Differential Effects of Climate Warming on the Nectar Secretion of Early- and Late-Flowering Mediterranean Plants.

ABSTRACT: Floral nectar is a vital resource for pollinators, thus having a very important role in ecosystem functioning. Ongoing climate warming could have a negative effect on nectar secretion, particularly in the Mediterranean, where a strong temperature rise is expected. In turn, decreased nectar secretion, together with shifts in flowering phenology can disrupt plant-pollinator interactions and consequently affect the entire ecosystem. Under fully controlled conditions, we tested how temperature influenced nectar secretion (through nectar volume, sugar concentration, sugar content, and number of flowers produced) in six Mediterranean plant species flowering from winter to summer (viz. Asphodelus ramosus, Ballota acetabulosa, Echium plantagineum, Lavandula stoechas, Rosmarinus officinalis,

SUBMITTER: Takkis K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6030359 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature