Drought stress influences foraging preference of a solitary bee on two wildflowers.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Pollinators provide critical ecosystem services, maintaining biodiversity and benefitting global food production. However, plants, pollinators and their mutualistic interactions can be affected by drought, which has increased in severity and frequency under climate change. Using two annual, insect-pollinated wildflowers (Phacelia campanularia and Nemophila menziesii), we asked how drought impacts floral traits and foraging preferences of a solitary bee (Osmia lignaria) and explored potential implications for plant reproduction.

Methods

In greenhouses, we subjected plants experimentally to drought to induce water stress, as verified by leaf water potential. To assess the impact of drought on floral traits, we measured flower size, floral display size, nect

SUBMITTER: Rose-Person A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11805950 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature