NSF has funded a collaborative proposal with Dr. Emily Mooney at the University of Colorado in Colorado Springs and Dr. Christie Bahlai at Kent State University to study the effects of warming on aphid population dynamics in a well-studied montane ecosystem. Aphids are sensitive to the direct effects of warming temperatures, but their abundance also depends on complex interactions with microbes, plants, and other insects as well as genetic differences between aphid populations. Through a combination of long-term observations, field experiments, and agent-based modeling, this project will test how interactions among these factors can lead to unexpected patterns in aphid abundance. The project is scheduled to start in summer 2025.