Loss of fungal symbionts and changes in pollinator availability caused by climate change will affect the distribution and survival chances of myco-heterotrophic orchid species

Abstract

The first comprehensive species distribution models for orchid, its fungal symbionts and pollinator are presented. To evaluate impact of global warming on these organisms three different projections and four various climate change scenarios were analysed. The niche modelling was based on presence-only records of Limodorum abortivum, two species of Russula and three insects pollinating orchid (Anthophora affinis, Bombus terrestris, Rhodanthidium septemdentatum). Two sets of orchid predictions were examined—the first one included only climatic data and the second one was based on climate data and data on future distribution of orchid fungal symbionts. Overall, a poleward range shift is predicted to occur as a result of climate change and apparently global warming will be favorable for L. abortivum and its potential geographical range will expand. However, due to the negative effect of global warming on fungal symbionts of L. abortivum, the actual extension of the suitable niches of the orchid will be much limited. Considering future possibility of cross-pollination, the availability of A. affinis for L. abortivum will decrease and this bee will be available in the worst case scenarios only for 21% of orchid populations. On the other hand, the overlap of orchid and the buff-tailed bumblebee will increase and as much as 86.5% of plant populations will be located within B. terrestris potential range. Also the availability of R. septemdentatum will be higher than currently observed in almost all analysed climate change projections. This study showed the importance of inclusion of ecological factors in species distribution models as the climate data itself are not enough to estimate the future distribution of plant species. Moreover, the availability of pollen vectors which is crucial for long-term survival of orchid populations should be analysed in context of climate changes.

Effect of global warming on the potential distribution of a holoparasitic plant (Phelypaea tournefortii): both climate and host distribution matter

“…We considered this cautiously 63 since soil properties result from the local substrate, climate, and vegetation and greatly depend on the composition of local microbiota 64 . Numerous studies showed that climate will also affect these organisms 65 , 66 . Thus, predicting future soil characteristics changes is extremely difficult.…”

Climate change will likely facilitate invasion of Asian orchid Eulophia graminea into new areas

“…While broad-scale analyses across the geographical regions are needed to uncover the importance of fungal partner(s) for orchid longterm survival, current results suggest that availability of OMF may not be a constraint to any of these invasive orchids now or in the future under climate change scenarios. Nonetheless, the orchid and its OMF symbionts will not necessarily respond to climate change similarly (Kolanowska 2023). Although OMF have garnered most of the attention because of their importance in seed germination, other microbial endophytes can have fitness consequences by affecting plant growth, resistance to pathogens, and tolerance capacity to biotic and abiotic stresses.…”

“…Some orchids are characterized by very specialized relationships with mycorrhizal partners and for these species predictions of future distribution should be accompanied with the analyses of changes in the potential ranges of their symbionts (Kolanowska 2023). Unfortunately, little is known of the endophytic biota of E. graminea (Downing et al 2020) and even less of their geographical distribution so ENM of the ecological relationships of this species was not possible.…”

The long-term survival and climatic distribution of mixotrophic and mycoheterotrophic orchids

“…While Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants, there are few studies on predicting the effect of climate change on orchids (Kolanowska & Jakubska-Busse, 2020;Kolanowska et al, 2017Konowalik & Kolanowska, 2018). Moreover, very few studies include analyses of the future distribution of orchid pollen vectors (Kolanowska, 2021;Kolanowska et al, 2021), and just one includes the availability of mutualistic fungi (Kolanowska, 2023). e aim of this study was to evaluate the importance of fungi for the orchid occurrence by estimating the effect of climate change on the distribution of two orchid species and their fungal symbionts using ecological niche modeling (ENM).…”