Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

Biology and Ecosystems

Whether it is extreme landscapes at remote reaches of the planet, the microbial habitat of the human body, or the forests of the Rocky Mountains in our own backyard, understanding the living planet is imperative to understanding the entire earth system. From micro to macro, biological and ecosystems science at CIRES explores all parts of the environment. Researchers explore biological systems using a combination of field techniques, laboratory investigations, and remote sensing to understand all types of different habitats, at cellular to ecosystem scales. Linkages among ecosystems, health, sustainability, and resilience drive many of the research questions that CIRES’ biological scientists explore.