The plants and animals that inhabit most ecosystems experience phenological changes (i.e., cyclical and seasonal changes in their physiology, anatomy, or behavior). In fact, those of us who live in the temperate zone are familiar with a common phenological change: watching the leaves of deciduous trees change colors and drop during autumn. Climate change is altering the timing and patterns of precipitation and temperature and these changes can have profound effects on the phenology of organisms. In this episode, I chat with Rachel Walters (’23; Biology) who participated in a summer research project at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory in Colorado with Dr. Lee (Mick) Demi, Assistant Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and Sustainability. Listen in to hear Rachel talk about how she spent her summer in the high-elevation streams of Colorado studying climate-induced changes in river phenology.
