for such flowering plants (Rouault et al. 2006; Le Conte and Navajas 2008).
Mismatching in timing of the arrival of butterflies and flowering in plants in Britain
caused by climate change will eventually affect the mutualistic relationship between
plant and butterflies (Roy and Sparks 2000). Plants that depends on bird populations
for pollination can also face difficulty in completing pollination as the bird species
may have a specific nesting period (Miller-Rushing et al. 2008b).
Effect on Plant Seed Dispersal
Seed dispersal allows spreading of species population to a great distance. Edaphic
factors and animals govern the seed dispersal process. To increase the probability of
germination of seed and establishment of a new individual requires proper availability of resources, particularly water and temperature. When dispersal of seeds
occurs earlier or later than the favourable season for seed germination, seed may be
lost to predators or pathogens or will not have the proper medium for distant
dispersal. Frankie et al. (1974) found that dry deciduous forest trees of central
America disperse their seeds between wet and dry seasons to provide a favourable
time for germination. However, change in climate alters the pattern of ripening of
fruit and its timing for dispersal, which will decrease the probability of seed
germination.
It is evident that plants which depend on animals for seed dispersal have a lesser
probability of the dispersal because of differences in the timing of ripening of fruit
and the arrival of animals with a major role in dispersion (Miller-Rushing and
Primack 2008). These studies have shown that this discrepancy can cause an
ecological mismatch, so that resources needed for the germination and survival of
seed are no longer present (Waser and Real 1979).
Effect on Diversity of Plants
Floral species diversity is greatly affected by climate change. Many endemic species
may no longer be able to sustain populations in their native habitat; they may migrate
or become extinct because of altered temperatures and precipitation regimes
(Thomas et al. 2004). Besides the extinction or migration of species, climate change
will decelerate the rate of reproductive success, which decreases the population size
of species in their native habitat. Global climate change affects plant species
diversity by shifting populations northward. It has been recorded that species are
migrating to higher latitudes or altitudes in response to climate change.
198
P. Tiwari et al.
Mismatching in timing of the arrival of butterflies and flowering in plants in Britain
caused by climate change will eventually affect the mutualistic relationship between
plant and butterflies (Roy and Sparks 2000). Plants that depends on bird populations
for pollination can also face difficulty in completing pollination as the bird species
may have a specific nesting period (Miller-Rushing et al. 2008b).
Effect on Plant Seed Dispersal
Seed dispersal allows spreading of species population to a great distance. Edaphic
factors and animals govern the seed dispersal process. To increase the probability of
germination of seed and establishment of a new individual requires proper availability of resources, particularly water and temperature. When dispersal of seeds
occurs earlier or later than the favourable season for seed germination, seed may be
lost to predators or pathogens or will not have the proper medium for distant
dispersal. Frankie et al. (1974) found that dry deciduous forest trees of central
America disperse their seeds between wet and dry seasons to provide a favourable
time for germination. However, change in climate alters the pattern of ripening of
fruit and its timing for dispersal, which will decrease the probability of seed
germination.
It is evident that plants which depend on animals for seed dispersal have a lesser
probability of the dispersal because of differences in the timing of ripening of fruit
and the arrival of animals with a major role in dispersion (Miller-Rushing and
Primack 2008). These studies have shown that this discrepancy can cause an
ecological mismatch, so that resources needed for the germination and survival of
seed are no longer present (Waser and Real 1979).
Effect on Diversity of Plants
Floral species diversity is greatly affected by climate change. Many endemic species
may no longer be able to sustain populations in their native habitat; they may migrate
or become extinct because of altered temperatures and precipitation regimes
(Thomas et al. 2004). Besides the extinction or migration of species, climate change
will decelerate the rate of reproductive success, which decreases the population size
of species in their native habitat. Global climate change affects plant species
diversity by shifting populations northward. It has been recorded that species are
migrating to higher latitudes or altitudes in response to climate change.
198
P. Tiwari et al.