Long-term experimental drought alters floral scent and pollinator visits in a Mediterranean plant community despite overall limited impacts on plant phenotype and reproduction
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jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:p jats:list
jats:list-itemjats:pPollinators are declining globally, with climate change implicated as an important driver. Climate change can induce phenological shifts and reduce floral resources for pollinators, but little is known about its effects on floral attractiveness and how this might cascade to affect pollinators, pollination functions and plant fitness.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
jats:list-itemjats:pWe used an jats:italicin situ</jats:italic> long‐term drought experiment to investigate multiple impacts of reduced precipitation in a natural Mediterranean shrubland, a habitat where climate change is predicted to increase the frequency and intensity of droughts. Focusing on three insect‐pollinated plant species that provide abundant rewards and support a diversity of pollinators (jats:italicCistus albidus</jats:italic>, jats:italicSalvia rosmarinus</jats:italic> and jats:italicThymus vulgaris</jats:italic>), we investigated the effects of drought on a suite of floral traits including nectar production and floral scent. We also measured the impact of reduced rainfall on pollinator visits, fruit set and germination in jats:italicS. rosmarinus</jats:italic> and jats:italicC. albidus</jats:italic>.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
jats:list-itemjats:pDrought altered floral emissions of all three plant species qualitatively, and reduced nectar production in jats:italicT. vulgaris</jats:italic> only. jats:italicApis mellifera</jats:italic> and jats:italicBombus gr. terrestris</jats:italic> visited more flowers in control plots than drought plots, while small wild bees visited more flowers in drought plots than control plots. Pollinator species richness did not differ significantly between treatments. Fruit set and seed set in jats:italicS. rosmarinus</jats:italic> and jats:italicC. albidus</jats:italic> did not differ significantly between control and drought plots, but seeds from drought plots had slower germination for jats:italicS. rosmarinus</jats:italic> and marginally lower germination success in jats:italicC. albidus</jats:italic>.</jats:p></jats:list-item>
jats:list-itemjats:pjats:italicSynthesis</jats:italic>. Overall, we found limited but consistent impacts of a moderate experimental drought on floral phenotype, plant reproduction and pollinator visits. Increased aridity under climate change is predicted to be stronger than the level assessed in the present study. Drought impacts will likely be stronger and this could profoundly affect the structure and functioning of plant–pollinator networks in Mediterranean ecosystems.</jats:p></jats:list-item> </jats:list> </jats:p>
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1365-2745