By Kelsey Simpkins

Principal investigator
Julian Resasco

Funding
NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Biology; Chancellor鈥檚 Postdoctoral Fellowship from the University of Colorado 色吧亚洲

Collaboration + support
Natacha P. Chacoff (National University of Tucum谩n); Diego P. V谩zquez (National University of Cuyo); University of Colorado 色吧亚洲鈥檚 Mountain Research Station

The next time you go for a hike, take a moment to听appreciate the seemingly ordinary life all around you.听A house fly, humble yarrow weed and other 鈥済eneralist鈥澨齪lants and pollinators play a crucial role in maintaining听biodiversity and might also serve as buffers against听some effects of climate change, according to听CU 色吧亚洲 research.

鈥淪pecies that are common are also in decline and could听go extinct, and that could have really big repercussions听for maintaining biodiversity,鈥 said Julian Resasco,听assistant professor of ecology and lead author on听the study.

Published in Ecology, these findings provide valuable听insights for prioritizing the conservation of species that听contribute to the strength of ecological communities,听prevent local extinctions and help them weather听increasing phenological mismatch.

Photo:听A bumblebee (Bombus sp.) visiting the flowers of Rocky听Mountain goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata).听Photo by Julian Resasco.


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