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Plant-Pollinator Interactions: A Highly Evolved Synchrony at Risk Due to Climate Change

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Climate-Resilient Horticulture: Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies

Abstract

Pollinators are an important component of crop-associated biodiversity and provide an essential ecosystem service to both natural and agricultural ecosystems. Approximately 80% of all flowering plant species are specialized for pollination by animals, mostly insects. Insects and plants react differently to changed temperature, creating temporal (phenological) and spatial (distributional) mismatches with severe demographic consequences for the species involved. Mismatches may affect plant by reduced insect visitation and pollen deposition, while pollinators experience reduced food availability. The effect of climate change on pollinators depends upon their thermal tolerance and plasticity to temperature changes. Data on the impacts of climate change on crop pollination is still limited, and investigations in this direction are very limited. This chapter deals with the potential effects of climate change on pollinators, including direct effects and indirect effects through their floral resources. Measures to enhance and conserve pollinators are also suggested.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Entomology and Nematology, Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Hessaraghatta Lake P.O, Bengaluru, 560089, India

    Poluru Venkata Rami Reddy, Abraham Verghese, Vaddi Sridhar & Vasantharajan Varun Rajan

Authors
  1. Poluru Venkata Rami Reddy
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  2. Abraham Verghese
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  3. Vaddi Sridhar
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  4. Vasantharajan Varun Rajan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Poluru Venkata Rami Reddy .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Horticulture, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhavan II,Pusa, New Delhi, 110012, Delhi, India

    Harish Chandra Prasad Singh

  2. , Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Indian Institute of HorticulturalResearh, Hessaraghatta Lake P.O., Bangalore, 560089, Karnataka, India

    Nadipynayakanahally Krishnamurthy Sriniv Rao

  3. , Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Horticultural Resear, Hessaraghatta Lake PO, Bangalore, 560089, Karnataka, India

    Kodthalu Seetharamaiah Shivashankar

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Reddy, P.V.R., Verghese, A., Sridhar, V., Rajan, V.V. (2013). Plant-Pollinator Interactions: A Highly Evolved Synchrony at Risk Due to Climate Change. In: Singh, H., Rao, N., Shivashankar, K. (eds) Climate-Resilient Horticulture: Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-0974-4_26

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