Impact of Insect Decline on Plant Reproduction

Plants have increasingly resorted to self-pollination due to the decrease in the number of insects. French scientists have found that the decline in insect population has led to changes in plant reproduction. They rely less on cross-pollination with other species and self-pollinate more frequently. The researchers conducted genetic analysis of field violets and compared them with older specimens. The results showed that the flower surface and nectar quantity have decreased over several decades. This radical shift in evolution can have serious consequences. It will accelerate the decline in insect population and make plants less diverse and vulnerable to environmental changes.