Global climate change means not only increasing temperatures but also changes in precipitation events – e.g. reduced precipitation or extended drought events. Drought can modify soil water availability, cause water stress and influence species’ trait expression and growth.

In my PhD thesis, I will improve the understanding of intraspecific differences in floral traits and consequently flower-visitor interactions as well as flower visitor behavior in the context of predicted changes in precipitation (decrease in mean precipitation and elongated periods of drought events).

 

Höfer RJ, Ayasse M and Kuppler J (2021) Bumblebee Behavior on Flowers, but Not Initial Attraction, Is Altered by Short-Term Drought Stress. Front. Plant Sci. 11:564802. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2020.564802