Impacts of air pollution and climate change on floral VOC signals

该项目旨在评估因空气污染和气候变化而改变的花卉挥发性有机化合物(VOC)信号对授粉和觅食昆虫的威胁。昆虫为80%以上的开花植物授粉，空气污染条件下可检测到的花香距离的缩短可能增加了导致授粉者数量下降的压力。我们需要知道空气污染减少了多少植物挥发性有机化合物的排放，以及随后空气污染对释放的植物挥发性有机化合物信号的影响程度。我们需要确定空气污染对植物挥发性有机化合物信号产生最大风险的地点。我们的项目结合了英国和美国合作伙伴的独特和互补的专业知识，将植物挥发性有机化合物的排放和降解结合在一起，以应对空气污染。我们将进行一系列的交流访问，分享技能和专业知识。我们将测量植物对臭氧(O3)污染的挥发性有机化合物排放，以计算信号强度的降低和信号完整性的修正。我们将开发和应用数值模型来确定植物挥发性有机化合物与空气污染物臭氧和硝酸根的反应，以量化污染地区植物挥发性有机化合物的信号退化。模型还将考虑未来区域环境变化对气候变化的影响。我们将结合英国和美国现有的污染物浓度和草原分布数据，以确定授粉和觅食昆虫风险最大的位置。最后，我们将开发一个概念模型，以提高我们对空气污染和气候变化对花卉挥发性有机化合物信号的贡献，以及昆虫可检测到花香的距离的相应缩短。这一合作项目将确定关键的知识差距，并制定战略，在这笔赠款的有效期内解决这些差距。

This project aims to assess the threat to pollinating and foraging insects as a consequence of altered floral Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) signalling in response to air pollution and climate change. Insects pollinate over 80% of flowering plants and a reduction in the distance of detectable floral scents in air pollution conditions may be adding to the stresses that are contributing to declines in pollinator numbers. We need to know by how much floral VOC emissions are reduced by air pollution and to what extent the emitted floral VOC signal is subsequently degraded by air pollution. We need to identify the locations where the largest risks of air pollution to floral VOC signals occur. Our project integrates floral VOC emission and degradation in response to air pollution by bringing together the unique and complementing expertise of partners in the UK and USA. We will have a series of exchange visits to share skills and expertise. We will measure floral VOC emissions in response to ozone (O3) pollution in order to calculate the reduction in signal strength and the modification of the integrity of the signal. We will develop and apply numerical models to determine the reaction of floral VOCs with the air pollutants ozone and nitrate radical in order to quantify floral VOC signal degradation in polluted areas. Models will also consider the future influences of regional environmental changes in response to climate change. We will combine existing data of pollutant concentrations and grassland distribution in the UK and USA in order to identify the locations of largest risk to pollinating and foraging insects. Finally, we will develop a conceptual model that will improve our understanding of the contribution of air pollution and climate change to floral VOC signalling and the corresponding reduction in the distance of detectable floral scents by insects. This collaborative project will identify key knowledge gaps and develop strategies to address these beyond the lifetime of this grant.