Road air pollution harms the reproductive success of a bee‐pollinated wildflower: A dusty threat to biodiversity

Abstract

Societal Impact Statement Dust, a common form of air pollution, is particularly problematic on roadsides, which are important habitats for plants and pollinators. We investigated whether and how road dust affects plant sexual reproduction using Primula chungensis in a biodiversity hotspot. Our study provides compelling evidence that road dust can harm plant reproductive success by disrupting both plant–pollinator interactions and the post‐pollination process. Given that enhanced dust activity is widespread globally, our findings highlight that biodiversity, food security, and ecosystems should benefit from policies and practices to improve air quality.