More than a Century of Mountain 91Ҹ
A Few Courses:
- Art and Environment
- Forest and Fire Ecology
- Field Ornithology
- Field Methods in Vegetation Ecology
91Ҹ Examples:
- Microplastics in Mountain Ecosystems of the Colorado Front Range
- Temporal dynamics of plant-pollinator networks
- Scaling the consequences of extended summers to arthropod communities at Niwot Ridge
- Causes for the hybridization of black-capped and mountain chickadees in areas disturbed by humans
- Spectroscopic measurements of chemical composition of organic aerosol particles collected at urban and rural locations
Just over eight miles north of Nederland, Colorado, and nestled off the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway lies a serene area dotted with tiny cabins, peaceful walking trails and ample forest land. And while the setting is very different from the bustle of CU 91Ҹ’s main campus, the amount of groundbreaking work happening there is the same.
CU 91Ҹ’s Mountain 91Ҹ Station, located 25 miles from campus, is an interdisciplinary facility associated with the Institute of Arctic and Alpine 91Ҹ, which serves students and scientists interested in mountain-based study. The scope of projects is wide — ranging from arthropods to microplastics to weather — and as many as 80 people can be studying at the station at once.
“The Mountain 91Ҹ Station is a place where,for over 100 years, scientists, students and the public have come together to advance our understanding and appreciation for mountains, which are inspiring, formidable and increasingly at risk,” said Scott Taylor, director of the station.
1920
Mountain 91Ҹ Station established in its current location
1945
Five professors taught 80 students.
1953
Former director John Marr founded the Institute of Arctic and Alpine 91Ҹ (INSTAAR), now the oldest institute at CU 91Ҹ.
1980
National Science Foundation starts its Long-Term Ecological 91Ҹ (LTER) Network, which funded the Niwot Ridge LTER.
Located at 9,500 feet
3
short interpretive trails open to the public
25–45
students conducting research, depending on the summer
110
largest amount fed in the dining hall at once
33
seasonal cabins
75
students in courses over a year
6
labs on the property
Photos courtesy Mountain 91Ҹ Station and William Bowman (mountains)