Climate warming changes synchrony of plants and pollinators

Abstract

Climate warming changes the phenology of many species. When interacting organisms respond differently, climate change may disrupt their interactions and affect the stability of ecosystems. Here, we used global biodiversity facility occurrence records to examine phenology trends in plants and their associated insect pollinators in Germany since the 1980s. We found strong phenological advances in plants but differences in the extent of shifts among pollinator groups. The temporal trends in plant and insect phenologies were generally associated with interannual temperature variation and thus probably driven by climate change. When examining the synchrony of species-level plant–pollinator interactions, their temporal trends differed among pollinator groups. Overall, plant–pollinator interactions become more synchronized, mainly because the phenology of plants, which historically lagged behind that of the pollinators, responded more strongly to climate change. However, if the observed trends continue, many interactions may become more asynchronous again in the future. Our study suggests that climate change affects the phenologies of both plants and insects and that it also influences the synchrony of plant–pollinator interactions.

Active around the year: Butterflies and moths adapt their life cycles to a warming world

“…Indeed, Freimuth et al. (2022) reported plant–pollinator interactions to shift, but no clear tendency towards decoupling emerged. Insect examples from more complex food webs are missing, currently making generalization about ecological decoupling beyond vertebrate examples challenging.…”

“…Prolonged vegetation periods and increased temperature might also prolong the annual activity of arthropods (Altermatt, 2010; Freimuth et al., 2022; Hällfors et al., 2021; Figure 1). For instance, Bentz et al.…”

“…Prolonged vegetation periods and increased temperature might also prolong the annual activity of arthropods (Altermatt, 2010;Freimuth et al, 2022;Hällfors et al, 2021; Figure 1). For instance, Bentz et al (2010) linked the delayed diapause and extended reproductive capacity of selected spruce beetles with warmer autumn temperatures.…”

Safeguarding plant genetic resources in the United States during global climate change

“…For regenerating PGR, naturally occurring and managed insect pollinators are often key to successful production of needed quantities and qualities of seed during regeneration activities. Climate change effects have been documented for plant phenology when synchrony of flowering and pollinator activity shift due to warming, with predicted trends leading to increased asynchrony (Freimuth et al., 2022). Populations of honeybee ( Apis mellifera L.), the best‐known and essential crop pollinator, have declined because of agricultural pesticides, increases in pathogens, and increasing temperatures (Zhao et al., 2021).…”

A model of wild bee populations accounting for spatial heterogeneity and climate‐induced temporal variability of food resources at the landscape level

“…The phenologies of many ecological processes are moderated by temperature and thus sensitive to climate change. For example, plant phenology shifts can potentially affect interactions between pollinators and host plants, due to mismatches of flowering and pollinator foraging (when shifts are asynchronous) (Freimuth et al, 2022 ; Gérard et al, 2020 ; Memmott et al, 2007 ; Scaven & Rafferty, 2013 ). Under drought conditions, floral resources are reduced for pollinators, affecting pollinator survival (Phillips et al, 2018 ; Wilson Rankin et al, 2020 ).…”