Waiting for the snow to melt…
The phenology of plants in the alpine environment of the Rocky Mountains is heavily dependent on snowmelt time (Inouye and McGuire 1991, Thomson 2010). In this study we have manipulated the timing of snowmelt in order to change the phenology of Delphinium nuttallianum in the subalpine environment of the Rocky Mountains; treatments included snow addition, snow removal and control. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of phenological change on D. nuttallianum in terms of peak flower abundance, species interactions, floral morphology, and pollen receipt. The date of peak flowering was significantly earlier in snow removal plots, resulting in altered floral diameter and petal length. Changes in floral display may alter plant-pollinator interactions and could thereby affect the reproductive success of the plant (Waser and Price 1991). Ninety percent of angiosperms rely on such plant-pollinator interactions, suggesting that changes in snowmelt may have significant impacts on many plant species (Engel and Irwin 2003). The potential for future changes in snow duration and melt time in the Rocky Mountains due to dust events makes this study particularly relevant to the future of D. nuttallianum and other wildflower species in this area (Painter et. al. 2007).
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