Press release STSM Gerard Farré-Armengol

During May-July 2014 Gerard Farré-Armengol from the Center for Ecological Research and Forestry Applications (CREAF) realized a Short Term Scientific Mission, funded by the COST Action FP1204, to visit the University of Eastern Finland in Kuopio, Finland. The main objective of the work was to assess the effects of ozone on flower volatile emissions and the related effects on pollinator attraction. We conducted a series of lab experiments to characterize the effects of high ambient ozone concentrations on the chemical composition of floral volatile cues at different distances from the scent source and tested the efficiency in pollinator attraction by original and degraded floral blends. Apart from the promising set of results achieved, the stay served to establish useful collaborative relations with the host group.