Diesel exhaust and ozone pollution reduce insect-mediated pollination services
Presentation
Ryalls, James M W, Langford, Ben, Mullinger, Neil, Bromfield, Lisa M, Nemitz, Eiko, Pfrang, Christian and Girling, Robbie D. 2021. "Diesel exhaust and ozone pollution reduce insect-mediated pollination services." 36th Annual Meeing of the International Socity of Chemical Ecology. South Africa 05 - 10 Sep 2021 South Africa.
Paper/Presentation Title | Diesel exhaust and ozone pollution reduce insect-mediated pollination services |
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Presentation Type | Presentation |
Authors | Ryalls, James M W, Langford, Ben, Mullinger, Neil, Bromfield, Lisa M, Nemitz, Eiko, Pfrang, Christian and Girling, Robbie D |
Journal Citation | pp. 120-120 |
Number of Pages | 1 |
Year | 2021 |
Place of Publication | South Africa |
Web Address (URL) of Paper | https://chemecol.org/programs/2021%20abstracts.pdf |
Web Address (URL) of Conference Proceedings | https://chemecol.org/pastmeetings.shtml |
Conference/Event | 36th Annual Meeing of the International Socity of Chemical Ecology |
Event Details | 36th Annual Meeing of the International Socity of Chemical Ecology Delivery Online Event Date 05 to end of 10 Sep 2021 Event Location South Africa Event Web Address (URL) |
Abstract | There have been significant declines in pollinator abundance and diversity during the last century, caused by factors such as agricultural intensification and climate change, with further declines predicted. Recent research has proposed a role for common tropospheric pollutants, e.g. diesel exhaust (particularly nitrogen oxides - NOx) and ozone (O3), in these declines. Smallscale behavioural and chemical studies, combined with atmospheric model simulations, demonstrate that such pollutants chemically alter or deplete many of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by flowers to attract pollinators, and this process is expected to reduce pollinator foraging efficiency. However, no in-situ evidence exists demonstrating the effects of air pollution on wild or managed pollinators or the services they provide. Using freeair fumigation over two years, we show that elevation of NOx and O3, to concentrations commonly recorded in the lower troposphere, had significant effects on the foraging behaviour of field-populations of insect pollinators. These pollutants, individually and in combination, significantly reduced pollinator counts and flower visits, of our study plant (Brassica nigra), by at least 62% and 83%, respectively. These reductions, which were consistent over two years, were driven by responses of major pollinator groups (honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies) and coincided with significant decreases in pollination and yield metrics. Moreover, O3 reduced the effects of NOx on pollinator and plant metrics, likely due to the counteraction between atmospheric NOx and O3. These results provide the first evidence of substantial negative field-scale effects of NOx and O3 pollution on insect-mediated pollination services. |
Keywords | air pollution; field-scale; odour cues; pollinator; volatiles |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 410204. Ecosystem services (incl. pollination) |
370102. Air pollution processes and air quality measurement | |
310301. Behavioural ecology | |
310307. Population ecology | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Reading, United Kingdom |
UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, United Kingdom | |
University of Birmingham, United Kingdom |
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/yzv21/diesel-exhaust-and-ozone-pollution-reduce-insect-mediated-pollination-services
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