Orchids are a very sensitive species. One of the most easily altered parts of an orchid is when it is ready to reproduce. Orchids rely on temperatures to know when they should reproduce. This means that when temperatures change due to climate change, the timing of the orchid reproductive systems change as well. As the temperature continues to warm and get warmer earlier every year, orchids are not successfully reproducing because they are missing their mating season. Bees are also a major way that orchids reproduce, as the bees pollinate the flowers. Rising temperatures are causing flowers to be ready for pollination much earlier in the year, while the bees are still trying to pollinate later in the year. This means that the bees are not able to get to the orchids while they are ready for reproduction, which means the bees cannot pollinate the flowers. This means no reproduction for the orchids. If they are unable to reproduce, orchids will not continue to be found in the wild, which means a large loss of biodiversity. It also means that humans lose the profit from trading these flowering plants. Climate change continues to cause these plants to reproduce less and less as the temperatures continue to change.
Julie's Science Blog 