear population in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Historically, Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) has supported a small black bear (Ursus americanus) population of low productivity. Increased visitor use of the park and development around its periphery could lead to a reduction in population viability of RMNP’s bear population or could increase the potential for human–bear conflict. Therefore, we investigated contemporary survival and produc...

Investigating types and sources of organic aerosol in Rocky Mountain National Park using aerosol mass spectrometry

The environmental impacts of atmospheric particles are highlighted in remote areas where visibility and ecosystem health can be degraded by even relatively low particle concentrations. Submicron particle size, composition, and source apportionment were explored at Rocky Mountain National Park using a High-Resolution Time-of-Flight Aerosol Mass Spectrometer. This summer campaign found low averag...

YMCA hiking patterns at Rocky Mountain National Park: implications for public health.

BACKGROUND There is little data on hiking patterns in national parks to support hiking behavior as a vehicle to meet the joint YMCA, CDC, and National Park Service initiatives to encourage physical activity through public land use. METHODS The YMCA of the Rockies hiking program provided data from Hike Report forms completed after 343 supervised hikes for one summer season in Rocky Mountain Na...