Lois Webster Fund Projects
| Year | Project Name | Description | Organization | Researcher | LWF Funding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Documenting Avian Response to Wildfire | Investigation of this issue by comparing pre- and post-fire audio recordings (bioacoustics) of areas of Rocky Mountain National Park impacted by the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. | Colorado State University | Jacob Job | $4,964 |
| Colorado Native Plains Topminnow and Non-native Mosquitofish Competition | Investigating whether and how the CO native plains topminnow may co-exist with the invasive mosquitofish by experimentally testing inter-specific competition under different flow and temperature conditions in a laboratory setting. | Colorado State University | Yoichiro Kanno | $3,000 | |
| Trophic Interactions on Mountain Plover Broods | Understanding the effects of trophic interactions on Mountain Plover brood habitat selection and survival in Pueblo and El Paso counties. | Colorado State University | Casey Weissburg | $2,000 | |
| Response of Bats and Associated Nocturnal Food Webs to Bark Beetle Kill | A bottom-up approach to quantify the effects of changes in vegetative structure on bat diversity and a top-down approach to quantify the effects of bat predation on insect populations. | University of Northern Colorado | Amanda Bevan | $1,638 | |
| 2020 | Black Swift Movement Ecology | 3rd year: Continuing research based on prior year’s principles and results. | Bird Conservancy of the Rockies | Rob Sparks | $2,600 |
| Bald Eagles in Colorado's Northern Front Range | To better understand of current demographics and space use of bald eagles along Northern Front Range considering impact of human disturbance and changing land use. | Colorado Parks and Wildlife | James T. Gammonley, Phd. | $4,000 | |
| Wild Bee Communities Status | Researching the recovery of wild bees with life history traits (nest construction, diet choices, sociality) following catastrophic storms. | Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and University of Colorado Museum of Natural History | Jessica L. Mullins | $4,853 | |
| 2019 | Black Swift Movement Ecology | 2nd year: Continuing research based on prior year’s principles and results. | Bird Conservancy of the Rockies | Rob Sparks | $5,023 |
| Survey of Native Plains Fish | Project aims to characterize fish assemblages in Arikaree River, CO, on the Fox Ranch (The Nature Conservancy), after a recent discovery of an invasive, non-native species, western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis). | Colorado State University | Yoichiro Kanno | $2,500 | |
| 2018 | Black Swift Movement Ecology | Using previously tagged birds to determine: foraging range and habitats; if avoiding pesticide treated areas; more precisely locate wintering grounds and if "aerial roosting" is performed. | Bird Conservancy of the Rockies | Rob Sparks | $4,877 |
| Probiotic Solutions to the Batrachochytrium Dendrobatitis Associated Declines in Boreal Toads | Identify species of bacteria in Boreal Toads’ skin inhibiting growth of the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatitis (Bd) aiming to prevent deaths due to Bd. | University of Colorado Wildlife Conservation Research Fund: McKenzie Lab | Tim Korpita | $1,597 | |
| The Role of Urban Conservation in Enhancing Wildlife Habitat and Engaging Citizens | Evaluate a Ft. Collins habitat program to restore and enhance bird and butterfly biodiversity and assess the relative social and ecological benefits of citizen science in urban green spaces data collection . | Colorado State University, Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Biology | Miguel Jimenez | $2,000 | |
| 2017 | Conserving Northern Leopard Frogs on Colorado's Front Range | Determined presence/absence of Northern Leopard Frogs and other herptiles at ponds on Boulder City properties; recommended management actions to improve habitat. | Boulder Parks & Recreation | Joy Masters | $3,000 |
| Grassland Bird and Mammal Response to Bison Reintroduction in Northern Colorado | Determined effect of bison reintroduction on vegetation, bird and mammal use of habitat; also, compared bison-grazed, cattle-grazed, and reference sites. | Colorado State University | Kate Wilkins | $1,308 | |
| Native Fish Care and Appreciation in the Elementary Classroom | Provided an aquarium to enable 4th graders to learn about native fish, their habitats & threats from non-native species and climate change. | Weld RE-9 School District, Highland Elementary, Pierce, CO | Mark Kucza | $1,302 | |
| 2016 | Backyard Bee Watchers Citizen Science Launch | An upper Gunnison Valley citizen science project to increase the number of native bee boxes. | Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory | Dr. Amy Ellwein | $1,375 |
| Brown's Canyon National Monument Bioblitz | A Bioblitz in Brown’s Canyon National Monument for planning recreational uses. | US Forest Service | Stephanie Shively | $1,500 | |
| Importance of Habitat Heterogeneity to Distribution and Breeding Success in Shortgrass Steppe Birds | Discovering how birds respond to shifting vegetative cover of different grazing regimes with a focus on the McCown’s Longspur. | University of Colorado (Denver) | Amber Carver | $2,840 | |
| 2015 | Colorado Butterfly Monitoring Network | Expand monitoring of populations of Colorado butterflies. | The Butterfly Pavilion/ | Sara Garret | $2,800 |
| Mountain Plover Habitat Use During Nest Incubation | Researchers studying movement of adult plovers during nest incubation using GPS tags. | University of Colorado (Denver) | Colin Woolley | $2,062 | |
| The Bees' Needs: Increasing the Impact of Citizen Science | Web and database redesign to improve public understanding of native bee ecology. | University of Colorado (Boulder) | Alexandra Rose | $1,600 | |
| 2014 | Avian Response to Habitat Manipulation and Fire in NW Colorado Oil and Gas Fields | Responses of bird populations to habitat disturbance of oil and gas impacts. | Colorado State University | Travis Gallo | $750 |
| Effect of Heavy Metal Stream Contamination on Bats in the Eastern Rockies | Impact on bats of heavy metal contaminants in streams along the Front Range. | University of Northern Colorado | Laura Heiker | $4,100 | |
| Habitat Use by Mountain Plover During Nest Incubation | Study of foraging movements of adult mountain plovers when they are incubating eggs. | University of Colorado (Denver) | Colin Woolley | $1,395 | |
| 2013 | Black Swift Diet in Colorado | Compilation of data on of the type, size and numbers of prey items taken by Black Swifts in Colorado. | US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Kim Potter | $1,500 |
| Habitat Manipulation Effects on Songbird and Small Mammal Communities | Impacts on populations and behaviors of songbird and small mammal communities in energy development dominated landscape. | Colorado State University | Sarah Bombaci | $1,200 | |
| Grassland Bird Conservation and Habitat Use in Northeastern Colorado | Measure changes in habitat management for Mountain Plover, McCown's Longspur and Burrowing Owl on agricultural lands. | Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory | Angela Dwyer | Loaner Scope | |
| Front Range Pika Project | Data collection that will determine whether Pika distribution is declining throughout the Rocky Mountains' Front Range. | Denver Zoo | Amy Masching | $3,000 | |
| Rock Wren Nesting Behaviors | Understanding Rock Wren (a species in decline) nesting behaviors in Northern Colorado foothills to discern specific threats. | University of Northern Colorado | Nat Waring | $579 | |
| 2012 | Bedrock Bioblitz | Document the composition of a riparian habitat before and after a restoration project on the Dolores River, Colorado. | Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory | Martin Moses | $1,500 |
| Life Stage Male Bias Arising in Mountain Plover | Determine whether a male-biased sex ratio arises at the egg or chick stage of development in Mountain Plover. | University of Montana | Maggie Riordan | $2,000 | |
| Mammalian Habitat Use Along a Development Gradient in Northern Colorado | How exurban development density influences mammalian species' habitat use. | Colorado State University | Erica H. Goad | $1,500 | |
| 2011 | Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II | Fieldwork surveying for the second edition of Colorado Bird Breeding Atlas. | Fort Lewis College | Lynn Wickersham | $1,400 |
| Comparison of Abundant and Declining Bumble Bee Species | Use of molecular genetics techniques for investigation into the conservation status of an entire guild of bumblebees. | University of Colorado (Boulder) | Carol Ann Kearns | $1,500 | |
| Responses of Burrowing Owls to Black-tailed Prairie Dog Alarm Calls | The way in which Burrowing Owls react to alarm calls by prairie dogs. | University of Colorado (Denver) | Rebecca Bryan | $1,400 | |
| Urban Students and Urban Snakes | Radio telemetry to study the ecology and population genetics of sympatric garter snakes in Lowry Wetlands in Denver. | Metropolitan State College of Denver and Public School 1 | Eric Gangloff | $1,500 | |
| 2010 | Avian Communities' Changes in a Riparian Habitat | Analysis of 50 plus years of bird banding data to determine how avian community has changed in a protected riparian area since cattle were excluded. | University of Colorado (Boulder) | Mysti Martin | $1,500 |
| Ecological Role of Free-ranging Domestic Cats | Merging of biological and social science data to understand the ecological role and risk to wildlife caused by free-ranging domestic cats. | Colorado State University | Ashley Gramza | $2,500 | |
| Hybridization Threats on Two Colorado Native Catostomids | Genetic analysis of hybridization of two native and one non-native sucker species in western Colorado for management and conservation. | University of Colorado | Se Jin Song | $1,000 | |
| 2009 | Pawnee Montane Skipper Project | Measuring the distribution and abundance of immature stages of the Pawnee Montane Skipper, a federally Threatened species, in areas adjacent to the South Platte River. | Colorado College | Dr. Boyce Drummond | $500 |
| Townsend's Big-eared Bat | Study of roost sites and habitat associations of Townsend's Big-eared bats in southeastern Colorado. | Colorado State University | Robert Schorr | $1,800 | |
| 2008 | Bats of Mesa Verde | Identify insect prey samples from bat species using burned and unburned areas of Mesa Verde National Park. | Colorado State University | E. Apple Snider | $1,000 |
| Mountain Plover Data from the Pawnee National Grassland | Compilation and summary on Mountain Plover populations data from 1986 to 2007 on the Pawnee National Grasslands by Dr. Fritz Knopf. | US Forest Service | Elizabeth Humphreys | $2,200 | |
| Pika and Climate Change | A resurvey of historically documented Pika populations in the Southern Rockies, addressing the causes of extirpations and distribution shifts. | University of Colorado | Liesl Peterson | $1,000 | |
| 2007 | Burrowing Owl | Burrowing owls population dynamics on the Pawnee National Grassland with reference to plague and recreational shooting. | Colorado State University | Dr. Mike Antolin | $2,897 |
| Wildlife Bridge Feasibility | Testing roadway permeability and monitoring wildlife presence at Shrine Pass Road on Vail Pass. | Southern Rockies Ecosystem Project | Paige Bonaker | $2,500 | |
| 2006 | Aurora’s Big Year | Create a bird list for City of Aurora to increase awareness and appreciation. | City of Aurora, Parks and Open Space Dept. | Mary Ann Bonnell | $500 |
| Bats of Mesa Verde | Identify insect prey samples from bat species using burned and unburned areas of Mesa Verde National Park. | Colorado State University | E. Apple Snider | $1,000 | |
| Bats Population and Species Diversity | Monitor bat populations at water holes in Boulder to determine populations and drinking patterns. | University of Colorado (Boulder) | Rick Adams | $1,100 | |
| Possible Decline of Pika Populations | A resurvey of historically documented pika populations in the Southern Rockies, to test hypotheses addressing the causes of extirpations and distribution shifts in this critical pika stronghold. | University of Northern Colorado | Dianna DiPolito | $1,000 | |
| 2005 | Mountain Plover Surveys in the San Luis Valley | Mountain Plover numbers and distribution in the San Luis Valley, in Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande and Saguache Counties. | Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory | Terri Hicks-Anderson | $4,700 |
| 2004 | Conservation of Colorado's Bats | Trapping bats for a thorough survey of bat species in upper-montane, mixed conifer forests in the Pikes Peak Region. | Catamount Institute | Samantha Carpenter, Joseph Merritt, Et Al. | $400 |
| Grasslands Bioblitz | A biodiversity snapshot of a 6,000 public land acre block in Jefferson and Boulder counties which raised public awareness of the biological communities. | Colorado Native Plant Society | Karen Hollweg, Mark Richert | $2,200 | |
| Impacts of Habitat Fragmentation on the Breeding Ecology of the Flammulated Owl | Observing development of young owls in nest cavities; for a study of the impacts of major fires on owl demographics. | Colorado College, Biology Dept. | Brian Linkhart | $1,800 | |
| 2003 | Mountain Plover/Agricultural Lands in Eastern Colorado | Tracking of nesting Mt. Plovers and monitoring survival of chicks on agricultural lands. | Colorado Division of Wildlife | Vicky Dreitz | $3,814 |
| 2002 | Mountain Plover/Agricultural Lands in Eastern Colorado | Tracking of nesting Mt. Plovers and monitoring survival of chicks on agricultural lands. | Colorado Division of Wildlife | Vicky Dreitz | $4,000 |
| 1998 | Compilation of Breeding Data on Mountain Plover 1990-1997 | Tony Reynolds compiled data and published report Sept, 30, 1998 | NA | Tony Reynolds | $2,500 |