Carolina Gutierrez

Picture of Carolina Gutierrez

Sustainability Leadership Cohort: 2017-2018

Ph.D. Student, Department of Biology

Graduate Degree Program in Ecology

Research Summary: My research focuses on the changes in the functional structure of aquatic insect communities across altitudinal and latitudinal ranges (Tropics vs temperate zones). Functional structure relates to the number, type, and distribution of functions performed by organisms within an ecosystem. I want to know how different latitudes and elevations affect the functional diversity of aquatic insects, and also how insect’s function in streams respond to changes in canopy cover and water temperature along altitudinal gradients in temperate streams. This knowledge could give stream ecology science some insight in how climate change and loss of riparian vegetation affect the whole stream.

Advisor: N. LeRoy Poff

HumanNature blog post: http://blog.sustainability.colostate.edu/gutierrez