Calibrating the data logger…
Investigating the nuanced consequences of pollinator declines for plants: Studying the effects of pollinator declines to floral longevity and seed production Climate change is driving pollinator declines. 87% of flowering plants depend on animal pollinators and need to invest energy in flowers to reproduce. Plants are found to produce more seeds when receiving more pollen, and plant size tends to affect flower and seed production. However, it remains unknown how plants will respond to decreased pollination services. Plants may manage resources either to avoid over investment in flowers that may go unpollinated or to produce more flowers to possibly compensate for decreased pollination. changes in pollination services, flower production, seed production, and plant size will be linked using generalized linear mixed effects models and generalized linear models. This project will inform how changes in pollination affect resource allocation to reproductive effort and why (e.g., via changes to floral production or longevity). Linking flower production and longevity with reproductive output will inform how changing pollination services affect plant reproduction and whether adjustments in reproductive effort can compensate for reduced pollination services. Taken together, this experiment will have the potential to inform future conservation efforts for plant populations as we continue to experience pollinator declines.