Pollination Across the Diel Cycle: A Global Meta-Analysis

Abstract

The daily transition between day and night, known as the diel cycle, is characterised by significant shifts in environmental conditions and biological activity, both of which can affect crucial ecosystem functions like pollination. Despite over six decades of research into whether pollination varies between day and night, consensus remains elusive. We compiled the evidence of diel pollination from 135 studies with pollinator exclusion experiments involving 139 angiosperms. We used phylogenetic multi-level meta-analysis to test the influence of environmental conditions and plant functional traits on diel pollination differences. Our synthesis revealed an overall lack of difference in pollination between day and night; many plant species (90% of studied spp.) exhibit similar pollination success across the diel cycle. Diel pollination differences were partially explained by elevation: nocturnal pollination success was greater at low elevations, whereas diurnal pollination was more beneficial at higher elevations. Furthermore, floral traits related to pollinator attraction (odour, colour) and anthesis time influenced diel pollination differences. In the light of increasing anthropogenic pressures on biodiversity, as well as unique challenges for nocturnal biota, this synthesis underscores the diel complementarity of pollinators for many flowering plants and the importance of considering both nocturnal and diurnal pollinators in agricultural and conservation contexts.