The central aim of this proposal is to provide opportunities for students from diverse academic backgrounds to work collaboratively on a number of federally funded environmental change experiments across four of Utah’s ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, and Colorado Plateau Grassland. This proposal funded 4 students from life sciences and engineering.

Authors

Mark C. Belk, Brigham Young University

Keywords

cost of reproduction tradeoff, burying beetle, Nicrophorus orbicollis

College

Life Sciences

Department

Biology

Abstract

The proposal was to compare life history characteristics and the cost of reproduction tradeoff among populations of a burying beetle (Nicrophorus orbicollis). We conducted two major experiments with the MEG funding directed toward this goal. Both experiments required that we collect beetles from the wild and then raise their offspring in the lab to document responses. First, we compared lifetime reproductive output among two populations at two distinct temperatures. Second, we evaluated parentage of offspring (using newly developed molecular techniques) after manipulation of parental care.

Recommended Citation

Belk, Mark C. (2015) "The central aim of this proposal is to provide opportunities for students from diverse academic backgrounds to work collaboratively on a number of federally funded environmental change experiments across four of Utah’s ecosystems—Mojave Desert, Great Basin Shrub Steppe, Subalpine Tall Forb, and Colorado Plateau Grassland. This proposal funded 4 students from life sciences and engineering.," Journal of Undergraduate Research: Vol. 2015: Iss. 1, Article 242.
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/jur/vol2015/iss1/242