Shorter Wildflower Season Poses Ecosystem Threat in Rocky Mountains

Warming temperatures have led to a shorter wildflower season in the high-peak ecosystems of the Rocky Mountains, a shift that could have detrimental effects on pollinator species, including bees and hummingbirds, according to a new study. While the wildflower season in the sub-alpine meadows of the Rockies once extended through the summer months, scientists say warmer and drier conditions early in the season have altered the timing of flowering, ultimately leading to a mid-season decline in the number of blooming flowers. The change in flower availability could have a significant effect on bees, which require a steady supply of pollen and nectar throughout the growing season to allow the queen to produce a colony. “These meadows are heavily affected by snowmelt and temperature,” said David Inouye, a professor at the University of Maryland professor and one of the authors of the study published in the Journal of Ecology. “Wildflowers use information from these natural cues to ‘know’ when it’s time to unfurl their petals.” Ultimately, the scientists say, these changes will affect the plants that depend upon bees and hummingbirds for pollination.