The Impact of Air Pollution on Flower Scents and Pollinators
Airborne chemicals from fossil fuels are altering the scent of flowers, making it difficult for pollinators like moths to locate them, especially at night. The chemicals, specifically nitrate radicals, are masking the natural scents of flowers, impacting the crucial plant-pollinator interactions. This interference could have significant consequences for the ecosystem, as many flowering plants rely on insect intervention for pollination, and a large number of pollinator species are already endangered or threatened.