Abstract Detail

Ecology

Xingwen, Loy [1], Schiffer, Annie [2], Morozumi, Connor [3], Reynolds, Victoria [4], Brosi, Berry [5].

Effects of community-wide flowering phenology manipulation on plant-pollinator network structure and function.

Climate change can alter flowering time to affect plant-pollinator interactions. While some studies show that precocious flowering reduces the pollination success of particular plant species, little is known about how changes in flowering phenology affect pollination in multi-species plant communities. Ecological networks may be useful tools for studying how plant-pollinator community interactions are altered by early flowering, but there is a need for more research linking network properties to pollination function measured in plant reproductive success. To address both of these knowledge gaps, we conducted a large-scale phenology manipulation experiment in montane meadows of the Colorado Rocky Mountains. At eight sites scattered across two valleys, we artificially accelerated flowering time in plant community plots, each paired with adjacent unmanipulated control plots. From these plots we constructed 16 plant-pollinator networks, and measured plant reproductive success in 14 species. We evaluated how several of these plant species participated in their respective networks, and whether changes in their niche positions within networks, if any, corresponded with changes in fecundity. In preliminary analyses, we found no clear directional change in network metrics following flowering phenology manipulations. However, niche positions for many focal plant species shifted. Precocious flowering appeared to have an overall negative effect on plant reproduction, though the magnitude and direction of changes were dependent on plant species. Our findings suggest that considering focal species interactions within the larger context of their communities could help us better understand how anthropogenic change affects community function.

Related Links:
Brosi Lab website

1 - Atlanta Botanical Garden, Conservation and Research, 1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30309, United States
2 - University of Washington, Department of Biology, Life Sciences Building, 459 W Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, United States
3 - Emory University, Environmental Science, 400 Dowman Drive, 5th floor, Math & Science Center, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
4 - University of Queensland, School of Biological Sciences, University Dr, Goddard Building, St Lucia, QLD, 4067, Australia
5 - University of Washington, Department of Biology, Life Sciences Building, 459 W Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA

Keywords:
pollination
phenology
plant-pollinator interactions
climate change.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: ECO7, Ecology: Reproductive Biology
Location: /
Date: Thursday, July 22nd, 2021
Time: 3:45 PM(EDT)
Number: ECO7004
Abstract ID:918
Candidate for Awards:None