Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment· 2026Q1
Pollinator risks and recovery from air pollutant interactions during the fossil‐fuel transition
- 1citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Air pollutants like ozone (O3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) disrupt pollinator foraging, but their combined effect is sub-additive, meaning they are less impactful together than individually. While O3 is projected to increase until mid-century, it is expected to decline post-2050 with clean energy transitions, influencing pollinator recovery rates.
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Key points
- Ozone (O3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) disrupt pollinator foraging by altering floral scents.
- The combined effect of O3 and NOx on pollinators is sub-additive, less than their individual impacts.
- Tropospheric O3 levels are projected to rise until mid-century, then decline post-2050 with clean energy transitions.
- Pollinator recovery depends on emissions pathways and policies reducing NOx and ozone precursors.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
By altering the composition and concentration of floral scents, air pollutants such as ozone (O 3 ) and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) disrupt the ability of insect pollinators to locate flowers, threatening biodiversity and crop production. We examine the impact of these pollutants on pollinator performance and evaluate the short‐ and long‐term consequences of transitioning away from fossil fuels by considering the effects of multiple pollutants in combination. Although O 3 and NO x individually impair pollinator foraging, our supporting meta‐analysis reveals a sub‐additive effect when they occur together. Under a middle‐of‐the‐road emissions scenario (SSP2‐4.5), tropospheric O 3 levels are projected to rise until mid‐century, intensifying stress on pollinators. Beyond 2050, O 3 levels are expected to decline as the transition to clean energy reduces emissions of precursors like NO x . Pollinator recovery rate will depend on the emissions pathway followed and how effective policies are in cutting NO x and other ozone‐precursor emissions. This work connects improvements in air quality to the stability of global ecosystems and builds on previous reviews by quantifying pollutant interactions and providing actionable insights for policymaking .
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences