Air pollution's destructive impact on moth pollination

Car exhaust byproducts are disrupting moth pollination by degrading the floral scents essential for attracting these nocturnal pollinators, according to a new study published in the journal Science.

Lauren Leffer reports for Popular Science.

In short:

Air pollution, particularly ozone and nitrate radicals from car exhaust, impairs moths' ability to locate evening primrose flowers by altering the flowers' scent.
This reduction in pollination could significantly affect the reproduction of plants reliant on nocturnal pollinators, with broader implications for ecosystems and human food security.
Despite the challenge, reductions in these pollutants since the 1980s show potential for improvement through further environmental protections and shifts to greener energy sources.

Key quote:

"Pollinators play a huge role in community ecology; they’re critical for the fitness of plants. If you affect that, then you’re going to have ecosystem-wide impacts."

— Jeff Riffell, co-senior study author and a biology professor at the University of Washington

Why this matters:

This research points to the complex ways in which pollution interferes with essential biological communications and the broader ecological balance.

www.ehn.org

Air pollution's destructive impact on moth pollination

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