Friday, October 3, 2025
Science
No Result
View All Result
  • Login
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Scienmag
No Result
View All Result
Home Science News Earth Science

The impacts of climate change on food production

May 20, 2024
in Earth Science
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0
Buttefly pollen under a microscope
67
SHARES
608
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
ADVERTISEMENT

A new peer-reviewed study from researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington; the University of Nevada, Reno; and Virginia Tech shows that climate change has led to decreased pollen production from plants and less pollen more diversity than previously thought, which could have a significant impact on food production.

Buttefly pollen under a microscope

Credit: Photo courtesy UT Arlington

A new peer-reviewed study from researchers at The University of Texas at Arlington; the University of Nevada, Reno; and Virginia Tech shows that climate change has led to decreased pollen production from plants and less pollen more diversity than previously thought, which could have a significant impact on food production.

“This research is crucial as it examines the long-term impacts of climate change on plant-pollinator interactions,” said Behnaz Balmaki, lead author of the study and an assistant professor of research in biology at UTA. “This study investigates how shifts in flowering times and extreme weather events affect the availability of critical food sources for insect pollinators.”

The research team, which included UTA’s Masoud A. Rostami, focused its study on the Great Basin and Sierra Nevada mountains. The Great Basin, which includes about 95% of Nevada as well as portions of California, Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming, is an ideal place for this type of research because the mountains shield the region from Pacific storms, rain and snow.

The Great Basin region is home to more than 200 butterfly species, many of which act as pollinators. Pollinators are important in agriculture because they carry pollen from the male to the female parts of flowers so they can become fertilized and produce fruit.

The research team created 19 sampling sites throughout the region, collecting a wide sample of butterflies to study how they distribute pollen to plants. In addition to the newly collected samples, the team also examined previously captured butterfly samples obtained between 2000 and 2021 that are stored at the University of Nevada, Reno Museum of Natural History.

“By analyzing 21 years of historical data, a very long period that provides clear views, the research offers detailed perspectives on the consequences of habitat loss, fragmented landscapes and changes in plant assemblages on pollination services,” Balmaki said. “Our innovative use of museum specimens to track changes in pollen adds a new dimension to understanding these dynamics. These findings are vital for informing conservation efforts aimed at reducing biodiversity loss and preserving ecological balance, which are essential for sustaining natural ecosystems and human agriculture.”

Another important aspect of this study is that it highlights the deep importance of pollinators in maintaining food production vital for human consumption and survival.

“Without effective pollination, many crops vital to the global food supply could fail,” Balmaki said. “Our research underscores the necessity of developing targeted conservation policies to protect pollinators and maintain essential pollination services during global warming, thereby addressing some of the most significant environmental challenges of our time.”

***

This work was supported by the National Science Foundation.



Journal

Oecologia

DOI

10.1007/s00442-024-05533-y

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Animals

Article Title

Effects of climate change on Lepidoptera pollen loads and their pollination services in space and time

Article Publication Date

25-Mar-2024

COI Statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Share27Tweet17
Previous Post

Mount Sinai launches Center for Healthcare Readiness to strengthen practice and partnerships in public health emergency response

Next Post

BU/BMC doc delivers Distinguished Professor in Geriatrics keynote lecture

Related Posts

blank
Earth Science

Empowering Women Artisans: Tech’s Role in Financial Reporting

October 3, 2025
blank
Earth Science

Evaluating Gaussian Transformations in Multivariate Simulations

October 3, 2025
blank
Earth Science

Understanding Nitrous Oxide: Sources, Mechanisms, and Solutions

October 3, 2025
blank
Earth Science

Boosting Organic Degradation with Piezo-Enhanced Heterojunctions

October 3, 2025
blank
Earth Science

Antibiotic Dynamics in Upper Yangtze River Reservoir

October 2, 2025
blank
Earth Science

Ecosystem Changes: Impact on Baltic Herring Contaminants

October 2, 2025
Next Post
BU/BMC doc delivers Distinguished Professor in Geriatrics keynote lecture

BU/BMC doc delivers Distinguished Professor in Geriatrics keynote lecture

  • Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    Mothers who receive childcare support from maternal grandparents show more parental warmth, finds NTU Singapore study

    27562 shares
    Share 11022 Tweet 6889
  • University of Seville Breaks 120-Year-Old Mystery, Revises a Key Einstein Concept

    970 shares
    Share 388 Tweet 243
  • Bee body mass, pathogens and local climate influence heat tolerance

    646 shares
    Share 258 Tweet 162
  • Researchers record first-ever images and data of a shark experiencing a boat strike

    513 shares
    Share 205 Tweet 128
  • Groundbreaking Clinical Trial Reveals Lubiprostone Enhances Kidney Function

    477 shares
    Share 191 Tweet 119
Science

Embark on a thrilling journey of discovery with Scienmag.com—your ultimate source for cutting-edge breakthroughs. Immerse yourself in a world where curiosity knows no limits and tomorrow’s possibilities become today’s reality!

RECENT NEWS

  • Survey Reveals Interest in Alternative Cancer Prevention Methods
  • Conserved Small Sequences Revealed by Yeast Ribo-seq
  • Digital Tools Empower Student Self-Regulation and Emotions
  • Empowering Women Artisans: Tech’s Role in Financial Reporting

Categories

  • Agriculture
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Athmospheric
  • Biology
  • Blog
  • Bussines
  • Cancer
  • Chemistry
  • Climate
  • Earth Science
  • Marine
  • Mathematics
  • Medicine
  • Pediatry
  • Policy
  • Psychology & Psychiatry
  • Science Education
  • Social Science
  • Space
  • Technology and Engineering

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 5,186 other subscribers

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • SCIENCE NEWS
  • CONTACT US

© 2025 Scienmag - Science Magazine

Discover more from Science

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading