Floral bullseyes and stratospheric ozone

Reply to Robson et al

Robson et al.'s commentary¹ on our article, 'Floral pigmentation has responded rapidly to global change in ozone and temperature'², questions the study's conclusion that floral ultraviolet (UV) pigmentation has responded to global change, particularly to total column ozone (TCO). Robson et al.¹ claim that our study spanned a time frame in which ozone was not declining and suggest no biological relationship between UV-B exposure and UV floral pigmentation. To support their claims, they selectively remove and reanalyze data. We respond with a critique of their interpretations of our results, and analyses of temporal patterns of TCO data from Koski et al.². Despite Robson et al.'s concerns, our study continues to support a link between temporal changes in ozone and temperature, and temporal changes in UV floral pigmentation.