Levels of nitrogen oxides and ozone on a par with average concentrations next to major UK roads led to a reduction in the number of pollinators counted on the crops by up to 70 per cent
in the centre of a wheat field and piped it to six octagonal enclosures where black mustard plants were grown. Two more enclosures filled with ambient air acted as a control.
The results were stark. Levels of the pollutants on a par with average concentrations next to major UK roads led to a reduction in the number of pollinators counted on the plants by up to 70 per cent compared with the controls.Ryalls was surprised by how steep the fall was with relatively moderate levels of pollution. “We weren’t expecting nearly as severe a reduction as we found. It’s kind of crazy,” he says.
Further field studies and research at a wider landscape level will be needed to fully establish how much dirty air is confusing pollinators hunting for plants’ odours. Some pollinator groups may be more able to compensate with visual cues than others, says Ryalls.at the University of Sussex in the UK, who wasn’t involved in the study, says while the trial has relatively low replication of its tests, it “does show potentially major impacts of air pollution on both pollinators and wildflowers”.
One optimistic way of looking at the research is that if air pollution is more firmly linked to ongoing pollinator declines, cleaning up the air may prove easier than farmers “We have to transition away from fossil fuels anyway, and we are. We should be doing it faster. It’s not as hard as some things to control,” says Ryalls.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
UN: Global tourism won't return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024'The pace of recovery remains slow and uneven across world regions due to varying degrees of mobility restrictions, vaccination rates, and traveller confidence,' says World Tourism Organization.
Read more »
After Nearly A Month, MTA To Resume Full Service As Staffing Levels StabilizeThe MTA will restore most of its full weekday service across the system starting Wednesday, three weeks after curtailing service due to COVID-19 related staff shortages. The A, B, J and Z as well as the diamond 6 and 7 trains will resume regular service.
Read more »
Oil prices climb to highest levels since 2014Crude oil prices in the U.S. rose 1.9% Tuesday, finishing at over $85 per barrel. Oil prices have not reached those ranges since October 2014.
Read more »
AT&T, Verizon Delay New 5G Service Amid Major Airlines' Fears Technology Could Cause Chaos In AirBoth AT&T and Verizon have decided to hold off on installing 5G infrastructure near major airports amid concerns the new technology could cause chaos in the air. Siafa_Lewis reports.
Read more »
CBS To Air Part One Of ‘NCIS: Hawai’i’ Two-Parter After AFC Divisional PlayoffCBS will reshuffle its Sunday primetime slate this week as the network opts to air the first episode of NCIS: Hawai’i’s upcoming two-parter episode after coverage of the AFC Divisional …
Read more »