title: Flowering plants under global pollinator decline.
abstract: There is now compelling evidence of a reduction of pollinator richness and density at a global scale. In this opinion article, we argue that such pollinator decline intensifies pollen limitation and reduces plant reproductive success, threatening natural populations of extinction. We use genetic architecture and selection experiments on floral traits and evaluate the potential for plant reproductive strategies to adapt rapidly to new pollination environments. We propose that plant reproductive strategies could adapt to the current pollinator decline by decreasing or increasing their reliance to pollinators, for example, increasing autonomous selfing or reinforcing interactions with pollinators. We further discuss if and how adaptation of plant reproductive strategies can buffer the demographic consequences of pollinator decline, and possibly rescue plant populations from extinction.
authors.affiliation: UMR 5175 CEFE, Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive (CNRS), 1919 Route de Mende, F-34293 Montpellier Cedex 05, France.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thomann
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Imbert
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Devaux
authors.forename: Pierre-Olivier
authors.initials: PO
authors.lastname: Cheptou
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D035264:Flowers / Q000502:physiology*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000502:physiology*; D054817:Pollination / Q000502:physiology*; D011157:Population Dynamics