2025 Internship Project Overview

HummerFlowerWatch is a long-term monitoring project at the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) aimed at understanding how climate change shapes hummingbird visitation and floral abundance. We surveyed floral phenology and abundance along eight transects across two trails, and placed camera traps on 26 flower species across three trails to identify which species are most attractive to hummingbirds. Our observations indicate that climate-driven shifts in bloom timing may disrupt synchrony with broad-tailed hummingbird migration. As part of an independent project, we examined the relationship between soil moisture and nectar traits in Ipomopsis aggregata (Scarlet Gilia), a key hummingbird-pollinated flower. Over a 22-day period, we measured soil moisture, pH, nectar volume, sugar concentration, and spectral reflectance (300–700 nm) of flowers from multiple sites on the Judd Falls and Stupid Falls trails. Analyses in R showed that hummingbird visitation, nectar production, and reflectance varied with trail and flower location. Together, these studies provide insight into hummingbird foraging decisions and their sensory ecology, as well as how climate change may alter the timing and quality of floral resources.

This internship is connected to the HMEI Climate and Energy Grand Challenges project, “Investigating the Effects of Climate Change on Hummingbird Sensory Landscapes.”

ORGANIZATION/RESEARCH GROUP

Stoddard Lab, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University

LOCATION

Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, Colorado

 

Interns

Marina Baeta Cookson ’28
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Minor(s): Environmental Studies, Portuguese
"I learned about the process of field biology, how to curate and execute a research project, and how to effectively communicate that research with other scientists and the public. My time at RMBL made me feel like a part of the scientific community and feel like a scientist, something I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid."
Ana Maria Pantoja Alfaro ’28
Major: Physics
Minor(s): Mathematics, Planets and Life Certificate
"I gained valuable experience in designing a research project, conducting statistical analyses, and practicing scientific writing techniques. I would love to study more areas where sensory ecology overlaps with physics, such as in the optical systems of different animals."

Click to view the end-of-project presentation

 

Mary C. Stoddard
Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Mentors

  • Kristina Fialko, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
  • Benedict Hogan, Associate Research Scholar, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology