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THE IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON FOOD PRODUCTION
A new peer-reviewed study from researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington; the University of Nevada, Reno; and Virginia Tech shows that climate change has led to decreased pollen production from plants and less pollen diversity than previously thought, which could have a significant impact on food production.
“This research is crucial as it examines the long-term impacts of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions,” said Behnaz Balmaki, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of research in biology at UTA. “This study investigates how shifts in flowering times and extreme weather events affect the availability of critical food sources for insect pollinators.”
“This research is crucial as it examines the long-term impacts of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions,” said Behnaz Balmaki, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of research in biology at UTA. “This study investigates how shifts in flowering times and extreme weather events affect the availability of critical food sources for insect pollinators.”
Museum collections shed light on butterfly adaptations over time
One hundred years ago, naturalists and other outdoor enthusiasts had the foresight to collect and preserve natural specimens unique to the Great Basin. Those collections have been entrusted to the Museum of Natural History at the University of Nevada, Reno where large green and gray cabinets are filled with long-dead birds, bugs, plants, mammals, fish and more. Postdoctoral scholar Behnaz “Nazy” Balmaki is making good use of those collections now.
Using specimens collected between 1910 and 2020, Balmaki has identified how butterflies have interacted with different plants over the past century and she is working on understanding how those relationships have changed as climate change has led to drought in the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.
“Examining network changes over long periods of time provides the best methods to inform how plant-insect interaction webs may have changed with global climate change and to identify groups of butterflies and interactions that are most susceptible to disturbances,” Balmaki said. Those disturbances include warming temperatures and habitat destruction.
Using specimens collected between 1910 and 2020, Balmaki has identified how butterflies have interacted with different plants over the past century and she is working on understanding how those relationships have changed as climate change has led to drought in the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada.
“Examining network changes over long periods of time provides the best methods to inform how plant-insect interaction webs may have changed with global climate change and to identify groups of butterflies and interactions that are most susceptible to disturbances,” Balmaki said. Those disturbances include warming temperatures and habitat destruction.
Study explores long-term impacts of climate change on plant pollinators and food production
A study published in Oecologia from researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington; the University of Nevada, Reno; and Virginia Tech shows that climate change has led to decreased pollen production from plants and less pollen more diversity than previously thought, which could have a significant impact on food production.
Climate Change Has Decreased Pollen Diversity
This research is crucial as it examines the long-term impacts of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions,” said Behnaz Balmaki, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of research in biology at UTA. “This study investigates how shifts in flowering times and extreme weather events affect the availability of critical food sources for insect pollinators
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