Effects of temperature gradient on functional fruit traits: an elevation-for-temperature approach.

ABSTRACT: Fruit traits mediate animal-plant interactions and have to a large degree evolved to match the sensory capacities and morphology of their respective dispersers. At the same time, fruit traits are affected by local environmental factors, which may affect frugivore-plant trait match. Temperature has been identified as a major factor with a strong effect on the development of fruits, which is of serious concern because of the rising threat of global warming. Nonetheless, this primarily originates from studies on domesticated cultivars in often controlled environments. Little is known on the effect of rising temperatures on fruit traits of wild species and the implications this could have to seed dispersal networks, including downstream consequences to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. I

SUBMITTER: Gomez-Devia L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11232184 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature