Pollinators-Plant Mismatch Due to Climate Change

Context: 

Climate change is leading to a significant mismatch in plant cycles and pollinators behaviour, which has multiple impacts on the phenology and other traits of plants.

Impact of Climate Change on Plants & Pollinators 

• Impact due to Rise in Temperature: 

  • Rapid Evolution of Plant: Warmer weather has resulted Significant changes 
    • Early flowering, 
    • low fruit production 
    • Low quality.
    • Low Nectar production: Reduced nectar production can diminish food sources for pollinators, accelerating their population decline. 
  • Due to UV-radiation: Colour of flower changes which makes less favourable conditions for  pollinators to pollinate on plants.

• Impact due to Selfing Syndrome:

  • Due to reduction in pollinators which helps in cross pollination resulting in them to perform self pollination, further leads to reduction in diversity .
  • Shift in Flowering Plants’ Reproduction: Reproductive evolution may stem from environmental changes such as habitat destruction.

• Ecosystem Impact of Decline of Pollinators: 

  • It could disproportionately affect certain plant species. 

• Impact due to Spread of Invasive Species: 

  • Shifts Pollinators away from traditional species.

• Biodiversity Effects : 

  • The effects of climate change on species fitness and persistence are increasing &  its diverse impacts on biodiversity and ecological interactions. 

• Impact due to rise in Carbon Dioxide: 

• • Which alters the nutritional quality of plant products due to change in pollinators incidence.

News Source : DTE

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