Morning glories are shifting their evolutionary strategy in response to collapsing pollinator populations and climate change, according to new research from the University of Michigan. The study, published in the journal Evolution Letters, documents a 96% decrease in the plant's rate of adaptation over nine years. This trade-off appears to prioritize attracting pollinators over adapting to a warming world.
The findings underscore a hidden cost of the global pollinator crisis, which threatens not just wildflowers but also agricultural systems. Morning glories, often a nuisance for farmers, are evolving in ways that could complicate weed management. Researchers warn that the same dynamic may be playing out across many plant species.
The steep decline in adaptation was observed directly in morning glory populations over nearly a decade. The 96% figure represents a dramatic slowing of the evolutionary response to environmental pressures, with implications for long-term survival. The study provides rare long-term field data on how multiple environmental stressors interact.
For farmers, the shift could have practical consequences: morning glories that attract more pollinators may become harder to control if they spread more aggressively. The broader lesson is that species may not be able to adapt to climate change if they are simultaneously forced to cope with other crises.
Experts caution that the findings may not apply universally across plant species. The study focused on one plant in one region, and further research is needed to confirm the pattern.