Insect pollinator population response to bobwhite habitat management in Kansas and Missouri

As with many grassland-dependent bird species, northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations are declining, in large part, due to habitat loss. In recent decades, conservation interest in managing habitat for bobwhites has gained momentum, especially because bobwhite habitat also supports a diverse community of non-target vertebrate species (e.g., birds, reptiles, etc.). However, the extent to which bobwhite habitat management might benefit non-target invertebrates of interest, especially pollinators, remains unknown. Herein, we evaluated the effects of four different bobwhite management practices (1. brush management, 2. prescribed fire, 3. prescribed grazing, and 4. wildlife habitat planting) implemented through Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) programs on pollinator communities across private lands in Kansas and Missouri (N = 106 survey points) from May-August 2024. Distance models of transect data on bees revealed that bee density was greatest in wildlife habitat planting (159 bees/ha [95% CI: 157-185]) and lowest in prescribed fire sites (79 bees/ha [95% CI: 65-95]) but implementation status (pre/post) did not affect bee density. Floral density, which also drove bee density, was improved by treatment in wildlife habitat planting sites (+1,731 flowers/100m2) but reduced when prescribed grazing was implemented (-24,102 flowers/100m2). Although northern bobwhite populations respond robustly to NRCS conservation practices, benefits to pollinators are mixed and not clearly improved by current implementation practices. Enhancements that increase/maintain floral resource quality are most likely to yield co-benefits to bobwhites and insect pollinators.