The Late Orchid Catches the Bee: Frost Damage and Pollination Success in the Face of Global Warming in a European Terrestrial Orchid.

ABSTRACT: Global warming changes flowering times of many plant species, with potential impacts on frost damage and their synchronization with pollinator activity. These effects can have severe impacts on plant fitness, yet we know little about how frequently they occur and the extent of damage they cause. We addressed this topic in a thermophilic orchid with a highly specific pollination mechanism, the Small Spider Orchid, Ophrys araneola RchB, in six populations in Northern Switzerland. We measured flowering time, frost damage, and fruiting success in 1250 individually marked plants during 3 years, and documented spring temperatures. Using regression models with historical climate data, we estimated past and future frost damage. In addition, we analyzed historical records of the orchid and i

SUBMITTER: Schiestl FP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11739451 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature