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Vulnerability of a specialized pollination mechanism to climate change revealed by a 356-year analysis

Hutchings, Michael J., Robbirt, Karen M., Roberts, David L., Davy, Anthony J. (2018) Vulnerability of a specialized pollination mechanism to climate change revealed by a 356-year analysis. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 186 (4). pp. 498-509. ISSN 0024-4074. (doi:10.1093/botlinnean/box086) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:66430)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided. (Contact us about this Publication)
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1093/botlinnean/box086

Abstract

Pollination of Ophrys sphegodes by sexual deception of male Andrena nigroaenea bees depends on male bees emerging before female bees and before flowering, and on the orchid flowering before female bee emergence, so that competition for the services of naïve male bees is avoided. Using previously established relationships between the timing of these phenological events and spring temperature, we model flowering and bee emergence dates from 1659 to 2014, using central England temperature records. All phenological events were predicted to advance significantly over this period, accompanying a trend towards warmer springs. The interval between male and female flight decreased over time, whereas that between male flight and flowering increased. In addition, female flight preceded orchid flowering after warm springs and it preceded flowering and male bee flight following the warmest springs. Such reversals in phenology have increased in frequency over the last 356 years. In most years, the Ophrys/Andrena pollination system achieves limited pollination success. The results presented here suggest that climate warming has changed the timing of the phenological events that are critical to reproductive success in O. sphegodes and that continuing warming will increase the frequency of years in which this rare orchid suffers complete reproductive failure.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1093/botlinnean/box086
Subjects: Q Science > QH Natural history > QH541 Ecology
Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)
Q Science > QK Botany
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation
Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: David Roberts
Date Deposited: 15 Mar 2018 22:14 UTC
Last Modified: 04 Mar 2024 19:02 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/66430 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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